Missouri Rice Council Hosts Field Day

Jamie Johansen

The Missouri Rice Council hosted their annual Rice Field Day August 24, at the Rice Research Farm in Campbell, Missouri. Research personnel from Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) and the University of Missouri Fisher Delta Research Center were on hand to provide area farmers a chance to see and learn about recent developments in rice research and other agricultural related topics. Nearly 250 growers and rice industry leaders took part in the field day.

I caught up with Eric Hover, Missouri rice producer and chairman of the Missouri Rice Council, to learn more about how they serve producer-members and ways research dollars are spent. “There are 10 counties in the bootheel of Missouri that grow rice. We [Missouri Rice Council] administer the checkoff funds and TRQ funds that are made through the sale of rice. We conduct research and promotion of rice throughout the state and country. We take trade missions and develop new lines of rice with our breeder at SEMO that are best fit for our Northern growing area.”

Listen to my complete interview with Eric here: Interview with Eric Hover, Missouri Rice Council, Chairman

View and download photos from the event here: Missouri Rice Field Day Photo Album

Ag Groups, AgWired Precision, Audio, Markets, Research, Rice

Nebraska Corn & Soy Grows Future Leaders

Kelly Marshall

Lori Luebbe, Executive Director for the Nebraska Soybean Association, attended the 2017 U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange with agriculture students participating in the Nebraska Corn & Soy Ambassador Program. The program is a co-sponsored partnership that reaches out to agriculture majors from the University of Nebraska to show them different aspects of the soy and corn checkoff organizations and teach them about career opportunities. It also strives to give students a bigger view of ag, Luebbe says- something more than what they get within a specific major.

Two of the members of this year’s ambassador program can vouch for the effectiveness of the program. “We’ve learned about the economic part of the ag world; today we’ll learn about the farming part of the ag world with Prairie Land Dairy. Here we’re learning about globally how important agriculture is around the world and how it’s a big impact on today’s economy,” says Kenzie, an Ag Education major. “The reason I did this is to grow my knowledge as an educator. I hope to teach kids what I’m learning here today.”

Emily, an Agriculture and Environmental Sciences Communication major, appreciates the relationships she’s building. “I applied personally because I knew this would be a great connection to meet people in the industry- which is great for my major- and just to find further connections in the ag industry. It’s a great learning opportunity. We’ve learned a lot about social media and how to advocate individually, which is awesome.”

Luebbe hopes this program is providing a wide variety of educational information, but she’s also focused on growing leaders. These students will be well-placed to serve as future board members she says.

Listen to Jamie’s full interview to hear more about the program: Interview with Lori Luebbe, Nebraska Corn & Soy Ambassador Program

You can find photos from the event here: U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange Photo Album

AgWired Precision, Audio, Corn, Soybean

NFU Announces Biofuels Initiative

Cindy Zimmerman

National Farmers Union (NFU) has announced an initiative “to advance federal policies that support homegrown and home-produced renewable energy sources.”

“American family farmers and ranchers are facing a rapidly changing climate, a severely depressed farm economy, and deteriorating rural infrastructure and services,” said NFU President Roger Johnson during a press call to announce the effort. “Expansion of homegrown, renewable energy production provides solutions to each of these issues and significant benefits for American consumers and the environment.”

NFU hired energy policy specialist Anne Steckel, formally with the National Biodiesel Board, to lead the effort. “Federal-level policies like the Renewable Fuel Standard have reaped tremendous gains for the farming and rural communities that grow and produce renewable, bio-based fuels,” said Steckel. “NFU will continue its avid support of the RFS and pursue innovative policy solutions that expand renewable energy demand, development and infrastructure.”

The effort follows a special order of business that was passed by delegates to the NFU 115th Anniversary Convention in March supporting expanded markets for higher blends of ethanol, like E30, and advanced biofuels. NFU’s initiative is supported by all three major ethanol organizations.

NFU press conference
Audio, Biodiesel, Biofuels, Ethanol

Zimfo Bytes 8/25

Kelly Marshall

  • The Illinois Corn Marketing Board has selected officers for the coming term. Paul Jeschke from Mazon, Illinois was elected to serve as Chairman. Don Duvall will fill the position of Vice-Chairman, Roger Sy as Treasurer, and Dirk Rice will be Secretary.
  • American Soybean Association (ASA) President Ron Moore confirmed 19 growers from across the nation to lead the ASA’s World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) Program Committee in 2017-18.  The committee will focus on  long-term market development and finding new markets for U.S. soy.
Zimfo Bytes

USDA Making the Most of Tax and Checkoff Dollars

Kelly Marshall

Michele Kennedy Kouadio works with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Services, specifically interacting with the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) and watching how the organization uses tax payer dollars to promote exports around the world. Kouadio also helps create a better understanding of U.S. soy for international customers and helps growers here diversify soybeans to meet demands, so for her the 2017 U.S. Global Trade Exchange in Omaha, Nebraska is an important event.

“It gives me an opportunity to see our U.S. farmers in action as they interact with and answer questions of our international buyers who are here,” Kouadio said. “Right now we have an audience of about 300 people and we have buyers from roughly 55 countries. The U.S. soy family is active in those markets and we do this through U.S. tax payer dollars, but also through the United Soybean Board from farmer checkoff dollars.”

Making the most of those dollars means building relationships with buyers and helping them understand the value of the U.S. soybean. International customers at the U.S. Soy Exchange are very appreciative of what they learn at the conference, Kouadio said. And that encourages them to increase their purchases from the U.S.- something the USDA can be happy about as well.

