On Friday, April 1st, the kick-off to a seventeen week event got underway at three locations of Aurora Cooperative; Aurora West, Keane and Sedan.  Farmers began delivering grain to these locations to be sold and the money given to the American Red Cross for assistance to those who are suffering in the aftermath of the hurricane and sunami that hit Japan.

The Nebraska Corn Growers Association, Aurora Cooperative, KRVN and the American Red Cross are proud to help faciliatate and promote this event that will run through July.

Starting on Saturday, April 2nd all the Aurora Coopeative locations that take grain are accepting farmers deliveries of any grain.  According to the Red Cross the greatest need of the Japanese people is cash, as they start putting their lives back together.  The assistance by Nebraska farmers has been great and we will keep you updated on the progress as information becomes available.  

Japan is one of Nebraska's and the U.S. top trading partner and while many want to send them raw commodities, right now they need cash to pay for the repairs of their port faciliaites to be able once again to buy U.S and Nebraska ag products.

This years Commodity Classic was held in Tampa, Florida.  It is the once a year opportunity for corn, soybean, wheat and sorghum producers to get together and talk policy, elect officers and honor their members for accomplishments of the past year.  Also as pre events we were able to take part in the Bayer Crop Science Ag Issues Forum and look to the future with BASF.

The annual gathering of the cattle industry is taking place in Denver.  Members of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, Cattlemen's Beef Board, Federation of Beef Councils and National Cattlewomen are meeting to discuss policy and structural proposals. 

The Keynote speaker was former White Hose Advisor Karl Rove, who talked trade and the repeal of health care are general government intrusions as he sees it.  

Reports are this is the largest regisisted attendance at a cattle industry convention, but the adverse weather in porttions of the country hampered attendence by some.  

The 15th annual No-Till On the Plains conference in Salina Kansas was highlighed by a conversation on technology, education and the future with one of the co-founders of Apple Computers, Steve Wozniack.  There were over 13oo no-till farmers and others who listened to "the Woz," talk about food and technology and how he believes that mass adoption of no-till farming practices are only a few short steps away.   Other presentations were well attended featuring the likes of no-till enthusiast Dr. Jill Clapperton, the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City - Omaha Branch, Brian Briggeman and the always popular soil scientist, Dr. Ray Ward who again this year filled the seats during his presentations.

The first major agriculture meeting is taking place in Atlanta. Most of time you would expect it to be plesant in the south, but delegagtes and Mike LePorte who are at the American Farm Bureau Federation's Annual meeting have been greeted with snow and many cancelled flights.  But on the bright side, a who's who of agricultre have been making presentations and discussing issues including price outlooks and what the next farm bill might contain.  Also, delegates heard from Discovery Channel's Dirty Jobs host, Mike Rowe.

Up next, Dewey Nelson heads to the National Western Stock Show in Denver.