10 Jan 2012

Farmers Rein In Bullish Hopes for 2012

By Farm Futures News

The latest Farm Futures survey results show lower crop prices could mean fewer corn and soybeans acres than previous projections.

ST. LOUIS, MO., 7:30 A.M., CST, (01/05/2012) - Tightening profit margins and an uncertain global economic outlook are forcing farmers to reevaluate plans to increase corn and soybeans acreage in 2012, according to Farm Futures magazine's latest survey of planting intentions. Results of the survey were released today at the beginning of Farm Futures annual Management Summit held in St. Louis.

While growers still hope to increase corn seedings this spring, the magazine now estimates acreage at 93.6 million, down 300,000 from its first survey in August. That would be a 1.8% jump over the 91.9 million planted in 2011.

Farm Futures survey of 1,350 farmers nationwide shows soybean acreage could be down substantially from the summer, when prices were some $2 a bushel higher. The latest indications suggest soybean acres could be slightly lower than 2011 at 74.9 million, 2 million less than the August estimate.

"Corn remains the most profitable crop for Midwest farmers, but lower prices could bring less expansion," says Farm Futures Senior Editor Bryce Knorr, who conducted the survey. "Though most growers would like to plant more soybeans to improve rotations, at the end of the day money talks."

Wheat acreage could also see significant changes for 2012, especially with weather such an issue for farmers in recent years. Farm Futures estimates total wheat acres at 59.2 million, up 1% from its August estimate and almost 9% higher than 2011. 

"The increase in wheat acres was no surprise," says Farm Futures Market Analyst Arlan Suderman. "Durum and other spring wheat acreage will try to return to normal levels in 2012 after a disastrous planting season in 2011. Meanwhile, unexpected fall moisture led Plains farmers to aggressively plant winter wheat to get a cover over their previously parched soils. They'll decide in the spring if it's more economical to fertilize and save the wheat for harvest or graze it off and attempt to plant a row crop."

Hard red winter wheat acreage rose to 31.6 million, up almost 9% from 2011, and 1.3 million more than the fall survey. But farmers in the eastern Midwest weren't able to plant as much soft red winter wheat due to delays harvesting other 2011 crops. The Farm Futures survey put soft red seedings at 7.5 million, down around 10% for 2011. With white winter wheat unchanged at 3.7 million, total winter wheat plantings could reach 42.8 million, up 400,000 from August and 2.2 million more than 2011.

USDA releases its first estimate of winter wheat seedings Jan. 12, when final 2011 crop corn and soybean production also are announced. The Farm Futures survey found only a slight change in soybean yields and production from USDA's last estimate. The average U.S. yield was pegged at 41.28 bushels per acre, for a crop of 3.042 billion bushels.

Corn yields could fall around 1 bushel per acre nationwide from the agency's last estimate. That would put the average yield nationwide at 145.75 bushels per acre, for a crop of 12.228 billion bushels. The decrease is in line with the historical tendency from past years when the agency cut its forecast in November, says Suderman.

"The acreage projected for 2012 combined with forecasts for a lingering La Nina into the spring and dry soil profiles in the western Midwest suggests that volatility could be high again in 2012," Suderman says. 

"A 5% shift in yield from trend levels would be tame compared to that past two years, but it could be feast or famine for the grain industry, swinging production by nearly 1.4 billion bushels. Dry soil profiles in the western Midwest could create the need for added risk premium in the price early this spring until forecasters get a better handle on the longevity of the current La Nina pattern."

While farmers worldwide focus on corn, fewer soybean acres could tighten soybean stocks. "How soon that happens will depend on global weather patterns, beginning with this year's South American crop," says Suderman.

