November 1997
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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.
Applications Available for Monsanto Youth Leadership Program
Applications for the Young Wheat Leadership Development Award, sponsored by Monsanto, are now being accepted. Active wheat growers between the ages of 20 and 35 are eligible to apply for the award, a $750 certificate. The certificate may be used to attend the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) Annual Convention on January 14-17, 1998 or the annual Summer Leadership Conference (date to be announced). Attendance at either of these conferences will acquaint participants with the organizational structure of wheat associations and policy development, as well as general leadership skills. Applicants must be a first-time attendee at the meetings to be eligible. Winners are selected based on their answers to three essay questions. Call your state wheat association for an application. Entry deadline is Dec. 1, 1997.
1997 Farm Safety Poster Contest Is On
Kids between the ages of 5 and 12, grab your poster paper and show how you and your family can make work around the farm safer, as well as why it's important. This year's Farm Safety Poster Contest is sponsored by Communicating for Agriculture and the National Association of Wheat Growers Foundation (NAWG). Use 22 x 28" poster paper and the medium of your choice. First place prize is a $400 U.S. Savings Bond, second place is a $250 U.S. Savings Bond, and third place is a $150 U.S. Savings Bond.
Mail or drop off your entry at your state wheat association office by the deadline (December 15 in Minnesota). Winners will be announced at the NAWG Annual Convention on January 17, 1998.
Flood losses may be tax deductible
Persons residing in counties declared a federal disaster area last spring may have deductible losses and have special rules for reporting insurance proceeds and replacing lost property, according to the Olsen Thielen & Co. Ltd. See your tax advisor for more.
Target markets for wheat foods message
The Wheat Foods Council, funded in part by the wheat checkoff, wants to reach the following strategic audiences with its "eat more wheat foods" message:
Children: U.S. population is expected to climb to 60.4 million by 2005. They spend over $3 billion of their own money on food and influence another $95 billion of their parent's grocery money each year. Kids are big on wheat foods including bread, pizza, pasta, crackers, and cereal.
Hispanic population: the fastest growing ethnic group in America. Requests for Spanish translations and modifications of WFC materials is increasing. A major market for flour tortillas.
Seniors: the fastest growing age group in America, which will represent 20% of the population by the year 2030. They are interested in their health and are major consumers of grain products; however, many also think these products are fattening; thus the need for wheat foods education.
Quotable
"We can talk about alternative crops, but when the day is over, this is still wheat country." Lawson Jones, a Webster, N.D. farmer and U.S. Durum Growers Association leader, on why it's important to get scab under control in the Northern Plains.n