Lewis Named Agribusiness Leader of the Year

Jamie Johansen March 2, 2015

The National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) has named Clint Lewis, Executive Vice President and President, U.S. Operations, Zoetis, as the 2015 Agribusiness Leader of the Year.

This award, which is NAMA’s highest honor, recognizes outstanding leadership in private, public or academic service and is conferred each year to a senior agribusiness executive who not only exemplifies excellence in agribusiness but has also made significant contributions to the industry. Now in its 15th year, the award will be presented at the Opening General Session of the 2015 Agri-Marketing Conference, “Growing Greatness,” April 16, 2015, in Kansas City, Mo.

Zoetis is the world’s largest animal health company, established when Pfizer announced that its animal health business would become an independent company. Mr. Lewis helped launch the entity and now oversees the management of the livestock (cattle, pork, and poultry) and companion animal (small animal and equine) businesses in the United States and is also responsible for leading the global genetics business.

Mr. Lewis has helped to spearhead Zoetis’ ongoing commitment to support and help advance the veterinarian and livestock producer profession to continuously raise the bar on animal health. Through funding student scholarships, internships, research fellowships and professional continuing education workshops, Zoetis does more to support the veterinarian and producer profession in the U.S. than any other company.

As a member of Zoetis’ Executive Committee and immediate past chair of the Board of Directors for the Animal Health Institute (AHI), Mr. Lewis has played a key role in helping to advance legislation to support both veterinarian and livestock producer groups and to ensure support for animal care. A member of AHI since 2007, Mr. Lewis previously served as AHI chair for the 20011-2012 term. AHI is the trade association for the animal health industry in the U.S. advocating on various issues important to the industry, including efficient and effective regulatory and approval processes by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Prior to his current position, Mr. Lewis served as president, U.S. Operations in the Pfizer Animal Health organization. He joined Pfizer Animal Health in 2007 after nearly 20 years in Pfizer’s human health operations.

Ag Groups, NAMA

#Classic15 Presidents

Cindy Zimmerman March 2, 2015

The tradition of Commodity Classic emcee Mark Mayfield interviewing the presidents of each organization continued this year.

Left to right are Mayfield, National Sorghum Producers chairman JB Stewart of Oklahoma, National Association of Wheat Growers president Paul Penner of Kansas, American Soybean Association president Wade Cowan of Texas, and National Corn Growers Association president Chip Bowling of Maryland.

Listen to the conversation here: 2015 Commodity Classic Presidents

2015 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Coverage of Commodity Classic sponsored by

Coverage of Commodity Classic sponsored by Propane Education and Research Council

ASA, Audio, Commodity Classic, Corn, NCGA, sorghum, Soybean, Wheat

GROWMARK Reports 2014 Growth

John Davis March 2, 2015

Illinois-based cooperative GROWMARK has some pretty positive news from its new 2014 annual report. The company says it had $10.2 billion in sales, delivering a return on capital of more than 12 percent and growth from almost every division within the company.

Sales in nearly every division of GROWMARK grew in 2014, with the Plant Food Division and our East Coast subsidiary, SEEDWAY, LLC breaking sales volume records. Sales in the Crop Protection Division were the second best in their history.

Since 1998, total volume of energy products has grown by just more than ten percent each year. In 2014 we exceeded that by four percent. Although we were able to meet the needs of our customers during the propane logistics challenges in the winter, we purchased a propane terminal at Canton, SD to enhance our supply chain in the future. Despite depressed prices of grain, we recorded sales of 200 million bushels and pretax income of $5 million in our
Grain Division.

GROWMARK also pointed to the selection of Jim Spradlin as the next CEO, replacing Jeff Solberg, who recently retired. Spradlin is the first CEO in five decades to have member company management experience – a tremendous attribute in leading this system.

Read the complete report here.

Agribusiness, GROWMARK

Former Ag Secretaries Urge Congress to Pass TPA

Cindy Zimmerman March 1, 2015

2012 USDA Outlook Forum

A bipartisan group of former U.S. Agriculture Secretaries, representing all past administrations since President Jimmy Carter, issued an open letter on Friday urging Congress to pass Trade Promotion Authority (TPA).

The former secretaries note that TPA has been given to all previous presidents since Gerald Ford and is critical for successfully negotiating new trade partnerships that boost exports and create jobs. Congress could begin consideration of legislation to grant President Obama Trade Promotion Authority this week.

