MAWG, NDGGA Schedule Summer Golf Tourneys
The North Dakota Grain Growers Association will hold its annual golf tourney on July 15, at the Hawktree Golf Course north of Bismarck. For more details, contact the NDGGA, 1-800-932-8822.

The Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers will hold its 10th annual Wheat Open Golf Tournament July 11, at the Wildflower Golf Course, in Detroit Lakes, Minn. Registration and open driving range begins at 8 a.m., with a 9:30 a.m. shotgun start.  Space is limited to the first 144 paid registrations. Entry fee is $40 for MAWG members and associate members, $95 for nonmember growers, and $125 for all other nonmembers.

NDGGA E-Tour June 25-27
The NDGGA will hold its annual Environmental Tour (E-Tour) June 25-27 in the Red River Valley. The tour is designed to educate environmental decision makers about environmental issues from the point of view of the production ag sector.

Minnesota Biodiesel Mandate Becomes Law
After another legislative session that once again produced a hotly contested debate between agricultural and transportation interests, Minnesota became the first state in the nation to approve a mandate for the use of biodiesel.

The newly-enacted law does not go into effect until two out of three trigger actions take place: 1) the state must have eight million gallons of production capacity in place; 2) the federal government must enact tax credits that are in place for 18 months; 3) nothing can occur prior to June 30, 2005. Once the state attains two of those plateaus, all biodiesel sold commercially in the state will be required to contain at least 2% vegetable oil.

Receiving bipartisan support in the legislature, the biodiesel bill passed into law on its own on March 15.  Gov. Jesse Ventura, a critic of government mandates, considered a veto of the measure, but in the end allowed the bill to become law without his signature. (Source: Minnesota Agri-Growth Council)

NAWG, BASF Name 2002 Wheat Ambassadors
Fourteen wheat leaders from twelve different states recently graduated from the 2002 Wheat Ambassador Program, sponsored by BASF and the National Association of Wheat Growers. The program is designed to train growers to enhance their skills to become effective spokespeople for the wheat industry.  As well, participants gained insight into key environmental, legislative and regulatory issues affecting the wheat industry.  The 2002 Wheat Ambassadors include Chris Bristol, Upham, N.D.; Ellsworth Danielson, Fosston, Minn.; and Richard Magnusson, Roseau, Minn.

Baking Bread for the Troops
A Florida couple has been sharing the comfort of grain foods with American troops at home and abroad. Since 1991, Al and Barbara Davis have baked more than 14,000 banana nut breads from their home kitchen, and spent approximately $21,000 out of their own pocket, to give U.S. troops a healthy taste of home.   Source:  abcnews.com