Pollinators Part of @GROWMARK Endure Program

Cindy Zimmerman February 19, 2016

Protecting pollinators is part of the GROWMARK sustainability initiative called ENDURE.

“Sustainability is a very hot topic in the world today,” said GROWMARK Director of Strategic Agronomy Marketing Lance Ruppert. “As a company we’re trying to look at our internal actions to be sustainable as a system and get that message out.”

Because pollinator health is so critical, Ruppert says GROWMARK started a pollinator program as part of ENDURE. “We have access through our seed division of pollinator mixes of flowers people can grow to promote bee health,” said Ruppert. “So all of our members across Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Ontario are participating in the program to plant pollinator gardens to promote bee health.”

Ruppert says all members are given enough seeds to plant up to ten acres of pollinator friendly flowers. “So our members are going to divide that up in 2-5 locations…so you could potentially see 100-125 pollinator gardens from our members,” he said.

Learn more in this interview: Interview with Lance Ruppert, GROWMARK Agronomy

Audio, Bees, GROWMARK, pollinators, Sustainability

Don’t Let Sauce Slip From Your Chili Dog

Chuck Zimmerman February 18, 2016

Have you ever eaten a chili dog with a fork and knife? I hope not. It’s just not proper etiquette or necessary. But then how do you eat one without dripping the sauce all over the place. With the help of the Queen of Wein, National Hot Dog and Sausage Council and Washington D.C. landmark Ben’s Chili Bowl we learn that there is a way. George Washington University professor and Ben’s historian Bernard Demczuk explains his finely honed method to the Queen of Wien in the video below.

It’s all about the grip, the raise, the bite and the repeat. Watch and learn then go enjoy that chili dog.

Food, Meat, Video

USB Educates Growers on Global Markets

Jamie Johansen February 18, 2016

The United Soybean Board (USB) invites soybean farmers with a desire to take a look at their customers beyond the elevator and to learn more about the soy checkoff’s role in marketing U.S. soy, to take part in their See for Yourself program. Tina Holst, Chilston, Wisconsin soybean farmer, took advantage of this opportunity last year and I caught up with her during the 2016 Young Farmers and Ranchers Conference in Kansas City, MO to learn more about program.

“They take ten soybeans farmers from the United States every year to experience markets abroad. This past August we went to China where we were able to see how that market is established and growing. We also visited Vietnam and that market is in the process of establishing,” Holst said.

No destination has been announced for the 2016 See for Yourself trip set for August 8-13, but applications are being accepted through April 1. USB will cover all related rooming, meals and travel expenses. “For a week of your time, it gives you a phenomenal experience to see not only what we are doing here to promote our soybeans but also what is happening when they hit the end customer,” she added.

Listen to my complete interview with Tina here: Interview with Tina Holst, US Soybean Farmer

Ag Groups, Audio, Exports, Farming, Markets, Soybean, USB

CIRB Hears from Senate Agriculture Committee

Kelly Marshall February 18, 2016

Joel Leftwich of the Senate Agriculture Committee spoke at the recent Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau’s annual meeting. Leftwich imparted two main messages in his talk, the first and most important was his thanks to the many people who work together to grow the food we enjoy in this country. As a small-town boy from Kansas, Leftwich knows first hand the team that includes not just the farmers, but those who support growers, like the crop insurance agencies that create certainty in the marketplace for all of us who like to eat.

His second message was about the work of the committee over the last year and what they hope to accomplish in the future. The work in passing a bill that helps schools with lunch programs has already begun. Forestry and forest fire programs are on the list, but most notable among the upcoming bills will be to address bio tech labeling.

“It’s a very hot topic. The individual states are taking action and that is going to create some confusion in the marketplace. We want to provide some clarity for the marketplace so I think you’ll see us turn to that issue shortly,” Leftwich notes.

To hear the rest of Chuck’s interview listen here: Joel Leftwich, Senate Agriculture Committee

2016 CIRB Annual Meeting Photos

CIRB, Insurance

2016 Politics and Agriculture at CIRB

Kelly Marshall February 18, 2016

With Presidential Elections on the horizon, it isn’t surprising many are wondering how a new administration will affect the agriculture industry. Jim Wiesemeyer, Senior Vice President of Informa Economics delivered a message to the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau Annual Meeting entitled Policy Forecast for 2016 and Beyond. AgWired had the chance to talk to him about the candidates and what they might mean to the future of agriculture.

In a nutshell: Clinton, according to Wiesemeyer, will continue with the status quo, agriculturally speaking. Sanders, while quite energetic, faces poor odds, Wiesemeyer says. Trump is unknown in all areas of policy, but is likely to pick good people. Cruz gets negative readings from the ag community, while Rubio scored well among farmers and ranchers. Bush will likely be fair to agriculture, and Kasich knows industry.

But agriculture policy will depend on more than the Presidency. Control of the Senate will be important too, with Wiesemeyer predicting Republicans in the majority for the near future. Depending on the new administration, the honeymoon period could become important as well.

To hear the full interview about 2016 politics, listen to Chuck Zimmerman’s interview here: Interview with Jim Wiesemeyer, Informa Economics

2016 CIRB Annual Meeting Photos

CIRB, politics

FMC Herbicides Part of #LibertyLink Rebate Program

Cindy Zimmerman February 18, 2016

Soybean growers looking to extend their weed control this season can be eligible for rebates when they link up LibertyLink® soybeans with FMC Authority® and Anthem® herbicides as part of the Soybean Residual program with FMC.

