North American Ag Spotlight: Agriculture & Farming News and Views

This week Chrissy Wozniak speaks with VP of Business Development of Farmmee Cindy Rockwell. Farmmee’s Uber-like matching service is revolutionary for farms, it connects farmers to farmers during their most critical times of need. This ensures that they get help from someone who understands their business and sense of urgency.

Cindy grew up on a corn and soybean farm in southern Iowa where she learned to drive a truck feeding cattle when she was five years old and was driving a tractor at age 9. She’s worked with technology for more than 25 years, including with companies such as John Deere, Pioneer Hi-Bred and Farmers Mutual. She bought a corn and soybean farm five years ago and for the past two years, has been exploring ways to make farming better with technology.

Farmers and Farm Service Providers can benefit from each other. Farmmee allows for a real-time connection between the two.  Allowing farmers who want to capitalize on their investment (equipment being the most prevalent) to connect with other farmers that need help.

Learn more about Farmmee at farmmee.com. 

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This week Chrissy Wozniak discusses a new proposed rule by the SEC, with Mary-Thomas Hart, the Chief Counsel, Government Affairs at National Cattlemen's Beef Association.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) reiterated the need for a limited version of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) greenhouse gas disclosure rule following SEC Chairman Gary Gensler’s testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking.
 
The SEC’s greenhouse gas disclosure rule, proposed earlier this year, would require publicly traded companies to disclose their direct (scope 1), indirect/energy use (scope 2), and supply chain (scope 3) greenhouse gas emissions. The requirement to include scope 3 emissions would place a disproportionate burden on cattle producers whose beef is part of the supply chain for publicly traded restaurants and retailers. Additionally, the rule exposes individual producers to additional levels of legal liability.

NCBA previously submitted technical comments on the rule and individual cattle producers sent over 7,406 emails to SEC commissioners and members of Congress expressing concern with rule. NCBA has encouraged the SEC to remove the requirement to disclose scope 3 emissions, which would lessen the burden on cattle producers.

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) has represented America's cattle producers since 1898, preserving the heritage and strength of the industry through education and public policy.  As the largest association of cattle producers, NCBA works to create new markets and increase demand for beef.  Efforts are made possible through membership contributions. To join, contact NCBA at 1-866-BEEF-USA or [email protected].

For more policy related information visit policy.ncba.org

The American Royal is a non-profit organization based in Kansas City since 1899. They provide opportunities for youth & adults from around the country to compete in Livestock Show, ProRodeo & Horse Shows. Also known for the World Series of Barbecue®, which is their largest fundraiser. Events including the barbecue allow them to give over $1 million annually for youth scholarships & support agriculture education programs. https://agr.fyi/amer

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Today's Ag Spotlight is on real American Heroes who help transition veterans from active service to agriculture. Tod Bunting is a retired Air Force major General – with over 30 years of service. He has devoted his post military life to veteran care. Also with us is Virgil Williams who is also a veteran and runs operations at Save Farm.

SAVE Farms is a training farm for veterans of all eras and their families. A pathway to farming and healing. Americans celebrate Veterans Day on November 11 to honor our veterans’ patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. While this day is a wonderful tribute, there are organizations who honor veterans every single day of the year. The SAVE Farm in Manhattan, KS., is one of them.

The concept for the SAVE Farm  began nearly a decade ago, when retired Colonel Gary Lagrange and his daughter saw results from training beekeeping and providing therapy to soldiers at nearby Ft Riley. A non profit was formed by a diverse group of veterans, farm and ranch experts and educators. 

With the help of organizations like The Nature Conservancy, and the Conservation Fund, the SAVE Farm is now a reality. It provides therapy as needed and hands-on teaching to veterans and transitioning service members through experienced professionals. They learn how to successfully and sustainably manage cropland, livestock animals, orchards, horticulture, and beekeeping.

In 2020, SAVE celebrated a significant milestone - the purchase of 308-acres of farmland for future hands-on training. In 2021, the critical and life-changing work of the SAVE Farm received further support from John Deere through a donation of $200,000 to continue its collaboration with The Nature Conservancy and assist in the completion of training facilities.

