Industry Ag News 2/4

Carrie Muehling

  • Exhibit space at the 2022 Commodity Classic in New Orleans has nearly sold out, with 389 companies committing to the trade show floor.
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a new USDA Market News Mobile Application, providing producers and everyone else in the supply chain with instant access to current and historical market information. The initial version of the free app includes nearly 800 livestock, poultry, and grain market reports, with additional commodities added throughout the coming year.
  • The Progressive Agriculture Foundation has named Susan Turner of Tompkinsville, Kentucky, as its new outreach specialist, and announced the promotion of Jana Davidson to program manager.
  • The Renewable Fuels Association welcomed Farmers Business Network/Gradable as its newest associate member. FBN is an independent ag tech platform and farmer-to-farmer network with a mission to power the prosperity of family farmers around the world while working towards a sustainable future.
  • Transportation Go!, the premier conference for soybean and grain transportation and trade issues in the Upper Midwest, announced that Federal Maritime Commission Chairman Daniel B. Maffei and Surface Transportation Board Vice-Chairman Robert E. Primus have agreed to appear at this year’s conference, March 3-4 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
  • The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture is celebrating and uplifting outstanding agricultural literacy programs with a total of $26,000 in scholarships and grants to help educators, volunteers and communities connect agriculture to students’ daily lives.
  • California walnut growers recently voted to continue their marketing order, which means the California Walnut Board will continue its efforts to advance the industry and drive demand for walnuts. The continuance referendum vote was held from December 6-31, 2021 for eligible growers and is required by its Federal Marketing Order every six years.
  • Land O’Lakes, Inc. kicked off the third season of its Something Greater podcast with a conversation about the future of carbon markets and sustainable farming. In the episode Jason Weller, President of Truterra, the sustainability business of Land O’Lakes, and Lukas Fricke, a Nebraska farmer, discussed how farmers can be compensated for implementing sustainable practices.
  • Syngenta announced that after 44 years of dedicated service with the company, Dennis Kelly, head of State Government Relations, will retire on April 1, 2022.
  • Curious Plot announced Dean Huff – an agency veteran with wide experience integrating traditional and digital communications functions across the food, agriculture and pet sectors – has joined the company as executive vice president, integration lead.
  • Meister Media Worldwide announced the sale of the Florida Grower brand and related assets to AgNet Media, effective March 1, 2022.
Zimfo Bytes

Minnesota Cattleman Takes Reins as New NCBA President

Cindy Zimmerman

Don Schiefelbein, a Minnesota seedstock breeder and cattle feeder, became the new president of the National Cattlemens Beef Association (NCBA) during the 2022 Cattle Industry Convention this week in Houston. Schiefelbein and his family operate Schiefelbein Farms, a diversified farming operation in Kimball, Minn.

The 2022 NCBA officer team, approved by the NCBA board of directors, took office at the end of this year’s convention. Todd Wilkinson of South Dakota was named president-elect and Mark Eisele of Wyoming was elected vice president. Nebraska rancher Buck Wehrbein was elected chair of the NCBA Policy Division and stocker/backgrounder Gene Copenhaver of Virginia was elected policy vice chair. Brad Hastings of Texas and Clark Price of North Dakota were elected as chair and vice chair of the NCBA Federation Division, respectively.

Before returning to the family farm, Schiefelbein served as the executive director of the American Gelbvieh Association, and previously worked for the North American Limousin Association after graduating from Texas A&M University. Schiefelbein has a long history of industry service, most recently in the role as chair of the Beef Industry Long Range Planning Committee. He has also held several positions on committees and the board of directors of the American Angus Association. In addition, Schiefelbein is a past president of the Minnesota Cattlemen’s Association.

Schiefelbein plans to focus on several priorities, including ensuring NCBA members’ voices are heard as the organization continues to grow, uniting its membership and making sure NCBA is at the forefront of issues that impact the cattle industry to protect producer interests.

Learn more about him in this interview.
CIC22 Interview with Don Schiefelbein, 2022 NCBA President 4:38

2022 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show Photo Album

NCBA Convention Virtual Newsroom

AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA

2021 Environmental Stewardship Award Regional Winners

Cindy Zimmerman

Seven of the nation’s top cattle operations were recognized as Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) regional winners for their environmental conservation efforts during the 2022 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show in Houston, Texas this week. The regional winners will compete for the national award, which will be presented during NCBA’s Summer Business Meeting in Reno, Nevada, July 25-28, 2022.

