Ag News for America
Tom Steever interviews Scott Erickson of Syngenta at NAFB Trade Talk, Nov. 8, 2012.
Scott Erickson leads Syngenta’s product management group and tells Brownfield Ag News that there are a lot of things that can rob soybeans of yield. Given today’s economic environment, there is a lot of potential return from high yielding soybeans. Erickson cites as an example Cruiser Maxx treated seeds. “That’s what we want to do,” said Erickson, “deliver more yield at the end of the year.”
Sarah Fox with Agrium at NAFB Trade Talk, Nov. 8, 2012.
It’s known as Smart Nitrogen. Agrium’s ESN is controlled-release technology that delivers nitrogen to crops all through the growing season. Sarah Fox works on sustainability initiatives for Agrium and told Brownfield Ag News that ESN helps crops reach their full potential and helps producers make the most of their N investment.
Ryan Schaefer of Case IH at NAFB Trade Talk, Nov. 8, 2012.
The Case Steiger Rowtrac tractors are designed with input from producers. Case IH high horsepower tractor marketing manager Ryan Schaefer says that after months of demonstrating the machines, it’s also getting good reviews. Schaefer told Brownfield Ag News that with the size and power demands of implements growing, the Rowtrac machines are needed. They range in horsepower from 350 to 450 and are track driven, but in a row crop configuration.
Dr. Marc Cambpell
Bovine respiratory disease is the biggest killer of cattle, and at a hefty price too — about $800 to $900 million a year. It’s important to prevent it, but if cattle get it, it’s important they be treated. “One of the good things about it is it’s works so quickly,” said Dr. Marc Campbell of Merial Veterinary Services, referring to the company’s newest anti-microbial, Zactran. A half-hour after injection, Zactran is in the lungs doing its job. Producers can also learn about how important timing is in deworming cattle at truthaboutdeworming.com.
Keith Yearout manages a bison ranch in Kansas
There are several enticements for raising bison. The National Bison Association refers to them as the “Bison Advantage”. There’s no need for an artificial shelter, such as a barn, etc. Bison are happier out in the elements. They convert feed efficiently. Bison have a long productive life and cows calve on their own. Bison are extremely hardy animals that are disease resistant, which also saves on veterinary and medical costs. The animals have been around a long time and thrive in most American landscapes. And Keith Yearout, who manages a bison ranch in Kansas, says more people are being sought to raise them. “We can’t meet the demand,” Yearout told Brownfield in a recent interview. Prices reflect that.
Dave Carter at NAFB Trade Talk
There’s a simple reason that people should consider getting into the bison business, consumers have discovered and are seeking it, according to Dave Carter, executive director of the National Bison Association. Carter has long preached about high nutritional value and great taste of bison meat. He concedes that while people bought the good nutrition, they were somewhat skeptical about taste until they found out for themselves. “Once they’ve taken their first taste, they’re saying, ‘my, this really is great tasting; where can I find some more?’” Now, says Carter, there’s more demand than there is meat available. That’s why he’s seeking people to raise bison. It’s no small task, but rewards are significant.
Chris Batdorf of John Deere at NAFB Trade Talk
“The John Deere Farm Site Strategy is the equipment, the technology and the dealer value added services that all go together to deliver a total customer solution for every one of our large ag producers,” said Chris Batdorf, product marketing manager for the John Deere Intelligent Solutions Group. A recent example is the company’s remote support initiative, which according to Batdorf, allows remote service, increasing profitability.
Four individuals were honored with the Missouri Farm Bureau Outstanding Service to Agriculture Award during that organization’s annual convention at the Lake of the Ozarks.
The award is the highest honor bestowed to an individual by the state’s largest farm organization. These individuals have a close working relationship with Farm Bureau and have supported agriculture throughout their careers. This year those added to this select group include: Glen Klippenstein, state representative and cattle farmer; Daryl Oldvader, FCS Financial chief executive officer; Bill Jackson, Brunswick River Terminal co-owner and Brunswick AGRIServices manager; and, Dan Reed, Missouri Farm Bureau videographer.
A brief biography of each was provided by the Missouri Farm Bureau.
Missouri Farm Bureau Outstanding Service to Agriculture winner Glen Klippenstein.
Glen Klippenstein is a state representative and former state senator from Maysville, Mo., but he is best known in the beef industry. Klippenstein has sold over 7,000 bulls and 7,500 females, semen and embryos in all 50 states and 22 countries. His rural roots began in Saskatchewan, Canada, where he was born on his grandparent’s homestead. He has been a presidential appointee to the Federal Ag Mortgage Corporation Board, chair of the National Beef Promotion and Research Board, and director of the National Cattlemen’s Association. Thanks to his stature in the industry, Klippenstein is a sought-out speaker, having filled over 1,000 speaking invitations. He has judged many national, regional and state cattle shows in the U.S. and four other countries. Klippenstein and his wife, Linda, have four adult children, one of which serves as Senator Roy Blunt’s deputy chief of staff. The couple has eight grandchildren.
Missouri Farm Bureau Outstanding Service to Agriculture winner Daryl Oldvader.
Daryl Oldvader is retiring at the end of the year after 40 years with FCS Financial. Thirty-six of those years have been as chief executive officer. During that time Oldvader has served on numerous Farm Credit Bank committees and other state and national boards. More notable committees he has been a part of are the Governor’s Task Force on 21st Century Agriculture and the Governor’s Advisory Council on Agriculture. He is currently on the Vice Chancellor’s Leadership Council for the University of Missouri College of Agriculture where he was named Alumnus of the Year in 2002. Oldvader is a fourth generation farmer with farm roots in the Brunswick, Mo., area.
Missouri Farm Bureau Outstanding Service to Agriculture winner Bill Jackson.
Bill Jackson has become the go-to source on Missouri River issues. Since 1977, he has been a co-owner of the Brunswick River Terminal and since 1988 part-owner of Mendon Feed and Grain. He manages AGRIServices of Brunswick and is president of Missouri River Towing. His experience has put him on the boards of the Missouri River Waterways Council, Missouri Levee and Drainage District Association and the Missouri-Arkansas River Basin Association. But, outside of river-related interests, he is also sought. Jackson is a member of the Agricultural Leadership of Tomorrow Foundation and this year was appointed to an expanded Missouri Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture Board. He came to Missouri from Indiana, where he received a master’s degree in animal science from Purdue University. Jackson and his wife reside in Marshall, Mo. They have two grown children and seven grandchildren.
Missouri Farm Bureau Outsanding Service to Agriculture winner Dan Reed.
Dan Reed has produced a multitude of video projects for Missouri Farm Bureau since becoming the organization’s video producer in September 1987. Known to his colleagues as a perfectionist in his work, Reed has traveled the state capturing the story of agriculture for others to learn about and enjoy. Before his work at Farm Bureau, Reed was television announcer, producer, director and program manager. He once hosted a children’s program on a Jefferson City television station. Reed is the father of five and has four grandchildren. He and his wife, Jeanie, reside in Jefferson City.
The new Wisconsin State Legislature will get down to work in January with a number of issues to deal with including the new state budget. Paul Zimmerman is Executive Director of Governmental Relations for the Wisconsin Farm Bureau, he says one has to keep in mind, more than half of the 99 members in the State Assembly are in their first or second term, and given the tumultuous situation at the state capitol two years ago, this will be the first “normal” budget process for these representatives.
Zimmerman says while the state is expecting a slight increase in revenue this year, the demand for extra funding is going to be great from education to transportation and beyond.
Missouri’s Farm Bureau President began his second term Tuesday. Blake Hurst’s re-election Tuesday was unanimous and unopposed, which is not unusual in the Missouri Farm Bureau, but the election capped a couple of days of discussions about policy that wrapped earlier than expected.
The sense from the delegate body, according to Garret Hawkins, legislative director for the Missouri Farm Bureau, is that to delegates, there are a lot of policies, whether it’s the farm bill or estate tax reform and ultimately repeal, that continue to languish in Washington.
“They want something done,” Hawkins told Brownfield Ag News on Tuesday, as the Missouri Farm Bureau convention came to a close. “They’re tired of things just being idled in D.C. and they want to see a finale to the farm bill and so on…really they want some action.”
Delegates didn’t see a need for major changes to policy at the federal level, because the issues remain the same, said Hawkins. “They’re still on the burner for us.”
Significantly during policy formation, the Missouri Farm Bureau decided to maintain their support of the renewable fuel standard (RFS), the federal mandate to produce specific minimum amounts of renewable liquid vehicle fuel.
“There was a clear motion made on the floor to basically oppose or do away with the renewable fuels standard, which was probably good to have a clear and direct motion or an amendment offered so that there could be debate,” said Hawkins. “It was soundly defeated.”
The decision to maintain support for the standard is essentially the recognition that it’s not the RFS, but instead the drought, that’s creating the situation of high crop prices and hurting livestock producers, said Hawkins.
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