Farm to School & Cooperative Efforts

Jamie Johansen October 13, 2014

In celebration of the United Nations’ 2014 International Year of Family Farming, this month National Farmers Union (NFU) is highlighting the importance of family farmers and local communities, as well as some of the tools available to help family farmers increase their economic footprint and clout. A great deal of emphasis is placed this month on cooperatives and farm to school efforts, as October is also both Farm to School Month and Cooperative Month.

“Family farmers are the engines that drive rural America, pumping millions of dollars into local communities as they purchase the inputs they need for their farms,” said NFU President Roger Johnson.

Johnson noted that as a result, farm output continues to rise, with market values of crops, livestock and agriculture products reaching record highs in 2012. According to the recent Census of Agriculture, 87 percent of U.S. farms are owned by families or individuals, and in 2012, there were 2.1 million farms in the U.S, with an average farm size of 418 acres. But according to that same census, those numbers of farms are falling, down more than four percent from 2007, while the average farm size has continued to grow.

“Clearly, NFU has a role to play in ensuring that family farmers remain competitive and productive in the ever-changing and increasingly competitive environment they operate in.” Johnson explained that one of the best tools available to family farmers to pool their resources and multiply both their buying and selling powers is through their involvement in farm cooperatives.

Ag Groups, Education, Farming

Talking Advanced Biofuels in Minneapolis

Chuck Zimmerman October 13, 2014

Hello from Minneapolis and the National Advanced Biofuels Conference & Expo. This is the first of two stops for me this week before heading back to ZimmComm World Headquarters.

The first panel of the conference is moderated by Tim Portz, VP of Content, BBI International. This panel, talking about “Assessing the Health of Federal Biofuels Policy and Its Long Term Prognosis,” includes Joe Jobe, National Biodiesel Board, Mike McAdams, Advanced Biofuels Association and Matt Carr, Algae Biomass Organization. I’ll have more from their comments later on DomesticFuel.com.

I spoke with Tim to get a preview of what we’ll be doing here. He says it is an interesting time for the industry with some great successes happening in the advanced biofuels category. However, the industry is still struggling with the on-going uncertainty with the RFS. He is interested to hear from industry members who will be participating on panels and talking about this topic.

You can listen to my interview with Tim to learn more about what’s going on at this year’s conference: Interview with Tim Portz

2014 National Advanced Biofuels Conference & Expo Photo Album

Coverage of The Advanced Biofuels Conference and Expo is sponsored by

Audio, Biofuels, Energy

Support Your Local Student NAMA Chapter

Chuck Zimmerman October 12, 2014

Hopefully all you members of the National Agri-Marketing Association are finding ways to support your student chapter. Here’s an example of how Florida NAMA just got involved at an event to support our students, Gator NAMA. Gator NAMA is tied in with the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Ag Econ Club. They set up a promotional booth during this weekend’s TailGATOR before the UF-LSU football game.

The booth had specially made cards to promote Gator NAMA, information about joining NAMA and our students and professionals who could make it to man the booth. The folks who attend are college alums involved in agriculture all over Florida. Florida NAMA and Gator NAMA donated a basket of Gator items to the silent auction that was held during the TailGATOR too.

You can learn more about Student NAMA and ways to support the chapters on the NAMA website. They are our future after all.

Education, NAMA, University

Cheese, Cheese & More Cheese

Jamie Johansen October 11, 2014

A gourmet breakfast was prepared for us during the media talk event at the 2014 World Dairy Expo by the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board’s executive chef, John Esser.

The meal was of course full Wisconsin cheeses. Chef Esser also prepared an omelet full of morel and leek jack cheese and a pancake packed with foenegreek gouda cheese and bacon. Another option for guests included a flatbread with a garlic and herb cream cheese spread with smoked salmon, roasted red peppers and capers. On the far side of the table was another option. John called it a Bavarian breakfast, which was a selection of meats, cheeses served on hard rolls.

“My favorite cheese depends on what I am doing. And also if I’m having a glass of wine or a beer. There are a lot of different varieties involved. Right now on this table, I really like the morel and leek jack because it is so smooth, creamy and also has those great flavors.”

I am sure I have made your mouth water just a bit as I painted a picture of our Wisconsin breakfast. If you attend any of Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board events in the future I am sure you will run into Chef John Esser and won’t walk away disappointed or hungry.

Listen to my complete interview with John here: Interview with Chef John Esser

Find all photos from the event here: 2014 World Dairy Expo Photo Album.

Coverage of World Dairy Expo is sponsored by

Ag Groups, Audio, Dairy, Food, World Dairy Expo

Innovation Will Meet Needs of America

Joanna Schroeder October 10, 2014

Dave Pesiri is the director of the Feynman Center for Innovation. He defines innovation as taking a new technology of idea into a new market. Los Alamos National Laboratory is a place where a lot of new technologies emerge, and the Center dedicates much of its time to working with others to deploy the technology from the pages of a notebook to the hands of consumers.

