The #CUTC16 Gets Off On a Positive Note

Chuck Zimmerman

Chris NovakIn light of a lot of negativism directed toward farming today the opening speakers for the 2016 Corn Utilization Technology Conference (CUTC) were very optimistic in their outlook. Welcoming us to the 10th CUTC was Chris Novak, CEO, National Corn Growers Association. The conference is held every other year so twenty years of corn technology has been discussed in sessions just like these being held in St. Louis this week.

Chris says that the need for new technologies to utilize corn has come about since farmers realized that with technology they can create a surplus. He points to NCGA’s new strategic plan which has a focus on building corn demand.

You can listen to Chris’s opening remarks here: Chris Novak, NCGA

Kris LuttNext up on the podium was Kris Lutt, President, Sweeteners, Starches and Acidulants, ADM. Kris had a very optimistic outlook and noted several areas that will provide more opportunities for the use of corn. These include building more foreign market demand, the development of new products made from corn, increasing worldwide demand for meat, focusing more on food safety and security and continuing to develop alternatives to petroleum

You can listen to Kris’s opening remarks here: Kris Lutt, ADM

Wade EllisOur next speaker was Wade Ellis, Vice President and General Manager of Milling, Bunge North America. Wade talked about the changes in the corn market of late have pushed his company to look at alternative inputs but at the same time learn from that experience to find new ways to utilize and re-build their corn business.

You can listen to Wade’s opening remarks here: Wade Ellis, Bunge North America

After the remarks came a question and answer session from the folks attending. You can listen to the question and answer session here: CUTC Open Session Q&A

You can find lots of photos from the conference here: 2016 CUTC Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Corn, CUTC, Technology

USDA Provides Assistance to Cotton Producers

Kelly Marshall

USDAUSDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is offering $300 million in cost-share assistance payments to cotton growers to help with the cost of ginning as well as continuing expand and maintain the U.S.’s domestic cotton market.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says the announcement shows USDA continues to stand with America’s cotton producers and rural communities. “The Cotton Ginning Cost Share program will offer meaningful, timely and targeted assistance to cotton growers to help with their anticipated ginning costs and to facilitate marketing,” said Vilsack. “The program will provide, on average, approximately 60 percent more assistance per farm and per producer than the 2014 program that provided cotton transition assistance.”

Through the Cotton Ginning Cost-Share program, eligible producers can receive a one-time cost share payment, which is based on a producer’s 2015 cotton acres reported to FSA, multiplied by 40 percent of the average ginning cost for each production region. With the pressing need to provide assistance ahead of the 2016 ginning season this fall, USDA will ensure the application process is straight-forward and efficient. The program estimates the costs based on planting of cotton in 2015, and therefore the local FSA offices already have this information for the vast majority of eligible producers and the applications will be pre-populated with existing data. Sign-up for the program will begin June 20 and run through Aug. 5, 2016 at the producer’s local FSA office. Payments will be processed as applications are received, and are expected to begin in July.

Low prices and global oversupply have been affecting the market since 2011. Some producers are facing economic uncertainty, even liquidating assets to satisfy loans.  Benefits expand beyond producers, however, since affects will be felt by the broader market chain and the National Cotton Council (NCC) and American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) commend the program’s efforts to help producers overcome difficult market conditions.

“The U.S. cotton industry commends Secretary Vilsack for his efforts on making possible a program that will provide much-needed marketing assistance for our nation’s cotton producers,” said NCC Chairman Shane Stephens.

“We are especially appreciative that Secretary Vilsack took the time to work with us, the National Cotton Council and others to arrive at this special, one-time arrangement without requiring legislative action,” says AFBF President Zippy Duvall.  “This is a clear example of what we can accomplish when we work together. Our cotton farmers and the rural businesses they partner with will be better off because USDA took action to address a serious market downturn in their industry.”

American Cotton Producers Chairman Mike Tate of Alabama added, “Our producers appreciate Secretary Vilsack’s efforts in providing marketing assistance to a commodity that is suffering a serious decline in market revenue partly due to heavily-subsidized foreign competition, with no signs of the commodity prices reaching the level needed to offset their production costs. The industry will continue to work with Congress and USDA to seek long-term policy solutions that will provide stability for the cotton industry.”

The Cotton Ginning Cost-Share Program has the same eligibility requirements as the 2014 Cotton Transition Assistance Program, and also includes a $40,000 prodder payment limit, requirement to be actively engaged in farming, meet conservation compliance and a $900,000 adjusted gross income limit.  Learn more at your local FSA office or  visit www.fsa.usda.gov/cgcs.

