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26 comments on Fun with Fuel Subsidies and Taxes

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totoneila on June 1, 2008 - 9:37pm Permalink | Subthread | Comments top

Hello TODers,

I would encourage TODers to also consider all the countries that subsidize I-NPK below the going market rate--this won't last much longer either as the price of I-NPK is double whammy related to FFs' costs. Job specialization is dependent upon food surpluses, but grain stockpiles have been shrinking steadily.

Have you hugged your bag of NPK today?

Bob Shaw in Phx,Az Are Humans Smarter than Yeast?

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paal myrtvedt on June 2, 2008 - 12:15am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

hi Bob, I didn't hug any bags today - but I would if I had one :-)

Now,you have a lot of knowledge on I-NPK situation and various stuff in general. And I definitely share your worries concerning the ramifications for the future on the same.It is probably a very under communicated issue (for what I know) , anyways..

Job specialization is dependent upon food surpluses, but grain stockpiles have been shrinking steadily.

Q: Have you got a link to Un/FAO or other body who maintain some sort of real-time stockpile numbers for grains ?

thx upfront

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totoneila on June 2, 2008 - 1:41am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Hello Paal Myrtvedt,

Thxs for responding. Nope, I don't have any realtime links. I just google away like everyone else. I gotta admit that it sure would be nice to have a personal satellite to spymap the critical info early.

The USDA periodically releases critical farming reports, but the secrecy level beforehand is tighter than a drum... No cellphones, no laptops, no briefcases, windowless room, etc... because advance info would be worth bigbucks to grain traders.

They had a problem a few decades ago when someone gave advance market info by subtly re-positioning a window blind to indicate grain market trends.

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totoneila on June 2, 2008 - 2:01am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

http://www.kansascity.com/business/story/645115.html
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Soggy spring produces poor corn crop and high costs

In a year of rising food prices and high fuel costs that are creating pressure to produce more ethanol, the country could really use a perfect corn crop.

So far, it isn’t happening.

And depending on the right mix of sun, heat, rain and cool, it could drive prices up even further...
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Time will tell.

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paal myrtvedt on June 2, 2008 - 7:05am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

thx Bob. I didn't mean literally real-time, but more like monthly or half-yearly or so, just some updated reliable souce

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26 comments on Fun with Fuel Subsidies and Taxes

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