The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association named Brandi Buzzard Frobose, a Kansas rancher, the 2019 Advocate of the Year. Early in 2019, Buzzard Frobose wrote a letter to New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in response to the proposed Green New Deal, which contained negative connotations towards cattle and misinformation about cattle’s effects on climate change and the environment. She explained more …
CIRB Still Growing Together After 56 Years
The 56th annual Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau (CIRB) ended on a high note Friday after an informative two days of presentations on important industry topics such as the farm economy, trade, climate change, and hemp. The theme of the meeting this year was “Together we Grow” and CIRB Executive Vice President Mike Torrey says one area where the organization …
CattleFax Provides Industry Outlook
Most segments of the beef industry should be profitable in 2020, according to CattleFax. “We’ve got plenty of supply to deal with, not only in beef, but also in pork and poultry supplies will be larger,” said Kevin Good, CattleFax Vice President of Industry Relations and Analysis. “Thankfully, demand is very strong domestically. We see that in beef in particular.” …
Crop Insurance Update from USDA RMA at CIRB
USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) Administrator Martin Barbre gave an update to Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau (CIRB) members during their annual meeting last week. One of the big topics of discussion was the recently announced availability of two programs that protect hemp producers’ crops from natural disasters. “We’re trying to get to a level where we can insure producers’ …
Fake Meat Key Issue for NCBA in 2020
At the Cattle Industry Convention, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) released survey results that show widespread consumer confusion about plant-based fake meat products. Nearly two-thirds of the 1,800 survey respondents believed the fake meat products produced by Beyond Meat, Impossible Foods and LightLife contained real beef or some form of animal byproduct. Those surveyed also showed misconceptions about key …
CIRB Honors Sen. Roberts for Crop Insurance Support
The “Father of the Modern Crop Insurance Program” was honored today for his lifetime of service to farmers and the industry by the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau (CIRB). CIRB Chairman, Zane Vaughn of ARMtech, presented Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS) with the crop insurance industry’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Chairman Roberts is the only Member of Congress to …
ZimmCast 636 – Social Influencing and Greeley Hat Works
Hello and welcome to the ZimmCast. In this week’s program I talk about the whole concept of being an industry influencer on social media before sharing an interview with Trent Johnson, Owner, Greeley Hat Works. I met Trent in the NCBA Trade Show and learned a lot about hats. In the photo he’s doing a custom fitting for a customer …
New NCBA President Follows His Mother’s Footsteps
Fifth-generation Florida rancher Marty Smith was elected president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) at the annual Cattle Industry Convention last week, following in the footsteps of his mother Jo Ann Smith, who served as president of the organization in 1985. The Smith family is pictured here with Jo Ann on Marty’s left. “It’s a tremendous honor to lead …
Bayer Makes Innovation and Pipeline Announcements
Bayer made a couple of major pipeline and innovation advancements for the Crop Science Division on Thursday. A new herbicide molecule, “the first new post-emergence mode of action for broad acre weed control in 30 years.” Bayer announced a molecule in Phase 2 of early development which has demonstrated effective control of key resistant grasses in early research. The work …
USDA’s McKinney Optimistic About Ethanol Exports
USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney says he will leave “no stone unturned” in his quest to increase U.S. agricultural exports, including ethanol. McKinney spoke to the Renewable Fuels Association National Ethanol Conference Wednesday about the markets where he sees the most potential for ethanol, including China, Mexico, Brazil, and India. Listen to his remarks: …