Cotton, USDA

Forbes Media Hosts AgTech Summit

Kelly Marshall

AgTech SummitForbes Media will be hosting its second AgTech Summit on July 13-14, 2016 in Salinas Valley California.  More than 500 of the brightest and most entrepreneurial minds will be attending this two-day, invitation-only event, hoping to tackle some of agriculture’s greatest challenges.

The event is expected to bring about lively debate and offer great networking opportunities.  It will also be a site for showcasing the latest innovation for farmers and those in the agriculture industry.

Activities begin with field demonstrations and a plant tour of Mann Packing and Taylor Farms and continue with a tour of Tanimura & Antles’ farmworker housing complex.  The Innovation Showcase and Plenary Sessions are back from last year, featuring more than 35 AgTech startups.

Speakers Include Julie Borlaug, Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture, Texas A&M; Mike Macrie, SVP/ Chief Information Officer, Land O’Lakes, Inc.; Kip Tom, Managing Member and CEO, Tom Farms; Jorge Heraud, Co-founder and CEO, Blue River Technology; Dr. Ron Meeusen, Managing Director, Cultivian Sandbox; Robert T. Fraley, Ph.D., Executive Vice President & Chief Technology Officer, Monsanto; Sara Menker, Founder and CEO, Gro Intelligence; and Bruce Taylor, Chairman and CEO of Taylor Farms, among others

“This summit is a fantastic opportunity for the AgTech community to discuss real solutions in accelerating new technologies and capabilities in farming,” said Bruce Taylor, Chairman and CEO of Taylor Farms. “We are currently in trials with eight of the participating companies we met during last year’s Forbes AgTech Summit.”

“We are convening over 500 of agriculture’s leading voices to debate, discuss and showcase innovative solutions to the most daunting challenges facing global agriculture,” said Paul Noglows, Executive Producer of the Forbes AgTech Summit. “We can think of no better place to do that than historic Main Street Salinas where the Salinas and Silicon Valley’s meet.”

The founding partner of the Forbes AgTech Summit is SVG Partners and its Thrive Accelerator. Presenting sponsors include Western Growers and the City of Salinas. Partner sponsors include Land O’Lakes, Inc. and Monsanto. Supporting sponsors include Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, Driscoll’s, Novozymes, Produce Marketing Association and Taylor Farms. Hartnell College will be hosting the Field Demos at its Alisal Campus and both Mann Packing and Taylor Farms will be hosting plant tours. The official travel partner is Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau. The Mixing Bowl is Program Partner for the Summit.

For more information, please visit http://www.forbesconferences.com/event/2016-forbes-agtech-summit/.

Agribusiness, Events, Precision Agriculture

New Faces Sought By @USFRA

Cindy Zimmerman

The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA®) is looking for a few new faces.

USFRA Faces - Thomas Titus of Illinois, Jay Hill of New Mexico, Erin Brenneman of Iowa, Carla Wardin of Michigan, and Darrell Glaser of Texas

USFRA Faces – Thomas Titus of Illinois, Jay Hill of New Mexico, Erin Brenneman of Iowa, Carla Wardin of Michigan, and Darrell Glaser of Texas

This year, through the Faces of Farming & Ranching program search, USFRA is looking for its third class of standout farmers and ranchers who are proud of what they do and strive to be sustainable and technology-driven, eager to share their stories of continuous improvement and are actively involved in sharing those stories in public and on social media to help put a real face on agriculture and shine a light on the heart, personalities and values that are behind today’s food.

“The impact of farmers and ranchers leading the conversation about how food is grown and raised is imperative in gaining trust with today’s consumers,” said Nancy Kavazanjian, USFRA Chairwoman. “We’ve seen strides in sustainability and technology on the farm, yet misconceptions about genetically engineered (GE) crops, antibiotics and pesticides confuse consumers, so these ambassadors for agriculture are critical in setting the record straight and participating in these influential conversations about food production.”

Farmers and ranchers who grow and raise an assortment of foods through various methods, on differing scale and across all regions of the country are encouraged to apply, as it is important to show American agriculture and all of its diversity.

“People genuinely want more information about farming and ranching, and talking to people as a representative of the industry sharing the facts, but also addressing their feelings, is an interesting part of this role,” said Carla Wardin, one of USFRA’s current Faces of Farming & Ranching and a Michigan dairy farmer. “I’d encourage everyone to apply, because not only does it help you improve as a communicator, but you can also make an impact on the consumers’ view of today’s agriculture being progressive and committed to responsible practices.”

