ASA and NCGA Talk Priorities at #Classic17

Cindy Zimmerman March 2, 2017

ASA VP John Heisdorffer

A new farm bill, growing export markets, maintaining the Renewable Fuel Standard, taxes and regulatory reform are just a few of the top priorities for corn and soybean farmers in 2017.

American Soybean Association president Ron Moore of Illinois, vice president John Heisdorffer of Iowa, and chairman Richard Wilkins of Delaware discussed some of those big issues during a press conference at the Commodity Classic Thursday. Heisdorffer highlighted the importance of working with the Trump administration on expanding export markets, increasing bilateral trade agreements, and keeping a good relationship with China. “We cannot afford to get China trade wrong, there’s just too much at stake for soybean farmers,” he said. ASA press conference

National Corn Growers Association president Wesley Spurlock of Texas said their first priority will be to protect market gains made through previous trade agreements,” said Spurlock. “We understand the president has concerns with NAFTA, but we are hopeful that he will take a boarder look at the gains our country has enjoyed through reduced trade barriers.”

Spurlock was joined by NCGA CEO Chris Novak, chairman Chip Bowling of Maryland, and first vice president Kevin Skunes of North Dakota. NCGA press conference

ASA and NCGA are two of the five groups who host the annual Commodity Classic. The others are the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG), National Sorghum Producers (NSP), and Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM). We will be posting press conferences from all of them.

2017 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Commodity Classic coverage made possible by

ASA, Audio, Commodity Classic, Corn, NCGA

NAMA Names Nickerson 2017 Marketer of the Year

Cindy Zimmerman March 2, 2017

The National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) has named Bader Rutter CEO Greg Nickerson has been selected as the 2017 NAMA Marketer of the Year.

Through his leadership, Greg Nickerson has helped Bader Rutter become the country’s largest agricultural marketing agency. Since 2009, when Nickerson was put in charge, the agency has nearly doubled in size. Perhaps even more significant is Nickerson’s leadership in creating the industry’s broadest portfolio of agricultural clients, as well as expanding Bader Rutter’s expertise into food, technological services, buildings, interiors and more. He is positioning the agency as a thriving high-energy environment to retain and attract top talent to support ever-evolving client needs.

The NAMA Marketer of the Year award will be presented during the 2017 Agri-Marketing Conference in Dallas, Texas, and is sponsored by Agri Marketing magazine.

NAMA

2017 Commodity Classic is Underway

Cindy Zimmerman March 2, 2017

The 2017 Commodity Classic is being held in San Antonio this week and close to 9,000 attendees are already here taking advantage of the education and networking opportunities.

Established in 1996, Commodity Classic is America’s largest farmer-led, farmer-focused convention and trade show, produced by the National Corn Growers Association, American Soybean Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Sorghum Producers, and Association of Equipment Manufacturers.

Your AgWired team is here on the ground and gathering lots of content to share – watch our Twitter and Facebook feeds for more!

2017 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Commodity Classic coverage made possible by

Commodity Classic

Funding the Next Ag Food Revolution

Lizzy Schultz March 2, 2017

There is no question that the world is entering a new agricultural food revolution, with new technological innovations remaining necessary in order to solve the many current and future problems facing global food security and sustainability. Several panelists were brought in during the 2017 Bayer #AgVocacy Forum to discuss how the industry is going to be able to fund the new technologies required for the next food revolution and where the investment focus needs to be prioritized. Panelists included Louisa Burwood-Taylor, chief editor, AGFUNDER USA, Ben Chostner, vice president, business development, Blue River Technology, and Steve Tuttle, president & CEO, Agrimetis.

Burwood-Taylor explained that the willingness to invest in the industry absolutely exists, with investments in the ag-tech industry increasing from 500 million in 2013 to 4.6 billion in 2015.

Ag biotech funding is especially popular, she said, with investments in that area specifically up 150%, which totals over 700 million dollars.

Chostner and Tuttle both highlighted the importance of eliminating global food waste, and the incredible costs associated with it, as the industry continues to invest in expensive technologies.

“When you look at the amount of waste in the food channel after production is finished, we have to do a better job of educating ourselves on how to use that food,” said Chostner. “The waste is unacceptable. When you look at the demand coming, we have to reduce that waste. We cannot continue on the economies of scales we are and accept that kind of waste.”

“We’re trying to invest in new technologies because of the labor shortage and in an attempt to increase our progit margins, but with the cost of new equipment and technologies skyrocketing, we may need to work on increasing demand for produce that has imperfections so we can utilize the technology to harvest those imperfect products,” said Tuttle.

Catch the whole session here:
Funding the Next Agricultural Food Revolution

View and download photos from the event here: 2017 Bayer AgVocate Forum Photos

Ag Groups, Audio, Bayer

Bayer Talks Policy – Trade, WOTUS, Farm Bill

Jamie Johansen March 2, 2017

News from Washington comes daily and every decision in one way, shape or form impacts our agriculture community. The Bayer AgVocacy Form provided a platform for key policy issues to be discussed and Bayer’s Federal Relations and Policy Senior Director, Jim McVaney, shared his insights into the new administration.

“The fact that agriculture didn’t play a role in the President’s speech [to Congress] is interesting. But I don’t think it’s a negative. He did not run on a platform that was heavy on ag policy. What he did was run on a platform that was heavy on regulatory reform, streamlining the process and making government more friendly to business. Every other indication he has given says it will apply to how he approaches policies that impact the farm.”