Survey results by crop:

2011 Crop Production


Crop


Production

Yield-
Bu. Per Acre
Corn

12.228 billion

145.75
Soybeans

3.042 billion

41.28



2012 Crop Planting Intentions

Crop

Acres
Corn

93.6 million
Soybeans

74.9 million
All Wheat

59.2 million
Other Spring Wheat

13.8 million
Durum

2.6 million
Soft Red Winter Wheat

7.5 million
Hard Red Winter Wheat

31.6 million
White Winter Wheat

3.7 million
All Winter Wheat

42.8 million

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10 Jan 2012

Grassley begins 2012 meetings with Iowans in 36 counties

By Grassley Press

WASHINGTON - Starting today and through January 19, Senator Chuck Grassley will meet with Iowans in 36 counties.

Grassley has held at least one meeting in each of Iowa's 99 counties every year since he was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1980.

The January meetings will take place in Riceville, Charles City, New Hampton, Waverly, Waterloo, Clarion, Dakota City, Algona, Forest City, Garner, Hampton, Mason City, Manly, Osage, Calmar, West Union, Independence, Manchester, Vinton, Gladbrook, Centerville, Albia, Chariton, Corydon, Garden Grove, Mt. Ayr, Creston, Osceola, Winterset, Greenfield, Panora, Grimes, Grand Junction, Boone, Ames, and Le Grand.

"I look forward to these meetings to hear directly from Iowans and to have the kind of dialogue that's so important to the process of representative government.  I like to say this process is a two-way street.  I need to go to people to answer questions and listen to comments, and they need to come out and participate in the discussion," Grassley said.

In addition to regular, face-to-face meetings in Iowa and with Iowans in Washington when the Senate is in session, Grassley responds to every letter, email and phone call from Iowans.  He also communicates via Facebook, Twitter and at http://grassley.senate.gov.  Grassley is a regular guest on public affairs broadcasts statewide where he responds to questions.

Below is more information about this month's meetings.  The town meetings are open to the public.  Local hosts should be contacted regarding other meetings.  Grassley will be available for interviews with local reporters for 15 minutes after every meeting.*

 

Thursday, January 5

7-8 a.m.

Speak to the Riceville Kiwanis Club

Windy Tree Cafe

101 East Main Street in Riceville

 

9:15-10:15 a.m.

Tour School and Q&A with 5th and 6th Grade Students

Immaculate Conception Elementary School

1203 Clark Street in Charles City

 

10:45-11:15 a.m.

Floyd County Farm Bureau Coffee

North Iowa Area Community College Center, Room 110

200 Harwood Drive in Charles City

 

12-1 p.m.

Chickasaw County Town Meeting

Chickasaw Wellness Complex, Multipurpose Room

1050 West Hamilton Street in New Hampton

 

2:15-3:15 p.m.

Bremer County Town Meeting

Wartburg College, Whitehouse Business Center 214

100 Wartburg Boulevard in Waverly


Friday, January 6

7:30-8:30 a.m.

Tour Facility and Q&A with Employees

Engineered Products

2940 Airport Boulevard in Waterloo

 

Tuesday, January 10

8:30-9:15 a.m.

Q&A with U.S. History II Students

Clarion Goldfield High School

1111 Willow Drive in Clarion

*Grassley's media availability in Clarion will be at 8:15 a.m., in advance of the event, rather than immediately following.

 

10-11 a.m.

Humboldt County Town Meeting

VFW Post

412 Main Street in Dakota City

 

12:45-1:45 p.m.

Kossuth County Town Meeting

County Courthouse, Assembly Room

114 West State Street in Algona

 

3:15-4:15 p.m.

Winnebago County Town Meeting

Waldorf College, Salveson Ballroom

1006 South 6th Street in Forest City

 

5:15-6:15 p.m.

Hancock County Town Meeting

Garner Education Center

325 West 8th Street in Garner

 

Wednesday, January 11

7:30-8:30 a.m.

Franklin County Town Meeting

Center 1 Chamber, Large Room

5 1st Street SW in Hampton

 

9:45-10:45 a.m.

Q&A with Students

Newman Catholic High School

2445 19th Street SW in Mason City

 

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Worth County Town Meeting

Manly City Hall

106 South Broadway in Manly

 

1:30-2:30 p.m.

