Rick Fruth is a corn grower from Ohio who serves as vice chairman of the US Grains Council and he says the continuing development of international markets is the main focus of their organization.
“We’ve seen markets back in the 70s that were very important to us – western Europe and the former Soviet Union – evaporate and we’ve had to replace those with new markets,” he told me. “It’s not something you can accomplish overnight, it’s something you have to have a long term strategy for and that’s what we continue to do.”
Rick also talked about the importance of the partnership between USGC and USDA FAS. “It’s extremely important to us as producers. It’s the cornerstone of what enables us to function in international market development.”
See photos from the USGC Delegate Meeting here on Flickr.
Listen to or download my interview with Rick here:
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The administrator of USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Service Michael Michener spoke to the US Grains Council delegates meeting this morning in San Diego about how the partnership between FAS and USGC helps to open markets for US agricultural products.
“Over the years, FAS and the U.S Grains Council have formed a vital link between government and U.S. agriculture to maintain and expand exports of corn, barley and sorghum,” said Michener. “According to an independent study conducted by Informa Economics last year, the Council created $659 million for U.S. agriculture or $37 for every dollar invested. This is a remarkable return on investment for any government program.”
Michener also reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to address pending free trade agreements and revitalize the Doha Round. Read more from the US Grains Council here.
See photos from the USGC Delegate Meeting here on Flickr.
Listen to or download Michener’s remarks here:
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The International Farm Management Association Congress began Monday, July 20 at Illinois State University. Gregory Traxler was one of several speakers discussing global agriculture issues on the opening day of the IFMA Congress. His presentation, “Toward World Food Security” highlighted the complexity and causes of the issue of food security.
Food security refers to the right to food for all human beings worldwide, that no one should go hungry, in Wexler’s words. The issue is a global problem, yet it is still relevant in the United States and locally. Local food security can be guaranteed by social programs and local government infrastructures. Without government support of research and development, countries cannot improve their agricultural yield, and thus cannot improve their overall food security. Developing technologies and making agricultural changes are “not something you ‘do’ to a country,” Wexler said, but rather choices that countries should make.
Globally, over 870 million people are hungry each day, a number that has increased by 50 million people in the last year alone. The main problem in solving hunger is not greater production of food, but better, more efficient distribution of food, according to Wexler. “Agriculture is the key to reducing hunger and poverty,” Wexler stressed.
Other causes of the global food crisis include rising fuel costs, urbanization, growing world population, and most importantly, neglect of agriculture in developing countries.
After highlighting the causes and the depth of the problem of world food security, Wexler briefly touched on the efforts of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in solving the global issue. He and his colleagues’’ work focuses on the policy and statistics portion in research and development of agricultural practices.
Wexler’s presentation is a prime example that many people, in a variety of fields other than agriculture specifically, can take part in solving the world food crisis.
For a review of the complete itinerary, visit: http://www.ifma17.org/
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As we’ve mentioned earlier, our coverage of the IFMA 17 Congress is being produced by student correspondents in the IFMA 17 newsroom and delivered to AgWired for posting.
It’s always nice to see the students in action like in this photo.
Those same student correspondents are contributing to the Congress Twitter Feed too. So over the coming days we’ll have lots of stories for you.
IFMA runs July 19 through July 24 at Illinois State University. For a review of the complete itinerary, visit: http://www.ifma17.org.
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The U.S. Grains Council 49th Annual Board of Delegates meeting got underway this morning with the issues session. Chairman Jim Broten of the North Dakota Barley Council welcomed the delegates to San Diego and the official start of business.
The general session gets underway shortly, starting with USDA Foreign Agriculture Service administrator Michael Michener giving an update on “Increasing Trade in an Uncertain World.”
Meanwhile, the spouses breakfast featured Lori Tiemann of Nebraska, who talked about visiting Taiwan and China last summer as part of an “America’s Hearland” special on “Journey of the Corn.”
See photos from the USGC Delegate Meeting here on Flickr.
Listen to or download an interview with Jim Broten here:
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-Delegates from over 26 countries met Sunday evening, July 19, at Miller Park for the International Farm Management Association Congress picnic.
This is only the second time the Congress has been held in the U.S., and at the opening picnic, delegates from South Africa to Ireland were able to experience a Midwest American meal.
