Grains of Knowledge

Agribusiness News - Week of February 13, 2012

2011 Crop Insurance Claims Payments Could Impact Regional Insurers

National Crop Insurance Services (NCIS) says indemnity payments surpassed $9 billion for the first time in history in 2011, and Moody’s Investors Service says this development could put smaller, geographically concentrated insurers at risk.

NCIS cites historic droughts in the Plains, flooding along the Mississippi River and deep freezes in the South for the $9.1 billion in payments, and says the figure could grow to $10 billion as remaining claims are settled.

Tom Zacharias, president of NCIS, says in a statement, “Thanks to the foresight of Congress, crop insurance has been in place to weather enormous natural disasters and help ensure that farmers survive to plant yet another year. Those billions in damages would have landed on the plates of input suppliers, lenders, marketers and farm families if crop insurance wasn’t in place.”

Moody’s says, “We expect that the industry-wide combined ratio for 2011 will come in below 100....  However,” Moody’s adds, “it will be significantly weaker than in 2010, a banner year, and perhaps more in line with the more loss-intensive 2008 and 2009.”

Moody’s also says losses will vary considerably by group. While larger, nationally diversified insurers should benefit from profits earned in less-affected states and regions, smaller insurers that focus on single states and regions could see combined ratios over 100, especially since many of these smaller insurers operate in central and Midwest states.  (source: Phil Gusman, PropertyCasualty360.com)

Genetically Modified Food Safe, Animal Study Suggests

A three year feeding study has shown no adverse health effects in pigs fed genetically modified (GM) maize. The maize, which is a Bt-maize bred for its insect resistant properties, was sourced from Spain.
The results were one of the key findings of trials conducted as part of the GMSAFOOD consortium undertaking post market monitoring: long term, generational and food chain studies to test food safety.

The research team conducted short-term (31 days), medium-term (110 days) and generational pig feeding studies where the health of piglets of sows fed Bt-maize is measured. No adverse effects were observed, suggesting that feeding Bt-maize to pigs of different ages is safe.

The GMSAFOOD consortium, funded by the European Commission, brings together researchers from
Austria, Ireland, Norway, Hungary, Turkey and Australia. (source: sciencedaily.com)

Ag Secretary Calls USDA Budget Stable

During a press call Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack outlined the ramifications of the budget put forth by President Obama on the USDA. He told reporters that all in the appropriations process have recognized that USDA has done and will continue to do quite a bit for deficit reduction. According to Vilsack the budget is a stable one with… the amount in the discretionary budget roughly the same as in 2011.

Vilsack says that during the past two years not only has USDA seen reduction in discretionary funds but also an effort on their part in terms of mandatory programs, particularly in conservation and savings due to renegotiating a new standard for crop insurance. He says they expect additional savings once Congress passes a new farm bill. 

"There are obviously tradeoffs in a budget that is stable," Vilsack said. "All told there is somewhere in the neighborhood of about 30 programs that are impacted or affected either by being eliminated or by being reduced, which is consistent with the tough choices and tough call that have to be made."

Vilsack says that the savings will allow USDA to avoid furloughs and layoffs and continue to grow the economy of rural America. (source: farmfutures.com)

The Annual Pork Congress Delivers Again!

This year, the Ohio Professional Pork Producers Symposium was held in Columbus, Ohio.  This event was sponsored by The Ohio State University Extension, Pork Checkoff, OhioPork.org, and the Ohio Pork Producers Council and was attended by many, including team members from Westfield Insurance Agribusiness Division.

The event had many exibitors as well as informative sessions for pork producers, suppliers and pork lovers.  The line up of speakers, presenters and topics included:

• Pen Gestation - Finding the Option that is Right for You by Thomas Parsons, VMD, PhD, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
•  Herd Management Factors That Influence Whole Herd Feed Efficiency, Dr. Omarh Mendoza, The Maschhoffs, Illinois
• What Does the Future Hold For Ohio Pork Producers?  Dr. Chris Hurt, Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, Purdue University, Indiana

  There were several breakout sessions that included topics such as:

• Is China going to eat our lunch?  Good or bad for pork producers?
• Weaning 30 P/S/Y with electronic sow feeding
• Packer audits - will your farm pass?
• Feeding and barn management practice that maximize feed efficiency
• Immunological castration of pigs: What is it and how does it work?
• Phosphorus levels in rivers and lakes: Do livestock producers contribute to the problem?

