POSTAL CUSTOMER
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Paid Permit #36 OMAHA, NE
December 26, 2013 Volume 17 Issue 26
Check out our Agstuff Classifieds Pages 24-27
FFA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-10, 13-14, 16-19 Weather ..............................2
Country Living House Plan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Recipes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
The Lighter Side Lee Pitts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Markets Grains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Livestock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Government Report Government Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Ag Management Trust Key to Leasing Success . . . . .12
Ethanol Industry Marks Six Years of Success With Renewable Fuel Standard
Livestock News Heartland Cattle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Production News No-till Organic Crop Rotation Workshop. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Schedule of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Robert Pore, The Grand Island Independent Concern spreads about the future of the nation’s ethanol industry because of proposed intervention by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to change the Renewable Fuel Standard. But on the sixth anniversary of President George W. Bush's signing into law the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA), a new study shows that the RFS has provided a positive impact to the nation's economy and environment. An EPA proposal would significantly weaken the Renewable Fuel Standard by reducing the volumes for corn-based ethanol for 2014. Nebraska’s ethanol industry is the second largest in the nation. Much of its growth has happened in the last six years since Bush signed the EISA. The proposed rule would cap corn-based (or conventional) ethanol at 13 billion gallons. It would cut 1.4 billion gallons from the
For daily agriculture news, updates and local happenings, visit the Heartland Express website at www.myfarmandranch.com
conventional ethanol cap that was set at 14.4 billion gallons. The EPA proposal comes at a time where corn prices have declined from its record highs last year that were brought about by the drought that impacted production in the nation’s Corn Belt. Along with lower corn prices, a record corn crop was harvested this year. Both the lower prices and increased corn supply would have increased ethanol production and added value to Nebraska’s economy. The state has more than 23 ethanol plants in operation, many of which had to temporarily shut down or lower production when corn prices were high and supplies were tight. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, ethanol production earlier this month in the nation reached a 23-month high. The four-week average for ethanol production stood at 928,000 barrels per day for an annualized rate of 14.23 billion gallons. According to the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), EISA was passed by the Senate on a vote of 86-6 and the House on a vote of 314-100. The
centerpiece of EISA was the greatly expanded Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). According to the RFA, that new RFS required "rapid growth in the consumption of renewable fuels, culminating in 36 billion gallons in 2022. In addition, the law required renewable fuels to meet certain environmental performance thresholds and created specific categories for cellulosic and advanced biofuels." In a signing ceremony at the Department of Energy, President Bush said, "Today, we make a major step with the Energy Independence and Security Act. We make a major step toward reducing our dependence on oil, confronting global climate change, expanding production of renewable fuels and giving future generations a nation that is stronger, cleaner and more secure." According to Bob Dinneen, president and CEO of the RFA, in the six years since Bush signed the EISA into law, "tremendous progress has been made toward achieving the original Continued on page 12
MARKET GLANCE Livestock and Products, Weekly Average
Crops, Daily Spot Prices Year Ago 4 Wks Ago 12/13/13
Nebraska Slaughter Steer 35-65% Choice, Live Weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$123.56 Nebraska Feeder Steers, Med. & Large Frame, 550-600# . . . . . . . . . . . .170.19 Med & Large Frame, 750-800 # . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .152.79 Choice Boxed Beef, 600-750# Carcass . . . . . . . . . .195.04 Western Corn Belt Base Hog Price . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79.21 Feeder Pigs, National Direct, 50#, FOB . . . . . . . . . . . .* Pork Carcass Cutout, 185#, 51-52% Lean . . . . . . . .83.69 Slaughter Lambs, Ch. & Pr.,Heavy, SD Dir. . . . . . . . .95.50 Nat. Carcass Lamb Cutout, FOB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .300.12
131.16
130.41
189.53 198.37 172.36 169.83 202.25 201.32 79.87 78.43 * * 92.94 88.81 159.75 155.87 340.62 355.63
Wheat, No. 1, H.W. Imperial, bu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7.90 Corn, No. 2, Yellow, Omaha, bu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7.34 Soybeans, No. 1 Yellow Omaha, bu . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14.91 Grain Sorg. No. 2 Yellow, Dorchester, cwt . . . . . . . . .12.34 Oats, No. 2, Heavy Minneapolis, MN, bu. . . . . . . . . . .4.04
6.58 4.08 12.54 7.25 3.71
6.32 4.18 12.90 7.18 3.75
* 135.00 115.00 211.00 59.50
225.00 135.00 115.00 224.00 62.50
Hay (per ton) Alfalfa, Lrg. Sq. Bales Good to Prem., NE Neb. . . . . . . .* Alfalfa, Lrg. Rounds, Good, Platte Valley, . . . . . . . . .215.00 Grass Hay, Lrg. Rounds, Premium, Neb., . . . . . . . . .215.50 Dried Distillers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .281.00 Wet Distillers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103.00 * No market.