NCGA Drone Demo

Cindy Zimmerman

ncga-chip-droneNational Corn Growers Association president Chip Bowling got a first-hand drone demo in his home state of Maryland last week.

The demonstration was one of several educational tours for NCGA board members highlighting advances in technology and sustainability, as well as diversified farming operations. Bowling, left, got a lesson in flying an unmanned aerial system from Matthew Creger of Maryland-based Intelligent UAS. The company demonstrated several examples for NCGA board members, answered questions, and discussed potential applications of the technology in agriculture.

Corn, NCGA, Precision Agriculture

New Agricultural Education Content Standards

Chuck Zimmerman

The National Council for Agricultural EducationThe National Council for Agricultural Education has released a new set of content standards (pdf). These standards “state agricultural education leaders and educators a guide for development of well-planned curriculum for AFNR-related career and technical education programs.”

The multi-stage revision of the standards began in 2014 and included input from more than 270 secondary and post-secondary educators, business, industry and state leaders in career and technical education. The revision process reflected essential and up-to-date knowledge and skills that students need to be ready for early-career success in a variety of AFNR disciplines. In addition, the revisions provide a sound basis on which to design AFNR related career and technical education courses as well as for developing assessments to measure students’ knowledge and skill levels.

“We are so grateful for the assistance we received while revising these standards,” said Mike Honeycutt, managing director of the National Council for Agricultural Education. “These standards will help students in agricultural education across the nation move toward college and career readiness in an industry that is currently in desperate need of thousands of skilled workers.”

The revisions of the standards were made possible due to funding provided by John Deere and CSX. In addition, the council would like to thank Vivayic, Inc. for all of their assistance.

Ag Groups, Education, FFA

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

Zimfo Bytes

  • To help first responders save lives, Landmark Services Cooperative hosted a grain engulfment rescuer training.
  • The National Association of Farm Broadcasting Hall of Fame committee is asking for nominations for present, past or deceased NAFB Broadcast Council members that have made significant contributions to farm broadcasting and the association.
  • The National Agri-Marketing Association and the Agricultural Relations Council invite you to participate in their next webinar, “The Strategic Importance of PR” on July 9th.
  • National Farmers Union (NFU) announced the 11 participants selected for the 2015/2016 Beginning Farmer Institute (BFI), a diverse group with operations ranging from half an acre to over 1800 acres.
Zimfo Bytes

Confusion over TPA

Cindy Zimmerman

tpaVotes on Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) were held Friday in the U.S. House of Representatives, but for many it was unclear what exactly happened – did it pass or didn’t it?

Yes and no. The actual Trade Promotion Authority bill passed, but the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) portion of the bill that was separated out in the House, supposedly as a way to get more Democrats to vote for it, failed.

National Corn Growers Association President Chip Bowling was disappointed by the outcome. “We hope that both houses of Congress and the White House can quickly resolve their differences and find a path forward. This legislation would bring us one step closer to open markets and greater access to millions of consumers living beyond our borders. It’s time for Congress to put aside petty politics, and stand up for American agriculture.”

On the other hand, the House lack of action made National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson happy. “NFU is hopeful this action gives Congress the time to rethink granting the president the ability to bypass Congress’s constitutional check on trade negotiations, an ability that has served as a major setback for America’s workers, family farmers and ranchers and this nation’s future prosperity,” said Johnson.

The expectation is that there will be some second chance this week to get TAA approved in the House. “We call on Democrats and Republicans in the House to come together and resolve their differences on TAA so we can get back to the business of building strong relationships between American farmers and customers around the world,” said American Soybean Association president Wade Cowan.

NCGA, politics, Trade

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

Zimfo Bytes

  • Rhea + Kaiser welcomes two college seniors from Illinois for its summer internship program.
  • United Suppliers, Inc., and Grow Community of Independent Ag Retails Ltd. have aligned to become United Suppliers Canada, Inc., Crop Protection and Seed Business Unit, which will be a high performing distribution and service company that independent dealers will have an opportunity to own.
  • Woodruff Sweitzer will receive a Gold Quill Merit Award on June 15 at the International Association of BusinessCommunicators’ (IABC) World Conference for cwt.
  • With agricultural job growth booming, AgHires is helping job seekers and employers connect.
Zimfo Bytes

FFA Winners Tour Costa Rica’s Agriculture

Kelly Marshall

ffa_logo48 national FFA award winners will depart for ten days in Costa Rica this summer.   The trip will educate participants about the global agricultural industry and the opportunities and challenges of international trade.  The country offers some of the most diverse agriculture and geography in the world, while being small enough to all students to gain a complete ag experience.

Seminar participants were selected from national agricultural proficiency award finalists and American Star Farmer and Star in Agribusiness finalists named last October at the 87th National FFA Convention & Expo in Louisville, Ky. The seminar, in addition to cash awards and plaques, is made possible by business and industry contributions to the National FFA Foundation.

