Tuesday April 3 Ag News

Food Connection returns to UNL City Campus April 17

The Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska (AFAN) and numerous agricultural clubs on East Campus have teamed up to re-establish an event that began seven years ago. Husker Food Connection helps students gain a better knowledge of agriculture within the state of Nebraska.

“Husker Food Connection’s purpose is to engage university students about where their food comes from and how it is produced,” said David Schuler, President of the UNL Collegiate Farm Bureau Club. “Anyone from the public is welcome to come and take part in the celebration of our industry.” Schuler is a senior Animal Science major from Bridgeport, Nebraska.

The event will feature a free lunch catered by Skeeter Barnes, farm equipment displays and an opportunity to interact with farm animals at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln City Campus Union Plaza.

The 2018 Husker Food Connection theme is “Connecting with Consumers.” HFC organizers want to answer questions and share personal experiences from production agriculture by engaging in one on one conversations. Students and faculty are encouraged to take part in the interactive event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 17.

“Living in an agricultural state, like Nebraska, and recognizing that only 2 percent of the population comes from a farm, and two to three generations removed, linking producers and consumers is an important task for the future of the agriculture industry,” said Schuler.

Student organizers include representatives from campus groups such as Collegiate Farm Bureau, Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow, Sigma Alpha, Block and Bridle, Agricultural Economics/Agribusiness Club, Rodeo Club and the Tractor Restoration Club. The Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska (AFAN) is a nonprofit organization formed by leading agricultural membership groups in Nebraska. The AFAN mission is to encourage the development of environmentally responsible and economically viable livestock production in the state.



Lindsay Corp. Reports Second Quarter Results

Lindsay Corporation, a leading global manufacturer of irrigation and infrastructure equipment and technology, announced results for its second quarter ended February 28, 2018.

Revenues for the second quarter of fiscal 2018 were $130.3 million, an increase of 5 percent compared to revenues of $124.1 million in the prior year's second quarter. Net earnings for the quarter were $1.7 million and diluted earnings per share were $0.16, compared with net earnings of $5.0 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.47 in the prior year. Net earnings for the quarter were reduced by tax expense of $2.6 million due to the enactment of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and by after-tax costs of $1.7 million comprised of severance costs and professional consulting fees related to the Company's Foundation for Growth initiative. Adjusted net earnings for the second quarter were $6.0 million, or $0.56 per diluted share.1

"We were pleased to have achieved revenue and operating income improvement in both the Irrigation and Infrastructure segments for the quarter," said Tim Hassinger, president and CEO. "Improved demand in North America irrigation drove overall revenue growth, and growth in our Road Zipper System business continues to support solid performance in our Infrastructure segment."

Irrigation segment revenues increased 5 percent to $111.9 million from $106.2 million in the prior year's second quarter. North America irrigation revenues increased 23 percent, driven by an increase in irrigation system unit volume. International irrigation revenues for the second quarter were $33.0 million, a decrease of 22 percent compared to the second quarter of the prior year. The second quarter of the prior year included revenues from projects in developing markets that did not repeat in the current period, while demand in core markets remained stable.

Irrigation segment operating margin was 10.7 percent of sales in the second quarter (11.2 percent adjusted)1, compared to 10.6 percent of sales in the prior year. Improved volume leverage from higher North America irrigation system sales was partially offset by the impact of lower project sales and margins in international markets.

Second quarter earnings include a $2.6 million, or $0.241 per diluted share, expense for the estimated impact of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act enacted during the quarter. This amount includes one-time impacts from the deemed repatriation transition tax on certain foreign earnings and from the remeasurement of deferred tax items at a lower rate.

