USFRA Keeps Growing to Educate Consumers

Cindy Zimmerman March 17, 2015

The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance® (USFRA) recently surpassed 80 affiliates with the addition of nine new industry partners, but board members Mike Geske of Missouri would like to see that grow even higher.

“We’re all affected by this same food conversation in the United States,” said Geske during an interview at Commodity Classic. “People want to know their food is safe and produced in a sustainable manner. We have to all address that and educate the public about why it is, because if we don’t, they’ll dictate how we’re able to farm in the future. And we don’t need rules based on wrong ‘facts.'”

Geske, who represents the National Corn Growers on the USFRA board, says the alliance has grown rapidly since it began less than five years ago. “It just kind of exploded because so many groups understand the need, but we need more.”

More affiliate groups and companies would help USFRA get the facts out to consumers through efforts such as the Food Dialogies, the movie “Farmland,” and the Faces of Farming program.

Listen to my interview with Mike here: Interview with Mike Geske, USFRA board member

2015 Commodity Classic Photo Album

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Coverage of Commodity Classic sponsored by Propane Education and Research Council

Audio, Commodity Classic, USFRA

Ag Secretary and EPA Chief at NFU

Cindy Zimmerman March 17, 2015

The heads of both the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency spoke to the National Farmers Union (NFU) convention in Wichita Monday.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced $97 million in programs to support the continued development of farmers markets, farm to school efforts and rural economies and will also expand risk management tools for specialty crops and limited-resource farmers. “Increasing market opportunities for local food producers is a sound investment in America’s rural economies, while also increasing access to healthy food for our nation’s families,” said Vilsack.

Vilsack stressed his continued support for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). “We need to make sure Congress doesn’t do anything to damage it or repeal it or make it difficult to use. We need to be advocates, spokespeople for this industry. We need to go out and tell folks this is the right thing to do,” he said.

EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy admitted that her agency was “in the hot seat” over both the RFS and the Waters of the United States proposal released last year.

“I really wish we had done a better job of rolling out the clean water rule,” she said, adding that she was concerned they “weren’t crystal clear not only about what we intended to do but also what we weren’t intending to do.”

On the subject of ditches, she said that EPA needs to make the definitions clearer. “Most farm ditches were never covered before, and they won’t be in this new rule,” she promised.

Listen to McCarthy’s speech here, courtesy of Ken Rahjes, AgView.net. EPA Chief Gina McCarthy at 2015 NFU Convention

Audio, EPA, USDA

Senators Call for Dietary Comment Extension

John Davis March 17, 2015

A bipartisan group of senators have asked for a 30-day extension of the public comment period for the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s (DGAC) Scientific Report. Senate Ag Committee chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kansas, and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions chair Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, joined their respective committees’ ranking members, Debbie Stabenow, D-Michigan, and Patty Murray, D-Washington, in sending a letter requesting the extension to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and to U.S. Secretary of Health & Human Services (HHS) Sylvia Burwell.

In February, the DGAC sent the nearly 600-page report to the Secretaries. The report is a recommendation to the agencies as they develop the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which will be finalized later this year.

Both agencies will examine the report and public comments before jointly releasing the official 2015 Dietary Guidelines, which will provide nutrition recommendations for a variety of government programs, from school lunch programs to food allowances for U.S. military troops. The current 45-day public comment period ends on April 8. The Guidelines are reauthorized every five years.

The following is the text of the letter sent March 16, 2015:

We write to you today regarding the 2015 Scientific Report of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. As the Dietary Guidelines for Americans inform nutritional policy in federal programs and public recommendations for a healthy diet, it is vital that the Dietary Guidelines are based on sound science and remain independent, unbiased, and nonpolitical in nature.

This advisory committee report included recommendations that are notably different from previous guidelines, which will require additional time to develop thoughtful feedback.

To ensure both agencies have the benefit of hearing from the full range of stakeholders, we request a 30 day extension of the comment period, from 45 days to 75 days. The additional time would allow constituents to review the report more carefully before submitting questions and comments, as well as to provide well-crafted, constructive, and thorough comments.

Agribusiness, Food, politics

March Madness to Choose the Wiener

John Davis March 17, 2015

March Madness will determine the winner of the college basketball world. Well, the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (NHDSC) will be choosing the wiener – the best hot dog in Major League Baseball. In March Madness style, the NHDSC even has a bracket to determine the champ in the classic and unique hot dog categories.

Voting will be conducted online via polls on the NHDSC Facebook page and will continue throughout the month with a winner announced on April 6th, coinciding with baseball’s opening day, the NCAA Tournament final, and the release of the annual NHDSC baseball hot dog survey, which chronicles the number of hot dogs served at major league ballparks. Last year fans ate 21.4 million hot dogs during the season.

“The variety of hot dogs at different baseball stadiums inspire as much passion as the teams themselves,” said Eric Mittenthal, NHDSC vice president of public affairs. “We’re giving fans the opportunity to decide which hot dog is truly a grand slam and should be crowned baseball hot dog champion.”

The bracket features a classics side and unique hot dog side. The classic hot dogs include many of the icons of the game including the Dodger Dog, Fenway Frank, Wrigley Field Chicago Dog, Yankees Nathans Dog, Brewers Bratwurst, Cincinnati Skyline Chili Dog, Cleveland’s Sugardale dog and the Tigers Coney Dog.

The unique hot dogs in the bracket include more recent favorites such as the Rangers Boomstick, Diamondbacks D-Bat Corn Dog, Orioles Crab Mac and Cheese Dog, Tigers Poutine Dog, Pirates Polish Hill Dog, Braves Dixie Dog, Phillies Cheesesteak Dog and Nationals DMV dog.

