The Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine has released a new video discussing antiparasitic resistance in cattle, sheep, goats, and horses.- Alltech has donated $90,000 of its slow-release urea, Optigen, to dairy farms impacted by Hurricane Irma. Optigen provides a high-quality source of protein to give herds energy during times of environmental or production stress.
- The American Angus Association has hired three new team members. JD Rosman and Ali Luety join as communications specialists and Max Steward has accepted a position as video production specialist.
- The 2017 Advances in Animal Ag report from Animal Agriculture Alliance has just been released. The report showcases the industry’s commitment to continuous improvement in animal care, responsible antibiotic use, environmental sustainability, and food safety.
SMART Farmer Katie Roth
Katie Roth and her husband TJ farm with their partners John and Luann Shea in the southwest corner of America’s Dairyland in Wisconsin where they milk Holsteins and grow all of their feedstuffs on the farm including corn, soybeans, alfalfa and wheat. In addition, she serves as one of the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance’s (USFRA) Faces of Farming & Ranching.
Katie loves her animals and wants people to know how well dairy cows are treated on farms, which is why she spends a lot of her time on the road for USFRA talking about animal welfare.
Learn more about Katie in this edition – SMART Farmer Podcast with Katie Roth, Wisconsin dairy producer
Youth Ag Summit Kicks Off in Brussels
Today marks the kick-off of the 3rd edition of the Youth Ag Summit in Brussels, Belgium, with 100 bright young talents from around the world – including five from the U.S. All here to tackle one of humanity’s biggest challenges: how to feed a growing population in a more sustainable manner. Organized by Bayer, together with the two Belgian young farmers associations Groene Kring (GK) and Fédération des Jeunes Agriculteurs (FJA), the summit aims to address the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end hunger, achieve food security, and promote sustainable agriculture.
The youth delegates from 49 countries will work together to generate innovative, sustainable and actionable solutions to global food security challenges. Their mission is to come up with concrete new ideas which can drive agricultural progress across the globe and be put into practice back home.
In addition to talks designed to spark their creativity, delegates will have the opportunity to tour EU institutions and meet with European policymakers, visit one of Bayer’s innovative sustainable farming sites, and gain real-world insights into sustainability in action from companies and organizations such as Rabobank, CropTrust, Thought for Food, BioBest, International Society for Horticultural Science, VIB – Flemish Institute for Biotech, Inagro, University Ghent and Ahold Delhaize Group.
Throughout the week, delegates will work to develop “Thrive for Change Projects”; concrete ideas to help achieve the UN SDGs in their communities and countries. Following a pitch process, the strongest ideas will be selected for future funding and development by Bayer.
During the very first Summit in Calgary, Canada, attendees learned how three ideas can turn into three actions. One of Derrick Rozdeba’s, VP of Communications at Bayer Inc. Canada, “3 little things” was making the Youth Ag Summit a recurring global event. I sat down with him to learn how that goal has become a reality.
Listen to our chat here: Interview with Derrick Rozdeba, Bayer Inc.
View and download photos from the event here: 2017 Youth Ag Summit Photo Album
Alltech Talks Mycotoxins at #WDE2017
Moisture can mean mold and mycotoxins in grain but Alltech’s Mycotoxin Management Team provides solutions to help safeguard the health of animals and the quality of feed.
At World Dairy Expo this week, team nutritionist Dr. Max Hawkins was talking with dairy producers about how multiple mycotoxins in feed can impact milk production and reproduction. “The level of risk is different from farm to farm, even with the same levels of mycotoxins,” said Hawkins. “It has a lot to do with environment and animal health status.”
Hawkins has tips for producers harvesting silage to prevent the growth of mold that creates mycotoxins in this interview, and more information can be found on Alltech’s KnowMycotoxins.com website.
Audio file: Interview with Dr. Max Hawkins, Alltech
2017 World Dairy Expo Photo Album
Coverage of World Dairy Expo is sponsored by 
Two More USDA Nominees Get Their Hearing
The Senate Agriculture Committee yesterday heard from nominees Greg Ibach to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs and Bill Northey to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services.
“Both Mr. Ibach and Mr. Northey have valuable ‘boots-on-the-ground’ experience. They are both farmers,” said Committee Chairman Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS). “They know what weighs on the minds of farmers and ranchers, the challenges they face on daily basis, and the focus and drive they put into their life’s work. And, significantly, they are both dedicated public servants who have led their home state’s agriculture departments.”
Earlier this week, the full Senate approved Stephen Censky as Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, and Ted McKinney as Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs.
Here are the opening comments to the committee from Ibach and Northey Ibach/Northey Hearing Comments
Zimfo Bytes 10/6
Dave Dell has joined Beck Ag as vice president for Go-To-Market Solutions. Dell has 40 years experience in agricultural sales, marketing and training, including 30 years with New Holland and, most recently, Brock Grain Systems.- Tractor Supply Company is continuing its partnership with National 4-H Council by hosting their semi-annual Paper Clover fundraiser for 4-H students now through October 15, 2017. Donations made during checkout will be used to send kids to camps, conferences, and programs.