During the quarter the Company initiated a focused performance improvement initiative referred to as Foundation for Growth. Objectives include setting strategic direction, defining priorities, and improving overall operating performance. A key financial objective is to achieve operating margin performance of 11 percent to 12 percent in fiscal 2020 without assuming improvement in the market environment. Second quarter earnings include after-tax costs of $1.7 million, or $0.151 per diluted share, related to severance costs and professional consulting fees incurred in connection with the initiative. Additional costs anticipated in connection with this initiative, over each of the next several quarters, are expected to be recovered through improved operating income in fiscal 2020.

"Although we have seen improved demand this year in North America, agricultural market conditions are expected to remain challenging until there is a meaningful improvement in commodity prices and farm income. In our Infrastructure business, a growing backlog of Road Zipper projects provides for growth," said Hassinger. "The recently announced tariffs on steel and aluminum product imports are concerning because of the potential impact on raw material cost and possible trade retaliation that would affect U.S. agricultural products, however it won't be possible to fully assess the impact until more details are known."

Hassinger continued, "The organization is excited about the launch of our Foundation for Growth initiative. This effort, focused on delivering better results to our customers and shareholders, is already underway and I look forward to providing regular updates as this initiative progresses."




Iowa Farm Bureau applauds passage of Senate File 2349 to help thousands of Iowans lacking

According to recent reports from the Iowa Insurance Division, more than 20,000 Iowans could not afford to keep their health care coverage in 2018 because they don’t qualify for Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies.   Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF), Iowa’s largest grassroots farm organization, is pleased Iowa lawmakers moved with bi-partisan support and Governor Reynolds signed the measure, bringing a new option for many Iowans caught up in a desperate health care coverage spiral.

“According to our annual membership survey, the cost of health care is the number one concern facing our members,” says IFBF President Craig Hill.  “That’s why more than 1,500 IFBF members answered the call for action and urged Iowa lawmakers to pass SF2349.  This legislation came together because our organization exists to serve its members.  Although it isn’t meant to be a solution for all, we are pleased that lawmakers and the Governor agree it is an option for thousands who need an affordable health plan that works until Congress passes a permanent solution to the ACA-inspired health care coverage crisis.”    

Senate Bill 2349 calls on established Iowa organizations, IFBF and Wellmark, to partner and develop an affordable health care option for Iowans.  To be eligible for health care plan coverage offered in SF2349, Iowans would need to be IFBF members.  Farm Bureau, a century-strong organization with offices and membership in every county in Iowa, has provided individual health insurance to Iowans in partnership with Wellmark since 1969, prior to the implementation of the ACA; this legislation continues that decades-long partnership.  This legislation will not diminish the impact of the ACA on people it helps—they will continue to have their subsidized coverage through the ACA.  Instead, SF2349 provides an opportunity to create coverage for Iowans who don’t qualify for the ACA subsidy or have been forced out of the market by exorbitant premiums.  The measure comes at a critical time as Iowa farmers face a fourth year of high production costs and low market prices for their commodities.   However, IFBF leaders say SF2349 can bring relief to Iowans well beyond the farm gate.

“We’ve been hearing from our members about the financial burden of getting health care coverage as they took on a second or third job to pay for premiums that inexplicably climbed 300 percent.  Many more had to forgo coverage all together because they didn’t qualify for ACA subsidies. That’s just not workable,” says Hill. 

Kenneth, a Grundy County Farm Bureau member, agrees the situation is dire.  “My oldest daughter just went off our plan two years ago or my premiums would be well over $2,500.  Yet, we pay more for health care than housing and food combined! This is unsustainable!”

“I don’t mind paying more than my share to help stabilize the marketplace, but there is no reason that a healthy 32-year-old should be paying more for health insurance than her mortgage.  Between student loans, a mortgage and a fledgling farm business, these rates do not fit into my budget,” says Rose, an Iowa County Farm Bureau member.

“We’ve heard from thousands of members who share similar stories, so we’re pleased lawmakers and the Governor passed this critical measure with expedience,” says Hill. “The signing of this legislation provides the path for us to move forward with Wellmark and begin to develop the plans.”

