ZimmComm Partner Authors Organic Report

Cindy Zimmerman

jms-californiaOur own Joanna Schroeder was the principal researcher for a recent research report published in Academics Review, “Organic Marketing Report,” findings of which she presented at the Western Plant Health Association annual meeting in Palm Desert, California.

Joanna’s research found no scientific consensus to prove the organic marketing industry’s claims that organic food is more nutritious and safer than traditional food. The report reviewed more than 200 published studies from 1990-2014 as well as sales trends and report, NGO, government and marketing group reports, presentation, websites and more.

The article found three two reasons why consumers purchased organic foods: personal health and food safety concerns and absence claims (i.e. pesticide free, no GMOs, hormone and antibiotic-free). It was also found that organic labels do not compel consumers to purchase organic products unless the label contains absence claims or related packing callouts that imply health or safety related concerns.

“In other words, fear sells,” says Joanna.

Fear-based campaigns only sell when they effectively utilize several key components:

1) The portrayed consequence of not taking action is severe but not exaggerated.
2) The audience feels that the problem is relevant to them.
3) They are told why they should care and how the issue relates to their lives.
4) When they believe the proposed solution is effective in preventing the consequence.
5) The solution is easy.Read More

Food, Organic

Global Yield Gap Unveiled at Water for Food Conference

Cindy Zimmerman

Water for food logoFinding of the Global Yield Gap and Water Productivity Atlas were unveiled this week at the sixth annual Water for Food Global Conference. The outcome of a six-year international collaborative research effort led by the Daugherty Water for Food Institute at the University of Nebraska and Wageningen University in the Netherlands, the Atlas is the first transparent, interactive and map-based web platform to estimate exploitable gaps in yield and water productivity for major food crops worldwide.

According to the Atlas, sub-Saharan Africa has the world’s largest gap in farm yields at 70-90 percent below their potential. The data show that Sub-Saharan Africa – primarily smallholder farmers practicing subsistence agriculture in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda – can potentially increase yields of existing farms by more than twofold. Other studies show that Ethiopia’s surface water and groundwater supplies could irrigate 10 times as much land than they are right now.

yield-gapThe Atlas can help farmers, policy makers, foundations and private sector organizations identify regions with the greatest potential to sustainably produce more food with strategic use of resources. The Atlas also provides a digital platform for analyzing location-specific crop production and land-use changes, as well as the potential impact of certain crops or new agriculture technologies on specific areas.

“Producing enough food to meet the demands of more than 9 billion people in 2050, while conserving natural resources and ecosystems, depends on improving crop yields on existing farm land around the world,” said Roberto Lenton, founding executive director of the Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Institute at the University of Nebraska. “The foremost use for the Atlas is to leverage data to identify opportunities to strategically increase yield and water productivity of existing cropland, rather than tilling more land that may not be ideal for sustainable crop production.”

Find out more at YieldGap.org.

Food, International, Research, Water

USDA Announces New Farm Bill Program

Cindy Zimmerman

usda-logoUSDA is making plans to launch new Farm Bill program to help provide relief to farmers impacted by severe weather, including drought.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the Actual Production History (APH) Yield Exclusion, available nationwide for farmers of select crops starting next spring, allows eligible producers who have been hit with severe weather to receive a higher approved yield on their insurance policies through the federal crop insurance program.

Spring crops eligible for APH Yield Exclusion include corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, grain sorghum, rice, barley, canola, sunflowers, peanuts, and popcorn. Nearly three-fourths of all acres and liability in the federal crop insurance program will be covered under APH Yield Exclusion, which allows farmers to exclude yields in exceptionally bad years (such as a year in which a natural disaster or other extreme weather occurs) from their production history when calculating yields used to establish their crop insurance coverage.

Secretary Vilsack and USDA Risk Management Agency administrator Brandon Willis announced the details in a call with reporters: USDA APH announcement with Vilsack and Willis

Audio, USDA

EPA Findings on Neonicotinoid Seed Treatments

Jamie Johansen

epaThe EPA released an analysis of the benefits of neonicotinoid seed treatments for insect control in soybeans. Neonicotinoid pesticides are a class of insecticides widely used on U.S. crops that EPA is reviewing with particular emphasis for their impact on pollinators. The analysis concluded that there is little or no increase in soybean yields using most neonicotinoid seed treatments when compared to using no pest control at all. A Federal Register notice inviting the public to comment on the analysis will publish in the near future.

“We have made the review of neonicotinoid pesticides a high priority,” said Jim Jones, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. “In our analysis of the economic benefits of this use we concluded that, on a national scale, U.S. soybean farmers see little or no benefit from neonicotinoid seed treatments.”

