Corn growers still have a few more days to submit entries for this year’s National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) National Corn Yield Contest. Due to widespread planting delays, the final entry deadline for the popular contest was extended an extra 10 days, to July 25. Entries must be submitted online or postmarked on or before that date and are subject …
In The Wyffels Corn Strategies Classroom
Iowa corn growers are learning strategy today out on Cummings Farms at the Wyffels Hybrids Corn Strategies 2011. Like last week in Illinois, they’re hearing words of wisdom from Dr. Michael Boehlje, Purdue and James Bower, Bower Trading, Inc. You can hear interviews from them with Cindy at the Illinois event. I’m collecting other interviews today which I’ll feature during …
Wyffels Corn Strategies Kicks Off In Iowa
Last week Cindy attended the Wyffels Hybrids 2011 Corn Strategies in Illinois. This week it’s my turn in Malcom, Iowa. I think she got a better sunset picture than I did. I got done with some interviews in time to notice that the sun was going down since we were in an air conditioned tent. There are some photos in …
BASF Offers Advice for Downed Corn, Uneven Crops
As I traveled though Illinois last week, the corn was looking pretty good – until I started heading west on I-88 and began seeing the aftermath of the straight line wind storm that traveled a path across eastern Iowa and through northern Illinois on July 11, leaving lots of downed corn in its wake. Growers who were hit are understandably …
New Kid in the Wyffels Hybrids Family
The Wyffels Corn Strategies event in Dixon, Illinois last week was a first for regional manager Dave Rolli. “I’ve been on the job for just about seven months, started back in December,” Dave told me. “It’s just been a great company to work for and they really do treat their employees like family.” Dave was in charge of organizing the …
Farm Foundation Reports on What’s Driving Food Prices
The agricultural policy organization Farm Foundation, NFP released a new report today on What’s Driving Food Prices for 2011. Foundation president Neil Conklin says the report is a follow up to similar studies they commissioned when prices were up in 2008 and 2009. “The purpose of the report this time is to provide both policy makers in the public sector …
Wyffels Corn Hybrids More than Numbers
The slogan for Wyffels Corn Hybrids is “More than a Number” which is the company’s philosophy when it comes to both their customers and their hybrids, but they do keep adding more numbers to their lineup of corn hybrids. “We released 12 new products this last year,” said Wyffels Product Development Manager Bob Jackson at the 2011 Wyffels Corn Strategies …
Argonne Studying Biofuels Production
During the CTIC Indian Creek Watershed Project field tour we heard a presentation from Cristina Negri, an agronomist with the Argonne National Laboratory. Cristina told us about a project they are working on in the watershed to see what types of agricultural production will work best for biofuels. They’re looking for marginal land that doesn’t lend itself to growing corn …
Wyffels Corn Strategies Strategy
2011 marks the seventh year for Wyffels Corn Strategies and it just continues to get bigger and better. I talked with event coordinator Matt Barnard and Wyffels Hybrids director of marketing Jeff Hartz, pictured here together enjoying the Illinois event on Wednesday. The concept for the event started in 2005 when the company gathered a small group of growers at …
Illinois Farm Family Hosts Wyffels Corn Strategies
The Wyffels Corn Strategies 2011 event in Illinois this week was hosted by one of the best looking farm families you’ll ever see. Pictured here, starting with Bill Wyffels on the left, are Mike and Susan Pratt, Peter and Emily Pratt, Andy and Katie Pratt, and the absolutely adorable Natalie and Ethan, who are the 5th generation in the Pratt …