TRADE TALK GUIDE.

Broadcasters attending the NAFB annual convention will receive a complete preview of the new products and services being introduced to the ag market during the coming sales season. They will also be able to speak in-depth with producer associations and other farmer advocates to get the latest on farm policy and worldwide developments. More than 80 organizations and their representatives will be on hand at this years Trade Talk, ready for interviews. Following is a listing of those participating, their key contacts and their plans for NAFB's Trade Talk.

ACDI/VOCA 

What's hot: A 35-nation program of innovative private-public economic development that has positive implications for international trade; market exploration and other business services available for trade-oriented U.S. agribusiness; volunteer opportunities in development assistance.

Spokespersons/titles: Perry Letson, assistant VP, communications; Lora Smith, director, agribusiness development.

Phone: [phone]; Washington, DC.

AGCO CORPORATION

What's hot: Recently launched three new series of Fendt tractors that have the revolutionary vario stepless drive technology; new additions and look of New Idea hay equipment; Fieldstar, new precision farming system; new product in multi-brand family, the AGCO ST Series Compact.

Spokespersons/titles: Kevin Bien, general marketing manager, Fendt; Tony Solon, general marketing manager, New Idea; Phil Ryan, product specialist; Phil Jones, general marketing manager, AGCO tractors.

Phone: [phone]; Duluth, Ga.

AGRIPLAN/BIZPLAN

What's hot: With the Federal limitation on self-employed individuals, health insurance premiums set to increase to 70% in 2001, and to 100% by 2003; "What is really a 100% deduction?; AgriPlan/BizPlan offers family farmers a 100% deduction on all medical-related expenses; average client saves almost $2,500 a year on taxes.

Spokesperson/title: Bruce Stein, public relations director.

Phone: [phone]; Madison, Wis.

AGRICULTURAL RETAILERS ASSOCIATION

What's hot: What the new administration may mean to ag retailers; America's Best -- helping solve the critical shortage of good workers; ARA's Annual Conference and Trade Expo.

Spokespersons/titles: Paul Kindinger, president & CEO; Floyd Gaibier, VP governmental affairs; Terry Moore, director, marketing & communications.

Phone: [phone]; Washington, D.C.

AMERICAN CORN GROWERS ASSOCIATION/ALLIANCE FOR RURAL AMERICA

AMERICAN CROP PROTECTION ASSOCIATION

What's hot: Detecting genetic modification in crops: what farmers and others should know about current test methods; BT re-registrations: Deadline 2001; food quality protection act: what lies ahead.

Spokespersons/titles: Leah Porter, Ph.D, executive director, Biotechnology committee; Margaret Speich, senior director, communications.

Phone: [phone]; Washington, D.C.

AMERICAN CYANAMID COMPANY

AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION 

What's hot: The effects of the election on agriculture; development of the next farm bill; biotech issues and the effects on farm pesticide use by EPA's food safety regulations.

Spokespersons/titles: Mary Kay Thatcher, deputy director, Washington office; Rosemarie Watkins, senior director of governmental relations, Washington office.

Phone: [phone]; Washington, D.C.

AMERICAN SHEEP INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION

What's hot: Section 201 industry assistance package, including $30 million in direct payments to producers; wool market loss assistance program; includes 20 cents per pound for producers; status of proposed lamb checkoff.

Spokespersons/titles: Frank Moore, VP; Guy Flora, secretary, treasurer:

Phone: [phone]x35; Englewood, Colo.

AMERICAN SOYBEAN ASSOCIATION

What's hot: Soy food aid initiative could boost prices to farmers and save taxpayers $427 million; approval of permanent trade relations with China; availability of new ASA Environmental Handbook For Growers; ASA urges approval of sanctions reform; approval and acceptance of biotech crops.

Spokespersons/titles: Tony Anderson, president; Marc Curtis, chairman; Bart Ruth, first VP; Stephen Censky, CEO; Tim Brackman, director, corporate and public relations; Bob Callanan, communications director.

Phone: [phone], St. Louis, Mo.

AMERICAN SUGAR ALLIANCE

What's hot: Falling commodity prices cause sugar forfeitures, mill closings, what's next?; international trade agreements can be a blessing or a curse, U.S. and Mexico struggle to reach accord on sugar provisions in NAFTA; gearing up starts now for the 2002 Farm Bill.

