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.
The National Milk Producers Federation is getting REAL serious about the REAL Seal. Well, maybe not so much serious as having some fun. This is the cartoon character that has been created to help “revitalize and build awareness of the dairy industry’s iconic REAL® Seal.” There is already a “cartoon” with the character on YouTube. What would you name it?
“The REAL® Seal has been around for nearly 40 years,” said Jim Mulhern, Chief Operating Officer of NMPF. “This character is intended to bring the importance of looking for REAL® dairy products and foods made with REAL® dairy products to life.”
The first order of business will be naming the character, according to Mulhern, who said a name will be chosen through an on-line challenge.
“We want kids to learn how to differentiate real dairy products and foods made with real American dairy products from the vegetable- and nut-based pretenders,” said Mulhern. “To highlight this important distinction, we are launching a campaign to name the character.”
Names may be submitted through the REAL® Seal website: www.realseal.com. All entries must be received by August 31, 2013. The top three names entered will be posted in September on the REAL® Seal Facebook page (www.facebook.com/realsealdairy) and subject to a vote. The name with the most votes will be declared the winner.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) says no to another farm bill extension.
In remarks on the Senate floor Monday prior to starting business on the immigration reform bill, Senator Reid began by noting that last week’s defeat of the farm bill on the House floor was “the first time the House of Representatives defeated a farm bill since the program was created in the 1930’s.”
Reid says he was sorry to hear the House leadership blame the defeat on the Democrats. “They had to blame someone. They couldn’t blame themselves, even though they should,” he said.
The Senate majority leader urged the House to take up the farm bill passed by the Senate by 66 votes. “I want everyone within the sound of my voice, as well as my colleagues on the other side of the Capitol to know that the Senate will not pass another temporary farm bill extension,” said Reid. “It’s time for real reform that protects both rural farm communities and urban families who need help feeding their children.”
It is still not clear just what, if anything, the House will do about the situation.
CF Industries Holdings, Inc. announced that Adam Hall has joined the company as vice president, corporate development.
The National Council of Chain Restaurants launched “Feed Food Fairness: Take RFS Off the Menu,” a new grassroots campaign focused on repealing the federal Renewable Fuel Standard and the corn ethanol mandate.
The Progressive Farmer announces the expansion of its agronomic and crop focus within a new branded magazine edition called SouthernLink.
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. 
