Senators Celebrate “Meat Mondays”

Cindy Zimmerman

The offices of U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) today celebrated ‘Meat Monday’ with barbeque beef brisket, ribs, and sausage from Hill Country BBQ restaurant.

For the senators from beef producing states, it was a response to last week’s USDA employee newsletter promoting “Meatless Mondays” that was accidentally approved and put on line, and subsequently removed but not forgotten.

“In some of the toughest times they’ve seen in recent memory, Texas cattle ranchers and farmers deserve an Administration who works with them, not one who undermines them with boneheaded decisions from bureaucrats in Washington,” said Sen. Cornyn.

“This is a reminder to USDA that it’s supposed to advocate for American agriculture, not against it,” Sen. Grassley added.

We’re having barbeque pork for dinner tonight, how about you?

Food, Livestock, USDA

Corn and Ethanol Groups Respond to RFS Waiver Request

Cindy Zimmerman

Corn growers would rather see a waiver request than attempts to eliminate the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) but the ethanol industry thinks it will still be denied by EPA.

In response to the request for a waiver announced this morning by livestock and poultry groups, National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) President Garry Niemeyer of Illinois called it “premature to ask for a waiver of the RFS right now,” but better than asking for a change in the law. “With the crop still in the field, it is too early to determine this year’s final corn supply. In addition, the ethanol industry now has a significant surplus of ethanol and RFS credits that can greatly offset ethanol’s impact on the corn supply,” he said. “However, we recognize the severe impact of the drought on our farmers and our customers, here and abroad, with livestock, poultry, ethanol and other processing facilities, and we believe the flexibility of the RFS does work, and will work. NCGA also supports the waiver process that is embodied in the current RFS, and respects the right of those that may file a waiver petition to do so.”

Ethanol industry organizations are opposed to a waiver of the RFS requirements and expect that EPA will ultimately deny the request. “Given the flexibilities inherent to the RFS, and the fact that waiving the program would not result in any meaningful impacts on corn prices, we fully expect Administrator Jackson to deny any waiver request,” said Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen. “A dispassionate review of the facts can lead to only one conclusion: a waiver of the RFS would simply reward oil companies that have long sought to repeal this very important and successful program.”

“Higher corn process facing livestock and poultry users is a result of Mother Nature, not ethanol,” said Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy. “To try and blame the ethanol industry is disingenuous and absurd. We have never run out of corn and this year will be no different. While there is no doubt this year’s crop yield will be reduced, it is premature and irresponsible to blame ethanol for a lack of rain.”

Corn, Ethanol, NCGA, RFA

New Dupont Pioneer PR Team Members

Chuck Zimmerman

Welcome Amy Herman and Melissa Norby (below) to the Dupont Pioneer public relations team.

The Ogilvy public relations team is up and running from The Lacek Group office in Minneapolis. Amy Herman and Melissa Norby will serve as the main agency contacts alongside Jerry Harrington with all DuPont Pioneer agricultural trade media contacts and inquiries.

For all you ag journalist out there who are attending next week’s Ag Media Summit. You can find Amy and Melissa there They will also be at the Farm Progress Show in Boone, IA. They are looking forward to connecting with you.

I’ll see them and you there!

Agencies, Agribusiness, Pioneer

2012 North American Ag & Food HR Roundtable

Jamie Johansen

The 2012 North American Ag & Food HR Roundtable is right around the corner and everyone at AgCareers.com is excited to be celebrating 10 years of this event. Cindy was able to take a few minutes and talk with Erika Osmundson, Marketing and Communications Manager for AgCareers.com. Erika was eager to share what they have in-store for their 10 year anniversary.

