U.S. Peanut Federation Policy Update
It was four years ago that the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation, the American Peanut Shellers Association and the National Peanut Buying Points Association joined together to create the United States Peanut Federation, which is piloted by long-time peanut industry lobbyist Bob Redding who provided a policy update at the recent Southern Peanut Growers Conference in Savannah.
Besides the farm bill, Redding talked about the need to increase exports. “Whether Republicans or Democrats control the White House next January, we’re likely to see increased tariffs, particularly with China. This will be impactful to a number of commodities, either directly or indirectly with peanut, so we might as well face that and brace up for it,” he said. “We worked really hard with the US Peanut Federation to build relationships both in the House and Senate with senior members who are involved in trade policy and we have to increase our export efforts with regard to peanuts.”
In his expectations for a farm bill at this point, Redding said, “We will likely see a farm bill action will be after the election in lame duck session and we’re hopeful the final bill will be similar to the House bill.”
Bob Redding, peanut policy update 35:25Precision Ag News 7/25
Tech Hub LIVE Ready to Take Off
The highly anticipated Tech Hub LIVE Conference and Expo, powered by CropLife Media Group®, is ready for take off July 29-31, 2024, at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines.
Organizers announced that the exhibit hall is officially sold out, showcasing a dynamic range of exhibitors and sponsors who will be present to share their innovative products and services. Back once again this year as Education Sponsor is Ever.Ag. Ben Sloan, VP of Products and Strategy, says they consider that sponsorship to be a great opportunity for them to connect with a wide variety of attendees. “We have efforts in the dairy and livestock space, we have efforts in the financial services and risk management space, and we really work in the agribusiness space and there’s a clear synergy and connection between all of those three legs of the stool,” said Sloan, who will be giving a presentation on how to better leverage insights and data.
This is the third time the event has been hosted in Des Moines, which has welcomed them with open arms between the Greater Des Moines Partnership, Iowa Economic Development Authority, ISU Research Park, and America’s Cultivation Corridor. “There’s probably not a better fit for America’s Cultivation Corridor than Tech Hub LIVE,” says Executive Director Billi Hunt. “Over the last ten years, we have seen a 40% increase in food and ag businesses located in Iowa, nearly 10,000 patents happening for our industry, and over 175% increase in venture capitol coming to our industry in Iowa.” The Iowa welcoming party will be a Top Gun-themed event at at the Ricochet in downtown Des Moines.
In addition, the third in-person meeting of Women in Ag Tech (WiAT) will be taking place at Tech Hub LIVE on July 29, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Building on the success of last year’s launch, this one-day event continues to provide a platform for women in ag tech to connect, engage, and build a supportive community.
Registration and other information can be found at TechHubLIVE.com. Learn more in these preview interviews with Hunt and Sloan.
2024 THL - Ben Sloan, Ever.Ag 6:062024 THL - Billi Hunt, America's Cultivation Corridor 6:50
Farm Financial Conditions are Rough
The House Agriculture Committee convened a hearing Tuesday to hear from farmers and rural lenders about the state of financial conditions in farm country.
Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) painted a depressing picture in his opening remarks. “Declining prices and cash receipts, escalating natural disasters, and increasing input costs have created a perfect storm that will compromise the foundation of our agricultural economy. We are living through the largest two-year decline in farm income in history,” said Thompson. “At the end of 2024, total farm sector debt will be the highest the U.S. has seen since at least 1970. Most farmers and ranchers, including those here with us today, are likely to be worse off financially by years’ end.”
The president of the Minnesota Corn Growers was one of the witnesses presenting testimony at the hearing.
“Unless conditions change, I believe we’re heading into a perfect storm, a storm that I don’t think will be fully appreciated until early next year when farmers try to get loans but are unable to do so because they cannot demonstrate the ability to cash flow,” said Dana Allen-Tully, Ph.D., owner of a diversified family farm near Eyota, Minnesota, speaking on behalf of the National Corn Growers Association and state groups.
“We have to have policies in place that reflect the realities of farming today,” Allen-Tully said. The stakes of farming are so incredibly high – higher than I ever remember them to be. We are putting everything we have on the line every single year for very thin and oftentimes negative margins.”
Listen to comments from Thompson and Allen-Tully below.
