- Producers interested in “Going For The Green” at this year’s Illinois Commodity Conference can save some green by signing up early, with a lower registration fee. “Going for the Green: Seeing Agriculture’s Future” is the theme of this year’s conference, which will be held Nov. 20th at the DoubleTree Hotel and Convention Center in Bloomington. The one-day event begins at 8 a.m. with registration, continental breakfast, and association business meetings followed by the opening session at 10 a.m. The day’s schedule will conclude at 3:30 p.m. Registration brochures are available from each of the sponsoring organizations, or can be obtained here. Registration fees prior to November 8 are $65 per person. Hotel reservations may be made directly with the DoubleTree at 309-664-6446.
- The American Butter Institute (ABI) elected a new slate of officers at its annual meeting in Arizona. ABI’s new President is Rich Stammer of Agri-Mark in Methuen, Ma. Vice President is Deborah Van Dyk of Schreiber Foods, Green Bay, Wisc., and Second Vice President is Kris McFarland of California Dairies, Inc., Artesia, Calif. ABI’s immediate past President, Jim Bleick of Graf Creamery, was presented a plaque for his two years of leadership.
- The USDA announced contracts with three manufacturers to produce 1.5 million radio frequency identification ear tags that are compliant with National Animal Identification System standards. The ear tags will be used specifically for USDA state-federal cooperative disease control and eradication efforts, such as bovine tuberculosis and brucellosis and will be distributed in geographic areas which are determined to be of increased risk for disease outbreak or spread. The ear tags will use radio frequency identification device technology, which will allow producers and animal health officials to electronically identify and store information contained on a tag that is attached to an animal. Three manufacturers are under contract to produce the radio frequency identification ear tags: Allflex USA Inc., Digital Angel Corp., and Global Animal Management. The average cost per unit to USDA for the bulk purchase is approximately $1.13 per tag.
- Quality reports on the 2007 U.S. hard red spring wheat and northern grown durum crops are now available through the North Dakota Wheat Commission. The reports detail physical attributes and milling performance plus dough mixing and bread baking properties for the spring wheat crop and pasta processing traits for the durum crop. Reports are available online or in hard copy upon request at 701-328-5111 or by emailing ndwheat@ndwheat.com. Please include mailing address in email.
