Merck’s Commitment to Future of Ag

Jamie Johansen

ffa-15-184-editedFor Merck Animal Health, the 88th National FFA Convention wasn’t about teaching students about their products, they focused on where students get their information about science, food and agriculture. I spoke with Merck’s Jim Miles, marketing manager for the fed cattle business, in their booth to learn more about their commitment to the future of agriculture.

“It’s making them realize what’s available out there to talk about and how talk about it. It’s about connecting to people.”

The Merck Animal Health team has a busy winter ahead of them with back to back conventions where they are excited to truly connect with their customers. Jim said in 2016 they will be launching an array of new products and these upcoming tradeshows gives them great face-time with the agriculture community.

Listen to my complete interview with Jim here: Interview with Jim Miles, Merck Animal Health

Find photos from the event here: 2015 National FFA Convention Photo Album

Coverage of the National FFA Convention is sponsored by
Coverage of the National FFA Convention is sponsored by New Holland
Agribusiness, Animal Health, Audio, FFA

The Future is Bright for FFA Star Finalists

Kelly Marshall

ffa-15-107-editedBecoming an FFA American Star Finalist is no small accomplishment.  At the recent National FFA Convention Jamie Johansen spoke with three outstanding young people whose hard work and commitment have brought them this far.

Benjamin Neindick from Missouri represented Wellingtin-Napolean FFA chapter in the Ag Business category.  Neindick began baling and selling straw bales the summer of his 8th grade year.  He used an exchange of labor to purchase a baler and put up 1,600 bales his first year.  Now a senior at the University of Missouri, Neindick averages 20,000 bales a year, owns three balers, and employes a couple of part time workers.  He has grown his business through word of mouth, selling much of his product to construction companies who’ve heard of his good name.

Listen to the full interview to hear his plans for the future. Star Finalist Benjamin Neindick

Rory Tucker represents the Kline FFA Chapter in Texas as an Ag Science Finalist.  She began her career as a scientist with three projects in high school.  These projects let her know science was her passion and Tucker now attends Texas A&M and works on research with sorghum and pecans.  Her most recent projects is an attempt to find scab resistance for pecans.  On her horizon is a grad school program that would allow her to continue her research and maybe someday a job for the USDA breeding rice.

Learn more about her research projects in this interview. Star Finalist Rory Tucker

Jakob Wilson came to the conference from the FFA chapter in Fairfax Ohio as an Ag Placement finalist.  He currently works on his parent’s farm– a 3,200 corn and soybean operation.  Wilson’s family farm has embraced what precision technology can offer them.  With everything from GPS, variable rate fertilizer, soil sampling, and yield data, Wilson is poised on the forefront of a quickly changing industry.  His knowledge will serve him well with his own 1,100 acres and new position as partner in the family farm starting in January.

You can listen to his experience with their addition of John Deere’s new Machine Sync system in his interview. Star Finalist Jakob Wilson

Congratulations to these three amazing young people, as well as each of the other Star Finalists. Agriculture is grateful to have you.

Find photos from the event here: 2015 National FFA Convention Photo Album

Coverage of the National FFA Convention is sponsored by
Coverage of the National FFA Convention is sponsored by New Holland
Ag Groups, FFA

Chavez, Chilton Inducted to USDA Hall of Heros

Kelly Marshall

USDAAgriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is pleased to announce the induction of Cesar Chavez and Dr. Mary-Dell Chilton into the U.S. Department of Agriculture Hall of Heroes. For the past 15 years the Hall of Heros has recognized individuals whose lives have made a lasting impact on agriculture and rural communities.  Chavez and Chilton will be honored with plaques in the entry hall way of the USDA’s Jamie L. Whitten Federal Building.

“Both Cesar Chavez and Dr. Mary-Dell Chilton dedicated their public and private lives to improving various facets of food and agriculture,” said Vilsack. “The abundant, resilient and diverse food supply that Americans are fortunate to rely on today is a direct result of their commitments and innovations, and I am honored to add these inspiring individuals among USDA’s Hall of Heroes.”

