Trade Talk guide.

Broadcasters attending the NAFB annual convention will receive a complete review 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. Following is a listing of those participants as of Oct. 19, key contacts and their plans for NAFB's Trade Talk.

AGCO CORPORATION Duluth, Ga.

What's Hot: New technologies in tractors (CVT transmissions, electronics) boost efficiency and productivity. New models in early 2005 will deliver this to more types of farm operations. Precision agriculture advances are accelerating. Automatic guidance is one example of farmers pushing companies to deliver these benefits; AGCO Heritage[R] Parts, which includes Original Equipment quality parts for older tractors and combines; the AgChem RoGator TerraGator sprayer business is moving from a direct to a dealer-delivered business as regards parts and service; Planned Service, Planned Maintenance Inspections (PMI) and winter service programs can help farmers not only keep their equipment in top shape for the coming season but now can save them dollars on AGCO Quality Parts.

Contact: Todd Stucke, general marketing manager, AGCO Tractors--770/813-6183; Jerry Schmitt, general marketing manager, Global Technologies--816/452-4813; Jamie Collins, manager of Marketing--OE Parts, AGCO Parts Division; Bill New, manager, Sprayer Parts; Margaret Patterson, manager, AGCO Parts Division.

AG ENERGY WORK GROUP (NATURAL RESOURCE SOLUTIONS LLC) Lutherville, Md.

What's Hot: Agriculture's role in ensuring U.S. energy independence. Contact: 410/952-0123

AGSTAR FINANCIAL SERVICES Mankato, Minn.

What's Hot: Update on proposed merger with Farm Credit Services of America.

Contact: Paul Debriyn, president/CEO507/345-5651.

ALTRIA CORPORATE SERVICES INC. Richmond, Va.

What's Hot: Altria Group Inc.'s support of agricultural leadership development programs nationwide. Participation in Partners in Agricultural Leadership (PAL), a program developed in partnership with the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Contacts: Katherine Trent, director of agricultural relations--804/484-8607; Scott Stone, Aagape Livestock, Centralia, Mo., PAL Class of 2005; Shane Williams, Cherokee Livestock, Athens, Tenn., PAL Class of 2005.

AMERICAN AGRICULTURE MOVEMENT Scenic, S.D.

Contacts: Larry Matlock, Finance Committee- 316/463-3531; Ed Fashing, vice president of communications--573/687-3244; Buddy Vance, president--806/537-3750.

AMERICAN CORN GROWERS ASSOCIATION Washington, D.C.

What's Hot: Farm Policy; Renewable Energy (wind, ethanol and biomass); Implications of recent election on rural America.

Contacts: Larry Mitchell, CEO--202/835-0331; Keith Bolin, president--815/445-5491; Keith Dittrich, chairman--402/368-7786; John Bobbe, NFO/OFARM--515/292-2000.

AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION Washington, D.C.

What's Hot: Energy, oil, gas, renewable fuels, farm policy, elections changes on agriculture, legislative outlook for 2005, immigration, trade, WTO, Doha Round.

Contacts: Mark Maslyn, executive director--202/406-3660; Chris Garza, director of congressional relations--202/406-3672.

AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION "HARVEST FOR ALL" Washington, D.C.

What's Hot: Farmers and ranchers feeding the nation.

Contacts: Dan Durheim--202/406-3632; Steve Anderegg, chairman, Young Farmers and Ranchers, AFBF--641/424-4105.

AMERICAN LAMB BOARD AMERICAN MEAT INSTITUTE Arlington, Va.

What's Hot: BSE, the role of testing, and the steps this country is taking to prevent its spread; Country of Origin Labeling; Meat safety.

Contact: David S. Ray, vice president of public affairs--703/841-3624.

AMERICAN SHEEP INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION Centennial, Colo.

What's Hot: Sheep Industry in general to include lamb and wool prices; Ewe Lamb Replacement and Retention Payment Program; Upcoming American Lamb Board Referendum Vote; Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) Product for the Sheep Industry; Legislative issues affecting the sheep industry; Wool Trust and the work it has done to increase wool exports; Upcoming Annual Industry Convention in Reno, Nev.; Predator Management and Western Wolf Re-Introduction Concerns.

