AGree Report Calls for Food & Ag Research Reform

John Davis

AGree1A new report calls for reforms in food and ag research. AGree, a group that’s supported by leading foundations that fund food and agriculture, international development, and health and well-being, unveiled its comprehensive report on food and ag research, “Research & Innovation: Strengthening Agricultural Research,” which includes nine recommendations to strengthen the impact of public research dollars by reforming the system and also makes the case for increased research funding.

“We need to make a smart investment even smarter,” said Deborah Atwood, Executive Director of AGree. “The need to modernize our research system has long been discussed behind closed doors – now it’s time to have an open national conversation about needed changes.”

The recommendations were developed based on meetings held across the country throughout a two year period involving more than 100 people. They were further informed by five Point of View papers commissioned by AGree, and guided by the direct engagement and insight of AGree Co-Chairs and Advisors. They are:

– Scrutinize and modernize federal funding mechanisms for public research, education, and extension to foster innovation and maximize public benefits.
– Review and reset publicly-funded research priorities periodically, employing a transparent process with input from multiple stakeholders and end users to ensure that funds are focused on high-impact areas.
– Minimize duplicative efforts and unnecessary costs by assessing the existing research infrastructure and improving grant monitoring and tracking systems.
– Target public research funding to areas unlikely to be addressed by private industry.
– Increase Congressional oversight of the U.S. agricultural research enterprise.
– Make data, information, and findings from publicly-funded research accessible.
– Strengthen the role of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Chief Scientist to help ensure the U.S. continues to serve as a global leader on food and agricultural research and innovation.
– Integrate research, education, and extension activities to promote coordination across each of these three interconnected elements at the university level.
– Maintain U.S. leadership and engagement in international food and agricultural research.

The next steps for AGree include convening a diverse coalition of thought leaders to coalesce around smart, long-term changes to the public food and agricultural research enterprise.

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Research

Calling All Drone Buffs – Interdrone

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast 480Got Drone? Want Drone? Then plan to attend Interdrone! It’s Interdrone, the International Drone Conference & Expo, taking place in Las Vegas, September 9-11.

InterdroneAgWired is a media sponsor for Interdrone and I hope to attend the show to provide coverage right here and on Precision.AgWired.com. I talked with Ted Bahr, President/CEO, BZ Media, the company that is conducting the show to learn more about it.

Registration is open and a lot of people have already taken care of it. One of the interesting components of the show is a drone flying area inside for vendors to show off their products. A number of ag focused companies are on the list and precision ag is on the program. Get a full overview of the program by listening to my conversation with Ted.

Listen to my conversation with Ted in this week’s program: 2015 Interdrone Conference

Subscribe to the ZimmCast podcast here.

The ZimmCast

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Audio, ZimmCast

July 4th Cookout is Less Than $6 Per Person

Kelly Marshall

afbf summer cookoutThe American Farm Bureau reports that all your favorite cookout foods will cost you less than $6.00 per person.  If you like hot dogs, cheeseburgers, pork spare ribs, potato salad, bakes beans, lemonade and chocolate milk, you’re in luck.  The cost of of $5.58 is actually a 3-percent decrease from prices a year ago.

“Based on our survey, food prices overall appear to be fairly stable. Prices for beef have continued to increase this year, but prices for other meats are generally declining. Dairy product prices are also quite a bit lower,” said John Anderson, deputy chief economist at AFBF.

“Meat production is starting to increase substantially. Beef prices have started to stabilize but have not declined yet. On the other hand, retail pork prices have been declining all year,” Anderson continued.  “Fuel and other energy prices have also generally been lower so far this year compared to last year.  This helps keep prices down on the more processed items in the basket. Energy is an important component of the final price for these products.”

A total of 88 Farm Bureau members (volunteer shoppers) in 30 states checked retail prices for summer cookout foods at their local grocery stores for this informal survey.  The summer cookout survey is part of the Farm Bureau marketbasket series which also includes the popular annual Thanksgiving Dinner Cost Survey and two “everyday” marketbasket surveys on common food staples Americans use to prepare meals at home. A squad of Farm Bureau members across the nation checks retail prices at local grocery stores for the marketbasket surveys.

A breakdown of food costs for the last three years can be found on the AFBF website.