Mitchell County Town Meeting

Krapek Family Fine Arts Center, Cedar River Complex

809 Sawyer Drive in Osage

 

4:45-5:45 p.m.

Winneshiek County Town Meeting

Calmar Public Library, Community Room

101 South Washington Street in Calmar


Thursday, January 12

7:30-8:30 a.m.

Tour Facility and Q&A with Employees

Art's Way Manufacturing

706 Highway 150 South in West Union

 

10-11 a.m.

Buchanan County Town Meeting

County Courthouse, Assembly Room

210 5th Avenue NE in Independence

 

12-1 p.m.

Delaware County Town Meeting

Manchester Public Library

304 North Franklin in Manchester

 

2:45-3:45 p.m.

Benton County Town Meeting

City Hall, City Council Chambers

110 West 3rd Street in Vinton

 

5-6 p.m.

Tama County Town Meeting

American Legion

Corner of Johnston and Front streets in Gladbrook

 

Monday, January 16

5-6 p.m.

Appanoose County Weekly Meal at Faith United Methodist Church, Q&A with Attendees

23851 Highway 5 South in Centerville 

 

Tuesday, January 17

7:30-8:30 a.m.

Monroe County Town Meeting

Albia Area Chamber of Commerce

18 South Main Street in Albia

 

10:15-11:15 a.m.

Lucas County Town Meeting

Carpenter Hall

1215 Court Street in Chariton

 

12-1 p.m.

Wayne County Town Meeting

Wayne County Courthouse

100 North Lafayette in Corydon

 

2-3 p.m.

Speak to Government Class

Mormon Trail Jr./Sr. High School

502 East Main Street in Garden Grove

 

4:30-5:30 p.m.

Ringgold County Town Meeting

Jamie's Coffee Mill & Deli

118 West Adams Street in Mt. Ayr

 

Wednesday, January 18

7:30-8:30 a.m.

Union County Town Meeting

City Hall/Restored Depot, City Council Chambers

116 West Adams Street in Creston

 

9:45-10:45 a.m.

Q&A with Students

Clarke County High School

800 North Jackson in Osceola

 

12-1 p.m.

Madison County Town Meeting

Winterset Public Library, Meeting Room

123 North 2nd Street in Winterset

 

2-3 p.m.

Adair County Town Meeting

Andrews Memorial Adair County Health & Fitness Center, Meeting Room

202 North Townline Road in Greenfield

 

4:15-5:15 p.m.

Guthrie County Town Meeting

Panora Community Center

115 West Main Street in Panora

 

Thursday, January 19

8-9 a.m.

Q&A with Students

Dallas Center-Grimes Middle School

1400 Vine Street in Grimes

 

10:30-11:30 a.m.

Greene County Town Meeting

Grand Junction Community Center

212 Main Street in Grand Junction

 

12:30-1:30 p.m.

Boone County Town Meeting

Boone County Historical Center

602 Story Street in Boone

 

2:30-3:30 p.m.

Tour Facility and Q&A with Employees

Becker Underwood

801 Dayton Avenue in Ames

 

5-6 p.m.

Marshall County Town Meeting

Le Grand Area Community Center

206 North Vine Street in Le Grand

 

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10 Jan 2012

Pioneer® Surgical Announces First Human Use of nanOss® Bioactive 3D

By Nicole Young

Pioneer Surgical Technology, Inc of Raleigh, NC and Marquette, MI today announces the first clinical use of nanOss Bioactive 3D, a three-dimensionally shaped addition to its flagship biologic bone graft product line, nanOss Bioactive.  The new nanOss Bioactive 3D bone graft utilizes proprietary nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite as well as a collagen-based biopolymer to promote bone growth in the posterolateral spine.

Regarding Pioneer's latest product introduction, Mr. Shane Ray, General Manager - Biologics for Pioneer stated, "We are extremely excited to start the clinical phase of nanOss Bioactive 3D. Three-dimensional shapes are popular in spine surgery and with this addition, we now have one of the most extensive biologic portfolios on the market."