Lunch was preceded by an awards presentation.  The overall feedback from the sessions was very positive.  The sessions provided good lessons on timely and relevant topics.  Always good to enjoy a nice pork lunch too.  For more information on this event, visit www.ohiopork.org

 Stacey Bruce is a region leader for the small/speciality segment of Westfield's Agribusiness Division  based out of Westfield Center, Ohio, the corporate headquarters of Westfield Insurance.

A view from the West...Agency Spotlight

For this blog post, the Westfield Agribusiness team is pleased to share this agency spotlight.  While visiting sunny Arizona a few weeks ago, our team was fortunate to meet with one of our agents, Parker Haviland.  He is with LeBaron & Carrol, LLC, Agribusiness Division, in Mesa, AZ.  This is the first in a two-part discussion with him about the agribusiness niche, his background, and more.

Question - how did you get started in agribusiness and insurance?

Answer - My entire life has been centered around agriculture, with ties going back several generations.  I have a great grandfather, 93, who milks about 150 cows and farms 700 acres on his dairy farm.  My father runs a dude rance operation in Arizona and as a boy growing up my family and I spent the summers in Northern Utah on the horse farm.  We farmed 150 acres with teams of horses for the public to come and see how farming was done in the era around 1917.  From a very young age I was driving teams of horses, mowing and hauling hay, cultivating corn, and cutting grain.  My continued interest in agriculture stems from these roots.  When I entered the insurance industry in 2007, I was naturally pulled to agribusiness- related accounts and it continues to be my focus.  My book of business is almost entirely made up of agriculture related accounts.  

Question - what keeps you excited about this niche?

Answer -  I can connect with farmers, ranchers and business owners who make their living either off of the land, the livestock, or a product of one or the other.  I am interested in what is going on in the ag world and what is impacting farms and ranches.  Though I am not farming for a living,  I have a few horses and we raise a large garden every year.  On a small scale, I feel the effects of the rise and fall of commodity prices that impacts many of my clients.  I saw my hay prices double for my eight horses from 2010 and 2011.  When I am at dairy farm or a feed lot,  I can relate to their lament in high feed costs, but I also recognize the boost it might give to farmers selling feed who might be profiting from the spike in prices.

 Thank you Parker for sharing part of your story and stay tuned for our next post when we learn more about how Parker stays informed and what motivates him!

 For more information on LeBaron & Carroll, please review their website at http://www.lebaronandcarroll.com/

 Stacey Bruce is a region leader for the small/speciality segment of Westfield's Agribusiness Division  based out of Westfield Center, Ohio, the corporate headquarters of Westfield Insurance.

2012 Agribusiness Forecasts

Tis the season for resolutions and forecasts and we want to dedicate this post to the top forecasts in the farm and agricultural space for 2012.  Here are our ideas of what to watch and expect to hear more about this year relating to farming and agribusiness:

• Food safety - this includes the FSMA (food safety and modernization act) as well as much more around food safety overall - including standards, recall, reporting and much more

 

• Farm Act - implementation of federal legislation; influences to America's food and farm policies; changes for the 2012 U.S. Farm Bill

 

•  Elections - In addition to the presidential election, 2012 will bring a flurry of state issues and local elections

 

•  Regulations - this will be an interesting year to watch with the IRS, EPA and Department of Labor's reach into the farming industry.  In a wide range of areas, from youth labor to commercial drivers’ licenses, more regulations are on the horizon

 

• Trade - export and import marketed for U.S. products, along with the fluctuating value of the dollar, makes this an area to watch

 

 What do you think about our list?  What have we missed?  Please share your comments and thoughts.

 Stacey Bruce is a region leader for the small/speciality segment of Westfield's Agribusiness Division based out of Westfield Center, Ohio, the corporate headquarters of Westfield Insurance.