One such profitable “innovative” relationship as been LANL with Verdesian Life Sciences. Dating back to the 1990s work from the lab, with the help of Verdesian, was transformed into a unique and highly successful product called Take-Off. The foundation of the nitrogen enhancing product is various formulas that allow it to be used by growers simultaneously with other products such as fertilizers or herbicides – there is no other product on the market. Today, the research teams continue to work together to improve the product and in the next few weeks, Take-Off next generation will be released.

“Innovation I believe is going to be critical in how we are going to need to meet the needs of the country,” said Pesiri. “The need for continual innovation has changed how we think.” Today, innovation has become a core ethic of how they met the lab’s mission.

Pesiri noted that how the Center innovates must be more effective because the pace and complex threats from adversaries is evolving much faster then the lab. “As a lab, if we are not working with the best in the private sector then we will have a problem with relevancy going forward.”

The lab does face some challenges when it comes to research. For example, Perisi said they can only budget one year in advance and this makes long-term R&D funding challenging at times. “But what we’re finding is that the ability to leverage the best of industry in a lot of sectors,” said Perisi. We need to understand how to use private companies understanding of markets and then leverage this knowledge so we can get smart and then figure out how to put stuff in place to be a better partners.”

They have put this into action and run a small accelerator program for small businesses in New Mexico. To date, they have deployed $2.5 m in funding and seen a $50 million return on investment. The goal of the program is to help businesses focus on technical funding and today that have positively impacted every county in New Mexico.

Perisi said they lab is committed and looking forward to extending its relationship with Verdeisan. They have been a great partner and serve as a strong example of how they would like other private partnerships to evolve.

To learn more about the Feynman Center for Innovation, listen to Dave Perisi’s remarks: Remarks from Dave Perisi, Feynman Center for Innovation

View the 2014 Verdesian Los Alamos Media Tour photo album. *Note: due to national security concerns, the media tour participants were not allowed to take photos in the lab on on the lab’s premises.

Agribusiness, Audio, Fertilizer, Herbicide, Research, Verdesian

Are You Ready for MyFarmRadio?

Jamie Johansen October 10, 2014

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What is your favorite type of cheese?”

It is obvious we all have different tastes when it comes to cheese. It is such a staple in many meals nationwide and there are an endless amount of varieties. Cheddar seems to rise to the top slightly. However, like myself, many like them all.

Here are the poll results:

A simple American – 5%
Any type of Cheddar – 24%
Something soft, like Gouda – 19%
Artisan all the way – 19%
I like them all – 19%
Other – 14%

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, Are you ready for MyFarmRadio on your mobile device?

On November 3rd the new platform MyFarmRadio will launch. The 24/7 digital mobile radio channel will focus on a mix of best-in-class news, weather and markets along with entertaining and informative conversation for America’s farmers and ranchers. The app will allow listeners to pick and choose what they want to hear – and when they want to hear it. What do you think about this new way to get farm news? Will you be one of the first to check it out? Learn more about it in our latest ZimmCast.

ZimmPoll

USDA Forecasts More Corn and Soybeans

Cindy Zimmerman October 10, 2014

The harvest may be running a little slow right now, but USDA expects a bit more corn and beans in the bins than they did a month ago, adding to the already record forecasts.

Corn production is now forecast at 14.5 billion bushels, up almost one percent from the previous forecast and four percent more than last year. Corn yields are expected to average 174.2 bushels per acre, up 2.5 bushels from the September forecast and 15.4 bushels above the 2013 average. Soybean production is forecast at a record 3.93 billion bushels, up slightly from September and 17 percent more than last year with yields are expected to average a record high 47.1 bushels per acre, up 0.5 bushel from last month and up 3.1 bushels from last year.

Also in today’s report from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, cotton production was lowered two percent from last month’s forecast but is still up 26 percent from last year at 16.3 million 480-pound bales. And orange production is up three percent from last season despite continued concerns about citrus greening disease in Florida.

Peter Georgantones of Roy E. Abbott Futures reviewed the latest numbers on the Minneapolis Grain Exchange crop call today and one of his comments is that he thinks the soybean number will ultimately be higher. “We’re just hearing about phenomenal yields around the belt,” he said. MGEX October crop conference call

Corn, Grains, Soybean, USDA

Eating Around Turin with New Holland Bloggers

Chuck Zimmerman October 10, 2014

There is a lot I like about Italy. Red wine, especially from the Tuscany region, beautiful churches, red wine, the people and red wine. But let’s not forget FOOD!

In and around Turin last week the New Holland Bloggers did not starve. Not even close. We ate some fabulous food, like this Panna cotta here. It made good FoodPorn on Twitter! I can’t describe how good this dessert is. Just think baked thick cream, egg white and honey.

I thought it would be interesting to list some of the items on our meal menus from our trip last week. This isn’t everything we ate but it’s enough to give you an idea of why I want to go back asap.

