The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) will once again host its biennial Corn Utilization and Technology Conference (CUTC) in person, June 6-8 in Chesterfield, Missouri. The conference answers the question of how can the industry produce more quality corn, build new markets and continue to create opportunities for agriculture. While the ag industry can often be the target of unfavorable …
CUTC Moved to 2022
The Corn Utilization & Technology Conference (CUTC) has been moved to June 6-8, 2022 and it is because of the continuing situation with COVID-19. What is definitely continuing are statements and posts from a variety of sources that seem to completely contradict each other. It is definitely a nightmare for meeting and event planners. On the one hand you have …
Corn Utilization & Technology Conference Postponed to 2021
Here is the latest news of an event that I always look forward to. The Corn Utilization and Technology Conference (CUTC) has been postponed. This calendar keeps becoming more and more open. Given the on-going uncertainty regarding safety, gathering and travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Corn Utilization and Technology Conference will be postponed until June 7-9, 2021. …
Increasing Profit Margins for Ethanol
Ethanol production has become a key market for U.S. corn, but margins are often tight. New technology would allow existing ethanol plants to convert a part of their production into making plant-based chemicals that have higher values, with profits that could be passed along to corn growers. “We know that ethanol today is a commodity that has been really pressed …
Adding Value with Identity Preservation
Identity preservation (IP) is a popular way to add value to a grower’s corn crop, but it takes some attention to detail. “Identity preservation is a mindset,” said Chuck Hill, specialty products manager for AgriGold Hybrids. “You’re not producing corn. You’re producing an ingredient that goes into a variety of things, and that’s what the buyer wants.” Hill presented at …
Keeping Up With Corn Research
While the content shared during sessions at the 2018 Corn Utilization and Technology Conference was very technical, it was valuable to Mark Sponsler, Executive Director of the Colorado Corn Growers Association. “Behind any market development effort, and at the root or the base of any new technology that represents market demand, there has to be a foundation of solid research,” …
Technology Continues to Evolve for Corn Sweeteners
Innovations in the corn sweetener industry were among those on display at the 2018 Corn Utilization and Technology Conference in St. Louis. Companies like Novasep were on hand to present the latest information and technology they have on processes like glucose/fructose separation. “We have made and work on drastic changes and optimization of this technology which opens new areas of …
Growing Corn for Future Generations
Corn quality and related research and production techniques were among topics on the agenda at the 2018 Corn Utilization and Technology Conference in St. Louis. The future of the industry is a favorite subject of Dennis Maple, chairman of the National Corn Growers Association‘s Corn Productivity and Quality Action Team. “I think we’re still going to have a big pile …
Iowa Corn Growers Attend CUTC
Members of the Iowa Corn Growers Association and Iowa Corn Promotion Board attended the 2018 Corn Utilization and Technology Conference in St. Louis to showcase a current research project on developing monoethylene glycol (MEG) from corn. MEG is used in products like antifreeze, plastic soda bottles and polyester clothes. It provides a renewable product and expands the market for corn. …
Making Chemicals From Ethanol
Participants in the 2018 Corn Utilization & Technology Conference in St. Louis were largely interested in expanding the market for ethanol, and not necessarily in conventional ways. “We’re hoping to provide alternatives to the sale of ethanol into the fuels market,” said Ron Cascone, principal with Nexant, Inc. “The theme of what I’m doing here is to show that there …