IFBF anticipates benefits possibly being available by January 2019 with enrollment applications to be opened for members in the fall of this year.



USDA Reopens Enrollment for Improved Dairy Safety Net Tool

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue is encouraging dairy producers to consider enrolling in the new and improved Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy), which will provide better protections for dairy producers from shifting milk and feed prices. With changes authorized under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) has set the enrollment period to run from April 9, 2018 to June 1, 2018.

"We recognize the financial hardships many of our nation’s dairy producers are experiencing right now. Folks are losing their contracts and they are getting anxious about getting their bills paid while they watch their milk check come in lower and lower each month. The Bipartisan Budget Act provided some much-needed incentives for dairy producers to make cost-effective decisions to strengthen their farms, mitigate risk, and conserve their natural resources,” said Secretary Perdue. “This includes our support of America’s dairy farms. We encourage dairy producers to review the provisions of the updated program, which Congress shaped with their feedback. Those changes are now in effect, and I’d ask any producers who are interested to contact their local USDA service centers.”

About the Program:
The program protects dairy producers by paying them when the difference between the national all-milk price and the national average feed cost (the margin) falls below a certain dollar amount elected by the producer.

Changes include:
-    Calculations of the margin period is monthly rather than bi-monthly.
-    Covered production is increased to 5 million pounds on the Tier 1 premium schedule, and premium rates for Tier 1 are substantially lowered.
-    An exemption from paying an administrative fee for limited resource, beginning, veteran, and disadvantaged producers. Dairy operators enrolled in the previous 2018 enrollment period that qualify for this exemption under the new provisions may request a refund.

Dairy operations must make a new coverage election for 2018, even if you enrolled during the previous 2018 signup period. Coverage elections made for 2018 will be retroactive to January 1, 2018. All dairy operations desiring coverage must sign up during the enrollment period and submit an appropriate form (CCC-782) and dairy operations may still “opt out” by not submitting a form. All outstanding balances for 2017 and prior years must be paid in full before 2018 coverage is approved.

Dairy producers can participate in FSA’s MPP-Dairy or the Risk Management Agency’s Livestock Gross Margin Insurance Plan for Dairy Cattle (LGM-Dairy), but not both. During the 2018 enrollment period, only producers with an active LGM-Dairy policy who have targeted marketings insured in 2018 months will be allowed to enroll in MPP-Dairy by June 1, 2018; however, their coverage will start only after active target marketings conclude under LGM-Dairy.

USDA has a web tool to help producers determine the level of coverage under the MPP-Dairy that will provide them with the strongest safety net under a variety of conditions. The online resource, available at www.fsa.usda.gov/mpptool, allows dairy farmers to quickly and easily combine unique operation data and other key variables to calculate their coverage needs based on price projections. Producers can also review historical data or estimate future coverage based on data projections. The secure site can be accessed via computer, smartphone, tablet or any other platform.

USDA is mailing postcards advising dairy producers of the changes. For more information, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/dairy or contact your local USDA service center.



USDA Re-Opens 2018 Enrollment for New Dairy Margin Protection Program

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) today expressed thanks to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue for his agency’s prompt implementation of changes in the dairy Margin Protection Program (MPP), and urged dairy producers to review the new coverage options available under the improved program, which will have a new enrollment window from April 9-June 1, 2018.

“We appreciate the steps taken by USDA to implement the new MPP provisions. It is important to provide information on the changes to dairy farmers so they can make informed decisions about enrollment in the program for this year, and we look forward to assisting the department in this effort,” said NMPF President and CEO Jim Mulhern.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that it will re-open the sign-up period next week, and encouraged producers to take a second look at the program since it was revised under the Bipartisan Budget Act passed by Congress in February.

“NMPF worked with Congress during the past year to improve the dairy safety net to make it more effective for all farmers,” Mulhern said. “While the previous structure of the program offered an inadequate safety net, the changes made this year greatly enhance the value of the program to farmers, and we really want them to consider how to use this program in 2018. With these changes in place, we will continue to work with USDA and Congress to further strengthen the program in the 2018 Farm Bill.”

