How Biofuel Production Helps Livestock Producers

Joanna Schroeder

The Midwest has finally been getting rain, but not in time to reverse the state of the corn crop due to the nationwide drought. Yet, biofuel producers are still helping livestock producers says Monte Shaw, Executive Director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA). Because of ethanol production, there is a larger corn crop and more flexible supply than ever available during other drought periods.

The recent USDA report confirms what the agricultural and biofuels industry already knew – that the drought’s impact on supply and price will be felt by corn consumers around the world. Shaw added, “Yet, the ag sector has seen droughts before, and it will survive again. This is a time when all of agriculture should pull together. Unfortunately, national livestock trade associations have chosen to politicize the on-going drought as part of their multi-year effort to return corn prices to $2 per bushel. At times like this, it is important to look past the rhetoric to the facts.”

During the American Coalition 25th Annual Ethanol Conference, Cindy Zimmerman sat down with Shaw to discuss the call for a waiver of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) with many of the calls coming from the livestock industry. They also discussed 10 ways ethanol producers are helping livestock producers during this tough time.

Monte Shaw interview at ACE conference

“In particular ethanol helps the farmer-feeders. We have a better price of corn. It makes them more competitive against the integrators,” explained Shaw. “But then we also have the distillers grains. And if you think about it, we planted 95 million acres of corn this year instead of 75 million because of ethanol. So yes, we’re taking a nasty hit from this drought and this is going to cause pain among all corn users, but we’re going to have a much bigger crop than we would have otherwise.”

“And then the ethanol industry returns that 20 million additional acres of protein goes straight to the livestock industry. So we have 20 additional acres of protein that would not be out in the market, the feed market, if it weren’t for the ethanol industry,” he added. Read More

ACE, Agribusiness, Audio, Corn, Ethanol

It’s An Exciting Time To Be Involved Agriculture

Jamie Johansen

The 2012 North American Ag & Food HR Roundtable was full of industry recruiters saying their businesses are growing and they are ready to hire, as well as university representatives expressing they had great students ready to full those spots. Lori Pence-Barber, Career Services Coordinator for the College of Agriculture at Purdue University, couldn’t agree more with her colleagues. I got a chance to talk with her about the universities perspective on careers in the agriculture industry.

“It’s a very exciting time to be in agriculture and I know we say that all the time. We even got to say that during the recession. This is something I was talking with some people in the industry yesterday about how I was getting phone call after phone call from media outlets and a lot of them were ag related wanting to find the doom and gloom of the recession and asking if we were having a hard time placing students. They were looking for a story that I couldn’t give them. I told them I was really sorry, but we aren’t having problems placing any students.”

“This is a great opportunity for folks like myself to come and network with colleagues. We can share ideas about what we are doing in our own offices, so it’s kind of like we beg, borrow and steal. I like to call it not reinventing the wheel. But also it gives us face time with the industry that we really don’t have during the academic year. In my case I wear many different hats and they want to meet with me right before the career fair or right after. I just don’t have quality time to see them and that is what we get during these two and a half days.”

You can listen to my interview with Lori here: Interview with Lori Pence-Barber

Check out our photo album for the 2012 North American Ag & Food HR Roundtable.

AgCareers, Agribusiness, Audio, Education

AFBF Reacts to Corn & Soybean Outlook

Joanna Schroeder

American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) economists says today’s USDA crop forecast is a “harbinger of volatility in global grain markets.”

“There is an old saying in commodity markets that small crops tend to get smaller,” said AFBF economist Todd Davis. “If this holds true, then future reports will show declining projected production for corn and soybeans and further reductions in projected demand. This will also mean higher projected prices and great volatility in the commodity markets as demand is rationed and more supply is encouraged worldwide.”

Farmers in South America are taking note of the lowered corn and soybean projections of the U.S. and Davis believes this will be the basis for much attention and speculation.

“A bountiful South American corn and soybean crop should ease the pressure for exports from the U.S. and will help relieve concern over tight stocks,” said Davis. “As always, weather will be the focus both in the North American crops as well as in South America,” he cautioned.

