Tag Archives: university
Expected Cash Rents in 2014 on Professionally Managed Farmland
SEPTEMBER 3, 2013 By: University News Release By Gary Schnitkey , University of Illinois Courtesty of farmdocdaily Last week, the Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers released results of its mid-year survey concerning farmland prices and cash rents. Results from this survey suggest that cash rents in 2014 will be slightly below 2013 levels. Survey The Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers conducts a mid-year survey of its membership concerning land values and rental outlook. The Illinois Society is a professional organization whose members manage farms, appraise farmland and other agricultural property, and broker farm real estate. Society members are knowledgeable about the farmland and cash rental market. More information on the Illinois Society and its members can be found on its website ( www.ispfmra.org ). Several questions on this year’s survey dealt with cash rents in 2013 and expected cash rents in 2014. Cash rent questions were asked for four different land productivity classes: Excellent quality farmland has expected yields over 190 bushels per acre, Good quality farmland has expected yields between 170 and 190 bushels per acre, Average quality farmland has expected yields between 150 and 170 bushels per acre, and Fair quality farmland has expected yields less than 150 bushels per acre. Survey respondents were asked what “average” cash rent levels were in 2013 and what average levels will be for 2014. Note that these are average levels. There is a considerable range in cash rents even within a productivity class for a specific farm manager. Landowners have different goals with their farmland, leading to large differences in cash rent levels. Also professionally farm managed farmland has higher cash rent levels than average. A number of reasons why this occurs have been given, usually revolving around the market knowledge of professional farm managers and the return desires of professional farm management clients. Cash Rents in 2013 and Expected Cash Rents in 2014 For excellent quality farmland, the 2013 cash rent averaged $388 per and the 2014 cash rent is expected to be $374 per acre, a decline of $14 per acre (see Table 1). For good quality farmland, the 2013 cash rent averaged $332 per acre and the 2014 cash rent is expected to be $318 per acre, a decline of $14 per acre. For average quality farmland, the 2013 cash rent averaged $278 per acre and the 2014 cash rent is expected to be $263 per acre, a decline of $15 per acre. For fair quality farmland, the 2013 cash rent averaged $224 per acre and the 2014 cash rent is expected to be $212 per acre, a decline of $12 per acre. Continue reading
Farmland Price Discovery
SEPTEMBER 5, 2013 Continue reading
New Lignin Pathway Discovered For Potential Biofuels Production
6 September 2013 A multi-university study into biomass-to-energy has claimed to have found a new lignin gene which could aid conversion. A research project involving universities in Scotland, the US and Belgium used the model plant Arabidopsis thanliana and identified an enzyme called caffeoyl shikimate esterase (CSE), which fulfils a central role in lignin biosynthesis. The research says by removing the CSE gene resulted in 36% less lignin per gram of stem material. Conversely, the direct conversion of cellulose to glucose from non-pretreated plant biomass increased four-fold. ‘This finding was quite unexpected because the lignin pathway has been widely examined and it had been thought, for the past decade or so, to be completely mapped,’ the University of Dundee’s Claire Halpin was quoted as saying. ‘It looks like it could be very useful in trying to manipulate plant biomass to generate biofuels and other chemicals from non-food crops. Our studies showed that Arabidopsis with mutated CSE were able to release around 75% more sugars from cellulose without needing harsh chemical treatments.’ Haplin adds these new insights could now be used to screen natural populations of energy crops, such as poplar, eucalyptus and switchgrass, or other grass species for a non-functional CSE gene. – See more at: http://www.biofuels-…h.5NjnEbjc.dpuf Continue reading