Cesar Chavez (1927-1993) was a prominent union leader and labor organizer. Shaped by early experiences as a migrant worker, Chavez committed his life to improving working conditions for farm workers. In 1962, Cesar Chavez founded the National Farm Workers Association. In a strike against grape growers in California, the Association joined with the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee, and the two organizations later merged to create the United Farm Workers.

“This year marks the 50th anniversary of the hunger strike Chavez led to bring justice and equality to the people who feed America,” Vilsack said. “Today, USDA is humbled to honor to Cesar Chavez, the man who led and organized peaceful, positive change for American farmworkers.”

Dr. Mary-Dell Chilton is one of the founders of modern plant biotechnology. Often referred to as the “Queen of Agrobacterium,” Chilton has dedicated her career to the development of plant biotechnology. Her innumerable contributions have made a lasting impact on the agricultural industry, breaking scientific and gender barriers, paving the way for many.

“Dr. Chilton’s research has forever changed the way we conduct plant research and her groundbreaking accomplishments have shaped the way genetic plant research is conducted today,” said Vilsack. “I am pleased to honor Dr. Mary-Dell Chilton for her leadership and tremendous contributions to the field of agriculture.”

The program has previously recognized heroes like Norm Berg, Former Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service; Thomas Monroe Campbell, First Black Extension Agency in the United States; Justin Smith Morrill, Father of the Land-Grant College System; Senator George S. McGovern, Advocate for Fighting Hunger; Senator Tom Harkin, Advocate for the Agriculture Community; Hugh Hammond Bennett, Father of Soil Conservation; George Washington Carver, Father of Chemurgy; Senator Robert Dole, National Leader of Nutrition and Farming Programs; Isabelle Kelley, Co-Founder of the National School Lunch Program; California Interagency Incident Management Team 3, Pacific Northwest Incident Management Team 3, and the Southwest Area Incident Management Team, first responders dispatched to work alongside local, state, and federal agencies on September 11, 2001; and Smokey Bear, America’s First Fire Prevention Bear.

USDA

Farm Bureau Wants EPA Micromanagement Stopped

John Davis

farmbureauThe American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) and a coalition of agricultural and builder groups have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to stop the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) micromanagement of local land use and development decisions. This news release from AFBF says the groups are asking the court to review a lower court ruling that allows the EPA overstep under the guise of implementing the federal Clean Water Act.

The lawsuit arose in the context of EPA’s so-called “blueprint” for restoring the Chesapeake Bay, but Farm Bureau points out that the issue at stake is national in scope.

“It’s about whether EPA has the power to override local decisions on what land can be farmed, where homes can be built, and where schools, hospitals, roads and communities can be developed,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman. “This is nothing less than federal super-zoning authority. As much as we all support the goal of achieving a healthy Chesapeake Bay, we have to fight this particular process for getting there.”

Twenty-one states, 39 members of Congress and a group of counties within the Bay watershed supported AFBF’s legal challenge in the lower courts.

“We certainly hope for even more support in asking for Supreme Court review,” said AFBF General Counsel Ellen Steen. “There has been a lot of attention to EPA’s recent rule expanding its jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act. EPA’s overreach in the Bay ‘blueprint’ is just as aggressive, and its impact on communities and businesses is just as dramatic. From the beginning, this was designed as a model that would be followed around the country.”

