Highlights from the Council's Online News Room News Room: - USGC's Analysis of USDA's Prospective Planting and Grain Stocks Reports - Bryan Lohmar Named U.S. Grains Council China Director Chart of the Week: U.S. Corn Area Planting and Yield Word from the Ground: - Council Activities Grow DDGS Demand in Saudi Arabia - New Buyers Emerge for Brazilian Corn - An Order for Italian Take-Out Council News: - USGC Membership Services Gets Revamped Council Cast - Thomas Dorr Audio on China Director - Wendell Shauman Audio on China Mission

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USGC's Analysis of USDA's Prospective Planting and Grain Stocks Reports Get the U.S. Grains Council's analysis and perspective on USDA's annual publications, Prospective Planting and Grain Stocks. For the full report, CLICK HERE. Bryan Lohmar Named U.S. Grains Council China Director The Council is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Bryan Lohmar as its new director in China. In this capacity, Lohmar will oversee the Council's programs in the country while maintaining and fostering key relationships with Chinese policy officials. READ MORE Chart of the Week: U.S. Corn Area Planting and Yield According to the recently released USDA reports, U.S. producers are projected to plant a record 95.9 million acres (38.81 million hectares) of corn in 2012 - the highest corn planted area since 1937. More factoids on the 2012 planting season are available here. READ MORE Word from the Ground: Council Activities Grow DDGS Demand in Saudi Arabia In a country whose economy is largely dependent on oil exports, the ethanol industry (and related co-products) is often maligned and a large target of contention and discomfort within Saudi Arabia. READ MORE Word from the Ground: New Buyers Emerge for Brazilian Corn We are seeing major changes taking place in buyers of Brazilian corn. The biggest surprise is Taiwan, which leads this period, purchasing almost 250,000 metric tons (9.8 million bushels) of corn. READ MORE Word from the Ground: An Order for Italian Take-Out The Council's Japan office participated in the Italian Cuisine Show held last week in Tokyo. More than 3,000 Italian chefs and restaurateurs were on-site to showcase their specialty dishes that featured corn flour as the star ingredient. READ MORE Council News: USGC Membership Services Gets Revamped To meet the evolving and expanding demands of our membership, the Council is excited to announce Lyndsey Erb-Sharkey's position with the Council has been reclassified and re-titled to manager of membership. READ MORE Council Cast: Listen here to USGC President and CEO, Thomas Dorr on the new China Director Listen here to commentary by Wendell Shauman, USGC Chairman, on his recent mission to China COUNCIL ACTIVITY CALENDAR April 9 - 20: The Council, in collaboration with the Sino-U.S. Dairy Management Training Center, will host a corn silage demonstration program in China to expand the demand for feed grains and co-products in the Chinese dairy industry. Two USGC consultants will conduct on-farm consultations and short-course training sessions for local growers to learn about corn silage techniques and the benefits of incorporating U.S. DDGS in livestock rations. For more information, contact Kyle Cromer, USGC international operations coordinator, at kcromer@grains.org

SPRINGFIELD, IL (04/06/2012)(readMedia)-- "You call, we haul," is uttered by many transportation company Soldiers throughout the state. Motor transport operators drive the force, hauling rolling stock to ammunition and other vital supplies.

The Illinois National Guard's 129th Regional Training Institute out of the Illinois Military Academy at Camp Lincoln trained 11 Soldiers from various state and Army components to be certified as motor transport operators (88M) at the Illinois State Police Training Area in Pawnee, March 18 to April 1.

The 129th operates, like many other military schools, with a crawl, walk, run course progression. The Soldiers start in the classroom learning everything from hand and arm signals to how to fill out a dispatch form.

Soldiers then move to hands-on practice backing up with a 5-ton cargo truck, a 915 with a tractor trailer and a Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck with tractor trailer. They also practice driving in convoys and night vision driving.

The main emphasis of the training is to give Soldiers the skills they will need to be successful during future operations.

Illinois is one of 20 states offering a course that certifies Soldiers as 88Ms.

"The Illinois Military Academy has been described as the best Army school house in the nation," said Col. Thomas Weiss of Williamsville, the director of Training, Operations and Plans at Camp Lincoln. "It's important we support our Military Academy by enrolling in its courses before considering other sources of training."

Soldiers will receive quality training at the 88M course, the instructors said.

"The training that we put together is among the top in the country," said Sgt. 1st Class James R. Griffin of Riverton, a course manager in the 129th. "Back in July we received an accreditation from both United States Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) and the 88M transportation proponent as an Institute of Excellence. We have had several best practices for things we have done, not just out here on the lanes, but also for our work behind the scenes."

Spc. Chris R. Rapacz of Springfield, a former gunner in an active-duty field artillery unit and now with the 724th Transportation Company, an Army Reserve unit in Bartonville, said he is excited about the training he's received.

"It's great," said Rapacz. "That's why you join the Army; to do neat things. I shot some of the biggest guns in the military and now I am going to drive some of the biggest trucks. I am all around satisfied with everything about this training."

Several Soldiers from out of the state participated in the training as well.

"The quality of the training is good," said Pfc. Jason T. Snyder of Louisville, Ky., who drills with the 203rd Forward Support Company in Elizabethtown, Ky. "I am confident that I will be able to take a lot of these skills back to my unit and on a deployment if needed and will be able to utilize these skills."

In addition to being a benefit for Soldiers attending the course, the course also provides many benefits to the state of Illinois that make this the ultimate win-win scenario.

"It will help Illinois save money because Illinois is the largest National Guard transportation state in the United States," said Sgt. 1st Class Ed D. Heap of Bushnell with the 129th. "We have the most transportation companies and, with us doing our own training, we don't have to pay a different state for lodging and meals. We don't have to pay a lot to the Soldiers for traveling. It also helps Illinois National Guard Soldiers save a lot of wear and tear on their vehicles when they don't have to do a long drive."

