Corn prices have jumped with demand for the crop to make ethanol. Those in the agricultural industry said there may be some increased spending in farm communities thanks to higher prices, but they don t expect a lot. The increase has been a boon to farmers who have struggled through years of depressed prices. At least 20 percent of this year s corn will be used for the fuel additive. Some farmers saw crops wilt in dry, hot July, while others lost them in August flooding. Farmers have...

Historically high prices for agricultural commodities have people wondering if we have entered a new era where prices are stabilizing at higher plateaus or will we see prices fall back to previous levels. Although some can offer convincing arguments that global demand growth is outstripping our ability to produce some commodities, the short answer to the question is we have not entered a new era of permanently higher commodity prices and prices will fall, but probably not to previous...

This would allow the rye plant to go to seed producing both food for livestock and seed for the next year s planting. By Bill Young Of the 512 farmers listed on the 1860 agricultural census only 63 informed the census taker they had grown rye on their land. Did they each decide on their own to grow rye or was the area they lived in better suited to grow rye? Since they were more or less neighbors, not necessarily close neighbors, could one of the three convinced the other two rye would...

In addition, the harvesting campaign of sunflower seeds is almost finished - as for the reported date the farmers harvested 4.2 mln tonnes of sunseeds. According to him, the farms harvested maize from 75% of areas and threshed over 6.2 mln tonnes of grain. According to the Minister, this volume would allow to satisfy needs of sun oil production for the domestic as well as for export markets. The needs of Ukraine in grain are estimated at 27 mln tonnes per year. The gross yield of maize in...

The Reimches, who farm in Sheridan and Wells counties, have been raising corn 27 years and as fertilizer and fuel prices continue to increase, might plant just enough to keep their cattle fed. MARTIN Clyde and Brenda Reimche are harvesting the best corn crop they ve ever taken off the field but they wondered as they combined last week if they will seed 900 acres next year. Ironically, it s corn, a heavy user of nitrogen, that s feeding an alternative fuel surge in North Dakota and for the...

Hoping to produce thinner waistlines, many doctors -- including the American Medical Association -- want Congress to stop subsidizing the production of foods that are high in fat and cholesterol and spend more to promote fruits, vegetables, legumes and grains that are not. That's just what the nation's doctors are doing, saying that federal lawmakers are responsible for the fact that a salad costs so much more than a Big Mac. Doctors say farm subsidies promote obesity Customer Care Center...