Contacts: Bob Gilbert, executive director, Montana Wool Growers Association and producer; Judy Malone, information specialist, American Sheep Industry Association--303/771-3500, ext. 35.

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF AGRONOMY/CERTIFIED CROP ADVISER PROGRAM Madison, Wis.

What's Hot: What is the CCA Program and how can you find a Certified Crop Adviser to interview in your area?; Science in Action, a new program that is free to our media friends and members. You can sign up to receive notification and a brief description of articles published in our journals on topics that you choose. Stay on top of the newest science in Crops, Soils, and Agronomy; 2004 recipient of the "Excellence in Crop Advising Award" given by the American Farm Bureau Federation and American Society of Agronomy.

Contacts: Betsy Ahner, ASA-Certified Crop Adviser Program--608/268-4950; David Scheiderer, ASA-Certified Crop Adviser--513/826-3003.

AMERICAN SOIL TECHNOLOGIES INC.

AMERICAN SOYBEAN ASSOCIATION St. Louis, Mo.

What's Hot: Trade issues and WTO negotiations; Soybean rust prevention and preparation; Biodiesel legislation; River transportation improvements.

Contacts: Neal Bredehoeft, president; Ron Heck, chairman; Bob Metz, first vice president.

AMERICAN SUGAR ALLIANCE Arlington, Va.

What's Hot: Sugar Policy; Trade Policy (CAFTA, NAFTA, WTO); Presidential Election Reaction; Sugar Beets.

Contact: Luther Markwart, chairman--202/253-1144.

AMERICA'S CLEAN WATER FOUNDATION

ANIMAL HEALTH INSTITUTE Washington, D.C.

What's Hot: The Pipeline for Animal Health Products: Feast or Famine?; New Research on Benefits of Antibiotics; Animal Guardianship: A Threat to Food Producers?

Contact: Ron Phillips, vice president of public affairs--202/637-2440

ASSOCIATED MILK PRODUCERS INC. New Ulm, Minn.

What's Hot: Dairy outlook; Dairy policy; A view from the Midwest.

Contacts: Mark Furth, general manager; Paul Tort, president.

BASF--THE CHEMICAL COMPANY Research Triangle Park, N.C.

What's Hot: Now celebrating its 25th year as a sponsor of the NAFB Broadcast Services Center, BASF markets a wide variety of fungicides, herbicides, plant regulators, insecticides and other crop protection products for the U.S. market. BASF will feature information on brands such as Cabrio[R], Endura[R], Headline[R] and Pristine[R] fungicides; CLEARFIELD* rice and wheat; Beyond[TM], Distinct[R], Extreme[R], Guardsman Max[TM], G-Max Lite[TM], Newpath[TM], Outlook[R] and Prowl[R] H20 herbicides; Regent[R] insecticide; and Pentia[TM] plant regulator. In addition, learn more about the company's Plant Health[TM] initiative. This year, BASF is proud to have sponsored the purchase of two new, state-of-the-art mult boxes to serve the needs of U.S. farm broadcasters.

Contacts: Kaye Iftner and Joy Watson, communications managers-800/669-1770.

BAYER ANIMAL HEALTH

BAYER CROPSCIENCE Durham, N.C.

What's Hot: Representatives from Bayer CropScience and Gustafson will discuss new products, including PONCHO[R] seed treatment insecticide for corn; OSPREY[TM], OLYMPUS[TM] and SILVERADO[TM] herbicides for cereal crops; Certified FiberMax[R] Cotton and IGNITE[R] herbicide for cotton; and SCALA[TM] and REASON[TM] fungicides and ENVIDOR[TM] and OBERON[TM] insecticides for the potato and horticulture markets; as well as Asian soybean rust diagnosis and control.

BIOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY ORGANIZATION Washington, D.C.

What's Hot: Current events in agricultural biotechnology.

Contact: 202/962-9200

BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM VETMEDICA INC. St. Joseph, Mo.

What's Hot: PRRS Control, Ileitis Management and Boehringer Ingelheim pork stewardship and oral vaccine development.

