Combines Is corn the crop of the futureIJ

[Deereman84]

I think all grain would be great if we started producing more of our own fuel from it instead of relying so heavily on imported crude. The economics have to be falling into place with the way oil prices are going. Why do we import so much of what we can produce right here and do it better than anybody elseIJ Here is an example: I live in central WA in what is one of the most diverse ag production areas in the world. Somebody did a count of the crops grown here in the Columbia Basin and it was something like 80 different crops (not varieties) grown here. My local Costco lies in the middle of the world's greatest (quality speaking) apple production area of the country if not the world. I went to the Costco to get some stuff for the shop and the house and looked at the apples being sold there. Of the four varieties they had, three were from New Zealand and Chile. When I left and walked out the front of the store, I bet that I could see over a thousand acres of prime apple orchards on the surrounding countryside. Those guys are struggling to make a living just like a lot of farmers these days and we are allowing our markets to be overrun by imports. Can someone explain this to meIJ The only reason that I can see is that the politicians prefer a cheap food supply made of inferior food instead of a healthy ag economy. I have a theory. Eliminate subsidies and give the American Farmer our markets back. I am sure that food prices would rise, but by eliminating the subsidies you let the taxpayer keep that money and you eliminate a huge government bureaucracy and the waste that it creates. Maybe I am way off base here, but I would like to hear what others think of this.

 

[hank]

I agree- but to make it work all other countries have to eliminate their subsidies to their farmers- like france- and how are you going to get them to do thatIJ

 

[ben]

Don't see how it could be when it is held up by gov't support. And with high nitrogen prices and enviromental c0ncerns with ground water. But you never know for sure.

 

[pbutler]

If you farm in the US then I would say yes. South America has the capacity to grow so many more beans-and they already grow more than we do. Markets for corn also seem to be expanding faster. Hopefully Biodiesel will pick up steam but it isn't keeping pace with ethanol. My opinion is if you farm in the central US and want to maximize your profits continuous corn is something I would being investigating. Or at least go to a 2 or 3 year rotation instead of every other. Good luck.

 

[Rod]

It's good to here that someone in the US can see the detremental affects of production and export subsidies. Here in Australia we have virtually no agricultural subsidies and most farmers are struggling to make ends meet. We have excactly the same problem with imports. Here in this area there is (was) a lot of oranges grown but due to huge imports from Brazil, California and Florida at unbeleivably low prices, the locals cannot survive. How can it be that oranges or wheat or canola or soybeans or pork - whatever the commodity - can be grown, processed, transported, distributed through wholesalers in one country, then exported to another country -thousands of miles overseas, to be transported again through wholesalers, then retailers and finally to be sold at lOWER prices than the local growers can grow the commodity for! And it's not because the local growers are inefficient. From my travels and working in the US over 20 years, mainly in the mid west and northern California, I can see and hear very little evidance of benefit of production and export subsidies. As far as I can work out, ag. subsidies or purely for political reasons. Politicians want to keep a certain amount of population "in the country" otherwise there would be even more overcrowding in cities leading to civil distruption(s) and politicians want "cheap" food for the masses otherwise there would be total anarchy in the streets. If city people had to pay the real cost of food there would be an uproar the magnitude that has never been seen. So it's much easier for the politicians of the subsidising countries to just ignore the problem and keep handing out the money to pacify the population instead of really sitting down to define the problem(s) and work out meaningfull remedies with all countries. You may ask: "what about the WTO, isn't that supposed to look after everyones interestIJ" You're right, it supposed to. But how does the the WTO work affectivley when very powerfull countries or groupings of countries totally ignore the recommendations or obstain from voting or undermine the votingIJ

 

[farmertim]

Try marijuana,3000lbs._acre x 4000$_lb = 1.2 million_acre. Just don't get caught!!!!

 

[farmertim]

Try marijuana,3000lbs._acre x 4000$_lb = 1.2 million_acre. Just don't get caught!!!!

 

[FR]

It all depends on what area you are located here in the midwest there building a lot of of new ethanol plants so corn may become king but I think Brasil will eventually lead the way for beans. Just My 2 cents.

 

[ndfarmne]

I don't know that one certain crop will be the future. I think what we will see more of is crops being grown for what is in them. Certainly fuel is one thing, but I know of companies that are looking for crops that have high levels of nutrients. One is selenium, and there are other antioxidents that can be found in certain grains. ps If I remember right you go to school at DSU in Dickinson N.D. I farm about 35 miles from there. Where are you from originallyIJ tj

 

[gman]

Can I harvest it with my 8010IJIJ