Animal Ag News 8/10

Carrie Muehling

  • House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin C. Peterson of Minnesota and Ranking Member K. Michael Conaway of Texas sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, urging him to work with university policy research centers to analyze issues related to the cattle industry, especially in light of the recent and ongoing stress related to COVID-19. In the letter, Peterson and Conaway call on USDA’s Office of the Chief Economist to evaluate cattle market structure, price discovery, price reporting, purchasing mandates, and barriers to entry in the packing sector.
  • Vytelle (the recent combination of Vytelle IVF and GrowSafe) announces through its GrowSafe business the launch of the Beef Marketing Program to monitor individual animal performance, predict carcass weight and optimally market cattle in the feedlot.
  • In a letter to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, House Agriculture Livestock and Foreign Agriculture Subcommittee Chairman Jim Costa of California and Ranking Member David Rouzer of North Carolina, joined by Full Committee Chairman Collin Peterson of Minnesota, Ranking Member K. Michael Conaway of Texas, and 17 other Members, urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture to assist U.S. lamb and sheep producers impacted by the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. The letter follows closure of the nation’s second-largest processor representing an estimated 20 percent of the nation’s processing capacity, and pushes USDA to help lamb and sheep farmers and ranchers find alternate processing and marketing options immediately.
  • In an episode of the Dairy Stream podcast, the Center for Dairy Research (CDR) at the University of Wisconsin – one of the nation’s premier dairy research centers – is highlighted for its integral role in keeping the dairy economy healthy and dairy customers happy. Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin sponsored this episode. Listen here.
  • Merck Animal Health announced the completion of its acquisition of IdentiGEN, a leader in DNA-based animal traceability solutions for Livestock and Aquaculture from MML Growth Capital Partners Ireland. Specific terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
  • The team at Armor Animal Health announced they will be hosting a 2020 Virtual World Dairy Expo Event. Armor teamed up with their vendor partners to bring World Dairy Expo fans a week filled with their favorite things about the event. The company states that even though this virtual event will never compare to the world-class celebration everyone looks forward to in Madison, Wis. each year, they will strive to bring some excitement to the industry in a virtual setting.
AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

Industry Ag News 8/7

Carrie Muehling

  • Three people are finalists in the annual #RootedinAg Contest, hosted by Syngenta. The competition invites members of the ag community to share the inspiring stories of their mentors. Each 2020 finalist embodies a different aspect of the industry: Hannah Borg, a young farmer from Wayne, Nebraska, who pays tribute to the 86-year-old matriarch of her sixth-generation farming family; Stephon Fitzpatrick, a doctoral student at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and community leader whose high school FFA adviser set in motion an incredible ag journey; and DeLeon Pope, an independent certified crop adviser in Clinton, North Carolina, who used the lessons his farmer father taught him to create a successful business built on respect, hard work and perseverance.
  • An important step forward to driving demand for corn was recently achieved, thanks to the work of state and national corn growers staff and members of the National Corn Growers Association Market Development Action Team. In the most recent Funding Opportunity Announcement, the Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office clarified that corn grain is an acceptable feedstock. This means that starch derived sugars, specifically starches from field/feed corn, were clarified as acceptable.
  • Steven Schauer has joined the Dairy Business Association and Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, where he is helping shine a brighter light on the good work of the sister organizations’ members.
  • The Alabama Peanut Producers Association is looking to hire a Communications Coordinator. Please direct cover letters and resumes to Executive Director, Jacob Davis, at jdavis@alpeanuts.com.
  • Renewable Energy Group, Inc. announced that the company has hired Trisha Conley to serve as Vice President, People Development effective August 24, 2020.
  • The virtual National Agrimarketing Conference runs August 11-13 and registration is still open. All of the content from the event will be accessible on-demand also so you can watch it anytime. Register here https://web.nama.org/events/2020AMC-359/details.
  • GROWMARK, Inc. and Southern States Cooperative announced today plans to close on a transaction Sept. 1, 2020, that aligns the organizations operationally to yield increased innovation, growth, and returns for the farmer-owners of both cooperative systems.
  • The American Farm Bureau Federation is asking the USDA to extend the application deadline for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. AFBF, along with 27 other agriculture organizations, sent a letter to USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue requesting the deadline be pushed beyond August 28, 2020.
Zimfo Bytes

Southeast Regional Ag News Launched for FL/GA/AL

Chuck Zimmerman

Ag Information NetworkAnother new farm radio network was just announced.
The Ag Information Radio Network just launched a Florida, Georgia, Alabama Radio Network –Southeast Regional Ag News. Here’s more information.