Contacts: Bruce Brinkmeyer, senior manager, Swine Respirtory Portfolio; Tom Gillespie, DVM, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetrinarian Liaison, Rensselaer Swine Services; Donna Taylor, product manager, Swine Respiratory Portfolio.

CARGILL AG HORIZONS

CASE IH Racine, Wis.

What's Hot: The 2004 harvest is in and so are the preliminary results of this year's Case IH field trials. Scientific research results guide the design and development of Case IH crop production equipment, helping Case IH customers improve their ROI.

Contact: Norm Larson, Agronomic Research, Case IH.

CATTLEMEN'S BEEF BOARD Centennial, Colo.

What's Hot: Checkoff-funded programs, including promotion, new product development, Beef Value Cuts, BSE and other beef safety research education programs; Beefmobile and other efforts aimed at building consumer demand for beef.

Contacts: Nelson Curry, chairman--303/220-9890; Monte Reese, chief operating officer--303/220-9890; Diane Henderson, communications manager--303/220-9890.

CERTIFIED ANGUS BEEF LLC/AMERICAN ANGUS ASSOCIATION Wooster, Ohio & ST. Joseph, Mo.

What's Hot: Certified Angus Beef brand; Genetics and health; 2004 National Angus Carcass Challenge; Explore how a genuine brand can help a business become a destination place for consumers; Learn how expanding beyond the fresh meat case and typical cuts can drive value for Angus producers; AAA $Value Indexes to simplify multi-trait comparison and assist commercial producers in genetic selection decisions; AAA AngusSource program.

Contacts: Steve Suther, director of industry information, CAB; Deanna Walenciak, director of sales marketing, CAB; Jim Shirley, vice president of industry relations, AAA; Sara Moyer, director of industry and member communications, AAA-330/345-2333.

COMMODITY CLASSIC Chesterfield, Mo.

What's Hot: Commodity Classic 2005 in Austin, Texas.

Contacts: Scott Wall, NCGA chair; Lorraine Birschbach, ASA Chair; Curt Sindergard, Grower Committee.

CONKLIN COMPANY INC. CROPLIFE AMERICA Washington, D.C.

What's Hot: Fungicide Benefit Study; International Maximum Residue Limit--D-Bas and Bio Monitoring.

Contacts: Nathan Reigner, research associate, CLA Foundation--202/872-3866; Allan Noe, director of communications--202/872-3840.

DAIRY FARMERS OF AMERICA INC.

DAIRY MANAGEMENT INC. Rosemont, III.

What's Hot: Dairy checkoff partnership with the NFL; New Look of School Milk; Foodservice partnerships; 3-A-Day of Dairy; Weight management update.

Contacts: Joe Bavido, director of industry relations, Dairy Management Inc.--847/627-3315; Dairy producer board member; Midwest Dairy Association staff member.

DOW AGROSCIENCES Indianapolis, Ind.

What's Hot: Dow AgroSciences and its Traits Licensing business has licensed Herculex I Insect Protection a broad-spectrum insect-protection trait in corn to more than 100 retail seed companies for the 2005 growing season. Also announced recently were Herculex RW Rootworm Protection and Herculex XTRA Insect Protection, the names selected for the next generation of traits in the Herculex Insect Protection family. Introduction of corn hybrids containing Herculex RW and Herculex XTRA is anticipated for the 2006 growing season, pending regulatory approvals. Mycogen Seeds has recently added 20 new grain corn hybrids, 12 new soybean varieties, five new sunflower hybrids, two Nexera Brand canola varieties and eight new TMF Silage-Specific hybrids to its crop portfolio.

Contact: Trey Ramirez, communications manager, U.S. Seeds--317/337-5194.

ELANCO ANIMAL HEALTH Greenfield, Ind.

What's Hot: Animal health industry issues and Elanco new products; Cattle nutrition and management.

Contacts: Dennis Erpelding, manager of corporate affairs; Elvin Thomas, Ph.D./ technical consultant.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

FARM CREDIT SERVICES OF AMERICA Omaha, Neb.

