I AM USFRA – Jeanette Merritt

Cindy Zimmerman

usfra-merrittLike most farm women, Jeanette Merritt wears many hats. A wife and mother of three, the 4th generation Indiana hog and soybean farmer is a Purdue University graduate who serves Hoosier State agriculture in a variety of ways.

Jeanette is a former farm broadcaster and agricultural journalist who has put her experience to work as a public speaker and PR specialist for the industry. She’s served the Indiana Wine industry and is Director of Checkoff Programs for Indiana Pork. At the same time, she sits on the board of the Indiana Soybean Alliance and in that capacity was chosen recently to serve on the board of the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA).

i-am-usfra-webBecause of Jeanette’s broad background in agricultural communications, she sees the great need for USFRA to unify the voice of the nation’s farmers and ranchers. “I think it’s important that we all have the same message,” she said. “We’re all trying to educate consumers. Maybe the way we farm is different from state to state, but we still have the same goal.”

That’s why she thinks it’s important for state commodity organizations to support the work of USFRA as much as possible. “Being able to participate brings that local feel to a national organization,” she said, adding that she believes it has been an effective use of farmer checkoff dollars in Indiana. “Being able to work with other commodity organizations and combine those dollars to make our effort even bigger I think is a great use of the checkoff.”

Jeanette believes USFRA has already made a difference in the short five years of its existence with programs such as Food Dialogues, the FARMLAND movie spinoffs, and the Faces of Farming and Ranching.

Listen to Jeanette’s thoughts on USFRA here: Interview with Jeanette Merritt, Indiana soybean member of USFRA board

Audio, Soybean, USFRA

NAFB Offers $25,000 in Scholarships

Kelly Marshall

NAFB

2015 NAFB Foundation Scholarship Recipients (L-R) Kelsey Litchfield (University of Illinois), Samantha Capoun (Kansas State University), Bryce Doeschot (University of Nebraska), Hli Yang (University of Missouri)

The National Association of Farm Broadcasters believes in the future of farm broadcasting, which is why they’ve been supporting college students with financial support since 1975.  This year the NAFB will be offering five $5,000 scholarships to college juniors, seniors or graduate students enrolled for the fall of 2016.

The scholarships include the Glenn Kummerow Memorial Scholarship, the George Logan Scholarship, the Orion Samuelson Scholarship (presented by CME Group), the BASF Grow Smart Scholarship (presented by BASF), and the CHS Scholarship (presented by CHS, Inc.).  Selected students will be honored at the NAFB Convention in Kansas City, Missouri November 9-11, 2016.  Conference attendance is included as part of the award.

Applications are due online by June 6, 2016.  Students enrolled in a college or university agriculture communications program and hoping to pursue a career in agriculture communications are eligible.  Please create a user account to allow you to revisit the site as you work on the application.

Agribusiness, Education, Journalism

Study Shows How Farmers are Dealing with Downturn

Cindy Zimmerman

JLLogoJ.L.Farmakis, Inc has just released a new research study conducted in February by Millennium Research that shows plans farmers are making this year in reaction to lower commodity prices.

Among the findings of the “Farmer Speaks Study” are:

• Half of the farmers surveyed are seeking off-farm employment
• 74% will switch to generics or change brands of crop protection products
• No new equipment purchases will be made by 37% of the farmers
• Reduced traits in seeds and changes in fertilizer practices were significant.
• Increased attention to marketing aims to raise revenue through better prices

“Our goal was to help better understand what farmers are thinking, so that our media partners, their advertisers and growers can work together to address the changes as they happen.” said Bill Farmakis, President of J.L. Farmakis, who notes that shifts of this magnitude have not been seen since the 1980s.

The initial study was conducted with 160 growers primarily in the Midwest, but also with farmers from other agriculture areas around the county. A follow-up Farmer Speaks study is being planned with Millennium Research with an expanded farmer panel later this year. If interested, a copy of the study can be requested from J.L. Farmakis, Inc. at jlfarmakis.com/farmerspeaks.

Farmakis talks about the study results and what they mean for the agribusiness industry in this interview: Interview with Bill Farmakis

Agribusiness, Audio, Farming, Marketing

Zimmie the Zebra Looking for New Home at #NAMA16

Chuck Zimmerman

Zimmie The ZebraMeet Zimmie the Zebra. This rare pygmy zebra has been homeless for some time as habitat in her native land of Zambia has been disappearing. When I found out about this I called Brian Rund, Nufarm, because he and I had worked on a zebra home placement project during Potato Expo earlier this year. During that show we helped Chip, a full sized zebra, find a new home in Canada. So, with that experience behind us are working together again during the Agri-Marketing Conference to find a new home for Zimmie.

Here’s how it will work. You stop by the ZimmComm booth during the Agri-Marketing Conference Connection Point trade show (booth 417-419). Use a Zelfie stick to take your picture with Zimmie and post that to #NAMA16 and #ZimmieZebra and @AgWired. After the end of the Connection Point all Zelfies will be judged for creativity and quality. One lucky person will take Zimmie home and provide her with a nice environment to live in.

ZelfieAlthough zebras have been taking zelfies for a long time they were first introduced in the U.S. by Nufarm. When you take your own zelfie you will get to keep your zelfie stick as long as supplies last. This is one way you can do your part to preserve the NAMA wildlife.

I spoke with Zimmie by phone this morning. Her voice was not very good because she’s been doing so many interviews as she travels to the United States to find a new place to live. In fact, she had just completed a long live interview with Wolf Blitzer on CNN. I’m sure she’ll be in top form next week.

Zimmie is hoping that her new caretaker will have good hay (alfalfa mixed with timothy) and beer. She likes beer as you’ll hear in our interview. Hopefully she’ll be able to sample some Boulevard Brewing products during the conference.

We’re really hoping to see you in Kansas City next week!

Listen to my interview with Zimmie here: Interview with Zimmie The Zebra

Animal Agriculture, Animal Health, Audio, Livestock, NAMA, Nufarm

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