Spokespersons/titles: Luther Markwart, chairman, American Sugar Alliance, and executive VP, American Sugarbeet Growers Association; Joseph Terrell, director of public affairs.

Phone: [phone]; Arlington, Va.

ANIMAL HEALTH INSTITUTE

What's hot: Advances in animal health; antibiotic use; international trade; improvements in the regulatory process.

Spokespersons/titles: John Keeling, VP legislative affairs; Carole Throssell, VP public affairs; Matt Baun, director public affairs.

Phone: [phone]; Washington, D.C.

ASSOCIATED MILK PRODUCERS, INC.

AVENTIS CROPSClENCE

What's hot: Introductions: New balance pro corn herbicide, new varieties of Libertylink corn, new varieties of FiberMax cotton; anticipated ricestar rice herbicide.

Spokespersons/titles: Marketing leads of corn, cereals, cotton and rice products.

Phone: [phone]; Raleigh, N.C.

BASF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

What's hot: Purchase and integration of American Cyanamid; Performance Guard Customer Service Program; Sovran fungicide registered in California; early season weed control in corn with Clarity, Distinct, Marksman and Celebrity Plus; Expected fall EPA approval of Cabrio EG and Headline fungicides, along with their active ingredient F 500; new variable rate for Acrobat MZ fungicide.

BAYER CORPORATION-ANIMAL HEALTH

What's hot: Respiratory disease control programs.

Spokespersons/titles: Dr. Gary Christensen, product manager; Dr. Kenton Morgan, veterinary services manager.

Phone: [phone]; Merriam, Kan.

BAYER CORPORATION-CROP PROTECTION DIVISION

What's hot: Corn herbicide and insecticide developments; soybean weed control and new cereal herbicides; insecticide and Scout Smart programs.

Spokespersons/titles: Scott Welge, corn market product manager; Dr. Scott Fleetwood, soybean, cereal market product manager; Jimmy Johnson, cotton market product manager.

Phone: [phone]; Kansas City, Mo.

CAPITAL AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY SERVICES, INC.

What's hot: Land values and rents; impacts on values and lease structure dealing with GMO issues; the next farm bill: Freedom to Farm -- What Is/is Not Working.

Spokesperson/title: Ray L. Brownfield, AFM, president ARA.

Phone: [phone]; Lisle, Ill.

CARGILL / CARGILL AgHORIZONS

What's hot: Innovative, new contracts to market grain successfully; world of local solutions for farmers, producer; Farm Safety 4 Just Kids.

Spokespersons/titles: Dennis Inman, customer solutions leader for Performance Marketing; Alan Willits, commercial manager, Cargill AgHorizons; Marilyn Adams, founder, President Farm Safety 4 Just Kids.

Phone: [phone]; Wayzata, Minn.

CASE IH

What's hot: The new Case IH STX Series Steiger tractor line; new Case IH Series corn heads; Case IH vision for the future; CNH merger activities.

Spokespersons/titles: Russ Green, senior director, marketing; Jan Rintamaki, director, application marketing, cash grains.

Phone: [phone]; Racine, Wis.

CATERPILLAR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

CATTLEMEN'S BEEF BOARD

What's hot: Consumer demand for beef -- nutrition attitudes, convenient products, improved food safety, aggressive marketing.

Spokespersons/titles: Dan Hammond, vice chairman; Monte Reese, COO.

Phone: [phone]; Greenwood Village, Colo.

CELPRIL

What's hot: Seed coating technology designed to help farmers establish better stands of all crops; film coatings that improve the application of seed treatments for improved performance; alfalfa hay production using the latest in seed coating & GPS technology.

Spokesperson/title: Jeff Hensley, marketing manager.

Phone: [phone]; Clear Lake, Iowa.

CHICAGO BOARD OF TRADE 

What's hot: Grain and oilseed markets; a/c/e trading platform; restructuring of the CBOT.

Spokespersons/titles: Vic Lespinasse, broker, A. G. Edwards; Steve Bruce, broker, E.D & F. Man International.

Phone: [phone]; Chicago, Ill.

CHICAGO MERCANTILE EXCHANGE 

What's hot: New electronic "e-mini" versions of lean hog and feeder cattle contracts; stocker cattle bid-offer book on CME Web site; new class IV milk contracts.

