Rep. Davis Visits Farm Progress Show

Carrie Muehling

Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL) spent time Tuesday in his own 13th District, visiting the Farm Progress Show in Decatur.

Davis said the event is a great place to see farmers and agricultural companies alike, and recognized a level of displeasure in the agriculture industry when it comes to trade. He said a vote on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is critical and would help farmers to get what they’re looking for, and that’s a market for their products.

“It’s crucial for Illinois because 40 percent of our Illinois ag products are exported to Canada and Mexico, and it has given China leverage to walk away from the table,” said Davis. “It could be the lynchpin. It gives America leverage over countries like China who have been trading unfairly, and it gives us a starting point to be able to get a deal on the floor of the House. I think it opens the floodgates.”

Davis also realizes the ethanol industry is unhappy with recent refinery waivers and said those need to be limited to small refiners in the future.

Listen to Cindy’s interview with Rep. Davis here: Interview with Rep. Rodney Davis, R-IL 13th District

2019 Farm Progress Show photo album

AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Audio, Farm Progress Show

Farm Progress Show 2019

Chuck Zimmerman

2019 Farm Progress ShowIt’s that time again. Farm Progress Show 2019. Cindy and I are on our way to Decatur, IL for this year’s show.

We want to thank BASF for sponsoring the media tent once again this year. It’s looking like temperatures will be a little cooler but I’ll take air conditioning any day!

We’ll be on site this afternoon to get set up for an early start tomorrow when Carrie Muehling will be join us as we work with companies like GROWMARK, Syngenta, Can-Am and Bayer among others. It’s going to be a busy show. I’ve never had so many invitations to come to exhibits for their media event or to just meet and interview various representatives. I wish we could do them all!

Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue is scheduled to attend the show on Wednesday afternoon, which should be interesting considering the current dissatisfaction among farmers in the Midwest – crop forecasts, refinery waivers, trade wars…etc. Wonder what Secretary Sonny will have to say this week. We know there will be farmers there with plenty to say!

See you at the Show!

Photos

2019 Farm Progress Show photo album

AgWired Precision, Farm Progress Show

Animal Ag Bites 8/26

Carrie Muehling

  • Seven food writers recently participated in a food and farm excursion to see first-hand how veal calves are raised. The North American Meat Institute, on behalf of the Beef Checkoff, hosted the tour which included visiting multiple veal farms in Pennsylvania and Indiana. The writers visited with farmers, animal nutritionists, veterinarians, feed representatives and chefs to learn more about the transformation that has occurred in how veal is raised today.
  • A new book, “What Would Jesus Really Eat? The Biblical Case for Eating Meat,” is now available to help arm farmers, ranchers and others in the animal agriculture industry with the information they need to have informed conversations about the complex subject of religion and eating meat. Copies of the book can be purchased exclusively from the Animal Agriculture Alliance at a discounted rate for a limited time. Additional discounts are available for bulk orders. Click here to order your copy today.
  • September 28 and 29, alpaca business owners throughout North America will celebrate the 12th annual National Alpaca Farm Days. Alpaca Owners Association, Inc. invites you to visit participating member farms and ranches during this fun-filled family event. For a complete list of participating farms and ranches, visit www.AlpacaFarmDays.com.
  • University of Florida scientists believe they can develop new antimicrobials that will benefit dairy cattle and, eventually, humans by treating bacteria that normally resist antiobiotics. KC Jeong, an associate professor of animal sciences at the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, plans to use a nearly $460,000 grant from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture to make cattle bacteria less resistant to antibiotics; therefore, more treatable. Humans also may benefit from Jeong’s research because many bacteria in our bodies also resist antibiotic treatments.
  • On July 12-13, 2019, the 8th International Poultry Forum China was held at Hilton Hotel Yantai, Shandong, China. More than 400 industry professionals, entrepreneurs and executives attended the forum representing all areas of the poultry meat and egg industry chain. The International Poultry Forum China was organized by Poultry International China and LyJa Media, in cooperation with WATT Global Media and supported by World’s Poultry Science Association, National Poultry Industry Branch CAAA and Shandong Poultry Industry Association.
  • Marek’s disease—a highly contagious viral disease caused by a herpesvirus—is a constant threat to poultry worldwide. To help improve the control of Marek’s disease, veterinary medical officer John Dunn and his team at the Agricultural Research Service Avian Disease and Oncology Laboratory in East Lansing, Michigan, analyzed Marek’s disease genomes to find out which genes are mostly associated with virulence. The study was published recently in the Journal of General Virology.
AgWired Animal, Animal Bites

