Monday December 9th Ag News

Cuming County Spreader Demo Day

Wednesday December 18th, 11:00am-4:00pm
Location: 7 miles west of West Point on Hwy 32 at Pat Meiergerd’s farm (bean field on North side of road)

•Dinner from 11:00-12:30 (prepared by the Cuming Co. Feeders & Graybeals)
•Short presentation from Spreader Representatives 12:30-1:30
•Demonstration of spreaders 1:30-3:00
•Customer questions 3:00-4:00

All regional manufacturers were invited to this demo day.  Confirmed companies include:  Tebbe from Greenfield Solutions, Sioux Automation, Hagedorn Hydro-Push from Mid States Equipment, Bunning from Onken Feedlots, Roda from K&R, Rief Manufacturing and MMI from Iron Wagon Truck and Equipment.  

They’ll be demonstrating several types of manure (slop, dry, frozen) in addition to processing corn stalk bales.



NEBFARMPAC Endorses Chuck Hassebrook for Governor in Democratic Primary

Nebraska Farmers Union’s Political Action Committee, NEBFARMPAC, announced its unanimous endorsement of Chuck Hassebrook for election to Governor in the Democratic Primary.

Gale Lush of Wilcox, NEBFARMPAC President said, "Chuck Hassebrook has been a member of Nebraska Farmers Union for over 30 years.  Over that time Chuck Hassebrook has been a champion on family farm agriculture, rural development, and renewable energy issues.  His distinguished service as University of Nebraska Regent for the past 18 years, and his decades of service at the Center for Rural Affairs give him a well-known and solid track record on our issues.”

John Hansen, NEBFARMPAC Secretary said, “Chuck Hassebrook is up to speed on the issues that family farmers, ranchers, and rural Nebraskans face in their daily lives.  In addition to being knowledgeable on our issues, he is open, accessible, a good listener, and has a positive track record working with a wide range of groups and being able to find common ground.  He is a creative problem solver.  Chuck Hassebrook has both the experience and the vision to help rural Nebraska realize our tremendous potential in renewable energy development.  Given all the challenges rural Nebraskans face, our state needs a champion for our state’s largest single industry, agriculture including ethanol and wind energy development.”

NEBFARMPAC is the political action committee of the Nebraska Farmers Union, which is a non-partisan, not-for-profit general farm organization, founded in 1913 with a mission is to protect and enhance the quality of life and economic well-being of family farmers and ranchers and their rural communities.  NEFU is the respected voice of family farm and ranch agriculture with more than 6,200 family memberships.



Talking with Millennials on Facebook about beef’s benefits
Kim Brackett, Cattlemen’s Beef Board vice chair and beef producer from Idaho, says the checkoff has invested in market research to better understand millennials — those consumers between the ages of 20 and 34 and now the largest generation.  While you and Kim are managing your operations, your checkoff is reaching this technology-savvy generation of consumers through all types of social and online media.

Brackett says, “With our decreased checkoff collections and with our new target audience we have – our millennials - most millinnials gather their information digitally through technology. Most have smart phones or tablets or they get their information on their computers. So the checkoff has made sure that we have a web presence, a strong web presence – we’re looking at smart phone apps and we have online recipes, we’ve even strengthened our own ‘Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.’ website.”

Kim herself is into social media sites and maintains a personal blog, BeefMatters.org.  She says,  “I have a blog and I get a lot of comments and emails from people asking questions. Being able to answer those questions, to me, has been a huge win.”

Kim says she has seen checkoff programs in action.  “I have been amazed at the scope of programs that the checkoff works on. I am amazed at the different messaging points that we have with our consumers from advertising, retail, also into foreign markets back into animal handling. The checkoff is a touch point in so many areas. I’ve been out there with consumers and I’ve talked to them and I’ve seen the checkoff’s impact on their beef purchasing habits.”

For more about your beef checkoff investment, visit MyBeefCheckoff.com.



