This year’s corn plantings are expected to be down this year, but growers say there will be plenty of stockpiles for all needs. While soybean plantings are expected to be a record, the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture figures show that American farmers expect to plant 3.7 million fewer acres of corn this year, down four percent from 2013. But …
NCGA CEO to Retire
After 14 years of leading the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), CEO Rick Tolman has decided it’s time to retire – so take a good look at this photo here because it was the last Commodity Classic for Rick as CEO. The announcement was made today from NCGA that Rick told the NCGA Corn Board earlier this week that he …
Classic Smashes Records
With more than 7,300 total attendees, the 2014 Commodity Classic convention and trade show in San Antonio shattered all previous records. “We knew it was the biggest event ever, but the numbers really surprised us as we saw them rolling in over the course of the event,” said Commodity Classic Co-Chair Rob Elliott. And the record numbers are impressive: Total …
BASF Celebrates Corn and Soybean Farmers
BASF Crop Protection helped corn and soybean growers celebrate the achievements of the past year as sponsors of the big association banquets during the Commodity Classic last week. At the National Corn Growers Association banquet, BASF Manager for Plant Health and Seed Treatment Dr. Gary Fellows talked about how corn growers are living Howard Buffett’s “40 Chances” challenge to make …
Soil Health Partnership Update at Classic
Since the health of a farm depends largely on healthy soil, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), with support from the Walton Family Foundation and Monsanto, recently announced the formation a new Science Advisory Council and the Soil Health Partnership (SHP). During a press conference at the Commodity Classic, members of the partnership discussed plans to help farmers enhance soil …
NCGA Honors Corn Industry Legend
The National Corn Growers Association celebrated the long and productive career of a corn farmer, friend and industry legend last Saturday during the concluding Corn Congress at the Commodity Classic. Jere White is retiring from the Kansas Corn Growers after leading that organization for a quarter of a century. During the Congress, he was presented with the Meritorious Service Award …
New Holland Disk Drills
New Holland is expanding – their disk drill size that is. New Holland disk drills are now available in 50- and 60- foot widths. This allows farmers to become more productive and get the seed in the ground. At the Commodity Classic, Chuck talked with New Holland’s Jason Hardy about the different disk drills and how they benefit the farmer. …
Corn Growers Talk Priorities at Commodity Classic
Members of the National Corn Growers Association are at Commodity Classic in full force this year, as part the more than 7,000+ corn, wheat, soybean and sorghum growers who have come to San Antonio. President of NCGA, Martin Barbre, a farmer from Illinois, outlined some of his group’s priorities in this coming year, including their work with a couple of …
Another Record Setting Classic
Another record-setting Commodity Classic is getting underway in San Antonio where corn, soybeans, sorghum, and wheat growers are gathering from around the country. “At last count, we had over 6500 people and typically we pick up another 500 or so once we get here, so 7000 people is within reach,” said Classic Co-Chair Rob Elliott, an Illinois farmer on the …
Vilsack to Address Commodity Classic
The growers of the Nation’s biggest crops will once again host the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture for their biggest meeting of the year. For the fifth time in a row, Tom Vilsack will deliver the keynote address to Commodity Classic, the annual convention and trade show for corn, soybean, wheat and sorghum growers. This news releases says Vilsack speaks to …