NEWS IN BRIEF

— Niche soybeans hold promise, say 2 from UA

A niche market for edamame, natto and other soybean products could be worth up to $15 million to Arkansas growers, two University of Arkansas economists said.

The economists - Dan Rainey with the UA Bumpers College and Division of Agriculture, and his brother, Ron Rainey of the UA Division of Agriculture, this week presented the results of a study they conducted on the potential market for nongenetically modified soybeans. The study was commissioned by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board.

Dan Rainey said consumer demand is growing 8-15 percent per year and includes specialty stores as well as grocery and other big box stores. Specialty soybeans can add from $1.40 to more than $3 to the value of a bushel, which could give those who produce nonmodified varieties $7 million- $15 million in additional revenue annually.

Arkansas planted more than 3.2 million acres of soybeans in 2012. In 2011, the crop was valued at $1.5 billion. A fraction of that acreage is devoted to specialty soybeans including those for foods such as natto and tofu, and edamame, which can be eaten like a vegetable.

  • Glen ChaseElectric project focus of meeting in Osceola

Clean Line Energy is hosting a public meeting in Osceola on Monday to discuss the Plains and Eastern Clean Line electric transmission project, according to a news release.

The meeting will be held at The Civic Center, 116 N.

Maple St., 5-7 p.m.

The Plains and Eastern Clean Line will extend 750 miles and transfer direct current electricity from wind farms in western Oklahoma, southwest Kansas, and the Texas panhandle into Arkansas, Tennessee, and other Southern states.

The project is expected to cost about $2 billion, according to the release.

Registration for the event is available by calling (855) 844-0553 or by e-mailing rsvp@plainsandeasternclea nline.com.

  • Jessica SeamanDillard’s a high note as state index gains 0.97

The Arkansas Index, a price-weighted index that tracks the largest public companies based in the state, rose 0.97 to 246.46 Thursday.

“U.S. stocks showed continued strength on Thursday after an upward revision to third-quarter [gross domestic product], a five-year high in pending home sales and an improvement in jobless claims,” said John Blackwell, senior vice president and managing director of equity trading at Stephens Inc. in Little Rock.

Dillard’s reached another 52-week high of $89.42 during the day.

The index was developed by Bloomberg News and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette with a base value of 100 as of Dec. 30, 1997.

Business, Pages 29 on 11/30/2012

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