Yeah. We’re all about ethanol this weekend. Cindy’s boat racing and I’m Indy racing! Well, the Iowa Corn Growers are going green this weekend at the Iowa Corn Indy 250. In fact, there will be lots of green shirts out here at Iowa Speedway. Here are some of the leadership team that was on hand this morning to talk with …
Outlook For Export Markets
Mike Dwyer is Director of Global Policy Analysis, Office of Global Analysis, Foreign Agriculture Service/USDA. He was a keynote speaker at the National Sunflower Association Summer Seminar. Everyone wants to know what the markets will be like in the future. Mike’s job was to tell us what he thought export markets would be like in the next ten years. He …
Raising Money For Sunflower Industry Scholarship
The Summer Seminar for the National Sunflower Association got started with a wonderful evening of fun and fellowship. The evening ended with the Curtis Stern Memorial Scholarship Fundraiser. These guys were ticket sellers. I have not participated in a fundraiser quite like this. Prizes were purchased and laid out on three tables. We could purchase tickets for a chance to …
Raven OmniSeed System Introduced
Raven Industries is already getting great response from growers with the new OmniSeed Advanced Air Seeder Control System they just introduced last week. Raven’s Ryan Molitor says the system provides growers with more reliability, efficiency and control. “OmniSeed allows for variable rate technology, it’s a very scalable system with a lot of unique features on it that we think are …
Corn Board Manufacturing
We’ve all heard about “new uses” for corn. How about skateboards? That’s just the first of many products planned by Corn Board Manufacturing, Inc. according to founder Lane Segerstrom. I just got off the phone with Lane and our conversation is this week’s program. Lane grew up on an Iowa farm and has founded a company that uses technology developed …
The Future of Food Business
Dr. Marcos Fava Neves, Professor, University of Sao Paulo, is the author of “The Future of Food Business.” He autographed books following the stage celebration last week at Novus International headquarters. I spoke with Dr. Neves while he was signing books. He says his book analyzes the major effects that are happening in the world that we can’t control. He …
Sharing The Novus Vision
The President/CEO of Novus International is Thad Simons, seen here addressing the audience for the company’s 20th Anniversary Celebration at the headquarters in St. Louis, MO. Thad says that 20 years “seems like yesterday.” Many of the original founders and Novus team were on hand. He says this celebration provides an opportunity to take a look back and see “where …
Congratulating Novus International On Twenty Years
We had a fantastic lineup of speakers for the Novus International 20th Anniversary Celebration. They all lined up at the conclusion of the festivities. I have captured remarks and interviews with a couple of them to share with you and will have a couple more later. Missouri’s Director of Agriculture, Dr. Jon Hagler, was on the program. Jon says that …
GIPSA Funding Cut in Ag Appropriations Bill
The U.S. House of Representatives today voted 217-203 to pass the agricultural appropriations bill for fiscal 2012, cutting $2.7 billion in discretionary spending, including funds for USDA’s proposed Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) regulation. The National Cattlemens Beef Association (NCBA) and the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), both opposed to the proposed rule, are pleased that the appropriations …
Novus Developing Innovation With Integrity
I’m on location for the big Novus 20th Anniversary Celebration. This Platinum Leed Certified building has continued to be developed, including the landscape. I’ve got some other views of the facility in the online photo album I’ve started. To kick off my coverage I just met with Francois Fraudeau, President, Specialty Business. Francois is moving to the headquarters in St. …