Concerns About Ag Provisions in Immigration Bill

Cindy Zimmerman

chamblissAs the Senate prepares to vote on comprehensive immigration reform today, Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) took to the floor Wednesday evening to detail some of his concerns about the farm worker provisions in the bill and amendments that he wanted to see added.

The Georgia senator’s main issues center around requirements under the “Blue Card” program the new legislation would set up that he feels could add too many farm workers and ultimately make it easier for them to move out of agriculture and into other areas of employment.

“Because of the way the blue card program is set up, I’m afraid we’re providing too strong an incentive for people who did very minimal or even no work in agriculture to access the program, and that we’ll end up with more ag workers than we need,” said Chambliss. “Then because the work requirements are so low, once folks get the blue card, they’ll perform the minimal amount of work required and move on to a different job.”

Chambliss spent time detailing the amendments he would like to offer that would fix some of the concerns he has and he is disappointed they will not be considered. “The ag portion of this bill is a critical piece of the legislation and I’m afraid it’s been overshadowed by some of the other issues,” he said. “Ultimately, I want what’s best for American agriculture.”

Listen to or download – Senator Saxby Chambliss 6/26/13

Audio, labor

The Tin Man

Melissa Sandfort

imageToday Aunt Jeanette writes:
One of our hired farm hands is always playing tricks on us. He has a quick wit and makes me laugh.

His parents had a garage sale as they are moving and needed to downsize a bit. I knew about the garage sale, but since they live in a different town, I did not go. Plus, I have enough stuff of my own. As our employee was leaving work one day, he said he had a tin man in his pickup that he was going to take to the dumpster. I jokingly said, “Just make sure it gets to the dumpster as I have enough junk around here already!”

The next morning as I was watering my flowers, I saw the tin man hiding in my flower bed! The funny thing is, I thought he was kind of cute. So I left him there. The next morning the little bucket he is holding appeared. There was a wheelbarrow by his feet the next morning. I had no choice but to plant some flowers in the bucket and wheelbarrow. So the Tin Man has a permanent home among my flowers!

Looks like the Tin Man has found my heart.

Until we walk again …

Uncategorized

A Swinetiffic Relationship – Pork and Biofuels

Joanna Schroeder

Today is Iowa Swine Day (June 27) and the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) is taking a time to show how renewable fuels production is boosting the profitability of raising hogs in Iowa.

Cute pig“On Iowa Swine Day, it’s important to remember that a strong renewable fuels industry means a strong hog industry here in Iowa,” said IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw. “IRFA members have developed solid relationships with Iowa’s pork producers and the numbers show it. Whether it’s purchasing choice white grease for biodiesel production or supplying affordable distillers grains for feed, Iowa renewable fuels and Iowa pork production have a symbiotic relationship.”

IFRA says that ethanol production helps Iowa pork producers by providing an affordable, high protein feed called distillers grains (DDGS). The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and ProExporter Network recently noted that Iowa hogs are the number one in-state consumer of DDGS, utilizing approximately 1.2 million tons of each year. This represents 61 percent of in-state DDGS consumption.

In addition, biodiesel production not only lowers the cost of soybean meal, it also increases the value of animal fats benefiting Iowa’s pork producers. A recent study by Cardno ENTRIX found that an Iowa hog producer realizes a $4 per head boost in profitability because of Iowa’s biodiesel industry. Therefore, an Iowa farmer raising both crops and hogs would see nearly a 20 percent increase in net income because of Iowa biodiesel production.

Biodiesel, Biofuels, Ethanol, Pork, Swine

Contestants Came Far & Wide For WLAC Competition

Jamie Johansen

lma-13-jonesThe World Livestock Auctioneer Championship took place in conjunction with the Livestock Marketing Association’s Annual Convention. Auctioneer’s from around the world who qualified for the event traveled to Montgomery, Alabama to compete and take in the convention.

Chuck caught up with Garrett Jones from Los Banos, California, who was a contestant in the auctioneering championship. Garrett qualified in the top 31 contestants and was eager for the competition to begin.

With little agricultural background, Garrett first became interested in auctioneering when he saw a local auctioneer sell his country fair. The auctioneer was also a local cattle buyers and encouraged him to go to auctioneering school and the rest is pretty much history.

When asked if he had done any preparation for the competition he shared that auctioneers sell cattle everyday, so that part is easy. The part he was a little nervous about was the interview process and talking to a panel of judges.

Garrett was proud to do his best to represent the industry well. Here he is pictured with his dad and Jimmy Maxey, Secretary/Treasurer, Cattlemen’s Beef Board.

