Durum growers holding quality contest

The U.S. Durum Growers Association is once again hosting a durum quality contest for the state's producers and elevators during the Crop Outlook and International Durum Forum, held at the Holiday Inn in Minot on Nov. 10. Sponsored by BNSF Railway, Syngenta and the state agriculture department, cash prizes of $250, $150 and $100 will be given away to the top three samples submitted by a local elevator and producer. Those interested in participating are asked to bring a three-pound sample of their "best" durum to the registration table by 8 a.m. Participants of the day-long forum will judge the top three samples from each group and the winners will be announced during the evening banquet. For more information, contact Dawn Watson, executive director of the USDGA at 214-3203.

Whitney Pandil-Eaton

Area wheat farmers invited to forum

Sponsored by the North Dakota Wheat Commission and the U.S. Durum Growers Association, area wheat farmers are invited to attend the Crop Outlook and International Durum Forum Nov. 10, at the Holiday Inn-Riverside in Minot.

The event, which begins at 8 a.m., will cover a broad range of issues from demand and supply, quality and wheat performance, marketing, weather and 2010 predictions among others. There will be several speakers during the event including Dan Manternach, editor of Doane's Agricultural Report, who will discuss the world and U.S. wheat situation and price outlook, and Candace Roper, senior vice president of CoBank, who will present information on the world financial situation and its impact on grain trade.

Representatives from North Dakota State University, NDWC and county elevators will also speak on end-use quality of the 2009 wheat crop, durum breeding, current research and trends in marketing and transportation. Also scheduled to speak is Doug Goehring, state agriculture commissioner.

The event is free and open to the public, but advanced registration is required. To register, contact the NDWC at 328-5111 by Nov. 3. There is an optional evening banquet open to the public. The cost for this event is $20 for non-members of the USDGA, free for members.

Farmers Union hosting state delegation meeting

North Dakota farmers and ranchers are invited to a meeting with representatives from the North Dakota Farmers Union, Sens. Byron Dorgan and Kent Conrad and Rep. Earl Pomeroy that will be held Nov. 21, at 1 p.m. at the Holiday Inn in Fargo.

The meeting will provide an opportunity for producers to voice their concerns to the state delegation and make suggestions on how future farm policy should address the volatility of commodity prices, input costs and the unpredictability of the market climate. The event is part of the North Dakota Farmers Union State Convention, which will be held in Fargo Nov. 20-21 at the Holiday Inn. For more information, visit (www.ndfu.org)

Daily News Staff

Dept. of Ag not issuing payments to farmers

The United States Department of Agriculture announced that it will not issue final 2008 counter-cyclical payments to farmers enrolled in the Direct and Counter-cyclical Program for peanuts, corn, grain sorghum, soybeans and oats because average commodity prices remain above levels that trigger these payments.

Daily News Staff