The Agricultural Power of We

Chuck Zimmerman

Today is Blog Action Day. The topic is “The Power of We.” I am going to take that to mean the power of the agricultural community. It is made up of all the farmers who grow the crops and raise the livestock we need to feed ourselves. It is also made up of everyone else in the food chain from agribusiness companies and processors to transportation and grocery stores and restaurants. That’s a big community with a lot of Power of We!

It’s also a very diverse community that includes what a lot of people refer to as conventional farmers and those who specialize in organic farming of different types. All of them share common concerns and challenges. All of them want and need to help the non-farm community understand where the food is coming from. That’s where organizations like the AgChat Foundation, USFRA and National Ag Day are playing a role today and there are many more.

I’m writing this in the hopes of continuing to urge and encourage farmers to join the online conversation. So many of you already are. We’re going to see communications technology continue to change as new mobile devices allow us to be constantly in touch. Let’s use that technology to help everyone understand that today’s farmers love and care for their land, for their animals and want to do all they can to become more productive while maintaining a sustainable business.

Feel free to chime in with your thoughts as Blog Action Day develops today. Thank you.

Ag Day, USFRA

Paying Homage to Peanut Farmers

Melissa Sandfort

The Georgia Peanut Commission, in cooperation with the Georgia Bankers Association, kicks off its annual Georgia Peanut Bank Week this week, Oct. 15-19, 2012. This year marks the 36th anniversary of Georgia Peanut Bank Week, and banks and financial businesses across the state will pay homage to peanut farmers’ contributions to the state and local economies. The famous “little red bags” of peanuts, one of the world’s most nutritious foods, will be given away to help aid in telling the peanut farmers’ story.

This year’s theme is “Peanuts and Banking, Here We Grow Again,” to show the relationship and growth between peanut farmers, bankers and the peanut industry. The bond between banking organizations and peanut farmers has always been firm and continues to grow. Georgia leads the nation in the production of peanuts with more than 475,000 planted acres. Gross income from Georgia growers contributes approximately $1 billion impact to South Georgia’s economy. Value added processing adds approximately $1 billion to the state’s economy, also.

The Georgia Peanut Commission invites everyone to visit a participating local bank to support peanut farmers and the banking industry. Peanuts, recipes and other promotional items will be available the week of Oct. 15-19 at participating organizations.

Agribusiness, Peanuts

What does a SoyCow do?

Melissa Sandfort

See the power of soy through a light-hearted, short YouTube video “What Does a SoyCow Do? She Can’t Moo.” Inspired by a Dr. Seuss story, the upbeat video showcases how the World Soy Foundation helps children grow, learn, play and become leaders in their communities. Stainless steel processors, called SoyCows, are one of the multiple tools that the World Soy Foundation uses to reduce malnutrition through the power of soy.

See this video and support the World Soy Foundation.

Agribusiness, Dairy, Social Networking, Video

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • The Future of the U.S Egg Industry Conference is returning to the education schedule at the 2013 IPPE.
  • FDAImports.com has launched 5 new labeling websites that allow companies with products that are regulated by the U.S. FDA to receive a label review in order to identify any compliance issues with their product label.
  • Paul Kindinger, President and CEO of NAEDA, announced his departure effective Oct. 4, 2012.
  • Wheat Growers’ commitment to offering internship opportunities for students pursuing agricultural careers was recognized with the Bridge Builder award from the Aberdeen Development Corporation, the Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce and Absolutely Aberdeen (ABBY).
    Zimfo Bytes

    The School Lunch Parodies

    Melissa Sandfort

    Who has seen The Hunger Games – or read the books? You’ll get a laugh out of the comparisons drawn in this video. Kids these days may have some “out there” ideas (at least that’s what some of us ‘old’ folks think) but one thing they have right is that they stand up for what they believe, and speak out about it too. The school lunch program changes have students up in arms, and hungry. In a recent ZimmPoll, nearly HALF of respondents gave school lunches an ‘F’.

    Student distaste for the program has gone viral. Enjoy. And may the odds be ever in your favor.

    Agribusiness, Food, USDA

    PowerSuite Nominated for Technology Award

    Melissa Sandfort

    PowerSuite for Retailers is the first and only cloud-based sales and customer management tool designed specifically for U.S. Ag retailers. XS’ PowerSuite application was one of 11 products recently nominated for the ARA/AgGateway Technology Award. The winner will be featured during the ARA Annual Conference & Expo in November and will receive $1,000 to a charity of choice. The contest runs through October 18.

    PowerSuite was created due to an expressed need from field reps and managers of U.S. Ag retailers for on-demand access to their customer’s sales information for reports and analysis.

    You can vote for PowerSuite here.

