Tuesday October 15 Ag News

Nebraska Agribusiness Club to Recognize Three Honorees November 7

Three Nebraskans will be awarded for their service and dedication to agriculture at the Nebraska Agribusiness Club’s 47th annual awards banquet November 7th at Hillcrest Country Club in Lincoln.  The 2013 honorees for Public Service to Agriculture are Ken Pohlman of Omaha, and Gerald Schmidt of Jansen. The club will also recognize Deanna Karmazin of Lincoln as the New Horizon Award honoree.

Ken Pohlman is most noted for his work with Midwest Laboratories, of which he is the President and Chief Executive Officer. Since its opening in 1975, Ken has grown the company from a single building, to a seven building campus that houses over 130 employees. Ken’s experiences in agronomy and laboratory management date back to 1964 and include work with Harris Laboratories, Inc. in Lexington and Northrup King and Company in Norfolk. Ken and his wife Beverly are the parents of two married children, Brent (Michele) Pohlman of Omaha, Nebraska, and Amy (David) Reuter of Bellevue, Washington, and grandparents to seven grandchildren.

Gerald Schmidt and his wife Marcia farm with his two brothers and a brother-in-law.  Their farming operation produces irrigated and dry-land crops, broiler chickens and hogs. It is Gerald’s dedication to the board room that makes him deserving of the award. Gerald served two terms on the board of Farmers Cooperative Elevator Company of Plymouth, including serving as chair at the time of merger with Farmers Cooperative of Dorchester and continues in that role today. Gerald has served on the Board of MBA Poultry, and currently serves of the boars of America’s Premium Pork Cooperative, Triumph Foods LLC, and the Nebraska Cooperative Council Education Foundation. Gerald is a member of LEAD Group VI, and recognized as the LEAD Outstanding Nebraska Alumni in 2001.

Deanna Karmazin has a passion for agricultural education that has guided her 16 year career thus far. From 1996-2011 Deanna served as a UNL Extension Associate in Lancaster County. During her tenure she educated countless students not only in her 4-H activities, but also in programs she developed to educate urban youth about agriculture. Since March of 2011, Deanna has served as the State Director for the Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom program.  This role allows her the opportunity to work together with teachers across the state to integrate agriculture literacy into their classrooms. Deanna is a member of LEAD Group XXIX. Deanna and her husband Steve are the parents of twins, Chris and Lauren.

The awards banquet is open to the public. Tickets are $25 each before October 23rd and $30 each after through the day of the banquet. Ticket reservation forms can be found online at www.nebraskaagribusinessclub.org or by emailing nebraskaagribusinessclub@gmail.com.  Checks should be made payable to the Nebraska Agribusiness Club.



Ag Relations Council Banquet, Ag at the Crossroads Nov. 6-7

            The Nebraska Ag Relations Council in cooperation with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Department of Agricultural Economics is sponsoring the Ag at the Crossroads Nov. 7 at the Lancaster Event Center in Lincoln.

            This year's conference, themed "Financing the Good Life… Taxing Issues for the State of Nebraska", will begin with 8 a.m. registration and conclude at 4 p.m.

            "The conference will help give attendees cutting edge information about tax issues and funding needs in Nebraska," said Doug Jose, ag economics professor emeritus and treasurer of the Nebraska Ag Relations Council.

            The conference will feature authorities on public finance and taxation issues, including Lt. Gov. Lavon Heideman, and state Sen. Pete Pirsch, a member of the Tax Modernization Committee.

            The Nebraska Ag Relations Council also will honor Jerry Warner, chief management officer of Farmers National, of Omaha, with its annual Agricultural Achievement award during its awards banquet Nov. 6. The banquet on Nov. 6 will be at UNL's East Campus Union and will begin with a 6:15 a.m. social followed by a 7 p.m. dinner/roast and toast.

            Warner has served landowners throughout the United States in his 41 years with the company. He was key in helping grow Farmers National to one of the largest full service farm management companies in the U.S.

            Cost to attend the banquet is $25 before Nov. 1; $30 after. Cost to attend Ag at the Crossroads which includes noon meal, breaks and all proceedings is $40 before Nov. 1; $45 after. Cost to attend both is $65 before Nov. 1; $75 after.

