Westmoor Manufacturing, makers of Panhandle Slim and the Rock and Roll Cowboy and Rock and Roll Cowgirl clothing brands, announces the signing of World Champion Calf Roper Tuf Cooper to promote its brands.
The U.S. Soy Familiy has developed the U.S. Soybean Sustainability Assurance Protocol to ensure the purchase and markets of soybeans that are grown with respect for the land and its people.
Nicole Woods, Kansas City, Kan., has been selected as the new Hereford Publications Inc. creative services coordinator.
Novozymes, the world leader in bioinnovation, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire TJ Technologies Inc. based in Watertown, South Dakota, USA.
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’ 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 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.
“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.”
Rep. 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.”
Former 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
Dr. 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.
DuPont 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.
The 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.
The 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.'”
SAI 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.”
One great opportunity to do both of those things took place during the Industry Showcase. The trade show allowed attendees to see first-hand new products and ask questions from the experts.
Chuck spoke with Jake Franke with Anipro who exhibited at the event. Anipro is a feed supplement that can be found throughout the United States. It is designed to help cow/calf producers find a quality supplement to add to their nutrition program. Jake specifically works with the Premium Nutrition Network, which is a value-added program to help cow/calf producers, stockers and backgrounders get a comprehensive feeding prospective for their herd.
He added that the convention was full of hospitality and a great opportunity to meet many prospective customers.
My next stop on the agriblogging highway will be the 2013 Conservation in Action Tour in Illinois. There are only a few seats left. I’ve been attending Conservation Technology Information Center tours for years now and they are loaded with information. This tour is July 9-10 in Livingston, IL. A pre-tour seminar on July 9 has also been added. Learn more about the tour in the video below.
This tour will feature three stops focusing on soil health, nutrient management and drainage water management. Farmers, agribusiness personnel, media and others involved in agriculture will be attending to hear from speakers with experience in several aspects of conservation, such as building soil health, efficiently managing nutrients and controlling the water that drains from fields. Featured speakers include Jason Weller, chief of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Denise Keehner of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Jean Payne, president of the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association.
Along with the tour, Solutions from the Land and CTIC will be presenting a seminar on July 9 discussing the Indian Creek Watershed Project. This event will be held at the Marriott before the tour’s evening social. The program for the pre-tour seminar can be accessed here (.doc). To sign up for this seminar, click here.
