EPA Chief on Tour to Defend WOTUS

Cindy Zimmerman July 7, 2014

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy will travel to the nation’s heartland this week to defend and explain the Administration’s proposed rules defining Waters of the United States (WOTUS) under the Clean Water Act (CWA).

This Thursday, July 10, McCarthy will give a speech before the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City to share the Administration’s views on why the proposed rules are needed and to answer questions from agricultural interests that have raised concerns about the proposal. Groups such as the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Cattlemen’s Association and many others believe the proposed rules represent Government overreach and would require farmers to obtain permits for routine farming and ranching practices.

The administration contends that the proposal, which was published for public comment by the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers, seeks to provide regulatory clarity after significant uncertainty following two Supreme Court decisions. According to the EPA, the proposed rule preserves existing CWA exemptions and exclusions for agricultural activities. Additionally, the agencies, in coordination with USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service, will now exempt 56 established NRCS conservation practices from the CWA Section 404 dredged or fill permitting requirements, if they occur in waters covered by the CWA.

Registration for the event is $35 for council members, $50 for non-members and $15 for students.

I’m betting the fireworks on the 10th of July in Kansas City will be as good as the ones on the 4th!

AFBF, Agribusiness

InfoAg App

Chuck Zimmerman July 3, 2014

If you’re an agnerd and planning to attend the 2014 InfoAg Conference in July add the InfoAg App to your mobile device. The conference is only a few weeks from now and a reason to get the app before you go is so you can create your own “program” of workshops and presentations that you want to attend.

The app is available for iOS and Android. It includes program information, including biographies on the speakers. There is an exhibition map and way to mark the ones that are your top priority.

We’ll be on the scene again this year so keep your eye on Precision.AgWired.com for all the latest news in the world of precision agriculture. InfoAg takes place July 29-31 in St. Louis.

On a similar note, we will also have coverage of the 12th International Conference on Precision Agriculture taking place the week before in Sacramento, CA.

Apps, Precision Agriculture

Celebrate the All-American Hot Dog

Cindy Zimmerman July 3, 2014

July is National Hot Dog Month and for good reason, since summer time is prime time for frankfurter consumption.

The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council estimates that Americans will gobble up over seven billion hot dogs between Memorial Day and Labor Day! They also say that we eat an average of 60 hot dogs each year – are you eating your share?

The Hot Dog council has lots of fast frankfurter facts on their website, including how the sausage on a bun got its name. The moniker is attributed by some to a newspaper cartoonist who observed a vendor selling the “hot daschund sausages” during a 1906 baseball game in New York City. Tad Dorgan, a cartoonist for a Hearst newspaper, sketched a cartoon with a real dachshund dog, smeared with mustard, in a bun. Supposedly, Dorgan could not spell the name of the dog, instead writing “get your hot dogs” for a caption.

That’s how the story goes, but some hot dog historians say the name goes back even further than that. They say “dachshund” sausages were being called hot dogs on college campuses in the 1890s and that “little dog” sausages were standard fare at ballgames in St. Louis in 1893 when German immigrant Chris Von de Ahe owned the St. Louis Browns baseball team.

According to the council, hot dogs are served in 95 percent of homes in the United States. Fifteen percent of hot dogs are purchased from street vendors and nine percent are purchased at ballparks.

They even have a section on “Hot Dog Etiquette” – I kid you not. That includes the proper way to apply condiments.

Put hot dog toppings between the hot dog and the bun. Always “dress the dog,” not the bun.

Condiments should be applied in the following order: wet condiments like mustard and chili are applied first, followed by chunky condiments like relish, onions and sauerkraut, followed by shredded cheese, followed by spices, like celery salt or pepper.

I never knew that! Are you having hot dogs on the grill this holiday weekend? Let us know in the ZimmPoll.

Food

Grain Cooperatives Earn Ceres Award

Jamie Johansen July 3, 2014

Four grain cooperatives were recognized by GROWMARK, Inc. with the Ceres award during the 2014 Grain Leadership Conference.

The award, named for the Roman goddess of grain, is awarded to grain cooperatives that achieve excellence by meeting at least three out of the four following criteria: EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization)/per storage capacity, return on invested capital, bushel retention, and GROWMARK’s capital guideline ratio.