RFS COMMENT PERIOD AN OPPORTUNITY FOR IOWANS TO BE HEARD
Bill Northey, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture

The Obama administration’s recent proposal to significantly reduce the amount of clean-burning renewable fuels that must be included in the fuel supply in 2014 is a shocking capitulation to Big Oil that threatens to significantly damage our state’s economy, puts consumers at risk through higher prices at the pump and would hurt the environment.

The renewable fuels standard (RFS) was passed with strong bipartisan support to promote the development of a domestic renewable fuels industry.  It requires an increasing amount of renewable fuels to be included in nation’s fuel supply, and it has worked extremely well.

Consumers have seen significant savings at the pump as renewable fuels have helped hold down the price of both gasoline and diesel.  A study by Iowa State University and the University of Wisconsin found that in 2010, domestic ethanol production helped keep gasoline prices $0.89 lower per gallon than they otherwise would have been.

In addition, Iowa farmers, businesses and communities have invested heavily to support the development of the renewable fuels industry to help meet the standard and have seen tremendous benefits from having these facilities in their communities.

Iowa is fortunate to lead the nation in the production of ethanol and biodiesel with 42 ethanol refineries capable of producing over 3.8 billion gallons annually and 12 biodiesel refineries with a combined annual capacity of over 315 million gallons.  We also have three cellulosic ethanol facilities under construction, all of which are associated with an existing corn ethanol plant.

Unfortunately, EPA’s proposal would move us backward on both the ethanol and biodiesel requirements for 2014.  Specifically, the proposal lowers the “corn ethanol” level from 13.8 billion gallons in 2013 to only 13 billion gallons in 2014 and freezes the biodiesel level at 1.28 billion gallons despite the fact the biodiesel industry is currently operating at an annualized rate of 2 billion gallons.

The renewable fuels industry has the capacity to produce well beyond the levels set by the EPA.  What they need now is fair access to the fuel distribution system, which is unfortunately controlled by the Big Oil companies.

In their opposition to the RFS, Big Oil refer to the “blend wall,” which is their effort to limit renewable fuels to just 10 percent of the fuel supply.  This artificial ceiling is just another effort by the oil industry to prevent more lower-priced, clean-burning renewable fuels from entering the fuel supply.  In fact, there are lots of opportunities for higher ethanol blends.  The vast majority of cars, all of those made since 2001, can run on E15 (15 percent ethanol) and many cars, those that are flex-fuel, can run on E85 (85 percent ethanol).

It makes me scratch my head that an administration so focused on climate change would take action to limit access to renewable fuels that have been shown to significantly reduce greenhouse gas and other harmful emissions.

The oil industry wants to limit the fuel choices for consumers and keep them buying their high-price, non-renewable petroleum based fuels.  It is wrong for the EPA to support them.

The EPA is currently accepting comments on the proposed changes and it is extremely important that Iowans take the time to comment and express their opposition to the EPA’s proposal.  Comments can be submitted online at www.regulations.gov or via email at a-and-r-docket@epa.gov.  All comments should reference Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2013-0479.

Iowa is fortunate to have a Governor who understands the importance of the renewable fuels industry and has created a website, ProtecttheRFS.com where you can sign a petition encouraging the EPA to support clean-burning, homegrown renewable fuels.

Now is the time to be heard.  The renewable fuels standard needs to be protected and it is important that we as Iowans stand up and let the EPA know we don’t want to be held over a barrel by Big Oil.



“FUELING OUR FUTURE” FUNDS AVAILABLE TO INCREASE USE OF HIGHER BLENDS OF ETHANOL AND BIODIESEL

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today encouraged Iowa petroleum retailers interested in participating in the “Fueling our Future” pilot project to consider applying for cost share funding.  A total of $250,000 in federal funds are available through the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Board to support projects that will increase the usage of higher blends of both ethanol and biodiesel.

“The renewable fuels industry has been a great asset to Iowa’s economy and making higher blends of renewable fuels will give customers greater access to clean burning, home-grown renewable fuels,” Branstad said.  “It is important we help create opportunities for customers to see the benefits of higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel.”