Good food followed with good conversation. Lindsay Jarvis, an Australian dairy farmer from Victoria, Australia explained “The dinner and upcoming events provide an opportunity to talk to people all around the world from Ethiopia to Canada.”
In these tough economic times and a world threatened by climate change, Jarvis emphasized the dialogue between the 26 countries is critical to meeting the challenges of the industry.
“This conference is one focusing on the future,” Jarvis added.
Having attended seven previous conferences, Jarvis is a veteran of IFMA. However, the location of the Congress offers the chance for local agriculture professionals to have the international experience.
John Croft of Soy Capital Ag Services, who is attending his first Congress, said the week will allow him to gauge the attitudes and opinions of his colleagues from around the world.
“It gives you an idea of what its like in other parts of the world…I can get a perspective from all over the world rather than having to travel to all 26 countries,” Croft said.
Following dinner, the evening concluded with fireworks.
IFMA runs July 19 through July 24 at Illinois State University. For a review of the complete itinerary, visit: http://www.ifma17.org.
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- The Iowa Corn Growers and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board announced a unique partnership with Learfield Sports on behalf of the University of Iowa and Iowa State University Athletic Departments for a statewide, multi-year, multi-sports promotional joint venture.
- AgRobotics, LLC, and GVM Incorporated, have formed a strategic alliance and marketing partnership for a ‘next generation’ GPS/GIS telematics offering which allows agricultural retailers to schedule, monitor, control and track the AgRobotics soil sampling services using the on-the-go AutoProbe machine.
- Grant Vickland exhibited the grand champion steer and Rylee Barber showed the champion prospect steer at the 2009 VitaFerm Junior National Hereford Expo in Tulsa, Okla., July 8.
- The Veal Retail Marketing initiative just concluded its first consumer promotion and awarded Kathy Coons of Ohio, $5,000 worth of Free Groceries Gift Cards from her local Kroger supermarkets.
Greetings from San Diego! I have been from the white beaches of Panama City, to the Mile High City of Denver, to the beautiful bay in San Diego – all in one week!
I am here to cover the U.S. Grains Council 49th Annual Board of Delegates meeting and to speak at a break out session on social media. Chuck was supposed to do it, but I am a last minute fill-in as he is still trying to get over a bad case of pneumonia.
We’ll be blogging and tweeting here and on the USGC blog The Grain Board – so stay tuned.
The Beef Checkoff Program returns about $5.55 in value to beef producers for every dollar they invest, according to the latest economic study, which looked at the ROI for the program from 2003 to 2008.
Dr. Ron Ward, professor emeritus for the Food and Resource Economics Department at the University of Florida, did the study, which measured the impact of the Beef Checkoff Program as a demand driver. Dr. Ward says they measured both attracting consumers to the market and increasing consumption. “What we find is that it has a positive impact on both,” he said.
The study determined that the 78.8 percent of U.S. households which purchased beef in any given two-week shopping period would have been about three percentage points lower between 2003 and 2008 without beef checkoff-funded programs.
Dr. Ward says the 5.5 to 1 return on the checkoff investment shows that it has a positive impact. “That’s been a very robust number for several years now,” he said. Dr. Ward presented his study results already this week to the checkoff’s Joint Industry Evaluation Advisory Committee at the 2009 Cattle Industry Summer Conference in Denver and he will also present them at the general session on Friday.
The study includes some very complex economic modeling and has been thoroughly peer reviewed for research accountability. The study is available in pdf form here on the Beef Board website.
Listen to or download Dr. Ward’s summary of the study here:
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The International Farm Management Association Congress focuses on the future of the agriculture industry. And as delegates from across the world enter the Brown Ballroom on Illinois State University’s campus on Monday, July 20 for the IFMA 17 opening ceremony, attendees are sure to notice the work of future professionals.
For the past 10 to 12 weeks, ISU students have spent their summer days in Ropp greenhouse planting soybeans, wheat and corn. From soil to center stage, these plants are a reflection of the American heartland delegates will call home for the next week.
Switchgrass and cotton seed from Memphis, Tenn. are also on display.
These plants also provide the opportunity for ISU to showcase the university’s horticulture program, which consists of approximately 40 undergraduate students. The program is continuing to expand both in its depth of study and the breadth of its professional experiences.
Classes include landscape design, plant propagation and nursery management.
This past spring the ISU horticulture department celebrated the graduation of its first master’s degree student.
