Search Site   
News Stories at a Glance
ICGA Farm Economy Temperature Survey shows farmers concerned
Ohio drought conditions putting farmers in a bind
IPPA rolls out apprentice program on some junior college campuses
Dairy heifer replacements at 20-year low; could fall further
Safety expert: Rollovers are just ‘tip of the iceberg’ of farm deaths
Final MAHA draft walks back earlier pesticide suggestions
ALHT, avian influenza called high priority threats to Indiana farms
Kentucky gourd farm is the destination for artists and crafters
A year later, Kentucky Farmland Transition Initiative making strides
Unseasonably cool temperatures, dry soil linger ahead of harvest
Firefighting foam made of soybeans is gaining ground
   
Archive
Search Archive  
   
Names in the News

Skillman presents Beck award
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Lt. Governor Becky Skillman presented Indiana’s first AgriVision Award to Lawrence “Sonny” Beck, president of Beck’s Superior Hybrids in Atlanta, Ind.

The award recognizes a Hoosier whose leadership maximizes Indiana agriculture’s potential and secures the state’s future as a global leader in agriculture.

Beck has earned two degrees from Purdue University, a Bachelor of Science in agronomy and a Master’s in agricultural economics. For the past 30 years, the Beck family has conducted practical farm research studies in an effort to help farmers grow better crops. Currently, they conduct more than 50 studies per year.

Fifteen years ago, Sonny was one of the first to establish long-term no-till studies on corn and soybeans in Indiana. Sonny and his wife Glendia are parents to three grown children, all of whom are involved in the family business.

Nominations for the AgriVision Award came from all sectors of agriculture, from bioenergy to livestock to trade. The selection committee looked for highly-qualified individuals who most impacted Indiana agriculture through innovation, advances in technology or new business approaches.

ICMB elects new officers
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Ron Gray, a corn producer from Claremont, has been elected chairman of the Illinois Corn Marketing Board (ICMB) for 2007-08. The Richland County producer has served on the board since 2002.

Gray currently represents corn producers in District 13, which is comprised of Clay, Edwards, Jefferson, Lawrence, Marion, Richland, Wabash and Wayne counties. He replaces Wendell Shauman of Kirkwood, who was reelected to the board for District 3.

Other officers elected to ICMB leadership are Vice Chairman Donna Jeschke of Mazon, Treasurer Jim Rapp of Princeton and Secretary Scott Stirling of Martinton.

John Shore of Casey was appointed to the vacant seat in District 12, which includes Coles, Clark, Crawford, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar and Jasper counties.

Incumbents elected to the board effective Aug. 1 were Scott Stirling of Martinton (District 6), Gary Schmalshof of Adair (District 9) and Hugh David Scates of Shawneetown (District 15).

ICMB is a group of 15 farmers elected by peers from across the state. This volunteer producer board has the mission to create opportunities for increasing Illinois corn value and utilization.

Gov. appoints to Michigan Beef Industry Commission
OKEMOS, Mich. — Gov. Jennifer Granholm reappointed Robert DeYoung of Grand Rapids, Chuck Markley of Byron and John Jay VanderBoon of Kalamazoo to the Michigan Beef Industry Commission. All terms expire May 31, 2010.

The commission administers the beef checkoff program, which funds programs in the areas of promotion, consumer information, industry information, foreign marketing and research on both the state and national levels.

DeYoung represents the retailers engaged in the sale of beef and related products. He is the senior sales and merchandising representative for the meat division of Spartan Stores, Inc. He has been in the meat industry for 46 years and is vice chair of the commission.

Markley represents the cattle feeding industry. He and his son own a feedlot in Shiawassee County. He has served as the Region I vice president for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Assoc. and was appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture for two terms to the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board. He is chair of the commission.

VanderBoon represents the meat packing industry. He is director of procurement for Smithfield Beef Group and has been in the industry for 14 years.

New SCI seedsman serving central Indiana
SOUTH WHITLEY, Ind. — Stuart Yensel recently joined the Seed Consultants, Inc. (SCI) team as area seedsman. Yensel will serve north-central Indiana.

Born in Wabash, Ind., Yensel grew up in London, Ohio, on a small livestock farm. A recent college graduate, he holds a Bachelor of Science degree with a dual major in animal science and political economics. As a student, he was also a Saddle & Sirloin member. Yensel served 10 months in Iraq with the National Guard.
He will cover St. Joseph, Elkhart, Marshall, Kosciusko, Fulton, Miami and Wabash counties.

This farm news was published in the Aug. 29, 2007 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee.

8/29/2007