Anheuser-Busch executives told The Associated Press in an interview on July 17 that the beer maker will maintain its high level of sports marketing and sponsorship under new owner InBev. In fact, they said, spending could increase.

"There's nothing at all for those of us that are at the pulse of all this to suggest that our sports are cutting back at all," said Tony Ponturo, vice president of global media and sports marketing for Anheuser-Busch.

Sports marketing accounts for two-thirds of Anheuser-Busch's overall marketing, but InBev's reputation as a cost-cutter had raised speculation that the huge budget could get the ax, leaving many a drinker to wonder "Whassup?"

InBev SA, the maker of brands such as Stella Artois and Beck's, solidified its $52 billion takeover of the St. Louis-based brewer earlier this week. The company has said it has plans to make Budweiser and Bud Light into worldwide icons like Coca-Cola and Pepsi.

Carlos Brito, chief executive of the Belgian brewer, has said he knows that his new company's ability to reach consumers through sports is one of the reasons it's such an attractive brand, and added that there wouldn't be cuts.

Ponturo and Dave Peacock, vice president for marketing, emphasized that Thursday and ...More Info

The R3 billion Heineken plant and depot which is being constructed in Sedibeng, southeast of Johannesburg, will be a catalyst for economic growth as it would inject about R7 billion into the provincial economy, Business Day (Johannesburg) cited Gauteng finance MEC Paul Mashatile saying on July 17.

He said the investment was proof that international investors had confidence in the province despite challenges SA was facing - such as the electricity shortage. "There are a lot of other investors who continue to knock on our doors," said Mashatile.

The brewery would have an initial capacity of 3-million hectolitres, but its construction would allow for expansion. It will brew Heineken, Amstel and other brands within the stable.

It is expected to create 225 permanent jobs as well as service-related opportunities.

The MEC could not hold back his smile when he told reporters yesterday that the presence of another brewer would create competition and "hopefully" beer prices would go down. "Heineken is a very nice drink," he added. The brewery project would be completed next year.

Early yields of barley look significantly better than last year, according to Norfolk grain merchants, Eastern Daily Press communicated on July 17.

Matthew Adams, joint managing director of independent merchants, Adams & Howling, said: "What a difference a year makes. We're seeing some good-quality barleys coming from quite light land areas."Last year, the crops were full of second growth and low yields. This year, it is full of high-quality bold grains and high yields. It's looking good, very good at the moment.

After the wettest summer for decades last year, crops on the lighter sandy soils have been able to keep growing.

South Norfolk grain merchant Stephen Howlett, of Grainfarmers at Bressingham, near Diss, said: "Crops haven't died; they are ripening and not dying. We have seen some winter malting barleys which look good."

Mr Adams, who is hoping that a new 5,000-tonne grain store will be completed at the firm's Little Plumstead headquarters ready for the bulk delivery of Maris Otter malting barley next week, has seen a range of feed and malting samples.

On one large Breckland estate near Thetford, the malting variety Flagon yielded just under eight tonnes per hectare, or 3.23 tonnes an acre, while last year, the typical ...More Info

The barley harvest is about ready to start in some areas of the region and the July 7 USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service report estimates 71 percent of the barley crop in North Dakota to be in good to excellent condition, with 25 percent of the crop in fair condition, 3 percent in poor condition, and 1 percent in very poor condition Farm & Ranch Guide posted on July 18.

In general, an average crop is anticipated, according to Steven Edwardson, executive administrator of the North Dakota Barley Council.

“However, cool temperatures have delayed crop development,” he noted, “with only 1 percent of the barley crop turning as of July 6, compared to 7 percent turning one year ago.”

The USDA acreage report on June 30 indicated nationally barley plantings increased by 2.7 percent, from 4,020,000 acres in 2007 to 4,130,000 acres in 2008. North Dakota growers also planted more acres to barley with 1,500,000 acres seed this year, which represents a 2 percent increase over 2007. Earlier acreage reports were suggesting the barley acres might be higher, but Edwardson said higher wheat prices stimulated a shift in acreage to more wheat production. According to the season's first production report, ...More Info

Karel Krofta, Alexandr Mikyška, and Danuša Hašková

Abstract

J. Inst. Brew. 114(1), 3-13, 2008 The method based on the reaction of stable DPPH radical proved to be the best for the determination of antioxidant characteristics of hops and hop products. Antioxidant activity is expressed as the rate of decline in absorbance of the reaction environment and assessed in relative percents. Differences in the values of antioxidant activity were determined in Czech and foreign hop varieties. The highest antioxidant activities in the scope of 70 to 80% rel. were measured in Saaz and Spalter Select. Antioxidant activity in most of the varieties moved in the scope of 40 to 60% rel. A part of antioxidant activity of hops is irreversibly lost in the course of drying. The loss does not usually exceed 5% of the original RADPPH value. Drying also resulted in a decrease of polyphenol compound contents. Drying in belt and chamber kilns is comparable from the point of view of preserving hop antioxidant properties. Results of determination of antioxidant activity in hot water extracts of raw hops and ground hops were comparable and statistically non-significant. The same held true for pelletizing of ground hops. The antioxidant activity of raw hops declined in the course of long-term storage in dependence on storage temperature. Storage temperature had no effect on the antioxidant activity of the hop pellets packed in a multi-layer foil without air access.... Load full article, 7 pages, 246 Kb, PDF file