Using Alge to Improve Ag Sustainability

Joanna Schroeder

Agriculture often gets a bad wrap on the sustainability scale but growers know that they aren’t going to jeopardize their livehoods and they are great stewards of the land. But for those growers who are still looking for some unique ways to be a little “greener” with their operations, they should consider algae.

Kent Bioenergy has its roots in aquaculture. The company was a pioneer in fish farms and needed a way to clean the water. Enter algae. Over time, the company has discovered how to harvest the algae and the co-products can be used for a variety of things depending on where the nutrients came from to grow the algae.

For example, Barry Toyonaga, Ph.D. who is the Chief Business Officer for the company, explained that they have been working with growers and livestock, dairy and hog producers to use algae as a way to reduce normal agricultural run-off.

Most of the waste is unused fertilizer coming straight off farm land and so if our algae is just recapturing the used fertilizer, and we’re harvesting that algae, its really a renewable resource for fertilizer,” explained Toyonaga.

What is especially interesting about using algae to capture run-off is that the agriculture industry is being criticized for causing “Dead Zones” in the ocean, areas where marine life cannot be supported due to depleted oxygen levels. Integrating algae can reduce this run-off, and help to remove the criticism that agriculture is causing this problem. It’s also beneficial for the grower because once the algae is harvested, it can be “reused” on the farm as an organic fertilizer, reducing costs and reducing another common criticism launched against agriculture – using fossil-fuel based inputs.

Toyonaga truly believes that his company is on to something and they are trying to interest both the agricultural community and the USDA in the technology. So if you’re a grower who is open to trying something new, considering reaching out to Kent Bioenergy.

To learn more about how integrating algae into your farm or livestock operations, listen to my interview with Barry here. Barry Toyonaga interview

You can also view photos from my San Diego Algae Tour here.

Aquaculture, Audio, Biodiesel, Livestock, Sustainability

NCBA Stewardship Awards Celebrate 20 Years

Cindy Zimmerman

The 20th annual national Environmental Stewardship Award (ESA) winner was announced Thursday night during the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association tailgate party held at the Denver Broncos football stadium.

The seven regional award winners were honored during a reception where they all received specially commissioned bronze sculptures by artist Vern Friesen of Nebraska, courtesy of sponsor Dow AgroSciences. The national winner was Couser Cattle Company of Nevada, Iowa – represented here by Bill and Nancy Couser. They received another special bronze for being the best in the country.

The awards are also sponsored by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Since the ESA program began in 1991, nearly 130 cattle operations in 33 states have been recognized for outstanding environmental stewardship. The 20 year milestone of the program is being marked by a special video presentation that will be aired on NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen program this summer.

BTW, we did a post about the Couser Cattle Company last year when they hosted a tour of the operation as part of the TATT Global Farmer to Farmer Roundtable.

Listen or download my interview with Bill here: Interview with Bill Couser
2011 Cattle Industry Convention Photos

See more coverage on BeltwayBeef.org.

Audio, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • The National Soybean Research Laboratory at the University of Illinois is organizing the upcoming Corporate Social Responsibility Conference: Nutrition Solutions for Central America in Guatemala City, Guatemala.
  • The U.S. EPA has granted DuPont registration approval for DuPont Perspective, Streamline and Viewpoint herbicides.
  • The London-based commodity consultancy VM Group launches Worldcrops.com, a unique service that gathers in one web-based location all the essential analysis and data that track developments in global crop markets.
  • Ag Leader Technology, Inc., introduced its latest product offerings: OptRx Crop Sensors for North American wheat and ParaDyme automated steering system which can receive GLONASS signals.
    Zimfo Bytes

    First Ever NCBA Communications Awards

    Cindy Zimmerman

    The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association inaugurated some new awards this year for excellence in agricultural communications and journalism.

