Wednesday April 27 Ag News

ROCKEY STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF AG RESEARCH IN HEUERMANN LECTURE

    Sally Rockey, executive director of the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, said advances in agricultural research have played a significant role in improving life expectancy and quality of life and will be critical to feeding the world's growing population.

    Rockey, who has devoted her career to improving people's lives through research, delivered the final Heuermann Lecture of the 2015-16 season April 26 at Nebraska Innovation Campus.

    According to Rockey, controlling foodborne pathogens and the growth of nutritious foods have been critical in improving people's lives.

    "At least 50 percent of our increased life expectancy is due to agriculture," she said.

    Rockey said that with the introduction of new technologies, science is advancing at a pace never before seen. To meet the demands of feeding a growing population, she said it's critical for research to keep up with advances in science.

    To drive research in food and agriculture, Rockey is developing partnerships between the public and private sectors. This type of partnership offers incentives for both sides to engage, including direct access to important research for the private sector and the opportunity to address real-world problems for the public sector. The result is research that can be transferred quickly to the economy.

    "The outcomes of precompetitive research have the potential to positively impact all parties equally," Rockey said. "It allows resources and data to be readily shared."

    How that data is shared is another area of focus of the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research. There are a lot of differences in opinion in the agricultural industry, Rockey said. Scientists tend to believe the public doesn't agree with their way of thinking because they don't have enough information on a given topic, she said. Therefore, they continue to share more data, which does not resonate with the public or convince them to change their minds.

    "There's a great disconnect between scientists and the public," Rockey said.

    The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research is looking at ways to better work with the public to understand how this disconnect can be diminished in agriculture. Major focus areas of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, such as water for food, food for health, soil health and plant phenotyping align with the foundation's priorities and the two are working closely together in these areas.

    The lecture was the closing keynote of the seventh annual Water for Food Global Conference, which focused on the powerful impact of public-private partnerships in water for food research, technology and product development. The international conference was organized by the Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Institute at the University of Nebraska.

    Heuermann Lectures in the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources are possible through a gift from B. Keith and Norma Heuermann of Phillips. The Heuermanns are longtime university supporters with a strong commitment to Nebraska's production agriculture, natural resources, rural areas and people. Lectures stream live at http://heuermannlectures.unl.edu and are archived there soon afterward. They also air on NET2 World at a later date.



GRAZING WET PASTURES
Bruce Anderson, NE Extension Forage Specialist

               Wet, muddy pastures require special grazing techniques.

               As your spring grazing season begins, pastures often are soft and wet.  Grazing can quickly get these pastures muddy and damaged by hoof traffic.

               Use special grazing techniques to limit damage in soft, muddy pastures.  The worst thing you can do is graze a pasture for several days until it’s all torn up and then move to a new area.  Trampling that occurs repeatedly over several days greatly weakens plants; doing this across a wide area can reduce production for months, even years.

               In contrast, pastures muddied up by grazing only briefly usually recover quickly.  Maybe not as fast as when the ground is solid, but fast enough to minimize yield or stand loss.

               Take advantage of this rapid recovery by moving animals frequently, at least once a day, to a new area.  If this involves walking animals long distances, it might be better to subdivide pastures with temporary electric fences so you don’t increase trampling during the moving process.  This also can increase the number of new areas to move into.  Fencing supplies you use around corn stalks during winter should work well for this temporary use.  Once the ground firms up you can return to your normal grazing rotation.

               Another option is to graze all your cattle together in one small area until the ground gets solid again, feeding hay if needed.  This protects most of your pasture acres from trampling losses.  But it can virtually destroy the area grazed and need reseeding.  This may be a small price to pay, though, to protect the rest of your acres.

               Don’t let mud and trampling ruin your pastures.  Temporary grazing adjustments can save grass now and for the future.



Animal Health Vaccine Opportunities Expand with AgriLabs® Acquisitions

Today, AgriLabs®, the largest U.S. animal health marketing and distribution business, announced that it has entered into the vaccine manufacturing business with a new USDA-licensed facility in Lincoln, Nebraska. AgriLabs has also acquired Lincoln-based Antelope Valley Bios and Benchmark Biolabs, and Benchmark’s ownership interest of VaxLiant®. With these moves, AgriLabs, along with its new business subsidiaries, now offers complete concept-to-commercialization services for vaccines used in swine, cattle, poultry and other species.

