Increasing Access to Affordable Broadband

Chuck Zimmerman March 23, 2015

The White House along with USDA held a press call to “lay out next steps to increase access to affordable high-speed broadband for all Americans.” On the call are Jeff Zients, Director of the National Economic Council and Tom Vilsack, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.

The call talks about efforts on the part of private enterprise as well as those by government to help bring access to all Americans. They pointed to a study that says that 98 percent of all Americans have access to at least 4G broadband and talked about efforts to increase wired service. New loans to private providers was also announced.

I did not get picked to ask a question but wanted to ask how they are figuring in the use of mobile phone service and internet access via personal hotspots as well as satellite service providers. I recorded today’s call on my AT&T hotspot while on a farm outside Springfield, MO which has wired service less than a mile away but cannot obtain any other service right now.

You can listen to the press call here: White House/USDA Broadband Press Call

Also announced today:

Today the President signed a new Presidential Memorandum making good on his promise in Cedar Falls to stand up a new Council singularly focused on increasing broadband investment and adoption.
Read More

Internet

Young Farmers Still Concerned About Adequate Land

John Davis March 23, 2015

A new survey shows that young farmers are still worried about getting adequate land to grow crops and raise animals. This news release from the American Farm Bureau Federation says the group’s annual outlook survey of participants in the Young Farmers & Ranchers program found that 29 percent of respondents were concerned about that issue, followed by government regulations, which was identified by 13 percent of the respondents.

“For young people who want to begin farming or ranching or expand an established farm or ranch, securing adequate land remains their top challenge,” said Jon Hegeman, AFBF’s national YF&R Committee chair and a farmer from Alabama. “Another major challenge is coping with burdensome government regulations.”

Other issues ranked as top concerns by young farmers and ranchers included the willingness of parents to turn over the reins, 10 percent; overall profitability, 10 percent; taxes and the availability of water, both 7 percent; and urbanization and the availability of ag financing, each coming in at 5 percent.

The 23rd annual YF&R survey revealed that 84 percent of those surveyed are more optimistic about farming and ranching than they were five years ago. Last year, 91 percent of those surveyed said they were more optimistic about farming compared to five years ago.

That optimism in farming also showed with 92 percent of the nation’s young farmers and ranchers say they are better off than they were five years ago, and another 91 percent considering themselves lifetime farmers, while 97 percent would like to see their children follow in their footsteps.

Three-fourths of those surveyed also consider communicating with consumers a formal part of their jobs, using social media and traditional outreach methods, such as farm tours, agri-tourism and farmers’ markets, to get that done.

Ag Groups, Agribusiness

Yeutter Kicks Off UNL Trade Center Fundraiser

Cindy Zimmerman March 23, 2015

Former agriculture secretary and trade ambassador Clayton Yeutter was honored at the Agri-Pulse Ag Day event last week in Washington DC, the day after he made a $2.5 million dollar commitment to establish an international trade and finance institute at his alma mater, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL).

“We want to endow some chairs in agriculture, business and law,” said Yeutter. “What I want to do to have a lasting legacy beyond my days on this earth is to have students focus on things international.”

The endowed chairs will allow the university to hire leading faculty members in the areas of international trade and finance. One of the three chairs will lead the effort as director of the institute, with responsibility for ensuring a coordinated international focus on the teaching and research activities of all three colleges.

Chuck enjoyed getting a chance to catch up with Clayton at the Agri-Pulse event after he received a special tribute and standing ovation from those in attendance.

Interview with Clayton Yeutter

Agri-Pulse Farm to Fork Politics Photo Album

Coverage of National Ag Day Activities is sponsored by

Agri-Pulse, Audio, Trade, University

Food Tank at Bayer Ag Issues Forum

John Davis March 23, 2015

Food and social justice go hand-in-hand, and producers need to find more ways to bring balance to what is produced and how people on the producing side and the consumption side are treated. Danielle Nierenberg, President of Food Tank, an organization founded two years ago to highlight the role of food in social justice, spoke with Chuck at the Bayer CropScience 10th annual Ag Issues Forum in Phoenix. One of the first areas she said needs to be addressed is the role of women in agriculture.

