Alliance Brings OSHA Together with Fertilizer and Ag Retailers

Cindy Zimmerman

A new alliance between industry and regulators shows fertilizer and ag retailers are serious about safety​.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) joined with The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) and the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) to provide training resources and safety information for workers, emergency responders, and communities within the agricultural retail and supply industry. ARA President & CEO Daren Coppock, TFI President & CEO Chris Jahn and Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Loren Sweatt signed the agreement together in Washington D.C. on Monday.

The alliance will build upon the stewardship efforts associated with the ResponsibleAg program, a voluntary initiative created in 2014 by TFI and ARA to enhance health, safety and security performance at agricultural retail facilities.

During the two-year alliance, participants will focus on the safe storage and handling of ammonium nitrate and anhydrous ammonia – materials used in fertilizers. Alliance participants will also share emergency response information with agribusiness communities and first responders. With assistance from industry training organization ResponsibleAg Inc., the alliance will help agricultural retail facilities comply with safety and health standards for safe handling and storage of fertilizer products.

Prior to the official recognition of this alliance, OSHA, in cooperation with ARA, TFI, and ResponsibleAg Inc., developed a video that describes the agency’s inspection process under the Regional Emphasis Program for Fertilizer Grade Ammonium Nitrate and Agricultural Anhydrous Ammonia Facilities. The video is one of the first products under the alliance agreement.

Watch the video here:


ARA, Fertilizer, labor, Video

Bayer Invites Growers to Farm for the Good™

Cindy Zimmerman

Bayer is offering farmers in 13 states a chance to win a $5,000 donation to the local charity of their choice with the Farm for Good™ Sweepstakes.

Farm for Good donations will be awarded to 10 growers from cotton and peanut growing states (TX, AZ, AL, GA, FL, NC, SC, TN, VA, AR, LA, MS, MO) for a total of $50,000 in charitable donations to benefit organizations in grower communities. Nominating growers must have planted a total of at least 250 acres of any combination of cotton, peanuts, soybeans, corn and/or wheat in 2018 or will plant a total of at least 250 acres of an eligible crop in 2019.

“Bayer created this program because many growers are active in their local communities and it’s a priority for us to support their efforts and the causes that matter to them,” said Nevada Smith, western region campaign manager. “With this program, Southern row crop growers can boost the charity or community project of their choice.”

Growers can enter by mail or online at farmforgood.us through March 31. Entry forms for mailing are available at local retailers. Winners will be selected randomly by a third party and will be announced in April 2019.

Bayer, Cotton, Peanuts

Agri-Pulse Announces California Bureau

Cindy Zimmerman

Agri-Pulse Communications is expanding with the opening of a news bureau in Sacramento, California, led by Brad Hooker.

“We have long known that legislation, regulations and legal issues decided in California often have national implications for the rest of American agriculture,” noted Sara Wyant, President and CEO of Agri-Pulse. “This expansion enables us to have someone with first-hand knowledge of agricultural issues in the state.”

Hooker previously served as the Communications Director for the World Food Center at the University of California, Davis and prior to that, as a senior writer for the university’s Department of Plant Sciences. He’s developed multimedia projects on topics including drought and climate change. He also worked for the Center for Responsive Politics in Washington, D.C., producing a blog that sifted through hard data on the money behind politics.

Agri-Pulse

Scholarships Presented at #CattleCon19

Cindy Zimmerman

Two University of California-Davis students seeking their doctorate degrees received $15,000 W.D. Farr Scholarships for 2018-19 from the National Cattlemen’s Foundation. Emily Andreini and Sarah Klopatic each received the award, which were presented at the Best of Beef Breakfast during the 2019 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show in New Orleans.

The Farr Scholarships will allow these students to further their study in fields that will benefit the cattle and beef industry. Andreini is seeking her Ph.D. degree in animal biology while Klopatic is studying for her Ph.D. in animal science.