    The Excellence in Agricultural Communications awards were presented to an outstanding state beef association communicator and to a state breed communicator. The winners were Eric Grant of the American Angus Association (pictured on the right with Mike Deering and Mary Geiger of the NCBA Communications Staff) and Jaime King from the Ohio Cattlemen’s, who was not present.

    There were over 90 nominations from state associations for the first Excellence in Ag Journalism. The winner this year, picked by a panel, Ron Hays of the Radio Oklahoma Network (RON).

    That’s me with Mike and Ron in the second photo. ZimmComm was proud to be the sponsor of these new awards, which included traveling plaques and gift certificates for ZimmComm services for the organization awards, as well as $100 in cash for the ag journalist award. Congrats to all and thanks to NCBA for starting this award to honor excellence in ag media and communications.


    2011 Cattle Industry Convention Photos

    See more coverage on BeltwayBeef.org.

    Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA

    NCBA President Reflects on 2010

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Steve Foglesong of Illinois has just a couple more days as president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and I spent a few minutes with him today reflecting on his year as the head of the organizations.

    When it came to over-reaching government regulation, Steve said, “It was non-stop, one issue after another” but, he is pleased that NCBA was successful in getting some of those things changed or stopped.

    GIPSA was the biggest regulatory issue that NCBA faced in 2010, and while a final decision has not yet been made, Steve is happy the Secretary of Agriculture has now ordered a full economic analysis of the proposed rule. “And they’re going to take their time and do that job right.”

    After so many struggles in 2010, Steve said it was strange that the year ended with a victory that meant a great deal to the cattle industry – two years of death tax relief in the lame duck session of Congress. But, he notes that the industry will still be “looking for a full repeal.”

    Listen or download my interview with Steve here: NCBA president Steve Foglesong
    2011 Cattle Industry Convention Photos

    See more coverage on BeltwayBeef.org.

    Audio, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA

    Karl Rove at Cattle Industry Meeting

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Addressing about 5,000 cattle industry members from around the country Thursday morning, the man who served President George W. Bush in the White House gave a nice, if somewhat backhanded, compliment to the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. “This is one damn confident organization to have a man with a ponytail coming in as your president,” said Karl Rove, referring to Montana cattleman Bill Donald, NCBA president-elect.

    Rove, who served as Senior White House Advisor under Bush and is now a Fox New contributor, talked about a number of policy issues important to cattle producers, starting with international trade. “We gotta find ways to take what we grow and produce and manufacture and create and sell them all around the world because America can compete anywhere in the world as long as the rules are fair and the playing field is level,” he said.

    Listen or download all of Rove’s remarks here: Karl Rove Remarks at NCBA
    2011 Cattle Industry Convention Photos

    See more coverage on BeltwayBeef.org.

    Audio, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA

    NCBA President-Elect Stresses Working Together

    Cindy Zimmerman

    The pony-tailed president-elect of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association took a little good-natured ribbing from former White House advisor Karl Rove this morning for his hairstyle, but he also poked a little fun at himself during his address to the thousands of cattle industry members.

    “I am the first president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association to be on Facebook,” said Bill, noting that he had to come up with some of his favorite quotes for his profile. They are “If you don’t think too good, don’t think too much” and “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth overdoing.”

    Getting more serious, Bill stressed the importance of the industry working together. “We’re a diverse outfit, we cover every segment of the industry, and I don’t apologize to anybody about that,” he said. “Yeah, we’ve got packers who serve on the board of this outfit. And we’ve got retailers and we have importers and cow-calf guys and stocker guys and feedlot operators. Because that’s what it takes for all of us to be profitable is all of us to be in the same room working on the same issues.”

    Bill used a painting by Montana artist David Hodges to illustrate teamwork in the beef cattle industry. That painting is pictured here. Among other things, Bill drew attention to the freight wagon going up the hill on the high road. “We get a lot of challenges, a lot of groups and individuals that can say a lot of nasty things about us,” he said. “We’re gonna stay on the high road.”