Pioneer Surgical Biologics now offers a full line of synthetic bone grafts as well as human tissue products including machined lateral, traditional lumbar and cervical allograft, human demineralized bone matrix (DBM) bone grafts, as well as bone graft delivery accessories. For more information regarding Pioneer's Biologics Product offerings, including nanOss Bioactive 3D, please visit the Pioneer Surgical website at www.pioneersurgical.com.

About Pioneer Surgical Technology, Inc.
Pioneer Surgical Technology, Inc. is a dynamic medical device firm founded in 1992. Pioneer's focus on innovation has resulted in over 120 U.S. and foreign patents, with numerous patents pending. The company has a comprehensive portfolio of orthopedic, spine and biologic systems. Pioneer entered the orthobiologics market with two acquisitions in 2007. Our Orthopedic, Spine, and Biologics divisions produce state of the art, cost-effective solutions for surgical procedures that have proven difficult or problematic for both surgeons and patients. For more information on Pioneer and its products, visit www.pioneersurgical.com.

IMG_8514.jpg

10 Jan 2012

The Project of the Quad Cities to Give Away Trip to Atlanta Film Festival

By Shannon Rembowski

All-Inclusive Trip to be Auctioned off at 19TH Annual Red Ribbon Dinner

The Project of the Quad Cities will host their largest fundraiser - The Red Ribbon Dinner on January 21st 2012. During the Live Auction that evening guests will be able to bid on, among other items, an all-inclusive trip to Atlanta, GA for the Atlanta Film Festival taking place March 23-April 1, 2012. The trip will include airfare for two and hotel accommodations in Atlanta. Additionally, the trip will feature two VIP Weekend passes to the Film Festival. These passes will grant the winners access to all films being screened that weekend plus entrance into all the VIP events and parties.

The Atlanta Film Festival is an Academy Award qualifying, international film festival held in Atlanta, Georgia. Started in 1976 and occurring every April, the festival shows a diverse range of independent films, including genre films such as horror and sci-fi. Since 2008, the festival has presented the Pink Peach, which is awarded to the best LGBTQ film as chosen by the Pink Peach jury.

The Red Ribbon Dinner will take place from 5 pm to 11:45 pm at the Quad City Waterfront Convention Center on January 21, 2012. The Dinner features entertainment provided by Smooth Groove, a silent auction showcasing local artists' works, and award-winning gourmet dinner. Tickets start at $65 each with table purchases available.

Established in 1986, The Project of the Quad Cities (TPQC) is a nonprofit, community-based organization that provides those infected with or affected by HIV/STI/AIDS in the Quad City area with case management and support services. Furthermore, TPQC provides prevention services, testing and education to the entire Quad City community.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.apqc4life.org or call 309-762-5433.
10 Jan 2012

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau appointment

By Grassley Press

Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Ranking Member of the Committee on the Judiciary, today made the following comment on President Obama's appointment of Richard Cordray to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

"The President is upending years of Senate practice and legal precedent with this move. He's interpreting advice and consent as bypass and appoint.  It's an affront to constitutional checks and balances.  It's also an affront to the principle that every agency should have accountability, which the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau lacks.  The President is ignoring the longstanding advice of the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel, which has found that an adjournment of '5 or even 10 days' would not be sufficient for a recess appointment.  I'm planning to write to the Attorney General to ask if the President asked for a new Justice Department opinion prior to making this appointment and whether the Attorney General agrees with it.  Regardless, the President needs to make clear why there was a change in position and what rationale the White House counsel used to overturn more than 90 years of Justice Department precedent.  The White House should make the rationale public.  The public's business ought to be public.  And the President promised to run the most transparent administration in history."