Established in 1991, by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association to recognize outstanding land stewards in the cattle industry, the Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) is generously sponsored by Corteva Agriscience, McDonald’s, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Cattlemen’s Foundation.

Here is a list of the winners, with interviews for five of the seven. Pictures of all the winners can be found on the convention website.

Region I: EZ Acres, LLC, Homer, New York
Brothers Mike and Pete McMahon manage more than 2,500 acres of the sixth-generation family-owned dairy cattle farm and beef operation.

Region II: Vaughn Farms, Forsyth, Georgia
James Vaughn, his wife, children and sister manage nearly 5,600 acres which are devoted to producing forage crops, providing pastureland for their cattle, and managing timberland for pulp, lumber and energy production.

Region III: Robbins Land & Cattle, Scranton, Iowa
Justin and Lacie Robbins manage their Iowa row crop and cattle operation based on the responsible use of natural resources.
CIC22 Interview with ESAP winner Justin Robbins, Iowa 2:26

Region IV: Dry Creek Ranch, San Angelo, Texas
After a 26-year career in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps, Carl and his wife, Pat, returned to the family ranch to establish a registered Hereford cattle herd and continue conservation practices and improvements.
CIC22 Interview with ESAP winner Carl and Pat Schlinke, Texas 4:56

Region V: Joe C King & Sons Ranch, Winnett, Montana
The King family operates with the belief that their area of Montana is best left as native range where cattle, wildlife and the landscape can live in harmony with each other and act as a mutually beneficial system.
CIC22 Interview with ESAP winner Chris King, Montana 1:52

Region VI: JY Ferry & Son, Inc., Corinne, Utah
Sustainability has long been an objective for JY Ferry & Son, with a 100-year history of conservation focusing on agricultural practices that conserve water, energy and other natural resources.
CIC22 Interview with ESAP winner John Ferry, Utah 2:05

Region VII: Blair Brothers Angus Ranch, Vale, South Dakota
Blair Brothers Angus Ranch is a family-owned operation focused on embracing conservation practices that enhance soil, water, livestock and wildlife.
CIC22 Interview with ESAP winner Ed Blair, South Dakota 2:34

AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference, Environment, NCBA

Beef – Here and There, Domestic and Abroad

Cindy Zimmerman

British Ambassador Dame Karen Pierce at #CattleCon22

Cattle producers heard from Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm Production and Conservation Robert Bonnie, and British Ambassador Dame Karen Pierce for the last day of the 2022 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show Thursday.

Secretary Vilsack committed to addressing challenges that producers are facing regarding the supply chain, processing capacity and drought. He recognized the need for increased processing capacity and announced continued assistance for producers who have suffered loss from catastrophic disasters. Under Secretary Robert Bonnie noted the industry’s role in conservation efforts and that cattle producers play a critical role in environmental stewardship goals.

Dame Karen Pierce shared her optimism in strengthening the relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States through continuing negotiations to reach a free trade agreement. As the U.K. places the upmost importance on sustainable beef production, Pierce shared her confidence in the sustainability goals set by NCBA last year.

Listen to their remarks below:
CIC22 USDA Secretary Vilsack 29:29

CIC22 USDA Undersecretary Bonnie 24:45

British Ambassador, Dame Karen Pierce 24:37

2022 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show Photo Album

NCBA Convention Virtual Newsroom

AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA

Alltech Offers Solutions for Healthier Cattle at #CattleCon22

Cindy Zimmerman

Alltech BeefAlltech had its solutions for healthier cattle on display at the https://convention.ncba.org/general-information in Houston, Texas Feb. 1-3.

Laurentia VanRensburg is the technical mineral manager for the Mineral Management platform at Alltech. She was speaking with attendees at the trade show about trace minerals and breeding.
CIC22 Interview with Laurentia VanRensburg, Alltech 4:42

Shelby Roberts, Beef Technical Sales Support for Alltech, discussed the causes and risks of calf scours and how to prevent the spread of pathogens.
CIC22 Interview with Shelby Roberts, Alltech 2:44

2022 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show Photo Album

AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Health, Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference

CattleFax Forecasts Positive Profitability Trends in 2022

Cindy Zimmerman

The popular CattleFax Outlook Seminar was back at the 2022 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show in Houston Wednesday.