Spokespersons/titles: Three floor traders knowledgeable about fundamentals and technicals of cattle, hog and dairy markets.

Phone: [phone].

COUNCIL FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY CYBERCROP DAIRY FARMERS OF AMERICA DAIRY MANAGEMENT, INC. DEERE & COMPANY

What's hot: Advanced technology to be used in farm equipment of the future, in ten years we could see operator-less tractors and combines that adjust themselves in the field; 3 new precision farming systems: (1) the star-fire position receiver allows 10 inch average accuracy, (2) parallel tracking, keeps tractor or sprayer moving in a straight line through the field, (3) field documentation, allows operator to take notes on-the-go and gives geo-reference.

Spokespersons/titles: Barry E. Nelson; manager, public relations; Terry Porter, marketing manager, Ag Management Solutions.

Phone: [phone]; Lenexa, Kan.

DEKALB/ASGROW

DELTA AND PINE LAND CO.

What's hot: Examination of 2000 crop and the outlook for 2001; new research facilities in Texas and Georgia; conducting research with the USDA on the Technology Protection System; company innovations influenced by customer's changing needs with conventional and transgenic products.

Spokespersons/titles: Janice Person, corporate public relations manager; Steve Hawkins, president; C. Randy Dismuke, senior VP operations, quality assurance and supply chain management/information services; Harry Collins, PhD, VP technology transfer.

Phone: [phone]; Scott, Mis.

DIRECTAG.COM 

What's hot: Addition of new top-name partners in animal health, seed, and machinery parts; private financing will support and build upon strategic alliances allowing us to offer more products and services to producers; building broader alliances up and down the distribution chain, expanding relationships with local retailers.

Spokespersons/titles: Steve Baker, COO; Tim Krause, director of editorial operations; Kip Pendleton, president and CEO.

Phone: [phone]; St. Paul, Minn.

DOW AGROSCIENCES DUPONT CROP PROTECTION

What's hot: Steward cotton insecticide; Crop Protection Plus; Avaunt fruit and vegetable insecticide.

Spokespersons/titles: Roxanne Gutschenritter, product manager, Crop Protection Plus; Lynn Loughary, product manager Avaunt & Steward insecticides; Jill Lucius, communications manager.

Phone: [phone]; Memphis, Tenn.

DUPONT CROP PROTECTION E-MARKETS

What's hot: Pioneering in agrifood e-commerce by creating online tools for the $500 billion agrifood industry, which are at work in more than 2,000 grain elevators in 10 states, representing more than 50 percent of the Midwest grain produced.

Spokespersons/titles: Bill Shepard, VP marketing; Rusty Harder, VP operations.

Phone: [phone]; Ames, Iowa.

ELANCO ANIMAL HEALTH

What's hot: Now producing leaner, faster-growing, environmentally-friendly pigs; introduction of Paylean, a new swine feed ingredient.

Spokesperson/title: Dr. D. Jay Jones, senior technical advisor.

Phone: [phone]; Indianapolis, Ind.

EMERGE INTERACTIVE

EUROPEAN UNION FARMLINE

What's hot: Comparing facts and figures of farm spending across the Atlantic; rural development, the European model, GMOs and growth promoters; WTO -- sacrificing agriculture on the altar of free trade?

Spokespersons/titles: Mr. Gerard Kiely, agriculture counselor, European Commission Delegation; EU member state spokesperson, TBA.

Phone: [phone]; Washington, D.C.

FMC CORPORATION

What's hot: Introducing GAUNTLET, a new pre-emergence soybean herbicide that provides the most complete broadleaf weed control available with no PH or corn rotational restrictions; CAPTURE, new at-plant use for this insecticide provides superior control of corn rootworm and the gamut of secondary corn pests; AIM herbicide, new expanded label includes sweet corn, rice, grain sorghum, barely and oats; COMMAND XTRA, a new pre-emergence soybean herbicide for total weed and grass control.

Spokespersons/titles: Kenny Cordell, North America director of agriculture; Mike Steffeck, product manager; TBD, technical staff.

Phone: [phone]; Richmond, Va.

FARM CREDIT SERVICES OF AMERICA

FARMLAND INDUSTRIES, INC.