“Women, unfortunately, are not getting the same access to resources as male farmers,” she said. “They make up about half of the world’s agricultural labor, and yet they don’t have access to land, credit, financial and banking services. If they did, we could lift 100-150 million people out of hunger.”

Danielle also pointed to issues for food service workers, who are underpaid, as well as the farm field laborers. She said we need to make sure these people get the respect, recognition and pay they deserve.

Another area Food tank would like to see addressed is the production of foods that Danielle said fills us up but don’t provide good nutrition. She’d like to see a move away from some of the starchy crops and better investment and production of foods such as fruits, vegetables and even crops, such as sweet potatoes, millet and sorghum, to add more diversity to the food system.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Danielle here: Danielle Nierenberg, President of Food Tank

2015 Ag Issues Forum Photo Album

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Audio, Bayer

Reaching Out to Millennials Starts Locally

John Davis March 23, 2015

Millennials have a lot of questions and concerns about agriculture, and it’s up to their age counterparts to help explain what modern farming is all about. One of the great “ag-vocates” for today’s farmers has been the Peterson brothers, whose YouTube video parodies of pop songs have reached millions in a fun way. Greg Peterson, who sat on the Millennial Perspectives on Food, Farming and Nutrition panel at the Bayer CropScience 10th annual Ag Issues Forum in Phoenix, said you don’t have to be a YouTube sensation to make a difference; just start with people you know locally.

“That’s a simple way you can get started,” he said. “It’s great to have goals of reaching millions of people, but you can’t get to that point until you start smaller. For people who are overwhelmed by the thought of finding all these new different ways to advocate – just start simple, influence the people around you. That counts, too.”

Greg admitted that he and his brothers kind of just play it by ear when doing their YouTube ag-vocacy, and they don’t want to branch into what can be the false drama of a reality TV show. He added that it’s important for farmers to keep up on the technologies that will help them reach more people with the message of modern production agriculture.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Greg here: Greg Peterson

2015 Ag Issues Forum Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Bayer

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes March 20, 2015

Arm & Hammer Animal Nutrition has announced several new additions to its leadership, marketing and sales teams, as well as new roles for current team members.
The 2015 Midwest Regional Workshop co-hosted by American Agricultural Editors’ Association & Livestock Publications Council will be held Monday, May 4 and Tuesday, May 5 in Omaha, Nebraska.
Kubota Tractor Corporation announced the launch of “Geared To Give,” a new program in partnership with the Farmer Veteran Coalition that will provide financial support and donated Kubota equipment to U.S. military veterans pursuing a future in farming.
Valent U.S.A. Corporation announced the national launch of “Relentless As You,” a contest that aims to recognize the relentless spirit of the American Farmer and growers who go above and beyond in their communities and farming operations.

Zimfo Bytes

Osborn Barr Hires Brian Deverman

Talia Goes March 20, 2015

In support of the mission to be ag and rural America’s greatest advocate, St. Louis-based agricultural marketing and communications company Osborn Barr (O+B) is expanding its practice groups in 2015, which are focused on fostering specialized expertise, in a more consistent manner to enhance growth with current and prospective clients.

To lead the newly created Crops & Agronomy Practice Group, O+B has hired Brian Deverman to spearhead strategic offerings of the team as well as aid in new business development. Deverman’s roots—growing up on a grain farm near Greenview, Illinois, and sixteen years of ag marketing experience at DuPont Pioneer, Monsanto and Syngenta—will add substantial value to the ideation and strategic planning for the company’s accounts.

“Osborn Barr is focused on the agricultural industry and the rural landscape in which we conduct business and live our lives,” said Michael Turley, Partner and CEO of Osborn Barr. “Brian is a farmer and possesses agronomic expertise and marketing acumen. It’s high-stakes time for everyone in our industry; Brian allows us to raise our game for our clients.”

