While corn planting in Illinois was gaining momentum last week, Tim Laatsch of the Agronomy Division at GROWMARK was talking about the field conditions around the state and how the warmer, drier winter combined with wet conditions this spring is causing winter annuals to thrive in some areas, providing a good habitat for cutworms. In this interview, Laatsch also talks …
SMART Farmer Nancy Kavazanjian
This is episode number six of the USFRA SMART Farmer podcast and this one is with Nancy Kavazanjian, who served as the second chairperson of the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance. Nancy farms with her husband Charlie Hammer in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin on land that has been in his family for 150 years. She grew up on Long Island, made …
2017 Commodity Classic
Welcome to the virtual newsroom for the 2017 Commodity Classic sponsored by FMC, John Deere, and Farmer’s Edge. “Farmer Up” was the theme for this year’s event held March 2-4, 2017 in San Antonio, Texas. Established in 1996, Commodity Classic is America’s largest farmer-led, farmer-focused convention and trade show, produced by the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), American Soybean Association …
DuPont Pioneer Unveils New Corn and Soybean Products
With the theme of “Innovation Elevates Performance for Growers,” DuPont Pioneer used virtual press conferences this week to unveil new corn and soybean products by region. Pioneer is launching 54 new A-Series soybeans for North America; and 53 new top-yielding corn products as part of its expanded lineup for 2017 spring planting. Listen to the Delta/Southeast regional presentation of the …
Hundreds in Detroit for #ExEx16
Hundreds of buyers and sellers of U.S. coarse grains and ethanol co-products have arrived in Detroit for Export Exchange 2016 (#ExEx16) and even though they are from more than 30 countries they are busy making connections and building relationships. The event, which has been held every two years since 2010, is co-sponsored by the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and the …
U.S. Trade Enforcement Action Against China
U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Michael Froman, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, and a bipartisan group of federal lawmakers today announced the launch of trade enforcement action against China at the World Trade Organization (WTO). The action challenges China’s use of “market price support” for three key crops (rice, wheat, and corn) in excess of China’s commitments under WTO rules. Congressional members …
Bayer Showcase Plot Tours
Bayer has been holding a series of Showcase Plot Tours around the country since early July and we had a chance to check out the latest in cotton, peanuts and soybeans for the Southeast at the company’s brand new breeding facility near Dawson, GA. We also attended the the Athens, IL event to find out more of what Bayer has …
Mike Geske on Why USFRA
Mike Geske farms in a unique area in southeast Missouri because it has such a diversity of crops including rice, wheat and corn, a crop Geske grows with pride. For many years, he has served on boards of both the Missouri Corn Growers Association and National Corn Growers Association and today represents Missouri Corn on the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers …
USDA Predicts Record #Soybean & More Corn Acres
USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) planted acreage report for this year estimates record soybean plantings and increased corn acres over last year. The report estimates U.S. soybean planted area at a record high 83.7 million acres, up 1 percent from last year, while corn growers increased their acreage from last year by 7 percent to 94.1 million acres, making …
#4Enogen4Energy @AmericanEthanol E15 NASCAR Race
It’s E15 race time at the Iowa Speedway. The American Ethanol E15 250 presented by Enogen was held June 19 at Iowa Speedway, featuring a press conference that included representatives from Syngenta, American Ethanol, Growth Energy and Quad County Corn Processors. Syngenta and Growth Energy are working together for the fourth consecutive year with Iowa Speedway to demonstrate the value …
American Ethanol E15 250 Presented by Enogen Preview
The American Ethanol E15 250 presented by Enogen is set to hit the track this weekend at Iowa Speedway in Newton. The race, where all drivers compete using E15, a 15 percent ethanol blend, leaves the starting line on Sunday, June 19 at 12:30 pm CT. To get the scoop on events this weekend, I was able to speak with …
Optimism Infuses 10th Annual #CUTC16
The 10th annual Corn Utilization Technology Conference (CUTC) – #CUTC16 – took place in St. Louis, Missouri this week. The conference is held every other year and focuses on innovations and challenges in the wet and dry corn milling industry. The session kicked off with a message from National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) CEO Chris Novak who set a tone …
#USDA Report – Corn Up, Soybeans Down
The 2016 Prospective Plantings report out from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) shows farmers expect to plant more corn and less soybeans this year. U.S. corn growers expect to plant 93.6 million acres to corn this year, the first increase in corn planted acreage since 2012 and, if realized, will be the third largest corn acreage since 1944. In …
Fuels America Launches New Ad Campaign
Fuels America is launching a new seven-figure TV and digital ad campaign today urging President Obama to make a choice between the oils industry and renewable fuels for the future. The campaign depicts President Obama’s choice of who to listen to when it comes to the Renewable Fuel Standard: his own experts who have repeatedly shown that ethanol and renewable …
White Paper on Farm Income and the RFS
Leaders of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and the National Farmers Union (NFU) jointly released a new white paper Thursday on how the EPA’s proposed rule for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is threatening farm income and rural economies across the United States. The paper cites the latest USDA data on net cash income for American farmers and ranchers, …