08-31-11 FFA members help fight hunger with African farmers in Rwanda

INDIANAPOLIS – Seven collegiate FFA members chosen to participate in the National FFA Organization’s FFA Global Outreach: Africa (FFA GO: Africa) program recently returned from the African nation of Rwanda. The students spent two weeks helping local farmers fight hunger and poverty through sustainable agriculture techniques. The group experienced firsthand the reality of food insecurity and agriculture and conservation issues in a sub-Saharan African country where the average annual income is $1,500 or less.

The goals of the FFA GO: Africa program are to engage students at a personal level in global issues and challenges of agriculture, food, hunger, poverty and human suffering; provide opportunities for service learning in developing countries; and inspire students to serve and make a positive humanitarian difference in the world through agriculture.

Based in Kigali, Rwanda, the FFA members lived and worked with the staff of Catholic Relief Services, an organization that helps impoverished and disadvantaged people throughout the world. The collaboration made a deep impression. “The experience was so directional for me,” said Washington State University student Victoria Marsh. “It gave me a clear focus on where I want to go and what I want to do. Being able to work with CRS and see the hope they fuel every day in their work pushes me even further to want to work for nonprofits in other parts of Africa.”

The students devoted themselves to several activities, from information gathering and conducting baseline farmer interviews to determining the viability of crop yields and gaining a broader understanding of the challenges faced by small-scale farmers and the environmental conflicts that arise from income- and food-insecure families.

08-31-11 The Meat Industry Hall of Fame will Induct Robert Madeira, AAMP Executive Director, into the Class fo 2011‏

Robert L. Madeira served for three decades as the Executive Director of the American Association of Meat Processors (AAMP) and its predecessor organization the National Institute of Locker and Freezer Provisioners (NILFP).  He was also a director of the National Frozen Food Locker Association

Madeira worked as an airplane instrument mechanic and engineer during WWII.  After the war, he returned to his home in Elizabethtown, PA, where he took over the family frozen food locker and meat processing facility, Iceland, Inc. He was president of the Pennsylvania Frozen Food Locker Association, an organizer of the Lancaster County Frozen Food Locker Buying Cooperative, and later became the CEO of NILFP when it moved from Chicago to Elizabethtown in 1950.  He was also AAMP’s chief lobbyist until his retirement at the end of 1980 and served as Executive Director Emeritus of the Association until 1985.

Representing the small locker plant and meat processor industry, Madeira spoke nationally and internationally before many affiliated industry organizations and was honored in 1955 with the association’s Annual Achievement Award.

08-31-11 Case IH Announces Plans to Grow Advanced Farming Systems Business

Trevor Mecham Advanced Farming Systems (AFS) Marketing Manager

Racine, Wis. (AgPR) – With plans in place to expand existing industry partnerships, add new personnel and augment it’s customer support system, Case IH is renewing its commitment to its precision farming business and Advanced Farming Systems (AFS).

“We are proud of our current AFS precision farming offering, with the industry’s most accurate autoguidance systems, easy-to-use machine control interfaces and accurate variable rate delivery systems,” says Trevor Mecham, Case IH AFS Marketing Manager. “And Case IH continues to expand its AFS commitment, increasing our precision farming staff and making long-term plans to evolve our current customer service model.”

The recently announced creation of a new business unit dedicated solely to precision agriculture aids that expansion: “The new Precision Agriculture business is further proof of our dedication to providing Case IH customers with cutting-edge precision solutions – and our intention to remain at the forefront of this technology,” Mecham adds.

Mecham also points to the company’s expanded strategic alliance with Trimble, a recognized leader in GPS and precision guidance technology. “This partnership will mean more joint development of innovative precision applications and services designed specifically for Case IH equipment. It will speed product development and increase our ability to have more integrated AFS product options that are factory complete to our Case IH dealers and customers,” he explains. “It will also enhance our offering for our customers who run multiple makes of equipment.”

In addition, Case IH is renewing its commitment to provide the kind of support our precision farming customers have told us they need.

“Our vision is to build a dedicated 24/7 support system that’s available 365 days a year,” he added.

AFS Updates for 2012

08-31-11 Bennet, Udall, Hickenlooper Send President Report on Job Creation Developed by Colorado Innovators, Business Leaders

Policy Recommendations and Action Items Developed in Colorado can Inform President’s Jobs Plan

‘Colorado Competes’ Report Presented to Senators, Governor in June

Denver, CO – As the Obama administration finalizes its jobs plan, Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and Mark Udall, along with Governor John Hickenlooper, today sent the president a report on innovation and job creation prepared earlier this year by Colorado leaders representing businesses and academia. The report was presented to the elected leaders by the “Coloradans for an Innovation Economy” working group in June.  It includes policy recommendations and action items on creating an environment where innovators, entrepreneurs and job creators can thrive.

“As a delegation, we are committed to working together to build the right environment in Colorado and the country for innovation to thrive,” the leaders said in a letter accompanying the report. “We believe that the Colorado Competes Report serves as a good template for a serious discussion on how we can spur innovation and put our country back to work.”

“Coloradans for an Innovation Economy” came together earlier this year at Bennet’s request to identify ways to promote economic competitiveness at the state and national levels through a greater focus on innovation and cross-sector collaboration.  The group includes leaders from business and academia and was co-chaired by Mark Sirangelo, head of Sierra Nevada Space Systems; Holli Riebel, President and CEO of the Colorado Bioscience Association; and Ron Sega, Vice President for Energy and Environment and Woodward Professor of Systems Engineering.

The full Colorado Competes report is available here.

