Farm Foundation to Discuss Ag Trade Issues

John Davis

Our friends at Farm Foundation are hosting another one of their talks that help bring out a variety of viewpoints to solve the problems facing agriculture today. This latest one will focus on trade issues and will take place on Tuesday, May 4 and will include the following presenters:

* Richard Fritz of Global AgriTrends, who will focus on global trade issues in the meat and poultry sectors,
* David Abler of Penn State University, who will discuss non-tariff measures,
* John Wainio of USDA’s Economic Research Service, focusing on regional trade agreements, and
* Jean-Philipe Gervais of North Carolina State University, whose essay, “Moving Agricultural Trade Liberalization Forward to Improve Global Food Security,” won the Global Food Security Category of Farm Foundation’s 30-Year Challenge Policy Competition.

Farm Foundation President Neil Conklin will introduce the presenters. Following the presentations, the discussion will be moderated by Charlotte Hedebrand of the International Food & Agricultural Trade Policy Council.

The forum runs from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the National Press Club, 529 14th Street NW, Washington D.C. But you need to hurry and make your reservation by noon tomorrow, April 30. More information is available on Farm Foundation’s Web site. It’s free, and they’ll even provide the coffee.

Farm Foundation

BBQ Cheddar Butterburger For National Hamburger Month

Chuck Zimmerman

This is how you celebrate National Hamburger Month. How about a Culvers BBQ Cheddar Butterburger? I wonder when the nutrition police will decide it’s illegal? Think Demolition Man.

Culver’s introduces a new ButterBurger to help celebrate National Hamburger Month in May. Culver’s is now serving the BBQ Cheddar ButterBurger with fresh, never-frozen 100 percent U.S. beef, savory BBQ sauce, Wisconsin Cheddar cheese and cooked-to-order with a choice of your favorite condiments. In fact, the variety of topping choices at Culver’s should keep a ButterBurger enthusiast busy for the entire month, given there are 5,040 unique combinations.

After enjoying the ButterBurger, guests are encouraged to visit Culver’s on Facebook at www.culvers.com/facebook to share thoughts about the new ButterBurger and take the Burger versus Brisket poll.

“The ButterBurger is Culver’s signature sandwich and the cornerstone of our menu,” says Jim Doak, Culver’s Director of Research and Menu Development, and Executive Chef. “What a better way to help our guests celebrate National Hamburger Month than with a new ButterBurger.”

Beef, Food

American Agriculture’s Environmental Success

Cindy Zimmerman

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has just released its latest National Resources Inventory, which shows the amazing environment success that is American agriculture.

afbfAmerican Farm Bureau Federation president Bob Stallman did a nice little editorial about why the nation’s farmers and ranchers should be proud to show this environmental report card to Mother Nature.

The latest National Resources Inventory (NRI) report, released April 27 by the Agriculture Department’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, puts some substantial meat on the bones of an environmental message farmers and ranchers have long conveyed—that they are careful and caring stewards of our nation’s natural resources.

After scanning the massive NRI survey results, another very clear message has emerged: American agriculture is producing more with less. After looking over the NRI and the latest USDA productivity figures it becomes apparent that the shrinking environmental footprint of food and fiber production in the United States is the envy of the world.

The NRI is a compilation of a broad range of 50 years of data related to the environment, U.S. land use and productivity, water consumption and many other factors.

Analysis of the data by AFBF quantifies how farm and ranch productivity has increased over the past two and a half decades, while at the same time environmental performance and water quality have been improving. Again, more with less.Read More

AFBF, Environment

Time to Take Advantage of Headline Advantage

Cindy Zimmerman

Growers have just two weeks left to take advantage of Headline Advantage.

basfThe BASF Corporation Headline Advantage program offers eligible growers to opportunity to receive $75 per gallon back from BASF on purchases of Headline® fungicide.

To qualify, growers need to purchase their Headline fungicide by May 15, 2010 and submit a receipt along with a completed application to BASF. Complete terms and conditions are available on headlineadvantage.com, or ask your local authorized BASF retailer for details.

I did a quick interview this afternoon with BASF Technical Market Manager Nick Fassler about the program and why BASF is offering the cash back to growers, which you can listen to here:

Audio, BASF

Keep Food Safe Blog

Chuck Zimmerman

Food safety. Pretty important topic isn’t it?

Thanks to alert AgWired community member Leigh Ann we now know that there is a Keep Food Safe Blog. She retweeted someone who tweeted the alert originally. Are you getting this viral thing?

Practical information and tips from the experts to help you and your family stay food safe.

The original tweet comment was, “Who knew?” Yes indeed. How does anyone know it’s there? Did you? I didn’t. But now we all do.

Follow our government as it tweets on food safety on Twitter too. First time I’ve seen a Twitter profile disclaimer about their followers: “Our follows are not endorsements of contents/authors” Must be a govt. atty. thing.

Food

A Shout Out to My Alma Mater ISU!

Joanna Schroeder

As if you can’t tell already, I had a blast during the NAMA conference last week in Kansas City. I especially had fun spending time with the 31 student teams that competed in this year’s Student Marketing Competition. I did, however, have a special place in my heart for my Alma mater, Iowa State University. I had an opportunity to spend some time with them during the week and they are a fantastic group of students. I look forward to working with them, as well as all the students at the conference, in the near future.