AFBF, Ag Groups, Food

TPA Signed With Eye Toward New Agreements

Cindy Zimmerman

tpa-obamaPresident Obama signed two trade bills passed by Congress on Monday, one authorizing Trade Promotion Authority and one renewing Trade Adjustment Assistance. The president pointed out that while the bills will help negotiations move forward on trade agreements such as the Transpacific Partnership (TPP) and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP), they are not the actual agreements.

“We still have some tough negotiation that is going to be taking place,” said Obama. “The debate on a particular provision of trade will not end with this bill signing.” President Obama signs trade bills

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, who joined the president as he signed the bills, says U.S. agriculture will benefit as trade negotiations move forward now. “This sets a framework for being able to do that,” Vilsack told USDA Radio. “And we know if it gets done, we’re going to see increased agricultural sales, increased exports, better paying jobs, and it’s certainly going to be beneficial to rural America.” Vilsack comments on trade bill signing

“President Obama’s signature today opens the door to creating new trade partnerships around the world that will drive American business forward in the international marketplace,” said American Farm Bureau Federation president Bob Stallman. “U.S. agriculture is ready for ambitious trade agreements that break down barriers to products grown and made in America, so our trading partners know we mean business.”

AFBF, Audio, Trade, USDA

American Agri-Women Present ‘Champion of Ag’ Awards

John Davis

The American Agri-Women (AAW) presented Sen. John Hoeven of North Dakota and Rep. Mike Conaway of Texas with its “Champion of Agriculture” awards. This news release from the group – the nation’s largest coalition of farm, ranch and agribusiness women – says the the award goes to outstanding members of the U.S. Congress for their steadfast courage in upholding the ideals of American agriculture to their peers.

HoevenHoeven … is a strong proponent of the ag industry and supports AAW positions on private property and water rights. He is a cosponsor of the Death Tax Repeal Act of 2015, which was introduced by Senator John Thune of South Dakota earlier this spring. This bill helps family farms thrive from generation to generation.

Hoeven serves on the Senate Agriculture Committee, the Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture and was a member of the conference committee that negotiated the final 2014 Farm Bill.

“Sen. Hoeven supports many of our legislative positions. For instance, he share our concern about the overreach of regulatory agencies, such as EPA and the ‘Waters of the U.S.’ definition of the Clean Water Act. He also supports programs that balance conservation concerns and private land use,” says AAW President Sue McCrum, who is part of a fifth generation family farm in Maine. “We respect his bipartisan approach to politics and are pleased to recognize him as a 2015 Champion of Agriculture.”

ConawayConaway serves as chair of the House Committee on Agriculture [among other key committees in the House].

“Rep. Conaway works to ensure that farmers and ranchers are supported, not hindered, by the federal government. He also works to reduce the regulatory overreach of agencies such as the EPA that adversely affects farmers’ and ranchers’ ability to produce food,” says AAW President Sue McCrum, who is part of a fifth generation family farm in Maine. “We are pleased to thank him for his support for him by recognizing him as a 2015 Champion of Agriculture.”

Past recipients include Rep. Frank Lucas of Oklahoma; Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, Rep. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Rep. Dennis Cardoza of California, Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas, Rep. Collin Peterson of Minnesota and Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma.

Ag Groups

NCBA CEO Forrest Roberts Moving On

Cindy Zimmerman

ncba-forrestAfter six years of serving as the Chief Executive Officer for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), Forrest Roberts has announced his resignation, effective July 31. Roberts is leaving NCBA to “pursue other opportunities in the cattle industry and agribusiness” but will remain with the organization until the end of July to help with the transition of staff leadership and his roles in several industry related organizations such as the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA).

“For the past 6 years it has been a privilege to serve as CEO of NCBA,” Roberts said. “While I have decided to turn a new chapter in my career, I leave NCBA with many great memories of the time I spent working with the NCBA staff, state partners, members, producer leadership and stakeholders across the global beef industry.”

“Under Forrest Roberts’ leadership NCBA membership has increased significantly, NCBA is in a solid financial position, convention attendance is at record levels and the NCBA-managed programs to build consumer demand for beef as a contractor to the beef checkoff are achieving significant results,” said NCBA President Phillip Ellis. “In addition, Roberts has strengthened industry partnerships domestically and internationally.”

NCBA Chief Operating Officer Kendal Frazier has been named interim CEO to manage the day-to-day operations, including NCBA staff, until a new CEO is identified.