Interested farmers and ranchers can apply for the program online by July 10, 2016 and will need to include a home video of less than three minutes describing themselves and their farm or ranch. Among other criteria, farmers and ranchers must have an existing social media presence, either through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and/or a blog. A combination of public voting and USFRA judging scores will be used to determine the winners, who will be announced on November 9 at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Convention (NAFB) in Kansas City.

Social Media, USFRA

NAFB Member Dies Tragically in Auto Accident

Kelly Marshall

Gary DiGiuseppeLong-time member of the National Association of Farm Broadcasters, Gary DiGiuseppe, died as a result of an automobile accident last week.  Mr. DiGiuseppe was on his way to work at KARN Radio when the accident occurred.

Gary had been a broadcaster for more than 40 years, spending time at Michigan Farm Raido Network, Brownfield Network, KWMT Radio and the Arkansas Radio Network.  He was currently serving as the morning newscaster for ‘First News with Kevin Miller” on KARN and providing daily newscasts for The Arkansas Radio Network.  He also did freelance work and his pieces were featured in several publications.

NAFB will remember Gary as an involved member, serving on multiple committees, editor of Chats, and resolutions chair.

His obituary is as follows:

Gary John DiGiuseppe, Little Rock, AR and St. Clair Shores, MI. Loving husband of Mary (Handy-Wild). Dearest father of Annie Marie and the late Andrew; step-father of James Wild. Dearest son of Leonard and Virginia DiGiuseppe. Brother of Carol DiGiuseppe-Zuniga (Dr. Jorge) and the late Joseph. Nephew of John DiGiuseppe Sr. (Joanne), Frances Chiesa (Russell), and the late Leonard Tagliavia (Gayle).

Gary attended Roeper City and Country School, De La Salle Collegiate, University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University before starting his career in journalism and radio. Gary was a deeply private man who spoke few words, expressed a tremendous writing talent, was an accomplished musician and gained national respect and recognition as a broadcaster and journalist. He loved his family, his work and held firm to important principles, never wavering. He will be missed.

Visitation Sunday, June 5, 2016, 4:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. at the Charles Verheydan Funeral Home, 16300 Mack Ave., Grosse Pointe Park, MI. Funeral Mass Monday, June 6, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. with in state at 9:00 a.m. at St. Lucy Catholic Church, 23401 Jefferson, St. Clair Shores, MI.

NAFB

Get Corny with #CUTC16

Chuck Zimmerman

Corn Utilization Technology ConferenceCorn technology might conjure up many different ideas in your mind. Think ethanol, feed for animals, boiled corn for the table and much more. Follow along this week as I attend the Corn Utilization Technology Conference and we’re going to learn about a lot more than that.

Session topics at the CUTC will cover wet and drying milling technology, traits/breeding/biotechnology, biorefining and uses for starch. There are quite literally many new uses for corn and in fact, that is a topic that will be covered all on its own. My job is to interview researchers working on very complex projects and get them to explain in easy to understand language. I can do it. I’ve done it before.

So follow along on AgWired this week and the hashtag, #CUTC16.

Ag Groups, Biotech, Corn, CUTC, NCGA, Technology

Potatoes USA Inspires International Chefs

Lizzy Schultz

RTM-Chefs Potatoes USA brought 21 chefs from Mexico, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines on a reverse trade mission (RTM) to the U.S. to learn about U.S. potatoes and products, as well as new and creative ways to put them on menus back home.

The RTM began with potato training in Idaho, then switched to a two-day training session at Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Institute in Portland, OR. The final segment of the trip was the National Restaurant Association annual conference and trade show in Chicago.

The Idaho portion of the trip first brought the international chefs to a fresh packing shed and dehydrated potato processing facility in Idaho Falls. The group received intensive training on dehydrated potatoes at Miles Willard Technologies, and allowed to directly observe the scale, sophistication and quality of U.S. potatoes and products. The next stop was Boise, where chefs met with Lamb Weston, the Idaho Potato Commission and the J.R. Simplot Company.

The Oregon Potato Commission sponsored the group’s two-day cooking workshop at the Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Institute. The workshop included cutting edge culinary demonstrations with dehydrated, frozen and fresh potatoes, two opportunities to prepare dishes with U.S. potatoes and products, and training by a lead instructor on classical potato preparations and dishes.