AFBF, Environment, EPA

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

Zimfo Bytes

  • O’Fallon, Illinois-based Brookside Agra recently expanded its sales team with the addition of Tim Nelson, Director of Ag Sales – North Region.
  • The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) honored JCB North America with its “Pillar of the Industry Award” as part of its annual I Make America initiative.
  • The Minnesota AgriGrowth Council and AGree launched a new partnership in Minnesota that puts farmers in the driver’s seat, in collaboration with others in agriculture, the food supply chain, government agencies and non-profit partners, to solve water quality concerns through unprecedented collaboration.
  • The Georgia Agritourism Association (GAA), dedicated to helping build the foundations for the agritourism industry throughout the state, is pleased to announce the dates of its 2016 Annual Conference to be held February 23-24, 2016.
  • CNH Industrial N.V. has once again been acknowledged as a global leader for its actions and strategies in fighting climate change.
Zimfo Bytes

Syngenta Crop Challenge Competition Unveiled

Taylor Truckey

syngentaThe Syngenta Crop Challenge was unveiled this week at the 2015 INFORMS Annual Meeting; the competition encourages participants to develop a model that will aid farmers in predicting what they should plant next season to maximize yield. Data will be provided for weather, soil properties, and seed variety tests to develop the unique models.

Farmers have to make the tough decisions each year about which crops will be planted with a number of uncertainties outside of their control. This competition asks the critical question of how a farmer can make seed variety decisions that optimally reduce risk and increase yield.

“Bringing plant potential to life is our purpose at Syngenta. We strive to continually bring new technologies and innovations to the market to help keep farmers at the top of their game. Extending our work through this challenge will help us broaden our reach and scope of ideas even more,” says Joe Byrum, Syngenta head of soybean seeds product development and lead for the Syngenta Crop Challenge. “We’re excited to see the ideas generated through this competition.”

Syngenta, a leading innovator in plant genetics, and the Analytics Section of the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS) are proud to sponsor the Syngenta Crop Challenge. Knowing the world is grappling for new ideas to help alleviate hunger challenges, this new, joint competition focuses specifically on using analytics to address the problem.

The winner of the competition will receive a $5,000 prize. The runner-up will receive $2,500, and the third place winner will receive $1,000. Entries must be submitted by January 15 2016, and finalists will be announced in February 26, 2016.

Syngenta, an award winning company for its innovation in plant analytics, is proud to sponsor this competition to fuel the next big innovations in applying advanced analytics to biochemistry and agriculture.

Syngenta

New Holland Sponsors Lancaster County Ag Week

Kelly Marshall

New HollandNew Holland is partnering with many community organizations to host a week-long celebration in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  Ag Week will be showcasing the importance of the agriculture industry to Lancaster County and it’s citizens.

“New Holland’s Lancaster County roots date back to the company’s founding in 1895,” said Chun Woytera, Senior Director of Marketing for New Holland North America. “We are proud to participate in this year’s Ag Week, and we look forward to spreading awareness on the importance of agriculture throughout our community.”

Ag Week kicks off on Sunday, November 8, with a special section in LNP on the topic of Lancaster County Agriculture. This section will cover important agricultural topics such as how does the industry contribute to the region’s economy, how big are supply and distribution chains, etc. Additional events include Ag Career Day, Agriculture Industry Banquet, the Agriculture Summit, and more. For a full listing of the additional events happening during Ag Week, please visit the official Ag Week website at www.lancastercountyagweek.com.

New Holland is a Platinum Sponsor of the Ag Issues Banquet being held on Thursday.  They also sponsor the Ag Council’s Agricultural Advocacy video production, which showcases testimony from Vice President, Bret Lieberman and many members of the Lancaster County agricultural community.

Agribusiness, Events, New Holland

Farm Broadcaster ‘Hap Larson’ Dies

John Davis

parletteFarm broadcaster, professional rodeo announcer and raconteur Larry Parlette, better known as Hap Larson to his listeners, has died. The National Association of Farm Broadcasting expressed its sadness at Parlette’s death.

Larry served as news director for western Kansas’s KBUF 1030 AM for 20 years. Better known to listeners as Hap Larson, he hosted KBUF’s “Traveling the Circuit” and played pranks regularly with and on his friend, Phil Weaver, during morning broadcasts. Larry was recognized by multiple state and national agencies throughout his career for his contributions to agriculture and the art of radio broadcasting. Larry also covered western Kansas for ABC affiliate KAKE-TV.

