Activity has seen a significant pick up recently, but some major areas of the Cornbelt remain behind average, either due to producers catching up after a very long delay or continuing to wait for the soil to dry. The delay can be attributed to the slow planting pace of corn and continued assessment of damage to winter wheat crops. However, the full extent of damage will not be known until harvest. The spring planting pace in the Midwest has been tied to the slow progress of corn planting....

A new corn hybrid that may have one-half of one percent of the market this year has the ethanol industry worried that it could jeopardize exports of distillers dried grains and solubles (DDGS) Export markets are quickly becoming a major component of the distillers grains market. In the grain use/marketing commitment that Agrisure buyers sign, farmers are asked to list how they plan to use the harvested corn. Lee also said it's strange that such concern has been generated over what amounts...

This alcohol-based alternative fuel is produced when starch crops like corn are fermented and distilled into simple sugars. The demand for ethanol is increasing land costs in Iowa as farmers increase their corn crops. Department of Agriculture reported that the nation's farmers intend to plant 15 percent more corn acres in 2007, an increase of 12. Childers said buyers in these areas are predominately local agriculture producers looking to expand the businesses they already have, not energy...

But officials today say the hold-up likely won't wash away plans for record corn acreage this year as farmers seek to cash in on high prices fueled by growing demand for ethanol. Farmers say the wet spring will be an advantage once corn is planted, providing subsoil moisture to feed the crop if it dries up this summer. A wet spring is slowing corn planting across much of Illinois. Planting is lagging about ten days behind across much of the state due to above-average rainfall that has kept...

If more acres are dedicated to corn, fewer acres will be available for soybeans, a key crop in the company's oilseeds business. With more corn acres planted, analysts predicted falling corn prices. The higher corn costs have been a concern in recent quarters, but a report released at the end of March helped ease fears. The improving market for high fructose corn syrup -- another ADM product -- also will help offset corn prices. OVERVIEW: Archer Daniels Midland, the country's largest...