Ag Secy Vilsack Talks SOTU, Trade & Climate

Joanna Schroeder

USDA Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack held a press call yesterday to discuss President Obama’s last State of the Union (SOTU) address. Vilsack, who has served in the capacity of Ag Secretary throughout Obama’s Administration, was in attendance during the speech. He said he is very proud to have been part of an administration that has basically taken the country from a brink of an economic collapse to where we are today. He noted that there is still a lot of work to do and one way change will continue is through what President Obama termed the “innovation economy”.

Ag Secy Vilsack at AFBF 2016Part of the strategy of the innovation economy, said Vilsack, is to expand the country’s reach around the world as through programs such as the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP). In the agricultural area, it would bring about a major boost to markets that today are a bit soft. The TPP allows an extension into the Asian market, which is a rapidly growing market. Vilsack noted that the country’s NPP is roughly 40 percent of the global GDP with 47 percent of the country’s current trade taking place in these countries.

“It’s an opportunity for us, not only to balance the influence of China, to enable the United States of America to write the rules, if you will, for future Asian trade based on high standards, that recognize the need to protect environments and labor, while also creating a science-based approach to sanitary and phytosanitary rules and regulations,” said Vilsack. He continued by saying it is also an opportunity for America to demonstrate global leadership. He also called on Congress to study the benefits of TPP, understand the benefits and take Congressional action.

In addition, Vilsack highlighted U.S. leadership in reducing the risks of climate change and noted the role agriculture is doing in doubling its reduction of emissions over the next 10 years. He anticipates U.S. agriculture will provide significant leadership in this area. Vilsack concluded his remarks by stressing the role USDA is playing in helping communities transition into new economies.

Listen to Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack’s SOTU press conference here: USDA Vilsack SOTO Presser

Audio, politics, Trade, USDA

NuFarm Working to Tame the Zebra

Cindy Zimmerman

nufarm-zebra-hatChip, the Nufarm zebra has been roaming the rows at the 2016 Potato Expo this week with a goal of educating attendees about new research into fighting zebra chip.

Zebra chip is a potato disease vectored by a psyllid, according to Bob Bruss with Nufarm technical services. “This is a problem that’s been slowly growing and has become more of a concern,” said Bruss. The disease was named after the zebra because it causes characteristic dark brown radiating striped patterns that are amplified upon frying for potato chips, rendering them unusable.

potato-expo-nufarm-1Texas A&M University (TAMU) has been doing extensive research into zebra chip disease that Bruss says holds some new promise. “They found that a program of Mycoshield® could give very good control of zebra chip disease,” said Bruss. “Right now the only thing we have to manage zebra chip are the use of insecticide to control the psyllid.”

Nufarm’s Mycoshield® is currently only registered on pears, peaches and nectarines but Bruss says they are optimistic that this research could hold promise. “We’re meeting and talking with people here about how Mycoshield along with insecticides could be a benefit in the northern potato growing areas,” he said.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Bruss here: Interview with Bob Bruss, Nufarm

Potato Expo 2016 Photo Album

Coverage of the Potato Expo is sponsored by Coverage of Potato Expo is sponsored by Nufarm
Audio, Nufarm, Potato

#SpudNation Throwdown Competition

Cindy Zimmerman

Spud Nation Throwdown finalists: Heather Banter, Daniel McCarthy, Bridgette Blough (winner)

Spud Nation Throwdown finalists: Heather Banter, Daniel McCarthy, Bridgette Blough (winner)

One of the main events at the Potato Expo in Las Vegas this week was the first SPUD NATION THROWDOWN COOK-OFF. The live competition featured the top three finalists of a nationwide recipe contest for food truck chefs and the winner was named Top Spud and with a prize of $5000.

Congratulations to Bridgett Blough (pictured on the right) from the food truck Organic Gypsy for winning the Spud Nation Throwdown Cook-off! Her winning recipe was Green Tahini Potato Soup. Listen to Chuck’s interview with her here: Spud Nation Throwdown winner Bridgette Blough

Chuck interviewed all three of the finalists. Listen to his interviews with Heather and Daniel below:
Spud Nation Throwdown finalist Heather Banter Spud Nation Throwdown finalist Dan McCarthy

Potato Expo 2016 Photo Album

Coverage of the Potato Expo is sponsored by Coverage of Potato Expo is sponsored by Nufarm
Audio, Food, Potato

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

Zimfo Bytes

  • The National Corn Growers Association welcomes Sarah Doese, who joins the organization as the legislative assistant for the Washington office.
  • The National Pork Board announced that Kincannon & Reed will conduct a national search for the organization’s open position of chief executive officer.
  • Bayer is pleased to announce Gaylon Morgan, Ph.D., Extension cotton specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, as the 2016 Extension Cotton Specialist of the Year.
  • Registration is open for United Fresh 2016, the leading convention and expo for the fresh produce industry.
Zimfo Bytes

China Opens DDGS Anti-Dumping Investigation

Joanna Schroeder

China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) has initiated, again, an anti-dumping countervailing duty investigations into U.S. produced distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) exported to the country. This is not the first time that China has been down this road. Back in 2011 China began an investigation into DDGs but then in 2012, they dropped it. Now, in 2015, they have re-begun the process.

Dried Distillers GrainsPresident and Chief Executive Officer Thomas N. Sleight with the U.S. Grains Council responded by saying, “We are disappointed to see today the initiation of anti-dumping and countervailing duties investigations of U.S. DDGS exports to China. We believe the allegations by the Chinese petitioners are unwarranted and unhelpful. They could have negative effects on U.S. ethanol and DDGS producers, as well as on Chinese consumers, potentially over a period of many years. We are also confident that our trading practices for DDGS, ethanol and all coarse grains and related products are fair throughout the world. We stand ready to cooperate fully with these investigations and will be working closely with our members to coordinate the U.S. industry response.

