Archive - 2021

posted on Monday, December 6, 2021 Our Decision Innovation Solutions (DIS) team of professional economists and analysts are proud of the independent views and objectivity they bring to every assignment. In some cases, our independent view is sought by clients who are in the process of applying for grants or other types of funding...

posted by Decision Innovation Solutions on Monday, December 6, 2021 This month we explore Iowa and U.S. drought conditions, insights from the latest U.S. census, and how our independent view has been used in applications for funding.

posted by David Miller on Wednesday, November 17, 2021 The U.S. Census has released the data from the 2020 census. As the map below shows, a significant number of rural areas between the Rocky Mountains and the Appalachian Mountains lost population during the past decade. Much of this population loss occurred even though many of those counties are in states that had net population gains – meaning the population concentrations in metropolitan areas continue to increase...

posted on Wednesday, November 10, 2021 Compared to recent years, U.S. rainfall data indicate 2021 as one of the driest. A ten-year high for exceptionally dry conditions was achieved in March, April, and May. Furthermore, as of October 26, 2021, 63% of the U.S. was experiencing conditions ranging from abnormally dry to exceptionally dry...

posted on Saturday, July 31, 2021 The motivation to retire environmentally sensitive and highly erodible cropland from production is to restore soil quality and improve the overall environment. Higher-income developed countries, such as the U.S., are the proponents and active participants in government programs like the CRP which idles otherwise productive cropland to achieve this. However ...

posted by Kade Grafel on Saturday, July 31, 2021 DIS wanted to know how Kades first month has been, so we asked him!

posted by Spencer Parkinson on Saturday, July 31, 2021 This month we see how Kades first month at DIS went, talk about Trends in Iowa's Ethanol blend fuel sales, the CRP and trade, and our work with MoSoy.

posted by S. Patricia Batres-Marquez on Wednesday, July 21, 2021 This article covers the most recent trends in ethanol blended fuel sales in Iowa. Data used comes from annual retail fuel sales data and rack level sales data collected and maintained by the Iowa Department of Revenue (IDR). Sales trends for the following fuel blends will be explored: E0, E10, Registered E15, Flex Fuel E15, E20, and E85.

posted on Thursday, July 15, 2021 Decision Innovation Solutions (DIS) has enjoyed its working relationships with numerous state and national commodity organizations. These associations play an important role in advocating for the producers and value-added processors who grow and add value to their commodity. The Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council and Missouri Soybean Association provide an excellent example of the important work it undertakes to promote the soybean industry.

posted by Decision Innovation Solutions on Wednesday, June 30, 2021 This month we introduce our new research analyst, talk about Iowa's Ethanol Goss production margin, the CRP, trends in Iowa's ag machinery industry, and how our dynamic flow analysis methodology is used.

posted by Jing Tang on Thursday, June 24, 2021 The gross production margin in the ethanol industry commonly represents the difference between the price of corn and the combined sales value of ethanol, and its co-products: distiller's dried grains (DDGs) and distillers corn oil (DCO). The GPM shows the calculated relationship between the value of ethanol and ethanol co-products and the cost of corn in ethanol production. In this article, we will focus on the behavior of GPM during the second half of 2020 and 2021 thus far.

posted by Spencer Parkinson on Thursday, June 24, 2021 Our Dynamic Flow Analysis™ methodology has been used in various studies for our clients. We show how we used this methodology in the commodity flow study we conducted for biodiesel in Missouri, and how it is being used in Illinois in regard to the potential expansion of local meat processing.

posted on Monday, June 14, 2021 Recent trends experienced within the U.S. as a whole and within the state of Iowa go to show the important, and more prominent, role the agricultural machinery industry plays within the wider agricultural industry and economy.

posted on Tuesday, June 1, 2021 Established under the 1985 Food Security Act, the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is primarily focused on: protecting otherwise arable land from erosion, improving water quality, and protecting wildlife habitats. However, land idling due to the CRP has resulted in a reduction in agricultural production and impacted the United States' ability to contribute to the increasing global demand.

posted by Decision Innovation Solutions on Monday, May 31, 2021 This month we introduce our new intern, talk about Oregon's Clean Fuels Program, corn forecasts, emissions and ag, our work with AgriGrowth, and how our dynamic risk-based modeling is used.