Ag and Ethanol Groups Among EPA Partners

Cindy Zimmerman

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.

ACE, AFBF, Ag Groups, AgWired Precision, EPA

Dairy Woman of the Year Shares Checkoff Goals

Carrie Muehling

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 Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Alltech  Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Hubbard Feeds
Agribusiness, AgWired Animal, Audio, Dairy, World Dairy Expo

Enter the Great Green Getaway Sweepstakes

Jamie Johansen

If you are at the 2017 World Dairy Expo and raise at least 50 head of dairy cattle you will want to stop by the Alltech and KEENAN booth #3201.

Ireland is known as “the land of a thousand welcomes,” and staying true to its roots, Alltech is upholding the tradition of Irish hospitality by launching The Great Green Getaway. In partnership with KEENAN, an Alltech company, maker of the “Green Machine” mixer wagon, the sweepstakes invites American dairy farmers to enter for the opportunity to win one of three travel-expense-paid trips for two to Ireland in March 2018, coinciding with St. Patrick’s Day.

The tour destinations include a “how it’s made” tour of the KEENAN production facility in Borris, County Carlow, Ireland, a guided VIP experience at the new Pearse Lyons Distillery, visits to a host of high-performance Irish dairy farms and St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Dublin City Centre.

“We are proud to work with dairy farmers around the world and provide technology to increase on-farm productivity and maximize feed efficiency,” said Robert Walker, chief executive officer of KEENAN. “We are looking forward to welcoming the contest winners to Ireland to show them our innovations while also celebrating Irish traditions.”

The drawing will take place Oct. 7th at 4:30 p.m. at the booth. Winners will be notified.

Listen to all the details of the contest here: Interview with Jenn Norrie, Alltech

View and download photos from the event here: 2017 World Dairy Expo Photo Album

Coverage of World Dairy Expo is sponsored by Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Alltech  Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Hubbard Feeds
Agribusiness, AgWired Animal, Alltech, Audio, Dairy, World Dairy Expo

Building Trust Key For U.S. Dairy Industry

Carrie Muehling

Industry representatives at the 2017 World Dairy Expo are focused on building trust with both domestic consumers and those in potential export markets.

Twenty years of farmer funded nutrition research showing that milk fat does not have a negative health impact has resulted in domestic cheese sales hitting an all-time high when it comes to per capita consumption. Consumption of butter is at highest point since 1967. The dairy industry continues to build trust with consumers through its “Undeniably Dairy” campaign.

“Today, trust with the consumer is king. They really want to know more about how their food is produced than ever before,” says Tom Gallagher, CEO of Dairy Management, Inc. of the campaign, which is a collaboration with the entire industry, including processors, manufacturers, dairy cooperatives, and dairy producers. “It’s to talk to consumers about how we treat our animals, sustainability, the good things the industry does in the community, and other things about nutrition.”

As U.S. dairy producers continue to produce more milk, the U.S. Dairy Export Council will continue to focus on domestic markets, but also recognizes the need to increase the dairy export market. That also requires trust.

“In order for you to try a product, you have to initially have some level of trust that it’s safe, that it’s nutritious, that it’s delicious,” says Tom Vilsack, CEO and president of the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC). “We have that opportunity to create that sense of trust in countries around the world because we have a safe product, we have one that’s stably produced, we have one that’s sustainably produced, we have one that’s delicious and nutritious. So it’s an opportunity for us to market U.S. dairy.”

Vilsack says emerging markets in places like Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and the Caribbean will be very important. USDEC also hopes to open up the Canadian market for U.S. dairy products in the near future.

Listen here to Jamie’s interview with Tom Gallagher: Tom Gallagher, DMI

Listen here to Jamie’s interview with Tom Vilsack: Tom Vilsack, U.S. Dairy Export Council

Listen here to a panel discussion featuring Tom Gallagher and Tom Vilsack at the 2017 World Dairy Expo: DMI-USDEC Panel Discussion

2017 World Dairy Expo Photo Album

Coverage of World Dairy Expo is sponsored by Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Alltech  Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Hubbard Feeds
Agribusiness, AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Audio, Dairy, World Dairy Expo

Nebraska Farmer Named America’s Pig Farmer of the Year

Jamie Johansen

Leslie McCuiston, a pig farmer from Columbus, Nebraska, has been named the 2017 America’s Pig Farmer of the Year. According to the National Pork Board, the award recognizes a pig farmer who excels at raising pigs using the We Care ethical principles and who connects with today’s consumers about how pork is produced. McCuiston received the highest combined score from a third-party judging panel and online voting

“We are pleased to have Leslie represent America’s pig farmers. She embodies the very best in pig farming,” said Terry O’Neel, National Pork Board president and a pig farmer from Friend, Nebraska. “It’s important that we share with today’s consumers how we raise their food in an ethical and transparent way. Leslie’s interest in sharing her farm’s story, as well as putting a face on today’s pig farming, will help us reach this goal.”

Focusing on people is McCuiston’s main goal as a senior production manager for The Maschhoffs, LLC. McCuiston believes in equipping employees with the right tools to provide the best animal care every day. She oversees 70 employees who care for more than 18,000 sows in central Nebraska and surrounding states.