What's hot: Expanding our brand nationally by increasing investment in marketing and advertising, offering more fully-cooked products and expanding pork and beef case-ready programs; on the pork side of the business, looking ahead to bring direct ownership of the pork business to farmers; U.S. Premium Beef, Farmland's partner in Farmland National Beef, will give an update on its northern expansion plans and how its member-owners are becoming more consumer-driven.

Spokespersons/titles: Bill Fielding, president, Farmland Refrigerated Foods and livestock production; Jerry Leeper, VP, Farmland Livestock; Steve Hunt, CEO, U.S. Premium Beef.

Phone: [phone]; Kansas City, Mo.

THE FERTILIZER INSTITUTE

GARST SEED COMPANY

What's hot: Six years of growth in sales performance in marketshare and total sales volume; GSTAC corn hybrids; suspension of sales of Garst StarLink hybrids for 2001 crop year; AgriPro "TechTrait" designation on trait; sponsorship of the Iowa Farmer Today "CornCam" web camera; Millinium Magic corn maze and donation to Farm Safety 4 Just Kids; "Harvest for Quality" 2-year research project with Iowa State University and Successful Farming magazine.

Spokespersons/titles: Dr. W. David Witherspoon, president; Steve Klein, director of marketing; Jeff Lacina, publication relations manager.

Phone: [phone]; Slater, Iowa.

GUSTAFSON IMC GLOBAL

What's hot: With support of the Potash & Phosphate Institute (PPI), IMC has developed a special educational effort called Back to Basics, www.back-to-basics.net, a program used as an educational campaign for Nationwide, which fosters awareness about the importance of proper soil fertility management, key soil fertility issues and starter fertilizer.

Spokespersons/titles: Dr. Ray Hoyum, VP of market development and communications, IMC Global; Dr. Paul Fixen, Sr. VP, North American program coordinator & director of research, Potash & Phosphate Institute (PPI).

Phone: [phone]; Lake Forest, Ill.

INTERVET, INC, IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

What's hot: Future of the pork industry; pork quality-based buying programs.

Spokesperson/title: Kenneth Prusa, professor, Dept. of Food Science & Human Nutrition, Iowa State University.

Phone: [phone]; Ames, Iowa.

KANSAS CITY BOARD OF TRADE 

What's hot: Wheat futures and options volume is growing; exploring electronic trading; newly-elected President.

Spokesperson/title: Shelia Summers, VP, marketing.

Phone: [phone]; Kansas City, Mo.

W.K. KELLOGG FOUNDATION/ THE NATURE CONSERVANCY

What's hot: TNC: Collaboration among conservation groups and farmers, ranchers and rural communities; Kansas Rural Center: Farmer-to-farmer group assists transfer of management innovation; Southeast Arkansas Regional Development Council: Produce farming in the Delta, workforce development in the Delta, water supply for the future.

Spokespersons/titles: Jim Petterson, director public affairs, The Nature Conservancy; Jerry Jost, Project Director, Kansas Rural Center; Hurley Jones, director, Pathways CDC-Southeast Arkansas Regional Development Council.

Phone: [phone]; Boulder, Colo.

mPOWER3 INC.

What's hot: New field-specific weather information products; co-marketing agreement between mPower3 and Powerfarm provides new ag imagery and ag land management imagery; Tachyon.net satellite-direct two-way broadband Internet service.

Spokespersons/titles: Adrienna Logan, director sales and marketing; Scott Charbo, president; David Nichols, Tachyon.net regional sales manager.

Phone: [phone]; Greenley, Colo.

MARSHFIELD LABORATORIES FOOD SAFETY SERVICES

MERIAL

What's hot: Inactivated BRSV vaccines provide effective control; liver flukes spreading to new areas; cold weather amplifies lice problems; wet weather and paraciticide performance; mange causes productivity losses in dairy cattle.

Spokespersons/titles: Dan Otto, D.V.M., Merial Veterinary Professional Services; Myron Brown, D.V.M., Merial Veterinary Professional Services; Jane Calloway, senior manager, corporate communications.

Phone: [phone]; Iselin, N.J.

MONSANTO-BIOTECHNOLOGY

MONSANTO-ROUNDUP

MYCOGEN SEEDS

What's hot: Mycogen Seeds, an affiliate of Dow AgroSciences will acquire the assets of Cargill Hybrid Seeds, resulting in a larger, more efficient platform from which to launch biotechnology products.

