Sixteen culinary experts from across the country got a taste of the beef industry during the Pasture to Plate Beef Tour, sponsored by state beef councils in California, Colorado, Arizona, Oklahoma and Texas. Invited to the beef checkoff-funded event were the culinary chairs responsible for the 28 International Culinary Schools at the Art Institutes across the country. The non-profit Art Institutes operate the largest system of culinary schools in the United States.- Media pre-registration for the 2018 Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting, which will be held August 1-4 in Denver, is open. Click here to access the registration page.
- A jury verdict against a North Carolina hog farm in favor of plaintiffs who lodged unwarranted nuisance claims sets a dangerous precedent for American livestock agriculture, according to Jim Heimerl, president of the National Pork Producers Council and a hog farmer from Johnstown, Ohio. The following statement can be attributed to Heimerl: “For the second time in as many months, a North Carolina verdict has come back in favor of plaintiffs after a jury was prevented from visiting the farm subjected to baseless claims. We are deeply troubled by this decision against a farm that has operated responsibly and in compliance with state laws since 1985 and that maintains the highest standards of environmental and community stewardship. American hog farmers already face serious headwinds, including export market uncertainty caused by ongoing trade disputes. We can’t allow trial-lawyer abuse of our legal system to continue as it threatens the livelihood of livestock farming families, undermines the rural economy and unnecessarily increases food prices for consumers.”
Scott Pruitt Resigns From EPA
Well, here’s news that probably won’t upset too many people I know. I’m actually amazed that this didn’t happen much sooner. Of course this had to happen during a pretty much vacation week for the ZimmComm Team and many, many other folks.
Here’s some industry reaction on the announcement. I think you can sum it up that everyone is pretty happy about it.
President Trump’s Tweet announcing his acceptance of Pruitt’s resignation
National Corn Growers Association (NCGA)
Quote from Kevin Skunes, president and North Dakota Farmer:
“It’s no secret corn farmers have been frustrated with Scott Pruitt’s ongoing actions over the past year that have seriously undermined the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).
Growth Energy
Quote from Emily Skor, CEO:
“Administrator Pruitt’s tenure as administrator of the EPA put a heavy strain on this administration’s relationship with supporters, farmers, and biofuel producers across the heartland.
Renewable Fuels Association
Quote from Bob Dinneen, CEO:
“For the past year, Scott Pruitt had been waging war against the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), the biofuels industry, and the millions of farmers and rural Americans who helped Donald Trump get elected.
National Biodiesel Board
Kurt Kovarik, Vice President of Federal Affairs:
“The EPA plays an important role in implementing policies that have a great impact on our industry. For that reason, we look forward to working with Mr. Wheeler and hope he will act more in line with President Trump’s support for America’s farmers, biofuels producers and the Renewable Fuel Standard.”
Zimfo Bytes 7/6
The Canadian Agri-Business Education Foundation has announced the winners of their annual scholarships. Each student will receive $2,500 for post-secondary agricultural education. The 2018 winners are: Adriana Van Tryp, Laura Carruthers, Pete Giesbrecht, Owen Ricker, Jeremy Chevalley, Émilie Carrier, and Justin Kampman. - The Farm Credit Administration has appointed Dennis Shields to serve as associate director of the Agricultural and Economic Policy Team and as FCA’s chief economist. He will succeed Dr. Steve Gabriel, who is retiring July 3 after 34 years of federal service.
- Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig was elected to serve as Vice President of the Midwest Association of State Departments of Agriculture by his peers from 12 states across the region.
- Farm Aid’s annual music and food festival featuring family farmers, homegrown food, inspiring music and agrarian experiences will come to Connecticut for the first time on Saturday, Sept. 22, at XFINITY Theatre in Hartford, Connecticut.
- After more than 25 years in business Charleston|Orwig, Inc.,a Wisconsin-based strategic marketing and communications agency focused on clients across thefood and agricultural industries, is now 100 percent employee owned through an employee stock ownership plan.
- Cotton consultants spend long hours in the field in an effort to make their farmer clients more profitable. If you would like your consultant to be recognized, nominate him or her for the prestigious 2018 Cotton Consultant of the Year award. To access the 2018 nomination form, click here.
