GROWMARK Celebrating 85 Years

Cindy Zimmerman

GROWMARK has two reasons to celebrate this year – the International Year of the Cooperative and GROWMARK’s 85th anniversary.

“The cooperative obviously has evolved a lot over those 85 years,” says Dan Kelley, Illinois farmer and president of the GROWMARK Board of Directors. “Energy is still a main part of GROWMARK’s product distribution. Nearly half of our sales continue to be in the energy area, but we’ve also branched out into agronomy products, and we also handle primarily corn and soybeans through our grain division.”

The history of GROWMARK is charted from the time its predecessor Illinois Farm Supply was incorporated as a cooperative in 1927 and you can follow that history through the years in the “Our History” section of the GROWMARK website. Dan says they will be celebrating the 85th anniversary at the cooperative’s annual meeting in August. “We are focusing a lot of our promotion around the annual meeting toward the 85 year history of GROWMARK,” he said.

Dan says they are pleased that the United Nations coincidentally chose this year as the International Year of the Cooperative. “We have adopted the logo of the International Year of the Cooperative logo,” he said, noting that the design illustrates the principle of cooperatives, showing how individuals working together can do what no one can do by themselves.

Listen to my interview with Dan Kelley here. GROWMARK President Dan Kelley

Audio, Cooperatives, GROWMARK

Search is on for ‘Faces of Farming and Ranching’

Melissa Sandfort

When it comes to today’s agriculture, there are many examples of great farmers and ranchers all over the country doing wonderful things to bring food to the table for those around the world. But few of those farmers and ranchers are recognizable by consumers, mainstream media and influencers. In fact, the pictures and perceptions of farmers and ranchers often do not match reality.

The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) wants to change that.

The organization is looking for the “Faces of Farming and Ranching” to help put a real face on agriculture and shine a light on the heart, personalities and values that are behind today’s food.

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 Sept. 8, 2012. 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.

Agribusiness, Farming, USFRA

Educating for Ag Choice

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast 355During the 2012 American Seed Trade Association annual convention I met Chuck Larson, Executive Director, Americans for Choice and Competition in Agriculture. Although I had heard of this newly formed organization I didn’t know much about it until we had a chance to sit down and chat. It appears that the main focus of the group is to influence an accord being developed by the American Seed Trade Association and the Biotechnology Industry Organization to address how competition will be handled when biotechnology traits go off patent. The big one coming up is the Monsanto Roundup Ready soybean patent which expires in 2014. You can see the organization’s position on the accord here (pdf).

Chuck says the organization was launched in the fall of 2011 and currently has 3,000 members. He says “they all understand the great value of an event that’s going to be coming down the pipeline very soon. In March of 2015 we’re going to see the first seed trait come off patent.” He says every seed company will be touched by this issue in coming years. He says the accord being developed by ASTA and BIO will be very valuable. By handling this properly Chuck says “it will expand the number of researchers who will have access to the technology.” That will enhance greater competition which will benefit farmers.

Since it appears that ASTA and BIO are handling this issue very well I asked him what it is that his organization brings to the table on this issue. He says that although farm leaders understand the importance of this issue “they don’t understand what that pathway should look like to ensure that a trait coming off patent actually enters into the marketplace.” So it sounds like the data that went into the creation of the trait is what’s at stake here since the patent expiring doesn’t necessarily include the data. CHuck says they’ve been working to educate leaders around the country. One of the ways they plan to do this is with a Twitter conversation tomorrow afternoon from 2-4pm eastern, using the hasgtag, #seedtalk.

Information on who supports the organization is not available.

You can follow Americans for Choice and Competition in Agriculture on their blog, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

Listen to this week’s ZimmCast here: Americans for Choice and Competition in Agriculture

Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsors, GROWMARK, locally owned, globally strong and Monsanto, Roundup Ready Plus, for their support.

The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired. Subscribe so you can listen when and where you want. Just go to our Subscribe page.

Ag Groups, ASTA, Audio, Seed, ZimmCast

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • The North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis launched a new website.
  • The all-new BPX9000 Bale Processor from Vermeer combines simplicity, durability and versatility to meet the needs of today’s cattle producers.
  • Wall-to-wall coverage of the National Junior High Finals will be broadcast on MyRuralTV.com and NHSRA’s site on iHigh.com, while a highlight show will be broadcast on RFD-TV.
  • A record-number of entries — 1,651 — have been received for the 2012 Junior National Hereford Expo.
    Zimfo Bytes

    ASTA Roger Krueger Scholarship Winner

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Kansas State graduate student, Rodrigo Pedrozo, received the American Seed Trade Association Roger Krueger Memorial Scholarship during last week’s convention. He’s seen here (right) with Jim Tobin, Monsanto, who presented the award.

    The scholarship endowment, established in 2008 by the American Seed Research Foundation, is in honor of Roger Krueger who devoted his professional career to seeds and advocating the role of science in feeding the world.

    The native Brazilian is working to complete his doctorate in seed pathology and seed borne pathogens. His research project is titled “Etiology mechanisms of infection and transmission of Fusarium Spp.”

