We used to call it the “Swamp Buggy,” otherwise politely known as the sprayer. We’d run down to the end of the driveway when it passed through town and wave like kids trying to stop an ice cream truck (also not-so-politely known as the “ding ding man”). Today, inspired by the sound of the swamp buggy approaching town, I decided …
Hang On!
You’re 10. You’re on the first uphill climb on a rollercoaster, about to surge down the other side at 100 mph with just a small lap belt holding you in. Your car-mate yells, “Hang on!” and you can’t help but notice your heart skipping a beat. And in 3 minutes, the ride is over, hair is crazy, but if you …
Corn Fact Book Available
When you’re eating your dinner, do you ever wonder about the farmers who made your meal possible? Wonder no more. The Corn Fact Book, a publication created by the Corn Farmers Coalition and supported by corn checkoff programs in 14 states, is chock full of interesting nuggets about the technology and innovation that goes into growing our food. The fact …
MGEX Nearly Doubles Trade Volume
The Minneapolis Grain Exchange (MGEX) keeps setting – and breaking – new records. MGEX’s July 2010 trading volume was 170,679 – a 98 percent increase over the same period last year and the thirteenth-best monthly Exchange volume in MGEX’s 129 year history. July futures open interest soared 61 percent year-over-year and total Exchange open interest increased by 51 percent in …
I Can’t Ignore My Other Half
In a few posts, I’ve mentioned my love affair with field corn, and how it was first planted and harvested. What I failed to mention was the other “half” of what shaped my childhood ag experience and quite possibly, my appreciate for it. Soybeans. The other day, I was driving along the highway (Where unfortunately, the speed limit is still …
Mike’s Million Mile Ride
Remember when American-made cars meant quality? Well, maybe it still does. An interesting little story has surfaced this week as Mike Lewallen, a Stoller salesman, who has traveled around the country in the name of agriculture, has put more than 1 million miles, on his Ford truck. Now this my friends, is quite an accomplishment. Ironically, this video was shot …
Thank God I’m Fishing
Today TGIF meant, Thank God I’m Fishing. Since I had to come to Florida to cover a farm convention it only seemed to make sense to come a day early and get in a salt water fishing experience. Living in Missouri makes that a rare event anymore. So, Gary Cooper and I spent the day out on the water with …
Canal To The Gulf
It’s a beautiful day in the Sunshine State and hopefully will be a calm one on the Gulf of Mexico. I’m taking a day for a little fishing before things get busy on the agriblogging highway which will start in Panama City tomorrow at the Southern Peanut Growers Conference. This is the view from the deck here of a little …
When I Think Of Home…
On a work tour of Canada a few years back, we drove the countryside and it was filled with fields of yellow…canola. To the local Canadian attendees, it was boring, the usual, and what they really wanted to see were the test plots of field corn. Corn? But I guess I can’t blame them. There’s something about a beautiful field …
SMS Text Messaging Growing According To Commodity Update Survey
The folks at Commodity Update have found that SMS text messaging has really gained ground among farmers and agribusiness. To prove it they had Millennium Research conduct a survey of farmers and found some very interesting information. I think this information should help agrimarketers feel comfortable about investing more in mobile, personal and direct forms of communication with members and …