What's Hot: Trends showing Americans moving back to rural areas, local impact creates opportunities; Youth financing increases to keep up with rising project costs; Upcoming crop insurance meetings offer risk protection education; FCS America's equipment financing is available at the dealership.

Contacts: Jack Webster, president/ CEO--402/348-3238; Gene College, chief financial officer--402/348-3238.

FARMERS NATIONAL COMPANY Omaha, Neb.

What's Hot: A look at the dynamic land market we have today and a discussion on where this land market is headed in the future. Will the strong land market continue to drive leases higher for 2005?

Contacts: Richard Hahn, president/CEO--800/346-2650; Jim Farrell, AFM/vice president of marketing--800/346-2650.

FARM SAFETY 4 JUST KIDS Earlham, Iowa

Contacts: Marilyn Adams, founder--800/423-5437; David T. Schweitz, executive director--800/423-5437.

THE FERTILIZER INSTITUTE

FMC CORPORATION Philadephia, Pa.

What's Hot: Mustang Max insecticide has expanded uses into the fruit and vegetable; Capture insecticide at-plant, and the LiquidReady system and Mustang Max for seedling pests at-plant markets; Aim herbicide as a burndown, Aim cotton defoliation and new Aim tank mix opportunities.

Contacts: Walter Costa, product manager; Paul Redhage, communications manager; Joe Short, product manager.

GARST SEED COMPANY Slater, Iowa

What's Hot: 2004 Company Performance; Garst's future with Syngenta; Product Performance; New Corn and Soybean Products; Seed Applied Insecticide Adoption and Popularity; National FFA Commercial Competition; Financing and Payment Options for 2005 Planting Season.

Contacts: David Witherspoon, president--515/685-5000; Eugene Kassmeyer, Eastern sales director--515/685-5000; Loft Thomas, marketing communications manager--515/685-5000.

GUSTAFSON SEED

ILLINOIS SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL FARM MANAGERS/RURAL APPRAISERS Menomonee Falls, Wis.

What's Hot: The continued rise in farmland values. What is driving farmland values and is there an end in sight?

Contact: Don McCabe, AFM, president of the Illinois Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers.

IMC GLOBAL Lake Forest, III.

What's Hot: Balanced soil fertility is critical for maximizing yields and improving crop quality. But with today's rising nitrogen prices, it's tempting for producers to make cuts to their soil fertility budgets. This short-term sacrifice can have long-term drawbacks. Growers can make the most efficient use of their nitrogen by balancing it with adequate potassium and phosphorus. Regular soil testing and accurate record keeping help producers determine crop nutrient needs and plan a soil fertility management program that will lead to higher yields and a stronger bottom line. And now, there's another reason for growers to maintain a balanced soil fertility program. According to exciting new research, Iowa farmland with high soil fertility levels brought higher prices as compared to county averages. It is clear that fertilizer is a good investment.

Contacts: Dr. Ray Hoyum, vice president of market development and communications--847/739-1511; Dr. Harold Reetz, president, Foundation for Agronomic Research.

JOHN DEERE Lenexa, Kan.

What's Hot: New technology with John Deere guidance systems--StarFire iTC, StarFire RTK and AutoTrac assisted steering; New MaxEmerge XP Planter units, 4720 and 4920 Self-Propelled Sprayers, and 9620 4WD Tractors are all new products recently introduced by John Deere; Accelerated depreciation and expense deduction for equipment purchases (current tax bill) will expire Jan. 1,2005; John Deere 60 Series Combines and header equipment, HarvestSmart Feedrate Control System, and AutoTrac assisted steering for combines--new technology to help growers become more productive and profitable.

Contacts: Barry E. Nelson, manager of public relations--913/310-8324; Ron Moron, product information manager, John Deere Harvester Works--309/765-6260.

KANSAS CITY BOARD OF TRADE Kansas City, Mo.

What's Hot: Hard red winter wheat futures and options and the addition of electronic trading.

Contacts: Kansas City Board of Trade Members and Floor Traders--816/753-7500.

LANDEC AG/INTELLICOAT Monticello, Ind.

