The House Agriculture Committee voted along party lines Wednesday to pass the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (H.R.2) out of committee, a new farm bill designed by Republicans to “address the economic challenges facing the nation’s farmers and ranchers, while making historic investments in opportunities for SNAP recipients.” All 20 Democrats on the historically-bipartisan committee voted against the legislation …
ZimmCast With New #GoldenMic Club Members
During the Agri-Marketing Conference the ZimmComm Team welcomed new members to the #GoldenMic Club. In our Connection Point booth we were set up to record interviews with attendees and I’m featuring a few of them in this week’s program and in weeks to come. This week you’ll hear Jamie Johansen interview: Stephanie Stalans, Helena Agri-Enterprises University of Wisconsin, Madison NAMA …
Midwest Seed Genetics Expansion and Growth Continues
Midwest Seed Genetics continues its growth with four senior managers joining the team. They are: Todd Claussen as Director Sales Agronomy; Chandra Edwards as Senior Operations Manager; Wayne Hoener as Soybean Product Manager; and Rodd Whitney as Senior Recruiting Manager. “The addition of these highly skilled individuals underscores our resolve in building a new, high quality, high performance hybrid corn …
Role of Corn Farmers in High Octane Fuel Future
During a House Committee on Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing on “High Octane Fuels and High Efficiency Vehicles” Friday, an Illinois corn grower outlined how farmers are now growing what can be the the high-octane fuel of the near future. Illinois farmer Paul Jeschke testified that high-octane midlevel ethanol blends would “benefit society and rural communities by lowering prices at …
Ethanol Report on Demand Destruction
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has yet to reveal just how small refiner exemptions have been granted from blending obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and how many are still pending but the reduction in ethanol blending over recent months and a sharp drop in the price for Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) indicate the impact they are having. In …
Launch of E-Connectivity Listening Sessions
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue provided opening remarks to a coalition of stakeholders Wednesday morning to launch a series of regional listening sessions targeting the expansion of broadband access in rural America. You can watch the recording here or listen below. USDA has had programs for years to assist with local and regional broadband efforts but there is still …
Senators Excited About Prospects for TPP Revisit
Farm state senators came out of a meeting with President Trump Thursday very optimistic about the future for agricultural trade. Republican Senators Pat Roberts of Kansas, John Hoeven of North Dakota, Deb Fischer and Ben Sasse of Nebraska held a press conference after the meeting and all agreed it was very productive, but the potential for re-entering the Trans Pacific …
Growth Energy CEO Testifies on High Octane Ethanol
Ethanol and the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) were the main focus of a House Committee on Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing on High Octane Fuels and High Efficiency Vehicles Friday. Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor testified before the panel that ethanol is a ready solution for more efficient engines that require high octane fuels to operate effectively and lower greenhouse …
Trump on Ag Trade and Ethanol
Governors and senators from agricultural states such as Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, North and South Dakota had a meeting with President Donald Trump and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer Thursday to discuss recent trade actions and how farmers may be impacted. In a press availability prior to the start of the meeting, President Trump talked about NAFTA, China, the European Union, …
House Ag Committee Unveils Agriculture and Nutrition Act
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (R-TX) today introduced the first draft of a new farm bill, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (H.R. 2). ““The farm bill keeps faith with our nation’s farmers and ranchers through the current agriculture recession by providing certainty and helping producers manage the enormous risks that are inherent in agriculture,” said Rep. Conaway. …
Ag Secretary Says RFS Waivers Create Demand Destruction
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue had the opportunity to give his opinion about the EPA granting numerous Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) waivers to refiners during a Senate Agricultural Appropriations subcommittee hearing on Wednesday. While the purpose of the hearing was to review USDA’s FY2019 budget request, Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) brought up the RFS waiver issue and pointed out that he …
Western Equipment Dealers Association Acquires Friend Management Systems™
Combination Adds to Offerings of WEDA Business Management Services to the Equipment Dealer Industry (April 11, 2017 – Kansas City, MO) Western Equipment Dealers Association announced today that it is acquiring Friend Management Systems™ in a transaction pairing two leading providers of management consulting and professional development programs and services for equipment dealers. Friend Management Systems™ is a Canadian-based management …
Power Up with #NAMA18
The 2018 National Agri-Marketing Conference is back in Kansas City April 11-13, with the theme “Power Up.” The National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) is the nation’s largest association for marketing and agribusiness professionals and this annual event features industry awards, educational sessions, and the Connection Point trade show. This virtual ag newsroom includes links to photos and audio content available free …
Legislative Tax Victories for Oklahoma Equipment Dealers
Comments from Western Equipment Dealers Association (WEDA) Vice President of Government Affairs Eric Wareham (April 10, 2018 – Kansas City, Missouri) The 2018 Oklahoma state legislature has seen several bills this session that seek to increase revenue by making tax policy changes that would impact the agriculture industry at an already difficult time, and the Western Equipment Dealers Association (WEDA) …
ZimmCast on International Travel and #NAMA18
This episode of the ZimmCast features a preview of the National Agri-Marketing Conference from this year’s chair Jenna Oesch, Global Marketing Lead & Customer Experience Council Lead, Monsanto Company, Vegetable Seeds Division. Also, Jamie Johansen talks about her trip around the world, first to Ireland with Alltech and KEENAN, followed by a week in Indonesia with the U.S. Soybean Export …