Korean Cotton Executives to Visit US

Lizzy Schultz

cotton-usa Textile executives from 10 Korean companies will tour the U.S. Cotton Belt on April 17-22. The executives will observe U.S. cotton production, processing and marketing and will meet with U.S. cotton exporters. This Cotton USA Korean Special Trade Mission is being conducted by Cotton Council International (CCI), the National Cotton Council’s export promotions arm.

Korea currently ranks as the sixth largest U.S. cotton importer, with current U.S. export commitments to Korea at 440,000 bales. The country imported 650,000 U.S. bales in the 2014-15 marketing year.

U.S. market share with the 10 participating Korean companies is estimated at 54 percent, and these mills are expected to consume about 1.1 million bales in 2015-16, representing 85 percent of Korea’s total cotton consumption. Many Korean textile mills also have textile investments outside of Korea, primarily in Vietnam, and those spinning mills consume some 390,000 bales, of which about 182,000 bales are from the United States.

“We hope this tour will provide these Korean executives with a better appreciation for U.S. cotton’s superior quality and our industry’s outstanding reputation for timely delivery so that their desire for using more U.S. cotton will increase,” said CCI President Keith Lucas.
The Korean delegation will begin its tour in New York with a CCI briefing. They will also see cotton research in North Carolina, tour the USDA cotton classing office in Bartlett, Tenn., and visit a farm in California’s San Joaquin Valley.

Ag Groups, Cotton, Events, International, Research

Farm Foundation Forum Discusses Poverty in Rural America

Lizzy Schultz

farmfoundationlogo3 U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and two rural community experts are joining together to discuss the cost of poverty in rural America at the Farm Foundation Forum on Monday, April 18, 2016.

The Forum will be held at 9 am in the Holeman Lounge of the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. A free, live audiocast will also be available.

“Poverty is a seed that breeds many cancers in individuals, families and communities–both urban and rural,” says Neil Conklin, President of Farm Foundation, NFP. “It is a complex, multi-dimensional problem for which there are no simple answers. It is critical, however, that we bring these issues to the forefront to be better understood so that work can begin on finding solutions.”

The Carsey Institute of Public Policy at the University of New Hampshire recently completed a study that recognized how poverty, specifically childhood poverty, is spreading in intensity across the country and disproportionately so in rural America. Additional work done at Purdue University has highlighted the effects of childhood poverty on long-term health. The costs of poverty are seen in academic performance, underused human capacity, health costs, addictions, criminal activities and community infrastructure.

“Secretary Vilsack is providing leadership to address these issues through his role as chair of the White House Rural Council. We are excited to have him join us for this discussion,” Conklin added.

Jason Henderson, Director of Extension at Purdue University, will moderate the discussion. Also featured on the panel will be William Bynum, CEO of Hope Enterprise Corporation and Hope Credit Union, a regional community development financial institution and policy center based in Jackson, MS. After discussion by the panelists, the floor will be opened for questions.

Register here to attend the forum in person.

Register here to participate in the live audio cast.
Both events are free of charge.

Ag Groups, Events, Farm Foundation

GROWMARK Announces Essay Contest Winners

Kelly Marshall

growmarklogoGROWMARK is pleased to announce the Illinois and Wisconsin state winners of the 2016 essay contest for FFA members.  Austin Schorfheide of Hoyleton, Illinois and Jessica Jurcek from Jefferson, Wisconsin won in their respective states by answering “What can young people do to ensure the sustainability of agriculture?”

Schorfheide wrote in his response: “Sustainability in agriculture ultimately comes down to maintaining and preserving our resources to allow our children to use the same assets that have been passed on to us. To do so we as young agriculturalists must conserve our resources, produce even more food than currently possible, and inform the public about agriculture.”

Jurcek answered: “In so many ways, young people are the key to the future. Joining local cooperatives, purchasing sustainably raised food and goods, implementing sustainable techniques on their own farms, and simply spreading the word of sustainability for all to hear are excellent ways for young people to begin their role in the furtherance of agriculture.”

