Ethanol Blog

Nebraska's top spot in cattle feeding and commercial red meat production is attributed to the "Nebraska Advantage," an interrelated system of crop, livestock and biofuel production, according to a new University of Nebraska-Lincoln report.

That advantage includes the development of corn-based ethanol and distillers grains used for livestock feed, as well as soybean meal, a coproduct of soybean processing also used for livestock, according to an article by the Grand Island Independent (http://bit.ly/…).

The report, titled "Nebraska Animal Agriculture: Economic Impacts of Cattle, Hog, Dairy and Poultry Industry Changes," noted that the total value of Nebraska's agricultural production was more than $25 billion in 2012, with the net value-added of that production totaling $8.8 billion.

The report also found that Nebraska is still not operating to its full potential, as it exports a high percentage of its crops -- more than one-third its corn crop and more than 80% of the distillers grains it produces. Keeping more crops flowing into in-state, value-added processing would lead to a greater economic impact, the report said.

Research for the study was funded jointly by the Nebraska Soybean Board and the Nebraska Corn Board.

Cheryl Anderson can be reached at Cheryl.anderson@dtn.com

(ES)

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