Vilsack Puts Cottonseed Decision in Hands of Congress

Cindy Zimmerman

cottonseed-cottonincAgriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has reportedly informed Congress that he has no legal authority to approve a request from cotton growers that cottonseed be designated as an oilseed to qualify for farm programs. The secretary told reporters about the decision Wednesday at the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture meeting in Washington DC.

In response to press reports, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (R-TX) argued in a statement that USDA does possess the authority to take the requested action which would help alleviate the financial stress cotton farmers are experiencing with low global prices. “Time and again the Secretary has used the tools made available to him under the law to respond to a crisis in agriculture. The current economic situation for cotton farmers is dire and it warrants the same urgent and meaningful action by the Department,” says Conaway. “The Department has not only the legal authority to designate cottonseed as an ‘other oilseed,’ but the responsibility to act, and I trust that the Secretary is sensitive to the situation and shares my commitment and the commitment of so many others that this matter must be meaningfully responded to in a timely way.”

The National Cotton Council expressed disappointment in the news. “We continue to believe, like a broad group of Members of Congress, that USDA clearly has this authority as described in the current farm bill. Our industry remains committed to pursuing a cottonseed designation and policy to help provide long-term stability to the industry.” The council notes that U.S. cotton acreage is at its lowest level in more than 30 years, exports are the lowest in 15 years and cotton prices at the lowest level since 2009.

Both the American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Farmers Union also expressed similar sentiments. “While we are disappointed in the USDA ruling, AFBF stands ready to work with leadership of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees and other congressional ag leaders to explore ways to overcome the legal barriers USDA has cited,” said AFBF president Zippy Duvall.

AFBF, Cotton

China Company to Buy Syngenta

Cindy Zimmerman

*UPDATED with audio*

syngenta-logoHere’s some big news of the day. Syngenta announced today that ChemChina has offered to acquire the company for $43 billion.

The Board of Directors of Syngenta considers that the proposed transaction respects the interests of all stakeholders and is unanimously recommending the offer to shareholders. There is committed financing for the deal and a strong commitment to pursue regulatory clearances. A Swiss and U.S. tender offer will commence in the coming weeks and the transaction is expected to conclude by the end of the year.

Syngenta’s existing management will continue to run the company. After closing, a ten member Board of Directors will be chaired by Ren Jianxin, Chairman of ChemChina, and will include four of the existing Syngenta Board members. ChemChina is committed to maintaining the highest governance standards with a view to an IPO of the business in the years to come.

Syngenta already has a full multi-media website devoted to the deal – syngenta-growth.com.

Syngenta Chief Operating Officer Davor Piskof held a press call with reporters Monday to talk about the deal, noting that the offer will allow Syngenta “to continue as a stand alone company,” and keep its commitment to research and innovation. “To ensure that Syngenta remains Syngenta (is) one of the most important elements of this transaction,” said Piskof, adding that it “helps preserve choice for growers at a time when we’re seeing a lot of consolidation.”

Listen to entire call here to learn more: Syngenta COO Davor Piskof

Agribusiness, Audio, International, Syngenta

Policy Priorities for Ag Retailers

Chuck Zimmerman

ara-cooperThe Agricultural Retailers Association is holding its winter board meeting in Washington, DC after a day of visits on Capitol Hill. Before the meeting started I visited with ARA Chairman, Harold Cooper, Premier Ag. We talked about the policy priorities for ARA this year.

The first and foremost one he says is the retail exemption to OSHA’s Process Safety Management regulations. You can read a letter from ARA to OSHA on this subject here which explains this in detail. The EPA’s WOTUS rule is another big issue for ARA.

Harold and his fellow board members stormed the Hill yesterday meeting with many Senators and Representatives on these issues.

