Soybean Farmer Recognized as Friend of Biodiesel

John Davis

kraus1A Kansas farmer has been recognized by the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) for his work for the biodiesel industry. The Kansas Soybean Commission announced that their primary representative on the NBB for the past 12 years, Harold Kraus from Hays, picked up NBB’s Friend of Biodiesel award during a membership meeting in Washington, D.C.:

“Harold has been a tremendous advocate for the biodiesel industry who will definitely be missed,” NBB CEO Joe Jobe said. “The industry has grown out of infancy to a billion-gallon industry due in large part to the efforts of champions like Mr. Kraus.”

“Any time your peers pat you on the back you have to feel better,” Kraus said. “When I came on board, there were 55 members. Now, we’re in the hundreds. We’ve got a good number of people, and they’re doing their job.”

“From the start, the soybean checkoff has played a major role in developing the U.S. biodiesel industry, and soybean farmers like Harold have invested a lot of time, energy and resources into bringing American-made, high-performing biodiesel to the marketplace,” said Dennis Hupe, KSC director of field services. “The award never can express fully the thanks that Harold deserves for his dedication to the development of the biodiesel industry.”

Kraus is retiring from his position on the board.

Ag Groups, Biodiesel, Soybean

Corn Growers Provide Trade Negotiation Advice

Cindy Zimmerman

During a House Committee on Small Business hearing this week in Washington, National Corn Growers Association President Pam Johnson provided policy recommendations for the U.S. Trade Representative on growing export opportunities, particularly the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).

pam-ttip“Agricultural producers succeed when industry and government work side-by-side,” NCGA President Pam Johnson said during her testimony. “It is critical that U.S. negotiators have an appreciation for how increasing exports translates into benefits for family farmers. The U.S. economy will not benefit from agriculture issues being placed on a ‘to do’ list. Now is the perfect time to eliminate long standing barriers to agricultural exports and promote policies that bring economic opportunity back to rural America.”

Johnson stressed the importance of dealing with trade barriers to genetically modified crops. “For NCGA members, the biggest challenge is the approval of corn and corn products that are derived through biotechnology,” she said. “Unjustified regulations are costing family farmers millions in lost sales to the EU and could result in even great losses of U.S. exports if they are adopted by other countries.”

The main point Johnson said the corn growers want to get across to USTR in these trade negotiations is – “nothing is agreed to until everything is agreed to.”

Listen to or download Pam’s testimony and answers to questions from lawmakers: NCGA president Pam Johnson Testimony

Audio, NCGA, Trade

Senate Passes Immigration Reform

Cindy Zimmerman

senate-immigrationUnlike last week’s farm bill vote in the House, it was no real surprise to see the Senate pass comprehensive immigration reform legislation Thursday by nearly the 70 vote margin supporters had predicted. And the email reactions from agriculture groups are coming in fast – again, unlike last week when prepared statements on farm bill passage had to be furiously rewritten.

“The Senate’s passage today of a balanced immigration reform bill that includes a fair and workable farm labor provision is welcomed by America’s farmers and ranchers. A comprehensive agricultural labor plan that works for all sectors of agriculture and across all regions of our nation is long overdue. We commend the Senate for addressing this very important issue, which will help ensure the continued success of agriculture in our nation,” said American Farm Bureau Federation president Bob Stallman.

“It also allows for peace of mind for all parties in agriculture to know that a more easy-to-use and effective system will be enacted, says National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson. “I look forward to continuing to work with the House of Representatives to pass immigration legislation that achieves many of these same ends.”

But about that, Speaker of the House John Boehner said in a press conference today, “The House is not going to take up and vote on whatever the Senate passes. We’re going to do our own bill, through regular order.” Audio and video below. (Also see previous post on concerns about ag provisions in the bill.)

Boehner on Immigration Reform

AFBF, Audio, labor, Video

China Approves Monsanto DroughtGard Hybrids

Cindy Zimmerman

The drought tolerance trait in Monsanto’s Genuity® DroughtGard® hybrids recently received final import approval from China, a major market for U.S. corn grain and dried distillers grain solubles (DDGS).

droughtgardThe approval was granted last week as part of a broader series of approvals and represents a significant step forward for technology approvals in China, according to Monsanto officials.

“The import approval of this trait is great news for U.S. farmers,” said Lisa Safarian, U.S. Row Crops Lead for Monsanto. “With full import approvals in key export markets, farmers can market their grain more broadly this year and plant with confidence in 2014.” Safarian added, “This approval also provides expanded access to another tool that can help farmers more sustainably manage their risk.”

More than 250 farmers in the Western Great Plains planted DroughtGard Hybrids last year on their farms as a part of Monsanto’s Ground Breakers® program. This year, the product was introduced in the Western Great Plains under stewardship requirements. Farmers who purchased DroughtGard Hybrids for planting in 2013 signed a grain stewardship agreement committing to use the grain as on-farm feed or to sell the grain for domestic use due to pending import approvals in key export markets. With the approval in China, Monsanto will remove the grain stewardship requirements, and grain will no longer be required to remain in the domestic market.

Read more from Monsanto press release.

Corn, Farming, Trade

John Block Reports

Chuck Zimmerman

John BlockOne of my all time favorite U.S. Secretaries of Agriculture is John Block. Here he is speaking on a panel at last fall’s NAFB convention. John is currently Senior Policy Advisor in the law firm of Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Matz PC and serves on numerous boards. He also produces a long running commentary, John Block Reports from Washington. His most recent episode touches on immigration reform, spending and budgets and Syria. You can listen to it here: John Block Reports

John encourage everyone to access his website which archives his radio commentaries dating back 10 years and will go back 20 years when complete. Check on what he said back then.

Audio, Media

Sing a Song of Hot Dogs

Chuck Zimmerman

Hot Dog Idol ContestIt’s summer hot dog time and National Hot Dog Month is almost here. According to the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council, Americans are expected to eat 150 million hot dogs over the July 4th holiday alone, part of the 7 billion hot dogs eaten over the summer season from Memorial Day to Labor Day. That’s a lot of dogs!

If you’re a hot dog lover and want to “sing for your supper” then check out the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, Hot Dog Idol Contest.

Fans across America have a chance to win a $250 gift card to use to create their perfect summer picnic; all it takes is a catchy tune. Fans can submit a video or audio post singing a song about hot dogs—the more creative the better. Songs can be an original tune or changed lyrics to a popular song, but the goal is the same: sing to profess a love of hot dogs. Entries must be submitted to contest@hot-dog.org by noon on July 11, 2013.

Finalists will be posted on the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council Facebook page on July 12 for fans to choose their favorite. The songs with the most votes will be announced on National Hot Dog Day, July 17th, 2013 with the grand prize winner receiving a $250 gift certificate to the grocery store of their choosing to build the perfect summer picnic. First runner-up will receive a $100 gift certificate to the grocery store of their choosing, and second runner-up will receive a $50 gift card to the grocery store of their choosing. All three top vote-getters will receive complimentary National Hot Dog and Sausage Council T-shirts featuring the slogan Hot Dogs: Relish the Moment, chosen by hot dog fans during last year’s Hot Dog Month. Full contest guidelines and rules are available at www.hot-dog.org.

Ag Groups, Food, Meat

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