National Potato Promotion Board Makes Big Updates

Kelly Marshall March 18, 2016

The United States Potato Board is no more. Instead the board has chosen Potatoes USA as their new business name.

This new update comes as a result of a recently created mission and strategic plan to “strengthen demeaned for U.S. potatoes.” The organization promotes potatoes in all their forms and hopes to make potatoes exciting! Their new goals include making a positive change in the potato industry through innovation, collaborative and inspiring approaches in marketing, education and research.

The new strategic plan for Potatoes USA includes the collective input of over 450 members of the United States potato industry, Potatoes USA staff and the Board’s agency representatives from around the world. Thoughts, ideas, wants, needs and desires were presented and documented over an 18-month period beginning the summer of 2014.

With access and utilization of over $6 million in USDA funding annually, Potatoes USA works in more than 20 countries around the world. Exports of U.S. potatoes have experienced unprecedented growth over the past 30 years and now account for 18 percent of production.

“In the United States, Potatoes USA is the leading organizer of potato nutrition, research, education and varietal development,” said Potatoes USA President and CEO Blair Richardson. “We will have a positive impact on long-term demand, consumer awareness, research efforts and utilization of our potatoes by foodservice and retail operators, consumers and other entities.”

“Potatoes USA is ready to fight for the future of this industry and will take an aggressive approach in doing so,” added Potatoes USA Chairman Mike Pink. He is one of the 2,500 farmers and grows potatoes in Pasco, WA. “The potato is an essential part of the American diet and should be something people can enjoy with pride. With its new strategic plan, mission and business name, Potatoes USA is prepared to lead the way.”

Ag Groups, Potato

Discovering FARMLAND Offers Virtual FieldTrip

Kelly Marshall March 18, 2016

As the generations become further removed from agriculture and farms become more technologically advanced the gap between the two is ever widening. The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) and Discovery Education are working to bridge that gap with a program designed to give students a firsthand look at modern agriculture–Discovering FARMLAND. Now the two programs are offering a live education tool. The Smart Farm: Where Technology and Innovation Meet will air on Tuesday, April 5, 2016 EST.

Available at no cost, this live virtual event hosted from Deere & Company World Headquarters in Moline, Ill., will transport classrooms across the country to a hog, corn and soybean farm to see today’s modern agricultural practices in action. Students will also hear from fourth generation farmer Ryan Veldhuizen, who was featured in James Moll’s award-winning documentary, FARMLAND, as he discusses technology and innovation on today’s smart farms. Students and educators can register for the 45-minute event and submit questions ahead of time to be answered live at: www.discoveringfarmland.com/virtualfieldtrip.

“Technology drives all aspects of American society, and modern farms are leading this revolution in a very important area – food production,” says Mace Thornton, American Farm Bureau Federation Executive Director, Communications, and USFRA Communications Committee Vice Chair. “Through this virtual field trip to the farm, technology also will create an opportunity for interactive transparency between high school students and the men and women who grow food for their families.”

Discovering FARMLAND provides teachers with standards-aligned curriculum guides, lesson plans and resources and offers students real-world insights about where their food comes from. The program will cover technology and its affects on the industry, weather and growing challenges faced by producers, stereotypes surrounding farmers and ranchers, and market supply and demand. The curriculum highlights themes from the documentary FARMLAND and makes real-life connections to food choices, sustainability, entrepreneurship and antibiotics.

“Discovery Education is proud to continue our partnership with U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance to offer classrooms nationwide this unique learning opportunity that supports students’ understanding of STEM applications in the real world,” said Lori McFarling, Senior Vice President, Discovery Education. “The Smart Farm virtual field trip challenges students to think critically about the relevance and importance of science and technology in our everyday lives while also reinforcing key concepts of food production, sustainability and innovation.”

To learn more about the virtual field trip or Discovering FARMLAND, visit www.discoveringfarmland.com/virtualfieldtrip.

Ag Groups, Education, USFRA

Two Essay Contest Winners Awarded on Ag Day

Lizzy Schultz March 18, 2016

Another agricultural award recipient present in Washington, D.C. on National Ag Day was Emily Dougherty, one winner of the Annual Ag Day Essay Contest.

The Annual Ag Day Essay Contest encourages students in 9th-12th grade to submit a written or video essay. This year’s contest theme was “Agriculture: Stewards of a Healthy Planet.” The winner of the video essay content was Ayodeji Ogunlana, South Texas High School for Health Professions, Mission, TX, and the winner of the written essay contest was Emily Dougherty, Whiteland Community High School, Greenwood, IN. More than 500 written essays were submitted by agriculture students across the country, and Emily was on hand during National Ag Day to read her essay, where she was also presented with a $1000 check.

