Thursday July 31 Ag News

UNL Extension Water Meter Calculator App Now Available

            A University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension app will help irrigators calculate the amount of water pumped by their irrigation pumping plant.

            The Water Meter Calculator App allows the user to store data, such as field size in acres, flow meter units and allocation and annual irrigation caps for each field.

            The user inputs the beginning and ending meter reading and the app calculates the amount of water pumped for the field and on a per acre basis. The app keeps track of total water pumped for the irrigation season, the remaining allocation for future years, the annual cap remaining as well as any annual cap penalties.

            The developers of the Water Meter Calculator App include: Chuck Burr, Tim Lemmons and Tom Dorn, all UNL Extension educators, and Bryan Lubeck and Shirlee Poyser, both of the Lower Republican River Natural Resources District. It was made by Jeff Abele of Move Creative, LLC.

            The Water Meter Calculator App is available for download at the Apple App Store and Google Play store for $1.99.



NEBRASKA AGRICULTURAL PRICES

Preliminary prices received by farmers for winter wheat for July 2014 averaged $6.30 per bushel, a decrease of 63 cents from the June price according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

The preliminary July corn price, at $3.80 per bushel, decreased 74 cents from the previous month.

The preliminary July sorghum price averaged $6.55 per cwt, a decrease of 96 cents from June.

The preliminary July soybean price, at $12.60 per bushel, was down $1.60 from last month.

The July alfalfa hay price, at $113.00 per ton, was down $20.00 from June. The other hay price, at $97.00 per ton, was down $8.00 from June.

The preliminary July dry edible bean and oat prices were withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. 


 
Iowa Monthly Prices

The preliminary July 2014 average price received by  farmers for corn  in Iowa was $3.80 per bushel according  to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Agricultural Prices report. This is down $0.69 from the June price, and $3.11 lower than July 2013.

The preliminary July 2014 average price received by farmers for soybeans, at $12.90 per bushel, was down $1.50 from the June price, and $2.50 lower than the July 2013 price.

The preliminary July oat price was $3.90 per bushel, down $0.28 from June, but $0.20 above July 2013. 

All hay prices in Iowa averaged $143.00 per ton in July, down $22.00 from the June price, and $70.00 per ton less than July 2013.   Alfalfa hay prices  fell $76.00 per  ton  from one year ago,  to $164.00 and other hay prices were $47.00 per ton lower than last year, at $108.00.  

The preliminary July average price was $23.90 per cwt for milk, up $0.20 from June, and $4.50 per cwt above one year ago.  Prices for replacement milk cows averaged $1,990 in July. 



July Farm Prices Received Index Down 4 Points

The preliminary All Farm Products Index of Prices Received by Farmers in July, at 108 percent, based on 2011=100, decreased 4 points (3.6 percent) from June. The Crop Index is down 8 points (7.1 percent) but the Livestock Index increased 4 points (3.9 percent). Producers received lower prices for corn, soybeans, broilers, and wheat and higher prices for cattle, hogs, eggs, and onions. In addition to prices, the overall index is also affected by the seasonal change based on a 3-year average mix of commodities producers sell. Increased monthly movement of wheat, grapes, hay, and cotton offset the decreased marketing of milk, cattle, oranges, and hogs.

The preliminary All Farm Products Index is unchanged from July 2013. The Food Commodities Index, at 120, decreased 2 points (1.6 percent) from last month but is up 13 points (12 percent) from July 2013.

All crops:
The July index, at 90, decreased 8.2 percent from June and is 16 percent below July 2013. The index decrease for oilseeds & grains led the decline in the crop production index.

Food grains: The July index, at 84, is 6.7 percent below the previous month and 12 percent below a year ago. The July price for all wheat, at $6.10 per bushel, is down 39 cents from June and is 85 cents lower than July 2013.

Feed grains: The July index, at 64, is down 15 percent from last month and 43 percent below a year ago. The corn price, at $3.80 per bushel, is down 69 cents from last month and $2.99 below July 2013. Sorghum grain, at $7.16 per cwt, is 37 cents below June and $2.47 lower than July last year.

Oilseeds: The July index, at 100, is down 11 percent from June and 17 percent lower than July 2013. The soybean price, at $12.70 per bushel, decreased $1.70 from June and is $2.60 below July 2013.

