Percy is Demystifying Science at Bayer

Chuck Zimmerman

My main man Adrian Percy, Bayer CropScience, is definitely a voice to help people understand the highly technical world of science and agriculture today. I’m really happy to see him blogging about it! Here’s an excerpt from his latest in a 3-part series on the subject.

After many years involved in conducting research to evaluate the safety of our products, I’m still surprised that there are many people who not only don’t appreciate the incredible accomplishments of modern agriculture, but who also believe that its products and practices threaten people, wildlife and the environment. Where I see miraculous innovations that will help sustainably feed the world, they see a profit-driven industry with no regard to safety. Why do we view the world through such different lenses?

Why do we? And how do we educate people who are caught up in emotional movements that don’t have any basis in science or fact? I try to with my online channels and I’m glad that Adrian is too.

If you read Adrian’s post you’ll see him mention how so much information is shared “in a world where scientific debates are often framed by 140-character tweets.” I’d add that so many tweets are sent just on the emotion of the moment without careful thought about the message and its impact. Fortunately, companies like Bayer and many farm organizations are working diligently to use our new channels of communication to help with this process of demystifying science.

Bayer

Ag Export Coalition Urges Increased Funding for Export Programs

Cindy Zimmerman

More than 120 members of the Coalition to Promote U.S. Agricultural Exports are urging leaders of the House Committee on Agriculture to increase funding for USDA export promotion programs in the new farm bill.

The coalition ssent a letter to Committee Chairman Michael Conaway (R-TX), and Ranking Minority Member Collin Peterson (D-MN), asking them to increase funding for the Market Access Program (MAP) to $400 million annually and the Foreign Market Development (FMD) program to $69 million annually, phasing in the additional funding over the life of the next farm bill. Coalition members include virtually all of the major commodity organizations, as well as state and regional groups, representing everything from apples to wine.

“Over the years we’ve had a decrease in funding based on sequestration, administrative costs, and just overall inflation and depreciation of the U.S. dollar,” said Mark Powers, president of Northwest Horticultural Council and chairman of the coalition. “It’s a very positive public-private partnership, but the real purchasing power of those matching funds provided to MAP and FMD has decreased over the years.”

MAP and FMD are cost-share programs. Overall, producers and other participants contributed matching funds representing 70 percent of total program funds in 2016. Federal MAP funding has been apportioned at an annual level of $200 million since 2006 and FMD at its annual level of $34.5 million since 2002.

In this interview, Powers talks about how successful the programs have been and how important exports are to specialty crop producers, and you can learn more at AgExportsCount.org. Interview with Mark Powers, NW Horticultural Council

Ag Groups, AgWired Precision, Audio, Exports, specialty crops

Animal Ag Bites 10/2

Kelly Marshall

AgWired Animal, Animal Bites

Bayer Showcasing Commitment to Cotton

Chuck Zimmerman

The Head of Seeds, North America, for Bayer CropScience is Lee Rivenbark. Lee was a lunchtime presenter during the Bayer Showcase Plot Tour in Lubbock, TX. I thought he would be a great person to provide an overview of why Bayer holds these events and especially the one in their new Cotton Breeding Station. He started out by telling me, “Today gives us a unique opportunity to interact with our growers. That’s what we’re here to do today.”

The event allows growers to hear about Bayer’s new technologies, germplasm, new varieties and commitment to agriculture and the cotton industry. Probably the most visible sign of that commitment is the Cotton Breeding Station itself. Growers got to tour the facility and see some of the equipment Bayer is using in its research. You can see photos from that part of the tour in the photo album below.

For more on what was going on during the day listen in to my interview with Lee: Interview with Lee Rivenbark, Bayer

Bayer Showcase Plot Tour – Lubbock, TX Photo Album

Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, Audio, Bayer, Cotton

GROWMARK Announces 2018 Essay Contest Theme

Carrie Muehling

For the past 25 years, GROWMARK has challenged students to think creatively about the future of agriculture and how cooperatives can continue to thrive and contribute to the industry through an annual essay contest.

This year’s 2018 GROWMARK Essay Contest asks students “How can cooperatives demonstrate their value to the next generation of agriculturists?” All high school FFA members in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin can participate.

GROWMARK invites students to submit essays online by November 10, 2017. Winning students in each state receive $500, with the winner’s FFA chapter receiving $300.

