crop report

Biofuels on the Edge with Walter Cronin

Biofuels are key to decarbonize transportation in the energy transition. However, poor harvests, weak regulatory support, war and inflation all threaten the key grain and oilseed feedstocks. Money is flowing into processing and infrastructure, but have the risks been priced in? This year only Brazil’s bumper crop of soybean has saved global supply after atrocious harvests in Argentina and a US crop on the brink of disaster only saved by early August rains. What happens if Ukraine harvest is further degraded or, unthinkably, ceased due to the use of tactical nukes? On the regulatory side, has EPA undermined the US administrations goals around biofuels? What happens to biofuel production if we face a global harvest shortage? In this episode, investor and biofuels expert, Walter Cronin returns to discuss the state and future of biofuels.

In today’s show we welcome Dr. Charles Hurburgh. Charlie manages the Iowa State Grain Quality Research Laboratory and the extension-based Iowa Grain Quality Initiative that’s focused on grain handling, grain processing, grain distribution. 

Charlie is a native Iowan and continues to operate the family farm. He has a bachelor's degree, master's degree, and doctoral degree from Iowa State, and specializes in quality management systems with related traceability, measurement, and sensor technologies. He has been a GEAPS member since 1983 and was elected in 2022 as a GEAPS International Board Director.

He serves on several key advisory and editorial committees related to quality management standards and food safety regulations. Most recently his extension group was asked by the FDA to create training materials for inspections of bulk grain and grain processing facilities under the Food Safety Modernization Act. 

He is the author of more than 250 technical and general articles on grain quality, measurement science, and grain marketing. 

We discuss a number of topics including:

• Grain quality 
• Annual crop quality and crop storage reports
• Culture change within the grain handling and processing industry 
• FDA and the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) 
• Traceability

Be sure to visit the GEAPS website and the membership page to learn about all the membership benefits.  

Grain Elevator and Processing Society champions, connects and serves the global grain industry and its members. Be sure to visit GEAPS’ website to learn how you can grow your network, support your personal professional development, and advance your career. Thank you for listening to another episode of GEAPS’ Whole Grain podcast.

In this episode of Feedstuffs Precision Pork, Dave Bauer, senior market analyst for Provimi, offers some hog market perspective and market highlights for the week as well as provides things to think in the week ahead.

This week there was finally some relaxing of the market’s wild ride but Bauer isn’t so sure it’s going to hold. He explains. 

Exports were disappointing for the week. Mexico led all buyers. What’s the trend there?

These are uncertain times, and it will pay dividends to be well-prepared. If you have questions on this week’s recap or want to discuss something not covered, feel free to ASK DAVE at David_Bauer@cargill.com

Plan today for tomorrow’s success.

Follow Feedstuffs Precision Pork on your favorite podcast platform or find it on www.Feedstuffs.com and www.NationalHogFarmer.com