Minnesota: On June 21, the University of Minnesota Extension Service research facility hosted an agronomy field tour that discussed corn-on-corn fields. Researchers at the Southern Research and Outreach Station in Waseca helped organize the tour and studies. "There is a lot of interest in second-year corn, and a lot of people are growing more corn and less soybeans, because of rust, aphids, and a lot of other factors, so there is a lot more interest in corn-on-corn," said Tom Hoverstad, a scientist at the research center. “It may not be the optimum as far as the whole ecology of the system goes, but we look at how to manage it the best we can." Tour participants went to tillage plots, fertilizer plots, and other in-the-field experiments, and had the opportunity to visit with the specialists who are conducting the research.

South Dakota: The South Dakota Corn Utilization Council welcomed eight international journalists on a tour of South Dakota to learn more about the state’s agricultural advancements in biotechnology, research, state-of-the-art grain handling facilities and equipment on June 24. Journalists touring South Dakota were from Japan, Taiwan, Romania, Bulgaria, Spain, Brazil, Pakistan and Argentina. Biotechnology crops, markets and regulations are top issues of interest for the international reporters. The front-page journalists experienced first hand how South Dakota farmers have incorporated the latest technology in their production agriculture operations when they visited Brian Woldt’s farm near Wentworth, S.D. The group then toured Dakota Ethanol near Wentworth The tour then traveled to Fremar Farmers Co-op in Marion to learn more about how grain is handled and transported.

North Dakota: In just two months, North Dakota has more than doubled its number of E85 fueling pumps. There are now 12 E85 pumps throughout the state, compared to five back in late April of 2005. The latest E85 pumps to come online are Don’s Car Wash on 13th Ave. in Fargo, Cenex on Central Ave. in Minot, and Cenex of Carrington. Carrington Cenex Manager Jerome Neis says that bringing E85 to Carrington was an easy decision, “We are very proud to offer E85. Many customers and car dealers in and around Carrington are pleased and excited that they can now use this economical, North Dakota produced fuel.” On July 1st, 2005 North Dakota legislation will remove $.20 from the $.21 fuel tax on E85 for the first 1.25 million gallons sold in the state, which is expected to bring the cost of E85 to about $.70 less per gallon than regular unleaded fuel.

Nebraska: Corn-based plastics, made from PLA or polylactic acid, are growing in popularity, thanks in large part to higher petroleum prices.

“There are many factors contributing to this expansion, such as increased awareness and environmental concerns,” said Kelly Brunkhorst, ag promotion coordinator for the Nebraska Corn Board. “However, the biggest factor right now is the continued high cost of petroleum, which is making corn-based plastics made from PLA more cost competitive.” PLA is made from the starch of the corn kernel. The largest PLA production plant in the world is the Cargill facility near Blair, Nebraska. The Cargill plant has the capacity to produce up to 300 million pounds of PLA annually, from approximately 14 million bushels of locally grown corn. According to Brunkhorst, one bushel of corn will produce approximately 22 pounds of PLA, and one acre of corn can produce enough PLA to make about 188,000 yogurt cups.