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| Nebraska Corn Board member Stan Boehr, left, and Don Hutchens, executive director of Nebraska Corn Development, Utilization and Marketing Board, right, discuss the state’s expected record corn crop during the ninth annual Nebraska Corn Harvest Tour in early October. |
Quality, Abundance of Fall Crop Highlighted During Nebraska Corn Harvest Tour
(10-15-04)
Corn buyers, ag media reporters
and others who attended the ninth annual Nebraska Corn Harvest Tour got an
up-close look at the state’s thriving corn industry
during the first week of October.
Participants, including National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Development
Manager Melanie Fitzpatrick, visited an ethanol plant, feedlots and dozens
of cornfields during the three-day event, sponsored by the Nebraska Corn Board
and U.S. Grains Council (USGC).
Corn buyers from Mexico, California and Guatemala attended the tour and expressed
the need to have quality-assured sources of corn.
“Our market intelligence has shown us that the majority of the corn
exported from Nebraska goes to California and Mexico,” said Randy Klein,
director of market development for the Nebraska Corn Board in a news release. “This
year’s tour focused on showcasing the quality of Nebraska’s corn
crop to our biggest out-of-state markets. We also wanted to illustrate the
huge amount of economic activity that is generated by corn production in Nebraska.”
Fitzpatrick said the trip included a visit to a farm/feedlot, a field tour
and yield check at the farm of Keith Spohn. The group ate lunch at the farm
of NCGA member Stan Boehr, and later toured the Nebraska Energy ethanol plant
in Aurora, Neb. NCGA member Doug Boisen hosted a reception for the group.
Fitzpatrick said yields, moisture content and crop condition varied greatly
by region. More than 100 yield samples were taken during the tour, indicating
an average yield of 165.9 bushels per acre, down slightly from last year. Average
test weight was 57.4, up slightly from last year. All of the samples tested
negative for aflatoxin.
Klein said the tour provided an excellent opportunity for the Nebraska Corn
Board to showcase the quality and abundance of the state’s corn.
“The Nebraska Corn Board invests a great deal of time and effort in
telling the world about our abundant and reliable supply of high quality corn,” Klein
said. “But there is simply no substitute for bringing customers and decision-makers
to our fields to talk directly with producers—and see for themselves
just how we do what we do.”