New Board Members for American Farmland Trust

John Davis

AFTThe American Farmland Trust (AFT) has elected a pair of nationally recognized leaders of agriculture to its board. This news release from the group says Jim Moseley and Greg Watson will join the board this fall.

John Hardin, vice chair of the AFT board said, “Jim Moseley and Greg Watson bring a wealth of agriculture and conservation experience, expertise and leadership to our board. I welcome these distinguished public servants to American Farmland Trust. We look forward to their guidance and input as we undertake critically important projects to preserve farmland, protect critical natural resources, like soil and water, and ensure a future on the land for the men and women who steward our farmland and grow our food and fiber.”

An Indiana native, Jim Moseley served as U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture from 2001 to 2005, where he oversaw the Department’s diverse daily operations. Following 9/11, he led the team looking at the security needs of the food and agriculture system. And, following his departure from USDA, he helped the U.S. Department of Defense rebuild the agricultural system in Afghanistan. He served as USDA Assistant Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment from 1990 to 1992. Currently, Moseley co-chairs Agree, a food and agricultural policy development initiative. With more than 40 years experience as a farmer, he owns a farm focusing on diversifying agricultural production and conservation.

Greg Watson served as the 19th Commissioner of Agriculture for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts under Governor Deval Patrick and also served as Commissioner from 1990 to 1993 under Governors Dukakis and Weld. He currently serves as the Director of Policy and Systems Design at the Schumacher Center for New Economics in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Watson is a leader in issues of sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, new monetary systems, and more. He serves on the boards of Ocean Arks International, Bioneers, and Remineralize The Earth.

Their terms on the board begin at AFT’s October 2015 board meeting.

Ag Groups

Congress to Decide Fate of COOL

Cindy Zimmerman

By a vote of 38 to 6, the House Agriculture Committee today approved legislation to effectively repeal country of origin labeling (COOL) requirements for beef, pork, and chicken.

“This bill is a targeted response that will remove uncertainty and restore stability for the United States by bringing us back into compliance,” Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (R-TX) said. “We will continue working to get this to the House floor as quickly as possible to ensure our economy and a vast range of U.S. industries and the men and women who work for them do not suffer any economic implications of retaliation.”

cool-house-agThe measure is in direct response to the final World Trade Organization ruling Monday against the United States which has triggered renewed debate over the law. Conaway held a press conference yesterday announcing the repeal legislation where he was joined by a bi-partisan group of representatives from a variety of states including Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA), Rep. David Rouzer (R-NC), Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO), Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-OR), and Rep. Brad Ashford (D-NE), as well as representatives from livestock organizations and other industries that are targets of potential trade retaliation by Canada and Mexico. House Ag COOL presser

mt-testerOn the pro-COOL side, Senator Jon Tester (D-MT), joined a group of lawmakers and consumer advocates in denouncing the WTO ruling. “The World Trade Organization ruling undermines the right of American families to know where their food comes from,” said Tester, who is a Montana rancher. “This was a horrible ruling.”

Tester, together with Reps. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Peter DeFazio (D-OR) tied the WTO ruling to the current effort in Congress to grant Trade Promotion Authority to move pending trade negotiations forward. “This ruling brings up troubling implications for our international trade agreements,” said DeLauro. “The Administration has claimed that deals like the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) would not force us to change our laws or regulations. (Monday’s) decision is proof that they are wrong.” Tester-DeLauro COOL presser

Congress basically has two choices in light of the WTO final ruling: repeal the COOL rule or amend it to possibly create a generic North American label. “It’s up to Congress to figure out what to do,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. Vilsack response to COOL ruling

But there is still time for Congress to act, given the steps that Canada or Mexico would have to take in order to put retaliation into effect. Which is why National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson calls the House bill “premature and reactionary” noting that there remains ample opportunity for the administration, Mexico and Canada to negotiate an acceptable path forward. “As has happened with past disputes, WTO members can work together to find a solution that will work for them,” said Johnson.

Audio, Trade

Multi-National Ag Groups Unite for Fair TPP

Cindy Zimmerman

ag-groups-wtoAs negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) are being held this week, agricultural and food organizations from four nations have come out united in calling for a “modern trade agreement that includes meaningful and comprehensive market access opportunities for agriculture and agri-food.”

The organizations from Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand advocating for an ambitious, fair and comprehensive TPP agreement represent hundreds of thousands of farmers, producers, processors and exporters who, in turn, employ millions of workers across the TPP region.

“A comprehensive agreement would encourage regional supply chains with production and processing occurring where competitive advantages exist,” said Brian Innes, president of the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance. “However, without a plurilateral agreement, the TPP could actually reduce market access for agri-food exporters.”

“Australian farmers are of the view that this agreement must deliver significant outcomes across the sector and thus across the economy,” National Farmers Federation President Mr. Brent Finlay said. “Agriculture has always been a strong supporter of trade and the benefits it brings across the broader community and the TPP must be seen in that light.”

