Comments on: Next, the farm boom http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/02/15/next-the-grain-boom/ Blogging politics, culture, sociology and life from Brisvegas Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:56:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: amphibious http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/02/15/next-the-grain-boom/#comment-440149 amphibious Tue, 19 Feb 2008 06:09:20 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/02/15/next-the-grain-boom/#comment-440149 SATP - The US, being good ole freemarket believers, puts an import tax (150% off hand) on Brazilian ethanol which uses the bagasse to supply the BTUs. Most cattle (in Oz) spend their final months fattening on grain and fishmeal, dairy cattle spend their entire lives on it. Paulus & WBB - why would you want another economist polluting the world & stealing oxygen? They can't even be used for for SoylentGreen as they so full of shit. SATP - The US, being good ole freemarket believers, puts an import tax (150% off hand) on Brazilian ethanol which uses the bagasse to supply the BTUs.
Most cattle (in Oz) spend their final months fattening on grain and fishmeal, dairy cattle spend their entire lives on it.
Paulus & WBB - why would you want another economist polluting the world & stealing oxygen? They can’t even be used for for SoylentGreen as they so full of shit.

]]> By: wbb http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/02/15/next-the-grain-boom/#comment-439894 wbb Mon, 18 Feb 2008 13:07:56 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/02/15/next-the-grain-boom/#comment-439894 Harsh but fair, Paulus. Harsh but fair, Paulus.

]]> By: Paulus http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/02/15/next-the-grain-boom/#comment-439814 Paulus Mon, 18 Feb 2008 08:58:41 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/02/15/next-the-grain-boom/#comment-439814 Sue, next time you happen to be in the vicinity of your local uni, follow the signs to the Department of Economics and sign up for their 1st year macro-economics subject. It will do you a world of good. Sue, next time you happen to be in the vicinity of your local uni, follow the signs to the Department of Economics and sign up for their 1st year macro-economics subject.

It will do you a world of good.

]]> By: Sue http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/02/15/next-the-grain-boom/#comment-439772 Sue Mon, 18 Feb 2008 07:32:38 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/02/15/next-the-grain-boom/#comment-439772 To the best of my knowledge, the Reserve Bank is a privately owned international bank, so why does it get to play with our interest rates. And as there is no gold standard anymore, the real facts of inflation etc belong to the banks who indiscriminately and with much abandon hand out money they magically create out of thin air and double entry bookkeeping. We pay it back with real money created from our labour, and they then tell us inflation is our problem for too much spending. Do banks have accountability regarding inflation? No, not when they can foist the blame on the community at large. To the best of my knowledge, the Reserve Bank is a privately owned international bank, so why does it get to play with our interest rates.
And as there is no gold standard anymore, the real facts of inflation etc belong to the banks who indiscriminately and with much abandon hand out money they magically create out of thin air and double entry bookkeeping.
We pay it back with real money created from our labour, and they then tell us inflation is our problem for too much spending.
Do banks have accountability regarding inflation? No, not when they can foist the blame on the community at large.

]]> By: Helen http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/02/15/next-the-grain-boom/#comment-439734 Helen Mon, 18 Feb 2008 05:34:55 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/02/15/next-the-grain-boom/#comment-439734 <i>Arable land is decreasing. Per capita arable land is plummeting.</i> And we're busy building suburbs all over it. Arable land is decreasing. Per capita arable land is plummeting.

And we’re busy building suburbs all over it.

]]> By: wbb http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/02/15/next-the-grain-boom/#comment-439696 wbb Mon, 18 Feb 2008 03:47:06 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/02/15/next-the-grain-boom/#comment-439696 Time to dust off Erhlich, people. If farmers are doing well, it's because we are eating ourselves out of the house. This is bad news. Food production requires arable land plus inorganic fertilizers. Arable land is decreasing. Per capita arable land is plummeting. And we are steadily working our way through the fertilizer stock as well. Tech advances can only hold the dyke so long before population pressures explode the myth that arable land is an infinite and renewable resource. I suggest learning to like Laura's legumes - or at least make sure your kids grow up to like them because they will be eating a lot more of them than we did. Time to dust off Erhlich, people. If farmers are doing well, it’s because we are eating ourselves out of the house.

This is bad news.

