USGC Global Update for August 25, 2011

US Corn Faces a New Competitor in Colombia – Page 1
Southeast Asia’s Market Potential – Page 1
Mission to US Provides Perspective to Korean Biotechnology Evaluators – Page 2
Council “DDGS Road Show” Blitzes Southeast Asia – Page 2
USDA’s Weekly Export Sales Highlights for August 12-18, 2011 – Page 3

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US Corn Faces a New Competitor in Colombia
With the implementation of the free trade agreement (FTA) between Colombia and Canada on August 15, U.S. corn exports will be facing a new competitor – Canadian feed wheat. U.S. Grains Council trade sources indicate that Colombian buyers have placed orders for 125,000 mt of Canadian feed wheat in the 10 days since the agreement went into effect. These imports will further erode U.S. corn sales opportunities in this vital corn market.

According to Kurt Shultz, USGC regional director in Latin America, because the United States has not ratified the pending U.S.-Colombian FTA, U.S. corn, which is taxed at 15 percent duty, faces stiff competition from Brazilian and Argentine corn with a duty of 6.7 percent and from duty-free Canadian feed wheat. In 2007, Colombia imported  3 million tons (118.1 million bushel) of corn with the United States enjoying a 93 percent market share. In 2010, however, U.S.  market share has shrunk to only 20 percent.

Southeast Asia’s Market Potential

08-26-11 Alltech Appoints New Director for its Fastest Growing Region – Asia Pacific

[Beijing, CHINA] – Global animal health and nutrition company Alltech has announced the promotion of Matthew Smith to the position of Asia Pacific Director. Smith has been with the company for 15 years, most recently serving as the general manager of the company’s New Zealand branch.

Commenting on the appointment, Alltech Vice President Steve Bourne said, “Alltech is experiencing tremendous growth in the Asia Pacific market, up 21% year to date. Without doubt, this region offers the greatest opportunity to Alltech globally, given the population size, demographics, rising income levels and the propensity and desire for meat consumption.  With the experience and leadership of Matthew, along with a number of other strategic changes within the region, we have full confidence that Asia Pacific will become the first billion dollar region for Alltech.”

Smith has worked extensively in the Asia Pacific, Europe and North America regions for Alltech with producers and global distribution networks, providing consultation on practical silage and general herd management. In 2003, Smith was responsible for developing Alltech’s forage program in Europe while serving as Sil-All^Ò global product manager.

“It is our desire to ensure that Alltech remains fully engaged with the evolving needs of the local feed industry and is well-positioned for proactive work within the rapidly growing Asia Pacific region,” said Smith. “We have a superb team in place with a firm devotion to the future of the region and the industry, and they are fully committed to Alltech’s long-standing tradition of acting swiftly to meet the needs of local customers.”

Alltech’s other recent strategic changes in the Asia-Pacific region include:

08-26-11 Texas Roadhouse and Consumers Choice Coffee Join Alltech in Raising a Cup of Hope for Haiti

100% of Coffee Sales Support the People of Haiti

[Louisville, KY] – On January 12, 2010, a catastrophic 7.0 Mw earthquake devastated Haiti, ending the lives of more than 315,000 and leaving millions more homeless in the already struggling country. Nineteen months later, three Kentucky-based companies – Alltech, Texas Roadhouse and Consumers Choice Coffee – are partnering to ensure the plight of Haiti’s people is not forgotten.

Texas Roadhouse has become the first Louisville company to adopt Alltech Café Citadelle in its corporate offices, through the partnership of its coffee supplier, Louisville-based Consumers Choice Coffee. In selecting Café Citadelle, Texas Roadhouse and Consumers Choice Coffee are directly providing hope to the 6,700 Haitian families who cultivate the coffee and two Haitian elementary schools, all of whom receive 100% of the proceeds from the coffee being used at Texas Roadhouse’s corporate offices. Café Citadelle funds the Alltech ACE Foundation, classified as a 501c3 non-profit organization.

“Café Citadelle is a great product and it benefits an even greater cause – the people of Haiti,” said Kent Taylor, Founder and CEO of Texas Roadhouse. “We hope other local companies will consider Café Citadelle so we can help end the plight in Haiti.”

08-26-11 *National FFA News* FFA-Native American Heritage Celebration

INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, August 26, 2011/National FFA Organization) – A special celebration of Native American heritage will mark a special highlight of the 84th National FFA Convention, October 19-22 in Indianapolis. The celebration will pay tribute to the rich ancestry and traditions of Native Americans especially in FFA, agriculture and agricultural education.

There are 210 FFA chapters that serve students who self-identify as Native American.  These chapters are found in 20 states across the country. “The uniqueness of the celebration provides a bridge to connect the National FFA Organization to communities and people too often overlooked,” said Dr. Dwight Armstrong, National FFA Organization chief executive officer.

The spirit of the Native American Heritage Celebration is anchored in building community with an emphasis in empowering and advancing Native American youth in agricultural education programs and FFA chapters throughout the country. Students, teachers, state leaders, elders, tribal leaders, non-profit organizations and government agencies are invited to attend the convention and to engage in dialogue on how to close the achievement gap of Native American youth in education and career success.

