Huge Disservice to the Organic Industry

Chuck Zimmerman June 14, 2016

I like to use images and especially video to help tell a story. In this case, however, there is just no need to do so. The folks at the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance brought to my attention the rather disgusting work of the Clif Bar Family Foundation demonstrated by their Seed Matters initiative that features a profanity spewing animated seed video produced by the Butler Brothers. Yes, these folks have a serious agenda that doesn’t care about things like facts. Here’s a response to their video from USFRA:

The Clif Bar Family Foundation recently released a video titled “Seed Matters” which uses a foul-mouthed lead character and inappropriate imagery to not only attack conventional farming practices but also insult science, agronomic research and all farmers who choose to implement modern farming practices.

U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance CEO, Randy Krotz, issued a rebuttal to the video. Please read his piece and share with your agriculture community. It’s time for all of agriculture to come together and respond in a collective and united voice.

Foul-Mouthed ‘Mr. Seed’ Sells With Scares

It saddens me to say that the organic food industry has reached a new low. U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance has always been an organization that promotes and encourages diversity in food production practices, but we find ourselves speechless, mouths hanging open. The atrocity of the Seed Matters video created for the Clif Bar Family Foundation, and the messages within, have crossed the line.

In an attempt to scare the public about GMO crops, the video uses unrealistic imagery (think skeletal fish, seeds on steroids) to promote an organic agenda. The website of the film’s creators (http://thebutlerbros.com/work/mr-seed/), states the main character, Mr. Seed “educates people about seed issues and the benefits of organic seed.” But Seed Matters actually perpetuates some of the greatest myths of agriculture using a foul-mouthed character and inappropriate imagery. The main purpose of the video is supposedly taking a stance on biotech and its ability to feed the world. The mark really couldn’t have been further missed.

There are millions of people who work in the agricultural industry around the world. At a time when we should be united for the common good of feeding the world, we are fighting instead, using unethical and non-factual propaganda as the weapon. Food companies are using junk science driving people away from sustainable practices like GMOs to manipulate consumers for the sole purpose of market gain. The bottom line is: no matter your approach to farming, or how you view various farming practices, the outright demonization of conventional agriculture and family farms is despicable.

Ag Groups, Organic, USFRA, Wackos

BIVI’s Swine Diagnostics Revolution

Joanna Schroeder June 14, 2016

There is a swine diagnostics revolution and Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc.’s is leading the way. The company’s Health Management Center (HMC) in Ames, Iowa is where Wayne Chittick, as manager, takes swine diagnostics to the next level.The swine diagnostic lab is part BIVI’s technical services group and was on display during this year’s World Pork Expo. Chittick said the lab is designed to help the vet and account teams explore problems that matter to the client. They conduct diagnostics in their lab as well as send samples to other labs to ultimately answer questions that clients have on the farm.

One area of expertise for BIVI and the lab is quality control. “We know its very important that the results we generate are creating evidence that is used to make decisions on the farm and these decisions can be very high dollar, high consequence decisions,” explained Chittick. “So we’ve done a lot over the years to assure that the test results we generate are accurate and right the first time. We do that in part through what we call a quality system which is all the procedures, policies and ways of doing work that help us ensure accurate results go out the first time.”

Chittick said their quality system is recognized through third-party accreditation so the tests they offer have been American Association of Lab Accreditation accredited since 2004 to the ISO 17025 standard.

Today the swine diagnostic lab can analyze samples within 24 hours, said Chittick. When asked what the future of diagnostics looked like he said that today their lab network is pretty unprecedented. “Besides having same day PCR results, within a few days we can have sequence results to tell you what strain is present.”

And the future? “Things I think we’re hearing about in the future are methods in the lab that allow you to get more information from a single sample such as multiplex assays that let you detect more targets in each sample.” Chittick added that in the field he believes they will be able to get diagnostics from the pen, literally right on the farm, so the producer wouldn’t have to send the samples in to a traditional lab to get immediate results.