Livestock and products:
The July index, at 133, is 3.1 percent above last month and up 24 percent from July 2013. Compared with a year ago, prices are higher for cattle, milk, hogs, broilers, calves, eggs, and turkeys.

Meat animals: The July index, at 138, is up 6.2 percent from last month and 29 percent higher than last year. The July hog price, at $92.80 per cwt, is up $8.00 from June and $17.00 higher than a year ago. The July beef cattle price of $155 per cwt increased $8.00 from last month is up $35.00 from July 2013.

Dairy products: The July index, at 116, increased 0.9 percent from a month ago and is 22 percent higher than July last year. The July all milk price of $23.40 per cwt is up 20 cents from last month and is $4.30 higher than July 2013.

Poultry & eggs: The July index, at 139, is down 0.7 percent from June but is 14 percent above a year ago. The July market egg price, at $1.05 per dozen, increased 17.6 cents from June and is 22.9 cents above July 2013. The July broiler price, at 68.0 cents per pound, is down 3.0 cents from June but 8.0 cents higher than year ago. The July turkey price, at 74.1 cents per pound, is up 1.3 cents from the previous month and 6.4 cents from a year earlier.

Prices Paid Index up 1 Point
The July Index of Prices Paid for Commodities and Services, Interest, Taxes, and Farm Wage Rates (PPITW) is 113 percent of the 2011 base. The index is up 1 point (0.9 percent) from June and 6 points (5.6 percent) above July 2013. Higher prices for feeder cattle, other services, milk cows, and feeder pigs more than offset lower prices in July for feed grains, nitrogen, complete feeds, and supplements.



GALVA, IOWA ETHANOL PLANT WILL HOST GRAND OPENING EVENT

Quad County Corn Processors announced today that it will host a grand opening event for its new “bolt on” bio-refinery that is turning corn kernel fibers into cellulosic ethanol.  Quad County is the site of Iowa’s first cellulosic ethanol gallons and the world’s first corn kernel fiber cellulosic ethanol, a process that was invented by Plant Engineer Travis Brotherson and patented by Quad County Corn Processors.

Quad County’s Adding Cellulosic Ethanol (ACE) project grand opening ceremony will take place at 11:00 am (CT) on Tuesday, September 9, 2014 at the plant. We ask that interested media members come to the plant at 10:00 am to attend a short guided tour that will be held for VIP’s and the media.

“After four years of research and development, financing hurdles, waiting on EPA rule clarifications and construction, we are excited to see the ACE project working and are proud to be producing the world’s first corn kernel fiber cellulosic ethanol gallons and Iowa’s first cellulosic ethanol gallons”, said Delayne Johnson, CEO of Quad County Corn Processors.  “This state-of-the-art technology will create 2 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol out of the corn kernel cellulose, a feed stock that we already have on site”, he continued.  “In addition to creating 4 new full-time jobs in Galva, this process will increase our ethanol yields by six percent, increase our corn oil removal by three times and create a feed product that is much higher in protein and lower in fiber.  In essence, we will create more value out of the corn bushels we already process which increases our efficiency so we can continue to be a leader in the ethanol industry.”

Confirmed speakers for the ceremony include:  Bill Northey, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture; Bob Dinneen, President and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association in Washington, DC; Monte Shaw, Executive Director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association; Brian Jennings, Executive Vice-President of the American Coalition for Ethanol; and David Witherspoon, Head of Renewable Fuels for Syngenta.

Event attendees can meet by the tents on the west side of the plant which is located at 6059 159th Street.  Quad County is situated two miles south of Galva at the intersection of Highways 20 and M-25.  Due to limited parking and truck traffic safety, guests are asked to park in the field northwest of the plant and enter the parking area from Highway M-25.



