RFA Ethanol Podcast

Animal Ag News 7/13

Carrie Muehling

  • The Wisconsin Cheese community comprised of cheese lovers from across the nation, called Cheeselandia, won the Grand Champion Award at the American Marketing Association’s Brand Smart Awards in Chicago. In addition to taking home the competition’s largest award, Wisconsin Cheese/Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin also claimed the Gold Award for the Influencer Marketing category.
  • Reps. Cindy Axne (IA-03), Abby Finkenauer (IA-01), and Dave Loebsack (IA-02) have introduced legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives to increase transparency in U.S. cattle markets and spur added price discovery and competition for Iowa producers using cash markets.
  • The International Dairy Foods Association announced that 28 future leaders of the dairy industry have been accepted into the second class of the NextGen Leadership Program, a signature program of IDFA’s People Strategy. The group of emerging leaders represent the diversity of people and business types across the dairy industry, and they have been identified by their companies as tomorrow’s industry leaders.
  • Wanderlusts and adventurers have been shedding typical motel stays for more immersive experiences, renting secluded cabins in natural, peaceful settings or high-rise apartments in the center of a bustling city to get a real taste of the local culture. Travelers seeking a one-of-a-kind experience won’t be disappointed to visit Clarksville, Iowa, where they can “sleep with the cows” at New Day Dairy Guest Barn whose creative and unheard-of lodging design has earned them Iowa Farm Bureau’s Renew Rural Iowa Entrepreneur Award.
  • The U.S. Dairy Sustainability Awards, which honor dairy farms, businesses and partnerships whose practices improve the well-being of people, animals and the planet, have recognized six winners for 2020. The program is managed by the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, which was established under the leadership of dairy farmers (through their checkoff) and dairy companies.
  • Members of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association now have access to an exclusive new benefit to help upgrade and improve technology on their farms and ranches. This new user-friendly program will give members discounts of 5-10% on purchases of Dell products. What’s more, the new discounts for members are stackable with additional Dell promotions, which could allow NCBA members to save even more on their technology upgrades.
  • Phibro Animal Health designed the OmniGen™ family of nutritional specialty products to help dairy cows maintain a healthy immune system for improved health during all phases of lactation. To show the effectiveness of OmniGen in helping to maintain a healthy immune system in dry, pre-fresh and lactating dairy cattle, Phibro conducted on-farm demonstrations over 11 years with more than 650,000 dairy cows. The data were compiled from dairies in the OmniGen Immunity Challenge field studies between 2007 and 2018.
AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

Industry Ag News 7/10

Carrie Muehling

  • Internationally recognized experts in consumer insights and the food industry will reveal the latest research on consumer trends, the current environment in food and agriculture and what the future holds during a free fundraiser webcast to help those experiencing hardship. “CFI NOW: COVID-19 Pivot from Panic to Progress,” a three-part webinar, Tues., July 14, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. CDT, is hosted by The Center for Food Integrity (CFI) and will benefit the Feeding America COVID-19 Relief Fund and the National Restaurant Association Employee Relief Fund. Registrants can attend one, two or all three sessions.
  • With major ag fairs cancelled, the “AgTalks” series of Virtual Town Halls will provide a new forum for farmers, ag businesses, and policy leaders to discuss solutions to challenges on trade, supply chains and global competitiveness. The Summer 2020 series will be held in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania. Visit the AgTalks website for more information.
  • The 2020 Alabama Peanut Referendum vote is set for Thursday, July 23, 2020. All farmers who produced peanuts in 2017, 2018 and 2019 are eligible to vote. Voting hours are 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Polling locations can be found at www.alpeanuts.com or by calling the Alabama Peanut Producers Association office at 334-792-6482.
  • The Anheuser-Busch Foundation announced it is committing $530,000 to support model farms at four land grant universities around the country, with a primary focus on enhancing environmental sustainability. University of Idaho, North Dakota State University, Montana State University and University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture will all receive funding for research that focuses on expanding innovative, sustainable agricultural practices.
  • Mod Op, a full service marketing and communications agency with offices across the U.S. and an office in Latin America, has acquired Kansas City-based integrated marketing communications firm Sage Communications.
  • The most recent Ag Census showed a 27% increase in the number of women managing or operating farms and ranches. Coupled with this, more women than ever are involved in other agricultural careers or studying agriculture in post-secondary institutions. As the number of women involved in agriculture increases Annie’s Project is taking a closer look at agricultural women’s involvement with its new survey, the Agriculture Women’s Community & Leadership Survey.
  • The American Soybean Association (ASA) will celebrate a century of soybean advocacy this summer with a return to the site where it all began. On Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., ASA, with special support from the Indiana Soybean Alliance, will host a 100th anniversary celebration and historical marker dedication at its birthplace on Fouts Soyland Farm in Camden, Ind. The event is free of charge; however, attendance is capped at 180, so those interested must register. Click here for registration and hotel information. For those who cannot make it in person, the event will also be livestreamed.
  • The World Food Prize Foundation announced the selection of 17 students for its prestigious George Washington Carver Internship program.
  • The 18th annual AgCareers.com North American Ag & Food HR Roundtable is going virtual on August 5, 2020.
  • The Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES) is seeking a new executive director to lead the nonprofit, which educates farmers about organic and sustainable production. The current head of the organization, Lauren Langworthy, has accepted another role outside the organization and is leaving at the end of the summer.
  • The board of directors for AgReliant Genetics, an industry-leading agricultural company dedicated to the research, production and sale of corn, soybeans and other seeds across North America, has named Paul Nselel as chief executive officer and president, effective immediately.
  • Agri-Pulse is pleased to announce the promotion of Jason Lutz to sales and marketing manager for the company.
Zimfo Bytes

