Merry Christmas from GROWMARK.
From our smiling faces to Mistle-TOES…
Your friends at GROWMARK wish you a very Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas from FarmTime
FarmTime in the Classroom and all of our employees with you and your family a safe and Merry Christmas.
We’ve been pinning some fun winter classroom activities. Follow our Christmas board.
Farm Aid Grants to Empower Family Farmers
At this time of giving, it’s nice to hear about giving back to those who feed the world. Farm Aid has given $585,700 in grants to 83 family farm, rural service and urban agriculture organizations in 36 states and the District of Columbia with the hope of strengthening family farm agriculture.
“Thanks to the generosity of supporters from across the country, today Farm Aid sends money to hardworking advocates and organizers who share Farm Aid’s mission to strengthen family farmers,” said Farm Aid President Willie Nelson. “Farm Aid grants support their work and invest in projects that build a thriving future for family farm agriculture and good food for all in both rural and urban communities.”
Farm Aid funds were invested in programs that:
– Help farm families stay on the land with legal support, business planning and financial assistance;
– Build new market opportunities for farmers and increase consumer access to good food;
– Confront corporate concentration in agriculture and ensure competitive markets;
– Advocate for fair farm policies on behalf of all family farmers;
– Inform and organize farmers and eaters around issues such as factory farms, genetically engineered (GE) food, food safety, climate change and fracking;
– Recruit and train beginning farmers and increase their access to farmland;
– Support farmer-to-farmer programs for more sustainable agricultural practices;
– Enhance access to good food in low-income communities; and
– Empower and support immigrant, refugee, and socially disadvantaged farmers and farmworkers.
“Farm Aid grantees are doing the fundamental work to grow the best possible farm and food system from the ground up,” said Farm Aid Executive Director Carolyn Mugar. “We are honored to call them our partners.”
For a complete listing of Farm Aid’s 2014 grants, visit www.farmaid.org/grants. You can also donate at www.farmaid.org.
Future of Ag Apps
In my last program the focus was on ag gadgets. This week’s the focus is more on apps. This isn’t about all different kinds of specific apps. It’s more about where we’re at with apps and what we can expect in 2015.
I had a conversation with ag app man, Aaron Hutchinson, iCropTrak. His company has been a long time sponsor of the AgWired App. Aaron thinks we’ll see some big changes in 2015 and that includes with iCropTrak itself. For one thing he says they’re going a little old school and will have a desktop product that will break some of the trends we’ve been seeing in ag application software.
Aaron thinks 2015 will be the year of the UAV in ag. He doesn’t think we’ll see many new ag software players in 2015 as much as hardware for the “internet of things.”
Listen in to my conversation with Aaron to hear more about his thoughts on the ag app industry and its outlook: Ag Apps and the New Year
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Zimfo Bytes
- DuPont Pioneer and S&W Seed Company today announced an agreement for S&W Seed Company to acquire DuPont Pioneer alfalfa germplasm, as well as alfalfa production and research facility assets for a purchase price of up to $49 million over a period of several years.
- Pinnacle Agriculture Holdings, LLC (“Pinnacle”) has successfully acquired the agronomy assets of Gerken’s Feed and Grain (“Gerken”) in Lake City, Minnesota.
- International Food and Agribusiness Management Association is pleased to announce that Johan van Rooyen, Director, Standard Bank Centre for Agribusiness Leadership & Mentorship Development at Stellenbosch University in South Africa has been selected to serve as the next IFAMA President; a term beginning in June 2015-2017.
- Syngenta announced that it has received the safety certificate for its Agrisure Viptera trait (event MIR162) from China’s regulatory authorities, formally granting import approval.
Season’s Greetings from The Produce Mom
The Produce Mom shares how to Deck the Halls with a Strawberry Tree.
What you need:
9-12″ craft foam cone
1 starfruit, sliced
5 lbs. strawberries, cleaned and trimmed
1 box toothpicks
1 – Push a toothpick into the cleaned top of the strawberry, leaving half of the toothpick exposed.
2 – Starting at the bottom, affix the strawberries to the cone by pushing the exposed side of the toothpick into the foam.
3 – Repeat steps 1 and 2 to continue building your strawberry tree.
4 – Use a toothpick to affix your starfruit on top of the tree.
5 – Glue the base to a decorative plate for a delicious centerpiece.
Wishing you and yours a happy and healthy holiday season!
xoxo,
The Produce Mom
Happy Holidays from MGEX
Happy Holidays from our friends at MGEX.
Wishing all a healthy and happy holiday season and a prosperous New year.
All the best to you, your family and your company,
Mark G. Bagan
Jesse Marie Green
Layne Carlson
James Facente
Blake Tiedeman
Zimfo Bytes
- The American Farm Bureau Federation has appointed new members to its national Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee for the 2015-2017 term beginning in March.
- Case IH recently garnered six industry awards, a testament to its commitment to innovation and deep understanding of producers’ needs.
- Mitas is planning to test the first agriculture tire made from agricultural cultivated crops.
- Cargill executives expressed support for the White House’s plan to normalize relations between the United States and Cuba.
Jon Doggett Named NCGA Executive Vice President
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) today announced the promotion of Jon Doggett to Executive Vice President, effective January 1.
Doggett has served as Vice President of Public Policy since July 2002, where he directs all aspects of NCGA efforts involving the federal government. He was also named one of Washington’s Most Influential Lobbyists by The Hill newspaper. In his new role, Doggett will lead efforts to expand NCGA’s alliances and strategic partnerships, and elevate its national profile. He will continue to manage the organization’s 10-person Washington, DC office and lead its public policy efforts.
Raised on his family’s ranch in Montana, Jon has substantial knowledge of production agriculture and more than 25 years of agricultural policy experience. Prior to joining NCGA, Doggett spent eleven years at the American Farm Bureau Federation, where he was the Bureau’s lead lobbyist on a number of public policy issues, including federal lands, climate change, land use, energy, and endangered species.
Deere to Sell Crop Insurance Business to FMH
Deere & Company has announced an agreement to sell its crop insurance business, subject to regulatory approval, to Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Company (FMH) of West Des Moines, Iowa.
The action is a result of Deere’s previously announced review of strategic options for the crop insurance business. The agreement will result in Deere selling both John Deere Insurance Company and John Deere Risk Protection, Inc., which together made up the crop insurance business unit of John Deere Financial.
“We are confident that customers of John Deere crop insurance will be well served with this action,” said Don Preusser, president, John Deere Insurance Company and John Deere Risk Protection, Inc. “Farmers Mutual Hail has provided tailored crop insurance packages to farmers for more than 120 years. We believe the success and long tenure of FMH speaks volumes about their dedication to customer service.”
The deal is expected to be closed during the first quarter of 2015.