Looking at the Future of Farmers

John Davis

How the world’s farmers will handle feeding the projected 9 billion people the earth is expected to have by 2050 … and where those farmers to feed that hoard will come from … was the subject of a presentation to the BASF Agricultural Solutions Media Summit in Chicago last week.

Christophe Pelletier, futurist and president of Happy Future Group, told the agricultural journalists gathered for the event that while technologically we should be able to produce enough food, many more questions remain… including who will own the farms of the future, will farmers be able to afford to buy their own farms, and what will be the average age of farmers 40 years in the future?

“Average age of farmers [today] is 58. [In 2050], are we going to say the average age of U.S. farmers is 90-something? Who are going to be the farmers of the future? How can we attract new people? I think that is one of the big challenges, because in the end we need food, so someone needs to produce it.”

Pelletier said if we can’t attract as many people to the profession, then we’ll need to rely on robotics more and more … something he points is already coming to fruition in the vast array of precision-guided tools available today. He added that while some would like a one-size-fits-all solution for all of agriculture, we need to take a pragmatic approach and take the best methods learned from the best farmers and apply them to what a particular area of the world needs. And he concluded by telling the group that suppliers will also need to be more flexible and more responsive to the changing needs of their farmer clients.

“I think the magic phrase in the future is not so much, ‘I have a new product and you should try it;’ it’s going to be ‘What can I do for you.'”

Listen to more of what Pelletier had to say here:
Christophe Pelletier, futurist and president of Happy Future Group

Photos from BASF Ag Media Summit

Audio, BASF, Food

Split Vote on Corn Sugar vs. HFCS

Chuck Zimmerman

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “Do you prefer corn sugar to high fructose corn syrup?” In what is a first for our poll, the response was split evenly! See the chart below.

Recently the FDA denied a request from the Corn Refiners Association to allow food labels to use the term corn sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup. Nutritionally, there is no difference in regular table sugar and HFCS so I don’t see why FDA ruled like they did. Their reasoning had to do with their definition of sugar as a crystalline solid. This is basically a public relations war over words since the “problem” with either cane or corn sugar is how much someone consumes. Nothing wrong with cane sugar or corn sugar, regardless what you call it, in my opinion. I like them both. Apparently consumers like HFCS better according to this story. What do you think?

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “Does your business have an interest in Pinterest?” This online pinboard is now being used by political campaigns to target key demographics. Even President Obama’s wife is using it! Seems like there might be some good reason for agribusinesses, farm and food groups to start pinning away. What do you think?

ZimmPoll is sponsored by Rhea+Kaiser, a full-service advertising/public relations agency.

Corn, Food, Social Networking, ZimmPoll

Twive to the AgChat Foundation

Chuck Zimmerman

It is better to Twive than receive. Especially if it benefits the AgChat Foundation. To help this effort out all you have to do is make a donation here. My name is Chuck Zimmerman and I approve this message.

AgChat Foundation was selected to take part in a nationwide giving event on Thursday,June 14th. Across the nation, not-for-profit organizations will be competing to receive $30,000 in prizes in a day long Twive and Receive event. YOU can help the agriculture community come out on top. As far we can tell, AgChat Foundation was the only agriculture organization selected for this event. By winning, our agriculture community will show the nation that farmers and ranchers really do care about the mission to connect with others to tell our story.

Winning Thursday’s Twive and Receive event will also mean:

Support of the weekly #AgChat conversation,
Continuation of the premier social media training conference,
More regional social media training conferences in YOUR area.

Here is what you can do help:

On Thursday, June 14th make a donation on the AgChat Foundation Twive and Receive fundraising page. Any donation amount helps! Consider donating a dollar a day ($365). That amount will help sponsor one person to the highly successful AgChat Foundation Training Conference. If you are a past participant, you know how powerful meeting and training with other agvocates is. Give the gift of agvocate empowerment to someone else.

Share that you support agriculture and the AgChat Foundation mission. On June 14th follow and use the hashtag #Twivereceive to see AgChat Foundation’s progress on Twitter. After you make your donation grab a Twive and Receive Twibbon for your avatar. Also, make sure to share the AgChat Foundation Facebook page to let others know that you support “Agvocacy.”

We are really pumped up for this event! I hope that you can join AgChat Foundation and all of agriculture on that day and show your support for our mission of empowering farmers and ranchers to connect in communities using social media platforms.

