EPA Atrazine Assessment Criticized

Cindy Zimmerman June 3, 2016

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a draft ecological risk assessment on the pesticide atrazine which is being criticized by the makers and users of the important crop protection chemical. In issuing the report, EPA opened the docket for a 60-day public comment period within one week and stated that a Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) on atrazine will be held in 2017.

Atrazine manufacturer Syngenta issued a statement saying the report “contains numerous data and methodological errors and needs to be corrected.”

“We’re troubled the draft assessment discounted several rigorous, high-quality scientific studies and didn’t adhere to EPA’s own high standards,” said Marian Stypa, Ph.D., head, product development for Syngenta in North America. “The draft report erroneously and improperly estimated atrazine’s levels of concern for birds, fish, mammals and aquatic communities that are not supported by science.”

The herbicide has been used by U.S. corn, sorghum and sugarcane growers for over 50 years and National Corn Growers Association president Chip Bowling says it is both safe and effective.

“It is widely used because it is among the most reliable herbicides available, and it plays a critical role in combating the spread of resistant weeds,” says Bowling. “It reduces soil erosion, increases crop yields, and improves wildlife habits. Over the last 50 years, atrazine has passed some of the most rigorous safety testing in the world. More than 7,000 scientific studies have found atrazine to be safe.”

Bowling adds that losing atrazine could cost corn farmers up to $59 per acre, according to a 2012 study by the University of Chicago. “In the coming weeks, we will be urging farmers and others who care about our rural economy to contact the EPA, and tell them to base their decision on sound science,” he said.

The 520-page EPA report determined that aquatic plants are impacted where atrazine use is heaviest – mainly in the Midwest – and there is “potential chronic risk” to fish and amphibians, as well as “risk concerns for mammals, birds, reptiles, plants, and plant communities.”

Corn, Crop Protection, Herbicide, NCGA, Syngenta

Introducing the Farm To Table Alliance

Lizzy Schultz June 2, 2016

The National Farm to Table Alliance, started through the annual Farm to Table Experience, is a collection of organizations interested in sustainable, local, farm fresh seasonal products. The Alliance supports the exchange between Practitioners, Policy Makers and Consumers, while promoting food safety.

The Alliance’s goal will be to support the development of best practices in bringing fresh products to the table, experiential learning, live and virtual learning expositions, communications and research to build a knowledge base of farm to table trends, and provide information on federal and state policy including payment processing, insurance, federal nutrition assistance programs, grant opportunities, incentive programs and tax issues.

“Louisiana is proud to have a leading role in the formation of the Alliance which will serve as a forum for leaders in the farm to table movement,” said Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M. “Alliance members will gather at the Farm to Table Experience this August to organize. The LDAF was one of the first to support the development of the Farm to Table Experience five years ago and sees this annual event as an opportunity for small producers, ag enthusiasts, consumers and suppliers to have a dialogue,”

Alliance members will kick off this year’s Farm To Table Experience this year at an event on August 18-20 at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Morial Convention Center. The event is open to the public, and will feature hands-on experiential learning and demonstrations by award winning chefs. More information, as well as registration information, can be found online here.

Ag Groups, Food, Sustainability

AgChat Foundation Announces Summer Interns

Kelly Marshall June 2, 2016

Mallorie Wipple and Kyndal Reitzenstein will be working with the AgChat Foundation this summer as communications interns. Wipple will be responsible for coordinating communications efforts while Reitzenstein will be working with the Ask the Farmers initiative.

“As our organization grows at a rapid pace, adding a second internship to the summer program was imperative. Ms. Wipple and Ms. Reitzenstein bring impressive credentials to the table,” said Jenny Schweigert, executive director of the AgChat Foundation. “We are thrilled to expand our support of our industry’s young leaders and assist in rounding their skill sets.”

Wippel is a senior at The Ohio State University majoring in Agricultural Communications. Growing up on a swine and grain farm in central Ohio has instilled in her a love for the industry. In her free time she enjoys creating branding content for beginning businesses so they can share their agriculture story with others.

“I am excited to serve as the Communications Intern for the AgChat Foundation,” said Wipple, “This experience will further my goals to advocate for the agriculture industry as I hone my social media skills and communications expertise.”

