Celebrate Food Independence Day

Cindy Zimmerman

AFBF_July_4th_Survey-smWhile you are celebrating our nation’s birthday this weekend, take a minute to be thankful that your 4th of July feast is safe, abundant and affordable. Where else in the world can you gobble up hot dogs and hamburgers, ribs, potato salad, baked beans, and more for less than $6 a person?

The American Farm Bureau Federation tallied up the cost for an all-American Fourth of July picnic for ten people – including hot dogs, cheeseburgers, pork spare ribs, potato salad, baked beans, lemonade and chocolate milk. The bottom line is slightly more than last year, but at $5.87, it’s still an all-American bargain.

Farm Bureau’s informal survey reveals the average cost for a summer picnic for 10 is $58.72, or $5.87 per person. That’s about a 5-percent increase compared to a year ago. “Despite some modest price increases over the past year or so – meats, especially – most Americans should be able to find summer picnic foods at prices close to the averages found by our volunteer shoppers,” said John Anderson, deputy chief economist at AFBF.

“Retail meat prices are higher compared to a year ago because the nation’s cattle herd is now at a historically small level,” Anderson said. “The total number of hogs farmers across the nation are raising is also down, which has contributed to higher retail prices for pork products.”

Get the details here from AFBF.

AFBF, Food

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

Zimfo Bytes

  • The Livestock Production Council (LPC) has announced that four United States agricultural journalism students will be rewarded for their talent with the 2014 Forrest Bassford Student Travel Award.
  • Syngenta held a grand re-opening for its newly expanded Clinton, Ill., corn and soybean research and development (R&D) facility.
  • July is National Hot Dog Month and as Americans prepare to eat more than 150 million hot dogs during the Independence Day holiday, the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (NHDSC) is setting out to answer the most common hot dog question of them all: how are hot dogs really made?
  • Valent BioSciences Corporation (VBC) marked the official opening of its new $146 million biorational manufacturing facility in Osage, IA in a ceremony that included more than 130 international dignitaries, state and local VIPs, and media personnel.
Zimfo Bytes

A New Look for Farmers Market Vendors

Cindy Zimmerman

The popularity of farmers’ markets has skyrocketed in the last decade, but most vendors still use generic, light-weight white canopies that have to be creatively anchored to the ground since stakes are not allowed. That could change someday soon thanks to some imaginative architects with new ideas for farmers markets.

aia-market-winnerThe American Institute of Architects (AIA) just selected the winners of the 2014 Pop Up Project Design Competition, developed to re-imagine the farmers market canopy pop-up booths so vendors can more easily transport canopies and produce while attracting new customers through their sleek designs.

The winning design was the “G Model” (right) designed by Bart Shaw Architect. The simple stable structure “provides a platform for custom printed fabric to be wrapped. When transported it serves as a hand truck, so goods and the canopy can be moved simultaneously.”

aia-market-2The project was built on the expo floor of the 2014 AIA National Convention last week and is now being donated to the local non-for-profit partner, Growing Home Chicago, for use by their clients and program participants.

Honorable mention went to “Box It Up” (left) designed by Robin Osler of EOA/Elmslie Osler Architect. A series of plywood boxes serve not only as canopy weights, but also as table, stool, and multipurpose display fixtures. The simple box shape offers maximum flexibility as the elements can be stacked and arranged in various configurations depending on the needs of each farmer. Finally, a colorful canopy of re-purposed billboard vinyl provides shelter from the elements.

Uncategorized

IFAMA Shows GLIMPSE of Africa’s Future

Chuck Zimmerman

Aidan ConnollyThe Agribusiness and Food World Forum by the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association and Corporate Council for Africa has completed. One of the speakers was good friend, Aidan Connolly, vice president, corporate affairs for Alltech. He shared his “GLIMPSE” of the future; A lens through which to view Africa’s rising.” GLIMPSE is an acronym developed by Connolly that identifies the seven biggest obstacles to providing enough food to feed an increased population. The paper places agribusiness alongside governments, non-governmental organizations and charities as important players in addressing the problem of feeding a growing population, and identifies specific areas where agribusiness can make a difference in the world and Africa.

“Although ‘Africa’ is sometimes referred to as a single unit, in fact it is arguably the most diverse of all the continents,” said Connolly. “The GLIMPSE framework, developed to help break down the ‘wicked’ problem of food supply and security, is a useful way to address how to feed one billion more people in Africa.”

