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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.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) will be released at 7:30 a.m. Central Time on the following dates in 1999: Jan. 12, Feb. 10, Mar. 11, Apr. 9, May 12, June 11, July 12, Aug. 12, Sept. 10, Oct. 8, Nov. 10, and Dec. 10. Release dates coincide with release of the Crop Production report, except in January.

Other notable report dates: March 31— Grain Stocks,  Prospective Plantings; June 30 — Acreage, Grain Stocks; Sept 30 — Grain Stocks, Small Grains Summary.

The WASDE report, which forecasts U.S. and world supply and use for major commodities, is issued by the World Agricultural Outlook Board (WAOB) of USDA’s Office of the Chief Economist. The report is posted on the Internet shortly after release. It can be accessed on the WAOB home page at: http://www.usda. gov/oce/waob/waob.htm, and on the USDA Economics and Statistics System at: http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu. Free delivery by electronic mail is also available. For more information call 202-720-5447.

MAWG names Kappes president

Pete Kappes, Ada, MN, was named president of the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers at the organization’s annual meeting held recently in Fargo, ND. Kappes replaces immediate past president Tim Dufault, Crookston, who continues to serve on the MAWG board of directors.

Kappes also serves as secretary/treasurer of the National Association of Wheat Growers Foundation, which oversees many of the educational and leadership programs offered through the NAWG.

Ron Anderson, Hallock, was named first vice president, and Lyle Christianson, Halstad, second vice president. Mike Bruer, Alberta, was named secretary-treasurer. Donna Ulseth, Crookston, was elected to another term on the MAWG board. Others who serve on the MAWG board include Gaylen Affield, Fergus Falls and Richard Magnusson, Roseau.

Schafer announces ag budget at NDGGA meeting

ND Gov. Ed Schafer unveiled his ag initiatives for the 1999-2001 biennium, at the North Dakota Grain Growers Association annual meeting held recently in Fargo. Schafer will ask state lawmakers to spend over $9 million in the new biennium, including:

• $3.6 million for ag-related research at NDSU, a $1.3 million increase.

• $4.1 million to the Ag Products Utilization Committee for value-added start-up and research money.

• $1.5 million, a $1.1 million increase, for Ag PACE, which provides financing to help farmers create new businesses and diversify operations.

New proposals include $356,000 to study the production of high value-added crops with irrigation, and a value-added research center at NDSU to focus on developing new uses for byproducts from value-added processing.

NDGGA names officers

Mark Gage, Page ND, was reelected as president of the North Dakota Grain Growers at the organization’s annual meeting held recently in Fargo. Gage will be serving his second year as president of the NDGGA.

Allan Skogen, Valley City, was elected first vice president, and Tom DeKrey, Steele, second vice president. Bruce Freitag, Scranton, was named secretary-treasurer.

Jim Ostlie, Northwood, and Bruce Freitag, Scranton, were elected to another term on the NDGGA board. Replacing outgoing board directors John Cook, Mohall and Lowell Bernston, Kulm, on the board are DeKrey and Dennis Stromme, Zahl, ND. Others who serve on the NDGGA board include Larry Stang, Regent; Louis Arnold, Esmond; Robert Ferebee, Halliday; Tim Johnson, Stanley; Keith Neshem, Berthold; and Randy Schaley, Niagara.

Knudson, Dalrymple receive Kernel Awards

The NDGGA presented Kernel Awards for 1998 to Jack Dalrymple, a Casselton, ND farmer, and Bob Knudson, sales manager for AgriPro Seed, Fargo. The Kernel Award is given by the NDGGA to recognize individuals in the agribusiness and production sectors who have gone to great lengths to promote and further the economic benefits of wheat and barley producers in ND.

Also, the NDGGA launched a new safety award to recognize agri-business companies that have taken the extra mile to make products safer for users. The 1998 recipient was Rhone Poulenc, which among its safety initiatives, includes a pair of rubber gloves in every box of its crop protectant product. "It is efforts such as these that help make farming safer and easier, and we would like to show our appreciation for their efforts," says NDGGA board member Tim Johnson.