What's Hot: Intellicoat Early Plant Corn Technology allows farmers to plant up to four weeks earlier in the spring without risk of chilling injury. Intellicoat Early Plant seed coating is now available on 10 popular seed brands: Beck's Hybrids, Dynagro Seed, Fielder's Choice Direct, Horizon Genetics, Hubner Seed, Legend Seeds, Ottilie Seed, Seed Consultants, Southern States and Syngenta Seeds.

MCCORMICK INTERNATIONAL USA Pella, Iowa

What's Hot: The all-new C-Max tractor line, (59-99 hp) a new range of utility tractors that meets the requirements of price-conscious acreage and small farm owners. McCormick has also entered the loader market with the McCormick L700, L900, and L1000 series loaders.

Contact: Chad Huyser, marketing manager-641/621-7370.

MERIAL Duluth, Ca.

What's Hot: Bovine Respiratory Disease, Liver Flukes, Pasteurella Vaccination and the IGENITY DNA Testing Service.

Contacts: Merial veterinarians.

MONSANTO COMPANY St. Louis, Mo.

What's Hot: Monsanto trait news, particularly the YieldGard family of technologies, Roundup Ready corn, Roundup Ready soybeans, Bollgard II cotton, Roundup Ready cotton; Product stewardship importance, whether that be market choices, insect resistance management, good weed management, or commitment to biofuels, particularly through the Fuel Your Profits Processor Preferred High Fermentable Corn Hybrids; 2004 DEKALB & ASGROW offerings; VISTIVE and the future of our food-based technologies offering direct consumer benefits; the Roundup Ready system value; and the Monsanto and NAFB Commitment To Agriculture Scholarship Program.

Contacts: Senior marketing and technical leaders from Monsanto; Julie Doane, public affairs manager--314/378-6938.

NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CENTER & HALL OF FAME

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CONSERVATION DISTRICTS Washington, D.C.

What's Hot: Conservation; Natural Resources.

Contact: 202/547-2043

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE DEPARTMENTS OF AGRICULTURE Washington, D.C.

What's Hot: Federal and state animal identification systems; Specialty crop block grants to state departments of agriculture; State authority to regulate grain warehouses; Opposition to the sale of Farm Credit Services of America to Rabobank; Disaster assistance; Opposition to the preemption or weakening of state and local food safety programs; Best practices for coordinating emergency preparedness/response between federal and state agencies; Trade mission to China; Preparation for the next farm bill.

Contacts: Nathan Rudgers, president, NASDA and Commissioner of the New York Department of Agriculture & Markets; Peter Hofherr, director, Missouri Department of Agriculture; Richard Kirchhoff, executive vice president/CEO, NASDA--202/296-9680.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WHEAT GROWERS Washington, D.C.

What's Hot: Farm Bill issues; Crop insurance; Wheat organization consolidation; Competitiveness issues: Biotechnology; New uses.

Contacts: Mark Gage, president; Daren Coppock, CEO; June Silverberg, director of corporate relations--202/547-7800.

NATIONAL CATTLEMEN'S BEEF ASSOCIATION Centennial, Colo.

What's Hot: NCBA Policy Issues; Animal ID; Trade; Environmental Issues.

Contacts: Mike Byrn, NCBA policy division chair and winner of the USDA 2004 Excellence in Conservation Award; Sharyl Sauer, executive director of industry communications; Joe Schuele, director of trade media--303/694-0305.

NATIONAL CHRISTMAS TREE ASSOCIATION St. Louis, Mo.

What's Hot: New program with Warner Bros. Pictures to cross promote Real Christmas Trees and The Polar Express movie, narrated by Tom Hanks; Help Santa Contest where kids can win scholarships and trips and other new programs aimed at expanding the market for Real Trees.

Contacts: Beth Walterscheidt, president elect; John Tillman, winner of the National Christmas Tree Contest and well-known wholesaler and industry author. NCTA--314/205-0944.

NATIONAL CORN GROWERS ASSOCIATION Chesterfield, Mo.

What's Hot: Election; Ethanol and Renewable Fuels; Commodity Roundtable; Transportation; Trade; Biotechnology; Corn Genome; Corn Research.