Food production requires arable land plus inorganic fertilizers. Arable land is decreasing. Per capita arable land is plummeting. And we are steadily working our way through the fertilizer stock as well.

Tech advances can only hold the dyke so long before population pressures explode the myth that arable land is an infinite and renewable resource.

I suggest learning to like Laura’s legumes - or at least make sure your kids grow up to like them because they will be eating a lot more of them than we did.

]]> By: Brian http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/02/15/next-the-grain-boom/#comment-439443 Brian Sat, 16 Feb 2008 13:11:15 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/02/15/next-the-grain-boom/#comment-439443 Just from memory, I think it takes about 7 kilos of grain to produce a kilo of beef. And a lot of water. Dairies use a lot of water also to produce stuff which by and large I don't consume any more since I joined the zip club. <blockquote>Assuming, of course, that there is water in the Murray-Darling to buy back; La Nina may currently be drenching Queensland but climate change is about long-term climate, not year-to-year variations.</blockquote> I'm somewhat pessimistic about the near term impact of climate change. They keep finding new reasons why it doesn't rain as much anymore in our major food producing areas. <a href="http://www.csiro.au/news/HumanGeneratedAerosols.html" rel="nofollow">Dr Wenju Cai's research</a> is complicated and hard to summarise, but I think he is saying that the effect of aerosol pollution on the oceans in the Northern Hemisphere ends up meaning less rain here. If we clear up the aerosols the planet cooks earlier. Then in an article entitled <i>Food bowl is fast drying up</i> in the <i>AFR</i> of 8 Feb we were told that top scientists were calling for major cutbacks in the irrigation licences in the Murray-Darling, essentially because the latest research showed that the last 10 years may be the norm from here on. They are suggesting that there may be 30-50% less water in the system in the future compared to long-term averages. What they've found is that of the 15 world climate models used to forecast rainfall trends the 6 most pessimistic are proving to be more accurate for south-east Australia. The scientists quoted were Jim Peacock, Chief Scientist and senior CSIRO hydrologist Ian Prosser. On biofuels, <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7186380.stm?source=cmailer" rel="nofollow">the EU are having second thoughts.</a> It seems that they are planning a certification system and perhaps giving palm oil a miss. Meanwhile in the US of A <blockquote>the government has just passed a new energy bill mandating a major increase in fuel from corn, which is deemed by some analysts to be useless in combating rising carbon dioxide emissions. </blockquote> Just from memory, I think it takes about 7 kilos of grain to produce a kilo of beef. And a lot of water.

Dairies use a lot of water also to produce stuff which by and large I don’t consume any more since I joined the zip club.

Assuming, of course, that there is water in the Murray-Darling to buy back; La Nina may currently be drenching Queensland but climate change is about long-term climate, not year-to-year variations.

I’m somewhat pessimistic about the near term impact of climate change. They keep finding new reasons why it doesn’t rain as much anymore in our major food producing areas. Dr Wenju Cai’s research is complicated and hard to summarise, but I think he is saying that the effect of aerosol pollution on the oceans in the Northern Hemisphere ends up meaning less rain here. If we clear up the aerosols the planet cooks earlier.

Then in an article entitled Food bowl is fast drying up in the AFR of 8 Feb we were told that top scientists were calling for major cutbacks in the irrigation licences in the Murray-Darling, essentially because the latest research showed that the last 10 years may be the norm from here on. They are suggesting that there may be 30-50% less water in the system in the future compared to long-term averages.

What they’ve found is that of the 15 world climate models used to forecast rainfall trends the 6 most pessimistic are proving to be more accurate for south-east Australia.

The scientists quoted were Jim Peacock, Chief Scientist and senior CSIRO hydrologist Ian Prosser.

On biofuels, the EU are having second thoughts. It seems that they are planning a certification system and perhaps giving palm oil a miss. Meanwhile in the US of A

the government has just passed a new energy bill mandating a major increase in fuel from corn, which is deemed by some analysts to be useless in combating rising carbon dioxide emissions.

