The last post we did with a lawmaker’s opinion on GIPSA, we got hammered with comments. That was fun – let’s do it again! Last time, it was Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) who had negative comments about USDA’s controversial Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyard’s Administration (GIPSA) proposal. This time, it’s Rep. Scott Tipton (R-CO), chairman of the House Small Business …
AG CONNECT Expo 2013 Set for Kansas City
AG CONNECT Expo is going to Kansas City in 2013. The third AG CONNECT Expo will be held January 29-31, 2013 at the Kansas City Convention Center, according to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), which started the global agribusiness trade show in 2010. The show is now on a biennial schedule synchronized with Agritechnica, the global agriculture trade show …
Still Time to Enter Corn Yield Contest
Corn growers still have a few more days to submit entries for this year’s National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) National Corn Yield Contest. Due to widespread planting delays, the final entry deadline for the popular contest was extended an extra 10 days, to July 25. Entries must be submitted online or postmarked on or before that date and are subject …
BASF Offers Advice for Downed Corn, Uneven Crops
As I traveled though Illinois last week, the corn was looking pretty good – until I started heading west on I-88 and began seeing the aftermath of the straight line wind storm that traveled a path across eastern Iowa and through northern Illinois on July 11, leaving lots of downed corn in its wake. Growers who were hit are understandably …
New Kid in the Wyffels Hybrids Family
The Wyffels Corn Strategies event in Dixon, Illinois last week was a first for regional manager Dave Rolli. “I’ve been on the job for just about seven months, started back in December,” Dave told me. “It’s just been a great company to work for and they really do treat their employees like family.” Dave was in charge of organizing the …
Farm Foundation Reports on What’s Driving Food Prices
The agricultural policy organization Farm Foundation, NFP released a new report today on What’s Driving Food Prices for 2011. Foundation president Neil Conklin says the report is a follow up to similar studies they commissioned when prices were up in 2008 and 2009. “The purpose of the report this time is to provide both policy makers in the public sector …
Wyffels Corn Hybrids More than Numbers
The slogan for Wyffels Corn Hybrids is “More than a Number” which is the company’s philosophy when it comes to both their customers and their hybrids, but they do keep adding more numbers to their lineup of corn hybrids. “We released 12 new products this last year,” said Wyffels Product Development Manager Bob Jackson at the 2011 Wyffels Corn Strategies …
Corn Growers Honor Senator Conrad
National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) President Bart Schott and his wife Linsey of Kulm, ND were pleased to present this year’s NCGA President’s Award to their Senator Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) during Corn Congress events this week in Washington. The President’s Award is given annually to a leader who has worked to advance issues important to corn growers and agriculture. “I …
Wyffels Corn Strategies Strategy
2011 marks the seventh year for Wyffels Corn Strategies and it just continues to get bigger and better. I talked with event coordinator Matt Barnard and Wyffels Hybrids director of marketing Jeff Hartz, pictured here together enjoying the Illinois event on Wednesday. The concept for the event started in 2005 when the company gathered a small group of growers at …
Illinois Farm Family Hosts Wyffels Corn Strategies
The Wyffels Corn Strategies 2011 event in Illinois this week was hosted by one of the best looking farm families you’ll ever see. Pictured here, starting with Bill Wyffels on the left, are Mike and Susan Pratt, Peter and Emily Pratt, Andy and Katie Pratt, and the absolutely adorable Natalie and Ethan, who are the 5th generation in the Pratt …