Qualifying for the Ceres award, in alphabetical order, are:
– Grant Park Cooperative Grain Company, Grant Park, Illinois, Daniel Stadt is the manager and Richard Riechers is the president.
– Kasbeer Farms Elevator Co. Cooperative, Kasbeer, Illinois, Joe Louis is the manager and Kenneth Bohm is the president.
– McNabb Grain Company, McNabb, Illinois, Bart Ericson is the manager and Ben Day is the president.
– Minier Cooperative Grain Company, Minier, Illinois, Keith Swigart is the manager and Duane Haning is the president.

Ag Groups, Grains, GROWMARK

Duda Farm Fresh Foods Celery Recipe Contest

Jamie Johansen July 3, 2014

Celery is a staple ingredient in most kitchens; in fact it’s one of the three pillars of the “holy trinity” of cooking (the other two are onions and carrots) but it’s rarely used in sweet applications. That is, until now.

To celebrate celery and the vegetable’s versatility, Duda Farm Fresh Foods invites cooks to enter the “Sweet Celery Bake-Off” and create an original dessert recipe featuring celery. Participants have a chance to win a grand prize of $500 and be a featured recipe on Duda’s website.

“As a sixth-generation American family farm that specializes in celery, citrus, lettuce, radishes and corn, we encourage healthy eating through social promotions, recipe development, contests and more,” said Nichole Towell, director of marketing. “We decided to take one of the healthiest veggies in the kitchen and create a dessert challenge. We know celery isn’t normally a dessert ingredient, but we think the keen minds of food lovers everywhere will come up with some seriously sweet ideas.”

To enter, participants can visit the Duda website and follow the on-screen instructions to submit an original recipe that must include fresh celery.

The deadline for submission is Thursday, July 31 and the contest is open to anyone. The first 50 people who submit recipes will receive a coupon for free celery. One Grand Prize winner will receive a $500 Visa gift card, and two others will receive $100 Visa gift cards for the most creative celery dessert and the best use of celery in a dessert. Winners will be contacted on or before August 15, 2014.

“Desserts are the most requested and most searched recipes on our website; with a little creativity and food-loving spirit, we think celery could be the refreshing ingredient summer desserts have been missing,” Towell said. “We’re looking for out-of-the-box dessert ideas that are on-trend AND delicious — all featuring celery as one of the main ingredients.

Ag Groups, Food, Vegetables

Texas Beef Producers Approve Beef Checkoff Program

Jamie Johansen July 3, 2014

The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) announced that Texas beef producers have voted to establish a state-level Beef Checkoff program. TDA conducted this referendum upon petition by cattle industry organizations under the authorities designed by the Texas Legislature.

“Texas is the largest cattle producing state in the nation, and our beef is among the highest-quality in the world,” says Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples. “As Texas ranchers continue to grow and raise the bar to meet consumers’ tastes and preferences, it is my hope these funds will be in a manner to enhance our producers’ profitability and sustainability of food production.”

The Beef Checkoff is a producer-funded program that will research ways to continue improving Texas beef quality, as well as educate prospective consumers of Texas beef around the world. Texas beef producers will pay a refundable assessment of $1 per head of cattle they sell. Collection of the assessment will begin on Oct. 1, 2014 by the Beef Production and Research Council of Texas (BPRCT).

Texas Cattle Feeders Association (TCFA) leaders serving as members of BPRCT share their excitement in response to the passage of the Texas Beef Checkoff and what it means for the future of the beef in Texas.

Voting on the measure took place June 2-6, 2014. The Beef Checkoff program will be used for the promotion, marketing, research and educational efforts of beef and beef products for prospective consumers of Texas beef around the world.

Ag Groups, Animal Agriculture, Beef, Beef Checkoff

What will be on your Independence Day grill?

Jamie Johansen July 3, 2014

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “Where are you in #hay14?”

It looks like farmers across the United States are all at different stages with this year’s hay crop. On our farm we started out with a bang. But were soon falling behind due to rain. No one is complaining about the rain though. I think I can easily speak for all involved in agriculture that we are very glad to be getting these early summer showers. Good luck to all those still in the heat of #hay14.

Our poll results:

Done – 25%
Right on schedule – 12.5%
Behind due to rain – 62.5%
Behind due to equipment – 0%

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “What will be on your Independence Day grill?”

The 4th of July typically equals family and friends gathering for a barbecue and barbecue’s equals meat. The choices for your grill are limitless. Will you be having the traditional meal of hamburgers and hot dogs? Or will you be showing off your culinary genius and serving Venison Osso Buco, Beer Grilled Chops or Thai Grilled Shrimp?

