ARC Reinstates Ag Comm Scholarship

Jamie Johansen

arc-logo1The Agricultural Relations Council (ARC) is pleased to announce it is reinstating its scholarship program for college students studying ag communications. The organization, through its foundation, will grant one, $1,500 scholarship for the 2015-2016 school year.

ARC conducted a scholarship program up until about 10 years ago. Through the financial contributions of recent Hall of Fame recipients Richard Howell and Gary Myers, along with pledges from several others in the organization, ARC will now award its scholarship in the spring.

In the next couple years we hope to reinstate our internship program as well. A career in public relations can be satisfying and rewarding. Scholarships and internships are ways to show college students the value of pursuing jobs in this area.”

Notices were sent to universities and colleges in October & January announcing the program. Students will have until March 1, 2015, to submit their applications. Among those contacted will be Ag Communicators of Tomorrow (ACT) students through its state chapters.

Ag Groups, ARC, Education

Farm Foundation Forum Topic is Ag Research

John Davis

farmfoundationlogo3Farm Foundation is sponsoring another one of its conversations on topics affecting agriculture. The next free forum, “Tools to Fund Agricultural Research,” will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 28, at the National Press Club in Washington D.C., with a live audiocast also available free of charge for those who can’t be there in person.

For more than a decade, constraints on state and federal budgets have resulted in reductions in public funding of agricultural research. Funding for basic research has declined, limiting the ability of scientists to explore new and interconnected areas of study. The decline in public funding has also changed the dynamic of private funding, as companies step in to fund work being done at public institutions. Cutbacks in research investments also slow the pipeline of new information and technologies needed to sustain and expand agricultural production and productivity.

Panel members for the Jan. 28 Forum are:

Keith Fuglie of USDA’s Economic Research Service, who will provide an overview of trends in public and private research funding, including the funding model used in Australia.

Dr. Harold Browning of the Citrus Research and Development Foundation, to discuss that industry-led research effort.

Steve Rhines of the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, who will discuss the potential role of agricultural research organizations in financing agricultural research.

Mark McKenna of the Foundation for Food and Agricultural Research, will discuss this non-profit corporation authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill to combine public funding and private donations in support of agriculture research

Registration information is available here.

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Farm Foundation, Research

‘Farmland’ Star: Perseverance Makes All the Difference

John Davis

Leighton_Cooley1One of the farmers featured in the documentary “Farmland” says being willing to step forward for agriculture can make all the difference when it comes to connecting with consumers about food and feeding their families. That thought comes from Georgia farmer Leighton Cooley.

“We take every chance that comes along to let visitors see our farm,” Cooley told Farm Bureau grassroots leaders at a luncheon during the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 96th Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show. “It was a family decision to share our story,” Cooley said. He raises chickens, beef cattle and hay.

Reaching consumers through “Farmland”, a documentary that takes an intimate look at the lives of several farmers and ranchers in their 20s, all of whom are responsible for running their farming businesses, was an opportunity Cooley “never dreamed of.” He participated in the film – “a great experience” – because he wanted to play a part in helping consumers who had never stepped foot on a farm learn about what farmers do.

Cooley was a member of AFBF’s national Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee from 2009-2010.

2015 AFBF Convention photo album

AFBF, Ag Groups, Agribusiness

Water Availability is Growing Concern

Cindy Zimmerman

A growing population, increasing environmental demands and climate change are combining to pose long-term questions for water availability, especially in the western part of the United States, and California in particular.

afbf15-wenger“I’m not an engineer, I don’t have a PhD, I’m just a farmer,” said California Farm Bureau president Paul Wenger during a workshop on water availability at the American Farm Bureau convention last week. “I’m a farmer that uses less water today and produces more crop. In California, we’ve more than doubled agricultural production on the same amount of water that we’ve used in the last 40-50 years.”

An almond and walnut grower, Wenger made the argument that agriculture is using water more efficiently than governments and urban areas. “There’s a lot of people that say the environment has to survive the way it has for millennia. No, it doesn’t,” said Wenger. “If we’re about results we can have great results.”

California Farm Bureau president Paul Wenger at AFBF convention


2015 AFBF Convention photo album

AFBF, Audio, Water

Introducing The Uganda Community Farm

Jamie Johansen

1959548_586002528156922_1741347293_nThe answer to extreme poverty in Africa could be Africa itself, if a new agricultural initiative lives up to its vision. The Uganda Community Farm (UCF) aims to create a prototype for self-sustainability within Uganda’s poor rural communities. Pursuing a comprehensive agricultural program, it intends to set a precedent for Africa’s rural poor to tread their own path out of hunger and extreme poverty.