Remember: Donations must be received on June 14th. Any amount helps!

Thank you to everyone who supports our mission. We cannot do it without you!

Uncategorized

World Faces Economic, Not Caloric, Famine

John Davis

Farmers of the world are producing enough food to meet the demands of wiping out all hunger in the world. But hunger still exists. Why? Dr. Chris Mallett, Corporate VP of Research and Development for Cargill explains it’s a case of economic, not caloric, famine.

“[It’s] not the lack of ability to feed people, but it’s the lack of willingness and commitment to doing so,” said Dr. Mallet at last week’s BASF Ag Media Summit in Chicago. Mallet told those in attendance that when looking at food production globally, it can be easy to forget about the realities of the socio-economic conditions on the ground in places such as Africa, where small land holders have actually been hurt by more developed countries’ abilities to produce food at cheaper prices and ship it to those small land holders’ markets. While this has put more food into the overall system, it has taken away those local producers’ markets and made them less able even to buy food… while simultaneously eliminating their desire and ability to raise their own food for that region.

Mallet cited some examples of how his company, in partnership with BASF, is working on providing the key elements to make sure small farmers all over the world can remain viable. “In Vietnam, we’ve trained farmers in how to grow sustainable cocoa. And we will train more than 25,000 farmers in the Ivory Coast in a similar way to gain certification [in sustainable agriculture].” He said Cargill has also trained an additional more than two million farmers in the past year.

You can hear more of what Mallet had to say here:
Dr. Chris Mallett, Corporate VP of Research and Development for Cargill

Photos from BASF Ag Media Summit

Audio, BASF, Food

Pork Industry Concerned about Egg Bill

Cindy Zimmerman

Pork producers are concerned that a bill regulating egg production could make it into the farm bill, which could impact more than just the poultry industry.

“Some people have asked us why is the pork industry concerned about an egg bill,” said National Pork Producers Council director Bill Luckey of Nebraska during a press conference at World Pork Expo last week about the legislation they refer to as the “Farm Takeover” bill. “When you set a precedent of regulating a production system, if it’s in the poultry industry, a lot of activists might just try to move that into another species.”

Listen to comments from Bill here: NPPC director Bill Luckey

The egg bill, which was stand-alone legislation introduced in the House earlier this year, has indeed been proposed as an amendment to the Senate farm bill. Essentially it would provide for “a uniform national standard for the housing and treatment of egg-laying hens, and for other purposes.” NPPC VP of Domestic Policy Issues Audrey Adamson went into some greater detail of why other sectors of animal agriculture are concerned about the bill, which was developed as an agreement between the United Egg Producers and HSUS.

“If the egg industry decides they want to set standards, God bless them,” said Audrey. “We think it’s wrong-headed to do it in federal legislation, we think farmers know best.” She noted that similar legislation in Europe has resulted in less egg production and exorbitant prices for those on the shelves.

Listen to comments from Audrey here: NPPC's Audrey Adamson
2012 World Pork Expo Photo Album

Audio, Boehringer Ingelheim, NPPC, Pork, World Pork Expo

FFA is Connecting Students with Employers

Melissa Sandfort

The National FFA Organization has announced a first-of-its-kind formation of partnerships to assist its members’ efforts toward career success. Through the Agricultural Career Network (AgCN), FFA will work in collaboration with Career Cruising, a provider of age-appropriate career planners, assessments and other resources; and AgCareers.com. These partnerships will provide valuable tools and assistance for students in their pursuits of more than 300 careers in agriculture.

Launched last December, AgCN is a nationwide system designed to help FFA members document their educational achievements, create robust portfolios and pursue award, scholarship, internship and employment opportunities. The network will provide a database of students who are interested in particular career fields within the industry.

Through the National FFA Organization’s relationship with Career Cruising, members will have easy access to career information within selected fields of interest. Career Cruising will provide online career exploration tools that lead to recommending classwork and hands-on learning opportunities while guiding members along a path tailored to their abilities. With its ccInspire platform, Career Cruising connects individuals to career mentors and employers in their community

The partnership with AgCareers.com will allow members to search for career opportunities within their particular field of study or within a selected geographic area through a very robust job board. By including these tools on AgCN, FFA members will have a convenient home for career exploration. The partnership will continue to provide members with job placement access throughout their postsecondary educations as they pursue internship and career options.