“By adding state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities to our U.S. marketing and sales operations, we can deliver more value to veterinarians and producers both domestically and worldwide,” said Steve Schram, AgriLabs chief executive officer, at a ribbon-cutting event that included several state and city officials. “With the need for alternatives to antibiotics, vaccines are critical to the long term health and efficiency of food animal production,” Schram said.

Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts applauded the actions by AgriLabs. “This announcement positions Nebraska for great opportunities in agriculture and bioscience,” Gov. Ricketts said. “We appreciate the confidence that AgriLabs has in our state’s bioscience research and manufacturing sectors, and its willingness to expand its investment in employees and facilities in these highly regarded areas.”

Schram said the expertise of the staff at both Benchmark and Antelope Valley Bios are critical to the research and design and manufacturing functions of the AgriLabs expanded business model. “This is the R&D team and the vaccine manufacturing plant involved in making the first foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine for cattle which was developed without using a live FMD virus. They also produced the first USDA-approved plant-derived vaccines,” he said.

The swine market will be the first target for the new facilities, with a focus on custom-made vaccines. “Practically speaking, our Lincoln facilities and our relationships will allow us to deliver to veterinarians and producers better vaccines quickly, safely and affordably. We also have a platform that will enable the rapid development of vaccines that work,” said Sean O’Hare, executive vice president of AgriLabs.

AgriLabs’ three fully owned subsidiaries in Lincoln – Antelope Valley Bios, Benchmark Biolabs and VaxLiant – will continue to operate as stand-alone business entities.

“This means customers of each company will see no change in how they currently do business with them,” Schram said. “However, an important benefit is that customers – whether small or large – now can have access to experts and other resources. So, whether people are looking for global expertise in securing regulatory licenses for vaccines, or wanting to purchase innovative vaccines that improve animal health, we can help.”



NCTA buckles up new tradition

Aggie students from the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis won’t be sporting class rings from their alma mater any time soon.

When these graduates leave campus after two years of academic studies and collegiate teamwork, they can head home wearing a western belt buckle engraved with their name, year, and major.

“Become the Tradition” was unveiled recently at the inaugural NCTA Buckle Ceremony for 28 students, faculty, staff and alumni who ordered a customized belt buckle.

The campus is starting a new tradition.

Last fall, NCTA’s recruiting coordinator Tina Smith was brainstorming with her husband and NCTA professor Doug Smith about offering a symbolic keepsake for NCTA graduates.

They wanted something representative of the ag college; symbolic and customized for student pride in their alma mater.

“We thought about a class ring but a belt buckle seemed more appropriate for our students,” Tina Smith said.

Students in all divisions of NCTA are purchasing the buckles. This spring, several purchasers are majors from animal science, agriculture education, agronomy, agribusiness or veterinary technology.

“The buckles are absolutely gorgeous” said Haley Rogers of Lexington, who graduates on May 5, and will continue on for a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

“All the hard work throughout these last two years sure has paid off,” Rogers told friends. “I will wear this buckle with pride and remember all the memories I have made here at NCTA.”

Orders will be processed each spring semester. More details will be available late fall at ncta.unl.edu.



Iowa Swine Day showcases nationally recognized speakers on topics of vital interest to the pork industry

Join Iowa State University, the Iowa Pork Industry Center and the Iowa Pork Producers Association in celebrating the 5th anniversary of Iowa Swine Day. Iowa Swine Day is an industry-focused event with a very high quality program designed specifically for the pork industry. 

Scheduled for Thursday, June 30, on the Iowa State University campus in Ames, the morning plenary session features nationally recognized speakers addressing topics of urgent interest.

During the morning plenary session, national experts will address up-to-the minute issues in pork production. 

Dr. Peter Davies, a professor of veterinary medicine at the University of Minnesota whose findings have been published by the U.S. National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health, will discuss how antibiotic use in animal agriculture impacts human health.

Sean McMahon, Executive Director of the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance, will describe the increasing pace and scale of farmer-driven efforts to improve water quality in today’s highly charged atmosphere. 

The ever-popular Joe Kerns, a risk management specialist whose firm Kerns and Associates works with livestock producers and suppliers in 13 states, will delve into financial prospects for pork producers in in the coming year in the context of the larger U.S. economy.

Sandra Vijn, Director of Food Sustainability with the World Wildlife Fund will address the issue of sustainability in future pork production.

There will also be concurrent afternoon sessions on topics such as the new regulations governing swine feed and emerging technologies that will become available in the future to control serious diseases in swine. Other sessions will address housing topics and the latest research from Iowa State University.

Iowa Swine Day 2016 will be held from 9:00 am until 4:35 pm on Thursday, June 30 in the Scheman building on the Iowa State University campus.  Registration will begin at 7:30 a.m.  Lunch and refreshments are included in the registration fee, which is $60 until midnight, June 17, and then increases to $80. Students of all ages may register at no cost until June 17th, paying $45 thereafter.  To register and view the full program, visit our website at www.aep.iastate.edu/iowaswineday.



Pre-World Pork Expo Tours Provide Insight into U.S. Ag

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) is offering two tours prior to the 2016 World Pork Expo that provide unique insights into U.S. agriculture. Set for June 6-7, the two-day tour will travel to locations in Illinois, Indiana and Iowa, showcasing commercial hog systems, farm equipment production and agricultural shipping channels. The one-day tour on June 7 will highlight agricultural businesses in central Iowa, with a look at modern swine production and food marketing, feed grain research and product development. The tours include transportation and meals on tour days, as well as free admission to World Pork Expo, June 8-10, featuring the world’s largest pork-specific trade show.

“This year’s pre-World Pork Expo tours follow the long tradition of providing visitors with a snapshot of U.S. agriculture’s diversity from on-farm hog production to product research and development to equipment manufacturing and shipping,” says Greg Thornton, tour organizer for NPPC. “While the tours are open to anyone, they are particularly informative for international visitors and can make their time at World Pork Expo even more meaningful.”

The Two-day Tour
The two-day tour, underwritten by the Illinois Soybean Association, travels through Iowa and into Illinois and Indiana. Participants can board the bus in Des Moines on Sunday, June 5, or can meet the group at Holiday Inn Express in Chicago, on Monday, June 6. The tour will venture into Indiana to visit Fair Oaks Farms, home of The Pig Adventure for a view of modern pork production. Participants will dine on site at the Farmhouse Restaurant. The overnight stop will take place at Jumer’s Hotel and Casino. On day two, the tour heads to the John Deere Harvester Works in East Moline, Illinois, and a new, state-of-the art JBS feedmill and a modern wean-to-finish barn managed by JBS. Participants also will get an up-close look at grain export activities during a barge trip down the Mississippi River. The tour bus will return to Des Moines for dinner on the evening of June 7.

Cost for the two-day tour is U.S. $450 per person, which includes bus transportation, lodging on June 6, meals on tour days and World Pork Expo admission.

The One-day Tour
The one-day tour takes place on Tuesday, June 7, and will focus on agricultural businesses in Central Iowa. The tour will begin and end the day in Des Moines. This action-packed trip will include a look at crop and feed segments related to pork production with a stop at the DuPont Pioneer Research & Development Center. A visit to a modern wean-to-finish barn and a new, state-of-the art feedmill owned by JBS, followed by a stop at a Hy-Vee grocery store for perspective on the U.S. retail food sector and dinner at the iconic Machine Shed Restaurant completes the day’s events.

The cost for this one-day tour is U.S. $150 per person, which includes bus transportation, meals on the tour, as well as free admission to World Pork Expo.

“These pre-Expo tours are a great way to get a sense of what U.S., and more specifically Iowa, agriculture is like. It provides participants with an up close and personal look, with opportunities to ask questions,” says John Weber, NPPC president and Iowa pork producer. “Then tour participants can spend the following days at World Pork Expo for a look at the latest pork production technologies, products and services, as well as hearing leading experts discuss research and production tips during the numerous seminars offered.”

Space is limited
Both tours have limited space, so interested individuals should go to worldpork.org and register as soon as possible. Once there, select “Attendees” on the blue registration button. Then, scroll down to "Industry Tours." The website will provide updated details about the tours, as well as a schedule of Expo activities and general registration information. The site also offers information about room availability at official World Pork Expo hotels, answers to Frequently Asked Questions and other helpful tips about traveling to World Pork Expo.

Other ways to get the most up-to-date information is to connect with World Pork Expo on Facebook and follow Expo on Twitter (@NPPCWPX, #WPX16)

The 2016 World Pork Expo takes place June 8-10, at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. Highlights include more than 310,000 square feet of commercial exhibits from hundreds of companies throughout the world. Trade show hours run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 8, and Thursday, June 9, and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, June 10. Swine breeding stock sales will take place on Saturday, June 11, from 8 a.m. until they are completed (at approximately noon).



Fertilizer Prices Steady Again

Fertilizer prices continued to hold fairly steady for the second week in a row, according to retailers contacted by DTN during the third week of April.

As was the case last week, four fertilizers were higher priced while the other four fertilizers were lower priced compared to last month.

None of the fertilizer prices changed by any consequence. DAP averaged $477/ton, MAP $502/ton, anhydrous $588/ton and UAN32 $322/ton.

The remaining four fertilizers were down a small amount compared to the month earlier. Potash averaged $366/ton, urea $388/ton, 10-34-0 $561/ton and UAN28 $274/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, urea averaged $0.42/lb.N, anhydrous $0.36/lb.N, UAN28 $0.49/lb.N and UAN32 $0.50/lb.N.

Fertilizer prices tracked by DTN appear to have bottomed in late February. For example, average anhydrous prices have climbed more than $50/ton since then. But at the moment, all fertilizers remain double-digits lower in price compared to a year earlier.

UAN32 is 13% lower while both urea and 10-34-0 are 14% less expensive from a year ago. In addition, DAP and MAP are both 16% lower, anhydrous and UAN28 are 17% less expensive and potash is 26% lower.



Ethanol Stocks, Output Declined Week-ended April 22

The Energy Information Administration released data today showing ethanol inventories and domestic production declined during the week-ended April 22 while implied demand increased.

The data showed inventories fell about 400,000 bbl or 1.9% to 21.6 million bbl for the week profiled, with year-over-year surplus at 800,000 bbl or 4.4%.

Plant production fell 12,000 bpd or 1.3% last week to 927,000 bpd while 0.76% lower year-over-year.

Blender inputs, a proxy for ethanol demand, increased by 25,000 bpd or 2.8% to 918,000 bpd for the week, while up 4.9% year-over-year.



Farmers and Ranchers Need Government Support, Not Opposition, Farm Bureau Tells Congress

Low commodity prices, tightening credit, expensive land and rising costs for expenses such as seed and fertilizer will lead to financial losses for many farmers and ranchers this year, Illinois Farm Bureau President Richard Guebert, Jr. told a House subcommittee today.

Testifying on behalf of the American Farm Bureau Federation and the Illinois Farm Bureau, Guebert encouraged Congress to help farm and ranch families endure what observers agree will be a difficult year. He said Illinois farmers who produce row crops have been hit hard along with the rest of the farm economy.

"Over the last 18 months we have seen our working capital erode over 25 percent," Guebert said. "Our equity is fading into the sunset. Indexed to inflation, the economic return for Illinois farmers after accounting for family expenses is currently at its lowest level since 1972. All of this has proven to be a very steep learning curve for a new generation of younger and less experienced farmers who entered the business when times were better."

The emergence of global food markets in recent years has made already volatile commodity markets even less stable than before.

"Commodity prices used to be more predictable," Guebert said. "They were primarily influenced by regional and national factors. Just in the past two weeks we've seen a $1.30 a bushel increase in soybean prices because of rain during harvest in Brazil, and then overnight on April 22 a drop of 22 cents a bushel. Farmers and ranchers are price takers, whether on the input or commodity side of the equation."

Many government programs have helped farm families, but others have hindered the wellbeing of those who raise the food, fuel and fiber Americans depend on every day, Guebert said.

On the positive side:
-    Congressional agriculture leaders have protected the farm bill's safety net and risk management tools to help farmers and ranchers cope with market volatility.
-    Congress has bolstered the farm economy by supporting significant transportation projects to improve major waterways and make driver licensing more practical and easier to comply with.
-    The Environmental Protection Agency has taken a flexible approach on licensing dicamba herbicide formulations.
-    The President's Task Force on Pollinators has recognized that beekeepers and farmers need one another and allowed them to work together to preserve pollinators rather than imposing a solution from the outside.

Unfortunately, not all government actions have been so benign:
-    Proponents of mandatory labeling for products that include genetically modified ingredients have pushed their anti-science agenda in Congress to the detriment of farmers and consumers alike.
-    The nation's H-2A visa program for agricultural workers remains inefficient and impractical for most farmers.
-    Compliance with the Affordable Care Act remains confusing and difficult for small seasonal employers such as farmers and ranchers.
-    EPA is increasingly restricting pesticides and herbicides without proper scientific evidence for its positions.
-    The U.S. Forest Service recently proposed that ranchers surrender their water rights in exchange for the ability to graze on federal lands. The USFS later withdrew the proposal, but this remains a topic of discussion among environmental groups.

"The world population will continue to grow," Guebert told lawmakers. "American farmers have proven time and time again we produce the food, fiber and fuel the world needs. Please don't restrict, limit or constrain our ability to provide what consumers around the world need."



Senate Judiciary Approves Cattle Price Collapse Investigation

In response to R-CALF USA's January request, the Senate Judiciary Committee last week requested the Comptroller General of the United States to use his agency, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), to initiate an investigation into the 2015 cattle price collapse.

In a letter signed by the chairman and ranking member of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), respectively, along with the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights, Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), respectively, the GAO is asked to investigate the cause of the sudden 15.1 percent drop in fed cattle prices that occurred during the latter half of 2015.

"We are pleased the Judiciary Committee agrees that the evidence we provided regarding the dysfunctionality of our fed cattle market warrants a careful investigation into the current structure of our industry and our industry's susceptibility to anticompetitive practices," said R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard.

The Judiciary Committee's letter specifically requested the GAO to conduct "a review of the structure of the market and of any possible anticompetitive conduct."

According to the agency's Website, the GAO is an independent, nonpartisan agency often called the 'government watchdog' because it investigates how the federal government spends taxpayer dollars. The Comptroller General of the United States, who heads the GAO, is appointed to a 15-year term by the President. Comptroller General Gene L. Dodaro was appointed by President Barack Obama in 2010.

"This is our last best chance to stop the chickenization of our cattle industry," said Bullard, referring to the vertically integrated structure of the U.S. chicken industry that is under the complete control of large, corporate meatpackers.

"We don't want our cattle industry to follow the chicken industry's path and the only way to reverse our present trajectory towards it is to defend and protect competition in our cattle markets," he added.

In 2010 the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Justice held joint hearings across the country during which both agencies indicated they would begin protecting competition in livestock markets by enforcing antitrust laws and the Packers and Stockyards Act, which prohibits anticompetitive conduct. However, no such actions have been initiated by either agency.



160+ Farm and Food Groups Ask Congress to Reject TPP, Stand Up for Independent Farmers and Ranchers

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) has become a divisive issue in the nation’s capital, and criticism intensified after 161 food, farm, faith and rural organizations sent a letter to Capitol Hill today, urging lawmakers to reject the trade pact.

“The main beneficiaries of the TPP are the companies that buy, process and ship raw agricultural commodities, not the farmers who face real risks from rising import competition. TPP imports will compete against U.S. farmers who are facing declining farm prices that are projected to stay low for years,” the organizations wrote.

The White House has promoted the TPP as an export-boon for farmers to generate support for the agreement, but past trade agreements have not always delivered on export promises, the letter noted. For example, the United States’ total combined exports of corn, soybeans and wheat have remained steady at about 100 million metric tons for the last 30 years despite a raft of free trade agreements since the mid-1990s.

“Trade deals do not just add new export markets – the flow of trade goes both ways – and the U.S. has committed to allowing significantly greater market access to imports under the TPP,” the groups explained. Especially “alarming” to the organizations is the agreement’s complete lack of enforceable provisions against currency manipulation, a substantial cause of America’s debilitating $531 billion trade imbalance.

“In its current form, the TPP sets to bankroll global business rather than foster local economies. It fails to address our alarming trade deficit and other serious issues that will be passed on to the family farmer, the everyday consumer and the American worker,” said Roger Johnson, president of National Farmers Union, one of the letter’s signers. “NFU understands this trade agreement is not a good deal for our nearly 200,000 family farm and ranch members.”

The TPP poses particular risks for cattle producers. In 2015, the United States imported nearly 2.3 billion pounds of beef from TPP partners but only exported about 1.2 billion pounds. The TPP will increase beef and cattle imports at a time when domestic cattle prices are plummeting.

“The TPP rolls out the red carpet for foreign cattle imports to undercut American family ranchers,” said Mabel Dobbs, a rancher from Weiser, Idaho, on behalf of the Western Organization of Resource Councils. “We will face the added challenge of competing with cheap, unregulated and un-inspected imported beef. Like failed trade deals of the past, the beneficiaries of this agreement are the multi-national meatpackers at the expense of family farmers and ranchers.”

The TPP also covers important agricultural policy areas such as investment, procurement, labeling, food safety, animal health and crop disease. The stringent rules and dispute system under the TPP make it easier to successfully challenge and overturn domestic laws, as happened last year to country of origin meat labels.

