Iowa Agriculture Secretary Patty Judge is in Washington, D-C, for a federal forum on agriculture. Judge says she’s hearing some good news about commodities. She says there’s a consensus that the grain markets are going to be pretty steady. Judge says there’s also optimism that exports of meat will increase. Judge says there hasn’t been a lot of talk about corn-based ethanol. But, there is a discussion scheduled on another Iowa grown product. She says a UNI professor will give a talk on bio-diesel, a fuel made with soybeans a diesel fuel.Judge, a Democrat, says there is concern that California, Florida and Texas are pushing for more federal help for crops that previously weren’t included in the farm bill. Judge says if they’re successful, it would take away from what’s already a small pot of federal money. Judge returns to Iowa Wednesday.