“With over 150 Affiliate Radio Stations in 14 states including the top Agricultural News network in California, our transition into Florida and the Southeast was a natural step” said Tom Allen co-owner of the Network. According to Allen, “The launch of Southeast Regional Ag News coinciding with the splashdown of SpaceX Dragon capsule was monumental because agriculture, like space exploration, is the next frontier. In this new era, ag-tech changes in virtual nanoseconds. (Think big data, micro-organic farms, precision ag, driverless tractors, drones, sustainability, aquaculture……) We are extremely proud of the fact that local radio still provides the BEST “uncensored” platform to tell agriculture’s compelling story. The team of Aginfo reporters bringing this news to the Southeast region are respected throughout the Ag Industry”.
 Read More

Media

Ethanol Report Highlights Exports

Cindy Zimmerman

Ethanol exports have taken a hit this year due to the pandemic, but there are still reasons to be optimistic about this important market for the industry. In this episode of The Ethanol Report, we hear from Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) General Counsel Ed Hubbard, who doubles as the organizations international trade expert.

We also learn about a new program geared toward young professionals in the ethanol industry 39 years old and younger from RFA Manager of Member Relations Jackie Pohlman.

Finally, we get an update from RFA CEO Geoff Cooper on where the Senate is on getting a coronavirus relief package that includes ethanol producers.

Ethanol Report 7-31-20 (24:06)

The Ethanol Report is a podcast about the latest news and information in the ethanol industry that has been sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association since 2008.

Choose an option to subscribe

Audio, Ethanol, Exports, Podcasts, RFA

Precision Ag News 8/5

Carrie Muehling

  • Valley Irrigation has acquired PrecisionKing, a Mississippi-based ag tech company with products focused on moisture monitoring, pump control and remote sensing, especially of flood irrigation.
  • Greg Crawford has been named Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Hocking International Laboratories effective August 1, 2020.
  • CropTrak, a global leader in food industry digitalization and Growers Insight, the farm-to-food innovation planning and implementation experts, have formed a strategic alliance to increase the adoption, interoperability and overall success of modernization across the Agriculture and food supply chain.
  • Nichino America, Inc. and Nufarm Americas, Inc. have announced a supply agreement for Nufarm to market and sell pyraziflumid fungicide for use in the turf market.
  • Farmers are invited to join the Golden Harvest Virtual Field Days taking place in August and September. The events will provide farmers with in-season agronomic management recommendations to finish the 2020 corn and soybean growing season strong.
  • BRANDT, a leading retailer of professional agronomic services and manufacturer of specialty input products, has acquired a retail agronomy company, Morton Fertilizer, with full-service locations in Wyanet, IL, and Grand Mound, IA.
  • The 2021 NK® soybean portfolio from Syngenta features the industry’s broadest choice of herbicide-tolerant traits. NK varieties available for 2021 include all three of the most in-demand traits: Enlist E3® soybeans, Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® soybeans and LibertyLink® GT27™ soybeans. As growers start to consider their corn and soybean seed selections for next season, Syngenta is also releasing 21 new soybean varieties for 2021.
  • Kim Lutz has been named as the new Executive Director for the America’s Watershed Initiative. AWI is a collaboration among hundreds of business, government, academic, and civic organizations, including the National Corn Growers Association, with a mission of finding solutions to the challenges facing the Mississippi River and its tributaries.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

American Soybean Association Marks 100 Years

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Soybean Association (ASA) returned to its roots this week to celebrate a century of representing U.S. soybean growers. ASA celebrated its 100th anniversary on the Indiana farm where it all started with a small but significant historical marker dedication and tours of heirloom soybean plots.

ASA was formed when brothers Taylor, Noah and Finis Fouts hosted the first Corn Belt Soybean Field Day at their “Soyland Farms” operation in Camden, Indiana, Sept. 3, 1920. Unlike today’s more quaint and socially distanced ceremony, that event drew nearly 1,000 farmers and their families from six states, all of whom were interested in discovering more about an emerging new commodity called soybeans. The National Soybean Growers’ Association—later renamed the American Soybean Association—was formed that very day.

The outdoor ceremony was streamed live for soy supporters to celebrate safely across the country. Originally planned was a group picture emulating a historic black and white photo of the original attendees, but instead, farm families from throughout the soybean states submitted dozens of photos for a special video montage leading up to the live event. Among those helping the organization celebrate in Indiana were USDA Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Steve Censky, who served the soy industry as ASA CEO for two decades, and Indiana governor Eric Holcomb, along with other notable guests from Purdue University, Indiana Soybean Alliance, the Fouts family and ASA’s past and present leadership.

Ag Groups, ASA, Soybean

Western Ag Network Announced

Chuck Zimmerman

Western Ag NetworkHere’s a big announcement from some of my favorite people. Way to go Russell, Lane and Evan!

