Ag Biotech Topic of Science Event

Cindy Zimmerman

Increasing demand for major crops and the use of biotechnology in agriculture was the topic during the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s Charles Valentine Riley Memorial Lecture in New York on Tuesday.

The main lecturer, Dr. Stephen Long, Professor of Plant Biology and Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois, said the demand for major crops is expected to rise 50 percent by 2030. He also emphasized that the use of commodities for energy as well as food and feed comes at a time when increases in yield are stagnating. However, he pointed out that new biotechnological approaches are providing opportunities to overcome these limitations, but that societal and policy acceptance of these opportunities is likely the greatest barrier.

ncga-pam-lectureA panel following the lecture included National Corn Growers Association President Pam Johnson, Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation president Richard Bonanno, and Director of USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture Sonny Ramaswamy – who participated in last week’s IFAMA World Forum.

“The continued use of biotechnology in agriculture is a key component to food security,” Johnson said. “However, we need to greatly improve the public’s acceptance of biotechnology. Agriculture needs to lead the conversation on this important topic and provide education on the advancements of the industry. Consumers should be able to make decisions based on science and facts, not fearmongering.”

The Charles Valentine Riley Memorial Lecture at AAAS is in honor of Professor Riley’s legacy as a “whole picture” person with a vision for enhancing agriculture through scientific knowledge. The AAAS Riley Lecture addresses timely topics such as the role food, agriculture and natural resources play in providing a secure food supply and a sustainable economy.

Biotech, Farming, NCGA

Rural Radio a New Channel on Sirius XM

Chuck Zimmerman

Rural Radio SiriusXMIn case you didn’t know, both the current National Association of Farm Broadcasting President, Mark Oppold and incoming President, Janet Atkinson, will be anchoring shows on the newly announced Rural Radio, a 24/7 channel on Sirius XM. I think that’s the first time in NAFB history both have worked for the same company! The new channel (80) will launch on July 15.

What do you think about this new channel? Will it have an impact on traditional local farm broadcasting? If so, what will it be? Will this help connect rural and urban satellite radio listeners?

RURAL RADIO, channel 80, will give SiriusXM listeners all over America, whether driving a tractor cab equipped with satellite radio or driving in city commuter traffic, an unprecedented connection to the rural community. RURAL RADIO will broadcast original programming for rural audiences exclusively for SiriusXM that spans commodity market reporting, lifestyle programming, original and classic entertainment, and western sports, such as rodeo and bull riding.

RURAL RADIO launches July 15 on Channel 80, and there will be an official launch celebration August 3, with an all-day event to be held at the finish line of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which will include an attempt to set the Guinness World Record for a Parade of Pickup Trucks on the historic track, with all their radios tuned to SiriusXM channel 80.

RURAL RADIO’s broadcast operations will be based in Nashville, Tennessee along with Rural Media Group, Inc., (RMG).Corporate offices, sales, and marketing will be headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska. A complete broadcast program schedule will be made available on or before July 15, 2013 at www.facebook.com/RURALRADIO80 and on Twitter @RURALRADIO80.

Veteran farm broadcasters Mark Oppold and Janet Adkinson, the current and incoming presidents of the National Association of Farm Broadcasters (NAFB) will anchor three daily, weekday shows—Commodity Wrap, Rural Evening News and Market Day Report, a live 5-hour daily program featuring reports from dedicated news bureaus located at the CME, Chicago Board of Trade, as well as from USDA headquarters in Washington, D.C. Additional daily ag-related programming will be provided through RMG’s strong affiliations with the leaders in rural America, including: Farm Journal Media, owners of AGDAY, U.S. Farm Report and AGRITALK, Meredith Corporation’s Living The Country Life, various state farm bureaus, and Ag PhD featuring the Hefty Brothers of South Dakota.

Media

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Talia Goes

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Novozymes Acquires TJ Technologies

Joanna Schroeder

Novozymes has signed a definitive agreement to acquire TJ Technologies Inc. based in Watertown, South Dakota. The move was made in an effort to continue to build Novozymes LogoNovozymes’ business in the BioAgriculture sector. TJ Technologies specializes in bioyield enhancement.

