Kevin Folta Awarded Borlaug CAST Communications Award

Lizzy Schultz

folta-award Dr. Kevin Folta was recognized as the winner of the seventh Borlaug CAST Communication Award (BCCA), and was honored with the award at a World Food Prize side event. Folta gave a memorable keynote address, titled “Unveiling Our Halo – Building Trust with a Concerned Consumer.”

Volta serves as the Chair of the Horticultural Sciences Department at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, where he conducts research, educates students, and communicates important concepts about science and the public.

His wide following on social media allows him to actively participate in the public forum about important topics related to agricultural biotechnology. Throughout his career he has received several impressive awards, including the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Award for undergraduate mentoring, and the University of Florida Research Foundation Award.

CAST’s annual award is intended to recognize experts in science or agriculture who demonstrate exemplary communication skills, through written material, public presentations, and various forms of media.

According to Dr. Jack Payne of the University of Florida, “Kevin Folta has done as much as anyone in the past decade to help the public understand the biotechnology behind its food.” And many agree with Julie Borlaug Larson’s observation: “He has not shied away from controversial subjects and has often been the number one target of the anti-science movement on behalf of all of us who support biotechnology.”

Ag Groups, World Food Prize

World Food Day is October 16th

Lizzy Schultz

fao-logo Mark your calendars: Sunday, October 16 is World Food Day 2016, and the theme of this year’s event is “Climate is changing. Food and agriculture must too.” The day will be one of the most celebrated events on the UN calendar, with over 150 countries recognizing it during various events and ceremonies.

Rome is hosting several key World Food Day events on October 14th, all of which intend to shine a spotlight on the critical links between our planet’s changing climate change, humanity’s food security, and the future of sustainable development. Mayors and senior officials from more than 45 cities, including Abidjan, Madrid, Mexico City and Shanghai, will also attend a Mayors’ Summit in Rome to discuss progress made in meeting the goals of the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact.

Rome’s event speakers will include:

Matteo Renzi, Prime Minister of Italy
Princess Lalla Hasnaa of Morocco
José Graziano da Silva, FAO Director-General
Macharia Kamau, UN Special Envoy on El Niño and Climate
Kanayo Nwanze, President, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
Ertharin Cousin, Executive Director, World Food Programme (WFP)

A special message on food security from Pope Francis will also be delivered at the ceremony.

This year’s The State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) report will be held on October 17th, the day after World Food Day 2016. The report will provide evidence on how a variety of agricultural sectors can help stabilize the global climate while simultaneously raising food output to eradicate hunger. The report will also documents the costs of inaction compared to the cost of interventions. The SOFA report will feature speakers José Graziano da Silva, Director-General FAO, and Kostas Stamoulis, FAO-Assistant Director-General, Hunger Eradication, Food Security, and Nutrition.

A final World Food Day event will be held by Committee on World Food Security (CFS) on October 17th. The session is set to endorse a set of policy recommendations on sustainable agricultural development, including livestock and on smallholder’s access to markets, and will also offer several panel discussions during the week, with topics covering sustainable value chains, experience in using the CFS guidelines on governance of tenure, rural-urban transformation and the review and follow up of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Ag Groups, Conservation, Events, Food, International, Sustainability

Meet the Speakers of AgCatalyst

Jamie Johansen

screen-shot-2016-10-13-at-5-35-55-pmThe brightest minds in social media, marketing, agriculture and food production will soon come together for AgCatalyst November 1-2 in Minneapolis, MN to spark conversations and lead the advancement of agriculture in North America.

Keynote speakers include:
– Jay Baer, President, Convince and Convert – Jay Baer is a renowned business strategist, keynote speaker and The New York Times best-selling author of five books, including “Hug Your Haters.” Baer travels the world helping businesspeople get and keep more customers.
– Joe Schwarcz, Director of Office for Science and Society, McGill University – “Dr. Joe” is known for his informative and entertaining public lectures that cover a variety of topics. He has appeared on television hundreds of times, authored best-selling books and received numerous awards for teaching chemistry and interpreting science for the public.
– Matt Sweezey, Principal of Marketing Insights, Salesforce – Matt Sweezey is regarded as one of the top minds in the future of marketing. A consummate researcher and thinker, Matthew’s work is often cited in leading publications and in modern marketing books. He is the author of “Marketing Automation for Dummies,” the first practical guide to marketing.

Learn how to educate, connect and build positive relationships all the way from the field to the consumers – and back again. They say registration is going fast, will you be there to find the best possible path to your customers’ hearts, minds and smart phones?

