Bayer Bee Center Celebrates 10K Visitors

Cindy Zimmerman

The Bee Care Center in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina celebrated its third anniversary this week by welcoming its 10,000th visitor.

The Bee Care Program invited a group of fourth-graders from a local school to serve as the honorary “10,000th visitors” and everyone had a great time while learning about the role honey bees play in the environment through a hands-on, interactive guided tour and scavenger hunt.

“The Bee Care Center has served as a gathering spot and community outreach arm for pollinator initiatives in the Raleigh area and beyond, and we’re thankful to the many partners and supporters who have joined us to bring this special occasion to fruition,” said Jim Blome, president and CEO of Crop Science, a division of Bayer, who joined the students during the celebration.

“We are incredibly excited to have opened our doors to more than 10,000 pollinator enthusiasts in only our first three years,” said Becky Langer, project manager for the Bayer North American Bee Care Program. “It’s been rewarding to welcome so many different people and know they are leaving with new perceptions and understanding of the roles bees play in our environment.”

The 10,000th visitor milestone was also commemorated with a $10,000 donation from Bayer to Project PLANTS, a Grow For It project from the JC Raulston Arboretum educating students about the science behind horticulture. Bayer has spent more than 30 years researching and developing solutions for the problems honey bees face. Some of this research will be highlighted through a webinar series during National Pollinator Week, June 19-25, 2017.

We were at the Bayer Bee Care grand opening in April 2014 and have the virtual newsroom to prove it! There you can find interviews and audio from that opening day, a video tour, and photos of the center.

Here are interviews that I did with Jim Blome and Becky Langer on opening day.
Interview with Jim Blome, Bayer CropScience
Interview with Dr. Becky Langer, Bayer Bee Care Center

Happy BEE Day to our friends at Bayer!

Audio, Bayer, Bees

Farm Foundation Reschedules NAFTA Forum

Cindy Zimmerman

A Farm Foundation Forum on the Future of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that was postponed last month due to a snowstorm has been rescheduled for Wednesday, April 26.

Invited to present perspectives on the issue are former American Farm Bureau president Bob Stallman, Melissa San Miguel with the Grocery Manufacturers Association; and Linda Dempsey, Vice President of International Economic Affairs with the National Association of Manufacturers. Farm Foundation President Constance Cullman will moderate the discussion.

The Forum will be held from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. EDT in the Holeman Lounge of the National Press Club. A free, live audiocast will also be available. There is no charge to participate in the April 26 Forum, but registration is requested.

Farm Foundation, Trade

Earth Day Science Resources from USFRA

Cindy Zimmerman

Earth Day is joining the March for Science this year with a rally and teach-in on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Saturday to “defend the vital public service role science plays in our communities and our world,” with support from organizations like the American Chemical Society.

The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) has prepared a toolkit for farmers and ranchers and other agribusiness folks to access links to content, blog posts, infographics and videos which can be viewed and shared on websites and social channels that helps to educate the public on how the modern science of food production is better for the environment.

Efficient modern farming practices have become a science. With advancements in GMOs and the proliferation of GPS technology on tractors and other equipment, farmers have been able to reduce crop inputs like pesticides, and apply them more precisely only when and where they’re needed.

Also, today’s farm animals live healthier lives than ever before. Farmers and ranchers have virtually eliminated many former common causes of human foodborne illnesses. For example, pigs raised indoors, a practice that sometimes elevates concerns, has greatly improved safety for the animals, the farmers who raise them and the end consumer. Bottom line: animal welfare is the best it has ever been.

Check it out and share the story of science and agriculture!

Environment, Events, USFRA

Zimfo Bytes

Lizzy Schultz

Zimfo Bytes

  • Brownfield has welcomed DayWeather Network to the suite of agriculture networks it represents for national sales, expanding the marketing reach available for advertising partners to more than 700 affiliate radio stations in a 15-state region of prime agricultural production.
  • The National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) has announced that FLM+ is now a Sustaining Partner, which will allow FLM+ to receive all the sponsorship benefits of a Platinum Level Sponsor plus additional benefits including complimentary registrations at national events, use of the Strategic Partner logo in advertising and promotion, web banner advertising on the NAMA website, advertising on digital signage at the annual conference as well as logo and verbal recognition for all three national NAMA events.
  • The National Corn Growers Association has reminded farmers that entries are now open for the 2017 Fields-of-Corn Photo Contest, which offers a free opportunity for photographers to share their work while competing for 25 cash prizes, including a $500 grand prize.
  • BASF has announced that the first 500 farmers to join the BASF Living Acres Monarch Challenge will receive 18 butterfly milkweed seedlings, a hose, gloves and a guide book to help them create an important habitat for Monarchs.
Zimfo Bytes

New NAMA App

Chuck Zimmerman

For the National Agri-Marketing Association, there’s a new app in town.

NAMA is very excited to announce our new and improved mobile app, just in time for the 2017 Agri-Marketing Conference!

Make sure you download the new app – or update to the new version – so you can stay up to date while you are in Dallas next week! This new app will make it easy to keep track of your schedule while you are onsite at conference AND you can stay current with everything NAMA when you get back home!

The NAMA app gives you access to:

• the NAMA Membership Directory
• all chapter meeting information
• the latest NAMA news

Download the NAMA app on iTunes or Google Play today!

Powered by iNet Solutions Group and sponsored by Penton Ag

Apps, NAMA

ASTA Pleased with New International Seed Standard

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) is pleased with the passage of a final International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) for Seed during the recent International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) in Korea.

American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) Senior Director of Seed Health and Trade Ric Dunkle, who attended the IPPC, says ASTA has been advocating for a seed ISPM for nearly 20 years.