During the review of the neonicotinoids, EPA found that many scientific publications claim that treating soybean seeds has little value. Part of our assessment examined the effectiveness of these seed treatments for pest control and estimated the impacts on crop yields and quality, as well as financial losses and gains. The law requires EPA to consider the benefits of using pesticides as well as the risks.

The analysis concluded that:
– There is no increase in soybean yield using most neonicotinoid seed treatments when compared to using no pest control at all.
– Alternative insecticides applied as sprays are available and effective.
– All major alternatives are comparable in cost.
– Neonicotinoid seed treatment could provide an insurance benefit against sporadic and unpredictable insect pests, but this potential benefit is not likely to be large or widespread throughout the United States.

This analysis is an important part of the science EPA will use to move forward with the assessment of the risks and benefits under registration review for the neonicotinoid pesticides. Registration review can result in EPA discontinuing certain uses, placing limits on the pesticide registration, and requiring other label changes.

Sign up for pesticide program updates to be notified by email when the EPA opens the docket and invites comment on its analysis of the benefits of neonicotinoid seed treatments on soybeans.

Ag Groups, EPA, Seed, Soybean

Study: GMOs Could Be Global Hunger Solution

Joanna Schroeder

According to a new report, “The Future of Farming and Rise of Biotechnology” released by the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA), decreasing regulations on genetically modified crops (GMOs) could be a valuable strategy in combating global hunger.

NCPA Future of Farming and Rise of Biotech ReportNCPA Research Associate David Weisser notes that Nobel Prize winner Norman Borlaug’s use of biotechnology has been credited with saving 1 billion lives. “Placing limitations on the advancements of Borlaug and other pioneers only hurts the world’s starving population,” he stressed.

Around the globe, biotech crops have been used to increase the yield of crops used for both food and fuel. The study highlights several key biotech success stories:

  • In India, the adoption of biotech cotton has reduced both the need for pesticides and increased agricultural yields, raised the incomes of cotton farmers and farm laborers, and created a more environmentally friendly, technologically advanced agricultural economy.
  • Through the use of biotech sugar, Brazil has increased the average annual sugar yield by 20 tons per hectare. The country now produces and uses enough sugarcane ethanol to downgrade gasoline to an alternative fuel.
    88 percent of the corn grown in the United States has been altered utilizing biotechnology.

Weisser concluded, “Global hunger will only continue to increase and combating it will not be easy, yet the world is fortunate in that a wealth of research is dedicated to the advancement of farming. Through advanced research and new farming methods, hunger can be fought and conquered.”

Biotech, Food, GMO

Recruit for NAMA and Win

Jamie Johansen

namaRecruit someone you know to become a National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) member and you will be entered to win an iPad Mini.

The “Member-Get-A-Member” campaign will run from October 15 to December 10. The drawing will take place on December 11.

Simply tell your recruit to join NAMA online and add your name and company in the “Referred By” box at the bottom of the page. They can also call the NAMA office, (913) 491-6500, to become a member, just remind them to mention you as their referral.

The more members you recruit, the more your name will be entered into the drawing and the better your chances are of winning the iPad Mini.

Ag Groups, NAMA

Water in the Sunshine State

Cindy Zimmerman

Florida is the third largest state in terms of population and the 14th in agricultural production, so competition for water resources is fierce in the Sunshine State.

ctic-14-budell“Population growth is a big factor in driving water use demand and that will continue in Florida,” said Richard Budell, who is director of water policy for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). “The challenge we’ll face is that as those domestic demands grow we don’t lose sight of the fact that agriculture has to continue to have access to adequate quantities of water.”

Budell told the 2014 CTIC Conservation in Action tour last week that Florida’s 47,000 private farms account for 52% of the state’s land use but less than half of the water use. Some of the state’s most populous regions, such as Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and the counties around Tampa and Orlando, are also the most agriculturally productive. “Where that nexus occurs, it makes managing that water balance that much more difficult,” he said.

During his presentation during lunch, Budell provided lots of interesting information about Florida agricultural production and natural resources. Presentation by FDACS water policy director Rich Budell on CTIC tour

I also interviewed Rich about some of his key points and also questioned him about how the state ag department views the proposed Waters of the United States rule: Interview with Rich Budell, Florida Department of Agriculture


2014 CTIC Conservation in Action Tour Photo Album

Audio, Conservation, CTIC, Water

Pollinator Advocate of the US Award

Jamie Johansen

pollinator-partnership-logoThe Pollinator Advocate Award recognizes individuals who have contributed significantly to pollinator protection, conservation, and issue outreach resulting in increased awareness of the importance of pollinators and pollination. The 2014 Pollinator Advocate of the United States Award will be given to Julie Zahniser and The American Bee Project of Ft. Pierce, FL.

