Trump EPA Pick Pleases AFBF

Kelly Marshall December 9, 2016

President-elect Trump has selected Scott Pruitt to head the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President, Zippy Duvall, responded positively to the announcement that the Oklahoma Attorney General who challenged the California caged hen law, investigated the Humane Society of the United States, and sued the EPA on more than one occasion, will now be in a position to help America’s farmers and ranchers.

“President-elect Trump’s selection of Scott Pruitt to lead the Environmental Protection Agency is welcome news to America’s farmers and ranchers—in fact, to all who are threatened by EPA’s regulatory overreach—and should help provide a new degree of fairness for U.S. agriculture,” Duvall commented.

Noting farmers’ appreciation for Pruitt’s effective legal work in response to EPA’s overreaching Waters of the U.S. rule, Duvall said AFBF anticipates that as EPA administrator, Pruitt will pay attention to the concerns of farmers and ranchers and others who work with the nation’s natural resources on a daily basis.

AFBF, EPA

#AgChat 2016 Cultivate & Connect

Chuck Zimmerman December 8, 2016

Hello from frigid Kansas City, MO. I am not going to the Chiefs game tonight. No way! But I will be rooting for them.

No, I’m here for a quick stop to visit all my AgChat Foundation peeps and just completed a session on Farm Podcasting during the 2016 Cultivate & Connect Conference. I really wish the @FarmPodcaster could have been here. But she’s still covering #ASTACSS in Chicago.

My presentation focused on a broad overview since there are many elements of podcasting that could take a session by themselves. For example, audio or video editing. My slide show is filled with hyperlinks to more information and you can download it here (.pptx). Please follow the hashtag here to get lots of information and viewpoints on AgVocating.

The session room was full but only two people raised their hands when I asked if they produce a podcast. Many more raised their hands to show they have a blog.

Three key takeaways to my presentation are:

Your podcast is about you and your passion.
Regular episodes build expectation
Promote with all the social media tools you have

Of course I can elaborate a lot on these points and there is the whole production (hardware/software), syndication, promotion part but hopefully you’ll get interested in “narrowcasting” and make it a valuable mechanism to expand and grow your audience.

Podcasts

Should EPA Increase Biofuels Use? Yes, It’s the Law

Jamie Johansen December 8, 2016

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “Should EPA increase biofuels use?”

Energy diversity takes the win this week. EPA set final levels for biofuels use in 2017 under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) that are in line with the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act, calling for the maximum 15 million gallons of conventional ethanol for the first time and increasing volumes for biomass-based biodiesel.

Here are the poll results:

Yes – it’s the law – 60%
No – repeal RFS – 23%
Don’t know – 11%
Other – 6%

Our new ZimmPoll is live and asks the question, What’s on your Christmas list?

I find it hard to believe it is already time for Christmas. I guess times flies when you’re having fun! Have you made your list for Santa? My nearly three-year-old has and it’s a doozy. I fit into the category of #AgNerd and check daily to see if Apple’s Airpods have been released yet. Sadly, the day hasn’t come. Are you looking for some new warm gear to do chores in, some ag tech to help make life on the farm easier or are you one of those who just asks for cash or gifts cards? Let us know!

ZimmPoll

Everyday Advocate at #ASTACSS

Kelly Marshall December 8, 2016

Jessie, Kelsy, Brian and Kiera Alt

Earlier this week we got to see ASTA’s latest video project with plant breeder and mother, Jessie Alt. Today I got to sit down with her to talk about her role connecting consumers with plant science.

As a research scientist for DuPont Pioneer, Jessie’s day job is to develop new soybean varieties for farmers, but off the clock she’s a wife and mother of two little girls. ASTA’s goal was to create a video that shows consumers the face of a plant breeder– making the whole thing a little less scary and a lot more real.

The video is authentic, Alt told me. It’s her kitchen table, her office at work, and her dead tomato plants. The girls sitting on the counter and helping in the garden are authentic as well, as any mother can see. You can also see the passion she has for her work, and for her efforts in sharing that work with the public.

Besides the video Alt is also involved in her community. As time allows she takes a few minutes to share with her daughter’s preschool class and often speaks to local high school students.

“If anyone wants to be an agvocate- or advocate- for what they do everyday it does not have to be big,” Alt assures. “It really can be just 10 or 15 minutes here and there, having a conversation.”

