Commodity Classic to Feature Night at the Opry

Cindy Zimmerman

commodity classicSome of Nashville’s top talent will take the stage at the Grand Ole Opry for the 2012 Commodity Classic Evening of Entertainment on March 3, sponsored by Monsanto.

commodity classicEntertainers in the lineup for the evening include Darryl Worley, John Conlee, Sarah Darling, Mike Snider, and Joey+Rory. (We just saw Joey+Rory, best known for their hit “Cheater, Cheater, last week in Nashville at the Cattle Industry Convention – they’re great!)

“The Evening of Entertainment will cap off three days of learning sessions, policymaking, networking and a sold-out, record-setting trade show that has the 17th annual Commodity Classic on pace to be the largest in history,” said Commodity Classic co-chair Jeff Sollars.

Commodity Classic will be held March 1-3 at the Gaylord Opryland Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn., and is presented annually by the National Corn Growers Association, American Soybean Association, National Association of Wheat Growers and National Sorghum Producers.

Commodity Classic, Corn, NCGA, sorghum, Soybean, Wheat

Busy Year for Federation of State Beef Councils

Cindy Zimmerman

There was a changing of the guard for the Federation of State Beef Councils during the Cattle Industry Convention last week after a busy year for the leadership working on changes in the Joint Committee structure between the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB).

“It’s obviously been a year of identity,” said outgoing Federation chairman David Dick of Sedalia, Missouri (pictured right). The proposal the Federation developed last year, which was approved by the CBB and NCBA during the convention, outlines how joint checkoff committees will function in the future. “Basically it allows us to start building a new committee structure.”

David says he’s satisfied with the changes that have been made and the identity that has been put forth for the Federation and he is especially grateful for his fellow executive committee members who worked many long hours over the past couple of years to make it happen.

Listen to my interview with David Dick here: David Dick Interview

One of those who has worked closely with David for the past two years is the new chairman of the Federation – Craig Uden, a cow-calf producer and feeder from Elwood, Neb. “In the Federation we act as a team,” he said. “We utilize the people who dedicate their time and efforts into making this industry better and moving the needle on beef demand and the only way to do that is with a team approach.”

The Federation is made up of the 45 state beef councils that collect the $1 per head national beef checkoff but its roots stretch back to the days of voluntary state checkoffs. “Back in the 60s, on a voluntary basis, a lot of these beef councils wanted to pool their money together, and that was kind of the basis for the Federation,” Craig said.

That cooperative spirit remains the primary mission of the Federation, the sharing of beef checkoff dollars from states that have large cattle populations, like Nebraska, with the national effort or states like New York that have less cattle but a larger consumer population.

Listen to my interview with Craig here: Craig Uden Interview

The Federation team also now includes Richard Gebhart of Claremore, Oklahoma as vice chairman. Newly elected to represent the Federation as regional vice presidents on the NCBA executive committee are Garry Wiley of Michigan, Clay Burtrum of Oklahoma and Sid Viebrock of Washington who join existing RVPs Jennifer Houston of Tennessee, Terri Carstensen of Iowa, Jane Frost of New Mexico and Becky Walth of South Dakota, as well as Richard Ayers of New York who is the new veal representative.

2012 Cattle Industry Convention Photo Album

Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • The Board of Directors of Wheat Growers elected their officers for 2012 at their January meeting.
  • The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service is requesting proposals for matching grant funds under the Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program.
  • Six new faces are laced through numerous Osborn & Barr departments: Anna Bethmann, James Coston, Jim McWilliams, Kelsey Phelps, Sheryl Melton and Nancy Lester-Dean.
  • FMC Corporation announced it has signed an exclusive distribution and development agreement with Consumo em Verde for the unique patented fungicidal active ingredient blad, which has a new mode of action.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Most Think Proposed Egg Products Inspection Legislation Dangerous

    Chuck Zimmerman

    In our latest ZimmPoll we asked the question, “What do you think about the proposed Egg Products Inspection legislation?”. I was surprised to find that although 59% said Dangerous precedent for livestock production, 41% said Necessary to save egg farming industry. Kind of a divided reaction. Does this surprise you?

    Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “How do you think farm equipment sales will do this year compared to last?” Let us know what you think. Will there be more new equipment sales this year? Is it time to replace a worn out piece of equipment?

