Attendees of the International Farm Management Association 17 Congress were witness to a very optimistic view of the future of renewable energy. Dennis Magyar, a renewable energy industry leader with North American DuPont Biofuels, gave an insightful presentation on the future of bio fuels and bio fuel technologies. The presentation began discussing the desire for energy independence, establishing the importance …

Wind energy is an up and coming technology in the U.S. and central Illinois. Attendees of the International Farm Management Association 17 Congress (IFMA 17) got a chance to learn more about this current, complex energy issue. Andrew Young, CDO of Horizon Wind Energy, addressed the IFMA 17 Congress today in the Brown Ballroom at Illinois State University. Young’s presentation …

IFMA 17 was not kidding when it came up with its concept for the second Congress ever held in the U.S. Conference planners have woven the theme of “Food, Fiber and Energy” throughout the past few days of the Congress. However, it may surprise a few of the international delegates to learn their transportation is also joining the IFMA 17 …

Typically farmers don’t take a city bus or elevated train to the fields each day. But Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences isn’t your typical farm. Every year as many as 1,500 prospective students apply for 150 spots at the far south side magnet school, and the lucky few who are chosen travel long distances to be a part of …

Instead of traveling to 26 different countries to hear about the deregulation of South African dairy farmers or the sustainable practices of farms set in the Blue Ridge Mountains, IFMA 17 delegates can simply travel across the street to breakout sessions on the Illinois State University campus. With several broad categories to choose from, ranging from farm management to marketing …

Populations are growing, diets are becoming healthier, land and water rights are being cracked down upon and the consumption of food is doubling as the years progress forward becomes, “The need for and acceptance of biotechnology in feeding a hungry world.” Kevin Eblen, of the Monsanto Company, set the stage for his presentation Monday with a video that talks about …

Genetically Modified Organisms or GMOs have become a topic of skepticism, especially in France, and the discussion was on tap Monday afternoon at the International Farm Management Congress. Anti-GMO activists, who view the harvests as highly unnatural, have destroyed fields of these experimental crops. Mourad Hannachi, a PhD student the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, has studied the difficulties …

John Alliston welcomed the agricultural world Monday to the Bone Student Center on the campus of Illinois State University for the 17th annual International Farm Management Congress. Alliston, the President of the IFMA, stressed the importance of communication during this week-long seminar that includes a multitude of presentations dealing with world agriculture. “By the end of this week, we want …

The International Farm Management Association Congress began Monday, July 20 at Illinois State University. Gregory Traxler was one of several speakers discussing global agriculture issues on the opening day of the IFMA Congress. His presentation, “Toward World Food Security” highlighted the complexity and causes of the issue of food security. Food security refers to the right to food for all …