To learn more one day in the life of a sample and the future of swine diagnostics, listen to Jamie’s interview with Wayne Chittick: Interview with Wayne Chittick, BIVI

2016 BIVI HMC Media Tour Photo Album.

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

Protect the Harvest Named Title Sponsor of Racing Series

Kelly Marshall June 14, 2016

Protect the Harvest was founded in 2011 to fight for the right’s of America’s famers, ranchers, animal owners and sportsmen and women. Now they have become the title sponsor for the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event.

The 29th annual Protect the Harvest NHRA National will be held on August 5-7, 2016 at Pacific Raceways near Seattle. It is one part of a three-race NHRA Western swing and will feature competition in Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock. Finals will be televised live on FOX; qualifying coverage will be available on FOX Sports 1.

The grueling Western Swing, where NHRA race teams travel more than 5,300 miles in three consecutive weekends between Denver, Sonoma and Seattle, is a pivotal part of the Mello Yello Series regular season.

The Protect The Harvest NHRA Nationals will be the final stop in the three-race adventure and in many years drivers have arrived at the event in position to complete a rare sweep of the Western Swing. Only seven drivers have done it in NHRA history, including most recently Antron Brown in 2009. Last season Funny Car driver Jack Beckman just missed out on adding his name to that impressive list, which also includes Joe Amato, John Force, Tony Schumacher, Larry Dixon and Greg Anderson among others.

“Forrest and Charlotte Lucas have been tremendous supporters of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series over the years and once again they have stepped forward to provide title sponsorship of the event at Pacific Raceways through their Protect The Harvest group,” said Brad Gerber, NHRA vice president and chief development officer. “We appreciate their long term dedication and commitment to the sport and we look forward to working with them and Protect The Harvest during the final stop of the famed NHRA Western Swing.”

This will be the first NHRA event entitlement for Protect the Harvest, although they provide sponsorship for Morgan Lucas, Hector Arana and Richie Crampton and other racing teams.

“We look forward to raising the profile of Protect The Harvest through its association with the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and this great event at Pacific Raceways,” said Forrest Lucas, founder and chair of Protect The Harvest. “The Seattle area is beautiful and we are anticipating a very exciting event to conclude the NHRA Western Swing.”

Ag Groups

USFRA Wants You as the Next Faces of Farming & Ranching

Jamie Johansen June 14, 2016

You can be the next face to farming and ranching. U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) is looking for the next class of Faces of Farming & Ranching to tell their stories about how today’s food is grown and raised. The USFRA team was out in full force during the recent World Pork Expo and we caught up with them to learn more about how standout farmers and ranchers can share their legacies.

Kevin Waetke is vice president of communications for the National Pork Board and also serves on the USFRA communications committee. Kevin said the ideal candidate is a working, knowledgable professional in agriculture.

“We are looking for professional farmers who are willing to tell their story, but who can also connect with the consumer. They literally are the face of farming and ranching. So many people today have no exposure to American agriculture. The role of the faces of farming and ranching is to put a face on farming.”

If you are proud of what you do and strive to be sustainable and technology driven, are eager to share your stories of continuous improvement and are actively involved in engaging with consumers at events and on social media – then you need to apply. You have from now until July 10!

Listen to my complete interview with Kevin to learn more: Interview with Kevin Waetke, National Pork Board

View and download photos from the event here:2016 World Pork Expo Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Farming, USFRA, World Pork Expo

2017 Commodity Classic Trade Show Exhibit Space Open

Kelly Marshall June 14, 2016

It may seem that this year’s Commodity Classic was just wrapped up, but for companies hoping to get in on next year’s show, now is the time to register for exhibit space for 2017!

Next year’s Classic will be held on March 2-4 in San Antonio, Texas. Last year’s even shattered attendance records, up over 23% from 2015 to nearly 1,000 attendees and these booth spaces are limited. Grab your space now at www.commodityclassic.com/exhibitors. You can view an online floor plan and select a preferred booth from the website. You can also submit an exhibitor application and contract online, or call 636-922-5551 or email: tradeshow@commodityclassic.com.

