Latest News & Updates in KC Agriculture - November 2020
/Developments
As COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to rise in Missouri and across the Midwest, Governor Mike Parson signed Executive Order 20-19, November 19, 2020, extending the state of emergency in Missouri through March 31, 2021. This will allow continued flexibility in deploying critical resources around the state as well as the continued utilization of the Missouri National Guard and easing of regulatory burdens to further assist Missouri’s COVID-19 response efforts.
Farmer confidence is at its highest in the five-year history of Purdue University’s Ag Economy Barometer, the latest monthly results show. Confidence rose by 27 points to 183 in October, the highest reading since the barometer began in 2015. More farmers than ever said their farms were in better financial condition than a year ago, and a solid majority expected good times in the near to medium term, Chuck Abbott reports. “The late summer/fall rally in commodity prices, combined with government payments arising from the second round of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP2), appeared to be the primary drivers behind the sentiment improvement,” Purdue economists James Mintert and Michael Langemeier wrote.
Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health announced a collaboration with Henke-Sass, Wolf to develop a needle-free injection device for pigs. The device, which is expected to be available beginning in December 2020 in most countries, will be called FreVAX through Boehringer and EPIG as part of HSW. (IHS Markit Connect)
From the Land of Kansas is a trademark program designed to promote and celebrate agricultural experiences and products grown, raised or produced in Kansas. The From the Land of Kansas brand makes it easier for people to find and support Kansas-made products and Kansas-based businesses. The program, affiliated with the Kansas Department of Agriculture, offers an array of incentives to Kansas companies that grow, raise, serve or produce. “Purchases directly support small Kansas businesses and promotes local Kansas communities,” say Janelle Dobbins, marketing manager for the program. For information about holiday gift boxes and promotions contact Dobbins at Janelle.dobbins@ks.gov or 785-564-6759.
Brakke Consulting surveyed people in the animal health industry about their Thanksgiving plans and how they will change from last year. About 17% of respondents said they spent last Thanksgiving at home with their immediate family. But this year that number will triple to 60%. Likewise, 42% said they spent last Thanksgiving with extended family and friends. This year only 9% will celebrate Thanksgiving with a large gathering. Interestingly, 28% said they would spend Thanksgiving with extended family (no friends) compared to 29% last year – not much change.
Trade teams from West and East Africa, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, New Zealand, and Australia visited Kansas last month virtually, as the U.S. Grains Council hosted its Export Exchange Conference. The virtual event included a trade show, meetings and trade team visits with international buyers over Zoom. Kansas Corn, Kansas Department of Agriculture and K-State’s International Grains Program hosted a virtual trade show booth for Kansas grains, and Kansas Corn staff and leaders participated in the online Grain Exchange Conference. This year’s Grain Exchange overall hosted 1,207 registrants from 55 different countries. The Kansas Corn Commission is a long-time supporter of the US Grains Council, which is based in Washington, D.C. and has offices around the globe.
Corteva Agriscience has been honored by the Utility Arborist Association as a recipient of the 2020 Partners in Excellence Award. Presented to companies that go above and beyond to support UAA and its mission, the award recognizes members, sponsors and volunteers committed to the enhancement of utility arboriculture and right-of-way management.
Kansas City Southern president and CEO Patrick J. Ottensmeyer, and executive vice president for Precision Scheduled Railroading Sameh Fahmy will address the Credit Suisse 8th Annual Virtual Industrials Conference on Thursday, December 3, 2020. Interested investors not attending the conference may listen to the presentation via a simultaneous webcast on KCS’ website.
A new study by the University of Illinois has an optimistic insight on the global agriculture industry’s consumption of ground and surface water, said to account for about 70% of the world’s supply. According to the researchers, water use by the agriculture industry has actually decreased over a 15-year period, from 1995 - 2010. The comprehensive study looked at water withdrawals in U.S. agriculture and food production over that time period and found an 8.3% drop for crops and a 14% decline for livestock use. The downturn in water usage is a result of a combination of factors, such as increasing efficiency of the irrigation system, the growth of genetically modified crops, a change in domestic per-capita income and a changing of grown crops. A detailed PDF report of the study – What Factors Drive the Changes in Water Withdrawals in the U.S. Agriculture and Food Manufacturing Industries between 1995 and 2010? – is available at the American Chemical Society, ACS Publications.
Blockapps, an Albany, New York-based, blockchain platform provider has launched TraceHarvest Network with hope of transforming the way agricultural products are managed. The new blockchain-powered business network was developed in collaboration with Bayer. The platform will set new standards in sustainability, driving digital transformation and food system resiliency that will shape the future of the agriculture industry. More information available here.