Learn more about the SAVE Farm at https://www.thesavefarm.org/

The American Royal is a non-profit organization based in Kansas City since 1899. They provide opportunities for youth & adults from around the country to compete in Livestock Show, ProRodeo & Horse Shows. Also known for the World Series of Barbecue®, which is their largest fundraiser. Events including the barbecue allow them to give over $1 million annually for youth scholarships & support agriculture education programs. https://agr.fyi/amer

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In this week's North American Ag Spotlight Chrissy Wozniak speaks with Virridy's CEO & founder Evan A Thomas, PhD, PE, MPH about this new ag tech that controls irrigation pumps by satellite. Evan is also the Director of the Mortenson Center in Global Engineering and Resilience and the Climate Innovation Collaboratory at the University of Colorado at Boulder. He is a tenured Associate Professor in the Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering Department. He has a PhD in Aerospace Engineering Sciences from the University of Colorado at Boulder, is a registered Professional Engineer, and has a Masters in Public Health from the Oregon Health and Science University.

Evan’s technical background is in water and air testing and treatment applied in developing communities through to operational spacecraft. Previously, Evan worked as a civil servant at the NASA-Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas for six years. At NASA, Evan was a principal investigator and project manager in the Life Support and Habitability Systems Branch working on flight hardware for the Space Shuttle, the Space Station, and concepts for Moon and Mars spacecraft.

Virridy Inc. develops and deploys technologies to manage water, energy, and agricultural resources in remote, off-grid environments including Africa and North America. The company’s low-cost satellite-connected sensors are compatible with a wide range of fixed infrastructure and support carbon credits, energy incentives, water permitting, and other environmental market commodities.

Learn more about Virridy at https://virridy.com/

• FIRA USA 18-20 OCT. 2022 (FRESNO-CA): The only 3-day event dedicated to the California and North America market for autonomous agriculture and agricultural robotics solutions.

Learn More at https://agr.fyi/fira

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In this week's North American Ag Spotlight Chrissy Wozniak listens to @the Shepherdess tell her story of leaving the urban lifestyle and starting a farm from scratch. Many think it can't be done, but Grace Leake has proved otherwise. In this interview she discusses how and why she made this decision, the current state of the industry, and how her faith led her to this place. She also discusses how the farmer-consumer relationship is the key to fixing food insecurity.

Grace is an entrepreneur, Shepherdess, and rotational grazing enthusiast. This eclectic mix converges on her Shepherdess Podcast where she talks about regenerative farming for profit, raising Dorper sheep, and daily life as a small-scale, regenerative farmer! 

Learn more about The Shepherdess at https://harmonyfarmsdorpers.com/.

The American Royal is a non-profit organization based in Kansas City since 1899. They provide opportunities for youth & adults from around the country to compete in Livestock Show, ProRodeo & Horse Shows. Also known for the World Series of Barbecue®, which is their largest fundraiser. Events including the barbecue allow them to give over $1 million annually for youth scholarships & support agriculture education programs. Learn more at https://agr.fyi/americanroyal 

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In this week's North American Ag Spotlight, Chrissy Wozniak talks to the ladies who operate the nonprofit Annie's Project, a place where farm women go to develop business & management skills.

Ruth Hambleton is a retired Farm Business Management and Marketing Extension Educator with 30 plus years with University of Illinois Extension. And Adding to her many accomplishments she is also founder of Annie’s Project, and her current position with Annie’s Project is treasurer.

Annie’s Project Co-CEO Dr. Karisha Devlin, is a field specialist in agricultural business with the University of Missouri extension. She is passionate about educating farm women and has been involved with Annie’s Project since 2004.

Also with us today is Annie’s Project Co-CEO Doris Mold, she is the President of Sunrise Agricultural Associates, she is an agriculture consultant, ag economist, educator and advocate. She’s served on the board of Annie’s project now for 4 years.