Formerly known as Future Farmers of America, the National FFA Organization provides agricultural education to more than 523,000 student members in grades seven through 12 who belong to one of 7,487 local FFA chapters throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Submitted to the BARN by:
DeLoss Jahnke, Marketing and Communications, National FFA Organization

08-26-11 *CO Rep Jon Becker, Dist #63* Speaker McNulty’s Statement on Proposition 103…

DENVER- Today, the Secretary of State’s Office announced that Proposition 103, a Democrat led tax hike initiative, has enough signatures to appear on the ballot.

Speaker of the House Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, released the following statement regarding the Democrat proposed tax hike:

“Democrats don’t get it.  Colorado’s hardworking families and job creators are struggling to survive in this recession.  The last thing they need right now is Democrats pushing another state tax increase.

“This year, House Republicans successfully repealed several Democrat sponsored tax increases, so we could help families and small businesses during these challenging economic times.  In fact, Republicans were able to eliminate these burdensome taxes while reducing proposed cuts to K-12 education.

“Republicans believe the best way to fund K-12 education is by creating jobs right here in Colorado, helping to put Colorado families back to work.”

Message from Representative Becker  

08-26-11 Lost Canyon ACTHA Challenge Presents Saturday Night Entertainment

A signature American Competitive Trail Horse Association ride—two days of tough obstacles over varied terrain—merits some Saturday night entertainment, and that’s exactly what the Lost Canyon Challenge Ride is offering the weekend of September 24-25, in Mancos, CO. After a steak dinner served cowboy style, guests can enjoy the music of up and coming country singer, Tyller Gummersall, who will sing songs from his new CD, “Beer And A Rose”  (recorded in Nashville), as well as his singles like “Colorado Rain,” and “Blue Skies.” The dinner bell rings at 5:30 pm, and Tyller opens his guitar case at 7:00. The cost for both is $20.00. Everyone is welcome—riders, staff, family, friends, and the curious bystanders who want to see what the fun of ACTHA is all about.

The event benefits the Cadence Therapeutic Riding Center. Entry fees  vary by ACTHA membership category; in addition to the Saturday evening festivities, breakfast and lunch are available for modest extra cost, as is primitive camping. Register at www.ACTHA.us. For more information and to reserve a space at the table, contact Ron Tyner at rtyner@q.com or (970) 749-0607.

08-26-11 *Beef Checkoff News* Part 4 – Your National Beef Checkoff: 25 Years and Counting

Part 4: Consumer Information: Changing perceptions about beef

“The American Heart Association Puts its Heart Mark on Three Cuts of Beef.” “Lean Beef is Part of a Heart-Healthy Diet.” “Lose More Weight by Eating More Steak.” Seeing front-page headlines like these in consumer publications is hard-earned news for cattle folks in 2011, of course. But if someone told you 30 years ago that these headlines would appear regularly in regional, national and international consumer publications – and it wasn’t April Fool’s Day – you probably would have first laughed in their faces, then taken away their lager … or looked around for Allen Funt and his “Candid Camera” crew.

That’s because food headlines of the 1970s and 1980s were more akin to beef bashing than to any kind of beef support or promotion. Headlines like “Meatless, guiltless” on a 1974 New York Times article were more the order of the day. And then there was the seemingly endless trail of reports and warnings with which consumers were inundated in the wake of the 1977 Senate Select Committee on Food and Nutrition’s Dietary Guidelines for America, which recommended “Eat less red meat.” In fact, that very report was part of the very impetus for a national checkoff program.

You needn’t dig very deep to be reminded that consumer perceptions – whether scientifically founded or not – are equivalent to reality when it comes to the bottom line for beef producers, and that reality 30 years ago was bleak. At that time, beef was declared a villain in the growing battle against heart disease, and the troubled beef industry watched its market shrink, as consumers turned toward chicken and non-meat choices as the low-fat healthier options of the day.

Well, it would be an egregious understatement to say that ‘times have changed.’ Consumers understand so much more today about things like cholesterol, fat, calories and, maybe most important, the positive role that naturally nutrient dense beef plays in a healthy diet. They’re armed with the facts about beef, and they’re taking those facts all the way to the supermarket meat cases and to restaurants across the globe, in the form of beef purchases.

History Colorado Will Recognize Eighteen Centennial Farms TODAY @ 139th CO State Fair…1st EVER LIVE WEBCAST!!!

CLICK HERE to visit the BarnMedia-History Colorado Centennial Farms Webpage...

The 2011 CO State Fair runs Aug 25th - Sept 5th in Pueblo, CO...log on to www.ColoradoStateFair.com for ticket information

(The BARN – Briggsdale, CO) Lyle Miller of History Colorado and the Centennial Farms Program Director discussed the Centennial Farms Program recently inside the BARN and announced the honorees whom will be recognized in a ceremony @ the 139th Colorado State Fair in Pueblo, CO on Aug 26th beginning @ 4pm…

081211_HistoryCO-CentennialFarms_LyleMiller_6m48s

The 2011 Colorado State Fair begins with Market Goats on Thursday, Aug 25th and runs thru Monday, Labor, September 5th. For ticket information log on to: www.ColoradoStateFair.com

CLICK HERE to watch the History Colorado Centennial Farms Award Ceremony LIVE from the Pepsi Stage on Aug 26th from the 139th Colorado State Fair in Pueblo, CO!

To see a list of the 2011 Colorado Centennial Farms Honorees are:

08-26-11 Your HELP is needed for Kasey Annabell Smith…13 months old and diagnosed with Astrocytoma…

Submitted to the BARN by Sherri Vance of Yuma, CO