Hot dog fans will have a chance to win some prizes of their own, including t-shirts and their favorite franks or sausages. Check out the voting here.

Agribusiness, Food

Eggs and Kevin Bacon

Chuck Zimmerman March 16, 2015

Please don’t make puns about Kevin’s last name. He would appreciate it. I’m sure he’s also appreciating the American Egg Board for including him in their latest campaign, Wake up to Eggs with Bacon.

Nobody knows eggs better than bacon, which is why America’s egg farmers are teaming up with the most famous bacon of all, Kevin Bacon. The new marketing campaign, slated to launch March 13, is an integrated promotional effort that will bring attention to the many nutritional benefits of the Incredible Edible Egg, just in time for Easter.

“With a last name like Bacon, I’m the obvious choice, and I’m excited to be a part of the new Incredible Edible Egg campaign,” said Kevin Bacon. “I like the creativity behind the idea, and I’ve always been a big fan of eggs. They’re a nutritional powerhouse and I never get tired of them because there are so many ways you can eat them.”

The actor will be featured in a variety of online video, print, digital and social media ads throughout the next year. Grey New York is the American Egg Board’s creative agency, Starcom handles media planning and buying, and Edelman oversees PR and social media.

Ag Groups, Video

Thirsty Land Documentary in Production

Chuck Zimmerman March 16, 2015

The director of The Great American Wheat Harvest documentary is back in action with a new project called Thirsty Land.

Will there be enough water to survive? “Thirsty Land” is an exciting new documentary that tells the story of drought, its impact on agriculture, communities and the global food supply.

“The story of drought needs to be told! Our global food supply and our very survival of humans depend on clean, abundant fresh water. I want to make the audience think about it every time they take a drink of water, enjoy a shower or water their lawn,” says Weaver.

Conrad is working with the Robert B. Daugherty Water For Food Institute (DWFI) at the University of Nebraska in partnering for the production of “Thirsty Land” film. DWFI, along with the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, have provided startup sponsorship funds for the project to move ahead.

“We are very pleased to participate in this important documentary about the challenges of drought and climate change,” said Roberto Lenton, founding executive director of the Water for Food Institute. “It supports our mission by educating people about the threats, as well as the opportunities, to achieving water and food security for generations to come.”

Learn more about Thirsty Land and how you can support the project in this week’s program: Thirsty Land Documentary

Subscribe to the ZimmCast podcast here.

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Audio, Education, ZimmCast

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes March 16, 2015

ADAMA, a world leader in customer-focused agricultural solutions, announced that NIMITZ nematicide received state registration in California for use on tomatoes, peppers, okra, eggplant, cucumbers, watermelons, cantaloupe and squash.
Kenneth A. Spearman has been designated by President Barack Obama as Chairman and CEO of the Farm Credit Administration.
World Dairy Expo (WDE) is pleased to announce the addition of Nicole Smith, Communications Specialist, to their staff.
Starting March 16, beef and dairy producers can enter the “Rev It Up” My ROI Checkoff Challenge by visiting the MyBeefCheckoff Facebook page to share how the beef checkoff has impacted their operations.

Zimfo Bytes

Letter Calls for USDA, HHS to Reject Dietary Report

Jamie Johansen March 16, 2015

U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) joined 29 of her colleagues in objecting to a report on food guidelines that advises Americans to decrease consumption of red meat. In a letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell, the senators condemn the report’s conclusions, which ignore relevant scientific evidence on nutrition. Senator Fischer released the following statement regarding the report this afternoon:

“The recommendations in this report are misguided and if enacted, could have a devastating effect on Nebraska’s livestock industry. Any changes to our nation’s food policies must be based on sound science and outside experts. Our ranchers, and the millions of Americans they feed, could be harmed for generations by inaccurate and unfounded reports like this.”

Every five years, USDA and HHS review the dietary guidelines for American food nutrition policy. Last month, the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee – whose members are appointed by HHS and USDA – submitted their report recommending that Americans eat less red meat and consume more fruits and vegetables. Their recommendations were based on environmental impact concerns, not science. HHS and USDA use this report as the foundation to develop standards for national nutrition policy, including the school lunch program.

The senators’ letter, led by Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune (R-S.D.), also requests an extension of the 45-day comment period to ensure stakeholders have enough time to review and comment on the report’s questionable findings.

Ag Groups, Food, USDA

Monsanto Offers New Cotton Varieties for 2015 Season

Taylor Truckey March 16, 2015

While at the 2015 Mid-South Farm & Gin Show, our own Chuck Zimmerman had a chance to chat with Monsanto’s Keylon Gholston, Cotton Product Manager with Monsanto, who provided insight into new cotton technologies and products that will be beneficial to growers.

Keylon was excited to further explore the 2015 varieties that Monsanto released in December; “We really want to bring increased yield and fiber quality to the market place.” Deltapine 1555 Bollgard II Roundup Ready Flex has extremely high yield potential with fiber quality that is a step above the current line-up. The second variety is Deltapine 1558 Bollguard II Flex NR, a root knot nematode resistant variety that yields well under heavy or moderate nematode pressure.

Five XtendFlex varieties have been announced for 2015 after Monsanto received deregulation of the Xtend technology; DP 1518 B2XF and DP 1522 B2XF for shorter season markets, DP 1538 B2XF & DP 1553 B2XF for mid- to full-season markets, and DP1549 for acres in West Texas and Arizona.

All varieties, five XtendFlex & two Flex, are available for the 2015 growing season. Gholston stressed optimism in the cotton industry due to genetic advancements made within the last ten years that have improved yield and efficiency, thereby increasing profitability for growers.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Keylon here: Interview with Keylon Gholston, Farm and Gin Show

Mid-South Farm & Gin Show Photo Album

Audio, Cotton, Crop Protection

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