Annie's Project is an educational program for farm and ranch women, designed to improve women's business and decision making skills. The program takes it name from the woman it is modeled after, Annette Fleck, who was married to her farmer for 50 years. The founder of Annie's Project is Annette's daughter, Ruth Hambleton. Ruth designed the educational program, commonly known as Annie's Project, based on her life experiences as an educator and growing up on a dairy farm in Illinois.  The program is based on the education needs of farm women Ruth identified during her years as an educator for the University of Illinois in the area of farm business management and marketing.  The Annie's Project approach resonates with women from all backgrounds and levels of experience. Annie's Project will celebrate its 20th year in 2023.

Learn more about  Annie's Project at https://anniesproject.org

• FIRA USA 18-20 OCT. 2022 (FRESNO-CA): The only 3-day event dedicated to the California and North America market for autonomous agriculture and agricultural robotics solutions.

Learn More at https://agr.fyi/fira

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This week Chrissy Wozniak gains some insight into the upcoming Farm Bill with Women in Agribusiness Summit Speaker Brooke Appleton Vice President of Public Policy for the National Corn Growers Association.

The 11th annual Women in Agribusiness (WIA) Summit will take place this year September 26-28 in Dallas, Texas. The event is renowned for annually convening more than 800 of the country’s female agribusiness decision-makers, and for building a year-round community of career-minded women.

WIA initiatives have grown to include WIA Membership, WIA Career Connector, WIA Demeter Award of Excellence, Scholarships, and the WIA Today blog.

The 2022 Women in Agribusiness Summit will feature nearly 40 industry expert speakers and cover topics such as supply chain disruption, the impact of the war in Ukraine, immigration challenges, price volatility in the ag market, and animal agriculture. It also will feature an update on what’s to come for the 2023 Farm Bill, which will be covered by speaker Brooke Appleton of the National Corn Growers Association, who is today’s guest.

Brooke Appleton works in concert with the board and leadership to develop and implement the organization’s policy priorities and manages all outreach to Congress, the administration, and government agencies.

With close to two-decades of experience in Washington, Brooke has served in senior leadership roles at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, on Capitol Hill, and with some of the nation’s leading commodity groups.

Prior to heading NCGA’s Washington office, Brooke served as chief of staff for the deputy secretary at USDA, managing the office’s day-to-day operations and serving as the deputy secretary’s lead advisor.

She also served as a chief advisor on agricultural and environmental issues to Rep. Sam Graves (R-Missouri) as he chaired the House Small Business Committee. Prior to her committee work, Brooke served as an agricultural advisor in Graves’ congressional office.

Thanks to her upbringing on a multi-generation row crop and cattle farm in northwest Missouri, Brooke is able to couple her deep understanding of agriculture with her extensive knowledge of the policy process to effect change for America’s corn growers.

Brooke holds a B.A. in agribusiness management with a minor in international agriculture and political science from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Don't miss Brooke's presentation along with many other ag professionals live in Dallas at the Women In Agribusiness Summit September 26-28. Register at - https://agr.fyi/wia_register.

For more information visit - https://wia.highquestevents.com/website/34360/

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In this week's North American Ag Spotlight, Chrissy Wozniak & Bill Bullard of R-CALF USA talk about what can be learned from the Dutch Farmer’s Protest. North American Farmers should be paying attention to what is happening in European countries, and Bill gives the run down on what we should be looking out for.

Bill Bullard joined R-CALF USA as the organization’s first Chief Executive Officer at national headquarters in Billings, Mont., on April 9, 2001.

Bullard has testified on behalf of R-CALF USA members before Congress and executive branch agencies, has managed numerous lawsuits on behalf of the organization, and is the organization’s registered lobbyist.

Bullard, formerly a cow/calf rancher in Perkins County, S.D., served as the Executive Director of the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission from 1995-2001. He has a B.S. in Political Science from Black Hills State University and completed a year of graduate studies at the University of South Dakota.

The Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America (R-CALF USA) represents the U.S. cattle and sheep industries in trade and marketing issues to ensure the continued profitability and viability of independent U.S. cattle and sheep producers. R-CALF USA (Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of America), is the largest producer-only membership based organization that exclusively represents U.S. cattle and sheep producers on domestic and international trade and marketing issues. R-CALF USA, a national, non-profit organization,  is dedicated to ensuring the continued profitability and viability of the U.S. cattle industry. R-CALF USA’s membership of more than 5,000 consists primarily of cow-calf producers, cattle backgrounders, and feeders. Its members are located in 43 states, and the organization has many local and state association affiliates, from both cattle and farm organizations, along with various main street businesses as associate members of R-CALF USA.

R-CALF USA is the single largest producer-only organization fighting to bring back mandatory country-of-origin labeling, fighting to stop anti-competitive and unjust practices by the packers, to prevent high-risk imports from countries with disease outbreaks, fighting to allow U.S. cattle producers to promote their USA beef within the beef checkoff program and make the program voluntary.

Learn more about R-CALF at https://www.r-calfusa.com/ or call 406-252-2516.

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In this week's North American Ag Spotlight Chrissy Wozniak has an inspiring conversation with Andy 'Caygeon' Junkin about his struggle that almost ended in suicide. He's now devoted his life to helping farm families survive and thrive while passing their legacy to the next generation.

He's had nearly 15 years of helping stubborn farmers work better together, and says, "I'm proud I have saved hundreds of family farms, but my biggest life accomplishment is marrying the right girl and having a marriage that has exceeded my expectations." Hear his whole story as we put the Ag Spotlight on Stubborn.farm.

Farm succession is simply strategic planning. Yet, it can be deeply emotional for all involved because it impacts everyone’s future. If your family is stubborn with each other everyday, what should be an afternoon conversation, almost always escalates into a 10-year family feud.

Does stubborn live on your farm? Learn more here - https://stubborn.farm, and if you're interested in the Masterclass you'll find it here - https://stubborn.farm/start-here/

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In this week's North American Ag Spotlight Chrissy Wozniak talks to the president of American Agri-Women Heather Hampton Knodle about the organization's mission and what they've accomplished.

American Agri-Women are women from farms, ranches and agri-business forming a nationwide coalition of state and commodity affiliates and at-large members with a mission to provide networking and leadership development opportunities as we educate each other and the public about issues impacting our ability to feed, fuel and clothe our country and others around the world.

Heather Hampton Knodle grew up working on her family’s farm near Windsor, Illinois and continues to farm with her husband Brian and their four children in Montgomery County where they grow corn, soybeans, winter wheat and black Angus cattle. Their use of technology informs their efforts to apply regenerative practices across their farm and capture data to improve management. Heather earned her bachelors in agriculture news/editorial with emphasis in geography and economics and the equivalent of a minor in Russian language and area studies from the Univ. of Illinois, including an academic year at the University of Nottingham, England and exchange with St. Petersburg Agricultural Institute in Russia. Her masters work in post-socialist privatization was at University of Illinois Springfield as she launched her communication consulting business that quickly evolved into association management. Heather has served as Executive Director for the Upper Mississippi, Illinois and Missouri Rivers Association and statewide organizations in Illinois as well as the volunteer President of Illinois Agri-Women. She was the founding chairman of the public-private Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation and the $250 million, 11-county bond authority Central Illinois Economic Development Authority. In her time as an elected official on the Montgomery County Board, she helped leverage $6000 in coal royalty funds into a more than $15 million privately-funded fiberoptic to the premises buildout.

She has been appointed by four governors to serve on the Illinois Governor’s Rural Affairs Council and was reappointed in 2021 by the Federal Communications Commission to serve on the Precision Agriculture Task Force and chair the Examining Current and Future Connectivity Demand Working Group. Heather also serves as Farm Journal Foundation’s Lead Farmer for Illinois to advocate for agricultural research investments and training for smallholder farmers in developing countries.

Learn more about American Agri-Women at www.americanagriwomen.org.

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