ST. LOUIS (Feb. 27, 2015) - When farmer-leaders of the United Soybean Board (USB) wrote the organization's current long-range strategic plan, they included their vision that U.S. soybeans will be the leader of the global oilseed industry. This summer, USB will join the American Soybean Association and the U.S. Soybean Export Council in leading the global oilseed industry during the 18th International Oilseed Producers Dialogue (IOPD), to be held here in the United States for the first time since 2006.

"This event brings together oilseed industries from all over the world - Asia, Australia, Europe and South and North America," says Bob Haselwood, soybean farmer from Berryton, Kansas, and USB chairman. "It really highlights that we all have the same goals, and it helps us to find ways to work together to achieve these goals. We're looking forward to hosting our oilseed colleagues and leading the way to a successful IOPD 2015."

In addition to hosting the IOPD event, a gathering of representatives of both North and South American soybean farmers will come together as part of the International Soy Growers Alliance (ISGA). ISGA, which represents 90 percent of the world's soybean production, works to advance issues important to soybean farmers in North and South America, such as approval of biotech events.

"ISGA is all about showing a united front," says Jared Hagert, soybean farmer from Emerado, North Dakota, and USB vice chairman. "USB has been involved in several ISGA missions to meet with governments of major soy-importing countries, such as China, and talk about the importance of science-based approval systems for biotech varieties. There is not a stronger signal we could send than standing together with farmers from Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay with a common view on an issue."

Exact dates and locations will be announced in the coming months.

The 70 farmer-directors of USB oversee the investments of the soy checkoff to maximize profit opportunities for all U.S. soybean farmers. These volunteers invest and leverage checkoff funds to increase the value of U.S. soy meal and oil, to ensure U.S. soybean farmers and their customers have the freedom and infrastructure to operate, and to meet the needs of U.S. soy's customers. As stipulated in the federal Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soy checkoff.

For more information on the United Soybean Board, visit www.unitedsoybean.org
Visit us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/UnitedSoybeanBoard
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/unitedsoy
View our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/UnitedSoybeanBoard

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Tour begins Wednesday March 4^th

(DES MOINES) - Lt. Gov.  Kim Reynolds today announced that she will launch her "Stories of Women's Lives Tour" on Wednesday, March 4, 2015. Reynolds announced on Monday that she is embarking upon a statewide tour to celebrate "National Women's History Month" in March.  She will be traveling to several communities to meet with female leaders and highlight women who are positively impacting Iowa with their ideas, actions and ingenuity.

"This year's national theme for Women's History Month is 'Weaving the Stories of Women's Lives.'  Every year, during my travels to all 99-counties in Iowa, I witness first-hand how women are making a difference in their homes, businesses, schools, and communities," said Lt. Governor Reynolds.  "Women have played an important role in Iowa's history and will continue to be trailblazers who serve as role models for current and future generations of Iowans."

More events associated with the "Stories of Women's Lives Tour" tour will be announced at a later date.  The lieutenant governor will use the Twitter hashtag #KimTours99 during her travels.

The following events are open to credentialed members of the press:

Wednesday, March 4, 2015 

8:30 a.m. Lt. Gov. Reynolds holds "Stories of Women's Lives Tour" Women in Business roundtable discussion

Greene County Historical Museum

219 E. Lincoln Way

Jefferson, IA

10:30 a.m. Lt. Gov. Reynolds tours Life & Health Care, Inc. as part of the "Stories of Women's Lives Tour"

Life & Health Care, Inc.

714 Wilson Ave.

Webster City, IA

11 a.m. Lt. Gov. Reynolds tours INTANDEM Marketing as part of the "Stories of Women's Lives Tour"

INTANDEM Marketing

501 Bank St.

Webster City, IA

11:30 a.m. Lt. Gov. Reynolds holds "Stories of Women's Lives Tour" Women in Agriculture roundtable discussion

Farm Credit Services

345 Fair Meadow Dr.

Webster City, IA

1 p.m. Lt. Gov. Reynolds tours Buckeye Fish Company as part of the "Stories of Women's Lives Tour"

Buckeye Fish Company

12282 200^th St.

