AMI, other groups, urge president to immediately suspend import tariff on ethanol
The American Meat Institute, joined by more than 30 other organizations concerned about skyrocketing corn prices, sent a letter July 2 urging President Bush to exercise his emergency authority and immediately suspend the duties and quotas on imported ethanol used as a motor fuel additive. more
 

Shoppers ignore protests as U.S. beef hits South Korean outlet
The first trader to put U.S. beef on sale since South Korea lifted an import ban says demand has been steady, despite weeks of street protests against the supposed dangers of mad cow disease. "I hope this will help spread the idea among South Koreans that U.S. beef is safe. They ate it before, eat it now and will eat it in the future," he said. more
 

Buck Creek monitoring moves into watershed protection plan development
Results from a three-year monitoring study indicate that Buck Creek in the southeastern part of the Texas Panhandle is not excessively contaminated, and experts are advocating it should be taken off Texas' list of impaired water bodies. The next step is to establish a Watershed Protection Plan and do some bacteria-source tracking. It is anticipated this portion of the project should be completed by Aug. 31, 2009. more
 

Wary of theft, farmers padlocking diesel tanks
With the price of diesel skyrocketing, farmers and ranchers around the country are being targeted by ne'er-do-wells armed with syphon hoses and pumps. As more motorists buy locking gas caps for their vehicles, farmers and ranchers are also having to take steps to protect their fuel. more
 

Texas crop, weather, 7-1-08
Corn for grain varied from fair to good condition to a total loss from hail in some fields, according to Texas AgriLife Extension Service reports. AgriLife Extension ag agents in many western counties reported all dryland corn a total loss. In other areas and under irrigation, corn was doing better. According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service reports, which are compiled from AgriLife Extension county reports, Texas producers planted 2.45 million acres of corn for grain in 2008, up from 2.15 million acres in 2007. more