"These skills are very applicable to real-mission scenarios," said Heap. "Overseas in theater they do have the line-haul missions. They are going to have to back up under all sorts of missions."

Several of the instructors have performed as 88Ms while in a deployment overseas and know the importance of transportation.

"An 88M is very essential to the overall mission of the Army," said Heap. "Without 88Ms units won't get their supplies. I consider 88M to be the main backbone of the Army because we haul the supplies including the food, water, fuel, ammunition. So without the 88M the Army can't run logistically."

Griffin agreed with Heap's assessment.

"I used to have a quote for the guys who would make fun of me for being a truck driver and it says that 'I may not be the pride of the Army, but without me your pride don't ride,'" said Griffin.

There is a great need for 88Ms. While there are more than 1,000 certified 88Ms in the Illinois Army National Guard, there are still 162 88M openings waiting to be filled. With that many openings new 88M Soldiers can expect a fast-tracked career and increased leadership opportunities.

DES MOINES, IA - Today, actor and former White House Associate Director of Public Engagement Kal Penn and Obama for America Battleground States Director Mitch Stewart will host a student summit at the University of Iowa. This event is the latest Greater Together event designed to engage and mobilize young Americans in the 2012 campaign. Students from across the state will join via webcast from Luther College, St. Ambrose University, Drake University, Iowa State University and Loras College.

The Greater Together Student Summit Tour brings together senior campaign officials, community leaders, student representatives and celebrities to discuss key policy issues impacting young Americans like President Obama's plan to make college more affordable, expanding access to quality health care and creating new job opportunities for graduates. This tour is a chance for students to weigh in on the issues that matter to them, and to learn about how they can start organizing on their campuses to ensure a victory in November 2012. Learn more at www.barackobama.com/young-americans.

WHERE: Downtown Sheraton Hotel

Amos Dean Ballroom

210 S Dubuque St

Iowa City, IA 52240

 

WHEN: Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Doors open at 5:00 PM CT

Event begins at 5:30 PM CT

 

SATELLITE LOCATIONS:

 

Luther College
700 College Dr Rm 206
Decorah

 

St. Ambrose University

Corner Of Gaines & Lombard W Rm 102
Davenport

 

Loras Collge

1450 Alta Vista St

Dubuque

 

Iowa State University

Memorial Union Room 3505

2229 Lincoln Way

Ames

 

Drake University

Mars Cafe

2318 University Avenue

Des Moines

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SHILOH, TENN. (04/05/2012)(readMedia)-- "April 6th, [1862] began with a bright, beautiful morning. The trees were budding, the birds were singing, but none of us dreamed what a dark and bloody ending the day would have," wrote Maj. Thaddeus H. Capron, 55th Illinois Volunteer Infantry from Winnebago County.

Up and down the encampment, sleepy Illinois Soldiers stumbled out of tents cursing. Utensils from mess kits tossed in the air co-mingled and clinked against one another. The lucky ones who had already reassembled their rifles after cleaning grabbed the weapon and searched for officers, while others struggled to assemble their only hope of personal protection. Surprised and rattled officers struggled to get their men in formation. For the Union, the Battle of Shiloh began in mass chaos.

In the pre-dawn hour, Confederates ambushed the Illinoisans, while they prepared for inspection and the stereotypical day that lay ahead. The battle of Shiloh lasted two days. The Union victory claimed 23,746 casualties for both sides. Thirty-six Illinois units were engaged in the bloody battle.

Just days before, the boys enjoyed employing April Fools jokes on one another. Glad to be off the cramped steamboats where they spent weeks traveling to Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., content Soldiers wrote home praising the camp for its beauty. Within a few days time their letters and diary entries turned very dark.

"There is no time to lament for the enemy is right on us, pouring volley after volley into our lines. We return the fire with deadly effect but are forced back inch by inch, leaving our dead and wounded upon the field. Every foot of ground is stubbornly and closely contested. Many of the wounded lay on the field during the rainy, cold night," stated Charles F. Hubert, Adjutant General of the 50th Illinois Infantry Volunteers from Beverly in Adams County in his official report.

Pvt. Will Crummer of Pleasant Valley in Jo Daviess county served in the 45th Illinois Volunteers. He spoke of Soldiers using ramrods to prop themselves up while hobbling through the lines.

"Twice during the night I awoke and could hear the groans and cries of the wounded laying out there in that bloody field. Some cried for water, others for someone to come and help them...God heard them, for the heavens were opened and rain came," he wrote in his memoirs.

Previously under the jurisdiction of the United States War Department, the battlefields were transferred to the park service in 1933. Many Illinois monuments dot the site. In preparation of the 150th anniversary of the battle, the park will host several events including a grand illumination April 7 with 23,746 luminaries that will be placed on the battlefield; one for each casualty.

Closer to home, the Illinois State Military Museum will host an event April 21, 2 to 3 p.m. Betty Carlson Kay will give a 40-minute presentation of the three female characters from the Civil War, including Julia Dent Grant, Albert D.J. Cashier (Jennie Hodgers) and Mother Bickerdyke. Mother Bickerdyke of Galena, served as a nurse for the Army of the Tennessee.

In addition, the museum will have Shiloh artifacts on display, among them a forage cap worn by 2nd Lt. James Ballow of White Hall, with Company E, 61st Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He died of wounds received during the battle. Also on display, is a cartridge box that belonged to 1st Sgt. John Porter Wright of Morgan County, with Company H, 32nd Illinois Volunteer Infantry.

The Illinois State Military Museum is located at 1300 N. MacArthur Blvd in Springfield. Hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday 1 to 4:30 p.m. Questions regarding the artifacts may be directed to 217-761-3910.