But society, as a whole, is not any richer because Monet paintings are more expensive or because stocks are more expensive or because a hedge fund manager makes a billion dollars. There could be a kind of hyper blow-off in several financial markets, before the end comes. When the Fed (actually the Treasury) prints up an extra dollar bill, the gesture lacks sincerity; like a duelist who first smiles and shakes your hand, then walks back twenty paces and pulls a trigger; you know he didn't...

Soybeans and corn went pouring out of the Watonwan Farm Service's primary grain elevator after a lightning bolt hit it, leaving a hole in the elevator and starting a small fire. The less-full soybean silo quickly emptied while corn poured and poured as people stood in the streets and watched sun set on this town of 719 people. Lighting strikes silo in town north of Albert Lea, and corn pours out. Glenna Kristy, who lives nearby, said there was a lot of thunder and lightning when the storm...

This is the northernmost confirmed rust on soybean in Texas and the seventh county with rust in the state this year. The targets include the traditional diseases plus soybean rust. Scouting continues across the state, as do applications of fungicides, especially in the southern parishes. No rust in Georgia, yet, but on alert In response to the news of the latest Gadsden County, Florida, rust find (above), Bob Kemerait of the University of Georgia put up the following commentary: "It is now...

TRADE: Following Oil Boom, Biofuel Eyed In Africa By Michael Deibert PARIS, Jul 13 (IPS) - While oil profits have flooded into countries such as Angola and Nigeria in recent decades, some African observers see new potential for the continent in the form of increasingly in-demand biofuels. TRADE: Following Oil Boom, Biofuel Eyed In Africa By Michael Deibert PARIS, Jul 13 (IPS) - While oil profits have flooded into countries such as Angola and Nigeria in recent decades, some African...

SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Business -- Ford to use soybean-based foam in Mustang seats rather than petroleum-based material. July 12, 2007 DETROIT Ford Motor co. will put soybean-based foam cushions in the seats of the 2008 Mustang and may do the same with other models as well, eventually saving thousands of barrels of oil in the manufacturing process, the Detroit automaker said Thursday Most automakers use petroleum-based foam, with an average of 30 pounds going into each vehicle, Ford...