Industry Ag News 7/31

Carrie Muehling

  • National Corn Growers Association President Kevin Ross joined Iowa and national agriculture leaders for an AgTalks virtual town hall to discuss the future of agriculture, with a focus on trade, supply chains and global competitiveness.
  • The National Corn Growers Association urges any farmers who have received suspicious, unsolicited packages of seed that appear to be coming from China to follow guidance being provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on how to proceed. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is working closely with the Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection, other federal agencies, and State departments of agriculture to investigate the situation.
  • Alabama peanut farmers voted to continue the current assessment on peanuts that is collected by the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries and administered by the Alabama Peanut Producers Association (APPA). In a referendum conducted on July 23, 2020, ninety-five percent of those who voted said “yes” to continuing APPA’s programs in education, promotion and research.
  • Despite turbulent economic times, an investment in senior level talent continues to reap benefits for CLUTCH, a hybrid consultancy and agency with a roster of clients across the agriculture and food value chain. Chris Strohmeyer joins the Minneapolis-based firm as Vice President, Operations and Quality, while Erin Heidecker takes on the role of Senior Manager of Client Engagement.
  • Heliae® Agriculture is pleased to announce the promotion of two team members, Karl Wyant to Vice President of Ag Science and Shelley Baugh to Director of Marketing.
Zimfo Bytes

Marketing Policy Session Wraps up NCBA Summer Meeting

Cindy Zimmerman

A capacity crowd of cattle producers worked for more than six hours Wednesday to agree on a policy that would help resolve concerns about live cattle marketing issues and lead the industry to more robust price discovery.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s Live Cattle Marketing Committee considered several proposals, each aimed at encouraging greater volumes of cash cattle trade. After intense debate, the committee and the NCBA Board of Directors unanimously passed a policy that supports voluntary efforts to improve cash fed cattle trade during the next 90 days with the potential for mandates in the future if robust regional cash trade numbers are not reached by the industry.

Over 400 cattle producers turned out in person for the NCBA Summer Meeting this week in Denver, and this issue was one of the reasons the organization went ahead with a live event with virtual options.

Ethan Lane, NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs, discusses the final policy resolution on voluntary efforts to improve cash fed cattle trade.
Interview with Ethan Lane, NCBA (6:38)

The policy passed by the Live Cattle Marketing Committee and approved by a vote of the NCBA Board of Directors can be viewed here.

AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Audio, Beef, Livestock, Markets

Fed Cattle Exchange Acquired by Central Stockyards

Cindy Zimmerman

Post updated with Central Stockyards CEO interview

The Fed Cattle Exchange weekly fed cattle online auction has been acquired by Central Stockyards, LLC.

Since 2016 the Fed Cattle Exchange has provided the cattle industry with weekly, cost-effective cattle auctions that provide a platform for price discovery through competitive bidding. The prices determined in the weekly auctions benefit the entire cattle industry and livestock futures markets by providing a transparent baseline price for weekly negotiated live cattle markets.

“The Fed Cattle Exchange is a vital tool to the cattle industry because it provides transparent price discovery,” said Forrest Roberts, President and CEO of Central Stockyards, LLC. “Our vision is that we can make the Fed Cattle Exchange even more valuable to customers and the entire cattle industry by using technical innovations to adapt to immediate industry needs.”

Financial terms of the agreement which became effective July 24 were not disclosed.

*Post Update*
Learn more about the acquisition and plans for the future from Central Stockyards CEO Forrest Roberts
Interview with Forrest Roberts, Central Stockyards

AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Beef, Livestock, Markets

NCBA and PLC Celebrate Environmental Policy Updates

Cindy Zimmerman

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the Public Lands Council (PLC) recently celebrated landmark improvements to environmental policy through finalization of the Trump Administration’s rulemaking on the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The updates make the process more efficient, while also laying the groundwork for healthy and resilient open spaces and pastureland.

