AGCO Opens Nominations for Operator of the Year

Kelly Marshall October 14, 2015

AGCO Corporation has announced they are now accepting nominations for their 10th Annual Operator of the Year program. The award recognizes the men and women who spend hours applying fertilizer and crop protection products using technologically advanced equipment to help farmers achieve their best possible yields. The grand prize is a brand new Harley-Davidson® motorcycle.

“Over the past nine years of the program, we have enjoyed getting to know the top application professionals and look forward to meeting even more of them this year. We realize how hard their job is, and that they play an essential role in helping farmers provide food, fiber and fuel to the world,” stated Conor Bergin, tactical marketing manager of AGCO Application Equipment. “In honor of these unsung heroes of agriculture, we have created an original song this year, ‘Watch Him Go,’ that celebrates these professionals’ diligence and hard work.”

Any ag retailer or custom applicator may be nominated, regardless of the equipment brands used in their operation. A panel of judges will be evaluating the applicators performance, looking for performance on and off the field and evaluating for skill, dedication, customer service, and community involvement.

“Previous winners have been praised by their managers and customers for their application expertise, knowledge of their customers’ operations and willingness to do whatever it takes to accomplish the job,” stated Bergin. “Even though these custom applicators have very demanding schedules, they treat every field like it’s their own, and many also play active roles in their communities.”

Nominations are due Saturday, October 31, 2015. Four finalists will be invited to the 2015 Agricultural Retailers Association Conference & Expo on December 1-3, 2015 in Palm Desert, CA. The winner will be announced at the conference and the grand prize of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle will be awarded. The retailer responsible for nominating the winner will also receive 100 hours of use in their choice of ACGO TerraGator or RoGator. All participants will be given a certificate to recognize their nomination.

Agribusiness

Alltech Crop Science Reminds You to #ThankAFarmer

Jamie Johansen October 14, 2015

Alltech Crop Science is paying tribute to farmers and food producers around the world who continue to find ways to feed the ever-growing population to commemorate the United Nations World Food Day, Oct. 16, 2015. There are now approximately 7.3 billion people living off the same amount of farmland compared to that in the 1970s.

What do you do when the global population doubles, but the world’s farmland is finite?

U.S. farmers provide 20 percent of the world’s food using only 10 percent of its land. American farmers produce six times more corn with 20 percent less land compared to their peers of the 1930s. The average corn yield grew from 39 bushels per acre in 1950 to 153 bushels per acre in 2000. Between 1961 and 2005, average cereal yields increased 155 percent. As productivity has improved, so have techniques for sustaining resources. Farmers have become more efficient, allowing the burgeoning population to continue reaping natural resources from the land.

“Farmers are pretty amazing,” said Robert Walker, Alltech Crop Science general manager. “They have to be part agronomist, conservationist, meteorologist and economist. Alltech Crop Science wants you, the consumer, to join us on World Food Day to thank farmers around the world (#ThankAFarmer) for continuing to produce natural, healthy produce.”

In the last decade consumption has increased significantly. Demand for meat has tripled in the developing world in the past four decades, while egg consumption has increased sevenfold. We have also seen an increase in the demand for soybeans (48 percent), corn (37), rice (14) and wheat (13).

“Food production alone must increase by 70 percent, which means we have to produce more food in the next 50 years than that of the past 10,000 years combined,” said Walker. “Alltech Crop Science follows the seed, to feed, to fork, to future mentality. It is about taking a holistic, integrated approach to sustainable production. Producers and farmers must focus on nutrient efficiency and end-product quality as consumer demand rises, while identifying the environmental challenges.”

Alltech

2016 Prez Candidates Address Hunger, Poverty

Joanna Schroeder October 14, 2015

Yesterday following the Iowa Hunger Summit, several nonprofit organizations including Feeding America, Bread for Life and the Iowa Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church, launched the Vote to End Hunger Campaign. The initiative is to hold presidential candidates’ responsible for ending hunger and poverty in the U.S. and globally.

The campaign was launched in Des Moines, Iowa they day before the opening of the 2015 World Food Prize, an international meeting of the minds to address food issues such as security, sustainability and the need to feed a growing global population.

Vote to End Hunger supporters want voters to ask presidential candidates, “If you were elected, what will you do to end hunger, alleviate poverty and create opportunity in the U.S. and worldwide?”

So where do the candidates stand on this issue?

Circle of Protection, an organization comprised of various denominational Christian leaders, asked candidates this very question and invited them to submit a three minute video to tell Americans where they stand on hunger and poverty. Many responded and you can watch their videos here.

Food, politics, Video, World Food Prize

Beck Ag Honored as Company of the Year

Kelly Marshall October 14, 2015

Women in Agribusiness recently recognized Beck Ag as Company of the Year at their summit in Minneapolis. They are the third company to be honored with the Demeter Award and join Dow AgroSciences (2013) and Agrium, Inc. (2014) as recipients. The award recognizes a company that supports the professional development, achievements and growth of women in the industry.

Beck Ag has a solid staffing model that allows employees to balance their careers and personal lives. This principle of balance has attracted professionals who wish to stay in their communities and who come from deep agriculture backgrounds. Sixty-seven percent of Beck Ag’s people are women, including five of the nine shareholders. They are committed to developing and compensating women fairly, which has benefitted the company, clients, and industry as a whole.

Agribusiness

Agri-Pulse Open Mic with Rep. Reid Ribble of Wisconsin

John Davis October 14, 2015

Agri-Pulse Open Mic this week features Wisconsin Representative Reid Ribble.

The 8th district Republican left the Freedom Caucus last week in the fallout from a failed attempt to elect a new House Speaker. In this week’s interview, Ribble outlines challenges the Congress faces in approving a spending plan and his efforts to bring about a two-year budget cycle. He sees action soon on the nation’s debt ceiling and tax extenders but says the bigger issue lies between liberal Senate Democrats and conservative GOP leaders on spending. Ribble strongly opposes the EPA’s new clean water rules but supports a new voluntary program to reduce nutrient runoff in his home state.

Click here to listen to Agri-Pulse Open Mic with Wisconsin Representative Reid Ribble.

Agri-Pulse, Audio, politics

Vote to End Hunger Launched at #FoodPrize15

Joanna Schroeder October 13, 2015

The Iowa Food Summit took place today in Des Moines, IA leading up to the opening of this year’s World Food Prize. Following the Summit, several national nonprofits launched a new campaign, Vote to End Hunger (VTEH), an effort to urge 2016 presidential candidates to focus on ending hunger, alleviating poverty and creating global opportunity.

“Throughout the world, countries such as Bangladesh, Ethiopia and Great Britain have made tremendous strides in reducing hunger. However, in the United States, we have seen little progress over the past several decades. That is because our nation has not made solving hunger a priority,” said David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World during a press conference to launch the VTEH campaign. “We need to vote for leaders who care about ending hunger, so the next president and Congress will work together and solve it.”

In the U.S., 1 out of every 7 households – more than 48 million Americans – struggle to put food on the table. These numbers include 5.4 million seniors and 15 million children while around the world, 795 million people experience hunger every day. This is a significant but solvable problem said VTEH organizers who also noted that the resources needed to end hunger are already available.

The impact of hunger reaches far beyond just those families and individuals who experience it and Iowan Jamy Rentschler shared her family’s personal struggle with hunger as she grew up. Hunger affects children differently than adults and can affect their brain development and led to higher risks of developing chronic health issues.

As noted by Lisa Davis, senior vice president of government relations for Feeding America, consumers need to reach out to potential candidates and ask the question of how they plan to end hunger. Iowans are being courted by nearly two dozen candidates and she said Iowans have a lot of opportunity to interact with them.

“So when you do, ask them, ‘If you were elected, what will you do to end hunger, alleviate poverty and create opportunity in the U.S. and worldwide?'” said Davis who also encouraged consumers to reach out with the same question via Twitter and campaign Facebook pages.

Along with Jamy Rentschler, other participants in the press conference including:

Rev. David Beckmann, President, Bread for the World (Moderator)
Bishop Richard E. Pates, Diocese of Des Moines, Roman Catholic Church
Lisa Davis, Senior Vice President, Government Relations, Feeding America

Listen to the full Vote to End Hunger press conference here: Vote to End Hunger Campaign Launch

Additional organizations supporting VTEH include Alliance to End Hunger, Catholic Charities USA, Feeding America, Meals on Wheels America, RESULTS and RESULTS Educational Fund, and Share Our Strength/No Kid Hungry.

Coverage of the World Food Prize Global Harvest Initiative is sponsored by

Ag Groups, Audio, Food, World Food Prize

New Cuba Ag Exports Act Opens Trade Options

John Davis October 13, 2015

A new piece of legislation will open up trade possibilities for U.S. agricultural exports to Cuba. H.R. 3687, the Cuba Agricultural Exports Act, was introduced by House Agriculture Committee Chairman, Mike Conaway, along with Representatives Rick Crawford (R-AR) and Ted Poe (R-TX). It repeals financing restrictions, allowing U.S. banks to offer credit in Cuba in connection with exports of U.S. agricultural goods; eliminates restrictions on key federal funding used in agricultural export promotions for Cuba; and enables investment in Cuban agribusinesses not affiliated with the Cuban government. According to this news release from USA Rice, the measure could be of most benefit to American rice farmers.

This action follows closely on the heels of a trip to Cuba by Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson and a group of nearly 40 Arkansans including representatives of Riceland Foods. Governor Hutchinson returned to Arkansas motivated to ask for changes, saying, “Congress needs to equalize the field of operations for our businesses by allowing them to negotiate cash, credit, whatever they feel comfortable with and the level of risk they wish to take. Right now, we can’t even negotiate a credit sale, and that’s not customary in the market.”