At the National Farm Machinery Show last week, I talked with Mark Howard, FMC retail market manager for central Illinois, about the rebate program and why it’s important that growers use different types of weed control to fight resistance. “There’s a huge need for mixing up our modes of action,” said Howard. “The best way to prevent resistance is to never let the weeds come up and that’s the role that an Authority or Anthem brand plays in this system.”

Under the rebate program, Howard says growers can earn two to three dollars per acre back for using appropriate rates of Authority brands. “Weed control is critical, so the need for a quality residual product is a bigger deal than it’s ever been,” he said. “Farmers are trying to figure out how to do more with less so we’re giving them different options to help shave a dollar here or there.”

Learn more in this interview: Interview with Mark Howard, FMC

2016 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by

and

Audio, Bayer, FMC, National Farm Machinery Show, Soybean, weed management

Ag America Wants Candidates to Support Agriculture

Cindy Zimmerman February 18, 2016

A coalition of agricultural leaders is calling on the presidential candidates to commit to publicly support U.S. agriculture. Ag America has developed a set of “Principles for Our Ag Future” that “outline the path forward to ensure that American agriculture continues to be the envy and leader throughout the world.”

“Ag America is calling on all of the fine men and women running for president to publicly commit to supporting American agriculture,” said Ag America Advisory Board Member and former Member of Congress Richard Pombo. “America’s elected leaders and policy makers must commit to protecting our ag future. When 4 out of 4 people in the world have to eat every single day, you can’t overstate the importance of sticking to these principles.”

“U.S. agriculture helps drive the economy and feeds the world. The core principles outlined by Ag America will help ensure that the policies coming from Washington, D.C. support our farmers by creating new trade opportunities, limit regulatory overreach and support the next generation in agriculture,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey.

“Too many people, and this includes policy makers in our nation’s capital, take the food on their tables for granted,” said Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Mike Strain. “If we as a nation don’t take the steps now to responsibly, and proactively act on our ag future, future generations the world over will be faced with decisions that were 100% avoidable had the leaders of today simply stood on principle.”

The principals include enhancing economic development opportunities to improve access to agriculture markets around the world, advancing the science of agriculture by supporting common sense regulations to protect environmental and energy resources, and supporting the education of the next generation of America’s farmers through emphasis on science, technology, engineering, agriculture, and math.

Ag America is a Super PAC active in local, state, and federal elections dedicated to electing candidates who support American agriculture. It was formed in response to the lack of a unified national strategy supporting candidates and officeholders with proven records of supporting agriculture.

politics

ACA Names Christina O’Brien as Award Recipient

Kelly Marshall February 18, 2016

Christina O’Brien has been an outstanding advocate for agriculture and now she is being recognized for her efforts. The Agriculture Council of America (ACA) is awarding her the Charles Eastin Award for 2016. This award is for an individual who works to accurately communicate between rural and urban audiences. She will be honored at a Celebration of Agriculture Dinner at the USDA on National Ag Day, March 15, 2016.

O’Brien has been a 4-H leader where she organized “Science-sational day” to educate kids grades 1-3. In 2014 she held a workshop to make healthy dog biscuits and connected the ingredients to the farm. On her own farm, Norz Hill, she has hosted teaching days to educate children on the care of livestock. She serves as a junior advisor to the New Jersey Holstein Association and works with that organization to plan competitions like quiz bowl, speeches, and trifolds/research.

In addition to working with many oranziations O’Brien has also initiated a lease program through the Garden State Sheep Breeders and leases her own sheep to four inner city girls. She also planned an event at a local YMCA that featured agriculture education and information about a well-balanced diet.

National Ag Day was founded in 1973 by the Agriculture Council of America. Their mission is to increase the public’s awareness of agriculture in modern society.

Ag Day, Ag Groups

Ag Attends 2+ Farm Shows, Conferences A Year

Jamie Johansen February 17, 2016

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “How many farm shows/conferences do you attend?”

We have a very wide spectrum in our results this week. It looks like most people attend around 2 to 5 farm shows or conferences each year. As you can guess, those on the AgWired Team would fit into the 5 plus category. I think a future poll should ask the impact farm shows have on making purchases or decisions on the farm.

Here are the poll results:

1-2 – 17%
2-5 – 30%
5+ – 27%
None- 26%

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, What is your favorite social media outlet for agriculture?

It is rare to find someone who isn’t using social media for personal reasons, but when I find that person I respect their reasons. However, if you aren’t using social media to market yourself, business or social issue you are missing out and getting left behind. Social media is one of the greatest places to promote our agricultural community. Do you have a favorite platform?

ZimmPoll

Break the Rules at #ShowMeYFR

Kelly Marshall February 17, 2016

Lindsay Calvert of the American Farm Bureau Federation told attendees of #ShowMeYFR Annual Leadership Conference to break the rules. Not all the rules, exactly, but the rules of public speaking.

Public speaking is the most commonly requested topic for Calvert, whose job is to train Farm Bureau leaders nationwide. Members want to know, how do you connect with an audience? How do you get your point across? Calvert’s advice– forget what you know. Public speaking isn’t about you, it’s about the people listening. Letting go of the idea of what a perfect public speaker is supposed to do and be yourself is her main take-away. Maybe that means leaving the podium and walking around (even in front of the projector) or drinking coffee while you converse.

With all the emphasis for farmers to “tell you story” the most important point, Calvert explains, is a connection, not a good impression.

“The most important part in telling your story is making it relatable to your audience, so are you talking to fellow farmers or consumers. So make sure your story is very personal to your farm and weed out all the extra, unnecessary facts and statistics and focus on your audience,” she advises.

You can hear the full interview here: Interview with Lindsay Calvert, American Farm Bureau Federation

AFBF, Ag Groups

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