Latest News & Updates in KC Agriculture - February 2021

Developments

Missouri Governor Mike Parson proclaimed February 20-27, 2021, as National FFA Week in Missouri on behalf of nearly 26,000 members of Missouri FFA. Missouri FFA President Justin Eddy of Columbia received the proclamation on behalf of the 2020-2021 Missouri FFA State Officer team. “Missouri agriculture has a bright future, and you can see that in action through our FFA members,” Gov. Parson said. “Living and working on a farm is one of my greatest honors, and the First Lady and I continue to look to these young leaders to move the agriculture industry forward for generations to come.” For the third year in a row, Gov. Parson drove a John Deere tractor to the State Capitol in honor of the FFA tradition of students driving their tractors to school during National FFA Week. 

The Senate voted 92-7 Tuesday, February 23, 2021 to confirm Tom Vilsack as USDA secretary, his second run at the Cabinet post. The former Iowa governor spent eight years leading the same department for former President Barack Obama’s entire administration. In his testimony, he proposed “building a rural economy based on biomanufacturing” and “turning agricultural waste into a variety of products.” He pledged to work closely with the Environmental Protection Agency to “spur the industry” on biofuels.

The National Dairy FARM Program has published its 2020 Year in Review. Serving as the annual summary of the achievements and program developments of the FARM Program, the Year in Review showcases successes and challenges during a year of change and uncertainty. The Review can be downloaded from the website here, for a printed copy, contact dairyfarm@nmpf.org.

New analysis of EPA data highlights agricultural emissions reduction and the importance of developing new research and technologies to capture more carbon in cropland and pastureland. AFBF’s latest Market Intel also reviews trends in U.S. carbon sequestration as climate-smart farming practices increase. The report reveals that U.S. carbon sinks offset 12% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and sequestered 764 million metric tons during 2018. The largest carbon sink involved U.S. forestry lands. More information is available here.

In Kansas, home to about 1.5 million beef cows, ranchers are working around the clock to make sure newborn calves survive and cattle have access to food and water. Matt Teagarden, CEO, Kansas Livestock Association, says the cold weather “definitely refocuses folks” to checking on cattle and finding calves. Source: Agri-Pulse Communications

Farm states are likely to lose more influence in the U.S. House because of population shifts that are expected to result in lost seats across the Midwest as well as in Pennsylvania and New York. The results of the 2020 Census are not expected to be released before March, but analysts expect the states losing seats to include Illinois, Ohio, Michigan and Minnesota. State legislatures, and in some cases independent commissions, are responsible for drawing new districts based on the Census results. In most cases, the lost districts are likely to come out of rural areas. Source: Agri-Pulse Communications.

Lathrop GPM managing partner Cameron Garrison spoke with the Kansas City Business Journal on the first year of the formation of Lathrop GPM and the successes achieved through the combination, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Cameron said, “Going through a crisis like that, it brought us [Lathrop and GPM] together tighter, so it moved us forward faster than we thought.”

A survey of more than 3,000 American consumers shows beef is currently chosen about three times more often than plant-based alternatives. But while the plant-based presence in the market remains small, it is growing. The study, funded by the Beef Checkoff and conducted by ag economists Glynn Tonsor, Jayson Lusk and Ted Schroeder, found beef has good consumer perceptions on taste, appearance, price, and on nutrition qualifiers such as protein and iron content. Consumers also perceive beef to be better overall for farmers, consumers, and rural communities. But plant-based alternatives score highest on animal welfare, health and environmental concerns and have better scores than beef for cholesterol, fat and dietary fiber. Consumers of plant-based alternatives are typically younger, have children under the age of 12, have a higher household income, and are Democrats residing in a western state, the study noted.