With the news of Water of the United States (WOTUS) hot off the presses, Jim said he has been in D.C. for twenty-five years and he has never seen a rule generate so much negative activity. “On the WOTUS angle, we support our customers. What the executive order does and does not do still has to shack out. I think the order is a demonstration of the President’s commitment and seriousness to fixing this regulation. At the end of the day I think we will get something that is more streamlined and collaborative with the farming community and from the states.”

Jim also hits on the 2018 Farm Bill. Listen to my complete interview to see how it’s funding impacts the world of crop protection. Interview with Jim McVaney, Bayer Federal Relations & Policy Dir

View and download photos from the event here: 2017 Bayer AgVocate Forum Photos

Agribusiness, Audio, Bayer, Crop Protection, Crop Science, politics

Bayer Offers Outlook on Industry, Monsanto Acquisition

Lizzy Schultz March 1, 2017

When it comes to scientific innovation, Bayer has a longstanding reputation as a leader in the development of breakthrough technologies. New innovations, developments, and changes are always on the horizon for Bayer, and the company’s dynamic outlook was discussed during the 2017 Bayer AgVocacy Forum in a presentation from Dr. Adrian Percy, Bayer’s global head of research & development and an executive committee member of Bayer Crop Science, and David Hollinrake, vice president of North America Marketing, Bayer Crop Science.

The AgVocacy Forum was inspired by the simple but powerful conviction that the agriculture industry must strengthen the age-old bond between those who consume food and those who produce that food, and the presentation centered around Bayer’s ongoing efforts to use their innovations and developments to create a more inclusive, people-centered business model that will help bring together a disconnected society.

“The role of agriculture is more significant than ever before,” said Dr. Percy. “The exponential advances in technology that we have seen in recent years won’t solve our world’s food security and sustainability challenges by themselves, but they can go a long way in creating solutions to those challenges.”

Hollinrake discussed the global trends that will likely shape the future of the agriculture industry over the next fifteen years, the ongoing need for new innovation, the importance of Agvocacy, and Bayer’s mission to continue connecting consumers back to agriculture.

Both speakers also discussed how Bayer’s recent acquisition of Monsanto will play a key role in the creation of unprecedented, necessary technologies that will serve as solutions to the network of challenges facing the world today. “Technologically, I can’t think of a combination that could be better than what we are building, I am so excited about the possibilities of what we can create,” said Hollinrake.

Listen to the full presentation here:
Bayer Outlook Remarks at #AgVocate Forum

2017 #AgVocate Forum Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Bayer

Aptimmune’s Barricade, A Vaccine Formulation Tech for Pigs

Jamie Johansen March 1, 2017

Founded in 2010 by Dr. Federico Zuckermann, Aptimmune Biologics has meshed together some of the best in class technologies into a product able to deliver revolutionary results to producers. Barricade is the latest in vaccine formulation technology brought to producers exclusively by Aptimmune. Launched as an autogenous product, the intranasal mucosal inactivated vaccine for PRRS, brings together the best concepts in vaccine delivery and methodology people can use.

Aptimmune held a product launch with an audience of swine veterinarians sharing the research and science behind Barricade. There I sat down with Aaron Gilbertie, CEO, Aptimmune, who said “ZMAC cells are the macrophage which is very susceptible to PRRS. We have a patented cell line that allows us to isolate and grow the virus giving us the advantage to be able to deliver to the field a relevant autogenous product.”

Aaron said the process begins with veterinarians submitting the right isolate to partner, Iowa State University for isolation. From there it is sent to the manufacturer where it is grown to high titer and put together with a composition of nanoparticles and adjuvant. Then it’s applied through a multi-dose nasal spray applicator providing easy dose in the field.

Listen to my complete interview with Aaron to hear more about the product presentation and where you can go to learn more: Interview with Aaron Gilbertie, CEO, Aptimmune

View and download photos from the event here: Aptimmune Launch of Barricade Photo Album

Agribusiness, Animal Health, Audio, Pork, Research, Swine

Global Perspective at Bayer #AgVocate Forum

Cindy Zimmerman March 1, 2017

With a combination of colorful graphics and quirky tweet suggestions, author and academic lecturer Dr. Vikram Mansharamani set the tone for the Bayer AgVocacy Forum with a focus on the global economy.

Mansharamani discussed three main forces driving the global economy – China, technology, and a growing, aging population. Among his suggested tweets – “OMG! @Mansharamani could depress newlyweds on their honeymoon!” Among his most tweeted remarks – “More money, more meat.” Most tweeted slide in his presentation showed increase in populations of Nigeria and India per hour – 540 and 1800 respectively.

Listen to his remarks here: Dr. Vikram Mansharamani at Bayer Forum

2017 Bayer AgVocate Forum Photos

Audio, Bayer

SMART Farmer Podcast with Chip Bowling

Cindy Zimmerman March 1, 2017

Our new SMART Farmer podcast episode features Maryland grain farmer Chip Bowling, vice chairman of the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance who was recently in Panama with the U.S. Grains Council. He talks about his family farm, which is located almost in the shadow of the DC beltway, and how he uses the latest innovation and technology to be more sustainable so his operation will stay in his family.

Listen to the podcast here: SMART Farmer Podcast with Chip Bowling

It’s a great set up for the Commodity Classic in San Antonio this week, which is where we will all be this week. USFRA will have an exhibit featuring the SMART Farm launch and USFRA’s new 360-degree video, which utilizes a virtual reality (VR)-style headset. USFRA will also sponsor a learning center session on Saturday morning, March 4 on how “GMOs and Sustainability – Go Hand ‘n Hand.” We will be visiting with a few of the SMART farmers at Classic and will feature them in upcoming podcasts.

Subscribe to the SMART Farmer podcast

Audio, Podcasts, USFRA

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