NFU Elects New President Rob Larew

Cindy Zimmerman

Rob Larew is sworn is as president of NFU (photo courtesy of NFU)

Delegates to the National Farmers Union (NFU) 118th Anniversary Convention this week elected Rob Larew to succeed Roger Johnson as the organization’s president.

Larew, who was raised on a West Virginia dairy farm, served as NFU’s Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Communications since fall 2016. In that role, he oversaw the organization’s legislative advocacy in Congress and the executive branch as well as its public relations activities. Prior to his employment with NFU, Larew served over 22 years in Congress and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), most recently as the staff director of the House Committee on Agriculture.

Patty Edelburg, a Wisconsin dairy farmer, was reelected to serve a second term as vice president. More than 500 Farmers Union members from across the country gathered in Savannah, Georgia this week for the annual convention.

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Corn Yield Record Smasher

Cindy Zimmerman

David Hula of Charles City, Virginia broke his own record again last year in the National Corn Growers Association National Corn Yield Contest with 616.1953 bushels per acre, beating his previous record of 542-plus bushels in 2017, which broke his 2015 record of 532 bushels per acre.

The 27 winners in 9 production categories had verified yields averaging more than 383 bushels per acre, compared to the projected national average of 167 bushels per acre in 2019. While there is no overall contest winner, yields from first, second and third place farmers overall production categories topped out at 616.1953 bushels per acre.

Hula was definitely in demand at the Commodity Classic last week because everyone wants to know his secret! Chuck talked with him after a panel at the BASF Science Behind event.
Interview with David Hula, NCYC winner

Audio, BASF, Commodity Classic, Corn

Acceleron Protects From Various Challenges

Carrie Muehling

A key message from Bayer at the 2020 Commodity Classic encouraged growers to ensure they’re fully protected from whatever Mother Nature might throw at them during the approaching growing season. One way to do that is to use Acceleron Seed Applied Solutions on corn, soybean and cotton acres.

“As you look at the investment that farmers are making today from a seed perspective, ensuring that we’ve got full protection on that seed to really maximizing it’s health and growth potential throughout the season, ensuring that we get off to the best start as possible, seed treatment – specifically Acceleron Seed Applied Solutions – is going to help us do just that,” said A.J. Hohmann, Acceleron U.S. Marketing Manager.

Hohmann said there is still some uncertainty in the market across the entire industry as some growers are finalizing those last minute decisions, but most growers have seed orders in and are just waiting for good planting conditions.

A.J. Hohmann, Acceleron U.S. Marketing Manager
Interview with A.J. Hohmann, Bayer Acceleron 3:48

2020 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Audio, Bayer, Commodity Classic, Corn, Cotton, Seed, Soybean

ZimmCast 638 – Roundtable with Farm Credit

Chuck Zimmerman

Hello and welcome to the ZimmCast where farmer financial health is our topic.

During the Commodity Classic held this year in San Antonio, I sat down with the CEOs of several Farm Credit associations: Aaron Johnson, Farm Credit Illinois, Bill Johnson, Farm Credit Mid America and Mark Jensen, Farm Credit Services of America (FCSAmerica) and Frontier Farm Credit.

Farm Credit at Commodity ClassicOur topic was Volatility and how it is reshaping risk and financial management. We talked about how farmers are doing now in light of the volatility of the last year which includes weather extremes, disease and political uncertainty.

You’ll hear these leaders talk about the short-term outlook and then looking ahead long-term with ideas about critical strategies for the future and what services Farm Credit can offer.

That’s the ZimmCast for this week. I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.

Listen to the ZimmCast here: ZimmCast 638 - Commodity Classic Roundtable with Farm Credit

Subscribe to the ZimmCast in:

Audio, Commodity Classic, Farm Credit, ZimmCast

Northern Commodity Transportation Conference to Debut

Cindy Zimmerman

The inaugural Northern Commodity Transportation Conference (NCTC) is being held March 11-12 in Bloomington, Minn.

The conference is being organized by Ag Management Solutions (AMS), in conjunction with commodity groups from Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, and is focused on uniting the commodity transportation industry to discuss trade and transportation issues and challenges.

Transportation and non-tariff barrier topics such as grain quality criteria, phytosanitary issues, rail reliability and regulations and trucking efficiencies will be discussed. State officials and agriculture industry representatives are scheduled to speak, including American Soybean Association President Bill Gordon; Minnesota and North Dakota agriculture commissioners Thom Petersen and Doug Goehring; and National Grain and Feed Association President Randy Gordon.

The program is geared toward grain, trading, sales, regulatory and management industries, including grain elevator and terminal loading managers, transcontinental shipping lines, shippers, transloading facilities, rail lines, commodity association leadership, state government, regulatory groups and more.

Registration is $200 per person. Visit www.graintransportation.com to learn more and register.

Agribusiness, Soybean, Trade, transportation

Ethanol Issues Top of Mind at #Classic20

Cindy Zimmerman

Agri-Pulse reporter Spencer Chase interviews RFA CEO Geoff Cooper at #Classic20

Ethanol stakeholders were hopeful that an announcement would be made on Friday about how EPA will deal with the recent court ruling on small refinery exemptions, but Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO Geoff Cooper says they are anxiously awaiting that decision.

“We don’t know what exactly what EPA is going to do, but we know what they should do, and that is take that 10th Circuit Court opinion and apply it nationally and that it would essentially put an end to the small refinery exemption program,” said Cooper in one of many interviews he did at the Commodity Classic last week in San Antonio.