Public Lands Council Executive Director Kaitlynn Glover and NCBA Chief Environmental Counsel Scott Yager both discussed the positive changes at the NCBA Summer Business Meeting this week in Denver.

Interview with Kaitlynn Glover, PLC Executive Director (7:29)

Interview with Scott Yager, NCBA (13:22)

AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Audio, Beef, Environment, Livestock, NCBA

USDA Undersecretary Updates NCBA on Grasslands Management

Cindy Zimmerman

James Hubbard, USDA Undersecretary for Natural Resources and Environment, attended the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) summer meeting this week to provide an update on Forest Service management of grasslands.

The Forest Service manages 3.8 million acres of National Grasslands across 12 Western States. They are managed sustainably with the help of some 6200 permitted ranching families, who pride themselves as conservationists, ensuring that these lands will remain productive for generations to come.

“The Secretary’s expectation is that we provide the best customer service,” said Hubbard in an interview from the meeting. “So that means listening to our permittees and how we might address their concerns.”

Hubbard says the Memorandum signed in June directs the Forest Service to increase the productivity of forests and grasslands, including a focus on grazing as an important management tool.

Listen to an interview with Hubbard here:
Interview with Jim Hubbard, USDA Undersecretary (9:13)

AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Audio, Beef, Environment, NCBA

Precision Ag News 7/29

Carrie Muehling

  • GROWMARK, Inc. announced Lora Wright will be joining the Board of Directors in a new at large position. Wright brings more than 20 years of animal agricultural industry and technology experience to her new role.
  • The Soil Health Institute is virtually offering Soil Health: The Foundation for Regenerative Agriculture, July 30 and July 31, 2020. If you haven’t registered and would like to join, please register here. Registration is required to participate.
  • The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center announced that the AgTech NEXT Summit will be held virtually, replacing the event previously scheduled to be held November 10 – 12. Recognizing the robust agenda, and not wanting to create “conference fatigue” with a two-day program, event organizers have shifted the conference to a series of seven – 60 minute live, online sessions. Virtual AgTech NEXT conference sessions will be held from 12 – 1 PM CDT on Tuesdays, beginning September 22 with a keynote by Dr. Pat Brown, founder and CEO of Impossible Foods through November 10, with a break on November 3, election day. Click here to register.
  • The July issue of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers – Iowa Chapter newsletter includes an article titled “Precision Ag Tech Boosts Land Values for Users” submitted by Dan Manternach, President — Perfect Fit Presentations LLC.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

NCBA Campaign Highlights #BenefitsofBeef

Cindy Zimmerman

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) last week launched a nationwide grassroots campaign to highlight the #BenefitsofBeef, calling on cattle producers to submit public comments in support of beef’s role in federal dietary guidelines.

The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) newly released Scientific Report lays the groundwork for five years of federal nutrition guidance and comments are being accepted until August 13 as USDA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) work to finalize the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs).

At the Summer Business Meeting this week, NCBA Executive Director for Government Affairs Danielle Beck said they have engaged for the past two years to ensure the Dietary Guidelines are focused on nutrition and based on sound science and they are pleased overall with the results but it could always be better. “We really think this is an excellent opportunity for us to make some incremental, small improvements but in order to do that we need our producers to engage,” said Beck. She says anti-meat advocates are already working against the important role meat plays in these guidelines in organized comments and beef producers need to make their voices heard.

Listen to an interview with Beck here:
Interview with Danielle Beck, NCBA (5:03)

AgWired Animal, Animal Activists, Animal Agriculture, Audio, Beef, NCBA

NCBA Summer Business Meeting is Happening

Cindy Zimmerman

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA) Annual Summer Business Meeting is underway this week in Denver, with more than 500 cattle producers, industry partners, and stakeholders gathered, both in-person and virtually, for policy development, education, and long-range planning.

“It’s really important that we did do this in-person meeting,” said Marvin Kokes, NCBA Senior VP for corporate relations and events. “Cattlemen like to get together and really look each other in the eye and have a good face to face discussion.”