Exports of U.S. beef and pork experienced a strong finish to the calendar year in December, beating 2019 figures and offering insights into consumer trends around the world and what is yet to come in the new year. According to USDA data analyzed by the U.S. Meat Export Federation, pork exports in 2020 topped the 2019 record by 11%, reaching nearly 3 million metric tons. Value of pork exports also shot up 11% to a record $7.71 billion. Beef exports finished 2020 with annual totals lower than the previous year – down 5% in volume and value – but ended the year with fourth-quarter volume up 4.5% over 2019 figures.  The pork sector set export records in China, Central America, Vietnam and Chile; U.S. beef exports to China and Taiwan set records for the same time period. Exports of U.S. lamb were up 27% by volume but fell 9% in value to $23.8 million.

The Ag Economy Barometer, a monthly measurement of farmer sentiment from Purdue University and the CME Group, dipped seven points in January largely on a decline in the barometer’s Index of Future Expectations. That index has dropped about 19% since October while a similar measurement of current conditions has risen about 12% in the same time period. “The ongoing strength in the Current Conditions Index appears to be driven by the ongoing rally in crop prices, while the deterioration in the Futures Expectations Index seems to be motivated by longer-run concerns about policies that could impact U.S. agriculture in the future,” said Jim Mintert of Purdue University’s Center for Commercial Agriculture.  

Earlier this month Kansas Corn STEM launched a new public library program, aiming to provide Kansas public libraries with new resources based on the book, We Grow Corn! Raising Corn on a Kansas Family Farm. The series follows the book, with six units focusing on growing corn and its many uses. Kansas Corn STEM is supported by Kansas corn farmers through the Kansas Corn Commission. Over the past five years, Kansas Corn STEM has been providing free supplies and training to K-12 teachers. While the “We Grow Corn!” book is being used by K-12 teachers, this series was created specifically for public libraries, making it different than what students would see in the classroom. “The Kansas Corn STEM education team strives to create new programs to help educators. We are excited to expand our efforts beyond the K-12 classroom to the community via public libraries,” said Sharon Thielen, Ph.D. director of education, Kansas Corn. More information available at www.wegrowcorn.com.

People

Ford B. West, 73, of Davidsonville, Maryland, died on Feb. 14 after fighting a courageous 15-year battle with metastatic, castrate resistant, prostate cancer. A veteran of the Vietnam War, he attended North Carolina State University where he earned a Master of Science in Food Science. He began his professional career with the National Canners Association and in 1979, he joined The Fertilizer Institute, later becoming president in 2005. West was with the Fertilizer Institute for 34 years.

Mike Rohlfsen has been promoted to chief commercial officer at TechAccel LLC. Rohlfsen brings deep international agribusiness, agtech, and entrepreneurial expertise to new the role. Prior to joining TechAccel, Rohlfsen served 18 years with Cargill Inc., in a variety of financial, strategic marketing, product and business development positions. Most recently, he founded and led Somaris Global, a Minneapolis-based business development firm working in next-generation agriculture technology. His career has consistently focused on applying new technology spanning the aquaculture and organic food supply chains, sustainable biomass product development and precision agriculture.

TechAccel LLC also promoted Jeff Inman to principal. Inman joined the TechAccel as an Associate on the investments team in January 2020, providing support to business development and due diligence of emerging opportunities. In his new role, he will add deal sourcing, focused areas of strategic relationship outreach, and analysis in valuation and modeling.

Brian Sikes has been named chief operating officer of Cargill. He previously led the company’s global protein and salt enterprise. As part of his new role, Sikes will also serve as a management director on the Cargill board of directors. Sikes joined Cargill in 1991 and has held leadership positions in the protein business in the United States, Canada and Europe. He spent four years leading the protein business in North America, based in Wichita, Kansas. Under his leadership, Sikes drove the global expansion of Cargill’s protein offerings, which include beef, poultry, eggs, seafood, value-add and specialty products, as well as plant-based options and investments in cell-based protein technologies. Sikes is a graduate of Texas Tech University. He is on the executive board of the Greater Wichita Partnership, a hub of collaboration between the public and private sectors.