Governor Branstad proclaims August as Iowa Soybean Month

Celebrating 50 years of service to soybeans farmers and the dedication of those farmers to environmental stewardship, the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) is honored to have Gov. Terry Branstad proclaim August as Iowa Soybean Month.
“The continuous efforts of Iowa soybean farmers have built interest in the crop and made Iowa the national leader in soybean production,” said Brian Kemp, ISA president and farmer from Sibley. “Farmers respond to global market demands to deliver the best crop possible, and as a result, we planted more acres this year than we have in a decade.”
Soybean Month in Iowa coincides with National Water Quality month. It’s a timely combination of designations, says ISA president-elect Tom Oswald, given the dedication soybean farmers have to the land and water quality. Therefore, the association will use the opportunity to highlight efforts of farmers in the area of nutrient reduction beginning Aug. 1 with an open house and tour of the Smeltzer Trust Farm near Otho.
The ISA was organized in 1964 by farmers who came together with a common goal – to increase the profitability of soybean production in the state. 
Today, Kemp and Oswald are two of 21 volunteer farmers elected to serve on the ISA board of directors, representing nearly 11,000 members. Kemp says the soybean month proclamation recognizes the value of soybean production to Iowa and ISA’s innovative offering of programs and services, particularly those related to environmental stewardship and water quality.
“Farmers have stepped up this year to embrace their part in the nutrient reduction strategy,” said Kemp. “By working with the ISA to implement new practices, do research and conduct trials, many farmers are bettering their land and protecting the water that runs through it.”
ISA is committed to working with farmers to enhance their long-term sustainability and provide expanded opportunities and results on key issues including production research, environmental programs, market development, soyfoods, biodiesel, transportation and agricultural awareness.
“We even have a certified water quality lab in our building and are working with famers to assess water quality and evaluate impacts of their practice solutions,” said Roger Wolf, ISA director of Environmental Programs and Services. “Our goal is to help farmers set a benchmark and measure their progress as they move forward.”
Oswald, who farms near Cleghorn, said soybean farmers have a long history of doing what’s best for the land and looking forward to the future. “They are committed to raising a crop that has many uses and to do so in a sustainable way,” he said.



Cattlemen’s Beef Quarters celebrates 30 years of service at Iowa State Fair

The Cattlemen’s Beef Quarters, a favorite dining destination for many who attend the Iowa State Fair, marks its 30th year of service this year.

“A visit to the Cattlemen’s Beef Quarters is a tradition for many who attend our great State Fair. We are proud to serve the highest quality beef to our customers and proud to have established ourselves as a true staple of the fair experience,” says John Mortimer, manager.

According to Mortimer, the Cattlemen’s Beef Quarters began its 30-year journey at the fair to serve as an advocate for Iowa cattlemen and women and the high quality beef they raise. It is comprised of 68 county cattlemen’s associations and is staffed by some 1,200 beef industry volunteers each year. These loyal cattle farmers serve about 74,000 customers annually and prepare some 35,000 pounds of beef during the 11-day event.

Mortimer says that the secret to 30 years of success is creating and offering new menu items that will appeal to fairgoers. The all-beef menu includes such favorites as Prime Rib, the Mark and Gary Burger, taco salad and the Hot Beef Sundae. 

“One detail that makes us special is that we have something for everyone on our menu from the casual, on-the-go diner, to those interested in a true sit down meal. Our menu has expanded and changed through the years, but one thing remains constant—it’s always about the beef,” says Mortimer.



Cattle Operations Honored for Stewardship Efforts

Seven cattle operations were recognized here today as regional winners of the 2014 regional Environmental Stewardship Award Program. The awards, announced during the 2014 Cattle Industry Summer Conference, honor the industry’s best land stewards. The seven regional winners will now compete for the national ESAP award, which will be announced during the 2015 Cattle Industry Annual Convention and NCBA Trade Show in San Antonio, Texas.

The awards, now in their 24th year, were developed to recognize beef producers for their efforts to implement practices which improve the environmental sustainability of their operations. The ESAP award is sponsored by Dow AgroSciences, USDA Natural Resources Conservations Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the National Cattlemen’s Foundation.

The 2014 regional winners are: Conlan Ranches California/True Grass Farms, Valley Ford, Calif.; Rock Hills Ranch, Lowry, S.D.; Wineinger-Davis Ranch, Colo.; Rocosa Ridge Ranch, Bosque County, Texas; Nichols Farms LTD, Bridgewater, Iowa; Sherwood Acres Farm, LaGrange, Ky.; Two Rivers Ranch, Thonotosassa, Fla.