The Fueling Our Future pilot project is designed to reduce particulate matter (PM-2.5) vehicle emissions by increasing the use of higher blends of bio-based fuels, specifically ethanol and biodiesel.  Applications must be submitted by Feb. 7, 2014 and will be reviewed by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program board of directors at their quarterly meeting later that month.

All Iowa petroleum retailers offering fuel to the general public are eligible to apply.  Applicants must provide a minimum 50% match and the total assistance available is capped at $250,000 of matching federal funds.  Funds will be targeted equally to the most outstanding proposal focused on bio-diesel (B-5 blends and higher) and ethanol (especially E-30).  A single proposal that includes both of these bio-renewable products on the same site could be selected.

“Iowa is fortunate to have many fuel retailers committed to renewable fuels and this pilot program is an exciting opportunity for them to demonstrate their ideas for creating a modern fueling site focused on higher blends of renewable fuels,” Northey said.  “Higher blends of both ethanol and biodiesel have the potential to bring significant benefits to consumers, the environment and our rural economy and I’m excited to see the proposals that come forward.”

Applicants may also be eligible for grants through the current Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program which awards up to $50,000 – or 70% of total installation costs toward ethanol and biodiesel installations.

Applicants should be aware that there will be a significant research component for this pilot project. Data collected will be assessed and used to assist with determining optimal market effectiveness of mid-level renewable fuel blends. As a result, fuel sales data from the selected site will be required and in the event of the conversion of a current retail fueling site, data access to previous sales volume will be requested.  Access to the site for consumer surveys will be required.

All applicants will need to complete the formal application for the project and will need to attach a short project outline.  Applicants may also be asked to present on their proposal at the Board’s February meeting.

A copy of the application and additional information can be found at www.IowaAgriculture.gov by clicking on the “Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program” link under “Hot Topics.”  For more information, interested parties can also contact Harold Hommes with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship at Harold.Hommes@IowaAgriculture.gov or by calling 515-242-6237.



FY 2014 Exports Forecast at $137.0 Billion; Imports at a Record $109.5 Billion
(USDA Economic Research Service)

Fiscal 2014 agricultural exports are forecast at $137 billion, up $2.0 billion from the August forecast but $3.9 billion below fiscal 2013’s record high. Compared with the August forecast, grain and feed exports are forecast down $700 million, mostly due to lower unit values for wheat and certain feed products. The fiscal 2014 forecast for oilseed exports is up $2.4 billion on higher unit values and record early-season sales of soybeans and soybean meal. Cotton exports are forecast down $700 million this quarter as market reactions to expected changes in China’s reserve policy have resulted in lower prices. Horticultural exports are unchanged at a record $34.5 billion. The forecast for combined livestock, poultry, and dairy is raised $700 million to a record $31.8 billion on higher pork, dairy, and beef exports.

U.S. agricultural imports are forecast at a record $109.5 billion, down $3.7 billion from August, but $5.7 billion higher than in fiscal 2013. Increases in import value are expected for most products in 2014, with the largest gains in horticultural products and sugar and tropical products. The U.S. agricultural trade surplus is expected to fall by $9.6 billion in fiscal 2014, to $27.5 billion. This would be the smallest surplus       since 2009.



Industry Leaders Discuss Improved Testing of Liming Materials to Better Predict Soil pH Change

On 12 November 2013, members of the U.S. agricultural lime industry met near Iowa State University to discuss improving the measurement of limestone reactivity to better predict pH changes in soils.  The goal of this conference was to compare current practices with other developed methodologies to determine if there are opportunities to improve measuring limestone reactivity in soils among a variety of liming materials.  Research has shown that optimizing soil pH levels can help producers improve their yields while lowering environmental impacts in support of the Nutrient Management Strategy.  In attendance were key leaders from the lime industry, academia and USDA.

