AgWired

The presidents of ASA and NCGA joined emcee John Phipps on stage and discussed the current status and the future of their respective commodities. They sat in a conversational setting with three leather chairs for a casual-setting discussion.

Phipps asked these men questions about the challenges and opportunities that have arisen in their industries in this last year. Bob Metz, president of ASA, noted the USDA went beyond expectations in regards to soybean rust. Gerald Tumbleson, NCGA president, said ethanol has been in the works for so many years that when consumption and consumer acceptance rose to such a high level as it is today, it was unexpected but fully welcomed.

They both commented on the immense opportunity growers have today. Renewable fuels gives future generations exciting and new ideas to bring to their farms. And both of their farm families take pride in their innovations. As Metz said, “The next generation will always do a better job than the previous.”

Okay, Agriculture Secretary Johanns just entered to a standing ovation, so I will take to switch back to taking notes…

Happy Friday! This morning Monsanto held a press conference to discuss soybean production in the United States. I had the chance to videotape the announcement this morning. They introduced their new product line VISTIVE™. VISTIVE is a brand name for Monsanto’s line of soybean oils that help reduce and/or eliminate trans fatty acids (trans fats). The first product, VISTIVE low-linolenic soybeans, was launched in 2005. This year, nearly 500,000 acres will be planted in multiple areas throughout the Midwest. Processors are currently paying farmers a premium of $0.25 to $0.45 a bushel for VISTIVE soybeans.

U.S. farmers will be given preferred access to produce several soybean products that will result in new market prospects for soybean oil. This includes soy crops that can deliver vegetable oils enriched with omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids have been found to lower cholesterol and reduce blood pressure.

Monsanto’s second part of their announcement involved risk management for their customers. They are offering an incentive of $15 per bag in the event of soybean crop failure for those farmers who purchase Roundup Ready soybean seed, plant it in a double crop system and use Roundup herbicides. This will be tested this year in Arkansas, Missouri, and North Carolina. This is due the amount of double crop soybean acreage and the geographical range of these states.

Finally, Monsanto plans on strategic planning for the future of soybean production. They will support and provide resources for a comprehensive study looking at what the future holds for the soybean industry in the year 2020. It is called Soy 2020 and is coordinated by the United Soybean Board. This study will look at current trends, economic, political and competitive factors that will shape the next 15 years. It will also look at the ways the industry can meet the demands of customers overseas as well as other market segments such as animal agriculture, biodiesel and food manufacturing.

For more information on Monsanto, click on Monsanto.

Yesterday was the grand opening of this year’s trade show here at the Commodity Classic. There was a lot to discover on the trade show floor, and Mary and I were not shy to test some of the interactive components of the displays.

At our first stop, we were pulled in by the energetic team at the Golden Harvest booth to take part in a remote control car race. Mary won the race. Mary won the race big time. I was completely unable to make the remote control car go forward much less make it go around a small track. Let’s just say I lacked the motor skills.

Next, we were the first to try out the Whac-A-Worm game sponsored by Yield Guard Plus at the Monsanto booth. Thank goodness that we tied. Otherwise, I would have been zero for two in our impromptu trade show game competition. Margy Plays Wack-a-worm (:21 wmv file) Mary Plays Wack-a-worm (:31 wmv file)

Then it was off to the race track again, except this time I climbed into the copy of the ethanol-powered Indy car and was more successful. Margy In the IndyCar Simulator (:22 wmv file) In fact, I got the high ranking of the day finishing fourth out of 26. As the driver, I played a video game that was connected to an X-box. I hit the wall almost every time around the turns, but my secret to success was flooring the gas pedal the entire time.

And our last stop before getting ready for dinner was at the John Deere booth, where Mary (who bleeds John Deere green), played Combine Combat. She harvested $59,000 worth of corn in the minute-long game. Test your harvesting skills at this direct link on Agriculture.com

It’s not often that you see boots like these. But then they’re being worn by a very unique and wonderful person who brightens any room she walks into. Your job is to guess who.

In fact, the first person to post a comment and get it rightwill win a prize. We haven’t decided what the prize is yet but it will be worth the while of the person who gets it correct.

So come on. You know her. Everybody does. She always has the coolest shoes and boots. Let’s get those entries/guesses posted.

The Marconi Museum hosted the yield winners of the NCGA 2005 yield contest representing Dekalb and Asgrow.

Singer Gary Morris performed before the awards portion of the evening, and he did an amazing job. It was a night of an unexpected flashback as Morris played “Wind Beneath My Wings,” which was the song my sixth class sang at our graduation. Yes, I am young, but that was quite a few years ago.

Farmers yielding impressive amounts such as 306 bushels/acre as the Mez-Farm in Bagley, Wisconsin did were surrounded by cars worth up to one million dollars.

I’m not really touching this million-dollar 1999 Jaguar Roadster Concept car. It was at the Marconi on loan, and goodness, it was a great looking car.

It was a night of celebration, a night of pride in hard work, and a night focusing on the promise of the future of agriculture and what high yields can mean toward renewable energies and the commodity markets. The 31 states that represented the winners in this contest, indicate the strong national production that U.S. farmers can be very proud of.

I love Michael Peterson! He is here at the 2006 Commodity Classic promoting his new CD “Down on the Farm”. He was gracious enough to give me his signature and take a picture with Margy and I and Chuck was kind enough to get us a signed copy of his new CD!!!

For those of you who may be confused, Michael Peterson is a country singer who sang the songs Drink, Swear, Steal, and Lie and From Here to Eternity, just to name a few. He is a wonderful artist. He is performing tomorrow at the general session.

He is doing a promotion with New Holland and you can only find his CD at your local New Holland dealer. He even has a picture of a New Holland tractor on the front of his CD. Whether you like New Holland or not should not stop you from buying his new CD.