Radcliffe, IA

3 p.m. Lt. Gov. Reynolds holds "Stories of Women's Lives Tour" Women in STEM roundtable discussion

Iowa State University

3630 Extension and 4-H Youth Building

Ames, IA

Wednesday, March 4, 7:05 p.m.

iWireless Center, Moline
Tulsa Oilers vs. Quad City Mallards

Friday, March 6, 7:05 p.m.
iWireless Center, Moline
Allen Americans vs. Quad City Mallards

Saturday, March 7, 7:05 p.m.
iWireless Center, Moline
Allen Americans vs. Quad City Mallards

LAST WEEK
Monday, February 23
Brampton 5 Quad City 2

Wednesday, February 25
Allen 4 Quad City 2

Friday, February 27
Quad City 3 Missouri 0

Saturday, February 28
Quad City 4 Missouri 2

Sunday, March 1

Missouri 3 Quad City 2 (SO)

Quad City
28-21-7, 63 points
2nd place, Central Division
Coach: Terry Ruskowski

Tulsa
27-24-4, 58 points
tied 3rd place, Central Division
Coach: Bruce Ramsay

Allen
37-10-7, 81 points

1st place, Central Division
Coach: Steve Martinson

QUACK TRACKS
Busy
The Mallards yesterday played their sixth game in eight days.  They went 3-2-1 during that stretch.

Three in Three
The Mallards earned five of six available points while playing three games in 48 hours against the Missouri Mavericks over the weekend.  The Mallards won in Independence 3-0 last Friday and 4-2 last Saturday before falling 3-2 in a shootout on home ice yesterday.

Second

By earning a point yesterday the second place Mallards widened their lead to five points over third place Tulsa and Rapid City in the ECHL's Central Division.

February
The Mallards went 8-6-0 while playing a whopping 14 games in February.

Home Sweet Home

The Mallards yesterday kicked off an eight-game homestand- their longest of the season.

On the Road
Last Saturday's win in Missouri was the Mallards' seventh road game out of eight overall.  They went 5-2-0 over those seven away tilts.

Shootout
Yesterday's setback dropped the Mallards' shootout record to 4-3 this season.

Blanked
Last Friday's 3-0 shutout of Missouri was Parker Milner's first as a Mallard and first since he made 17 saves to whitewash the Utah Grizzlies 1-0 as a member of the Stockton Thunder on February 15, 2014.  Milner has now posted three career shutouts.  Last Friday's was the Mallards' second shutout of the season.  Evan Mosher made 26 saves while blanking the Evansville IceMen 3-0 on New Year's Eve.

Early Bird Special
Last Monday's 5-2 loss in Brampton- a contest that started at 10:00 a.m. Central Time- was the Mallards' final game north of the border this season.

Red Light District
The Mallards allowed just four (non-shootout) goals in their three games against Missouri over the weekend.  The Mallards now ranks fifth in the ECHL in goals against per game (2.7).  They rank seventeenth in goals scored per game (3.0).

Special Teams

The Mallards gave up two shorthanded goals in the first four minutes and thirty seconds of last Saturday's 4-2 win in Missouri after allowing just one shorthanded goal in their prior 54 games.  They have gone 6-for-19 on the power play over their last four games to climb to ninth in the ECHL on the man advantage (18.3 percent).  The Mallards matched a season high by allowing two Missouri power play goals yesterday and now rank sixth in the league in penalty killing (84.9 percent).

Foxy

Justin Fox last Saturday night in Missouri scored his twentieth goal of the season to move into a tie with Joe Perry- who is now with the American Hockey League's Iowa Wild- for the team goal scoring lead.  Fox has recorded 12 points (five goals and seven assists) in his last 11 games.

Super Mario
Mario Lamoureux's five game point and assist streak (1-6-7) ended yesterday against Missouri.  Lamoureux has notched 14 points (three goals and 11 assists) in his last 11 games.  He ranks fourth in the ECHL in assists (42) and is tied for fifth in points (59). 