Reactivity testing describes the capacity of agricultural lime to raise soil pH.  Accurate testing methods for lime reactivity are essential for determining how much and how often liming materials should be applied. "The current method for determining the capacity of an agricultural liming material to change pH deserves re-evaluation, as the full effect of a material's degree of fineness may be understated. A related issue that also deserves re-evaluation is the equations used to prescribe the amount of lime needed to raise pH to a desired level." stated Dr. Antonio Mallarino, Professor, Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management, at Iowa State University. 

According to conference presenters, current U.S. methods for testing liming material reactivity involve strong acids that may not reflect how they behave in soil environments.  The methods are quick and repeatable, but the accuracy of these methods to describe a given material's behavior in soil is unknown. It may be possible that the neutralizing capacity determined by these methods overestimates the actual reactivity of liming materials in the soil, which indicates the need for further investigation of improved methods.  Further, current methods that don't predict soil-based reactivity with accuracy are not compatible with advancements in precision ag technology.

Keynote speaker, Dr. Hans-Siegfreid Grunwaldt, from the University of Applied Science in Kiel, Germany, has spent the last 40 years investigating the reactivity of lime materials based on their chemical composition and how they react in soil to better predict impacts on soil pH, which has obvious implications on long term soil health and nutrient utilization.

Grunwaldt's research team has proven that the lime score currently used in the U.S. is not transferrable from lime source to lime source.  In other words, using the lime scoring method does not accurately show the effectiveness of a particular lime material to change soil pH under field conditions.  Based on his work, it was clear that conducting a reactivity/dissolution test with a weak acid that may more accurately portray a soil environment improves the assessment of a lime material's ability to change soil pH in the field.

"Research has shown that the most important factors when liming are your pH goal, material source, its particle size, and placement in the field," said Dr. Andrew Hoiberg, Director of Research and Development at Calcium Products. "There's a wide range of purity between various types of limestone and their ability to dissolve in the soil solution. We know that smaller particles react faster in the soil, but the overall reactivity is still very dependent on the source of the material."

Dr. Dan Olk, Research Soil Scientist with the USDA-ARS National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment reported that the current U.S. lime methods only measure the potential reactivity.  These methods appear unlikely to tell the grower the rate of reactivity of agricultural lime materials based on the chemical composition of the limestone, soil type and soil pH.  By contrast, reactivity-based test methods could inform producers how quickly a specific lime source will actually react to increase soil pH.  Successful implementation of such methods would allow growers to make better use of fertilizer inputs and reduce excess nutrients lost to the environment.

"We need to look at lime reactivity differently to understand how lime really reacts in the soil. We know that not all lime behaves the same across all soil," stated Dr. Jerry L. Hatfield, Director of the USDA-ARS National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment.  "We want to know that when a lime is used that it really translates to an increased benefit in yield, and ultimately, how the reactivity affect soil processes that have downstream environmental impacts."

The conference was put together to bring the liming industry, academia, and the USDA together to join forces that will affect change in the way liming materials are evaluated and marketed. Conference coordinators and agricultural lime industry representatives are working to schedule similar conferences in other regions of the world.  Presentations can be found at www.reactivelime.org .

"At the end of the day it's about making a good recommendation to producers, stated Dr. Antonio Mallarino, Professor, Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management, at Iowa State University.



Biofuel Tax Credit Extension Sought

More than 60 advanced biofuel companies and four leading trade organizations on Monday wrote to leaders of the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees, encouraging Congress to extend tax provisions set to expire at the end of this month that they deem critical for the renewables industry.

The Advanced Ethanol Council, Advanced Biofuel Association, Algae Biomass Organization and Biotechnology Industry Organization delivered the letter to Reps. Dave Camp, R-Mich.; Sander Levin, D-Mich.; Sens. Max Baucus, D-Mont.; and Orrin Hatch, R-Utah; on behalf of 63 member companies.

