Dairy checkoff partner Pizza Hut has increased the amount of cheese on its pan pizzas by 25 percent, a move that will require an additional 150 million pounds of milk annually to meet the change. The project was made possible thanks to dairy scientist Nitin Joshi, a Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) employee who works onsite at Pizza Hut’s headquarters in Plano, Texas. Pan pizza is the chain’s signature product offering and the new formulations are now available at more than 6,000 restaurants nationwide.- The Dairy Calf and Heifer Association (DCHA) is now accepting applications for its annual scholarship program. The annual DCHA scholarship is awarded to a student currently enrolled in an agriculture-related program at an accredited college or university. Applicants must have completed at least one year of post-high school education. An individual may only receive the scholarship once. Download the application here. Applications are due March 30, 2018.
- The 2018 National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Legislative Conference is scheduled for April 10-12 in Washington, D.C. To register, click here.
Secretary Perdue Announces Cotton Assistance at #MSFGS2018
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue visited the annual Mid-South Farm and Gin Show in Memphis for the first time Saturday and brought good news for cotton growers.
“We are announcing a Cotton Ginning Cost Share (CGCS) program,” Perdue said to applause from a large crowd at the show, adding that it took longer than he wanted to get the assistance for the industry. “I had to look in between every cushion in every couch in USDA,” he said. The program will assist growers from the Southeastern U.S. to the San Joaquin Valley of California as they prepare to plant this season’s crop.
The National Cotton Council says the program will offset part of a cotton producer’s 2016 crop season ginning cost to help fill the safety net void until the seed cotton ARC/PLC program is implemented beginning with the 2018 crop year.
The sign-up period for the CGCS program runs from March 12, 2018, to May 11, 2018.
Audio file: Secretary Perdue at Mid-South Farm and Gin Show
Thanks to the “retired” Forrest Laws on hand for the announcement Saturday morning for helping us out with this content.
2018 Farm & Gin Show Photo Album
Coverage of the Mid-South Farm & Gin Show is sponsored by
FMC Expanding Crop Protection for Wheat, Cereal Crops
FMC‘s acquisition of a portion of DuPont’s crop protection business expands the portfolio available to wheat and cereal crop producers in places like Montana and the Dakotas.
“The value in the short term means more tools,” said John Raisler, FMC Retail Market Manager for the Northern Plains. “Over the long term, that’s what is the most exciting. Looking at some of the things that are in the pipeline that FMC acquired and some of what FMC themselves had in their pipeline that will be coming along, it’s new modes of action. It’s a great opportunity to look at what we can do in the future as far as battling resistance because it isn’t going away.”
Raisler said the acquisition expands the portfolio, providing good tools to use for burn down in both spring and fall, and in crop in cereals.
Listen to Chuck’s interview with John here: Interview with John Raisler, FMC
FMC at 2018 Commodity Classic Photo Album
Commodity Classic coverage made possible by
66th Annual Farm & Gin Show
The 66th Annual Mid-South Farm & Gin Show takes place in Memphis, Tennessee March 2-3, 2018. The farm show focuses on crops grown in this region with special interest and history centered around cotton. The Show Manager, Tim Price, said they have over 400 exhibitors. He also shared what sets this show apart and why attendees keep coming back year after year.
“We have a combination of educational seminars along with a great backdrop of the latest and greatest in agriculture. We range from conventional and traditional methods to cutting-edge. This event is meant for the professional decision maker involved in commercial ag production,” Price said.
Price also said it is the perfect time to come to the show. It’s too wet to plow, too muddy to fish, so come to the Gin Show. But added, “It’s another watershed year for our industry, we have so much change, so much uncertainty in the world with trade and farm programs. I think people know they need to pay more attention to the markets, how they can become more efficient; that is what we try to provide.”
