Forcing Change

摘要

Ethanol expansion is forcing the beef industry to change, but there is opportunity in that turmoil. As ethanol expansion continues, beef producers will be forced to become better managers in order to stay in business. That's the message delivered by aKansas State University economist Ted Schroeder during the recent Range Beef Cow Symposium in Mitchell, NE. In 2011, an estimated 40% of the U.S. corn crop was diverted to the production of ethanol. With more and more corn going into ethanol, producersare faced with growing feed costs, higher land values, and less revenue from what they produce. According to Schroeder, for every 1 bu. of corn made into ethanol, 2.8 gals, of ethanol are produced, and 17 lbs. of dry distillers grain (DDGs).