 

Agribusiness News - Week of January 16, 2012

USDA Tightens Spending Belt

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack made a bold move this week when he recognized that USDA, like families and businesses across the country, cannot continue to operate like it did 50 years ago. In doing so, he announced extensive plans to streamline operations and cut costs across the agency’s departments.

Vilsack announced a reallocation of USDA facilities and resources in light of the government’s budget challenges. Since 2010, Congress has reduced USDA’s discretionary operating budget by more than $3 billion – a roughly 12% cut. That includes a workforce decrease of more than 7,000 employees, streamlining of services and the consolidation and closing of 259 USDA domestic offices, facilities and labs across the country, as well as seven foreign offices. In some cases, offices are no longer staffed or have a very small staff of one or two people.

The USDA will close 259 domestic offices, facilities and labs across the country, as well as seven foreign offices.

When fully implemented, these actions along with other recommended changes will provide efficiencies valued at about $150 million annually - and eventually more based on future realignment of the workforce - and will ensure that USDA continues to provide optimal service to the American people within available funding levels.

For more information, please visit www.usda.gov/strongerservice. (source: farmfutures.com)

Discovery of Plant 'Nourishing Gene' Brings Hope for Increased Crop Seed Yield and Food Security

University of Warwick scientists have discovered a "nourishing gene" which controls the transfer of nutrients from plant to seed -- a significant step which could help increase global food production.

The research, led by the University of Warwick in collaboration with the University of Oxford and agricultural biotech research company Biogemma, has identified for the first time a gene, named Meg1, which regulates the optimum amount of nutrients flowing from mother to offspring in maize plants.

The findings mean that scientists can now focus on using the gene and understanding the mechanism by which it is expressed to increase seed size and productivity in major crop plants.

Dr Jose Gutierrez-Marcos, Associate Professor in the University of Warwick's School of Life Sciences, said: "These findings have significant implications for global agriculture and food security, as scientists now have the molecular know-how to manipulate this gene by traditional plant breeding or through other methods to improve seed traits, such as increased seed biomass yield." (source: ScienceDaily.com)

Biofuel Videos

The Advanced Biofuels Assn. (ABFA) is launching a new online video series, "Biofuel STAT," that provides a unique perspective on the state of the U.S. biofuel industry. ABFA represents next-generation advanced and renewable technologies.

The episodes, at www.advancedbiofuelsassociation.com, will feature an executive of each ABFA member company answering the following questions: (1) What is the biggest challenge to growing your business? (2) What is the next "aha moment" for America's biofuel industry? (3) What will the biofuel industry look like five years from now?

ABFA president Michael McAdams said, "Each episode will help Washington (D.C.) better understand that now is not a time to shy away and remove the public policy instruments that can help drive our nation to the day that Americans pull up to their neighborhood gas stations and fill up with advanced or cellulosic replacement fuels."  (source: FeedStuffs.com)

 

Do you have ROPS in place to protect you?

One statistic the state of Pennsylvania is not proud of is the large number of tractor rollover fatalities.  Between the years 2000-2008, over 55 farm-related tractor rollover deaths occurred in Pennsylvania alone.  One in 10 farmers will overturn a tractor in their lifetime, and one in seven farmers who are involved in a tractor rollover are permanently disabled.  And experience alone is not enough to protect you; an alarming 80 percent of tractor rollovers happen to highly experienced tractor operators.

So how can you avoid these statistics and be safe and secure in your tractor?  How can you be assured that neither you nor your workers will succumb to a tractor accident?

ROPS is here to help!   ROPS stands for Rollover Protective Structure.  ROPS is a rebate program that will provide up to 70% of the cost to purchase and install the protective equipment that prevents tractor rollovers.   ROPS are designed to limit tractor roll by 90 degrees.  If a tractor doesroll, it will not roll on its side.  The combination of seat belts and ROPS is 99% effective in preventing rollover deaths.

The Westfield Insurance Foundation is a proud supporter of this program and recently donated $15,000 to the Pennsylvanis State University for Rollover Protective Structures Retrofit Program for Pennsylvania Farmers (PA ROPS). 