Full Nelson
Rookie Logan Nelson has scored five goals in his last five games and produced six points (five goals and one assist) in his last six outings.

Between the Pipes
After giving up five goals before being replaced by Mosher in the third period of last Monday's loss in Brampton, Milner rebounded by not only shutting out Missouri last Friday but also turning aside 50 of 52 Mavericks shots while backstopping the Mallards to victories both Friday and Saturday in Independence.  Milner ranks fourth in the ECHL in goals against average (2.29) and save percentage (.921).

Milestones
Darren McMillan recorded his two hundredth career point- an assist- last Friday at Missouri.

Head to Head
The Mallards have gone 3-2-0 against the Oilers this season and have split a pair of home games against Tulsa.  All-time the Mallards have gone 11-9-0 against the Oilers and have registered a 7-3-0 home record against Tulsa...The Mallards have gone 1-2-0 against Allen this season.  Last Wednesday's game was the first between the Mallards and Americans at the iWireless Center this season.  All-time, the Mallards have posted a regular season record of 4-7-1 against the Americans and have gone 2-4-0 at home against Allen.

Ins and Outs
The Mallards waived forward Evan Haney last Friday...Antti Pusa is on 21-day injured reserve retroactive to February 7... Pusa (out 12 games) and Johnny Rogic (18 games) have both been sidelined by upper body injuries.

UPCOMING HOME GAMES
Wednesday, March 4, 7:05 p.m.- Mallards vs. Tulsa Oilers

4 Tickets for $20; T.G.I. Friday's Postgame Party
Fans can get four tickets for just $20 for each Wednesday home game.  After Wednesday's game fans can join the Mallards at T.G.I. Friday's on River Drive in Moline for a postgame party.

Friday, March 6, 7:05 p.m.- Mallards vs. Allen Americans

$1 Dog/$1 Beer Friday presented by 97X and MetroLINK
Fans again this season can enjoy $1 hot dogs and beers from iWireless Center concession stands during all Friday home games.  97X will follow in the spirit of the evening by presenting hot dog-themed intermission entertainment.  The Mallards have once again partnered with Metro to provide transit service between Augustana College and downtown Moline during all Friday home games.  Students can catch the Route 10 on campus via 7th Avenue to and from the games, with the Route 10 dropping students off near campus or at the District after games.  Students can then hop on the Route 53 from the District back to Augustana until 3 a.m.  As part of Metro's unlimited ride program, Augustana riders can use their Augustana ID as their fare.  Fans can visit www.gogreenmetro.com or www.facebook.com/53and59 for more information.  

Rooster's Sports Bar & Grill
For Friday home games the Mallards have joined with Rooster's Sports Bar & Grill in Rock Island to offer fans the chance to get a lower level ticket to the Mallards' game along with an appetizer and drink at Rooster's and a Metro bus ride to the game from Rooster's and back for just $20.  For more information fans can contact Rooster's at 309-283-7005.

Saturday, March 7, 7:05 p.m.- Mallards vs. Allen Americans

John Deere Community Night; KWQC-TV6 Mallards Youth Jersey Giveaway
Courtesy of John Deere, 2,000 tickets to Saturday's game are available for just $5 while supplies last.  In addition, the first 1,000 fans ages 12 and under through the doors for Saturday evening's game will receive free Mallards youth replica jerseys courtesy of KWQC-TV6.

IN THE COMMUNITY
Monday, March 2 through Friday, March 6
Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center
Fans who donate blood at Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center this week will receive a free to ticket to any remaining Mallards regular season home game.  Fans can go to bloodcenter.org to find the nearest Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center. 

Sunday, March 8, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Kittan District Boy Scout Pinewood Derby
Mascot Mo Mallard will join the fun at the Kittan District Pinewood Derby Sunday afternoon at Modern Woodmen Park in Davenport.

