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  • The U.S. Forest Service now offers access to variety of visitor maps for people using Android and iOS devices.
  • The National Pork Board has named a new task force that will examine consumer needs, animal care, sustainable pork production and other current challenges facing the industry to define a future vision of the Pork Checkoff and, on a larger scale, the entire pork industry.
  • GenNx360 Capital Partners, a private equity firm focused on investing in middle market industrial business-to-business companies, has acquired Salford Farm Machinery Ltd. (“Salford”) for an undisclosed amount.
  • AgGateway’s eighth annual conference in St. Petersburg, Fla., drew a record 300 professionals to discuss ongoing successes in implementing eBusiness within the agriculture industry.
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2014 International Year of Family Farming Campaign

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International year of Fam. FarmNational Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson and members of the U.S. national committee to promote the United Nations’ (UN) International Year of Family Farming held a teleconference this morning to kick off events.

“NFU is pleased to lead the U.S. efforts as a part of the global initiative that the UN is commencing today,” said Johnson. “In the United States and around the world people are further and further removed from family farming and where their food, fuel and fiber are produced. This initiative is critical to the future of our industry.”

The UN has declared 2014 the International Year of Family Farming and many countries have formed national committees to carry out activities in cooperation. The U.S. executive committee is comprised of 25x’25, the Alliance to End Hunger, American Farmland Trust, the Consumer Federation of America, the National Cooperative Business Association and National Farmers Union.

“The executive committee has adopted policy on family farming and we look forward to having other organizations across all sectors and interests join the committee to support family farming,” said Johnson. “We are excited about activities that will be planned in the coming months and the impact we can have on policy and awareness for the future of family farming in our country and around the world.”

Agribusiness

Farm Management Training by ASFMRA

Chuck Zimmerman

There are so many ways that the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers provide education for their members. One of those is an accelerated ag land management program which has brought the traditional and typical classes together into a three week course. These are for seasoned professionals instead of those just entering the field. I spoke with Mike Krause, Hertz Farm Management, about the program.

Another program is Summer Education Week. It moves around the country year to year. In includes core education for both the farm management/consulting and rural appraisal sides of the industry. The program will take place in Des Moines, IA in 2014.

You can listen to my interview with Mike here: Interview with Mike Krause

Agronomics Vision 2014 Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the ASFMRA Agronomics Conference is sponsored by Halderman Farm Management.

Ag Groups, Audio, Education, Video

Attendees Loved MFA 100 Yr. Celebration

Chuck Zimmerman

MFA Group PhotoAfter the conclusion of the MFA, Inc. Annual Mtg. this week we all went outside to re-create a historic panoramic photograph in front of the Missouri State Fairgrounds Coliseum. This took a while as you might imagine but the weather was beautiful.

After we were done it was time to head home and on the way out I asked a number of the attendees what they thought of the celebration that included not only the annual business meeting but entertainment and speeches from MO Governor Jay Nixon and MO Senator Roy Blunt. They all sounded very pleased.

Listen to what MFA Annual Mtg. attendees had to say here: MFA Annual Mtg. Attendees

MFA, Inc. 100 Yrs. Annual Mtg. Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio

MFA Has Loyal Employees

Chuck Zimmerman

Janice SchuermanThe first person I interviewed at this week’s MFA, Inc. Annual Mtg. and 100 Year Celebration was Janice Schuerman, Senior Vice President and Corporate Secretary. One of her duties was to read the meeting minutes from the last one. We talked before the program started and I got an overview of all the activities that were planned. Janice also talked about how loyal the employees of MFA are and that is very well demonstrated by the ones who have been employed for over 40 or even 50 years!

You can listen to my interview with Janice here: Interview with MFA Senior Vice President Janice Schuerman

MFA, Inc. 100 Yrs. Annual Mtg. Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio

ASFMRA Leadership Institute Program

Chuck Zimmerman

Besides certification programs the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers also has a Leadership Institute. Let’s learn all about it from Merrill W. Swanson, ARA of Dugger, Canaday, Grafe, Inc, in San Antonio, TX. Merrill has moved into the role of First Vice President of the ASFMRA. He also serves as the Co-Chair of the Government Relations Committee which has been conducting this annual leadership program for about 20 years. The program is sponsored by Dupont Pioneer. Merrill has attended four of the institutes.

Approximately 30 members are selected each year to go to Washington, DC for the program where they learn about how to navigate and communicate with the politicians and regulators making decisions about policies that affect their business. Attendees range in age and experience across all members of ASFMRA. It’s a week long program.

