There was a lot to learn from Spence Farm on the CTIC Indian Creek Watershed Project field tour. Specialty corn varieties for connoisseur chefs is another lesson we learned last week. Iroquois White Corn has an unusual earthy flavor and a varied texture that chefs love and it’s worth about $840 a bushel for Marty and Kris Travis of Spence …
Anthem From FMC
The Midwest Technical Lead for FMC Agricultural Products is Gail Stratman. He conducted one of our FMC Summer Plot Tour classes both inside and outside today. I sat down with him afterward to learn what’s new with FMC. Gail says Anthem is what’s new. Anthem is a new pre-plant, pre-emergence and early post herbicide currently being developed by the company. …
FMC Summer Plot Tour
Hello from York, NE and the first of a series of summer plot tours by FMC. Today we’ll be learning what’s new with product names like Capture, Cadet, Anthem and Authority. Our day starts inside with several presentations before departing for the fields. This is my first opportunity to work with FMC and I’m looking forward to learning more about …
Iowa Corn Farmers Love IndyCar Promotion
Iowa corn farmers who attended the Iowa Corn Indy 250 got an exciting race, a sold out crowd and a nationally televised platform to showcase the performance value of ethanol. Over 2,500 growers were expected to be in attendance. I didn’t speak to all of them but I did speak with several. These are the people who are investing their …
Iowa’s Bill Northey Back From China Trip
Iowa’s Secretary of Agriculture, Bill Northey, was one of the corn growers attending the Iowa Corn Indy 250. Here he is in the photo being interviewed by Ken Root. I took my turn with him afterward. Bill spent two weeks in Korea and China visiting customers of U.S. farm products. He says they discussed and argued a little bit about …
Indy Racing League And Ethanol
The CEO of the Indy Racing League is Randy Bernard, seen shaking hands with Iowa Corn Growers CEO, Craig Floss, during last weekend’s Iowa Corn Indy 250 activities. I spoke with Randy who says that the League has been working to create a lot more buzz and excitement this year. Judging by the sell out crowd for the Iowa race, …
NCGA’s Tolman Receives FEW High Octane Award
I am attending the 2011 Fuel Ethanol Workshop which is being held in Indianapolis, IN. It’s the “technical” conference for the industry where lots of the latest in technology and processes are presented in multiple, simultaneous workshops. This morning it was also where the 2011 FEW High Octane Award was presented. Receiving the award is Rick Tolman, CEO, National Corn …
Boats Go Fast on Ethanol
Whoever says that ethanol hurts marine engines has never seen boats running at more than 80 miles an hour on E-10. Boat racers from coast to coast gathered this past weekend in the ethanol-producing town of Garnett, Kansas for the National Boat Racing Association (NBRA) “Garnett Ethanol Hydroplane Nationals.” The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) partnered with NBRA earlier this year …
Food Bloggers Get Out On The Farm
Would you be surprised to know that many food bloggers aren’t real familiar with where the food they write about comes from? Probably not. Most people today do not understand how food is produced and have no real connection to the farm regardless of what kind of food or farm you’re talking about. The Iowa Corn Growers have done something …
Iowa Corn Indy 250 Won By Marco Andretti
In an American corn ethanol fueled race at Iowa Speedway, Marco Andretti wins the 2011 Iowa Corn Indy 250. Here he is in Victory Lane with 2nd place finisher Tony Kanaan and 3rd place Scott Dixon. Following Victory Lane Marco and his Dad, Michael, held the winners press conference. I asked him his thoughts on racing in front of 2,500 …