September/
October 1998
Prairie Shortcuts
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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.
Fore named UM extension crop systems educator
Zach Fore has been named crop systems educator by the University of Minnesota Extension Service. Fore will help farmers in western Minnesota develop and manage better and more profitable cropping systems. Fore spent the last seven years as an agronomist with Cenex/Land o' Lakes Agronomy Co., St. Paul, most recently working with technology transfer in the area of biotechnology and site specific agriculture. Fore, an Oklee, MN, native, has a B.S. from the U of M and a masters from NDSU. Fore is based in the Minnesota Wheat Growers building in Red Lake Falls, MN.
ND Wheat Commission has new web site
The North Dakota Wheat Commission now offers ND wheat news, wheat quality statistics, bread and pasta recipes and educational information on the World Wide Web: www.ndwheat.com.
NDSU studying wheat pool idea
Researchers at the NDSU ag economics department are studying the feasibility of creating a voluntary wheat marketing pool for ND farmers, called the Dakota Pride Pool. Under a proposal by the ND Farmers Union, producers would become members of a Cooperative Marketing Association that would participate in the CCC loan program. Members would receive the county loan rate plus an incentive payment to participate in the pool. The CMA would then call on the State Mill and Elevator to market the pooled grain at a premium price. The NDSU study is being funded by ND Mill profits, and some preliminary results are expected this fall.
USWP purchases plant near Atlanta
United Spring Wheat Processors announced in August that it has purchased a food-grade manufacturing plant about 20 miles south of Atlanta to process hard red spring wheat from the Dakotas, Minnesota and Montana into frozen and partially-frozen dough products. Gary Lee, USWP president and CEO, says the plant, located in McDonough, GA, is strategically located for product distribution throughout the southeastern US. The plant is located in an industrial park with direct access to key railroad and highway transportation channels. "The distribution advantages are further confirmed by looking at the type of companies that are located in this industrial park," says Lee. "Nestles Foods, Toys R Us, Ken's Foods, Pep Boys, Ford, and Snapper Mowers all maintain their southeastern distribution networks in McDonough." The purchase of an existing plant will reflect significant economic savings over building a new facility, says Lee, and allows USWP to keep in step with its goal for operations startup next spring.
USWP also announced the employment of its senior management staff: Jerry Langley, vice president of operations; Don Davis, vice president of sales; Mike Hardy, director of grain origination and merchandising; Mark Osman, controller and director of administration; and Vernon Culver, plant engineer.
Preventing double checkoff deductions
To prevent a commodity checkoff from being mistakenly assessed twice- when grain is placed under loan at your county Farm Service Agency office, and again when the grain is no longer under mortgage and is being sold in the cash market- simply bring documentation to prove to the purchaser, most likely your local grain elevator, that the grain has already been assessed at FSA when it was put under loan. The checkoff is referred to as "assessments" on loan papers. In cases where the loan amount is less than the mortgaged amount, the first purchaser is required to collect the checkoff on the overage, but only on the overage.
Associations to draft 1999 ag policy resolutions
If you want to get in your two cents on farm policy, now is the time. Your state wheat association invites wheat and barley producers to help draft 1999 farm policy resolutions and association objectives this fall, which will then be presented for adoption at the states' annual conventions, then submitted for national consideration at the National Association of Wheat Growers convention next year. For more information, contact your state wheat association at the phone, mail, and e-mail addresses listed on page 3.
MN-ND Wheat/Barley Convention Dec. 7-8 in Fargo
The Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers, North Dakota Grain Growers Association, and Minnesota Barley Growers Association, will hold their annual conventions jointly Dec. 7 and 8, at the Doublewood Inn in Fargo. Get it on your calendar now, look for registration details in Prairie Grains later.
SGI and RRV Potato Expo to be held Feb. 9-10
The Small Grains Institute and the Red River Valley Potato Expo will be held jointly at the Fargodome Feb. 9-10, 1999. For exhibit information, contact Doug Peterson, ph. 218-773-9120; Dale Hoff, 218-281-6702; or Greg Radke, ph. 701-280-2862. n