Hat Chat

When Indiana’s state government decided to jump start the Hoosier renewable fields industry, they needed a lot of help. This help came from Purdue, private industry, commodity groups, and private citizens. Two years ago. the state started recognizing some of these individuals with the Paul Dana Award. Named in honor the late IRL driver who was responsible for introducing the IRL to ethanol, the Dana Award is presented to those who have helped grow the Indiana renewable fuels industry.

This year the award was presented to the Indiana Soybean Alliance and Indiana Corn. These two farmer-funded organizations have implemented programs that have helped grow the Indiana ethanol and soy-diesel industries. From research to consumer promotion, the corn and soybean checkoffs have been a major force in the Indiana renewable fuels revival.

The Dana Awards is one of the best ideas state government has ever had, and the choice of the corn and soybean organizations was inspired. All Hoosier corn and soybean growers should take pride in being a part of this new energy effort.

This year’s award was presented by Lt. Governor Becky Skillman at the Indiana State Fair. Listen to the ceremony by clicking the link below.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Every commodity checkoff meeting I have ever attended has been about one thing: building demand. Beef, pork, corn, soybean, dairy, veal, cotton, turnips, whatever, the goal of producer funded and controlled programs has always been about increasing the price of the commodity by improving demand. But what happens if you succeed? What happens when the price of your product goes higher than you, or anyone else in the industry, could have imagined. What happens when, almost overnight, all your demand dreams come true? That is just what has happened to corn and soybean producers. Corn and soybean prices have hit new record high price levels while floods have devastated millions of acres of cropland in the Midwest. Even a Purdue Ag economist said the price of corn is too high. Against this background the last thing you want to be talking about is increasing demand. This was the dilemma faced by the United soybean Board as they met yesterday in Indianapolis.

There are some who will say “with $15 soybeans who needs a checkoff?” As agriculture enters into a new era where it will be asked to produce more food, fiber, and fuel than ever before, the need for producer controlled checkoff is as great as ever. Supply and demand are just opposite ends of the same equation. The same kind of creativity and fortitude that created our demand will be needed to develop the corresponding supply.

Find out what they decided to do at Hoosier Ag Today.com

The Corn Indy 250 race is over and Andy Eubank, who has been covering the race, is on his way back home to Indiana. Dan Wheldon, Target Chip Ganassi Racing won the race.

The Team Ethanol car ran as high as 3rd place but according to driver, Ryan Hunter-Reay, they lost a gamble on fuel strategy. He ran a strong race all day and really wanted to finish on the podium in front of so many fans of ethanol but it wasn’t to be. He finished 8th.

Andy will have photos and special interviews this week so be listening to HAT on air and on-line.

Watch and listen for upcoming news coverage by Hoosier Ag Today. On Thursday, Andy Eubank will attend the Indiana FFA Convention for the election of the new state officer team. Also on Thursday, I will attend a briefing being given by state officials on the progress of flood relief efforts and the damage to agriculture in the state. Top state, federal, and extension officials will be part of the briefing.

Over the weekend, Andy will be at the Iowa Corn Indy 250 race at the Iowa Speedway. Top ethanol officials will be on hand, and Andy should get some interesting interviews, that is if he does not get too caught up in the race. While in Iowa, he may also get a first had look at some of the flooding in that state.