"The advanced biofuels industry is at a critical stage of development. The industry has made great strides in reducing the cost of production and developing first-of-kind technologies and bio-refining operations to deploy the most innovative fuel in the world. In a difficult financial market, we are now operating commercial plants all across the country and continue to make progress on dozens of additional projects in the final stages of development. As was the case with the conventional biofuels industry, these groundbreaking production processes can be replicated rather quickly once the technology is proven at commercial scale," the organizations and companies wrote.

Three tax credits are slated to expire by the end of this year including:

The Second Generation Biofuel Producer Tax credit expires Dec. 31, allowing up to $1.01 gallon of second generation biofuel that is sold or used for motor vehicle fuel. If the second-generation biofuel mixture also qualifies for alcohol fuel tax credits, the credit amount is 46.0 cents per gallon for ethanol and 41.0 cents per gallon for fuel that is not ethanol. Second-generation biofuels are defined as liquid fuel produced from lignocellulolsic or hemicellulosic matter that is available on a renewable basis or any cultivated algae, cyanobacteria or lemna.

The Second Generation Plant Depreciation Deduction Allowance, for any second generation biofuels placed into service between Dec. 20, 2006, and the end of this year may be eligible for an additional depreciation tax deduction equal to 50% of the adjusted basis of the property.

Finally, at the start of the year, Congress approved The Biodiesel and Renewable Diesel Tax Credit for 2013, authorizing the U.S. Treasury to reinstate a blender's credit for the biodiesel industry for 2013 that expired at the end of 2011 while making it retroactive for 2012. The credit pays $1 gallon for blending biodiesel and renewable diesel, also advanced biofuels, into petroleum-based diesel fuel. The credit expires Dec. 31.

Since these three credits are "vital to the ongoing development of the domestic advanced biofuels industry," the groups further urged the members of Congress to extend current tax provisions for multiple years to ensure stability in the marketplace.

The letter continued, "Accelerated depreciation allowances, technology specific deductions and production-related tax credits are currently offered to incumbent fossil energy industries on a permanent basis. As such, similar tax provisions made available to the advanced and cellulosic biofuels industry level the playing field with fossil fuels and are critical to our efforts to compete for project capital given that these types of incentives are available to our primary competitors."



NEW RESEARCH REVEALS INSIGHTS ON CONSUMER DEMANDS FOR TRANSPARENCY ON FOOD

Transparency in the food industry is a growing topic of conversation and, in order to continue to effectively communicate with consumers about the food they grow and raise, the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance® (USFRA®) conducted research to hone in on the topic of food transparency, specifically how important it is to American consumers. 
According to the survey, food transparency is very important. Fifty-nine percent of respondents report it is extremely important (rated it as an 8-10 on a 10 point scale) for grocery stores and restaurants to provide information about the way the food they sell is grown and raised. And over 50 percent say they want more information than they are currently getting.
The good news is that farmers and ranchers across the country have the information consumers are asking for. However, it needs to be shared.
“The call for transparency from the American consumer is real,” said Katie Pratt, an Illinois farmer and one of USFRA’s Faces of Farming and Ranching. “However, as an agriculture community, we have the tools, the real-life experiences and the stories to share with those who purchase the food we grow and raise.  And we can continue to increase consumer confidence in our great systems of American agriculture.”
“Information about how a food product was grown and raised is important for consumers. It’s almost as important as the price,” said Bob Stallman, President, American Farm Bureau Federation and USFRA Chairman. “The research found that when asked which is more important when making purchasing decisions, how much a food item costs or how much information is available about how it was grown or raised, 45 percent of total survey respondents chose information and 55 percent chose cost. That is significant.”
Not only is the statistic significant, but it is not going away any time soon. In fact, the research found that younger shoppers (ages 21-29) are more likely to purchase one food item over another based on which item includes more information about its origin. And, the findings show that most consumers do not believe they are currently provided enough information about food when making purchasing
The research findings encourage a shift in how the agriculture community can think about transparency; this can happen through a transition to “Transparency 2.0.” For the American consumer, trust in the agriculture community is based in truth and all farmers and ranchers have a narrative to share. There is a truthful and transparent story to tell in how all farmers and ranchers grow and raise food.
For more information on “Transparency 2.0” and the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance, as well as to join in the conversation of how food is grown and raised in the U.S. today, visit www.FoodDialogues.com.