The full text of the letter follows:

08-31-11 Department of Energy Announces up to $12 Million in Investments to Support Development and Production of Drop-In Biofuels

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In support of the Obama Administration’s comprehensive efforts to strengthen U.S. energy security,  U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced up to $12 million to fund three small-scale projects in Illinois, Wisconsin, and North Carolina that aim to commercialize novel conversion technologies to accelerate the development of advanced, drop-in biofuels and other valuable bio-based chemicals. Drop-in biofuels are fuels that can serve as direct replacements or supplements to existing gasoline, diesel and jet fuels, without any changes to existing fuel distribution networks or engines – and have the potential to significantly reduce U.S. reliance on oil imports. The projects, funded through DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, seek to accelerate research and development that will lead the way toward affordable, clean alternatives to fossil fuels and diversify our nation’s energy portfolio.

“Producing advanced, drop-in biofuels in the U.S. will reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil and support development of a new industry that will create jobs in rural communities across the country,” said Secretary Chu. “These investments aim to accelerate the discovery of innovative solutions that could drive down the cost of biofuels production and boost their availability in the marketplace.”

Using innovative thermochemical processes, the projects will help to improve the economics and efficiency of turning biomass into replacements for petroleum-based gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and other products.  Thermochemical processes use heat and catalysts to convert biomass, in a controlled industrial environment, into liquid and gaseous intermediates – or substances formed as a necessary stage in manufacturing an end product – which can then be chemically converted into fuels and other products. The funding announced today will further diversify DOE’s research and development portfolio in a breadth of fuels and chemicals derived from domestic cellulosic biomass, such as grasses, wood, and agricultural residue.

The following projects were selected:

08-31-11 CAWG Hosts 2nd Annual Legislative Field Day

Visiting ConAgra Mill in Commerce City on the second annual CAWG Legislative Field Trip, from left to right: front row: Legislative staffer Leslie Colwell, State Rep. Beth McCann, State Rep. Cheri Gerou, State Rep. Jeanne Labuda, State Rep. Su Ryden; middle row: State Rep. Kathleen Conti, State Sen. Mary Hodge, CAWG President Randy Traxler, back row: Legislative Staffer Drew Haugen, State Sen. Mike Johnston, State Rep. Brian DelGrosso, and CAWG Past President Chris Tallman.

CAWG Past President Chris Tallman, State Sen. Mike Johnston, and his legislative staffer Drew Haugen survey Progressive Farms from the top of one of the grain bins.

August 31, 2011 - The Colorado Association of Wheat Growers (CAWG) hosted a legislative field trip August 29 to familiarize Colorado state legislators with issues facing Colorado wheat farmers and other agricultural businesses.

“This event is an opportunity for us to expose urban legislators to modern agricultural practices,” said CAWG President Randy Traxler of Otis, “It also gives us a chance to talk to them in a more relaxed, casual atmosphere than during the legislative session at the state capitol.”

Eight Colorado state legislators participated in the event: State Senator Mike Johnston (D-33), State Senator Mary Hodge (D-25), State Representative Beth McCann (D-8), State Representative Su Ryden (D-36), State Representative Brian DelGrosso (R-51), State Representative Jeanne Labuda (D-1), State Representative Kathleen Conti (R-38) and State Representative Cheri Gerou (R-25). Tim Burleigh, Director of the Markets Division of the Colorado Department of Agriculture, also joined the group.

Johnston represents parts of Denver and Adams counties, Hodge represents Adams county, McCann represents Denver county, Ryden represents Arapahoe county, DelGrosso represents Larimer county, Labuda represents Arapahoe, Denver, and Jefferson counties, Conti represents Arapahoe and Jefferson counties, and Gerou represents Jefferson county.

The legislators toured the ConAgra flour mill at Commerce City, seeing how wheat is delivered and the processes used to make wheat into flour, and how that flour is delivered nationwide. Lunch included a brief program on CAWG, a description of the Colorado Wheat Administrative Committee (CWAC) and how that organization supports research at Colorado State University (CSU) and promotion of Colorado wheat for domestic and export use, and the importance of the wheat industry to Colorado’s diverse economy. The estimated value of the 2011 Colorado wheat crop is $608 million.

The group then traveled to Progressive Farms near Byers. CAWG Vice President Mark Linnebur, one of five brothers who operate Progressive Farms, described his family’s farming operation and showed the legislators some of the equipment, facilities, and storage at the farm. He emphasized the use of modern farming practices to conserve moisture, and the importance of family to his farming operation.

Representative McCann said “Although I represent central Denver which does not include any farmers, I think it is very important for legislators to learn as much as we can about all areas of the state. I have to vote on bills that affect farmers and ranchers so I try to educate myself as much as I can about the issues that affect them and their livelihoods. I find it very valuable to learn about industries that are so important to Colorado. My grandfather was a farmer in Virginia, and I have great memories of playing on the farm as a child. They are wonderful places to raise children and they are vital to Colorado’s economy.”

08-31-11 AYHC Invites Young Know-It-Alls to Compete in “Horse Smarts Round-up” at 2012 Symposium

Saddle know-how can carry a rider pretty far, but it takes applied study to become a truly informed horse-person, and young people with such depth of knowledge should be justifiably proud. The American Youth Horse Council wants to reward this kind of diligence at the 2012 AYHC Symposium (March 23-25 in Herndon, Virginia), through the newly launched “AYHC Horse Smarts Round-up” contest. The competition is open to individuals age 14-18 who are registered for the Symposium; contestants will compete for first, second and third place cash prizes ($250, $150, and $100, respectively), a year’s student AYHC membership (new or renewal) and recognition at the awards banquet and in AYHC news channels.

09-01-11 American Agri-Women’s Annual Convention, November 10-13 in Wichita, KS