A native of Colorado and Oklahoma State University student, Ms. Reitzenstein brings the community her experience as a photographer and graphic curator. She grew up on a cattle operation raising primarily Angus cattle while also showing both cattle and pigs nationwide. Reitzenstein has been a member of the National Champion Meat Animal Evaluation Team and the Reserve National Champion Livestock Judging Team. She has also served on multiple communications teams for national magazines.

“I hold the agricultural industry near and dear to my heart,” said Reitzenstein, “I am beyond excited to work with the Ask the Farmers team to expand my knowledge about social media and advocating for agriculture.”

The Foundation will also be offering a fall internship program this September.

Ag Groups

Poitti Joins American Farmland Trust as President

Kelly Marshall June 2, 2016

American Farmland Trust (AFT) has appointed John Piotti as their new President. He will assume his new duties on July 1, 2016.

“Our nation relies on our farms and farmers for growing our food and providing tremendous environmental benefits for the country,” said Piotti. “I’ve dedicated my career to this cause, and I am thrilled to be joining AFT, where I have the opportunity to advance farm and ranch land conservation nationwide through programs that keep farmers on the land, protect the environment and permanently save working lands for future generations.”

Poitti has been serving as president and CEO of Maine Farmland Trust. In 2009 it was named one of the best-run organizations by the Maine Associate of Nonprofits. Piotti also served in Maine’s state legislature from 2002-2010 where he had a reputation as a nonpartisan problem-solver.

“John brings phenomenal leadership skills and a passion for the issues that motivate AFT,” said AFT Board Chair Buzz Thompson. “Saving enough farmland for food production is a defining challenge for this century, underscoring the urgency of AFT’s mission. Equally critical is ensuring that there will be a next generation of farmers and ranchers to steward the land. John brings to AFT invaluable experience in developing creative solutions to these issues.”

Piotti said he is optimistic about dramatically increasing support among people who care about their food, local farms, and the environment. His optimism stems from his successful track-record at Maine Farmland Trust, where he launched new programs to increase access to farmland and improve farm viability. Piotti shared that he is excited to lead the fight to save family farms and ranches nationwide.

“The agricultural community can look forward to working with AFT under John’s leadership,” said John Hardin, AFT board member and owner of Hardin farms, an Indiana hog and crop operation. “John clearly conveyed to our board that the first principle in keeping farmers on the land is making sure their farm businesses have an opportunity for profit. Science-based farming systems that improve soil health and resiliency, and keep topsoil and nutrients in place, are vital to increasing a farmer’s income and the value of the farm. By helping the nation’s farmers innovate and keep land in agricultural production, we can best protect the landscapes that we all depend on for food, fiber, economic and environmental benefits and sustainable communities.”

Ag Groups

Pork Board Names New CEO

Jamie Johansen June 2, 2016

William J. Even, an agriculture-industry leader with substantial senior management experience in crop and livestock production, will join the National Pork Board as its new Chief Executive Officer on June 6, 2016. Currently based in South Dakota, Even is Global Industry Relations Lead with DuPont Pioneer.

“As a fourth-generation farmer, I have deep, personal knowledge of the challenges facing today’s pork producers and I am impressed with and completely support the Pork Checkoff’s strategic plan that guides and directs its programs,” said Even. “I look forward to working on behalf of America’s more than 60,000 pig farmers to build consumer trust, drive sustainable production and grow consumer demand for pork.”

Before joining the National Pork Board, Even managed DuPont Pioneer’s global industry relations strategy. In that role, he built collaborative stakeholder relationships in the areas of seed, biotechnology, biofuels and farm policy. Prior to that position, he served as DuPont Pioneer’s Commercial Unit Lead for South Dakota, North Dakota and northwest Minnesota where he was responsible for leading seed sales, operational marketing, agronomy, training, demand planning, precision agriculture and policy needs in the region.

From 2007 to 2010, immediately prior to joining DuPont Pioneer, Even served as South Dakota’s Secretary of Agriculture. During his tenure, he managed six department divisions including Agriculture Regulatory Services, Agriculture Development, State Fair, Wildland Fire, Resource Conservation and Forestry, and Agricultural Policy. He also served as Deputy Secretary of Tourism and State Development, Director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, State Energy Policy Director, and policy advisor for South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds.

