Wheelchair Accessible Indoor Farm Designed

Lizzy Schultz

Indoor Farms of America logo (PRNewsFoto/Indoor Farms of America)

Indoor Farms of America logo (PRNewsFoto/Indoor Farms of America)

Indoor Farms of America recently announced the arrival of a new farm model to their product line. The state of the art Container Farm is specially designed to be fully operated by a person in a wheelchair, expanding the population of users who are able to enjoy the fulfillment of operating a vegetable farm that can produce a substantial income virtually anywhere.

The farm holds a capacity of 4,550 plants, and offers a higher yield potential than any other container farm, and the farm’s unique vertical equipment has been customized to be operated 100% from the position of a wheelchair.

“Every task, from daily record keeping, farm monitoring, seedling tray preparation, transplanting and harvesting, every aspect is operable by a disabled person who still has the use of their arms and hands, with certain tools we use in the farm,” states David Martin, co-founder and CEO of Indoor Farms of America, LLC. “Working in one of our farms is a pleasing experience, being around the plants is simply really satisfying, whether disabled or not,” says Martin.

The company is also finalizing designs for an automated feature that will make the farm even easier to operate. In honor of the new design’s arrival, Indoor Farms of America has announced special lower pricing for Veterans, those working in the public service sector, and students.

“We want to give a bit back, and if we can make it easier to own and operate one of our small farms for veterans, police, fire fighters, those who are currently active military with a family back home that can operate a farm, and students who may consider indoor farming as a career, well, we want to do that,” said Martin. “We know there is a lack of young people coming into farming, we want to encourage them to look into this form of sustainable agriculture that uses many areas of technology to function, something they definitely are interested in.”

Those that would like to see this innovative equipment first hand are encouraged to book an appointment with the company, which offers visits and tours of their demonstration farm and showroom, located near the Las Vegas Strip.

Ag Groups, Farming, Technology

Virtual Field Trip- No Bus Required

Kelly Marshall

Discovering FarmlandThis week students across the nation had to opportunity to visit a farm without ever getting on a school bus.  The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance and Discovery Education have put together an unique program that allowed more than 1,200 schools to take a virtual field trip.

The event, titled “The Smart Farm: Where Technology and Innovation Meet” was hosted from Deere & Company’s World Headquarters in Moline, Illinois.  From there students went to a hog, corn and soybean farm to meet Rayn Veldhuizen, a farmer featured in James Moll’s award-winning documentary, FARMLAND.  Valdhuizen spent time discussing the technology and innovation on a farm today.

The National Corn Growers Association says they’re pround to be part of the founding of the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance and the work they’re doing.  “Before today, I couldn’t imagine taking more than 35,000 students on a field trip to a farm – but that’s exactly what USFRA did today with its Virtual Field Trip,” said NCGA President Chip Bowling, who represents the organization on the USFRA board of directors. “Today’s virtual field trip was a great way to share what takes place on farms like mine with audiences that can’t visit rural communities.”

The standards-aligned program also provides curriculum guides, lesson plans and interactive resources to teachers and students to help them gain real-world insight about where their food comes from.  Key issues covered in the material are: how technology has transformed the industry, challenges like weather and growing conditions, common stereotypes around farmers and ranchers, and market supply and demand.  These themes are echoes of the topics brought to life in the FARMLAND documentary.

For more information, visit the program website, www.discoveringfarmland.com, or the USFRA website, www.fooddialogues.com.

USFRA

ASA Seeks State Policy & Communications Coordinator

Jamie Johansen

ASA-logoThe American Soybean Association (ASA) is ready to accept applications for the position of State Policy & Communication Coordinator based at Gordley Associates, ASA’s Washington office.

This position has multiple responsibilities in two work areas. The first is to work with ASA’s 26 state and regional association affiliates to help achieve national soybean policy priorities, as set by ASA. This position provides a range of services to the state affiliates, particularly those which lack full-time or adequate staff. Services include scheduling and assisting with congressional office visits, contacting state Congressional delegations, attending in-state association meetings to provide issue updates and ASA outreach, and tailoring ASA’s policy communications for use in their publications, on social media, and in other venues.

