USDA Student Diversity Pgm. Winners

Chuck Zimmerman

USDA LogoThirty students were selected to attend USDA’s 2014 Agricultural Outlook Forum, titled “The Changing Face of Agriculture,” to be held Feb. 20- 21, 2014, at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington, Va. Twenty university juniors and seniors were chosen on the basis of their essays on “Agriculture as a Career,” and 10 graduate students were selected for their response to “The Greatest Challenge Facing Agriculture over the Next Five Years.”

“The future of agriculture and rural America depends on the upcoming generation of leaders in farming, ranching and conservation, and the students selected to attend the Agricultural Outlook Forum are among the best young leaders our country has to offer,” said Vilsack. “Participating in the Agricultural Outlook Forum will expose these students to a variety of perspectives on this country’s most pressing agricultural challenges and lay the groundwork for bright futures in food, fiber and forestry.”

USDA’s Agricultural Outlook Forum Student Diversity Program is designed to introduce students to contemporary agribusiness, future trends, scientific research, and agricultural policy in today’s real world environment. The students are from land-grant, Hispanic-serving, and non land-grant agricultural and renewable resources universities. Since the program’s start in 2007, annual sponsorship has been provided by CHS, Inc. and Farm Credit. USDA’s Economic Research Service, Agricultural Research Service, and Natural Resources Conservation Service also provide support. The University of Maryland Eastern Shore partners with USDA to make the program possible. Several of the 2014 winning essays are found here: www.usda.gov/oce/forum/diversity/diversity_program.htm.

Click here to see list of winners: Read More

USDA

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  • Pet Care Systems, creator and manufacturer of pet care products, has named Minneapolis-based broadhead agency of record for Swheat Scoop cat litter brand.
  • Swanson Russell, Nebraska’s largest advertising agency, with locations in Lincoln and Omaha, has joined less than one percent of agencies nationwide achieving Google Partner status.
  • Raven Industries, Inc. announced a collaboration with Kinze Manufacturing, Inc. to bring a new multi-hybrid planter control system to Kinze’s world-leading product offering.
  • Cheminova, Inc. announced it has hired Ken Phelps as Senior Marketing Manager.
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Farmers in the SOTU

Cindy Zimmerman

sotu-2014It is rare for agriculture to even be mentioned in a State of the Union address, but President Obama brought attention to the hardworking farmers of our country in the opening minute of SOTU 2014.

“A farmer prepared for the spring after the strongest five-year stretch of farm exports in our history,” said the president, with a split screen image of a farmer in a corn field to accompany his words. It was one the examples President Obama used of “citizens, who make the state of our union strong.”

The word farmer was mentioned a second time in the SOTU as the president quoted the governor of Kentucky about the importance of health care coverage to the people of his state.

Agricultural organizations noted the president’s comments on immigration reform, tax reform, trade promotion authority, and energy security. “The American Farm Bureau Federation welcomes President Obama’s call in his State of the Union address for Congress to pass immigration reform,” said president Bob Stallman. “Many farmers rely on an immigrant labor force, and, without reform, growers will begin to plant less labor-intensive crops or go off shore.”

“It was great to hear President Obama talk about the importance of an ‘all-of-the-above’ energy policy,” commented National Corn Growers President Martin Barbre. “And you can’t have such a policy without biofuels. So, we call on his Administration to back away from its irresponsible proposal to reduce the Renewable Fuel Standard.”

Both NCGA and AFBF were also pleased to hear President Obama mention the need for improving waterways and ports. “We’ll need Congress to protect more than three million jobs by finishing transportation and waterways bills this summer,” said the president.

AFBF, Ag Groups, Corn, NCGA

Farm Bill Could Draw Trade Retaliation

Cindy Zimmerman

ncba-logo
nppc_logoLivestock organizations and food associations are concerned that their members will face economic harm because the farm bill out of conference committee this week makes no changes to the U.S. Country of Origin Labeling law (COOL).

Canada and Mexico filed a complaint over the law with the World Trade Organization, which is expected to rule on it next month. If the WTO rules against the United States, Canada and Mexico are set to place retaliatory tariffs on dozens of U.S. products – including beef, pork, furniture and bakery goods.
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association president Scott George, National Association of Manufacturers director of international trade policy Jessica Lemos, and National Pork Producers Council president Randy Spronk held a media conference call on Tuesday to discuss their concerns. Opening comments

“The released bill is a slap in the face of every livestock producer in the country,” said George, a cattle producer from Wyoming.