Promoting Food Security, Facilitating Competition, Enhancing Exports

Agriculture and trade in agricultural goods support families and communities around the world – and agriculture is a key part of almost every World Trade Organization Member’s trade.   The new multilateral agreement struck by the WTO Membership at the 9th Ministerial Conference in Bali, Indonesia takes important steps to address some key issues with regard to agricultural trade.

The United States has put food security – including increasing the productivity and trade of agricultural products – front and center on the global development agenda.  This commitment of the United States to enhancing global food security has been enshrined in efforts from the L’Aquila initiative, which mobilized over $20 billion for food security, to the Feed the Future initiative to the New Alliance on Food Security and Nutrition.   In the WTO, the United States has been highlighting and discouraging the use of trade distorting policies that can undermine the food security of other nations.  Because of the trade-distorting nature of market price supports to farmers, the WTO has clear criteria and limits on such support, including when farmers are offered an administered price for crops used as part of a program of public stockholding of food.  But a number of developing countries utilize this type of support to create stockpiles of staple foods for feeding programs, and spending on these programs has increased.  A new decision by WTO Members will now provide developing country Members who may be in danger of breaching their domestic support limits for these programs freedom from legal challenge, to give them time to bring their policies in line with their WTO commitments.  But the United States worked to ensure that this freedom from challenge is only available to Members if their programs do not distort trade, and if they meet certain transparency conditions to share the details of their support mechanisms.

Export competition in the WTO covers ag export subsidies, ag export credits, food aid, and the operation of agricultural exporting state trading enterprises (STEs).  WTO export competition rules aim to preserve well-functioning markets by facilitating competition amongst market actors. The new Ministerial decision on export competition will require transparency to help Members understand how their trading partners are proceeding toward this commitment; this is most meaningful with regard to state trading enterprises, where transparency is currently limited. The MC9 export competition result also ensures a balanced approach across all forms of export competition, including export subsidies, export credits, food aid, and STEs.  A key priority for the United States, it also provides an important impetus for Members to resume the WTO agriculture negotiations, addressing the other pillars of these negotiations – market access and domestic support – along with export competition.

WTO Members have also reached an understanding on the administration of Tariff Rate Quotas (TRQ) that facilitates increased opportunities for U.S. farmers, ranchers, workers, and food processors to enhance exports to a number of WTO Member countries, including the European Union, Japan, Norway, and Switzerland.  This understanding provides American agricultural producers more market access by addressing the issue of chronically low fill rates in Members’ WTO bound TRQs.  Further, the Understanding provides an increased level of transparency regarding how Members are filling their TRQs.



WTO Bali Ministerial Provides Pathway to Post-Doha Round

Following difficult negotiating sessions, World Trade Organization (WTO) members agreed to adopt multilateral agreements on efforts to reduce barriers at borders as well as several agricultural provisions. U.S. Grains Council Director of Trade Policy Floyd Gaibler was on the scene defending the interests of U.S. feed grains and co-product producers.

"Trade facilitation measures that reduce transaction costs and red tape should improve overall trade benefits, including agriculture related products,” Gaibler said.

WTO members established an interim food security program that will allow countries with existing food stockholding programs to continue to operate those existing programs even if they exceed or will result in exceeding their allowable domestic subsidies for an interim period until a final agreement is reached.

"While the agreement sets a target for reaching a final solution in four years at the 11th WTO Ministerial, it is not a binding duration."

Gaibler went on to say, however, that the agreement requires strong transparency and safeguard provisions, including protections to ensure that the operation of food stockholding programs will not distort trade or food security of other countries.

"Importantly, countries will be allowed to participate in the work program to ensure that the transparency and safeguard provisions are met, and they will have input in development of a permanent solution," he said.