“The same soil has continually been plowed and planted by my family for over 160 years. Every time I smell the sweet aroma of fresh tilled soil, I quickly think of the history behind the humble soil. My Great-Great-Great Grandpa cleared the forested land and hand dug a ditch so that he could have fertile farm ground. This land has provided for every generation since 1853. Now, my brothers and I have the honor to become the next generation of our family to farm the land. Generations before us have been phenomenal stewards of the land and now it is our turn to embrace technology to leave the land better than we received it,” reads one excerpt of the essay, entitled Stewardship for Generations.

Listen to the full winning written essay here:
2016 Ag Day Written Essay Contest Winner, Emily Dougherty

Watch the full winning video essay here:

View and Download Photos here: National Ag Day Activities Photo Album

Ag Day, Ag Groups, Audio, FFA, University

Meet the 2016 Charles Eastin Award Winner

Lizzy Schultz March 18, 2016

Christina O’Brien, Norz Hill Farm, Bridgewater, NJ, was awarded the 2016 Charles Eastin Award for encouraging communications between rural and urban audiences. The award was presented at the Celebration of Agriculture Dinner held at USDA in Washington, D.C. on National Ag Day, March 15, 2016.

O’Brien is involved with many organizations, keeping her focus on spreading the message of agriculture through education. She has served as a 4-H leader, running a workshop for “Science-sational day.” She also has brought in baby livestock to educating kids in grades 1-3, and ran a workshop in 2014 on making healthy dog biscuits using ingredients straight from the farm. Through her farm, Norz Hill, she has planned field days teaching kids how to care for livestock.

She serves as junior advisor to the New Jersey Holstein Association, and works with other advisors to plan youth competitions including quiz bowl, speeches, and trifolds/research. She has initiated a lease program for the Garden State Sheep Breeders and currently leases out her Oxford sheep to four inner city girls, ages 8-13. She was the 2010 County Dairy Princess, using her title to help plan and coordinate an event at the local YMCA that featured agriculture questions, prizes, milk and cheese, as well as healthy recipes for a well-balanced diet.

“It’s heartbreaking when I see kids from the city come on school trips who don’t know what a pig is or have never seen a horse before,” said O’Brien during her acceptance speech. “Our main goal is just to educate them, and I can’t stress how important agriculture and livestock both are.”

Listen to Christina’s full speech here:
Christina O'Brien Accepting Charles Eastin Award

View and Download Photos here:
National Ag Day Activities Photo Album

Ag Day, Ag Groups, Audio

Ag Day Address from John Deere Economist

Jamie Johansen March 17, 2016

The annual National Ag Day Celebration of Agriculture Dinner took place at the USDA building this year and Orion Samuelson graced goers with his unforgettable voice and career-long commitment to agriculture. JB Penn, Chief Economist, John Deere was honored to serve as the evenings keynote speaker, but even more humbled to be introduced by an icon in American agriculture.

“We are hear today to celebrate the role our industry plays in our national life, in our society and in our economy. Agriculture is one of the great success stories in the development of our country,” said Penn. “We also have great challenges to overcome if we are to continue making the same contributions in the future as in the past.”

The above served as theme throughout Penn’s address. He hit on some high-level accomplishments throughout history and key challenges set before us. He said our careers in agriculture are a higher calling because we are blessed to be able to feed the world’s growing population. Yet, might be the challenge of all time.

Listen to Penn’s complete speech to learn about other elements of success and future issues we have yet to overcome. One of the greatest might be the consumers perception of agriculture. Keynote Address from JB Penn, John Deere

View and download photos here: National Ag Day Activities Photo Album

Ag Day, Ag Groups, Audio, John Deere

Research Confirms Yield Advantage for LibertyLink

Kelly Marshall March 17, 2016

For the second year in a row, field tests show LibertyLink soybeans yield better than Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans.

A collaboration between multiple university researchers and cooperators planted side-by-side field trials across various soil types. The trials were designed to measure a yield comparison of both herbicide systems.

“We wanted growers to be able to look at the two systems and know how they compare,” said Pablo Ogallar, Bayer soybean product manager. “This was an apples-to-apples comparison, and this is the second consecutive year that LibertyLink soybeans varieties out-yielded Roundup Ready 2 Yield varieties.”

Growers like Douglas Huggenberger have had similar results in their own fields. “I’ve been using the LibertyLink system and I’ve been very happy with it,” Huggenberger says. “I have yet to find a weed that it can’t knock down, unlike when I was using a different system. I was having a few escapee weeds so I wanted to change up my weed management, so that’s why I went to the Liberty® system and it’s working great.”

Huggenberger continued, “Last year I had the best beans I’ve ever harvested. As for seeing any yield drag – I’ve never seen a yield drag on the Liberty beans at all. It’s an excellent system.”

LibertyLink is one of the ways Bayer is committed to bringing growers new technology and new solutions. For more information contact a local Bayer representative, or visit Crop Science, a division of Bayer, online at www.CropScience.Bayer.us.

