During this year’s Corn Utilization Technology Conference biopolymers took the stage first when the program moved into breakout sessions. Leading this session was Joe Rich, research leader of the Renewable Products Technology Group at the National Center of Agricultural Utilization Research. I first asked him to explain what a biopolymer is. Joe says biopolymers are a wide ranging group of …
Making Precision Ag Decisions
One of the platinum sponsors for this year’s Corn Utilization Technology Conference is Dupont Pioneer. Speaking on “Precision Ag to Decision Ag” was Joe Foresman, Director - Services Americas at DuPont Pioneer. That’s an interesting talk title since we hear a lot of discussion about the volume of data being collected in precision agriculture today and a lot of questions …
Cellulosic is Real, According to CUTC Panelist
At the recent Corn Utilization and Technology Conference, Steve Rust with Edeniq talked about new processing technology and products taking ethanol to the next level. “Cellulosic ethanol is for real now,” says Rust. “People need to know that because this is key right now with discussions on the Renewable Fuel Standard.” Rust says new technology like Edeniq’s PATHWAY Platform is …
Gary Lamie Graduate Student Competition Winners
During the 2014 Corn Utilization and Technology Conference the winners of the Gary Lamie Graduate Student Poster Competition were announced. The program is sponsored by the Indiana Corn Marketing Council. Pictured are National Corn Growers Association President Martin Barbre (left) and NCGA Research and Development Action Team Chair Tom Mueller (right) with the top three poster winners. I visited with …
The Kentucky Bourbon Industry
If you’re going to have a Corn Utilization Conference why not start with America’s Native Spirit - Bourbon? That’s what our keynote speaker, Kristin Meadors, Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs for the Kentucky Distillers Association, did for us. She told us all about bourbon and how important it is to the Kentucky economy. She brought along her “little friends” …
NCGA President Opens Corn Utilization Tech Conference
The 2014 Corn Utilization and Technology Conference is taking place in Louisville, Kentucky this week. During the opening session National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) president Martin Barbre welcomed attendees to the semi-annual event that this year focuses on wet and dry milling technologies and new uses. Barbre says the event brings together researchers with the common goal of facilitating the …
Appreciation Award Presented at CUTC
During the 2014 Corn Utilization Technology Conference in Louisville, KY a special presentation was made by Tom Mueller, Chairman of the NCGA Research and Business Development Action Team. Tom is a corn grower from Illinois. He presented a plaque to the Indiana Corn Marketing Council for their significant support of the newly named Gary Lamie Graduate Student Poster Competition. Accepting …
CUTC Session Looks to the Kernel for Mycotoxins
When it comes to mycotoxin research, one group at this summer’s Corn Utilization Technology Conference really got down to the heart… or more accurately in this case, the kernel… of the matter. Charles Woloshuk, Ph.D. from Purdue University, chaired the discussion on pathogens that attack seeds. He explained it’s a big issue because it affects so much of the corn …
Ancient Techniques Looked at to Mitigate Aflatoxins
Attendees at the recent Corn Utilization Technology Conference got to hear a discussion on how the effects of aflatoxins can be mitigated in human and animal feed. “We’re interested in using clay-based materials that actually bind aflatoxins very tightly and somewhat preferentially in the stomach and intestines of animals and humans,” said Timothy Phillips, Ph.D., from Texas A&M University, who …
Corn-based Biopolymers to Replace Petroleum-based Plastics
Finding new uses for corn… and ways to treat our environment a little bit better… were the hot topics at this summer’s Corn Utilization Technology Conference. Jay-lin Jane, Ph.D., Iowa State University, chaired the discussion on how biopolymers made from corn can be a sustainable, renewable, alternative to petroleum-based plastics. “The most common use for this type of material is …