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

    ZimmPoll

    NCBA Says Egg Deal Opens Pandora’s Box

    Cindy Zimmerman

    If there was one issue that was most talked about at the Cattle Industry Convention, it was probably eggs – and producers are definitely not sunny-side up on the proposed agreement between the United Egg Producers (UEP) and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) that would require larger cages for egg-laying hens.

    “You might ask why we as the beef industry care about laying hens,” said National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) legislative affairs director Kristina Butts. “The reason why we care is because currently there’s no production practices in federal statute and we want to keep it that way.”

    Butts said legislation codifying the agreement was introduced in the U.S. House by Congressman Kurt Schrader (D-OR), who is a veterinarian. “This legislation opens up Pandora’s Box on Capitol Hill. While this bill currently only applies to the egg industry, it’s not a far stretch to see it applied to all animal agriculture,” Butts said, noting that Rep. Schrader believes that since he’s a vet and is on the House ag committee that he can control this legislation. “One thing we know from other issues where we’ve dealt with HSUS is that you can never be too trusting of where they’re going to go in terms of parliamentary procedure.”

    Listen to Kristina’s comments on the bill here: Kristina Butts Comments

    NCBA Government Affairs Vice President Colin Woodall says UEP is looking at this agreement as a partnership with HSUS. “But there is no such thing as a partnership with HSUS,” Colin said. “HSUS operates in the mode of ‘this is what we want you to do and if you don’t do it, we’re gonna do it to you.”

    Colin says it is unfortunate that the issue has driven a wedge between UEP and nearly all other livestock and agricultural organizations, including other poultry groups. “But we cannot allow them to move forward. So we will defeat this,” he said.

    Listen to Colin’s comments here: Colin Woodall HSUS comments

    What do you think about the UEP-HSUS agreement and pending legislation regarding laying hens? There’s still time to vote on the question regarding the issue in our ZimmPoll on the left side bar.

    2012 Cattle Industry Convention Photo Album

    Audio, Cattle Industry Conference, Livestock, NCBA, Poultry

    Orange County Choppers Paul Sr. Unveils Biodiesel Bike

    Chuck Zimmerman

    The big news today at the National Biodiesel Conference was the unveiling of the biodiesel bike built by Paul Teutul, Sr., Orange County Choppers. The bike was built in partnership with CIMA Green. Today the bike debuted on stage driven by former NBB Chairman, Ed Hegland. Then Paul Sr. himself drove it onto the biodiesel vehicle showcase floor where he talked about the project with attendees. CIMA Green actually had two bikes built and donated one to the National Biodiesel Board along with a check for $50,000 to use for transportation expenses to showcase the bike at various events around the country.

    I spoke with Paul Sr. just prior to his entry into the exhibit hall and he says the bike was a tough one to build. He says it’s not a speed demon but it won’t break down, “It’s just made to go.” The bike has affectionately been named Susie, btw.

    Listen to my interview with Paul Sr. here: Interview with Paul Sr.

    Listen to Paul Sr. describe the biodiesel bike here: Paul Sr. Remarks

    Here’s video of Paul, Sr. driving into the exhibit hall.

    Remember that you can follow what the Twitterverse is saying about the conference using the hashtag #NBB12.

    2012 National Biodiesel Conference Photo Album

    Audio, Biodiesel, Biofuels, National Biodiesel Conference, Video

    NCBA Members Pass Policy Resolutions

    Cindy Zimmerman

    International trade, cattle payment efficiency and herd health were among the key policy issues members of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association approved as resolutions during the Cattle Industry Convention last week in Nashville.

    Regarding international trade, a resolution was passed that codified NCBA support of a Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) that removes tariff and non-tariff trade barriers for U.S. beef to participating countries, which include Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

    Another resolution that was passed encourages a more efficient payment system for fed cattle in light of the recent announcement by the U.S. Postal Service that first class mail delivery will slow in the future which could cause problems for the efficient delivery of payment for cattle.

    Regarding herd health, the current management of bison on federal lands by the Department of Interior has raised concerns among cattle producers so NCBA members passed a resolution opposing the relocation of any bison outside the current Greater Yellowstone Area management area, the expansion of that area and any increase in the currently authorized bison population.

