03/23/06 Ethanol by products

Ethanol By Products Ethanol production could change some feed rations in beef production. I'm Jeff Keane; I'll by right back with some comments. Ethanol production is on the minds and lips of the agricultural community right now. Agricultural economists and leaders are saying it could be the real boost crop production farmers have needed and politicians are praising the process as a big step toward energy independence. If the whole concept can be worked into our nation's energy system, I know America's farmers can supply all the grain needed for ethanol production. Right now corn is the most talked about crop to use for making ethanol. You know I have heard of one corn distilling product made late at night referred to as good gasoline. Seems like country folks have been on the cutting edge for years. Anyway, if corn is the major crop used to make ethanol it will probably drive the price of corn used in feeding cattle to a higher level. Feeders possibly will change feeding rations to include different grains such as wheat or barley. While corn might get more expensive with increased ethanol production, this same production process will yield some very good feeding by- products such as wet and dried distillers grains, condensed distillers solubles, or a combination of solubles and grains. These feeds always seemed to be more of a novelty feed here in the Northwest, but if ethanol production plants are built here they may become a viable options to replace corn in some feed rations. I'm Jeff Keane.