The Collaborative Sorghum Marketing Transformation Program (cSmart) has announced the launch of the first-ever venture capital platform dedicated exclusively to attracting capital for companies, projects and innovations that create opportunities for sorghum farmers. cSmart matches private capital with funding to support startups and established companies investing in sorghum and also facilitates a network of private investors seeking opportunities for competitive …
Commodity Group CEOs Meet the Press at #Classic22
The CEOs of the commodity groups that make up the Commodity Classic, together with the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, met the press this week to discuss a variety of issues impacting the industry. American Soybean Association CEO Steve Censky, National Corn Growers Association CEO Jon Doggett, National Sorghum Producers CEO Tim Lust, National Association of Wheat Growers CEO Chandler Goule, …
Single Week Sorghum Sales Shatters Records
Export sales of U.S. sorghum hit a single week record this month of more than 33.9 million bushels with almost all of it heading to China. That shatters the previous record set in August 2020 by more than 10 million bushels. In addition, new sales commitments of 33.8 million bushels, predominantly purchased by China, also topped the previous record for …
2021 Commodity Classic Will Be Virtual
Even though we all expected it, the news is still sad. Commodity Classic will be virtual in 2021. The annual conference and trade show was originally scheduled for March 4-6, 2021, in San Antonio, Texas. The new format is expected to be offered the first week in March 2021. The 2022 Commodity Classic will be held in New Orleans on …
Corn and Sorghum Groups Urge Aid for Ethanol Industry
Members of the Congressional Biofuels Caucus held a virtual town hall Wednesday to discuss the challenges currently facing the ethanol industry and what can be done to help. Caucus members participating in the meeting were including Reps. Collin Peterson (D-MN), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Dave Loebsack (D-IA), and Rodney Davis (R-IL) as well as ethanol and agricultural group leaders. House Agriculture …
Seeing Our Future Clearly at 2020 Commodity Classic
Thanks to a #Classic20 attendee for helping me with this photo outside the convention center in San Antonio. It’s kind of like déjà vu since the weather was pretty nice yesterday and now we’ve got a wind warning and temps dropping into the 20’s tonight. Same thing happened at the Cattle Industry Convention just 3 weeks ago. I’m getting ready …
Legendary Seedsman Don Funk Relaunches NC+
Legendary seedsman Don Funk, founder of Channel Bio Corp, is leading a team to relaunch the NC+ brand to serve western corn, soybean and sorghum growers. NC+ was started in 1958 as a production and marketing organization for farmers to work together as a group rather than individuals to merchandise and grow seed. The original 56 growers merchandised their seed …
BASF at #Classic19
As it has for many years, BASF once again partnered with the American Soybean Association (ASA), the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), the National Sorghum Foundation (NSF) and the National Wheat Foundation (NWF) to award $20,000 in academic scholarships to 11 agriculture industry students. Jessica Olson of Warren, Minnesota received the $5000 2019–2020 ASA Soy Scholarship. NCGA presented scholarships to …
ZimmCast 605 – ASTA CSS and Seed Expo
ZimmCast #605 is the last one for 2018, featuring interviews from the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) 2018 CSS and Seed Expo, our last event for the year. This ZimmCast includes comments from ASTA president and CEO Andy LaVigne, Bayer seed treatment tech service rep Chip Graham, BASF Seed Solutions U.S. marketing lead Kerry Grossweiler, and Wheat Pete, a podcaster …
Sorghum Growers Benefit From Export Exchange 2018
Exports are very important to U.S. sorghum growers, so the United Sorghum Checkoff Program (USCP) was pleased to take part in Export Exchange 2018 and take a couple of teams on tours. “We are excited to host the upcoming trade teams and grow our network at Export Exchange 2018 as sorghum exports have represented a large portion of the U.S. …