USFRA Brings Food Dialogues to Dairy Forum

Jamie Johansen January 19, 2015

The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance® (USFRA®) will assemble a range of voices to discuss animal care and animal care standards during The Food Dialogues®: Dairy Forum; Animal Care and Consumers’ Emerging Expectations. The event will take place at the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) Dairy Forum from 9:30 – 11:00 a.m. ET on Wednesday, January 28, 2015 in Boca Raton, FL.

“Animal care and welfare is not only an important factor in consumers’ purchasing decisions, but it’s also of the upmost importance to America’s farmers and ranchers, food processors and retailers,” said Nancy Kavazanjian, chairperson of USFRA. “USFRA is excited to partner with IDFA to host a dialogue on this topic that is so important to the U.S. food industry.”

Food industry and animal care experts will discuss the various tools and strategies that farmers, ranchers and veterinarians use to promote animal health and a safe food supply. These animal care techniques and practices – from housing to the use of antibiotics – are increasingly important to food manufacturers and consumers as they’re making sourcing and purchasing decisions. The event’s discussion will address whether what is happening on farms and ranches across the nation is meeting consumers’ expectations.

“This important animal care session will be a great exclamation point to the Dairy Forum,” said Connie Tipton, chief executive officer of IDFA. “Having been a panelist for a previous Food Dialogues, I know how engaging these discussions are and I’m thrilled to bring this important topic to all of the dairy processors, producers, suppliers, retailers, academics and media that will be at the Dairy Forum.”

Elisabeth Leamy, a 13-time Emmy Award-winning journalist, author and Dr. Oz consumer and investigative correspondent will return to moderate the panel. Leamy also moderated The Food Dialogues: Chicago; Integrity in Food Marketing in June.

The panel will include:
– Chuck Ahlem, dairy farmer, Hilmar Jerseys, Hilmar, California
– Dr. Marcia Endres, D.V.M., Ph.D., professor of dairy science, University of Minnesota
– Bruce Feinberg, global animal health and welfare officer, McDonald’s
– Dr. Robin R. Ganzert, Ph.D., president and CEO, American Humane Association
– Jim Mulhern, president and CEO, National Milk Producers Federation
– Mike Reidy, senior vice president, corporate affairs, Leprino Foods Company

The panel is open to all registered attendees of the Dairy Forum and will also be available online. To register for the live stream, go to Food Dialogues: Dairy Forum.

Ag Groups, Dairy, USFRA

Consumer Electronics Offer Glimpse into Ag Tech

Chuck Zimmerman January 19, 2015

This ZimmCast is going to be another focus on the AgNerd Cloud. It’s just been working that way lately.

I did not attend the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas but via Twitter I met John Shutske, Associate Dean for Extension and Outreach Programs in the University of Wisconsin’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences who was attending. John agreed to share some of his observations of the events he attended during last week’s show so that’s what we’re talking about in this week’s program.

John says he attended a pre-CES event focused on improvements in broadband especially for the rural market. It was there that he had an “ah-ha” moment when they talked about how quickly the new 5G mobile system will be in place which will offer significant speed and ability to transfer much more data for different types of applications. The system is expected to be fully employed by 2020 with the expectation that we’ll see 1000 times the mobile date being transmitted by more than 100 times more connected devices. These won’t just be phones and tablets but sensors, IP cameras and more.

At CES John says technology was organized into different “marketplaces” which aggregated types of technology. An example was one focused on the smart home. But in looking at the technology on display it was easy to image the smart farm. Besides managing energy use and security John saw technology that can tell what has been put into your refrigerator and what has been removed from it! No more hiding that late night snack I guess.

There was a wearable device marketplace that not only included gadgets like Google Glass but also featured applications that can collect and interpret what’s going on around your body. Think of that in terms of applications to animal health and well being.

CES is a big show with an estimated attendance this year of 170,000 people. John learned that there are currently an estimated 1.9 trillion devices connected to the internet. By 2020 that is estimated to be more than 7 trillion.

Drones and other autonomous and mobile devices were also showcased. John talks about some of the advancements being created in these devices. One example he looked at was a UAV device that can use solar power to enhance battery life including landing pads where the device can land and charge by itself. Additionally, another one showcased remote control software to control your UAV via any device connected to the internet.

There were a number of automobile companies displaying vehicles using technology developed in partnership with other types of technology companies and this should continue in the ag sector as well. 3-D printing, including food products was also on display.

Listen in on our conversation to hear more of what John found during his experience in Las Vegas this year and what some of it can mean for agriculture.

You can listen to this week’s program here: AgNerd Cloud - Consumer Electronics and Agriculture

Next year’s show will be January 6-9 in Las Vegas in case you’re wondering.