“I’m excited to see my Congressman [Representative Crawford] introduce a bill that would positively affect so many parts of the U.S. rice industry,” said Arkansas rice farmer and USA Rice Chairman, Dow Brantley. “Our Congressional District alone grows nearly half of the U.S.’s rice – so we would certainly stand to benefit from open trade with the Cubans – as would rice producers throughout the mid-South.”

Brantley continued, “USA Rice has been working to remove the trade barriers for a long time, and after 55 years that the trade embargo has been in place, it’s time for things to change. It’s my hope that the rest of Congress will join the sponsors in supporting this legislation, which has the potential to seriously strengthen the agricultural economy.”

Keith Gray, a Texas-based rice miller with Riviana Foods, said, “We have been looking for opportunities to sell rice to Cuba for some time and it’s always been held up because of the financing issue. This bill would be a game-changer and I think it’s the best option put forward so far to open up the Cuban market for our rice.”

USA Rice endorsed the legislation and continues to seek congressional support for all legislation that works towards normalized trade relations with Cuba.

Ag Groups, Rice

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes October 13, 2015

The “Upper Midwest Organic Agriculture Tour” planned at the Synergy in Science ASA, CSSA, SSSA International Annual Meeting in Minneapolis, MN, on Nov. 14th will highlight the Twin Cities’ organic food system.
Swanson Russell announces the promotion of Megan Bollish and Jeremie Memming in its Lincoln office.
broadhead has made eleven across the board hires and promoted seven current agency staffers, bringing the total of new hires this year to nearly 30.
Swanson Russell announces the promotion of Katie Sands and Tony Sattler to vice president in its Lincoln office.

Zimfo Bytes

USDA Gives $3 Mil in Critical Ag Production Research Grants

John Davis October 13, 2015

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is giving $3 million in grants to address critical issues affecting agriculturally-important plants and animals. This news release from the agency’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) says the science developed from these grants will provide timely assistance and have an immediate impact for the agriculture community. The awards were made under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative’s (AFRI) Critical Agricultural Research and Extension (CARE) program.

“It is essential to promote partnerships between researchers, extension experts, and producers to ensure the success of American agriculture,” said Sonny Ramaswamy, NIFA director. “The CARE program is centered on the swift identification of problems, creation of solutions, and prevention of interruptions or issues that impact farmers’ ability to provide a safe and abundant food supply for our nation.”

Fiscal year 2014 is the first year NIFA has made awards under the CARE program. Examples of what these grants will focus on include a project from the University of Georgia that is researching disease management practices for blueberries, particularly addressing the currently unknown life cycle time of the damaging Exobasidium leaf and fruit spot disease. An Extension project from Montana State University will be working directly with cattle producers to adopt sagebrush grazing techniques for their cattle that create a sustainable environment for the greater sage-grouse.

The AFRI Foundational Program addresses six priority areas to continue building a foundation of knowledge in fundamental and applied food and agricultural sciences critical for solving current and future societal challenges.

The list of schools and grant amounts is available here.

Research, University, USDA

Fly-In Tells Congress of Need for National Food Labeling

Jamie Johansen October 12, 2015

The Coalition for Safe Affordable Food, organized a fly-in bringing representatives of our country’s agriculture and food sectors to Capitol Hill urging passage by Congress of a uniform, national labeling standard for foods made with genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Vermont is set to implement its own labeling standard next July and other states passing or considering their own labeling mandates, participants in the fly-in expressed the urgency to get a federal bill passed this fall in order to stave off the negative effects of a patchwork of differing state labeling laws.

A uniform, national food labeling standard will ensure that consumers in all 50 states have access to the same labeling information, bringing consistency and transparency to the marketplace. Additionally, a GMO-free certification program will provide consumers who choose to purchase non-GMO items a reliable means of doing so.

The group came from 22 states who represent the entirety of the nation’s food supply chain: farming groups, co-ops, seed producers and food companies. In total, the group had more than 140 meetings on Capitol Hill Wednesday.

Participants in the fly-in expressed the urgent need for action by the Senate soon on the critical issue.

“Soybeans are a two-billion-dollar industry in Missouri and different state GMO labeling mandates would hurt hardworking farmers across that state,” said the executive director of the Missouri Soybean Association, Gary Wheeler. “As I explained to members of the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, inconsistent state labels would wreak havoc on Missouri farms. We need Congress to pass a reasonable solution that provides transparency and consistency for farmers and consumers.”

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act in July by a significant 275-150 bipartisan vote, with 45 Democrats voting yes. That legislation would ensure that consumers have access to the same science-based information regardless of which state they shop in instead of different state mandates. It would also create a national GMO-free certification program that would provide consumers who prefer GMO-free foods a consistent means of identifying those products.

Ag Groups, Food, GMO

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