ZimmPoll

Eco Agro Appoints New Leadership

Jamie Johansen July 3, 2014

Eco Agro Resources LLC announced the appointment of Andrew Semple as CEO and Member of Board, based in Sarasota Florida. Semple brings over 25 years of knowledge and experience within the fertilizer industry and recently from his past responsibilities as the Vice President of International Sales with Agrotain International and Koch Agronomic Services.

“We’re excited to have Andrew join and lead our team,” states Ray Perkins, Chief Management Officer of Eco Agro Resources. “Andrew’s proven track record to lead an enhanced efficiency fertilizers team is exactly what we need to take us to the next level at Eco Agro Resources. Andrew’s experience and relationships in over 70 Countries globally will be a huge asset to help us grow our N-YIELD, N-BOUND and additional efficient fertilizer technologies.”

They have also appointed Norm Davy as Executive Vice President – Global Sales and Marketing based in Minneapolis, MN. Davy brings over 25 years of knowledge and experience within the Agriculture industry and most recently from his past responsibilities as the Senior Vice President with GEOSYS™, a Land O’ Lakes™ company.

“We’re excited to have Norm join our team,” states Andrew Semple, CEO and member of the Board of Eco Agro Resources.” “Further, I’m personally thrilled to reunite with Norm from our past days working together at Agrotain International when Norm served as a leader in the Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizers market.

Eco Agro Resources is a USA based nutrient efficiency company dedicated to the development and commercialization of technologies to help farmers grow crops more efficiently. With offices located in Florida, Texas, North Carolina, Arkansas, Minnesota, China and Brazil, Eco Agro Resources is providing innovative and quality products to the agricultural nutrient market, with focus on an economic, agronomic and responsible approach.

Agribusiness

Ethanol for Energy Independence

Cindy Zimmerman July 2, 2014

As we prepare to celebrate our nation’s Independence Day, many of us will be out on the roads driving to see family, friends and fireworks. But, thanks to upheaval in a little country halfway across the world, gas prices are up again so we are going to be paying more at the pump, a stark reminder that we are not so independent when it comes to our energy sources.

Our ZimmCast this week is with Bob Dinneen, president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association, who talks about the many benefits of an all American Fuel that too often gets a bad rap from critics, especially those in the oil industry. That fuel is, of course, ethanol – and while we here at ZimmComm know that some of our friends in the animal agriculture industry have issues with it, we are strong supporters because we believe it is a great American fuel.

Listen to my conversation with Bob here: Ethanol for Energy Independence

Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsor, GROWMARK, locally owned, globally strong, for their support.

Subscribe to the ZimmCast podcast here.

Audio, Ethanol, RFA, ZimmCast

Verdesian Life Sciences Acquires SFP

Jamie Johansen July 2, 2014

Verdesian Life Sciences of Cary, North Carolina has announced the acquisition of Specialty Fertilizer Products (SFP), a Leawood, Kansas-based company focused on fertilizer efficiency products.

According to Verdesian CEO J.J. Grow, joining forces with SFP will add more than 270 patent properties to the company’s portfolio. “SFP’s innovative fertilizer solutions are a natural fit with Verdesian’s expansive product offerings that increase grower yields and return on investment,” said Grow. “We are confident that the addition of SFP’s outstanding team, impressive product lineup and excellent reputation for service will be a great combination with Verdesian Life Sciences.”

“We are excited to join Verdesian, which will enable us to take our business to the next level,” said SFP founder J. Larry Sanders, who has served as president and chief executive officer. “As part of Verdesian, we will be able to offer our revolutionary and environmentally beneficial fertilizer efficiency technology to more growers in more markets, and to bring the exciting products we have in our pipeline to market.”

Sanders has been named executive vice president of Polymer Technology and will report to Verdesian’s J.J. Grow who says there will be no immediate staffing changes except in the reporting structure at the senior management level.

Financial terms of the deal will not be disclosed. The current U.S. and international pricing, product distribution, programs and policies for all products offered by Verdesian Life Sciences, including the acquired SFP products, will remain in place through 2014.

Verdesian Life Sciences is a plant health and nutrition company with patented biological, nutritional, seed treatment and inoculant technologies that help specialty and row crop growers and turf management professionals maximize their nitrogen and phosphorus investments. Founded in 2012 to acquire and grow plant health product companies, Verdesian is based in Cary, N.C., with production and manufacturing facilities in Visalia, Calif., Pasco, Wash., and Kentland, Ind.