US and Japan Shake on Trade Deal

Cindy Zimmerman

During the G-7 summit in France Sunday, President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe shook hands on a deal “in principle” that involves agricultural products.

“(We) have excess corn in various parts of our country, with our farmers, because China did not do what they said they were going to do,” said President Trump. “And Prime Minister Abe, on behalf of Japan, they’re going to be buying all of that corn. And that’s a very big transaction. They’re going to be buying it from our farmers.”

Prime Minister Abe said there is a demand for some agricultural products right now in Japan because they are experiencing some insect pest issues. “And there is a need for us to buy certain amount of agricultural products. And this will be done by the Japanese private sector. That means that Japanese corporations will need to buy additional agricultural products.”

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer says the deal “will be a major benefit for beef, pork, wheat, dairy products, wine, ethanol, and a variety of other products.”

Listen to remarks by Pres. Trump, PM Abe (translated), and USTR Lighthizer.

US-Japan trade deal announcement
AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Audio, Corn, Exports, Trade

GROWMARK Foundation to Provide FFA Jackets

Carrie Muehling

After the unexpected passing of GROWMARK vice president and long-time employee Mike Builta in April 2019, the GROWMARK Foundation is helping his family to honor his memory by providing FFA jackets to FFA members in Illinois.

“In the weeks and the days after his passing, his wife approached us and asked if the GROWMARK Foundation could become a place to funnel memorial funds through, and also to come up with some ideas of appropriate ways to honor his memory,” said Karen Jones, GROWMARK Youth and Young Producer Specialist.

More than $12,000 was collected in Builta’s memory. Part of that money will go towards providing 25 Illinois FFA members with FFA jackets for the next four years, for a total of 100 jackets. Interested students will fill out an online application including two short answer questions about what the FFA jacket means to them, and the main goal they wish to accomplish as an FFA member.

The application is available at www.bit.ly/BuiltaJacket and is due September 30.

Builta was raised on a family farm near Bellflower, Illinois. He was an active FFA member and lifelong supporter of agricultural education. He held GROWMARK System management roles at Christian County Farmers Supply Company in Taylorville, Illinois and GRAINCO FS in Ottawa, Illinois, before becoming GROWMARK vice president of Energy and Logistics in 2018.

Listen to Carrie’s interview with Karen here: Interview with Karen Jones, GROWMARK

AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Audio, FFA, GROWMARK

John Deere Celebrates 150 Years in Kansas City Area

Cindy Zimmerman

John Deere opened its Kansas City branch office 150 years ago, where it quickly became the largest distribution center and sales hub for the rapidly growing company that was founded in 1837. This week, company employees, retirees, community leaders and guests gathered at the historic John Deere Plow building located in the West Bottoms of Kansas City, Mo., to celebrate the 150-year significant physical and economic milestone in the company’s history.

Once opened, the Kansas City office provided John Deere with a gateway to expanding new markets in the west. “Its proximity to roads, rivers and rail systems helped John Deere grow and keep pace with a rapidly growing country,” said John Lagemann, senior vice president for John Deere. “As our company has continued to grow, Kansas City, and the surrounding area, have played and continue to play a key role.”

Today, the John Deere Ag Marketing Center, in Olathe, Kan., is home to a variety of marketing, accounting and dealer support functions for the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The company’s iconic green and yellow equipment is sold at numerous independent dealerships across Missouri and Kansas where John Deere employs more than 1,500 people and another 1,100 of its retirees also live.

