GROWMARK FS Offers Pollinator Gardens to 4-H

Kelly Marshall

GROWMARK is providing an opportunity for 4-H clubs to be a part of sustaining and increasing the honey bee population. 4-H clubs in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin with a public space and secure permission are eligible for enough seeds to plant a 700 square foot pollinator garden and educational signage.

“Last year, we had nearly 40 clubs participating in the program,” said Karen Jones, GROWMARK Youth and Cooperative Education Specialist. “Growing the number of pollinator gardens this year will help provide even more habitat for bees and other beneficial pollinator species.”

Applications are due online by March 31, 2017.

GROWMARK, pollinators

Make Plans for 2017 Water for Food Conference

Cindy Zimmerman

Mark your calendars for the 2017 Water for Food Global Conference April 10-12 at Nebraska Innovation Campus in Lincoln, Nebraska.

The theme of the conference this year is “Water for Food Security: From Local Lessons to Global Impacts” and is based on the premise that global breakthroughs come from local action. It will feature plenary and parallel sessions to explore the research, technology and educational approaches that are advancing food and water security for our world.

Among this year’s speakers are A.G. Kawamura, former California Secretary of Agriculture and third generation fruit and vegetable grower; and Marlos De Souza, Secretary, Water Platform Land & Water Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

Find out more here.

Events, Water

Preview of #NFMS17

Chuck Zimmerman

Greetings from Louisville and the 2017 National Farm Machinery Show!

I arrived early yesterday and one of the first people I ran into was Steve Kelly, Executive Director of Expositions, so we sat down for a preview chat for this year’s event.

Steve says they have filled 1.2 million square feet of space under roof and there’s enough demand to sell almost that much more! They have made a few significant changes in the show which allows for more first level room for farm equipment so there is now a Gift & Craft Market on the Mezzanine Level with more than 70 booths for shopping.

This is the 52nd NFMS and it’s also the 49th annual Championship Tractor Pull. Steve says there have been some additions to the tractor pull which include pay per view live streaming from the show this year. Steve says that there will be some big equipment announcements as usual and that this year the show even has “drones.” Keep up with me as I will be your eyes and ears at the show thanks to our sponsor FMC.

Learn more in this interview: Interview with Steve Kelly, Kentucky State Fair Board

2017 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by
Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by FMC
Audio, Equipment, FMC, National Farm Machinery Show, Tractor

IPPE Sets Records for 2017

Jamie Johansen

A record setting 31,649 poultry, meat and feed industry leaders from all over the world attended this year’s International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE). The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, American Feed Industry Association and North American Meat Institute sponsored event also brought in 1,273 exhibitors showcasing products in 533,000 square feet of exhibit space.

“We are very excited about this year’s record-breaking exhibit space floor and attendance numbers. The turnout for the 2017 IPPE was exceptional, and the feedback from attendees has been extremely positive regarding time spent on the trade show floor and in education sessions. We expect next year will be even more valuable for attendees and exhibitors alike,” the three organizations said.

We always look forward to covering this trade show each year and have already marked our calendars for 2018, we suggest you do the same. Next year’s IPPE will be held Jan. 30 – Feb. 1, 2018, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Ga.

View and download photos from the event here: 2017 International Production & Processing Expo Photo Album

Coverage of the International Production and Processing Expo is sponsored by
Coverage of the International Production and Processing Expo is sponsored by NOVUS
Ag Groups, IPPE, Meat, Novus International, Poultry, Poultry Expo

Farm Bureau Donates to Hungry Americans

Kelly Marshall

The American Farm Bureau, lead by the Young Farmers & Ranchers program, raised more than $1.1 million and donate more than 28.9 million pounds of food for hungry Americans in 2016. The “Harvest for All” program is now in its 15th year and has fed more than 31 million meals, thanks to the efforts of farmers and ranchers.

“Farm Bureau has a long tradition of helping provide nourishment for those who need it the most,” said Kalena Bruce, a cattle farmer from Missouri who chairs AFBF’s national YF&R committee. “More than 50 percent of Americans struggling with hunger live in rural areas and farming communities. We’re pleased to help families in our communities who are in need.”

AFBF, Ag Groups, Food

#ONE17 Thoughts from the Alltech Idea Man

Jamie Johansen

I never turn down an opportunity to talk with Alltech founder and president, Dr. Pearse Lyons. The 2017 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show provided my most recent conversation with the idea man and naturally, we talked ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference (ONE17) which is set for May 21-24 in Lexington, Kentucky. The event will “inspire farmers, ranchers, producers, suppliers and influencers in every species and segment across production agriculture to create disruption and be prepared to harness its potential — or risk being rendered irrelevant.”

“Our goal is to help our partners in agriculture put their ideas into action,” said Dr. Lyons. “If you want to activate your vision, gain a more global perspective and connect with the most innovative minds in agriculture, ONE17 is the only place to be.”