Ag Groups, Pork, Swine

2017 Looks Promising at John Deere

Kelly Marshall June 2, 2016

The growing season for 2017 will bring about some promising new additions to John Deere‘s product line up.

Available next spring is the new MaxEmerge 5e row units for a variety of Deere planters, including the mini-hopper and DB planters. MaxEmerge 5e row units will improve seeding population accuracy when it operating on a curve– up to 20 percent improvement in fact, along with eliminating a potential yield loss due to inaccuracies.

While the MaxEmerge 5e row units still utilize a seed tube, an electric drive meter on each row unit replaces traditional shafts and drivelines, allowing each row unit to work independently. Eliminating these components also provides easier access to each row unit and decreases time and labor needed for planter maintenance.

Standard features of the MaxEmerge 5e row units include variable rate, individual row electric meter drives; SeedStar 3HP monitoring system; one year free activation of SeedStar Mobile; Curve Compensation; vacuum automation; meter runoff and built in RowCommand. To operate the electric drive meters, tractors need to have PTO for electric power generation.

Optional features available for use with planters equipped with MaxEmerge 5e units include easy-adjust row cleaners, individual row hydraulic downforce, pneumatic closing wheels and, depending on model of planter, fertilizer attachments. Active pneumatic downforce is standard equipment on all MaxEmerge 5e row units and ExactEmerge models.

“For customers running newer model planters, retro fit kits are available to convert to MaxEmerge 5e units which will improve seeding accuracy while increasing productivity and uptime,” Boelens adds. “With today’s tight margins, corn and soybean producers are looking for ways to maximize yields and productivity while saving time and input costs. Planting with a MaxEmerge 5e row unit equipped planter can help them achieve those goals.”

2017 will also bring changes to the John Deere T670 model walker combines. The machine will offer a boost to productivity with a greater threshing capacity and straw quality for baling. Deere also promises easier and less time consuming maintenance– benefits producers working in the rush of harvest time will appreciate!

Terry DeMay, senior marketing representative for John Deere Harvester Works, says the newly updated T670 will lead the industry in several new features. “The new model year T670 combine has one of the largest active separation areas and largest cleaning shoe of any walker combine on the market today,” says DeMay. “We’ve increased productivity by 15 percent in wheat and increased unloading rates by 50%. We’ve also made it easier to switch between small grains and canola, and improved the service points to allow producers to spend more time harvesting and less time waiting.”

For customers harvesting both canola and small grains, the new T670 has a new swing-in Booster Bar that makes switching between crops easier and faster – often in less than 5 minutes – and easier to adjust as crop conditions change.

In addition, John Deere has increased the size of the overshot beater, concaves, separator drum and grate, and walker area as part of its updated T-concept solution. These are all designed to improve threshing speed, throughput, and straw and grain quality during harvest while making it easy to change over to other crops and optimize harvesting performance.

The machine can unload grain at 3.3 bushels per second, and offers easier access to service areas, with fewer filters to check and replace. The cab is spacious, quiet and comfortable.

To learn about adding any of these updates to your farm, contact your local John Deere dealer.

Agribusiness, Equipment, Harvest, Planting

Another #ONEBigIdea – Cuba

Jamie Johansen June 2, 2016

Cuba’s newly opened relationship with the United States gives us access to an emerging market and provides new perspectives on it’s lands. The opportunities for new agriculture, technology and food concepts is something we can’t ignore. Alltech calls it a one-of-a-kind opportunity. I sat down with Dr. Jorge Arias, Global Aqua Director, Alltech, during ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference to learn a bit more about his insights into Cuba after a recent visit and the importance of relationship building during this critical moment in Cuba’s history.

“Reality is that trade between the U.S. and Cuba has been going on for a few years. The key word now is embargo. Congress has the power to free this embargo. Everyone is talking about the growing relationships. But the U.S. is already suppling 30% of the food Cubans are eating today. However, Cuba has to pay cash in advance.”

Because of that, Dr. Arias says when you visit Cuba you see a country that looks like they have just awoke from a very long nap. Speaking of travel to Cuba, you better book your business trip or vacation now. In the next two years, he believes travel with continue to grow and naturally go up in price.

“They have many things we can learn from. For example, they haven’t been using fertilizers, herbicides or insecticides for a long time. Therefore, they are really big in organic agriculture. The way they produce is very sustainable.”