Several dignitaries attended the event on Thursday, including Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas who proclaimed August 22 John Deere Day.

John Deere

Register Now to HUSTLE with NAMA

Cindy Zimmerman

The 2019 NAMA Fall Conference is right around the corner already. Join agri-marketing colleagues in St. Louis October 7-9 for HUSTLE and be in the center of it all.

Learn from a great line up of keynote speakers this year. Create a culture of innovation using tips from Steve Lerch’s decade at Google. Hear how Sarah Weise turns research into cohesive experiences and irresistible products. And True Food TV star Nicole Jolly will share secrets to distilling complex ideas into engaging stories. The Fall Conference closes with its annual session; Through the Lens of a Leader, featuring Jacqueline Applegate, President, Global Vegetable Seeds & Environmental Science, Crop Science division of Bayer.

Registration is open now and the early rate ends on September 16 so you better hustle!

NAMA

Zimfo Bytes 8/23

Carrie Muehling

  • Elanco Animal Health Incorporated announced it has entered into an agreement with Bayer AG to acquire its animal health business in a transaction valued at US$7.6 billion.
  • Building on over a century of agricultural education, National Farmers Union announced its ninth Beginning Farmer Institute cohort. Thirteen beginning farmers and ranchers from across the United States will take part in the education program, which promotes the success of the next generation of agricultural professionals by providing mentorship, technical training, and leadership development.
  • As the truck that is “Built to Serve,” Ram’s dedication to help serve and support farm families across the nation continues to grow. Ram kicks off the second annual “Ram Ag Season” with a new spot “Done Right,” which celebrates the selfless commitment to hard work that our nation’s farmers make each and every single day.
  • New Holland will launch The Great New Holland Haytools Giveaway in partnership with Farm Journal at Farm Progress Show. The contest opens on August 27, 2019. This momentous promotion will highlight New Holland’s 125-year anniversary coming up in 2020. With prizes valued at more than $400,000 USD and featuring five cutting-edge haytools, this will be one of the biggest haytools giveaways ever.
  • Save the Date: Commodity Classic returns to San Antonio Feb. 27-29, 2020. Plan today to attend Commodity Classic — America’s largest farmer-led, farmer-focused agricultural & educational experience.
  • More than 400 international experts and organizational leaders convened in Lincoln, Nebraska, April 29-30, to discuss “Water for a Hungry World: Innovation in Water and Food Security,” focusing on the next generation of research, smart technology, policy development and best practices that are achieving breakthroughs in this vitally important mission. Learn more by reading the Conference Proceedings or viewing conference sessions on the Water for Food YouTube Channel.
  • The World Food Prize announced that the application process for the Borlaug-Ruan International Internship program has opened and Ellen Franzenburg has been named the new director of this prestigious program. Click here to view the online application and requirements.
  • The annual SoyStats report has long been the definitive guide to soybeans by the numbers. But now, those seekers of soy knowledge can find these figures not only in the yearly hard copy booklet and online at soystats.com and the ASA website soygrowers.com, but also in a handy new app. Access your app store and look for “SoyStats” to find the aforementioned information, along with biodiesel reports, export and international movement, historical data, and much more. The app, sponsored by Illinois Soybean Association, is downloadable now for both Apple and Android devices.
  • AgriThority® has completed the reorganization of its leadership team with the addition of Gloverson Moro, Ph.D., as Director of Global Product Development, Luke Samuel, Ph.D., as Manager of Business and Technology, and the promotion of Fred Tennant to Director of Global Business.
  • The Georgia Cotton Commission, Georgia Peanut Commission and the University of Georgia Extension Cotton and Peanut Teams, will co-sponsor a joint research field day on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019, in Tifton, Georgia.
  • Issues continue to surface at the federal, state and local level of government that require attention by the emerging industrial hemp sector, according to the Minnesota Industrial Hemp Association. One salient issue which is in need of regulatory action is the use of pesticides for hemp, which falls under the purview of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It now appears as though the first incremental steps on this front have taken place with the announcement by EPA that the agency has received 10 pesticide applications to expand their use on hemp.
  • A federal court says the 2015 Waters of the United States rule is unlawful under the Clean Water Act because of its “vast expansion of jurisdiction over waters and land traditionally within the states’ regulatory authority.” The court for the Southern District of Georgia found the agency overstepped not just the CWA, but also the Administrative Procedure Act, which lays out the most basic rules governing how agencies may propose and establish federal regulations. The Georgia court kept in place a preliminary injunction preventing the rule from becoming effective in the 11 states involved with the lawsuit while the Environmental Protection Agency finalizes its own repeal and replacement of the 2015 rule. The ruling was a victory not just for the plaintiff states, but a broad coalition of more than a dozen private sector groups, including the American Farm Bureau Federation.
  • Kubota Tractor Corporation announced the completion and grand opening of two, one million square-foot, state-of-the-art logistics facilities for its North American Distribution Center on 200 acres in Edgerton, Kansas. The new campus is Kubota’s largest parts and supply chain campus in the North America and will significantly increase distribution capacity and streamline the company’s logistics processes for the timely delivery of Kubota-branded service parts and equipment throughout North America, Asia and Europe.
Zimfo Bytes

