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

John Davis

open-micAgri-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

Vote to End Hunger LogoThe 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 Coverage of the World Food Prize Global Harvest Initiative is sponsored by John Deere
Ag Groups, Audio, Food, World Food Prize

New Cuba Ag Exports Act Opens Trade Options

John Davis

crawford1A 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

Zimfo Bytes

  • 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

usda-logoThe 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

safe affordable foodThe 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

Seeking Common Ground

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast 488Kim Bremmer has spent her lifetime working in agriculture and lending her voice to share the special message about the food we eat with consumers across the country. One way is through CommonGround, a group of farmers having conversations about the food we grow and how we produce it. Jamie spoke with Kim during the 2015 World Dairy Expo to learn more about how CommonGround teaches how to eat fearlessly.

CommonGround shares personal experiences, as well as science and research, to help consumers sort through the myths and misinformation surrounding food and farming. The information tool was developed by farmers through the United Soybean Board (USB) and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA).

common ground“CommonGround is all women in agriculture volunteering at consumer events, talking about farming and the food we raise. We are not at agriculture events. We are at things like women’s expos, dietitians conferences or farm to table dinners. Any time we can help facilitate the conversation between consumers and farmers is really where CommonGround fits in.”

Kim said we have more bus drivers in our country than farmers. Farmers are out numbered 99-1 and most people are four generations removed from the family farm.

Through CommonGround you can learn more about farm ownership, GMO’s, animal welfare, food safety, antibiotics, hormones, organic & local foods, the price of food and sustainability. Kim encourages us all to ask questions and get engaged.

Kim has also ventured out on her own to continue sharing the real story of american agriculture through Ag Inspirations.

Listen to this week’s program here: Common Ground

Subscribe to the ZimmCast podcast here.

View and download photos from the event here: 2015 World Dairy Expo Photo Album

Coverage of World Dairy Expo is sponsored by
Coverage of World Dairy Expo is sponsored by New Holland
ZimmCast

Qualls Named Executive Director of ResponsibleAg

Kelly Marshall

QuallsBill Qualls has been selected by the Board of Directors as the new Executive Director of ResponsibleAg. His new responsibilities include recruiting for retailer and auditor, monitoring the quality assurance program as well as advising the board.

Most recently Qualls has been the Lead Auditor for Global Environmental, Health and Safety at the Eastman Chemical Company. He also serves as president of the Board of Directors of the Auditing Roundtable and on the Board of Governors of the Institute of Internal Auditors. His background includes a bachelors in chemistry and biology from Lyon College, a masters in environmental engineering from Oklahoma State University, and he is a Certified Professional Environmental Auditor. Qualls grew up on a small family farm in Arkansas.

“We are thrilled to welcome someone with Bill’s experience and skills as Executive Director,” said J. Billy Pirkle, Chairman of the Board of Directors. “His leadership and results-driven focus will help build on existing support and generate stakeholder recognition of ResponsibleAg.”

Qualls also expressed his excitement to be joining the team at ResponsibleAg.

“My goal is to encourage involvement in this worthwhile effort,” he said. “And to better equip fertilizer retailers with the tools to continuously improve their environmental, health and safety efforts so they are widely recognized as a model of compliance and trusted neighbors.”

Agribusiness, Fertilizer

Will There Be a New Heavyweight Pumpkin Champ?

Kelly Marshall

2014WinnerJohnHawkley-2-300dpiContestants have gathered for the 42nd Annual Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in the world pumpkin capital of Half Moon Bay, CA.  The search for a heavyweight champ to break the world record kicks-off the Art & Pumpkin Festival October 17-18.  The prize for such a pumpkin is $30,000.

To receive the $30,000 world record prize, the grower must break and hold the world record at the conclusion of the Half Moon Bay weigh-off. If two or more growers happen to break the world record at Half Moon Bay, the prize money would go to the grower of the heaviest pumpkin. The current world record pumpkin is 2,323-pounds grown by Swiss grower Beni Meier and set at at weigh-off in Germany in 2014.

Pictured here is last year’s superstar, John Hawkley and his 2,058 pound champion.  This gourd set a new North American record at the 2014 Safeway World Champion Pumpkin Weigh-Off and Hawkley is expected to return to defend his title.

California’s drought is expected to play a role in the competition, since water plays a big role in growing these giants.

Events

Appeals Court Suspends WOTUS Implementation

Cindy Zimmerman

gavelA new ruling issued today by a federal appeals court places a nationwide stay on the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Water Rule, better known as Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS).

The court agreed with petitioners that the treatment in the rule of tributaries, “adjacent waters,” and waters having a “significant nexus” to navigable waters is at odds with a previous Supreme Court ruling and that “it is far from clear that the new Rule’s distance limitations are harmonious with the instruction.”

In addition, the ruling called EPA’s rulemaking process “facially suspect” because it did not include any proposed distance limitations in its use of terms like “adjacent waters” and significant nexus.”

Agricultural organizations are supporting the ruling. “The American Farm Bureau Federation is pleased the Sixth Circuit recognizes that this rule has serious flaws and cannot go forward until the courts have had an opportunity to understand its effect on farmers, ranchers and landowners of all kinds,” said AFBF president Bob Stallman in a statement. “The judges expressed deep concerns over the basic legality of this rule. We’re not in the least surprised: This is the worst EPA order we have seen since the agency was established more than 40 years ago. The court clearly understood our arguments.”

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS), a long-time critic of WOTUS, also applauded the court ruling. “Due to the widespread confusion and frustration with the new regulations and pending litigation, this ruling should send a clear signal to the EPA that the rule should be scrapped altogether,” Roberts said. “The process was flawed from the beginning and I commend the court for this finding in particular: ‘Moreover, the rulemaking process by which the distance limitations were adopted is facially suspect.’”

A three judge panel for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Judicial Circuit voted 2-1 to stay implementation over concern that burden to state and federal government, as well as private parties and the public in general, from the implementation of the WOTUS rule outweighed any harm to the agencies in keeping the status quo.

AFBF, EPA