A lifelong love with the West led Larry to rodeo, and in Garden City, he helped make the Beef Empire Days rodeo a PRCA-sanctioned event, acting as its announcer for many years. One of the most electric personalities on the circuit, Larry was the voice for countless other rodeos, including events at New York’s Madison Square Garden and in Las Vegas.

Prior to his work in broadcasting, Larry was a counselor at Farmington Junior High in Connecticut. After moving to Kansas in 1978, he worked at Garden City High School, where he founded the High Plains Drifters Rodeo Club and worked with students to delay growing up as long as possible.

Parlette is survived by his wife, Val; children, Justin (and his fiancée, Chloe) and Mickala (and her husband, Matthew); grandson, Sebastian; sister-in-law, Kay Parlette; and niece and nephews, Amanda, Chris, John and Lloyd.

Private services will be held at his home in Redondo Beach, California, on November 7th, 2015.

NAFB

Corn Growers Urge Transportation Bill Reconcile

John Davis

NCGA-LogoThe National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is happy the House of Representatives passed the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015, a bill that would extend federal highway funding for the next six years. But in this news release, NCGA urged the House and Senate now to reconcile their respective transportation bills and send it to the White House for signature, before federal transportation funding expires on November 20.

“On behalf of America’s farmers and ranchers, thank you to the House for passing this important legislation,” said NCGA President Chip Bowling, a farmer from Maryland. “Eighty percent of America’s corn crop is trucked to market, so this issue affects all of us. Safe roads and bridges allow us to get our products to market quickly, safely, and efficiently. When roads and bridges aren’t properly maintained, it’s not just a nuisance – it puts our safety at risk and hurts our bottom lines.”

“We especially want to thank the House Transportation Committee, Chairman Bill Schuster (R-Pennsylvania), Ranking Member Peter DeFazio (D-Oregon), and Representatives Sam Graves (R-Missouri) and Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) for their leadership in getting this bill passed. We now call on the House and Senate to reconcile their two bills and send this legislation to President Obama as quickly as possible before the Thanksgiving recess,” said Bowling.

NCGA had joined more than 70 food and agricultural organizations in supporting the Safe, Flexible and Efficient (SAFE) Trucking Act as part of the transportation funding legislation. However, the bipartisan amendment, which would have improved the efficiency of America’s food supply chain by modernizing truck weight limits, failed to pass on the House floor.

NCGA, transportation

“Here’s the Deal” – Details on TPP Released

Cindy Zimmerman

tpp-logoThe White House today released the text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, which Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack calls “an important step forward in the process to make this landmark agreement for U.S. agriculture a reality.”

According to Vilsack, the text confirms that this agreement “will expand U.S. agricultural exports, generate more rural economic activity, and support higher-paying American jobs” and he encourages “farmers and ranchers to take a look at what’s in the deal for them.”

Those ag groups that have are responding as expected.

National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson says the final text “appears to be as bad for America’s family farmers and ranchers as we had feared.”

“This agreement has been peddled to farmers and ranchers as a potential goldmine for farm exports,” says Johnson. “But as with other trade deals, these benefits are likely to be overshadowed by increased competition from abroad, paired with an uneven playing field that will not only reduce revenues for farmers and ranchers but will also speed the loss of U.S. jobs.”

On the other hand, the National Pork Producers Council expressed unequivocal support for the TPP deal and called on the U.S. Congress to expeditiously pass the agreement.

“Past U.S. free trade agreements (FTAs) have demonstrated the importance to our industry of opening international markets,” said NPPC President Dr. Ron Prestage. “TPP will provide benefits to our producers that dramatically exceed those of prior trade agreements. I assure you that pork producers across this great nation will do whatever it takes to get TPP passed by Congress and implemented.”

Trade