Are you in need of some new tech for your farm or business? ZimmComm New Media just might have the answer. Enter our latest AgNerd Giveaway for a chance to win a Samsung Galaxy S Tab.
Checkout the AgNerd Giveaway Rules to learn more about your chance to win.
“If we don’t tell our farmer story then someone else will,” said Erin Brennemen, Iowa pork producer during the panel discussion “Our Barn Door is Open,” that took place during the 2015 World Pork Expo (#WPX15). The #RealPigFarming panel was hosted by the National Pork Board (NPB) and moderated 
by outgoing vice president Brad Greenway, a South Dakota pork producer. Other panelists include Thomas Titus, an Illinois pork producer, and Iowa farmer and The Bachelor, Chris Soules, who was also a recent Dancing with the Stars alum.
The lively discussion focused on the panelists’ experiences in speaking with consumers via social media about what really happens on their farm and how best to tell your story. These Agvocates all agreed that they must share their experiences and open “their barn doors” or others will inaccurately tell their story. They also agreed that for the most part, consumers who reach out to them really want to better understand what happens on the farm and are appreciative of the honest answers they give. The panelists and Greenway all invite consumers to visit their farms so if you’re looking to take a farmtour, farmstay or farmcation this summer then be sure to reach out to them.
You can follow the discussion on Twitter using #RealPigFarming and engage with the panelists on Twitter as well: Thomas Titus (@1thomas_titus), Erin Brenneman (@sowmamma) Chris Soules (@souleschris) and Brad Greenway (@GreenwayPork).
Watch Our Barn Door is Open.
Find photos from the event here: 2015 World Pork Expo Photo Album
West Central’s announcement that they are kicking off a $27 million expansion is adding value said Grant Kimberley, executive director of Iowa Biodiesel Board during West Central’s event to announce the new project. Kimberley noted that Iowa is the leading producing of soybeans – more than 500 million bushels per year.
“It’s all about value-added agriculture and being able to use as much as possible in state,” explained Kimberley. “So a facility like this just adds that value by processing more soybeans in the state of Iowa. This translates into better prices for farmers.” It also translates, Kimberley added, to creating local demand and this provides more pricing opportunities for the local farmer.
SoyPlus, one of West Central’s key products that will be expanded as part of the $27 million project, is a great product, said Kimberley, because it adds value to the dairy industry in particular. Dairy is about seven percent of national soybean demand. Kimberley said SoyPlus helps increase milk production of the dairy animal so it ultimately increases profit for the dairy farmer.
Learn more about the how West Central is adding value to soybean growers and dairy producers by listening to Jamie Johansen’s interview with Grant Kimberley: Grant Kimberley Interview
Last week New Holland Agriculture Brand President, Carlo Lambro, spoke during the International Agricultural Forum that was held at Expo Milano 2015. His comments focused on the company’s commitment to securing the right of healthy, safe and sufficient food for all by responsible investment in agriculture and food systems. This week I will get to meet with Carlo at Expo Milano 2015 where he will greet a group of agricultural media representatives on Wednesday.
The theme of the universal event taking place in Milan, Italy, “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life” drove discussions at the Forum organised by the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry (MIPAAF). The issue at hand was that of the global food challenge. Open to discussion was the issue of seeking a just balance between availability and consumption of resources by using efficient and accessible technology in order to achieve a sustainable future.
Carlo Lambro, a member of CNH Industrial’s Group Executive Council and Brand President of New Holland Agriculture, delivered a presentation during the Forum session on Agriculture and Food Security. In his speech, Mr. Lambro highlighted the development of CNH Industrial’s innovative solutions which seek to accomplish long-term sustainability: “By providing innovative products, technologies and solutions for the agriculture, transport and construction sectors that abide by environmentally responsible operating practices, CNH Industrial is doing its part to address global issues such as nutrition, food security and climate change.”
See the full news release here (pdf).
American Agri-Women is celebrating 40 years of advocating for agriculture with a five-month tour, “Drive Across America.” Partnering with them for this event is Agri-Pulse Communications.
“Our past and our future are based on advocating for agriculture and presenting the truth about production agriculture to the public, policy makers and the media. We are so pleased to have a media partner like Agri-Pulse, one that shares our commitment to the truth,” says AAW President Sue McCrum.
Agri-Pulse has a long history of involvement with AAW leaders. “It’s always a pleasure to work with talented farm and ranch women who are passionate about sharing their stories about modern agriculture,” editor Sara Wyant says. “We look forward to following their travels.”
McCrum and other leaders will drive in a specially wrapped pick-up truck, participating in educational, network and advocacy events hosted by AAW’s more than 50 affiliates. The Drive will finish at the 2015 annual convention in Portland, Maine.
Throughout the drive, follow Agri-Pulse Communications for news updates and special interviews.
Keep up with what’s happening on social media- Twitter with the hashtag #AAW40years and #DriveAcrossAmerica or follow the event on Facebook, www.Facebook.com/AgriWomen/.
The N-Watch program was developed by GROWMARK director of nutrient management and environmental stewardship Dr. Howard Brown as a tool to estimate the concentration of plant-available N throughout the year. The program started with 45 sites in Illinois and continues to grow. “Currently we are looking at over 900 sites from Nebraska to southern Ontario,” said Brown. “The purpose is really to help farmers understand the nitrogen cycle better.”
Farmers can see how that information can be helpful through a new N-Watch affiliated program with the Illinois Council on Best Management Practices (C-BMP) called Sentinel Sites that provides abbreviated and anonymous local farmer N-WATCH Reports to learn more about the dynamics of N in the soil profile.
Brown says every year is a new year when it comes to nutrient management on the farm and this year the amount of available nitrogen is lower in many areas as a result of consecutive record crops. “Last year’s crop did a great job from the standpoint of harvest yield for most farmers, at the same time it did a great job harvesting nutrients,” said Brown. His advice to farmers is to manage environmental risk like they manage economic risk, and spread nitrogen out over time.
Learn more in this interview with Dr. Brown. Interview with Howard Brown, GROWMARK
West Central has announced a major commitment to its grower-members and to Iowa with the announcement of a $27 million expansion. According to West Central President and CEO Milan Kucerak, this is a significant investment for the company. He said on the dairy side they have three products – SoyPlus, SoyChlor and PASTURChlor – that they sell nationally and internationally.
“This will represent a 50 percent increase in our production of SoyPlus to keep up with demand,” said Kucerak. There is a global demand for dairy and a global demand to feed those animals.” He explained that the expansion also maintains their diversification within their business units as well.
The initiative also allows West Central to turn their member-growing soybeans into a product they produce right here in Iowa. Kucerak added the major expansion allows them to have financial diversity as well.
“We all know grain markets have highs and lows and they ebb and flow. So if you have one business unit that is in the low cycle, the trough, you’ve got others that balance that out. That gives us a tremendous diversity in the company to maintain our financial strength,” said Kucerak.
Listen to Jamie Johansen’s interview with Milan Kucerak here: Milan Kucerak Interview
West Central has announced its plan for a $27 million, multi-year expansion to increase soybean processing capacity by 50 percent and build additional grain storage at its Ralston, Iowa complex. The project is set to have great benefits not only for Iowa but globally as discussed by Iowa Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig.
Naig said West Central’s expansion is a great example of a lot of investments going on in the state in terms of value-added agriculture. West Central, he noted, has a tremendous footprint in this state and this project again shows their commitment and their vision to their community and to their farmer owners.
When the expansion comes online, there will be an additional six million bushel soybean demand. “So that helps the community, that helps the farmers in the area with price support, and we’re also talking about jobs and that’s a tremendous impact on Carroll County and the surrounding communities,” said Naig.
Dairy Nutrition Plus is one of West Central’s key products and their products, coupled with their expansion, gives them the opportunity to play in the international markets explained Naig. “We know there is growing demand for protein and so West Central can play a role in that by providing a high quality feed product.” He also said that West Central’s expansion will help to grow Iowa’s dairy business but will also help grow the economies of the surrounding region from both a production standpoint as well as a processing standpoint.
Listen to Jamie Johansen’s interview with Naig where he also discusses aviation flu and the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) here: IA Deputy Sec of Ag Mike Naig
According to an update from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers exports of U.S.-made agricultural equipment for first quarter 2015 dropped 16.7-percent compared to first quarter 2014, for a total $1.82 billion shipped to global markets.
All world regions recorded declines except Central America, and Europe experienced the deepest drop, according to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), citing U.S. Department of Commerce data it uses in global markets reports for members.
Exports by World Region
First quarter 2015 U.S. agricultural equipment exports by major world regions compared to first quarter 2014:
Canada dropped 16.7 percent, for a total $582 million
Europe declined 34.7 percent, for a total $410.5 million
Central America gained 6.4 percent, for a total $273.3 million
South America dropped 21.8 percent, for a total $187.8 million
Asia fell 22.2 percent, for a total $178 million
Australia/Oceania fell 16.2 percent for a total $120.7 million
Africa decreased 6.3 percent, for a total $67 million
AEM Market Analysis Overview
AEM’s Benjamin Duyck, director of market intelligence, provides some insights:
This quarter decline of 16.7 percent was quite steep, though less harsh than the 29 percent decline last quarter or the 19.3 percent decline in Q1 of 2014. As global market drivers had not changed much from last year, declines in the exports of farm equipment was expected. Farm incomes are still forecasted to decrease in 2015, and on a more macro-economic level the strong dollar is still hampering U.S. global competitiveness.
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