MAY 1996
Prairie Short Cuts
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Prairie Grains is the
official publication of
the Minnesota
Association of
Wheat Growers,
North Dakota Grain
Growers Association,
South Dakota Wheat,
Inc., and the
Minnesota Barley
Growers Association.
NONTRADITIONAL AG CREDIT -- More nontraditional credit suppliers available these days can benefit farm borrowers, notes Dwight Aakre, NDSU extension farm management specialist. Advantages include being able to purchase supplies and arrange financing through the same place. Also, for borrowers who may not qualify for credit from traditional sources, there are other sources to turn to.
One example is Fin-Ag, Inc. (ph. 605-361-6171) which provides financing services to the patrons of Harvest States Co-op line and affiliate elevators. Another is Ag Services of America (ph. 1-800-395-8505 or 218-281-6156).
FIRST USW SEMINARS IN VIETNAM -- U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) conducted seminars on noodle technology in Vietnam earlier this year, the first such activity USW has conducted in Vietnam through the USDA's Foreign Market Development program. There was an overwhelming interest for technical information among the participants. Nearly 50 percent of the flour used in Vietnam is for noodle production.
BARLEY FOODS POPULAR AT SGI -- The Minnesota Barley Research & Promotion Council distributed cookies and cereal made from waxy hull-less barley at the Small Grains Institute held recently in Crookston.
Wally Coram with NuWorld Nutrition donated the barley cookies and samples of barley cereal that were distributed to those who stopped by the barley booth, and Greg Fox, a crops breeder and waxy hull-less barley expert, was on hand to answer technical questions about the special type of barley.
"The food items were a hit with the SGI crowd, but more importantly, the MBRPC spread the message that barley-based foods are healthful and nutritious," says Lorri Hartel, MBRPC administrative assistant.
For more information about waxy hull-less barley foods, nutrition, and recipes, contact the MBRPC at 1-800-242-6118 or Coram at 1-800-950-3188 or write: 1734 11th St., Fargo, ND 58103.
OKLAHOMA: CHANGE OF COURSE NEEDED -- Farmers will have to do something different to remain in the business of agriculture in the new century. To survive, farmers have to obtain some of the profits that are realized in processing and marketing a value-added product, say members of a value-added committee formed recently by the Oklahoma Wheat Growers Association (OWGA).
"It's the only chance we have left to save rural Oklahoma," says Tony Kodesh, a member of the committee. "We've got the power, because we've got the commodity."
Fellow committee member Ralph Meade takes it a step further: "I foresee a time when all the farmers will either be in a value-added venture, or be out of agriculture. In 20 years, farmers will be operating retail businesses that will include their own lines of processed foods."
With approval from the full OWGA board, the committee plans to move ahead in forming a new alliance of producers who will raise money to study or design business plans involving ag commodities produced in Oklahoma. By pooling their investments, the committee says, producers will be able to obtain ownership in processing businesses while limiting their costs and liabilities.