The letter was signed by Secretary Ed Schafer (2008–2009); Secretary Mike Johanns (2005–2007); Secretary Ann Veneman (2001–2005); Secretary Dan Glickman (1995–2001); Secretary Mike Espy (1993–1994); Secretary Clayton K. Yeutter (1989–1991); Secretary John R. Block (1981–1986); and Secretary Robert Bergland (1977–1981). Veneman, who served in the George W. Bush Administration, and Glickman, who served under President Clinton, took part in a media conference call with current Secretary Tom Vilsack on Friday just prior to his appearance at the 2015 Commodity Classic to announce new bipartisan efforts to expand trade and boost agricultural exports.

Pictured in this photo from USDA at the 2012 Outlook Forum:
Top row: Yeutter, Glickman, Espy, Block
Bottom row: Johanns, Vilsack, Veneman, Schafer

Exports, Trade, USDA

Mid-South Farm & Gin Show Rocking

Chuck Zimmerman February 28, 2015

The Mid-South Farm & Gin Show is in full swing on day two here in Memphis. This is the last stop on the agriblogging highway for me this week. It’s back to ZimmComm World Headquarters tonight.

Right off the bat this morning I ran into Tim Price, Show Manager. This is the 63rd show and with all the weather issues in the region lately there’s no better place for mid-south farmers to be. There have been some years of prosperity followed by some anxiety now as commodity prices have been falling so Tim says this is the place for farmers to be to get the latest in “technology, innovation, efficiency.”

The show is once again full and I’m sure there was also some anxiety getting all this big equipment in here earlier this week with the negative weather. But that weather has cleared up and it’s a very busy morning here.

The show has a lot of family emphasis as I noticed last year. There are lots of strollers here with a couple generations of family following along. Tim can tell you the show story so I’m going to let you listen in to our conversation.

Listen to my interview with Tim here: Interview with Tim Price, Farm and Gin Show

Mid-South Farm & Gin Show Photo Album

I have lots more to share from this year’s show so look to AgWired next week!

Coverage of the Mid-South Farm & Gin Show is sponsored by

Audio, Cotton, Farm Shows

Nebraska Grower Leader and New Holland

Chuck Zimmerman February 28, 2015

While I was attending Commodity Classic this week I ran into Greg Anderson, Nebraska soybean grower and USB board member. Greg was in the New Holland booth looking at some new equipment so I asked him to talk with me about his experience with their products.

He says that prior to high school he remembers using equipment of a different color but he and his family changed to blue. Greg’s family farm goes back five generations! He loves New Holland reliability, performance and fuel efficiency, “New Holland is really on the cutting edge of technology and really the leader in developing these new engines and coming forth with engines that are going to be the engines of the future which are going to be environmentally friendly but yet efficient and powerful to perform the job for the American farmer.” Greg also talks about what he sees coming this year for soybean growers.

Listen to my interview with Greg here: Interview with Greg Anderson

You will find all the ZimmComm team photos from Classic here: 2015 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Coverage of Commodity Classic sponsored by

Agribusiness, Audio, Commodity Classic, New Holland

Astronaut Stresses Need for Science at Bayer Forum

Cindy Zimmerman February 28, 2015

Among her many accomplishments Dr. Mae Carol Jemison is a dancer, a doctor, an actress, an astronaut and a strong advocate for “Making Science Make Sense.” She’s done more in her life so far than most of us even think about doing!

Jemison talked to the Bayer CropScience 10th annual Ag Issues Forum on Tuesday about why scientific literacy is critical to the future of farming, but also offered a great motivational message, especially for young women.

“I was raised by parents who recognized the importance of imagination and moving forward,” she said. “I always assumed that I would go into space. It wasn’t a dream. It was a reality.”

Jemison stressed the importance of making science interesting to kids. “We’ve always used the sky to plant, grow and innovate. Science matters,” said Jemison. “Science literacy applies to almost everything we do.”

Dr. Mae Carol Jemison, #AIF2015 remarks Interview with Dr. Mae Carol Jemison, Making Science Make Sense

2015 Ag Issues Forum Photo Album

Audio, Bayer

Sec. Vilsack Addresses 2015 Commodity Classic

Taylor Truckey February 27, 2015

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack spoke to over 7000 agricultural producers and industry members during his 6th appearance at Commodity Classic on Friday. Sec. Vilsack began by stating that he “was in the presence of greatness” and went on to thank farmers for all that they do on a daily basis. He also thanked farmers for their work on the Farm Bill when it came to grassroots support and involvement in motivating legislation.

