Ethanol producers want to expand the market for ethanol in the U.S. by promoting the use of motor gasoline with a 15 percent ethanol ratio, or E15. But their efforts are being frustrated by many hurdles that might delay the fuel’s commercialization for some time, attendees at an ethanol conference held last week were told.

“We need to better market this industry with a positive message [such as] consumer choice [over which fuel to use], paying less at the pump and people getting jobs and the more opportunities now available to rural America,” he said. “What is at stake is a [fight over the] value system and it starts with agriculture.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Margaret Hamburg said last Wednesday that if her agency does not get more money to implement the Food Safety Modernization Act, she can already predict an increase in foodborne illness and problems with imported food.

The state’s highest court found in favor of two Texas farmers who challenged the Edwards Aquifer Authority (EEA), according to the court’s ruling. In 1996, Burrell Day and Joel McDaniel requested a permit to pump water for crops from the Edwards Aquifer on a ranch near San Antonio.

Smith’s comments paralleled statements in USDA’s Livestock Outlook report, which said that consumption of red meat and poul try would drop roughly 6 pounds per capita in 2012. The average American will consume about 198 pounds of meat, the Outlook report stated.

House Agriculture Committee ranking member Collin Peterson, D-MN, told DTN he is pleased the Senate Agriculture Committee has advanced the schedule.

Ethanol and farm groups praised an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decision Feb. 17 to approve a higher level blend of ethanol known as E15, but the Environmental Working Group announced a campaign to discourage consumers from using it, and an Agriculture Department economist said he did not think it will win acceptance soon.

It’s been a warm winter everywhere, but the higherthan-usual temperatures have taken on different manifestations around the Corn Belt. In Illinois and Indiana, farmers have been fighting mud while trying to bring their winter corn commitments to market.

Almost exactly one year after launching the probe, in December of 2011, the Chinese government announced it would extend the probe until June 28 before making a final ruling. China’s Commerce Ministry called the case “special and complicated” and it warranted the extended months for the investigation.

Randy Main, Buffalo Center, IA, retailer is building a fertilizer condo. As the name implies, the condo is a facility where farmers can store their own UAN32 for a fee without having the expense and hassle of building and maintaining on-farm storage..