After a great day of learning about key issues in the swine industry during the 2011 Swine Health Seminar sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim (BIVI), the attendees headed out to have a little fun. Nearly 300 people descended on the Phoenician Resort in Phoenix, AZ at sundown for a spectacular sunrise, amazing food and great entertainment.
BIVI brought in some native Indian dancers that just lit up the stage. The Yellow Bird Indian Dancers have been wowing audiences throughout the country for 25 years and they wowed the BIVI’s guests and employees as well. In this video Doreen Duncan and her husband Ken Duncan perform the Apache Rainbow Dance. Following this dance, several of their sons including Alan, Sky, Kevin and Tony, perform variations of the Hoop Dance. Each one of the sons has won national competitions.
You can learn more about the Yellow Bird Indian Dancers on their website. And special thanks for BIVI for bringing us such an amazing opportunity to experience part of the local culture first hand.
The 2011 Commodity Classic is one for the record books.
Attendance at the annual meeting of corn, soybean, wheat and sorghum growers shattered previous records. Total attendance was more than 4826, breaking the previous record at Nashville three years ago by almost 300. Total number of growers was over 1600, compared to the previous record of 1513 in 2009 in Grapevine. The number of media was down a bit, but still a pretty substantial 126. Next year, Classic is back in Nashville, maybe to set yet another record!
In a show of unity, the leadership of the National Corn Growers Association, the National Association of Wheat Growers, the American Soybean Association and the National Sorghum Producers issued a joint statement on the federal deficit and debt reduction following the conclusion of the Classic business sessions.
“We note that agriculture made a down payment in cutting spending when the Department of Agriculture directed $4 billion in savings under the Standard Reinsurance Agreement for federal crop insurance toward deficit reduction. We believe any further reduction in discretionary spending should recognize and reflect this contribution. We would also note that agriculture-related programs represent less than one-half of one percent of the federal budget.
“Looking forward, we believe any meaningful approach to deficit and debt reduction in the FY2012 budget must encompass all entitlement programs and all discretionary spending. We look forward to working with Congress and the Administration to develop a budget that successfully addresses the need for federal deficit and debt reduction balanced with the need of ensuring a successful agricultural economy.”
It was almost exactly a year ago that former NAFB president Mark Vail was introduced to the agricultural industry at the 2010 Commodity Classic as the new executive director of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting. Today, it was officially announced that the board has accepted his resignation. The following statement was sent to the membership by NAFB president Lindsay Hill:
NAFB Executive Director Mark Vail has submitted his resignation to the NAFB Board of Directors and the Board has accepted. Mark joined NAFB as the Executive Director early last year. During his tenure his work contributed to an increase in NAFB membership and convention sponsorships.
Mark’s final day with NAFB will be Friday, March 11, 2011. Please join the NAFB Board of Directors in thanking Mark for his efforts on behalf of NAFB and wishing him the very best as he pursues new opportunities.
The Board is developing a plan for the search process to find a replacement.
Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) decided to mix it up a bit this year during their 2011 Swine Health Seminar held in Phoenix, Arizona this past week and one of the focal points was emerging markets for pork producers. The BI team brought Nick Giordano, Vice President and Council, International Affairs for the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) to give the nearly 300 attendees an update on where the next big markets for pork will be.
Giordano said there are four markets that are commonly referred to as emerging markets and they are known as the BRIC markets: Brazil, Russia, India and China.
Giordano said that while Brazil is a competitor, the U.S. is well-stacked to compete, in part because U.S. pork producers offer the lowest-cost, safest pork in the world. He also noted that as you look at the growing middle class in the world, approximately 9 billion people by 2045, most of the economic growth will be outside the United States, and people will be switching to meat-based diets.
“No question Brazil will continue to be a competitor,” said Giordano. “You can look at the U.S. and Brazil as really being the supermarkets to the world.”
