CORN

Shaping the future

Erik Younggren wants to play a role in shaping his future. In the process, he’ll help to shape the future of other wheat farmers, too. The Hallock, Minn., farmer is the new president of the National Association of Wheat Growers.

By Jonathan Knutson , April 02, 2012

Latest News

Animal cruelty petitions ready for circulation

By Agweek wire reports , April 02, 2012

Do you believe the science?

PIERRE, S.D. — It wasn’t that long ago that I read an article about a young man who was circulating a petition to outlaw the chemical DHMO, or dihydrogen monoxide.

By Walt Bones , April 02, 2012

Gevo in the news

REDFIELD, S.D. — Redfield Energy LLC of Redfield, S.D., is switching from ethanol to isobutanol in a project funded by Gevo Inc., a biofuel technology company in Englewood, Colo.

By Mikkel Pates , April 02, 2012

Leap year?

REDFIELD, S.D. — Redfield Energy LLC is making a leap this year, using its own ethanol plant as a springboard and with money from a big new partner for the muscle.

By Mikkel Pates , April 02, 2012

All hail, King Corn

Key USDA report expects farmers to plant a lot more corn acres and less wheat acres.

By Jonathan Knutson , March 30, 2012

Watch out of freezing temperatures

Elwynn Taylor, Iowa State University Extension Service climatologist, warned farmers about planting too early. He says that while Iowa temperatures are breaking 1936 Dust Bowl records lately, farmers there should expect a freeze. He expects warm temperatures into this week then the weather could change. He notes that here has been only one year out of the past 100 when farmers could have planted on March 15 and everything would have been fine. One chance in a hundred is tough odds. That one year was 1946.

By Sue Martin , March 26, 2012

Markets retreat

The wheat markets had losses of 15 to 26 cents last week. The winter wheat markets had the larger losses due to beneficial rains in much of the winter wheat belt and losses in the corn market. Minneapolis wheat had lighter losses due to strong export sales and lingering concerns about dry soil conditions in the Northern Plains. Markets will likely spend this week positioning ahead of the March 30 reports.

By Ray Grabanski , March 26, 2012

Sunflower 'Giant' expands into corn

FARGO, N.D. — Giant Snacks Inc., of Wahpeton, N.D., is expanding from its sunflower business and is starting to produce a “toasted corn snack.” The company calls it an announcement “of importance similar to when the firm launched its Giant Sunflower brand.”

By Mikkel Pates , March 26, 2012

Franklin, Minn., is unlikely biomass test kitchen

FRANKLIN, Minn. — The Minnesota Valley Alfalfa Producers are striving to concoct the right recipe for rural economic development and energy independence.

By Tom Cherveny , March 26, 2012

Planting earlier than usual this spring

It’s not unusual for William Ferguson to start planting his spring wheat in March. The Witten, S.D., farmer, who began planting in mid-March this year, is in a section of south-central South Dakota where early planting is fairly common.

By Jonathan Knutson , March 26, 2012

Exports drive market

The corn market was up 30 cents last week in old crop, while new crop contracts gained about 10 cents. Talk of increased exports to China provided direction to the market early last week, while the possibility of an early planting season due to warm weather in the Corn Belt was talked about through the second half of last week.

By Ray Grabanski , March 19, 2012

Farm groups testify at ag hearing

WASHINGTON — After a final hearing on the next farm bill, Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., said March 15 she will hold a markup on the bill “as soon as possible,” while the National Association of Wheat Growers called for passage of the bill before Sept. 30.

By Jerry Hagstrom , March 19, 2012

Farmers steamed over plan for MF Global bonuses

WASHINGTON — A bankruptcy trustee’s proposal to give bonuses to MF Global executives to find money it owes farmers around the country is "unethical" and "sick," victims said Monday.

By Jim Spencer , March 13, 2012

Durum decline

Keith Deutsch knows that part of his job is promoting his crop. He knows he needs to be realistic, too. “It just doesn’t look too good for this spring,” says Deutsch. a Plaza, N.D., farmer and president of the U.S. Durum Growers Association. “It may sound strange for someone from the association to be saying that.” But Deutsch and other area durum boosters say they have to acknowledge the obvious.

By Jonathan Knutson , March 12, 2012