International News About Soybeans

Chuck Zimmerman

john-baizeJohn Baize, Baize & Associates is a regular columnist for the United Soybean Board’s Expert Advice. His company specializes in international agricultural trading and policy consulting on oilseeds and soybeans and including biotechnology policy, trade policy, agriculture policy and market development activities.

In his most recent column you’ll find information about China.

A lot has been said about the impact China has had on the global economy since it opened up to foreign investment and capitalism in the early 1990s. However, until one looks at the numbers, it is virtually impossible to gain a true grasp of how much it has impacted our world. In particular, China has been by far the most important factor impacting global demand for soybeans.

I spoke with John about his work for the United Soybean Board. He says he advises the USB on where he thinks global markets are going. He says its his goal to help them make the best decisions on where to spend Checkoff dollars. Producers will find this type of information in his column. John invites producers to submit questions which he’ll do his best to answer.

You can listen to my interview with John below.

Ag Groups, Audio, International, Soybean, USB

New Vs. Old Style Moroccan Feedlot

Chuck Zimmerman

Morocco FeedlotThe Ammar Beef Feedlot is owned by Ammar Abd El Fettah, picture on the right. He’s standing next to local U.S. Grains Council Consultant Mustapha El Youssoufi. The feedlot was our first stop on our Corn Mission tour of Morocco this morning. Ammar has been in the beef business through his family which goes back generations.

I interviewed them after we walked through the operation which included “the old and the new.” By that I mean that Ammar has built a large new modern feedlot operation which is nearing completion and it sits adjacent to his traditional style feedlot.

The USGC has worked with cooperatives and now private companies like Ammar’s to convince them to try modern style open feedlots. These are less labor intensive and the animals are much more productive. Mustapha says Ammar ran trials that showed that the system works and what he’s building will become a model for other producers in the country and region.

So when it comes to feed for these animals concentrated feed is becoming more desirable and available. Morocco produces some of its own feed products which includes a little bit of corn silage and wheat straw. But when it comes to concentrates they’re now including corn, ddgs and corn gluten feed as well as soybean meal. Ammar says the project is working and he’s very happy with the assistance of the USGC and American farmers.

He’s now planning a meat packing facility and distribution business. You can listen to my interview with them below and watch a short video clip taken at the new feedlot.

USGC Corn Mission In Morocco Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Beef, USGC

Growth of Grain Imports In Morocco

Chuck Zimmerman

Corn MissionThe Director for the Mediterranean and Africa for the U.S. Grains Council is Kurt Shultz. He’s been our main guide and font of information so far.

I spoke with Kurt this morning to get an overview of agriculture in Morocco and the potential it holds for U.S. grain producers. He says that the USGC became involved in Morocco about 15 years ago when corn imports were low and there was a huge duty of about 75 percent. USGC formed a relationship with livestock producers and the government that has led to the reduction of those duties to about 35 percent. That has driven growth tremendously. Another reason for the increase in grain imports is growth in the poultry sector as well as more recently in beef production.

Kurt says that the USGC helped form a poultry organization that provides members with educational materials so that it can compete on a global level. He says that investment has paid off big dividends over the years. Besides corn, he says they are seeing a growth in the imports of dried distillers grains. Kurt says that imports in Morocco could double in the next five years, especially with developments in the ruminant sector.

Kurt is a short timer now here in this area as he has accepted a new position with the USGC to open a regional office in Panama which will cover the Caribbean, Central and South America. We certainly wish him well in his new adventure!

USGC Corn Mission In Morocco Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Corn, USGC

Diverse Transportation in Morocco

Chuck Zimmerman

Corn MissionOne of our guides here in Morocco says the country is very diverse. One of the examples he used was that you might see a BMW stopped at a traffic light side by side with one of these. He was right.

We saw a lot of carts being pulled by donkeys, mules and horses today even in downtown Casablanca. They are being put to good use and getting the job done.

USGC Corn Mission In Morocco Photo Album

USGC

Moroccan Shepherds

Chuck Zimmerman

Corn MissionBesides the rocks I think I saw more shepherds today than almost anything else as we drove around Morocco. The fields and hills are covered with them. There were children watching a flock, women, men, groups of people. You name it. Sheep are pretty much everywhere. When we drove into Casablanca this afternoon, a town of over 4 million, I even saw one tied up outside a bar off the sidewalk on the main thoroughfare we were driving on.

One of my tweeps asked me what kind of predator issues they have and I just don’t know. Never thought to ask about it today. I would guess that dogs and other wild animals are a threat though.