There will be significant growth in Russia in large part due to the down payment the U.S. received in 2004 on Russia’s succession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Giordano said there will be continued opportunity but not in the same league as China.
While India has a history of vegetarianism in the country, the younger generation is becoming more open to eating meat. India is expected to surpass China as most populated country in the world. Giordano said the U.S. can’t currently ship to India but NPPC is working on overcoming these barriers and opening the market.
Giordano said of the BRIC markets, there is no question that the greatest opportunity is in China. The cost of production is double ours and pork very important part of their diet. In fact, China is the biggest pork consuming market in the world but imports only 2 percent of their meat. “If we got just one quarter of one percent of additional Chinese consumption it would generate over 3,300 direct new jobs in the pork industry, create exports of over $250 million and add over $3 to the value of each live hog market in the US,” said Giordano.
Other areas of growth for the pork industry include those countries included in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) including Vietnam.
You can learn more about emerging markets for pork as well as the role NPPC has played in the Mexican trucking dispute that drastically reduced US imports to Mexico in my full interview with Nick here. Nick Giordano Discusses Emerging Markets for Pork Industry
Just a few days ago, Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) hosted its 2011 Swine Health Seminar in Phoenix. Before the first session began, I had a chance to speak with Tyler Holck, Director of Swine Technical Services. to learn about some of the trends that are happening in the swine industry.
“The industry continues to consolidate. So with all the different issues related with costs and profitability, the environment, and welfare, we’re seeing it’s getting focused in fewer and fewer hands,” said Holck. “So one of the big issues we deal with is that the customer base actually shrinks while the pig base is actually growing. So another challenge that is related to one of our big issues is profitability. They’re looking at us to give them good answers with regard to animal health.”
Holck said that BI wants to be available for all its customers so as they grow, they want to be able to provide more technical services. That means they are making sure they’re providing the services most valuable to them while still being available to their entire customer base.
To meet these goals, they have tremendously grown their team – more than triple in nearly 4 years. This is on the technical side of the business, so Holck said its provided a lot of opportunity to focus on the disease side like PRRS but also in supporting new products like their FLEX line that includes CircoFLEX®, Ingelvac MycoFLEX® and Ingelvac® PRRS MLV.
In addition, it has made his team more responsive and able to do more long-term projects. They do a lot of field trials and customer projects such as diagnostic investigations with their customers in a timely manner that helps them make good decisions. The results have not only been closer working relationship with these customers but also more information for the industry as whole.
The 2011 Swine Health Seminar is not the only time BI hosts events of this type. Holck said they often hosts seminars in conjunction with major meetings and they are continuously striving to bring to market products and information that will benefit the industry.
The chairman of the House Agriculture Committee discussed government over-regulation and prospects for the 2012 Farm Bill during the general session at Commodity Classic 2011.
U.S. Representative Frank Lucas (R-OK) first expressed concern about the over reach of government agencies, especially the EPA. “The Environmental Protection Agency’s assault on production agriculture must stop,” he said, noting that his committee is scheduled to hold hearings in which EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson will answer questions on the agency’s basis for such decisions as limiting rural dust and continually questioning the safety of proven chemicals such as atrazine.
Lucas questioned the current administration’s USDA policies that favor “niche” markets “that should not become the dominant focus of departmental activities.”
Lucas says the 2012 farm bill will be the third on which he has worked, but half of his committee are new. “This (farm bill) is shaping up to be a doozy,” he said.
Here’s the latest installment of our “Getting To Know GROWMARK” series. Today we’ll talk energy because the company is a provider of a full range of energy products and services that includes a complete line of quality lubricants, fuel and fuel additives, and dependable heating and drying with GROWMARK propane. They also offer risk management services.
Harry says the energy division is primarily used for selling fuel to member cooperatives who then sell it on to their end user customers. Gasoline, propane and diesel fuel are their primary products and they’ve got terminals in a number of states. When it comes to risk management they distribute daily information to their members about what’s happening in energy markets and also offer written recommendations to contract fuel at different times of the year.