Mod Op Acquires Sage Communications

Chuck Zimmerman

Mod Op SageSage Communications. This acquisition expands the agency’s geographical presence in the Midwest while also adding a new Fortune 100 client. “Mod Op is continuing to add strategic acquisitions that expand our reach and add new and exciting clients – John Deere in the case of Sage,” said Eric J. Bertrand, CEO, Mod Op. “After our acquisition of MCC last year, which expanded our capabilities to a full-service offering, we continue to look for opportunities where we can bring that experience and success to other great clients.” With more than 18 years providing strategic communications counsel and services to a wide variety of leading agricultural, animal health and B2B clients, Sage’s offerings will continue to expand Mod Op’s portfolio. Additionally, with its centralized location, Mod Op’s new Kansas City presence better positions the agency to provide comprehensive services to more companies across the U.S. “This new relationship provides tremendous benefits for both Sage’s clients and the Mod Op team,” said Leigh Ann Cleaver, former president, Sage. “From enhanced service offerings for current and future clients, to tremendous growth opportunities for employees, we are excited about our future as part of the Mod Op team.” Mod Op Kansas City will operate out of Sage’s current Crossroads office location at 1525 Locust Street in Kansas City, Missouri. As part of the transition, former Sage president Leigh Ann Cleaver will join the Mod Op management team.”>Mod Op, a marketing communications agency with offices across the U.S. and an office in Latin America, has acquired Kansas City-based integrated marketing communications firm Sage Communications. This acquisition expands the agency’s geographical presence in the Midwest while also adding a new Fortune 100 client.

“Mod Op is continuing to add strategic acquisitions that expand our reach and add new and exciting clients – John Deere in the case of Sage,” said Eric J. Bertrand, CEO, Mod Op. “After our acquisition of MCC last year, which expanded our capabilities to a full-service offering, we continue to look for opportunities where we can bring that experience and success to other great clients.”

With more than 18 years providing strategic communications counsel and services to a wide variety of leading agricultural, animal health and B2B clients, Sage’s offerings will continue to expand Mod Op’s portfolio. Additionally, with its centralized location, Mod Op’s new Kansas City presence better positions the agency to provide comprehensive services to more companies across the U.S.

“This new relationship provides tremendous benefits for both Sage’s clients and the Mod Op team,” said Leigh Ann Cleaver, former president, Sage. “From enhanced service offerings for current and future clients, to tremendous growth opportunities for employees, we are excited about our future as part of the Mod Op team.”

Mod Op Kansas City will operate out of Sage’s current Crossroads office location at 1525 Locust Street in Kansas City, Missouri. As part of the transition, former Sage president Leigh Ann Cleaver will join the Mod Op management team.

Agencies

Advanced Biological Marketing Launches New Product

Cindy Zimmerman

Advanced Biological Marketing (ABM), a leading developer, manufacturer and distributor of agricultural biologicals, is launching a new product for 2021.

This product is ABM’s first non-living biological seed treatment – a metabolite, derived from Trichoderma, which the company says has consistently provided increased yields in numerous field trials. It will also be available as an in-furrow application.

