ARA, CLA and TFI to Co-Locate in 2021

Cindy Zimmerman

CropLife America (CLA), The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) and the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) will be co-locating their offices to Arlington, Va., beginning in January 2021. Each organization will retain its focus on the needs of its respective members, but the move is expected to create greater opportunities for collaboration that can enhance each organization’s efficiency and effectiveness. The organizations’ respective Boards of Directors approved this concept in separate votes last fall.

“ARA’s members have identified the need to continually be more efficient with organizational resources,” said ARA President and CEO Daren Coppock. “By sharing an office space with CLA and TFI, we are able to be good stewards of our assets while applying cost savings to better serve our members through the work we do on their behalf.”

All three organizations will remain independent with no changes to their individual governance models. TFI and CLA intend to relocate by January 2021, ARA intends to move March 2021.

Ag Groups, AgWired Precision, ARA, Fertilizer

Hog Farmers Face COVID-19 Financial Crisis

Cindy Zimmerman

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) held a press conference Tuesday to outline the impact COVID-19 is having on the industry, causing hog values to plummet, and the immediate relief they are requesting from the administration and Congress.

NPPC identified several measures federal policy makers could take to help the industry, including purchasing $1 billion in pork to clear out a backed-up meat supply, supplementing agency food bank programs facing increased demand due to rising unemployment. NPPC is also requesting equitable direct payments to producers participants without eligibility restrictions.

NPPC is also seeking a legislative fix to emergency loan programs that have left farmers behind. Approximately 10,000 family hog farms are in jeopardy because they do not have access to much-needed capital offered by the Small Business Administration. NPPC urges Congress to increase the cap on qualifying businesses to those that employee up to 1,500 and to make agricultural businesses eligible for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.

The call featured NPPC President Howard “A.V.” Roth of Wisconsin, CEO Neil Dierks, Global Government Affairs VP Nick Giordano, and Michael Formica, Domestic Affairs & Counsel, Iowa State University economist Dr. Dermot Hayes, Director of International Affairs Maria Zieba, Vice President of Industry Relations Dallas Hockman, and President-Elect Jen Sorenson.

Dairy checkoff steps to address coronavirus (61:00)

AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Audio, NPPC, Pork

Corn Utilization & Technology Conference Postponed to 2021

Chuck Zimmerman

CUTCHere is the latest news of an event that I always look forward to. The Corn Utilization and Technology Conference (CUTC) has been postponed. This calendar keeps becoming more and more open.

Given the on-going uncertainty regarding safety, gathering and travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Corn Utilization and Technology Conference will be postponed until June 7-9, 2021.

Clearly this is disappointing news.

The steering committee has done an exceptional job of developing the CUTC program. They have organized timely and engaging sessions with world-class speakers. Additionally, we have seen significant support from sponsors who realize that research is essential to ensure dynamic growth in this sector–This will be even more important as the global economy recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Please look for more information as we solidify the CUTC 2021 plans, and feel free to contact Sandra Wright (wright@ncga.com) with any questions or concerns you may have.

We look forward to seeing you all in 2021!

Take care and be safe,
National Corn Growers Association

Ag Groups, Corn, CUTC, NCGA

Alltech Releases Series on COVID-19 and Agriculture

Cindy Zimmerman

To help colleagues, customers and the global agricultural community confronting COVID-19, Alltech has created a special discussion series, Forging the Future of the Farm & Food Chain. The free, on-demand series features experts from around the world as they share their insights into how the global pandemic is affecting the agriculture industry’s present and future.

The series consists of presentations from Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech, and three panel discussions with experts including David McWilliams, economist and professor at Trinity College Dublin; Jessica Adelman, CEO of ESG Results and former executive at Kroger; Jack Bobo, futurist and CEO of Futurity; and Ryan Quarles, Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture.

To access the Forging the Future of the Farm & Food Chain series on-demand, visit alltech.com/futurefarm.

This COVID-19 special series reflects the insightful, thought-provoking content that will be available as part of the Alltech ONE Virtual Experience beginning on May 18, 2020. The virtual program will include live-streamed keynote presentations and on-demand video content from some of the world’s leading industry experts as they address the challenges and opportunities facing agriculture today.
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AgWired Animal, Alltech, Animal Agriculture