Spokespersons/titles: Pat Arthur, Mycogen seeds communications manager; Pete Siggelko, global leader, plant genetics and biotechnology, Dow AgroSciences.

Phone: [phone]; Indianapolis, Ind.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WHEAT GROWERS 

What's hot: 2001 agriculture appropriations and its impact on wheat growers; disaster assistance; sanction reform; crop insurance and market loss payments; plans for upcoming Farm Bill; 2001 Wheat Industry Conference and Exposition.

Spokespersons/titles: Jack Eberspacher, CEO; Terry Detrick, president.

Phone: [phone]; Washington, D.C.

NATIONAL CATTLEMEN'S BEEF ASSOCIATION 

What's hot: Increasing beef export/int trade, country-of-origin labeling; grazing and western fires; death tax rate.

Spokespersons/titles: Lynn Cornwell, president elect; Chuck Schroeder, CEO.

Phone: [phone]; Greenwood Village, Colo.

NATIONAL CHRISTMAS TREE ASSOCIATION

What's hot: Growing trees for nearly 25 years; using a real Christmas tree as opposed to an artificial one and the benefits to the environment.

Spokesperson/title: Jim Heater, president; Buzz Warren, chair, public relations committee.

Phone: [phone]; St. Louis, Mo.

NATIONAL CORN GROWERS ASSOCIATION 

NATIONAL COTTON COUNCIL OF AMERICA

What's hot: Biotechnology's impact on producers; FQPA Implementation update; status, challenges, and education needed at state level of Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs).

Spokesperson/title: Keith Menchey, manager, science and environmental issues.

Phone: [phone]; Washington, D.C.

NATIONAL FARMERS UNION

What's hot: Country of origin labeling; concentration; interstate shipment of meat.

Spokespersons/titles: Leland Swenson, president; Tom Buis, VP government relations.

Phone: [phone]; Aurora, Colo.

NATIONAL GRAIN AND FEED ASSOCIATION

NATIONAL GRAIN SORGHUM PRODUCERS

What's hot: Looking ahead at farm legislation; opening new doors for sorghum in the market-place; 2000 Sorghum Conference and 22nd Biennial Grain/Sorghum Research and Utilization Conference: February 18-20, Nashville, TN; sorghum's role in water conservation.

Spokespersons/titles: Tim Lust, executive director; Leo Bindel, national president; Norma Ritz Johnson, communications director.

Phone: [phone]; Lubbock, TX.

NATIONAL PORK PRODUCERS COUNCIL/ NATIONAL PORK BOARD

What's hot: Building demand for U.S. Pork; new product development; environmental programs; slaughter capacity and marketing issues.

Spokespersons/titles: Al Tank, CEO, NPPC; Earl Dotson, VP of environment education & production; Dallas Heckman, VP of Demand; John Kellogg, president, National Pork Board.

Phone: [phone]; Des Moines, Iowa.

NATIONAL RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION

NATIONAL RURAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COOPERATIVE

What's hot: Two-way satellite broadband; LINK, AMR/PQM device; Cooperative Wireless, nationwide wireless communications program; Cooperative Computer Solutions, custom-built PCs and laptop computer; InfoComm 2001, NRTC's National Technology Conference.

Spokesperson/title: Harry Thibedeau, manager, media and public relations.

Phone: [phone]ext7154; Herndon, Va.

NEW HOLLAND, INC.

What's hot: National Farm City Council applying historic mission to new challenges in support of agriculture with New Holland standing solid behind their action; see why New Holland and entertainer Louise Mandrell support these efforts.

Spokespersons/titles: Gene Hemphill, manager New Holland N.A. public relations; Carroll Merry, administrative coordinator, Farm City Council.

Phone: [phone]; New Holland, Pa.

NOVARTIS CROP PROTECTION

What's hot: Discover is the most consistent wild oat herbicide on the market and has the most tank mix partners; Boundary, a new pre-emergence soybean herbicide registered in January 2000; Adage, a new sorghum seed treatment insecticide; Helix, a novel seed treatment product formulated for canola, is one insecticide, Thiamethoxam and three fungicides, providing broad spectrum disease control and early season flea beetle control.

Spokespersons/titles: Rick Kraus, director, crop management, Novartis Crop Protection; Carroll Moseley, associate crop manager, Novartis Crop Protection; David Winston, eastern regional sales manager, Novartis Seed Treatment Group.