Honey bees require proper nutrition gained through a diverse and abundant diet of mixed flowers and crops to be healthy – and they need this sort of food throughout the year. When bees aren’t in pollination contracts beekeepers need to place them in areas of ample, clean (pesticide and chemical-free) forage. Unfortunately these areas are dwindling, and when they are available, they aren’t always available to beekeepers. As with native and wild bees, a lack of habitat is the leading factor impacting the health and viability of honey bees.

The American Bee Project works to solve this problem. Founded by Ft. Pierce, Florida lawyer Julie Zahniser, The American Bee Project seeks legal and legislative ways to increase the habitat that is available to bees. In Florida, where The American Bee Project was born, landowners that lease their land to cattle ranchers, citrus growers and tree farmers see significant tax benefits. Landowners that lease their land to beekeepers, however, didn’t used to see these same benefits, putting bee forage as a second, third, or even last choice in land use decisions. But The American Bee Project is successfully changing that.

Starting in her home state and moving outward, Zahniser is using existing agricultural and tax frameworks to increase feeding opportunities for bees. With uniform standards for agricultural designation in place around the country it will be easier to qualify bees as an agricultural use for the full amount of forage land used by the bees to produce honey and rebuild bee colonies. This is the ultimate goal, one bee yard at a time.

In addition to working the paper trail of local and someday national agricultural laws, the American Bee Project participates in outreach and awareness campaigns that encourage local beekeeping, sustainable agriculture, and advocacy for bee health. As a for-profit service The American Bee Project redirects funds into philanthropic programs that benefit honey bees. This holistic approach using policy and programs, supporting outreach and education, and providing financial support for pollinator conservation efforts, has gained Julie Zahniser and The American Bee Project recognition as the 2014 Pollinator Advocate of the United States.

Ag Groups, Bees

Industry Reacts to WTO COOL Decision

Cindy Zimmerman

Industry reaction to the World Trade Organization decision against the United States on the Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) law have been coming in steadily since the announcement was made earlier today.

nfu-smallNational Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson says they believe the situation can be handled by USDA. “Under the guidance of USDA, any changes to COOL to ensure full compliance with today’s decision should be able to be made administratively, while maintaining the integrity of COOL labels,” said Johnson, adding that polls show consumers support the rule. “American consumers want to know where their food comes from, and America’s family farmers and ranchers are proud to provide that information,” he said.

nppc_logo_smallNational Pork Producers Council President Howard Hill urged the Obama administration and Congress to fix the law to avoid trade retaliation from Canada and Mexico. “The United States must avoid retaliation from Canada and Mexico,” said Hill. “Retaliatory tariffs on pork would be financially devastating to U.S. pork producers.”

cool-reform-1The COOL Reform Coalition held a press call and webinar to respond to the announcement, offering reactions from a variety of groups including the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC), Corn Refiners Association, and U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

“Canada and Mexico are the two largest markets for U.S. exports,” said U.S. Chamber of Commerce Senior Vice President for International Policy John Murphy. “The disruption of these trade ties by WTO noncompliance and the resulting retaliation by our North American neighbors will have a devastating economic impact on U.S. industries including food production, agriculture, and manufacturing.”

“The retaliation list could include many products,” said NCFC president Chuck Conner. “Cheese from Wisconsin, soybeans from Minnesota, corn from Iowa, orange juice from Florida, cherries from Michigan or Oregon, and a whole range of products from almonds to wine in California.”

“USDA has not fixed this, they made it worse,” said John Bode with the Corn Refiners. “We need for Congress to fix this mess right away.”

Listen to all the comments here: COOL Reform Coalition reaction

Audio, Corn, Livestock, NPPC, Pork, Trade

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

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  • By 2050 we will need to feed 9 billion people, join the ENOUGH movement to bring awareness.
  • Swanson Russell announces the promotion of Nate Custard, Jordan Kaiser and Taryn Liess in its Lincoln office.
  • Arysta LifeScience announced that Platform Specialty Products has reached a definitive agreement with a company backed by the Permira funds to acquire Arysta LifeScience for approximately $3.51 billion, subject to regulatory approval, working capital and other adjustments.
  • Kemin Industries is selling its companion animal health line of veterinary supplements, RESOURCES™, to Garmon Corporation of Temecula, Calif.
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