#Plant17 Makes Progress

Cindy Zimmerman

(Apr 19) #TodayAtTomFarms Our #DB90 is on the move planting #corn this morning.

Some dry days last week helped farmers make up for slow progress the week before as corn planting gained 11 points to almost be at the average for this time of year at 17 percent, according to the latest crop progress report out Monday.

Illinois and Missouri jumped ahead last week in corn planting progress, planting over one quarter of their crops in the week ending April 23, while North Carolina planted over 30 percent. Four percent of the crop nationwide has emerged, the same as last year and the five year average.

While the planting in Illinois was gaining momentum last week, I talked Tim Laatsch of the Agronomy Division at GROWMARK about how the warmer, drier winter combined with wet conditions this spring is causing winter annuals to thrive in some areas, providing a good habitat for cutworms. Laatsch says significant numbers of cutworms have been reported in the past three weeks so he suggests that growers be aggressively scouting early corn right now.

In this interview, Laatsch also talks about some of the other weed and disease pressures he’s seeing in the area: Interview with Tim Laatsch, GROWMARK

Audio, Corn, GROWMARK

It’s a Sonny Day for America

Cindy Zimmerman

The U.S. Senate has formally confirmed the nomination of George Ervin “Sonny” Perdue III to serve as the 31st Secretary of Agriculture. The final vote was 87 to 11.

Agribusinessman, veterinarian, state legislator, and governor of Georgia, Perdue worked on the family farm in central Georgia andn will be only the fourth agriculture secretary who can claim to have been a farmer. According to his bio from USDA, it was the family farm which shaped Sonny Perdue. “He has lived and breathed the exhilaration of a great crop and the despair and devastation of a drought. He learned by experience what his father told him as a child, “If you take care of the land, the land will take care of you.””

Perdue recognizes that agriculture is an issue and industry which cuts across political party boundaries. He recognizes that the size, scope, and diversity of America’s agricultural sector requires reaching across the aisle so that partisanship doesn’t get in the way of good solutions for American farmers, ranchers, and consumers.

Perdue was the last cabinet member to be nominated before President Trump took office in January but there is still one more to be confirmed and that is Alex Acosta, who was second choice for labor secretary after Trump’s first choice withdrew. Perdue is scheduled to make his first remarks to USDA staff members at 9:00 am Eastern time Tuesday morning.

Listen to the comments of senators supporting Perdue’s confirmation on the floor Monday.
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) – McConnell/Perdue
Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS) – Roberts/Perdue
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) – Stabenow/Perdue
Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) – Tester/Perdue
Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA) – Isakson/Perdue

Audio, USDA

SMART Farmer Nancy Kavazanjian

Cindy Zimmerman

This is episode number six of the USFRA SMART Farmer podcast and this one is with Nancy Kavazanjian, who served as the second chairperson of the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance.

Nancy farms with her husband Charlie Hammer in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin on land that has been in his family for 150 years. She grew up on Long Island, made a career as an agricultural journalist, has served as chairperson of the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance and currently serves on the board representing the United Soybean Board.

In this podcast, Nancy talks about the smart technology of GPS and GMOs on the farm: SMART Farmer Podcast with Nancy Kavazanjian

Subscribe to the SMART Farmer podcast
Learn more about USFRA and SMART Farm

Audio, Corn, Podcasts, Soybean, USFRA

Ethanol and Earth Day

Cindy Zimmerman

Ethanol has a seat on the ground at one of the largest Earth Day events in the country this weekend – Earth Day Texas, which last year hosted over 130,000 attendees, over 700 exhibitors and more than 250 speakers.

ethanol-report-adEven bigger and better this year, the event includes the National Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Day Odyssey where Renewable Fuels Association Vice President of Industry Relations Robert White spoke yesterday.

In this edition of The Ethanol Report, White talks about how ethanol has helped to clean up vehicle emissions and come a long way since the first Earth Day in 1970. Ethanol Report on Earth Day 2017

Click here to subscribe to the Ethanol Report podcast feed and never miss an episode!

Audio, Environment, Ethanol, Podcasts, RFA

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