Events
The pandemic has led many conference organizers to shift their farm industry events online this winter. The American Farm Bureau Federation and Commodity Classic have both announced their annual conventions will be held virtually in January and March, respectively. The Cotton Council will hold its Beltwide Cotton Conferences virtually, in January. And EuroTier is also going online this year, in February. Other conferences have been postponed, including the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Midwest Poultry Federation. USDA’s Agricultural Outlook Forum is scheduled for the end of February, with details pending, and the National Farmers Union’s conference is scheduled to be held in person in San Francisco, also in late February.
Farmers and crop specialists can hear updates from some of the nation’s leading agricultural researchers December 1-2 at the 2020 University of Missouri Crop Management Conference. Due to Missouri COVID-19 restrictions, this year’s conference is offered live online, said MU Extension weed scientist Kevin Bradley. Details and registration available here.
Kansas State University's Olathe campus is offering a workshop covering the regulatory aspects of animal drug and vaccine development. The workshop can be attended in-person at the Olathe campus or virtually: Animal Health Regulatory 101, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. December 9-10. Attendees will learn how to navigate two of the federal agencies that oversee these products, FDA and USDA; as well as the requirements the agencies place on the development and maintenance of drugs and vaccines.
Kansas Farm Bureau will host its 102nd annual meeting December 3-5 with a mix of virtual presentations, as voting delegates will gather at 10 sites across the state to conduct business and set policy for 2021. “Annual meeting is where we celebrate the outstanding work of Kansas farmers and ranchers over the past year and set the agenda for the new year,” Kansas Farm Bureau president Rich Felts says. “This year the mission is the same, but the format will be different to protect the health and wellbeing of our members and their communities.”
People
Born and raised on a hog and cattle ranch in Richland, Missouri, Air Force colonel and NASA astronaut Michael Hopkins, 51, is commanding the latest SpaceX operation bound for the International Space Station. The NASA mission will keep the crew occupied in space for several months. “When I was growing up at the Lake, going to the School of the Osage, I never would have thought that someday I was going to be sitting here getting ready to launch to the International Space Station in a brand new vehicle,” Col. Hopkins said prior to launch Sunday, November 15, 2020. From the farm to outer space, Missouri farm kid Michael Hopkins is continuing to fulfill a dream of space travel. At the University of Illinois he earned a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering in 1991, then a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Stanford University. Hopkins joined the Air Force through the University of Illinois ROTC program.
David Patterson, a Chancellor’s Professor in the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) Division of Animal Sciences and state beef Extension specialist, was named an American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) Fellow. ASAS was created in 1908 and has supported both scientists and animal producers across the globe. Patterson’s ASAS Fellow honor came in the Extension category, which recognizes an individual who has given prominent service to the animal industry and has had continuous membership in ASAS for at least 25 years.
Two pioneers of the US animal health industry died earlier this month: Wes Remington and Dr. Bob Hummel.
Wes Remington started his career at Anchor Serum as a sales rep and advanced to the position of president until it was sold to Boehringer Ingelheim. He then started a number of companies, including Med-Tech (which later became Tech America); Agri Laboratories; Phoenix Scientific, one of the first companies to manufacture off-patent animal drugs; Phoenix Pharmaceuticals (known today as Clipper Distributing); and Pete and Mac’s Pet Resorts. Wes was instrumental in the passing of the federal generic animal drug bill in 1984. In the later years of his career, Wes was a very philanthropic individual for the animal health industry; and he was a key financial supporter of the Kansas City Animal Health Corridor at its founding.
Robert Hummel DVM began his career in 1961 as a Technical Service Veterinarian with American Cyanamid Company. In 1967, Hummel co-founded Great Plains Chemical Company (later changed to Lextron), which became one of the largest Animal Health distributors in the U.S with an emphasis towards the food animal protein segment. After a merger with Walco, the company name was changed to Animal Health International and was later sold to Patterson Companies.
U.S. Senator John Boozman, R- Ark., will take over Republican leadership of the Senate Agriculture Committee after Sen. Pat Roberts, R- Kan., leaves. Sen. Boozman will either be chair or ranking member pending the result of the Georgia special senatorial elections in January.
Farm Journal, Lenexa, Kansas, has named Doug Edge senior vice president, revenue development for the company. In this new role, he will manage the producer sales groups with direct responsibility for crop sales while also providing strategic leadership to sales and business development groups and serving on the company's executive committee.
U.S. Senator-elect Roger Marshall, R-Kan., has named Brent Robertson chief of staff in his Senate office and Katie Sawyer state director. Robertson has been chief of staff in Marshall’s House of Representatives office since 2016 and Sawyer has been district director of his first congressional district office since 2017. Source: Agri-Pulse Communications.