You can listen to my interview with Harold here: Harold Cooper, Premier Ag

Ag Groups, ARA, Audio, Farm Policy

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

Zimfo Bytes

  • Western Growers will launch its first Tech Talk Series on Tuesday, February 9 at 4:00 p.m. at its Center for Innovation & Technology in Salinas, Calif.
  • U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) was selected as the 2015 Wheat Leader of the Year by the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) board of directors.
  • FCS Financial will award up to 35 scholarships, each at $1,500, to children or grandchildren of FCS Financial members.
  • The ninth annual George Washington Carver Award will recognize an individual who has made a significant contribution to building the biobased economy by applying industrial biotechnology to create sustainable and environmentally friendlier products.
Zimfo Bytes

NCGA Dialogues on Behalf of Members

Kelly Marshall

NCGA-LogoTo better serve their members the National Corn Growers Association gathers their state affiliate staff and select grower volunteers every two years to discuss challenges and opportunities for the organization.

Staff and growers from Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin gathered in Santa Fe for presentations and discussions.  The group addressed issues like attracting new members, building member diversity, and engaging members through the use of technology, as well as dialoging on ways to ensure farm families are represented well by the state and national organizations.

“This was a great opportunity to bring together people who are working day in and out to build and serve membership throughout the country,” said NCGA Grower Services Action Team Chairwoman Patty Mann, a grower from Ohio. “NCGA and its affiliates have always been forward-thinking and dedicated to increasing membership – and increasing member support and activity. These meetings help people from around the country share ideas and best practices to benefit all the organizations.”

The NCGA Grower Services Action team will meet directly after this symposium to define and implement membership, leadership, and communications programs.

Ag Groups, NCGA

Senate Ag Congratulates Farm Credit on 100 Years

John Davis

Farm Credit 100Farm Credit gets to celebrate its 100th anniversary with some well wishes from the Senate Agriculture Committee. This news release from the committee says Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., introduced S.Res. 349, a resolution acknowledging the Farm Credit System’s anniversary and continued service to meet the credit and financial needs of rural communities.

On July 17, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed into law the Federal Farm Loan Act establishing the Farm Credit System. Through the enactment of the Farm Credit Act of 1971, Congress deemed the Farm Credit System’s permanent job to support rural communities and agricultural producers.

The Farm Credit System is a network of independently owned cooperatives controlled by borrowers. The Farm Credit System supports the next generation of agricultural producers by annually providing billions of dollars in loans for beginning producers and by financially supporting organizations such as 4-H and FFA.

Cosponsors include Sens. Thom Tillis, R-N.C.; Joni Ernst, R-Iowa; Thad Cochran, R-Miss.; Charles Grassley R-Iowa; Michael Bennet, D-Colo.; Robert Casey D-Pa.; and Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D. All cosponsors are members of the Senate Agriculture Committee.

Farm Credit

Do Iowa Caucus Results Reflect Ag Views?

Jamie Johansen

New Holland ZimmPollOur latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What’s your planting intentions prediction for 2016?”

Are you still debating what will inhabit your fields this growing season. If so, it’s crunch time. It looks like many will be planting more soybeans this year or keeping it similar to 2015.

Here are the poll results:

  • More corn, less soybeans – 7%
  • Less corn, more soybeans – 7%
  • More corn and soybeans – 6%
  • More soybeans, less corn – 27%
  • Similar to last year – 27%
  • No idea – 26%

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, Do Iowa Caucus results reflect ag views?

In a new Agri-Pulse poll of how U.S. farmers and ranchers plan to vote for president, respondents overwhelmingly said they’ll support a Republican, and 40 percent of those are Trump supporters. That compares to 15 percent for Sen. Ted Cruz, 11 percent for Sen. Marco Rubio and 10 percent for Ben Carson. Now that we have the Iowa Caucus results, do you feel they are a reflection of agricultures view?

ZimmPoll

Trump a Future Farmer?

Cindy Zimmerman

trump-iowaDonald Trump was “honored” that he placed second in the Monday caucuses in Iowa and expressed his love for the state during his speech to supporters last night, with a parting note that he could become a farmer.

“Iowa, we love you, we thank you, you’re special,” said Trump. “We will be back many, many times – in fact, I think I may come here and buy a farm – I love it!”