Listen to my full interview to hear more about the newest face of plant breeding: Interview with Jessie Alt, DuPont Pioneer

ASTA CSS 2016 Photo Album

Coverage of ASTA CSS and Seed Expo brought to you by

and

Coverage of ASTA CSS and Seed Expo brought to you by BASF Ag Products

Agribusiness, ASTA, Audio, Pioneer

#Seed is Focus of New @BASFAgProducts R&D Center

Cindy Zimmerman December 8, 2016

BASF’s new Research and Development facility in Limburgerhof, Germany that just opened this year has brought a new center of expertise into the growing world of biological crop protection and seed solutions. Nathan Froese with BASF ‎R&D Seed Solutions for the Americas was at the ASTA CSS & Seed Expo this week to highlight some of the work being done at the facility.

“We do application of products to the seed and testing to see what value they provide for growers,” said Froese. “We also do work on coatings that provide color and improved flow.”

Froese says the R&D done at the Germany facility feeds into other BASF research centers around the world, including U.S. facilities in North Carolina and Iowa. “All of these sites work together very closely and the new site really acts as an R&D hub for seed solutions,” he said, noting that this is speeding up the research process for the company. “The state of the art equipment really helps us move new compounds through quicker.”

Learn more about BASF biologicals and seed solutions R&D in this interview: Interview with Nathan Froese, BASF

ASTA CSS 2016 Photo Album

Coverage of ASTA CSS and Seed Expo brought to you by

and

ASTA, Audio, BASF, Research, Seed

Creating Disney Magic At #ARA2016

Lizzy Schultz December 8, 2016

The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) Conference had a magical closing statement to end this year’s sessions with Lee Cockerell, retired Executive Vice President of Walt Disney World giving a closing address titled “You Can create Disney Magic Too.”

Cockerell’s address focused on the factors he believes are the key to running a successful business: “It’s not magic that makes Disney World work, it’s the way we work,” he said. He stressed the importance of hiring and promoting the right people, as well as having systems in place to help pick them out, implementing and enforcing quality training programs, and creating a positive and inclusive work culture for employees. “Those three things translate to the bottom line, and they translate to more ingenuity and creativity,” said Cockerell in an interview following his address.

He also emphasized that organization, competency, and strong leadership skills are absolute necessities for executives looking to run successful businesses. “When you do the hard things, life gets easier,” he said. “Do something hard every week and your life will continue to get easier, but if you only do the easy things, life will get harder, and it will come back and bite you.”

Cockerell also has published a number of books on professional development. His latest book, Career Magic, relays an account of the numerous obstacles young professionals are bound to face in their careers and offers advice on how to keep them from taking control. “I’ve been passed over, I’ve been fired, I’ve been disappointed, and you’ve just got to go out and get back at it,” he said. “I worry about young people giving up too quick because they don’t get it quick enough, but you need to be patient with your career.”

Learn more in Chuck’s full interview with Lee here: Interview with Lee Cockerell, Walt Disney World

2016 ARA Conference & Expo Photo Album

Coverage of the ARA Conference and Expo is sponsored by

Ag Groups, ARA, Audio

Evolution of Plant Breeding in Focus at #ASTACSS

Kelly Marshall December 7, 2016

ASTA CSS in Chicago this week brought together a panel of experts to talk about the future of gene editing and it’s role in the agriculture industry.

“Plant breeding is an evolving practice. It’s an evolving science.” said American Seed Trade Association President and CEO Andy LaVigne. “Plant breeding builds upon itself.” LaVigne outlined the milestones in plant breeding, beginning 10,000 years ago when man using selection breeding, all the way up to the new frontier of gene editing and precision breeding. Andy LaVigne, ASTA

Jerry Flint serves as the Vice President of Industry Affairs and Regulatory at DuPont Pioneer. He addressed CRISPR-Cas, a revolutionary plant breeding technique in which Pioneer is leading the way. “We need to continue to upgrade our toolbox in term of what’s avaialbe to plant breeders so that we provide the best tool and research development program to meet those growing needs,” Flint says. Jerry Flint, DuPont Pioneer

Corinne Marshall introduced the application of gene editing in vegetables. As IP & Licensing Manager of Sakata Seeds America, Corinne sees advantages of the technology to increase nutrition in food, like helping broccoli retain nutrients lost in cooking or using watermelon to lower blood pressure. Corinne Marshall, Sakata Seeds America

Juliet Marshall, Associate Professor at the University of Idaho, explained how the CRISPR-Cas technology is different from GMOs. Her presentation showed how a simple deletion of one DNA code could enhance genes already present in the plant. Juliet Marshall, University of Idaho

In addition to developing the new technology, stakeholders will need to address consumer perception of gene editing and learn lessons from the backlash against GMOs. ASTA Chairman Mark Herrmann, CEO and President of AgReliant Genetics, said the industry is planning to “get out in front of the conversation.” Lavigne and Flint also weighed in on the need for transparency and consumer education efforts. Gene Editing and Consumers

Be sure to listen to the audio links for full comments from each of the presenters.