Subscribe to the ZimmCast podcast here.

The ZimmCast

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Apps, Audio, Education, Internet, Precision Agriculture, Technology, ZimmCast

Feeding America – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service

Jamie Johansen January 19, 2015

To honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the anniversary of his birthday is commemorated as the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, which falls on January 19 this year.

All across the nation, millions of Americans will help aid their neighbors and their communities by volunteering.

Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization, is asking people to volunteer at a local food bank, food pantry or soup kitchen as their way of honoring the legacy of Dr. King.

The organization is a network of 200 food banks that provide food and groceries to 46 million Americans each year.

“Our recent study, Hunger in America 2014, found that in a typical month, more than 2 million people contribute more than 8.4 million volunteer hours to Feeding America food banks and the agencies they serve. This is a great testament to the generosity of the American people. Our volunteers are the reason we are able to provide people in need across the nation with more than 77 million pounds of food every week,” said Bob Aiken, CEO of Feeding America. “It is a daunting challenge that would simply not be possible without our volunteers.”

Ag Groups

Trait Deregulation Clears Way for BASF Engenia™

Cindy Zimmerman January 19, 2015

We’ve been talking with BASF about Engenia™ herbicide since 2012 and now that USDA has deregulated a dicamba-tolerant trait for cotton and soybeans the path has been cleared for the exciting new product to be offered for growers this year.

According to our friends with BASF, a registration decision for Engenia herbicide to control broadleaf weeds post-emergence in dicamba-tolerant cotton and soybeans is expected to follow this deregulation shortly.

“BASF has leveraged more than 50 years of technical expertise with dicamba to develop Engenia herbicide,” said Scott Kay, Vice President, U.S. Crop Protection, BASF. “Engenia herbicide will provide a much-needed new tool to help growers manage weed problems in dicamba-tolerant cotton and soybeans.”

In more than 300 research trials completed in 2011 and 2012, Engenia herbicide demonstrated effective control of resistant broadleaf weeds. When Engenia herbicide is used with other BASF residual herbicides, it has shown more than 95 percent control of both grasses and problematic broadleaf weeds.

As a key part of the dicamba-tolerant cropping system, Engenia herbicide will be used to help protect yield potential and manage increasingly complex weed challenges. According to 2012 field research trials, Engenia herbicide has been shown more effective than 2,4-D on key broadleaf weeds, such as Palmer amaranth, waterhemp, marestail and common and giant ragweed, and provides up to two weeks of soil residual activity to control weeds before they emerge.

Read more from BASF.

Agribusiness, BASF, Crop Protection, weed management

Andersons’ New Campaign Focuses on Diversity

John Davis January 19, 2015

Grain, ethanol, and plant nutrient company The Andersons is emphasizing the diversity it brings to agribusiness. This news release from the Ohio-based company says its new brand campaign “And Beyond” includes a refresh to the corporate website www.andersonsinc.com and associated promotional materials.

“The ‘And Beyond’ campaign builds on the equity of the previous ‘And’ theme that we’ve had in place for about six years,” says Tom Waggoner, Vice President, Marketing and Operations Services. “This campaign provides a fresh perspective that keeps our brand moving forward. The theme highlights that The Andersons goes beyond the ordinary with our market expertise and beyond expectations in the strong relationships we form.”

With various business groups operating in 21 states across the country, the “And Beyond” campaign reflects The Andersons as a diversified, yet united, company. Although serving diversified industries, the business groups share a strong commitment to grow enduring relationships through extraordinary service, a deep knowledge of the market and a knack for finding new ways to add value as the company has done for nearly 70 years.

In addition to the ag sector businesses, The Andersons is also involved in railcar leasing, turf and cob products, and consumer retailing.

Agribusiness, Ethanol

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes January 16, 2015

Swanson Russell welcomes four new account service team members: Megan Bollish, Erin Prohaska, Jessica Lightner and Belinda Wright.
broadhead, a leading marketing communications agency connecting the interests of urban and rural consumers, has announced the promotions of six members of its team.
There will be a Peanut Revenue Insurance Workshop following the Georgia Peanut Farm Show, Thurs., Jan. 15, 2015, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the Small Auditorium at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center.
Marrone Bio Innovations, Inc., announced that James Iademarco has joined the company as its President and Chief Operating Officer.

Zimfo Bytes

BASF Wins Two ‘Product of the Year’ Awards

Jamie Johansen January 16, 2015

BASF was recognized as the winner of two ‘Product of the Year’ awards at the 23rd Annual National No-Tillage Conference in Cincinnati. Headline AMP® fungicide won for the ninth consecutive time in the fungicides category, and Sharpen® herbicide won for the second consecutive time in the herbicides category.

