Corn-Based Ethanol in Illinois and the U.S.: A Report from the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics 

Source: University of Illinois

Summary: The U.S. ethanol boom – what are the causes, attendant effects on Illinois and U.S. agriculture, and alternative futures? These are some of the issues addressed in this report...

NCGA's "Farmers Matter" Campaign Thanks Farmers for Abundant Harvest 

Source: National Corn Growers Association

As the nation’s corn farmers harvest the largest crop in history, the National Corn Growers Association and its state affiliates have launched a new Web site and video contest to thank farmers for their efforts...

Expert offers grain storage tips 

Source: Purdue University

Farmers and elevator managers should check corn in storage, because temperatures were optimal for mold growth early this storage season. Moisture conditions throughout the growing season varied by location, but the state saw temperatures in the high 80s and even 90° causing some concern...

Agriculture Secretary Says Oil, Weather Drive Food Prices, Not Ethanol  

Source: NCGA

Acting U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Chuck Conner said last week that higher corn prices are only a small factor behind higher food prices. In a speech to the Renewable Fuels Association, Conner said, “The data that has been presented to me shows that it (higher corn prices) has been assigned far more than its fair share of blame for what is happening in our grocery store aisles"...

NCGA Calls on Senate to Add Revenue Program to Farm Bill 

Source: NCGA

In its strongest message yet, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) has called on the Senate Agriculture Committee to include an optional, state-based, revenue counter-cyclical program to enhance the long-term viability and competitiveness of American agriculture...

USDA Crop Report  

USDA’s October Crop Report nudged 2007 corn production higher to 13.318 billion bushels, up from 13.308 billion in September. The change results from a new acreage estimate of 93.6 million planted, which is up from the 92.888-million-acre estimate released at the end of June...

Cellulosic Summit to Highlight Infrastructure  

Source: NCGA

The agricultural, biotech, biorefinery developer and financial communities will meet in Washington, D.C. to discuss the nation’s ethanol infrastructure.
Building an infrastructure to satisfy the growing need for corn by the nation’s ethanol producers is the theme of this year’s Cellulosic Ethanol Summit, to be held Oct. 15-17...

University Research Looks at the Effect of One-time Tillage on No-Till 

Source: University of Nebraska-Lincoln

While many U.S. farmers use continuous no-till when growing crops year to year, some may want to conduct a one-time tillage for problems such as controlling difficult weeds, breaking a compacted soil layer or reducing the risk of phosphorus loss...

New NCGA President Promises to Focus on Energy, Farm Bill Legislation 

Source: NCGA

There’s no doubt the last year has been a watershed for corn growers. We answered the market’s demand to produce enough corn to supply the world with both food and fuel. In doing so, record production and strong prices helped invigorate both agriculture and rural America...

Eight-Gene-Stacked Corn 

SmartStax is a newly announced eight-gene-stacked combination in corn. Scheduled for release in 2010, the technology combines Dow AgroSciences' and Monsanto's...