]]> By: mister z http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/02/15/next-the-grain-boom/#comment-439441 mister z Sat, 16 Feb 2008 12:59:20 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/02/15/next-the-grain-boom/#comment-439441 Like, oil comes from dead dinosaurs and stuff that used to roam the earth'n'that. Doesn't that mean that the oil industry is therefore an expression of evolution and natural selection in order to help return into balance Gaia's wondrous natural carbon cycle? This would make Shell and the Saudis the world's true environmentalists. Bless their hearts! Like, oil comes from dead dinosaurs and stuff that used to roam the earth’n'that. Doesn’t that mean that the oil industry is therefore an expression of evolution and natural selection in order to help return into balance Gaia’s wondrous natural carbon cycle? This would make Shell and the Saudis the world’s true environmentalists. Bless their hearts!

]]> By: philiptravers http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/02/15/next-the-grain-boom/#comment-439303 philiptravers Sat, 16 Feb 2008 02:30:29 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/02/15/next-the-grain-boom/#comment-439303 Murky is the subject indeed,more so if you look past the statistics to realities,and the confidence of farmers,and agri-business will be misplaced entirely unless they all figure something out,that,cannot be denied as is self evident in reading farm based newspapers,and the regular insights of others about the profitability of land per unit of usage measured in hectarage.Then there is the problem that an intelligent person like Mark Merkel and other Academics know all to well,the State education systems produce the scientists that make the difference and not private schooling, even though regularly in The Land newspaper every Private education facility can advertise for willing farmers sons and daughters,and the non cash crop,of the status implied.Drip fed no doubt.But I maybe being unfair too about that.Then you have the posterings and rip-offs associated with off farm inflators and services,say, like a long slow boat to China,with rusting sides,or up up and away on the latest of noisy cargo cult Macquarie bank omnibuses!?Then there is the joy of organics as observed in Acres newspapers,where the Chinese have discovered organics,and they churn out other exports willingly bought to be used on organic farms.So do the Indians as of India,our very best friends that no-one ever is seriously criticising the New Zealanders,abounding in sheep and cattle,but cannot find the workers,god bless those workers,they must be still over here as accountants,and marketing people to see if Bunyip turds can be marketed as the leading organic fertiliser.But in the Land are charity for our farmers and a Financial expert are pushing all the lovely packaging and soft drink,that competes with the outgassing baby bottles heated with non-GMO milk,in the bottles, feed to cows.Even the do it yourself yoghurt starter from New Zealand came with a plastic thing,a case for trying both ends of the Hilsch VortexTube ,say, from headquarters of ExAir Darwin or the other stuff that can spank the outgassing out of the plastic.I am trying onion skins wrapped inside ,or outside of my veges,in my electric cheap steamer,of polycarbonate stuff,and no gaurantee from government it has been proven safe to utilise polycarbonate in this manner.Dogs in Australia,and their owners recently werent seen protesting against another closer of a dog food product line.The pooper scooper servants won over by the need for doggy bones and great organic chow,means, I am sure, that a pressure for organic bones is on,and the demand will be great.Somewhere having the marrow of a good beasty in the soup of the average meat eater will find competition from the bow-wow movement and associated barkers,non-QC.I have a personal experience to relate,one of a long list of such.I proposed through a local newspaper that some research should be done on privet a plant that bears enormous fruiting bodies and prolific leafing material to see if it could be used as sileage.There are many ways to produce silage including burying it underground,as yet, I should of buried like the proverbial ostrich ,and used my arse effectively in that manner.Here in downtown small place name on map,the potato yields are measurable in rain gauge units,with the balance numbers opposite measured by on farm costs accruing and advice from the financial sector to round off the figures.Brain fag setting in now,I have been putting off the fireweeding by hand because of the bookwork imposed by the weather consultant ,who has as his address,pie-in-the-sky.I think he must be overworked,often popping up with the fellow who gets around with the reindeer.Oh!Dear!The