You can listen to my interview with Merrill here: Interview with Merrill Swanson

Agronomics Vision 2014 Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the ASFMRA Agronomics Conference is sponsored by Halderman Farm Management.

Ag Groups, Audio, Education, Video

Jagels Elected Chairman of USMEF

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*Post updated with audio from NAFB*

necornThe Nebraska Corn Board is proud to announce that Mark Jagels, a farmer from Davenport, Neb., was elected chairman of the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) at the organization’s recent annual conference. Jagels served as USMEF vice-chairman over the previous year.

nafb13-meat-jagelsZimmComm intern Kristyn Stidham had a chance to talk with Mark at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting annual Trade Talk last week, right after he was elected as chairman. He told her that USMEF is very excited about the big increase in exports to Japan after that country moved back to allowing 30-month and under cattle.

“We’ve seen exports to Japan up 57% since that time,” said Mark. “We had really been out of that market since the BSE ‘black Christmas’ but with their adoption of the 30-month and under rule exports have really surged there.

Listen to Kristyn’s interview with Mark here: Interview with Mark Jagels, USMEF

2013 NAFB Convention Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Meat, NAFB

Stay Meaty Fresh with Power Bacon Deodorant

Chuck Zimmerman

Power Bacon DeodorantHey all you bacon lovers. I know there are a lot of you out there. Now you don’t have to smear some fresh cooked bacon on your wrists before going to work or out on a date. Just put on some Power Bacon deodorant.

FOR WHEN YOU SWEAT LIKE A PIG.

POWER BACON deodorant is designed specifically for those with active lifestyles – or people who just sweat like pigs.

Using POWER BACON will probably make everyone drawn to you like you were the most powerful magnet on Earth. And by everyone, we mean friends, acquaintances, beautiful strangers, dogs, bears, swamp alligators, lions and even pigs. It’s like an aphrodisiac for your armpits. But use your new power wisely, because with great bacon power comes great baconsibility.

For all day meat-scented protection, apply liberally to your underarms or private areas.

Do not eat or hike in the woods without a firearm while wearing POWER BACON.

Meat

Pork Council Talks Animal Health, Markets & Trade

Jamie Johansen

nafb-13-32-editedThe National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) was among many ag groups who took advantage of NAFB Convention’s Trade Talk to discuss issues with farm broadcasters from across the country. Dr. Howard Hill, President-Elect, for NPPC was on hand along with Steve Meyer, NPPC Economist.

Each hit on the one of the most talked about topics when if comes to animal health in the pork industry and that of course is Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PED). The virus is thought of have entered the United States back in April of this year. Research has shown that it likely originated in China. Dr. Hill stressed the amount of research that is being conducted to combat this epidemic, but a cure has yet to be found.

Sticking to the topic of animal health Dr. Hill also hit on FDA Guidance 209. “Any antibiotic that is used for growth promotion that also has applications in the human medical field will not be allowed. If it has a label for treatment, prevention or control then it will still be on the market.”

Listen to my complete interview with Dr. Hill here: Interview with Dr. Howard Hill

nafb-13-35-editedAs an economist, Steve quickly recapped the 2013 pork markets stating that markets were of course low coming out of 2012. But producers got back in the black throughout the summer and have been making money since then. Looking into 2014 for pork producers a good corn crop means low feed prices. He committed on the futures markets and says it looks up for producers heading into the next year.

Steve went on to discuss the export market. Though it has been low over the last year the future looks optimistic and should increase throughout 2014.

Listen to my complete interview with Steve here: Interview with Steve Meyer

NPPC is also leading an ad hoc coalition of agricultural and food organizations urging Congress to establish criteria for revoking a country’s tariff-free access to the U.S. market if it fails to give U.S. products treatment consistent with international trade rules.

Checkout photos from NAFB Convention: 2013 NAFB Convention Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Media, NAFB, Pork

Halderman Farm Management Continues to Expand

Chuck Zimmerman

As you know, Halderman Farm Management has been the sponsor of our coverage of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers Agronomics Conference for two years now. We greatly appreciate their support and to learn more about how things are going for the company I visited with Howard Halderman again at this year’s conference.

Howard says things are going well in the eastern corn belt and they are continuing to expand their services. He says recently they’ve started representing some large investment groups and building portfolios of farm land for them. He says this work has led them to various parts of the country and has emphasized the need for the Agronomics conference with the networking opportunities it provides. Listen in on our conversation to learn more about what’s going on in the industry.

You can listen to my interview with Howard here: Interview with Howard Halderman

Agronomics Vision 2014 Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the ASFMRA Agronomics Conference is sponsored by Halderman Farm Management.

Ag Groups, Audio, Video