Listen to our complete conversation here: Interview with Tim Price, Show Manager
View and download photos from the event here: 2018 Farm & Gin Show Photo Album
Coverage of the Mid-South Farm & Gin Show is sponsored by
Commodity Group Presidents on Stage at #Classic18
Each year at the Commodity Classic general session the presidents of the participating organizations are invited on stage to talk about their priorities and challenges.
This year the participants were Kevin Skunes, NCGA, John Heisdorffer, ASA, Gordon Stoner, NAWG, Don Bloss, NSP and Bill Hurley, AEM. Moderating the session again this year was Mark Mayfield. The session is not only informative but also entertaining.
Listen to the organization leaders here: Commodity Group President Panel
2018 Commodity Classic Photo Album
Commodity Classic coverage made possible by
Zimfo Bytes 3/2
The Agriculture Division of DowDuPont has announced the name of the intended company once it is spun-off, which is expected to happen by June 1, 2019. The intended Agriculture company will become Corteva Agriscience, which is derived from a combination of words meaning “heart” and “nature”.- The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) has announced the selection of Des Moines, Iowa, as the location for the 2019 BIO World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology. The event will be held July 8-11, 2019
- Citing harm to the nation’s agriculture economy, Judge William Shubb of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California issued a preliminary injunction prohibiting California from implementing its “false and misleading” Prop 65 labeling requirement for the herbicide glyphosate. The injunction was sought by more than a dozen leading agriculture groups and supported by eleven attorneys general across the U.S. The preliminary injunction will halt California’s labeling requirement until a final ruling on the matter is issued by the court.
- Just over one month after its national launch, Americans for Farmers & Families (AFF) has secured its hundredth member organization. AFF is a broad-based coalition of growers, refiners, producers, transporters, retailers and consumers that is working to ensure President Donald Trump and Congressional leaders understand the importance of preserving and modernizing the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to America’s agricultural and retail economies.
- U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has announced the appointment of 30 members to serve three-year terms on the National Potato Promotion Board beginning March 1, 2018. More information about the board is available at PotatoesUSA.com, the National Potato Promotion Board’s website.
- One of NAFB’s most decorated award winners, Tony Purcell, has passed. Tony was the recipient of four ‘Oscars® In Agriculture,’ and over a dozen NAFB Marketcast, Newscast, or News Service Awards. Since 1998, Tony had been the voice of the Texas State Networks’ Lone Star Farm and Ranch Report; his prior NAFB membership was with the Mid-America Ag Network from 1983 to 1988.
- TOMRA Food has engaged Porter Novelli as its new global public relations agency. Porter Novelli is an award-winning and leading agency, serving agriculture, food, consumer and technology clients worldwide.
Buy Two, Save 3 with AMVAC
AMVAC Chemical Corporation is offering growers a Buy 2 Save 3 = $3/acre rebate when they choose a qualifying granular or liquid insecticide and pair it with Impact or ImpactZTM corn herbicide.
“We have a wide range of insecticide options familiar to growers,” said Jim Lappin, AMVAC crop marketing manager for corn and soybeans. “Depending on your weeds and your needs, you can combine one of our insecticides with one of our herbicides, fit the way you farm, and save some money.”
Qualifying granular and liquid insecticides include the following:
– Aztec®HC Higher Concentration Granules
– Aztec 4.67G SmartBox®
– Aztec 4.67 Bags
– SmartChoice®HC Higher Concentration Granules
– Counter® Insecticide
– Force® 3G SmartBox
– IndexTM Liquid At-Plant Insecticide
– Xpedient® Plus™V Insecticide
Growers can learn more at http://www.buy2save3.com/.
Listen to Chuck’s interview with Jim Lappin here: Interview with Jim Lappin, AMVAC
AMVAC at 2018 Commodity Classic Photo Album
Commodity Classic coverage made possible by
Meet the 2018 Pig Farmers of Tomorrow
LtoR – Leon Sheets, Christine Snowden, Adam Krause, Emma Lasco
Adam Krause from South Dakota and Emma Lasco and Christine Snowden, both from Iowa, have been named for the honor, which recognizes farm leaders, ages 18-29, who intend to make pig farming their life’s work and who are committed to raising pigs using the pork industry’s We CareSM ethical principles. The winners will speak at Pork Checkoff events and provide content on #RealPigFarming, which is the pork industry’s social media program.