            For more information, a conference schedule or to register, visit neagrelations.org and click on the conference and banquet box or call 800-535-3456. For questions, contact Sandy at 402-472-1742.



Countdown to National FFA Convention
Stacey Agnew, NE FFA Foundation Executive Director

From October 30 through November 2nd, 55,000 people will be in Louisville for the 86th National FFA Convention. Students will be competing, attending leadership workshops, completing community service projects and receiving awards for their successes in SAEs, classroom instruction and FFA experience.

This year, there are 155 Nebraska FFA members receiving their American Degree. This is the highest degree an FFA member can receive.

We are also celebrating two Nebraska students who are finalist in the Stars program. Eric Miller from Lyons-Decatur Northeast FFA is a finalist for American Star in Agribusiness and Mark Keck from Plainview FFA is a finalist for American Star in Agriscience.

Finally, Brennan Costello from Gothenburg will be finishing his term as National FFA Central Region Vice President and he will be giving his retiring address on Thursday, October 31st.

If you can't make the trip to Louisville, you can watch the sessions online at: http://www.ihigh.com/ffa/.



Nebraska Could See More Hot Days, NU Water Symposium Speaker Says

            Nebraska and many parts of the Great Plains can expect more hot days and increased demands for water and energy as a result of ongoing climate change and rising temperatures, an environmental ecologist and climatologist told those attending Tuesday's University of Nebraska water symposium.

            Shannon McNeeley of the North Central Climate Science Center at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo. said that rising temperatures in the Great Plains will continue to stress natural resources and increase competition for water among communities, agriculture, energy production and ecological needs.

            "Nebraska, under current climate change scenarios, will likely be using more water for irrigation of crops and using more energy for production of biofuels," McNeeley said.

            If carbon emissions remain at current levels, she also said it is likely that in coming years, the state could experience as many as 25 to 30 days more per year of temperatures over 90 degrees.

            Much of the information McNeeley presented at Tuesday's symposium will be published in the forthcoming U.S. National Climate Assessment report to be released to Congress. The report will be used as a tool for assessing how the effects of climate change may affect federal and tribal lands nationwide. McNeeley co-wrote the report's chapter on adaptation to climate change.

            NCCSC is one of eight regional climate science centers contributing to the report, she said.

            Along with more hot days, Nebraska could see its percentage of crop acres under irrigation increase dramatically as producers begin to feel the effects of changes in crop growth cycles due to warming winters and alterations in the timing and magnitude of rainfall events.

            "These trends are already being observed and as they continue, they will require new agriculture and livestock management practices to help mitigate their effects," McNeeley said.

            She also noted that communities already vulnerable to weather and climate extremes will be "stressed even further by more frequent extreme events occurring within an already highly variable climate system."

            The magnitude of these expected changes will exceed those experienced in the 20th century and while government, organizational and private sector resources are increasing efforts to deal with these predicted changes, "existing adaptation and planning efforts are inadequate to respond" to projected impacts from climate change.

            Implementing plans to mitigate effects from climate change have also been slow to come about, she said, noting that there are many political, cultural and institutional barriers to the process of making changes and that adaptation isn't "one size fits all."

            Barriers to change include lack of resources to begin and sustain adaptation efforts, fragmented decision-making networks, lack of leadership and polarization of the issue politically as well as widely divergent perceptions on the potential risks posed by climate change, she said.

            McNeeley is also working on a Drought Risk and Adaptation in the Interior study to help U.S. Department of Interior resource managers, and stakeholders such as the National Park Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Reclamation among others, deal with drought in their landscapes. One of the partners in this study is the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's National Drought Mitigation Center.

            Tuesday's symposium was at Lincoln's Cornhusker Hotel and was followed by a one-day water law conference. The symposium was co-sponsored by the Nebraska Water Center, part of the Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Institute and U.S. Geological Survey's Nebraska Water Science Center.



Fueling Our Future: New Biofuels Program will Expand E-30 in Iowa

Gov. Terry E. Branstad, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, agriculture Sec. Bill Northey and DOT Director Paul Trombino today announced a new biofuels pilot program called "Fueling Our Future," a public-private partnership that aims to assist in expanding the market for mid-level biofuels blends, building on Iowa's history as a leader in ethanol and biodiesel development and production.

