‘First Peas to the Table’ is Ag Book of Year #AFBF16

John Davis

firstpea1The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture has named Susan Grigsby’s “First Peas to the Table” as its Book of the Year. The book tells the tale of how a little girl, Maya, and her classmates learn about gardens and peas, as well as Thomas Jefferson’s garden at Monticello.

“I am so happy that, thanks to this recognition from the American Farm Bureau Foundation For Agriculture, more children will have access to ‘First Peas to the Table,’” said Grigsby. “I sometimes help students set up their own school gardens and am always inspired by the sense of wonder that develops as the children discover the infinite number of variables involved in turning one tiny seed into a plant that can feed a family.”

“After reading the agricultural-related correspondence and journals of Thomas Jefferson, I was struck by the passion that he and others had in regards to experimenting to figure out which plants, previously grown on other continents, would grow best in each of the diverse environments spread across the country,” she continued. “I wrote the book to celebrate how every gardener, young and old, learns through experimentation, through failures and success and with a joy for the wonders of nature.”

The Book of the Year award springs from the Foundation’s effort to identify accurate ag books, a collection of nearly 500 books for children, teenagers and adults that accurately cover agricultural topics. Book of the Year selections are educational, help to create positive public perceptions about agriculture, inspire readers to learn more and touch their readers’ lives, as well as tell the farmer’s story. The accurate ag books database is available at: http://www.agfoundation.org/recommended-pubs.

One hundred copies of the book have been donated to the Orange County’s library system. The area will be the host for the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 97th Annual Convention.

AFBF, Ag Groups

Meet the New @FarmBureau President and VP

Cindy Zimmerman

AFBF VP Scott VanderWal and President Zippy Duvall

AFBF VP Scott VanderWal and President Zippy Duvall

A good crowd of ag media reporters stayed to the bitter end of the American Farm Bureau Federation convention in Orlando Tuesday evening to hear from the new president and vice president of the organization.

Zippy Duvall, who served as president of Georgia Farm Bureau for nine years, is the 12th president of AFBF, chosen in the first open election for the organization’s president in 30 years. Scott VanderWal has served as President of South Dakota Farm Bureau since June of 2004. Together the pair will be serving the membership of the nation’s largest general farm organization, which also set policy for the coming year during the delegate session today. Renewable fuels, governmental reform, farm policy, risk management and international trade were among the most important matters slated for action over the next 12 months.

Learn more in this press conference with Duvall and VanderWal: AFBF 2016 Closing Press Conference

2016 AFBF Convention photos

AFBF, Ag Groups, Audio

Zippy Duvall Elected New @FarmBureau President

Cindy Zimmerman

Zippy Duvall accepts the gavel from outgoing AFBF president Bob Stallman

Zippy Duvall accepts the gavel from outgoing AFBF president Bob Stallman

Georgia Farm Bureau president Zippy Duvall has a new job after a three ballot election at the American Farm Bureau Federation convention in Orlando.

Duvall, a third generation dairy farmer who currently maintains a 300 head beef cow herd, defeated three other candidates to be elected as president of the nation’s largest farm organization. His passionate acceptance speech stressed faith and freedom and his first action as president was to bring his wife and family to the podium to share in his victory.

“If you didn’t vote for me this time, I’m going to work so hard you’ll want to vote for me next time,” Duvall told the delegates as he accepted his first two year term.

Scott VanderWal of South Dakota was elected vice president of the organization from a field of three. VanderWal is a third-generation family farmer who raises corn soybeans and does custom cattle-feeding and some custom harvesting.

Read the AFBF press release here.

Listen to the announcement of Duvall’s election and his first address to the membership: Zippy Duvall elected AFBF president

2016 AFBF Convention photos

AFBF, Audio

Get Your #PotatoExpo Social Media On

Chuck Zimmerman

Potato Expo 2016In just a couple hours Potato Expo 2016 will open the trade show doors which marks the official start of this year’s conference. We’ll have some food truck recipe competition and a beginning seminar on the topic of soil health management.

I want to thank Nufarm for sponsoring my coverage of this show and will find out what’s new with them in the trade show. Right now all I know is that it has something to do with zebras. Hmm.

I’m already collecting photos for your viewing and sharing pleasure and will be adding to them periodically each day: Potato Expo 2016 Photo Album

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

GMO Convert at #AFBF16

Cindy Zimmerman

afbf16-lynasAnti-GMO activist turned advocate Mark Lynas shared his conversion experience during a featured workshop at the 97th American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show.

Lynas told an audience of farmers and ranchers how he changed his mind on GMOs when he came face-to-face with the science supporting biotechnology. “As a scientist, you must have data to back up what you’re saying,” Lynas said. “And I realized I wasn’t holding myself to the same scientific standards on GMOs as I applied to my research on climate change. You can’t pick and choose where you use science to back up your argument: You have to be consistent.”

He also asserted that we need more advances in technology, and that GMOs are critical to helping farmers around the world feed a booming population. “Science and technology need to keep progressing to preserve the resources we have left,” he said.

