EPA and USDA Heads to Keynote NFU Convention

Cindy Zimmerman March 13, 2015

Members of the National Farmers Union will hear from both Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and EPA administrator Gina McCarthy on Monday at their convention in Wichita.

NFU’s Chandler Goule says registration is open to anyone for the organization’s 113th annual meeting. “We’d love to have more people come, listen to our grassroots debate,” said Goule.

In an interview at Commodity Classic, Goule talked about the important issues NFU members will be addressing at the annual meeting, including immigration, trade, Waters of the US, the Renewable Fuel Standard, and Country of Origin Labeling. Classic15 Interview with Chandler Goule, NFU

Audio

Agri-Pulse to Kick Off Ag Day Activities

Cindy Zimmerman March 13, 2015

Agri-Pulse will be getting a head start on Ag Day activities in the nation’s capitol next week on St. Patrick’s Day with a discussion on “Farm to Fork Politics: Unleashing Innovation in Agriculture.”

“This is a terrific opportunity to learn from the people who are on the leading edge of agricultural innovation – improving crop, livestock and egg production and even growing new pharmaceuticals in crops,” notes Agri-Pulse editor Sara Wyant. “At the same time, we will explore all of the challenges they face in trying to bring new products and techniques to market.”

Sara will moderate a panel discussion featuring:
Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL) Chair of the House Committee on Agriculture’s Biotechnology, Horticulture and Research Subcommittee
Bill Horan, Farmer and Chairman, Truth About Trade & Technology
Paul Sauder, CEO, Sauder’s Eggs
David Fischhoff, Chief Scientist, Climate Corporation
Ronnie Green, Vice President, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska

The event, which will be held from 3:30 – 5 p.m. in Room 902 of the Hart Office Building, will also include a special video tribute for Ambassador and former Agriculture Secretary Clayton Yeutter.

Ag Day, Agri-Pulse

Census Bureau ICT Survey

Chuck Zimmerman March 12, 2015

The agriculture industry is included in the 2013 United States Census Bureau Information and Communication Technology Survey. No release or summary has been posted but you can find more information if you’re interested on their website.

The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Survey provides data on both noncapitalized and capitalized spending for information and communication technology equipment and computer software by U.S. nonfarm businesses with employees. Data have been collected annually beginning with data for 2003. United States Code, Title 13, authorizes this survey and makes responding mandatory; it also protects the confidentiality of respondents and the data they provide.

Find results from the 2013 Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Survey, including data at the national level on both noncapitalized and capitalized spending for information and communication technology equipment and computer software by U.S. nonfarm businesses with employees. Data are published for North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 3-digit and selected 4-digit industries.

Technology

Agri-Pulse Open Mic with NFU President

Cindy Zimmerman March 12, 2015

Agri-Pulse Open Mic this week features National Farmers Union President, Roger Johnson.

As the group prepares for their 2015 convention, Johnson shares his support for current farm bill and opposes any attempt to return to open policy debate. NFU members oppose Trade Promotion Authority for the Obama Administration, but support liberalizing trade with Cuba. Johnson and the NFU are strong supporters of Country of Origin Labeling policy and don’t believe Canadian trade retaliation is imminent. The NFU stepped away from the Beef Checkoff Enhancement Working Group and Johnson says he’s certain the NFU won’t support the current memorandum of understanding being circulated by the group.

Click here to listen to Agri-Pulse Open Mic with National Farmers Union President, Roger Johnson.

Agri-Pulse

Schmacon Inventor Ready for Retail

Chuck Zimmerman March 12, 2015

The inventor of Schmacon, Howard Bender, accepted a challenge to do better than the turkey bacon he and a friend were eating one day. So he invented “Beef’s Answer to Bacon – Schmacon.” If you attended this year’s American Farm Bureau Federation convention you might remember being able to sample it. You can read his full story here (pdf).

Smokey, sweet and outrageously good. Crispy, meaty — no, beefy to be precise — and satisfying. Schmacon™’s flavor is bold and unexpected. Maybe because it was invented in a deli. By a chef who is passionate about flavor and quality. Schmacon demands a starring role on any plate. It’s not along for the ride, it is the ride.Yet it plays nicely with burgers, bread, lettuce, sauces, turkey… you get the idea. No matter how it is enjoyed it spreads happiness, and a strong urge to eat more.

It took Howard six months to find the perfect customized cut of beef to turn into Schmacony goodness. From there he has worked to perfect the product and is currently selling it to food service clients in 10lb boxes. You can actually order those online if you want.

After many taste testings and finding his suppliers and processors Howard is now ready to make the next step to get Schmacon into our local grocery stores. He has a Kickstarter campaign going to raise money and awareness of his product. If you support him by making a donation you will receive a card among other items that you can take into your local grocery store to spread the word.

For all my friends who like to describe things with song and movie lyrics this is the real life, it’s not just fantasy.

Learn more about Schmacon in this week’s program: Schmacon the Un-Bacon

Subscribe to the ZimmCast podcast here.

The ZimmCast

sponsored by

Locally owned, globally strong.

Audio, Beef, Beef Checkoff, Food, ZimmCast

Deere Recognizes Michelin for an Excellent Year

Jamie Johansen March 12, 2015

Michelin has earned multiple prestigious recognitions from Deere & Company, the U.S. heavy-equipment manufacturer based in Moline, Ill., for its products and support that the tire maker’s operating units have delivered globally across various John Deere equipment segments.