Through the use of current funding, this initiative will redirect federal funds to further leverage state dollars in the existing renewable fuel infrastructure program, establishing more blender pumps containing E-30 and biodiesel at gas retailers around the state.

"This pilot program will provide Iowans with additional access to higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel, which will help our farmers, communities and economy in producing, processing and profiting locally," said Branstad.

Iowa State University will work closely on this initiative to evaluate consumer perceptions and the impact of increased assess to mid-level biofuels blending options, including impacts on improved air quality.

"Iowa's success in biofuels is due to our abundant natural resources, the hard work that goes into its production, and the choice that consumers make in supporting locally-produced and renewable biofuels," said Reynolds. "I look forward to the installation of these new mid-level blender pumps at locations around Iowa next spring and am hopeful that neighboring states will take a similar approach."

The Fueling Our Future program will be supported by the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, the Department of Transportation, Iowa State University and the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Board.

"This initiative is a great example of coordination and collaboration between the DOT and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship," said Trombino. "Better leveraging resources from a variety of stakeholders in this public-private partnership will help increase market access to biofuels for Iowa consumers and further diversify our energy portfolio."

Northey highlighted the value-added component.

"Iowa has a robust biofuels industry that is an important value-add to our state's agricultural sector," said Northey. "Bolstering biofuels infrastructure will help Iowa consumers and farmers through increased access to these renewable fuels that are produced right here in Iowa."

More information on the program can be found at: www.iowaagriculture.gov/agMarketing/IRFIP.asp. 



Iowa Soybean Association hires Carrie Kelly as western Iowa outreach coordinator

Carrie Kelly has joined the Iowa Soybean Association’s (ISA) producer services team, serving as the member outreach coordinator for districts 1, 4 and 7 in western Iowa.  Kelly and her husband, Jeff, live in Stuart. Jeff works on a family farm owned by his uncle and grandfather in the Redfield and Adel area.   “I’m looking forward to working for ISA and excited to support and build relationships with Iowa’s farmers in the western crop districts,” said Kelly. 

Kelly grew up in east Texas, raising and showing sheep and boer goats. The family also raised broilers and owned a small meat locker. She attended Angelo State University in San Angelo, TX, and graduated with a bachelor’s of science degree in animal science and a minor in layout and design. For the last nine years, she’s worked for the American Hampshire Sheep Association and Associated Registries. There, she worked with the Livestock Registry Service, managed the Hampshire breed publication “Hampshire Heartbeat” and served as executive secretary for the group in 2013.



SD Opens Pits for Dead Cattle

(AP) -- Two 20-foot-deep disposal pits opened in western South Dakota on Monday to help ranchers dispose of tens of thousands of livestock carcasses piling up since an early October blizzard decimated herds.

Up to 4 feet of snow fell in the Black Hills area during the storm, killing at least 10,000 to 20,000 head of livestock, state officials say. The South Dakota Stockgrowers Association estimates this part of the state lost at least 5% of its cattle, which is mostly raised for beef.

Ranchers are encouraged to bring carcasses to the sites in Pennington County, which were built to state Animal Industry Board guidelines, said Alexa White, public information officer with the county's Emergency Operations Center.

"Some people might decide to bury their losses right where they are," White said Monday.

The number of dead cattle will likely rise as more losses are documented. Last week's rain added moisture to pastures already saturated by the quickly melting snow, making it difficult for ranchers to traverse the vast terrain to assess losses and tend to stressed but surviving animals, said Silvia Christen, executive director of the Stockgrowers Association.

"The priority right now is taking care of the livestock that made it through the storm," Christen said. "Once it dries up, ranchers will focus on the disposal."

Another snowstorm heading into the Black Hills on Monday was expected to bring up to a foot of snow, threatening to complicate the soggy mess.

Animal Industry Board rules require carcasses to be burned, buried to a depth of 4 feet or disposed of by a licensed rendering plant within 36 hours of death, though South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard has waived the standard timeframe, recognizing the difficulty in meeting that deadline.

The burial sites are located in the eastern part of Pennington County with access to Interstate 90, but that could be a 100-mile-plus drive for a rancher raising cattle in Buffalo County.