In addition, ten $1,500 scholarships for the next school year were awarded by the National Cattlemen’s Foundation to outstanding students pursuing careers in the beef industry. The scholarships are sponsored by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Group (CME).

Also receiving a trip to the 2019 Cattle Industry Convention as the overall winner of the scholarship was Olivia Willrett of Illinois, a student at Colorado State University. Willrett wrote an essay for her scholarship entry titled “Tracing Beef from Farm to Fork.”

2019 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show Photo Album

AgWired Animal, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA

New Beef Leadership Elected in New Orleans

Cindy Zimmerman

Jennifer Houston of Tennessee was named president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association at the organization’s annual meeting in New Orleans last week, as Marty Smith of Florida became NCBA president-elect. Jerry Bohn (Kansas) was elected NCBA vice president. Don Schiefelbein (Minnesota) was elected chair of the NCBA Policy Division and Todd Wilkinson (South Dakota) was elected vice chair. Laurie Munns (Utah) was elected chair of the NCBA Federation Division and Buck Wehrbein (Nebraska) was elected vice chair.

Houston and her husband, Mark, own and operate East Tennessee Auction Market in Sweetwater. She has been active in the beef industry for more than 30 years, first serving at the state level and has been an NCBA board member since 1996.

Smith is a rancher and an attorney from Wacahoota, Florida where he operates Smith Brothers-Wacahoota, LLC, a cow/calf operation that has been in continuous operation since 1852. He is also the son of Jo Ann Smith, the first woman president of NCBA in 1985 and first chair of the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board in 1986.

Elected to serve on the Beef Promotion Operating Committee from the Federation, joining Munns, Wehrbein and ten members elected from the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board, were: Katie Brenny (Minnesota), Gary Deering (South Dakota), Bradley Hastings (Texas), Chris Jeffcoat (Pennsylvania), Clark Price (North Dakota), Jeff Rudolph (Nebraska), Don Terry (Tennessee) and VeaBea Thomas (South Dakota).

Listen to interviews with Houston and Smith here:
New NCBA president Jennifer Houston

NCBA president-elect Marty Smith

2019 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show Photo Album

Official Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show virtual newsroom

AgWired Animal, Audio, Beef, Beef Checkoff, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA

NCBA Announces Policy Priorities at #CattleCon19

Cindy Zimmerman

As over 9,000 members of the cattle industry gathered for the Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show last week in New Orleans, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) released its official Policy Priorities for 2019.

While the Policy Priorities book fills almost 140 pages, the organization will focus on four main issue areas this year – fake meat, trade and market access, dietary guidelines, and regulatory reform and implementation.

NCBA was successful in 2018 in arguing for the USDA to have primary jurisdiction over the inspection and marketing of lab-produced and plant-based fake meat. Now in 2019 the group will work to ensure that a regulatory framework that protects the health of consumers, prevents false and deceptive marketing, and ensures a level playing field for real beef products.

Trade priorities will focus on a bilateral trade agreement with Japan, securing swift passage of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), and expanding access for U.S. beef in key markets like China, the United Kingdom, and the European Union.

NCBA will be working to protect the scientific credibility of Dietary Guidelines and promote accurate information about the nutritional advantages of beef as part of a balanced diet as the federal government begins the process of updating the guidelines.

Regulatory priorities includes implementation of the 2018 Farm Bill; finalizing a new water rule to replace the 2015 Waters of the U.S. rule; modernizing and streamlining the Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and federal grazing regulations; and promoting antimicrobial stewardship by producers and preserving access to key veterinary technologies.

NCBA Senior Vice President of Government Relations Colin Woodall talks about the policy priorities in this interview –
Colin Woodall, NCBA

2019 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show Photo Album

Official Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show virtual newsroom

AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA

Secretary Sonny Urges Cattle Producers to be Transparent

Cindy Zimmerman

Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue had the opportunity to address about 9,000 cattlemen and women during the closing general session of the Cattle Industry Convention on Friday and challenge them to be transparent and let consumers know what they do to produce beef.

