A 1st Generation Dairy Farmer Perspective

Jamie Johansen

A few weeks ago, I traveled with the This Week in Agribusiness crew to Bagley, Wisconsin to hear the story of Fischer Dairy Farm. Todd Fischer is a first generation dairy farmer with a possible unique perspective. In 1990 he started out with just 17 cows. Today, he is milking 900 and says keeping it simple has been his approach. Todd is optimistic about the future of his operation despite the depressed milk prices. Perhaps being a first generation producer allows him to think outside the box.

Listen to him share his story below:



AgWired Animal, Dairy, Video

Precision Ag Bytes 5/9

Carrie Muehling

  • Crop Enhancement anticipates commercialization of its non-toxic crop protection technology, CropCoat, following successful field trials with cacao growers in Indonesia. Field testing with coffee growers is also underway in Central and South America, and the program is being expanded to other high-value specialty crops including tree fruit, vegetables, and berries in the United States.
  • PrecisionHawk Inc. has announced the first Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS)-enabled, multi-rotor drone platform. First to market, the drone incorporates industry-leading technology to automatically identify all cooperative and non-cooperative aircraft within a 10km radius, ensuring airspace de-confliction well before potential confrontation. The platform was designed based on the findings and recommendations in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Pathfinder Report, which serves as a blueprint for enterprises to conduct BVLOS drone operations. You can read the full report or an abbreviated version.
  • AgGateway will present a “Quick Connect” session featuring face-to-face meetings between trading partners at its upcoming Mid-Year Meeting in Altoona, Iowa, June 11-14. The Quick Connect Session gives ag retailers, distributors, manufacturers and their software vendors the opportunity to meet and determine next steps in establishing electronic connections. To register, contact AgGateway’s Member Services at Member.Services@AgGateway.org or 866-251-8618.
  • Larson Electronics LLC has released a flood light kit that directly replaces and upgrades existing OEM lights for John Deere 9500 Combines. This LED light kit consists of six 45-watt LED flood lights to replace the existing top front cab lights.
  • The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) celebrated the organization’s 63rd Annual Stewardship Week at the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) People’s Garden. USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue commemorated the opening day of the department’s farmers market and toured booths set up by local farmers, ranchers and small businesses. NACD set up a tent at the farmers market to educate people of all ages about Stewardship Week.
  • The Soil Health Partnership welcomes two new field managers to the staff, supporting farmers on the ground in the growing soil health effort. Lisa Kubik, and Tricia Verville joined the SHP in April to assist with the growing number of farmers in the program in Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture invited public comment on the proposed rule to establish the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard mandated by Congress in 2016. American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall spoke in favor of the proposed rule, which he said is based on factual information rather than emotional scare tactics and will give consumers a valuable resource for making informed decisions about food.
  • Resson announced a $14 million Series C up round of financing that welcomed Mahindra & Mahindra as a strategic partner, joining existing strategic partners McCain Foods and Monsanto Growth Ventures as well as existing investors Build Ventures, Rho Canada, BDC Capital, East Valley Ventures and the New Brunswick Innovation Foundation.
  • The Rice Market & Technology Convention will be in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, June 5-7. Join the largest and most diverse gathering of rice industry professionals in the western hemisphere for the opportunity to network and learn more about the rice industry.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes

GROWMARK and FS Announce Enduring Farm Award Winners

Cindy Zimmerman

GROWMARK and local FS member cooperatives are recognizing 26 sustainable farming operations for the inaugural Enduring Farm awards. These farms were nominated for the award for their implementation of sustainable nutrient management practices such as following the 4R principles for all nutrient applications, monitoring nitrogen levels through soil sampling, and implementing variable rate technology for phosphorous applications. Nutrient management cropping practices were implemented during the 2017 growing season and all Enduring Farms will be provided N-WATCH™ services to measure results of a nutrient management trial conducted on their farm during the 2018 growing season.

GROWMARK’s Chuck Spencer says nominations for Enduring Farms recognition were submitted by each grower’s FS crop specialist based on specific sustainable practices implemented on their farms. “There’s a structured system of point evaluations for implementing specific practices,” says Spencer. “We’re watching this continued build of pride for the recognition that ‘I’m a sustainable production entity.'”

Spencer says because sustainability is so critical for agriculture, GROWMARK implemented the Endure initiative in 2016. “That is very simple to explain – it’s those practices that endure over time,” said Spencer.

Carrie Muehling visited with Chuck Spencer this week at GROWMARK headquarters in Bloomington, Illinois to learn more about this award program and the cooperative’s overall commitment to sustainability initiatives. Spencer is Executive Director for Corporate and Government Relations at GROWMARK. The winners and a full list of specific criteria can be found here: https://www.fssystem.com/Sustainability/Enduring-Farms.

Interview with Chuck Spencer, GROWMARK, on Enduring Farms awards
AgWired Precision, Audio, GROWMARK, Sustainability

Groups Urge Trump to Support Farmers and Biofuels

Cindy Zimmerman

Numerous agricultural and biofuels interests are urging President Trump to help farmers by implementing year-round sales of higher ethanol blends when he meets once again this week with Congressional leaders from farm and oil states at the White House.

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), American Farm Bureau Federation, National Farmers Union, American Soybean Association and National Association of Wheat Growers sent a letter to the President expressing concerns about how farmers have been negatively impacted by recent EPA actions in light of the lowest net farm income in over a decade expected this year. They ask the White House to allow sales of E15 all year, halt the abuse of “small refinery exemptions,” and uphold a strong Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), without “causing additional harm to the farm economy.”

In addition, NCGA and state corn grower associations sent a letter to USDA Secretary Perdue Monday thanking him for his support and asking his help “to continue to advocate for real solutions, such as RVP parity for higher blends, and to continue to highlight the demand destruction caused by EPA’s refinery exemptions, as well as how EPA’s actions contradict President Trump’s commitments.”

Growth Energy had an open letter to President Trump from nearly 100 ethanol producers published in the New York Times, New York Post, and Wall Street Journal on Monday, in conjunction with a digital and radio ad campaign urging Midwest voters to contact the White House in support of E15. And fuel retailers offering E15 in 11 states sent a letter to President Trump asking him to immediately instruct the EPA to follow through on his pledge to allow year-round sales of E15 before summer restrictions begin on June 1st.

The latest White House meeting on the issue is expected to be held Tuesday and once again include Iowa Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst on the ethanol side, and Sens. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and Ted Cruz of Texas representing the oil industry. The four met with the president in February and again in March with stakeholders.

AFBF, Ag Groups, Corn, EPA, Ethanol, NCGA

AAEA Proposes Membership Changes

Chuck Zimmerman

AAEA The Agriculture Communicators Network is seeking input from its members about a proposed change in membership categories. Here is what is proposed.

The AAEA board is proposing new membership categories that reflect the editorial functions of our members, serve communicators who want to support editorial and content creation, and engage communicators who are at different ends of their career. The proposal allows more potential members serve in leadership roles while valuing the editorial purpose of our organization. It also provides more clarity to membership classes.

In the past we had five membership classes: Active, Affiliate, Honorary Life, Student and Retired.

Under the new membership proposal we will have six membership classes: Editorial, Associate, Partner, Student, Retiree and Honorary Life.
Read More

Uncategorized

Condon to Lead New Crop Science Division for Bayer

Cindy Zimmerman

Bayer today announced the new Executive Leadership Team for the Crop Science division will be led by Liam Condon, who continues to serve as a member of Bayer’s Board of Management and as President of the Crop Science Division headquartered in Monheim, Germany. Condon is also responsible for Bayer’s Animal Health business unit and has over 25 years of experience in leading and growing businesses in the agriculture and health industries.

