In a recent Wallaces Farmer article, Sukup Manufacturing of Sheffield, Iowa, was recognized as an official sponsor of the 100 Firestone Indy Lights Race at the Iowa Speedway to be held June 25, 2011.  They have also partnered with ISU and the Farm Progress Show to sponsor the ISU Racecar.  This new partnership with ISU, NASCAR and the Iowa Speedway is designed to promote the use of ethanol-based blended fuel and the renewable fuels industry.

This year NASCAR started fueling its stock cars with a blend of 15% ethanol made from corn grown by American farmers. This month’s races at Iowa Speedway marked the first time NASCAR’s ethanol-fueled cars raced in Iowa.

The Chevrolet pictured here, with number 85 on the sides, was driven Saturday, May 21, by Tanner Whitten in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series. It was a big weekend for the 18-year-old driver, who graduated from high school the next day, May 22.

Eugene Sukup, founder of Sukup Manufacturing, spoke at a press conference held in Des Moines to promote the new project.  He said, “Ethanol has been a real boost for Iowa and indeed Midwest agriculture. Iowa has done the groundwork in developing alternative energy and has done it very well. ISU is helping to further develop renewable fuels, the next generation of biofuels.”

He added, “Our business is making bins and equipment to store and handle grain, including corn that’s made into ethanol. The 41 ethanol plants we have in Iowa today, plus the rest of them in the U.S., have raised the price of corn and have helped boost U.S. farm income. The big thing we all need to do today is to help address the public’s understanding of the importance of biofuels and the need to continue to do research and development. Today’s corn ethanol is a much needed step to help bring us to the next generation of renewable fuels.”

Visit this link for coverage of a press conference held in Des Moines to promote this new biofuels promotion and for an interview with race car driver Tanner Whitten.

Guest blog by Teresa Falk, freelance writer
and creator of Rural Route Ramblings blog

Growing up on the farm I was surrounded by animals. As a young child the much bigger cows and bulls were intimidating at first, but I soon grew to love them. Helping dad feed the animals, spread straw or guard gates were part of our everyday chores on the farm. These chores taught us responsibility and the importance of working hard.

Every winter when the cows calved I would pick my favorite calves and give them special names. But deep down I knew not to get too attached to the calves because as my dad often reminded me – the cattle were not our pets. They were part of our livelihood. I was well aware that my favorite calf would eventually grow into a heifer and may end up on my dinner plate or someone else’s. And I was OK with that. I knew that the animals we raised on our farm would provide nutrition to others. I grew up eating beef and continue to because I know it’s part of a healthy diet.

I get my love of animals from my dad. For his recent 60th birthday we had a party on the farm where we served his own beef. As I told the guests, when you come to a beef cattle farm, you can expect to eat beef. My mom made this delicious recipe of Barbecued Beef served on a bun.

Multiple “cyclones” will hit Alexander, Iowa, on the afternoon of Wednesday, May 25, when the 2011 ISU Tailgate Tour comes to North Central Iowa.

Several head coaches, ISU Athletic Director Jamie Pollard, and ISU’s mascot, Cy, will be on hand to sign autographs and pose for pictures with Cyclone fans.

“We’ve hosted many tailgates before ISU games in Ames, but this is sure to be one of our best,” says John Latham, president, Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds. “We’re excited to host the ISU coaches and athletes on our home turf.”

The bus is expected to roll into company headquarters about 2:15 p.m. Fans of Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds are invited to attend.

The 2011 planting season got off to a slow start, but farmers have put seed in the ground at record pace over the past two weeks.  Last week in Iowa, corn planting was 69% complete and soybean planting was 40% complete.  From the reports we received from the country, most farmers are nearly finished with soybean planting as of the end of last week, so we’re anxiously awaiting this week’s USDA Crop Report to release this afternoon.

It’s amazing what a few days with 80 degree temperatures and good moisture can do to new seeds being planted, says Peter Bixel, Latham’s Seed2Soil® program lead.  Peter took this photo of a corn field that was planted 10 days ago. He also took this photo of a soybean from a field that was planted just four days ago in North Central Iowa.

Here at Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds headquarters, the race is on to deliver the last pallets of seed in time for customers to hit the ground “planting.”

How is planting progressing in your neck of the woods?

Article contributed by Randy Olson, Executive Director, 
Iowa Biodiesel Board

As the leading soybean-producing state in the nation, it’s hard not to argue that Iowa should also be the top biodiesel-producing state.  Last week, the Iowa Legislature passed a biodiesel bill that would help it stand shoulder-to-shoulder with neighbors Illinois and Minnesota.  This is a good thing for the state’s job market, energy security, and environment.

The bill, Senate File 531, does three things to promote the growth of Iowa biodiesel:

1. Extends a tax credit to encourage retailers to make biodiesel available at the pump;
2. Provides a production incentive for the state’s biodiesel producers; and
3. Helps pay for the infrastructure needed to move biodiesel in the state and beyond.

This legislation, if signed by Governor Branstad, will make biodiesel more available and increase sales.  In turn, this would make Iowa more energy independent while putting Iowa biodiesel producers back to work and supporting thousands of direct and indirect jobs in our state.

This comes just in time for keeping Iowa in the foreground of the renewable energy landscape.  There is a federal renewable fuels standard now that is expected to create demand for 800 million gallons of biodiesel nationally.  It’s widely believed that those states with the strongest biodiesel policies will be the states where that demand is mostly met.   Iowa is now poised to capture a large share of that market.

Biodiesel is America’s only commercially available, advanced biofuel.  It’s about time our state policies encouraged its growth.  This is a locally grown and produced fuel – if we don’t make the change ourselves, who will?

“Typically a plot day, is a plot day,” says Dave Besch of Pro Cooperative in Rolfe, Iowa. “But Latham’s plot day is like no other!”

“The Freedom of Independence Ride lets you see the country and meet new people as you tour and learn about the new traits and technologies available from Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds,” explains Besch.

We couldn’t agree more! Whether you’re touring on a Honda Gold Wing or a Harley Softail, we’ll take you on a route that allows you to see some of the Midwest’s most beautiful countryside. New this year, we’re also welcoming muscle cars.

I couldn’t be more excited about the fun stops we have planned! More details will be announced as the ride date approaches. In the meantime, mark August 27, 2011, on your calendar. Plan to join Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds for this one-of-a-kind field day on wheels!