Agribusiness, AgWired Animal, FFA, GROWMARK

Zimfo Bytes 9/29

Kelly Marshall

  • Rural Media Group has brought Janet Shope on board as VP of Advertising Sales for RFD-TV and Rural Radio Channel 147 on SiriusXM. Shope has more than 20 years of Cable, Radio and Broadcast sales experience and was previously Senior Account Executive with Sinclair Broadcast Group.
  • The Georgia Peanut Commission is hosting “Photos from the Field,” a photo contest to help fill the pages of next year’s Georgia Peanut Calendar.  Contest submission forms are due October 1, 2017.
  • Brandon Willis, the former administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency, has released a new study exposing the misleading ideas in the Heritage Foundation’s narrative that there is no place for farm policy in America.  You can read the study in its entirety or catch up with seven key points here.
  • DTN has announced enhancements to DTN Connect, its innovative agriculture retailer offering.  The system’s consolidation of critical data provides insights for more informed conversations between users and their customers.
  • WinField is celebrating the opening of their new 55,000 square-foot facility.  The United Innovation Center replaces the former WinField Product Development Center and Spray Analysis System.
  • Roger Johnson, President of the National Farmers Union, released a response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s announcement of proposed lower obligations for renewable fuel usage under the Renewable Fuel Standard.  The proposal reduces obligations for total renewable fuel volumes, biomass-based diesel, and advanced biofuel if finalized.
  • The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture has announced a winner in the Purple Plow Challenge.  Kitchen to Garden to Kitchen, a homeschool team from Port Orange, Florida, received a 3-D printer and gift card to support future educational investments.

SaveSave

AgWired Precision, Zimfo Bytes

Leading the Agriculture Conversation

Carrie Muehling

Wisconsin native and owner of Ag Inspirations Kim Bremmer spoke to those attending this year’s NAMA Fall Conference, instilling the idea that it is important to continue to lead the conversation of agriculture and to do it better.

“The story of agriculture is much bigger than anything that can be put on a label at the grocery store, or can be advertised in a new fancy ad campaign on the television at night,” says Bremmer. “Our story and the success story of American agriculture is so much bigger than that, and we all have to be prepared to better talk about it.”

Bremmer complimented the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance for their efforts and resources, including the recent movie Food Evolution, as well as the group’s Discovering Farmland school curriculum, based on the movie Farmland. With the average consumer four generations removed from the farm, Bremmer says it’s important for the agriculture conversation to happen on both a large scale and in one-on-one conversations.

Listen to Cindy’s interview with Kim Bremmer here: Interview with Kim Bremmer, Ag Inspirations

See NAMA Fall Conference photos here.

2017 NAMA Fall Conference photo album

Audio, NAMA, USFRA

AFBF Marketbasket Survey Shows Food Price Increase

Carrie Muehling

The American Farm Bureau Federation’s Fall Harvest Marketbasket Survey shows a three percent increase in the total cost of 16 food items over last year’s prices. Foods costing more include bacon, chicken breast, and sliced deli ham, as well as orange juice and flour. The cost of bacon rose the most, up 19 percent to $5.24 per pound. AFBF’s Director of Market Intelligence Dr. John Newton explains the increase.

“Bacon was up significantly because of the lower inventory and higher prices of pork bellies. We saw a rally in wholesale bacon prices this summer and fall which is being reflected at the retail level,” Newton says. “Bacon is a sexy food item in restaurants and everywhere else, creating an inventory decline and thus a price increase.”

Newton says supply and demand for chicken is also tight, driving prices higher. Lower supplies of oranges are impacting the cost of orange juice, which could be further impacted by recent hurricanes in citrus growing areas. The informal quarterly survey did show four items decreasing in price: eggs, ground chuck, bagged salad and potatoes. The survey shows the farmer’s share of the $51.13 marketbasket would be approximately $8.00.

AFBF, AgWired Animal

ASTA Support for Cover Crops

Cindy Zimmerman

The latest Cover Crop Survey released earlier this month will be highlighted at the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) Farm & Lawn Seed Conference, coming up November 5-6 in Kansas City.

Since 2014, ASTA and its members have helped support this important survey conducted by the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) with funding from USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE). Past ASTA chair Risa DeMasi of Grassland Oregon says the conference will feature SARE’s Rob Myers and Bill Buckner of the Noble Foundation who will discuss the report and the bright future for cover crops. “We have over 700 attendees from different types of seed companies, and those companies come from all over the U.S.,” said DeMasi. The meeting is always held in Kansas City at the Westin the two days before the NAFB annual convention.

DeMasi says the increased adoption of cover crops shown by these surveys means the industry should start thinking ahead 5-10 years “in order to produce enough cover crop seed and the right options growers are going to want to be more precise in their planting…the goals are huge.”

Audio file: Interview with Risa DeMasi, Grassland Oregon

AgWired Precision, ASTA, Audio, cover crops, Seed

Beck Ag Adds Hugh Whaley to Board

Chuck Zimmerman

Our good friend, Hugh Whaley, has joined the board of Beck Ag, Inc. which is celebrating its 20th year since being founded by John Finegan and Charlie Beck. So, congrats to Hugh! Hugh has assumed an equity position in Beck Ag and has been appointed to the company’s Board of Directors effective September 1.

“Beck Ag welcomes Hugh’s vast experience and expertise as an integral advisor in helping us achieve our company’s mission,” said Stephanie Liska, president and CEO of Beck Ag. “What Hugh will bring to the table will perfectly complement the tremendously talented team members Beck Ag has across America.”

Founded in 1997, Beck Ag made its mark specializing in facilitating conversations with ag professionals allowing peers to connect with each other, as well as with top industry experts, to enable sound decision-making about products, services and solutions. Now, Beck Ag showcases five primary capabilities which clients can access individually or in tandem: Strategic Planning and Facilitation; Market Insight and Research; Market Instruction and Staff Training; Market Influence; and, Market Intelligence.

Agribusiness