To see what the future of the agriculture industry and the ISU horticulture program have to offer, the public is invited to attend the IFMA 17 Congress. Bloomington, Ill. is only the second U.S. city to host this event in the Congress’ 38 year history. IFMA runs from July 19 to July 24.
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Here’s our first report from the IFMA 17 Congress. Good job newsroom!
From farmers markets to super markets, IFMA 17 delegates had the opportunity to spend Sunday, July 19 touring the Meijer’s Super Store. Delegates arrived at the Bone Student Center Sunday to register for this week’s events. A shuttle, provided by Peoria Charter Coach, took them from the ISU Campus to Meijer.
While at Meijer, delegates had the opportunity to purchase items forgotten or lost on their trip to Bloomington. Others were able to experience an “indoor” farmers market as they shopped in Meijer’s fresh produce section.
This is just one of the many “American experiences” that delegates from over 26 countries will experience this week at IFMA 17.
Since IFMA’s start in 1971, Bloomington, Ill., is only the second U.S. City to host the Congress.
For review of the complete itinerary, visit: http://www.ifma17.org/
AgWired coverage of the IFMA 17 is made possible by
The Minneapolis Grain Exchange (MGEX) is the latest ag-related biz to go Twitter.
According to a news release: With the creation of the MGEX site, anyone subscribing to view information on MGEX can receive up to date information in a timely manner. The page can be accessed at: http://twitter.com/MGEX1.
MGEX will use Twitter to distribute press releases and share Exchange information and services.
“Twitter provides us with a tool to stay connected with our members and market participants and gives us the opportunity to reach out to a larger audience,” Rita Maloney, Director of Marketing and Business Development, MGEX said. “We are always looking for ways to build brand identity and enhance existing relationships. Twitter offers that in an extremely convenient, cost-effective way.”
The International Farm Management Association will be holding it’s annual convention in Illinois this coming week and we’ve made a unique arrangement with the group to bring you news and information from the event.
Thanks to the support of Syngenta, the IFMA 17 Newsroom will be staffed with student reporters who will be filing reports to us here at AgWired where we’ll post them.
The theme of the conference is Food, Fiber and Energy for the Future. You can find out all you want to know about the event on their website. The program gets started on Sunday and runs through the end of the week.
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It looks like there was very little interest on the part of soybean growers to request a new referendum according to the results of the latest opportunity as announced by USDA.
USDA received only 759 request for referendum forms at county Farm Service Agency Offices, which reflects approximately one tenth of one percent of all eligible U.S. soybean farmers. Had 10 percent of the 589,182 eligible farmers – with no more than one-fifth of the 10 percent coming from any one state – requested a referendum, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture would have conducted the referendum on the soybean checkoff within 12 months.
USDA requires a soybean checkoff request for referendum period every five years. The most recent period took place from May 4 to May 29.
“These results reaffirm that U.S. soybean farmers strongly support our soybean checkoff,” says USB Chairman Chuck Myers, a soybean farmer from Lyons, Neb. “Our effective, efficient and farmer-driven program will continue to strive to maximize the return on investment of each checkoff dollar to ensure that U.S. soy is the highest quality and most competitive in the global marketplace.”
Farmers certifying that they paid the checkoff, which is one-half of one percent of the price per bushel sold, at any time during a period beginning Jan. 1, 2007, and ending Dec. 31, 2008, were eligible to participate in the petition for a referendum. Eligible farmers who did not want a referendum did not need to take any action.
It’s no longer a secret that the Humane Society of the United States is dedicated to their main agenda of abolishing food animal agriculture in this country. It’s also no secret that HSUS has spending power and an active lobbying core that has taken part in 25 ballot initiatives, including the most notable, Proposition 2. For years, there have been those of us that have watched HSUS and told others about their dangers to our nation’s food supply, and now, the industry is finally taking note. It seems like every agriculture meeting discusses the HSUS agenda, and it’s time agriculture comes up with an action plan against these huge lobbyists.
NCBA CEO Forrest Roberts spoke this morning at the general session at the 2009 Cattle Industry Summer Conference in Denver, Colo. where producers from across the country have gathered to discuss the hot topics in agriculture today. Listen to Forrest’s speech on the state of the industry and his thoughts on HSUS.
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The folks at AdFarm are rooting for their team which is competing today in the Mount Rainier to Pacific Relay.