    2012 Cattle Industry Convention Photo Album

    Beef, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA

    NCBA Priorities Include Justice and Transportation

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Two of the top policy concerns for National Cattlemen’s Beef Association in 2012 involve justice and transportation issues.

    The Equal Access to Justice Act is one issue that many may not be familiar with – I know I wasn’t. NCBA Government Affairs Vice President Colin Woodall explains. “This is a long-standing government program that was put in place to allow people who don’t have the financial means available to sue the government,” said Colin. That includes people like veterans, widows of vets, people trying to get benefits, etc. “Unfortunately, it’s been hijacked by extremists groups who are using the money to sue the Department of Interior, the Forest Service, to get federal lands ranchers kicked off their land. They’re using taxpayer money to fund their activist agenda.”

    Colin says NCBA is having to education members of Congress about the act and how it is being used by these groups. They hope to add more transparency to the act and put a cap on the amount of money that can be used and those who qualify for it.

    Regarding transportation, Colin says they are working on legislation to create uniform transportation laws across all states and helping states adopt transportation laws that increase allowable weight, length and trailer requirements. NCBA also supports giving states the option to increase truck weights with an additional axle to livestock and semi-trailers to increase braking power and place less total weight on each axle, making livestock transportation safer and less stressful on U.S. roadways. Finally, NCBA is opposing a federal requirement of commercial driver’s licenses for farmers and ranchers.

    Listen to or download my interview with Colin here: Colin Woodall Interview

    2012 Cattle Industry Convention Photo Album

    Audio, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA

    AgriTalking With Mike Adams

    Chuck Zimmerman

    ZimmCast 337Sometimes the host becomes the guest. In this week’s program that’s what happens when I chat with Mike Adams, host of AgriTalk. Cindy and I have really enjoyed the fact that Mike and producer John “follow” us around to events all over the country :). I’ve actually been on AgriTalk before! I think that between us we cover more miles than most in the ag media world.

    So I finally decided to sit down with Mike and talk about the conference we’re currently attending which is the National Biodiesel Conference and how things have changed in the media world we live in. Certainly technology is a key part of that as you’ll hear us reminisce about taking handsets apart on public telephones to connect our tape recorders for feeding audio back to the studio. Really, we’re not that old. I think it’s our active lifestyle and meeting some of the most wonderful people in the world that keeps us young!

    BTW. I’m wondering if Mike has just a touch of Golden ZimmComm Microphone envy. What do you think? And thanks to John Herath, AgriTalk Producer Extraordinaire, for the photo.

    Listen in on my conversation with Mike in this week’s program: AgriTalking with Mike Adams

    Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsor, GROWMARK, locally owned, globally strong, 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.

    Audio, Media, ZimmCast

    NCBA CEO Sees Strong Momentum for Cattle Industry

    Cindy Zimmerman

    The CEO of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association sees the current status of the cattle industry as the opportunity of a lifetime.

    “There’s a whole lot of market signals in place for growth in this industry,” Forrest Roberts said in his report to the NCBA membership during the annual business meeting at the Cattle Industry Convention on Saturday morning. “NCBA is riding a wave of momentum.”

    Forrest notes that NCBA has a strong financial and leadership foundation and the relationship between NCBA and the Cattlemen’s Beef Board is also strong. “Let me leave no doubt – we are working together very well,” Forrest said about the policy and checkoff organizations.

    He outlined goals for the coming year as increasing consumer demand and proving the sustainability of cattle production, creating new trade opportunities in international markets, and pursuing the policy priorities of removing the livestock title in the 2012 farm bill and getting permanent estate tax relief.

    Listen to Forrest’s report here: NCBA CEO Forrest Roberts

    I also interviewed Forrest about the record attendance at the meeting of 8,217 cattle industry members. “The sense that I’ve gotten from folks all across the U.S. this week has been a lot of optimism about the future of this industry,” he said, noting that is the case even with the severe drought in Texas that helped contribute to the lowest cattle numbers since 1950. He expects to see those number go back up again pretty quickly. “I can see us maybe moving from 30 million head to 35 here in the next 5-6 years,” he said. “The demand is there for our product.”

    Listen to my interview with Forrest here: Forrest Roberts Interview

    2012 Cattle Industry Convention Photo Album

    Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA