Ag Retailers Celebrating Silver Anniversary

Cindy Zimmerman

The Agricultural Retailers Association is celebrating 25 years of service to support sellers of seeds, nutrients, crop protection products, farm equipment, precision technology and agronomic services.

The organization is holding its annual conference and expo this week in Phoenix to look back on the accomplishments of the past 25 years and ahead to the future of the industry. Tim McArdle of Brandt Consolidated has served as chairman of ARA for the past year and he says it has been a very good year.

“Obviously, this has been the year of Trump, and we’ve seen some deregulation,” said McArdle. He said one of the biggest victories for the organization was retaining the process safety management (PSM) retail exemption for agricultural retailers. “We recouped a little bit of money that we spent on that and that really makes a big difference.”

McArdle says that ARA helps retailers be better suppliers for their farmer customers, and he encourages any retailers who are not members to consider it.

Interview with outgoing ARA chair Tim McArdle
2017 ARA Conference and Expo Photo Album

Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, ARA, Audio

Foodies Discovering Sorghum

Carrie Muehling

The consumer food market is the next big push for the sorghum industry. While uses for sorghum in the livestock feed and biofuels sectors will continue to be very important, sorghum growers believe grocery stores and restaurants are the next frontier for their product, according to Doug Bice, market development director with the National Sorghum Checkoff.

“Whether we’re doing a big expo or going in front of groups like Wal-Mart, we’re showing the diverse ways sorghum can be utilized. Whether it’s a snack, whether it’s a salad garnishment, whether it’s a soup, whether it’s popped sorghum as a snack,” said Bice. “It’s even more than just a gluten issue. It’s just bringing a healthy profile to your diet on a daily basis and figuring out how to do that. It’s so easy with sorghum.”

Bice said there are now more than 1,000 food product lines that contain sorghum, and restaurant menu selections including the grain have increased eight-fold. Consumers can find over 300 recipes at www.simplysorghum.com.

Listen to Chuck’s interview from NAFB Trade Talk: Interview with Doug Bice, National Sorghum Checkoff

2017 NAFB Convention Photos

Coverage of the NAFB Convention is sponsored by
Coverage of the NAFB Convention is sponsored by FMC
Audio, NAFB, sorghum

Trade Tops Priority List for Beef Sector

Jamie Johansen

A fourth-generation rancher on the central coast of California, Kevin Kester is president-elect for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). I was able to catch up with him during the National Association of Farm Broadcasting’s annual event to learn about NCBA’s top priorities going into 2018.

As you can guess trade will top their list. Kester is on Secretary of Agriculture’s and Trade Ambassador’s advisory policy committee for trade. Kester said, “The message agriculture and specifically the beef sector is giving is ‘don’t do us any harm.’ For beef, Canada and Mexico are our biggest trading partners. Right now in NAFTA, U.S. cattlemen don’t have any tariffs or quota limitations. It’s hard to improve on no trade barriers.”

When it comes to TPP, Kester believes bilateral trade agreements are needed starting with Japan. “Overall trade is growing across the globe. Keeping demand up. Prices back home on the farm or ranch are staying pretty darn good,” Kester said.

Public land issues also keep NCBA busy. As a western landowner, they also sit close to home for Kester. Common sense reform in the Endangered Species Act and better communication with the Bureau of Land Management and U.S Forest Service sit center-stage.

Listen to my complete conversation with Kevin to learn more: Interview with Kevin Kester, NCBA

2017 NAFB Convention Photos

Coverage of the NAFB Convention is sponsored by
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Ag Groups, AgWired Animal, Audio, Beef, NAFB, NCBA, Trade

Delaro from Bayer Coming Soon

Cindy Zimmerman

Bayer will soon be launching a new fungicide called Delaro for U.S. growers that has a dual mode-of-action and broader spectrum of disease control.

“Delaro is going to be our new foliar fungicide mostly for corn and soybeans,” said Thorsten Schwindt, Bayer Senior Product Manager, during an interview at the NAFB convention earlier this month. “We really designed it for growers who really try to achieve their personal best every season.”

Schwindt says Delaro has unmatched disease control, particularly with strobiluran-resistant diseases. “We feel that Delaro is a product designed for the future,” he added.

Watch for this product to be released in the very near future for the 2018 growing season.

Learn more about Delaro in this interview: Interview with Thorsten Schwindt, Bayer

2017 NAFB Convention Photos

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Animal Ag Bites 11/27

Carrie Muehling

  • Attendees of the Alltech Wisconsin Dairy School on Nov. 30 in Green Bay will have the opportunity to learn how to successfully integrate past traditions and today’s technology to prepare for the future of their farm. Guests will also hear from Green Bay Packers Hall of Famer and host of “Packers Live,” Larry McCarren.
  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association will host an “End of Year Policy Issues Update” as part of the group’s Cattlemen’s Webinar Series. NCBA’s Washington, D.C. staff will recap 2017 issues from trade to taxes to Federal lands. Click here to register for the December 18 webinar.
  • Cooperatives Working Together has accepted 17 requests for export assistance from members Dairy Farmers of America, Northwest Dairy Association (Darigold) and Tillamook County Creamery Association that have contracts to sell 3.479 million pounds of Cheddar cheese to customers in the Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.
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FS System Honors Enduring Farms

Carrie Muehling

The FS System is now recognizing farmers who are using sustainable practices that are good for the environment and good for the farm with the Enduring Farms designation.

GROWMARK Strategic Agronomy Marketing Manager Tim Berkland said things like using nitrogen stabilizers and programs to monitor the nitrogen in the soil would give farmers points on the scorecard.

“One of the things we wanted to do with this program is call out the farmers that are doing a lot of the right things, because a lot of times public persona is not so kind to the farming community and they don’t recognize how much farmers are doing and investing already,” said Berkland.

Those recognized as Enduring Farms receive a metal sign and recognition in GROWMARK publications. Local FS Crop Specialists have more information about the program.

Listen to Chuck’s interview from NAFB Trade Talk: Interview with Tim Berkland, GROWMARK

2017 NAFB Convention Photos

Coverage of the NAFB Convention is sponsored by
Coverage of the NAFB Convention is sponsored by FMC
Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, Audio, FS System, GROWMARK, NAFB

Kansas Farmer Testifies at Ag Technology Hearing

Cindy Zimmerman

“Technology in Agriculture: Data-Driven Farming” was the topic of a hearing last week before the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance, & Data Security to examine the potential benefits of advancements in agricultural technology and the collection and utilization of data in farming.

The only farmer to testify was Justin Knopf from Gypsum, Kansas, who talked about the value of data for farmers and how it is helping American farmers face the challenge of feeding a growing population. “Data collection, data processing, and utilization of data for improved decision making has become a core competency for many, if not a majority of, farmers,” said Knopf.

Under questioning from Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE), Knopf also talked about the challenge of data management and the vital need for rural broadband access.

Listen here: KS farmer Justin Knopf at ag technology hearing

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Understanding the Farmers of Tomorrow

Jamie Johansen

OsbornBarr has rounded up ag thought-leaders from across the country to discuss and tackle issues impacting the agricultural community. The first challenge they collectively believe is imperative is understanding farmers of tomorrow.

Chairman of the newly formed O+B Agricultural Advisory Council, Richard Fordyce, former Missouri Director of Agriculture, attended the 2017 National Association of Farm Broadcasting’s Trade Talk to talk about the research they conducted on Generation Z’s (18-22-year-olds) future in agriculture.

How do the children of today’s farmers view their role in agriculture’s future? How do their perceptions of brand and industry compare to those of their parents and grandparents? Can the answers to these questions shape the future of farming?

The results centered around four major factors shaping the future of our industry: Farm Succession Expectations Differ, View of Government Involvement, Agricultural Technologies Tops List, Preference of Peers Over Brand Names.

Richard reminded us that all those surveyed are currently somehow involved in agriculture. A glimpse of the results: 54% plan to take over their family farm, 77% are still active on their family farm and 71% of farmers believe their kids want to take over the family farm.

The council will continue to digest these results and conduct further research on areas of particular interest and make all findings available to the public. Visit RuralSpirit.com to learn more.

Listen to my complete conversation with Richard to learn more :Interview with Richard Fordyce, O+B Ag Advisory Council Chair

2017 NAFB Convention Photos

Coverage of the NAFB Convention is sponsored by
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Agribusiness, AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Audio, Marketing, NAFB

National Thanksgiving Turkey Presented to POTUS

Jamie Johansen

National Turkey Federation Chairman Carl Wittenburg presented the National Thanksgiving Turkey named “Drumstick” to President Donald J. Trump during a White House ceremony celebrating the 70th anniversary of the event that has occurred since 1947.

“As we gather together with our families on Thanksgiving and give thanks for our many blessings, we are reminded of the national family to which we all belong as citizens of this incredible country,” said President Trump. “This Thursday, as we give thanks for our cherished loved ones, let us also renew our bonds of trust, loyalty and affection between our fellow citizens as members of a proud national family of Americans.”

The turkeys were raised with the involvement of 4-H members from Douglas County, Minnesota: Kodi Bundermann, Kayla Egenes, Katie Kent, Christina Kuismi, and Kerryn Lund under the supervision of the Wittenburgs. The names for the birds were suggested by school children through the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association.

Jaindl’s Turkey Farm of Orefield, Pa. provided the President’s family with two dressed turkeys as part of the First Family’s food donations to Martha’s Table in Washington, DC.

Listen to President Trump’s turkey pardoning and Thanksgiving remarks: President Trump pardons Thanksgiving turkeys

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