An agreement was also reached on provisions that will improve the administration of tariff rate quotas and reconfirm the commitment to complete elimination of export subsidies and reductions in export guarantee programs that were agreed to at the 2005 Hong Kong Ministerial.

Gaibler concluded by saying, "Most importantly, the 9th Ministerial agreement provides a pathway for broader post-Doha multilateral negotiations. These will encompass the remaining agricultural pillars—domestic subsidies and market access—that have been delayed since the suspension of the Doha negotiations in 2008."



Animated REAL® Seal Character DairyUS Encourages Holiday Use of Real Dairy Foods

’Tis the season to enjoy real dairy products such as butter, cheese, whipped cream, and eggnog, according to DairyUS, the animated character based on the iconic REAL® Seal logo, who shares that perspective in a new video that was released today by the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF).

Visitors to the REAL® Seal website www.realseal.com will be greeted by an animated DairyUS throughout the holiday season. Flying over snowy rooftops in a sleigh pulled by festive dairy cows instead of reindeer, DairyUS and his industrious little elf remind consumers that December is the perfect time to incorporate real dairy products into their holiday recipes.

DairyUS was created earlier this year to help a new generation of consumers distinguish between genuine U.S. dairy products and a growing list of list of imitations. A contest was held in the fall to select his name, with the winner being announced at NMPF’s annual meeting in Phoenix last month. In addition to his presence on the REAL® Seal website, he also has made appearances on the REAL® Seal Facebook page as well.

“DairyUS will help both kids and adults learn about foods made with real dairy products,” NMPF’s incoming President & CEO Jim Mulhern explained. “The REAL® Seal means a product is a real dairy product, made with milk from cows on U.S. dairy farms and without imported, imitation, or substitute ingredients. That’s an important distinction consumers can make when they’re browsing the grocery store aisles.”

The animated character has already appeared in other short videos this year. He will continue to do so in 2014 to highlight topical and seasonal events, such as holidays and sporting events, providing consumers with easy tips to incorporate more real dairy foods into their everyday meals.



Registration opens for country’s largest organic farming conference

Registration is open now for the 25th MOSES Organic Farming Conference, which takes place Feb. 27 through March 1 at the La Crosse Center in La Crosse, Wis.

This is the 25th anniversary of the MOSES Conference, which is put on by the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES). MOSES is marking the occasion with contests, awards, historical exhibits and an anniversary celebration on Friday evening during the conference.

The first conference in 1990, the year the federal government established the National Organic Standards, included 90 participants. Today, this annual event has more than 3,000 participants, and is the country’s largest conference for farmers, educators, researchers, and professionals involved in organic and sustainable agriculture.

“The growth of the conference over the past 25 years mirrors the growing interest in organic food and sustainable farming,” said Faye Jones, MOSES Executive Director. “Some people come to the conference to see what ‘organic’ is about, and what it would take for them to switch to organic production. Others say they wouldn’t miss it because this is where they come to get energized for the growing season.”

The conference features 65 workshops, 10 pre-conference all-day courses, more than 170 trade show exhibitors, nationally known keynote speakers, and—something unique to this conference—all organic food.

The new MOSES Conference App provides details about workshops, presenters, the Exhibit Hall, and more. Users can create personal schedules and interact with others at the conference. The free app is available for all mobile devices and desktop browsers. To learn more, see mosesorganic.org/conference/app.

This year’s keynote presenters are best-selling author and sustainable food advocate Anna Lappé, “renegade” farmer and permaculture guru Mark Shepard, and journalist Alan Guebert, who writes the syndicated ag column “The Farm and Food File.”

Workshops at the MOSES Conference fall into a number of farming categories, such as livestock, field crops, and market farming, plus broader categories like business and environmental issues. A track of workshops is geared specifically for beginning farmers under the banner of New Organic Stewards. The conference also highlights current research in organic and sustainable agriculture through a workshop track and poster sessions.

Registration is available online at mosesorganic.org/conference, by mail, or through the mobile app. See the MOSES website (mosesorganic.org) or call 715-778-5775 for more information.