According to USDA, dairy producers must select new coverage for 2018, even if they enrolled during the previous sign-up period last fall. Coverage choices made this spring for calendar year 2018 will be retroactive to Jan. 1, 2018. All dairy operations desiring coverage must sign up during the eight-week enrollment period. USDA also announced that dairy producers can participate in either MPP or the Livestock Gross Margin program for dairy (LGM-Dairy), but not both.

The changes to the MPP were part of a larger dairy package that was included in the disaster spending bill passed by Congress two months ago. The provisions include:
-    Adjusting the first tier of covered production to include every dairy farmer’s first five million pounds of annual milk production history (about 217 cows) instead of four million pounds
-    Reducing the premium rates, effective immediately, for every producer’s first five million pounds of production history, to better enable dairy farmers to afford the higher levels of coverage;
-    Modifying the margin calculation to a monthly (from bi-monthly) basis;
-    Raising the catastrophic coverage level from $4.00 to $5.00 for the first tier of covered production for all dairy farmers; and
-    Waiving the annual $100 administrative fees for underserved farmers.

The disaster package also lifted the $20 million annual cap on all livestock insurance, including the Livestock Gross Margin (LGM) program. This will allow USDA to develop a wider variety of additional risk management tools.



NCGA Statement on RFS Waivers Issued to Large Refiner by EPA
Kevin Skunes, president of the National Corn Growers Association

“EPA’s reported actions are unacceptable,” Skunes said. “EPA cannot undermine the RFS by granting waivers to refiners who are making profits as large as the one reported by Reuters. Granting these waivers significantly reduces the number of gallons of fuel blended with ethanol hurting rural economies and the nation’s corn farmers. When refiners aren’t meeting their blending obligations, corn farmers pay the price.

“EPA’s small refiner exemption process has no transparency,” Skunes said. “We need the EPA to live up to Administrator Pruitt’s October commitment to senators to, ‘act consistent with the text and spirit of the RFS,’ and to do so in an ‘open and transparent manner that advances the full potential of this program.’ We call on the EPA to stop granting these waivers to refiners who make billions of dollars and do not face a true hardship.”



ACE responds to EPA providing a large refiner a “small refiner” RFS waiver

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings released the following statement in light of recent reporting that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has exempted Andeavor, one of the nation's largest oil refining companies, from complying with its 2016 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) blending obligation at three of its 10 refineries:

“The law allows a small refiner (producing less than 75,000 barrels per day) to seek an exemption from the annual blending obligation if it can prove the RFS is causing ‘disproportionate economic hardship’ on its operations.  On what planet does Andeavor’s 2017 net profit of $1.5 billion constitute ‘disproportionate economic hardship’ for a “small refiner”? Refiners are reporting billion-dollar profits today while farmers are facing their fifth year of prices at or below the cost of production.  Net farm income is dropping to levels not seen since the last economic disaster in rural America in the early 2000s which prompted Congress to enact the RFS in the first place. EPA’s recent waivers reduce demand for ethanol making economic conditions worse in rural America and breaking promises President Trump has made to protect the RFS.

“Since EPA refuses to disclose which refiners get these RFS exemptions, it blurs the transparency of the RIN market giving an advantage to refiners receiving waivers.  With nearly 30 small refiner exemptions pending, it appears EPA’s priority is not to fix the outdated Reid vapor pressure restriction on the year-round use of E15 but rather to unravel the RFS for refiners.

“When the Obama Administration unlawfully took the RFS off-track, we were forced to sue. As the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled in Americans for Clean Energy et al. v. EPA, the “intent of the RFS’s increasing requirements are designed to force the market to create ways to produce and use greater and greater volumes of renewable fuel each year.” Waiving RFS obligations based on ethanol use thresholds violate the intent of the RFS and invite litigation.”



