WRRDA Conference Report Released

Cindy Zimmerman

wrrdaThe long-awaited Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) conference report was released by House and Senate negotiators on Thursday, to the great relief of agricultural interests.

“This is a huge step forward to ensure the continued success of the soybean supply chain, and leaders in both the House and Senate deserve a great deal of credit for shepherding this bill through a challenging policymaking climate,” said American Soybean Association President and Iowa farmer Ray Gaesser.

rod-davisConference committee member Congressman Rodney Davis (R-IL) is pleased with the final outcome. “The conference report I believe is a well balanced piece of legislation that takes into consideration the Senate needs and the House needs,” Davis told AgWired. “I’m just excited to get this bill across the finish line – the first one since 2007.”

The legislation is designed to “strengthen the nation’s transportation network, keep America competitive in the global marketplace, and reform and streamline the way we move forward with improvements to our ports, locks, dams, and other water resources infrastructure.” Davis expects the conference report to pass both houses of Congress with little opposition. “And we’ll chalk it up as a success in bi-partisanship and move on to other work that we’ve got to get done,” he added. The legislation is expected to come to the floor next week.

Listen to my interview with Rep. Davis here: Rep. Rodney Davis interview on WRRDA

Audio, Soybean, transportation

Senators and Industry Call for Biodiesel Support

Cindy Zimmerman

nbb-senatorsA group of U.S. Senators including Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Al Franken (D-MN), Joe Donnelly (D-IN), and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) joined the National Biodiesel Board on Wednesday to release the results of a national survey highlighting uncertainty in the biodiesel industry as a result of policy setbacks in Washington this year.

The survey found that nearly 80 percent of U.S. biodiesel producers have scaled back production this year and more than half have idled production at a plant altogether. Additionally, two-thirds of producers said they have already reduced or anticipate reducing their workforce as a result of the downturn.

The senators are calling on the Administration to help restore stability to the industry by boosting the EPA’s 2014 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) proposal for biodiesel while urging Congress to reinstate the biodiesel tax incentive. Senators Voice Biodiesel Concerns

Also speaking at the event were North Dakota soybean farmer Terry Goerger; Renewable Energy Group plant manager Bryan Christjansen; Jeff Haas, CEO of General Biodiesel in Seattle; and Wayne Presby, owner of White Mountain Biodiesel in North Haverhill, N.H.

“This uncertainty is bad for producers, it’s bad for agriculture, it’s extremely bad for investors, it’s bad for the environment, and it’s particularly bad for those of us who took cues from Congress and the Administration and made the commitments to build a U.S. renewable fuels future,” said Goerger. Biodiesel Industry Concerns

Audio, Biodiesel, Biofuels

I Can’t Drive 55

Melissa Sandfort

My children are going to grow up as horrible drivers. You know, I stress to them how important it is to follow the rules, yet find myself breaking them every day when I’m in the car. Some stop signs are just a pause, and the speed limit signs are usually just a suggestion. So when I’m using a double-standard in my own ways, how do I still maintain “no breaking the law” with the kids?

One of the things I’m the worst about is speeding. To date, I’ve only had one ticket (back in my college days when I was driving home at 1 a.m. and had volleyball practice at 6 a.m.) and two warnings, one of which, ironically, was in my grandparent’s driveway! But it’s my rule of thumb that 8 mph over is perfectly acceptable.

I’ve always said that when my grandfather was growing up, their way of life must have felt a little bit slower. That’s not saying by any means that they didn’t work as hard or accomplish as much – quite the opposite! But, I do believe that my grandparents grew up being a lot more patient than I ever will be.

Listen to Grandpa explain

Do you think you could limit your speed to 35? I know I couldn’t.

Until we walk again …

Uncategorized

How Well Do You Know ZimmComm

Jamie Johansen

zimm-ten-golden-years smallChuck and Cindy paved the way for many when they jumped on the agriblogging highway 10 years ago way before the term blog was a household name. They began reporting ag news in a whole new way with downloadable photos, audio and video and became an online source for press releases.