    Listen to Bill’s remarks here: NCBA Bill Donald Remarks


    2011 Cattle Industry Convention Photos

    See more coverage on BeltwayBeef.org.

    Audio, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA

    First Look At Beef Industry Long-Range Plan

    Chuck Zimmerman

    A draft version of the Beef Industry Long-Range Plan 2011-2013 has been presented here at the Cattle Industry Convention. It will be discussed and refined I’m sure. The hope is that it will be adopted in a final version by the end of this meeting so work can get started on the 3 year plan.

    To get an idea of what it has taken to get the plan put together and what’s in it I spoke with Long Range Plan Task Force Member Charlie Mostek, Tyson. Thanks to Rod Smith, Feedstuffs, for snapping a photo while I was doing the interview.

    Charlie is one of 23 members on the task force which is made up of a variety of industry organizations. He says that makes it unique. Also making it unique is the fact that it’s a three year plan instead of five as has been done in the past. This effort is an outgrowth of work that had already been done by NCBA, Beef Board and Federation of State Beef Councils.

    One of the things that struck me in looking at published notes on the draft is this from the Vision statement, “An industry united around a common goal . . . ” The plan lays out some specific target goals like increasing the value of exports 25% per head. Charlie says that their will be a focus on measurement. So we’ll see what the joint board of directors does on Saturday. You can listen to my interview with Charlie here: Interview With Charlie Mostek


    2011 Cattle Industry Convention Photos

    See more coverage on BeltwayBeef.org.

    Ag Groups, Audio, Beef, NCBA

    Let the Cattle Convention Coverage Begin

    Cindy Zimmerman

    We are here in the Mile High City at last for the 2011 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show. Despite all the weather issues this week, attendance looks to be pretty good for this annual meeting of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

    The media room is filled with all the usual suspects and from what we have heard, most everyone who planned to make it here did. Everyone is getting ready for the second general session to start here shortly, with the main attraction being former White House advisor Karl Rove.

    Past NAFB president Greg Akagi (WIBW-Kansas Ag Network) had the opportunity to interview Rove yesterday, so here is a little preview of what the cattle industry will be hearing this morning.

    Greg Akagi Interviews Karl Rove

    Got a couple of photos uploaded this morning, lots more to come!

    2011 Cattle Industry Convention Photos

    See more coverage on BeltwayBeef.org.

    Audio, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA

    Cattle Industry Convention Kicks Off

    Cindy Zimmerman

    We’re still on our way there, but about 5,000 cattle producers were in Denver for the opening of the 2011 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show on Wednesday, according to Mike Deering with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Mike has been busy live streaming, tweeting (@beltwaybeef), taking photos, posting to beltwaybeef.com and sending out news releases from the event. He tweeted this photo of NCBA president Steve Foglesong at the opening general session.

    Foglesong advised the attendees to reflect on 2010 successes but focus on possibilities for 2011.

    “Your NCBA didn’t waver to the critics or this administration’s regulatory rollercoaster ride. We buckled down and took them on, which resulted in several wins for U.S. cattlemen. You ladies and gentlemen sat high in the saddle and worked with your NCBA to aggressively defend this industry,” said Foglesong. “The success stories go on and on. As you set forth policy positions this week, I am confident the success stories will continue in 2011. We will go do battle again and again with forces that are aligned against us and our commonsense approach will win again”

    Foglesong said the Obama administration’s “regulatory rollercoaster ride” is unprecedented and has the potential to devastate rural America. However, he is hopeful President Obama will carry through with a thorough regulatory review to rein in the Environmental Protection Agency, the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration and other government agencies from regulating farmers and ranchers out of business. Foglesong said NCBA’s pressure on the administration to eliminate burdensome, costly and scientifically unfounded regulations assisted in the President’s decision to conduct the review.

    Hopefully, your beef blogging team will be on site in time for the rest of the convention tomorrow.

    Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA