The Minneapolis Grain Exchange (MGEX) reports that trading volume in October was up significantly over a year ago. According to MGEX, October futures and options trading volume was 149,923 contracts, a 33 percent increase over the same period a year ago. Total exchange open interest was up 39 percent over October of last year, led by a strong increase in …
Former Congressman Named Growth Energy President
Growth Energy has announced former congressman Jim Nussle as new president and chief operating officer of the ethanol organization, effective November 1. Jim Nussle (pictured on the left with Growth CEO Tom Buis) is a former eight-term Congressman from Iowa and served as Director of the Office of Management and Budget under President George W. Bush. He has served on …
Get Out and VOTE!
Hopefully everyone reading this will be wearing one of these “I Voted” stickers by the end of today – well, assuming your polling place has them. Mine didn’t this morning and I was quite disappointed. It’s kind of like getting ashes on Ash Wednesday – wearing it is a reminder to others of what day it is. Much is being …
AFBF Annual Convention Agenda Shapes Up
Topics ranging from environmental policy and food safety to the 2012 farm bill and use of social media by farmers and ranchers highlight a slate of conferences during the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 92nd annual meeting, Jan. 9-12 in Atlanta, Ga. “Successful farming and ranching in the 21st century involves managing a vast amount of knowledge and information on a …
NAFB President-Elect Ready for Convention
The big event of the year for farm broadcasters and everyone else associated in the business is just around the corner – are you ready? The president-elect of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) has everything in place for the annual meeting in Kansas City next week and she is very excited about some of the changes in store …
Novus Announces New Partnership in Africa
Novus International has announced a new Novus Scholars partnership with Egerton University located near Nakuru, Kenya. The agreement, signed earlier this month, details how Novus International will assist the University in developing its local capacity as well as support the local feed industry by providing equipment and training. “We have established a repeatable model with our Novus Scholars program that …
Vilsack Visits Georgia Peanut and Ethanol Producers
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack was in the Peach State earlier this week talking with peanut growers and visiting an ethanol plant. Ethanol plants in the southeast are pretty rare – in fact, First United Ethanol, LLC (FUEL) is really the only one to speak of that is operating at any capacity. FUEL is a 100 million gallon per year corn-based …
DC Media Question Motives of GIPSA Boss
The head of USDA’s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) has been the subject of two recent articles by Washington DC watchdog reporters who are questioning his objectivity when it comes to writing new rules for the livestock industry. J. Dudley Butler, a Mississippi trial lawyer, was appointed by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in May of 2009 to serve …
Agri-Pulse Pledge to Expand UI Communications Program
Agri-Pulse Communications is putting their money where their mouth is to help communications students at the University of Illinois (UI) get the education they need to compete in a new media world. “In today’s 24-7 news cycle, agriculture needs to have highly trained communicators who can write, broadcast, blog, tweet and utilize other types of communication tools in a way …
FFA Convention Sets Record and Honors Advisor
The 83rd National FFA Convention, which concluded over the weekend in Indianapolis, set an all-time event attendance record with a total crowd of 54,942 members, advisors, sponsors and guests. The new slate of young leaders for the organization are pictured here, left to right: Riley Pagett of Oklahoma, president; Landan Schaffert of Colorado, secretary; Shannon Norris of New Mexico, western …