DWFI Podcast 37 – Opportunities of Irrigation and Mechanization
In November 2023, the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute announced a new USAID Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Irrigation and Mechanization Systems (ILIMS). ILIMS enhances global food security by generating research-based solutions to support the growth of vibrant irrigation and mechanization markets; develops strong institutions and local capacity for their sustainability; and fosters opportunities for equitable access for smallholder farmers.
In this episode, DWFI Communications Specialist Arianna Elnes speaks with the new ILIMS Deputy Director Jude Cobbing about his background and interest in ILIMS, the opportunities he sees with irrigation and mechanization, and upcoming projects for ILIMS. For more information, and to respond to RFA’s, visit: waterforfood.nebraska.edu/irrigandmech
Listen here or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform:
DWFI podcast episode 37 28:59
The Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute (DWFI) at the University of Nebraska was founded with the mission to have a lasting and significant impact on achieving more food security with less pressure on scarce water resources by conducting scientific and policy research, using the research results to inform policy makers, and sharing knowledge through education and communication.
How to subscribe:
Peanut Industry Honors Bob Parker
Valent’s John Alton presents Valor Award to Bob Parker
“I tell people if you cut my arm, instead of blood, peanut butter would come out of my veins,” said Parker as he accepted the award.
Parker has been heavily involved in the peanut industry for decades and has served as chairman of the American Peanut Council, American Peanut Shellers Association, the Peanut Institute and the Peanut Administrative Committee. He has served on the Boards of the Peanut Foundation and Peanut Standards Board.
He also served as the luncheon speaker at the conference on Thursday and gave his perspective on how far the industry has come and how far it could still yet go in the future. “When I started with the peanut board in 2012, the previous five years, the U.S. average production of peanuts was two million tons,” said Parker. “The last five years I was with the peanut board, the average production of peanuts in the U.S. was three million tons… I think within ten years we’re going to see four million ton production, I think it’s coming.”
The question, he says, is “What are you going to do with another million tons of peanuts?”
Listen below:
SPGC24 Valor award presentation 1:56
SPGC24 Bob Parker remarks 20:28
Amp Americas Partners with Dairy to Deliver Methane
A new dairy RNG project on the Wisconsin farm will reduce methane emissions by converting 90,000 gallons of dairy waste per day to renewable energy.
Amp Americas, a leading dairy renewable natural gas (RNG) company, today announced the completion of a project that converts dairy waste into RNG at Darlington Ridge Farms in Darlington, WI. The facility, which is now fully operational, is the latest of Amp Americas’ 12 operating digesters across dairies in Wisconsin, Indiana, Idaho, and Minnesota.
The project at Darlington Ridge Farms utilizes continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) anaerobic digesters to convert 90,000 gallons of dairy cow waste per day into renewable energy. The project captures methane that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere, purifies it, and then injects it into the Alliant Energy natural gas pipeline. The RNG is used as clean, carbon-negative transportation fuel, reducing 27,000 metric tons (MT) of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions per year.
Sec. Vilsack Comments on Biden Dropping Out
Secretary Vilsack and President Biden at the White House, July 2023
“In the 38 years that I have known President Biden, he has consistently and selflessly put our country first—and today is no exception. As a result, he will go down in history as one of our most consequential American presidents.
“He has led us out of the pandemic and revived our struggling economy to achieve record job growth, real wage increases, record-breaking new business creation, and a record stock market. He avoided an economic collapse and is still taming inflation while creating millions of jobs, without causing a crippling recession. His leadership has led to a strengthened and expanded NATO while also supporting Ukraine’s fight for democracy, and he forged alliances to push back against China’s assertions. Finally, he brought to fruition a vision of a new and dynamic American economy built around clean energy and climate-smart and resilient industries, including the agriculture sector. I am immensely proud to play a role in the Biden-Harris Administration, under which USDA has advanced food and nutrition security for tens of millions, invested in new, better and more markets to create a fairer and better marketplace for all farmers, improved the health and resilience of our national forests and grasslands, made our food safer, and centered equity in all that we do.
“This is an administration that embraces hope, optimism, and a forward-looking view for America—and our work is not done.”
Both President Biden’s announcement and Sec. Vilsack’s statement were posted on X.
