Animal Ag Bites 12/3

Carrie Muehling

  • Six college students and three collegiate clubs from Oklahoma State University, University of Georgia, Mississippi College, Western Illinois University and Northwest Missouri State University are taking home scholarships for the holidays for being exceptional advocates for agriculture. To learn more about CAO, visit http://collegeaggies.animalagalliance.org.
  • Cargill is opening a new headquarters of its North American protein operations. The new state-of-the-art building was created as a destination to retain and recruit top talent and immerse customers in innovative culinary and food sensory experiences. The headquarters connects Cargill’s 800 Wichita-based employees with 28,000 additional colleagues across North America and more than three dozen protein production facilities in the U.S. and Canada.
  • Sanderson Farms, the third-largest producer of chicken in the U.S., announced this morning that it will eliminate the use of antibiotics considered medically important for humans for disease prevention in its live poultry operations. Sanderson is the last of the country’s four major chicken producers to move away from routine use of medically important antibiotics.
  • National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Kevin Kester issued the following statement in response to the signing of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA): “With the signing of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, U.S. beef producers are one step closer to knowing that unrestricted, science-based trade will continue in North America. The agreement brings the trading relationship with our neighbors into the 21st century – and clearly rejects the failed beef and cattle trade policies of the past. Open markets have helped U.S. producers flourish and created billion dollar markets for U.S. beef. We look forward to working with Congress to get USMCA passed into law as quickly as possible.”
  • U.S. Poultry & Egg Association will host its annual Poultry Market Intelligence Forum at the 2019 International Production & Processing Expo in Atlanta.
  • Beef was a hot commodity in Lancaster, PA, at the area’s premier food festival, attracting consumers who enjoy the pleasures of eating and entertaining with food. The TASTE! Lancaster Festival of Food, Wine & Spirits 2018 welcomed nearly 8,000 guests to the Lancaster Convention Center on November 16 & 17. Chef Barry Strand, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, was on-site to demonstrate the new culinary craze of Beef Poke, sharing its trendy appeal to the millennial and foodie crowd.
  • Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin has named Suzanne Fanning as Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Wisconsin Cheese.
AgWired Animal, Animal Bites

Biofuels Stakeholders React to Final RFS Rule

Cindy Zimmerman

Most biofuels stakeholder organizations expressed disappointment in the final rule for required renewable fuel volumes under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program for 2019, and biomass-based diesel for 2020, released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Friday.

The rule maintains the 2019 conventional biofuels (corn ethanol) level at 15 billion gallons, while biomass-based diesel, advanced, and cellulosic categories all were increased slightly. However, the main disappointment comes from the agency declining to take any action on reallocating Renewable Identification Numbers (RINS) to make up for small refinery hardship exemptions granted by EPA.

Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor says they are pleased to see the final numbers were released on time by the November 30 deadline. “But the latest EPA rule is also a missed opportunity to correctly account for billions of gallons of ethanol lost to refinery exemptions,” said Skor. “Until these are addressed properly, we’re still taking two steps back for every step forward.”

Listen to or download Skor’s reaction here: EPA RVO final reaction from Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor

Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper is hopeful that means EPA is not intending to issue any small refiner waivers at all in 2019. “We urge Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler to faithfully and strictly enforce the 15-billion-gallon conventional renewable fuel requirement in 2019, rather than allowing the standard to be eroded through the use of clandestine small refiner waivers as former Administrator Pruitt did,” said Cooper.

Audio with Cooper here: EPA RVO final reaction from RFA CEO Geoff Cooper

American Coalition for Ethanol CEO Brian Jennings says not compensating for the gallons lost is causing real economic hardship for rural communities. “On paper, EPA appears to be resisting refiner demands to reduce conventional biofuel blending in 2019 below the statutory 15-billion-gallon level. However, in reality, as long as EPA fails to reallocate the over 2 billion gallons worth of blending obligations waived for ‘Small Refineries,’ renewable fuel demand will remain flat causing farmers and rural biofuel producers to continue suffering the consequences.”

Listen to Jennings’ comments here: EPA RVO final reaction from ACE CEO Brian Jennings

The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) criticized EPA for continuing to set the advanced biofuel and biomass-based diesel volumes lower than what the agency acknowledges will be produced. “The industry regularly fills 90 percent of the annual advanced biofuel requirement. Nevertheless, the agency continues to use its maximum waiver authority to set advanced biofuel requirements below attainable levels,” said NBB CEO Donnell Rehagen. “The method is inconsistent with the RFS program’s purpose, which is to drive growth in production and use of advanced biofuels such as biodiesel.”

