UPI Farming Today

Corn farmers want energy policy now

The National Corn Growers Association is trying to pressure the lame-duck Congress to approve a new energy policy that includes a renewable fuels standard.

The corn farmers group fears that a federal energy policy will contain no provisions for a fuel standard that would encourage increased use of ethanol, a corn-blend motor fuel, citing recent efforts by Rep. Billy Tauzin, R-La., to bring congressional conference committee negotiations to a close.

Tauzin's committee report would resolve the greater issue of an energy policy without any language concerning renewable fuels, and only provisions involving pipeline safety and reauthorization of the Price-Anderson Act that protects the nuclear power industry.

"An energy bill containing a renewable fuels standard is good for U.S. energy security, the economy and the environment," association President Fred Yoder said, noting his group has sent e-mail and made telephone calls to members of Congress.

Both the Democratic-controlled Senate and Republican-controlled House of Representatives approved differing versions of a federal energy bill during 2002. A conference committee has been trying to resolve differences in the two versions of the bill.

Farmers groups would like to see renewable fuels requirements that would require ethanol use to nearly triple by 2012.

But some lawmakers believe that requirement is too strict. Others do not believe the renewable fuels issue is worthy of holding up final approval on the energy bill as a whole.

Others would prefer to delay passage of the issue until next year, when Republicans take over the entire Congress and could likely pass any version of the energy bill they desired, without regard to Democrat concerns.

Yoder said he believes people would benefit if the current Congress dealt with the issue when they return to Washington this week to finish their business.

"It is a shame this important legislation may be so easily discarded," association lobbyist Jon Doggett said. "It will not only hurt American farmers, it will hurt all Americans."

Ethanol use urged by former CIA director

A former director of the Central Intelligence Agency said he wants the United States to use more ethanol as a way of reducing its use of oil produced in foreign countries.

R. James Woolsey, who was director of central intelligence under former President Bill Clinton, said he believes U.S. dependence on Middle East oil is helping indirectly to fund radical groups that are threatening U.S. security.

"The fact that North America is to farmland as Saudi Arabia is to oil means we have an opportunity to make a huge, huge impact in our country's own security, in the viability of agricultural societies around the world and to the environment," Woolsey wrote in

Commentary magazine.

Woolsey differs from U.S.-based farm groups in one respect; he prefers biomass-derived ethanol over a variety made from corn.

Appeal for surplus to feed hungry in Asia

A United Nations program is trying to get China to make available part of its grain surplus to help feed people who are starving in other countries throughout Asia.

The U.N.'s World Food Program tried to appeal to the sympathetic side of China Agriculture Ministry officials to allow their surplus grain to feed others, particularly people in North Korea and Afghanistan.

Food program Director James Morris noted the U.N. helped to feed hungry people in China when such aid was needed. He also plans to travel to Japan and South Korea to make similar appeals.

Aim is reclamation of grassland in Inner Mongolia

The Jilin Guotai biological factory has signed an agreement with government officials in Inner Mongolia autonomous region granting the factory land reclamation rights of degraded grassland for the next 30 years.

The agreement begins Jan. 1 and runs through 2032, and the factory will pay $361.45 per hectare for 30,000 hectares over the next three decades.

The factory will benefit from favorable foreign investment policy and revenue created by the development of the grassland, while the community will get an improved natural environment and well-developed grassland in the future.

Milk-based drink seems attractive, survey says

The California Milk Processor Board released a survey showing that 90 percent of people liked the concept of a Mexican drink made in part from milk.

Called licuados, they are made in a blender from cold milk and various fruits. The survey found that 90 percent liked the concept of licuados, and 93 percent liked the taste.

The milk board was trying to determine whether the drink popular in Mexico would have any appeal among people who are not of Mexican- or Spanish-speaking descent. More than 500 people between 25 and 45 living across California were included in the survey.

Grains finish mostly lower

Grains futures were mostly lower at the close of activity Monday on the Chicago Board of Trade.

Soybean futures rose due to solid interest in soy oil, but corn futures dropped because of a lack of new information that could have helped prices. Information was limited because of the Veterans Day holiday that postponed crop production and supply/demand reports

until Tuesday.

Wheat futures increased because of a lack of negative information, while oats futures were influenced by the corn price declines.

The prices:

Soybeans: Nov 5.74 up 10 3/4, Jan 5.68 1/4 up 9 3/4, Mar 5.62 1/4 up 9 1/2, May 5.56 1/2 up 10 3/4.

Corn: Dec 2.35 3/4 unch, Mar 2.40 1/2 off 1/4, May 2.43 1/4 off 1/2, Jul 2.46 off 1/4.

Wheat: Dec 3.83 1/2 up 1, Mar 3.85 up 1/2, May 3.60 1/2 up 3 1/2, Jul 3.21 1/4 up 1 3/4.

Oats: Dec 1.92 1/4 off 3 1/2, Mar 1.90 1/4 off 4 1/4, May 1.82 1/4 off 3 3/4, Jul 1.72 off 3.