Phone: [phone]; Greensboro, N.C.

NOVARTIS SEEDS, INC.

What's hot: Portfolio management approach to seed selection; 100 percent increase in bulk handling of soybean seed from NK[R]; grower satisfaction survey on corn rootworm technology; state of the issues in biotech.

Spokespersons/titles: Marl Hennen, corn product manager; Mark Schmidt, soyben product manager; Tony Minnichoffer, communications manager.

Phone: [phone]; Golden Valley, Minn.

PHARMACIA & UPJOHN ANIMAL HEALTH

PHILIP MORRIS FAMILY OF COMPANIES

What's hot: Shared Solutions contribution program; Dairy Risk management program; teacher monitoring program; Farm Safety Day camp.

Spokespersons/titles: Russell Laird, director of Ag Relations; Katherine Trent, manager of Ag Relations.

Phone: [phone]; Richmond, Va.

PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC.

What's hot: New Pioneer customer Web site; agronomist production recommendations; 2001 new products; biotechnology issues; planter calibration; precision farming.

Spokespersons/titles: Tom Doerge, Agronomist, Precision Farming; Bill Belzer, E-business coordinator; Kyle Whitaker, product & technology communications manager; Doyle Karr, corporate public relations manager; Jerry Harrington, sales public relations manager.

Phone: [phone]; Johnston, Iowa.

PURINA MILLS, INC.

What's hot: Purina Mills rolls out its two new dynamic retailing concepts: America's Country Store[R] and Premiere Services Programs.

Spokesperson/title: Max Fisher, VP, public relations and communications.

Phone: [phone]; St. Louis, Mo.

RAIN AND HAIL L.L.C.

What's hot: The Agricultural Risk Protection Act (ARPA) of 2000 has provided several beneficial crop insurance program reforms including: (1) additional premium assistance to make higher coverage levels more affordable, (2) equalization of premium assistance for revenue programs such as Crop Revenue Coverage (CRC), narrowing the gap between production and revenue program premium costs, (3) Actual Production History (APH) adjustments to increase coverage in APH databases affected by natural disasters.

Spokesperson/title: Dan DeLano, national marketing manager.

Phone: [phone]; West Des Moines, Iowa.

RENEWABLE FUELS ASSOCIATION 

What's hot: RFA is the national ethanol trade association; new poll shows strong public support for ethanol; energy crisis sparks increased interest in ethanol; congressional action on ethanol/MTBE; record production of ethanol in 2000.

Spokespersons/titles: Eric Vaughn, president, CEO; Monte Shaw, communications director.

Phone: [phone], Washington, D.C.

ROCHE VITAMINS, INC.

What's hot: Optimum vitamin nutrition (OVN) and the benefits it holds for livestock and poultry producers; Optimum levels, costing only a small fraction of the total feed input cost, have a dramatic affect on gain, feed conversion and product quality.

Spokespersons/titles: Dr. Donnie Campbell, professional services manager; Dr. Mark Engstrom, professional services manager; Chris Province, professional services manager; Jon Wilson, director, technical marketing.

Phone: [phone]; Parsippany, N.J.

ROOSTER.COM

What's hot: Rooser E-Business Centers allow ag retailers and dealers to establish a presence on the Internet to better serve their customers, while using tools and marketing information through Rooster.com to maintain an informative, dynamic web site; businesses retains complete control over their site's content, marketing decisions and product/service pricing.

Spokespersons/titles: Gary Carlson, president and CEO; Bill Pool, director of brand marketing; Mark Schulze, VP of crop marketing.

Phone: [phone]; Bloomington, Minn.

SOYBEAN CYST NEMATODE COALITION

What's hot: Meet the new SCN regional education coordinator, Tracy Blackmer; new SCN research has uncovered interesting facts about the relationship of SCN to other soybean diseases; what does the future hold for the SCN coalition as it nears the end of its three-year life cycle; importance of farmers to test for SCN in this post-harvest time frame.

Spokespersons/titles: Tracy Blackmer, regional education coordinator.

Phone: [phone]; Jefferson, Wis.

U.S. GRAINS COUNCIL

What's hot: Outlook for U.S. agricultural exports; value-enhanced grains; U.S. trade policy breaking down barriers and improving market access for U.S. producers.

