CBB members reject ’separation’ recommendation

At the Cattle Industry Summer Conference in Denver, members of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board have voted 62-30 to disapprove of the recommendation from the Cattlemen’s Beef Board Executive Committee that the Federation of State Beef Councils be separated from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

That decision followed earlier action by directors of the Federation of State Beef Councils, who overwhelmingly passed (59-3) a “straw poll” resolution that reads as follows:

“…the Federation should operate in a more independent structure while maintaining the synergies and efficiencies of the current relationship with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association—and strongly opposes the recent actions of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board Executive Committee, including the separation recommendation.”

The directors then passed a separate resolution calling on the chairman and vice-chairman of the Federation to form a committee to develop recommendations on how to build “a more independent structure” for the Federation. Both resolutions will be officially considered by Federation directors at their Saturday business meeting.

Land O’Lakes contributes to agribusiness center

Land O’Lakes Foundation has contributed $15,000 toward the creation of the Central Wisconsin Agribusiness Innovation Center (CWAIC), a multi-purpose facility that will serve as a business incubator for emerging companies in agribusiness, renewable energy, biotechnology, food processing and related industries.

Scheduled for construction in early 2011, the CWAIC building will contain incubator and laboratory space, a distance learning center and computer lab, public meeting and event space, leased offices, a commercial test/classroom kitchen and multiple “smart” classrooms. The building will be the first installation in the development of a 71-acre agribusiness park along State Highway 29 near Owen.

Adjoining land has also been offered to house Wisconsin Farm Technology Days should the show ever decide to establish a permanent site.

MO State Fair about “Growing Great Memories”

The Missouri State Fair starts in just a few weeks with lots to see and do. State Fair Director Mark Wolfe talked with Brownfield earlier this month about all the happenings. The theme for this year’s fair which runs August 12th through the 22nd is “Growing Great Memories”.

Sunday, August 15th, honors military folks. It’s free and $1 admission for military folks and their families.

“We are actually going to have a ceremony that day – probably in the Touchstone Energy stage. We expect quite a few dignitaries and there’s going to be a ceremony with a lot of awards handed out. It’s really going to be a neat event,” Wolfe says. “I know the folks with the Department of Ag and the State Fair staff are working very close with the air base in Whiteman and also at Fort Leonard Wood.”

Thursday, August 19th, at the Fair is the Governor’s Ham Breakfast and First Lady’s Pie Contest.

And, Wolfe says it wouldn’t be a state fair without all the agriculture activities including the always popular livestock shows. Wolfe says last year there were 30-thousand total ag entries – including those from several thousand FFA and 4H students. Wolfe says the ag youth are the “heart and soul” of the fair.

Click here for the daily highlights of the 2010 Missouri State Fair

AUDIO: Interview with Mark Wolfe July 14 (14 min. MP3)

“Dig IN” event planned

 

Scheduled for Sunday, August 29 at the White River State Park in Indianapolis is an event called “Dig IN,” Annie Schmelzer with the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) is the committee chair.

“It’s going to be an opportunity for local producers, local restaurants, wineries, breweries to really showcase what they are doing here in Indiana,” said Schmelzer. “It’s going to be an opportunity for the public to connect with what they are doing and see what’s going on in their own backyard that they may not know about.”

Advance tickets for the event are $15 for adults, $7 for children under 12 and are available at participating Marsh Supermarkets. Tickets the day of the event will be $20 for adults, $15 for children under 12.

AUDIO: Annie Schmelzer, ISDA (1:00 MP3)

Vision of IL Agriculture to host forum

To raise awareness and have a better understanding of the financial situation facing Illinois, Vision for Illinois Agriculture will be hosting “A Forum on Fiscal Integrity” August 3, in Bloomington. Phil Nelson, Illinois Farm Bureau President says the forum is designed to jumpstart the dialog.

“We’re bring people, key people together that understand the budget, understand where you can make cuts, where you can’t, what services are going to be impacted, to really start getting our members up to speed as to the whole fiscal situation of this state,” Nelson said.

The forum will be held Wednesday, August 3 at the Double Tree Hotel in Bloomington, Illinois beginning at 9:30 a.m.

AUDIO: Phil Nelson, President, Illinois Farm Bureau (1:50 MP3)

Two Neb. Corn Board directors elected to national boards

Two Nebraska Corn Board farm directors have been elected to national boards this week. Jon Holzfaster, the chairman of government affairs for the Nebraska Corn Board, was selected to the National Corn Board during Corn Congress where he will be one of four members who will oversee the National Corn Growers Association. Alan Tiemann, the current chairman for the Nebraska Corn Growers, was re-elected to serve on the U.S. Grains Council Board of Directors.

Cattlemen concerned about cow numbers

At the Cattle Industry Summer Conference in Denver, cattlemen are discussing how to rebuild the nation’s cow herd.

Beef cow numbers in the U.S. have fallen to their lowest level in more than 50 years. Montana rancher Bill Donald, president elect of NCBA, says a combination of factors has led to the decline.

“Every time we have gotten a signal, a market signal, to rebuild we have had a major drought in some portion of the country and so our cow herds just got shifted around from one region to another rather than expanding like we would have liked and what would have been good for the industry,” said Donald.

Donald says rising land values are also a factor.

“The value of land has gotten high and a lot of people have sold their ranches to people that aren’t necessarily ranchers,” said Donald. “While they might lease out a portion of it or somewhat, their numbers are down from that because there are less resources to utilize.”

NCBA responds to CBB allegations

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association has responded to allegations by the Cattlemen’s Beef Board that NCBA may have breached the financial firewall between its policy and checkoff divisions.

During a Thursday morning news conference, NCBA’s CEO Forrest Roberts said his organization goes to great lengths to comply with the firewall.