10 Jan 2012

A Rural Resolution for 2012

By John Crabtree

By John Crabtree, johnc@cfra.org, Center for Rural Affairs

The dawning of a new year is a time when most of us resolve to improve our lives in some way. This year, I resolve to dedicate myself to ensuring  rural America has a voice at the table as Americans grapple with the stern challenges that face our nation. There will never be a better time for rural Americans to raise up their voices as Congress debates a new farm bill and as the nation nominates Presidential candidates, chooses a President and elects a new Congress.

It is crucial that rural Americans ask tough questions of all our elected leaders. Will the farm bill finally include reforms that work for family farmers, ranchers and rural communities? Will such reforms ever be implemented, or will they be undermined when there is no longer an election on the horizon? Will efforts to stimulate the American economy include investments in proven strategies to revitalize rural communities? Will the farm bill include much needed investments in conservation, rural development and the next generation of family farmers and ranchers?

Rural voters will be vitally important in 2012. But we cannot expect candidates and elected leaders to fulfill their promises unless we are willing to take responsibility for ensuring they do. The role rural America plays in elections and policy debates this year will not be long remembered unless those of us who live here remind those candidates and elected officials, as many times as possible, that rural communities matter.
10 Jan 2012

Iowa Caucus results

By Tyler Reedy
On the evening of January 3rd Occupy Iowa Caucus (#OIC) met a set back; despite a combined effort of media and work on the ground we have achieved a small turnout for "Uncommitted"; with 1.5% in the Democratic caucus and 0.6% in the GOP's caucus. This is a set back for all who identify with the 99%.

The set back is not due to our own organization, but rather the powerful organization and allies of our enemies. The GOP, the Democratic Party and corporations have been working to suppress the voices of the 99%.

This has suppression been seen in the fact that corporate media has denied our approaches and not covered this effort. Furthermore the threats of both parties to ignore or not count uncommitted votes show their willingness to suppress democracy

This is a clear illustration of that which we are working against. This exercise, in democracy, has clearly demonstrated that this current system cannot work for the interests of the 99%. This shows the flawed nature of our system where it is impossible for the small underfunded contender to achieve victory.

This is a clear sign of a corrupt system. The fact that the candidate who can spend the most money wins 9 out of 10 times, as was the case last night, illustrates the deepest flaw of the current voting system. However this is not the end, a better world is still possible.

Website: occupyIAcaucus.org


04 Jan 2012

The Red Avocado Newsletter: Impending demolition of our building

By The Red Avocado
Friends of The Red Avocado

You may have heard that our building (and a couple more) have been scheduled for demolition on January 29th. We were served 30 days notice. If we can't postpone the demolition, we are most likely out of business. The Haunted Bookshop started a petition. If you have a minute please sign.

http://www.change.org/petitions/save-the-red-avocado

If you have another minute please forward to all who may be able to help spread the word to as many people as possible. There are paper petitions out there too but this is the easiest way to amass numbers. We are aiming for 3000 by January 10th. It began yesterday and currently has 700+ paper signatures.

Paper petitions are out there at The Haunted bookstore, New Pioneer Co-op, White Rabbit, Record Collector, The Motley Cow, The Red Avocado, and more if you're talking to folks.

Thanks in advance

From all of us at The Red Avocado
04 Jan 2012

Create a New You - with a New Job - for the New Year

By Ginny Grimsley
Corporate Exec-Turned-Novelist Says It's Never Too Late

With 7 million Americans receiving unemployment benefits, and many counting the years - instead of months - since their layoff, author Darlene Quinn says now is a good time to reinvent yourself.

She cites James Sherk, a senior policy analyst for the Heritage Foundation, who says the jobs people held two or three years ago often simply aren't there anymore.

"People are trying to find jobs similar to what they had previously, when those jobs completely don't exist," he told Reuters recently. "So they will spend a good portion of their period unemployed looking for jobs that they are unlikely to find."

Quinn is a master of personal reinvention. She started her career as a teacher, then became a contractor, developing self-improvement and modeling programs for hospitals and a store. That segued into a position as a top executive at Bullocks Wilshire department store and "retirement" as a freelance journalist.