It provides superior field performance, excellent root stimulation and drought tolerance. These benefits provide yield increases of up to 11 bushels per acre. The product is expected to be available in early 2021.

“We are excited about this product development that came out of our R and D facility in Geneva New York. It is a result of our extensive work with Trichoderma. Dr. Molly Cadle-Davidson and her team have worked hard to provide a unique product that will be a benefit for farmers and be easy to use for our seed customers”, said Dan Custis, President and CEO of ABM.

This new liquid seed treatment has a low application rate of only 0.1 fluid ounces per unit of seed. Development started in 2014 and work continues as other applications and uses are being explored. Financial assistance was provided by a grant from The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) thru the National Science Foundation.

AgWired Precision, Precision Agriculture

Precision Ag News 7/8

Carrie Muehling

  • Field to Market recognized the Soil Health Institute‘s Healthy Soils for Sustainable Cotton Project on June 24 during its annual Plenary and General Assembly Meeting, recognizing this outstanding cross-sector partnership for advancing continuous improvements in sustainable outcomes for U.S. commodity agriculture.
  • Ag Leader stated its high-speed, high-accuracy planting system SureSpeed, is now available to order through its dealer network. The company announced the addition of the planting system to its full-farm suite of precision products in February of this year.
  • Ag Leader also announced after a year of beta testing it will move forward with a full release of its new grain cart connectivity feature, CartACE. Powered by Ag Leader’s InCommand display, CartACE gives the grain cart operator assistance while unloading on-the-go.
  • A&L Canada Laboratories Inc. announced the launch of VitTellus BioSM, a new soil health test for the agriculture industry that quantifies soil microbial populations which support improved soil health and greater crop productivity.
  • Legacy Seed Companies has announced the appointment of Colin Steen as its chief executive officer. Steen began his tenure July 6, 2020, and follows that of company Legacy Seeds founder Bruce Ceranske, who remains active on the board as vice chairman.
  • Marrone Bio Innovations, Inc. announced the appointment of Kevin Helash as its new chief executive officer.
  • The InfoAg LearningXchange free webinar series kicks off July 28. Registration is now open.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

Election of IFAJ Presidium 2020-2022

Cindy Zimmerman

IFAJ officers in 2019 – new president Lena Johansson, treasurer Adrian Bell, outgoing president Owen Roberts, new VP Steve Werblow

The International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) has elected its first woman president, and first Presidium member from South America.

Lena Johansson from Sweden, IFAJ vice-president since 2016, was unanimously elected as president, succeeding Owen Roberts of Canada who stepped down at the end of the two-term limit. Johansson has been an agricultural journalist for 30 years and is currently political editor in chief for Land Lantbruk, LRF Media, in Stockholm, Sweden.

Adalberto Rossi of Argentina was elected as secretary-general, becoming the first Presidium member from South America. Rossi has been the IFAJ Executive Committee member from Argentina since 2013 and is an agricultural writer, radio host and digital editor of an agricultural news portal and publisher of a digital daily newsletter providing up-to-date information on the Argentine poultry industry.

Taking over as vice-president, Steve Werblow of the United States had previously been secretary-general since 2016. Werblow is a freelance agricultural writer and photographer and during his tenure on the IFAJ Presidium he has been deeply dedicated to professional development and working with emerging guilds.

Completing the officers on the IFAJ Presidium, Adrian Bell was re-elected as treasurer, a position he has held since 2015. An agricultural writer, and a marketing and communications consultant to agriculture and agtech, he is the founder and director of Agro Mavens & AgTech Compass in the UK.

The Delegate Assembly was held online June 25, after the 2020 Congress scheduled for Denmark was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, followed by a week-long online process for the biannual Presidium elections.

IFAJ, Journalism

Farm Webcasting Tools

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmComm StudioFrom broadcasting to podcasting to webcasting, the technology just continues to change, improve and help us reach more and more people and audiences. Here at ZimmComm World Headquarters Cindy and I have studios with a variety of capabilities. We also have mojos (mobile journalism kits) with an assortment of gadgets that have increasingly centered around using a smart phone and in our case, an iPhone.

In this post I just wanted to highlight a couple of devices I’m trying out. Behind me you can see my MacBook Pro and external monitor. What’s new is a Yeti Nano in Cubano Gold (because ZimmComm microphones need to be gold) and a Marantz AVS (audio-video streamer). This setup allows me to use a variety of services and applications to record video teleconferences. This includes Zoom of course.

