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Non-Tech : $2 or higher gas - Can ethanol make a comeback? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: richardred who wrote (2188)	1/18/2007 1:04:52 AM
From: richardred	Respond to of 2801

U.S. ethanol boom to boost farm equipment sales Wed Jan 17, 2007 5:46 PM ET By Karl Plume CHICAGO, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Growing farmer confidence that the rapidly expanding ethanol industry could sustain high commodity prices may bolster farm equipment sales in 2007, an industry analyst said on Wednesday. Agricultural equipment sales were disappointing in 2006, which was unusual because corn prices were at decade-highs soybean prices were at two-year highs, analysts said. Farmers typically upgrade equipment at times when prices are high. But the unique nature of the latest rally in grain prices was beginning to change the minds of some farmers sceptical that prices would remain high. "Before when you had a spike in corn prices, it was a function of supply. Your corn prices went higher but you had less corn to sell," said Credit Suisse industrial machinery analyst Jamie Cook, citing the last time U.S. corn prices were at current levels after the drought of 1996. "This time it's different in that demand is driving the corn prices higher so we have higher prices, more corn, which means more money in the farmer's pocket," she said. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has estimated the 2006 U.S. corn crop as the third largest on record and the soybean crop as the largest ever. Some farmers may have doubted the staying power of the price rally or elected to buy fertilizer or seed for the new crop year before upgrading aging equipment. Upgraded forecasts for ethanol demand mean corn prices could remain in the $3 to $4 per bushel range in 2007. "Farmers are less dependent on farm subsidies when corn is at $4," Cook said. "Farmers generally tend to buy more when their income is demand driven versus getting a handout from the government." The Renewable Fuels Association raised its ethanol capacity estimate for existing plants and those under construction to 11.4 billion gallons, up from a previous estimate of 8.6 billion gallons. U.S. ethanol manufacturers produced more than 5 billion gallons of ethanol in 2006, largely from corn. High corn prices and a continued demand-pull from ethanol producers will prompt farmers to plant 7 million to 9 million more acres of corn in 2007 than they did the previous year, some analysts said. The ethanol boom and high crop prices were already priced into most farm equipment company stocks, although analysts at Credit Suisse raised their price target for top agricultural equipment manufacturer Deere & Co. <DE.N>. "Given their large position in North America and the large horsepower tractors and combines we have that rated as an outperform at a $112 price target," Cook said. Deere & Co. shares were trading at $99.89 late Wednesday. yahoo.reuters.com

To: richardred who wrote (2188)	1/19/2007 12:13:46 PM
From: richardred	Respond to of 2801

A real fire sale. Fire Destroys Production Facility Friday January 19, 10:53 am ET ARMSTRONG, Iowa, Jan. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Art's-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc. (Nasdaq: ARTW - News), today (January 19, 2007) announced that a fire occurred late Tuesday evening at Art's-Way Scientific Monona, Iowa which destroyed the building housing offices and the production area. Fortunately there were no reported injuries. Additionally the server and computer files were recovered undamaged. Due to the nature of the business and the existence of another nearby building it is expected all projects will proceed as planned. Currently Scientifics management and employees are actively acquiring needed tools and resources to commence building structures in the next few days. Over the course of the next few days Art's-Way's management will be addressing the situation with the intent of continuing to grow this important part of the company's business. Art's-Way manufactures and distributes farm machinery niche products including animal feed processing equipment, sugar beet and potato harvesting equipment, edible bean equipment, land maintenance equipment, finished mowing, crop shredding equipment and seed planting equipment. Art's-Way also produces haylage machinery for several original equipment manufactures (OEM's). Starting in fiscal 2004, the Company is manufacturing moldboard plows under its own label under a license agreement with CNH. Art's-Way also manufactures and distributes truck bodies used in the agricultural, industrial and commercial industries. After market service parts are also an important part of the Company's business. Our wholly owned subsidiary Art's-Way Vessels Inc. manufactures pressurized tanks and vessels. This news release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Statements of anticipated future results are based on current expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, quarterly fluctuations in results, customer demand for the Company's products, domestic and international economic conditions, the management of growth and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Actual results may differ markedly from management's expectations. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements. Source: Art's-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc. biz.yahoo.com