“The cattlemen and women of this country take seriously their responsibility to the environment. Each of these award recipients serves as a shining example of how the beef industry is working to preserve open space and leave the land better than they found it,” said NCBA President Bob McCan. “The ESAP award serves as a showcase for the practices used by farmers and ranchers to improve air, land and water quality. Those practices, in turn benefit the land, improve fish and wildlife habitat and serve as an outstanding example to their fellow producers.”

The work by cattlemen and women to protect their natural resources helps to improve the environmental sustainability of the beef industry. Those efforts also help this year’s regional winners improve the land for future generations, a goal shared by each of these operations.



ROI Study Shows $11.20 Return on Checkoff Dollar

In the most comprehensive study ever rendered about the Return on Investment (ROI) of beef checkoff assessments, Dr. Harry Kaiser of Cornell University concludes that each dollar invested in the Beef Checkoff Program between 2006 and 2013 returned about $11.20 to the beef industry.

“The news for beef checkoff investors couldn’t be better,” said Kaiser, the Gellert Family professor of applied economics and management at Cornell and director of the Cornell Commodity Promotion Research Program, who is sharing study results this week at the 2014 Cattle Industry Summer Conference.

“It is clear to me that activities funded through the Beef Board budget have a substantial impact on beef demand in the U.S. and in foreign markets. The return on producers’ and importers investments into this program is vastly greater than the cost of the program.”

Commissioned through the checkoff’s Joint Evaluation Committee, this new ROI study could be a useful tool for producers who make decisions about how to invest checkoff dollars.

“This really tells us that we’re on the right track with how we plan our checkoff programs,” said cattleman Ted Greidanus of California, who chairs the checkoff’s Evaluation Committee. “We are accountable to beef producers and importers who fund the work we do with checkoff dollars, so we wanted to know how much difference we were really making in the marketplace, good or bad -- and I must say that I am quite pleased at how good the news really is.”

Some additional key findings in Kaiser’s benefits-cost analysis include:

    Had there not been any CBB-funded marketing between 2006 and 2013, total domestic beef demand would have totaled 15.7 billion pounds – or 11.3 percent less than it was with the checkoff programs in place. Holding the effects of all other demand drivers constant, the activities funded by the CBB resulted in an increase in beef demand of 2.1 billion pounds per year.
    
    Had the national Beef Checkoff Program not invested in foreign-market development between 2006 and 2013, foreign demand for U.S. beef would have been 6.4 percent lower.
    
    The statistical results indicate that all eight CBB demand-enhancing activities -- generic beef advertising; channels marketing; industry information; new-product development; public relations; nutrition research; beef-safety research and product-enhancement research -- have a positive and statistically significant impact on increasing per capita beef demand.
    
    At the bottom line, the increase in beef demand due to CBB-funded marketing efforts resulted in higher prices for beef producers and importers, which means higher net revenue than they would have experienced without those checkoff programs.

Given the tremendous budget challenges of the checkoff in recent years, the Cattlemen’s Beef Board commissioned the all-encompassing study to provide a more thorough evaluation possible of checkoff activities than it traditionally has. As a result, this new study presents a more complete and accurate picture of checkoff returns and provides a new benchmark.

“Let me caution against trying to compare the results of this study with the 2009 study, which reported a return of $5.55 on each checkoff dollar,” Dr. Kaiser said. “This time around, the Beef Board asked for a more comprehensive study than ever before, so I evaluated all commercial beef disappearance, including retail, foodservice, and international data over eight years, whereas the 2009 study looked solely at domestic retail data for a five-year period.

“Furthermore,” Dr. Kaiser continued, “my study analyzed individual categories of nine marketing categories separately, and then brought the categories together to identify an overall beef checkoff return on investment. In 2009, the Beef Board commissioned a study analyzing only the checkoff as a whole.”

Greidanus said he is quite confident in the study results.

“As chairman of the Evaluation Committee, I know that Dr. Kaiser’s research methods are well-respected, so we are very confident about the analysis and very pleased with the results,” Greidanus said. “And this tells us that the benefits of all CBB programs are 11.2 times more valuable than their costs… As a cattleman who pays into the program, it’s invigorating to know that my investment is making a difference.”

Kaiser, who has performed similar analyses for other checkoff programs, said the results should be encouraging to the country’s beef producers and importers.

“If I was investing my hard-earned dollars into the checkoff, as beef producers and importers are, I would be proud to do so, based on the findings of this study,” Kaiser said. “Most of us probably wish we could get that kind of return on all of our expenditures!”