Interview with Geoff Cooper, Renewable Fuels Association

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue confidently told the audience at Commodity Classic on Friday that the decision will mean less small refinery waivers. “I think you will see those waivers significantly reduced this year, which will also help the demand going forward,” Perdue said to applause.

During a press availability, Perdue added, “We were hoping to have an announcement even today but they want to just make sure they get it right and not fast.”
Secretary Perdue SRE comments 1:47

2020 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Audio, Commodity Classic, Ethanol, RFA, USDA

AEM Presents Davidson Awards

Carrie Muehling

For the third year, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) recognized three innovative products with the Davidson Prize, which celebrates breakthrough innovations in areas of agricultural, food and biological systems engineering.

“The products that have been featured over the past three years represent the diversity of ag engineering, as well as a variety of companies and organizations that continue to bring advanced technology and exciting improvements to the marketplace,” said Darrin Drollinger, ASABE Executive Director.

“We’re excited about the advancement of ag engineering and the positive impacts it continues to have on farmers’ ability to work more efficiently,” said Curt Blades, senior vice president of Agriculture for AEM. “These three products deliver on solutions that truly represent the spirit of J.B. Davidson and the innovative legacy of agriculture.”

The winners are:
John Deere – Quik-Knect System
Smart Guided Systems – Intelligent Spray Control System
Agricultural Industry Electronics Foundation – Tractor Implement Management

Drollinger and Blades presented the awards at the Commodity Classic last week.
AEM Davidson Awards press conference 16:47

2020 Commodity Classic Photo Album

AEM, AgWired Precision, Audio, Commodity Classic

Animal Ag News 3/2

Carrie Muehling

  • The 2020 International Production & Processing Expo had 31,504 animal food, meat and poultry industry leaders from all over the world in attendance, with an 8% increase in the number of buyers from last year. A total of 1,377 exhibitors showcased their latest technology and solutions, with more than 573,000 square feet of exhibit space. IPPE is the world’s largest annual feed, meat and poultry industry event of its kind and is one of the 30 largest trade shows in the United States. IPPE is sponsored by the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, American Feed Industry Association and North American Meat Institute.
  • Applications are being accepted for college scholarships that are awarded by America’s dairy farmers and importers through the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board. Eleven scholarships worth $2,500 each will be awarded, in addition to a $3,500 James H. Loper Jr. Memorial Scholarship to one outstanding recipient. NDB funds, in part, Dairy Management Inc., which manages the national dairy checkoff program.
  • Registration is now open for the 2020 World Pork Expo presented by the National Pork Producers Council. Attendees, media and exhibitors can complete their registration by visiting the World Pork Expo website. This year’s trade show will be hosted from June 3 to 5 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.
  • Newtrient, in collaboration with the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy and leading agriculture environmental experts, released an update on the potential of dairy feed additives for reducing dairy’s environmental footprint. Ranging from plant extracts to seaweed, some feed additive products are being explored on farms today while many others are in early stage development.
AgWired Animal, Animal Bites

#Classic20 Gives Secretary Sonny a Warm Welcome

Cindy Zimmerman

Thousands of farmers from across the country welcomed Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue with open arms Friday during the general session of the 2020 Commodity Classic as he was introduced by a video message from President Donald Trump.

“That’s the real deal,” Perdue said about the president’s message. “I can assure you, that wasn’t political speak, that’s him true and true, he loves you and he shows it every way.”

Secretary Perdue talked about a number of issues important to the corn, soybean, wheat and sorghum producers attending the Classic including infrastructure, broadband, trade, sustainability, and biofuels.

Classic20 Secretary Perdue remarks 31:05

Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue press conference
Secretary Perdue presser 22:40

2020 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Audio, Commodity Classic, USDA

Industry Ag News 2/28

Carrie Muehling

  • Farm Bureaus across the nation are mobilizing for Agricultural Safety Awareness Program Week, which takes place March 1-7. U.S. Agricultural Safety and Health Centers will join Farm Bureau in promoting the week with its theme “20:20 Vision on Ag Safety.”
  • From seed to harvest, the National Farm Machinery Show displays the latest equipment, showcases the most innovative technology and offers educational seminars to help farmers prepare for the upcoming planting season. Farmers and agribusiness professionals packed the halls of the Kentucky Exposition Center for industry updates and exciting tractor pull action. The 2021 National Farm Machinery Show takes places next year February 10-13 at the Kentucky Exposition Center.
  • FS Member Companies, along with their cooperative supplier, GROWMARK, named the 2019 Enduring Farm awards to acknowledge those farmers who have adopted best management practices that optimize nutrient utilization, leading to long-term soil and water quality while enhancing ROI.
  • Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary W. Black announced the Farm Recovery Block Grants for farmers and forest landowners affected by Hurricane Michael. The Georgia Department of Agriculture will begin accepting online applications for the $347 million in block grant funds on March 18, 2020. Georgia farmers and forest landowners in 95 eligible counties who suffered losses to beef, dairy, fruit and vegetable, pecan, poultry, timber, and uninsured infrastructure will need to enroll in the recovery program at farmrecovery.com.
  • Conference registration is now open for the American Seed Trade Association‘s Policy & Leadership Development Conference – which in 2020 is being jointly held with the AOSA/SCST Annual Meeting.
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