“With this acquisition we continue to build our business within sustainable bioagriculture. TJ Technologies Inc. is a frontrunner in bioyield enhancers, and this acquisition will further underpin Novozymes’ position, while strengthening commercial access,” said Thomas Videbæk, Executive Vice President of Novozymes and head of Business Development. “Combining our existing products and leading global name with TJ Technologies’ strong and proven portfolio, brands and regional market coverage will strengthen the joint company’s commercial position in important crop markets.”

tj_technologies logoTJ Technologies was founded in 1978 and develops and markets proprietary microbial and micronutrient products for agriculture. It is a significant participant in the U.S. market for bioyield enhancement products, with a strong position in seed treatment of corn as well as other important crops.

“With its proven portfolio of products and new pipeline opportunities, TJ Technologies’ talented employees will add solid experience and knowhow to Novozymes, which can leverage its leading position to bring the existing products to market, and further develop new innovation and growth opportunities for the bioagriculture market,” added Videbæk.

Agribusiness, Biotech, Corn

New Effort to Repeal Death Tax

Cindy Zimmerman

death-tax-1While all eyes were on the farm bill in the House last week, Senator John Thune (R-SD) and Representative Kevin Brady (R-TX) re-introduced legislation to permanently repeal the federal estate tax, better known as the death tax.

“We don’t think death should be a taxable event,” said Thune, Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference and member of the Senate Finance Committee. “We think you ought to give family farmers and ranchers and small business people those who work hard to build up that over a lifetime, the opportunity to pass that on to the next generation.”

“Can you imagine, you work your whole life to build up a next egg, to build up a family owned farm or business and when you die Uncle Sam swoops in and takes nearly half of everything you worked your life to save for,” asked Brady, chairman of the Joint Economic Committee and a senior member of the House Ways & Means Committee. “The Death Tax remains the number one reason family owned farms and businesses don’t survive to the next generation and it’s time to end this immoral tax once and for all in America.”

estate-tax-noemRep. Kristi Noem (R-SD) told her personal story of how the death tax affected her family farming operation when her father was killed in a farm accident when she was just 21 years old. “I was shocked when I got a bill from the federal government that said because a tragedy happened to my family, I now owed them thousands of dollars,” she said. “For ten years I paid on a loan to pay the federal government what I owed them and it made it very difficult for our family business to survive. It made me angry and actually it’s the reason I ran for office.”

estate-tax-steveFormer National Cattlemen’s Beef Association president Steve Fogelsong of Illinois says he is a first generation rancher whose children have helped pay to build up the family operation. “And then when I kick the bucket, they’re going to get to do it all over again and pay for that – that doesn’t make any sense,” he said, adding that “farmers and ranchers aren’t a very bright bunch” because instead of taking vacations in Cancun or buying luxury cars they take the money they make and “plow it right back into that dirt.”

The video of last week’s press conference is below and here is a partial audio file with the opening statements of the members of Congress – Thune, Brady, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Rep. Mike McIntyre (D-NC), Noem, and Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) – with Steve’s remarks at the end. 6/19/13 Death Tax Press Conference

Audio, NCBA, Video

Agri-Pulse Open Mic with Dr. Robert Fraley

Cindy Zimmerman

New on Agri-Pulse this week:

open-micDr. Robert Fraley was just named a winner of the 2013 World Food Prize for his role in revolutionary biotechnology discoveries. His career has several parallels with Dr. Norman Borlaug and his passion is as intense. Fraley talks about the use of plant biotechnology to feed a growing population, addressing global hunger and the challenges of gaining acceptance of technologies that change the status quo. He also comments on biotech wheat containing the Roundup Ready trait that was recently identified on an Oregon farm.

Listen to the Agri-Pulse Open Mic interview with Dr. Fraley here.

Agri-Pulse, Agribusiness

New DuPont Innovation Center Launched in Iowa

Talia Goes

tn-DuPont-Johnston-Innovation-Center-752DuPont opened its Johnston Innovation Center, the company’s second innovation center in the United States and 12th around the world, focusing on the company’s unique integrated science capabilities across the food, agriculture and energy value chains.