Listen to Donnell’s comments here: EPA RVO final reaction from NBB CEO Donnell Rehagen

ACE, Audio, Biodiesel, Biofuels, Ethanol, RFA

AGCO Presents 13th Operator of the Year at ARA2018

Cindy Zimmerman

AGCO Corporation presented its 13th Annual Operator of the Year award to Jerry Born of Fairmount, North Dakota at the 2018 Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) Conference & Expo last week in Boca Raton, Fla. The award recognizes the value of the hard work professional applicators do caring for crops and customers across the country, as well as their involvement in their communities.

Along with the title, Born was presented with the grand prize, a new Harley-Davidson® motorcycle. “I’m still shocked. When they told me I was a finalist I thought no way this is real and then to be selected as the winner, I couldn’t believe it,” said Born. “Being an applicator allows me to be out in the country every day and see different terrain. It’s always something new.”

Professional applicators spend long hours in the field every season, using technologically advanced application machinery like a RoGator® or a TerraGator®, to accurately and efficiently apply fertilizer and crop protection products on millions of farm acres, helping farmers achieve their best possible yield.

Listen to the presentation here: ARA18 AGCO Operator of the Year

2018 ARA Conference & Expo Photo Album

AgWired Precision, ARA, Audio, Equipment

Research Positive for Lamb Industry

Carrie Muehling

The future for the U.S. lamb industry is bright, according to Ohio sheep producer Jim Percival, current chair of the American Lamb Board.

“One of the big things that our research has showed us is that the Millennials are truly lovers of lamb,” said Percival. “They like the adventurous eating part of lamb. They like that taste. They love the texture. They love the fact that lamb is juicy and good and they like the portion sizes. With lamb you’re getting a little bit different there, and they like the nutritious benefits, also.”

Percival said U.S. demand for lamb is growing by about two percent each year, and the export market to Japan recently opened up for the first time since the BSE scare several years ago. He said lamb is a diverse, premium protein that is also extremely lean. Percival participated in Trade Talk at the 2018 National Association of Farm Broadcasting Convention in Kansas City.

Listen to Cindy’s interview with Jim here: NAFB18 Interview with Jim Percival, American Lamb Board chair

2018 National Association of Farm Broadcasting Convention Photo Album

AgWired Animal, Audio, Lamb, NAFB, Sheep

ARA Installs New Chairman

Cindy Zimmerman

Troy Johnson of Wilbur-Ellis was installed as new chairman of the Agricultural Retailers Association during the closing session of the 2018 ARA Conference and Expo in Boca Raton, Florida this week.

Johnson succeeds John Oster of Morral Companies in the position. Pictured here left to right are Oster, Johnson, and ARA CEO Daren Coppock.

Johnson shared with attendees his commitment to the association for the coming year, outlining goals that include continuing to strengthen and broaden the membership and keeping the association’s mission front and center in all activities. “I could not be more proud of what ARA accomplishes each year on behalf of its membership,” said Johnson. “Protecting ag retailers’ freedom to operate is what ARA is all about. I am committed to ensuring that everything we do is representative of the entire agricultural retail industry.”

Listen to or download an interview with Johnson here: Interview with new ARA chairman Troy Johnson, Wilbur-Ellis

2018 ARA Conference & Expo Photo Album

Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, ARA, Audio

Zimfo Bytes 11/30

Carrie Muehling

  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that two U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratories have received USDA’s Excellence in BioPreferred Procurement Awards for Fiscal Year 2018 for testing and adopting biobased products within their operations. The laboratories receiving the awards are the Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, New Mexico and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Lawrence, California.
  • The Soil Health Partnership has tapped Dr. Maria Bowman, a notable and experienced agricultural and resource economist, for the new position of Lead Scientist. Her role will be significant, guiding the organization in building a unique and extensive U.S. database of soil health samples from working farms, analyzing them, and drawing conclusions that could impact agriculture for decades to come.
  • The 2019 Commodity Classic will be held Thursday, February 28 through Saturday, March 2 in Orlando, Fla. Registration and housing for the 2019 Commodity Classic is now open. To register, reserve hotel rooms and sign up for email updates, visit CommodityClassic.com. Early bird discounts on registration end January 10, 2019.
  • The Charlie Daniels Band will provide the Evening of Entertainment at the 2019 Commodity Classic. The band will perform Saturday night to close the three-day event which attracts thousands of America’s top farmers and agricultural advocates.
  • Swanson Russell recently promoted four people in its Lincoln and Omaha offices: Shelton Crouch, Courtney Geyer, Morgan Nebbia and Katie Scherer.
  • Farmers across the U.S. are harvesting the highest ever overall yields for Pioneer brand corn hybrids, despite variable and unexpected weather conditions through the 2018 season. Multiple products delivered double-digit yield advantages over the competition due to a strengthened testing and screening process as well as continued investments in research.
  • Make plans to attend the 43rd annual Georgia Peanut Farm Show and Conference scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019, at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center in Tifton, Georgia. The one-day show is free and open to all farmers and industry representatives to attend.
  • Several members of the Brownfield Ag News team were honored during the 75th Annual National Association of Farm Broadcasting Convention held in Kansas City, Missouri November 7–9, 2018. Brownfield farm broadcasters did well in the NAFB program competition, including Video Feature Award First Place: Shannon Yokley; Newscast Second Place: Ken Anderson; and Newscast Third Place: Tom Steever. Shannon Yokley was elected to the NAFB Board of Directors as Director for the Southern Region.
Zimfo Bytes

BASF Offers New Trait System in Credenz Varieties

Carrie Muehling

A new herbicide trait system in soybeans from BASF will offer flexibility and yield advantages to growers in 2019.