Agribusiness, Bayer, Soybean

Register for ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference

Jamie Johansen March 17, 2016

Within the next 34 years, the world will add an extra 3 billion mouths to feed. What will that mean for humanity, or, perhaps even more importantly, the agriculture and food sectors responsible for nourishing them?

At ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference, held May 22-25 in Lexington, Ky., USA, attendees will explore this question with experts from around the world. A future of plenty is ours if individuals, the private sector, agriculture and governments make meaningful choices today that harness the power of technology, conserve resources and encourage innovation. The AgWired has covered every single Alltech conference and they don’t disappoint. I am looking forward to bringing this information back to you once again this year.

The agriculture industry is the linchpin in this equation, and ONE will feature a variety of relevant talks and breakout sessions on feed efficiency, farm management and profitability, crop innovation, algae and DHA, nutrition and genetic expression, immunity and gut health, alternative protein sources, international agribusiness opportunities and much more. With its topical blend of science, agriculture, entrepreneurship, business and marketing information, ONE will show attendees how they can make a real difference in our changing world.

The list of confirmed agriculture talks and breakout sessions at ONE grows by the day. Registration is open for the annual international conference that draws nearly 5,000 attendees from more than 60 countries. Conference registration is $1,095; save $200 if you register before the end of March. Don’t forget to join the conversation online with #ONEBigIdea.

Watch an invitation here.

Agribusiness, Alltech

Top Issues for @Better_Seed Annual Meeting

Cindy Zimmerman March 17, 2016

Registration is now open for the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) 133rd annual convention, to be held June 18-22 in Portland, Oregon. At the recent Commodity Classic, we got a preview of some issues that will be top of mind for seed trade executives at the meeting from ASTA CEO Andy LaVigne. For one, ASTA is currently working with the USDA on a revision of the biotechnology regulations, known as Part 340.

“One of the key concerns that we have is USDA in this process is looking at part 340 regulations, which are the coordinated framework on approvals for biotechnology products.” LaVigne said. “We want to make sure that we support what they are trying to do; they’re trying to improve the regulatory efficiency of predictability in the system….ensure that the definition on the scope of that stays with the biotechnology processes and doesn’t bring in the breeding processes.”

LaVigne says they are also keeping an eye on seed treatments reviews at the federal level, as well as what Congress might do about food labeling for genetically modified ingredients. “This has got to be a legislative fix, we can’t have a patchwork,” said LaVigne. “There’s got to be a way that has flexibility in it.”

Listen to my interview with Andy here: Interview with Andy LaVigne, ASTA

2016 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Coverage of Commodity Classic sponsored by

ASTA, Audio, Biotech, Seed

AEM Report Shows Increase in Small Tractor Sales

Kelly Marshall March 17, 2016

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers says 2016 is continuing last year’s trend of growth in tractors under 40HP. The report shows sales were up in February of this year 26.2 percent, compared to 2015. The year-to-date growth is 19.7 percent.

2WD tractors between 40 and 100 HP are also up this year over last, with a growth of 5.8 percent in February and a year-to-date growth of minus .9 percent. This segment is still showing a lot of volatility and expected declines in farm income, specifically the 4.3 percent decrease in livestock receipts, will be a challenge for this market category.

“Small farm tractors under 40HP continue to shine in the current environment and the Ag Tractor and Combine Reports are hinting that 2016 is gearing up to look a lot like 2015,” said Charlie O’Brien, AEM senior vice president.

Larger production agriculture farm equipment such as the 2WD 100HP continued its double-digit declines. Moving into 2016, the 4WD farm tractor segment declined by single digits in January; however, the February report revealed a 43.6 percent decline year over year. Both categories are seeing the result of the lower commodity prices and still suffer from the large amounts of used inventories in the marketplace.

“While the 2016 farm income reports released last month by the USDA still shows a slight decline in expected income, it does look more like a stabilization of the industry,” continued O’Brien. “Looking at the Farm Business (NCFI) income, aside from regional differences, it appears that the income was up for most crop farms and down for most livestock farms, providing new opportunities.”

AEM, Agribusiness, Markets, Tractor

What should Congress do about GMO labeling?

Jamie Johansen March 17, 2016

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What do you look forward to most in spring?”

I don’t think it really matters who won this week’s poll. What really matters is Spring is right around the corner and Spring means new beginnings. Farmers are busy preparing their fields and livestock babies of all shapes and sizes are being born each day. I am looking forward to many things and warmer weather tops my list.

Here are the poll results:

Warmer weather – 38%
Green grass & flowers – 28%
Planting – 10%
Spring showers – 5%
Other -19%

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, What should Congress do about GMO labeling?

Despite the best efforts of Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS), the Senate failed to invoke cloture on the Biotechnology Labeling Solutions Bill in a 48-49 vote, blocking advancement of the legislation that would create a voluntary federal standard for labeling foods with genetically modified ingredients. Hundreds of agricultural organizations supported the Roberts bill and are disappointed in the outcome. What should be done now? Let us know how you feel.

ZimmPoll

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