I just sent in my request for credentials for this December’s Hong Kong Ministerial of the World Trade Organization. I’m seeking a sponsor of my coverage of this extremely important event to all of U-S agriculture, especially from a marketing standpoint. Please contact me if you’re interested in becoming one of the AgWired Hong Kong sponsors.
There’s not a lot of information out yet on the conference but I’ll begin regular posts about is as we move closer. Here’s why the conference is important according to the WTO website:
Highest authority: the Ministerial Conference
So, the WTO belongs to its members. The countries make their decisions through various councils and committees, whose membership consists of all WTO members. Topmost is the ministerial conference which has to meet at least once every two years. The Ministerial Conference can take decisions on all matters under any of the multilateral trade agreements.
The last conference I attended was the never-to-be-forgotten Seattle conference when I came in contact with protestors up close and personal. Here’s to hoping this conference will be a little different. I kind of think the authorities there will handle it differently than we did in Seattle.
Hot off the presses is today’s talking news release from
. . . Heartland Hybrid’s President, Jay Asplin, agrees that the agreement will be a great benefit for farmers. “We really believe the acquisition of Heartland Hybrids by Landec Ag is only going to enhance our ability to bring greater value to our customers. By combining both of our brands together, both of our companies, under the Landec Ag ownership, we’re really going to strengthen our ability to bring farmers across the country the opportunity to buy seed at a great value.” (
Lest you think the 2005 Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo is mostly Expo, think again. They don’t always make for pretty pictures but there was a whole lot of educating going on.
It’s not unusual to see big iron at a farm show but the 2005 Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo had exhibits by a lot of engineering, accouting and consulting firms. That’s why you bring in the big rig if you’ve got it!
This is becoming a standard feature of trade shows everywhere. I like the idea of having an internet “cafe” in the trade show so people have to go there for their free periodic email check. Each time I walked by the internet cafe the work stations were filled and even had people waiting. The 
This release came out just in time to be mentioned while an ethanol conference is going on in Kansas City. I guess corn can also be made into biodiesel. You just don’t hear as much about it. There’s certainaly a lot going on in the renewable fuels sector right now. Of course it doesn’t hurt to have a champion in the White House either.
The 
It looks like there’s a lot of pressure being put on congress as it relates to crop insurance this year. 
This dude from Toronto was wandering around the 
Corn Cob was escorted by Melissa Armstrong, public relations manager for the 
I only got to spend a little time at the