The new team will go into effect at closing of Bayer’s proposed acquisition of Monsanto, which is still subject to pending regulatory approval. The companies are hoping to close the transaction in the second quarter of 2018. Monsanto CEO Hugh Grant announced that he will leave Monsanto at the closing of the acquisition.

Several current Monsanto executives will be part of the new team, including:
• Brett Begemann will become Head of Commercial Operations (Chief Operating Officer). He currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer at Monsanto. Begemann will be based in St. Louis.
• Dr. Michael Stern will become Head of Digital Farming / Climate Corporation. He currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Monsanto’s Climate Corporation. Stern will be based in St. Louis.
• Dr. Robert Reiter will be Head of Research & Development. He is the current Technology Integration Planning Lead at Monsanto. He will be based in Monheim.

Read more from Bayer.

During last year’s Future of Farming Dialog, Condon talked with agricultural journalists about goals for the company moving forward.

“The most important thing is what the combined new company is going to stand for,” says Condon. “It’s all about generating more innovation faster that will benefit our growers and help them improve their yields, but also their profitability.”

Listen to the full interview with Bayer’s Liam Condon here: Liam Condon, Bayer

Watch Condon’s address at the 2017 Bayer Future of Farming Dialog:


Agribusiness, Audio, Bayer, Video

Registration Open for NAMA Boot Camp

Chuck Zimmerman

Registration is open for the 2018 National Agri-Marketing Association Boot Camp. I know it sounds tough but show us what you’re made of and go to camp! NAMA Boot Camp takes place August 15-17, in Kansas City. Register here.

Whether you’ve just entered the rough working world or one who’s been through the NAMA Boot Camp drill before, sign up for this program today to learn more about the agri-marketing industry. This year the Boot Camp will take it to a new level expanding on marketing and agriculture basics.

Who should attend?

  • Agency Account Executives
  • Media Professionals
  • Art Directors
  • Copywriters
  • Marketing Professionals
  • Sales Professionals
  • Previous Boot Camp Attendees

***All attendees will receive a notebook packed with agricultural terminology, facts, case studies and speaker presentations. This notebook has become one of the most popular aspects of the boot camp experience.

Did you attend last year?

If so, we want you back. This year’s program is a perfect continuation of the previous programs. Plan to come early for the Ag Tour. This tour will be sponsored by the MoKan Chapter of NAMA. Whether you’re new to the industry or a seasoned veteran, the Agri-Marketing Boot Camp will give you the tools you need to more professionally market to the ag industry.

NAMA

Animal Ag Bites 5/7

Carrie Muehling

  • Cooperatives Working Together has accepted nine requests for export assistance from Dairy Farmers of America, Michigan Milk Producers Association, Northwest Dairy Association (Darigold) and United Dairymen of Arizona. These cooperatives have contracts to sell 1.04 million pounds of cheddar cheese, 262,350 pounds of butter and 923,737 pounds of whole milk powder to customers in Asia and North Africa.
  • New research from the University of Colorado published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests meat, such as pork, can be an important source of much-needed protein in an infant’s diet during the transition to solid foods. The first six to 12 months of life is a period of rapid growth when nutrition plays a pivotal role and, for many moms, meat may not be the first choice for an infant’s complementary feeding. Yet this new research suggests meat-fed infants (complementary to formula or breastfeeding) could have an advantage when it comes to early length growth.
  • Wilbur-Ellis Agribusiness President Dan Vradenburg has announced his decision to take on a new position in the company as board chair of Cavallo Ventures, after 16 years as president of the Agribusiness division. The transition is expected to take place later this year; Wilbur-Ellis expects to name Vradenburg’s successor by the end of 2018.
  • The U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (USRSB) has opened a 60-day public comment period on the group’s Sustainability Framework. The USRSB Sustainability Framework is a set of resources developed to assist ranchers, cattle auction markets, feedyards, packers, processors, and retail and food service organizations in their efforts to continuously improve the sustainability of U.S. beef.
  • The American Hereford Association is proud to introduce the Maternal Advantage program — a genetically verified program that will be used to identify premium replacement females. This new female-focused program is designed to take advantage of hybrid vigor by capitalizing on Hereford genetics.
  • The Beef Improvement Federation is celebrating 50 years in 2018. Themed “Elevating the Industry,” the Annual Meeting and Research Symposium is poised not only to celebrate the last 50 years but launch into the next 50.
AgWired Animal, Animal Bites

Zimfo Bytes 5/4

Carrie Muehling

  • Illinois and other Midwestern students will have help paying for college tuition during the 2018-2019 school year, courtesy of scholarships awarded today by the IAA Foundation. The IAA Foundation, the charitable arm of the Illinois Farm Bureau, awarded $123,600 to 69 students pursuing degrees in agriculture-related fields, based on their academic ability, leadership involvement, professional career goals and financial need.
  • Iowa Corn announced the 16 student recipients of the Iowa Corn Future of Agriculture Scholarship program for the 2018-2019 school year. Iowa Corn awarded 16 $1,000 one-year scholarships to deserving, qualified students enrolled at an accredited U.S. 2-year or 4-year college or university, or graduate school, in a program of study to equip them to contribute to Iowa’s agriculture industry. The program is sponsored by the Iowa Corn Growers Association and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board.
  • MGEX announced an impressive 272,068 contracts recorded for April of 2018. This number topples over the previous reigning April by 24 percent while also breaking into the top five overall monthly volume charts coming in at fifth-best in MGEX history.
  • The Farm Foundation Forum on May 22 will be A Conversation with the Ambassadors: Trade War or Rhetoric? There is no charge to participate in the Forum via webcast or in person, but registration is requested.
  • The American Feed Industry Association announced Bridget Rinker has joined as the new development assistant effective April 30. Rinker will support AFIA President and CEO Joel G. Newman with managing programs and communications, as well as support of the AFIA Board of Directors and Executive Committee.
Zimfo Bytes

USFRA Unveils New Sustainability Officers Program

Carrie Muehling

The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance created the Sustainability Officers Council to provide food companies with access to the farmer and rancher perspective about sustainability in food and agriculture. (PRNewsfoto/U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance)

Six farmers and ranchers selected by the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance will help to provide food companies with the farmer and rancher perspective when it comes to sustainability in food and agriculture. The new Sustainability Officers Council allows companies to speak with a farmer or rancher before shifting sourcing decisions that could result in fundamental changes in farmers structures.

USFRA is pleased to announce six new Sustainability Officers:
Kyle Bridgeforth – Alabama crop farmer
Tom Crave – Wisconsin dairy farmer
Cassidy Johnston – New Mexico cattle rancher
Nancy Kavazanjian – Wisconsin crop farmer
Hilary Maricle – Nebraska cattle, pig, corn and soybean farmer
Leon Sheets – Iowa pig, corn and soybean farmer

“As former chairwoman of the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance, I look forward to serving voluntarily as one of the Sustainability Officers and highlighting how all farmers make environmental sustainability a priority,” said Nancy Kavazanjian, Wisconsin crop farmer. “These farmers and ranchers serve as a great representation of today’s agriculture — making continuous improvement a priority by utilizing technology to enhance animal welfare and conserve our natural resources.”

As part of the Sustainability Officers Council, these six farmers and ranchers will participate in conversations with food companies and retailers, offering data, research and knowledge about modern agricultural practices on today’s farms and ranches. In addition, the Officers will participate in USFRA’s Food Dialogues panel discussions at The Sustainable Consortium (May 1-3 in Chicago, Ill.), National Restaurant Association Conference (May 19-22 in Chicago, Ill.) and Sustainable Brands (June 4-7 in Vancouver, B.C.).

Ag Groups, AgWired Animal, USFRA