“We’re trading seed on an international level at an unprecedented rate,” Dunkle explains. “As you increase the volumes and amounts, numbers, different kinds of seed moving around the world, you increase the potential for seeds moving around unwanted pests and disease.”

The snag is that currently countries make their own phytosanitary measures as they see the need, creating different regulations and measures for the same seed across the globe.

“What this standard does is attempts to provide sort of uniform guidance to countries in how to regulate seed movement so these phytosanitary measures can become more harmonized and more predictable,” says Dunkle. “If we can get those [regulations] harmonized from one country to another around the world, then the trade environment becomes much more predictable and certain to our seed industry.”

Dunkle expects the process to take a year to 18 months for countries to amend legislation or regulations.

Hear more about what the new standards will mean here: Interview with Ric Dunkle, ASTA

ASTA, Audio, International, Seed, Trade

USDA Gearing up for 2017 Census

Cindy Zimmerman

USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service is gearing up for 2017 Census of Agriculture, which will be mailed to all known farmers and ranchers in the nation at the end of this year.

The census is conducted every five years by and is a complete count of all U.S. farms, ranches and those who operate them. “The Census of Agriculture remains the only source of uniform, comprehensive and impartial agriculture data for every county in the nation,” said NASS Administrator Hubert Hamer. “As such, census results are relied upon heavily by those who serve farmers and rural communities, including federal, state and local governments, agribusinesses, trade associations, extension educators, researchers, and farmers and ranchers themselves.”

Producers who are new to farming or did not receive a Census of Agriculture in 2012 can sign up to receive the 2017 Census of Agriculture report form by visiting www.agcensus.usda.gov and clicking on the ‘Make Sure You Are Counted’ button through June. NASS defines a farm as any place from which $1,000 or more of agricultural products were produced and sold, or normally would have been sold, during the census year (2017).

USDA

A Little Lesson on the Water Markets

Jamie Johansen

Mammoth Trading’s President, Richael Young sat on a panel during the 2017 Water for Food Global Conference called, “Drought, Water Risk and the Context for Water Markets.” Drought risk management was positioned as a focal point as panelists discussed the water transaction outlook, water policy trends and the role of public versus private investment in water markets.

Mammoth Trading develops and operates market-based solutions to water resource challenges. Many places have active water markets but they are often decentralized and informal. Richael said they come in and help to reduce search and transaction costs for individuals.

“Mammoth Trading creates Smart Markets or electronic clearing houses that help automate the process of matching individuals who are interested in buying and selling water rights and automating the process of regulatory compliance,” Richael said.

There are a number of transactions people can make around water including: water leases, permanent transactions, pooling, rotational agreements, inter-annual water exchanges, etc. During the panel, Richael shared how farmers have been utilizing water markets over decades and how we are just shedding light on the extent of those occurrences.

“Water markets have emerged informally as a tool for farmers and communities to share water resources. If you can give communities the tools to move water resources to when and where they are needed, a wealth of risk management is provided,” Richael said.

The future of water rights was also discussed. Richael said more and more we are trending towards ways to give individuals the flexibility to use their water resources to best fit their needs. “We are also looking at ways to develop water markets that work well for communities. It’s not about taking water from one basin and exporting it to another. This is about how we can use water locally in a way that works best for that community,” Richael said.

Listen to my complete chat with Richael to learn more about the water market history, some misconceptions and more on the future: Interview with Richael Young, Mammoth Trading

View and download photos from the event here: 2017 Water for Food Global Conference Photos

Ag Groups, Audio, Water, Water for Food

Wet Weather Delays Corn Planting

Cindy Zimmerman

Many planters around the Corn Belt were sitting idle last week as wet weather continued to delay planting progress at the start of the season, much to the dismay of farmers anxious to get into the fields.

The latest crop progress report from USDA this week shows corn planting progress at six percent falling behind last year at this time and the five-year average. Progress is ahead of schedule in Texas at 60 percent planted now, but Kansas is well behind at just nine percent when the average is twice that. Illinois at six percent is half the average and Missouri has only 17 percent of the crop planted compared to the average of 25 percent and last year’s record progress at this time when over half of the crop was already in the ground.

Cotton planting is running right around the five year average at eight percent and sorghum is also about average at 21 percent.

Corn, Cotton, Planting, sorghum, USDA

Moving Africa from Rain-Fed to Irrigated Farming

Jamie Johansen

Now founder and CEO of KickStart International, Martin Fisher, at first wasn’t quite sure what he wanted to do with his life. A Fullbright scholarship took him to Africa for a year to look for the potential use of technology and engineering in development. That one year turned in to 17 years in Kenya. Martin presented his case study at the 2017 Water for Food Global Conference where I was able to sit down with him to hear his story and grasped a better understand of the challenges of farming in sub-saharan Africa.

Through those years Martin came to the simple conclusion that when you are poor anywhere around the world your #1 need is a way to make more money. With the goal to help millions of people globally make more money, KickStart International was formed. Martin said in sub-saharan Africa the majority of the poor are farmers, therefore his mission focused on moving farmers from rain-fed farming to irrigated farming.

With the focus of low-cost irrigation, Martin and his team developed a line of human-powered irrigation pumps called MoneyMaker Pumps. The pumps are mass produced and distributed across Africa through small local retail shops. KickStart has a team on the ground who educates the farmers about irrigation and it’s impact on their farms. Over 300,000 pumps have been sold globally, but the job isn’t done when a pump is sold. They then track the impact the pump has on the family. Martin said well over 75% of the families take a major step out of poverty.

Listen to my complete interview with Martin here: Interview with Martin Fisher, KickStart International

Listen to his case study presentation during conference here: Case study on MoneyMaker Pumps

View and download photos from the event here: 2017 Water for Food Global Conference Photos

Ag Groups, Audio, Food, Irrigation, Technology, Water, Water for Food