 

 

 

If you’d like more information on ROPS in PA, please visit this website:

http://ropsr4u.com/pa/overview/or call the ROPS hotline:  1-877-ROPS-R4U or 1-877-767-7748

 

 Stacey Bruce is a region leader for the small/speciality segment of Westfield's Agribusiness Division  based out of Westfield Center, Ohio, the corporate headquarters of Westfield Insurance.

Agribusiness News - Week of January 2, 2012

FDA plans to release new food safety rules Jan. 4

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is scheduled on Jan. 4 to publish proposed regulations to implement the cornerstone of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), according to the National Grain and Feed Assn.

FDA is planning to issue four separate sets of proposed regulations on the one-year anniversary of President Obama’s signing of the massive food/feed safety legislation into law. Two of those sets of proposed rules will pertain to the requirement that food and feed facilities analyze hazards, implement appropriate preventive controls and develop written food/feed safety plans – each of which is intended to minimize or prevent the potential for products to be adulterated or misbranded.

One of those sets of proposed regulations is to address human food, and reportedly will consist of a 400-page preamble, 200 pages of economic analysis and the regulations themselves. The second set of proposed rules will be for animal feed, feed ingredient and pet food manufacturers, and consist of a 200-page preamble, 100-page economic analysis and the text of the proposed regulations.

The other two sets of proposed regulations scheduled to be issued Jan. 4 will pertain to law’s requirements that: 1) food and feed facilities implement a foreign supplier verification program; and 2) produce growers and handlers implement hazard analysis, preventive controls and product-tracing systems for such products as fruits, vegetables, spinach and lettuce.

Each of the proposed regulations is expected to be accompanied by a "fact sheet" summarizing the major requirements.

It is expected that FDA will provide a 60-day comment period for each of the proposed regulations, although requests to the agency to extend the comment period to 90 days or longer are anticipated. FSMA mandates that the hazard analysis, preventive controls and written food/feed safety plan requirements of the law take effect July 3, 2012. (source: feedstuffs.com)

 

Bugs may be resistant to genetically modified corn

One of the nation's most widely planted crops — a genetically engineered corn plant that makes its own insecticide — may be losing its effectiveness because a major pest appears to be developing resistance more quickly than scientists expected.

The U.S. food supply is not in any immediate danger because the problem remains isolated. But scientists fear potentially risky farming practices could be blunting the hybrid's sophisticated weaponry.

When it was introduced in 2003, so-called Bt corn seemed like the answer to farmers' dreams: It would allow growers to bring in bountiful harvests using fewer chemicals because the corn naturally produces a toxin that poisons western corn rootworms. The hybrid was such a swift success that it and similar varieties now account for 65 percent of all U.S. corn acres — grain that ends up in thousands of everyday foods such as cereal, sweeteners and cooking oil.

But over the last few summers, rootworms have feasted on the roots of Bt corn in parts of four Midwestern states, suggesting that some of the insects are becoming resistant to the crop's pest-fighting powers.

Scientists say the problem could be partly the result of farmers who've planted Bt corn year after year in the same fields. Most farmers rotate corn with other crops in a practice long used to curb the spread of pests, but some have abandoned rotation because they need extra grain for livestock or because they have grain contracts with ethanol producers. Other farmers have eschewed the practice to cash in on high corn prices, which hit a record in June.

"Right now, quite frankly, it's very profitable to grow corn," said Michael Gray, a University of Illinois crop sciences professor who's tracking Bt corn damage in that state.

A scientist recently sounded an alarm throughout the biotech industry when he published findings concluding that rootworms in a handful of Bt cornfields in Iowa had evolved an ability to survive the corn's formidable defenses.

Similar crop damage has been seen in parts of Illinois, Minnesota and Nebraska, but researchers are still investigating whether rootworms capable of surviving the Bt toxin were the cause.

Scientists always expected rootworms to develop some resistance to the toxin produced by that gene. But the worrisome signs of possible resistance have emerged sooner than many expected.