The position also assists ASA’s Policy Communication Director with the association’s overall policy communication efforts, including media relations, grassroots advocacy, speechwriting, social media, and publications. Depending on qualifications and aptitude, this position may also serve as a federal lobbyist on certain issues. Other responsibilities would be based on the candidate’s experience and abilities.

Resume, cover letter and two writing samples can be sent to Blair Elias at belias@soy.org.

Ag Groups, ASA, Soybean

IFAJ Congress 2016 Early Registration Extended

Chuck Zimmerman

IFAJ Congress 2016The organizers of the IFAJ Congress 2016 have extended early bird registration to April 10. So you have a little more time to look at the programs for the pre and post tours as well as the main Congress.

This morning I Skyped with Mark Moore, freelance agricultural journalist and photographer who is helping the Congress committee. Mark has been living with his family in Germany for several years now. We talk about the various programs including some of the special plans for the time in Bonn.

You can find the main conference program here and registration here.

Listen to my full interview with Mark here and I hope you and I can attend: Interview with Mark Moore

ACN, Audio, IFAJ, International, Media

Washington State Billboard Causing Uproar

Cindy Zimmerman

The chairmen of two Senate committees are calling for an investigation into billboards in Washington state that blame agriculture for polluting waterways because they apparently were funded by a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK), chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, and Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS), chairman of the Agriculture Committee are requesting an audit and investigation of an EPA grant to the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission that was reportedly used to support a campaign in Washington state funded by a coalition calling itself “What’s Up Stream.” The campaign included billboards and a website that support increased regulation of agriculture in the Evergreen State.

Photo by Don Jenkins, Capital Press

Photo by Don Jenkins, Capital Press

Western agriculture publication Capital Press first called attention to the billboards in an April 1 story, and Sen. Roberts picked up on it Monday. “This disturbing billboard is a bold example of exactly what America’s farmers and ranchers complain about all the time: the EPA has an agenda antagonistic to producers,” said Roberts in a statement. According to the Capital Press report, EPA’s biggest problem with the billboard stating that “unregulated agriculture is putting our waterways at risk” is that they didn’t receive credit for their financial contribution, which is apparently a requirement when they provide grant money to organizations.

“It appears a large portion of the EPA financial assistance went to pay a public relations and lobbying firm, Strategies 360, to conduct an advocacy campaign called ‘What’s Upstream?’ in partnership with environmental activists, including Puget Soundkeeper Alliance and Western Environmental Law Center,” Inhofe and Roberts wrote in their letter to EPA inspector general Arthur A. Elkins, Jr. “This Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission grant appears to be part of a broader war on farmers and rural communities that the Obama Administration, through the EPA, has been waging in concert with its allies in the environmental activist community. It is imperative we learn whether EPA officials are turning a blind eye to this deceptive wrongdoing, and why the administration did not perform the necessary oversight to confirm taxpayer dollars are not mismanaged, and ensure well-established and important federal restrictions against lobbying are being followed,” the Senators concluded.

Big kudos are due to Capital Press for a fine piece of journalism breaking this story. Nice job!

Environment, EPA

The Andersons Sell Facilities to MaxYield Co-Op

Kelly Marshall

The Andersons, Inc. logo. (PRNewsFoto/The Andersons, Inc.) The Andersons, Inc. has completed an agreement to sell eight grain facilities located in Iowa to MaxYield Cooperative.

“We have referenced performance issues in our western grain assets during several recent investor calls. We anticipate this sale will improve our prospects and provide a pathway to profitability for this area of our business,” said CEO Pat Bowe. “We believe MaxYield will capably continue to serve the needs of the growers in this region and make good use of these assets in Iowa.”

The facilities were originally acquired in 2012 as part of an acquisition from Green Plains Grain Company.  The Andersons also received assets in Tennessee at that time, which are not part of the new agreement.  The Andersons also continue to keep their holdings related to their ethanol facility and the recently-aquired Nutra-Flow facility in Iowa.

“We are excited about the opportunity to expand our presence in an area already served by MaxYield,” stated Howard Haas, MaxYield Cooperative board chairman. “MaxYield currently has facilities in 17 rural communities and has 1,700 members, many of which will have increased access to grain, agricultural inputs and services as a result of this transaction.”

Agribusiness, Cooperatives

USDA Reports Big Growth in Organic Certification

Kelly Marshall

usda-organic-sealCertified organic operations continue to increase significantly, according to the latest numbers from the USDA.  Growth is seeing a double-digit trend, with 21,781 certified operations in the U.S. and 31,160 world-wide.

