A number of global megatrends can mean new opportunities for agribusiness moving forward, according to Chris Nolan with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), who gave the keynote address this week at the 2016 Export Exchange co-sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and the U.S. Grains Council. Nolan identified five global megatrends – demographic shifts, global economic power shifts, accelerating urbanization, resource scarcity, …
How Will Election Impact Trade?
Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen had the challenge of talking about the U.S. presidential election to an international audience at Export Exchange 2016 this week in Detroit. “I know half of you are sick to death of the election and just want it over, and half of you are watching in somewhat bemused amazement wondering what is …
Event Seeks to Boost Exports
Hundreds of buyers and sellers of U.S. coarse grains and ethanol co-products have arrived in Detroit for Export Exchange 2016 and even though they are from more than 30 countries they are busy making connections and building relationships. The event, which has been held every two years since 2010, is co-sponsored by the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and the Renewable …
AEM Issues Call for Agriculture Infrastructure Ideas
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) is asking for help to find answers to the infrastructure challenges facing the U.S. agriculture sector. On the heels of its recent Rural Infrastructure Summit, AEM has issued a call for papers and research as part of its Infrastructure Vision 2050 thought-leadership initiative. Specifically, AEM seeks research offering innovative ideas and best practices for …
Summit Agricultural Group Launches Summit Advantage
Iowa-based Summit Agricultural Group has introduced a new service model for farm and agricultural land management that brings the concept of ‘unbundling’ to traditional farm management offerings. According to Joel Waskow, accredited farm manager with Summit Ag Management, Summit Advantage provides landowners with greater options and flexibility instead of binding them into the current one-size-fits-all approach. “We look at this …
Illinois 4R4U Partnership Launched
A partnership has been launched between the Illinois Farm Bureau and affiliated county Farm Bureaus, with GROWMARK and a number of FS companies, designed to demonstrate and investigate at the local level the impact and efficacy of 4R nutrient stewardship practices – the right source of nutrient, at the right time, at the right rate, and in the right place. …
Ag Day Announces Photo and Essay Contests
“Agriculture: Food for Life” is the theme for the Agriculture Council of America’s (ACA) 2017 National Ag Day photo and essay contests that will highlight young talent as it educates about American agriculture. The National Ag Day Photo Contest is designed to showcase the talents of a young amateur photographer enrolled in high school or college who has a passion …
Dannon Responds to Ag Groups’ Concerns
The Dannon Company released a statement Tuesday after being called out by agricultural organizations for its plans to phase out GMOs in some major brands for the sake of sustainability. “We were surprised to receive a divisive and misinformed letter about our efforts to continue to grow America’s enjoyment of dairy products, including yogurt,” reads the company statement release. “Making …
GROWMARK Makes Energy Investments
GROWMARK announced two major energy-related investments last month that provide benefits for the members of the Illinois-based agricultural cooperative. First, GROWMARK acquired a propane terminal in Plattsburg, Missouri which is connected to the ONEOK pipeline, has 270,000 gallons of storage and the capability to load out two trucks at once. “It gives us another asset and access to propane,” said …
Bayer Exec Keynotes at #FoodPrize16
Liam Condon, head of Bayer’s CropScience Division, gave the breakfast keynote speech at the 2016 Borlaug Dialogue International Symposium in Des Moines on Friday, bringing the future of farming to the overall theme of the event this year “Let Food by Thy Medicine.” “Food needs to be nutritious, abundant in supply, safe and affordable,” said Condon. “We all need to …