House Ag Committee Chair Thompson opening remarks 6:48
MN Corn Growers President Dana Allen-Tully 5:37
Animal Ag News 7/23
DWFI Podcast 37 – Opportunities of Irrigation and Mechanization
In November 2023, the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute announced a new USAID Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Irrigation and Mechanization Systems (ILIMS). ILIMS enhances global food security by generating research-based solutions to support the growth of vibrant irrigation and mechanization markets; develops strong institutions and local capacity for their sustainability; and fosters opportunities for equitable access for smallholder farmers.
In this episode, DWFI Communications Specialist Arianna Elnes speaks with the new ILIMS Deputy Director Jude Cobbing about his background and interest in ILIMS, the opportunities he sees with irrigation and mechanization, and upcoming projects for ILIMS. For more information, and to respond to RFA’s, visit: waterforfood.nebraska.edu/irrigandmech
Listen here or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform:
DWFI podcast episode 37 28:59
The Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute (DWFI) at the University of Nebraska was founded with the mission to have a lasting and significant impact on achieving more food security with less pressure on scarce water resources by conducting scientific and policy research, using the research results to inform policy makers, and sharing knowledge through education and communication.
How to subscribe:
Peanut Industry Honors Bob Parker
Valent’s John Alton presents Valor Award to Bob Parker
“I tell people if you cut my arm, instead of blood, peanut butter would come out of my veins,” said Parker as he accepted the award.
Parker has been heavily involved in the peanut industry for decades and has served as chairman of the American Peanut Council, American Peanut Shellers Association, the Peanut Institute and the Peanut Administrative Committee. He has served on the Boards of the Peanut Foundation and Peanut Standards Board.
He also served as the luncheon speaker at the conference on Thursday and gave his perspective on how far the industry has come and how far it could still yet go in the future. “When I started with the peanut board in 2012, the previous five years, the U.S. average production of peanuts was two million tons,” said Parker. “The last five years I was with the peanut board, the average production of peanuts in the U.S. was three million tons… I think within ten years we’re going to see four million ton production, I think it’s coming.”
The question, he says, is “What are you going to do with another million tons of peanuts?”
Listen below:
SPGC24 Valor award presentation 1:56
SPGC24 Bob Parker remarks 20:28
Amp Americas Partners with Dairy to Deliver Methane
A new dairy RNG project on the Wisconsin farm will reduce methane emissions by converting 90,000 gallons of dairy waste per day to renewable energy.
Amp Americas, a leading dairy renewable natural gas (RNG) company, today announced the completion of a project that converts dairy waste into RNG at Darlington Ridge Farms in Darlington, WI. The facility, which is now fully operational, is the latest of Amp Americas’ 12 operating digesters across dairies in Wisconsin, Indiana, Idaho, and Minnesota.
The project at Darlington Ridge Farms utilizes continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) anaerobic digesters to convert 90,000 gallons of dairy cow waste per day into renewable energy. The project captures methane that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere, purifies it, and then injects it into the Alliant Energy natural gas pipeline. The RNG is used as clean, carbon-negative transportation fuel, reducing 27,000 metric tons (MT) of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions per year.
Sec. Vilsack Comments on Biden Dropping Out
Secretary Vilsack and President Biden at the White House, July 2023
“In the 38 years that I have known President Biden, he has consistently and selflessly put our country first—and today is no exception. As a result, he will go down in history as one of our most consequential American presidents.
“He has led us out of the pandemic and revived our struggling economy to achieve record job growth, real wage increases, record-breaking new business creation, and a record stock market. He avoided an economic collapse and is still taming inflation while creating millions of jobs, without causing a crippling recession. His leadership has led to a strengthened and expanded NATO while also supporting Ukraine’s fight for democracy, and he forged alliances to push back against China’s assertions. Finally, he brought to fruition a vision of a new and dynamic American economy built around clean energy and climate-smart and resilient industries, including the agriculture sector. I am immensely proud to play a role in the Biden-Harris Administration, under which USDA has advanced food and nutrition security for tens of millions, invested in new, better and more markets to create a fairer and better marketplace for all farmers, improved the health and resilience of our national forests and grasslands, made our food safer, and centered equity in all that we do.
“This is an administration that embraces hope, optimism, and a forward-looking view for America—and our work is not done.”
Both President Biden’s announcement and Sec. Vilsack’s statement were posted on X.