The first Corn Utilization and Technology Conference was held 30 years ago. Since 1987, CUTC has brought together leading innovators to focus on new uses for corn with the goals of expanding markets and demand while improving quality and efficiency. National Corn Growers Association CEO Chris Novak says this year’s conference this week was another great success for the future …
Using Digital Agriculture to Enable a Reliable Supply Chain
Technology is here to stay, and digital agriculture is helping farmers of all ages to better serve the processors and consumers they are supplying. “I think we sometimes discount how well some of the older generation actually uses the technology. I think some of the older generations have grasped the technology. They are utilizing it,” said Roger Theisen, business manager …
Ethanol and Trade Center Stage for NCGA
National Corn Growers Association president Kevin Skunes of North Dakota says he expected to be focused mainly on the farm bill this year, but trade and ethanol have “taken a lot of oxygen out of the room.” During an interview at the Corn Utilization and Technology Conference (CUTC) this week, Skunes saiede they are disappointed that the House version of …
Emerging Technologies: From the Feed to the Cloud
The farms of the future will likely use Cloud computing and real-time data to monitor livestock production. These emerging technologies present a huge opportunity in places like the Asia Pacific region, where everything is growing and pig production is booming, according to Art Frio, independent pig production and nutrition consultant. “There will be hesitation, as always. New things come at …
2018 CUTC Opens with Industry Panel
The 2018 Corn Utilization & Technology Conference kicked off late yesterday with an industry panel and trade show reception. The panel discussion was very interactive with attendees, allowing for lots of questions and discussion on some very interesting topics. Here’s the list of folks on the panel: Welcome: Kevin Skunes, President, NCGA; Emcee: Chris Novak, CEO, NCGA; Panelists: Ron Cascone, …
Bayer Looks Forward to Monsanto Closing This Week
Bayer intends to complete the acquisition of Monsanto this Thursday, June 7, following the receipt of all required approvals from regulatory authorities. “The acquisition of Monsanto is a strategic milestone in strengthening our portfolio of leading businesses in health and nutrition. We will double the size of our agriculture business and create a leading innovation engine in agriculture, positioning us …
ZimmCast 586 – CCA Institute 2018
The gavel has changed hands for the Cooperative Communicators Association. Here’s a picture of the new board with new President Chellie Phillips seated in the middle. We are at the CCA Institute 2018 in Ft. Worth, TX and today and tomorrow there will be a variety of professional improvement sessions taking place with a closing banquet and night of honors …
GROWMARK Foundation Announces Scholarship Recipients
Fifteen agriculture students have been selected as the second class of recipients of the GROWMARK Foundation scholarship. More than 170 students from across the United States and Ontario, Canada, applied for the award. Applications were evaluated by a panel of agribusiness professionals, and the funds are available for the fall 2019 semester. “Each scholarship is worth 1500 dollars,” says Karen …
Farm and Biofuel Groups File 2nd Suit Against EPA
A coalition of biofuel and agriculture groups have petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to change its regulations to “account for lost volumes of renewable fuel resulting from the unprecedented number of retroactive small refinery exemptions from Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) obligations recently granted by EPA.” The petitioners are the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), Growth …
Earning Consumer Trust in Food Production
The Canadian Centre for Food Integrity exists to help the food system earn the trust of consumers. Its U.S. counterpart has been working towards the same thing since 2007. “To really earn trust, it has to start by doing the right thing – having trusted assurance systems – and then communicating. And you can’t do one pillar on its own …