Animal Ag News 4/13

Carrie Muehling

  • Extreme volatility in livestock markets is raising red flags across the country, leading the American Farm Bureau to urge the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange to leave no stone unturned as they monitor and analyze market activity.
  • In a letter sent last week to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, R-CALF USA urged that Congress’ $9.5 billion COVID-19-related appropriations be used to directly assist actual cattle and sheep producers “whose already broken marketplace” has been severely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
  • Zoetis announced the acquisition of Performance Livestock Analytics to enhance its animal health solutions across the continuum of care for beef producers.
  • Dairy producers now have additional trait insights to help predict potential lifetime profitability. Results from CLARIFIDE® Plus genetic testing for Holsteins and Jerseys now include cow-wellness traits for cow respiratory disease and fertility traits for cow abortion, twinning and cystic ovary. Previously available only for Jerseys, Holsteins now have milk fever available among the cow-wellness trait insights. These new trait insights are in addition to cow-wellness traits for mastitis, lameness, metritis, retained placenta, displaced abomasum and ketosis, and calf-wellness traits for calf livability, respiratory disease and scours. With the availability of more trait insights, Zoetis also has updated the Dairy Wellness Profit Index®, which helps producers predict potential lifetime profit of individual dairy replacements.
  • The National Milk Producers Federation and the International Dairy Foods Association sent a set of recommendations to the U.S. Department of Agriculture yesterday urging the Administration to take swift, comprehensive action to support the U.S. dairy industry through the COVID-19 crisis.
  • The Animal Agriculture Alliance announced that Casey Kinler has been promoted to director of membership and marketing and will assume this new role on May 1.
AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

USDA Releases COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide

Cindy Zimmerman

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today unveiled a new tool to help rural communities address the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide is a resource for rural leaders looking for federal funding and partnership opportunities to help address this pandemic. “This resource guide will help our rural leaders, whether they are in agriculture, education, health care or any other leadership capacity, understand what federal assistance is available for their communities during this unprecedented time,” said Perdue.

USDA has already taken several actions to assist farmers, ranchers, producers, rural communities, and rural-based businesses and organizations impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

USDA

Industry Ag News 4/10

Carrie Muehling

  • The COVID-19 pandemic has created significant challenges for an increasing number of Iowans, including the most basic need of food security. The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation announced a $100,000 donation to the Iowa Food Bank Association to help feed the need for Iowans across the state who are impacted during this unprecedented time.
  • The 2020 California Antique Farm Equipment Show® has been cancelled due to COVID-19, but organizers will continue one of the most beloved show features: the tractor parade. To have your antique tractor, engine, farm truck, implement, or other ag related equipment featured in the virtual parade, please send the following information to marketing@farmshow.org.
  • In response to continued growth and diversification of its business, FLM Harvest, a strategic consulting, communications and marketing agency, has expanded its senior leadership structure. Overall agency operations, work product and strategic direction are now managed by two leadership teams.
  • Bushel, an independently owned software company and leading provider of software technology solutions for growers, grain buyers, protein producers and food companies, announced the launch of the Bushel Offer Management System, a full-service solution for creating and managing cash bids and offers, and performing hedge management.
  • The National Council of Farmer Cooperatives urged that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic support all producers of fruits and vegetables in efforts to offset economic impacts to the specialty crop sector. The call came in a letter that the organization sent to Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue.
  • BASF announced VMLY&R as its new agency of record for the company’s Agricultural Solutions division. The agency will handle brand communications, marketing activity, public relations, trade events, and media planning and buying for BASF’s broad portfolio of crop protection, seed and seed treatment products for U.S. farmers.
  • The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer recorded its largest one-month drop in sentiment during March. The barometer dipped 47 points to a reading of 121, as concerns over the impact of the global pandemic on the agricultural economy weighed heavily on farmers’ minds. The Ag Economy Barometer is based on a midmonth survey of 400 U.S. agricultural producers and was conducted March 16-20, 2020, as the coronavirus crisis escalated in the U.S. and around the world. Read the full Ag Economy Barometer report at https://purdue.ag/agbarometer.
  • Farm Foundation is pleased to announce that Martha King has joined the staff as Vice President of Programs and Projects. King has an extensive background in programs, information systems and publishing, and serves as corporate secretary on her family’s Illinois farm.
  • Following ongoing monitoring of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, the NAFB Board of Directors has announced the cancellation of Washington Watch 2020, slated for April 27-29, in Washington, D.C. This decision was made in keeping the safety, health, and well-being of all our members as the association’s top priority.
  • Applications for the seventh annual Thrive #RootedinAg Contest are now open online at www.syngentathrive.com/contest. Syngenta will award three contest finalists with mini touch-screen tablets and one grand prizewinner with a $500 gift card, plus the opportunity to tell his or her story in Thrive magazine, complete with a professional photo shoot with the winner’s ag mentor. In addition, the company will make a $1,000 donation to the winner’s favorite local charity or civic organization.
  • John Deere, in collaboration with the UAW, the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, announced it is producing protective face shields at John Deere Seeding Group in Moline, Illinois. Deere employees will initially produce 25,000 face shields to meet the immediate needs of health-care workers in several of its U.S. manufacturing communities.
  • Farmers across the nation are encouraged to sign up for the Monarch Challenge, a program created by the BASF biodiversity initiative, Living Acres. The Monarch Challenge is a program which seeks to restore the monarch population by planting milkweed habitats in non-crop areas of farmers’ land across the United States. With monarch populations in dramatic decline, BASF is calling on all farmers to sign up for the Monarch Challenge by visiting www.milkweedplease.com. Upon registration, participants will receive a starter kit containing 200 milkweed plants to build a butterfly habitat of their own. The deadline to sign up is April 24, 2020.
  • The World Food Prize Foundation announced its first virtual series, the Digital Dialogue. The series will address critical issues in developing a resilient global food system. The first webinar will focus on the immediate challenges we face globally in the time of COVID-19.
Zimfo Bytes