Advertising, Agribusiness, Marketing

AgriLabs Selects Meyocks for Branding, Marketing

Jamie Johansen

logoAgriLabs has selected Meyocks for branding and marketing communications services after an agency review.

“Meyocks brings proven integrated marketing expertise that will help AgriLabs build a strong strategy and communications platform,” says Sean O’Hare, executive vice president for AgriLabs. “We’re excited about Meyocks’ potential to deliver innovative work that will resonate with our customers and help us stand out in the marketplace.”

Meyocks will help AgriLabs develop strategy and integrated marketing programs for the AgriLabs brand, as well as the company’s vaccine portfolio, calf nutritionals, adjuvants with ENABL® technology and the VetGunTM delivery system for insect control.

Doug Jeske, president of Meyocks, says it’s an exciting time to engage with AgriLabs. “AgriLabs is building on its legacy through the development and commercialization of new, innovative technologies for food animal production. Meyocks is proud to partner with AgriLabs to tell its story.”

Advertising, Agribusiness, Marketing

New Agreement for John Deere and Ag Leader

Kelly Marshall

john_deere_logo_3623Ag Leader and Deere & Company have announced a licensing agreement for Precision Planting’s SeedTube and related planting products.  The agreement states that Ag Leader, a precision competitor, may use Deere technologies and licenses to manufacture and sell the Precision Planting SeedTubes and related technology, including vSet, vDrive and DeltaForce.  Of course, this is contingent on Deere’s acquisition of Precision Planting from The Climate Corporation.

The agreement also states that Ag Leader can build on the technology to develop future planting equipment innovations to support precision agriculture.  This expansion of Ag Leader’s planting choices and the ability to plant at higher speeds will provide their customers with more solutions.

“Ag Leader is continuously looking for opportunities to expand our already impressive line of precision farming technologies. When this prospect arose, we knew it was worth looking into for our customers and dealers, as high-speed planting is an emerging precision agriculture technology,” said Al Myers, president, Ag Leader Technology.

ag leaderAg Leader remains an independent competitor, completely separate of John Deere or Precision Planting, while still selling the Precision Planting products under the name farmers trust.  It will offer customers choice, for buying new machinery or retrofitting older equipment made by a variety of manufacturers.

Deere anticipates Ag Leader will sell Precision Planting components to retrofit Deere and other brands of planters and will provide a separate and competitive source of supply for OEM planter manufacturers that choose to equip their products with Precision Planting components.

Myers said, “The licensing agreement will add cutting-edge precision products and technologies, including SpeedTube, to Ag Leader’s product line, expanding upon our year-round, best-in-class solutions from planting through harvest.”

Ag Leader, Agribusiness, John Deere, Precision Agriculture

Zimfo Bytes

Lizzy Schultz

Zimfo Bytes

Zimfo Bytes

Novus CEO Receives Prestigious Globalist Award

Jamie Johansen

screen-shot-2016-10-13-at-8-09-22-amAt the John Cook School of Business at Saint Louis University, Boeing Institute of International Business honored Novus President and CEO, Francois Fraudeau, for his contributions to advance international trade in the St. Louis region.

The annual Hussmann International Business Awards Ceremony recognizes both professionals and student scholars who are active in international business and trade. The Globalist Award is given to “an individual who has distinguished himself through a commitment to international business development, demonstrated innovation and leadership in his profession, and contributed to or supported the Boeing Institute of International Business.”

As President and CEO of Novus International, a global animal nutrition solutions provider, Fraudeau’s influence in the global agriculture economy has widespread and positive impact in achieving the Company’s vision: to help feel the world affordable, wholesome food and achieve a higher quality of life. With sales in over 100 countries and growing, Fraudeau encourages the organization to develop globally-relevant products and services, while maintaining attention to the minutest of local details.

“It is an honor and a pleasure to be given The Globalist Award by this admired academic institution,” Fraudeau stated. “The Boeing Institute of International Business and the John Cook School of Business at Saint Louis University are developing a generation of leaders who will ensure success and prosperity in our globalized world.”

In addition to Fraudeau’s Award, undergraduate student, Miranda Koors, was selected for the Novus Global Business Scholarship. She was selected by a scholarship committee based on her academic, service, and professional achievements. Five additional students received similar scholarships from other sponsors. The ceremony took place on October 12 in the Anheuser-Busch Auditorium at Saint Louis University.

Agribusiness, Animal Health, Novus International

Georgia Peanut Hosts Trick or Peanut Event

Jamie Johansen

gpclogo300dpirgbThe Georgia Peanut Commission will be hosting a Trick or Peanut event at the GPC office on Wednesday, Oct. 26. The event is open to the public and citizens are encouraged to attend.