“We’re really excited this year, its our 10th Annual Roundtable so were really excited to be celebrating 10 years and with that comes a few fun additional activities that we’re really looking forward to. Not to mention we are on a great host campus. We are offering two optional Tyson tours and both are jam packed full. One of the other really exciting things that I know I am really looking forward to is getting a chance to have dinner at Crystal Bridges, which is a new art museum. Crystal Bridges is gaining a lot of popularity across North America. They have some really great original artwork from a number of different periods of time. They have one of the original drafts of the Declaration of Independence and I think it will still be on display while we are there.”

“I also have to thank our organizing committee that helped us develop the topics and schedule for this year. The schedule was put together by a group of peers that typically attend the Roundtable and I feel really confident that we’ve got up-to-date, important issues highlighted within our conference. Along with that we have some really great speakers identified. We’ve got Dr. Jay Lehr coming, Greg Honey with Farm Credit Canada, retired Colonel Jill Chambers and Michael Peterson to talk about recruiting veterans. And we’ve got a lot of great concurrent sessions outlined.”

The event is located in Springdale, AR Aug. 7-9 and they will be taking registrations up until the actually event, so don’t worry if you haven’t already made plans to attend. Just check out AgCareers.com and with a few clicks you can be on your way to the exciting and educating event. I can’t wait to see you there.

Listen to or download Cindy’s entire interview with Erika here: Interview with Erika Osmundson

AgCareers, Agribusiness, Audio, Education

New Swiss Agricultural Journalists Board

Chuck Zimmerman

The Swiss Agricultural Journalists (SAJ) recently elected Roland Wyss president during their general meeting in Geneva. Here’s a photo of the board including, Alain Douard, President Roland Wyss, David Eppenberger, Clair Muller, and Adrian Krebs. Thank you Marcus Rediger for the photo!

Outgoing SAJ president, Adrian Krebs, said, “The past nine years in no small part thanks to the agricultural journalists were extremely informative, enriching, and inspiring to me.”

New president, Roland Wyss, is chief editor of Alimenta, the professional journal of the food industry. Wyss aims to continue focusing on member needs and retaining continuity in its programs.

Also elected during the meeting were David Eppenberger and Claire Muller. Alain Douard and Adrian Krebs are also serving board members.

The general topic of the delegate assembly was “Agriculture in Canton, Geveva.” François Erard, the CEO of the Geneva Chamber of Agriculture, gave an overview of agriculture of Canton, whose border shares only 6 km with Switzerland but 103 km with France. Agriculture in Geneva is mainly focused on the needs of the city. Programs aim to market local products to consumers, and trademark “Genève Region Terre Avenir” and the cooperative “Jardin de Cogagne.”

International, Media

Livestock and Poultry Groups Seek RFS Waiver

Cindy Zimmerman

Livestock and poultry producers are filing a petition with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) seeking a waiver from the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) in light of the current drought situation likely to cause feed shortages.

“We need a waiver now,” said Randy Spronk of Minnesota, National Pork Producers Council president-elect.

“I and NCBA support American ethanol,” said National Cattlemen’s Beef Association president J.D. Alexander of Nebraska. “I’m not asking for a handout. I’m asking for the federal government to let the market work.”

John Burkel, Minnesota turkey grower and National Turkey Federation vice chairman, says he has already cancelled his last flock of turkeys for this year. “The ethanol waiver is a must and I hope the administration acts now,” he said.

“Relief from the Renewable Fuel Standard is extremely urgent,” said Past National Chicken Council chairman Michael Welch, President & CEO of Harrison Poultry in Bethlehem, Georgia.

Listen to opening comments at a press conference this morning from the four organization leaders here: Livestock and Poultry groups

Audio, Beef, Corn, Ethanol, Livestock, NCBA, NPPC, Poultry, Swine

Astronaut Kelly to Keynote Farm Bureau Meeting

John Davis

Farm Bureau officials are excited to announce that retired astronaut Mark Kelly will be the keynote speaker at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2013 Annual Meeting, Jan. 13-16, 2013, in Nashville, Tenn. While Kelly is known for his work in space, he is also a loving caregiver to his wife former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who survived an assassination attempt in January 2011.