You can listen to Chuck’s interview with Garrett here: Interview with Garrett Jones

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

Audio, Beef, Livestock, LMA

New Efforts for House Farm Bill

Cindy Zimmerman

House Democrats have officially introduced the Senate version of the farm bill as Republicans continue to mull their options.

Dave-LoebsackDemocrat representatives Dave Loebsack and Bruce Braley of Iowa, together with freshman Cheri Bustos of Illinois introduced HR 2498 with the exact text as the Senate Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013 which passed earlier this month on a vote of 66-23.

“After voting down the farm bill last week, the House must act quickly to move the farm bill process forward. The Senate voted in a strong bipartisan fashion to move the Farm Bill forward and it is time House leaders bring up this legislation and allow a vote on the bill,” said Congressman Dave Loebsack. “I know the Farm Bill is critical for Iowa’s farmers, rural communities and economy. While the Senate legislation is not perfect, Congress must provide our farmers and rural communities some certainty. Partisan bickering will only further delay enactment of a long-term Farm Bill.”

Meanwhile, House Republicans met on Wednesday in an effort to regroup after last week’s stunning defeat of the farm bill on the House floor. No official word on what they might do, just that they want to “do something.”

Farm Bill

IFAJ Has Two Positions Open

Chuck Zimmerman

IFAJThe International Federation of Agricultural Journalists is looking for a couple of good people. It’s to support the IFAJ Strategy 2020 program. you can read all about that here (pdf).

There are two part time positions open to help administer the expanding day-to-day affairs of the organization. Here are short descriptions of the positions. You can find out more online.

General Manager – (Executive Secretary and internet network facilitator)

The general manager maintains contact with executive members, guild secretaries and the presidium.

Global Coordinator – (Coordinator strategy 2020, treasurer and guild support)

The global coordinator reports to the presidium and works to create liaisons and manage partner programs between IFAJ and agricultural journalists worldwide.

IFAJ, Media

Multiplier Effect of IFAMA Student Involvement

Cindy Zimmerman

ifama-13-studentsA panel at the Student Summit luncheon at the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA) World Forum last week showcased the “multiplier effect” that IFAMA has for the industry. It also shows the tremendous commitment of Novus International to bringing along future talent.

ifama-13-novus-tomasTomas Murtagh has been with Novus International for five years now as a business and financial analyst based in Brazil, after being involved in the student case competition in 2006. “It’s a good chance for students to sit down with industry leaders, with the Novus’, the Monsantos, the Coca Colas out there,” he said. “It’s not just networking, it’s educational as well.” It was through contacts with IFAMA that got the opportunity with Novus.

Listen to Tomas’ comments here Tomas Murtagh, Novus International

ifama-13-novus-internsYiwei Yan and Mingxuan Liu from China were on the 2012 winning student case competition team from Nanjing Agricultural University and are now both interns for the summer with Novus International. Yiwei is working with the HR department of Novus and is attending the University of Georgia, while Mingxuan (Micky), who will receive her PhD next month, was quite active at the forum greeting people and helping them get to where they were going.

“This is a big event for us to help us understand more about the industry,” said Yiwei. “From here we can know how to use our knowledge in reality and not just specialize in one single field.”

Micky’s exuberance and outgoing personality has paid off for her in helping her team win last year at IFAMA in Shanghai and with her internship this year at Novus, which has helped her see different sides of IFAMA. “This year as an intern I have a wider horizon as to what the whole of IFAMA is,” she said. “We can see what the role we are going to play and who we are going to be in the future.”

Listen to comments from Yiwei and Micky here: Novus student interns from China

Also, in case you missed it, be sure to listen to my interview with Novus CEO Thad Simons, new president of IFAMA, in which he talks about how important the IFAMA student program is to Novus and to the industry as a whole. Interview with Novus CEO and IFAMA president Thad Simons


IFAMA 23rd World Forum Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Novus International

Are You a Satellite Radio Listener

Talia Goes

Before we get to our new Zimmpoll let’s look at the results of our latest one which asked the question, “How concerned are you about the government having your private data?” Our poll results read loud and clear this week. Over half of you are now more worried that the government sees private data.

Our poll results: Sixty-nine percent said More Worried, twenty-four percent said Not Concerned, four percent said Other and two percent said Less Worried. Many agriculturalists have converted to digital data systems in order to become more efficient. Knowing the government is actively collecting private data is causing concerns in all sectors of business and that includes farming.

Untitled

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “Do you listen to satellite radio?” Satellite radio has become more and more popular over the years. Not only is it included in many new vehicles but you can even access it over your smartphone. So do you subscribe? Has it changed your listening habits? Will this affect “regular” farm radio? Let us know.

ZimmPoll is sponsored by New Holland Agriculture.

ZimmPoll

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