Land charity for farmers didnt have one of those bottles in the four wheel drive.Time to take my pills for being schizo!See if the house rat has shat on my metal plate,ask my pet galah a question about why he thinks I am not feeding him enough,and tell him to renew his pilot license I am a collector of grass hoppers and praying mantises since noting they were found in ancient hieroglyphics.Well Until I hear from myself again,see you remember to store your garlic and wheat in a hypotenuse side structure and do the right thing.Mexican Wave. There is a hole in the bucket dear Henry.............. Murky is the subject indeed,more so if you look past the statistics to realities,and the confidence of farmers,and agri-business will be misplaced entirely unless they all figure something out,that,cannot be denied as is self evident in reading farm based newspapers,and the regular insights of others about the profitability of land per unit of usage measured in hectarage.Then there is the problem that an intelligent person like Mark Merkel and other Academics know all to well,the State education systems produce the scientists that make the difference and not private schooling, even though regularly in The Land newspaper every Private education facility can advertise for willing farmers sons and daughters,and the non cash crop,of the status implied.Drip fed no doubt.But I maybe being unfair too about that.Then you have the posterings and rip-offs associated with off farm inflators and services,say, like a long slow boat to China,with rusting sides,or up up and away on the latest of noisy cargo cult Macquarie bank omnibuses!?Then there is the joy of organics as observed in Acres newspapers,where the Chinese have discovered organics,and they churn out other exports willingly bought to be used on organic farms.So do the Indians as of India,our very best friends that no-one ever is seriously criticising the New Zealanders,abounding in sheep and cattle,but cannot find the workers,god bless those workers,they must be still over here as accountants,and marketing people to see if Bunyip turds can be marketed as the leading organic fertiliser.But in the Land are charity for our farmers and a Financial expert are pushing all the lovely packaging and soft drink,that competes with the outgassing baby bottles heated with non-GMO milk,in the bottles, feed to cows.Even the do it yourself yoghurt starter from New Zealand came with a plastic thing,a case for trying both ends of the Hilsch VortexTube ,say, from headquarters of ExAir Darwin or the other stuff that can spank the outgassing out of the plastic.I am trying onion skins wrapped inside ,or outside of my veges,in my electric cheap steamer,of polycarbonate stuff,and no gaurantee from government it has been proven safe to utilise polycarbonate in this manner.Dogs in Australia,and their owners recently werent seen protesting against another closer of a dog food product line.The pooper scooper servants won over by the need for doggy bones and great organic chow,means, I am sure, that a pressure for organic bones is on,and the demand will be great.Somewhere having the marrow of a good beasty in the soup of the average meat eater will find competition from the bow-wow movement and associated barkers,non-QC.I have a personal experience to relate,one of a long list of such.I proposed through a local newspaper that some research should be done on privet a plant that bears enormous fruiting bodies and prolific leafing material to see if it could be used as sileage.There are many ways to produce silage including burying it underground,as yet, I should of buried like the proverbial ostrich ,and used my arse effectively in that manner.Here in downtown small place name on map,the potato yields are measurable in rain gauge units,with the balance numbers opposite measured by on farm costs accruing and advice from the financial sector to round off the figures.Brain fag setting in now,I have been putting off the fireweeding by hand because of the bookwork imposed by the weather consultant ,who has as his address,pie-in-the-sky.I think he must be overworked,often popping up with the fellow who gets around with the reindeer.Oh!Dear!The Land charity for farmers didnt have one of those bottles in the four wheel drive.Time to take my pills for being schizo!See if the house rat has shat on my metal plate,ask my pet galah a question about why he thinks I am not feeding him enough,and tell him to renew his pilot license I am a collector of grass hoppers and praying mantises since noting they were found in ancient hieroglyphics.Well Until I hear from myself again,see you remember to store your garlic and wheat in a hypotenuse side structure and do the right thing.Mexican Wave. There is a hole in the bucket dear Henry…………..

