The farm economy is apparently not hurting as much as other sectors, since attendance at the 2009 Commodity Classic is expected to be as good or better than last year. According to the conference organizers, pre-registrations by the end of last week were virtually the same as last year, although the number of farmers registered was already higher. Now, that …
Southern Blogging From Midwest Corn Growers
Cindy noticed that our friend, David Buchholz, David and Associates, is doing a little South American blogging at Midwest Corn Growers, 2009 Study Tour to South America. In this space we allow corn growers, media and others who are interested to learn what we’ve learned and experience a bit of what we experienced on a two-week study tour to Brazil …
Beer Flavored Popcorn
Cindy found a very corny story that is worth sharing. With all the many flavors of gourmet popcorn out there, apparently no one perfected the pairing of two perennial party favorites until now. A Kansas City college student named Cary Silverman has invented beer-flavored popcorn, according to a KMBC-TV story. Pub Corn also comes in other alcohol flavors – like …
Vermeer Cob Harvester
I saw one of these bad boys at the POET Project LIBERTY field day recently although I didn’t get to speak with anyone at Vermeer about it. It is the Vermeer CCX770 Cob Harvester, a wagon-style corn cob collection system which enables farmers to harvest corn and cobs simultaneously. The Vermeer CCX770 Cob Harvester is designed to tow immediately behind …
One Way To Harvest Corn Cobs
That’s a big pile of corn cobs. It’s just one of many that POET has made during all their research and testing ways to make ethanol out of them. One thing I can tell you is that farmers need some equipment to handle this leftover product of harvesting grain. That’s why there are several farm equipment manufacturers working with POET …
Farmer Perspective on Corn Cob Harvest
When you’re attending a farm event it’s always nice to get a farmer’s perspective on things. That’s what I did at the POET Project LIBERTY field day when I spoke with Todd Mathisen who farms just east of Emmetsburg, IA. I asked him what he thought of POET’s idea to harvest corn cobs for cellulosic ethanol production. He said, “I …
Pile Up Your Corn Cobs
The Director of Project LIBERTY for POET is Jim Sturdevant. He oversees all the activities across the company that are “pulling together to transform this ethanol plant into one of the nation’s first cellulosic ethanol plants.” The plant he’s referring to is POET’s Emmetsburg facility where they held a field day yesterday. He says they intend to replicate what they’re …
USDA Makes Unprecedented Change in Crop Report
The U.S. Department of Agriculture today did something it has never done before – adjusted its official October acreage and production estimates for six field crops. “There has never been a complete reissue of a crop production report, with a lock up and with the secretary’s briefing,” said Joe Prusacki with USDA’s National Ag Statistics Service. USDA revised the numbers …
Grain Power For Your Life
I don’t know about you but I like corn in all its various forms, fuel for my body or fuel for my car. Here’s some new research that shows just how healthy the milled food products can be. Someone please get me a bowl of grits! Corn – a Grain For Life. New research just published in the October issue …
Truth About Trade and Technology Global Roundtable
For the third year, the Truth About Trade and Technology (TATT) held a Global Farmer to Farmer Roundtable in conjunction with the World Food Prize events. Over 20 farmers from as many nations participated in the event this year to discuss biotech agriculture in their countries, according to TATT chairman Dean Kleckner. “Either how we’re using it and here’s what …