AgCareers, Agribusiness, FFA

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Agribusiness, Zimfo Bytes

    Pork Expo Farm Bill Update

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Pork producers know what they want in a 2012 Farm Bill, they’re just not sure if and when it will happen.

    Former National Pork Producers Council president Sam Carney of Iowa, co-chair of the organization’s farm bill policy task force, gave an update on the legislation, which happened at almost the very moment the Senate voted to advance the bill to the floor. “Best case scenario is that Senators Stabenow and Roberts are able to hold off controversial amendments and the farm bill passes by the end of next week,” he said. However, he added that it is “unlikely” both houses will pass a bill and get it signed by the president before the current bill expires on September 30.

    Carney says the Senate version of the bill includes several issues important to pork producers. “Catastrophic event insurance program study – very important to us,” he said. Also important to NPPC are reforming the beginning farmer and rancher program to allow better access to capitol, reduction in the CRP to address feed availability concerns, increasing swine research funding and maintaining funding for foreign market development and access programs.

    Listen to Sam’s farm bill update here: Former NPPC president Sam Carney
    2012 World Pork Expo Photo Album

    Audio, Farm Bill, World Pork Expo

    Precision Laboratories Celebrates 50 Years

    Chuck Zimmerman

    It’s golden anniversary time for Precision Laboratories this month.

    In 1962, Chicago entrepreneur Jim Wohlner left his sales position with a national chemical distributor and founded Precision Laboratories. The new company specialized in private-label maintenance chemicals for industrial applications. Jim would often spend four days on the road selling, and then return on Fridays to fulfill the orders. As the company grew, Jim hired warehouse personnel and sales representatives to meet growing needs.

    In 1976, Precision Laboratories purchased AmChem, an industrial and agricultural chemical distributor. Jim fell in love with the agricultural industry, and it became his passion.

    In 1986, Jim Wohlner’s son, Rick, began working for the company. Rick began selling to and establishing relationships with distributors in the professional turf industry. The company positioned spray pattern indicators, adjuvants and surfactants to golf course superintendents through distributors across the country.

    In 1995, with a strong vision for the future, Rick Wohlner purchased Precision Laboratories from his father, and narrowed the focus to meeting the needs of the ag and turf markets. Read More

    Agribusiness

    BASF Innovating for Sustainability

    Cindy Zimmerman

    “Innovation as the Path to Sustainability” was the theme of the 2012 BASF Agricultural Solutions Summit last week in Chicago where the company’s top executives presented the latest crop protection and plant biotechnology strategies aimed toward sustainable food production for a growing population.

    Markus Heldt, President of BASF’s Crop Protection division, released initial results of the new AgBalance study launched in 2011 as a method for measuring sustainability in agriculture. “We performed a case study on corn production in Iowa comparing 2000 and 2010,” said Heldt. “We’ve seen an improved sustainability index of 42%.”

    Listen to my interview with Markus here: BASF Crop Protection President Markus Heldt interview Listen to Markus’ presentation here: BASF Crop Protection President Markus Heldt presentation

    In the area of plant biotechnology, Dr. Peter Eckes, President of BASF Plant Science, discussed the company’s gene discovery platform and joining forces with companies like Monsanto to bring new traits like drought tolerance to market. Eckes is especially excited about new traits to make food healthier, such as increasing the content of EPA-DHA Omega 3 in crops. “These are the fatty acid that have the health benefits,” he said. “This is really giving consumers a direct benefit.”

    Listen to my interview with Peter here: BASF Plant Science President Peter Eckes interview Eckes also talked about moving the BASF Plant Science global headquarters to North Carolina during his presentation: BASF Plant Science President Peter Eckes presentation

    While the agricultural segment is a significant part of BASF, “The Chemical Company” is so much more as Dr. Harald Lauke, President of BASF’s Biological and Effect Systems Research division, showed us with a concept car they have developed with Diemler. “We wanted to showcase what BASF as a chemical company can contribute to a whole car,” said Lauke. “People may underestimate what a company like BASF can do…that we make complete products, together with customers.”

    Listen to my interview with Harald here: BASF's Harald Lauke interview Listen to Markus’ presentation here: BASF's Harald Lauke presentation

    This is all great stuff – and much more to come from the BASF Media Summit. Please feel free to use any or all of the audio or photos from the event!

    BASF Ag Media Summit Photos

    Audio, BASF