“The expertise and resources of agribusiness firms, brought to bear on the GLIMPSE factors, can be an important part of the transformation of agriculture across the continent,” Connolly said. “Working with the best asset any country can have- its people- creates stronger economies that are resilient through commodity booms and busts.”

The cases presented during the conference focused on opportunities for discussions on topics such as the impact of technology for African farmers and future projections for African markets, and described a wide range of businesses currently at work in Africa, including:

Small holder livestock farms
Indigenous plant products
Tropical fruit snack products
Trade, import and export businesses

Here’s a video clip from the IFAMA website from the conference opening:

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Alltech, International, Video

USDA Acreage Report Released

Cindy Zimmerman

USDA-LogoMore soybeans and less corn planted this year, according to the USDA planted acreage report released today.

USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is estimating a record high 84.8 million acres of soybeans planted in the United States for 2014, up 11 percent from last year, while corn acreage planted is estimated at 91.6 million acres, down 4 percent from last year, representing the lowest planted acreage in the United States since 2010. Cotton planted area for 2014 is estimated at 11.4 million acres, 9 percent above last year.

NASS today also released the quarterly Grain Stocks report to provide estimates of on-farm and off-farm stocks as of June 1. Soybeans stored totaled 405 million bushels, down 7 percent from last year, corn stocks totaled 3.85 billion bushels, up 39 percent from the same time last year, and all wheat stored totaled 590 million bushels, down 18 percent from a year ago.

The Minneapolis Grain Exchange (MGEX) hosted its regular Crop Report Conference Call for the media on the Acreage and Grain Stocks reports with Jonah Ford of Ceres Hedge providing commentary.

MGEX crop call on Acreage and Grain Stocks reports
Audio, Corn, Soybean, USDA

What Will Be On Your Independence Day Grill

Chuck Zimmerman

Ribeye SteakSummer is heating up and it’s time to celebrate our Independence Day! So, what will be on your grill? Need some ideas? How about these?

Pictured is Spicy Grilled Ribeye Cap with Avocado-Mango Salad. You’ll find plenty of beef ideas at Beef It’s What’s For Dinner.

How about some Beer Grilled Chops from Pork, Be Inspired?

Maybe some Curry-Lime Chicken Thighs with Tomato-Lima Bean Salad from EatChicken.com?

Here’s a good one. Thai Grilled Shrimp from AboutSeafood.com.

You can’t beat some Venison Osso Buco from Outdoor Life.

One more. Grilled Lamb Loin Chops with Orange & Olive from American Lamb.

That ought to give you some ideas to get your Independence Day grill on.

Ag Groups, Food

Measuring Social Media Effectiveness

Chuck Zimmerman

AgWired Word CloudThis story from eMarketer titled, “Finally, Most Brands Measuring Social Content Effectiveness,” got me motivated to write a few words about the subject. Social media in all of its forms and definitions has become a staple in company marketing plans. It has moved beyond just creating a brand Twitter account or Facebook page. Sponsored content on influential blogs now includes sponsored tweets and FB posts in addition to “traditional” banner advertising. My most current example has been the MyNewHolland.com launch here in North America. New Holland has seen significant value in their on-going sponsorship of AgWired and this project included sponsored tweet and FB schedules as well as blog posts and interactively posting and sharing onto New Holland’s FB page. And like with all sponsored projects we have to report regularly on this activity. This includes their own internal analysis and mine which I send for inclusion in the final report.

So, how do you measure social media effectiveness? The sales guys want to know how many leads or sales were generated. I honestly don’t know how accurately you can measure that. But there are some “soft” metrics you can fairly easily measure. Here’s an excerpt from the eMarketer article.

According to the research, 80% of US client-side marketers measured the effectiveness of their social content, with social media metrics such as “likes” the most common. . . Nearly two-thirds of US content marketers said they used social shares and “likes” to determine success, the second most popular metric.

I can create a spreadsheet that lists the number of tweets along with retweets and favorites, number of FB posts along with likes and shares, number of blog posts along with comments and traffic for them and more. One of the reasons these metrics are important is because they show a level of engagement that is all about brand awareness and the content that is associated with that brand. That is more like public relations which has always been a key element of any marketing campaign.

So, how do you measure social media effectiveness? Do you use a service or special software?

The word cloud above is from AgWired using Wordle.

Social Media

Bayer CropScience Introduces Credenz Soybean Seed

Jamie Johansen

Credenz_logo_2014Offering growers a new level of choice and performance, Bayer CropScience announced the introduction of Credenz, the company’s first global soybean seed brand, commercially available in U.S. markets this month.