Congrats to all the winners whom you can see in our 2010 National Agri-Marketing Conference Photo Album.

AgWired coverage of the 2010 National Agri-Marketing Conference
is sponsored by: Successful Farming. They know.

NAMA

NAMA Students Take Home Some Cash Awards

Joanna Schroeder

“The check is in the mail” or so the student scholarship winners were told as their names were announced during the student luncheon that was held last week during the 2010 National NAMA conference. Fifteen students won scholarships that ranged from $500 to $4,000 and knowing how college students can be, Curt Blades, with Successful Farming, joked that the envelopes were empty so that they didn’t blow their money on extra-curricular activities. However, the plaques – they were real!

Now, announcing the 2009-2010 Student Award Winners:

$4,000 Scholarship
Successful Farming/Fergie Ferguson
Amanda Sollman – Michigan State University

$1,000 Colle+McVoy/New Holland Scholarship
Melissa Short – University of Florida

$1,000 MoKan Scholarship
Kerri Bates – Kansas State University

$1,000 ABEF Scholarships
Danielle Brown – University of Wisconsin – Madison
Carly Cummings – Iowa State University
Katie Dogs – University of Wisconsin – Madison
Sarah Butterfield – The Ohio State University
Kayla Lehman – Michigan State University
Jamie Thomas – New Mexico State University
Lauren Tatum – New Mexico State University

$500 ABEF Scholarships
Kristin Witte – University of Nebraska – Lincoln
Kelsey Olson – University of Wisconsin – Madison
Elizabeth Burns-Thompson – Iowa State University
Scott Henry – Iowa State University
Karoline Kastanek – Univ. of Nebraska – Lincoln

Congrats to all the winners whom you can see in our 2010 National Agri-Marketing Conference Photo Album.

AgWired coverage of the 2010 National Agri-Marketing Conference
is sponsored by: Successful Farming. They know.

NAMA

Meet the John Deere Signature Award Winners

Joanna Schroeder

Last week during the National Agricultural Marketing Association’s (NAMA) annual conference the students arrived in mass to compete in the Student Marketing Competition. But that is not all they engaged in while they were in Kansas City. They were also honored with dozens of awards and scholarships including five chapters who were honored with the John Deere Signature Awards that were started by Michael Gustafson, who also won the “Hard Ass” award for his role as a judge in the competition.

The awards are given to the student chapters based on a scale that includes student participation in NAMA activities.

This year the winners are….

1st Place – Iowa State University -$3,000
2nd Place – University of Florida – $2,000
3rd Place – New Mexico State University – $1,000
4th Place – Illinois State University – $500
5th Place – University of Wisconsin Madison – $500

Congratulations to the winning chapters!

2010 National Agri-Marketing Conference Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2010 National Agri-Marketing Conference
is sponsored by: Successful Farming. They know.

John Deere, NAMA, Video

Watch President Obama Remarks in Macon, MO

Chuck Zimmerman

If you weren’t one of the select few invited to see President Obama speak at the POET Biorefining plant in Macon, MO yesterday then don’t despair (you probably weren’t anyway). I’ve got you covered. Here’s his full remarks in video for you.

Cindy has written a good editorial on his remarks on Domestic Fuel you might want to read. I agree with her that his message really lacked substance and was disappointing to corn growers and farmers. He had a great chance to bring a really positive message and perhaps use the stage to announce some progress in the politics of ethanol and other biofuels like biodiesel. However, he didn’t. I think it’s great that the President chose to visit and bring attention to ethanol but he only mentioned the word agriculture in referring to the state and national directors of agriculture in attendance and never mentioned corn even though he was standing next to a full bucket load of it. I take it that the industry still has its work cut out for it in Washington, DC.

Ethanol, Video

2nd Ag Connect Expo Set for Atlanta, Georgia

Joanna Schroeder

I recently spoke with Sara Truesdale-Mooney, the Show Director for the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM). This past January, AEM held its first agricultural trade show, the Ag Connect Expo. Sara told me that it was a great first show. “We are very pleased with the results and it really exceeded all of our expectations for a first-time event.”

The next Ag Connect Expo will be held in Atlanta, Georgia, January 7-10, 2011 at the Georgia World Congress Center in downtown Atlanta. So far, the educational program is taking shape and Sara said it will be bigger, better and have more offerings. AEM is also planning to expand the Innovations Center as well as adding days and sessions on the show floor as well as more seating. Sara noted that all the sessions were full this past January.

While next year’s show is still a work in progress, Sara said that they are taking into account all the feedback from the attendee surveys and focus groups to ensure that the next show will be even better. Next year there will be a broader scope of exhibits, more floor space and they will bring back their signature elements.

On a closing note, Sara mentioned that Ag Connect Expo has been selected to participate U.S. Department of Commerce’s Buyer Program. Approximately 35 shows are selected for the program each year, and this will be the second year Ag Connect has been selected.

Registration opens in August but you can pre-register now by going www.agconnectexpo.com.

You can learn more about the Summit by listening to my interview with Sara.

2010 National Agri-Marketing Conference Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2010 National Agri-Marketing Conference
is sponsored by: Successful Farming. They know.

AEM, Audio