Vilsack then addressed concerns surrounding the Farm Bill and announced a one-time extension by the USDA for producers to reallocate base acres and update yields for 2014 Farm Bill programs ARC and PLC. The final day to update information is now March 31, 2015. For more information, growers can contact local FSA offices.

Secretary Vilsack went on to discuss trade agreements and concerns surrounding TPA and TPP. “Trade is important for stability, income, and for jobs.” he says. “We’re currently negotiating with countries in Asia to extend our trading opportunities to lower tariffs, to improve standards, to improve stability and decision-making based on science and rules.” Vilsack stressed the importance “…for the USA to balance the Chinese influence in Asia, ensure that agreements have high standards that allow us a level playing field, and allow us to compete effectively and fairly in this emerging and great market opportunity.”

Sec. Vilsack ended the trade conversation by delivering a call to action to Commodity Classic attendees: “I’m asking you today to get engaged, to help us convince this country that it’s in our economic and national security interests to get these trade agreements passed.”

He was met with applause when he went on to address water conservation concerns, “American farmers have done an amazing job with stewardship, they have cared deeply about the land, they know the condition of every acre of soil they farm. They understand and appreciate the impact and importance of water better than anyone else because their livelihood depends on that soil and that water.” Vilsack referenced the number of producers engaged in conservation programs, the acres enrolled, and knowledge and commitment that producers have to taking care of the land.

Secretary Vilsack closed by addressing RFS: “There is an opportunity for us here to send an amazing message for corn production and to highlight the greatness of American agriculture. We need to work together to embrace higher blends of fuel.”

Listen to Secretary Vilsack’s complete remarks and press conference here: Vilsack Addresses Commodity Classic Vilsack Press Conference

2015 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Coverage of Commodity Classic sponsored by

Agribusiness, Commodity Classic, Corn, NCGA, sorghum, Soybean, Trade, USDA, Wheat

Commodity Classic Groups Meet the Press

Cindy Zimmerman February 27, 2015

Trade, taxes, biotechnology, farm policy and government regulations are the main issues of concern to the commodity organizations who make up the Commodity Classic. Leadership of the American Soybean Association (ASA), National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG), and National Sorghum Producers (NSP) all held press conferences Thursday to talk about their top priorities.

Under the category of biotech, ASA president Wade Cowan of Texas says they plan to promote a national certified non-GMO label for consumers who want to know. “It doesn’t help consumers if they have a label that says from one tenth to 100% is GMO – 99% of things on the shelf would have a GMO label,” he said.

ASA chairman Ray Gaesser got into more details about their ideas on GMO labeling and first Vice president Ray Wilkins discussed the organizations trade priorities. Classic ASA press conference

NCGA president Chip Bowling also talked about biotechnology and trade issues. “We will fight to remove trade barriers and expand overseas markets for US corn. We will support trade promotion authority legislation and normalization of trade with Cuba, a market with great potential for US corn and corn products.”
Classic NCGA press conference

The new president of NAWG is Brett Blankenship of Washington who stressed the importance of trade to wheat farmers particularly in his region of the country. “I farm in the Pacific Northwest and the PNW states are trade dependent, and the percentage of wheat exported out of the PNW is closer to 90% of production,” he said, compared to the 50% average nationwide. “The Pacific Rim countries are vital.”

Classic NAWG press conference

National Sorghum Producers discussed the increased demand for sorghum in export and food markets; export markets represent 52% of the total market share for sorghum. NSP and Sorghum Check-off representatives stressed the importance of increasing sorghum acres to fulfill demand, and the opportunities that creates for growers. Speaking on behalf of the NSP board, CEO Tim Lust says “The demand today far exceeds the supply. From a checkoff standpoint, our goal is to continue to create these opportunities.” Sorghum usage in today’s food market is also a rapid growth area for the sorghum industry.
Classic NSP press conference

2015 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Coverage of Commodity Classic sponsored by

ASA, Audio, Commodity Classic, Corn, NCGA, sorghum, Soybean, Wheat

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes February 27, 2015

David Korbelik has joined Beck Ag as Director of Business Development.
The winner of the American Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Collegiate Discussion Meet announced at the American Farm Bureau Federation FUSION Conference in Nashville earlier this month is Levy Randolph of California.
A group of 10 outstanding young farm and ranch leaders was honored by the American Farm Bureau Federation as graduates of the organization’s seventh Partners in Agricultural Leadership class.
Syngenta introduced the Enogen Value Tracker, a new tool for Enogen® corn growers designed to simplify grain tracking.

Zimfo Bytes

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