Beef, NCBA

U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef Assembly

Chuck Zimmerman

U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable BeefThe U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, started in March of this year, announced today the first general assembly meeting.

When: July 14 and 15, 2015

Where: Hyatt Regency Denver at the Colorado Convention Center
650 15th St., Denver, CO 80202

Program here. Registration here.

USRSB’s mission is to advance, support and communicate continuous improvement in U.S. beef sustainability through leadership, innovation, multi-stakeholder engagement and collaboration. Utilizing the definition for sustainable beef recently released by the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB), the USRSB will develop sustainability indicators relevant to the various beef systems in the United States, as well as a means to verify sustainable progress in a transparent manner that can be shared. Similar to GRSB, the USRSB will not mandate standards or verify the performance of individual beef value chain participants.

Ag Groups, Beef, Sustainability

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

Zimfo Bytes

  • On June 16, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officially announced its long anticipated regulation to revoke the “Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS)” status of partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) – a source of artificial trans fatty acids (TFAs) – for use in food.
  • Thousands of FFA members from throughout the country are converging on Washington, D.C., this summer to analyze their personal skills and interests, develop leadership skills and create a meaningful community-service plan that will make a difference in their home communities.
  • Valent U.S.A. Corporation announced that Zeal® SC Miticide has been registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with a new liquid formulation that allows for quick mixing and easy loading.
  • Evelyn Nguleka has been elected President of the World Farmers’ Organisation, during the General Assembly in Milan, and these are her words “Farmers ensure the nutrition of the world”.
Zimfo Bytes

2015 Golden ARC Winners Announced

Kelly Marshall

2015 GoldenARC_Winner releaseThe Agricultural Relations Council (ARC) has announced its Golden ARC Awards 2015 Winners. This elite awards program added 23 Golden ARC Awards members and 18 Merit Awards recipients. For the fourth consecutive year a Golden ARC de Excellence Awards was given.

“The quality of this year’s entries again surpassed previous years’ submissions, and judges provided valuable comments and critiques for each submission to enable entrants to continue to improve their craft,” said Amy Keith McDonald, contest co-manager. “The presence of most Golden ARC Award winners at the annual meeting banquet indicates the respect ARC members hold for the competition.”

“The Golden ARC Awards Contest is unique in that it is the only award competition directed to agricultural marketing communications professionals that is not judged by our peers in agriculture,” she continued. “The competition is judged by public relations professionals who are not directly or indirectly linked to the entries.”

This year’s competition was judged by members of the Sunshine District Public Relations Society of America. “The judges focused on a number of objectives including audience analysis, creativity, execution and campaign results, especially measurability,” said Adelita Tyson, contest co-manager.

Originated in 1990, the Golden ARC Awards Contest recognizes the best and brightest in agricultural public relations, and is open to both ARC and non-ARC members. The 46 categories reflect the broad scope of contemporary public relations activities.

Osborn Barr took home the most awards, followed by Broadhead, with FLM+ taking third.

Agribusiness, ARC

Roberts Bill to Make Bonus Depreciation Permanent

John Davis

roberts-chairNew legislation could make bonus depreciation on farm equipment permanent. U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kansas) says his bill will encourage investments and economic growth by making permanent a fifty percent depreciation bonus on new equipment and property purchases. This would allow businesses to deduct half the cost of new purchases immediately, freeing up money for reinvestment to help them grow.

“This legislation will provide much needed certainty in the tax code so businesses can better plan investments that create more jobs and growth in our communities.” said Roberts. “Bonus depreciation has been extended and expired many times, and it is time we make this permanent to give businesses more predictability in an already overly complex tax code.”

The legislation amends the U.S. tax code to permanently allow businesses to deduct 50 percent of qualified purchased property immediately. Bonus depreciation was first enacted in 2002 and has been extended and allowed to expire multiple times. A permanent increase in depreciation allowances is critical to encouraging more economic growth. More generous depreciation deductions reduce the after-tax cost of investing, encouraging higher levels of investment spending by businesses.

The measure has several other components purported to encourage business investment. First, it expands the definition of qualifying property under bonus depreciation to include retail and restaurant improvements. Second, the legislation will allow businesses to claim unused Corporate Alternative Minimum Tax credits and use these credits for capital investment.

Agribusiness