Other considerations for farmers in 2013 and beyond are short-term rates, grain-buying strategies and fuel.

Cattlemen express concerns as EPA Administrator nominee goes before Senate in confirmation hearing.

The agency says a waiver would do little to reduce corn prices.

Program includes expedited review for drought-related loan requests, support for affiliated associations’ local drought-assistance efforts.

Facility resumes operations a week after USDA closed it down amid video allegations of dairy cow abuse. Company still is suspended from supplying meat to federal food programs.

The following information was released by the Nebraska Corn Board:While the drought is having a profound impact on crop production, thanks to ethanol production there is a larger and more flexible corn supply than was available during previous droughts of this magnitude.Today’s USDA report confirms what we already knew that the drought’s impact on supply and price will be felt by corn consumers around the world, stated Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Executive Director Monte Shaw. Yet, the ag sector has seen droughts before, and it will survive again. This is a time when all of agriculture should pull together. Unfortunately, national livestock trade associations have chosen to politicize the on-going drought as part of their multi-year effort to return corn prices to $2 per bushel.* (see below) At times like this, it is important to look past the rhetoric to the facts. And the fact is that ethanol production provides a benefit to Midwestern livestock producers in many ways.