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Program Outline
    Corn and soybean markets - There is a 30-cent carry in the corn market that may provide an opportunity to lock in a storage profit. Roy Smith, farmer and grain marketing consultant, Plattsmouth, Nebraska, says this strategy requires selling July futures. Smith suggests 30-cents is the minimum carry to consider this strategy.
    Setting a price for corn stover – Producers may want to sell their corn stover. Paul Jasa, University of Nebraska¬-Lincoln Extension engineer, says producers should figure the value of nutrient content, which is between $17 - $46 per ton. Also the water savings value of stover ranges from $30 - $50 per acre.
    Farm diversification - A key to farm diversification is to produce a product that meets stringent quality standards. Darrel and Brian Armstrong of Brule, Nebraska, produce a complete line of fall decoration products. The Armstrongs say they work directly with chain store buyers rather than through brokers.
    A premium for corn? – Syngenta hopes to have a new high tech corn variety designed for ethanol production out for 2010. Gary Powell, product manager – renewable fuels, says the new variety has an enzyme in the kernel that makes ethanol production more efficient. Ethanol producers will likely offer a premium for the crop.