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Will Brazilian Ethanol Really Compete With US Ethanol?

The ethanol economy remains strong and healthy, even without the blenders’ credit and the import tariff which expired at the end of 2011.  There were few that would have imagined that several years ago, based on the strength of the lobbying efforts of the corn and ethanol associations.  However, the lack of expected competition from Brazil has been the reason for today’s ethanol market.  That market has US ethanol being shipped to Brazil, just the opposite of what had been predicted.  But how long will that be the case, and could it change?

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Posted by Stu Ellis on 01/26 at 01:24 AM | (0) Comments | Permalink

What IS Your Corn Marketing Plan?

How about those corn prices?  Oh, you’re not very excited about corn prices, you say?  March corn has bounced between $5.75 and $6.75 and new crop corn has had an 85¢ swing.  With such excitement, what is there to complain about?  Oh, predictable stability at high prices, is what you want?  Well, we all need to work on that.  But in the meantime, we have to work on a marketing plan with the cards that have been dealt to us.

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Posted by Stu Ellis on 01/24 at 07:40 AM | (0) Comments | Permalink

Livestock Feed Supplies Remain Tight, But Not Worsening.

The deteriorated pasture and rangeland pushed many head of cattle into feedlots at an early point in their cycle, and Friday’s Cattle on Feed report reflected that glut, with a high number on feed, but low numbers entering feedlots and being marketed.  With the weather still uncooperative, many livestock producers are concerned about the outlook for feed in the coming year.  Will there be enough, given all of the dynamics pushing and pulling on the supply?  Answers follow.

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Posted by Stu Ellis on 01/23 at 01:22 AM | (1) Comments | Permalink

Begin Your Crop Year With Lower Insurance Premiums

With another potential impact from LaNina this year, how will you be managing your yield risk?  Some farmers will have a plan to not manage it, but others will be visiting crop insurance agents soon after visiting with their lenders.  And anyone who inquires about premiums for 2012 may be pleasantly surprised with what their agent says.  Really.

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Posted by Stu Ellis on 01/19 at 01:52 AM | (0) Comments | Permalink

What Is To Blame For The Recent Collapse Of Corn Prices?

The grain markets were rising from mid-December until the USDA’s Final 2011 Crop Production Report, Supply Demand Report, and Quarterly Grain Stocks Report, which were all released on January 12.  Declining yields in Brazil and Argentina had been pushing up values at the CME, until last Thursday, until the USDA released data that surprised the market.  Corn closed down the 40-cent limit, and both bean and wheat markets also collapsed with abandon.  Was the market drop the result of USDA finding a lot more available grain to supply the domestic and global demand, or was it the result of something else?

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Posted by Stu Ellis on 01/17 at 10:37 PM | (3) Comments | Permalink

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