“NCBA, whether it is a member of our leadership or a member of our staff, would never, never intentionally breach the financial firewall,” said Roberts.

Roberts says just because the beef board’s accountant was unable to determine compliance on select items does not mean that NCBA was not compliant. He says NCBA will work with the beef board and the ag marketing service to understand the written guidelines that are currently being developed.

NCBA President Steve Foglesong says where mistakes were made, corrections will be made. “We will resolve every one of these questions. Where we need to do something, where we need to balance the books we will do that. That’s exactly the way we have always done it before, for the last 20 years, even before the NCBA, back in the NCA days,” he says.” “Everybody just got together, sat down, and wrote the books and made it right.”

Foglesong says audits are nothing new, although this is the first time one’s been made public.

“They are tools to make the check-off and firewall stronger. And every time you do one, you have some lessons that you learn how you can make it better. We made changes from the last one that helped to make it and we will continue to do that. It’s a work in progress and it always will be,” says Foglesong.

NCBA’s CEO Forrest Roberts was asked by a reporter if NCBA is suspicious of the release of the audit details and timing.

“That is a question you should be asking the Cattlemen’s Beef Board,” says Roberts.  “The questions that I want us to focus on are ‘How are we going to make sure that we address any issues within this compliance review?’”

Julie Harker contributed to this report

AUDIO: Steve Foglesong, Forrest Roberts, Scott George (47 min. MP3)

Indiana Master Farmers named

Indiana Prairie Farmer has named the 2010 class of Indiana Master Farmers. Indiana Prairie Farmer Editor Tom Bechman tells Brownfield this year’s class shares leadership skills and very different farming operations.

“Everything from one inventing a hog feeder, to people that have 1,000 acres of vegetables, actually a couple of people involved in really laying the groundwork for the Indiana Corn Marketing Council, plus one of the outstanding wildlife, natural resource promoters, farmer in the state,” said Bechman. “It’s a well rounded, talented group when you put them all together.”

AUDIO: Tom Bechman, editor, Indiana Prairie Farmer (2:45 MP3)

This year’s Master Farmers include Ray McCormick of Knox County, Mike Shuter of Madison County, Keith Berry of Putnam County and David and Mary Howell of Henry County, Tom Bauman, weed scientist at Purdue University was named Honorary Master Farmer.

Ray McCormick of Vincennes, Indiana has a diverse operation that includes, no-till corn and soybeans and peaches. Ray does wetlands work and has been interested in migratory bird habitat, in the winter the McCormick’s operate a water fowl hunting business. In addition to the farm, Ray has been active in conservation and has been able to tie those activities back to the Knox County farm. Ray lives on the farm his great-grandfather started.

AUDIO: Ray McCormick, Vincennces (4:05 MP3)

Mike Shuter of Madison County farms 3000 acres and has a both cattle and hogs. They added hogs when Mike’s sons were getting out of college. His father and grandfather started raising purebred Red Poll cattle back in the 1940’s. Mike has been active in both the state and national corn grower’s organizations, currently serving as chairman of the Indiana Corn Marketing Council.

AUDIO: Mike Shuter, Frankton (5:00 MP3)

Keith Berry of Putnam County farms with his son Brian, they operate a farm started by Keith’s father. Today’s farm includes 1300 acres and 135 sow, farrow to finish hog operation. Keith feels fortunate to have the opportunity to farm with Brian, he describes it, “as one of the bright spots.” Outside the farm, Keith has been active in the pork producers, serving in 1996 as President of the Indiana Pork Producers and then in 2004, Keith served as President of the National Pork Producers Council.

AUDIO: Keith Berry, Greencastle (6:10 MP3)

David and Mary Howell started farming in 1971, raising corn, soybeans and hogs. Today there aren’t any hogs but there are vegetables, tomatoes and pumpkins. Three of the 4 Howell children are involved in the farm. Mary says each family member has a distinct responsibility in the operation. Their oldest son, Aaron runs the farming operation in Brazil, which Mary describes as the evolution of farming. Mary is a registered nurse and had planned on being a Missionary, but then David came along. David and Mary believe that their family has an even better opportunity farming that they did when it all began. Both are humbled being named an Indiana Master Farmer, and Mary says she appreciates being called a “farmer.”

AUDIO: David and Mary Howell, Middletown (9:40 MP3)

The 2010 Honorary Master Farmer is Tom Bauman whose career spanned a number of years in weed science at Purdue University. Over the years, Tom has seen a number of changes take place from the use of pounds of product being used to ounces. When Tom was getting started it was just the beginning of biotechnology and he believes there are still plenty of opportunities for those interested in weeds.

AUDIO: Tom Bauman, Purdue University (5:30 MP3)

ICMC directors seeking re-election

Five Indiana corn farmers currently serving as directors on the Indiana Corn Marketing Council (ICMC) are running for re-election, John Whaley in District 1, Gary Lamie in District 4, and Dennis Whitsitt in District 7. Also seeking re-election is Ronnie Mohr of Greenfield and Michael Nichols of Rockport, both hold At-Large seats on the ICMC.

Voting will take place at County Extension offices August 9 through August 20. Absentee ballots are available at County Extension offices or by contacting Melanie Batalis, ICMC program manager, absentee ballots are available until August 4, 2010.

District 1 counties include Benton, Jasper, Lake, LaPorte, Newton, Porter, Pulaski, Starke, and White.

District 4 counties include Clay, Fountain, Montgomery, Owen, Parke, Putnam, Tippecanoe, Vermillion, Vigo, and Warren.

District 7 counties include Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Greene, Knox, Martin, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Sullivan, Vanderburgh, and Warrick.

The At-Large seats represent the entire state.

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