To help celebrate our 10th anniversary we want to know how well you know ZimmComm. Be one of the first 50 people to complete our quiz and we will send a ZimmComm t-shirt. Don’t worry if you don’t score 100%, we just want you to learn a little bit more about the ZimmComm Team.

Take the ‘How Well Do You Know ZimmComm’ quiz now.

Media, ZimmComm Announcement

American Appetite for Organic Breaks $35 Billion

Jamie Johansen

content_img.2106.imgSales of organic products in the United States jumped to $35.1 billion in 2013, up 11.5% from previous years and the fastest growth rate in five years, according to the latest survey from the Organic Trade Association (OTA).

The OTA survey projects that growth rates over the next two years will at least keep pace with the 2013 clip and even slightly exceed it.

OTA’s Organic Industry Survey was conducted and produced by the Nutrition Business Journal. Over 200 companies responded to the survey, which was conducted this year from January 27 through April 4. Companies gave data on revenues reported, sales growth, revenue by product and sales channel breakdowns.

Organic food sales in 2013, at $32.3 billion, accounted for roughly 92% of the total organic sales. Non-food organic products are currently a very small part of the total organic market, but are making quick in-roads. Sales of non-food organic products have jumped nearly eight-fold since 2002, and have almost doubled in market share.

Consumer purchases of organic food account for more than 4% of the $760 billion annual food sales in the United States. The growth rate of organic food sales has dwarfed the average annual growth of just over 3% in total food sales.

The fruit and vegetable category continues to lead the sector with $11.6 billion in sales. The $1.5 billion in new sales of organic fruits and vegetable represented 46% of the organic sector’s $3.3 billion in new dollars.

Find more information on how to purchase the full report here. An executive summary of the findings are available for members of the press by contacting mmcneil@ota.com.

Ag Groups, Food, Organic

Alliance Welcomes New Staff & Board Members

Jamie Johansen

aaaThe Animal Agriculture Alliance is excited to announce additions to their staff and Board of Directors.

Rossie Blinson will join the team as the Manager of Membership and Marketing. She is a third generation cattle breeder and former National Cattlemen’s Beef Association intern. Blinson recently graduated from North Carolina State University and earned a degree Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Business Management and minor in Animal Science.

“Rossie’s passion for animal agriculture shines through in everything she does,” said Alliance President and CEO Kay Johnson Smith. “In the four short months of her internship she has proven herself invaluable and we can’t wait to kick off our 2015 fiscal year knowing that she’ll be a permanent member of our team.”

There will also be three significant additions to the Alliance Board of Directors: Rebecca Cisek (Zoetis); Dr. Dave Sjeklocha (Cattle Empire, LLC); and Terry Wehrkamp (Cooper Farms) will join the other 28 board members, each of whom serve a term of three years.

Additionally, Tom Super Vice President of Communications for the National Chicken Council will replace Dr. Ashley Peterson on the Alliance board; Delbert Christensen will replace Ronald Ohlde as United Soybean Board’s representative; and Ann Nogan, Executive Vice President at the Pennsylvania Center for Beef Excellence will replace Barbara Jackson as the representative for the American National CattleWomen.

Ag Groups, Animal Agriculture

Canadian Farm Writers to Dig Deep

Chuck Zimmerman

Canadian Farm Writers Federation Dig DeepI’m going. Going on the bicycling farm tour again too! Although there is a brew tour at the same time. I talked with Kim Waalderbos who serves on this year’s committee for the annual conference of the Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation. She provides a preview of what this year’s conference will be like.

Interview with Kim Waalderbos
We can’t wait to welcome you to beautiful Prince Edward Island for the Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation Annual Conference.