Spokespersons/titles: Lisle Cook, Iowa Corn Promotion Board, U.S. Grains Council chairman; Kenneth Hobble, president and CEO, U.S. Grains Council.

Phone: [phone]; Washington, D.C.

U.S. MEAT EXPORT FEDERATION

U.S. WHEAT ASSOCIATES

What's hot: USW, the wheat industry's export market development organization, is fighting to regain markets that have been closed to American wheat producers because of unilateral sanctions, phytosanitary issues, or superficial trade barriers; organizations wheat marketing experts around the world exploring new opportunities to make sales inroads into previously undeveloped milling industries; discussions to explain the successes, problems and future opportunities for U.S. wheat export market.

Spokesperson/title: Bruce Hamnes, chairman.

Phone: [phone].

USDA-NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE

What's hot: November Crop Report -- talk about "Hot Off the Net" USDA forecasts for corn, soybeans, cotton, and a bounty of other key crops; Monthly Hog Program, initiated by the pork industry to improve market stabilization and estimate hogs entering the market six months in advance, this program has taken root and will deliver it's first data in December 2000; learn about the emerging growth of GMO and Chemical Use Statistics.

Spokespersons/titles: Bob Bass, director, marketing and information services office; Janet Allen, section head, marketing; Valerie Baca, public affairs specialist, marketing.

Phone: [phone]; Washington, D.C.

USDA-NATIONAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE

What's hot: Natural resource conservation on private land; locally led, incentive-drivensoil and water conservation programs.

Spokespersons/titles: Gary Margheim, special assistant to the chief; USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; Gary Mast, First VP, National Association of Conservation Districts.

UNITED SOYBEAN BOARD

What's hot: Checkoff actions to find markets for big soybean crop and sustaining expand record soybean exports; activities of the checkoff to keep domestic soy utilization at record-breaking levels; why changes need to be made in the composition of U.S. Soybeans.

Spokespersons/titles: Don Latham, chairman, Iowa Farmer, Doug Magnus, vice chairman, Minnesota Farmer, Richard Borgsmiller, secretary, Illinois Farmer, Carol Crook, treasurer, Nebraska Farmer, John Becherer, CEO; Janice Grauberger, executive director.

Phone: [phone]; St. Louis, Mo.

VALENT USA CORPORATION

What's hot: Valent's new line of biological products, PGR's, insecticides and insert growth regulates; registration pending for new Valor herbicide for use on soybeans and peanuts; registration pending for new gegiment herbicide for use on rice.

Spokespersons/titles: Mark Kitt, field product development, Valent USA; Carole Bale, VP/account manager, Biggs-Gilmore.

Phone: [phone]x530; Walnut Creek, Cal.

VALMONT IRRIGATION 

What's hot: Center pivots take on new management functions, fertilizer and chemical application; Valmont offers state-of-the-art technology to pivot manufacturing; robotics and lasers speed production at new McCook, Nebraska plant; growers capturing more income per field with Valley Precision Corner.

Spokespersons/titles: Greg Bartlett, product manager; Hector Haget, VP marketing and engineering.

Phone: [phone]; Valley, Neb.

WHEAT FOODS COUNCIL

What's hot: Wheat Foods Council has published a book by Dr. Glen Gaesser and Karen Katura, MA, RD, titled "Eating Well, Living Well. When You Can't Diet Anymore," based on healthy eating and physical activity, the non-diet approach.

Spokespersons/titles: Judi Adams, president, M.S. RD; Kelly Clauss, Monsanto public relations; Cindy Falk, domestic marketing specialist, Kansas Wheat Commission.

Phone: [phone]; Parker, Colo.

XSAG.COM

What's hot: Hundreds of over-the-counter products for beef, dairy, and swine due to products exhange; enhanced Name Your Price functionality available this fall; more than 100,000 John Deere parts now listed on the site; XSAg.com no longer requires a private applicator's license to purchase General Use Pesticides; advanced search capabilities now available on the seed exchange; in September, XS, Inc., parent company of XSAg.com, announced the formation of a new division, Nterline, an e-commerce platform that supports XSAg.com.

Spokespersons/titles: Fulton Breen, founder & CEO; Linda Rader, Sr. VP sales & marketing; Marc Crawford, CIO & new media marketing; Scott Peoples, marketing manager.

Phone: [phone]; Raleigh, N.C. AM