Nebraska Corn Checkoff Update

April 2008

Higher Energy Costs Driving Changes, Food Prices: According to a study released by Texas A & M, higher energy prices are driving the changes that we are witnessing in agriculture today. Rising fertilizer and diesel fuel prices would have to lead to an increase in commodity prices and these increases in energy prices led to a reduction of 3 million acres of corn in 2006-2007. Another key finding is that the prices of bread, eggs, and milk are unrelated to ethanol or corn prices and are being driven by fundamental supply and demand relationships. The full report can be downloaded at the Texas A & M’s Agricultural and Food Policy Center website, http://www.afpc.tamu.edu/.

South Korea Agrees to Imports of US Beef: Nebraska’s beef industry welcomed the good news that South Korea agreed to open up their markets again to Nebraska and US beef. When the markets open in mid-May, South Korea will allow beef of all ages as is stated in the World Health Organization (OIE) guidelines. South Korea was the third largest export market prior to US’s first BSE case in 2003.

NASS Estimates Planted Corn Acres Down: The National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) released their projected planted acres for 2008 with the second largest planting in at least the last 30 plus years. NASS projects US planted corn acreage at 86 million acres. This is down from last year’s planted acres of 93.6 million acres. In Nebraska, NASS estimates planted acres at 8.8 million acres, which is the second largest planted acres in the last 10 years. This estimate is down from last year’s planted acres of 9.4 million acres.

NCB Sponsors State FFA Convention, Proficiency Awards: The Nebraska Corn Board (NCB) continues to be a major sponsor of the Nebraska State FFA Convention that was recently held in Lincoln, NE. The NCB sponsored and presented the Diversified Agricultural Production – Entrepreneurship/ Placement, Diversified Livestock Production – Entrepreneurship and Diversified Livestock Production – Placement proficiency awards during the awards banquet. In addition, the NCB provides a flex fuel vehicle for the state FFA offices to utilize in chapter visits, speeches and meetings across the state.

NCB Supports Free Trade Agreements: The Nebraska Corn Board signed onto a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi calling for the immediate discussion and passage of the Columbia and South Korea Free Trade Agreements. The letter focused primarily on the opportunities to increase meat sales in this time of high feed costs to the livestock industry.

NCB Presents Annual Corn Tabloid Awards: The Nebraska Corn Board presented the annual Corn Tab awards to three Nebraska newspapers during the recently held Nebraska Press Association Annual Convention. Awarded the Corn Tab award for a daily newspaper was the York News-Times, awarded for a weekly publication over 1500 circulation was Johnson Publications and awarded for a weekly publication under 1500 circulation was Scoop Media, LLC.

Nebraska Corn Checkoff Update is published monthly for corn industry leaders and others in Nebraska. For more information, call: 1.800.NECORN1 (632-6761) or send an e-mail to NCB.Info@nebraska.gov. Additional information can be found at the Nebraska Corn Board’s website, www.nebraskacorn.org.

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