Not only are you going to see great agricultural feats on such a small island, you are going to help us celebrate the Prince Edward Island Sesquicentennial, the 150th anniversary of the Birthplace of Confederation: the 1864 Charlottetown Conference. And unlike in 1864 when the circus came to town leaving “no accommodations available in which to house the Canadian delegates,” we have space for everyone at the Rodd Royalty Inn in Charlottetown.

We have planned a long weekend of learning, networking, insight, participation, food, culture and fun during your Island experience. And by the end of the weekend, you will have more than one story to share about agriculture on the Island.

Audio, International, Media

DuPont to Sponsor Agribusiness & Food World Forum

Jamie Johansen

ifamaThe International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA) and the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) are jointly presenting the 2014 Agribusiness & Food World Forum in South Africa. The Forum will address the region’s enormous growth potential, which includes expanding the agribusiness industry.

Thad Simons, President of IFAMA, said “People feed the world and, as agribusiness leaders, it is our responsibility to develop future generations of talent passionate about creating and implementing solutions that will ensure we can overcome the food security challenges in Africa and beyond. We believe that partnerships made through the World Forum. Today we are delighted to announce DuPont Pioneer as a premier supporter of the World Forum.”

The overarching framework for the Forum is People Feed the World, a view that aligns closely with DuPont’s commitment to food security. DuPont is helping to further critical collaborations with businesses, non-profit organizations and academics. The engagement of the next generation of agribusiness innovators from around the globe – through the participation of student leaders attending the Forum – is another priority for DuPont.

Stephen Hayes, President and CEO of CCA, said “The World Forum would not be possible without the support of companies such as DuPont. As Forum organizers, we are grateful to our friends at DuPont for their ongoing role in accelerating progress, not only at our Forum, but also through their local and global impact on food and nutrition security, each and every day.”

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Food

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

Zimfo Bytes

  • United States Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced more than $1.5 million in funding to expand bio-control efforts to fight Huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening.
  • Zoetis Inc. marked another milestone in the company’s launch as an independent public company, conducting its first-ever Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
  • HighQuest Group announced that Jim Borel, executive vice president of DuPont, will deliver the keynote address at its 9th annual Oilseed & Grain Trade Summit.
  • Ceres, Inc., an agricultural biotechnology and seed company, has been awarded a U.S. patent for a genetic sequence derived from corn, covering uses of the gene in areas such as research, product development and seed production.
Zimfo Bytes

Ag Issues Discussed at Missouri State’s Ag Forum

Jamie Johansen

ag forum photo editedEach year Missouri State University’s Collegiate Farm Bureau hosts an Ag Forum to discuss hot topic agriculture issues. This year’s panel was formed by Senator Roy Blunt and Missouri Farm Bureau President Blake Hurst and moderated by Missouri State University’s William H. Darr School of Agriculture Department Head, Dr. Anson Elliott.

After a dinner of steaks raised from the school’s herd of Hereford cattle, each panelist took the stage to give a brief update on specific ag issues and then the floor was open for questions. Topics discussed included water rights, energy, precision technology and food security.

I met up with Senator Blunt after the panel discussion. We not only talked about water rights, science and technology but also about trade negotiations, immigration reform and biofuels.

“I think the big issues is how we deal with the opportunities in agriculture.” said Senator Blunt. “Does our infrastructure continue to keep pace with our ability to not only feed ourselves, but be part of a very competitive world food market in need of American products.”

Listen to my complete interview with Senator Blunt here: Interview with Senator Roy Blunt

I also spoke with Blake Hurst about Missouri’s Right to Farm and how it’s a national concern for agriculture. He also hit on GMO labeling and how data is being used to gain more knowledge on individual farms and agriculture as a whole.

“We continue to work both on the state and national level to make sure regulations make sense and that they leave room for farmers to do what we do best and that is farm.”

Listen to my complete interview with Blake here: Interview with Missouri Farm Bureau President, Blake Hurst

Ag Groups, Audio