Organic Perspectives, the Ugandan non-profit organization behind the project, has already worked with more than 2,000 small rural farmers from Kamuli and Buyende since 2007. The Uganda Community Farm anticipates reaching at least half of the 150,000 households in both Kamuli and Buyende in our first two to four years of operation, and to ultimately scale across Eastern Uganda thereafter.

Organic Perspectives most recently joined hands with celebrity chef Cat Cora’s charity “Chefs for Humanity” on a $250K crowd funding appeal for the Uganda Community Farm. The farm plans to train local farmers on organic horticulture systems that have faster/high returns, and to help the farmer’s access stable and collaborative organic marketing channels – particularly through collective marketing and an approach of Community Supported Agriculture.

UCF Founder Anthony Kalulu explains, “By providing smallholder farmers with a practical organic farming learning centre, based on low-input, sustainable practices, we can provide these communities with the ability to feed themselves, rather than relying on short-term relief programs. What’s more, UCF shall have an organic farming practice section (a Hectare or two) entirely managed by the farmers trained here—with all sales from the section supporting local projects of the community’s own choice. The farm also hopes to become a resource center for scaling Organic Perspectives’ current conservation activities in Uganda’s deforested countryside—in a financially self sustaining manner.”

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Ag Groups, Food, International

Ag Reacts to SOTU

Cindy Zimmerman

sotu-ernstA freshman Senator from Red Oak, Iowa brought the Republican response to the president’s State of the Union address last night home to the farm.

“As a young girl, I plowed the fields of our family farm,” said Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) during her moment to represent the new Republican majority in the Senate. “We were raised to live simply, not to waste.”

Both the president and the GOP hit on many of the same themes, including trade expansion. “We should level the playing field,” said Obama. “That’s why I’m asking both parties to give me trade promotion authority to protect American workers, with strong new trade deals from Asia to Europe that aren’t just free, but are also fair.”

“Let’s tear down trade barriers in places like Europe and the Pacific,” said Ernst. “Let’s sell more of what we make and grow in America over there so we can boost manufacturing, wages and jobs right here, at home.”

“We are encouraged by Senator Ernst’s call to work together and tear down trade barriers,” said National Corn Growers Association president Chip Bowling. “Couple TPA with normalized relations with Cuba, and farmers and consumers – both here and abroad – will benefit.”

American Farm Bureau president Bob Stallman was also encouraged by the president’s strong support for TPA and expanding trade, particularly with Cuba. “Congress must pass bi-partisan TPA legislation to strengthen U.S. negotiating positions in future trade agreements,” said Stallman. “We strongly support President Obama’s efforts to normalize trade and other relations with Cuba.”

“Soybeans are the nation’s leading farm export, and it’s critically important that Congress pass and the President sign a completed TPA package that will lay the groundwork for robust and comprehensive trade agreements,” said American Soybean Association president Wade Cowan of Texas.

On the other hand, National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson supports President Obama on reopening trade with Cuba, but opposes massive free trade agreements being considered with Asia and Europe. “Free trade agreements are not only exporting American jobs, they are contributing to an increasing trade deficit that has become a major drag on the economy,” he said. “The US government needs to clearly direct our trade negotiators to conclude trade agreements that will erase our trade deficit and lead to more balanced trade in the future.”

AFBF, ASA, NCGA

NBB’s Joe Jobe Says “Take the RFS Back in 2015”

Chuck Zimmerman

Joe JobeTalking about how much the truth matters and calling for cooperation from the petroleum industry Joe Jobe, CEO, National Biodiesel Board, got attendees fired up this morning during his opening general session speech. He received a standing ovation at the end of the speech when he loudly proclaimed:

2015 is the year we get back to the future of this program. Back to the future of this industry and this country. We are the ones on the right side of history, and we have a powerful force on our side. The truth. So rise up with me people. Rise up and tell our story. Rise up and take the RFS back in 2015.

Only by diversifying the transportation fuels market and providing competition to crude oil can the U.S. truly achieve energy security, he explained.

