Just as our Sec. of Ag departed on his trip to China, Bunge announced their plans to grow into the country. Looks like trade will be picking up with this huge new market area.
Bunge Agrees to Purchase Soybean Processing Plant in China
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., — Bunge Limited (NYSE:BG) today announced that it has agreed to purchase a controlling interest in an integrated soybean crushing and refining plant in the port city of Rizhao, Shandong Province, China, from Sanwei Group Ltd. The plant, Bunge’s first in the country, will link Bunge directly to customers in the expanding soybean meal and oil markets in the Shandong region. Sanwei will retain a minority interest in the newly created joint venture company.
For more information contact Stewart Lindsay.
I’m back. After 9 days, 5 of them driving. I thought I could get more posted while on this trip but it just didn’t work out that way. It was a family thing and spending time shooting fireworks with my nephews & nieces in Georgia or at a reception with in-laws in Florida was just more important. The main reason for the trip was to move my oldest daughter to south Florida. She’ll finish her college career at 
I thought my 3,000 plus miles in the last 9 days was a lot of travel but our Sec. of Ag Mike Johannes is doing much more. He’s travelling in China and Africa July 9-21 for multilateral and bilateral meetings on agricultural trade and development. Although it doesn’t have frequent postings he is writing a travelogue of sorts. I kind of think a blog would be a better way to do it but then what do I know? Here’s an excerpt from his latest post.
In this week’s 
Buttles Named Holstein Association 2004 Distinguished Young Holstein Breeders 
Andy and Lyn have both been involved in the dairy industry for many years. Andy graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison with a bachelor’s degree in Dairy Science. Lyn grew up on a dairy farm in Pennsylvania and earned her bachelor’s degree in Dairy Science from Penn State and has her master’s degree in Dairy Nutrition from University of Wisconsin – Madison. 
I know I’m not your average consumer and this information is about those folks. I see a package of pork I want and I just grab it! Not too much thinking goes into my decisions.
As if moving a daughter to another state wasn’t enough to deal with we had to drive right into this little storm! The photo is courtesy of 
I know we haven’t posted much the last couple days but it’s move a daughter to college week and we’ve been on the road. But just to show you that work is getting done here’s Cindy editing audio for one of our clients. We’re in Georgia at the moment and spent some time on the phone today interviewing corn growers about rootworm and corn borer problems and protection.
The 25×25 Ag Energy Work Group held a press conference today with former CIA director James Woolsey. It was a discussion on the idea that reducing our dependence on foreign oil is an issue of national security. Here’s what their news release said: