California FFA Welcomes #ARA2015

Cindy Zimmerman

ara-15-looperThe president of the California FFA Southern Region addressed members of the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) meeting in Palm Desert, California last week, on behalf of the 79,000 FFA members in the state.

“The FFA is giving its members the skills needed to build health communities, a strong nation, and a sustainable world,” said Samuel Looper as he welcomed ARA to his region. “We should all be very proud of where the agriculture industry is today and excited about where we are heading for the future.”

Listen to Sam’s welcome address and opening prayer for the ARA meeting here: Southern California Region FFA president Samuel Looper at ARA15

2015 Agricultural Retailers Conference & Expo Photo Album

ARA, Audio, FFA

Iowa Corn Gets Bio Process Patent

Cindy Zimmerman

iowa-cornThe Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB) has gotten a patent application accepted for a production method using corn in the industrial manufacturing of a raw material called monoethylene glycol (MEG).

“Patenting this research will lead to advances in the production processes for corn-based bio-MEG eliminating the need for the petroleum ethylene derivatives currently used and creating demand for Iowa corn,” said ICPB director Chris Weydert, a farmer from Algona. “This one switch to a more renewable material will reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil and improve the environmental footprint for hundreds of consumer products.”

Most MEG currently goes into making polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a plastic used for beverage bottles, polyester textiles, and films, but MEG can also be used as anti-freeze, coolants, aircraft deicers and industrial solvents. A large proportion of the current bio-MEG goes into making the biorenewable bottles for Coca-Cola, Heinz, and PepsiCo.

The traditional way bio-MEG is made is through a conversion of sugar cane ethanol, which is usually sourced from Brazil, to ethylene, but still the majority of MEG comes from oil. ICPB’s new process can eliminate this added costs of bio-MEG by going from corn sugar to MEG in one step. “Any MEG made from corn would not only be bio renewable, but also a direct replacement for what plastic manufacturers are already using,” said Weydert.

Corn

Sen. Roberts Praises Crop Insurance Restoration

John Davis

roberts2The chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture praised passage of a bill that will restore $3 billion worth of cuts to the nation’s crop insurance program. Kansas Republican Sen. Pat Roberts said passage came from a deal in H.R. 22, the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, something brokered with Senate leadership.

“When the cuts to crop insurance were announced earlier this year, the message from farm country could not have been clearer: do not target crop insurance,” Roberts said.

“I thank Senate Majority Leader McConnell, Senate Majority Whip Cornyn, Senate Republican Conference Chairman Thune, Senator Inhofe, House leadership and Agriculture Committee Chairman Conaway for their work on behalf of American agriculture and making good on their commitment to restore these critical funds.”

“Though there’s certainly no silver bullet to ensure success in agriculture, the federal crop insurance program allows producers to manage their own risks and to have peace of mind when putting their seed in the ground. I’m proud to lead a Committee that continues to put the farmers first.”

A provision was also included eliminating a burdensome regulation that requires agriculture industry professionals to obtain a hazardous material endorsement before transporting diesel fuel critical for a number of agricultural operations. This provision closely resembles standalone legislation that the senator has championed.

The FAST Act now awaits the president’s signature.

Uncategorized

Soil Health Institute Launched To Benefit Soil

Taylor Truckey

soil healthThe Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, in partnership with the Farm Foundation, announced the launch of the Soil Health Institute today. For years, the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation and Farm Foundation have been providing education and insight into the importance of agriculture and proper land stewardship.

In 2013, they launched the Soil Renaissance. The movement brought together growers and organizations across industry sectors that looked at soil health. As the group addressed the multi-faceted issues regarding soil health, they realized a national organization was needed to research and drive change. The Soil Health Institute was born.

“Leonardo DaVinci once mused ‘We know more about the movement of celestial bodies than about the soil underfoot,’” says Bill Buckner, president and chief executive officer, Noble Foundation. “Hundreds of years later that sentiment is just as accurate. The Soil Health Institute will provide much needed research funding so we can better understand our soil. We will make that research publicly available, so we can work together to provide solutions for improving our soil and protecting it for our children and grandchildren.”

The Soil Health Institute’s mission is to safeguard and enhance the vitality and productivity of the soil. It will work directly with conventional and organic farmers and ranchers, public- and private-sector researchers, academia, policymakers, government agencies, industry, environmental groups and consumers – everyone who benefits from healthy soils. The organization will serve as the primary resource for soil health information, working to set soil health standards and measurement, build knowledge about the economics of soil health, offer educational programs, and coordinate research in all aspects of soil and soil health.

Ag Groups, Farm Foundation, Soil

California FB President Addresses ARA

Cindy Zimmerman

ara-15-wengerThe president of the California Farm Bureau Federation welcomed members of the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) to his state this week for their annual meeting.

Wenger talked about the importance of the agricultural industry in the United States and his home state. “As we see that today (farmers) are less than two percent of the population and in California farmers are less than a half a percent, what we do is nothing short of miraculous,” he said. “We have to utilize the independence and the stubbornness that we have that allows us to keep farming, we have to work together to make sure we advocate in Washington DC and our individual state and local community to make sure that we can continue to farm profitably.”

The drought in California continues to impact agriculture, but Wenger does not blame climate change. “It’s really ridiculous for people who want to say climate change is something we should fear,” he said. “We in agriculture will adapt as we have for the millennium. Ever since man has been growing food, we’ve had to adapt to those challenges.”

Listen to an interview with Wenger here: Interview with California FB president Paul Wenger at ARA meeting

2015 Agricultural Retailers Conference & Expo Photo Album

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, ARA, Audio

The Andersons Named ARA Retailer of the Year

Cindy Zimmerman

Joe Hodges of The Andersons; accepts awards from ARA CEO Daren Coppock, for Retailer of the Year

Joe Hodges of The Andersons; accepts awards from ARA CEO Daren Coppock, for Retailer of the Year

The Agricultural Retailers Association this week named The Andersons as Retailer of the Year for 2015. The award was accepted by Joe Hodges, Vice President of the Southern Region Plant Nutrient Group, during the ARA Conference and Expo.

“On behalf of all the employees of The Andersons – thank you for this special recognition,” Hodges said. “It’s extra special when you are recognized by your peers, and to be included in the same circle with prior winners; The Tremont Group, Willards and Morral Company, just to name a few, makes it that much more prestigious.”

The award, sponsored by Monsanto, ARA and AgProfessional magazine, honors retailers who represent the best of the industry. Retail outlets nominated for the award are evaluated based on innovative business practices, community and industry leadership, environmental stewardship, reliability, technology utilization, customer service and effective employee development programs. “Ag retailers make significant contributions to feeding the world and responsible stewardship of our natural resources,” said ARA President and CEO Daren Coppock. “The Andersons is a great representative of the industry and deserving of this award.”

Headquartered in Maumee, Ohio, The Andersons operates in 20 states and employs more than 3,000 people throughout its operation. Established as a family grain business almost 70 years ago, The Andersons has grown into a diverse, publically traded corporation with several operating groups: grain, plant nutrients, ethanol, rail and retail. Although The Andersons may be a publicly traded company, its family emphasis remains. A third-generation Anderson, Mike, is the company CEO.

2015 Agricultural Retailers Conference & Expo Photo Album

Agribusiness, ARA

ARA Lifetime Achievement Award to Gearheard

Cindy Zimmerman

ara-15-gearheardThe Agricultural Retailers Association this week presented this year’s Jack Eberspacher Lifetime Achievement Award to Richard Gearheard, former President and CEO of Agrium Retail.

Gearheard served as Senior Vice President of Agrium, Inc. and President of the Retail Division from August 1996 until his retirement in April 2014. He also worked in various capacities with other Agrium retail companies such as Western Farm Service as Vice President, Northwest Region and Crop Production Services as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. In 1983, he participated in the formation of Crop Production Services through a leveraged buyout. During his career, he has been involved with company-changing acquisitions including PureGro, Western Farm Service, Royster-Clark, United Agri Products, Landmark (Australia) and Viterra (Canada).

Reflecting on his accomplishments, Gearheard said he was most proud of the opportunities he helped create for Agrium employees. “We were able to set up an environment at Agrium Retail where people could be very successful – and provide well for their family – when they performed well,” he said. “Even through the confusion of acquisitions and integrations, those who were doing a good job for our customers were able to make a good living.”

Established in 2001, the Eberspacher Lifetime Achievement award was renamed after the late Jack Eberspacher who served as ARA President and Chief Executive Officer from 2001 until his death in 2009. The award is ARA’s highest individual honor, designed to recognize career-spanning achievements in and contributions to the agricultural retail industry. “Richard exemplifies the characteristics ARA is seeking to recognize with the Eberspacher Lifetime Achievement award,” said Daren Coppock, ARA President and CEO. “Mergers, acquisitions and consolidation are challenging aspects of this business and he went about it the right way – with respect, humility and humanity.”

2015 Agricultural Retailers Conference & Expo Photo Album

Agribusiness, ARA

Corn Growers Talk Sustainability at Climate Change Talks

John Davis

NCGA-LogoAmerican corn farmers were talking about just how sustainable U.S. agriculture is during the recent COP21 United Nations climate talks in Paris this week. The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) says the group shared U.S. corn farmers’ perspectives on a wide array of sustainability and environmental issues.

The event, hosted by Field to Market, Business for Social Responsibility and Pepsico, brought together notable dignitaries, including French Foreign Minister and COP21 President Laurent Fabius and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, included discussions on the value of public-private partnerships, reducing greenhouse gas emissions while increasing productivity and collaboration to achieve large scale change.

ncga-climate-alversonThe international event brought corn farmers interests to the climate change talks on many levels. NCGA is a founding member of meeting organizer, Field to Market, which was represented by CEO Rod Snyder. NCGA participated directly through a presentation by Corn Board member Keith Alverson, a farmer from South Dakota, who received additional support in discussions from Vice President of Production and Sustainability Paul Bertels. Representatives from U.S. soy, wheat and industry also shared their perspectives.

“Many times, discussions on climate change and agriculture either foretell doom and gloom or place blame. In Paris, we explored the opportunities that would have a positive impact on agriculture and on our climate,” said Alverson. “Farmers in the United States and around the world have a vested interest in preserving the air, water and soils that allow us to pass along our farms from generation to generation.

“While I felt the discussions looked at the potential agriculture has in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, our talks were somewhat overshadowed by the EPA’s announcement that indicated weakening support for renewable fuels- such as ethanol. U.S. corn farmers work every day to grow a sustainable crop that provides a cleaner, renewable fuel. If the Administration wishes to publicly support efforts to reduce carbon emissions, it must first take actions which would fight it at home.”

Click here to listen to an exclusive interview with Alverson from Paris conducted by Meghan Grebner-Conant of Brownfield Ag News.

Corn, NCGA, Sustainability

The Debut of Sage – A Creative Marketing Agency

Jamie Johansen

sage-15-23-editedBCS Communications has changed its name to Sage, A Creative Marketing Agency. The name change reflects a new strategic direction and personality of the agency nearly 13 years after it was founded by company partners Leigh Ann Cleaver and Kelly Schwalbe. Last night the team celebrated the change and I took the opportunity to chat with them both.

Leigh Ann said the name Sage was selected because of its double meaning and relevance to agriculture. “Sage means wise, learned, perceptive, and that’s the type of strategic communications insights, service and experience we believe we offer our clients. It’s also a popular herb that enhances the flavor and taste of food – making something good even better.”

Kelly added, “We have had twelve years of wonderful growth and experience with our clients and we just want to continue that into 2016. We want to serve our clients and provide the best Sage counsel that we can whether it’s through PR, event planning, advertising, digital marketing or social media.”

Looking into the future Leigh Ann summed it up perfectly by saying the goal for Sage is simply to do good business with good people and to have fun in the process.

Listen to my complete interview with the marketing duo here: Interview with Leigh Ann Cleaver and Kelly Schwalbe - Sage

You can view and download photos from the debut here: 2015 Sage Debut Photo Album

Advertising, Agribusiness, Audio, Marketing, Public Relations

November Best Month Ever for MGEX

Cindy Zimmerman

mgexNovember 2015 was the biggest volume month in history for MGEX, with a total volume of 272,202.

This surpassed the previous record set in August by more than 6,000 and is a 39 percent increase from November 2014. This marks the fifth time this year MGEX has reported a monthly volume greater than 200,000, doing so for the first time in the history of the Exchange. Electronic volume from November also set a new all-time record, coming in at 244,288 contracts traded.

Total volume for the year now stands at 2,150,976 and is on pace to set a new annual volume record in early December. Electronic volume has already set a new annual record with 1,875,702 contracts traded through 11 months.

Markets