LibertyLink GT27 will be available in 13 different Credenz soybean varieties, said Marc Hoobler, BASF Soybean Agronomy Lead.

“Yield is probably the most important thing that growers look for,” said Hoobler. “We’re seeing a yield advantage from two to four bushels over existing trait systems. So we’re very pleased with the elite genetics that are coming out of the program and that we’re able to offer growers throughout the Midwest. The second thing is just the flexibliy that the herbicide tolerance within the system provides. So, for the first time ever growers can choose whether they want to use Liberty herbicide or glyphosate post-emerge.”

Hoobler said BASF is looking to add a third product to the trait package called Elite 27, which will offer tolerance to the HPPD class of chemistries. That product is not yet registered for use in soybeans. Hoobler was at the 2018 National Association of Farm Broadcasting Convention in Kansas City.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Marc here: NAFB18 Interview with Marc Hoobler, BASF

2018 National Association of Farm Broadcasting Convention Photo Album

AgWired Precision, Audio, BASF, NAFB

USDA Under Secretary Northey at #ARA2018

Cindy Zimmerman

Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Service Bill Northey discussed trade and a 2018 farm bill, among other topics, during a visit to the 2018 Agricultural Retailers Association convention this week in Boca Raton, Florida.

“I’m very hopeful,” said Northey about getting a farm bill by the end of the year, especially after word Thursday from House and Senate agriculture committee leadership that they have reached an agreement on a bill.

On the trade front, Northey talked about the second round of trade mitigation payments approved by the president to offset export disruptions caused by retaliatory tariffs, and whether changes will be made in the payment structure used for the first round. “We’re within a very few weeks of being able to make an announcement,” said Northey, who said they are looking at potential changes. “It’s imperfect, but what’s important is that the president and secretary said we are going to try and soften the blow as best we can.”

USDA Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Service Bill Northey –
USDA Under Secretary Bill Northey comments at #ARA2018

USDA Under Secretary Bill Northey interview at #ARA2018

2018 ARA Conference & Expo Photo Album

AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, ARA, Audio, Farm Bill, Trade, USDA

Willards Honored by ARA for Service

Cindy Zimmerman

At the 2018 Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) Convention this week, Billy and Bob Willard were honored with the ARA Distinguished Service Award for their support for ARA and the agricultural retail industry.

“Willard Agri-Service is the gold standard for ag retailers,” said ARA President and CEO Daren Coppock, who presented the award which honors individual members of the association who have provided support above and beyond that of the traditional member and volunteer responsibilities.

Billy, who serves as CEO for Willard Agri-Service, was unable to attend the ARA Convention this week so his father and company founder De Willard accepted the award for him with Bob, past chairman of ARA and chairman of the Willard Agri-Service Board of Directors. Pictured are Bob, De, and Coppock.

Audio – Bob Willard, 2018 ARA Distinguished Service award winner

2018 ARA Conference & Expo Photo Album

Agribusiness, ARA, Audio

GROWMARK Recognized by HIRE Vets Medallion Program

Carrie Muehling


GROWMARK is a 2018 recipient of the HIRE Vets Medallion Program Demonstration Award from the Department of Labor. The award goes to employers that have done a successful job of recruiting and supporting the veterans on their workforce.

GROWMARK’s application included ways the company attracts and supports veterans, like having an internal military support group and military friendly leave policies. The award also takes hiring numbers into account, as veterans make up about five percent of the current workforce at GROWMARK – approximately 150 out of 3,000 employees. Last year about 7.5% of the company’s new hires were veterans with hopes to grow that number, according to Aubrey Bastien, senior talent acquisition and member employment manager.

“GROWMARK is a great home and the FS System is a great home for veterans. Our opportunities are endless and for us, so far, it has been a really good fit and home and we treat them well and we’ll do what we can to make sure that they can really find a home here long term,” said Bastien.

Bastien said tuition assistance is also available to help veterans to pursue continuing education, and GROWMARK offers career services to help build a resume or prepare for an interview. She said the company often connects with local groups like Student Veterans of America and participates in networking nights where recruiters will have dinner with ROTC members or student veterans to let them know about opportunities at GROWMARK.

Listen to Carrie’s interview with Aubrey here: Interview with Aubrey Bastien, GROWMARK

Audio, Cooperatives, GROWMARK