Wheat Growers Pleased with House Action on Regulatory Relief Bill

The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) appreciates the House votes in support of H. R. 935, the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act.

“The passage of HR 935 is an important step in addressing the duplicative regulation on pesticide applications,” says NAWG President, Paul Penner, a wheat farmer from Hillsboro, Kans. “NAWG has been engaged in this issue for many years, and we send our thanks to Congress for continuing to address regulatory issues impacting agriculture.”

H.R. 935 the Reducing Regulatory Burdens act addresses a duplicative permit required for pesticide application.  For over 30 years, the Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) regulated pesticide applications and growers and other pesticide applicators must follow the label requirements to be in compliance with the law.  H.R. 935 eliminates the second requirement for a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit under the Clean Water Act. The bill passed 267-161 and will now go to the Senate.



USDA Extends Deadline for the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Juan M. Garcia announced today that the enrollment deadline for the 2012 and 2013 Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) has been extended to Aug. 15, 2014. Originally, program sign-up was scheduled to end Aug. 1.

The new deadline gives livestock, honeybee, and farm-raised fish producers who experienced losses because of disease, adverse weather, wildfires or colony collapse disorder between Oct. 1, 2011 and Sept. 30, 2013, an additional two weeks to enroll in ELAP.

"Because ELAP is an important safety net for key sectors of American agriculture, we’ve provided this two week extension so that producers can submit required documentation and apply for program benefits," said Garcia.

Producers are encouraged to contact their local FSA service center or visit FSA’s website at www.fsa.usda.gov for additional information regarding ELAP.

ELAP was authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill, which builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the past five years, while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for taxpayers. Since enactment, USDA has made significant progress to implement each provision of this critical legislation, including providing disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening risk management tools; expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research; establishing innovative public-private conservation partnerships; developing new markets for rural-made products; and investing in infrastructure, housing and community facilities to help improve quality of life in rural America. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/farmbill.



NCGA Applauds OSHA Guidance on Grain Safety Standards

The National Corn Growers Association applauds the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's announcement of the final guidance to the agency's field staff restricting enforcement of grain safety standards. The guidance ensures on-farm grain operations continue to fall under the long-standing exemption for farms and thus that OSHA will not take enforcement actions against farms with ten or fewer employees over the way they manage their grain bins.

"The guidance provides necessary clarity and guards against overreach," said NCGA President Martin Barbre. "Farmers across the country already work tirelessly to ensure that their farms run in a safe manner. We thank OSHA for its efforts to provide certainty and ensure farmers ability to operate without unnecessary regulation."

The guidance came as a result of a requirement included in the fiscal 2014 omnibus spending bill requiring OSHA to consult with USDA on the issue. OSHA withdrew a field memorandum that had led to the enforcement effort following the passage of this provision.

Grain bin entrapments fell from 57 in 2010 to 19 in 2012 according to statistics released by OSHA. During the same period, the number of fatalities resulting from such situations also fell from 31 to eight. Notably, NCGA released a video on the importance of grain bin safety and proper protocol in 2011.



Bunge Profit Soars on Strong Agribusiness Sales

Bunge Ltd. said its second-quarter profit more than doubled as large crops and increased demand drove up sales in its main agribusiness segment.

The company's results crushed market expectations, and Bunge said it expects good results to continue in the second half of the year as demand for agricultural commodities should remain strong.

One of the largest grain handlers in the world, White Plains, N.Y.-based Bunge buys, sells, stores and transports oilseeds and grains world-wide, among other businesses.

It has been expected to benefit from this year's benevolent weather and strong crop season. In addition, a big Brazilian soybean harvest and the record planting of 84.8 million acres this spring by U.S. farmers has been seen as a boon for the agricultural trader.

"We had a strong performance in the second quarter with all segments reporting higher year-over-year results," Chief Executive Soren Schroder said. "Strong global oilseed processing margins, driven by big crops and growing demand, led to significantly better results in agribusiness."

Bunge reported a profit of $288 million, up sharply from $136 million a year earlier. On a per-share basis, which includes certain dividend payments, the profit was $1.81, compared with 75 cents. Excluding certain gains and charges, the company recorded a per-share profit from continuing operations of $1.71 in the latest quarter, up from 74 cents.

Sales rose 8.4% to $16.79 billion. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected earnings of $1.36 a share on revenue of $15.25 billion.

Sales in the agribusiness segment, by far the company's largest business by revenue, climbed 11% to $12.86 billion. The sugar and bioenergy business posted 26% higher sales to $1.19 billion. Meanwhile, its milling products segment's sales rose to 8.6% to $553 million, driven in part by the addition of new wheat mills in Mexico.

Bunge's sales of edible oil products, however, fell 12% to $2.10 billion.



IGC Raises Wheat 2014-15 Output

The London-based International Grains Council Thursday revised its expectations for the global wheat crop to 702 million metric tons, a rise of 3 million metric tons, citing greater winter harvest acreage levels in Russia and Ukraine.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture this week revised its expectations for the 2014-15 Russian grain crop, increasing it by 2 million tons to 94 million tons. The total included: 52 million metric tons of wheat, 16 million tons of barley, 13 million tons of corn and almost 13 million tons of pulses.

"The increase is due largely to good weather...," said the U.S. Department of Agriculture.



From Beans to Machines: John Deere Supports Industrial Uses for Soy

Two million pounds. That’s how much Envirez soy-based, sheet-molding compound John Deere estimates it uses in its HarvestForm™ tractor and combine panels every year.

Envirez was developed and commercialized by Ashland Specialty Chemical Company in 2001, with support from the soy checkoff. Ashland was the first in its industry to develop this technology and was proud to introduce it through John Deere’s agricultural equipment in 2002, particularly because of Deere’s commitment to soybean farmers.

Ashland says 25 percent of the raw material in Envirez comes from soybean oil and corn-derived ethanol. Each 37,000-pound batch of Envirez that John Deere uses saves 10 barrels of petroleum and reduces greenhouse-gas emissions by 34,000 pounds.

John Deere Global Manager of Materials Engineering & Technology Jay Olson says the resin adds strength, flexibility and endurance to the HarvestForm body panels. After more than a decade of real-life “field” testing, the durable panels have proved their ability to withstand the elements.

Olson’s department continues to evaluate sustainable, soy-based materials to replace petroleum in other industrial uses, including foam seats.

“John Deere has always been a green company, in color and policy,” Olson confirms. “If soy-based materials perform equally and there is cost parity, why not do the right thing?”

Its longstanding partnership with John Deere is just one example of the checkoff’s commitment to helping companies to incorporate U.S. soy in more industrial uses. These partnerships have resulted in the commercialization of hundreds of soy-based products.



Beef Checkoff Sizzles in Atlantic City

Beef topics sizzled on the Boardwalk at the Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival in Atlantic City July 25-27, thanks to a national checkoff partnership with the South Dakota Beef Industry Council and Roseda Farm.

As part of its Northeast Beef Promotion Initiative (NEBPI), the checkoff distributed beef materials, interacted with festival-goers, and cooked more than 400 pounds of Roseda Farm beef sirloin samples at its booth in the Grand Market before the inaugural Burger Beach Bash, featuring Martha Stewart.

Winners of the checkoff’s “I Love Beef” trivia challenge had the opportunity to meet Stewart, and checkoff mascot, Miss Patty Melt, made an appearance at the Bash with National Beef Ambassadors Emma Morris and Justana Von Tate and Pennsylvania Beef Ambassador Elizabeth Palmer.

"The Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival was a big success when it came to interacting with the consumers,” Palmer said. “Our stand was, by far, one of the most popular ones there. Everyone loved the beef that Roseda provided and often stopped back for seconds.... There were also a lot of people interested in the recipes and beef cut charts we handed out and enjoyed the ‘Pin the Cuts on the Cow’ game for cool beef prizes.”

Back in the tent at the Grand Market, beef ambassadors played educational games to teach the largely millennial crowd about various lean cuts of beef, to provide beef recipes, and to hand out more than 7,500 samples of Roseda sirloin.

“We had an amazing time talking to the thousands of guests who stopped by our tent at the festival this weekend, said Mike Brannon of Roseda Farm. “It was great hearing such wonderful feedback about our meat.... With a versatile meat like beef, it’s amazing what a simple rub of sea salt, finely ground dark roast coffee and Montreal steak seasoning can create!”