Vegetable pudding with Roccaverano cheese sauce
Rice Grumolo delle Abbadesse with pumpkin
Baked filet of veal of La Granada
Hazelnut Bavarian pudding with yogurt cream
Vitello Tonnato
Prosciutto Crudo, Buffalo Mozzarella, Buratta
Caprese ravioli with tomato and basil
Garganelli with pesto
Berries and ice cream
Coffee and petit patisserie
Dolcetto red wine and Arneis white wine
Castelmagno flan with radicchio, walnuts and honey
Puff pastry with porcini mushrooms
Agnolotti del Plin with gravy sauce
Veal escalope with vegetables
Panna cotta
Barbera D’Asti Superiore red wine and Arneis white wine

All I can say is OMG that was good!

2014 New Holland Blogger Days Photo Album

Agribusiness, Food, New Holland

Grains Council Helping Exports Rebound

Cindy Zimmerman October 10, 2014

With a record corn crop being harvested, exports are more important than ever. The United States exported more than 11 percent of the U.S. corn supply to over 100 countries in the 2013/2014 marketing year, which U.S. Grains Council president and CEO Tom Sleight says is a nice recovery from lost market share after the drought of 2012.

“Now it’s time to really dig in and dig in hard … recoup our market share, recoup our sales,” said Sleight. “With an abundant, competitively priced crop, plus our reputation for quality and contract and deliveries, we’ve been able to get back where we needed to be.”

U.S. corn exports to Japan enjoyed a powerful rebound in the just completed marketing year, with USDA reporting exports and outstanding sales of 11.8 million metric tons (465 million bushels). “In Japan, we’ve had a 90 plus percent market share since April,” said Sleight.

Heading into the 2014/2015 marketing year, the Council has more plans to develop new markets for U.S. corn. “We have nine offices around the world, spending about 40% of our resources in Asia, another 40% in the western hemisphere,” Sleight said. “The other 20% in the middle part of the world – the Middle East, north Africa, very key market for us.” With hostilities and Ebola to contend with in those areas, Sleight said they are being mindful of safety and security issues.

In this interview, Sleight also talks about the upcoming Export Exchange, global biotechnology education challenges, the situation in China, and the potential for current trade negotiations to boost grain exports. Interview with Tom Sleight, US Grains Council

Audio, Corn, Exports, Grains, USGC

Meet the New Holland Bloggers

Chuck Zimmerman October 10, 2014

I still feel special to have been chosen by New Holland to participate in their New Holland Blogger Days last week. It was a diverse group in terms of language and home country. However, we all had much in common including our passion for agriculture, using social media to help distribute our information while personally engaging with farmers and the general public and for a couple of us, gadgets! I interviewed each of my fellow bloggers including the New Holland Social Media and Digital Projects Manager, Lorena Valenti. Let’s meet them.

First up is Cristiano Spadoni, AgroNotizie. You can follow him on @CSpadoni and @Agronotizie. I asked him what his main take-aways are from the days we spent in Turin. He says it can be summed up in two words, Sustainability and Innovation. He says, “Technology can help agriculture. Technology can help farmers to do more with less.” This helps them connect with consumers who are asking for sustainable products.

You can listen to my interview with Cristiano here: Interview with Cristiano Spadoni

I was very pleased to see Emma Penny, Farmers Guardian, in our group. I saw Emma just recently in Scotland where she was one of the tour organizers for the IFAJ Congress in Aberdeen! It’s a small world.

You can follow Emma on @FarmersGuardian. Emma says that for her the focus that New Holland will be putting on farmers at Expo Milano 2015 as the heroes of food production was a key take-away. Another take-away is that they are quite involved with the University of Gastronomic Sciences which was started by the founder of the Slow Food movement. “We learned a lot more about the Slow Food movement and really what it stood for.”

You can listen to my interview with Emma here: Interview with Emma Penny

Here’s our man from Brazil, Richard Jakubaszko, Agro DBO. You can find his blog here. Richard is pictured wearing a pair of headphones we used for translation on our tours.

Richard’s publication is focused on Brazilian agriculture but he takes a different approach with his blog. It’s where he can editorialize on all kinds of subjects like art, culture, agriculture and politics. He says it is a place for debate not news. Like all of us, Richard was grateful to New Holland for the invitation. Highlights of our time in Turin for him include the visit to the University of Gastronomic Sciences, our visit to the Museum of Automobiles and our tour of the Maserati production plant. He also has plans to write about Expo Milano 2015 and New Holland’s involvement with it.

You can listen to my interview with Richard here: Interview with Richard Jakubaszko

I first got to know Lorena Valenti while working with her on the North America launch of MyNewHolland.com. You can follow Lorena on @Lorena_Valenti.

Lorena says that digital public relations is increasingly important to the brand today as well as a good relationship with bloggers like us. However, the “human touch” is also very important to New Holland to let us know about projects like Expo Milano 2015. I can assure Lorena and the whole New Holland team that we will be helping spread the word about New Holland’s Sustainable Farm Pavilion at Expo.

You can listen to my interview with Lorena here: Interview with Lorena Valenti

2014 New Holland Blogger Days Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, International, Media, New Holland

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