Does Farm Size Matter?

Talia Goes

zp-nhOur latest ZimmPoll asked the question, ”What is most important to you when buying food?” Given the economy, it’s only fitting that price won out in our poll, but also tied with whatever you’re hungry for. Guess it just depends on your mood!

Our poll results:
· Price – 29%
· Whatever I’m hungry for – 29%
· Organic – 14%
· Brand – 12%
· Other – 9%
· Special diet – 7%

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “Does farm size matter?” which was also the topic of the USFRA Food Dialogues in Boston this week. Increasingly, consumers are hearing they should be concerned about the size of farms, and may be making purchasing decisions without understanding how food is grown and raised on farms of any size. What do you think? Let us know!

ZimmPoll

Future of Ag Technology and Investment

Cindy Zimmerman

wfp13-elanco-robExecutives from DuPont Pioneer, Elanco and Monsanto all participated in a panel discussion at the World Food Prize Borlaug Dialogue last week on “Research and Returns: The Future of Agricultural Technology and Investment.”

“In general, we’re talking about the importance of continued investment and innovation and taking it even further to consumer acceptance,” said panelist Rob Aukerman, President of US/Canada Operations at Elanco Animal Health. “We’re very good at the science … the productivity story is incredible. But today we have so many consumers that are far removed from agriculture, that do not understand where their food comes from, and we have to enter into more of a conversation with the consumer to have the social license to move ahead to employ the technologies we need to feed the world.”

While the cost of putting a new product on the market for animal health or crop production is extraordinarily high due to the number of agencies involved, Aukerman believes a strong regulatory process is important for consumer confidence. “That’s one of the things that gives us license to move ahead,” he said. “We always are challenged to make that efficient as well and to make our investments pay off but there is great incentive to continue to invest because the need is great.”

Elanco’s product line includes antibacterials, anticoccidials, vaccines and parasiticides for both food and domestic animals, as well as a productivity enhancers, safety tools and analytical services. Even though they don’t directly produce food products or even animals, Aukerman says they consider themselves a food company. “Our vision of enriching lives through food has changed our company and has compelled us to be part of forums like this and dialogues throughout the entire food chain,” he added, noting that taking part in the World Food Prize events has “re-energized” him.

Listen to or download my conversation with Rob here: Interview with Elanco's Rob Aukerman

Join the ENOUGH movement at SensibleTable.com and tweet about the future of feeding a global population of nine billion people by 2050 by using the hashtag #FeedThe9.


2013 World Food Prize photos

Animal Agriculture, Animal Health, Audio, Elanco, Food, World Food Prize

Farm Size Depends on Many Factors

Chuck Zimmerman

USFRA Food Dialogues BostonThe Boston Food Dialogues are underway here at The Station. Getting us started with opening remarks was Dr. A. Richard Bonanno, farmer and President of the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation. I visited with him before we got started and asked him about his thoughts on the the topic here today of farm size and does it matter. He says “Everyone has their own situation . . . Farm size is all across the board.” For example he says some people can make a living on 4-5 acres of herbs in a greenhouse because of the profit margin. But depending on the type of farm you have you may have to have a lot more acres to make a profit. He says “A lot of it is out of necessity, based on what you’re growing and what your ability is to stay in business, produce a good product, follow all the rules and to eventually have something people want.”

You can listen to Richard’s opening remarks here: Dr. Richard Bonanno Opening Remarks

You can listen to my interview with Richard here: Interview with Dr. Richard Bonanno

I’ve got photos from the event here: Boston Food Dialogues Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Food, USFRA

Farm Size: Does it Really Matter

Chuck Zimmerman

Food Dialogues BostonIt’s Food Dialogues day in Boston. The city seems to be pretty happy about some baseball game last night. Wonder what that was all about (C’mon Cards!). Back to food though.

The moderator for today’s live event is Bloomberg News’ Alan Bjerga and our topic is “Farm Size: Does It Really Matter.” The event will take place from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. EDT at the State Room.

Today’s panel discussion, which will be streamed live online, will feature opening remarks from Dr. A. Richard Bonanno, Ph.D., president of the Massachusetts Farm Bureau. Panelists include:

Leah Beyer, Farmer and Consultant, Indiana Soybean Alliance and Indiana Soybean Association, Columbus, Ind.
Jamie Cruz, Owner/Grower, Springdell Farm, Littleton, Mass.
Michael Jacobson, Founder, Food Day and Executive Director, CSPI
Bill Luckey, Farmer, Columbus, Neb.
Lori Renzi, Vice President, Brand Strategy and Development, Charlie Baggs Culinary Innovations
Bruce Rominger, Farmer, Rominger Brothers Farm, Winters, Calif.
Michael Swanson, Ag Economist, Wells Fargo Bank

To watch today’s panel discussion or for more information on farm size, ownership and sustainability you can visit FoodDialogues.com. Follow USFRA on Twitter @USFRA using #FoodD or on its Facebook page, www.facebook.com/usfarmersandranchers.

Ag Groups, Farming, Food, USFRA

Farming Simulator Coming to North America

Chuck Zimmerman

Farming SimulatorThere’s a new farming “game” coming to a Playstation or Xbox near you just in time for your holiday shopping.

Farming Simulator invites you to the fun yet demanding world of a modern day farmer. Take on all the challenges of farming life, including animal husbandry (breed cows, chicken, and sheep), planting and harvesting crops, and managing the sales of your bounty! It’s up to you to create your own farm in a huge open world which includes an all-new American environment. As your career progresses, you will control over 100 farming vehicles and machines, faithfully recreated from the biggest names in the industry (Case IH, Deutz-Fahr, Lamborghini, Grimme, etc.), with all new vehicles exclusive to Farming Simulator on consoles!