Managing Costs During Tight Margins

Carrie Muehling

Margins are tight in the ethanol industry, and for a number of reasons from political to regulatory to economic. John Christianson, Principal, Christianson PLLP, told those attending the 2019 American Coalition for Ethanol Conference that successful plants have to be strategic and focused.

“It really comes down to leadership and it comes down to a laser focus,” said Christianson. “The management and boards of directors that are laser focused on the direction of their company and where they need to go. That leadership is something that we’re seeing is separating the top producers from the people that are struggling right now.”

Christianson said he believes that industry has what it takes to survive, in part because of commitment and innovation.

“This industry is transforming and evolving from an ethanol industry to really a biorefinery industry and the multiple innovations and new markets and new products that are coming out of the plants are really going to be the direction that this industry is going to be heading in the future,” he said.

Listen to Cindy’s interview with John here:ACE Conference interview with John Christianson, Christianson PLLP

2019 American Coalition for Ethanol Conference Photo Album

ACE, Audio, Ethanol

FMC and AgNet Media Launch Citrus Scholarships

Cindy Zimmerman

FMC and AgNet Media have teamed up to help the future of the citrus industry by launching a scholarship program for citrus and horticulture degrees.

Launched at Citrus Expo 2019 last week in North Fort Myers, the FMC Citrus Ag Production Scholarships (FMC CAPS) will award five $5,000 scholarships to students interested in pursuing a degree program in citrus and horticultural sciences, two for Florida Southern College students and three at the University of Florida.

“FMC understands how important the next generation is to the citrus industry in Florida,” said Eric Johnson, FMC retail marketing manager. “We hope this scholarship will encourage college students to pursue careers related to citrus.”

Florida’s citrus crop has dwindled to about one-third the size it was 20 years ago, primarily due to losses from citrus greening, which has no cure, but controlling Asian citrus psyllid populations is a key management strategy.

“We believe investing in citrus education programs is one avenue to help revitalize the Florida citrus industry after the devastating impacts from citrus greening disease,” said Ryan Osborn, the southeast region business manager for FMC.

“To grow citrus successfully in Florida takes education, tenacity and resolve, as the industry stands at the threshold of a new beginning,” said Gary Cooper, president and founder of AgNet Media. “The FMC Citrus Ag Production Scholarship will help attract a new crop of committed growers.”

Applications for FMC CAPS are due December 1 and require a video essay submission. Those interested in learning more can go to citrusindustry.net for details. Winners will be announced at Citrus Expo 2020.

Citrus, Education, FMC, Media