Schorfheide is a student at Nashville Community High School and a member of the Nashville FFA chapter. His FFA advisor is Julie Bond-Ledford.  Jurcek is a student at Jefferson High School and a member of the Jefferson FFA chapter. Her FFA advisor is Nick Brattlie.  Both winners will receive a $500 award from GROWMARK at their state FFA conventions and their chapters will receive $300 to help future students.

2016 marks the 23rd year for this program.

FFA, GROWMARK, Sustainability

Seeking Future Giant of the Seed Industry

Kelly Marshall

fut-giant-360Seed World and the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) Future Seed Executives are looking for those poised to make an impact on the seed industry.  The Future Giant is an award given to an early-career individual who is passionate about the seed industry.  The award will be given at ASTA’s Annual Convention, June 18-22 in Portland, Oregon.  The winner will also be featured in Seed World magazine this September.

If you have someone relatively new in your company, organization or program who shows leadership potential, download this application and help them move forward in their career.  Candidates must be in graduate or undergraduate programs in post-secondary education with the intent of finding a career within the seed industry upon graduation OR someone currently employed by a seed company, laboratory or university who is viewed as a rising leader.

Nominations must be returned to jeering@issuesink.com by April 29.  Submissions will be judged by industry experts on Seed World’s Advisory Board.

Ag Groups, ASTA, Seed

New Version of AgWired App Available

Chuck Zimmerman

AgWired AppHey AgWired Fans. We hope you already have our AgWired App on your mobile device but if you don’t now is the time to get the new version which is also compatible with iPad as well as iPhone. If you already have it just run your updates to get the latest version.

The new version has been built on a platform that will allow easy changes and new application opportunities. It is available now in the iTunes store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/agwired/id382820712?mt=8.

For the AgNerds out there, we have built a new backend on the app which allows it to actually be managed by AgWired itself> New functionality is planned and of course the app allows us to display banner advertising for our sponsors. A new Android version of the app will also be released shortly.

The AgWired App, which was introduced in 2010 as the first agricultural news and information app, allows users to easily keep up to date anywhere and provides multiple ways to see news filtered by key word categories. In addition, the app has a built in mechanism to provide the latest news produced by the ZimmComm News Network on alternative energy, the livestock industry and the latest in precision farming technology and efficiency.

The new app includes:

  • Most current news posted onto AgWired.com, including all key word category breakouts
  • Current news from all ZimmComm News Network on-line publications: Precision.AgWired.com, Animal.AgWired.com, Energy.AgWired.com, AgNewsWire.com and ZimmComm.biz
  • Weekly ZimmCast Podcast and regular Ethanol Report
Apps, ZimmComm Announcement

Chromatin Provides Relief to Growers Hit by Fire

Kelly Marshall

ChromatinThe Anderson Creek Fire destroyed more than 400,000 and now Chromatin, Inc. is moving in to help farmers and ranchers.  The company will be providing producers with seed that will rapidly feed livestock or cover the ground to prevent soil erosion.

“We are saddened to hear of the tragic damage caused by this fire to crops, pastures and livestock in the Kansas and Oklahoma areas. We are confident that sorghum can be part of a recovery program for the region, and Chromatin is pleased to devote resources toward this effort,” said Daphne Preuss, Chromatin’s CEO.

Sorghum grows well in tough conditions; it can be planted late in the season, requires limited water resources and grows quickly. Sorghum’s extensive root system can stabilize soil against wind and water erosion. Forage sorghum is especially useful in fire recovery, as it serves as a source of hay, silage feed, or as a cover crop in pastures for grazing.

“Our thoughts are with growers affected by the devastation of the Anderson Creek Fire, and we at Sorghum Partners are working with supportive local retailers to provide select products that are well adapted to the area at a significant discount,” stated Mike Battin, Director of National Sales.

Farmers and ranchers who suffered losses from the fire may contact these local retailers:

Anthony Farmers Cooperative (Sharon, Kansas), Contact: Aaron Schreiner

OK Coop (Kiowa, Kansas), Contact: Brett Courson

Farmers Cooperative Equity (Isabel, Kansas), Contact: Ted Behring

Farmers Cooperative Equity (Medicine Lodge, Kansas), Contact: Mike Snell

Farmers Cooperative of Carmen (Cherokee, Oklahoma), Contact: Alan Nusser

Growers and livestock producers can also call 1-855-SORGHUM for program details.