- The Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City is pleased to partner with the National Association of Farm Broadcasting on their 2018 Summer Agribusiness Luncheon, Tuesday, July 10, at the Chamber of Commerce Board Room at Union Station.
- Answering the call to help solve agriculture’s severe labor shortage, Western Growers and Radicle Growth awarded Ganaz and GroGuru each with $250,000 in seed funding to advance their automation technology.
ZimmCast 590 – Precision, Pork, Podcasts
Happy Independence Day week. This episode of the ZimmCast will introduce you to some other farm podcasters you may not be familiar with. If you are not subscribing to podcasts then get started. There are many really good programs and quite a few that have started recently.
In this week’s program I’ll share the following:
The Raven Precision Podcast – The latest information on Raven precision technology. This episode focuses on “Gary Esselink returns to talk with Mat Roy about the advantages of using Sidekick Pro Direct Injection. Gary goes over how direct injection works, the history behind it, and how it best fits into a multitude of different applications.” (abbreviated version)
Pork Pod – A look at the hot topics in the pork industry. This episode focuses on “South Dakota pig farmer Steve Rommereim is the new president of the 15-member National Pork Board. In this podcast, we learn more about Steve’s background and his goals for the year ahead for the Pork Checkoff.”
The Business of Agriculture Podcast – Listen to Damian Mason’s take on topics surrounding the business of food, fuel, and fiber, interviews with industry professionals, and other great original content. This episode focuses on “Ours is a unique industry with many factors that are unfamiliar to most people or businesses. Zoning, livestock operation disputes, estate planning headaches, employment legalities, environmental regulation, are just a few of the issues in Ag. My guest is Amy Cornell, president of Agribusiness Council of Indiana. She’s also an attorney specializing in Agriculture, a lobbyist, and farm girl.” (abbreviated version)
Here are a couple of links which you might find helpful if you are not a regular podcast listener:
How to subscribe to podcasts on iPhone
How to subscribe to podcasts on Android
Listen to the ZimmCast here: ZimmCast 589 - Precision, Pork, Business of Ag
I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.
Subscribe to the ZimmCast podcast here. Use this url in iTunes or your favorite news reader program/app.
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Commodity Classic Releases 2019 Schedule
Less than eight months to go ’til Commodity Classic 2019 – time to start getting prepared!
The tentative schedule for the show to be held February 28 through March 2 in Orlando, has been released and includes extended trade show hours, a full slate of educational sessions, and the Main Stage on the trade show floor returns with presentations from agribusiness leaders, well-known ag personalities and other speakers.
Established in 1996, Commodity Classic is presented by the American Soybean Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Sorghum Producers and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers.
God Bless America and the American Farmer
Food for thought this Independence Day from former Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack:
“America has to understand and appreciate what it has in agriculture.
American consumers walk out of the grocery store with still more money in their pocket and their paychecks and their incomes than virtually anybody else in the world.
That creates great flexibility in our economy directly connected to American agriculture.
It also provides the opportunity for every single one of us who are not farmers to be able to choose alternative opportunities for ourselves and our families.
We have transferred the responsibility of feeding our families to a relatively small percentage of our population called the American farmer.”
Expanded Portfolio Includes New Enogen Varieties
Among fans attending the NASCAR Xfinity Series Iowa 250 presented by Enogen at Iowa Speedway on Father’s Day was Craig Ehlers, a farmer and Golden Harvest dealer from northwest Iowa.
Golden Harvest is expanding its 2019 portfolio with 37 new corn hybrids and 17 new soybean varieties. Among the new offerings are seven new Enogen hybrids for use in selected geographies. Ehlers said Enogen is an important part of his business because it helps his customers to be more profitable.
“It’s not something we have to buy from across seas and bring in. Enogen helps the guys that are growing it make more money on each acre they grow,” Ehlers said, noting one of his customers estimates Enogen adds about $100 per acre of value to his operation. During many growing seasons, that could be the key difference between profit and loss on the farm.
Ehlers is in his fifth year as a Golden Harvest dealer, where he appreciates what he can offer to fellow growers.
“Innovation is key to making tomorrow better,” he said. “It’s what we do today to help make tomorrow better, and being part of Golden Harvest and the Enogen program, I can see the future of helping guys make more money.”
Listen to Chuck’s interview with Craig here: Interview with Craig Ehlers, Golden Harvest dealer, Iowa
2018 NASCAR Xfinity Series Iowa 250 presented by Enogen Photo Album
Precision Ag Bytes 7/3
Monsanto Company and Corteva Agriscience™, Agriculture Division of DowDuPont, announced the companies have reached an agreement on an expanded license for Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® technology for soybeans. Through this non-exclusive, royalty bearing license, Corteva Agriscience™ will offer U.S. and Canadian growers additional weed control flexibility through broader access to Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® technology across its North America seed brand portfolio. Specifically, the technology can be incorporated into the Mycogen® and Dairyland Seed® brands in the U.S. and the Brevant™ seed brand in Canada.- CommoditAg.com, an e-commerce platform for growers, further expands its network with the addition of six Liqui-Grow warehouse locations in Northern Illinois and Iowa.
- The challenges and opportunities of gene editing will be the focus of the Farm Foundation Forum on Tuesday, July 17, 2018. Register HERE if you plan to attend the Forum in person at the National Press Club. Register HERE for the free, live audiocast. Audiocasting is made possible by a grant from Farm Credit.
- Anthem® MAXX and Authority® Elite herbicides from FMC have just been added to the Engenia® herbicide website page as approved tank-mix partners. This is the final step required to allow Anthem MAXX and Authority Elite herbicides as tank mixes with Engenia herbicide when used on Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® soybeans.
- New decision agriculture solutions will be available to growers around the world under a strategic alliance announced by Farmers Edge™ and Nufarm Limited. Under the alliance, Nufarm channel partners in Australia, will be able to distribute the Farmers Edge suite of precision digital solutions, including daily satellite imagery from the most comprehensive farm and risk management platform available – FarmCommand™.
July 4th Cookout a Bit More Affordable
What will be on your grill for the 4th of July? Chances are it probably costs a little less than it did last year, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF).
Farm Bureau’s informal annual survey reveals the average cost of a summer cookout for 10 people is $55.07, or $5.51 per person – that’s down about one percent from 2017. The All-American cookout menu includes hot dogs and buns, cheeseburgers and buns, pork spare ribs, deli potato salad, baked beans, corn chips, lemonade, chocolate milk, ketchup, mustard and watermelon for dessert.
While lower prices are good news for consumers, it’s not so much for farmers. “This is a very tough time for farmers and ranchers due to low prices across the board. It is appropriate that this very painful situation hitting farmers be reflected at the retail level as well,” said AFBF Director of Market Intelligence Dr. John Newton.
A total of 96 Farm Bureau members in 28 states served as “volunteer shoppers,” checking retail prices for summer cookout foods at their local grocery stores for this informal survey.
AMVAC Purchases Bayer Bromacil Business
AMVAC Chemical Corporation recently announced the purchase of the Bromacil herbicide business in the United States and Canada from Bayer Crop Science. The transaction is unrelated to the acquisition of Monsanto by Bayer, and financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
I spoke with Greg Warren, Marketing Manager, AMVAC, about the transaction and what it means to the company. It primarily adds the largest markets for these products which are Canada and the U.S. The product brands made with Bromacil are used mostly in citrus markets.
The assets being purchased include the Bromacil trademarks and product registrations for sale of Hyvar® and Krovar® in the USA and Canada. In order to ensure a seamless transfer from Bayer to AMVAC, Bayer will continue to market and provide customer support for these products until the end of September 2018.
Bromacil is a broad spectrum residual herbicide used for non-agricultural industrial vegetation control and on many crops, such as pineapples, citrus, agave and asparagus. Marketed under the Hyvar® and Krovar® brands, Bromacil herbicides are valued and long-established weed control tools. AMVAC previously purchased these brands from DuPont Crop Protection in 2015 for markets outside of US and Canada including Japan, Thailand, Mexico, Cost Rica and Brazil.
You can listen to my interview with Greg to learn more: Interview with Greg Warren, AMVAC