Chart of the Day

Non-feed uses of corn (from Big Picture Ag):

Corn ethanol use for 2011/12 is projected up 50 million bushels this month to 5,050 million as recent ethanol production data have been stronger than expected. While slowing from its peak in December 2011, ethanol production and use has been partly sustained by ethanol exports, as declining gasoline use and limits to blending ethanol have curbed domestic use.

Think about that.  We've turned all the food we could into fuel, at least as long as most cars can't handle more than a 10% blend, so now we're exporting it.  Meanwhile, beef and pork prices go higher, because feed costs so much.  What's up with that?

I remember about 10 or 12 years ago, the county extension agent was doing some monthly ag meetings.  We were talking about the huge 13 million bushel corn crop, and nobody had any idea what we'd do with all that corn.  I jokingly suggested burning it.  That really got one farmer excited.  He thought I was serious.  I wasn't, but apparently somebody else was.  I really think this is bad policy.