    “Pathogens associated with seed can cause decreased germination and this can result in lower yields,” Pedrozo said. “Seeds carrying disease propagules have the potential to introduce devastating diseases to U.S. crop fields.” Pedrozo studies eight Fusarium species. He hopes to learn which species should Kansas farmers be concerned about and which one is most detrimental. Another aspect of his research is trying to identify if the pathogen isolates can reach the seeds through internal or external transmission and if so at what percentage. Pedrozo is in the second year of his PhD and will continue this project for another three.

    I visited with Jim Tobin right after the award presentation to learn more about it. He says that you can support the scholarship with a donation by contacting the ASTA office.

    Listen to my interview with Jim here: Interview with Jim Tobin

    2012 ASTA Convention Photo Album

    Ag Day, ASTA, Audio, Education

    Harvesting Corn Stover

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Much of the research that is presented during the Corn Utilization Technology Conference, held recently in Indianapolis, is about new uses for corn. During a session all about new uses at this year’s conference, Steve Peterson, Monsanto, gave a presentation on “Advances in Corn Stover Harvest and Treatment for Animal Feed.” He says Monsanto started a project about five years ago to determine if we can harvest stover and how to handle, transport, store and process it. The project was started after getting questions from their customers about the residue when they are growing corn after corn. Through the process he says they’ve been able to determine how much stover you can remove and the factors that impact that. The conclusion they’ve come to is that you can sustainably harvest stover. So now they are looking at the best ways to use that stover. That includes working with cattle feeding operations to see if it can replace corn and hay in cattle diets. Steve says that the motivation for all of this is Monsanto’s goal of doubling corn yields by 2030.

    Listen to my interview with Steve Peterson here: Interview with Steve Peterson

    2012 CUTC Photo Album

    Agribusiness, Audio, Corn, CUTC

    Learning More About ASTA

    Chuck Zimmerman

    The President and CEO for the American Seed Trade Association is Andy Lavigne. We sat down for a visit during the organization’s 129th Annual Convention so I could learn more about ASTA.

    To start with Andy says that having the convention back in Washington, DC and coupling it with an opportunity to visit with legislators on Capitol Hill has been very well received by members and the suggestion has been made to make this a regular location for the convention in the future. After the Storm the Hill day the Association got down to work with committee meetings to set policies for the coming year. In fact, this meeting is more of a policy setting meeting than a sales and marketing meeting. ASTA holds several other meetings during the year with a sales and marketing focus. After the convention here Andy says a key focus of the staff will be helping members with legislative follow ups from the visits on Capitol Hill. Ideas for that include inviting legislators to member company field days.

    Andy would like farmers who are customers of ASTA members “to realize that we are partners” and that seed companies have to continue to innovate and develop varieties. He says that can only happen when seed companies work together in partnership with farmers.

    Listen to my interview with Andy here: Interview with Andy Lavigne

    I have more interviews to share from the 2012 American Seed Trade Association convention during the coming week.

    2012 ASTA Convention Photo Album

    Ag Groups, ASTA, Audio, Seed

    Sonny Beck Receives ASTA Lifetime Member Award

    Chuck Zimmerman

    The American Seed Trade Association bestowed a Lifetime Honorary Member Award on Lawrence “Sonny” Beck, Beck’s Hybrids, during their annual convention. Pictured is Sonny on the left receiving his award from Mike Gumina.

    The award is one of the highest awards given out by the Association and is in recognition of untiring service to the Association as well as the seed industry. After receiving his award Sonny made some remarks during last night’s banquet.

    Listen to Sonny’s comments here: Sonny Beck Comments

    2012 ASTA Convention Photo Album

    Ag Groups, ASTA, Audio, Seed

    Mark Seem Receives ASTA DSA

    Chuck Zimmerman

    A second Distinguished Service Award was presented during the 2012 American Seed Trade Association convention. Receiving the award is Mark Seem, LG Seeds/AgReliant Genetics, LLC (left) from now past ASTA Chairman, Mike Gumina during the closing banquet.

    The ASTA Distinguished Service Award recognizes those who have made significant contributions to the Association and the seed industry and Mark has done just that. After receiving his award he made a few comments for us. He recognized a few people who were important to him in his career.

    Listen to Mark’s comments here: Mark Seem Comments

    2012 ASTA Convention Photo Album

    Ag Groups, ASTA, Audio, Seed

    ASTA Takes Capitol Steps

    Chuck Zimmerman

    The American Seed Trade Association closed out their convention gala banquet with entertainment from the Capitol Steps. These folks just keep getting better and they were hilarious.

    It was pass the gavel time to a new Chairman for the association and also a time to recognize a number of people. Now past Chair, Mike Gumina, Pioneer Hi-Bred, welcomed new ASTA Chair Blake Curtis, Curtis & Curtis, Inc. Receiving a Lifetime Honorary Member Award was Sonny Beck, Beck’s Hybrids. Mark Seem, LG Seeds/AgReliant Genetics, LLC received a Distinguished Service Award.

    I’ve got photos from the event uploading as I write and will have numerous more posts for you as time/travel allow in coming days.

    2012 ASTA Convention Photo Album

    Ag Groups, ASTA