Officers of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) reiterated their unwavering support for USDA oversight of lab-grown fake meat during a public meeting this week, hosted jointly by USDA and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). President-Elect Jennifer Houston explained why USDA is well-positioned to apply current food safety processes to lab-grown fake meat products, since two-thirds of the facilities …
Concerns Raised About E15 Rulemaking Delay
Ethanol interests have been raising concerns this week about the Environmental Protection Agency delaying the start of the rulemaking process for year-round E15 until February 2019, which would make the timeline for getting it approved before next summer very tight. “EPA ought to speed it up, or otherwise it’s going to look like the president wasn’t serious about his announcement,” …
Sorghum Growers Benefit From Export Exchange 2018
Exports are very important to U.S. sorghum growers, so the United Sorghum Checkoff Program (USCP) was pleased to take part in Export Exchange 2018 and take a couple of teams on tours. “We are excited to host the upcoming trade teams and grow our network at Export Exchange 2018 as sorghum exports have represented a large portion of the U.S. …
Garth Brooks Wows National FFA
“This isn’t a convention, it’s a freaking PARTY!” That’s what Garth Brooks said at last night’s “private” concert for some 70,000 members, advisors, and supporters at the 91st National FFA Convention. Many of them took to social media to share the experience of seeing the #JustOneFFA and only Garth, who is now an honorary lifetime member of FFA. It was …
National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center Celebrates 15 Years
The National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC) at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (SIUE) is celebrating 15 years of biofuels research this month. The Illinois Corn Growers Association was instrumental in fostering development of the Center in 2003 and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) has worked closely with NCERC since its inception and continues partnering on various projects. NCERC Executive Director John …
Export Exchange Furthers USGC Mission
The chairman of the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) is optimistic about the growth of export markets for grains and ethanol co-products such as distllers grains (DDGS). “In the 2017-18 marketing year, the U.S. set a new record for exports of feed grains and co-products for the second year in a row,” said USGC chair Jim Stitzlein, manager of market development …
Meet Cargill’s Cowboy Robot
Cargill has developed the first ever robotic cattle driver to improve both animal welfare and employee safety. The robots are designed to move cattle from pens to the harvest area, reducing stress to the animals by minimizing their proximity to human activity. Employees operate the robots from a catwalk located above the pens, reducing safety risks by keeping those who …
Export Exchange 2018 is Underway
More than 200 international buyers and end-users of coarse grains and co-products from some 35 countries are in Minneapolis this week for Export Exchange 2018. The biennial educational and trade forum, co-sponsored by the U.S. Grains Council, Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), and Growth Energy, offers attendees an unparalleled opportunity to meet and build relationships with domestic suppliers of corn, distillers …
BASF Donates to Hurricane Florence Relief
BASF is helping support Hurricane Florence disaster relief efforts in North Carolina. BASF has donated more than $150,000 in funds and supplies to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina and the American Red Cross-Greater Carolinas, including equipment such as generators and extension cords. The donations were made on behalf of BASF employees at its Research Triangle Park …
Export Exchange Pre-Tours Underway
The 2018 Export Exchange starts next week in Minneapolis, but many teams of international buyers are already here in the United States participating in pre-event tours around the Midwest. The tours include three teams from Mexico who will visit Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Kentucky and Iowa to see U.S. corn, sorghum and distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) production and supply …