With an engaging experience, a large open world, and a huge fleet of vehicles, Farming Simulator invites you aboard the largest farming simulation ever created!

Farming Simulator will be available digitally and in stores on PlayStation®3 and Xbox 360® on November 19, 2013.

Farming Simulator was released in Europe and Asia first with much success.

Farming, Gadgets

The Fields Are A’fire

Melissa Sandfort

I know I’ve said it before, but I love this time of year – it’s invigorating. The sound of combines in the field; ladies taking PB&J sandwiches and coffee to the men who are harvesting and sitting on the tailgate for a few minutes to chat; the warmth of the sunshine on my face during my walks; sweatshirts and light jackets and jeans; the color of the trees and crunching of leaves under foot; chili and stews for dinner; the smell of cider and honey and cinnamon candles; the list could go on and on.

Where I live, once harvest is over farmers start fixing fence to put cow herds out to graze the corn stalks. Or, they go in with round balers and bale the stalks for feed. It’s just another “season” in Nebraska but it gives the bare fields a little beautification for the winter and just another thing that tops my list of favorite fall scenes.

In the 1920s, they had single-row riding stalk cutters with blades that turned and chopped the stalks into smaller pieces. That’s a little different than the combine my son gets to ride on with our neighbor. Listen to Grandpa as he describes his memories of this harvest time of year.

Listen to Grandpa explain

So to all the farmers working in the fields, to all of those fixing the equipment when it breaks down so they can get back out in the fields, to the women who understand and appreciate the long hours these farmers work in order to feed our families and our neighbors, I wish you a bountiful, safe harvest and say ‘Thank You’.

Until we walk again …

Uncategorized

Farm Foundation Talks Farm Bill Conference

John Davis

farmfoundationlogo3The farm bill is coming closer to becoming reality, as Congress is about to start the legislation’s Conference Committee. Our friends at Farm Foundation will take a look at how work is progressing on the bill and how the outcome may effect the nation’s food and agriculture system during its next free forum, Wednesday, Nov. 6 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. EST at the National Press Club, in Washington, D.C.

The Forum panel: Moderating the panel will be former Texas Congressman Charlie Stenholm. Five panelists will present perspectives on the legislation:

Joe Outlaw of Texas A&M University, will give an overview of farm bill policies.
Michael Dimock of Roots of Change, will address the impact of legislation on food systems and consumers.
Helen Jensen, an agricultural economist at Iowa State University, will examine issues surrounding the nutrition title of the legislation.
Jon Scholl of the University of Illinois and former president of American Farmland Trust, will discuss conservation programs.
Kip Tom of Tom Farms, will provide a producer perspective.

To participate in this free forum, sign up here.

Agribusiness, Farm Bill, Farm Foundation

House Passes Water Resources Bill

Cindy Zimmerman

The U.S. House of Representatives proved Wednesday that it can agree on some matters and get legislation passed in a bipartisan way.

wrrdaBy an amazing 417 to 3 vote, the House passed the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA), a bill that includes provisions to update locks and dams on the nation’s transportation waterways critical to agricultural trade.

The House quickly worked its way through 24 amendments to the bill during the day and passed the legislation by dinner time, adjourning for the day on Thursday so members can attend the funeral of Rep. Bill Young (R-FL) who passed away late last week.

Two representatives from Illinois are particularly pleased with their contributions to the Water Resources Reform and Development Act or WRRDA overwhelmingly passed by the House Wednesday evening. Democrat Cheri Bustos says the bill includes a bipartisan provision that will help improve aging locks and dams through public private partnerships.Rep. Cherie Bustos (D-IL)

Republican Rodney Davis says reform matters and he was proud to be a part of crafting WRRDA. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL)

Audio

Checkoff Changes Marketing Direction in FY14

Melissa Sandfort

BeefForDinnerMillennials and other beef consumers can now see and hear the tantalizing sights and sounds of “Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner” messages without putting down their mobile devices or leaving the comfort of their keyboards and social-media circles.

That’s thanks to a Sept. 25 decision by the 20-member Beef Promotion Operating Committee to make a major shift in strategic direction for the checkoff’s promotion and marketing efforts. Beginning this month, digital marketing will lead the way in sharing beef’s message about nutrition, health and research and creating a forum for consumers to publically share and celebrate their love for beef.

In recognition of the importance of marketing via electronic devices — such as smartphones, tablets, cell phones, computers and consoles – the committee approved the shift from an print and radio campaign to digital marketing via multi-media beef messages on email, blogs and social networks.

Using geo-tracking, the checkoff can send marketing messages to a very tight target audience whose preferences, food likes and lifestyles fit the checkoff’s target audience. In other words, the checkoff can pinpoint exactly who it wants to reach with beef messages.

The ability to geo-target means that producer and importer investments in the checkoff will be focused tightly on consumers who are most likely to move the needle on beef demand. Social and digital media provide the beef checkoff a clear and focused way to deliver beef-centric information, enabling consumers to select and prepare beef enthusiastically.

Agribusiness, Beef, Marketing

People Who Love Bugs Who Eat Bugs

Chuck Zimmerman

Pest ManagementThe past president of the Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation, Tamara Leigh, shows off her Bekina Boots in this photo with several researchers. Tamara was presenting them with a thank you gift for taking time to meet with us. We were assembled in the Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre during a stop on our CFWF farm tour. The Centre conducts research into integrated pest management, horticultural practices and nutrient management in berries, field crops and greenhouse vegetables.

One of the presenters is Dave Gillespie who spoke on his research as a guy who likes bugs who eat bugs. He mainly did this through answering questions.

You can listen to the presentation here: Pest Management Research

2013 Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation Photo Album

Audio, Crop Protection, International