“Exhibitors of all types and sizes tell us that Commodity Classic is where America’s best farmers come to learn, engage and improve on what they do every day,” said Kevin Ross, a Minden, Iowa, corn farmer and co-chair of the 2017 Commodity Classic. “If a company wants to build its brand among the nation’s agricultural leaders, Commodity Classic is definitely the place to be.”

Commodity Classic also attracts the nation’s agricultural media. “Last year a record 186 key media representatives were on hand interviewing company representatives and highlighting new products, equipment and technology,” said Commodity Classic co-chair Ed Erickson, Jr., a Milnor, N.D., soybean farmer. “The media know that Commodity Classic is where companies showcase their latest and greatest advancements and they want to be there to share that information with their audience.”

Agribusiness, Commodity Classic

Did You Have A Summertime Job On The Farm?

Jamie Johansen June 13, 2016

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What would a Bayer Monsanto buyout mean for ag?”

Bayer AG made a $62 billion bid to acquire Monsanto Company recently that was rejected by the board of the St. Louis-based agribusiness, but the door was left open for further negotiations. It seems a small majority say a merger like this would be bad news for agriculture. However, a close second believe it would equal better solutions for farmers and I totally agree.

Here are the poll results:

Better solutions for farmers – 28%
Bad news – 38%
Consolidation is inevitable – 17%
Don’t know – 11%
Don’t care – 6%

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, Did/do you have a summer job on a farm?

Summertime on the farm is the busiest time of the years. The added hours of sunlight provide amply time to get as must as possible accomplished. However, added help is usually needed. Hiring teens for those added jobs is common practice nationwide. Some come with some background knowledge about farm work, but most learn by doing. Are you currently spending your summer vacation working on a farm whether it’s your families or not? Or in the past did you have the opportunity take in the life skills farm work provides?

ZimmPoll

Student Poster Contest Winners from #CUTC16

Kelly Marshall June 13, 2016

Pavel Samat is a Ph.D student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. At the recent Corn Utilization and Technology Conference Samat was contestant in the Gary Lamie student poster contest for his work with purple corn. His research focuses on using this purple corn to extract a healthy, economic alternative to synthetic dyes.

“Food and beverages currently are colored using synthetic dyes and they have detrimental health effects on people. And some of the synthetic dyes have already been banned because they are carcinogens. Red dye 40, which is predominatly used in the U.S. to make foods and beverages red is coming under a scanner because it makes children hyper-sensitive.”

Instead the purple corn can provide not just a bright color, but is also very nutritious. And while it isn’t quite ready yet, a team is also working to find ways to adapt this South American corn to the midwest.

You can listen to Chuck’s interview here: Interview with Pavel Samat

Tabyta Sabchuck was a winner in the Mycotoxin poster contest. She is a student at the University of Nebraska and her project was funded by the Nebraska Corn Board.

She has currently complete the first part of a multi-step process. It involved researching temperature and its effect on processing corn during ethanol production. You can hear her interview here: Interview with Tabyta Sabchuck

Check out pictures from the conference: 2016 CUTC Photo Album;

CUTC

BIVI Expands R&D Facilities in Iowa

Jamie Johansen June 13, 2016

Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc. (BIVI) recently opened a new research and development facility at Iowa State University Research Park in Ames, Iowa and ZimmComm’s own Jamie Johansen had the opportunity to tour the facility prior to the official kick off of the 2016 World Pork Expo in Des Moines, Iowa. The Health Management Center (HMC) is also located on the same campus and was founded to enable deeper investigation into debilitating swine diseases such as Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) and Porcine circovirus Type 2 (PCV2).

During the tour Jamie had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Marc Eichmeyer who is the director of international project management – vaccines for BIVI. He has been with them for nearly 15 years with a focus on swine research, but in his current role he also works with vaccines for companion animals and cattle.