ITC Vote Levels Playing Field in Biodiesel Trade Dispute

Today the International Trade Commission (ITC) voted 4-0 in favor of the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) Fair Trade Coalition’s position that the industry has suffered because of unfairly dumped imports of biodiesel from Argentina and Indonesia. This affirmative vote on injury is the last remaining procedural hurdle before final antidumping orders can be issued later this month.

“This vote today finalizes the case to address the harm that unfair trade practices have had on the U.S. biodiesel industry,” said Donnell Rehagen, chief executive officer of the National Biodiesel Board. “Foreign producers dumping product into American markets below cost has undermined the jobs and environmental benefits that U.S. biodiesel brings to the table. Establishing a level playing field for true competition in the market will allow the domestic industry the opportunity to put to work substantial under-utilized production capacity.”

Last month, the Commerce Department calculated final dumping rates ranging from 60.44% to 86.41% for Argentine producers, and 92.52% to 276.65% for Indonesian producers.

The NBB Fair Trade Coalition filed this antidumping petition in parallel to a countervailing duty petition to address a flood of subsidized and dumped imports from Argentina and Indonesia that resulted in market share losses and depressed prices for domestic producers. Biodiesel imports from Argentina and Indonesia surged by 464 percent from 2014 to 2016, taking 18.3 percentage points of market share from U.S. manufacturers. These surging, artificially low-priced imports prevented producers from earning adequate returns on their substantial investments and stifled the ability of U.S. producers to make further investments to serve a growing market.

A final determination by the Commerce Department in the companion countervailing duty determination was announced in early November, resulting in duty deposit rates of 71.45% to 72.28% for Argentina and 34.45% to 64.73% for Indonesia. 

The U.S. biodiesel market supports nearly 64,000 jobs nationwide and more than $11 billion in economic impact. Every 100 million gallons of increased biodiesel production supports some 3,200 additional jobs. Producers nationwide are poised to expand production and hire new workers with steady growth in the industry.



US Proposes Tariffs on $50 Billion in Chinese Imports

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Trump administration on Tuesday escalated its aggressive approach to trade by proposing 25 percent tariffs on $50 billion in Chinese imports to protest Beijing's alleged theft of American technology.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative issued a list targeting 1,300 Chinese products, including industrial robots and telecommunications equipment. The suggested tariffs wouldn't take effect right way: A public comment period ends May 11, and a hearing on the tariffs is scheduled for May 15. Companies and consumers will have the opportunity to lobby to have some products taken off the list or have others added.

The move risks heightening trade tensions with China, which on Monday slapped taxes on $3 billion in U.S. products in response to earlier U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.

On Tuesday night, the Chinese embassy in Washington issued a statement saying it "strongly condemns" the move: "It serves neither China's interest, nor the U.S. interest, even less the interest of the global economy."

China is likely to retaliate against the new tariffs, which target the technology and advanced manufacturing industries that Beijing is nurturing. The sanctions are designed to punish China for using strong-arm tactics in its drive to become a global technology power.

These include pressuring American companies to share technology in exchange for access to the Chinese market, forcing U.S. firms to license their technology in China on unfavorable terms and even hacking into U.S. companies' computers to steal trade secrets.

The administration sought to draw up the list in a way that limits the impact of the tariffs --- a tax on imports --- on American consumers while hitting Chinese imports that benefit from Beijing's sharp-elbowed tech policies. But some critics that American will end up being hurt.

"If you're hitting $50 billion in trade, you're inevitably going to hurt somebody, and somebody is going to complain," said Rod Hunter, a former economic official at the National Security Council and now a partner at Baker & McKenzie LLP.

Even representatives of the tech industry, which has complained for years that China has pilfered U.S. technology and discriminated against U.S. companies, were critical of the administration's latest action.

