Governor hosts annual Ag Conference in Kearney
by
Amy West
Story Created:
Mar 2, 2011 at 8:01 PM CDT
Story Updated:
Mar 2, 2011 at 8:01 PM CDT
From Cap and Trade to the Humane Society ag experts and lobbyists discussed the biggest issues facing the Ag industry during the 23rd annual Governor's Ag Conference in Kearney Wednesday.
"We need less regulation not more regulation and we need common sense legislation out of the Environmental Protection Agency," said Governor Dave Heineman.
Cap and trade and government regulations were a couple of items discussed at the Governor's Ag Conference in Kearney as well as keeping the Humane Society of the United States out of the state.
"The simple truth is that this is an organization that is anti-agriculture and they're out to destroy the number one industry in the state. We are going to fight them we are going to defeat them," said Heineman.
Pioneer Hi-Bred president Paul Schickler spoke about meeting international food demands as the world population reaches an expected 9 billion in 2050.
"It's not just two billion more mouths that we got to feed. We also got to take into account additional demand which by most measures is going to require a doubling of food production," said Schickler.
Last week former president Bill Clinton warned against too much ethanol production leading to food riots in third world countries. Schickler said history has proven the Ag industry has been able to increase productivity and meet all other demands.
"And I would expect that to continue in the future to meet all those demands," said Schickler.
Talking about increasing production, right now corn prices are better than they've been in years - more than $7 a bushel. With the good fortune farmers are buying more land and equipment, but Jason Henderson from Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City said the biggest risk to farmers is interest rates. Corn prices are expected to drop in 2013 to just over $4 a bushel.
Most Popular