Urban farming is also popular. You can see many small farms in downtown Havana. Dr. Arias says it is difficult to predict what will happen, but knows we can bring them the type of intensive agriculture they need. Listen to my complete interview with Dr. Arias to learn more about the emerging market our close neighbor’s are creating here: Interview with Dr. Jorge Arias, Global Aqua Director, Alltech

View and download photos from the event here: 2016 ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference Photo Album

Agribusiness, Alltech, Aquaculture, Audio, Exports, International, Markets

Promoting Ag Careers With Glycine Max

Lizzy Schultz June 1, 2016

In a report from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), jobs that require degrees related to food, agriculture, renewable natural resources or the environment will see an average of 57,900 openings annually over the next five years, which is far more than the anticipated 35,400 graduates in those fields.

The Maryland Soybean Board is stepping up to encourage students to pursue careers in agriculture by tapping an old friend for help: Glycine Max.

Max is the star of a booklet designed for third, fourth, and fifth grade students that traces his life as a young sprout and hailed the scores of uses to which he contributes throughout his life. More than 300,000 students have met Max since the booklet was first introduced to Maryland classrooms for free.

Max is now following students who met him in elementary school into the higher grades, sixth, seventh and eighth, where he helps them consider various career choices through a new website
“Maryland agriculture needs bright young minds to pursue farm careers,” says William Layton, chairman of the Maryland Soybean Board and a farmer from Vienna, Md. “With less than two percent of Americans involved in farming, we have to work at attracting students back to agriculture and getting the education to prepare them to serve Maryland’s number one industry.”

Using a quick survey, Max offers several scenarios with six questions that lead to placement of the student in one of six personality types that guide them into careers within several major agriculture sectors that fit their individual personalities. From there, the students will learn about careers based on their interests. All told, 36 possible career areas, covering a broad spectrum of human activity, emerge from the program.

At the completion of the program, Max awards the students a certificate acknowledging their participation and urging them to continue to “follow your dream.”

Ag Groups, AgCareers, Education, Soybean, USDA

ZimmComm General Manager First Day

Chuck Zimmerman June 1, 2016

During the April NAMA conference we announced the addition of Clint Underwood as General Manager for ZimmComm New Media. Today is his first official day at ZimmComm World Headquarters! Clint and Caitlin (our daughter) have made the move from Missouri to Pensacola, FL. Caitlin will be joining us as our first Office Manager shortly.

Welcoming Clint after all items had been unloaded is MiniZ, our newly adopted zebra. MiniZ couldn’t believe the moving truck showcased a zebra so he had to come out with Cindy and me to pose for a photo.

Clint and Caitlin are in the process of setting up offices this week. We will be working together on a number of projects to help this little company grow to the next level.

ZimmComm Announcement

Farm Bureau Celebrates Supreme Court Victory

Kelly Marshall June 1, 2016

A unanimous Supreme Court ruling was handed down yesterday. The law of the land says landowners may challenge the federal government and the Army Corps of Engineers over improper regulations designed to protect water.

Landowners have attempted many times to challenge Corps rulings known as jurisdictional determinations, but the government successfully argued that those determinations were not “final agency actions” and the lawsuits were dismissed. Now, when the Corps asserts jurisdiction over low spots that look more like land than water, it will have to do so with the knowledge that its jurisdictional determination can be tested in court.

“Today’s decision removes a huge roadblock that has prevented landowners from obtaining relief from the courts when the Corps illegally claims their land is federally regulated water,” AFBF President Zippy Duvall said. “Now, farmers and ranchers can have their day in court when the government tells them they cannot plow a field or improve a ditch without a federal permit.”

AFBF filed amicus curiae briefs in the lower court and the Supreme Court to support plaintiffs who were represented by the Pacific Legal Foundation in the case of United States Army Corps of Engineers v. Hawkes Co., Inc.

These results say the Supreme Court has recognized designating a landscape feature as a “water of the U.S.” presents dire consequences to the landowner, since a farmer can be fined up to $37,500 a day or even face criminal penalties. A farmer can also spend hundreds, or even thousands of dollars to receive a permit, only to be denied after several years.

AFBF, Ag Groups, EPA, Water

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