January 31, 2017 - In This Issue:

NDGI Vice President attends TEGMA Conference

This year Chairman Ryan Pellett welcomed over 120 members and guests to the January 26-27 session. NDGI's Vice President was in attendance for this years 99th annual meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona. 

Mikesh heard presentations about funding U.S. agriculture, the impact of food safety on grain supply chains, and handling and shipping challenges in grain programs. 

TEGMA (Transportation, Elevator, and Grain Merchants Association) is a North American trade association whose members include grain shippers and receivers, as well, as many related business including transportation companies, ports, and inspection agencies. The association holds two meetings a year to provide in-depth coverage of industry issues. 
U.S. Drought Monitor

Similar to last week, January 17-24, 2017 will feature moderate to widespread heavy precipitation across many areas of dryness and drought. There are very few areas that missed recent precipitation. East central and Southwestern Illinois had their D0 retracted which was along fringes of heavy precipitation. Drier than normal weather will dominate the lower 48 during the week of January 26 through the 30. Looking ahead, January 31 - February 4, are showing continued dryness from the central High Plains and southern Rockies eastward to the Atlantic Coast. Odds also favor above normal temperatures in the mid-section of the U.S. 
 

Trump to Announce Sonny Perdue for Agriculture

President Donald Trump plans to nominate former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue to be the next Agriculture secretary.  

Perdue, who served two terms as governor of Georgia (2003-11), brings agriculture crenditials: he grew up on a row farm in Central Georgia and currently owns several agriculture-related businesses.