NCBA’s Government Affairs Advocating for Beef

Jamie Johansen

nafb-13-19-editedThe National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) attended this year’s NAFB Trade Talk event and I spoke with Colin Woodall, Vice President of Government Affairs, while stopping by their booth. Colin voiced that it is an exciting time to be part of the beef community. He admits herd numbers are down, but that it means people are making money. Beyond cattle numbers he discussed a few other hot topics he and others on Capitol Hill are tirelessly working on to ensure beef production in the United States continues to grow and thrive.

The Farm Bill was a hot topic everywhere you went during Trade Talk, but Colin focused on one aspect of the bill that is front and center for NCBA.

“Country of Origin Labeling is one issue that we have to get fixed because right now we have a retaliation that is looming from both Canada and Mexico where they could should us out of their markets or add a surtax our markets probably sometime in late summer or early fall of 2014.”

Colin also brought up Federal Lands Grazing. Many farmers and ranchers utilize permits to graze federal lands in the western part of the U.S. Activists groups are pressuring for the removal of these permits.

“We have two pieces of legislation we are working on right now. One is to try and change the way the federal government approaches wildfires. To make sure we are managing federal lands in a way to mitigate the severity of wildfires. Then also we are trying put in place a Grazing Improvement Act that would make the process to get these permits a little bit more expedited and try and cut out some of the bureaucratic red tape we have to deal with right now.”

The beef industry relies heavily on international trade. On this topic Colin shared news on the Trans Pacific Partnership and what it means to producers and consumers alike. Read More

Audio, Beef, Farm Bill, Farm Policy, Media, NAFB, NCBA

ASFMRA Speaker Interviews

Chuck Zimmerman

Last week I posted podium remarks from Monsanto’s Dr. Robert Fraley and from California Secretary of Agriculture, Karen Ross at the Agronomics Vision 2014 conference in Reno, NV. After their presentations I sat down with them for a short interview which focused not only on their presentations but in more personal detail about what they see for the future. Feel free to click and watch or listen.

You can listen to my interview with Dr. Fraley here: Interview with Dr. Robert Fraley

You can listen to my interview with Karen here: Interview with Karen Ross

Agronomics Vision 2014 Photo Album

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

Ag Groups, Audio, Video

Big Bucks for the NAFB Foundation

Cindy Zimmerman

nafb13-lakeThe NAFB Foundation auction raised over $20,000 last week, thanks in a big way to the now-traditional boys and girls fight over the Agri-Pulse Lake Trip, which was responsible for nearly ONE THIRD of that amount!

Sara Wyant and Al Johnson’s generosity means they will once again host two NAFB groups next summer at their beautiful home on Lake Ozark. The dorky boys club ran up the bid again to a record $3100 – and the fabulous farm chicks met their price for a second trip. It’s a friendly rivalry for a very worthy cause.

We were happy to welcome a few new members to the girls club this year – including Pat Morrow of BASF and Haylie Shipp of Northern Ag Network. They will be a great addition to our group, which will celebrate our fifth Lake Girls Trip next year. Oh yeah – and our own Leah Guffey will be joining us as well.

2013 NAFB Convention Photo Album

BASF, Media, NAFB

USDA’s Drive in Support of Rural Communities

Jamie Johansen

nafb-13-49-editedUSDA Rural Development was on hand during last week’s NAFB Trade Talk to share their work with rural communities across the United States and promote the use of #MyFarmBill.

I spoke with Colleen Callahan, Illinois State Director for Rural Development, during the event and she was eager to express their commitment to rural communities and their passion for brining value to agricultural businesses who drive the growth of those rural communities through their financial and loan programs.

“When it comes to the breadth of what USDA does, we at Rural Development feel that we are the jewel in the crown of USDA because it’s not just about any one program or any one business. It’s about entire communities and regions.”

During the Secretary of Agriculture’s press conference at NAFB, Vilsack gave credit to Colleen for her committed work with the National Drought Resiliency partnership. USDA, along with numerous other government organizations have teamed up in effort to become better prepared to mitigate the consequences of future droughts. You can find the complete audio from the press conference here.