The overall picture is that cattle price and profitability trends for producers are pointed in the right direction, even as challenges and uncertainty persist with continued disruptions from the pandemic. While issues around labor and packing capacity have lingered, both are expected to improve in the year ahead. These expansions in capacity combined with strong global and domestic consumer beef demand suggests increased profitability across segments, signaling a market that is healthier and more stable in the year ahead.

Kevin Good, vice president of industry relations and analysis at CattleFax, reported that U.S. beef cow inventories have fallen more than 700,000 head from last year and are off nearly 1.6 million from cycle highs. This year, the beef cowherd will near 30.1 million head.

CattleFax CEO Randy Blach concluded the session with an overall positive outlook, expecting margins to improve as cattle supply tightens and producers gain leverage back from packers and retailers, beef demand to remain solid with expected export growth, and utilization and packing capacity to improve over the next few years.

Listen to Blach’s presentation and an interview with Good.
CIC22 Randy Blach, CattleFax 9:01

CIC22 Interview with Kevin Good, CattleFax 5:13

AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA

NCBA Releases 2022 Policy Priorities

Cindy Zimmerman

The executive committee of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) approved the organization’s 2022 policy priorities this week during the 2022 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show, with an emphasis on strengthening the economic, environmental and social sustainability of the cattle industry.

The 2022 priorities include:
Improving market leverage and opportunities through increased access to market data and risk management tools for producers.
Securing the future of the beef industry by protecting crucial tax provisions, limiting regulatory burdens on farms and ranches, and leveling the playing field for producers.
Boosting the resiliency of the beef supply chain by addressing labor shortages, improving processing capacity, expanding technology, and strengthening transportation.
Achieving key cattle industry priorities in the 2023 Farm Bill.

“Cattle markets are going to continue to be a pretty high priority issue,” said Ethan Lane, NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs. “And then climate and sustainability I think are going to continue to be top line items as cattle producers recognize what a positive story they have to tell in that space.”

Lane discusses NCBA policy priorities in this interview.
CIC22 Interview with Ethan Lane, NCBA 6:39

The NCBA policy team gave updates in all of their respective areas during the convention on Wednesday.
Ethan Lane, NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs
CIC22 Policy Update - Ethan Lane, NCBA 9:50

Animal Health Policy Team: Allison Rivera, Executive Director of Government Affairs; Dr. Kathy Simmons, Chief Veterinarian; Chase DeCoite, Director of Animal Health and Food Safety Policy
CIC22 Animal Health policy update 22:07

Cattle Business Policy Team: Danielle Beck, Director of Government Affairs; Kent Bacus, Senior Director of International Trade and Market Access; Tanner Beymer, Government Affairs and Market Regulatory Policy
CIC22 Business policy update 26:12

Climate Issues Policy Team: Kaitlynn Glover, Public Lands Council; Scott Yager, Chief Environmental Counsel; Mary Thomas-Hart, Environmental Counsel
CIC22 Climate policy update 25:00