Industry Ag News 7/19
House Ag Member Still Optimistic for 2024 Farm Bill
Republican Congressman Frank Lucas of Oklahoma still thinks it’s possible to get a farm bill before the end of 2024.
“I don’t want to wait personally for January to do the farm bill… I want to do the farm bill as soon as possible,” the senior member of the House Agriculture Committee told the Southern Peanut Growers Conference on Friday morning. “Let’s get it done now. Let’s get it done. The best we can. And with a new policy in place. We can tweak on things during the appropriations process next year.”
Listen to his remarks and answers to questions from growers and the media.
SPGC24 Rep. Lucas remarks 31:36SPGC24 Rep. Lucas interview 5:03
SPGC24 Rep. Lucas press 6:00
Chancellor Perdue Seeks Grower Input
The former Governor of Georgia and former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture came before the Southern Peanut Growers Conference Thursday in his newest role as University System of Georgia Chancellor.
Sonny Perdue was named UGA Chancellor in 2022, a role which provides leadership in higher education, extension, and research priorities within the state university system, so he wanted to hear what peanut growers think is important. “I need to hear from folks on the ground what’s going on out there from a Georgia perspective,” said Perdue. “As Chancellor, the land grant mission and extension model is one where we’re able to disseminate knowledge out to the field and I think that’s been one of the strengths of our agricultural productivity over the years.”
Perdue said he often gets asked about Donald Trump and what he was like as president. “I didn’t understand fully how somebody that grew up in Queens could have such a genuine affection for people of the land like Donald Trump had,” said Perdue. “What I finally concluded was, in the American farmer and rancher he saw the embodiment of the American spirit.”
Would he be willing to serve as agriculture secretary again if Donald Trump returns to the White House. “I flippantly tell people right now, if the opportunity occurred, I’d rather be married,” he joked.
SPGC24 Chancellor Perdue listening session panel 33:57SPGC24 Chancellor Perdue press conf 4:42
House Ag Vice Chair Addresses Peanut Growers
Many of his Republican colleagues are in Milwaukee this week for the convention, but Rep. Austin Scott of Georgia put peanut growers and his family ahead of attending his party’s big party.
“It’s not that I don’t want to be there, it’s that I have a six year old and a ten year old and I had four other things scheduled in the district,” said Rep. Scott.
Scott, who is Vice Chair of the House Agriculture Committee and Chairman of the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, addressed the conference about the current state of the delayed farm bill. “It’s harder now to get anything done in Washington D.C.,” said Scott. “We’ve got to get a farm bill and that farm bill has got to take care of American production agriculture.”
Several of Scott’s priorities to ensure a strong farm safety net were included in the House version of the farm bill, which passed out of committee in May, and he considers it the best bill for production agriculture. While there is a possibility a bill could pass before the end of the year, he expects it will be put off until 2025 when he is optimistic things might be better.
“I certainly hope that President Trump becomes the president of the United States and he selects someone like Sonny Perdue to be the secretary of agriculture who actually cares about production agriculture,” said Scott.
Listen to Scott’s remarks and press conference below.
SPGC24 Rep. Scott remarks 12:44
SPGC24 Rep. Scott press 5:18
Ready to Roll on the River
Peanut growers and industry representatives from Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi are in Savannah, Georgia this week Rollin’ on the River for the 2024 Southern Peanut Growers Conference.
The three-day event is sponsored by the Alabama Peanut Producers Association, Florida Peanut Producers Association, Georgia Peanut Commission, and Mississippi Peanut Growers Association. Leaders of the state organizations, pictured here, gave us an update on the condition of their crops this year and what they are expecting as far as a farm bill after the 2018 law was extended last year and looks to be delayed again this year.
Listen to comments from each state director below.
Libby Johnson, Executive Director, Alabama Peanut Producers Association
SPGC24 Libby Johnson, AL 2:00
Ken Barton, Executive Director, Florida Peanut Producers Association
SPGC24 Ken Barton, FL 4:32
Don Koehler, Executive Director, Georgia Peanut Commission
SPGC24 Don Koehler, GA 6:26
Malcolm Broome, Executive Director, Mississippi Peanut Growers Association
SPGC24 Malcolm Broome, MS 4:05
2024 Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album
Check out all the content from the Southern Peanut Growers Conference on the SPGC Blog where you can also find past years events going back to 2008.