Market Journal Looks at Ethanol Production and Weighs Farm Program Benefits - UNL CropWatch, 2013

Market Journal Looks at Ethanol Production and Weighs Farm Program Benefits - UNL CropWatch, 2013

February 15, 2013





On this week’s Market Journal UNL Agricultural Economist Dennis Conley addresses the status of the state’s ethanol industry and whether recent shutdowns are a cause for concern. Nebraska’s 24 ethanol plants use more than 700 million bushels of grain annually to produce two billion gallons of ethanol. Nationally Nebraska ranks second to Iowa, which produces 3.5 billion gallons. Conley notes that high grain prices have narrowed ethanol production margins, but that the current shutdowns are part of a normal seasonal pattern. Seven plants are currently closed.

Other segments on this week’s program include:

ACRE vs. DCP – Brad Lubben, UNL Extension public policy specialist, weighs enrollment in the ACRE and direct and counter-cyclical farm programs. Brad also outlines the upcoming Cornhusker Economics Outlook Meetings. Sign-up begins Feb. 19 and ends August 2.

Soybeans and Sugarcane – One stop in Market Journal’s recent See For Yourself trip included a visit to a Louisiana sugarcane farm. The operation uses soybeans in its fallow rotation. Kurtis Harms reports on the practice’s benefits.

Weather Forecast – Al Dutcher, UNL Extension state climatologist, gives his forecast for the coming week.

Hog Markets – Ron Plain, University of Missouri Extension ag economist, discusses the hog markets’ seasonal trend, Russia’s restrictions on meat imports, and when producers might see profits.

LEAD Class 33 – The Nebraska LEAD program is currently accepting applications for LEAD class 33. Members of LEAD commit approximately 60 days over 19 months, including trips to Kansas City, Washington, Chicago, and an International Study Travel Seminar. LEAD program director Terry Hejny explains how participants benefit from the LEAD program.

View the whole Feb. 15 Market Journal program at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWGQi4uNlYw

Next Week

On next week’s Market Journal program, Elaine Kub will analyze corn and soybean markets, UNL Extension Irrigation Engineer Derrel Martin will talk about deficit irrigation to optimize available water in crop production, and UNL Extension Educator Keith Glewen will discuss the Nebraska on-farm research network and results from soybean management field days.

Broadcast Times

Market Journal — television for agricultural business decisions — is funded by the Nebraska Soybean Board.

View this week's program, as well as previous programs, online at marketjournal.unl.edu and watch for future broadcasts on these networks.

  • NET1 – Saturday, 7 a.m. CT
  • NET2 – Sunday, 9 a.m. CT
  • Podcast on iTunes

Also connect with Market Journal on Facebook at facebook.com/marketjournal/ or on Twitter at twitter.com/marketjournal.

Online Master of Science in Agronomy

With a focus on industry applications and research, the online program is designed with maximum flexibility for today's working professionals.

A field of corn.