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"This is a big step forward in
confirming our commitment for the use of biodiesel fuel," says Deere's
Don Borgman. "Working with the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) we are
promoting the use of B2 fuel because it is readily available and meets the high-quality
fuel standards that we have set for our engines, and it is a positive
step toward adoption of renewable fuels."
Source: Doane's Agricultural Report; Vol. 68, No. 5-1; Feb. 4, 2005
South Korea is currently the world's second largest buyer of liquefied natural gas and is contracting future supply to gain discounts of reportedly up to 40 percent on current prices paid by the country.
South Korea has had problems meeting demand for the gas in recent years. Source: AFBF; Executive Newswatch; Feb. 18, 2005
Big beef
merger afoot
ContiBeef LLC and Smithfield Foods Inc. say they will merge their cattle feedlots under a joint venture that will become the largest U.S. cattle feeding business.
Under the 50/50 deal, which should start operations by April 30, Smithfield's four feedlots and ContiBeef's six feedlots will be operated as a stand-alone company with a one-time cattle feeding capacity of 811,000 head. That will surpass Cactus Feeders Inc. of Amarillo, which currently tops the industry with a capacity of about 500,000 head, industry sources said.
Source: Doane's Agricultural Report;
Vol. 68, No. 7-1; Feb. 18, 2005
Farm programs help
U.S. farmers compete
U.S. farm program payments are helping today's farm families survive and compete in a global marketplace, according to the American Farm Bureau.
The latest statistics indicate that Japan subsidizes its farmers to the tune of $3,960 per acre. The European unit comes in second at $320 per acre, while the United States lags at a mere $49 an acre.
World trade talks are our best hope to correct this market manipulation by our competitors, but without the pressure of our farm program, the road to fairer trade will be a treacherous path.
Source: AFBF; The Ag Agenda:
March 2005
Catfish sales
swim upstream
Catfish growers in the 11 selected states had sales of $480 million during 2004, up 13 percent from the previous year.
The top four States (Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, and Louisiana) accounted for 95 percent of the U.S. total sales. Nationwide sales of all foodsize fish increased 14 percent from 2003 to $451 million. Fingerlings and fry sales totaled $22.2 million, an increase of 4 percent from 2003. Sales of stockers totaled $6.26 million in 2004, a 1 percent decrease from the previous year.
The water surface acres being used for catfish production as of Jan.1, 2005, totaled 174,000 acres, down 2 percent from the 178,000 acres used a year earlier.
Mississippi has the largest number of catfish producers with 410 operations, while Texas has 36 operations.
Source: NASS; Catfish Production;
Feb. 3, 2005
McDonald's king of fast food chicken strips
McDonald's announced that it is now the largest seller of chicken strips and sandwiches, amounting to the use of 5.5 million birds per week.
Ralph Alvarez, president of McDonald's North America, says that approximately one-third of McDonald's U.S. menu is chicken-based. Studies indicate that white meat consumption is up and that 60 percent of all chicken sold in the restaurant industry is served by fast food restaurants.
Source: AFBF; Executive Newswatch; Feb. 16, 2005
Soil amendment
stores water
Absorbent Technologies, Inc. (ATI), of Beaverton, Ore., has received a U.S. patent for Zeba, its starch-based soil amendment.
When applied, each particle can absorb up to 400 times its weight in water, then release and reabsorb water repeatedly as needed by the plant, remaining effective for up to one year or more.
Source: Doane's Agricultural Report;
Vol. 68, No. 8-1; Feb. 25, 2005