I asked him what he thinks about the energy market today and he says it’s an exciting time since the economy has been coming back slowly and that increases demand for fuel. So they’re looking for contracting opportunities on behalf of their members. There is a seasonality to the energy markets but he says you can’t put things on autopilot and members look to them for guidance as the markets change. He says they also put on regional meetings for members that include training programs.
You can listen to my interview with Harry here and learn even more about GROWMARK Energy: Harry Cooney Interview
John Deere introduced a new “integrated suite of solutions” at the 2011 Commodity Classic, called John Deere FarmSight.
The comprehensive program is designed to meet farm and business needs for today and the future, according to FarmSight director Jerry Roell. “The John Deere FarmSight global suite of solutions uses integrated, wireless technology that links the equipment, owners, dealers, and agricultural consultants to provide even more productivity to your farm or business,” he said during a press conference Friday in Tampa.
The program provides technology solutions in three areas – Machine Optimization, Logistics Optimization, and Ag Decision Support.
Our latest I Am Angus segment shares the story of W.A. McHenry, a civil war veteran, Iowa pioneer and master cattle breeder, who raised Earl Marshall, perhaps the greatest beef bull ever. For more information, visit www.angus.org.
One of my goals living on the farm is to have a garden. I started one in Kansas City, but then we moved away. But this summer, I’m going to make a concerted effort to keep a family tradition going. We have these Syrian cucumbers that look like pinwheels when you cut them and never get bitter, no matter how large they grow. To date, Grandma is the only one who can grow them, but I’m going to try my hand at it.
In order to get the garden started, I’m going to have to do some tilling. I’m sure I can borrow the gas-operated tiller in the shed. Back before motor-operated equipment, this is the tiller they’d use to loosen the dirt for garden planting. Looks like a lot of work if you ask me.
Then, if I get really creative, I’ll grow some cucumbers and dill and see if Grandma can help me jar some homemade pickles. Vlasic, move over.
I’ve just got to figure out a way to keep the critters out. Like the deer who like to watch TV through our bedroom window. I can just see them munching on my Syrian cucumbers now.
Iowa Corn is proud to announce 10 scholarships to be awarded through the Iowa Corn Future of Agriculture Scholarship program to high school seniors college students who are pursuing a degree in the 2011-12 school year.
America’s Heartland, the only nationally-distributed program on U.S. agriculture, is seeking production funding for its seventh season. The grassroots Friends of America’s Heartland group has launched a new website asking fans to support it by making donations and encouraging others to do so.
Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Bode Matz PC, (OFW Law) the leading law firm in agriculture and FDA regulated matters, announced that Stephanie Herseth Sandlin has joined the firm as a Principal.
The 2011 Commodity Classic had a rock and roll ending. The evening entertainment was the Little River Band.
I think they played most of their hits and a couple of songs with a new twist. They sounded great and a little loud but then that’s what I remember when Cindy and I saw them a long time ago. The coolest thing was seeing the Golden ZimmComm Microphone on stage. You can see it in this photo. They have good choice in mics (Heil PR20).
There are a bunch of photos from the concert in the photo album. We’re taking some time to relax today and visit with friends from college before getting back on the agriblogging highway tomorrow. I’ll be heading to Texas while Cindy will be going to Reno, NV. We’ll fill you in on that as we go.
The American Agricultural Editors Association held a reception for members attending this year’s Commodity Classic. Quite a few of the 126 members of the ag media attended including past president Karen Simon, Iowa Soybean Association.
I spoke with Karen and Willie Vogt, Farm Progress Companies, about this summer’s Ag Media Summit. Karen is the Conference Chair and Willie is chairing the sponsorship committee. This year Ag Media Summit will be July 24-27 in New Orleans. So get an AMS preview and if you’re interested in becoming a sponsor, let them know.