Advertising, Agribusiness, Marketing

Undersecretary Michael Scuse Addresses Ag Day

Chuck Zimmerman March 20, 2015

The annual Celebration of Agriculture dinner at the USDA was an opportunity for many agricultural leaders and students to gather and hear about the work being done by the agency. Our keynote speaker, Michael Scuse, Undersecretary for Farm & Foreign Ag Services used the opportunity to highlight many of the accomplishments and programs of USDA

The program also featured some awards as well as Emcee Orion Samuelson’s Ole & Lena jokes. The National Pork Board and National Pork Producers Council sponsored the dinner which featured a golden pineapple and Jamaican jerk marinated rack of Berkshire pork by Chef Mark Salter, Robert Morris Inn.

Listen to Michael’s speech here: Michael Scuse Speech

National Ag Day Photo Album

Coverage of National Ag Day Activities is sponsored by

Ag Day, Ag Groups, Audio, USDA

Listen to Ag Day Essay Contest Winner

Chuck Zimmerman March 19, 2015

The winner of the 2015 Ag Day Essay Contest is Theresa Seibel. During last night’s Celebration of Agriculture Dinner we heard her read that essay which focused on this year’s theme, Agriculture: Sustaining Future Generations. Theresa is pictured with Annette Degnan, marketing communications director, CHS Inc., one of this year’s essay contest sponsors.

The theme presented an opportunity for students to address how the agriculture industry is rising to the challenges of feeding a growing population. Entrants chose to either write an essay and/or create a video focusing on how today’s growers are overcoming challenges to provide a safe, stable food supply and sustain the significant role agriculture plays in everyday life.

The national written essay winner, Theresa Seibel from Roanoke, Virginia receives a $1,000 prize and travel to Washington, D.C., for recognition during the Celebration of Ag Dinner held March 18 at Whitten Patio at the USDA. During dinner, she will have the opportunity to read the winning essay as well as join with industry representatives, members of Congress, federal agency representatives, media and other friends in a festive agriculture celebration. Video essay winner, Harshin Sanjanwala from Madison, Mississippi wins a $1,000 prize. Both entries can be viewed online at www.agday.org/media/pr11.php.

The Ag Day Essay Contest is sponsored by CHS Inc., High Plains/Midwest Ag Journal, National Association of Farm Broadcasting and Penton Farm Progress Companies.

Listen to her essay here: Theresa Seibel Essay

National Ag Day Photo Album

Coverage of National Ag Day Activities is sponsored by

Ag Day, Ag Groups, Audio

Farmers Unite to Fight Organic Attack Video

Cindy Zimmerman March 19, 2015

Both conventional and organic farmers joined together last week on social media to criticize a video that uses cute kids to attack modern farming practices.

The YouTube video was produced by a group called Only Organic and features children acting out a school play singing “Old McDonald had a Farm” with lyrics about pesticides and GMOs and hormones and antibiotics.

In response to the video, a diverse group of farmers representing all types of production practices responded with one voice during an Only Organic Twitter party last week to “celebrate the video”. According to U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance CEO Randy Krotz, the farmers criticized the video for being misleading and unfair and called for an end of “farmer bashing.”

“We have farmers that grow both organic and conventional crops,” said Krotz. “It’s concerning to see people trying to demonize today’s agriculture and promote only their type of food production.”

Krotz says they are reaching out to Only Organic and food companies that support the organization to engage in dialogue rather than attacks. “Farmers and ranchers have the tools to tell their stories, even in hostile environments,” he said. “And organic and conventional farmers who respect each other are beginning to work together to make sure that truthful information gets to consumers.”

Listen to an interview with Randy about USFRA’s response to the video here: Interview with Randy Krotz, USFRA

Audio, Biotech, USFRA

Page 818 of 2,398
←
1
...
817
818
819
...
2398
→