The GPC staff will be taking part by dressing up and providing peanuts and peanut butter- themed candies and treats to all visitors who stop by during the event.

According to My Candy Favorites, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are the most sought-after Halloween candy. Introduced in 1928, this candy is a delicious combination of milk chocolate and smooth and creamy peanut butter, so it’s no wonder kids everywhere love them. Reese’s come in various forms, from mini to pumpkin-shaped, making them the perfect treat to hand out to all of your eager trick-or-treaters this year. According to the site, Snickers and peanut M&Ms are also top favorites among trick-or treaters.

In coordination with the event, GPC is hosting a Paint-A-Pumpkin contest for children 13 years and younger. Participants are encouraged to paint a pumpkin with a peanut theme and email a photo of their painted pumpkin to whitney@gapeanuts.com by midnight on Oct. 23. All entered photos will be added to a Facebook album on the Georgia Peanuts Facebook page for voting on Oct. 24. Each like or share will count as one vote. The winner will be announced Nov. 1 to kick off National Peanut Butter Lovers Month celebrated annually in November.

Ag Groups, Peanuts

Need More Corn Exports on Heels of USDA Crop Report

Joanna Schroeder

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released its new corn forecast report and predicts that this year’s corn harvest will reach 15.057 bushels. Although this is down around 36 million bushels from last month’s estimates, it is still predicted to be another record crop. The World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimates Report also lowered corn supplies for 2016/2017 from the previous month with a new forecast of a record 16.845 billion bushels.

NCGA-LogoNew National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) President Wesley Spurlock said another record crop puts a spotlight on the need to find markets for the continually growing corn crops. “We must pass the Trans-Pacific Partnership this year. The farm economy continues to struggle so anything we can do to encourage and grow exports is critical. That’s why NCGA continues to encourage our elected officials to build trade access starting with TPP.”

USDA reduced the average U.S. corn yield by 1 bushel per acre to 173.4. Should these estimates prove true, these figures would still represent record yield and production numbers. The average price was increased by 5 cents to $3.25 per bushel.

“Although the production report remained largely unchanged, the export numbers offer some good news in a growing season so far characterized by a large crop and corn prices below the cost of production,” continued Spurlock who has made trade a priority for his association presidency. “U.S. corn exports are doing well, largely due to South American weather problems that are hurting crops in Brazil and Argentina. Asian countries like Japan and Korea are shifting to the U.S. to meet their needs so that’s good news for the nation’s family corn farmers.”

Feed and residual usage, ethanol and other FSI, were unchanged. Carry-in was increased by 22 million bushels.

Agribusiness, Corn, NCGA, Trade, USDA

Celebrate #NationalFarmersDay

Joanna Schroeder

Today is National Farmers Day. Just in time to celebrate our American farmers, country star Blake Shelton teaches Late Night Host Jimmy Fallon to milk a cow. I don’t know about you, but I definitely have more appreciation for farmers after watching this!


As Twitter blows up today in honor of our growers, several quotes stand out. In the words of Thomas Jefferson, “Agriculture is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals and happiness.”

And in the words of George Washington, “Agriculture is the most healthful, most useful, most and most noble employment of man.”

Photo Credit: Twitter

Photo Credit: Twitter

With perfect timing, USDA issued the latest statistics on the corn harvest this morning and once again, American corn farmers are set to post another record with corn production estimated to be 15.1 billion bushels for the 2016/2017 harvest. This feat is more than double the production only 25 years ago. For example, in 1991, corn production was 7.48 billion bushels. Also this year the USDA is forecasting another record yield of 173.4 bushels per acre, surpassing the 171 bushels per acre recorded in 2014.

The ethanol industry has played a significant role in providing an outlet for corn. Lat year, the the U.S. ethanol industry used 5.25 billion bushels of corn last year valued at $19 billion. This was used to produce nearly 15 billion gallons of ethanol and 40 million metric tons of dried distillers grains, or DDGS, an animal feed. In all, the ethanol coupled with DDGs production was valued at more than $31 billion.

Today, Bob Dinneen, Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO s,ent out a great thank you to America’s farmers on behalf of the ethanol industry. “Ethanol continues to be the most important value-added market for America’s farmers, helping to drive investment in rural America while allowing Congress to reduce federal farm program costs. At the same time, ethanol is helping to clean the air, address global climate change, enhance U.S. energy security and lower consumer gasoline costs. Given all that farmers do to help feed and fuel the world, every day should be National Farmer’s Day.“

Agribusiness, Corn, Ethanol, RFA, USDA, Video