We spent a long day visiting a new feedlot operation, new port facility, grain storage facility and having the best seafood lunch I’ve ever eaten. The photo album is up to date and I have some video about to be loaded so there’s plenty more to come. BTW. It’s not easy taking photos through the window of a van at highway speed as I’m sure some of you know. But not all of my photos today were taken that way.

USGC Corn Mission In Morocco Photo Album

International, USGC

Happy Anniversary Alimet

Cindy Zimmerman

novusNovus International is celebrating 25 years of ALIMET feed supplement production with long-standing partner Ascend Performance Materials.

Over the last 25 years, Novus and Ascend, including its predecessors Solutia Inc. and Monsanto, have grown the ALIMET production facility in Chocolate Bayou, Texas to the largest liquid methionine manufacturing plant in the world. More than 600 Novus and Ascend employees and executives recently participated in a celebration of Alimet’s success at the Chocolate Bayou site.

“The people at Chocolate Bayou are not only helping to feed the world, they are helping to meet the world’s protein demand and to support sustainable agricultural practices.” stated Giovanni Gasperoni, Executive Vice President, Marketing and Sales, Novus International.

Currently, ALIMET is sold in more than 90 countries around the globe for inclusion in aquaculture, beef, dairy, pork and poultry rations.

Novus International

Farm Broadcaster of the Year Unemployed

Cindy Zimmerman

Just a couple of weeks ago, former NAFB president Ken Root was grinning from ear to ear as he accepted the coveted Farm Broadcaster of the Year award from the National Association of Farm Broadcasting. This week, he was unceremoniously let go by a company that has a reputation for not appreciating the work of talented and respected farm broadcasters. But Ken is still smiling!

On his Facebook page, Ken wrote: I’m in the unemployment line! Clear Channel terminated my employment yesterday afternoon. I finished my reports, packed my belongings under supervision and toured the building shaking hands with my former co-workers. I am greatly relieved and moving on.

This is not the first time that Clear Channel has terminated a highly respected farm broadcaster. While the company owns several properties – both networks and stations – that serve the agricultural community, they just don’t seem to understand the importance of that. Ken is a wonderful person, a fabulous on-air talent, and a great farm broadcaster. His audience in the WHO listening area is the loser here because he not only informed, but entertained – and not just farmers, but the general public as well.

Best of luck, Ken. You are an original and one of the very best in the business.

Media, NAFB

Broadhead + CO Agency For BIVI Cattle Brands

Chuck Zimmerman

Broadhead+CoBroadhead + CO has landed the cattle brands business for Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica beginning immediately.

Broadhead + Co will provide Boehringer Ingelheim with marketing communications strategy for both dairy and beef industry animal health products, including those newly acquired from Fort Dodge Animal Health, such as Pyramid, Triangle, Cydectin, Today and Tomorrow. These products strengthen the Boehringer Ingelheim biologicals product portfolio and expand product lines into the dairy mastitis market.

Agencies, Agribusiness

AGMasters Conference Report on Global Ag

Cindy Zimmerman

Here’s another report from the AGMasters Conference blog, this one written by University of Illinois Ag Comm major Alyssa Eade:

Although to many farmers across the Midwest it may seem that agriculture in the US is struggling, Murray Wise, CEO and Chairman of the Westchester Group, is enthusiastic about the future of agriculture. Wise spoke on the future for global agriculture and food production in the year 2010 and beyond, here at the AGMasters Conference. “There is no other country that does it like we do,” said Wise of agriculture in the United States. I had the opportunity to speak with Mr. Wise more about his thoughts on global food production, ethanol and the future of the family farm. You can listen to my interview with Murray below.

Audio

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

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  • The Corporation for National and Community Service, USDA and the White House joined together to launch the United We Serve: Feed A Neighbor initiative to help combat hunger this winter. The new initiative raises awareness of hunger issues and equips American with the resources to mobilize against the hunger crisis.
  • Agri-Pulse Communications has launched expanded information on the firm’s newly redesigned Web site.
  • “Marketing to Farm Businesses” is an intensive three-day course designed for managers responsible for developing and/or implementing marketing programs to farm businesses and/or businesses that sell to farmers. The registration deadline for the Guelph session of Marketing to Farm Businesses is Friday, Dec. 18. This course is scheduled for Jan. 19-22, 2010, at the Delta Hotel in Guelph.
  • AGCO announces that Jason Marx has been named vice president, Parts Division, North America for AGCO and Jeff Terlep is the new director of sales with the Parts Division.
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