Lynas also spoke to members of the media at the convention during a press conference on Monday morning. Listen to his comments here: GMO advocate Mark Lynas press conference

2016 AFBF Convention photos

AFBF, Audio, Biotech, GMO

State Farm Bureaus Honored at #AFBF16

Cindy Zimmerman

afbf16-groupState Farm Bureaus were presented awards for excellence in membership achievement and implementation of outstanding programs at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 97th Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show this week in Orlando.

The Pinnacle Award, the highest honor a state can be awarded for program and membership achievement, was given to Iowa, Kansas, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Montana and North Carolina.

The Awards for Excellence were awarded to state Farm Bureaus that demonstrated outstanding achievements in six program areas: Education and Outreach; Leadership Development; Member Services; Membership Initiatives; Policy Development and Implementation; and Public Relations and Communications.

See all the winners here.

2016 AFBF Convention photos

AFBF

New @AFBFYFR Chair at #AFBF16

Cindy Zimmerman

afbf16-yfrCole Coxbill of Goshen County, Wyoming has been elected as the next American Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee chairman for 2016. Coxbill will take over as chairman in February and serve for one year, and also serve a one-year term on the AFBF board of directors.

According to Coxbill, connecting with people outside of farming and ranching continues to be a top priority—and the next generation of farmers and ranchers is in a unique position to share agriculture’s story.

“We’re going to college, making connections and returning to the farm or ranch by choice, because we’re so passionate about agriculture. But back at home, we’re still maintaining and growing those networks we established in college,” Coxbill said.

He also noted that young farmers’ enthusiasm for new technology can be a real asset in reaching out to consumers. “It’s our nature to adapt faster, so when there’s a new social media tool we embrace it,” Coxbill said.

Coxbill and his father raise corn, alfalfa, sugar beets, dry edible beans and wheat, and they have a cow-calf operation and a feedlot. He and his wife Sammie have three children.

2016 AFBF Convention photos

AFBF

Farmer Fighting Government at #AFBF16

Cindy Zimmerman

afbf16-duarteJohn Duarte of California is fighting the government over normal farming practices for planting wheat.

Duarte planted 450 acres wheat in a field in Tehama County in November 2012. In February 2013, he received a letter from the Army Corps of Engineers to “cease and desist” those operations alleging damage to wetlands. Duarte with the Pacific Legal Foundation filed a due process suit against the Corps and in May of 2014 the Corps counter sued. The case will go to trial in March of this year.

“The reason this has become a priority with Farm Bureau is because this is a very serious threat to farming as we know it in America,” said Duarte during a press conference at the American Farm Bureau Federation convention this week. “My family has spent over $900,000 in legal team and experts … it’s a very important battle.”

Listen to Duarte’s story here: John Duarte story

2016 AFBF Convention photos

AFBF, Audio, Environment, Farming

#AFBF Workshops Discuss Popular Issues

Cindy Zimmerman

Trade agreements, commodity prices, GMO labeling, government regulations, farm succession planning, dealing with the media, drones, and food safety were just a few of the many workshop topics at the American Farm Bureau Federation annual convention in Orlando this week.

afbf16-workshopOne popular session offered tips for working with the media from NAFB West Region Vice President Sabrina Hill of AgNet West and president Brian Winnekins of WRDN Radio in Durand, Wisconsin. The workshop was so well received that Sabrina and Brian said people stayed on well after the end and had to be ushered out for the next session.

During a session on estate planning, KCOE ISOM CPA Doug Claussen encouraged farmers to start planning now for future growth and to develop a clear and concise strategy for having the next generation take over the operation. “A lot of farmers want to build a legacy for their family,” Claussen said. “Farms that have been around for 100 years didn’t just happen by accident.”

UnmannedFarmer Robert Blair with Measure Drone as a Service provided perspective on the advantages and practical considerations of using unmanned aerial vehicles during a workshop on drones. “We need precision ag technology to increase profitability and reduce environmental impact,” Blair said. “UAVs give proactive data throughout the season. You can see what is happening and make adjustments on the spot.”

Check out the FB convention newsroom for more on happenings at the meeting this week, as well as links to photos, video and audio. Their team did an awesome job as always of getting content on-line for the media.

2016 AFBF Convention photos

AFBF

GROWMARK’s Matching Gift Program Supports Local Giving

John Davis

growmarklogoA new matching gift program from GROWMARK will support local member giving. The company, through its foundation, is introducing a matching gift program to team up with its members in support of local non-profit organizations.

The GROWMARK Foundation’s Enduring Commitments program will match a member donation between $1,000 and $5,000 to a qualifying 501(c)(3). Enduring Commitments is designed to partner with members to increase their impact within local communities, according to Amy Bradford, GROWMARK Corporate Relations Manager, and Manager of the Foundation. “Giving back to the communities in which we live and work is a large part of our culture and values through the GROWMARK System. This is a great opportunity for us to support the ongoing charitable efforts of our local members,” she said.

The donations will be matched on a dollar-for-dollar basis. Local contributions must be given to a single organization. Applications can be submitted from February 1, 2016 through October 1, 2016.

GROWMARK