White said 139 animals over the weekend were picked up from roadside ditches and other county-controlled lands and dumped in the pits, which are about 20 feet deep and 60 feet wide.

"These should be plenty big," she said.

But Ben Kantack, a former South Dakota State University Extension entomologist, said he worries about dead cattle hidden in remote locations, saying they will create public health issues as they decompose.

He said ranchers need to make sure their surviving cattle don't come into contact with a carcass or drink from water where one is rotting.

"They want to make sure they're not in streams ... because they can contaminate the water," Kantack said.

The pits are dug specifically to avoid such health problems, as burial sites must be at least 1,000 feet from surface water, floodplains, rivers or private or public drinking water wells.

Burial is also prohibited when the primary subsurface material 20 feet below the bottom of the pit is primarily sand or gravel or when the depth to an aquifer is less than 20 feet from the bottom of the pit.



Prolonged Shutdown Punishing Family Farmers, Communities

National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson sent a letter to U.S. Senate and House of Representatives leadership highlighting serious concerns with the impact the prolonged government shutdown is having on family farmers and ranchers.

"Perhaps most disappointing about all of these manufactured crises, exacerbated by the lapsed farm bill, is that solutions are close at hand but Congress chooses not to execute them," said Johnson.

A recent early blizzard in parts of the Great Plains has had a devastating impact on ranchers. Livestock losses totaling in the tens of thousands of cattle have been reported from North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming and Nebraska. Cleanup and recovery from floods in Colorado continue as well.

"The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency are prepared to handle events like these, but the government shutdown, along with the expired farm bill, leaves ranchers without the urgent help they need," said Johnson. "Both the House and Senate versions of the pending farm bill include a retroactive livestock indemnity provision, which would provide much-needed assistance to ranchers but cannot be accessed because of the legislative stalemate."

The shutdown has stopped nearly all USDA services, including payments for previously approved commodity marketing loans and the ability for the government to co-sign checks for the sales of crops or livestock from farmers or ranchers with Farm Service Agency loans, crippling commerce in rural communities.

"Family farmers, ranchers and rural communities should not be forced to suffer the consequences of legislative breakdowns and political handwringing in our nation's capital."



CWT Assists with 2.9 Million Pounds of Cheese and Butter Export Sales

Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has accepted seven requests for export assistance from Bongards Creameries, Dairy Farmers of America and Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association to sell 2.429 million pounds (1,102 metric tons) of Cheddar and Gouda cheese and 440,925 pounds (200 metric tons) of butter to customers in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The product will be delivered October 2013 through March 2014.

Year-to-date, CWT has assisted member cooperatives in selling 109.329 million pounds of cheese, 80.236 million pounds of butter, 44,092 pounds of anhydrous milk fat and 218,258 pounds of whole milk powder to 37 countries on six continents. These sales are the equivalent of 2.816 billion pounds of milk on a milkfat basis.

Assisting CWT members through the Export Assistance program positively impacts producer milk prices in the short-term by helping to maintain inventories of cheese and butter at desirable levels. In the long-term, CWT’s Export Assistance program helps member cooperatives gain and maintain market share, thus expanding the demand for U.S. dairy products and the farm milk that produces them.



Urea, Potash Prices Slide Again

Once again retail fertilizer prices have moved lower, according to DTN's weekly survey of fertilizer retailers nationwide.  All eight of the major fertilizers registered considerably lower prices compared to the same period last month.

For the second week of October, urea plunged 9% compared to last month while potash was down 8%; DAP, 10-34-0 and UAN28 were all down 7%. Urea had average price of $442/ton, potash $493/ton, DAP $524/ton, 10-34-0 $523/ton and UAN28 $323/ton.  Potash is now only $24/ton away from its five-year low of $469/ton made the fifth week of Aug. 2010, according to DTN records. A year ago it sold for a national average of $618/ton.  Anhydrous and UAN32 were down 6% compared to last month while MAP was 5% lower. Anhydrous had an average price of $654/ton, UAN32 $369/ton and MAP $567/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.48/lb.N, anhydrous $0.40/lb.N, UAN28 $0.58/lb.N and UAN32 $0.58/lb.N.