NCBA unveiled the Beef Industry’s Long Range Plan (LRP) during General Session, which includes industry priorities and the vision for promoting Beef, America’s premiere protein, over the next five years. Idaho rancher Kim Brackett and chair of the LRP Task Force, presented the new plan and NCBA’s Board of Directors will vote on the proposed plan at the Wednesday board meeting.

Summer Business Meeting will also feature important policy committee meetings like the Live Cattle Marketing Committee, which will consider several policies of importance to the industry.

Listen to an interview with Kokes about the summer meeting.
Interview with Marvin Kokes, NCBA (6:02)

Since so many reporters are unable to attend the conference in person, AgNewsWire is featuring interviews and photos from the event.

AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Audio, Beef, NCBA

International Trade Issues at #BeefMeet Summer Meeting

Chuck Zimmerman

2020 Cattle Industry Summer Business MeetingThe 2020 Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting is taking place in Denver, CO. Committees will be meeting to provide direction for the organizations that participate which include the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion & Research Board, American National CattleWomen, Inc. and the National Cattlemen’s Foundation. We have created a virtual ag newsroom on AgNewsWire to provide a resource for all media that includes interviews and more during the event.

To get things started I spoke with Kent Bacus, NCBA senior director of international trade and market access. His work focuses on leveling the playing field for U.S. beef producers around the world. Kent says that prior to COVID-19 things were looking great for U.S. beef exports. He says that once the cloud of COVID-19 lifts, the industry is in a much better position to recover. Learn more in my interview with Kent.

Interview with Kent Bacus, NCBA, on international trade issues: Kent Bacus, NCBA (9:52)

Audio, Beef, NCBA, Trade

Animal Ag News 7/27

Carrie Muehling

  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) launched a nationwide grassroots campaign to highlight the #BenefitsofBeef and is calling on cattle producers to submit public comments in support of federal dietary guidelines that recognize beef’s role in a healthy diet. NCBA will generate public comments by reaching out to cattle producers via e-mail blast, text messages, social media, and earned media between now and Aug. 13. Producers can also file comments by clicking here.
  • Ethan Lane, NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs and representative for the Public Lands Council, testified before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic to the public lands cattle industry. The testimony highlighted the importance of public lands ranchers during the pandemic, including their role in resurging the American economy. The testimony also addressed the need for future aid from Congress through access to vacant allotments or areas ungrazed during the summer season and flexibility to utilize grazing as a nimble, targeted natural resource management tool.
  • From nutritional specialty products to mineral feed additives, Phibro Animal Health Corporation is constantly evolving its robust portfolio of innovations to help improve dairy cow health and boost producer profitability. Over the past year, the company has partnered with university and dairy industry experts to research the effectiveness of many of these solutions, and multiple findings were presented at the 2020 American Dairy Science Association event, held virtually earlier this summer.
  • The American Veal Association is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of its Statement of Principles, a document that established ethical standards and a code of conduct for the veal industry and set the stage for a decade of continuous improvement in an ever-changing animal agriculture landscape.
  • The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) honored two individuals in the animal science field this week at the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS)–Canadian Society of Animal Science–Western Section ASAS virtual annual meeting and tradeshow. Martin Nyachoti, Ph.D., of the University of Manitoba, received the AFIA-ASAS Non-Ruminant Animal Nutrition Research Award, and Terry Engle, Ph.D., of Colorado State University, received the AFIA-ASAS Ruminant Animal Nutrition Research Award.
  • Despite the dire consequences that COVID-19 has created over the past five months for the U.S. pork industry and others, a new report by Rabobank asserts that ASF is still the major influence on global pork markets. It points to ASF’s continued impact on pig herds and pork production in China, Vietnam, the Philippines, and parts of eastern Europe as major examples for this conclusion.
  • In response to COVID-19, the National Pork Board has developed materials outlining social-distancing guidelines and updated biosecurity recommendations for youth shows.
AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites