Thursday September 4 Ag News

PEDV Reporting Workshops Scheduled for Pork Producers

On June 5, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack issued a Federal Order requiring pork producers, veterinarians and diagnostic labs to report presumptive or confirmed positive occurrences of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV), Porcine Deltacoronavirus, (PDCoV) or other novel swine enteric coronaviruses that meet the case definition.

The Nebraska Pork Producers Association along with the Nebraska Soybean Board in cooperation with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture will sponsor 4 PEDV Reporting Workshops. Dr. Roger Dudley, DVM with the Department of Agriculture will familiarize producers with the details of the Federal Order.

Over twenty-six million dollars in funding has been made available to combat swine enteric coronaviruses. These funds are for: (a) biosecurity/disinfections payments to producers; (b) herd plan payments to vets; (c) research; (d) grants to states; (e) diagnostic testing. Financial assistance is available to producers for outbreaks occurring from June of 2014 to September of 2015.

Workshops will be held on: September 15th at the Holiday Inn in Kearney; September 16th at the Holiday Inn Express in Beatrice; September 17th at the Holiday Inn Express in Norfolk and on September 19th, immediately following the NPPA Board of Directors Meeting, at the Holiday Inn Express in Columbus. Each workshop will run approximately 2 hours and will begin at 5:30 p.m. at Kearney, Beatrice, and Norfolk and at 2:15 p.m. at the Columbus location.

The PEDV Reporting Workshops are FREE of charge. Registration is available on-line at www.nepork.org or by calling (402) 472-2563.



Husker Harvest Days Helps Fill Rural Food Shelves
Visitors to this year’s Husker Harvest Days in Grand Island will have an opportunity to contribute to the fight against hunger for local Nebraska families. From Sept. 9-11, organizers will be accepting nonperishable food donations for the America’s Farmers Food Drive.

Since 2009, this food drive has collected more than 100,000 pounds of food, providing nourishment for 83,000 meals. All food collected will be donated to local hunger organizations. The drive is sponsored by Monsanto Co. in conjunction with Farm Progress Cos., to benefit Heartland United Way.

“In order for children and families to thrive and do their best every day, they need reliable and nutritious food,” says Karen Rathke, president of Heartland United Way in Grand Island. “There are 9,270 people in our four-county area that are completely food-insecure, uncertain where their next meal is coming from — and almost half of those individuals are children. That’s why our food pantries, shelters, backpack programs and places that serve community meals need food to support individuals and families.”
 
Free student Admission
FFA chapters and 4-H clubs have special incentives to participate in the food drive. Members from these two organizations will receive free admission with a donation of five nonperishable food items per student. The top three FFA chapters and top three 4-H clubs that bring in donations of more than 100 pounds of food will each be awarded $250 from Monsanto. Donations will be accepted at the main bus entrance and Main Street flag entrance of the show.
 
Dollar matching
Also, for every pound of food collected, Monsanto will donate $1 (up to $10,000) to the Heartland United Way. The Howard G. Buffett Foundation is also committed to matching that donation with $1 (up to $10,000) to the non-profit Feeding America.
 
Rural food need
Statistics show that 15.5% of rural households are food insecure. That means an estimated 3.1 million households lack dependable access to affordable, nutritious food.

“Although America’s farmers work day in and day out to feed the growing population, there are still nearly a billion people who go to bed hungry each night,” says Howard G. Buffett, HGBF president. “The America’s Farmers Food Drive is an opportunity for farmers, community members and ag youth to help feed their families, friends and neighbors.”



Husker Harvest Days to Feature New Propane Technology, Money-Saving Purchase Programs

The Propane Education & Research Council is inviting farmers to find out about new efficient and cost-saving propane technology during Husker Harvest Days, Sept. 9-11, in Grand Island, Neb. Producers can also learn how to save as much as $5,000 toward new equipment through the 2014 Farm Incentive Program.

More than 140 Nebraska producers upgraded to new propane equipment through PERC’s Propane Farm Incentive Program in 2013. At the Nebraska Propane Gas Association (NPGA) booth, at lot No. 550 at Husker Harvest Days, attendees can learn how to apply for the 2014 incentive program and save an additional $750 with a state incentive available to Nebraska producers on qualifying propane irrigation engines.

“Last year, a record number of 143 Nebraska farmers saved money by switching to propane irrigation. PERC paid out more than $627,000 to producers nationwide who upgraded to new propane equipment through our incentive program,” Cinch Munson, PERC director of agriculture business development, said.

In a postseason survey by PERC, participants in the 2013 Propane Farm Incentive Program reported that by using propane they reduced fuel costs by 56 percent per hour and reduced fuel consumption by 37 percent per hour when compared with a similar diesel engine. “We want to help even more Nebraska farmers realize those types of savings this year,” Munson said.

Producers can see new propane irrigation engines on-site at Husker Harvest Days. A working propane-powered, 8.0-liter demonstration engine from Origin Engines of Kearney, Neb., was installed in 2013 and will be available to view. In addition, a new 8.8-liter irrigation engine by SRC Power Systems will be showcased at the NPGA booth.

Other popular propane-powered equipment will be on hand at lot 550, including a propane-autogas-powered Roush CleanTech Ford F-250 pickup truck and an Exmark zero-turn commercial mower. Farmers and rural homeowners are also invited to visit the booth to learn steps they can take to prepare for fall harvest and the winter.

Learn more about the Propane Farm Incentive Program by visiting NPGA’s booth, No. 550, at Husker Harvest Days, or online at propane.com/agriculture. 



IFBF to Conduct Webinare on Transport Rules, Exemptions

With crop supplies approaching record levels this year, transportation regulations and exemptions are a critical aspect of today's agriculture with farmers actively seeking the latest information in anticipation of harvest. As part of Iowa Farm Bureau's (IFBF) Margin Management Series, a live webinar will be held on Sept. 11 at 1 p.m. The webinar, "2014 Transportation Rules for Farmers," features a presentation from Officer Steve Robinson, Iowa Department of Transportation training officer.

Webinar participants will receive valuable information regarding registrations and licensing of farm vehicles. The unique opportunity to ask Officer Robinson specific questions via text during the webinar can be a valuable resource for farmers.

"Farmers need the latest information on transportation regulations and equipment issues, especially in preparation for harvest," said Ed Kordick, IFBF commodity services manager. "We invited Officer Robinson to share the latest information with members to ensure they are up to date on transportation regulations and exemptions in advance of harvest and increased agricultural traffic."

Farmers can access the webinar from home or farm office by going to www.iowafarmbureau.com, finding the webinar banner and entering the forum as a guest on the day of the event. Interested attendees can also test their computer's compatibility and connection prior to the webinar by clicking the webinar banner. For more information, contact Kordick at ekordick@ifbf.org.



Iowa Producers Build Relations with Key Taiwanese Buyers

Sustaining relations in key overseas markets helps maintain U.S. market share and instill confidence of key buyers and end-users in the merits of food security through trade. From Aug. 24 to Sept. 3, three Iowa producers, funded by the Iowa Corn Promotion Board, were escorted by the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) to Vietnam and Taiwan to meet with key importers of U.S. corn and co-products.

During one-on-one meetings with end-users, importers and government officials in Taiwan, the U.S. producers expressed their gratitude for the ongoing between Taiwan and U.S. agriculture. They also emphasized the U.S. commitment to being the long-term reliable supplier of U.S. coarse grains and related products to the country.

The U.S. producers were also able to answer questions from the Taiwanese about biotechnology and cost efficiencies in the United States.

There was also discussion about recent rejections of U.S. shipments of distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) to China. Taiwanese buyers were among the first to seize the opportunity to purchase U.S. DDGS that was rejected by China.

“Face to face interactions are key in continuing to build Taiwanese end-user’s confidence in U.S. coarse grains and related products,” said Clover Chang, USGC director in Taiwan. “The Taiwanese customers the mission met with appreciated of the information provided by the producers who were on the mission, and look forward to meeting more groups like this in the future.”




Iowa's Hurley Named USGC Director of Programs in China

The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) is pleased to announce Robert Hurley a native of Iowa and experienced “China hand,” has joined the staff as director of programs in the Council’s China office.

“Robert has a strong background in trade and has worked extensively in China,” said USGC President and CEO Tom Sleight. “He will bring a new perspective to the job and help strengthen our efforts in China.”

As director of programs, Hurley will work under the direction of USGC Director in China Bryan Lohmar to plan, coordinate and execute the Council’s trade servicing programs.

“Robert is excited about working for the Council in China,” Sleight said, “and I am very pleased to have him join the Council at this critical time in China.”

Hurley previously worked as a grains merchandiser for the Shandong New Hope Liuhe Group. He is fluent in Chinese and worked previously as a translator for the World Pork Expo and Iowa Economic Development Authority.

He is replacing Kevin Roepke who was recently promoted to regional director of South and Southeast Asia based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Hurley holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa in business administration. His first day with the Council was Monday, Sept. 1. 



ASA Director Asks for ‘Adequate and Timely’ Rail Service at Surface Transportation Board Hearing

American Soybean Association (ASA) Director Lance Peterson joined other concerned growers in Fargo, N.D. today at a public hearing before the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to testify on rail service issues and the negative impacts on soybean growers. Also testifying for soybean growers at the hearing was Eric Broten, representing the North Dakota Soybean Growers Association.

As the backlog of rail cars in the upper Midwest continues, many elevators are still full of 2013-crop grain ahead of a looming 2014 harvest. This backlog negatively affects basis levels and cash bids, and could create a grain storage crisis as a new crop harvest begins.

Peterson, a soybean farmer from Underwood, Minn., represented ASA and the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association at the hearing, and re-emphasized points he made at a previous STB hearing in the spring.

“The message that I delivered was that inadequate rail service through delays and increased freight costs is not just a business challenge, but creates massive losses which are passed directly on to the agricultural producer—the farmer. I stated that my lost income would likely exceed $100,000, as one producer,” Peterson said. “I also stated that with thousands of producers across the upper Midwest losses could be in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Unfortunately these tremendous losses have now been confirmed. A recently released report from the University of Minnesota shows lost Minnesota farm income of $100 million from March to May of 2014.”

Peterson said the rail industry discussions in the spring centered on slow shipments due to the coldest winter in 30 years and assured correction before the 2014 harvest. But now, half way through the wheat harvest there’s still an abundance of last year’s crops that have not been moved, grain bin companies are so busy they can’t take any more business and farmers are in a difficult position of adding storage to avoid piling grain on the ground during this year’s harvest.

“The rail problems of the last year have grain shippers trying to figure out how to navigate through this year. In many cases shippers have spent millions of dollars in premiums on initial rail car auctions to access rail cars for the coming year,” Peterson said during his testimony. “Based on expected car movement, this amounts to an approximate $700/car premium just to access the cars. If grain movement is not adequate, shippers will be forced to look to the secondary market to acquire additional cars. The asking price for October/November shipments is currently more than $4,000/car. It is imperative that rail movement is adequate and timely.”

Peterson also said knowing the movement, velocity and turn-around time of the grain cars is helpful, but not enough. He requested fuller reporting of rail service, asking the STB to require railroads to submit metrics showing past dues, average days late, turnaround times, etc. for agricultural customers vs. crude oil customers and other customers.

“This information would help to give a clear picture of railroad service issues. Based on the size and scope of the rail shipment problems being faced in the upper Midwest this is not too much to ask,” Peterson said. “Farmers are suffering losses of hundreds of millions of dollars through increased basis levels, lower cash market prices, and storage losses because of the current rail situation in the upper Midwest. Requiring full disclosure of rail movements will give rail shippers, policy makers, and the STB itself a much clearer view of the situation as we work with the railroads on solutions.”



Agricultural safety group offering grants up to $10,000

Grants up to $10,000 are being offered by a national coalition of agribusinesses, producer organizations and safety professionals in order to foster new champions of agricultural safety and health.

The Agricultural Safety and Health Council of America (ASHCA) has announced an application deadline of January 7, 2015. Information regarding eligibility, priorities, application instructions and frequently asked questions is available at www.ashca.org.

ASHCA made its first-ever safety grants this past June. The 10 grants addressed onsite safety training, development of a mobile app, personal protective equipment, safe play zones for farmworker children and other topics.

“The applications were thoughtfully prepared and covered a number of topics related to ASHCA’s priorities, considering issues of national significance while acknowledging safety/health concerns of regional or commodity specific importance,” said Leon Graves, grants committee chair and vice-president of Dairy Marketing Services.

The purpose of the ASHCA Safety Grants Program is to provide financial support to promote evidence-based safety/health strategies addressing farmers, ranchers and agricultural workers.

Individuals, organizations and businesses can support ASHCA's Safety Grants program with financial contributions and/or "in-kind" support.



Four Helpful Weed-Management Tips for Harvest Time

Harvest is a good time for U.S. soybean farmers to celebrate a bountiful gathering of their hard work and yearlong efforts. It can also be a time to reflect on lessons learned from environmental, disease and weed pressures from the past growing season, how much yield those stresses cost and how to manage them next year.

Specifically for weeds, you can be a steward of the land and get a jump on next year’s weed management during this year’s harvest. While harvesting your crop, it is very easy for the combine to spread weed seeds throughout your field as well as into neighboring fields.

Here, University of Tennessee Row Crop Weed Specialist Larry Steckel, Ph.D., offers four adjustments you can make to your management practices during harvest that could make your spring and summer weed management easier....
     1) Manage weeds before they take over your field. Proactive management will improve your yields and reduce the chances of having herbicide-resistant weeds develop in your fields.
     2) Leave large patches of weeds in the field. This will diminish the amount of weed seed spread throughout the rest of that field.
     3) Clean the combine after harvesting weedy fields. Clean machinery transfers fewer weed seeds to other fields.
     4) Harvest the fields with the most weeds last. Leaving the worst for last will decrease the spread of weed seed even more.



Garcia Retires from FSA

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced that Administrator Juan Garcia is retiring after 38 years of service. In a message to FSA employees Garcia stated, “It is with the highest honor that I hand over this baton, skillfully passed to me by my predecessors, to a new successor, so that our relay race of teamwork continues towards that next sunrise.” Garcia has served in his current role since July of 2012 and has played a pivotal role in implementing the new farm bill. Garcia has always been a friend of wheat and we wish him the best as he heads back to his home state of Texas. Val Dolcini, the current California FSA state executive director has been selected to replace Garcia.



Ethanol Stocks, Production Rebound

The Energy Information Administration released data Thursday showing domestic ethanol inventories rebounded last week from a three-month low, rising about 400,000 barrels (bbl), or 2.1%, to 17.7 million bbl during the week-ended Aug. 29, as domestic production rose while demand eased.

Total U.S. ethanol inventories remained 9% higher than a year ago.

Domestic ethanol production increased 9,000 bpd, or 1.0%, last week to 921,000 bpd while 12.5% higher than a year prior, with four-week average output up 10.8%.

Blender inputs, a proxy for ethanol demand, dropped 9,000 bpd, or 1.0%, to 880,000 bpd last week while rising 2.2% year-over-year, with four-week average demand up 2.1% year-over-year.



Meet America’s Top #ChopGriller

The #ChopGriller contest encouraged pork fans to visit PorkBeinspired.com, choose their favorite pork chop (porterhouse, bone-in rib-eye, boneless rib-eye or New York) and submit a 140-character entry describing what makes their pork chop the top chop. Eight finalists (two from each pork-chop category) were selected, and Americans across the country had the chance to weigh in on who they thought had what it takes to be named America’s Top #ChopGriller.

“This contest encouraged pork fans to show their passion and to Grill Pork Like a Steak while learning more about the new cut names and cooking temperatures,” said Pamela Johnson, director of consumer communications for the Pork Checkoff.

Forget Ordinary BBQ
Chef and cookbook author Ray “Dr. BBQ” Lampe helped spread the word and served up extra inspiration by sharing his tips to keep chops tender and juicy.

“Pork chops are the perfect complement to the grill,” Lampe said. “My secret to grilling the ultimate pork chop that nobody can resist is to cook it like a steak – between 145 and 160 degrees, followed by a three-minute rest.”Porterhouse Pork Chops with Steakhouse Butter

Lampe also shared his new recipes for Spice-Crusted Ribeye Pork Chop with Mango Sauce and Dry-Rubbed Porterhouse Pork Chops with Steakhouse Butter, which are featured at PorkBeInspired.com. In addition, he showcased the Pork Checkoff’s “Grill It Like A Steak!SM” message during a national media tour at the start of the summer grilling season.

“This resulted in many top-market interviews and placements in media outlets, including nationally syndicated TV shows such as The Talk and Better TV, and websites, such as Examiner.com and TheDailyMeal.com,” Johnson said.

In addition to social media support, the Pork Checkoff promoted the #ChopGriller contest through its blogger partners, who helped contribute to the final tally of nearly 6,000 entries and 22,000 finalists’ votes, along with more than 231,000 views of promotional grilling videos.

Griller Gives Back
The Top #ChopGriller contest boasted one of the biggest prize packages in recent National Pork Board history. Hoffman received $15,000 toward a backyard makeover, a summer’s worth of free pork and a Large Big Green Egg® grill and grilling prize package.

Hoffman plans to use his winnings to help support the Iowa-based Retrieving Freedom charity, which places service dogs with disabled veterans.

“My wife is a nurse with the Veterans’ Administration Hospital, and I’ve been blessed to see the crucial physical and emotional support these dogs provide veterans and their families,” said Hoffman, who noted that the service dogs come from animal shelters. “Retrieving Freedom is doing something special for America’s heroes, and this was a fitting way for me to help.”

As he builds an outdoor teaching kitchen at his family farm’s near Whitten, Iowa, Hoffman is continuing his pursuit of pork perfection.

“My advice to all barbecue enthusiasts is simple,” Hoffman said. “Cook what you like and the flavors you like, not what everyone else tells you to like, and from there, experiment often.”



Russian Demand for U.S. Soybeans Growing Rapidly

The Russian soy market is growing steadily due to investment in the domestic poultry and swine industries and growth in the soybean industry’s crushing capacity.  According to the U.S. Census Bureau, soybean exports from the U.S. to Russia from January to June 2014 have increased nearly 600 percent by volume and more than 700 percent by value compared to the same period in 2013.  Russian Customs Service data shows that soybeans from the U.S. reached 393,000 metric tons (MT) from September 2013 to April 2014.  By comparison, exports of U.S. soybeans to Russia were 272,161 MT for the entire year in 2013.

USSEC activities in Russia are focused on trade servicing and technical assistance to local crushers, feed millers, and poultry and livestock producers.  Training includes feed formulation, best management practices, and buying skills.  As a result of USSEC’s training, feed quality and productivity has improved and customers understand the advantages of using U.S. soy.

The international agro-industrial group Sodrugestvo is a powerhouse in the Russian soy industry with its state-of-the-art, multi-model logistics and oilseed processing facilities in the Kaliningrad region of Russia.  In 2013, the total crushing capacity of three Sodrugestvo Kaliningrad plants reached 8.5 thousand metric tons (TMT) of soybeans per day with the total potential throughput of 2.8 million metric tons (MMT) of soybeans per year.  The company currently crushes up to 7,000 MT of soybeans and 1,100 MT of rapeseed per day.

Today, Sodrugestvo is the largest soybean importer and crusher throughout the Commonwealth of Independent States (the former Soviet Union).  The Kaliningrad site ice-free marine terminal has several piers equipped with machines that unload soybean vessels 30,000 MT DW and could handle vessels up to 50,000 MT dry weight (DW).  Perdue Grain and Oilseed Ltd., LD Commodities Oilseeds Merchandising LLC and ZENNOH Grain Exports were the principal suppliers of U.S. soybeans during the last marketing year.

USSEC is building a long-term relationship with Sodrugestvo to continue developing soybean demand by sponsoring technical trainings and providing regular technical and market assistance and consultancy.  Sodrugestvo managers and specialists participated in USSEC trade teams attending the leading soy-related international conferences, exhibitions and technical seminars.  Russian customers have learned to appreciate the higher protein level of U.S. soybeans versus domestically produced soybeans.  Crushing imported soybeans allowed Russian companies to manufacture Hi-Pro soybean meal.

USSEC will host the top three managers from Sodrugestvo at the 2014 U.S. Global Trade Soy Exchange in Milwaukee.



Kansas Wheat Signals Innovation with Launch of New Brand Mark

The Kansas Wheat Commission and the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Manhattan, KS, have unveiled a new brand mark and a new “Rediscover Wheat” theme. The branding changes coincide with Kansas Wheat's focus on helping consumers rediscover wheat in their diets, developing a renaissance in wheat research and concentrating research efforts on exploring the genetic diversity and complexity of the wheat plant.

The new Kansas Wheat symbol represents the positive and innovative changes that the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center has had on the wheat industry. Wheat provides around 20 percent of global calories for human consumption and the Kansas wheat industry is working to ensure that the world has enough to eat.

The Kansas Wheat Commission built the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center through the Kansas wheat checkoff. It represents the single largest investment by wheat farmers in the nation. The facility opened in November 2012 and houses the two Kansas Wheat organizations and other industry organizations, and includes research laboratories and greenhouses.

"In recent years, consumers have increasingly followed fad diets such as the low-carb and gluten-free crazes. Our new tagline invites them to rediscover wheat foods, which have positive effects on the diet," said Kansas Wheat CEO Justin Gilpin. "The new brand mark signals a clear purpose for our brand, which is investing in the future through wheat genetics research. By rediscovering genetics in ancient wheat ancestors, we hope to unlock the true potential of modern day bread wheat."



CommonGround Volunteers Put Biotech in the National Spotlight

Today, CommonGround volunteers took the story of American farming, their story, to people across the country through a series of interviews with television and radio stations. Answering questions focused on GMOs and the use of biotechnology in agriculture, Julie Kenney of Iowa, Kristin Reese of Ohio, Jennifer Schmidt of Maryland and Kristina Sutton of Missouri opened the barn doors, offering themselves and their fellow CommonGround volunteers as a resource for consumers with questions about where their food comes from and how it is grown.

"It is natural for people who aren't involved in the raising or growing of their food to have questions about how that is done," said Reese. "What I want to do, along with my fellow volunteers, is start a conversation with people who have these types of questions so that we can share and learn from one another. No one should have to fear their food, but if someone has concerns, we are there to share our experience as farmers."

Over the course of the morning, the four women took part in 18 interviews, both live and taped, which will reach a national audience through both television and radio.

As labeling initiatives have drawn media attention, consumer interest in the safety and environmental impact of GMOs has also risen.  Volunteers answered many common questions, explaining crops from commercially available GMO seeds are more studied and better understood than any other products on the market.

"On average, it costs $136 million and 13 years to bring one GMO seed to market because of the research and safety testing that goes into the process," Schmidt, who is also a registered dietitian, explained.  "No other agricultural products can make this claim - or have been studied for safety at this level. Each and every genetically improved plant is examined for potential health risks, with the FDA concluding that they provide the same nutritional value and are indistinguishable from the products of other breeding methods. In the years that farmers have grown crops from genetically engineered seeds, there has not been a single verified instance of harm to human health, from the trillions of meals consumed."

In response to a question about the growing popularity of organic foods, Reese explained that "CommonGround volunteers include farmers who use both traditional and organic methods, and we truly support the ability to choose the foods they feel best for their family. While we embrace the diversity of agriculture, we do want to offer information about how all kinds of food are grown so that shoppers can make the best choices for their unique family based on solid information. Whether organic or traditionally grown, America's farmers grow and raise an array of healthy, nutritious foods that consumers can feel confident about feeding their families."

Many of the stations involved in this tour aired the interviews live, but quite a few others taped the segments to run over the coming weeks. Interviews will air in: Huntsville, AL; Hartford, CT; Chicago, IL;  Peoria, IL; Rockford, IL; Gainesville, Ocala, FL; Honolulu, HI; Minneapolis, MN; Kansas City, MO; Albuquerque, NM; Greensboro, NC; Dayton, OH; Toledo, OH; Harrisburg, PA; Rapid City, SD; Austin, TX; Roanoke, VA; and Casper, WY, as well as regional outlets in Virginia and central Texas. Additionally, interviews will be taped with Clear Channel Radio/Metro Networks, which reaches a national audience of more than two million, and for Fox News Edge's national feed.

CommonGround is a grass-roots movement to foster conversation among women - on farms and in cities - about where our food comes from. The National Corn Growers Association, the United Soybean Board and their state affiliates developed CommonGround to give farm women the opportunity to engage with consumers through the use of a wide range of activities.

Have another question about your food? Find CommonGround online at www.findourcommonground.com.



Congress Returns to Capital to Find Some Familiar Farmer Faces

Congress returned to Capitol Hill this week, and so did the positive corn farming messages at the heart of the Corn Farmers Coalition education program. Conventional print ads and digital ads will be in all the major Washington publications. Advertising in the Metro system will also be expanded to include "station domination," with Coalition messages featured in every available ad space in the heavily trafficked Capitol South transportation hub behind the House office buildings.

"The public disconnect with food and farming is a growing societal issue and the Corn Farmers Coalition seeks to reconnect us all with America's family farmers," said Martin Barbre, National Corn Growers Association president and Illinois farmer. "Through innovation, technology and ingenuity, farmers are meeting our growing needs for food, fuel, feed and fiber. And it's important the public knows we are doing so with a shared commitment to doing so in an environmentally sustainable way."

Coalition ads have come to Washington each summer since 2009 and reach a broad audience of policy makers, environmental groups, government agency employees, lobbyists, think tanks, media and tourists. Each year, the fact-based campaign has focused on a short list of messages geared toward expanding the knowledge base of these key individuals but also expand their appreciation of the contributions of corn farmers to the economy and quality of life.

"We continue to talk about how family farmers grow 90% of America's corn because it resonates so well," Barbre said, "But how we are growing the crop is equally important so the campaign also relies on telling our audience that, for example, America's sustainability-minded family corn farmers have planted 1.2 million miles of conservation buffer strips to protect the soil and improve water quality.  The Corn Farmers Coalition is a catalyst for discussion with these important audiences and we have a great success story to relay."

Featuring real farmers and farm families is a central element of the approach and continues to be an important part of the ads in 2014. However, an increased focus is also put on the growing role of technology in the industry and the importance of a new generation choosing farming as a profession.



CLAAS Rounds Out JAGUAR Forage Harvester Line with an Updated 900 Series
After the introduction of an all-new 800 Series JAGUAR line earlier this year, CLAAS engineers rounded out their North American offering with a redesigned JAGUAR 900 Series. The latest models, introduced at the 2014 Farm Progress Show, feature tier-four efficiency, an enhanced cooling system, improved chop quality and a modular design that makes maintenance faster and easier.

The new JAGUAR line features power to spare. The 980 model comes packaged with a powerful MAN V12 engine that pushes 884 horses. The 970 (775 hp) is equipped with a smooth-running MAN V8 engine, while the 960 (626 hp), 950 (585 hp) and 940 (516 hp) all feature inline Mercedes-Benz V8 engines. The 930 comes with an efficient Mercedes-Benz S6 (455 hp) that is suitable for those who don’t require as much top-end power.

Efficiency was at the forefront when re-thinking the JAGUAR 900 Series, so all six new harvesters feature the exclusive DYNAMIC COOLING system and all but the 930 model offer DYANAMIC POWER delivery for maximum fuel efficiency. The intelligent DYNAMIC POWER engine control system provides optimal, automatic provision of the power needed for the job at hand, an approach that achieves real fuel savings. CLAAS DYNAMIC COOLING makes it possible to save up to 20 hp when operating on the road or with a partial load, also saving fuel. When operating the JAGUAR in extremely hot regions, DYNAMIC COOLING can even enable an increase in fan performance of up to 15% compared with the standard cooling system.

“The JAGUAR 800 Series launched in February 2014 was a great success,” said Matt Jaynes, CLAAS of America Product Coordinator. “When we redesigned the more advanced 900 Series, we carried over many of the new features and modular design elements. We’re proud to say that the CLAAS JAGUAR product line offers the most comprehensive selection of forage harvesters in the industry.”

One hallmark of the previous 900 Series JAGUAR line was an infinitely variable chop length, and CLAAS is pleased to say that this option is not only still standard, but comes with improved chop quality and greater compression thanks to an additional intake cylinder for continuous pre-compression. And thanks to the CEBIS system, chop length can be adjusted infinitely without ever leaving the cab or stopping work, so operators can get more done in less time.

Optimized running gear is another important feature on the latest models. The rear axle geometry in the JAGUAR 900 Series allows for a turning radius of as little as 41 feet (depending on tires fitted).

The 900 Series JAGUAR forage harvesters also feature the same modular accelerator that won an ASABE AE50 award when introduced in the 800 Series earlier this year. The easier access and faster maintenance provided by the design hasn’t gone unnoticed!

Trimble GPS guidance and mapping technology can now be easily added to the newly updated JAGUAR line. The Trimble system utilizes the CLAAS AUTO PILOT infrastructure for steering, and the Yield and Moisture Meter for mapping aspects. The CLAAS/Trimble offering is one of the EASY (Efficient Agriculture Systems) technology innovations available for the North American market. This open architecture makes it easy to add Trimble components as an aftermarket solution.

For those interested in outfitting their JAGUAR 900 Series for extra heavy use, MAD JAG heavy-duty wear parts are available as options throughout.



ST. LOUIS RAMS MOVE THE CHAINS ON RESPONSIBLY-SOURCED MEAT 
(from animalwelfareapproved.org)

This season, football fans at the 64,000-capacity Edward Jones Dome, home to the St. Louis Rams, will enjoy the first ever high-welfare, sustainable hot dogs and burgers served by stadium concessions, thanks to the pioneering work of Delaware North Companies Sportservice and AWA-certified Shire Gate Farm.

Never shy of tackling societal issues--both on and off the field--the team leads the field when it comes to serving responsibly-sourced meat products to its fans. Through its long-term partnership with Delaware North Companies Sportservice--one of the nation's leading food, beverage and retail management companies--St. Louis Rams will serve thousands of Rams and visiting Minnesota Vikings fans at the opening game of the season on September 7th with a new range of hot dogs and burgers that will satisfy fans' growing appetites for meat products that are healthier for them--and the planet.

In keeping with their commitment to environmental responsibility and the guest experience, Sportservice has worked tirelessly with Will Witherspoon--last year's starting linebacker for the Rams and owner of AWA-certified Shire Gate Farm in Owensville, MO--to serve fans with a new range of truly sustainable, high-welfare hot dogs and burgers at its concessions facilities at Edward Jones Dome.

Shire Gate Farm's delicious Grassfed Beef Hot Dogs and Grassfed Ground-Beef Burgers are produced using the highest-quality grassfed beef sourced from a handful of local family farm suppliers, all certified by AWA--the nation's leading and most trusted farm certifier. Shire Gate Farm's grassfed cattle are raised according to AWA's exacting animal welfare and environmental standards, outdoors on pasture, without reliance on antibiotics or hormones.

Will Witherspoon, former St. Louis Rams linebacker and owner of Shire Gate Farm, says:
"I am excited the Rams are taking a stand on sustainable food production. Hot dogs and burgers are practically shorthand for bad food, but my Grassfed Hot Dogs and Grassfed Ground-Beef Burgers are fit for a professional athlete. When the bigger players in the food industry raise their game, and start sourcing local, sustainably-produced food in this way, it can lay the foundations for real change--not just at sports venues, but everywhere."

"At Shire Gate Farm, we're committed to producing great-value, wholesome food as naturally as possible. AWA and I see eye-to-eye on how cattle should be raised--outdoors on pasture for their entire lives, just as nature intended. The AWA logo is our way of showing customers that we really are doing the right thing by our animals, and the environment."

Andrew Gunther, AWA's program director, says:
"We applaud St. Louis Rams and Delaware North Companies Sportservice for demonstrating clear leadership in sourcing truly sustainable, high-welfare meat products from AWA-certified Shire Gate Farm. As a professional athlete, Will Witherspoon understands the direct link between the way we raise animals, the nutritional quality of the meat, milk and eggs they produce, and our own health and well-being. And as a farmer he's now applying that knowledge first-hand."