]]> By: Boy from Flynn http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/02/15/next-the-grain-boom/#comment-439288 Boy from Flynn Sat, 16 Feb 2008 01:05:39 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/02/15/next-the-grain-boom/#comment-439288 That only became apparent after the night Steve. It was expected to fall to the Nationals on the night but it went the other way - so those of us who were there considered it to be a good night. Flynn is a very large rural seat. We were formerly part of Hinkler which was considered a fairly safe National seat and which in fact did go to the Nationals. The result was tight so of course he would call for a re-count: but it was "to no avail". That only became apparent after the night Steve. It was expected to fall to the Nationals on the night but it went the other way - so those of us who were there considered it to be a good night.

Flynn is a very large rural seat. We were formerly part of Hinkler which was considered a fairly safe National seat and which in fact did go to the Nationals.

The result was tight so of course he would call for a re-count: but it was “to no avail”.

]]> By: steve at the pub http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/02/15/next-the-grain-boom/#comment-439272 steve at the pub Fri, 15 Feb 2008 23:52:12 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/02/15/next-the-grain-boom/#comment-439272 Boy From Flynn, surely you aren't referring to election night as a "good night". Not as far as the electorate of Flynn was concerned? The seat had one of the longest waits to be called, had to wait for every postal vote to be counted. It was a "notional" National Party seat, not a "safe". The tightness of the election result would point to the seat at least being worth contending for the National Party, rather than such endeavours being to "no avail". Boy From Flynn, surely you aren’t referring to election night as a “good night”. Not as far as the electorate of Flynn was concerned? The seat had one of the longest waits to be called, had to wait for every postal vote to be counted.

It was a “notional” National Party seat, not a “safe”. The tightness of the election result would point to the seat at least being worth contending for the National Party, rather than such endeavours being to “no avail”.

]]> By: Boy from Flynn http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/02/15/next-the-grain-boom/#comment-439251 Boy from Flynn Fri, 15 Feb 2008 22:01:54 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/02/15/next-the-grain-boom/#comment-439251 Heh heh, no Ambigulous. Flynn - the country's newest electorate - is in central Queensland. It takes in Gladstone on the coast (where I live) and goes right out past Longreach. It was expected to be a safe Nationals seat. Nationals candidate Glen Churchill - prick came and stood beside me when I was spruiking YRAW how-to-vote cards and smirked smugly in anticipation of his victory - couldn't believe it when Labor won. Contested the result but to no avail. He He, it was a good night. You a Gippslander are you? We went around Vic last year, taking our long service leave in case such a thing ended up being made non-existent. Pretty place. Bloody cold in Wodonga though! Even worse in Beechworth! Not sure if we went through Traralgon or not - do remember driving past a giant worm maze. cheers Heh heh, no Ambigulous. Flynn - the country’s newest electorate - is in central Queensland. It takes in Gladstone on the coast (where I live) and goes right out past Longreach. It was expected to be a safe Nationals seat. Nationals candidate Glen Churchill - prick came and stood beside me when I was spruiking YRAW how-to-vote cards and smirked smugly in anticipation of his victory - couldn’t believe it when Labor won. Contested the result but to no avail. He He, it was a good night.

You a Gippslander are you? We went around Vic last year, taking our long service leave in case such a thing ended up being made non-existent. Pretty place. Bloody cold in Wodonga though! Even worse in Beechworth! Not sure if we went through Traralgon or not - do remember driving past a giant worm maze.

cheers

]]> By: hc http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/02/15/next-the-grain-boom/#comment-439218 hc Fri, 15 Feb 2008 18:14:56 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/02/15/next-the-grain-boom/#comment-439218 Robert, An interesting point is that the poor in developed countries will compete with the bulk of the population in China (and other) for meat and energy products. The energy crisis (and climate change mitigation) are driving up grain and food prices and will cause increased income disparities in developed countries because the impacts of the relative price changes are global. Robert, An interesting point is that the poor in developed countries will compete with the bulk of the population in China (and other) for meat and energy products. The energy crisis (and climate change mitigation) are driving up grain and food prices and will cause increased income disparities in developed countries because the impacts of the relative price changes are global.

]]> By: Ambigulous http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/02/15/next-the-grain-boom/#comment-439176 Ambigulous Fri, 15 Feb 2008 13:01:26 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/02/15/next-the-grain-boom/#comment-439176 Flynn, like... near Traralgon? Gippsland lad?? Flynn, like… near Traralgon? Gippsland lad??

]]> By: Boy from Flynn http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/02/15/next-the-grain-boom/#comment-439160 Boy from Flynn Fri, 15 Feb 2008 12:20:17 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/02/15/next-the-grain-boom/#comment-439160 Cheers Robert. That's cool. My home brewing will now be guilt free. That would be right wouldn't it? The sugar cane/sugar beet/whatever had to absorb the CO2 from the atmosohere first to make the sugars, unlike the carbon in coal and oil which have been store since the dinosaurs. Cheers Robert. That’s cool. My home brewing will now be guilt free.

