Wisconsin Agri-Business Association Names New Exec. Director

Melissa Sandfort

The Wisconsin Agri-Business Association is proud to announce the employment of Tom Bressner as the Executive Director of the new association.

Tom Bressner is a native of Pontiac, Ill., where he grew up on a corn/soybean/dairy farm, raising and showing Registered Guernsey Dairy Cattle Tom holds a B.S. Degree in Agri-Business Management from Illinois State University. Prior to working in Wisconsin, Tom spent over 30 years working for agricultural cooperatives, with over 23 of those years as general manager. Since March 2011, Tom has served as the Interim Executive Director of the Wisconsin Agri-Service Association. He currently lives in rural Moweaqua, Ill., but plans to relocate to the Madison area.

Agribusiness

Is She Tired Yet?

Melissa Sandfort

It’s quiet around here. And because I was going through withdrawal from the incessant watering and feeding I usually have to do, I decided to clean out the horse’s water tank and scoop the poo from inside the barn where they hang out in the shade. It was much more enjoyable this time because while the horses are gone, so are the flies.

Did I mention both of our girls are off meeting a new stud? That’s right, a stud of the same breed/color as Thelma and she must have liked him because she’s already pregnant again! Less than a month after having Surprise (the new filly), she’s with child again. I wonder if she’s tired yet.

Now if it would only rain so the grass would grow for her in our pasture while she’s gone.

So about April next year, we’ll have another new face in the pasture and I hope it’s as easy for her as it was with Surprise.

Until we walk again …

Editor’s Note: I hope to resume audio with my grandfather sometime soon. He’s been under the weather and didn’t think his voice was “blog quality”, so our interviews have taken a short hiatus. Hope to be back to AgWalking shortly!

Uncategorized

USDA Ponders Future of Crop Report Release Times

Cindy Zimmerman

USDA is pondering the future of crop report release times in light of movement toward 24-hour trading.

USDA is reviewing release times for several major statistical reports due to recent changes in market hours by major commodity exchanges. The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and the World Agricultural Outlook Board (WAOB), the USDA entities responsible for the reports, will seek public comment on the release times and procedures of their key statistical reports. In the coming weeks, USDA expects to publish a notice in the Federal Register advising the public of the comment period. USDA is reviewing release times of the following statistical reports: World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates, Acreage, Cattle, Cattle on Feed, Crop Production, Grain Stocks, Prospective Plantings, Quarterly Hogs and Pigs, and Small Grain Summary. The current USDA release times of 8:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. ET will remain in effect until further notice.

“It is important that USDA continue to ensure the integrity of its report release process, particularly as global exchanges move closer to 24-hour trading,” said USDA Chief Economist Joe Glauber. “To this end, USDA is reviewing our procedures and will solicit public input to determine the needs of those who use our data.”

Some options being considered include changing the reports to the afternoon or running them on weekends to take them out of live trading time. The Chicago Mercantile Exchange just started electronic trading 21 hours a day and intends to offer expanded floor trading hours for CBOT grain and oilseed futures and options during major crop reports, pending CFTC certification. According to CME, the floor trading open would be “changed to 7:20 a.m. CST from 9:30 a.m. CST on mornings of specified reports beginning June 12, 2012 for the USDA WASDE and Crop Production reports.”


In a recent letter to the chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the National Corn Growers Association requested a 30-day public comment period before grain traders are allowed 22-hour-per-day electronic trading of grain and oilseed futures contracts. NCGA believes it is important for CFTC to take input and further analyze the proposals from the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) and the CME Group. “As currently formulated, both ICE’s plans for new contracts with greatly expanded trading hours and the CME Group’s plans to expand hours raise serious issues that potentially place the Nation’s corn growers at a marketing disadvantage,” wrote NCGA President Garry Niemeyer.

NCGA is concerned that extended trading hours could lead to “extreme” market volatility and problems for growers who track the futures to make marketing decisions.

Corn, USDA

Meet the Students of Locust Trace AgriScience Farm

Jamie Johansen

Locust Trace AgriScience Farm is full of students on the road to a successful career in agriculture. I had the opportunity to sit down with a few of them as they told their story on why they have chosen to attend this state-of-the-art school focused on agriculture.

Meet Camila Modica, Sr. at Locust Trace and served as the chapter FFA president this past year. Listen as she shares her story about beating the odds and how she credits this unique school. Interview with Camila Modica

Meet Danielle Milbern, Jr. at Locust Trace. Check out how Danielle is planning for a future career in agriculture education and what courses she is taking to help prepare her for it. She also would love to do her student teaching at Locust Trace and maybe even teach there in the future. Interview with Danielle Milbern

Meet Travis Mink, Jr. at Locust Trace. I caught up with him as he was leading one of the schools dairy cows in to be bred through artificial insemination. Listen as he shares what sets this school apart from a traditional education. Interview with Travis Mink

Locust Trace AgriScience Farm Photo Album

Agribusiness, Alltech, Education, FFA

Atrazine Settlement a Relief for Farmers

Cindy Zimmerman

Syngenta is hoping that a settlement reached last week over atrazine in water supplies will help the farmers who depend on the herbicide that is more than 50 years old.