Listen to Trump’s remarks here: Donald Trump after Iowa Caucuses

Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas finished a strong first in the caucuses, despite heavy campaigning against him by the Iowa ethanol industry and even Governor Terry Branstad saying it would be a “big mistake for Iowa to support him.” Still, America’s Renewable Future, headed by Branstad’s son Eric, took a positive tone on the caucus results, noting that 100% of Democrats and “more than two-thirds of Republicans are caucusing for a pro-ethanol, pro-RFS candidate.”

“We feel good about our results. The vast majority of our candidates and the vast majority of caucus-goers realize the economic, national security, and environmental benefits of the (Renewable Fuel Standard),” said Eric Branstad. “And even though Sen. Cruz’s position would be devastating to our economy and tens of thousands of Iowans’ livelihoods, even he, who has accepted more donations from oil than any other candidate and is personally invested in oil companies, claims that he’s pro-ethanol and wants to eliminate oil subsidies. That’s a sure sign how important the RFS and ethanol are.”

Audio, Ethanol, politics

Record-Setting Attendance at IPPE

Lizzy Schultz

IPPE 2016 The 2016 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) saw an estimated 30,000 poultry, meat and feed industry leader attendees from all over the world. The show also hosted a record-setting 1,301 exhibitors in more than 464,750 net square feet of exhibit space. IPPE is the world’s largest annual poultry, meat and feed industry event of its kind, and is sponsored by the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, the American Feed Industry Association and North American Meat Institute.

“This year’s tremendous exhibitor and attendance numbers are a tribute to IPPE’s unparalleled education sessions, abundant networking opportunities and distinctive exhibits. The enthusiasm and energy displayed by this year’s attendees and exhibitors will only ensure the success and growth of future IPPEs,” the three organizations said.

The wide variety of educational programs complemented the exhibits by keeping industry management apprised on the latest issues and events. This year’s educational line-up featured 25 programs, ranging from a conference on challenges and opportunities in meat product traceability, to a program on the Veterinary Feed Directive, to a technical seminar on maximizing the efficiency of the poultry industry conducted entirely in Spanish.

Other featured events that helped make the 2016 IPPE the leading annual protein and feed event in the world included an International Poultry Scientific Forum, Pet Food Conference, Pork 101 Workshop, Tech XChange program, Meat Me in @LANTA activities, and several other publisher-sponsored programs.

Photos from IPPE: 2016 IPPE Photo Album

Coverage of the International Production and Processing Expo is sponsored by
Coverage of the International Production and Processing Expo is sponsored by NOVUS
Ag Groups, Events, IPPE, Poultry

New Holland’s Commitment to Cattlemen

Jamie Johansen

cic-16-doman The New Holland booth at the 2016 Cattle Industry Convention features plenty of new equipment for cattle producers, and the New Holland team is on hand to talk quality forage production with attendees. Seth Doman, Hay and Forage Marketing Manager, sat down during the event to discuss the company’s new series of round balers, as well as New Holland’s long-standing commitment to helping the nation’s cattlemen.

“We have an excellent partnership that is really exclusive for our cattlemen, and if you’re interested in buying a piece of New Holland equipment, we have an excellent member benefit for you that is available on the NCBA website,” Doman said, “But more than that, we want to give cattlemen and producers an opportunity to learn more about what quality hay and forage really means, and how New Holland equipment can get producers making that quality hay that is so important for the animal.”

New Holland’s brand new Roll-Belt series of round balers are a hot topic at this year’s convention. The balers are designed to provide the highest round baler capacity in the industry, and the 12 different models available ensure that customers are able to find the right fit for their production needs.

“Full line manufacturer of hay and forage equipment, and we’re excited about our new brand Roll Belt series that we’re excited to continue to bring into the marketplace. From making a great, dense core bale that will pick up every piece of hay in the field and deliver that round bale out the field.”

Listen to Jamie’s full interview with Seth here:
Interview with Seth Doman, New Holland

Photos from the Convention: 2016 2016 Cattle Industry Convention Photo Album

Coverage of the Cattle Industry Convention is sponsored by Coverage of the Cattle Industry Convention is sponsored by New Holland
Agribusiness, Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA, New Holland