Contacts: Dee Vaughan, chairman; Leon Corzine, president; Gerald Tumbleson, first vice president; Rick Tolman, CEO--636/733-9004.

NATIONAL ETHANOL VEHICLE COALITION Jefferson City, Mo.

What's Hot: E85--85% Ethanol and 15% Gasoline--as a form of alternative transportation fuel; Flexible-fuel vehicles.

Contact: Michelle Kautz, director of communications--573/635-8445.

NATIONAL FARMERS UNION Washington, D.C.

What's Hot: Disaster aid, trade, market concentration, mandatory country-of-origin labeling, renewable fuels and NFU's e-commerce project and survey; Washington outlook on elections, lame-duck congressional session, disaster aid, and renewable fuels.

Contacts: Dave Frederickson, president; Tom Buis, vice president of government relations.

NATIONAL FARM MEDICINE CENTER Marshfield, Wis.

What's Hot: Childhood agricultural health and safety; Viruses in groundwater.

Contact: Scott Heiberger, communications specialist--800/662-6900.

NATIONAL GRAIN & FEED ASSOCIATION

NATIONAL GRAIN SORGHUM PRODUCERS Lubbock, Texas

What's Hot: Learn about new demand for food grade sorghum; Ethanol plants under construction in the sorghum belt; Renewable fuels legislation; Preparations for work on the Farm Bill; New and viable sorghum crop insurance products; free-trade agreements boost sorghum exports to countries such as Morocco; 2005 North American Grain Congress, the joint conference of National Grain Sorghum Producers and National Association of Wheat Growers Feb. 19-22 in Reno, Nev.

Contacts: James Vorderstrasse, president and producer from Hebron, Neb.; Tim Lust, executive director; Christi Scherler, communications director; Lorie Forbes, administrative director--806/749-3478.

NATIONAL PORK CHECKOFF BOARD Des Moines, Iowa

What's Hot: Budget approval for 2005--several long-standing programs will be funded, but the Board is also looking at funding new programs for a progressive pork industry; Environmental research and education for producers.

Contacts: Dave Culbertson, pork producer and president; Danita Rodibaugh, pork producer and vice president; Mike Wegner, vice president of communications; Cindy Cunningham, assistant vice president--515/223-2600.

NATIONAL PORK PRODUCERS COUNCIL Washington, D.C.

What's Hot: General Pork Industry Issues; International Trade; Animal Health and Welfare; Mandatory Animal ID; Food Security; NPPC Organizational Issues; Farm Economics; Overview of the U.S. Pork Industry.

Contacts: Kara Flynn, director of communications--202/347-3600; Nick Giordano, International Trade Counsel; Dr. Harry Snelson, director of science & technology; Keith Berry, president; Neil Dierks, CEO--515/278-8012.

NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY COMPANY Golden, Colo.

What's Hot: Wind Energy for Rural Economic Development; Section 9006 of the 2002 U.S. Farm Bill Provides Funding for Rural Renewable Energy Projects; Electricity from the Wind: The New Cash Crop.

Contact: Larry Flowers, technical director, Wind Powering America--303/384-6973.

NATIONAL RURAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COOPERATIVE

NATIONAL WATERSHED COALITION Chandler, Okla.

What's Hot: Addressing the future of the USDA Watershed Program and the need to rehabilitate aging watershed dams to keep them safe.

Contact: Dwain Phillips, communications director--405/377-4803.

NEW HOLLAND

OPTIBRAND LTD. Ft. Collins, Colo.

What's Hot: Optibrand's Universal Livestock Identification systems; The security of retinal images coupled with GPS data; Cattle age verification processes using Optibrand technology; Collection of production and management data for adding value to livestock; Congressional funding for USDA systems to identify imported cattle using biometric methods; Livestock traceability in the U.S. and other countries; Japanese demand for beef from livestock identified with Optibrand's retinal imaging technology; The Eurotier2004 Innovation Awards Gold Medal given to Optibrand by the German Agricultural Society; The newly announced distribution partnership between Lextron Animal Health and Optibrand Ltd.

