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

A Bird In The…Bathroom Window?

Melissa Sandfort

20150610_174846Today, Aunt Jeanette writes:

Remember the bird’s nest on my antique wagon wheel I wrote about in April? Well, it has a sad ending. There was just too much activity by the shop and the mother robin deserted the nest, leaving three eggs behind. The eggs disappeared one by one and then someone finally took the nest down.

I was at Mom and Dad’s house several days ago and was telling them about what had happened. They got kind of excited (yes, our whole family gets a thrill from “the little things”!) and told me to go look in their bathroom window. I stood in their bathtub, looked out the window, and there, tucked in the corner on the window ledge was a bird’s nest! Mom and Dad said there were three eggs in the nest, but when I looked, there were five small off-white eggs with a few brown specks. My brother has since determined this is the home of a warbling vireo.

We thought the same thing would probably happen that happened to the nest on my wheel because every time the light was turned on in the bathroom, the mother flew away and scolded from a nearby tree.

Yesterday I was at Mom and Dad’s house again. Before I left for home, I thought I would go and check on the nest – just out of curiosity. Was I surprised! I saw three wiggling baby birds and two eggs that were yet to hatch!

Even though they aren’t on my wagon wheel, Mom, Dad and I all got the thrill of seeing these newly hatched babies. And that is probably even better!

Until we walk again …

Uncategorized

Corn Farmers Coalition Seeks New Opportunities

Kelly Marshall

cfc-adRiders on D.C.’s Metro have been looking at the faces of farmers for seven summers.  This summer they will likely view fragrance ads and real estate commercials, as the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority rejected the Corn Farmers Coalition‘s annual campaign.  Ads already in place were recently removed following the decision of the board to disallow all “issues and advocacy” campaigns throughout the system.  The decision is the result of a controversial political group that sought to place ads featuring a cartoon of Muhamad, an image that has been linked to a death in Texas.

“This is a disappointing development to say the least,” said Dan Nerud, a farmer from Dorchester, Nebraska and director on the Nebraska Corn Growers Association. “We think it is important to educate legislators and other thought leaders in our nation’s capital about the men and women who grow corn. The Corn Farmers Coalition simply highlights the constantly improving practices and technology that have allowed us to become the most productive farmers in the world, and to do so while making major environmental improvements.”

While the diverse ad campaign is moving forward, with digital and traditional print ads in publications like the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Politico, The Hill and Roll Call, putting the large-scale ads in heavily trafficked Metro stations around Capitol Hill has become the most recognized element of the campaign. Corn Farmers Coalition is investigating several advertising options to address the gap left by the Metro decision including placing television ads during the Sunday morning talk shows in Washington.

“This direct outreach puts a face on today’s family farmers and raises overall awareness with legislators, leaders of governmental agencies, think tanks, lobbyists and environmental groups,” said Dennis Maple, president of Indiana Corn Marketing Council and farmer from Greentown, Ind. “Awareness of the innovation, technology, and generations of accumulated knowledge represented by family farmers should be a part of our national dialogue about agriculture and food.”

Advertising, Ag Groups, Corn

Alltech REBELation Brings Together World on Food Issues

John Davis

alltech-rebelation-15-mark-lyonsThis year’s Alltech REBELation Symposium brought together a diverse audience of more than 3,000 people (10,000 if you also count the half marathon before the event}. But while there was diversity, there was a lot of similarity reflecting how the world’s consumers present that two-sided coin.

“Consumers are more diverse and more similar at the same time,” explained Alltech’s Dr. Mark Lyons. “They want safe, nutritious food, and they want to know where it comes from; they want that traceability aspect, everywhere, for different reasons. There’s also a lot of diversity in what they are looking for.”

Living and working in China for the past three years, Lyons has seen a switch in higher-end food tastes as the Chinese gain wealth and are able to see what’s available through social media channels. He said China is shifting to a consumption model, and that is opening trading opportunities for U.S. food producers to make inroads into that huge market, despite the differences from the U.S. free market model. “Manufacturing Americans selling in China is absolutely a reality today. And as their population changes, there is more of an open dialogue taking place.”

Listen to all of Chuck’s interview with Dr. Lyons here: Interview with Dr. Mark Lyons, Alltech

Don’t forget to check out photos from the event here: 2015 Alltech REBELation Photo Album

Agribusiness, Alltech, Audio, International

House Passes COOL Repeal for Meat

Cindy Zimmerman

By a vote of 300 to 131, the House of Representatives passed legislation late Wednesday to repeal Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) for beef, pork and chicken.

conaway-cool“I am thankful for the support of my colleagues today in passing this common-sense, bipartisan bill that is a necessary targeted response to avoid retaliation from Canada and Mexico,” said House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (R-TX) who introduced the bill.

While the vote was bi-partisan, the bill pitted the House Agriculture Committee chairman against ranking member Collin Peterson (D-MN) who is an ardent supporter of COOL. “This is a rush to judgement that’s not necessary because this retaliation process is going to take a while,” said Peterson during the floor debate on the bill. “My biggest problem is that this bill is premature.”

Reps. Conaway and Peterson floor comments

COOL repeal faces uncertainty in the Senate but Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS) says he will do what he can to take action before any retaliatory steps are taken. “I am continuing to take suggestions from my colleagues in the Senate for alternatives that meet our trade obligations,” said Roberts. “However, almost a month has passed since the WTO ruling was announced, and repeal remains the surest way to protect the American economy from retaliatory tariffs.”

Beef, Livestock, Pork

How Will Antibiotic Ban Impact Livestock Operations?

Jamie Johansen

New Holland ZimmPollOur latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What fuels your grill?”

My family was a little late pulling out our grill this summer, but it’s now out and we have been enjoying it thoroughly. I honestly don’t have a preference, but my husband is pretty adamant about what fuels his grill. So, it’s charcoal all the way in my household. But apparently we are the minority. Our pollers clearly like a gas grill and I was a little surprised we had no electric grillers out there.

Here are the poll results:

  • Charcoal/wood – 44%
  • Gas – 56%
  • Electric – 0%

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, How will a ban on antibiotics impact your livestock operation?

This change in federal guidelines will require many regulation modifications and a lot of label changes. The livestock industry is currently working with producers to help with his transition. We want to know how you think this ban on antibiotics will impact your operations.

ZimmPoll