“Headline AMP fungicide continues to be the fungicide market leader for corn growers, delivering more bushels per acre than any other product on the market,” said Caren Schmidt, Ph.D., Technical Marketing Manager, BASF. “Headline AMP fungicide has set the industry standard for disease control and Plant Health in corn crops.”

On-farm field trials from 2013 show Headline AMP fungicide delivers 11.7 bu/A more than untreated corn. In addition, 83 percent of the National Corn Growers Association’s (NCGA) 2013 National Yield Contest Winners used a BASF fungicide on their operation in 2013.

Sharpen herbicide drives burndown of tough weeds three-to-five times faster than 2,4-D or glyphosate – an important feature for many no-till growers.

Sharpen herbicide is powered by Kixor® herbicide technology, which features a unique chemistry that provides foliar and soil activity on today’s toughest weeds.

“An effective burndown is important for fighting resistant weeds in no-till fields,” said Mark Oostlander, Technical Market Manager, BASF. “Sharpen herbicide controls over 70 broadleaf weeds, including glyphosate-resistant weeds, and gives growers a clean start so they can stay clean throughout the season and increase yield potential.”

The No-Till Product of the Year award winners are selected each year by No-Till Farmer readers. No-till and conservation tillage growers vote for the products most valuable to their farming operation in 13 different categories, including fungicide and herbicide products of the year.

Agribusiness, BASF, Fungicide, Herbicide

Farm Bureau Supports Military Veteran Farmers

John Davis January 16, 2015

The American Farm Bureau annual meeting in San Diego featured a workshop for convention attendees on why creating effective mentorship relations for veteran farmers is so important. “Dedicated, Disciplined and Determined” highlighted some of the work of the Farmer Veteran Coalition.

According to Michael O’Gorman, executive director of the Farmer Veteran Coalition, a few years ago there were more than 40,000 groups in the U.S. with “veteran” in the name but not one committed to helping veterans in agriculture. O’Gorman said the coalition supports veterans’ freedom to farm in whatever manner they wish to pursue.

Jamie Critelli, a veteran and greenhouse farmer in New York, said most veterans are familiar with planning, which helps equip them for farming.

“It’s not easy farming,” acknowledged Critelli. “Being in the military, you face many challenges. The environment in agriculture can be equally challenging at times,” he said.

Listen to O’Gorman and Critelli talk about farmer vets here: AFBF Farmer Veteran Coalition Workshop

2015 AFBF Convention photo album

AFBF, Ag Groups, Audio

Potato Growers Select 2015 NPC Leadership

Jamie Johansen January 16, 2015

At the National Potato Council’s (NPC) 2015 Annual Meeting, held January 9-10, 2015, in Orlando, Florida, Dan Lake from Lake Seed, Inc. of Ronan, Mont., was elected to serve as NPC’s president for 2015 and to lead the council’s Executive Committee.

NPC delegates also approved Jim Tiede from American Falls, Idaho, as First Vice President and Vice President of the Legislative and Government Affairs Committee.

Additional members of the Executive Committee include: Cully Easterday of Pasco, Wash., as Vice President of the Trade Affairs Committee, and Dwayne Weyers of Center, Colo., as Vice President of the Grower and Public Relations Committee. Two new members of the Executive Committee were elected: Larry Alsum of Freisland, Wis., as Vice President of the Finance and Office Procedures Committee and Dominic LaJoie of Van Buren, Maine, as Vice President of the Environmental Affairs Committee. NPC’s 2014 president Randy Hardy of Oakley, Mont., will continue to serve on the Executive Committee as the Immediate Past President.

Ag Groups, Potato

Iowa Poultry & Egg Industry Adds New Leader

Jamie Johansen January 16, 2015

The Iowa Egg Council and Iowa Poultry Association have hired Randy Olson as executive director. Olson will navigate the state’s poultry and egg industry through a changing environment as it adjusts to new food safety standards and other requirements.

“In a national search, Randy Olson rose to the top with his strong background in agriculture and vast array of experiences to bring to the table,” said Rich Hall, a producer who serves as chairman of the Iowa Egg Council. “He’s also very personable and a capable leader. We think he will be a great fit.”

Olson most recently served as a marketing director for the U.S. Soybean Export Council. He was accountable for ensuring continued market access for U.S. soy around the world, and helping U.S. soy farmers maintain the freedom to operate. Olson’s career also includes serving as executive director of the Iowa Biodiesel Board from its inception in 2007.

Iowa is the nation’s top egg-producing state. The nonprofit egg council focuses on producer and consumer education, while the poultry association concentrates on policy and regulation.

Ag Groups, Poultry

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