USDA now forecasts U.S. corn production at 10.8 billion bushels, down 13 percent from 2011 and the lowest estimated production levels since 2006. Soybean production is now estimated to be 2.69 billion bushels, down 12 percent from 2011 and the lowest production since 2007.

AFBF, Agribusiness, Corn, Soybean, USDA

Faces of Farming & Ranching Entry Deadline

Chuck Zimmerman

The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance is still looking for entries in their “Faces of Farming and Ranching” contest. Here are a couple of them, Kristin Reese, Local Flavor Foods and Jeff Fowle, KK Bar Ranch. They were on hand at the Ag Media Summit to talk about the search to find new ambassadors of agriculture. You’ve got until September 8 to enter the contest.

USFRA is looking for standout farmers and ranchers who are proud of what they do, eager to share their stories of continuous improvement with others and who are actively involved today in sharing those stories. Farmers and ranchers who raise a variety of foods differently, at differing scale and in all areas of the country are encouraged to apply as it is important to show American agriculture and all of its diversity.

Entries will be accepted through September 8, 2012 at www.FoodDialogues.com. Ten to 15 finalists will be announced at the November 2012 Food Dialogues event in New York City. This national announcement will open a public online voting period where visitors can vote for their favorite candidates. Those votes will be factored into the decision to determine “The Faces of Farming and Ranching.”

Winners will be announced in early January 2013 based on votes and the recommendation of a panel of judges.

The public will get to know the USFRA “Faces” winners through national media interviews, advertising and public appearances. For their time, they will receive a $10,000 stipend as well as a $5,000 donation to their preferred agriculture-related or local charity in their name.

You can listen to my interview with Kristen and Jeff here: Interview with Kristin Reese and Jeff Fowle

2012 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2012 Ag Media Summit is sponsored by FMC
Ag Groups, Ag Media Summit, Audio, USFRA

OCM Joins With HSUS To Target Beef Checkoff

Chuck Zimmerman

Really? You know, it’s one thing to have a disagreement but it’s quite another to join with a wacko organization like H$U$. But that’s what the Organization for Competitive Markets has done according to a release I received from NCBA. So much for the OCM’s credibility. Don’t OCM members realize that their new partner wants to put them out of business? If HSUS has its way their won’t be any markets, competitive or otherwise. You can watch video from the OCM press conference here and here.

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President J.D. Alexander expressed disgust following an announcement that the Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) has formed a partnership with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to destroy more than 25 years of market development and consumer demand building by the Beef Checkoff Program.

Specifically, OCM announced yesterday evening that it will file a lawsuit today seeking an injunction against the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service, Cattlemen’s Beef Board and the Beef Promotion Operating Committee. OCM President and Director Fred Stokes stated during the press briefing that HSUS is helping fund its efforts to file the lawsuit. OCM claims to advocate for a fair, competitive agricultural marketplace; however, in doing so it partnered with an organization known for its anti-agriculture agenda. According to Alexander, independent research shows the beef checkoff is supported by nearly 75 percent of cattlemen and women.

“HSUS is an organization going state by state vowing to end production agriculture by outlawing scientifically validated production practices in animal agriculture. Their efforts put people out of business and often jeopardize the well-being of livestock,” said Alexander. Read More

Ag Groups, Beef, Wackos

BIVI Talking Swine Health

Chuck Zimmerman

Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica is holding the 12th annual Swine Health Seminar in North Carolina once again. Twelve years means something is working and I’m recognizing a lot of faces since Cindy and I have been covering this event for a number of years now.

To find out more about the seminar I spoke with BIVI’s Ron Rampersad who welcomed everyone this morning. The program includes a number of speakers like Laurie Hueneke, National Pork Producers Council and a number of swine health researchers. I’ll have more interviews to share from them. The event is also a family oriented one with plenty of time for social interaction including with the participant’s families.

