Biodiesel is made primarily from soybean oil, and the price of soybeans is up as farmers put more and more land into production of corn, the more lucrative crop of the two. And that shift, from corn to soybeans, pushes up the price of soybeans further, making biodiesel production even dicier. A new study by economists at Iowa State University suggests the biodiesel market won't grow substantially unless the government requires its usage or adds more subsidies. As the price of soybeans for...

The huge drop in stock figures confirmed that the 2007 soybean crop would be lower with farmers planting more corn acres this spring and less soybeans. USDA s latest soybean planting report indicated that 32% of the US soybean crop has been planted compared to its 5-year average of 31% and higher than the earlier trade expectation of 25% to 30% Clear weather in the Midwest over the next two weeks would enable farmers to plant most of the acreage intended for corn and that would translated...

For example, the group has been conducting on-farm research on using fertilizer more efficiently, a win for both the environment and farmers' financial bottom line. Also in conservation, the group supports allowing up to 7 million acres of less environmentally sensitive land in the U. At the same time it backs putting more money into the conservation security program to help protect that land as it comes into production for food and fuel. Instead, if favors using direct payment funds for...

Midwest state that reported above-average seedings was Minnesota, which reported 45% of the soybean crop planted, well above the 19% planted last year at this time and the five-year average of 32% Soybean plantings were slightly above expectations, and analysts expect the trade to take a bearish approach following recent price strength. The planting pace is taking some fears out of the market, with seedings moving at a normal pace and favorable planting conditions lying ahead after a...

He says farmers should make money on this year's crop, but not the windfall many people outside of agriculture think, due to rising input costs. Producers hear people --- with little knowledge of production costs --- in restaurants and grocery stores talk about the windfall farmers must be getting from high corn prices. It is true some producers are enjoying very profitable prices, and this year's crop is expected to generate income not seen in more than a decade. Barring a drought or...

Traders said the supply of onion in the local markets is good due to increasing trend in opening of fresh letters of credit (LCs) for importing the item. Prices of sugar and onion declined slightly and the prices of poultry birds increased while the prices of other essential commodities maintained their previous high in the city markets over the past week. During the last week at the wholesale level sugar was selling at Tk 1000 per maund compared with its previous rate at Tk 1050 per...