You can’t talk with anyone from USDA without bringing up the Farm Bill. Colleen talked about the power of strength in numbers and their promotion of #MyFarmBill. The use of the hashtag will allow us all to express our opinions and share our agriculture story to the decision makers. As one it’s hard to make a stand, but together we can share our words, photos and video using #MyFarmBill to be heard. Colleen also reminds us that this is more than simply a farm bill, it is a food bill. It is about producing food for exports and putting wholesome food on the tables in homes across the country.

“In agriculture during this time of year we use a lot of technology. We use that GPS, we know where we are in the field, what the yield is in that very spot. We use the no-steer guidance to get use where we are at that point in the field and so using that technology helps us with social media. The #MyFarmBill really completes that circle. You’re at the end of the field, you’re unloading, it goes from the augur to the grain cart and you are sitting there watching. Take advantage of the time you have to communicate the business you are in.”

Listen to my complete interview with Colleen here: Interview with Colleen Callahan

Checkout photos from NAFB Convention: 2013 NAFB Convention Photo Album

Audio, Farm Bill, Farming, Media, NAFB, USDA

NAFB President Passes the Gavel

Leah Guffey

_DSC2780As tradition has it, the gavel was passed during NAFB’s Friday night banquet. Mark Oppold with RFD-TV has greatly served the organization as the 2013 NAFB President. Emcee for the entertaining evening was Ken Root of Root Communications, a former colleague of Mark’s at AgriTalk. Friends and family of Mark took turns toasting his accomplishments and sometimes even roasting a memory or two.

I had a chance to catch up with him following the passing of the gavel and dinner with friends, family and colleagues alike. Mike Adams, who currently hosts AgriTalk also took time to narrate a video with some of Mark’s RFD-TV coworkers letting him know how proud they are of him and of course there were a few wise cracks along the way.

“I have been in this business for almost 40 years and it’s been an honor to be in the leadership the last three years to culminate tonight as the out going president. It’s very humbling. I’m very thankful.”

Past presidents also took their turn to wish Mark well, including last year’s president, Tom Steever. You can see how working together for the last three years on the board and as colleagues for many years has brought Mark and Tom closer together. Mark passed the gavel to now co-worker, Janet Adkison, who is stepping up in ranks as the 2014 NAFB President. I’d have to go back and look, but I’m not sure the transfer has ever happened in the same organization.

You can listen to my interview with Mark here Interview with NAFB President Mark Oppold

Checkout photos from NAFB Convention: 2013 NAFB Convention Photo Album

Audio, Media, NAFB

MFA, Inc. Celebrating 100 Years

Chuck Zimmerman

MFA IncorporatedI’m going to a big party this week. It’s the 100 year anniversary for MFA, Incorporated.

The celebration will be held along with the 2013 Annual Meeting of MFA, Inc. in Sedalia, MO. I’ll be on my way in the morning and have lots to share starting some time on Tuesday.

MFA was one of our first clients to have us build them a blog. That was way back in the early days of blogging! Oh, say going on about nine years ago. Doesn’t really seem that old but in new communications technology it is. But blogging hasn’t gone away. AgWired is good evidence of that! I’ll be seeing you from there.

Agribusiness

Ag Secretary Visits NAFB

Leah Guffey

vilsackAg Secretary Tom Vilsack made a trip to Kansas City to visit with farm broadcasters during the 70th National Association of Farm Broadcasting Annual Convention. The Secretary centered his comments around the RFS announcement, record levels of exports, drought issues and of course, the farm bill.

Vilsack started off by thanking all the farm broadcaster for the work that they do and shared how nice it was to talk to a crowd that understood what truly happens on the farm and appreciates the rural lifestyle.

The first topic Vilsack discussed was his excitement with agricultural exports. He stated, “We have now reached a record level of agricultural exports. Once again, $140.9 billon exports. It’s the best five years of ag exports in the history of the country. If you compare it to the pervious five year period we’ve done $230 billon more of agriculture exports and our volume is up as well.”

Next, the Secretary commented on this mornings announcement about the establishment of the National Drought Resiliency partnership. It is a collaborative effort between the Department of Commerce, Department of Interior, Department of Energy, Army Corp of Engineers, EPA, FEMA and the USDA. The goal with this team effort is to become better prepared and to mitigate the consequences of future droughts.

The final announcement came from the EPA today about RFS. Vilsack said, “At USDA we are going to focus on those aspects of this industry that we can control.” They plan to work with the industry and specifically the larger operators to create a distribution system to increase the availability of ethanol products and not depend on the petroleum industry.