Hello AdFarmers! Runners and non-runners alike, tune your monitors to Twitter updates courtesy of our own Dan Danford at http://twitter.com/DanDan4D . He is one of the 11 member AGROTAIN client/agency team to run the Mount Rainier to Pacific Relay – 11 people. 152 miles. 22 hours. 33 “legs” to run down an honest-to-God mountain. From AdFarm, Les Kahl, Marisa Meyer and Hilary Winn will join Dan on this trek, along with Jeff Whetstine, Mike Stegmann and others with AGROTAIN. The Race begins Friday, July 17th at 2:00pm Pacific Time.
This run is famous for its low-key and racer-friendly atmosphere but it’s more than just a day in the park, so follow our team and wish them luck! Mount Rainier is part of the Cascade Mountains and overlooks the beautiful Olympic Penninsula, Seattle and the Pacific Ocean. See how craggy this run could be here. You can also make Dan a friend on Facebook and follow his updates there as well.
Stay tuned and … GOOD LUCK, TEAM!!
It was in January of 2005 that I mentioned Global PR Week 1.0 here on AgWired. The conference was over at that point of course but it was one of those learning tools for me that let me see the power and effectiveness of new media. There was a Global PR Week 2.0 later that year but we haven’t had any since.
I was reminded of this from Steve Rubel’s Lifestream when he pointed us to an article about where we are in media and public relations 5 years after that first event. The article is on Bastien Beauchamp’s Blog. Here’s an excerpt from his conclusion:
The shift from advertising to PR will simultaneously mean a shift from PR to human resources.
The last word goes to Alice Marshall reflecting afterward on the Global PR Blog Week:
“Our single most important contribution (during that event) may have been to shift our industry from the idea of controlling the message and manipulating public opinion to that of presenting the message and cultivating public opinion. This change of metaphor is crucial to successful public relations in a world of increasing transparency. Those who fail to make transparency their friend will find it a formidable enemy. We offer(ed) readers many ideas on how to make transparency their friend.”
You can find Global PR Week 1.0 archived here.
You can find Global PR Week 2.0 archived here.
- GreenStone Farm Credit Services has broken ground on a new corporate headquarters in East Lansing, Mich.
- Farmers, ranchers and rural business owners have until July 31, 2009 to apply for the USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants.
- Syngenta Seed Care announced that the first seed treatment insecticide for small-seeded vegetables has been approved by the EPA for use on leafy vegetables. This superior new tool offers unparalleled protection against early-season sucking and chewing insects and will be available as a component of the FarMore Technology platform.
- Cooperatives Working Together announced that it will conduct its second herd retirement of 2009. CWT will consider bids up to, but not to exceed $5.25 per hundredweight.
Today I met with the National Beef Ambassador Team to conduct a workshop on social networking: using blogs, Twitter, Facebook, Google and YouTube to help share the beef cattle production story. The ambassadors have a brand new blog to share information about the beef industry with consumers. Show your support and stop by to leave a comment. These are the next leaders of the future beef industry, and these young people are dedicated to working on behalf of farmers and ranchers.
At the conclusion of the workshop, I caught an interview with the ambassadors on their favorite memories and their upcoming projects online. Catch my interview here:
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It’s Cattle Industry Summer Conference week in Denver and Amanda Nolz is on the ground doing some Beef Board blogging for us. Cindy just arrived at the airport from the Southern Peanut Growers Conference and yours truly is getting better from pneumonia or he’d be in Mexico with the United Soybean Board. Busy week. Here’s Amanda’s first interview from the CISC.
The Cattlemen’s Beef Board met for the first time this week at the Administration Subcommittee Meeting tonight. The discussions from tonight’s meeting will be introduced and rehashed at the executive meeting bright and early tomorrow morning. During a break in the meeting, I had the opportunity to catch up with CBB Producer Communications Staff Member Lynn Heinze to talk about the outreach programs the CBB uses to educate producers about the checkoff.
Lynn directs the checkoff’s national producer communications efforts, including paid media, dairy and beef trade media, surveys of producers, direct producer communications and CBB’s coordination with state beef councils. He has 20-plus years of experience in the meat industry, where he has managed a number of checkoff-funded programs for the National Live Stock and Meat Board, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the U.S. Meat Export Federation.
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In this week's program Chuck talks with David Armano, Global Innovation and Integration.