The AVS is a complete unit with a very good microphone in the base. It has a ring of led lights around the camera at the top and rotates in multiple positions. I purchased this unit when I found out all other brands of webcams were sold out. The AVS camera is better than the one in my Mac and I like the extra light option. I can also move and set it up near my computer to use for demonstrations and other purposes beyond just being a talking head.

I’m using the Yeti Nano because with the mic boom I can get closer and it is a better mic and it’s gold. The AVS mic does pick up every little sound which is bad if you shuffle some paper or tap on your desktop.

So, I’ve just started using this setup. I’ve used it for audio only recording and video and am pretty happy with it so far. If you’ve got some favorite gadgets you are using please let this agnerd know.

Gadgets

Savannah is Top Port for Agriculture

Cindy Zimmerman

There are almost 100 ports in the United States, and of them the Port of Savannah was recently named the top port in the nation for the export of containerized agricultural goods.

“Agriculture is a major driver for Georgia’s economy, contributing $74 billion in annual economic benefit and nearly 400,000 jobs across the state,” said Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. “As this country’s No. 1 port for the export of agricultural products, Savannah provides vital support for the state and nation, helping our farmers reach overseas buyers efficiently.”

Last year, agriculture accounted for 60 percent of Savannah’s exports, or more than 843,000 twenty-foot equivalent container units. Forest products such as wood pulp, paper and logs made up the largest category of goods, followed by clay, cotton and poultry.

Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Griff Lynch says for the fiscal year to date (July 2019-May 2020), total loaded exports have increased by 15,500 twenty-foot equivalent container units to 1.33 million TEUs. “The production of raw material and agricultural goods, along with their supply chains, have remained strong throughout the pandemic,” said Lynch.

Exports

Animal Ag News 7/6

Carrie Muehling

  • House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson of Minnesota and former Chairman Frank Lucas of Oklahoma, joined Reps. Sanford Bishop of Georgia, Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska, Chellie Pingree of Maine, G.T. Thompson of Pennsylvania, Jim Costa of California, David Rouzer of North Carolina, Angie Craig of Minnesota and Robert Aderholt of Alabama, to introduce the Requiring Assistance to Meat Processors for Upgrading Plants (RAMP-UP) Act.
  • The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) strongly supports the Responding to Epidemic Losses and Investing in the Economic Future (RELIEF) for Producers Act of 2020, introduced by Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.).
  • Michael Dykes, D.V.M., President and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association, released a statement on the May 2020 agricultural export data released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
  • COVID-19 is dramatically affecting consumer habits and dairy supply chains as food service demand plummets and grocery sales surge. Consumers struggling with job losses and economic uncertainty quickly returned to buying basic dairy products like fluid milk, commodity cheese and butter. A new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange indicates that consumer behavior will be different for the next 12 to 18 months than it was pre-pandemic, and as that behavior takes root, dairy supply chains will need to adjust from farm to fork.
  • The National Bison Association (NBA) officially launched its new Conservation Management Plan (CMP) during its Virtual Bison Learning Webinar Series last week.
  • The National Bison Association (NBA) has announced the 2020 Throlson American Bison Foundation Scholarship amid continued growth in consumer demand for healthy, natural bison meat. The online scholarship application is available online here and must be submitted by October 1, 2020, which also requires this form to be completed by the student’s department head, as well as a letter of recommendation from faculty.
  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) celebrated the successful implementation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) by sending a joint letter of thanks to the leaders of all three nations. The letter was sent to President Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. It was signed by NCBA President Marty Smith, Canadian Cattlemen’s Association President Bob Lowe, and CNOG President Oswaldo Chazaro Montalvo.
  • As global demand for protein increases, ranchers, agribusinesses, restaurants and conservation partners are coming together to feed a growing population, address climate change and protect the planet. Burger King® restaurants and Cargill are teaming up with World Wildlife Fund and ranchers within the Northern Great Plains to launch a three-year grasslands restoration program. This initiative brings together two major companies who deliver beef to Americans to support the rehabilitation of less productive soil into thriving ecosystems– with cattle playing a critical role.
  • July marks National Hot Dog Month, a full thirty-one days that celebrate one of America’s most iconic foods. Hot dogs are part of American culture, summer celebrations, travel and grilling traditions. They are synonymous with our nation’s independence as Americans are expected to eat 150 million hot dogs on July 4 alone.
  • The American Feed Industry Association has honored Woo Kyun Kim, Ph.D., with the annual AFIA-Poultry Science Association Poultry Nutrition Award.
AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites