Former Agriculture Secretaries Meet

Cindy Zimmerman

Just days after the passing of former Secretary of Agriculture Bob Bergland, four former secretaries met with current Secretary Sonny Perdue to discuss the latest agricultural issues.

Those in attendance included former Secretaries John Block (1981-1986), Dan Glickman (1995-2001), Ann Veneman (2001-2005), and Mike Johanns (2005-2008). The Secretaries discussed several issues including trade, wildfires, agriculture research, infrastructure, cell-based meat, and rural prosperity.

Former Agriculture Secretaries Bob Bergland, John Block, and Clayton Yeutter at 2012 NAFB Convention

The last time the four were together at USDA was in 2012 to celebrate the agency’s 150th anniversary. Three other former secretaries still living are Mike Espy (1993-1994), Ed Schafer (2008-2009), and Tom Vilsack (2009-2017). Espy recently lost his bid to replace retiring Mississippi Senator Thad Cochran in a high profile runoff election.

Bergland, a Minnesota farmer who served as secretary under President Jimmy Carter from 1977 to 1981 died December 9 at the age of 90. He also served as vice president and general manager of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association until he retired in 1992.

In 2012, Bergland joined former secretaries Block and Yeutter at the NAFB Convention. Enjoy his opening comments here – Former ag secretary Bob Bergland at 2012 NAFB

2012 NAFB Convention Photo Album

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USFRA Announces New Chair, Board Members, and Podcast

Cindy Zimmerman

Maryland crop farmer Chip Bowling, representing National Corn Growers Association, is the new chair for the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) elected last month at the coalition fall board meeting along with new executive committee and board members.

Bowling, who is the fourth chairman of the group, is joined by a new executive committee:
• Vice Chair: Scott VanderWal, American Farm Bureau Federation
• Treasurer: Blair Van Zetten, American Egg Board
• Secretary: Anne Meis, representing Nebraska Soybean Board
• At-Large: Jennifer Houston, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
• At-Large Premier: Michael Parrish, Bayer
• Immediate Past Chairman: Brad Greenway, National Pork Board

USFRA also added two new members to its 15 member board – Joe Koss, president and chief executive officer of Culver’s Franchising System and Brody Stapel, President of Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative.

In addition, USFRA introduced a new “Farm, Food, Facts” podcast for food retailers, sustainability supply chain leaders and food trade media. The podcast, hosted by SupermarketGuru Phil Lempert, discusses top stories about today’s food.

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Praise for Farm Bill Soil Carbon Pilot Program

Cindy Zimmerman

Several organizations are pleased that the new farm bill includes a climate-friendly soil carbon pilot program.

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2), the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) thank the Farm Bill conferees for including language in the 2018 Farm Bill to establish an Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) pilot program to promote and document the benefits of farming practices which improve soil health.

“This new EQIP provision provides the tools to incentivize farmers to adopt smart soil management practices that improve soil health to increase drought resiliency, improve nutrient utilization, and enhance soil carbon sequestration,” said Keith Alverson, South Dakota farmer and NCGA board member.

“The economic value farmers can receive from being properly credited for their ability to sequester carbon and participate in low carbon fuel markets and for other climate policies is significant,” said Brian Jennings, ACE CEO. “ACE is committed to fostering the development of these low carbon market opportunities that also increase income to farmers and rural America.”

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Zimfo Bytes 12/14

Carrie Muehling

  • IDEAg Group LLC announces that the Northern Illinois Farm Show will take place Jan. 9-10 at the NIU Convocation Center. The event will feature approximately 100 companies showcasing the latest innovations available to farmers in the Midwest.
  • The National Corn Growers Association has promoted Fred Stemme to Chief Operating Officer of the organization. Previously, the Vice President of Marketing and Development, he leads a nine-member team responsible for accounting, administration, diversity, facilities, fundraising, grassroots advocacy, human resources, IT, industry relations, leadership training, membership recruitment, retention and services, organizational meetings and state relations.
  • The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) announced the 2018 recipients of its annual Advocates Program awards, which recognize an outstanding commitment by AEM members to industry advocacy efforts through AEM’s national grassroots campaign I Make America.
  • The Minnesota AgriGrowth Council announced Tamara Nelsen as its new Executive Director. Nelsen will assume her new role effective February 1, 2019.
  • The St. Louis Agribusiness Club is seeking 2018 candidates for AgriBusiness Leader of the Year and AgriBusiness Club Outstanding Member. Nominations are due by December 21, 2018, electronically to: Shane Jones, Past President (shanejonessj@gmail.com).
  • Kubota Tractor Corporation announced the appointment of Mr. Haruyuki (Harry) Yoshida as the new President and CEO of Kubota Tractor Corporation and Kubota North America, based in Grapevine, Texas, effective January 1, 2019.
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture announces plenary speakers for the 2019 Agricultural Outlook Forum, to be held Feb. 21–22, 2019, at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington, Va. The 2019 forum is themed “Growing Locally, Selling Globally.” The opening plenary session will feature keynote remarks from U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, welcoming comments from Deputy Secretary Steve Censky, and “The 2019 Economic Outlook for Agriculture” presented by USDA Chief Economist Robert Johansson.
  • The 3rd annual Agri-Pulse Ag & Food Policy Summit will focus on Shaping Farm and Food Policy Strategies for 2040. It is scheduled for March 18, 2019, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
  • Four Sorghum Checkoff board directors were sworn in during the board meeting in Lubbock, Texas, Dec. 10-12, 2018. Returning to the board are Boyd Funk of Garden City, Kansas; Craig Poore of Alton, Kansas; and Jim Massey of Robstown, Texas. Newly appointed to the board is Adam Schindler of Reliance, South Dakota.
  • This year’s adverse weather and increased cotton acres may mean it’s taking longer to get your cotton ginned. USDA’s Farm Service Agency offers seed cotton recourse loans to provide interim financing.
Zimfo Bytes

BASF Looks Forward to 2019 Growing Season

Carrie Muehling

BASF continues to educate growers about one of the newest products available for the 2019 growing season in LibertyLink GT27. The new technology will offer tolerance to three different herbicide groups: Liberty, glyphosate and HPPD, pending approval.

“Because it’s the first technology that you can use Liberty and glyphosate with, it really allows them to address a broad range of weed species – both broadleafs and grasses – that allows them to really have the best tool on the market to address their issues,” said Jody Wynia, U.S. Soybean Licensing Lead for BASF.

Wynia said LibertyLink GT27 is a strong tool when it comes to driver weeds like marestail, waterhemp and Palmer amaranth.

Hear more in Chuck’s interview with Jody: Interview with Jody Wynia, BASF


BASF at 2018 ASTA CSS and Seed Expo

2018 ASTA CSS and Seed Expo photos

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Conaway Pleased with Final Farm Bill

Cindy Zimmerman

Passage of the 2018 Farm Bill is a “big deal for rural America” and for House Agriculture Committee chairman Rep. Mike Conaway (R-TX), who loses his chairmanship next month when the Democrats take the majority in the House.

After the House voted 386-47 to pass the conference report and send the bill to the president, Conaway released a video talking about the importance of it and how pleased he was to be able to complete a farm bill as chairman.

“You really can’t lay claim to being chairman of House Ag unless you’ve done a farm bill. For me personally, it’s a sense of accomplishment,” said Conaway. “…it is a big deal and a good Christmas present for each and every person in rural America, and that’s who I have been fighting for.”

Conaway held a press conference Thursday morning to talk about the new legislation – Rep. Conaway press conference remarks on farm bill


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Clariant and Eastman Announce Agrochemical Collaboration

Cindy Zimmerman

Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, and Eastman Chemical Company, a global advanced materials and specialty additives company, have announced an agreement for the distribution of a new solvent for the agriculture industry.

TamiSolve NxG was developed for the global plant protection sector, for use in plant growth regulators, biological control agents, herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides. Under this exclusive agreement, Clariant will globally market and sell TamiSolve NxG under Clariant’s trade name, “Genagen™ NBP.”

With this collaboration, Eastman and Clariant hope to utilize their strengths to bring more sustainable, efficient, and innovative solutions to farmers around the world.

Clariant once again exhibited at the ASTA 2018 CSS and Seed Expo last week and we caught up with Mark Self, technical marketing segment manager for the company here in the United States. He was talking there about Agrocer, Clariant’s brand for agricultural products, including colorants, polymers, dusting agents and anything related to seed coating.

“Clariant was started as a color company,” said Self. “We’re trying to take it to the next level by introducing new colorants into the portfolio and show people they can color to the brand, to differentiate, to show value-added…you can do that with seed coating.”

Learn more in this interview from the seed expo – ASTACSS18 Interview with Mark Self, Clariant

2018 ASTA CSS and Seed Expo

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Bayer Spotlights NemaStrike at #ASTACSS

Carrie Muehling

Bayer representatives at the 2018 ASTA CSS & Seed Expo wanted growers to take notice of NemaStrike technology as they make decisions for the 2019 growing season.

“We believe it’s going to provide a fantastic opportunity for growers to protect themselves against a pest that they were maybe underestimating – nematodes,” said Brent Craig, Seed Applied Solutions Marketing for NemaStrike with Bayer.

Craig said nematodes that come into contact with a seed or root that has been treated with NemaStrike will die before getting a chance to do much damage. In addition, NemaStrike technology provides 75 days of broad spectrum control, covering multiple generations of the pest that may exist within the same field.

“NemaStrike is the most efficacious product we’ve seen for nematodes,” said Kelli Brown, N.A. Seed Applied Solutions Product Manager for NemaStrike. “When you look at various competitive products across the board, we’re going to reduce populations of nematodes significantly further and for longer periods of time than any other product.”

Brown said nematodes are microscopic roundworms, and they are the most ubiquitous species on the planet. She said nematode pressure will be higher in some years than in others, which is why a broader seed treatment portfolio including fungicides, insecticides, nematicides and biologicals is important to consider. NemaStrike technology is available in Bayer-treated corn, soybean and cotton seed for the 2019 growing season.

Interview with Brent Craig, Seed Applied Solutions Marketing, NemaStrike –
Interview with Brent Craig, Bayer

Interview with Kelli Brown, N.A. Seed Applied Solutions Product Manager, NemaStrike –
Interview with Kelli Brown, Bayer

Bayer at ASTACSS18 Photo Album

2018 ASTA CSS Photo Album

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WEDA Names 2018 Dealer of the Year

Cindy Zimmerman

The Western Equipment Dealers Association (WEDA) has presented its prestigious 2018 Merit Award to Harley Adams of Concordia Tractor, Inc. (CTI), as the 2018 Dealer of the Year. Pictured here, Wally Butler, (left) President of the Board of Directors, Western Equipment Dealers Association presents Adams with the award.

As a true mark of excellence, the annual WEDA Dealer of the Year award recognizes exceptional performance and outstanding community service that is an inspiration to our industry. By presenting this annual award, WEDA honors an individual dealer for their leadership within the industry, high business standards and tireless efforts to improve their communities and the world around them

CTI has been a WEDA member for 52 years, and Adams served as president in 2005. He started his long career in the equipment industry with John Deere Company, Kansas City in 1972 and was promoted to Territory Manager in March 1973 at the age of 22, becoming the youngest ever appointed to that job.

“Harley Adams is a well-deserved recipient of this award,” said John Schmeiser, CEO, WEDA. “Harley and his team have set the standard for service excellence and world-class customer experience.”

The award was presented to Adams at WEDA’s 2018 annual dealer conference which was held in Scottsdale, Arizona, December 5-7, 2018.
Learn more about Adams’ outstanding career from WEDA.

Equipment

Farm Bill Poised for Passage

Cindy Zimmerman

The Senate voted 87-13 yesterday to pass the 2018 Farm Bill approved by the conference committee this week and the House is expected to do so soon.

“We think the farm bill’s in very good shape,” said President Trump as he sat down with Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), just before getting into a spat with them over border wall funding. “That will be quite bipartisan and it will happen pretty soon.”

Audio – President Trump comments on farm bill

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (TX-11) released a video yesterday highlighting the wins in the 2018 Farm Bill conference report for rural America and calling on his colleagues to pass the legislation.

“Over five months of negotiations—now is the time to do it, and I hope to persuade my Republican colleagues that that’s the case,” says Conaway. “Once this is all said and done, I will be one happy camper.”


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