You can listen to my interview with Willie and Karen here: AAEA Interview
The biggest machine in the New Holland booth at this year’s Commodity Classic is their Guardian Rear Boom Sprayer. There wasn’t enough space for it to “spread its wings” though. I talked with Tyler Roberts about the self propelled sprayers now being made by New Holland.
Tyler says these machines are ready to get out in the field after being introduced last fall. He says the Guardian name ties into the crop protection capabilities of the sprayers. And these are big Guardians! Besides the rear boom they also offer a front boom sprayer which Tyler gets real excited talking about.
On behalf of a number of well-wishers in the agricultural world, BASF Crop Protection congratulated soybean yield world champion Kip Cullers during a special presentation at Commodity Classic in Tampa, Florida.
Kip, a corn and soybean grower from Missouri, is a rock star in the ag world. He set yet another new world soybean production record in 2010 – for the third time – with a yield of 160.6 bu/A in 2010, breaking the previous record he set in 2007 by six bu/A. Kip’s soybean acres regularly yield more than 75 bu/A, which is 35 bu/A higher than the average Missouri operation.
Kip is never speechless – but he was when BASF presented him with a special “Kip Cullers Bobblehead” to commemorate his new world record. “I didn’t really know what to say,” he said. “It’s just great working with BASF. They’re just such a great team to work with and such a joy. I really appreciate everything they do for all American farmers.”
Kip says the mood of farmers at Commodity Classic was energizing. “More than anything, what it is is corn is $7 and soybean’s $14 and I think farmers really want to yield more, they want to make money,” Kip said.
Listen to or download an interview with Kip here about BASF, the bobblehead, his world record and optimism at Commodity Classic: Kip Cullers Interview
Watch the presentation by BASF’s Paul Rea to Kip here from YouTube:
The Chief Technology Officer for AgHaven is Pat McGinty. He’s responsible for the software that runs AgHaven. We talked about their agricultural search engine which is really tweaking the interest of a lot of people. He says that it allows for search results specific to agriculture. It’s not search results from other search engines. He says they crawl the web and find pages that fit the ag category and then prepare them for delivery to users. He knows of no other website that can do this. This could make searching much less time intensive.
We also talked about the social networking section of AgHaven. He says that businesses can feel comfortable using it since there are a number of built in security features that make it a better environment for business than a place like Facebook.
Pat also makes a point to encourage people to visit and provide feedback. There’s still a lot of development to do in AgHaven and this is a good time to let them know what you think.
I’m getting settled in here in Phoenix for the 2011 Swine Health Seminar hosted by Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc.(BIVI). They couldn’t have picked a more beautiful location to host their event – Phoenix is sunny and beautiful today. I’m guessing everybody who flew in from a cold climate will be having some fun in the sun over the next few days.
They will also be learning about the big issues in the swine industry from some top experts. BIVI has put together a great educational program for this afternoon that includes:
Nick Giordano, NPPC Vice President and Legal Council who will be discussing Emerging Markets;
Erin Strait, DVM with Iowa State University will be discussing Emering Mycoplasma Diagnostics; and
A practitioner panel featuring Mike Eisenmenger, DVM at the Swine Vet Center; Tom Gillespie, DVM with Rensselaer Swine Services; and Randy Jones, DVM with Livestock Vet Services who will be discussing Emerging PRDC Control Opportunities.
Several hundred of BIVI team members and customers will be on hand for the seminar this afternoon (and the fun to follow). For BIVI’s customer’s, they hope the information will help them become more profitable.
For those who couldn’t make it – no worries. I’ll be bringing you the information from the meeting right here on AgWired.com.
We’re talking commodity group unity here at Commodity Classic. Here’s the leaders of each of the participating groups, Bart Schott, NCGA, Alan Kemper, ASA, Gerald Simonsen, NAWG and Jerry McReynolds, NSP.