Interview with Ron Rampersad

I’m collecting photos from the seminar here: 2012 BIVI Swine Health Seminar Photo Album

Agribusiness, Animal Health, Audio, Boehringer Ingelheim, Swine

USDA: Corn Down 13%, Soybeans Down 12%

John Davis

The drought is certainly taking its toll on row crops, as the latest USDA crop report out this morning shows that the corn harvest this year will be down 13 percent from last year’s numbers, with soybeans expected to be 12 percent lower than 2011. Meanwhile, cotton will see a 13 percent increase while winter wheat should be up 1 percent from the July forecast numbers.

Corn production is forecast at 10.8 billion bushels, down 13 percent from 2011 and the lowest production since 2006. Based on conditions as of August 1, yields are expected to average 123.4 bushels per acre, down 23.8 bushels from 2011. If realized, this will be the lowest average yield since 1995. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 87.4 million acres, down 2 percent from the June forecast but up 4 percent from 2011.

Soybean production is forecast at 2.69 billion bushels, down 12 percent from last year. Based on August 1 conditions, yields are expected to average 36.1 bushels per acre, down 5.4 bushels from last year. If realized, the average yield will be the lowest since 2003. Area for harvest is forecast at 74.6 million acres, down 1 percent from June but up 1 percent from 2011. Read More

Corn, Soybean, USDA

American Coalition for Ethanol President’s Award

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) President’s Award was a family affair this year.

ACE President Lars Herseth, a South Dakota farmer and rancher, was honored to present the award this year to his daughter and former Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin. Three generations of Herseths are pictured here – Lars, Stephanie and her son Zachery – who is absolutely adorable.

It was a great pleasure to meet this distinguished and talented woman who is very proud of her agricultural heritage and was a great advocate for farmers and ranchers and the ethanol industry while serving in Congress from 2004 to 2011. It was an even greater pleasure to find out that she has taken a position as general counsel with Raven Industries, the sponsor of our AgWired app!

“Growing up on my family’s farm has defined me,” Stephanie told me. “One of the key reasons that I took the opportunity to join Raven Industries was to be home full time and to raise Zachery closer to family where he can spend time on the farm and have that same experience.”

Listen to my interview with Stephanie here: Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin
2012 ACE Conference Photo Album

ACE, Audio, Ethanol

Support I Love Farmers

Chuck Zimmerman

I Love Farmers.org was one of the busiest booths during InfoExpo at the Ag Media Summit. T-shirt sales were doing well. If you didn’t get yours then go to their website to order.

Working the booth was Luke DeGroot who says that in the last year they’ve made some great partnerships with businesses “who believe in the same things we believe in.” With support from one of those organizations they’ve started Awareness Days on college campuses and plan to increase the number of these they do in the future. For an Awareness Day they get materials in participating students hands and have them distribute those materials in their school plazas while talking with their peers about where their food comes from. In their first effort they had 16 schools involved!

Has your company thought about supporting I Love Farmers – They Feed My Soul? I recommend it. We need to see this program grow. Please like them on Facebook.

You can listen to my interview with Luke here: Interview with Luke DeGroot

2012 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2012 Ag Media Summit is sponsored by FMC
Ag Media Summit, Audio, Education, University

Welcome AgChatOZ to AgCareers Roundtable

Jamie Johansen

AgCareers welcomed Danica Leys, founder of AgChatOZ, to the 2012 Ag & Food HR Roundtable. After learning about AgChat Foundation here in the United States, she felt a similar dialogue was needed in Australia. AgChatOZ holds weekly online conversations on Twitter about topics and issues farmers face in Australia. I was fortunate to sit down with Danica and chat with her about some of the similar issues facing us in agriculture.

“A lot of the issues talked about here in the last day or two are really similar to some of the issues we face back home. One of the most important areas being discussed was getting kids interested in agriculture and therefore getting them to universities and graduating. We don’t have enough graduates at the moment to fill all the jobs that are posted every year and if that keeps continuing we will have some serious problems.”

“The other positive message I take home is that it is a really good time to be involved in agriculture. We are the same in Australia. There are lots of things happening, new technology, new developments, the people involved in agriculture are very passionate at what they do and that is the same back home.”

You can listen to my interview with Danica here: Interview with Danica Leys

Check out our photo album for the 2012 North American Ag & Food HR Roundtable.

AgCareers, Agribusiness, Audio, Education