All eight of the major fertilizers are now double digits lower in price compared to October of 2012.  UAN32 is now down 13%; MAP, 10-34-0 and UAN28 are 15% less expensive; DAP is 16% lower; potash is 19% less expensive; anhydrous is 23% lower and urea is 25% less expensive compared to last year.



Nov. 12-13 Symposium: Finding Resolution Regarding Antibiotic Use, Resistance

A 360-degree view of the often polarizing topic of antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance will be shared by human health and animal health experts at the “Bridging the Gap between Animal Health and Human Health” symposium in Kansas City, Mo., on Nov. 12-14.

Individuals providing insight and the latest research findings on this  highly important issue include Dr. Richard Raymond, former USDA Undersecretary for Food Safety; Katy Keiffer, producer and host of “What Doesn’t Kill You: Food Insights,” a weekly show covering food politics and policy for Heritage Radio Network.org; Craig Wilson, Costco's vice president of quality insurance, food safety and merchandise services; Tom Heinen, owner of Heinen’s Fine Foods with 17 stores throughout Ohio and Illinois; six speakers from the medical community; and additional presenters from the animal agriculture and environmental health communities.

“This symposium will provide dialogue that will be interesting and eye opening—and even challenging,” states Dr. Nevil Speer, PhD, Western Kentucky University and co-chair of the “Bridging the Gap between Animal Health and Human Health” symposium.  “The first and second antibiotic symposium underscored the need for continued dialogue, as antibiotic use in animal and human health is often emotionally charged and plagued by misinformation and incomplete information.

“Finding resolution to antimicrobial resistance must begin with the end in mind: improving human and animal health. Each of us must think in bigger and broader dimensions and focus on collective interests and not positions. This symposium is moving toward that goal.”

Eric Moore, DVM, Merck Animal Health and co-chair of the symposium stresses that the Nov. 12-14 symposium provides a platform where individuals can hear scientific information and separate the scientific facts from perceived facts.

“Reaching resolution among human, animal and environmental health communities requires acceptance that the issues of antimicrobial use and resistance are not personal,” Moore adds. “The scale and complexity of animal and human medical problems embedded in a changing environment demand that scientists and those involved in their respective communities—including myself—move beyond the confines of our own disciplines and explore new organizational models for team science.”

Hosted by the National Institute for Animal Agriculture, the symposium is open to food retailers and leaders in public health, consumer advocacy and animal agriculture, the media and other individuals interested in discussing science and future strategies to preserve antibiotic efficacy.

The 2013 symposium in Kansas City will start on Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 12, and conclude in the early afternoon on Thursday, Nov. 14. In addition to high-level, on-the-cutting-edge speakers, the symposium will include small group discussions and time allotted for attendees to ask questions.

The agenda, presentation topics and confirmed presenters for the “Bridging the Gap between Animal Health and Human Health” symposium is available online at www.animalagriculture.org. 

A white paper summarizing the 2012 symposium, “A One Health Approach to Antimicrobial Use and Resistance: A Dialogue for a Common Purpose,” can be accessed online at NIAA’s website: www.animalagriculture.org. 



Danbred North America is now DNA Genetics

A leading swine genetics company now has a new name and a new focus, while remaining under the same independent U.S. ownership. DNA Genetics - formerly known as Danbred North America, a Danbred distributor - is committed to meeting the genetic needs of U.S. and Canadian pork producers.

"DNA Genetics will use our Danish genetics as its foundation, but we are now independent of Denmark's genetic program," says Brett Bonwell, CEO of DNA Genetics. "Operating independently of Denmark gives us the ability to focus on the traits and economic value that are most important to the profitability of our North American customers. The result will be providing customers with the best genetic value for greater gains and improved performance."

The separation from the Danish genetic system is an amicable one. "It came down to the fact that our business approach and how we deliver economic value for our customers no longer matched theirs," he states.

The company is ready to operate independently. "We have always been set up to run separately in the case of a trade barrier or disease outbreak, so while the circumstances are different, we are ready to provide a seamless transition for our customers," he says.