“If Country of Origin labeling isn’t fixed, and the farm bill is the best vehicle to do that, pork producers like me will suffer and so will dozens of other U.S. businesses,” said Spronk of Minnesota.

Lemos added that a variety of industries will be impacted if Mexico and Canada retaliates over the labeling law. “That is simply an unacceptable outcome,” she said.

Listen to or download complete call here: NCBA-NPPC Media Call

Ag Groups, Audio, Farm Bill, NCBA, NPPC, Trade

Popular Agronomy Resource Now Available as App

Jamie Johansen

14AppAdVertFor years farmers have depended on the printed MFA Incorporated Agronomy Guide as a way to compare seed and crop protection products they might need on their farming operations. But that day has come to an end. Farmers who have access to iOS, Android or Windows smartphones or tablets can access all the same information in app form.

The MFA Agronomy Guide app includes detailed comparisons on all categories of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and insecticides providing product trade names, common names and chemical families. It also gives info on each chemistry’s mode of action, EPA regulations, storage temperatures and rotation restrictions.

MFA’s Director of Agronomy, Dr. Jason Weirich, said “We update the database that powers the Agronomy Guide app every year, and what you find in there is the unbiased information that shows growers what products best fit the soils, disease pressures and weed pressures on their farm, field by field. In-season, it’s a great resource to review what insect and disease control products will give growers the best control. Growers can find the most effective product, rate and timing for the problems they face. That’s important for environmental stewardship, and it’s good for the bottom line.”

The herbicides are rated by efficacy on target weeds and label info is right there on the app. Seed treatment suggestions and rates are covered as well. In its Seed menus, the Agronomy Guide provides comparisons for major seed lines. Comparison tools let growers evaluate seed based on maturity, disease packages, standability, plant height and other details.

“We still print the paper version of the Agronomy Guide,” said Weirich, “and it is as popular as ever, but we only print so many. The app is available to everyone, and with its customizable comparisons, search capabilities and the fact that it’s always in your pocket, we think it’s a valuable tool.”

John Deere is the inaugural sponsor of the app so users will be able to easily access additional information on a wide variety of John Deere products via links.

To download the app, visit Agronomyguide.com or the online market place for your device and search for MFA Agronomy Guide.

Ag Groups, Apps

Ag Groups React to Farm Bill Conference Report

Cindy Zimmerman

House and Senate agriculture leaders on Monday released their conference report on a new five-year farm bill that pleases some agricultural interests who just want to get it done, but distressed others.

2014-farm-billAccording to a news release from the House Agriculture Committee, the compromise bill “contains major reforms, including eliminating the direct payments program, streamlining and consolidating numerous programs to improve their effectiveness and reduce duplication, and cutting down on program misuse” but provided few details.

Most reaction to the report so far has been negative, but the American Soybean Association supports it. “This has been a trying process to be sure, but we think that through it all, the conferees and their leadership have produced a framework that will serve the best interests of soybean farmers,” said Ray Gaesser, ASA President and farmer from Corning, Iowa.

National Farmers Union president Roger Johnson says they are pleased with their initial review of the compromise but notes that the board will consider it in more detail “comparing it to the priorities that we have put forward to all members of Congress.”

Coming out strongly against the bill are the livestock and poultry industries. The American Meat Institute, National Cattleman’s Beef Association, National Chicken Council, and National Pork Producers Council already sent a letter to Congressional leadership expressing concerns about GIPSA and COOL provisions in the bill. NCBA and NPPC are holding a media call Tuesday morning at 10 am Eastern to talk about their concerns.

Even one of the conference committee members is disappointed with the outcome. Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) says he will oppose the final report “because it is not market-oriented or forward looking and is too costly for the taxpayer.”

As to the contentious dairy program, the National Milk Producers Federation is not completely satisfied with the final plan, but is willing to accept it. “Despite its limitations, we believe the revised program will help address the volatility in farmers’ milk prices, as well as feed costs, and provide appropriate signals to help address supply and demand,” said NMPF president and CEO Jim Mulhern.

