We were shocked to hear this week of the passing of National Agri-Marketing Association friend Denny Eilers, the Iowa Photo Farm photographer. The news came from the NAMA e-Newsletter: A Cornbelt NAMA member since 1990, Denny has been the photographer for many NAMA Agri-Marketing Conferences and will be greatly missed. The Iowa Photo Farm was operated by Denny and Gwen …
Growers Vote To Continue Cranberry Marketing Order
Cranberry growers have voted to continue their federal marketing order program. Producers in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington and Long Island, N.Y., voted. During the referendum, 512 eligible producers cast valid ballots. Of these producers, there were 390 (or 76.1 percent) representing more than 3.5 million barrels of cranberries (76.1 percent of total volume), …
Ethanol Industry Upbeat
I just got back from the 27th International Fuel Ethanol Workshop. It was a good time visiting with my friends in the renewable fuels industry. The mood is certainly better that it was a couple of years ago. That sentiment was noted by Tom Bryan, VP of BBI International, as well. I spoke with him near the conclusion of the …
You said how much?
Let’s just say there are 8 pounds of water in 1 gallon. (It’s 8.34 but round numbers are easier.) Let’s say this #3 butter churn is 3 gallons. That’s 24 pounds of butter, assuming butter and water weigh the same. Let’s say this #4 butter churn is 4 gallons. That’s 128 sticks of butter. (1 pound of butter = 4 …
GIPSA Dominates Senate Committee Hearing
The topic of the hearing before the Senate Agriculture Committee yesterday was “The State of Livestock in America” but much of the testimony centered around USDA’s controversial Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyard’s Administration (GIPSA) proposal. In a strong statement at the start of the hearing, ranking member Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) said that GIPSA proposal is in direct opposition to …
What G20 Ag Ministers Can Do
Our latest ZimmPoll asked, “What can G20 ag ministers do to stabilize food prices?” The answer is Nothing, 31%; Increase productivity, 23%; End biofuels production, 18%; Regulate markets, 17%; Improve crop reporting, 8% and Stockpile food, 3%. Can they actually do any of these things? Well, I guess they can do nothing. They met recently and did come up with …
Zimfo Bytes
The American Seed Trade Association recognized Paul Zankowski of the USDA’s Plant Variety Protection Office with its Distinguished Service Award. TPSA has released a flexible collection of tools for training pesticide users on pesticide container residue removal and basic stewardship. New uses for gypsum in agriculture will be highlighted at the Midwest Soil Improvement Symposium: Research and Practical Insights into …
NCGA’s Tolman Receives FEW High Octane Award
I am attending the 2011 Fuel Ethanol Workshop which is being held in Indianapolis, IN. It’s the “technical” conference for the industry where lots of the latest in technology and processes are presented in multiple, simultaneous workshops. This morning it was also where the 2011 FEW High Octane Award was presented. Receiving the award is Rick Tolman, CEO, National Corn …
Boats Go Fast on Ethanol
Whoever says that ethanol hurts marine engines has never seen boats running at more than 80 miles an hour on E-10. Boat racers from coast to coast gathered this past weekend in the ethanol-producing town of Garnett, Kansas for the National Boat Racing Association (NBRA) “Garnett Ethanol Hydroplane Nationals.” The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) partnered with NBRA earlier this year …
Food Bloggers Get Out On The Farm
Would you be surprised to know that many food bloggers aren’t real familiar with where the food they write about comes from? Probably not. Most people today do not understand how food is produced and have no real connection to the farm regardless of what kind of food or farm you’re talking about. The Iowa Corn Growers have done something …