If rootworms do become resistant to Bt corn, it "could become the most economically damaging example of insect resistance to a genetically modified crop in the U.S.," said Bruce Tabashnik, an entomologist at the University of Arizona. "It's a pest of great economic significance — a billion-dollar pest." (source: Yahoo! News)　

When tillage begins, other arts follow. The farmers, therefore, are the founders of human civilization.

-Daniel Webster

 

Agribusiness News - Week of December 26, 2011

BEEF’S FOOTPRINT IS SHRINKING

A study published in the Dec. 18 Journal of Animal Science found that raising a pound of beef in the U.S. today uses significantly fewer natural resources -- including land, water, feed and fuel -- than in the past.

Dr. Jude Capper of Washington State University documented, in the paper "The Environmental Impact of Beef Production in the United States: 1977 Compared with 2007," that each pound of beef raised in 2007 used 33% less land, 12% less water, 19% less feed and 9% less fossil fuel energy than equivalent beef production in 1977. Waste outputs were similarly reduced, shrinking the carbon footprint of beef by 16.3% in 30 years, she said.

According to Capper's research, improvements in the way cattle are raised and fed in the U.S. between 1977 and 2007 yielded 13% more total beef from 30% fewer animals. Raising more beef from fewer animals maximizes natural resources while providing essential nutrients for the human diet.

"The facts are in. Improved cattle diets in the feedyard and responsible use of science-based technologies to improve the ability of cattle to convert feed to pounds of beef reduces the amount of land, water and fossil fuels it takes to raise beef," Capper said.

Capper attributed much of the reduction in beef's environmental footprint to raising cattle on grass pasture before finishing them on an optimally balanced diet of grasses, grains and other forages in a feedyard.

This project was supported by the beef checkoff program through a research grant from state beef councils in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and Washington.

BIOFUELS BUZZ: Algae biofuel center

Researchers from the University of Georgia (UGA) and the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) are creating a renewable energy center to grow algae-based biofuels, according to a news release. The renewable energy center in Rio Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico, will be funded by a $4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense. UGA will receive $1.2 million, and UPR will receive $2.8 million.

K.C. Das, UGA professor of biological and agricultural engineering and the center's co-director, said the project melds UGA research strengths in thermochemical conversion of algae (into gas and bio-oils) with UPR research strengths in anaerobic digestion of algae, which uses microbes to convert biomass into biogases such as methane.

On a related note… The world's biofuel production capacity is set to rise from 44.6 billion gal. today to 54.1 billion gal. by 2015, according to Lux Research, which expects that ethanol capacity will reach 35.1 billion gal. per year by 2015. The best market opportunities for ethanol are in Brazil, Australia, China, Sweden and Thailand, the group said.

COMPUTER MODEL HELPS REDUCE ODORS AT LARGE FARMS

UNIVERSITY of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources extension assistant professor Teng Teeh Lim wants to give large, concentrated animal operations an economical way to lessen troubling smells.

Lim recently received a $50,000 "Mizzou Advantage" grant to develop a computer model that allows large producers to use the operation size and other simple information about their swine or dairy farm to give them a better idea of the amount of emissions and what they can do to address odor or emission issues.

"Measurement of emissions in the field can be very costly, very tedious to conduct and requires such hard work, setup and equipment maintenance for forever-changing pollutants and exhaust from such facilities," Lim said. "A lot of the information we collect in the field isn't readily available from average producers, so it becomes a give-and-take thing to create a model that uses only a few key variables that most people can understand and use while only losing some precision."

One solution lies in Lim's research on biofilters -- materials like woodchips that support microbial colonies and filter out and break down compounds that create pungent odors.

Biofilters have existed for decades, but Lim said he wants to make them cheaper and more accessible to producers. Lim's biofilter work builds on years of research to improve air quality and builds on the experience of colleagues across the country.

Lim's model uses on-the-ground measurements of emissions, such as dust, ammonia and hydrogen sulfides, collected during a two-year study of poultry, swine and dairy farms spearheaded by Purdue University. The hope is that, in the near future, a large producer can spend money more efficiently to mitigate odor without the cost of on-the-ground emission measurement.

