Every year there are dozens of grain bin accidents reported across the Corn Belt, with far too many ending in fatalities. GROWMARK grain systems operations manager Randy Holthaus says the harvest season is an especially dangerous time on the farm around grain bins. “During the harvest, with the need to get it in and get it done, people get in …
GROWMARK Grain Division Growth
The GROWMARK Grain Division is making news. First off, the division will have a new VP as of November 1. Brent Ericson has been named Vice President, Grain, replacing Davis Anderson, who retired in September. As VP, Grain, Ericson will be responsible for the overall management, oversight, support and growth of GROWMARK’s grain business, which includes 80 grain members and …
Promoting Grain Bin Safety
Grain bin accidents and fatalities on the farm have been on the increase in recent years, but more attention to some simple safety rules could reverse that trend. The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and the research and education arm of the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) recently unveiled a new video to promote awareness about grain bin safety …
Getting to Know GROWMARK – MID-CO Commodities
GROWMARK is a multi-layered cooperative with five wholly or partially-owned subsidiaries, six retail subsidiary divisions, and controlling interests in several related endeavors – all aimed at improving the profitability of its member-owners. As part of our series on getting to know GROWMARK, we’re getting to know not just the company, but the people who make it all happen. MID-CO COMMODITIES …
Industry-wide Response to China’s Anti-Dumping Case
The U.S. Grains Council is coordinating an industry-wide registration process for interested U.S. companies in response to China’s recently announced anti-dumping charges against imports of U.S. distiller’s dried grains. The deadline for registration is extremely short, a process further complicated by the need to translate all registrations into Chinese. U.S. companies that wish to participate in this industry effort should …
Reaction to USDA Crop Forecast
Both corn and soybean production for this year were cut in this month’s crop report out this morning from USDA. Corn production is forecast at 12.7 billion bushels, down 4 percent from the September forecast and down 3 percent from last year’s record production of 13.1 billion bushels. Soybean production is forecast at a record high 3.41 billion bushels, down …
Interact With International Grains Buyers
One of my upcoming stops on the agriblogging highway will be the U.S. Grains Council and Renewable Fuels Assocation, Export Exchange. The event is taking place October 6-8 in Chicago, IL. If you’re in the grains business, especially dealing with DDGS then this is the place to meet with international buyers. I spoke with USGC CEO Tom Dorr about the …
Register for Export Exchange
Registration is now open for the Export Exchange 2010, an international trade conference focused around the export of U.S. coarse grains and the ethanol co-product distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS). The event is co-sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association and the U.S. Grains Council and will bring together more than 150 international buyers of U.S. DDGS and coarse grains …
Grains Council Elects New Officers for Golden Anniversary
The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) is moving into its second half century with a brand new slate of officers and directors. At the U.S. Grains Council’s 50th Annual Board of Delegates meeting in Boston this week, Terry Vinduska, a corn farmer representing the Kansas Corn Commission, was elected chairman for the 2010-2011 fiscal year. Other officers elected include Wendell Shauman, …
Agricultural Relations Council Tours ADM Facility
Attendees to the 2010 Agricultural Relations Council in Memphis, TN, toured a local ADM barge and elevator loading operation. Here’s a short segment of Q&A with the group during our tour. It was very well done and I think we learned a lot. For example, the tour guide said they were unloading up to 300 trucks per day during last …