- MGEX, a Designated Contract Market and Derivatives Clearing Organization, has surpassed the previous September monthly record of 162,596 contracts set in 2002 with 166,028 contracts.
- National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization has selected The Bernhardt Consulting Co. to lead its fund development efforts. Bernhardt Consulting Co. has more than 25 years experience helping nonprofit and for-profit organizations be more successful.
- Paige Dye has joined the Agri-Pulse Communications Inc. team in the new position of Assistant Marketing Manager. Dye is a recent graduate of the University of Missouri – Columbia with dual degrees in Strategic Communication and Psychology and minors in Business and Multicultural Studies.
- DTN has acquired Wilkens Weather Technologies, a Houston-based weather company, from Rockwell Collins, Inc.
- Alltech is asking American farmers, ranchers, and producers to submit farm photographs online by November 6, 2017 for this year’s #PicMeONE18Contest. Finalist’s work will be published to Alltech’s Facebook page and the winner will receive a trip to ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference in Lexington, Kentucky, May 20-23, 2018.
NAMA Turns 60
I am happy to say that I am younger than the National Agri-Marketing Association, barely. NAMA Turns 60! One way NAMA is celebrating is with a custom anniversary website. BTW, NAMA is the inspiration for AgWired! True story. Read on:
But how to capture 60 years of memories, milestones and laughs?
It has to be special. It has to be fun. Something that honors our history and connects where we’ve been to where we are now—and looks forward to what the future holds …
We think we did it. Thank you, Colle McVoy!
Introducing nama60.com. A fun digital stroll through a random sampling of our 60 years.
Join us in celebrating 60 years of NAMA and the good times we’ve had along the way.
Here’s how you can take part and keep the fun rolling:
Visit nama60.com and take a look at NAMA through the years.
Share the site with friends and colleagues on your social networks.
Add your own comments and memories using the hashtag #nama60.
NAMA wouldn’t be what it is without the community of dedicated and talented agri-marketers like you who keep the association thriving. Thank you for everything you do to tell the story of American agriculture—and for supporting professional development in agri-marketing with us.
Happy anniversary!
CRYSTALYX® Part of the Alltech Family Now
Through last year’s acquisition of Hubbard Feeds, CRYSTALYX® Brand Supplements became part of the Alltech family, and we were able to learn more about the low moisture supplement this week at World Dairy Expo.
CRYSTALYX® regional sales manager Tim Clark says they have a wide range of targeted formulas to cover many feeding situations. “We’ve got products for dry cows, transition animals, stress tubs for calves at weaning, and protein tubs and mineral combinations for growing heifers,” said Clark. “Being based on molasses, animals love molasses.”
Learn more in Jamie’s interview from expo. Interview with Tim Clark, CRYSTALYX®
2017 World Dairy Expo Photo Album
Coverage of World Dairy Expo is sponsored by
Ag and Ethanol Groups Among EPA Partners
The Environmental Protection Agency this week rolled out Smart Sectors, a partnership program with regulated sectors of the economy – including agriculture and renewable fuels – which is “focused on achieving better environmental outcomes.” Trade associations from 13 industry sectors were selected for their environmental and economic impacts.
“The Smart Sectors program is designed to effectively engage business partners throughout the regulatory process,” said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. “When industries and regulators better understand each other, the economy, public, and the environment all benefit.”
Organizations chosen to represent the agricultural industry in the program are the American Farm Bureau Federation and CropLife America. “Modern agriculture is environmentally sustainable,” said AFBF president Zippy Duvall. “EPA’s Smart Sectors Program provides a framework of welcome collaboration that embraces continued innovation aligned with our commitment to continuous improvement.”
The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) was chosen to represent biofuels under the oil and gas sector as the only ethanol industry association representative invited to partner in the launch.
“We’re grateful Administrator Pruitt invited ACE to participate in this Smart Sectors program given the timely and critical ethanol issues currently under consideration at EPA,” said Brian Jennings, ACE Executive Vice President.
According to EPA, the Smart Sectors program is intended to facilitate better communication and streamline operations internally at EPA.
Dairy Woman of the Year Shares Checkoff Goals
Pennsylvania dairy farmer Marilyn Hershey is being honored at the 2017 World Dairy Expo as this year’s Dairy Woman of the Year.
Marilyn and her husband live about an hour west of Philadelphia on his family’s dairy farm, just 40 minutes north of the Chesapeake Bay. They milk 850 registered Holsteins. Hershey also serves as Vice Chair of Dairy Management, Inc. She says trust continues to be a focus for the checkoff board.
“Trust is a huge thing we’ve focused on and I think that’s one of the huge differences I’ve seen since I came on the board six years ago. Seeing how important and how critical it is that we show consumers, we give them that element of trust so that they know they can trust us. And it is really important,” says Hershey.
The latest effort is the “Undeniably Dairy” campaign, which is a collaboration of the dairy checkoff, as well as other organizations and businesses across the dairy industry.
Listen to Jamie’s interview with Marilyn Hershey here:Marilyn Hershey, DMI
2017 World Dairy Expo Photo Album
Coverage of World Dairy Expo is sponsored by