However, rising energy costs have had a more significant impact on consumer food prices than corn diverted to ethanol production, according to a recent analysis by John Urbanchuk of LECG, an Emeryville, Calif. The analysis found that a 33 percent rise in crude oil increases food prices by 0.6 to 0.9 percent as measured by the consumer price index. He said higher fuel costs also affect food processing and transportation to market and contribute to higher prices. He said food prices are...

However, the higher corn prices may be negative for some of the livestock producers that will have to bid for corn against ethanol plants and foreign exports. Generally, the growth of the ethanol industry likely will reduce the amount of corn available for exports or livestock feed. In a short crop year, the potential is for very strong corn prices as ethanol plants and other corn-dependent industries bid for limited stocks. The question for the industry is how many more acres will switch...

The lack of serious rain in Kentucky has farmers worried about their crops and water systems in danger of running short. Now my grain crops, that's a different story. Hornback, who also is a grain and tobacco grower, said the tobacco -- except for plants set recently -- is OK for now. I think the yield's hurt considerably on grain crops already. Without considerable rain in the next three weeks, there could be significant grain crop losses, he said. A late freeze set back hay and pastures,...

What's important is that the husks of corn be moist and green. That means getting yourself out to the nearest farmers' market or roadside stand for the sweetest corn ever. No summer food celebration would be complete without one of the greatest tastes of the season - sweet corn. As far as cooking goes, you can't go wrong by following the old adage about corn: "Start the water boiling, pick it and cook it. If you prepare grilled corn according to the editors' method, you can use a visual...

All the other farmers with all this corn have just been working themselves to death. Daniel knows many South Georgia farmers planted big crops of field corn, to take advantage of the ethanol demand for the crop. He says the irrigated crops will make it, but the dry land corn is a disaster because of the drought. Agronomists say scattered rain showers over the weekend gave some relief, but Georgia farmers are still a long way from recovering from the extreme drought. Despite drought, sweet...

In the Midwest, where little corn is raised for grain, more corn silage is being fed and being supplemented with steam- flaked corn with other byproducts. In preparation for the ration this fall, dairy producers who grow their own feed may want to devote more acreage to corn for silage this spring, and dairy producers who purchase their feed may want to contract more corn silage. While cost per hundredweight of milk is key to the bottom line, many of these other feeds also have risen in...