Emceeing this morning’s general session once again was Mark Mayfield. He asked them each to answer the question, “What are you doing to enhance public trust and what efforts do you have to make ag more sustainable?” Listen to their answers in this entertaining part of the session.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack gave the keynote address today to an audience of more than 4,500 farmers and commodity group representatives during the General Session of the 16th Annual Commodity Classic in Tampa, Florida. In his remarks, Vilsack commended American farmers, ranchers and producers for helping to lead the United States’ economic recovery by shattering agricultural trade records, creating jobs at home and ensuring affordable food for U.S. families.
“We are all fortunate to be living through one of the most productive eras in history for U.S. agriculture,” said Vilsack. “American farmers and ranchers are seeing record sales of farm goods abroad and looking forward to some of the best net incomes in decades. U.S. agricultural exports for fiscal 2011 are on course to shatter previous records and enjoy a record $47.5 billion trade surplus. This record productivity is creating employment across a variety of sectors, including transportation and storage. Moreover, because American agriculture produces 86 percent of the food we consume, our families spend less at the grocery store compared to consumers in much of the rest of the world. As producers of high-quality products and conscientious stewards of our lands, American farmers and ranchers deserve our gratitude.”
Best Vilsack comment that I heard was “OPEC has more to do with food prices than farmers.” He got loud applause for that!
Monsanto Company will provide more than $1 million in sponsorships of National FFA Organization programs, awards, events, student scholarships and more this year.
MGEX announced preliminary February monthly electronic trading volume of 190,639 contracts, eclipsing the previous record set in June 2010.
John Melick, a fruit and vegetable farmer from Oldwick, New Jersey, was named one of the four 2011 National Outstanding Young Farmers by the United States Junior Chamber (Jaycees) at their Awards Congress.
In this week's program Chuck talks with David Armano, Global Innovation and Integration.
David conducted a presentation on delivering expert opinion via social media to an audience at the start of International Poultry Expo week. He's got some great information about who consumers trust and how you can use today's consumer behavior to help communicate your message.
After a great day of learning about key issues in the swine industry during the 2011 Swine Health Seminar sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim (BIVI), the attendees headed out to have a little fun. Nearly 300 people descended on the Phoenician Resort in Phoenix, AZ at sundown for a spectacular sunrise, amazing food and great entertainment.
The 2011 Commodity Classic is one for the record books.
In a show of unity, the leadership of the National Corn Growers Association, the National Association of Wheat Growers, the American Soybean Association and the National Sorghum Producers issued a joint statement on the federal deficit and debt reduction following the conclusion of the Classic business sessions.
NAFB Executive Director Mark Vail has submitted his resignation to the NAFB Board of Directors and the Board has accepted. Mark joined NAFB as the Executive Director early last year. During his tenure his work contributed to an increase in NAFB membership and convention sponsorships.
U.S. Representative Frank Lucas (R-OK) first expressed concern about the over reach of government agencies, especially the EPA. “The Environmental Protection Agency’s assault on production agriculture must stop,” he said, noting that his committee is scheduled to hold hearings in which EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson will answer questions on the agency’s basis for such decisions as limiting rural dust and continually questioning the safety of proven chemicals such as atrazine.
John Deere introduced a new “integrated suite of solutions” at the 2011 Commodity Classic, called 
The 
The biggest machine in the New Holland booth at this year’s Commodity Classic is their 
On behalf of a number of well-wishers in the agricultural world, 
Kip is never speechless – but he was when BASF presented him with a special “Kip Cullers Bobblehead” to commemorate his new world record. “I didn’t really know what to say,” he said. “It’s just great working with BASF. They’re just such a great team to work with and such a joy. I really appreciate everything they do for all American farmers.”
The Chief Technology Officer for 
We’re talking commodity group unity here at Commodity Classic. Here’s the leaders of each of the participating groups, Bart Schott, NCGA, Alan Kemper, ASA, Gerald Simonsen, NAWG and Jerry McReynolds, NSP.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack 
In this week's program Chuck talks with David Armano, Global Innovation and Integration.