Radio listeners in Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming have a new source for the latest agriculture news and markets-the Western Ag Network.

Owned and operated by veteran National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) broadcaster Russell Nemetz, the network’s programs are heard on 47 radio affiliates in 6 states including Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming.
For nearly 25 years, he was part of the Northern Ag Network’s farm broadcast team; the majority of those years as it’s Ag Director.
In 2019, he had the opportunity to assume operation of and eventually purchase the Evan Slack Network; another well-known Ag Radio Network in the Rocky Mountain West and Northern Plains.

“It’s a tremendous honor to have this opportunity to continue to serve America’s agriculture industry on the airwaves” said Nemetz. “I want to thank Evan Slack for his legendary career as a trusted friend to agriculture and I will be forever thankful to the hall of fame farm broadcaster for this opportunity to carry on his legacy and still have him part of our broadcast team as an honorary member as he enjoys retirement in Arizona.”

NAFB farm broadcaster Lane Nordlund has also joined the Western Ag Network team. Read More

Media

Animal Ag News 8/3

Carrie Muehling

  • Michael Dykes, D.V.M., President and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association, released a statement in support of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s award of nearly $1 million to the Baylor University Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty to implement the new pilot program designed to encourage Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants to purchase and consume milk as part of a healthy, balanced diet.
  • Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin is stepping private label discussions into high gear with grocery stores and restaurants to increase dairy product market opportunities. Increasing sales of private label cheese supports dairy farmers by increasing milk volume and growing cheese sales.
  • Driving demand for dairy foods through partnerships is critical for the dairy industry’s future. One dairy checkoff tactic has been working together with food service partners for over a decade. Partnerships with Domino’s, Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, Taco Bell and KFC are driving innovation and dairy sales. These types of partnerships have grown by 2.2 billion milk pounds and experience an average 3% growth rate each year (three times the average). Learn more at DairyMAX.org.
  • 2020 marks the 80th year of the Sturgis ® Motorcycle Rally™ and South Dakota Beef Industry Council looks to expand beef demand through a continued partnership with the City of Sturgis as the official meat of the Rally™. The venue allows beef to reach nearly a half million consumers from all over the world throughout the ten-day event scheduled for August 7-16, 2020.
  • The Checkoff-funded National Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Program, managed by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), is now recognized as an industry-leading animal welfare program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has reviewed and certified that the BQA program complies with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Animal Welfare Management/General Requirements and Guidance for Organizations in the Food Supply Chain.
  • Merck Animal Health announced the completion of its previously announced acquisition of the worldwide rights to VECOXAN® (diclazuril), an oral suspension for the prevention of coccidiosis in calves and lambs, from Elanco Animal Health.
AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

2020 Ag Media Summit is Going Virtual.

Chuck Zimmerman

2020 Ag Media SummitHere is the official announcement from the Ag Media Summit.

We were looking forward to seeing everyone at AMS 2020 in Kansas City. However, the safety and well-being of our participants is our priority. Based on growing concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on our community’s ability to travel to the conference, the Ag Media Summit Steering Committee is now moving AMS 2020 to a fully virtual conference.

As the AMS Steering Committee works to move AMS 2020 completely online, we look forward to offering you the same vibrant programming, impactful networking, and opportunities to connect. In addition to participating in the virtual event, all attendees will have access to on-demand recordings. Stayed tuned for more information regarding registration and support opportunities.

We hope that you will join us for this reimagined event and celebrate our collective resilience and dedication to forging connections. Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions at info@agmediasummit.com.

Ag Media Summit, Media

ZimmCast 651 – NCBA Virtual Newsroom and More

Chuck Zimmerman

Hello and welcome to the ZimmCast, featuring weekly interviews with agribusiness industry leaders and all about what’s new, with a focus on agricultural marketing.

In this week’s program you’ll hear from Marvin Kokes, Senior VP of Corporate Relations, NCBA. We talk about this week’s Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting and the virtual ag newsroom we created on AgNewsWire.

From there I share a few more of my conversations with sustaining partners of the National Agri-Marketing Association. You’ll hear from Curt Blades, Senior VP, Agricultural Services, Association of Equipment Manufacturers; Laurie Fleck, President/CEO, FLM/Harvest and Laurel Caes, Public Relations Manager, North America, John Deere. I’ll have more to come in future episodes.

BTW. If you haven’t registered for the Virtual Agri-Marketing Conference you can still do so at NAMA.org.

I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.

Listen to the ZimmCast here: NCBA Virtual Newsroom and More

Subscribe to the ZimmCast in:

AEM, Agencies, Agribusiness, Audio, Equipment, FLM Harvest, John Deere, ZimmCast