“We don’t have anything to be ashamed about in the U.S. beef industry,” said Perdue. “No longer can we stand behind the cattle guards of our farms and ranchers and say ‘we just grow it, y’all take care of it from here.'”

Listen to Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue’s address to the 2019 Cattle Industry Convention –
#CattleCon19 Secretary Perdue comments

2019 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show Photo Album

Official Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show virtual newsroom

AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Audio, Beef, Beef Checkoff, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA, USDA

Animal Ag Bites 2/4

Carrie Muehling

  • Kent Nutrition Group is offering a new line of supplements for pigs — NutriVantage® Nutrition Optimizer® — a research-driven, unique blend of natural ingredients, vitamins and minerals that impact performance at every stage.
  • In comments submitted to the FDA this week, Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative called on the agency to “take immediate action” to enforce existing regulations that define dairy foods as originating from cow’s milk.
  • Benny Cox of San Angelo, Texas, was elected president of the American Sheep Industry Association, to succeed Mike Corn of New Mexico.
  • In light of the recent outbreaks of African swine fever and other animal diseases, the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) has been working on a multi-pronged action plan to: research science-based solutions for mitigating the risks of virus transmission through feed, and communicate any new information and recommendations to the industry and producer groups. As part of this effort, AFIA announced that it has released an updated version of its biosecurity guidelines.
  • The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research launched the International Consortium for Antimicrobial Stewardship in Agriculture, a public-private partnership to advance research on antimicrobial stewardship in animal agriculture and improve animal health and welfare.
  • Dairy Management Inc. used Super Bowl weekend to advance its Undeniably Dairy campaign. The organization created two very entertaining 30-second spots to appear on Facebook Feb. 1-4 via a paid promotion. The videos are designed to extend Undeniably Dairy, which was created to grow trust in and relevancy of dairy. Watch Video 1 and Video 2 here.
AgWired Animal, Animal Bites

Secretary Sonny Perdue visits #CattleCon19

Chuck Zimmerman

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue, visited with the media during the Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show prior to his remarks at the closing general session.

The first topic of the press conference was on trade and it was obvious he really wanted to talk about it. He said the top priority for ag groups is trade, trade, trade. You can hear his summary of where things stand with trade negotiations and the impact on agriculture in his remarks below.

He ended the conference answering a question about forest fires and management. It is encouraging to hear him talk about allowing proper management of our forests to ensure we don’t have the devastating fires we’ve seen recently.

Listen to or download the press conference below.

Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue press conference audio –
Secretary Perdue Press Conference

2019 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show Photo Album

Official Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show virtual newsroom

AgWired Animal, Audio, Cattle Industry Conference, Trade

Barn Sentry Launches at Develop with Deere

Carrie Muehling

John Deere dealers attending the Develop with Deere Conference in Chicago were among the first to see a new barn monitoring system with the launch of Barn Sentry from New Boundary Technologies and Mel Foster Company.

The product is designed especially for farmers with hog, turkey and chicken operations and it has the ability to send data from New Boundary’s RemoteAware service into the John Deere Operation Center. Farmers can then see alerts and data with the Operation Center or in a mobile app.

“We believe the John Deere dealer network is the ideal network to work through, because of their close relationships with their customers, and the fact that we are already sending the data into Operations Center, we feel that they will find more value in that than maybe some other dealers will,” said Martin Miller, Application/System Engineer with Mel Foster Company.

Barn Sentry includes a monthly monitoring service that provides the cellular service and the RemoteAware application service. The system is easy to install in new or existing barns. Barn Sentry is available through Mel Foster Company and its authorized dealers. For information, contact Martin Miller, martin@melfoster.com.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Martin here: Interview with Martin Miller, Mel Foster Company

2019 Develop with Deere Conference Photo Album

AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Audio, John Deere