In light of a lot of negativism directed toward farming today the opening speakers for the 2016 Corn Utilization Technology Conference (CUTC) were very optimistic in their outlook. Welcoming us to the 10th CUTC was Chris Novak, CEO, National Corn Growers Association. The conference is held every other year so twenty years of corn technology has been discussed in sessions …
Get Corny with #CUTC16
Corn technology might conjure up many different ideas in your mind. Think ethanol, feed for animals, boiled corn for the table and much more. Follow along this week as I attend the Corn Utilization Technology Conference and we’re going to learn about a lot more than that. Session topics at the CUTC will cover wet and drying milling technology, traits/breeding/biotechnology, …
EPA Atrazine Assessment Criticized
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a draft ecological risk assessment on the pesticide atrazine which is being criticized by the makers and users of the important crop protection chemical. In issuing the report, EPA opened the docket for a 60-day public comment period within one week and stated that a Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) on atrazine will be …
Mary Hagan Joins NCGA
We welcome Mary Hagan who has been hired as the new Vice President of Communications for the National Corn Growers Association. “Mary has over 20 years of experience developing and implementing complex communication strategies with high profile agriculture and consumer products companies,” said NCGA Chief Executive Officer Chris Novak. “She excels at collaboratively leading teams in creating communications that drive …
NCGA Yield Contest Entry Now Open
#Plant16 is moving ahead and the National Corn Growers Association is getting their yearly National Corn Yield Contest underway as well. Participants in this year’s contest can register now through June 30th to save on entry fees. The early-bird fee is only $75, promising to save growers money for taking the time to register sooner rather than later. “We are …
NCGA Launches Photo Contest
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is calling on photographers to help tell the story of farming field corn in America through photos in the third annual Fields-of-Corn Photo Contest. This contest intends to help capture high-resolution photos of corn growth from seed to harvest, as well as the families that grow it. The contest is officially open, and interested …
#Plant16 Progress Surges
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that corn planting continues to be ahead of the five-year average. Last week results showed 30 percent of the total corn acres have been planted, numbers that exceed the average by 14 percentage points and ten percentage points ahead of where growers were just the week before. Missouri leads the way in corn planing, surpassing …
#Plant16 Already on a Roll
The #Plant16 hash tag has been burning up Twitter in the past week as corn planting jumped up to 13% compared to the five year average of eight percent. According to USDA, planting progress is now ahead of average by 37 percentage points in Missouri, which at 58% planted nearly a quarter of its crop last week. Iowa, Kansas and …
Corn Prices Projected to Decrease
While optimists hoped the increased demand for ethanol would help drive corn prices, the USDA reports say it won’t be enough to off-set other factors. Demand estimates are lower by 24 million bushels of corn, and ending stocks are higher by 25 million bushels. Production estimates remain unchanged from March. “U.S. corn farmers have indicated their intention to grow another …
I AM USFRA – Corn Farmers
The National Corn Growers Association was another one of the original organizations to help form the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) and current CEO Chris Novak was with another founding group at the time, the National Pork Board. “I made a trip to St. Louis in 2010 and sat down with Rick Tolman who was CEO at NCGA prior …