economics

Information To Help Your Operations

1. Audio: How Will Europe's Mess Affect My Grain Prices? - Kansas State Research and Extension Ag Economist Dan O'Brien discusses the relationship between the European Community Crisis and commodity prices around the world [audio].
2. Audio: How Do We Make Animal ID happen? - Veterinarians and computer IT folks don't speak the same launguage. Yet, information technology plays a critical role in animal identification, standards, and software to help pull together efficient and accurate animal identification systems [audio].
3. Video: Authentically Agriculture - Who is leading the conversation about agriculture today? Many people would answer with consumers, HSUS, Michael Pollan, and Jamie Oliver, to name a few. Why can't people in agriculture be leading the conversation and thought leadership?

DairyCast 0458 Show Notes:

• Kansas State Research and Extension Ag Economist Dan O'Brien discusses the relationship between the European Community Crisis and commodity prices around the world.

Foot and Mouth Disease presents special problems for the dairy industry which are reason for special planning, like the Secure Milk Supply Project. Dr. Pam Hullinger, University of California-Davis, shares this update with attendees at the National Institute for Animal Agriculture annual meeting. Dr. Hullinger's full presentation along with many others from this important industry meeting are available online at TruffleMedia.com.

Regulation Impacts on Producers and Animal Health Professionals Modern animal ag has become a math problem: reduced land use, more people, more food consumption, less water, and transit costs changing. Add in the need to be global and the need to understand animal welfare and the idea of raising livestock become more complex. Dr. Anthony A. Frank, President, Colorado State University, suggests farmers and ranchers need to avoid the trap question "Do you want safe food or affordable food?" and that the real answer is to provide both and turn back to the dialog within the middle ground [audio].

Markets Make The World Go Around Markets exist to help smooth the flow of information and make the future more predictable. But sometimes it takes a Ph.D. to figure out what is going on when corn goes above $8 and you are sitting on several thousand bushels.

To help figure out markets in general, look in to the video Backwardation Bullish or Bearish (less than 5 minutes, from The Khan Academy). This is a very simple video but it helps set the tone about markets and what they might do. For a more advanced look at futures markets, check out this Yale University Forwards and Futures class lecture (~1 hour 10 minutes).

DairyCast 0450 Show Notes:

• Talking with a livestock group, House Ag Committee Chair Congressman Frank Lucas recently spent some time walking through the current climate in Washington, D.C. and gave his thoughts on the next Farm Bill, where it stands and what might happen.  Please pass this one to others in your organization.