West Central New to #AgMedia Expo

Cindy Zimmerman August 11, 2015

New to the Ag Media Summit (AMS) Info Expo this year was West Central Distribution of Willmar, Minnesota.

“We’re a wholesale distributor of farm inputs,” said Jesse Cler, Focus Product Marketing Manager for the company. “So we stock the shelves for retailer and create a business partnership with them and help to grow their business.”

Cler says they came to AMS to connect with ag editors to help get information out about their company. “It’s really important for growers to have information on the cutting edge of agriculture,” he said, adding that he was very impressed by how they were received at the event as a new exhibitor and attendee.

Listen to my interview with Jesse here. Interview with Jesse Cler, West Central Distribution

2015 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

Coverage of the Ag Media Summit is sponsored by

Ag Media Summit, Audio

Partnership Launches No-Cost Farm Transition Project

John Davis August 11, 2015

A group of educators and agricultural consultants is launching a new, no-cost farm transition planning project to make sure farmland stays in families’ hands. Ag Transition Partners, supported by American Agri-Women, a coalition of farm, ranch and agri-business women is offering the project with webinars, on-site or virtual coaching and action plan templates. The project’s multi-layer approach sets it apart from other planning processes, better helping farm families ensure the legacy of their operations.

This project is free for participating farm families and is made possible through a grant from North Central Extension Risk Management Education Center (NCERMEC) and the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

According to some studies, an estimated 70% of farms and farmland will transition ownership in the next 20 years and fewer than 50% of farmers have estate plans; less than 70% have named successors; and less than 11% have farm business transition plans in place. The consequences of a failure to plan can be severe.

More information, including registration for the webinars, is available here.

Ag Groups

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes August 10, 2015

Registration is now open for ASTA’s CSS 2015 & Seed Expo, held December 7-11 in Chicago, IL!
Starting with the April 2015 issue, Badger Common’Tater, morphed into a more engaging and entertaining experience by offering an online magazine format, identical in content to their print format, but offering all the bells and whistles of the digital world.
A new study from the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) identifies the most influential trends that will affect farming practices and structures through 2030.
John Deere has opened the expansion of its plant in Montenegro city, Rio Grande do Sul state, in Brazil.

Zimfo Bytes

Food Dialogues – Minneapolis

Chuck Zimmerman August 10, 2015

It is time to talk about food again. So let’s have a dialogue in Minneapolis on “Farm to Consumer: Bridging the Gap between Consumer Concerns and Food Production and Sourcing Decisions.” Thanks to USFRA, we’ll will be there tomorrow to watch, learn, interview, tweet.

From environmental sustainability to GMO safety and animal welfare, consumers increasingly want to know if the methods used to grow and raise food are impacting their long-term health or that of the planet. These topics and more will be the focus of an August 11 panel discussion featuring local representatives from across the food value chain. The event, titled, “Farm to Consumer: Bridging the Gap between Consumer Concerns and Food Production and Sourcing Decisions,” is part of the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance’s Food Dialogues series, and is co-sponsored by the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council and Nebraska Soybean Board.

This event will be moderated by Minnesota native and Bloomberg agriculture policy journalist, Alan Bjerga, and will feature panelists including local farmers and food executives, including:

· Bertrand Weber, director of Minneapolis Public Schools Culinary & Nutrition Services
· Bill Gordon, corn and soybean farmer, Gordon Farms, Worthington, Minn.
· Greg Reynolds, Riverbend Farm, Delano, Minn.
· Jen Haugen, Registered Dietitian, formerly of Hy-Vee
· Jorge Guzman, executive chef, Surly Brewing
· Rochelle Krusemark, corn, soybean, pork and beef farmer, Krusemark Farms, Trimont, Minn.
· Steve Peterson, former director of sustainable sourcing at General Mills
· Steve Polski, senior director, sustainability, Cargill
Read More

Ag Groups, Food, USFRA

Ding Wins National Potato Council Scholarship

Kelly Marshall August 10, 2015

The National Potato Council (NPC) is pleased to announce the winner of the 2015-15 $10,000 academic scholarship. Shunping Ding, a PhD. student in Plant Pathology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is a graduate student who earned the award for her interest in research benefiting the potato industry.

Ding is an enthusiastic researcher and dedicated student, who has proven to be a leader both inside and outside of the classroom. Her extensive research experience, combined with memberships in several professional organizations, demonstrate that Ding has invested heavily in becoming an expert in her field of study. Her current focus is on enhancing control of the potato early blight complex (EBC), which is a common fungal disease that results in significant annual loss to the potato industry. NPC anticipates that her current and future research into potato diseases will greatly benefit the industry by offering insight into this ongoing issue the industry faces.

“Shunping has genuine interest in and dedication to plant disease research in both basic and applied areas. She is driven to solve practical problems, like potato early blight, that have great implications, such as crop loss, which ultimately results in loss of income for producers, loss of stability for local and regional economies, and ultimately a loss in food supply,” said Amanda Gevens, Associate Professor and Extension Plant Pathologist of the Department of Plant Pathology with the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “She is a professional, respectful student with the capacity to make significant contributions to the scientific and agricultural community.”

Ding’s strong work ethic won the approval of the selection committee, as well as her academic record and desire to improve the potato industry.

“I am very thankful for this scholarship. It is a great honor and encouragement to me, and will help provide me with training opportunities to enhance my research. My goal is to help the U.S. potato industry to mitigate loss in potato production by better managing diseases in an economically
and environmentally responsible manner,” said Ding.

