Feed&Grain.com |

America’s Heartland, a television program that focuses on educating the public about the importance of U.S. agriculture, visited the Alan and Lori Tiemann farm near Seward, Neb., an ethanol plant and other aspects of Nebraska agriculture Aug. 28-30. The visit was part of an episode that highlights U.S. agricultural exports to global markets. Alan, who serves on the U.S. Grains Council Board of Directors, said he and his wife were afforded the opportunity to travel to China and Taiwan to see firsthand Council programs that are building demand for U.S. corn and co-products. Since the focus of the episode will be on the exports of distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS), a co-product of ethanol, and corn-based plastic resin made in Nebraska, the Council, a promotional partner of America’s Heartland, connected the show’s producers with the Nebraska farm family.

“This episode focuses on foreign markets for corn, distiller’s grains and PLA (polylactid acid), the corn-based material made in Blair that is used in everything from plastic ware to clothing,” said Alan, who is also on the Nebraska Corn Board. “The company we visited in Taiwan -- the Wei Mon Industry Co. -- is a sewer pipe company,” Alan explained. “The company had a problem with plastic materials plugging pipes. To help fix the problem, they started making PLA cups and food-type containers, which will biodegrade. PLA, of course, is made right here in Nebraska -- in Blair.”

The half-hour series, now starting its fourth season, conveys that message through positive stories about the hardworking men and women whose dedication and innovation have made American agriculture the envy of the world. Through its programming, the show is getting the message out about U.S. agriculture.