And now, the 74-year-old is an award-winning novelist. She published her third book, Webs of Fate (www.darlenequinn.net), this fall, continuing her series about deceit and intrigue in the high-end retail industry.

She says she was always a story-teller; she just never thought about putting her stories on paper.

"Being a victim of the short-lived educational phenomenon called sight-reading, which did not include phonics, I had always been intimidated by the written word," she said.

"Somehow none of my teachers appreciated my creativity when it came to spelling.  Therefore, my creative writing efforts were sprinkled with so many red marks, they appeared to have broken out with the measles."

Maybe, she added, she just needed a great story to tell and a passion to tell it that was stronger than her fear.

Quinn became a schoolteacher after earning a bachelor's at San Jose State University. Much later in life, while working as a department store executive during a time of tremendous upheaval in the retail fashion industry, she found her story. But before she tried to tell it, she first sharpened her wit and her pen by writing articles for trade journals, magazines and newspapers.

That led to her being drafted by actor Buddy Ebsen to help him with his first novel, a love story called Kelly's Quest. Ebsen was working on a second, a mystery based on his popular TV persona detective Barnaby Jones, when he died in 2003. His widow asked Quinn to finish the book, Sizzling Cold Case, which was published in 2006.

By now, Quinn was ready for her own tale.

"I felt compelled to tell the story of our vanishing department stores," she said. "Instead of writing a dour tell-all about the business, I decided to chronicle my experiences in one of my fictional worlds and I filled that landscape with the realistic and dynamic characters that inhabited my daily life.

"The age of computers with spell-checking software helped me get over my fear of a red-inked manuscript."

By 2008, Quinn had finished her story of intrigue in the retail fashion business. Webs of Power won a 2009 National Indie Excellence Award the following year.  Twisted Webs followed in 2010.

"One thing I've learned in my life is that things change," Quinn said. "People change and, sometimes, their dreams have to change with them.

"To be releasing my third novel at age 74 is the fulfillment of a dream I never knew I had. Until now."

About Darlene Quinn

Darlene Quinn is an author and journalist from Long Beach, Calif., whose novels about deceit, intrigue and glamour in the retail fashion industry were inspired by her years with Bullocks Wilshire Specialty department stores. Her newest, Webs of Fate, won the 2011 Reader's Favorites Award before it hit the bookshelves.
It provides the back story for the characters in the first two novels in the series: Webs of Power, winner of a 2009 National Indie Excellence Award, and Twisted Webs, winner of 2011 International Book Award for General Fiction and the 011 National Indie Excellence Awards for General Fiction.

04 Jan 2012

MOLINE FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES DEADLINE FOR GRANT APPLICATIONS

By Linda Martin
A grants submission deadline has been announced by the Moline Community Foundation. Non-profit organizations are encouraged to apply if they serve the citizens of Moline and the surrounding region, including the Quad Cities.

All materials necessary to receive funds are due in The Moline Foundation offices by 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 31, 2012 or must be postmarked by or on Tuesday, January 13, 2012.

Any non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization, including those who have never received Moline Foundation funding in the past, is welcome to apply.

An application should consist of eleven copies of a written request stating the name and address of the organization, its mission, names and addresses of Board members, income and expense statement, balance sheet, and the specific purpose for which any money received would be used including a project budget. The name, telephone number, and email of a contact person must also be included. The requested materials should be mailed according to the above deadline. Other important information about grant submission is available on The Moline Foundation's web site at www.molinefoundation.org.

The Moline Foundation offices are located at the Deere-Wiman House, 817 11th Avenue, Moline.

The Moline Foundation, founded in 1953, is a community foundation which provides grants to health, human services, education, workforce development, the arts and other charitable organizations which benefit the citizens of Moline and the surrounding area, including the Quad Cities region in both Iowa and Illinois. The Moline Foundation receives and administers charitable gifts and works with citizens to achieve their dreams to improve the community.

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