    Agribusiness, Technology

    Zimfo Bytes

    Melissa Sandfort

      Zimfo Bytes

    • Make plans now to attend the 37th Annual Georgia Peanut Farm Show and Conference scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013.
    • Hoosier Ag Today is proud to announce that Cayla McLeland has joined the organization as Regional Sales Manager and Regional Farm Broadcaster.
    • JBS United’s Director of Purchasing and long-time employee of over 34 years, Chris Wallace, passed away unexpectedly on Sept. 14.
    • Aarian Marshall has joined the Agri-Pulse team as fall intern.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Farmers Finding More Than Just Aflatoxins

    Melissa Sandfort

    There is no doubt that feed quality will be a challenge this year. Four of the nation’s top producing corn states have already been given permission to blend corn at levels exceeding the FDA aflatoxin action level and other states may soon be following in pursuit. As the USDA reports this year’s corn supply at an eight-year low, much of the Midwest is trying to utilize this year’s poor corn crop for their livestock.

    While Aspergillus, the mold responsible for aflatoxins, has been the most notorious culprit in the 2012 harvest due to its carcinogenic properties, other toxins may show up this year. The hot and dry growing season provides just the right climate for the mold Fusarium verticillioides, which causes fumonisin B1 and can have serious effects on horses and swine. Penicillium is another mold of concern, especially during storage. Silage that is dry, poorly packed or has a significant amount of soil contamination can allow Pencillium to produce PR toxin, patulin, mycophenolic acid, roquefortine C, penicilic acid and several other mycotoxins.

    In order to better identify mycotoxins, Alltech recently launched its 37+ Program. The mass spectrometry technique LC-MS2 can investigate 38 different mycotoxins quantitatively, and more than 50 others qualitatively in less than 15 minutes per sample analyzed, with limits of detection in the parts per trillion range. This approach allows a broader analytical approach compared to other commercial methods that can only see a ‘snapshot’ of contamination.

    For more information about the 37+ Program or any concerns relating to mycotoxins, please call the Mycotoxin Hotline at 866-322-3484.

    Agribusiness, Alltech, Harvest

    Mouse Traps

    Melissa Sandfort

    Living out in the country, I fully expect to see bugs and spiders in our house. I’m forever turning a corner and finding a spider crawling somewhere – that said, I should just keep a Kleenex in my hand at all times for just the occasion! I wasn’t even surprised the day I found a small garter snake on the tile by the front door (there IS a big gap between the doors that makes a wonderful entrance for snakes).

    I’d say of all the creepy crawlies, the spiders bother me the most.

    But in the past two weeks, we’ve caught three mice and one 4T boys sock. With the disappearance of black kitty, the mice have found their way into the warmer climate. We put sticky mouse traps by the back door since we had our suspicions they were coming in through the garage and within minutes, had already caught two. The next week, our son decided to see just how sticky the traps were and we caught his new sock. He was so distraught when I had to toss it in the trash, but my mom’s “never fail stain removal list” doesn’t include sticky mouse trap glue.

    So I went on a kitten-finding mission and thanks to a good friend, now have two new cats. I hope they’re mouse-hunters. This is Chip, short for Chipmunk because my niece thought from the back he looked like a chipmunk. The other is Earmuffs because she’s all white and then just has color on her ears.

    Much as I love cats, I have created a new problem though – their favorite pastime is climbing the sliding glass door screen. It’s still better than having mice in the house.

    Until we walk again …

    Uncategorized

    Soybeans Up, Corn Crop Down a Bit

    Cindy Zimmerman

    The October USDA crop production report out this morning took a little bit more off the corn crop but increased the soybean crop by nine percent.

    Corn production is forecast at 10.7 billion bushels, down slightly from the September forecast and down 13 percent from 2011. This represents the lowest production in the United States since 2006. Based on conditions as of October 1, yields are expected to average 122.0 bushels per acre, down 0.8 bushel from the September forecast and 25.2 bushels below the 2011 average. If realized, this will be the lowest average yield since 1995. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 87.7 million acres, up less than 1 percent from the September forecast and up 4 percent from 2011. Acreage updates were made in several States based on administrative data.

    Soybean production is forecast at 2.86 billion bushels, up 9 percent from September but down 8 percent from last year. Based on October 1 conditions, yields are expected to average 37.8 bushels per acre, up 2.5 bushels from last month but down 4.1 bushels from last year. Compared with last month, yield forecasts are higher or unchanged across all States. Area for harvest
    in the United States is forecast at 75.7 million acres, up 1 percent from September and up 3 percent from last year. Acreage updates were made in several States based on administrative data.

    The cotton forecast was increased by one percent to 17.3 million 480-pound bales and the new citrus crop production report has oranges up four percent from last season at 9.37 million tons.

    *POST UPDATE with audio*
    The Minneapolis Grain Exchange crop conference call this morning featured Randy Martinson, Progressive Ag, who also provided commentary on the October WASDE report, which lowers ending stocks for wheat by 44 million bushels, and beginning stocks for corn by 193 million bushels.

    Listen to the MGEX crop call here: MGEX October crop report call

    Audio, Citrus, Corn, Cotton, Soybean, USDA