The proposed settlement agreement will cost the company $105 million and still requires court approval but the hope is that it will “end the uncertainty and expense of almost eight years of litigation.”

“This settlement is good for the company and the farmers who depend on atrazine, as well as our retailers, distributors, partners, and others who have been inconvenienced by this ongoing and burdensome litigation,” said Syngenta officials in a press release.

“We’re relieved that a settlement has been reached that will allow our farmer members to use this proven and safe tool on their farms,” said National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) President Garry Niemeyer. “Atrazine safety has been verified by thousands of studies and numerous reviews by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and we’re happy to have this nuisance lawsuit behind us so our growers can move forward and do what they do best – help feed and fuel the world, sustainably.”

In making the settlement, Syngenta “acknowledges no liability and continues to stand by the safety of atrazine,” while the $105 million will be used for water systems that have “detected any amount of atrazine in its raw or finished water in the past or up to approximately 90 days after the date of preliminary approval of the settlement.”

According to the settlement, the scientific evidence continues to make it clear that no one ever has or ever could be exposed to enough atrazine in water to affect their health when the product is used according to its label. The plaintiffs acknowledge that they have not commissioned and are not aware of any new scientific studies relating to the safety of atrazine.

The court settlement hearing is scheduled for tomorrow.

Corn, Crop Protection, NCGA

Wheat Growers Hires Director of Grain Merchandising

Melissa Sandfort

Wheat Growers grain and agronomy cooperative announces that Tom Bright has been hired as Director of Grain Merchandising.

He brings more than 20 years of merchandising and management experience in the grain industry to Wheat Growers with background from an experience base across the Midwest, working with a variety of grain industry buyers, sellers, transportation providers and other key members of the industry.

Prior to joining the Wheat Growers team, Bright was the Director of Grain Management at Panda Ethanol. Before that he spent four years as Senior Merchandiser at W.B. Johnston Grain Company and had 17 years experience with Bartlett and Company in various roles. He’s a graduate of Oklahoma State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics.

Wheat

Building a Megrabrand

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast 351How would you go about building a megabrand? Alltech has some ideas. Eight of them to be precise.

One of the presentations during the 2012 Alltech Annual International Symposium was titled, “Building a Megabrand.” Our presenter was Catherine Keogh. Catherine shared Alltech’s eight branding principles which can be conformed to your business. I’ve included this portion of her presentation in this week’s program and hope you enjoy it.

Listen to this week’s ZimmCast here: Alltech Megagranding Strategies

2012 Alltech International Symposium Photo Album

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.

Agribusiness, Alltech, Audio, ZimmCast

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

    Locust Trace AgriScience Farm

    Jamie Johansen

    Locust Trace AgriScience Farm is the newest career and technical high school in Lexington, Kentucky with energy and environmental being key factors in the facility design and agriculture being the educational focus.

    Locust Trace features spacious classrooms with adjoining labs, 6.5 acres for gardening, a state-of-the-art greenhouse with an aquaculture area for raising native fish, a soaring auditorium with a garage door for brining in livestock and machinery, an expansive equine barn and arena and an on-site veterinary clinic.

    Students study in one of five programs: Intro to Agriculture, Environmental and Wildlife Science, Agriculture Power Mechanics, Equine and Vet Science, and Small and Large Animal Science.

    The school is designed to be net-zero in energy through the use of photovoltaic solar panels and net-zero in waste disposal through the utilization of constructed wetlands. The school is also minimally hooked up to water municipalities. All the rain water is collected from the classroom building and the equine barn/arena to be utilized for all crop irrigation and livestock watering. An on-site well has been accessed to back up the rain water collection system in case of a drought. Sustainable agriculture is a focus in all programs.

    I had the opportunity to catch up with Sara Tracy, who serves as the Community Lesion for Locust Trace, Brian Miller, Administrative Dean, and Danielle Milbern, Jr. at Locust Trace AgriScience Farm. They explain what it is like to work for and attend such a unique high school as well as a perspective into the diverse set of opportunities students can take part in.

    Listen to my interview with Sara, Brian and Danielle here: Interview with Locust Trace Representatives

    Locust Trace AgriScience Farm Photo Album

    Agribusiness, Alltech, Animal Agriculture, Aquaculture, Beef, Conservation, Dairy, Education, Energy, Environment, Farming, FFA, Horses, Livestock, Poultry, Technology, Veterinary

    Talking Social Media at Alltech Symposium

    Chuck Zimmerman

    I attended the 2012 Alltech International Symposium Discuss Dinner titled, “Creating Raving Fans: How can you embrace the digital world for your business?” Our moderator was Michele Payn-Knoper, Cause Matters. Michele had a very diverse group to deal with. I think we had folks from about 15 countries in the room! They had a lot of questions about social media and some reservations. However, there were several in the room that were able to provide good examples of how they are using social media in their business. Michele gave everyone some great advice: “Know your purpose. Build a community around your purpose. And then serve your community well with that purpose.”

    Listen to my closing interview with Michele here: Interview with Michele Payn-Knoper

    2012 Alltech International Symposium Photo Album

    Agribusiness, Alltech, Audio