You can listen to the entire press conference here Secretary Vilsack Press Conference

Checkout photos from NAFB Convention: 2013 NAFB Convention Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Environment, Ethanol, Farm Bill, Media, NAFB, USDA

EPA Unveils 2014 RFS Renewable Fuel Volumes

Joanna Schroeder

Today the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its proposal for the 2014 Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) as part of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for the amount of renewable fuels to be blended into gasoline and diesel. The EPA has proposed to set the cellulosic biofuel category at 17 million gallons, biomass-based diesel at 1.28 billion gallons, advanced biofuel at 2.20 billion gallons and renewable fuel at 15.21 billion. Development with input from the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Department of Agriculture, the proposal seeks public input.

fuels-americalogoFuels America coalition hosted a media call in reaction to the EPA’s proposed renewable volume obligations (RVOs) today. The biofuels industry said they were disappointed and that the proposed volumes would set the entire industry back and that the EPA’s proposal cannot stand.

During the call, Bob Dinneen from the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) unveiled a new analysis showing how the RVOs, if implemented, would impact gas prices. In addition to Bob Dinneen, participants included Brent Brent Erickson, Executive Vice President, BIO; Roger Johnson, President of the National Farmers Union; Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy; and Jeff Lautt, CEO of POET.

The Fuels America said of today’s proposed 2014 RFS numbers, “We are astounded by the proposal released by the Administration today. It reflects an “all of the above, except biofuels” energy strategy. If implemented, would cost American drivers more than $7 billion in higher gas prices, and hand the oil companies a windfall of $10.3 billion. The impact of this proposal on the renewable fuel industry– both first and second generation – cannot be overstated. It caps the amount of renewable fuel used in our gasoline far below what the industry is already making, and could make next year, using an approach that is inconsistent with the RFS.

Dinneen said during the press conference, “By re-writing the statute and re-defining the conditions upon which a waiver from the RFS can be granted, EPA is proposing to place the nation’s renewable energy policy in the hands of the oil companies. That would be the death of innovation and evolution in our motor fuel markets, thus increasing consumer costs at the pump and the environmental cost of energy production. This proposal cannot stand.”

Buis noted that this is a proposed rule and not a final rule and there will be a 60 day comment period. “We welcome the opportunity to ensure that biofuel stakeholders are able to express their concern with this proposed rule, while also laying out a reasonable pathway to achieve the goals of the RFS during the forthcoming comment period.

This fall, the corn industry is looking at a record breaking harvest while the EPA has proposed renewable fuel volumes well below what the ethanol industry is capable of supplying. Lautt responded during the call that the opportunity to offer more affordable fuel options to consumers has never been better.

Listen to the full Fuels America press call here: Industry Responds to 2014 RFS RVO Proposal

Audio, Biodiesel, Corn, Ethanol, RFA

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

    Zimfo Bytes

  • On November 21st and 22nd, the Brazilian city of Foz do Iguazú will be the venue of the 1st Agricultural Forum of South America.
  • The Georgia Peanut Commission, in cooperation with the National Peanut Buying Points Association and peanut food manufacturers, will host the 2013 Farmer Appreciation Day at the GPC office located in Tifton, Ga., from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 25, 2013.
  • The U.S. Pork Center of Excellence launched the National Swine Reproduction Guide, a web-based application offering valuable information to hog producers.
  • USDA today released its final tally for agricultural exports in Fiscal Year 2013, showing a new record of $140.9 billion.
Zimfo Bytes

ASFMRA Providing Continuing Education

Chuck Zimmerman

JoAnn WallOne of the first persons I met at the Agronomics Vision 2014 conference was JoAnn Wall, Central Coast AgAppraisal, Inc. JoAnn moderated a technology panel during the conference this year. We had a great conversation about the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers in which she is actively involved. JoAnn is an accredited rural appraiser and says the conference provides needed continuing education opportunities for ASFMRA members.

JoAnn talked about the use of flipbooks in her business for appraisal reports during her technology session. So it seems like new technology is changing the way even farm managers, rural appraisers and consultants are doing their business. She also encourage young people to consider a career in farm management or rural appraisal. That’s a key initiative of ASFMRA right now.

You can listen to my interview with JoAnn here: Interview with JoAnn Wall

Agronomics Vision 2014 Photo Album

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

Ag Groups, Audio