“New Zealand farmers have always strongly supported the benefits of free trade, which include improved market access and reduce trade barriers for our exports,” added Dr. William Rolleston, president of Federated Farmers of New Zealand. “These barriers to exports reduce the ability of countries, including our own, to trade.”

“The TPP will only fulfill its promise of improved and increased trade in the Pacific region when it eliminates any barriers to trade, including tariff and non-tariff trade barriers,” said Bob Stallman, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. “U.S. agriculture has high expectations for the TPP, and we are calling on all countries involved to commit to a better agreement and freer trade worldwide.”

The TPP region represents 792 million consumers and 40 percent of world trade while also maintaining a coveted status as an integral part of global value chains. In fact, trade among TPP partners equaled over $2 trillion in 2012. While this number is considerable, the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance, the Australian National Farmers’ Federation, the American Farm Bureau and the Federated Farmers of New Zealand will continue to call for the elimination of tariff and non-tariff barriers that currently exist among the member countries in order to increase the value of this trade market through additional sales of agricultural products.

AFBF, Ag Groups, Trade

2015 Alltech Young Scientist Awards

Chuck Zimmerman

Alltech Young ScientistsDuring the Alltech REBELation the 2015 Alltech Young Scientist Awards were presented. Dr. Aoife Lyons, director of educational initiatives at Alltech, and Dr. Inge Russell, director of the AYS program, presented the awards.

Two university students received awards in the 10th annual Alltech Young Scientist (AYS) program, the largest global contest of its kind that rewards scientific genius and experimental application in agri-science. Students were challenged to submit research studies that demonstrate a keen awareness of science and its applications for improving the future of the world, specifically through agriculture.

Rafal Bialek, a student at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań (pictured on right), Poland, won the undergraduate division.

Bialek said, “I am very glad and proud of getting this award. It means that my work is worth something.”

His topic was using photosynthesis to make solar cells. He developed a method for attaching proteins extracted from purple bacteria to titanium dioxide, a widely used compound (for example, as a white dye in paints). Constructed cells, he said, can be utilized to convert solar energy into a current and can be used as a biosensor to detect environmental threats, such as herbicides in water.

Alltech Young ScientistsXiaoqiu (Churchill) Wang, who attends Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, was the graduate winner.

“Worldwide recognition of my current research keeps me inspired,” said Wang, adding that his long-term goal is to be an independent scientist “who makes a seminal discovery that makes a world of difference.”

The goal of his AYS research was to solve what he called “the long-time ignored and mysterious role of high levels of fructose during pregnancy.”

A panel of agriculture industry leaders selected eight finalists from an initial field of nearly 9,000 registrants from 62 countries. The graduate winner received $10,000, and the undergraduate winner received $5,000. Alltech also recognized 46 regional and local award winners, who received up to $2,000 each.

2015 Alltech REBELation Photo Album

Agribusiness, Alltech, Education

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

Zimfo Bytes

Zimfo Bytes

Top Rated Ag Universities

Cindy Zimmerman

qs-rankingsWe all have our favorite ag schools (Go Gators!) but if you want a non-biased source for the top rated universities in any subject, the definitive source is the QS World University Rankings.

First compiled in 2004, the QS World University Rankings currently considers over 3,000 institutions, and ranks more than 800 under a methodology that includes academic reputation, employer reputation and research impact. In the latest rankings for agriculture and forestry universities, most of the top ten are here in the United States and many are names you would expect to see, such as UC-Davis (#1), Purdue and UW-Madison (tied at #5 and 6), and Iowa State at #8.

Rounding out the top ten this year are Cornell University (2), Wageningen University – the Netherlands (3), UC-Berkeley (4), Australian National University (7), Oregon State University (8), and the Swedish University of Agricultural Science at number 10.

Our Gators came in at #16 – see where your favorite school ranked.

Education, University

#RealPigFarming Finalist in PR Awards

John Davis

realpigfarmingA program that features real pork producers telling their stories has been nominated for a top national public relations award. The National Pork Board’s #RealPigFarming campaign, developed by Des Moines, Iowa-based PR firm Lessing-Flynn, is a finalist in the Public Relations Society of America’s (PRSA) Silver Anvil awards competition.

“We’re incredibly proud of the #RealPigFarming campaign and the results we’ve seen,” said Jess Held, vice president of Lessing-Flynn. “This is the first time Lessing-Flynn has submitted an entry in this competition, so it’s very exciting to be named a finalist! It’s an honor to be recognized among some of the world’s top PR agencies.”

This award will recognize the outstanding work Lessing-Flynn and the National Pork Board produced as part of the #RealPigFarming campaign. The campaign is a finalist in the Reputation/Brand Management > Associations category of the awards program, which honors programs that enhance, promote or improve the reputation of an organization with its publics.

This year’s PRSA competition generated 804 entries, and only 136 entries were chosen as finalists by the judges. The winners will be announced at a ceremony in New York City on June 4, 2015.

Advertising, Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Pork, Public Relations

Industry Pleased with White House Pollinator Plan

Cindy Zimmerman

beesLast June, President Obama called for an interagency Task Force to create a Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators. Tuesday, the Task Force released its strategy, under the joint leadership of EPA and USDA.

Industry reaction to the plan, which outlines actions to be taken by more than a dozen other federal agencies and departments, has been very positive.

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) applauded the Task Force for emphasizing the importance of public-private partnerships and collaboration between all stakeholders. “Even though corn does not rely on pollinators, we recognize that they are critical to the overall health and vitality of our agricultural system,” said Don Glenn, chair of NCGA’s Production and Stewardship Action Team. “The National Pollinator Health Strategy underscores that everyone – farmers, beekeepers, conservationists, industry, and government – must work together to solve this challenge.”

Bayer CropScience president and CEO Jim Blome calls the strategy a “balanced and multi-faceted approach” and said they are particularly encouraged by the commitment to invest more into research, noting that many of Bayer’s on-going pollinator initiatives mirror specific recommendations included in the national strategy.

Agricultural Retailers Association Senior Vice President of Public Policy Richard Gupton was also encouraged by the balanced approach of the plan. “ARA and our members understand the importance of pollinators in growing crops and sustaining plant life,” said Gupton. “We applaud President Obama and members of the Pollinator Health Task Force for also recognizing that pesticides play a critical part in agricultural production and the health of our society.”

The strategy focuses on a number of factors impacting pollinator health, including “pests and pathogens, reduced habitat, lack of nutritional resources, and exposure to pesticides” and directs EPA complete a review of the effects of neonicotinoid pesticides on pollinators by the end of 2017. CropLife America CEO Jay Vroom expressed some concern about the accelerated timeline for the review. “We are skeptical of how sound science can be ‘sped up’ for this evaluation and look forward to a reasoned dialogue with EPA on that point,” said Vroom.

ARA, Bayer, Bees, Environment, EPA, NCGA, pesticides, pollinators

The Changing Face of Media

Chuck Zimmerman

Alltech PanelOne of the primary seminar tracks here at the Alltech REBELation is titled, “Marketing for Business Growth.” In this track I was a panelist yesterday to talk about The Changing Face of Media. With me were moderator, Frank Mulrennan, Celtic Media Group; Peter Baniak, Lexington Herald-Leader; Matt Jones, Kentucky Sports Radio; Brian Hughes RFD-TV/Rural Media Group and Trent Loos, Loos Tales. We each had 3 minutes to make some points on this subject from our perspective. That was followed by some panel interaction and Q&A. Here’s my initial comments:

My company is ZimmComm NEW MEDIA. Why? Because we’re not old, traditional or big media. You know, radio, tv, magazines, newspapers. Anachronisms. We’re new media – blogs, podcasts, Flickr photos, YouTube videos, social media – Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn.

Let’s face it, these traditional media gents look with longing wonder at how a young new media guy like me is thriving. I don’t broadcast via terrestrial transmitter. I don’t publish anything printed. We’re online and mobile only. I carry more transmitting power in my bag here than when I owned a radio station in Florida once upon a time.

How many of you have a smart phone? Use it every day? Check news or information on it? Got the free AgWired App? Get it.

Here’s are a few statistics:

From Pew 2015

2/3 of Americans own a smartphone – was 1/3 in 2011
19% rely on on them for accessing online services and information
Almost 10% of Americans don’t have broadband service at home
Majority of smartphone owners use their phones to follow breaking news and share it 67%

DMR – digital marketing stats

1.44 billion on Facebook as of 4/22/15
Daily users 936 million
31% of seniors use Facebook

Today, WE ARE ALL MEDIA. How many times is a breaking story told first on Twitter by people on the ground at the right moment?

And for you business owners, the Internet has powered public relations. I hope you have more than a website. I hope you have social media accounts and are actively using them to engage directly with your customer. It’s the disintermediation of the old media and it’s moving at a historically rapid pace.

My Apple Watch is on order. I look forward to getting news updates on my wrist without even having to take my phone out of my pocket.

And let’s not forget: Search engine optimization – You heard today that there are 4 billion searches on Google daily My blogs are highly search engine optimized. We’re the media you need to be working with. Think transparently sponsored story posts, paid tweet campaigns. There is a new media in town.

Guys? Your Turn.

We had a pretty spirited discussion but in the end I think we all agreed on more things than disagreed. During the session Matt mentioned the Twitter Periscope App. I have it and started Periscoping live. I have the recording and will upload to YouTube to add here later.

In the meantime, what are your thoughts on this subject? Do publications, television and radio still have relevance? How about 5 years from now?

2015 Alltech REBELation Photo Album

Agribusiness, Alltech, Media

Kentucky Night of Fun

Chuck Zimmerman

Kentucky NightAfter yesterday afternoon’s Alltech REBELation sessions it was time to relax and have a little fun. That fun included good food, beverage, music and dancing in the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park.

Many delegations from countries represented here got together on what they were wearing and for photos like this one of the Brazil folks.

Jamie and I collected lots of photos yesterday and have them all uploaded for you viewing/sharing pleasure. We’re collecting interviews to share with you here and on our Animal.AgWired.com website.

2015 Alltech REBELation Photo Album

Agribusiness, Alltech