Learn more about tax and checkoff dollars at work in Jamie’s interview with Kouadio here: Interview with Michele Kennedy Kouadio, USDA

You can find photos from the event here: U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange Photo Album

AgWired Precision, Audio, Soybean

GROWMARK CEO Reports at Annual Meeting

Chuck Zimmerman

The CEO for GROWMARK is Jim Spradlin. Jim took the stage at the annual meeting here in Chicago to report on how GROWMARK is maintaining a focus on its core values while adapting to changing market conditions, leadership and the importance of engaged employees, implementing a strategic plan and being mindful of environmental concerns. He told me that GROWMARK has started a multi-year process to update its information technology system which is the software that runs in the background of the organization.

Jim also comments on the recent announcement of a grain partnership with COFCO International Limited. He says the project was about a year in the making and is a mutually beneficial agreement that opens up new opportunities for midwest grain producers.

You can listen to my interview with Jim here: Interview with Jim Spradlin, GROWMARK

You can find photos from the events of the annual meeting here: 2017 GROWMARK Annual Meeting Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Cooperatives, GROWMARK

Brazil Tweets Tariff Decision

Cindy Zimmerman

A tweet from Brazilian Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply Blairo Maggi late yesterday afternoon informed the world that Brazil’s foreign trade chamber has approved a 20 percent tariff on U.S. ethanol imports after a 600 million liter tariff rate quota.

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and Growth Energy issued a joint statement on the decision.

“We are disappointed and discouraged to see the ruling out of Brazil today imposing a tariff on U.S. ethanol. Given the tremendous volume of information we provided to Brazil that demonstrated how misguided a tariff would be, it seemed politics prevailed today and Brazilian consumers lost. Imposing tariffs on U.S. ethanol imports will hurt Brazilian consumers by driving up their costs at the pump. Additionally, this action goes against Brazil’s longstanding view that ethanol tariffs are inappropriate and will effectively close off an open and bilateral trading relationship that benefits all sides. We strongly urge this recommendation to be reversed as soon as possible and will work to that end through all available pathways.”

RFA CEO Bob Dinneen (@ethanolbob) had his own tweet in response to the decision:
“Brazil just hurt their own consumers by imposing a quota and tariff on US #ethanol – the lowest cost octane on the planet. #foolish”

Ethanol, RFA, Trade, USGC

USB Names Ruhland as New CEO

Cindy Zimmerman

PollyRuhlandThe United Soybean Board (USB) has named Polly Ruhland as the new chief executive officer (CEO) of the checkoff organization, effective November 1, replacing retiring John Becherer. Ruhland has served as CEO of Cattlemen’s Beef Board since 2011.

“Polly exceeded all of the attributes for what we as a board were looking for in a new CEO to lead us into the future,” says John Motter, USB chair and soybean farmer from Jenera, Ohio. “Polly brings a platform of experience and expertise that parallels the opportunities and challenges facing the soy industry – building demand in domestic and global markets, creating consensus throughout the commodity supply chain, solidifying partnerships with national and state organizations and being an industry catalyst.”

In accepting the position, Ruhland said, “USB’s innovation and agriculture industry leadership attracted me to this opportunity. I am looking forward to working alongside farmer leaders and organizational partners to take USB into a bright future.”

John Becherer has served USB for the last 23 years and will work with USB to support the transition and the incoming CEO until his retirement at the end of the year.

AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Soybean, USB

Baize Offers View of Soy Past and Future

Kelly Marshall

When John Baize walked the halls speaking with attendees of the 2017 U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange, it wasn’t just some nice thoughts.  Baize comes from 38 years of working the global market on behalf of soybeans and other farm products.
That experience gives him a great him not just a good view of the past, but also of the future.

“By all accounts we are going to continue to see the global economy grow,” Baize said.  “We’re seeing continuous growth in the GDP in countries all throughout Asia, particularly in the Asian sub-continent- southeast Asia, certainly in China, and elsewhere.  When you see more per capita income in developing countries, the first thing that is going to happen is they’re going to improve the quality of their diet, which means more animal protein in the diet, it’s going to mean more vegetable oil in their diet, and I think that’s where the future is going.”

The global demand for soybeans is growing twice as fast as corn, and four times faster than wheat, rice, or cotton. The U.S. has taken advantage of that market share through its agreements with Columbia, Morocco, and Korea.  In Baize’s opinion, missing out on TPP isn’t a huge factor for the soybeans either, since the U.S. already has good access to Japan, southeast Asia and the agreement didn’t include China.

Listen to Baize’s predictions for 2018 in Jamie’s full interview here: John Baize, John C. Baize & Associates

You can find photos from the event here: U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange Photo Album

AgWired Precision, Audio, Soybean

Preview of GROWMARK Annual Meeting

Chuck Zimmerman

Just prior to the start of today’s GROWMARK Annual Meeting I spoke with John Reifsteck, Chairman/President to get a preview. I’m a first time attendee, so I needed it!

The theme for this year’s meeting is Execute with Excellence. John says that for GROWMARK it is not something you say or do once but it’s a habit. “We think it’s important for us to be successful, to help our customers, to help our owners, that we execute the things we do with excellence.”

Besides the annual business meeting this morning the program will move to an Agribusiness Symposium with speakers to motivate and inform attendees.

You can listen to my interview with John here: Interview with John Reifsteck, GROWMARK

You can find photos from the events of the annual meeting here: 2017 GROWMARK Annual Meeting Photo Album

Audio, Cooperatives, GROWMARK