Reconnecting Nebraska's Farmers and Grocery Retailers

Sponsored by your Nebraska Grocery Industry Association

Message from Kathy Siefken, Nebraska Grocery Industry Association

As our children go back to school and cooler temps arrive, summer seems to be coming to a close. It is amazing how quickly the year is flying by.

NGIA will hold its final 2014 event: The Hackers & Snackers Golf Extravaganza. This great event will be held on Sept. 24 at Quarry Oaks. A 10 a.m. shotgun start will allow everyone to arrive the day of the outing; play one of Nebraska's finest courses; visit with peers, competitors and friends; enjoy some of Nebraska's finest beef; and head back home before 5 p.m. The outing will feature a couple hands of NGIA-Style Texas Hold 'Em, a Par 3 Mini Tournament where proceeds go toward scholarships, and a chipping contest that allows each and every golfer to compete for cash. We encourage you to join us for this fun-filled day!

Our Annual Conference and the Legislative Reception & Dinner will be held at the Cornhusker Marriott in Lincoln on Jan. 22, 2015. The Annual Conference will begin with an informal lunch at 11:30 a.m., followed by nationally known speakers on topics of interest to all businesses. The Legislative Reception will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will feature former University of Nebraska at Lincoln Cornhusker football and volleyball players. State senators will be invited to attend, which will give our members an opportunity to visit with their representatives about issues of importance to our industry.

Two great events wrapped into one day! Mark your calendar and plan to attend.

Sincerely,

Kathy Siefken
Executive Director
Nebraska Grocery Industry Association

Proudly sponsored by Nebraska's corn farmers

The Nebraska Corn Board, on behalf of 23,000 corn farmers in Nebraska, invests in market development, research, promotion and education of corn and value-added products. The board aims to work closely with the farmer-to-consumer food chain, to educate everyone about the role corn has in our everyday healthy lives. The Nebraska Corn Board is proud to sponsor the Farmer Goes to Market program to help bring its mission of expanding demand and value of Nebraska corn to the consumer, through the strongest touch point in that chain: the Nebraska retail grocer.

The farm and ranch families represented by Nebraska Farm Bureau are proud sponsors of the Farmer Goes to Market program. We take great pride in supporting Nebraska's agricultural foundation. A key part of that effort is to make sure we produce safe and affordable food. This newsletter is an important part of our effort to connect the two most important parts of the food chain -- the farmer and the grocer -- with the goal of increasing consumer awareness and information about how their food is raised in Nebraska.

An educational program produced by Food-Chain Communications and delivered to members of the Nebraska Grocery Industry Association. Farmer Goes to Market was established in 2008 to help bridge the growing gulf between today's grocery retailer and today's farmer, empowering them with full-chain knowledge to carry agriculture's true message to food consumers.

	Translating Food Technology: 'Why do Farmers do That?' returns, regarding corn Our popular 'Why do Farmers do That?' feature returns this issue, with a look at a common question: Why do Nebraska's corn farmers leave their valuable crop standing in the field long after it dies and turns brown? Click here to find the answer for your corn-curious shoppers.

Foresight on Food Politics:
Lessons in food politicization from today's university campuses
Food politics goes to school

As nearly 140,000 students return to college campuses across Nebraska this month, many will find one of the new realities of today's higher-education environment when it comes to food and the food chain: Food has grown highly politicized. Here are a few of the ten ways food has become rich fodder to debate other political issues, from a new research report just published.

Navigating the New Food Movement:

Gardening to replace the supermarket?

Will gardening really feed the world?

You've heard the expression: The 'recession garden,' a backyard food plot behind every citizen's house or apartment that will free them from the economic confines of today's food chain, even as it improves their produce consumption and their health. As you might guess, the reality isn't quite so glowing, according to a new research study. Click here for some perspective.

Competitive Commodity Insight:
As summer wanes, all eyes turn to...turkey?

What will turkey supplies look like this fall?

Summer's close signals the end of a grilling season that has battered retail grocers with record-high red meat prices. Now, as the season changes toward the holiday meats, what does the historic drought and high feed prices hold in store for turkey prices going into fall? Here are some of the latest outlook figures from the Department of Agriculture.

Meet your Farmers...
This Nebraska farmer tells the old, old story with a stylish new twist

Every season, thousands of farmers across the state repeat one of the oldest practices known to man--growing food. Watch as Nebraska's Buffett Farms tells the old story with a self-produced stylish twist, as the farm's entire corn production for the year goes into the soil in time to beat the coming storm, in a single--long--day.

On the Lighter Side:
The Ice Bucket Challenge, farmer style

Go big or go to the house, says this farmer, as he accepts the popular ALS Facebook Ice Bucket Challenge in farmer style.

Click here for more details on today's Food Morality Movement