“The RFS is a good policy – it is pro-competitive, pro-consumer, free-market capitalist policy,” Jobe said. And, “2015 was intended to be a turning point for the RFS,” he said. “For the first seven years, conventional biofuel was designed to lead the growth in volumes until 2015 where conventional biofuel is statutorily capped at 15 billion gallons. From 2015 on, advanced biofuels are intended to lead the growth of the program. And so far, biomass-based diesel has emerged as the only domestically-produced, fully commercialized advanced biofuel.”

You can listen to Joe’s full speech here: Joe Jobe Speech

2015 National Biodiesel Conference Photo Album

Audio, Biodiesel, Biofuels, National Biodiesel Conference

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

Zimfo Bytes

  • The National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) has introduced the 2015 Executive Committee members.
  • Six western retail distributors and United Suppliers, Inc., are announcing the pending formation of Aligned Ag Distributors LLC, a joint venture distribution company.
  • Meredith Agrimedia is pleased to introduce Tyler Smith as a new National Sales Account Executive.
  • Select Sires Inc. was formed 50 years ago when four farmer-owned cooperatives joined forces to offer a wider variety of genetic options to their members and improve efficiencies.
Zimfo Bytes

Veteran Ag Journalist Joins Agri-Pulse Team

Jamie Johansen

EdMaixner copyAgri-Pulse is pleased to announce that award-winning veteran agricultural journalist Ed Maixner is a contributing editor, effective Jan. 5.

Maixner most recently served as editor of the Kiplinger Agricultural Letter and as food and agribusiness editor for other Kiplinger publications. Before joining Kiplinger, he wrote and edited for Farm Progress Companies.

Before Farm Progress, Maixner served as an associate director for Western States Foundation, a nonprofit organization devoted to bipartisan policy on western regional issues, including natural resources, environment, and agriculture. He was also a legislative assistant to former U.S. Senator Bryon Dorgan of North Dakota. Prior to serving on Dorgan’s staff, Maixner spent two decades as a journalist covering agriculture and other topics.

“It’s exciting to have Ed join us as a regular contributor, after stepping down from a distinguished career with Kiplinger’s ag newsletter,” said Sara Wyant, Agri-Pulse Editor and Publisher. “He led the Washington Bureau at Farm Progress Companies when I was vice president for editorial there. We’re pleased to have a journalist with his experience, expertise and connections contributing to Agri-Pulse.”

Maixner earned his bachelor of arts degree at North Dakota State University and a master of arts in journalism at The Ohio State University, where he was awarded a Kiplinger Fellowship in Public Affairs Reporting. He was awarded the Truth in Journalism Award from the American Corn Growers and the J.S. Russell Memorial Award from the North American Agricultural Journalists for agricultural reporting. In addition, Maixner received a first place team story award from the American Agricultural Editors Association for coverage of what the 9-11 attacks would mean for American agriculture.

Agri-Pulse, Agribusiness

FMC Partners With Emerge Application Solutions

Jamie Johansen

3RIVE3D_APPVD LOGO_™_6-4-14FMC Agricultural Solutions has partnered with Emerge Application Solutions, Owensboro, Ky., to commercialize the new 3RIVE 3D™ in-furrow crop protection delivery platform. The FMC patent-pending 3RIVE 3D technology seamlessly integrates formulation technology, application technology and active ingredients to increase the number of acres planted in a day.

“This system is streamlined for speed and efficiency. Growers can plant up to 500 acres on a single fill. There’s no need for large saddle tanks or changing tender rigs and, compared to granular products, the fully loaded unit adds minimal weight to the planter,” said Rick Kesler, FMC business services manager. “3RIVE 3D lets growers easily and efficiently cover more acres in less time while saving water, fuel and labor.”

Growers looking for a chance to see the system in person can do so at upcoming farm shows. The 3RIVE 3D system will be on display at the National Farm Machinery Show, February 11-14 in Louisville, Ky. and at Commodity Classic, February 26-28 in Phoenix, AZ.

FMC scientists used their market-leading formulation expertise to reduce the amount of water needed to deliver crop protection products to the furrow. Just 40 ounces of solution is applied per acre. The 3RIVE 3D manifold precisely mixes the right amount of product with a very low volume of water and expands the mixture up to 50 times into a three-dimensional continuous Zone of Protection delivered directly into the furrow. 3RIVE 3D products from FMC are exclusively formulated for use in the 3RIVE 3D application system and require minimal measuring and no mixing or tank agitation, thus simplifying in-field preparation.

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Agribusiness, Crop Protection, FMC