Delivering a wide range of varieties and traits, Credenz builds on Bayer CropScience’s substantial technology platform, integrating smart genetics, traits and varieties to maximize yield performance. The new brand will be available to growers in the South (Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, North Carolina) and Midwest (Southern Iowa, Illinois, Missouri) this month as they start looking ahead to their 2015 growing season.

Diego AngeloCredenz offers soybean growers:
– A wide range of varieties and traits including LibertyLink, as well as glyphosate-tolerant traits, in 27 high-performing varieties developed for Maturity Groups 2-7.
– A customized, flexible platform developed to meet a range of individual production preferences, including location, soil type, disease resistance and weed management features.
– Versatile disease tolerance to stem canker, frogeye and sudden death syndrome to protect plants and help them thrive and deliver competitive yield performance.
– Advancements in pest management, like multiple herbicide traits and nematode control.

“The Credenz launch brings much-needed innovation to the U.S. soybean market, where production is expected to increase over the next five years,” said Diego Angelo, director, US soybean operations, Bayer CropScience. ”In this rapidly evolving market, it is more important than ever to ensure growers have access to beans with unique traits tailored to address individual production needs. To meet these needs, we have invested in Credenz breeding stations in the U.S. and around the world to provide timely, custom-made solutions to meet the region-specific challenges faced by U.S. growers.”

Chuck spoke with Diego about their new product launch. Listen to the complete interview here: Interview with Diego Angelo - Bayer CropScience

HBK seeds, a brand from Hornbeck Seed Company which Bayer CropScience acquired in 2011, will now carry the Credenz brand name.

Credenz will be available for the 2015 growing season in the United States. Bayer CropScience anticipates availability in most US markets beginning in 2015 for the 2016 growing season.

Agribusiness, Bayer, Seed, Soybean

2014 Forrest Bassford Student Award Competitors

Jamie Johansen

lpc logoThe Livestock Production Council (LPC) has announced that four United States agricultural journalism students will be rewarded for their talent with the 2014 Forrest Bassford Student Travel Award. The award, sponsored by Alltech, supports the journalists’ travel fees and participation at the Livestock Production Council annual convention and Ag Media Summit in Indianapolis, Indiana July 26-30, where they will have the chance to compete for the 2014 Forrest Bassford Student Award.

The four successful applicants are:
– Breanne Brammer, Gallatin, Missouri: Brammer will be a senior at the University of Missouri this fall and is majoring in agricultural journalism and science.
– Logan Britton, Bartlett, Kansas: A senior at Kansas State, Britton is majoring in agricultural communications and ag economics.
– Courtney Leeper, Trenton, Missouri: Leeper is pursuing a degree in agricultural journalism and science at the University of Missouri where she will be enrolled as a senior this fall.
– Lynsey Meharg, Rocky, Oklahoma: Merharg will be a senior at Texas Tech University for the fall semester and is majoring in agricultural communications.

During the Ag Media Summit, the travel award winners will go through an interview and portfolio review. The Forrest Bassford Student Award winner will receive a $2,000 scholarship while the other three candidates will each receive $750 travel scholarships to attend the convention. The travel award also provides the recipients networking opportunities with many leaders in livestock publishing.

2014 marks the 29th year for the Student Award Program. Forrest Bassford’s name was appended to the LPC Student Award in 1992 in honor of his contribution to LPC, and his particular interest in furthering the Student Award. Alltech has co-sponsored the award since 2012.

Ag Groups, Journalism

Hillary Clinton Talks Ag Biotechnology

Cindy Zimmerman

hillary-bioHillary Clinton seems to be everywhere these days and this week she spent over an hour at the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) convention in San Diego chatting with BIO president and CEO Jim Greenwood, a former congressman from Pennsylvania.

The wide ranging discussion touched on a variety of topics, including agricultural biotechnology. Greenwood asked Mrs. Clinton where she stood on the use of genetically modified crops. “I stand in favor of using seeds and products that have a proven track record,” said the former first lady, adding that the case needs to be made for those who are skeptical. “There is a big gap between what the facts are and what the perceptions are,” she said, receiving applause from the packed crowd that included as many as possible of the 15,000 attendees at the convention.

Clinton noted that focusing on the benefits in terminology of the crops could help. “Genetically modified sounds ‘Frankensteinish’ – drought resistant sounds really like something you want,” she said.

Thanks to BIO for shooting me the audio of Clinton’s comments. Hillary Clinton at BIO convention

Audio, Biotech