More reaction is expected as agricultural groups plow through the details. Leadership is hoping to bring the compromise to the floor of both houses for a vote this week.

Ag Groups, Farm Bill

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BASF Zidua® Herbicide Gets Registration for Wheat

Cindy Zimmerman

BASFWheat growers now have a new class of chemistry to fight Italian ryegrass.

BASF just announced that Zidua® herbicide has received federal registration from the Environmental Protection Agency for spring and winter wheat.

basf-ziduaZidua herbicide provides wheat growers with a powerful tool to fight tough to control weeds like Italian ryegrass, annual bluegrass and canarygrass. In addition, Zidua herbicide suppresses many broadleaf and grasses in wheat including brome species, wild oat, foxtail species, kochia, pigweed, chickweed, henbit and wild mustard. Zidua herbicide was previously registered only for use in corn and soybeans.

Zidua herbicide utilizes a unique class of chemistry – pyroxasulfone. More than 10 years of research and field trials by BASF have demonstrated that Zidua herbicide provides excellent residual control of resistant weeds like Italian ryegrass.

“Wheat growers now have access to a new residual tool for long-lasting weed control with Zidua herbicide,” said Greg Armel, Ph.D., Technical Market Manager, BASF. “The pyroxasulfone in Zidua herbicide helps control Italian ryegrass weed populations, even those populations resistant to ALS-inhibitor and ACCase herbicides.”

We talked with Greg about Zidua at last year’s Commodity Classic after they received registration for soybeans. I suspect we will hear more about it this year at Classic!

Agribusiness, BASF, Wheat

Consumer Demand Drives Poultry Processing

Cindy Zimmerman

ippe-14-chikinA large Chick-fil-A sign welcomes attendees to the 2014 International Production and Processing Expo in Atlanta, claiming the city to be the “chicken eating capitol of the world” in cow speak. That may or may not be entirely true, but it is certainly the center of the poultry processing world this week.

To kick off the event, Novus International hosted a luncheon for over 150 attendees from around the world featuring remarks by Dr. Shelly McKee of Auburn University on how consumer preferences are driving innovation in poultry processing. “In the United States, poultry consumption is around 82.5 pound per person on an annual basis,” she said, which is higher than beef, pork or turkey. McKee says that’s because it is an economical source of protein that is viewed as healthy and “less intimidating” for young people in particular to prepare.

Good consumer demand for poultry in all forms has led to increased bird size in just the past few years. “Our industry has changed to meet consumer demands for further processed products,” said McKee. “We can take those bigger birds and break those down – we may have a breast fillet and portion it for a smaller serving and then cut fajita strips out of that same breast fillet.”

ippe-14-novus-mckeeMcKee is quick to point out that the industry has achieved these bigger birds through genetics, nutrition and management practices – not hormones since they are illegal in poultry. “We do not use hormones in the poultry but we have other programs that support the growth rate,” she said.

Ten years ago, Auburn developed a two-day “Poultry 101” workshop with Texas A&M and the University of Arkansas which focuses on poultry processing, industry information, and safety. “We also make products. We take chickens through a processing plant, take the meat and make hot dogs, deli loaves, sausages, smoked birds,” she said. “So the last day the people get to eat the product they made.” Novus is one of the sponsors of the workshop, which rotates between the three universities and attracts a wide variety of attendees including processors, marketers and chefs.

Shelly has recently accepted a new position with USA Poultry and Egg Export Council as director of technical services but she will continue to be involved in the field of poultry promotion and education.

Listen to my interview with Shelly here: Dr. Shelly McKee, Auburn University
International Production and Processing Expo Photos

Sponsored by Novus International Inc

Agribusiness, Audio, IPPE, Novus International, Poultry, Poultry Expo

Get Registered for 2014 Agri-Marketing Conference

Chuck Zimmerman

2014 Agri-Marketing ConferenceHave you registered for the 2014 Agri-Marketing Conference? Come down to the Sunshine State, relax, network and learn. Sounding pretty good right now, eh?

I’m on my way to Austin, TX for our quarterly Executive Committee Mtg. of the National Agri-Marketing Association. I’m sure we’ll get an update on what’s being planned for Jacksonville, FL in April.

Let me know if you’ve got questions about NAMA or the Conference. I’ll do my best to answer and if I can’t I know someone who can!

Ag Groups, Marketing, NAMA