Rick Fruth is a corn grower from Ohio who serves as vice chairman of the US Grains Council and he says the continuing development of international markets is the main focus of their organization. “We’ve seen markets back in the 70s that were very important to us – western Europe and the former Soviet Union – evaporate and we’ve had …
USGC Partnership with USDA FAS
The administrator of USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Service Michael Michener spoke to the US Grains Council delegates meeting this morning in San Diego about how the partnership between FAS and USGC helps to open markets for US agricultural products. “Over the years, FAS and the U.S Grains Council have formed a vital link between government and U.S. agriculture to maintain and …
US Grains Delegate Meeting Underway
The U.S. Grains Council 49th Annual Board of Delegates meeting got underway this morning with the issues session. Chairman Jim Broten of the North Dakota Barley Council welcomed the delegates to San Diego and the official start of business. The general session gets underway shortly, starting with USDA Foreign Agriculture Service administrator Michael Michener giving an update on “Increasing Trade …
Beef Checkoff Pays Off
The Beef Checkoff Program returns about $5.55 in value to beef producers for every dollar they invest, according to the latest economic study, which looked at the ROI for the program from 2003 to 2008. Dr. Ron Ward, professor emeritus for the Food and Resource Economics Department at the University of Florida, did the study, which measured the impact of …
Active, Online Beef Ambassadors
Today I met with the National Beef Ambassador Team to conduct a workshop on social networking: using blogs, Twitter, Facebook, Google and YouTube to help share the beef cattle production story. The ambassadors have a brand new blog to share information about the beef industry with consumers. Show your support and stop by to leave a comment. These are the …
Cattle Industry Summer Conference Kicks Off
It’s Cattle Industry Summer Conference week in Denver and Amanda Nolz is on the ground doing some Beef Board blogging for us. Cindy just arrived at the airport from the Southern Peanut Growers Conference and yours truly is getting better from pneumonia or he’d be in Mexico with the United Soybean Board. Busy week. Here’s Amanda’s first interview from the …
Redfish Seminar at Peanut Conference
A new addition this year to the Southern Peanut Growers Conference first day fun was a Redfish Sport Fishing Seminar, presented by Redfish Riviera Outfitters. Steve Bailey with Redfish Riviera and Captain Daniel Snapp with Grassy Flats Charters, in colorful shirts promoting peanuts, presented tips and tricks of the fishing trade to peanut growers and their families. Listen to an …
American Peanut Council President Honored
The Webster definition of “valor” is “strength of mind or spirit that enables a person to encounter danger with firmness” and that was required this year more than any other for the peanut industry. In recognition for his strength and leadership of the peanut industry during a time of crisis, American Peanut Council president Patrick Archer received the Valor Award, …
Peanuts on Panama City Beach
Hello from Panama City Beach, Florida and the Southern Peanut Growers Conference. The theme of the 11th annual conference is really a tribute to the U.S. peanut industry for overcoming adversity in 2009. Everyone knows that this year has been a tough one for the industry, starting out with the salmonella issue in January. But, Georgia Peanut Commission executive director …