Monday, March 9, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
7-Eleven
Mallards players will be signing autographs next Monday, March 9 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at four 7-Eleven's: 3718 John Deere Road in Moline, 105 West 1st Avenue in Coal Valley, 1026 16th Avenue in East Moline and 1000 78th Avenue West in Rock Island.  Customers will receive a complimentary ticket to the Mallards' Saturday, April 11, regular season finale against the Tulsa Oilers if they stop by any time to purchase a 20-pack of Pepsi and a large 7-Eleven pizza at Quad Cities area 7-Eleven locations in Illinois. 

Tuesday, March 10, 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.
United Way
Mallards players will team with the United Way to make their monthly visit to five area elementary schools to encourage and academic achievement and improved attendance among students.

Thursday, March 12, 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Tip-A-Mallard
Tip-A-Mallard returns to the Bier Stube in Moline and LeClaire next Thursday, March 12 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.  Mallards players will wait tables with all tips going to the Wounded Warrior Project.

Friday, March 13, 1:00 p.m.
Winola Elementary School Jump Rope for Heart
Mascot Mo Mallard will help kick off the American Heart Association Jump Rope for Heart at Winola Elementary School in Viola, Illinois on Friday, March 13 at 1:00 p.m.  Students who raise more than $50 in donations will receive a free ticket to the Mallards' Saturday, April 11 regular season finale against the Tulsa Oilers.

Friday, March 13, 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Disc Replay
Fans can meet Mallards players at Disc Replay in the North Park Mall next Friday, March 13.  Mallards will be signing autographs between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m. at Disc Replay.

ON THE AIR
Fox Sports Radio 1230 is the radio home of Mallards Hockey Presented by Genesis Power Sports Performance.  Mallards games broadcast on AM 1230 also stream live online at www.wfxn.net.  A limited number of Mallards games- including Wednesday night's meeting with Tulsa- will not air on Fox Sports Radio 1230 due to conflicts with University of Illinois basketball and football and Green Bay Packer football.  ECHL-TV pay-per-view video webcasts and free audio webcasts of all Mallards games are also available at myqcmallards.net. 

TICKETS
Single Game Tickets
Single game tickets for all Mallards regular season contests are now available.  Fans can contact the Mallards at (309) 277-1364 or info@myqcmallards.com for more information about tickets.  Single game tickets are also available at the iWireless Center box office, at Ticketmaster outlets, through www.ticketmaster.com or through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free.  The box office is open weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and on game days from 10:00 a.m. until the start of the second period.

Group Tickets
Groups of at least ten receive savings off the walk-up price and a host of group benefits.  Mallards group tickets are a great fit for youth organizations, friends, co-workers, family groups, religious groups, school functions and business events.  For more group ticket information, fans can contact the Mallards at (309) 277-1364 or info@myqcmallards.com.

-### Quad City Mallards ### -

MOUNT VERNON, IA (02/27/2015)(readMedia)-- Irene Herzig of Davenport is one of more than 100 students participating in Cornell College's Alternative Spring Break.

Students involved with Alternative Spring Break spend their weeklong break on a service trip. Herzig is taking part in the trip to New Orleans, and will work with Volunteers of America of greater New Orleans to help create affordable housing for people with disabilities and senior citizens.

This is the 11th consecutive year that Cornell College has sponsored Alternative Spring Break trips. More information about the program is available on the college's Office of Civic Engagement website.

One of the 40 "Colleges That Change Lives," Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, is a national liberal arts college with a distinctive One Course At A Time curriculum. The One Course schedule provides students the chance to dive into their studies, focus more intensely on the disciplines of their choice, and learn authentically with the unique freedom to shed the confines of the traditional classroom to study off-campus, pursue research, or accept an internship--all without missing out on other classes.

Cornell has been recognized by numerous publications for the value its education offers and for academic excellence. This year it was named of the 100 best values in liberal arts education by Kiplinger's, one of the "Best Value Schools" among national liberal arts colleges by U.S. News and World Report, and one of the 100 Affordable Elite Colleges by Washington Monthly. Ninety-three percent of Cornell graduates earn their degrees in four years. In 2013 Cornell was named one of the 25 colleges with the best professors by the Center for College Affordability and Productivity.

For more information, visit www.cornellcollege.edu.