USFRA to Participate in NY Times Event

Cindy Zimmerman

USFRAThe U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance® (USFRA®) is bringing the voices of farmers and ranchers to the New York Times “Food for Tomorrow” conference next week.

USFRA will host a breakfast and panel discussion entitled “Big Ag, Big Food: How Being Good for the Environment Is Not about Size” at 8:30 a.m. EST on Wednesday, November 12 at the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture in Pocantico Hills, NY.

“USFRA is excited to have the opportunity to add the perspectives of farmers and ranchers on our panels to this important gathering of food minds,” said Randy Krotz, chief executive officer of USFRA. “During the discussion, panelists will have the opportunity to share their point of view on the role sustainability plays in today’s production practices.” The panel will include Illinois hog producer Julie Maschhoff, California farmer Bruce Rominger, and Nebraska cattle feeder Joan Ruskamp.

The first annual New York Times Food for Tomorrow conference will explore two of the most important food challenges facing the world in the 21st century: how to feed a growing population of the world’s poor and how to reverse poor eating habits in the developed world.

Farming, Food, USFRA

What’s Your Opinion on Election Results?

Jamie Johansen

New Holland ZimmPollOur latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “Where are the best future jobs in ag?”

The 87th National FFA Convention is a wrap, but FFA members will continue to be leaders in agriculture and will soon be filling these careers in agriculture. Biosciences looks to take the lead when it comes to future jobs, but the ag community just isn’t complete without a balance of all.

Here are the poll results:

  • Communications – 11%
  • Research – 8%
  • Engineering – 10%
  • Bioscience – 26%
  • Technology – 16%
  • Farming – 0%
  • Livestock genetics – 0%
  • All of the above – 24%
  • Other – 5%

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, How do you feel about election results?

Election results are in. Some states tackled issues with big impacts on agriculture and others selected new leadership that could bring big change. We want to know how you feel about our resent election results.

ZimmPoll

Film Introduces FFA to Custom Harvesting

Cindy Zimmerman

ffa-14-weaverMembers of the National FFA Organization had a chance to learn more about the “Great American Wheat Harvest” and even get to see the documentary film or buy the DVD.

The film was showing all week last week at the Kentucky Science Center for FFA members, according to producer/director Conrad Weaver, who talked to students about it and answered their questions. “A lot of kids who grew up on farms, maybe not in the Midwest, don’t understand that there are people who travel from Texas to Montana harvesting wheat,” said Weaver, who added that there are job opportunities available there. “We have harvesters now who are begging for young people to run combines, run tractors, drive trucks and they’re having a hard time finding Americans to do that.”

Listen to Jamie’s interview with Conrad here: Interview with Conrad Weaver, Great American Wheat Harvest

87th National FFA Convention Photos

Coverage of the National FFA Convention is sponsored by
Coverage of the National FFA Convention is sponsored by FMC
Audio, FFA, Harvest, New Holland, Wheat

“Oh, The Places You’ve Been, And The Places You’ll Go!”

Melissa Sandfort

FFAToday Aunt Jeanette writes:

Future Farmers of America, Fantastic Future of America, Finest Folks Around, Fabulous Fun-loving All-Around Students – whatever you would like the acronym to stand for, the bottom line is that this group of Future Farmers of America is a reason to celebrate!

Sandy Creek is a small Class C-2 school located in south central Nebraska. Students from five communities attend this “school on the hill,” which was built in a rural setting. But don’t judge a school by its location. These students recently competed at the National FFA Convention held in Louisville, Ky. Not only did they compete, they earned the bragging rights of placing 12th in the nation in Ag Communications, 10th in the nation in Ag Sales, and an individual animal science project placed 12th in the nation! I don’t know about you, but I am impressed!

A good friend of mine accompanied the students on this trip and provided some additional information, which I found interesting. When these students compete at the state and national levels, they are competing against ALL classes of schools – most of which are much, much larger than our school. Some even have five or six ag teachers specializing in certain areas. Sandy Creek has one instructor plus the support and help of parents. That’s it. I am impressed all over again!

Not only are these students understanding the important role of agriculture in their lives, they are learning to be accountable, responsible, professional, comfortable speaking in front of crowds, and they are developing a good work ethic. Now, if you would meet these kids on the street, they would appear to be your normal, average teenagers. After all, they are our neighbors, family friends, members of the same 4-H club, fellow church-goers, and some are my former third grade students. They participate in athletics, music, and numerous other school activities in addition to FFA.

Yes, they appear average, but I think they are awesome!

(Thank you to Rita Shuck for the inside information and pictures.)

Until we walk again …

Uncategorized

Tyson Urges FFA to Tell #MyAGStory

Cindy Zimmerman

ffa-14-tyson-storyAt the 87th annual National FFA Convention last week, Tyson Foods was encouraging FFA members to share their stories via social media, using the hashtag #myAGstory.

“So much of the population of America today has no idea what life on the farm is like, they don’t understand how their food’s made,” said Tyson Foods President and CEO Donnie Smith, who was a keynote speaker at the convention. “What we’re here to do is to get these students to take back the story of agriculture and tell it pure and simple like it ought to be.”

ffa-14-tyson-smithSmith says hundreds of FFA members stopped by the Tyson booth at the convention to tell their ag story. “These kids are so prevalent on Facebook and Twitter and Instagram and all the new social media outlets … so we want them to do is get on Twitter and tell their ag story.”

He added that Tyson wants to stay connected to with youth through social media. “And we get connected to them, then we all get it … we get their passion, we get their ag stories and we get to help continue to tell those stories over and over and over again.”

Listen to Jamie’s interview with Donnie here: Interview with Donnie Smith, Tyson Foods

87th National FFA Convention Photos

Coverage of the National FFA Convention is sponsored by
Coverage of the National FFA Convention is sponsored by FMC
Audio, FFA, Poultry, Social Media

2014 Ag Exports Officially Set Record

Cindy Zimmerman

usda-logoThe U.S. Department of Agriculture has released its final total for fiscal year 2014 agricultural exports and they are indeed a new record.

The final tally was a big $152.5 billion, an increase of $11.5 billion or eight percent from last year’s record $141 billion.

“American farmers and ranchers have once again achieved another year of record exports Agricultural exports have climbed 41 percent in value over the past five years,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack of the accomplishment. “U.S. agricultural exports have increased in volume as well as in monetary value, which demonstrates an increasing global appetite for high-quality, American-grown products.”

Vilsack added that the Made in Rural America initiative, led by USDA, will continue to focus on investments in rural businesses, manufacturing, energy, water and other infrastructure development to further expand export opportunities and strengthen the nation’s economy.

Exports, USDA

Election Aftermath Thoughts

Cindy Zimmerman

NCGA-LogoThe National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) may well speak for all of America with its statement following Election Day 2014 – Time to Get to Work!

“Washington may look different come January, but fundamentally, things have not really changed,” said NCGA president Chip Bowling of Maryland. “There is no sign that the gridlock of the past few years will diminish. Like many Americans, corn farmers are frustrated that their voices go unheard and so little gets done. We welcome both new and returning Members of Congress back to Washington, and we urge them to set aside partisan politics and meet their obligation to conduct the nation’s business.”

afbf-logoAmerican Farm Bureau president Bob Stallman had a similar message. “Some will debate the meaning of the vote, but this much is clear to us at the American Farm Bureau Federation: Americans want – our farmers and ranchers need – common-sense governance and a halt to the punishing regulatory overreach that ignores the law and the courts,” said Stallman. “The nation, too, has grown weary of extremists who offer little more than disinformation and misguided ballot initiatives at the state level. Americans want elected leaders who work together to find solutions to move our country forward.”

nfu-smallOne piece of business agricultural interests would like to see the current Congress tackle in the coming lame duck session is tax extenders. National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson says there are tax breaks important to family farmers and ranchers that need to be extended before the end of the year.

“NFU will strongly pursue the extension of expiring tax provisions for small business expensing and renewable energy during the upcoming lame-duck session of congress,” said Johnson. “Family farmers and ranchers rely on these provisions that are critical to managing their business.” Johnson also noted that for well over 100 years, NFU has worked with members on both sides of the aisle and looks forward to continuing this tradition into the 114th Congress.

AFBF, NCGA, politics

Overstock.com Opens Farmers Market Section

Chuck Zimmerman

Overstock FoodOverstock.com has announced a new section within their website – Farmers Market. The company has aggressive plans to grow the new service.

This market of hand-picked products offer customers throughout the U.S. access to home delivery of seasonal, healthy food, grown and produced in their area.

“We’re integrating small farms, community-supported agriculture (CSA), and co-ops into our technology so as to allow consumers in their area to buy and arrange delivery through Overstock,” said Overstock CEO Patrick M. Byrne. “We want to streamline the farm-to-table process to provide everyone access to healthy food, delivered to their doorstep.”
According to Byrne, Overstock is currently able to serve about 20 percent of the U.S. population with farm-fresh food grown near their ZIP code, and intends to provide local delivery access of fresh, locally grown food to 70 percent of the U.S. population by the end of 2014.

Each product featured in the Farmers Market is accompanied by a biography of the farmer or specialty food purveyor who grew it, along with a look into their production processes, in order to give customers a better idea of the food they are purchasing.

Food

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

Zimfo Bytes

  • Farm Journal Media announced the creation of a ten-year, $60,000 scholarship program with the Life Science Communications (LSC) department of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) at University of Wisconsin-Madison to promote agricultural journalism as an exciting career path for students.
  • Ms. Linda M. Chimenti, who has served as the Executive Vice President of the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) since February 2013, will be retiring effective May 31, 2015 to pursue other interests and spend more time with family.
  • The National Corn Growers Association Nominating Committee is now accepting applications from members for the 2016 Corn Board.
  • Verdesian Life Sciences, LLC (Verdesian) is creating a new structure for the sales and marketing teams in order to balance current needs while keeping an eye on future possibilities is a familiar practice for most businesses.
Zimfo Bytes

Weed Management for Soybean Sustainability

John Davis

gaesserFarmers can face a series of fights these days, whether it’s fighting regulations, fighting weed resistance or fighting to preserve their land from erosion. During the recent Bayer CropScience Corn and Soybean Future Forum in Germany, Chuck spoke with Ray Gaesser, President of the American Soybean Association, about his presentation on sustainability, weed resistance and cover crops.

He said ASA focuses on policy and regulatory issues, not just in the United States, but around the world. His group aims that the policies set forth by governments are at best helping agriculture and at worst, are not hurting producers.

Ray’s talk also focused on sustainability, especially when it comes to weed management practices.

“Some of the earlier discussions we had were really about weed management and protecting the technologies we have,” he said. “We as farmers really need to be proactive and make sure to protect the technologies we have, because not having those weed management technologies is devastating.”

Another focus area for ASA is using cover crops for soil conservation. Ray said cover crops add to the other conservation tools – no till practices, terracing, etc. – at farmers’ disposal. He said not only do cover crops give an extra layer of protection when the unforeseen weather event, such as a six-inch rainfall overnight, hit, but they also do a lot for the overall soil health.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Ray here: Interview with Ray Gaesser, President of the American Soybean Association

2014 Bayer CropScience Corn & Soybean Future Forum Photos

Agribusiness, ASA, Audio, Bayer, Environment