“The TPP will add to the rising tide of imported food that is already overwhelming U.S. farmers, eaters and border inspectors,” said Food & Water Watch Executive Director Wenonah Hauter. “Trade deals like the TPP make U.S. farm and food policy subservient to foreign trade tribunals that put global commerce ahead of the needs of American farmers and consumers.”

The letter was introduced at a press teleconference with House Agriculture Committee Member Rep. Rick Nolan, NFU President Roger Johnson, Auburn University agricultural economist Professor C. Robert Taylor and independent rancher and Rocky Mountain Farmers Union member Steve Nein.



EPA Lengthens Comment Period on Dicamba

The Environmental Protection Agency has extended the public comment period on dicamba formulations to be used with Monsanto's new Xtend herbicide trait technology to May 31. That means growers can plant the technology, but will not have a dicamba herbicide available in time to use during the 2016 season.

Monsanto, DuPont Pioneer and many other licensees commercialized dicamba-tolerant soybeans for the first time this spring. Farmers have already taken delivery and in some cases planted Roundup Ready 2 Xtend (RR2X) soybeans. Companies have informed DTN that they are working with growers to exchange product upon request. Growers are urged to work with their seed dealers if they wish to swap seed.

"We do not expect dicamba to be available for in-crop use in 2016," said Monsanto spokesman John Combest. That means any use of a dicamba herbicide on RR2X soybeans in-season during 2016 before final labels are approved by EPA and state officials would be a violation of law.

After the comment period closes, EPA will review all of the comments and reach a final decision, which the agency expects to issue in late summer or early fall 2016.

Growers can still use glyphosate (Roundup) since the RR2X system also contains that trait, but weeds have become increasingly resistant to glyphosate.



Intellectual Property Report Details U.S. Trade Representative's Global Initiatives to Defend
Rights of Common Food Name Users

A report issued by the U.S. Trade Representative's Office today outlined the Administration's broad scope of activities aimed at combating the abuse of geographical indications (GIs) threatening the use of common food names.

USTR's annual Special 301 report touted the extensive efforts in numerous countries and forums that the Administration has undertaken to stem the European Union's efforts to use GIs to erect barriers to U.S. exports.

"Protecting the right to use generic food names is increasingly important to U.S. food and beverage companies," said Jaime Castaneda, executive director of the Consortium for Common Food Names, an international alliance dedicated to preserving rights to use common food names. "Producers around the world continue to grapple with the harmful effects of the EU's overly broad approach to GIs and the impact this policy has already had in numerous markets."

"USTR's robust defense of common food name users - and the rights of buyers to maintain a variety of sources for common food categories - is particularly valuable at this point in time when the EU is seeking to replicate here in the U.S. market its harmful pattern of using its FTAs to impose GI policies aimed at restricting trade and competition," stated Castaneda. "The GI provisions in TPP are a strong step in the right direction toward bringing more transparency and balance to the process of GI evaluations in various countries."

Castaneda said CCFN will continue working with USTR on GIs and called on governments around the world to stop the illegal confiscation of generic names. "We look forward to partnering with USTR to use the tools in TPP, as well as direct engagement with key markets, to preserve access for common food name products," he said. "With the help of USTR and the cooperation of other governments, we can make real progress toward a more equitable system of considering and approving geographical indications across the globe," he said.



BASF launches Grow Smart™ University

BASF announced the launch of a new online educational resource, Grow Smart™ University, which connects growers and industry professionals with agronomic and agribusiness content. Grow Smart University offers an extensive library of farm management information, making it easier and faster to find helpful materials.

“Growers face increasingly complex situations in farming, and many look to the Web for answers,” said Paul Leeland, Product Manager, BASF. “Grow Smart University helps provide necessary educational resources to make informed decisions.”

Content is available in videos, e-books, industry expert webinars, educational modules and flashcards to accommodate a variety of learning-style preferences. All materials are categorized by topic, allowing visitors to delve deep into a variety of subjects. Crop-specific courses cover best practices from seed to harvest, while courses on general agricultural principles focus on whole issues, such as plant health or agribusiness. New content is uploaded regularly to keep visitors abreast of new issues and technologies in the industry.

“Grow Smart University is a tool as flexible as the growers who use it,” Leeland said. “By having on-demand access to education, growers can operate on their own schedule to learn about new developments and tools to help their operation.”

BASF’s Grow Smart approach helps growers get the most out of every acre by combining the best partnerships, resources and risk-reduction tools to build customized plans focused on individual operations. With teamwork at its core, Grow Smart is a better way to do business.

Gain access to Grow Smart University by logging in at www.growsmartuniversity.com.