“Organic food is one of the fasting growing segments of American agriculture,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “As consumer demand for organic products continues to grow, the USDA organic seal has become a leading global standard. The increasing number of organic operations shows that USDA’s strong support for the vibrant organic sector is helping to create jobs and opportunities in rural communities.”

According to data released by the Agricultural Marketing Service’s (AMS) National Organic Program (NOP), the number of domestic certified organic operations increased by almost 12 percent between 2014 and 2015, representing the highest growth rate since 2008 and an increase of nearly 300 percent since the count began in 2002. The total retail market for organic products is now valued at more than $39 billion in the United States and over $75 billion worldwide.

Local foods are also seeing a dramatic growth, up from $5 billion in 2008 to $12 billion in 2014.

The USDA offers programs to support growers who wished to be certified as organic, and marketing and price information is available on their website.  They also spent $11.5 million to help with certification costs last year.

Agribusiness, Food, Organic, USDA

ZimmComm, Nufarm and Zebras invade NAMA Conference

Chuck Zimmerman

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away lived a very happy little zebra.

That’s the start of the story that will unfold as we get closer to the 2016 Agri-Marketing Conference. As you can see, ZimmComm New Media has teamed up with Nufarm for some NAMA fun. Yes, zebras are involved.

Zelfie

If you’re following me on Twitter or the NAMA Conference hashtag, #NAMA16, I’m sharing some #ZebraFact material just so you get to know more about these interesting animals. Since you can probably guess that there will be a zebra in our Connection Point booth it’s good to know these things for when you stop by and visit.

This is a teaser of more information to come. So keep your eye on the AgWired network.

Uncategorized

Vilsack Traveling to Germany and France

Kelly Marshall

USDAAgriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will be traveling to Berlin and Paris next week.

April 4-5 he will be in Berlin, discussing rural economic development opportunities related to the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) with German officials and farmers.  Christian Schmidt, the German Mister of Food and Agriculture, as well as other government officials will also meet about the benefits to each country’s agriculture industry through stimulating rural economies, streamlining import procedures, providing more food choices for consumers, addressing climate change and increasing food security.

Following that he will co-chair the U.S. delegation to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Meeting of Agriculture Ministers in Paris on April 7-8.  The purpose of that meeting will explore how he and other agriculture ministers from OECD countries can work together to feed the world’s growing population and simultaneously manage natural resources and handling climate change.

Trade, USDA

Hot Dogs for the MLB Win

Kelly Marshall

National Hot Dog and Sausage CouncilWhile apple pie and baseball might be quintessentially American, hot dogs and major league baseball go together much better.  And even though some have suggested it might be possible to attend a game and not eat a hot dog, the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (NHDSC) is predicting the consumption of more than 19.4 million hot dogs and 4.3 million sausages during the 2016 baseball season.  Combined, that meat could reach from Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay to Angel Stadium in Anaheim.

“There are challengers galore, but hot dogs remain king of the concession stand,” said NHDSC President Eric Mittenthal. “From childhood through old age there are two things guaranteed to put a smile on your face: baseball and hot dogs. It’s the perfect combination.”

Move over Royals because, even though it isn’t a World Series title, the Los Angeles Dodgers are number one in hot dog consumption, with an estimated 2.6 million dogs anticipated at Dodger Stadium.  The New York Yankees have the honor of taking second place, with an expected intake of more than 1.55 million dogs.  The Cleveland Indians and the Texas Rangers will battle it out for third place, each with a little more than 1.2 million in anticipated sales.  And the Chicago Cubs are looking to improve in 2016 with an increase of 17 percent over last year, bringing them in at 1 million hot dogs.

In sausage consumption the San Francisco Giants have upset the defending champions, the Milwaukee Brewers, and the St. Louis Cardinals are expected to rise into second place.  The Boston Red Sox are batting third and the Brewers fall into a disappointing fourth place.

The line-up looks a little different this year as well.  Check out this year’s rookie flavors, like the Cracker Jack & Mac Dog Pirates fans will be able to partake in this season, or stop by Wrigley Field for a chance at a local “doug.”

For more stats on your favorite meat visit www.hot-dog.org.

Agribusiness, Food