That would be right wouldn’t it? The sugar cane/sugar beet/whatever had to absorb the CO2 from the atmosohere first to make the sugars, unlike the carbon in coal and oil which have been store since the dinosaurs.

]]> By: Robert Merkel http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/02/15/next-the-grain-boom/#comment-439156 Robert Merkel Fri, 15 Feb 2008 11:57:01 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/02/15/next-the-grain-boom/#comment-439156 Boy from Flynn: that's true, but that the carbon in that CO2 was from plants absorbing it from the atmosphere. So there's no net addition (at least from that source). Boy from Flynn: that’s true, but that the carbon in that CO2 was from plants absorbing it from the atmosphere. So there’s no net addition (at least from that source).

]]> By: Boy from Flynn http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/02/15/next-the-grain-boom/#comment-439146 Boy from Flynn Fri, 15 Feb 2008 11:28:33 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/02/15/next-the-grain-boom/#comment-439146 Heh heh, you know that home brew shop owners use exactly that argument in reverse Steve. But pubs are good too. Can host great social events. Why, my brother-in-law once won the Digger's arms iron man contest - the only competitor to chew and swallow the raw prawn (speaking of health hazzards!) and keep it dowm. I seem to recall the prize was more piss. Great night out tho. Heh heh, you know that home brew shop owners use exactly that argument in reverse Steve.

But pubs are good too. Can host great social events. Why, my brother-in-law once won the Digger’s arms iron man contest - the only competitor to chew and swallow the raw prawn (speaking of health hazzards!) and keep it dowm. I seem to recall the prize was more piss. Great night out tho.

]]> By: steve at the pub http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/02/15/next-the-grain-boom/#comment-439143 steve at the pub Fri, 15 Feb 2008 11:19:53 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/02/15/next-the-grain-boom/#comment-439143 FXH: Yea rite, as if! Boy from Flynn: Home brewing is quite dangerous, you should stop immediately. Pour out every drop (in case it explodes or something). Get yourself down to the pub where the beverages are made according to Australian health standards & stuff like that. Don't take risks with your health! ;-) FXH: Yea rite, as if!

Boy from Flynn: Home brewing is quite dangerous, you should stop immediately. Pour out every drop (in case it explodes or something). Get yourself down to the pub where the beverages are made according to Australian health standards & stuff like that.

Don’t take risks with your health! ;-)

]]> By: Francis Xavier Holden http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/02/15/next-the-grain-boom/#comment-439131 Francis Xavier Holden Fri, 15 Feb 2008 10:16:42 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/02/15/next-the-grain-boom/#comment-439131 If the Howard / Nationals were still in gov.au then we could expect a round of subsidies and tax breaks to help the farmers over the painful excess cash flows and assistance with learning to drive new 4WDs, Statesmans and big green and yellow combines and to help preserve a "way of life" threatened by surplus income. Call me cynical but I doubt the Rudderites will be any more able to resist the call of the auctioneers flat akubra, the squatters moleskins and the ascendancy RMs than Wilson Tuckey can resist flicking lacker bands and spitballs in the house. If the Howard / Nationals were still in gov.au then we could expect a round of subsidies and tax breaks to help the farmers over the painful excess cash flows and assistance with learning to drive new 4WDs, Statesmans and big green and yellow combines and to help preserve a “way of life” threatened by surplus income.

Call me cynical but I doubt the Rudderites will be any more able to resist the call of the auctioneers flat akubra, the squatters moleskins and the ascendancy RMs than Wilson Tuckey can resist flicking lacker bands and spitballs in the house.

]]> By: Boy from Flynn http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/02/15/next-the-grain-boom/#comment-439127 Boy from Flynn Fri, 15 Feb 2008 09:42:27 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/02/15/next-the-grain-boom/#comment-439127 Er, I know nothing about biofuels and hate to be a party pooper but as a home brewer I can say that when sugar is converted into ethanol, large amounts of CO2 are given off. So while burning ethanol may produce little CO2 (?), producing it creates plenty. Anyone know anything about this? Er, I know nothing about biofuels and hate to be a party pooper but as a home brewer I can say that when sugar is converted into ethanol, large amounts of CO2 are given off. So while burning ethanol may produce little CO2 (?), producing it creates plenty.

Anyone know anything about this?

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