“For me, pig farming isn’t just a job, it’s a career that I am passionate about,” McCuiston said. “I want to find new, innovative ways to show others what we do in pig farming, explain how much we care and help people understand where their food comes from.”


Ag Groups, AgWired Animal, Farming, Pork, Swine

Precision Ag Bytes 10/4

Kelly Marshall

  • The Seam, a leading provider of agribusiness software and trading solutions, is launching new business intelligence tools for peanut farmers and handlers with real-time, actionable insights. The tools are part of The Seam’s Peanut Commodity Management Platform, which was released a year ago.
  • Illinois Nutrient Research & Education Council (NREC) has released “Considerations for First Time Cover Crop Adopters.”  This guidebook for Illinois farmers contains the most recent research and information on the best management practices for effectively incorporating a cover crop ahead of soybeans.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes

Help Finally on the Way for USDA

Cindy Zimmerman

Secy Perdue greets McKinney and Censky before Senate hearing (USDA Photo)

Over five months after he took office, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue finally has some help on the way.

Yesterday, the Senate voted to formally approved the nominations of Stephen Censky as Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, and Ted McKinney as Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs.

“I am pleased that the U.S. Senate was able to work in a bipartisan and swift manner to confirm Stephen Censky and Ted McKinney,” said Senate Agriculture Committee chair Pat Roberts (R-KS). “Secretary Perdue, help is on the way.”

“I commend the Senate for confirming these two experienced, prepared, and capable nominees, who will provide the steady leadership we need at USDA,” said Secretary Perdue in a statement. “We eagerly await their arrival at USDA, and urge the Senate to continue to act on other nominees who are awaiting confirmation.”

The Senate Agriculture Committee held a hearing with both nominees on September 19. Tomorrow, the committee will hold a hearing on the nominations of Greg Ibach of Nebraska to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, and Bill Northey of Iowa to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services. No hearing has been scheduled yet for Sam Clovis of Iowa, President Trump’s controversial pick for Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics.

AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, USDA

A Bayer Phytobac Helps Farms Become More Sustainable

Chuck Zimmerman

I first learned about the Bayer Phytobac system last year while on a tour in Germany. My second look at this unique innovation to make farms for sustainable came in Germany again this year during the Future of Farming Dialog last month.

With my group of journalists from North America, David Lembrich, Product Stewardship Manager at Bayer, showed us a demonstration unit and talked about how it works and then answered questions. So what is a Phytobac? It’s a system a farmer uses to clean the water used to wash out sprayers by directing it into a special tank.

Phytobac™ – a biological system for the sustainable disposal of crop protection effluent. In the tank, millions of microorganisms immediately take action and start cleaning the water voluntarily.

You can see more details and learn how one German farmer is using it here.

You can listen to David’s presentation here or watch it below: David Lembrich, Phytobac Presentation


Agribusiness, Audio, Bayer, Farming, pesticides, Sustainability, Video

Groups Urge Trump to Stop EPA Changes to RFS

Cindy Zimmerman

Biofuels stakeholder organizations have sent a letter to President Donald Trump, urging him to “act quickly to prevent actions” at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that threaten to undermine future growth of the biofuels industry under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

“If the proposed changes are finalized, EPA’s actions would cause severe harm to our industry, undermining your efforts to drive economic growth and secure America’s status as the global leader in biofuel production,” wrote the 11 organizations, which include the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), National Biodiesel Board (NBB), and National Corn Growers Association (NCGA).

The letter is a response to rumors of EPA considering “drastic, unprecedented changes” designed to benefit petroleum refiners in which U.S. biofuel export volumes would count towards compliance with the RFS, on top of EPA’s reduction in the total 2018 RFS renewable fuel blending requirements below the levels required in 2017 and consideration of further reductions to the 2018 RFS volumes.

In the letter, the groups clarified that they oppose any weakening of the 15 billion gallon conventional biofuel requirement, believe the proposed reduction of the 2018 advanced biofuel requirement is unwarranted and the current treatment of imports and exports under the RFS should be maintained.

AEM, Ag Groups, Biodiesel, Corn, Ethanol, NCGA, RFA

Can-Am adds 50-Inch side-by-side to Maverick Family

Chuck Zimmerman

It’s time for fall hunting and lots of preparations are underway. I’ll be spending some work days later this week at the Crystal Pig Hunt Club in fact.

So, what will you be driving into the woods or wherever your hunt leads you? How about a brand new Can-Am Maverick?

Can-Am, unflinching in its sworn efforts to solidify its side-by-side vehicle lineup, introduces the 2018 Maverick Trail family of 50-in. (127 cm) class side-by-side vehicles. The new, two-person Can-Am vehicles present trail enthusiasts with new levels of control, convenience, comfort and versatility by supplying an agile, adventurous and confident platform. The Maverick Trail vehicles target off-road enthusiasts with their strategic proficiencies, dogged capabilities and resourceful customization options, helping owners and their passengers escape into nature. Can-Am Maverick family DNA further enhances the class-changing attributes with an impactful design that provides the Maverick Trail family with unmatched styling, durability and fit-and-finish.

The choices, specifications and overall description of this addition to the Can-Am lineup is too long to share here. But you can find out a lot more here.

Hunting