Contacts: John Cravens, director of marketing communications; Bror Cederstrom, executive vice president of sales and marketing--970/490-6022.

PFIZER ANIMAL HEALTH New York, N.Y.

What's Hot: ExcedeTM, SpirovacR VL5, Bovi-ShieldR GoldTM, SpirovacR L5, ExcenelR

Contacts: Mike Amos, senior marketing manager--212/733-3529; Dr. Gary D. Neubauer--800/877-6290 ext. 3545; Mitch Blanding--913/390-0404; Glenn Rogers--817/441-6516.

PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL INC. Johnston, Iowa

What's Hot: Pioneer corn hybrid products for 2005; New corn technology and traits; Agronomic research from Pioneer; 2005 production issues; Soybean disease pressure; New soybean products and traits for 2005; Upcoming soybean end-use traits; General Pioneer issues.

Contacts: Trent Leopold, corn marketing director; Barry Brown, senior marketing manager-corn; Jody Gander, agronomy research manager; Marv Wilson, soybean marketing director--515/270-3200; Jerry Harrington, sales & marketing public relations manager--515/334-6908.

PROPANE EDUCATION AND RESEARCH COUNCIL Washington, D.C.

What's Hot: Propane Agriculture Applications--irrigation, grain drying, weed control (flame cultivation), defoliation, farm heating, steam cultivation; Propane industry investments in agriculture; Benefits of propane for agriculture applications; Strategic direction of propane industry for agriculture industry; Poultry house flame sanitation using propane.

Contacts: Michelle Swertzic, agriculture advisory committee member--402/475-3996; Mark Leitman, agriculture programs manager--865/692-5419; Steve Koch, Flame Engineering--800/255-2469.

RAIN AND HAIL L.L.C. Urbandale, Iowa

What's Hot: Current issues on crop insurance; Livestock insurance update; Crop insurance in Kansas and Missouri.

Contacts: Scott Arnold, national marketing manager--515/559-1000; Jimmy Oliver, marketing manager--402/334-5176; Shannon Foster, field supervisor--402/334-5176; Curt Blake, field supervisor--515/559-1100.

RENEWABLE FUELS ASSOCIATION Washington, D.C.

What's Hot: Impact of elections on ethanol industry, industry growth and legislative priorities.

Contacts: Bob Dinneen, president/CEO; Monte Shaw, communications director--202/289-3835.

SMITHFIELD FOODS, INC. Smithfield, Va.

What's Hot: Environmental and animal welfare management systems; Green energy; Antibiotic usage; Vertical integration; Food safety; Corporate community involvement.

Contact: Dennis H. Treacy, vice president, Environmental, Community & Government Affairs--757/365-3010.

STOLLER ENTERPRISES INC. Houston, Texas

What's Hot: Managing the most limiting factor in crop production--Mother Nature. Crop Health Therapy maintains appropriate hormone balance resulting in healthy, productive plants producing a larger, more uniform, higher-quality harvest.

Contacts: Neil Stapensea, director of sales & marketing--713/461-1493, ext. 17; Jeff Morgan, marketing director--713/461-1493.

SYNGENTA CROP PROTECTION Greensboro, N.C.

What's Hot: Syngenta Crop Protection leaders will discuss integration of crop protection, seed treatment and seed products into powerful agronomic programs for growers.

Contact: Travis Dickinson, head of business development.

SYNGENTA SEEDS Golden Valley, Minn.

What's Hot: NK Brand Extra Edge[TM] corn and soybean products characterized for end-use markets, and the establishment of an ethanol testing lab using University of Illinois ethanol yield test protocol; Expansion of NK Brand corn portfolio with Agrisure[TM] GT Advantage hybrids; NK Brand work to satisfy increased grower and marketplace interest in soybeans, including new products, expansion of TruBulk[TM] delivery system and integrated production systems.

Contacts: Gary Powell, director of new product and market development; Mark Schmidt, NK Brand soybean product manager.

UNITED SOYBEAN BOARD Chesterfield, Mo.