Kelly is one of America’s most experienced pilots and has logged more than 6,000 flight hours aboard more than 50 different aircraft. His experience includes 375 aircraft carrier landings, 39 combat missions, more than 50 days in space and serving as commander of the Space Shuttle Endeavor’s final mission.

“We are excited to have Mark Kelly as our keynote speaker,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman. “His outstanding leadership, dedication to teamwork and courage under pressure are truly inspirational.”

Kelly is also a survivor of prostate cancer and has a new children’s book coming out this fall, “Moustronaut: A Partially True Story.” In remarks posted on YouTube, Kelly says AFBF provides an important forum for farm and ranch families. “I’ve certainly learned a lot about community in my life, and I look forward to sharing [my] experiences.”

The 94th annual meeting is expected to attract more than 5,000 Farm Bureau members from across the country to talk about policy for the group through 2013.

Ag Groups, Video

BASF On-Target Application Academy Schedule

Cindy Zimmerman

BASF On-Target Application Academy events were held in various locations this past month and more are upcoming.

Developed by Bob Wolf, Ph.D., of Wolf Consulting and Research, TeeJet Technologies and BASF, with insight from a grower roundtable, the On Target Application Academy is a one-of-a-kind educational opportunity to provide growers extensive hands-on training for better awareness of herbicide application best practices.

“State certification courses and exams are important steps in ensuring proper herbicide application,” said Wolf. “The On Target Application Academy supplements these efforts, offering more detail around best management practices and factors that affect proper application.”

The On Target Application Academy educates growers on new application technologies, plant biology and advancements in new product chemistries to help them achieve the most effective and sustainable weed control possible – and to help mitigate off target applications, which is a continuous area of focus for the agricultural industry.

Check the website for upcoming academies in your area.

BASF, Farming, weed management

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Collectively, Randy Shryock and Ron Wall represent more than 35 years of experience in exceptional creative writing and video production and now bring that to Osborn Barr.
  • The Farm Equipment Dealership Minds Summit, set for January 30, 2013, will be guided and presented by Lessiter Publication’s Dealership of the Year alumni group as well as industry experts in the agricultural equipment retail market.
  • Advanced Animal Diagnostics has added Dr. Francis Adriaens as Vice President of Marketing and International Sales, and Gary Winter as Vice President of North America Sales.
  • Webinar announced…Beef-Cattle Economics: Regional pasture conditions, the USDA’s July Cattle Inventory report, and a synopsis of factors raising uncertainty and influencing investment/management decisions. Tuesday, August 7, 2012.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Precision Tech Detects Citrus Greening Disease

    John Davis

    A disease causing some real problems for citrus growers in the U.S. is citrus greening disease, also called Huanglongbing or HBL. The bacterial disease poses no threat to humans, but its effect on the trees can be devastating. Discovered in Florida in September 2005, HBL is being closely monitored. But that monitoring can be quite labor intensive and costly. At the International Conference on Precision Agriculture, Chuck caught up with Dr. Wonsuk Lee from the University of Florida, who moderated a session on “Machine Vision and Imaging Applications to Precision Agriculture” and is using some of that modern technology to more efficiently look for the disease.

    “For disease detection, currently a ground crew has to inspect every single tree. That takes a very long time and is very labor-intensive work. So our work is utilizing area hyper-spectre imaging to detect the mostly infected areas, so growers can go [to those areas] and individually look at those trees to do more detailed operations,” he explained. While this particular application might not work for some row crops, he added the basic principle of detecting disease through this kind of technology could be applied to more products.

    Listen to Chuck’s interview with Dr. Wonsuk Lee here: Interview with Dr. Wonsuk Lee, University of Florida

    11th International Conference on Precision Agriculture Photo Album

    AgWired coverage of the International Conference on Precision Agriculture is sponsored by John Deere
    Ag Groups, Audio, Citrus, International, Precision Agriculture, Research