Des Keller

Dec 9, 2024 | agri-pulse.com | Des Keller |Oliver Ward

This is the second of a three-part series on the impact of U.S. agricultural exports on the U.S. exports and the risks and promise for ag trade going forward. The numbers are clear. In overall trade with the Peoples Republic of China—beyond just agriculture—the U.S. exported $147.8 billion to them in 2023. Meanwhile, we imported more than $427 billion. That’s a trade deficit of nearly $280 billion. In agriculture the scales are only slightly more even but trending in the wrong direction.

Dec 2, 2024 | agri-pulse.com | Des Keller

This is the first of a three-part series on the impact of U.S. agricultural exports on the U.S. exports and the risks and promise for ag trade going forward. Iowa farmer Tim Burrack is certain that international agriculture trade helps create and maintain jobs in the U.S.—particularly his own. A veteran of trips in past years to China, Japan, and Taiwan, among others, he finds that people on opposite sides of the globe like to know with whom they are trading.

Oct 30, 2024 | agri-pulse.com | Des Keller

A former power plant in Indiana is going to get new life as a manufacturer of “green fertilizer” that is designed to lower the carbon footprint of feeding crops. Armed with a $1.56 billion loan commitment from the Energy Department, Wabash Valley Resources of West Terre Haute, Indiana, is refitting the power plant to use a petroleum byproduct known as pet coke as the main feedstock to produce ammonia.

Sep 18, 2024 | agri-pulse.com | Des Keller

The majority of Dustin Edwards’ annual fertilizer use consists of anhydrous ammonia. Edwards, who farms 5,500 acres in eastern Kansas, believes the $640 per ton it costs now is about double what the market should be. “I feel like these guys are making so much margin,” says Edwards, speaking of major fertilizer suppliers. He farms a collection of far-flung leased fields. “But I think the fertilizer company we buy from are the ones getting squeezed,” he says.

Aug 7, 2024 | agri-pulse.com | Des Keller

The Iowa Soybean Association was already headed down a more intentional road to promote conservation and carbon sequestration before the Biden administration’s initiative came along. Now, the group has the financial backing to take its effort far beyond the state’s borders. The group is operating one of the largest Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities projects in the country at a total cost of more than $157 million, $95 million of which will come from USDA.