Dairy Checkoff Helping Producers Weather COVID-19

Cindy Zimmerman

Leaders of the dairy checkoff are working to help U.S. dairy farmers during these challenging times.

Dairy Management Inc. (DMI), which manages the national dairy checkoff on behalf of 35,000 farmers, has prioritized work focused on three key areas: schools, hunger and foodservice and industry partnerships. Leaders outlined a shift in its business plan in a letter to USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue this week.

In the letter, DMI President Barb O’Brien said: “With unprecedented impact on virtually every aspect of the dairy sector – from farm inputs and production and workforce challenges to disruption in transportation, processing, warehousing and marketplace access, DMI and its network of 16 state & regional units, have quickly responded to the still deepening business and cultural shifts occurring as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic.”

O’Brien joined DMI CEO Tom Gallagher and U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) CEO and President Tom Vilsack, former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, in a press conference Friday to discuss the efforts they are taking.

Dairy checkoff steps to address coronavirus (31:05)

AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Audio, Dairy

President Trump Says Help for Farmers Coming Soon

Cindy Zimmerman

During the daily White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing on Thursday, President Donald Trump said help for hurting farmers is coming soon.

“We have money going out to our farmers in the pretty near future,” said President Trump. “The farmers got hurt very badly by all of this. People are eating less from the standpoint that there’s no restaurants that are open, no businesses are open, no hotels are open, they’ll start to come back, but we’re going to be helping out our farmers.”

President Trump on coronavirus aid for farmers (:25)

Closed restaurants and hotels, along with schools and other large operations that require food service, are the main reason that food prices are plummeting because they are no longer buying milk, meat, fruits, vegetables and other food.

According to the American Farm Bureau, futures prices for nearly all the major crops have dropped by double-digit percentages. Corn prices have fallen 15%. Soybean prices are down 10%, while the price for cotton, which is heavily dependent on foreign manufacturing capacity, sank nearly 30%. Buoyed by demand in the U.S. and China, wheat prices have declined only 3%.

On the livestock front, since the beginning of the year, both beef and pork futures prices have declined more than 30%. Milk futures prices have also fallen sharply, with the price for milk used to make cheese down 28% and the price for milk used to make nonfat dry milk falling by 34%.

AFBF, Audio, Farming, Food

43rd Annual First Lady’s Commemorative Egg Unveiled

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Egg Board has officially unveiled the 43rd Annual First Lady’s Commemorative Egg in a first-ever virtual gallery, showcasing decades of Commemorative Eggs presented at the White House on behalf of America’s egg farmers.

This inaugural digital gallery includes decades of previous First Lady’s Commemorative Eggs all of which are actual eggshells, and behind-the-scenes footage of the creation of the 2020 Commemorative Egg for First Lady Melania Trump.

“The First Lady’s Commemorative Egg from America’s egg farmers is a time-honored tradition dating back to 1977, and we are thrilled to keep the tradition going while we celebrate Easter at home this year,” said Anne L. Alonzo, President & CEO of the American Egg Board. “Egg lovers can explore the historical significance and artistic design of the First Lady’s Commemorative Eggs online and may even want to create your own First Lady’s Commemorative Egg and share it on social media using #IncredibleEgg!”

The 43rd Annual First Lady’s Commemorative Egg design reflects First Lady Melania Trump’s “Be Best” initiative and pulls inspiration from the children of America’s egg farmers. The 2020 First Lady’s Commemorative Egg is painted in royal blue and accented with gold leaf, featuring a carved tree to honor the “Be Best” initiative. The tree signifies children planting the seeds of personal growth, and three hearts within the foliage represent the values of the “Be Best” campaign – kindness, community and positivity. All three words also appear in gold-leaf on the back of the egg.

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