"When a producer is more proactive, it gives the impression that he's being responsible and a good neighbor," Lim said. "We've already learned so much, but we want to further carry on and refine biofilters to be more specific and drive down the cost and maintenance so more people can use this technology."

The computer model will be available to use online later this year.

SOURCE: FEEDSTUFFS.COM

 

Agribusiness News - Week of December 12, 2011

Lenders Say Ag Bubble Unlikely to Burst

China and India remain big factors in whether or not the current good times in agriculture will continue, according to a panel of finance lenders at the National Grain & Feed Assn. Annual Country Elevator Meeting held Dec. 11-13 in Chicago, Ill.

Dan O'Neill, managing director and head of MetLife Investments' agricultural portfolio unit, said in the grain sector, one must be mindful of the capacity to produce and respond to emerging markets' growing demand.

"People in China and India may forgo the purchase of a car, but once they've adjusted to a better diet, it will be hard to take away," he said, adding that food was the first thing higher incomes provided and will also be the last thing consumers in these countries will give up.

Jeff Swanhorst, executive vice president and chief credit officer for AgriBank, noted that the current supply and demand situation appears to be tight for the next few years, and there doesn't look to be a big bubble waiting to burst. "However, we all know that there are a lot of black swan events that can happen and change that," he said.

Mike Hechtner, president for CoBank's central region, noted that there is nothing normal or predictable in today's world, as was shown with the MF Global bankruptcy and ongoing European debt ordeal, but there is "room for cautious optimism" in agriculture, and it's okay to enjoy some success.

That being said, the current agricultural environment provides a good time to build balance sheets, equity and liquidity and get ready for changes that can happen, Hechtner said. "It's a good time to make money if you can and to save some."

Consumer/Farmer Gap Evident 

CONSUMERS are highly interested in agriculture and food production, and consumers respect farmers, although both consumers and farmers agree that farmers do not have a good reputation, according to a "Farm Perspective Study" conducted by BASF Corp.

The study, which interviewed 6,000 consumers and 1,800 farmers in six countries, outlined the way consumers and farmers view farming and food production and the challenges facing farmers and food producers in the 21st century.

The interviews were conducted in the U.S., Brazil, France, Germany, Spain and India.  (feedstuffs.org)

The full article with the results can be accessed here:  http://www.basf.com/group/pressrelease/P-11-492

Does Converting Cow Manure to Electricity Pay Off?
Successful Renewable Energy Project in Vermont

Studies have estimated that converting manure from the 95 million animal units in the United States would produce renewable energy equal to 8 billion gallons of gasoline, or 1% of the total energy consumption in the nation. Because more and more farmers and communities are interested in generating renewable energy from farm waste, there is a growing need for information on the economic feasibility and sustainability of such programs.

Now, in a case study published in the Journal of Dairy Science, researchers at the University of Vermont and the Central Vermont Public Service Corporation (CVPS) confirm that it is technically feasible to convert cow manure to electricity on farms, but the economic returns depend highly on the base electricity price; the premium paid for converted energy; financial supports from government and other agencies; and the ability to sell byproducts of the methane generation.

The CVPS Cow Power program assists farms in planning and installing anaerobic digesters and generators to convert cow manure into electricity, and markets the resulting power to its customers. Dairy farms apply for grants from CVPS, government agencies, and other organizations, and draw on their own funds and loans from local banks to install the necessary equipment. CVPS customers voluntarily participate in and agree to pay a premium of $0.04 per kWh for a proportion or all of their electricity use.

"With more than 4,600 CVPS electricity customers voluntarily paying $470,000 in premiums per year, the Cow Power program represents a successful and locally sourced renewable energy project with many economic and environmental benefits," says lead author Dr. Qingbin Wang, a professor in the Department of Community Development and Applied Economics, University of Vermont. However, the study found that because of the huge initial investment of about $2 million for equipment per farm, grants and subsidies from government agencies have been necessary; without them, few dairy farms are able to fund such a system. The price farmers received for their electricity and revenue from byproducts of the system were also critically important.  (sciencedaily.com)

Agribusiness News - Week of November 28, 2011

A Fifth of Global Energy Could Come from Biomass Without Damaging Food Production

A new report suggests that up to one fifth of global energy could be provided by biomass (plants) without damaging food production.