Krause is the fourth generation on his family farm near Clear Lake, South Dakota who owns a pig nursery barn and grows corn, soybean and wheat. Lasco is a territory manager for Smithfield Foods Midwest Production in Roland, Iowa and assists growers with implementing Smithfield’s industry-leading animal care standards on their farms. Snowden is an assistant farrowing manager for AMVC, located in Audubon, Iowa where she works with other employees to care for piglets from birth until they are weaned.
Learn more about them in their remarks to Pork Forum attendees. 2018 Pig Farmers of Tomorrow
Download and view photos from the event here: 2018 Pork Forum Photos
Farm Credit: What’s on the Horizon for Rural America
Farm Credit discussed “The Rise of Rural America: What’s on the Horizon” during a learning session at Commodity Classic in Anaheim.
At a time when the rural footprint is shrinking based on growing urban and suburban population centers, farmers and the business people who support them may need new strategies to stay politically engaged. The lack of available broadband connectivity across rural America continues to be a serious challenge.
But contrary to popular belief, there is a new generation of farmers setting out to make a living in production agriculture, and there is reason for optimism, according to Gary Matteson, Vice President of Young, Beginning, Small Farmer Programs and Outreach for the Farm Credit Council.
“I’d like to think that rural entrepreneur is the new name for a beginning farmer,” said Matteson. “I would expect, statistically speaking, looking at what farmers do and off-farm income, that beginning farmers that are starting now are going to have an ag production career, and over the course of their career they’re going to own two or three other businesses that are non-farm businesses that are part of using their skills that they learn through farming – their financial skills, their business analysis skills – and be able to use that in creating rural wealth.”
Matteson said according to the most recent USDA Ag Census, a quarter of all farms have a beginning farmer on them. And while the average age of the primary farm operator continues to rise, adding in secondary and tertiary operators will lower that average age significantly. He said in addition to broadband connectivity, important challenges faced by beginning farmers include finding and seeking out new markets in order to diversify risk.
Matteson presented the session along with Brian Cavey, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for CoBank.
Listen to the learning session here or watch the video below: Farm Credit Learning Session
Farm Credit at 2018 Commodity Classic Photo Album
John Deere Receives JB Davidson Award at #Classic18
John Deere’s Matt Badding was on stage at the Commodity Classic to receive a special inaugural award from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. The John Deere S700 Series Combine was recognized by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) and Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) as one of the best among the 50 products that received the AE50 Award earlier this year. This first-time JB Davidson award for engineering excellence was presented to John Deere at a special ceremony on February 27 during the 2018 Commodity Classic.
The new Davidson Prize is being presented to just three elite AE50 winners who best exemplify the spirit of JB Davidson, the father of modern agricultural engineering. The Davidson award represents the best of the best in new technologies as carefully evaluated and judged by an all-star panel of industry experts.
The John Deere S700 Series Combine was recognized by the Society for its significant innovations in “smart” technology, improved operator comfort and data capabilities for more efficient grain harvesting, said Matt Badding, John Deere marketing manager for harvesting equipment.
“We are honored that the Society and AEM selected the John Deere S700 Series Combine as one of three recipients for their inaugural engineering award and chose to present it in front of thousands of our customers at Commodity Classic,” said Badding. “The new technologies engineered into every S700 Combine represents the level of innovation that the Society looks for and that provides real value to our customers.”
Listen to Jamie’s interview with Matt here: Interview with Matt Badding, John Deere
John Deere at 2018 Commodity Classic Photo Album
Commodity Classic coverage made possible by