2022 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show Photo Album

Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA

Precision Ag News 2/2

Carrie Muehling

  • New West Genetics announces AMPLIFY, a family of hemp varieties with a genetic trait that doubles grain and flower yields. This trait enables the transformation of hemp from a small acre specialty crop to a large-scale, commercially competitive hybrid crop.
  • Bayer announced its 2022 cohort of Grants4Ag grant recipients who were chosen to receive awards ranging from 5,000 to 15,000 Euros to help them complete research on challenges facing agriculture. Twenty-one proposals make up this year’s Grants4Ag awardees with research goals including reducing agriculture’s carbon footprint, understanding social factors that influence innovation adoption, and improving the drought tolerance of plants in the face of more frequent extreme weather events.
  • Farmers and ranchers are facing record-breaking synthetic fertilizer costs heading into the 2022 growing season, compounding already challenging economic conditions for producers throughout the country. In response, the non-profit Soil Health Academy announced it is expanding the organization’s scholarship program so more farmers can attend its on-farm schools and learn how to significantly reduce fertilizer use by implementing low-input, regenerative agricultural principles.
  • AgGateway announced that Karen Oerter has been appointed to the organization’s Board of Directors. Oerter replaces Jeremy Wilson, who vacated the position to join AgGateway staff as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer on January 1. She will serve a two-year term.
  • Purdue-affiliated entrepreneurs who commercialize technology that benefits any agricultural sector can apply for $100,000 from the Ag-Celerator Fund. The deadline is 11:59 p.m. ET on Feb. 11. A virtual callout and information session will be held 11 a.m. ET on Feb. 3. Innovations can impact any related agricultural field including, but not limited to, advancing crop traits, generating higher yields, using big data to improve farm management, new uses of plants, animal health, precision agriculture and advanced breeding techniques. Applicants must become active Purdue Foundry clients. Those commercializing Purdue intellectual property must obtain a full license.
  • Biome Makers Inc., the AgTech leader providing the standard in soil analysis, appoints Sarah Basiri as Global Head of Marketing.
  • In February, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) celebrates National Pesticide Safety Education Month to raise awareness for pesticide safety education and share best practices for using pesticides safely in and around our homes.
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a new USDA Market News Mobile Application, providing producers and everyone else in the supply chain with instant access to current and historical market information. The initial version of the free app includes nearly 800 livestock, poultry, and grain market reports, with additional commodities added throughout the coming year.
  • The Agricultural Industry Electronics Foundation (AEF) announced that its annual North American 2022 Plugfest will take place during the Commodity Classic in New Orleans, March 9th -11th at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

Beef Supply Challenges in a Post-Covid World

Cindy Zimmerman

Managing the costs associated with changes happening in the beef supply chain may result in a shift of the historical live cattle and retail beef price ratio, according to a new RaboResearch report, “Beef Supply in a Post-Covid World.”

“While a cattle producer has little or no control over what happens in the beef supply chain post-harvest, it will be important for livestock producers to be aware of changes occurring throughout the supply chain,” writes report author, Don Close, senior animal protein analyst with Rabo AgriFinance. “Any changes, any inventory building, any additional controls and inspections could have a direct impact on the total cost of beef to the end user, which could change historical norms for live-to-wholesale and live-to-retail price spreads.”

Close presented the findings of the report at the 2022 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show yesterday in Houston, Texas. He says the area of change with the greatest potential direct impact on cattle producers is meatpacking plants’ embedding more automation into their facilities. The report notes that the initial introduction of advanced technology will not serve as a replacement for labor. It will serve which will require a workforce with different skill sets or extensive retraining.

CIC22 Rabobank press conference 32:52

2022 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show Photo Album

Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA

Tony Romo to Speak for Beef

Cindy Zimmerman

From play by play to plate by plate, celebrity athlete and former NFL quarterback Tony Romo has been named the new spokesperson for the iconic “Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner” brand, managed by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and funded by the Beef Checkoff.

The new partnership, which was announced at the opening general session of the 2022 Cattle Industry Conference, will last one year and tap into Romo’s vast fanbase to promote all things beef – from beef nutrition, to how beef is raised, and of course beef’s great taste. Romo played for 14 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and following his retirement from the NFL, he was hired by CBS Sports to serve as the lead color analyst for the network’s NFL telecasts.

“I’m really excited to be your new spokesperson,” said Romo. “Me, my wife and the kids eat beef all the time and I think we’re going to eat it even more if that’s even possible at this point. Hearty and sustainable beef is my new team.”

“Kicking off this partnership in early 2022 is the perfect time to gear up for summer nutrition and grilling, spending time with friends and family and of course, tailgating,” said Jennifer Nealson, NCBA Senior Vice President of Global Marketing and Research. “From his nutrition expertise to his love of beef and family, Romo is the perfect spokesperson for the brand.”

Learn more about the new partnership in this interview with Nealson from #CattlCon22
CIC22 Interview with Jennifer Nealson, NCBA 4:10

2022 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show Photo Album

AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Audio, Beef, Beef Checkoff, Cattle Industry Conference, Food, NCBA