The group then traveled to Chicago for the National Restaurant Association annual conference, which offered the chefs an extra opportunity to learn about U.S. food products, including potatoes, which they can feature in their restaurants plus all of the other aspects of the restaurant business.

All of the chefs expressed sincere gratitude to participate in this “experience of a lifetime,” and all participants felt that their views and thoughts about potatoes had completely changed. There was complete consensus that their experiences in the U.S. could be applied in their own restaurants.

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Education, Food, International, Potato

GreenStone Farm Credit Teams With Ag Incubator

Lizzy Schultz

image001 GreenStone Farm Credit Services recently announced that the community and agricultural lender has made a $25,000 contribution to the Great Lakes Ag-Tech Business Incubator, a non-profit organization that focuses on helping farmers and entrepreneurs rapidly commercialize their ag-technology machinery, equipment or software innovations.

The Incubator will utilize the financial contribution by providing business startup services to clients. GreenStone will also offer its expertise to Incubator clients in areas such as financial counseling, lending to qualified clients, and business finance training to clients and ag-tech entrepreneurs.

“For the last century, GreenStone has supported organizations, programs and initiatives dedicated to advancing agriculture. This partnership with the Great Lakes Ag-Tech Business Incubator fits with our commitment to help Michigan ag-technology based businesses get started and become successful,” said Dave Armstrong, President and CEO of GreenStone Farm Credit Services.

Farmers, entrepreneurs and business owners who have an ag-technology idea or invention and would like more information about the business services offered by the Incubator can visit their website here. Farmers and industry professionals interested in helping to review and/or test new ag-technologies being developed by Incubator clients should also contact the Incubator team.

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Farm Credit

AgCareers.com Earns User’s Choice Award

Kelly Marshall

AgCareersAgCareers.com is being recognized as one of the top online employment services.  WEDDLE’s gathered information from job seekers about online sites in 2015 and AgCareers.com was named as one of the best, earning the prestigious User’s Choice Award.

Thirty sites from among the 200,000 on the internet today earned this distinction.

“There is no higher accolade than the recognition provided by satisfied customers,” said Peter Weddle, Chief Executive Officer, WEDDLE’s LLC. “Selection as a User’s Choice Award Winner is proof positive that an organization is, in fact, among the elite in its field.”

“We are delighted that our candidates and employers have voted AgCareers.com as a User’s Choice Award winner,” said Eric Spell, AgCareers.com President. “We take pride in being the leading ag-specific career portal and job board, and plan ongoing developments to continually enhance the experience for our users,” added Spell.

AgCareers

Nebraska Woos Biobased Companies

Joanna Schroeder

© Zivana | Dreamstime.com - Nebraska State Flag Photo

© Zivana | Dreamstime.com – Nebraska State Flag Photo

Nebraska is ramping up its bio-based partnerships and wooing new companies to move to the state. According to a recent Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED), bioscience companies employ more than 16,000 people in the state with the industry growing at a faster pace than the national average. For instance, several global and national companies are already located in Nebraska, including: NatureWorks (corn-based plastics), Novozymes (enzyme technology), Purac (lactic acid), Laurel BioComposite (bioresins from distillers grains), Pharmgate (animal pharmaceuticals) and many more.

“Nebraska is well-suited to capitalize on the next wave of scientific breakthroughs in the biosciences,” said Phil Kozera, executive director of Bio Nebraska Life Sciences Association. “There are many opportunities for next-generation companies to evolve in Nebraska, which leads to job creation and strengthening the state’s global leadership in value-added agriculture.”

Nebraska is the nation’s second largest ethanol producer with 25 plants. Ethanol and its co-products can serve as the foundation for many next-generation bioproducts from green chemicals to nutraceuticals and animal feed supplements.

Todd Sneller, Nebraska Ethanol Board administrator notes, “Ethanol plant locations have a steady and abundant supply of grain, oilseeds, biomass and livestock, on which many bio-based technologies depend. Nebraska has all the raw materials necessary to create strategic partnerships with bio-based companies.”

The state has also implemented several economic development incentive programs to lure additional biosciences companies to Nebraska. For example, Nebraska Advantage offers significant tax incentives for companies that relocate or expand their businesses in the state.

“In order to foster the development and growth of these enterprises, we actively collaborate between government, education, business and agriculture to reduce red tape,” said DED Director Courtney Dentlinger. “This strong partnership between the public and private sectors is a major factor in attracting companies to locate in Nebraska.”

Agribusiness, Biofuels, Ethanol