Despite a dry summer in many parts of the country, there’s still plenty of corn to go around. USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service September crop report calls for an 11.114 billion bushel corn crop for the current marketing year, which would be the second-largest crop on record. The forecast is one percent higher than last month report and up just …
Dupont/Bunge Announce Treus
One of the big announcements here at the Farm Progress Show on opening day was from Bunge and Dupont who have a biotech alliance. Basically they’ve created a new brand, “Treus.” This is being done to “reflect their expansion of the companies’ soy collaboration beyond food and nutrition products to include industrial applications, biofuels and other opportunities.” Low linolenic soybean …
American Agriculture on the Move
The American Agriculture Movement is organizing a “Drive for American Bio-Energy for Jobs, Family Farms, and National Security.” According to the AAM, a “small group of patriotic family farm advocates, business people, and concerned citizens” will travel east from Kansas City to Washington, D.C. in antique tractors and cars “in an effort to raise public awareness about the contribution agriculture …
Monsanto’s Processor Preferred Program
Hello from the Farm Progress Show in Amana Colonies, IA. This is one of the biggest farm shows in the United States. Over 460 companies are on display out here in the middle of a corn field. The weather is not cooperating yet. It’s raining and muddy but I’m sure it will clear up over the next day or so.
Interview With Cargill’s Teddy
Wayne Teddy is the President of Cargill’s Grain & Oilseed Crush Supply unit for North America. He was on hand this morning at the Paseo Biofuels announcement.
E85 Promotional Campaign
A Missouri-based company is getting ready to give away a new Ford F-150 flexible fuel truck. It’s MFA Oil Company and they’ll be announcing full details on Friday, May 26. Wish I could be there.
Manage Your Energy Risk
Small and limited resource farmers as well as any producers might be interested in USDA’s “Energy In Agriculture, Managing The Risk” conference in Kansas City, MO on June 27-28. You can register online for $90 before June 5. Here’s a draft agenda (pdf file). Some travel scholarships are available if applied for prior to May 30.
New Holland Supports B20
Biodiesel fans can cheer New Holland today. They are the first equipment manufacturer to fully approve B20, a 20 percent blend of biodiesel, in their tractors. The release I received came from the National Biodiesel Board which is appropriately happy.
Classic iPod Keepsake Winner Announced
Since it’s National Agriculture Day, we want to say thank you to all our farmers who are keeping us fed with the most abundant and safe food supply in the world. This is the day for the announcement of the winner of the New Holland “Down on the Farm” Classic iPod Keepsake Contest. Thanks to all the people who entered online or at the New Holland booth at Commodity Classic. The random drawing has taken place and . . .
Pioneer Developing Corn Traits To Increase Ethanol Yield
While Cindy is holding down the fort, I’m attending the Pioneer Hi-Bred, “Science of Solutions” media event in Johnston, IA. In the first interview I conducted ethanol came up. I was speaking with Bill Kuhn, Pioneer Research Director. Bill mentioned ethanol and I asked him how Pioneer is developing corn varieties that have traits that would increase ethanol production on a per bushel basis.