“The U.S. Grains Council has worked in China since 1981 to find solutions to the challenges of food security through development and trade. There have been measureable positive effects of this work for the Chinese feed and livestock industries and Chinese consumers. We and our members will work vigorously in the coming months to demonstrate that the allegations being investigated by MOFCOM are false, even while we continue to stand ready to expand our cooperation with China on agricultural issues of mutual benefit.”

Tom Buis, co-chair of Growth Energy, weighed in with a statement noting his dissatisfaction with the allegations. “We are disappointed to see the initiation of anti-dumping and countervailing duties cases against U.S. DDGS exports to China. The false allegations by the Chinese petitioners have the potential to seriously threaten our largest overseas market for DDGS and could have a significant impact on the supply, demand and price for DDGS in the U.S. and other foreign markets. We are working closely with our members and the U.S. Grains Council as it coordinates an industry response.”

Exports, Grains, USGC

Presidential Election Might be Top Ag Issue in 2016

Jamie Johansen

New Holland ZimmPollOur latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What do you expect to be the top ag issue of 2016?”

We have been discussing the 2016 presidential elections for nearly a year already and it will only increase. When it comes to agriculture it should be one of the most talked about issues. So, I am not surprised to see it top our poll. We also had many chime in with milk prices, climate change and immigration. All important agricultural issues impacting our ag community.

Here are the poll results:

  • Trade – 13%
  • WOTUS- 0%
  • GMO labeling – 27%
  • Presidential election – 40%
  • Biofuel expansion – 0%
  • Other – 20%

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, What do you think of new dietary guidelines?

Earlier this month the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The guidelines are to encourage Americans to adopt a series of science-based recommendations to improve how they eat. What do you think of them? How will they impact how we grow/raise food?

ZimmPoll

USDA Outlook Forum Panel Announced

Cindy Zimmerman

usda-outlookUSDA has announced the members of the 92nd annual Agricultural Outlook Forum Plenary Panel on “Providing Leadership for Present and Future Generations in the Transformation of Agriculture.”

This year’s panelists include Elizabeth Garrett, President of Cornell University; Ilene Gordon, CEO of Ingredion; Pamela Hess, Executive Director of the Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food and Agriculture; and Pam Johnson, an Iowa farmer and former president of National Corn Growers Association.

The opening plenary will feature remarks from Secretary Vilsack and Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden and “The 2016 Economic Outlook for Agriculture” presented by USDA Chief Economist Robert Johansson. The Forum’s keynote speaker is Howard Buffett, and Mitch Daniels, President of Purdue University and former Governor of Indiana will be the dinner speaker.

USDA has hosted the Agricultural Outlook Forum since 1923 and is the department’s largest annual meeting, attracting 1,600 attendees. The two-day meeting will be held at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington, Virginia, Feb. 25–26, 2016.

USDA

NAFB Emeritus Rankin Passes Away

Cindy Zimmerman

nafb-rankinThe National Association of Farm Broadcasting announced this week that Emeritus NAFB member Charlie Rankin has passed away. Charlie was an NAFB member for 61 years.

Rankin “retired” from broadcasting in 1990, but remained on the air for several years. In addition to broadcasting, Charlie was passionate about Texas A&M and rodeo and was a founding president of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA).

Charlie was proceeded in death by his first wife, Sue Evelyn and is survived by his wife, Billie Marie; son, Davis; daughter, Susan and three grandchildren. Services will be held Saturday, January 16 at the Kreidler Funeral Home followed by a reception at Grace Presbyterian Church in McAllen.

NAFB

Spud Nation Food Truck Unveiled

Chuck Zimmerman

Spud Nation Food TruckThe United States Potato Board unveiled a new program today that’s taking after the finalists of the Spud Nation Throwdown Recipe Cook-off. They all operate food trucks. Now the Potato Board does too and it’s called Spud Nation.

I will get more information about the vehicle when I talk with USPB CEO Blair Richardson this afternoon. In the meantime you can see the unveiling in the video below.


There are lots of photos of the truck in my photo album.

Potato Expo 2016 Photo Album

Coverage of the Potato Expo is sponsored by Coverage of Potato Expo is sponsored by Nufarm
Ag Groups, Food, Potato, Video

Apple Co-Founder to Keynote Alltech Ideas Conference

Jamie Johansen

Screen Shot 2016-01-13 at 1.15.27 PMExperts and industry leaders from around the world will convene in Lexington, Ky., USA from May 22-25 for ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference. Alltech will welcome Steve Wozniak, Apple co-founder, to its main stage on Tuesday, May 24, 2016, at ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference, an event dedicated to inspiring innovation. The annual international conference, now in its 32nd year, traditionally draws nearly 3,000 attendees from more than 60 countries to network with peers and discuss world-changing ideas.

“When you think about the power of innovation, you think of Apple. Few companies have had a more profound effect, and so it is a real treat for me personally, as an entrepreneur who also started my business in a garage, to announce that Steve Wozniak, Apple’s co-founder, will be joining us for ONE,” said Dr. Pearse Lyons, founder and president of Alltech.

Also hitting the main plenary stage will be the former president and CEO of Ford Motor Company, Alan Mulally. Mulally will join author and businessman Seth M. Siegel and title-winning University of Kentucky Men’s Basketball Coach John Calipari as the opening keynote speakers on Monday, May 23, at ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference.

Closing ONE will be Riverdance in a special live performance on the morning of Wednesday, May 25. Drawing on Irish traditions, the combined talents of the performers propel Irish dancing and music into the present day, capturing the imagination of audiences across all ages and cultures in an innovative and exciting blend of dance, music and song.

Agribusiness, Alltech, Events