The 3,500 square foot space and adjoining collaboration room showcases the latest company technology, applications and products created to meet the world’s biggest challenges, including food security, energy and protection. During the opening event, Chair and Chief Executive Officer Ellen Kullman, also announced two recent DuPont projects in Iowa that further demonstrate the company’s commitment to growing its research capacity globally in order to address the demands of a growing world population. DuPont Pioneer will break ground on a new research facility, Beaver Creek II, in Johnston in the fall of 2013 – a project that will add 100 new jobs to the Des Moines metro area. Additionally, DuPont is investing over $200 million in its Nevada, Iowa commercial cellulosic ethanol production facility. The construction of the facility will employ over 1,000 construction workers. It will employ over 60 full time jobs and involve hundreds of farmers who will supply the stover to the facility upon completion.

Agribusiness

Embracing Change Throughout The Beef Community

Jamie Johansen

lma-13-janesThe beef community is no stranger to change. Understanding it may not always be easy, but embracing it is key. During the recent 2013 Livestock Marketing Association’s Annual Meeting and World Livestock Auctioneer Championship attendees heard multiple times about different changes in the industry. Technology is one of those changes that improves efficiency and makes it easier for cattlemen to do their job.

Lori Janes, with The Cattlemen’s Resource, Inc., was one of the many exhibitors of the Industry Showcase trade show. Chuck took the opportunity to chat with her about their software OrderXpress.

OrderXpress is a software program for backgrounders, stockers and feed yards. Throughout the LMA Convention Lori spoke with attendees about their new modules, keeping in mind that the customers of livestock markets are also her customers. Because of her many years in the beef industry, she speaks their language and understands their backgrounds.

A new platform The Cattlemen’s Resource has taken to is the blogosphere. Their goal is to start a blog full of technological information for cattlemen. They want to start the conversation, be able to answer their questions and find out better ways they can help cattlemen across the country.

You can listen to Chuck’s interview with Lori here: Interview with Lori Janes

Here you can find photos from the event: 2013 LMA/WLAC Photo Album

Audio, Beef, Livestock, LMA

How UF is Engaging Talent to Feed the World

Cindy Zimmerman

ifama-13-hannah-ufThe University of Florida (our alma mater!) was one of the land grant universities singled out by the director of USDA’s National Institute of Food & Agriculture Sonny Ramaswamy during his talk at the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA) World Forum last week as those who have been making changes to prepare students for the future of the industry. UF Department of Agriculture Assistant Professor Hannah Carter was at the forum and took part in a panel on engaging talent to feed the world.

“Really the question is where are the people going to be who are answering the questions about how do we feed the world, how do we shelter the world, climate change – where are the folks going to come from that work on these tough issues,” Hannah told me. “There’s a lot of opportunities in agriculture and we actually can’t fill the jobs that are going to be there…and I feel like we need to sell agriculture a little better.”

Hannah was at the forum to represent the Challenge 2050 Project at UF. “It’s truly to go beyond the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and find students who want to engage in these complex problems but might be working in bio-medicine or engineering,” she said. “What we’re finding is students who never really considered ag as an opportunity or pursuit look at these big ideas and problems and say ‘hey, I can play a part in that.'”

Listen to my interview with Hannah here: UF Assistant Professor Hannah Carter at IFAMA World Forum
IFAMA 23rd World Forum Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Education, University

SAI Platform Checklist Launched at IFAMA

Cindy Zimmerman

sai-platformThe International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA) World Forum last week featured the global launch of the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI) Checklist, the “world’s first practitioner’s guide” to the sustainable outsourcing of agricultural raw materials.

ifama-13-ernestoSAI president and Coca Cola Senior Manager of Sustainability Ernesto Brovelli said the purpose of the checklist is based on the fact that the job of farmers is to farm, not to fill out forms. “We want to make their life easy,” he said. “We want these tools, these assessments to be simple, to be educational because sustainability is a new area. Allowing them to self-assess themselves they develop self-awareness of what are important sustainability aspects.”

Recognizing that sustainability can be defined in different ways, Brovelli also participated in a session at IFAMA on establishing a common language and benchmarking standards for agricultural sustainability “and this is what the checklist does.”

You can download the checklist on the SAI website and find out more in this interview with Ernesto. SAI president Ernesto Brovelli at IFAMA World Forum


IFAMA 23rd World Forum Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Sustainability