Ag Groups, Education, Potato, Research

Candidates at Iowa State Fair

Cindy Zimmerman August 10, 2015

The Republican candidates may not have addressed any agricultural issues during the debates last week, but they might during appearances at the Iowa State Fair which begins this week.

A majority of the presidential candidates from both parties have confirmed they will speak at The Des Moines Register’s Soapbox during the fair. A total of 14 Republicans and four Democrats are on the soapbox schedule starting Thursday August 13 through Saturday August 22. Notably missing from the list are the frontrunners for both parties – Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

Check the schedule from the Des Moines Register for updates. Candidate speeches will be live-streamed at DesMoinesRegister.com/SoapboxLive.

politics

Join the Biodiesel & Bioheat Forum

Chuck Zimmerman August 10, 2015

Next week I’ll be attending the Biodiesel and Bioheat Forum, sponsored by the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council. Want to join me? Get registered now.

Home heating oil and biodiesel leaders will discuss a biodiesel blend with significant environmental and economic benefits and the role Minnesota soybean farmers can play in meeting the demand of this market.

“The Midwest use of biodiesel is lower in the winter while the East Coast use of heating oil is much higher,” said Tom Slunecka, CEO of the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council. “Minnesota has an opportunity to grow our supply and better serve both markets.”

Some of the panelists scheduled to appear include: Read More

Ag Groups, Biodiesel, Biofuels, Energy, Soybean

“Ahead of the Curve” Theme for @GROWMARK Annual

Cindy Zimmerman August 10, 2015

As one of the nation’s largest, oldest, most profitable and most respected farmer cooperatives, GROWMARK has always been ahead of the curve, so it is an appropriate theme for this year’s annual meeting, coming up August 27-28 at the Hilton Chicago.

“We do think that GROWMARK and the FS System are ahead of the curve,” says GROWMARK Corporate Relations Manager Amy Bradford, who has been among those on the planning committee for the event this year. “Ahead of the curve really means that you’re leader of the pack and we believe that’s what we are.”

The annual meeting is attended by the shareholders of GROWMARK, which is made up of the FS System member companies who serve as delegates. At the meeting, they will listen to updates and results of the cooperative over the past year and elect directors for three year terms.

In addition, Bradford says this year they will have a keynote speaker – Kat Cole of Focus Brands, a company that includes such well-known names as Cinnabon, Carvel, Auntie Anne’s, and McAlister’s Deli. “She really has a great story to tell,” said Bradford. “She’s a very young leader in a business that can be pretty cut-throat.”

She may have a great story to tell, but so does GROWMARK, staying ahead of the curve every year to help their farmer members continue to grow and prosper.

Listen to my interview with Amy here: GROWMARK's Amy Bradford on upcoming annual meeting

Audio, Cooperatives, GROWMARK

Cheminova Products Add to FMC Portfolio

Cindy Zimmerman August 10, 2015

FMC Corporation just completed its acquisition of Cheminova earlier this year and at the Ag Media Summit we talked with FMC business solutions manager David Wheeler about what new crop protection solutions that adds to the FMC portfolio for growers.

“The Cheminova acquisition has really rounded out our portfolio,” said Wheeler. “For instance, we were lacking in fungicides in our portfolio, and Cheminova was very strong with fungicides.” In addition, Cheminova provided addition modes of action for insecticide products. “From a product standpoint it’s been great for us and helps make us a more well-rounded company,” Wheeler added.

In this interview, Wheeler also talks about the benefits of fungicide use. Interview with David Wheeler, FMC

2015 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

Coverage of the Ag Media Summit is sponsored by

Ag Media Summit, Audio, Crop Protection, FMC

BrightFarms Builds Farm of the Future

Kelly Marshall August 7, 2015

BrightFarms has broken ground on a new Chicagoland Greenhouse in Rochelle, IL. The start-up company is changing the face of local produce with the first ever nation brand. Working together with Roundy’s Supermarkets, and the greenhouses will supply the grocery chain with produce, hopefully in 2016.

A model for the future of local, low-impact farming, the BrightFarms Chicagoland Greenhouse will be the most productive farm in the Chicagoland market, the most sustainable source of year-round baby greens and tomatoes in all of Illinois, and among the most productive salad greens farms, per square foot, in the world. It will create permanent green collar jobs, significantly reduce food miles, and improve the environmental impact of the food supply chain.

A cutting-edge, scalable solution to Americans’ increasing demand for local and sustainable food, The BrightFarms Chicagoland greenhouse will be 160,000 square-feet and grow over 1,000,000 pounds of the freshest and most flavorful salad greens, herbs and tomatoes per year. The greenhouse will use 80 percent less water, 90 percent less land and 95 percent less shipping fuel than conventional produce companies and significantly less energy to grow its products than the items it replaces on supermarket shelves. All produce will be pesticide-free.

“Consumer demand for local is growing exponentially — and for good reason: long distance produce hurts the environment and compromises freshness, quality and taste,” said BrightFarms Chief BrightFarmer (CEO), Paul Lightfoot. “This greenhouse farm will allow Roundy’s to provide its customers with year-round produce that is not only garden-fresh, but that conserves land and water, eliminates agricultural runoff and reduces greenhouse gas emission.”

“We’re thrilled that our stores will be able to deliver consumers the freshest, most local greens, herbs and tomatoes possible,” said Bob Mariano, CEO and chairman of Roundy’s. “BrightFarms is a model for the future of food and we look forward to exemplifying, together with them, what that future should look like.”

Agribusiness, Energy, Produce

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