The report reviews more than 90 global studies. It has been produced by the Technology and Policy Assessment function of the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC), which addresses key controversies in the energy field, and aims to provide authoritative and accessible reports that set very high standards for rigor and transparency.

A debate has been raging about the role biomass could play in the future energy system: some say it could play a major role in fueling the planet, others argue it risks an environmental disaster. To get to the heart of the controversy, UKERC scientists at Imperial College London have undertaken the first systematic review of the evidence base. The report finds that the main reason scientists disagree is that they make different assumptions about population, diet, and land use. A particularly important bone of contention is the speed with which productivity improvements in food and energy crop production can be rolled out.

"If we make the best use of agricultural residues, energy crops and waste materials then getting one fifth of current global energy supply from biomass is a reasonable ambition," says Dr. Raphael Slade, the report's lead author and a Research Fellow at Imperial College London. Technical advances could be the least contentious route to increased bio-energy production, but policy will need to encourage innovation and investment. A renewed focus on increasing food and energy crop yields could deliver a win-win opportunity as long as it is done without damaging soil fertility or depleting water resources. The report highlights the potential for policy to promote learning by encouraging development of sustainable biomass now, rather than waiting for the definitive answer on the ultimate potential.

"The main mistake is to think of this as all or nothing. There's plenty of scope for experimentation to make sure we get it right," says Dr. Slade. (agribusinessnews.com)

Demand Strong for U.S. Soy Abroad

Federal government figures show U.S. soy continues to be in strong demand among international customers. Buyers outside of the U.S. purchased 1.5 billion bushels of whole U.S. soybeans in the latest marketing year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That makes U.S. soy one of the largest agricultural exports. And U.S. agriculture continues to lead all economic sectors with a positive balance of trade.

"Increasing demand for U.S. soy abroad has been the cornerstone of the soybean-checkoff-funded marketing efforts for the past 20 years," says Jim Call, a soybean farmer from Madison, MN. Call also chairs the United Soybean Board (USB) International Marketing program. "We focus not just on China, but on increasing sales in other international markets, as well."

"The soybean checkoff helps fund market-building activities like hosting international buying teams and conducting poultry and livestock feeding demonstrations abroad that prove the advantages of using U.S. soy," Call says.

Additional key soybean export figures for the 2010/2011 marketing year:

•U.S. soybean farmers helped export over 1.5 billion bushels of whole soybeans.

•Soybean meal from over 332 million bushels of soybeans was exported.

•Oil from approximately 290 million bushels of soybeans went to foreign customers.

Soy users in China weighed in as the top international customers of whole U.S. soybeans, buying 895 million bushels.

Other top importing markets for whole U.S. soybeans in the last marketing year include the following:

•Mexico – 124.3 million bushels

•Japan – 75.2 million bushels

•Indonesia – 71.03 million bushels

•Taiwan – 55.9 million bushels

The soybean checkoff funds international marketing efforts in more than 80 countries worldwide. These include market development, communications and education. (Corn & Soybean Digest online)

USDA to Hold Public Meeting on E. Coli Rules on December 1, 2011

In its greater move to remove risk of E. coli of more types in food, USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service is setting tougher standards. As part of the process, new rules are open for comment. And late Wednesday, the agency announced it would hold a public meeting on Dec. 1 to discuss implementation plans and methods for the new rules. The comment period on the rules has also been extended from Nov. 21 to Dec. 21.

The public teleconference will provide a forum for commenters to weigh in on the strategy FSIS plans to follow when it begins verifying for the presence of six new non-O157 Shiga-toxin producing E. coli on March 5, 2012.

This meeting will be available via teleconference, on a toll-free number. Pre-registration for this meeting is strongly suggested. To pre-register, access the FSIS website, at www.fsis.usda.gov/News/Meetings_&_Events/. Call-in information will be provided via e-mail to pre-registered participants. Anyone interested in making a public comment during the teleconference should indicate so on the registration form.