“ONE is meant to encourage, empower and, most importantly, challenge us,” said Dr. Lyons. “We want individuals to leave feeling like they were part of a life-changing development for the industry and feel empowered to implement solutions back home.”

He said the key to ONE is ONE. ONE place to go to get new ideas. ONE opportunity to show your ideas.

I believe this will be my fifth Alltech annual symposium to attend and each time I am wowed, inspired and excited to bring you the latest topics, ideas and innovations discussed. The AgWired team will once be on-site throughout the festivities and serve as a Virtual Ag Newsroom creating content you can use. Listen to my complete converstation with Dr. Lyons here:
Interview with Dr. Pearse Lyons, Alltech

2017 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show Photo Album


Agribusiness, Alltech, Audio, Education, Events, NCBA, Video

Agri-Pulse Farm Bill Series Debuts

Cindy Zimmerman

Agri-Pulse has debuted the first in a series of in-depth articles on the next farm bill, “Every Farm Bill is Unique – the last one was a doozy.”

“The Seven Things You Should Know Before You Write the Next Farm Bill” series will culminate in a Farm Bill Summit at the National Press Club on March 20. Agri-Pulse Editor Sara Wyant says the effort is “designed to foster a well-rounded discussion about the future of food and farm policy, as well as a deeper understanding of how all Americans benefit from a comprehensive farm bill.”

Sponsors of the series include the American Farm Bureau Federation, American Sugar Alliance, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, National Crop Insurance Services, Environmental Defense Fund and the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance.

“The farm bill series and Summit will provide an essential platform so that congressional and administration staff members are fully aware of the many issues on the collective agenda of America’s farmers and ranchers,” said American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall.

Agri-Pulse, Farm Policy

Building a Better Tomato

Cindy Zimmerman

There’s a chemistry to the flavor of food but most growers simply aren’t set up for the intense process of studying and improving the tomatoes they grow, according to University of Florida horticultural science professor Harry Klee who has been researching the chemicals that contribute to tomato flavor.

“Most everyone agrees there’s a huge problem with the commercial tomato and the flavor of those products,” Klee told attendees at the recent American Seed Trade Association’s Vegetable and Flower Conference. “We’ve set out a long term goal to understand flavor on a basic level and ultimately how to improve it.”

Klee reviewed his study led an international research team that included scientists from China, Israel and Spain that had just been published in the journal Science.

“We identified the important factors that have been lost and showed how to move them back into the modern types of tomatoes,” he said, stressing that this technique involves classical genetics, not genetic modification. “We’re just fixing what has been damaged over the last half century to push them back to where they were a century ago, taste-wise. We can make the supermarket tomato taste noticeably better.”

Listen to Klee’s presentation here: UF Horticultural Science Professor Harry Klee

ASTA, Audio, Vegetables

AFBF Offers Second Helping of Peas to the Table Contest

Kelly Marshall

The American Farm Bureau Foundation is bringing their Peas to the Table Contest back for a second year. The national competition will run from February 20- May 15. Children in kindergarten through fifth grade will plant, raise and harvest peas, competing for the highest yield. The winning school will receive a visit from Miss America 2017.

The contest was created as a response to the book “First Peas to the Table” by Susan Grigsby, and the Foundation hopes it helps students understand healthy foods and the importance of agriculture in their everyday lives. Participants in the event may plant up to 20 garden shelling or English peas in a hot house, hoop house, indoor pot/planter or outside garden. Official rules and information are available on the website.

Local farmers and ranchers are also encouraged to speak in classrooms about food production during the contest. Contact your local Farm Bureau office to find a farmers or rancher in your area.

AFBF, Education

Get Ready to “Farmer Up” at #Classic17

Cindy Zimmerman

Are you ready to Farmer Up at Commodity Classic 2017? Well, you better get ready ‘cuz it’s just around the corner now, coming up March 2-4 in San Antonio, Texas.

Attendee surveys indicate that networking with other farmers is a highly rated experience at Commodity Classic. “Commodity Classic attracts thousands of America’s best farmers from across the nation—and they all share a passion for agriculture and a thirst for knowledge,” said Ed Erickson, Jr., a North Dakota farmer and co-chair of the 2017 Commodity Classic. “We share with each other how we can make our farms more profitable; and, if I can tweak anything that comes from Texas or the East coast to make my farm even better, that really adds to the value of attending Commodity Classic.” 2017 Commodity Classic Co-Chair Ed Erickson, Jr.

Kevin Ross, an Iowa farmer and co-chair of the 2017 Commodity Classic, said that striking up a conversation with other farmers is easy to do. “All you’ve got to do is reach out and shake somebody’s hand, and all of a sudden you’re going to be talking shop to them. Just having that handshake and meeting somebody new can really benefit your own farm. Over the years, that networking has become very valuable to our operation, and there’s not a better place to do it than Commodity Classic,” he said.2017 Commodity Classic Co-Chair Kevin Ross

Find out more at commodityclassic.com.

Commodity Classic