BIVI’s is well known for it’s mission: provide value through innovation, and prevention is better than treatment. Eichmeyer said that this new facility was born out of innovation and one key area of focus for the company is creating new vaccines and products that really meet market needs and are not a copy of what’s already available.

The new 52,000 square foot R&D facility in Ames has 75 scientists on staff with the ability to grow to 100. There are researchers from around the world including Kenya, India, Germany and the Philippines. The scientists are 60 percent female and 40 percent male. Eichmeyer said the philosophy of the building encompasses openness and light and scientists from senior to junior and across disciplines all work together in the open lab fostering collaboration. He also said the Ames location is ideal because not only is Iowa State nearby, but the USDA and other organizations have offices and labs in the community and they have already been able to collaborate with these entities on their research.

To learn more about BIVI’s swine research history as well as their new Health and Management Center, listen to Jamie’s interview with Dr. Marc Eichmeyer: Interview with Dr. Marc Eichmeyer, BIVI

2016 BIVI HMC Media Tour Photo Album.

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

Support for #RFS from @FarmBureau

Kelly Marshall June 13, 2016

Randy Caviness was only one of many to testify before the EPA that the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) must continue to operate was it was defined almost a decade ago.

“EPA’s decision not to follow the intent of Congress in the 2007 RFS is highly disappointing to all of agriculture,” said Caviness, who also serves as a member of AFBF Issues Advisory Committee on Energy. “This decision strikes a blow to conventional ethanol production and dampens the prospects for the further development of advanced biofuels.”

Caviness testified on behalf of the Iowa Farm Bureau and American Farm Bureau Federation and his testimony should have weight. He has farmed for 28 years without energy-intensive tilling and leads initiatives to install wind turbines in Adair and Cass counties. Reducing RFS hurts agriculture and rural communities at a time when the down economy already has many producers in a pinch, he told the panel.

“Our nation’s farmers can grow more bushels of corn and soybeans on fewer acres to feed and fuel the world,” Caviness said. “But if these reduced volumes are finalized, this decision will stall growth and progress in renewable fuels as well as the broader agricultural economy.”

Listen to Caviness’ testimony here: AFBF testimony at EPA hearing

EPA Hearing Photo Album.

Coverage of EPA RFS Hearing made possible by

AFBF, Ag Groups, Biodiesel, Biofuels, Ethanol

Biocognito’s Danielson Discusses Emerging Biomaterials

Joanna Schroeder June 13, 2016

All things “bio” are becoming a hot topic as companies continue to move toward more sustainable business practices and products. Renewable feedstocks, such as corn, are a headliner in this movement as we learn from Biocognito’s Nathan Danielson during the Corn Utilization Technology Conference (#CUTC16). The company is a small consulting firm that counsels businesses working to bring new technologies to the biomaterials space. He said that many of his clients are located in California because there is great interest in new materials and discovering new ways to use corn. He added that there are a lot of private investors that are excited about this area as well.

Danielson was very involved in the planning of this year’s CUTC conference and served as chair for two sessions. His panel focused on near-term and long-term technologies that have a significant potential to increase corn utilization from lab to commercialization. “One of the things I challenged the speakers to think about was how do you find a home for the next one billion bushels of corn,” said Danielson.

He is also chair of the poster committee with more than 40 posters on display. Danielson focuses on the student side of the presentations although there are also posters from companies. He said each year he walks away saying he can’t believe they just keep getting better and better. He has been chairing this committee for four years and has found that, “What I love about this session is that it show’s how bright the future is for this industry. When you get this many people with this talent and this dedication getting into the industry it makes me really happy to be a part of it.”

To learn more listen to Chuck Zimmerman’s interview with Nathan Danielson here: Interview with Danielson, Biocognito

Check out pictures from the conference: 2016 CUTC Photo Album.

Agribusiness, Audio, CUTC

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