Through June 18, participants will visit Dole’s Costa Rican banana farm, the Corsicana pineapple plantation, several of the country’s large and small production farms, a Starbucks coffee plantation, a forest biological reserve and rainforests. They’ll also be taking in plenty of sights during their trip. FFA members will tour the Costa Rican capital of San Jose, the country’s National Park and a host of popular tourist destinations.

You can follow along with highlights of the trip on the National FFA blog.

Ag Groups, FFA, International

New Holland Cycles for Farmland Preservation

Kelly Marshall

What does cycling have to do with preserving farmland?  This summer New Holland Agriculture is sponsoring Pedal to Preserve and Farm to Fork Fondo, two events designed to benefit farmland preservation.

Lancaster Farmland TrustPedal to Preserve is an opportunity for novice and experienced cyclists alike to bike through Lancaster County’s countryside.  The ride features more than 75 small family farms that have been preserved with help from the Lancaster Farmland Trust.

As the title sponsor for Pedal to Preserve, New Holland assembled a team of approximately 80 employees to participate as cyclists in this year’s ride. Each of the event’s course options began and ended in New Holland, Pa., the home of New Holland’s North American headquarters and the site of its haytools manufacturing plant and engineering center.

farm to fork fondoFarm to Fork Fondo is another cycling event that aims to support farms in the Northeastern US, one event in New York and a second in Vermont.

It is widely known that the success of endurance sports event can be credited to the dedication of its volunteers. For this reason, New Holland is pleased to sponsor the Farm to Fork Fondo volunteer competition. Each of the volunteer teams will choose to represent a farm or farm-related organization and will support the cyclists along the route and will provide the staffing at the aid stations. Volunteer teams are encouraged to be creative, enthusiastic, willing to support the cyclists along the route. Riders will vote to determine their favorite volunteer team, however, donations will be awarded to each farm or farm organization that is represented by a volunteer team, regardless of the results of the competition.

Additional activities, including a Farm to Fork Plated Garden Dinner, a pizza cooking class presented by Colavita, ziplines, hiking, and more.  

Agribusiness, Events, New Holland

Agri-Pulse Open Mic with Sen. John Boozman

John Davis

Agri-Pulse Open Mic this week features Sen. John Boozman.

open-micThe Arkansas Republican sees strong opposition to the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed clean water rule and says Congress must quickly address the COOL rule. As co-chair of the hunger caucus, Boozman has strong interest in nutrition programs and expects policy reform this year. In this interview, Senator Boozman explains his thoughts on Cuban trade reform, Trade Promotion Authority and currency manipulation.

Click here to listen to Agri-Pulse Open Mic with U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith.

Agri-Pulse, Audio

Nebraska Gov Visits New Holland at #ExpoMilano2015

Cindy Zimmerman

expo-nh-govCNH Industrial welcomed Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts this week at the Expo Milano “Sustainable Farm Pavilion” sponsored by its agricultural machinery brand New Holland Agriculture.

The governor was accompanied by a delegation that met with CNH Industrial management to discuss activities and investment in Nebraska through its manufacturing facility and commercial network. The Governor is on his first trade mission being coordinated jointly by the Nebraska Departments of Agriculture and Economic Development, which is stopping in Italy, Belgium, and Denmark this week.

Economic development, sustainable agriculture, youth technical training, local manufacturing and the
use of biofuels were the main topics of discussion surrounding the governor’s visit to the pavilion and in his meetings with New Holland Agriculture Brand President Carlo Lambro, pictured here with Ricketts.

Unfortunately, Rickett’s visit to the pavilion came two days before a group of journalists from around the world, including our own @Agriblogger, made their own visit with New Holland. They have been touring the Expo all day today, in Italy time. Chuck says the internet access is not good enough to post photos, but he will be getting to that when he can.

*UPDATED with audio*
The governor held a telephone press conference with reporters on Friday where he talked about the trade mission. Joining him was Nebraska Farm Bureau president Steve Nelson.
Neb. Gov Pete Ricketts and FB pres Steve Nelson in Europe

New Holland Expo Milano 2015 Photos

Agribusiness, International, New Holland

Farm Bureau Releases WOTUS Analysis

Cindy Zimmerman

afbf-logoThe American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) today released its analysis of the EPA’s Waters of the United States (WOTUS) final rule and concluded that it is worse than the proposed rule, according to AFBF president Bob Stallman.

“Our analysis shows yet again how unwise, extreme and unlawful this rule is,” American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman said. “Our public affairs specialists and legal team have assembled the best analysis available anywhere, and their conclusions are sobering: Despite months of comments and innumerable complaints, the Waters of the U.S. proposal is even worse than before.”

The Farm Bureau analysis, now available online, is headlined “No, No, No! No Clarity, No Certainty, No Limits on Agency Power.” Among the main concerns Farm Bureau has with the final rule is the definition of tributaries and how ditches “in many instances can meet the definition of tributary.”

Stallman was joined by AFBF Senior Director for Regulatory Relations Don Parrish and general counsel Ellen Steen in announcing the analysis this morning on a conference call.

AFBF WOTUS analysis conference call AFBF WOTUS call reporter questions
AFBF, Audio, Water