"Unilateral tariffs may do more harm than good and do little to address the problems in China's (intellectual property) and tech transfer policies," said John Frisbie, president of the U.S.-China Business Council.

And the Internet Association, which represents such companies such as Google, Facebook and Amazon, expressed concerns, too.

"There's no doubt the U.S. government can and should address China's trade practices," Melika Carroll, the association's senior vice president of global government affairs. "But consumers and American job creators should not be caught in the crossfire. . . . These tariffs will leave our customers worse off, stifle growth and make it harder for the digital economy to succeed."

At the same time, the United States has become increasingly frustrated with China's aggressive efforts to overtake American technological supremacy. And many have argued that Washington needed to respond aggressively.

"The Chinese are bad trading partners because they steal intellectual property," said Derek Scissors, a China specialist at the conservative American Enterprise Institute.

In January, a federal court in Wisconsin convicted a Chinese manufacturer of wind turbines, Sinovel Wind Group, of stealing trade secrets from the American company AMSC and nearly putting it out of business. And in 2014, a Pennsylvania grand jury indicted five officers in the Chinese People's Liberation Army on charges of hacking into the computers of Westinghouse, US Steel and other major American companies to steal information that would benefit their Chinese competitors.

To target China, Trump dusted off a Cold War weapon for trade disputes: Section 301 of the U.S. Trade Act of 1974, which lets the president unilaterally impose tariffs. It was meant for a world in which much of global commerce was not covered by trade agreements. With the arrival in 1995 of the Geneva-based World Trade Organization, Section 301 largely faded from use.

Dean Pinkert, a partner at the law firm of Hughes Hubbard & Reed, found it reassuring that the administration didn't completely bypass the WTO and act only unilaterally: As part of its complaint, the U.S. is bringing a WTO case against Chinese licensing policies that put U.S. companies at a disadvantage.

China has been urging the United States to seek a diplomatic solution and warning that it would retaliate against any trade sanctions. Beijing could counterpunch by targeting American businesses with a big exposure to the Chinese market: Aircraft manufacturer Boeing, for instance, or American soybean farmers who send nearly 60 percent of their exports to China.

In fact, rural America is especially worried about the risk of a trade war. Farmers make tempting targets in trade spats because they depend heavily on foreign sales and because they are spread across congressional districts and are quick to complain to their representatives when government policy threatens their livelihoods.

"The next couple of weeks will be very interesting," says Kristin Duncanson, a soybean, corn and hog farmer in Mapleton, Minnesota.



NCGA Expands Partnership with USA Poultry and Egg Export Council

The National Corn Growers Association partnered with the USA Poultry and Egg Export Council to conduct a study on the benefits of poultry exports to corn. The study, conducted by World Perspectives, Inc., entitled "Corn and Poultry: A Great Partnership," outlined the benefits realized by America's corn farmers from exports of poultry and eggs.

"Continuing to partner with the poultry industry is a key priority for our organization," said Feed, Food & Industrial Action Team Chair Bruce Peterson, a grower in Minnesota. "Poultry producers are a large customer of corn, both domestically and abroad. It's important to grow demand through our partnerships in animal agriculture, which is why we funded the study."

Some highlights of the study include:

Poultry feed utilization:
-    6 lb. broiler uses 8 lb. of corn, 1 lb. of DDGS and 3 lb. SBM
-    28 lb. turkey uses 47 lb. of corn, 4 lb. of DDGS and 18 lb. SBM
-    1 dozen eggs from a layer represents 2 lb. of corn and 1 lb. of SBM

Poultry exports help corn and poultry farmers through additional volume and value:
-    Export growth supports flock expansion, driving additional domestic demand for U.S. corn
-    Exports provide poultry producers additional value for products that are often undervalued in the United States

Poultry exports value to corn price:
-    $.28/bushel with the 2016/2017 season average corn price of $3.36.
-    Without poultry exports, corn growers would have missed about $4.1 billion in revenue.

"The partnership between the National Corn Growers Association and the U.S. Poultry & Egg Export Council is incredibly important to the long-term success of both organizations," said USAPEEC Senior Vice President Greg Tyler. "The economic impact study, showed that growth in the demand for feed corn is strongly tied to poultry production, as the United States is the largest poultry producer in the world. The study noted that the U.S. poultry industry consumed more than 30 percent of all feed use of corn and estimated that this equated to roughly 1.663 billion bushels. The driving force behind growth in this production is exports. Thus, our industries working together is crucial as we seek to expand exports of our products around the world and invest in market development around the globe." 
 
This week, USAPEEC held their International Marketing and Strategic Planning Conference in South Africa. After 15 years, South Africa recently reopened access for U.S. broilers. Broiler exports to South Africa are expected to utilize about 7.25 million bushels of corn and more than 15-thousand tons of DDGS per year.



CropLife Foundation and Partners Launch “No Taste for Waste” Campaign

Today, together with key partners, the CropLife Foundation and Meredith Agrimedia launched the “No Taste for Waste” campaign, an initiative to reduce food waste and loss. The campaign, which includes an interactive website, special edition “bookazine” and social media messages, is a resource for consumers interested in reducing household food waste, while educating the public on how farmers take steps to fight food loss on their farms.

WASTE LESS, SAVE MONEY! BOOKAZINE
The bookazine, titled Waste Less, Save Money!, produced and distributed by Meredith Agrimedia, is an illustrated publication that looks like a magazine but acts like a book. It includes recipes, meal planning tips and stories about how farmers use innovative agricultural technology to reduce food loss on the farm and food waste in their communities. Consumers can find it at newsstands and grocery stores nationwide beginning April 2018.

The bookazine provides readers with the opportunity to learn about people like Brett Reinford, a Land O’Lakes dairy farmer in Pennsylvania, who powers his farm and more than 100 other homes with energy from food waste processed in a digester. They can also read about Luella Gregory, a cattle farmer and soon-to-be cookbook author in Iowa, who educates elementary school kids about sustainability and how technology makes farms more efficient. Six other farm families are profiled in the magazine, along with tips for decreasing food waste, straight from the people who grow our food.

DIGITAL AND SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT
Timed to launch simultaneously, the accompanying website, NoTasteForWaste.org, brings the bookazine to life. Consumers will have access to a weekly meal planner, online tools to help reduce waste at home and more stories from farmers combating food loss and waste. A growing collection of recipes from farmers, bloggers and the Meredith test kitchens will also be a highlight on the new site. In addition, consumers can share their stories and food preservation tips using #NoTasteForWaste on Facebook (@NoTasteForWaste) and Instagram (@NoTaste4Waste).

PARTNERS IN COMBATTING FOOD LOSS AND WASTE
The CropLife Foundation and Meredith Agrimedia have partnered with the American Farm Bureau Federation, Land O’Lakes SUSTAIN, Valent, CropLife America and FLM Harvest to implement the campaign. Leveraging these partnerships, the campaign connects consumers to real farmers who work hard to produce food, fiber and fuel sustainably and to be good stewards of the land, while reducing food loss.

“Everyone can do something to reduce food waste, whether they’re in the kitchen or on the farm,” said Jay Vroom, vice chairman of the CropLife Foundation. “This initiative gives consumers an exclusive look at how today’s farmers are leveraging technology, sustainable farming practices and community networks to minimize food waste and protect the environment.”

Consumers are increasingly aware of the environmental, economic and social price tags attached to food waste. Reducing food waste is set to become a hot trend at restaurants, grocery stores and home kitchens in 2018, according to the National Restaurant Association, Forbes Magazine, and Food & Wine Magazine. In the United States, up to 40 percent of all food produced is lost to waste, according to United States Department of Agriculture estimates.

Join the food waste movement by visiting NoTasteForWaste.org or pick up Waste Less, Save Money! at select newsstands and grocery stores.