The biggest change? Trait selection will now be based solely on a North American economic model instead of a European model of production. The company is investing $5 million to move the current genetics to a new level for the North American market. This includes investments in database development, people, and the new, state-of-the-art InSight™ Performance Center. InSight, set to be fully operational by 2014, will be equipped to measure feed intake, with more than 2,000 boars on-test at any given time, surpassing the capability of the Danish system.

"Our customers will be working with the same people and the same pigs," Bonwell says. "Our new AccuGain™ Genetics Program is designed to accelerate trait availability into our customers' herds and provide advantages producers won't find elsewhere."

AccuGain is based on six principles:
-    A disciplined culture of team members committed to nothing but genetic improvement and biosecurity
-    A robust nucleus herd with large numbers of animals in each line
-    Optimizing the movement of improved genetics into the nucleus, having the lowest generation level in the industry
-    A commitment to performance testing that involves testing more animals of both sexes per line compared with other genetic companies
-    An exclusive Helix™ genetics database that combines nucleus, customer, multiplier and genomic data to improve selection accuracy and enhance genetic progress
-    Gene Transfer Centers that are company owned or managed, resulting in faster availability of the most advanced genetic potential

Selection for maternal lines will focus on productivity, feed efficiency, lean gain, structural soundness and durability. Terminal lines will focus on lean gain and feed efficiency while maintaining and improving the company's lead in producing full-value pigs.

"Our purebred DNA Genetics Line 200 Yorkshire and Line 400 Landrace grandparent animals produce our DNA Genetics Line 241 F1 females," Bonwell says. "Our F1 females have a proven ability to wean 32 or more uniform, high-quality pigs per sow per year. The foundation of our maternal selection program is Live Pigs at 5 Days™, which more accurately predicts number of pigs weaned compared to total born and simultaneously improves pig quality and livability."

The company will test for feed efficiency on more than 8,000 boars annually. "Our DNA Genetics Line 600 Duroc is a high-performing, terminal line that is designed to excel in North American production settings and produces exceptionally efficient average daily carcass gain," explains Bonwell. "This line excels in producing robust offspring, which results in more total pounds of full-value carcass per sow."

DNA Genetics is investing in people and recently added geneticist Dr. Caitlyn Abell to its team. "In addition, we will collaborate with external advisory teams to gain input and insight from some of the sharpest minds in the business. We view our customers as partners and will work to make sure they have the best genetics in the world."

For more information on DNA Genetics, visit www.DNASwineGenetics.com.



Elanco Introduces Full Value Beef

Elanco announces Full Value Beef™ — the evolution of its beef brand and a commitment to building partnerships that can meet today’s industry challenges. Full Value Beef is a different way of doing business. It’s a customized approach designed to better understand customers’ needs and to better serve them through discovering profitable opportunities.

“We’re starting the Full Value Beef conversation with our customers by sharing our personal ‘whys’ — the reasons that motivate us to be so dedicated to this partnership approach,” said Todd Armstrong, director of Elanco's beef business unit. “My ‘why’ — the reason I have so much passion about what I do every day — is to enable a future for our customers, our people and our business. I want to equip them with the tools they need to meet their goals because I draw energy and excitement from seeing and helping others succeed.”

Elanco recognizes that beef producers have a great responsibility to their families, their industry and the world. “To build a true partnership and ultimately discover profit together, we need to understand what is important to them — why they do what they do,” said Armstrong. “We are dedicated to learning what motivates our customers and to building a stronger foundation for our partnership.” Watch our video and learn more about why Elanco Full Value Beef experts do what they do.

Building a partnership
Full Value Beef is not a one-size-fits-all approach — it’s about building partnerships with customers and discovering solutions that come in many different forms. These partnerships will be strengthened through the understanding of customers’ “whys,” discovering their needs, and accomplishing goals together.

Elanco has determined four primary areas where its expertise and experience can benefit its customers’ businesses: health management, feed optimization, end-point management and ensuring continued access to markets and technologies. By striving to understand customers’ needs, Elanco and its customers will find profitable opportunities in these areas and discover insights that have an impact on customers’ bottom lines.

“We are putting our customers — and why they do what they do — first,” said Armstrong. “Full Value Beef is about truly understanding what our customers need, expect and desire, and working together to discover the full value of a partnership.”