testing & some grain thoughts

[idalivered]

good start  in iowa and smn. Most noticeable thing is the amount of corn on corn. Everywhere! we have soybean processors in fairmont, eagle grove, emmetsburg, and mankato, they might have to ship in soybeans next year. Soybeans exports and crush continue at a good pace. this soy market could get interesting about the first of sept.

[kraft-t]

To much fuel is consumed in raising a bushel of corn to use it to produce ethanol. Too inefficient.  Yet when we were raising billions of  price depressing surplus bushel we needed to find increased usage. Ethanol was born and advocated fro replacement of MTBE.

Now that they invested the millions to produce ethanol, it is so inefficient because feeders thought they had the right to cheap corn forever. Like that is almost scritpural in nature. How dare they burn corn when people or livestock can eat it?  How then does a cotton farmer justify producing cotton when they could be producing food?

And now we are confronted with the large poil spill off Lousiana. We shouldn't be drilling for oil there.  That area is producing natures harvest of oysters, shrimp and other marine products that can and are eaten by human beings. How efficent is that oil production at the cost of ruining the environment? It aint exactly free.

I don't know why anyone thinks that corn farmers have an obligation to produce food products. WE should be able to produce any salable product the public will buy. That is capitalism at work. If feeders don't want to pay $3 plus for  corn then we need to use our land for somethiong else. JUst like the big banks. Our responsibility is not to deliver what the consuming public needs. Our responsibility is to make money like any other business. Compare us to a wall street banker or a health insurance company if you must.

[northcorn]

oncearound - hear are the comp's

This year USDA in last mondays report has the corn crop at 87% planted  VS 78% five year and  61% last year

Emergence  is at 55% VS 39% last year and 28% five yr avg.

so not only is this crop planting pace in the top 3 but the emergence is well above the five yr. last year pace.

put the big kicker is that the % emerged VS % planted is also one of the fastest in history

I know USDA is just fudging the numbers.

[oncearound]

seeing as how the 08,09 seasons had 2 of the slowest paces on record..................that does not surprise me, you?

"put the big kicker is that the % emerged VS % planted is also one of the fastest in history"......................in "history"???? LOL

here's the real "kicker" in reality.........................compare 5 years, note that 2 (08, 09) of those years being some the slowest on record..................... to this alledged "super start" of a year. the emergence of 2010 does not keep pace with  ultra fast plantings of 2010 when compared to the 5 year average as the numbers clearly display. only this latest report issued on 5/17/10 does the emergence jump to more normal stats versus the % planted.................

4/26/10

planted was 50%.............emerged.......7%

05-09 average

planted was 22%..............emerged............5%

___________________________________

5/03/10

planted was 68%...............emerged 19%

05-09 average

planted was 40%......................emerged 9%

______________________________________

5/10/10

planted was 81%....................emerged 39%

05-09 average

planted was 62%.................emerged 21%

__________________________________________

5/17/10

planted was 87%...................emerged 55%

05-09 average

planted was 78%.......................emeregd 39%

[p-oed Farmer]

Well said Kraft-t........... p-oed

[vrbuck]

I can't believe I just heard a free market speach from one of the most marxist, socialist person that posts here.  I guess if it effects a Democrat directly we must let the free market decide.   Socialist medicine and social security is a different discussion though.

[oncearound]

ditto to what vrbuck said!

[Artifice]

Kraf,t good points.

Though I would say we should be drilling in the gulf,  bad disaster but a rarity. 

Art

[Artifice]

Aribtrage/ logistics determine were crude goes, of course the US is the largest net importer of crude, energy.

http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/country/index.cfm

statement - "

gulf of Mexico crude is  consumed here, though much is refined

in the Caribbean."

Artifice

[Artifice]

The last refinery built here was in WV, maybe 20 - 25 years ago?

Some crude goes to refineries off shore and comes back as products.

Artifice