What's Hot: Intense global competition that could put U.S. soybeans in second place; Checkoff efforts to raise the protein and oil levels in U.S. soybeans; Programs to boost demand for soybean exports--the checkoff has focused its attention on foreign markets with the greatest growth potential including China, Southeast Asia, Middle East and Latin America; Soybean checkoff programs to support the livestock industry; Environmental regulations to help boost the use of biodiesel; USB 2005 strategic plans for building U.S. soybean demand.

Contacts: Greg Anderson, vice chairman; Terry Ecker, international marketing farmer-director; Mark Pietz, farmer-director for animal agriculture initiative; David Durham, immediate past chairman; Criss Davis, chairman--800/989-8721.

USDA-OOEA-FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL SERVICE (FAS) Washington, D.C.

What's Hot: WTO--Agricultural Trade Policy; Agricultural Trade Situation; Importance of Agricultural Exports.

Contacts: James Grueff, assistant deputy administrator, International Trade Policy--202/720-4055; Michael Dwyer, chief economist.

USDA-NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE (NASS)

USDA-NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE (NRCS) Washington, D.C.

What's Hot: Conservation Security Program and other voluntary conservation programs and activities.

Contact: Bruce Knight, chief--202/720-3210.

USDA-RURAL DEVELOPMENT Washington, D.C.

What's Hot: Rural Economic Development/Rural Community Development/ Rural Development Policy; Loan and Grant Programs available for rural communities, farmers, ranchers and rural residents.

Contacts: Gilbert Gonzalez, acting under secretary; Allan Johnson, director of legislative and public affairs--202/720-1019; Tim McNeilly, assistant director of legislative and public affairs--202/690-0498.

U.S. GRAINS COUNCIL Washington, D.C.

What's Hot: Recent mission to Japan, China and Korea--areas where grain demand is on the rise; How the U.S. Grains Council is using checkoff and agribusiness dollars to build export demand around the world; Promoting biotechnology in South Africa.

Contacts: Paul Williams, chairman, U.S. Grains Council and barley grower from Davenport, Wash.--202/789-0789; Vic Miller, treasurer, U.S. Grains Council and corn farmer from Oelwein, Iowa--202/789-0789.

U.S. MEAT EXPORT FEDERATION Denver, Colo.

What's Hot: Update on current beef, pork and lamb export situation.

Contacts: Lynn Heinze, vice president of information-303/623-6328; Cheryl Kamenski, manager of media communications--303/623-6328.

VALENT U.S.A. CORPORATION Walnut Creek, Calif.

What's Hot: The newest chemistry in the soybean market, Valor Herbicide is the perfect compliment to Roundup. Valor provides broad spectrum, residual control of troublesome weeds. And for post-emergence weed control, Resource is a fast-acting, broadleaf herbicide that's ideal for controlling tough weeds in corn and soybeans.

Contact: Gary Gaar, southern row crops market manager--800/6-VALENT.

VALMONT IRRIGATION Valley, Neb.

What's Hot: World water issues; New products that save time and water; New products to prevent wheel tracks.

Contacts: Tom Spears, president; Craig Malsam, director of engineering; Greg Bartlett, director of marketing; Kim Lang, communications manager--402/359-6110.

W.K. KELLOGG FOUNDATION Battle Creek, Mich.

What's Hot: Results of election survey of rural voters and their impact on the outcome of the Nov. 2 election; The 8055 Coalition's efforts to bring attention to rural America and its need for economic policies to help rural communities compete nationally and internationally.

Contact: Dee Davis, president, Center for Rural Strategies--269/969-2159.

RADIO AND
NETWORK
ANNIVERSARIES

80     WGN 720,
Years  Chicago

55     KSUM 1370,
Years  Fairmont, Minn.

40     Voice of Southwest
Years  Agriculture Radio Network,
       Oklahoma City

35     KXRB 100,
Years  Sioux Falls, S.D.

30     Louisiana Agri-News Network,
Years  Baton Rouge, LA.

25     Western Agri-Radio Networks,
Years  Yuma, Ariz.

20     WGEL 101.7, Greenville, III.
Years  Southeast Agnet Radio
       Network, Kenansville, Fla.

10     AgriTalk/Doane Broadcasting,
Years  St. Louis