There’s a rat under my bed
And there’s a little green man in my head
And he said, “You’re not going crazy, you’re just a bit sad
‘Cause there’s a man in you, gnawing you, tearing you into two”
Yesterday, Ag Secretary, Jerry Costello made a strong statement on soybean exports. I wonder if he’ll provide an update given the news in the last 24 hours?
- Friendly Bob Adams - Thursday, Oct 30, 25 @ 11:53 am:
A decent day considering everything is still awful.
Great Kinks song….
- Possible Good News - Thursday, Oct 30, 25 @ 2:36 pm:
China has agreed to a trade deal that may benefit American agriculture and Illinois farmers.
- Give Us Barabbas - Thursday, Oct 30, 25 @ 3:06 pm:
That China trade deal won’t do much at all for Illinois farmers; it represents a fraction of a percent of Illinois soybean output. All it does is give the administration a fig leaf to say: “see, we made some progress from zero to near-zero exports.” For China, the spend doesn’t even amount to a rounding error, but the political and economic power displayed is significant.
Give us Barabbas,
What am I missing? You wrote, “…it represents a fraction of a percent of Illinois soybean output”.
China is buying 25 million metric tons. Illinois produces approximately 18 million metric tons of soybeans a year (or only 72% of what China is purchasing).
The US produces approximately 115 million metric tons of soybeans. In which case China’s purchase represents 20% of all US production.
What part is “a fraction of a percent” of Illinois soybean output?
- All Day and All of the Night - Thursday, Oct 30, 25 @ 9:43 am:
Great album. Highly recommend “Sunny Afternoon” a musical play about the origins of the Kinks. The play included thirty songs.
- Downstate - Thursday, Oct 30, 25 @ 11:02 am:
Yesterday, Ag Secretary, Jerry Costello made a strong statement on soybean exports. I wonder if he’ll provide an update given the news in the last 24 hours?
- Friendly Bob Adams - Thursday, Oct 30, 25 @ 11:53 am:
A decent day considering everything is still awful.
Great Kinks song….
- Possible Good News - Thursday, Oct 30, 25 @ 2:36 pm:
China has agreed to a trade deal that may benefit American agriculture and Illinois farmers.
- Give Us Barabbas - Thursday, Oct 30, 25 @ 3:06 pm:
That China trade deal won’t do much at all for Illinois farmers; it represents a fraction of a percent of Illinois soybean output. All it does is give the administration a fig leaf to say: “see, we made some progress from zero to near-zero exports.” For China, the spend doesn’t even amount to a rounding error, but the political and economic power displayed is significant.
- Downstate - Thursday, Oct 30, 25 @ 3:17 pm:
Give us Barabbas,
What am I missing? You wrote, “…it represents a fraction of a percent of Illinois soybean output”.
China is buying 25 million metric tons. Illinois produces approximately 18 million metric tons of soybeans a year (or only 72% of what China is purchasing).
The US produces approximately 115 million metric tons of soybeans. In which case China’s purchase represents 20% of all US production.
What part is “a fraction of a percent” of Illinois soybean output?
Thanks!