Agribusiness, sorghum

USDA Offers Grants for Value-Added Products

Kelly Marshall

USDAThe Value-Added Producer Grant program is gaining $44 million to help farmers, ranchers and businesses develop bio-based products and expand existing markets.  The USDA made the announcement just last week, and hope to help with grants to veterans, members of socially disadvantaged groups, beginning farmers and ranchers, and operators of small and medium sized family farms and ranches.

“America’s farmers, ranchers and rural business owners are innovative entrepreneurs and this program helps them grow economic opportunities for their families and communities by increasing the value of the items they produce,” Vilsack said. “The Value-Added Producer Grant program has a great track record of helping producers increase the value of products and expand their markets and customer base, strengthening rural America in the process.”

More information on how to apply is on page 20607 of the April 8 Federal Register. The deadline to submit paper applications is July 1, 2016. Electronic applications submitted through grants.gov are due June 24, 2016. Additional information and assistance is available through the USDA Rural Development Office serving your county.

Last year’s grant recipients include Shoshone-Bannock Enterprises in Fort Hall, Idaho who received $75,000 to conduct a feasibility study on processing and packaging buffalo meat, and Sappa Valley Poultry in Oberlin, Kansas who used $49,663 to expand the distribution of their free-range chicken products.

USDA

Do Americans Trust Their Food?

Kelly Marshall

Producers today face challenges of water shortages, urban sprawl, weed and antibiotic resistance, and the never ending battle with Mother Nature, but possibly the biggest hurdle to agriculture is consumer trust.  More than ever consumers are asking questions and requesting transparency in the food process.

How is the industry doing?

Research provided by FoodThink offers new insights into Americans’ understanding of where their food comes from, and notes actionable trends for agri-marketers.

“While the industry may face daunting news of labor shortages, demand for innovative products, environmental scrutiny, and more — here’s a topic that you can take action on,” said Ashley Daggs, animal and food science specialist and FoodThink’s Research Analyst. “Our research confirms that as people become more concerned about the food they eat, they are turning to the source of their food to learn more.”

FoodThinkFor those in the industry working to connect consumers with what happens on modern farms, FoodThink offers three areas to which agriculture can be more responsive.  First, perceptions of the food industry are on the rise.  Second, consumers care about how food is produced, and third, farms and ranchers come in a close second to friends and family in terms of trustworthiness.

While these areas are a good “in” with consumers, FoodThink continues their work to find ways to influence trends in a positive way.  You can download the free white paper, “Evolving Trust in the Food Industry” to learn more.

Ag Groups, Food, Safety

Remembering Merle

Cindy Zimmerman

nbc-07-20Back in the early years of the biodiesel industry, Merle Haggard was one of the stars who came out in support of the American-made biofuel.

The country music legend who died last week at the age of 79 made a legendary appearance at the 2007 National Biodiesel Conference, holding a press conference and performing for those in attendance. During the press conference Merle said that he was learning about the benefits of biodiesel. When asked what attracted him to the renewable fuel source his answer was “the smell.” He also he was happy about how the development of biodiesel was helping American farmers.

Listen to the legend talk about biodiesel with NBB CEO Joe Jobe here: 2007 Biodiesel press conference with Merle Haggard

Check out the photo album from the 2007 biodiesel conference for more photos of Merle.

Audio, Biodiesel, National Biodiesel Conference

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

Zimfo Bytes

  • The American Farm Bureau Federation is accepting applications for its tenth Women’s Communications Boot Camp class, July 12 – 15 in Washington, D.C.
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) is accepting applications for fiscal year 2017 funding for five export market development programs.
  • In honor of Dr. Norman Borlaug’s 102nd birthday anniversary and International Women’s Day the World Food Prize announced the release of the 3rd Annual Iowa Hunger Directory.
  • broadhead, the Minneapolis marketing agency, announces the hiring of Maija Hoehn as vice president, director of engagement.
  • The Illinois Wheat Association will again hold a wheat yield contest open to all Illinois Wheat Association members.
  • The Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC) board of directors has approved $423,036 in research project funding for the 2016-17 research budget year.
Zimfo Bytes