The Michelin Group’s Agricultural and Earthmover operating units were named “Supplier of the Year” as well as a Partner-level supplier for 2014. Partner-level supplier is Deere’s highest rating for suppliers under its ongoing “Achieving Excellence” initiative.

Under Deere’s Achieving Excellence program, participating suppliers are evaluated annually in key performance categories such as quality, cost management, delivery, technical support and “wavelength,” which measures responsiveness. Deere created the program in 1991 to provide suppliers with evaluations and feedback that promote continuous improvement.

Additionally, Michelin Tweel Technologies received the John Deere “Innovation of the Year Award” for the MICHELIN® X® TWEEL® TURF™. The award is presented to a select group of suppliers that have demonstrated innovation in a product or service they provide to John Deere. Award selections are based on four factors: creativity, feasibility, collaboration and bottom-line impact. John Deere created the supplier innovation awards in 2010 to promote innovation in the company’s supply base and recognize suppliers that think creatively. In 2014, Michelin announced an exclusive partnership with John Deere to equip its ZTRAKTM 900 Series line-up of zero-turn commercial mowers with the ground-breaking MICHELIN® X® TWEEL® TURFTM as original equipment to replace a standard 24x12x12 tire.

Emmanuel Ladent, group director of Michelin’s agriculture tire division, accepted the Supplier of the Year Award on Michelin Group’s behalf during a ceremony hosted by Deere in Bettendorf, Iowa. Michelin also was represented by members from its teams in Agriculture, Earthmover and Tweel Technologies divisions. “Our business teams have worked very hard indeed to establish a spirit of mutual partnership with our associates at John Deere, which has resulted in a strong and growing relationship between our companies,” said Emmanuel Ladent.

“We are pleased to accept this honor and looking forward to the journey ahead with John Deere,” said Pete Selleck, chairman and president of Michelin North America, based in Greenville, S.C.

Agribusiness, Equipment, John Deere

Corn Yield Contest Winner Keeps Pushing

Cindy Zimmerman March 12, 2015

It got a little repetitive at the Commodity Classic corn banquet announcing the national winners of the Corn Yield Contest when Randy Dowdy of Valdosta, Georgia won six of the 18 categories.

But Dowdy did make history last year with nearly 504 bushels per acre in his irrigated plot using DEKALB DKC 62-08, and he thinks he can do even more than that. “One of the cool things we saw after analyzing SMS yield monitor data, we saw areas in the field that were much higher than that,” he said. “There’s this theoretical promise that there’s 600-800 bushel corn available through genetics, obviously we can’t control weather, but there are a lot of things we can do.”

Dowdy is a first generation farmer and his advice to other corn growers is “learn the science behind it and just push, keep pushing and keep testing things.”

Listen to my interview with Randy here: Interview with NCYC winner Randy Dowdy

Coverage of Commodity Classic sponsored by

Coverage of Commodity Classic sponsored by Propane Education and Research Council

Audio, Commodity Classic, Corn, NCGA

What Presidential Hopeful Will Be Best for Ag?

Jamie Johansen March 12, 2015

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “Should Congress grant TPA?”

As Congress still considers granting Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) to our President, we asked what you thought on the issue. It looks like an easy majority believe it should be granted, however there are still a few in agricultural circles that question it. Hopefully, we will soon have a decision from Congress.

Here are the poll results:

Yes – 75%
No – 19%
Don’t care – 6%

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, Which potential presidential candidate would be best for ag?

Earlier this week we gave you highlights from the first Iowa Ag Summit. The event featured nine possible GOP presidential candidates as they shared their opinion on agricultural issues to the national media. Of the presidential hopefuls, who do you think will be best for agriculture?

ZimmPoll

New Holland Country Store is Now Open

Jamie Johansen March 11, 2015

The new, New Holland Country Store website is now online and open for business, says Rich Wiley, Event & Merchandising Manager, New Holland Agriculture and New Holland Construction. The New Holland Country Store exclusively sells officially licensed New Holland merchandise, including apparel, toys, home décor and auto accessories.

According to Wiley, the website was recently redesigned to reflect the New Holland Country brand and provide shoppers with the digital experience of visiting a general store.

“The new store was created with New Holland enthusiasts in mind. It sells hundreds of products that help ‘true blue’ New Holland owners express their affinity with the New Holland brand,” Wiley explains.

Just as important, he says, is that the new website provides a convenient “one-stop shop” for the many New Holland products being offered by the company’s officially licensed partners.

“Before the new site was launched, our customers had to visit several sites operated by our partners and suppliers to shop for and buy New Holland merchandise. Now one site, managed by New Holland, sells the complete collection of New Holland merchandise while delivering the total New Holland Country experience,” Wiley says.

Wiley says the online store also offers monthly specials, gift certificates and free shipping on orders of $250 or more.

Agribusiness, Equipment, New Holland

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes March 11, 2015

NCBiotech’s AgBiotech Initiative is expanding the 2015 Ag Biotech Entrepreneurial Showcase to include presentations from crop biotech and animal health companies from across the greater Eastern United States.
NewLeaf Symbiotics announced the appointment of Mike McFatrich as Vice President for Business Strategy and Development.
NRGene and researchers from universities in Israel, Turkey, and Germany, are working to map the emmer wheat genome, delivering a data set larger than four human genomes.
A new statewide business incubator designed to spur agricultural innovation has received financial support from Consumers Energy.

Zimfo Bytes

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