ASTA CSS 2016 Photo Album

Coverage of ASTA CSS and Seed Expo brought to you by

and

ASTA, Audio, Plant Breeding, Seed

The Ag Outlook at #ASTACSS

Cindy Zimmerman December 7, 2016

The perennial highlight of the ASTA CSS & Seed Expo is Dan Basse with Ag Resource Company with his global ag outlook. No one can cram as much information into a one hour presentation as Dan Basse!

Despite the downturn in the farm economy domestically, Basse says it was better on a global scale. “If you’re sitting in Brazil, Russia, Argentina, or even Europe, it wasn’t such a bad year,” he said. Especially for farmers in Argentina, who got a tax break for Christmas last year from their new president Mauricio Macri that just kept on giving throughout 2016. “If you’re an Argentinian farmer, you woke up after Mr. Macri was elected and you got approximately $240 extra,” Basse said. “We believe that Argentina will become an export powerhouse of agriculture in the years to come.”

As far as the new president for the United States, Basse says there’s a lot of uncertainties when it comes to a Trump presidency at this point. “We haven’t even decided on an ag secretary as of yet,” he said. But, Basse does believe that President Trump will be very good for biofuels.

Listen to a ten minute summary of Basse’s major points in this interview: Interview with Dan Basse, Ag Resource Company

ASTA CSS 2016 Photo Album

Coverage of ASTA CSS and Seed Expo brought to you by

and

ASTA, Audio

Measure, Model, Fix – Big Data’s Role in Animal Ag

Jamie Johansen December 7, 2016

When the term ‘big data’ is used in agriculture, we generally think crops. However, we are hearing it more and more in animal agriculture circles. “Big data and models: Are they really useful in disease management?” turned the conversation towards swine health at the 2016 North American PRRS Symposium as Dr. Jim Lowe, University of Illinois, took the stage during Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedia, Inc.’s sponsored session.

After working to control PRRS for 20 years, Dr. Lowe began to question if there were other ways to look at it. Engineers work with complicated systems at a number of levels. Dr. Lowe simply asked how they solve problems, “We teach engineers to think in this pattern, which is measure what the system is doing, model it up so you can understand and try your interventions and then go fix it.”

Vets are trained to solve the problem today. We naturally want things fixed quickly. As PPRS has become more complicated, Dr. Lowe said taking a broad approach has shown value. But how do we leverage the data in animal health?

“To make that happen, there are four steps. We have to think about how we aggregate the data and how do we build those collaborations to allow the aggregation to happen. Then, how do we use sophisticated modern tools to do the analysis. Finally, how do we synthesize the information and give it back to producers in a way they can drive decisions by it.”

In my complete interview with Dr. Lowe hear more about the use of practical, simple solutions that can be driven to the field today and changes made tomorrow. Interview with Dr. Jim Lowe, University of Illinois

View and download photos from the event here: 2016 BIVI PRRS Seminar Photo Album

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

Changing of the Chairs at #ARA2016

Cindy Zimmerman December 7, 2016

Premier Ag CEO Harold Cooper hands the ARA Chairman’s Gavel to BRANDT COO Tim McArdle

Premier Ag CEO Harold Cooper hands the Chairman’s Gavel to BRANDT COO Tim McArdle

A new chairman for the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) took the gavel last week during the organization’s annual meeting in Orlando.

BRANDT Chief Operating Officer Tim McArdle received the gavel from Harold Cooper, CEO of Premier Ag Co-Op, and will serve a one-year term. “I’m incredibly humbled to take on this role and I look forward to working with ARA to provide leadership for our industry,” said McArdle. “I see my job as helping our industry maintain our freedom to operate in a highly regulated environment.”

McArdle is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Agricultural Retailers Association, Fluid Fertilizer Foundation, Responsible Ag and AgGateway. He also serves on the BRANDT Board of Directors.

In an address to the audience at the annual meeting, McArdle touched on the importance of ARA and other industry groups and the strength of previous ARA leadership.

“I’ve seen firsthand the scale of professionalism of the staff at ARA during my tenure on the executive committee,” he said. “You guys are out there amongst the people all the time, actively engaging with the industry to find out what is important for us to act on.”

Listen to McArdle’s full address here:
Changing of the ARA Chairs

2016 ARA Conference & Expo Photo Album

Coverage of the ARA Conference and Expo is sponsored by

ARA, Audio

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