Bayer has elevated two seasoned leaders and accomplished scientists to the key roles of president of Crop Science North America and head of The Climate Corporation and Digital Farming. Dr. Jacqueline Applegate will assume her new role at Crop Science March 1. Dr. Jeremy Williams will assume his new responsibilities at Climate on March 15. Both will continue to be based in St. Louis. Applegate, who will also join the global Crop Science Executive Leadership Team, will be responsible for the commercial performance of the Crop Science Division in the United States and Canada, including the consumer Roundup business. Williams, who will also join the global Crop Science Executive Leadership Team, will lead Bayer’s digital farming strategy and data science capabilities globally.

Kansas Farm Bureau has hired Joel Leftwich as chief strategy officer, effective March 1. Leftwich most recently served as executive director of the William L. Hudson BVI Workforce Innovation Center, which helps train and employ individuals with visual impairments. Before that, Leftwich spent nearly 20 years in D.C. in various roles. He worked on Capitol Hill as a legislative aide to former Rep. Jim Ryun, R-Kansas., was a longtime staffer for former Sen. Pat Roberts, leading to eventually working as the staff director for the Senate Ag Committee. He also held roles with PepsiCo and DuPont, and was a managing director for the Glover Park Group. Source: Agri-Pulse Communications

Chance Hunley has left the Senate Ag Committee and now serves as a legislative assistant to Rep. Jake LaTurner, R-Kansas. He covers the portfolio for agriculture, natural resources, energy, environment, transportation, immigration, and technology. On the Senate Ag Committee, he was a legislative assistant to former Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kansas., and covered commodities, crop insurance, conservation, food safety, and livestock issues.

Dustin Johansen, Vice Chairman of the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City has joined Farm Journal’s national livestock and crop sales to help clients integrate data, research and activation capabilities into marketing strategies. He was previously vice president, ag business development at Osborn Barr Paramore. He is also vice chair of the MoKan NAMA chapter.

Farm Journal has announced several other new hires and promotions at its Lenexa, Kansas, offices: Rebecca Bartels, director of business development, Trust In Food; Emma Bruno, digital and data marketing specialist Jason Hill, senior ad operations specialist; Todd Rowan, sales representative; Nicole Starr, national accounts manager, livestock; Danny White, sales representative, Machinery Pete.

NCBA has tapped Kansas cattle producer Jerry Bohn as its new president. Bohn is a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve and has been a part of the cattle industry his entire life. He has also served 34 years as the manager of Pratt Feeders, a commercial cattle feeding operation in Kansas. Don Schiefelbein of Minnesota was named president-elect, and Todd Wilkinson of South Dakota was elected vice president

The House Agriculture Committee is getting seven new Republican members, who represent some of the most productive farming regions in the country. Democrats have yet to release their full roster of committee members, but House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced late Tuesday that Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., would be on the panel again for this Congress. Rep. Tracey Mann, R-Kansas, replaces Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, who ran for the Senate seat vacated by the retirement of former Senate Ag Committee Chair Pat Roberts. Mann is a former Kansas lieutenant governor and holds a degree in agricultural economics. 

Missouri Corn Growers Association elevated Bradley Schad to chief executive officer, effective March 15. Schad succeeds Gary Marshall, who is retiring after leading the state’s corn industry group for 34 years. Schad currently serves as the senior director of market development and grower engagement. He started with Missouri Corn in 2008, managing programs focused on ethanol and other market opportunities.

Events

Kansas Department of Agriculture reminds Kansans that the month of March has been proclaimed Kansas Agriculture Month. In addition Tuesday, March 23, 2021 has been declared Kansas Agriculture Day.  KDA notes:“Kansas has a history deeply rooted in farming and ranching. That tradition lives strong today as agriculture remains our state’s largest economic driver. Farmers and ranchers in your communities go to work each day to grow the food, fiber and energy that sustains each of us. Agribusinesses that line your main streets deliver critical support to this important sector in Kansas. The Kansas agricultural community is leading the way in a dynamic, complex and growing agriculture industry.”

Registration is open for the 2021 Pork Industry Forum. All pork producers and media are invited to attend the virtual Pork Act Delegate Session being held on Wednesday, March 3, from 2-5 p.m. CST. All attendees must register to attend the session at www.porkindustryforum.com.  Pork producers and media are also invited to register for the March Pork Producer Webinar with featured speaker Mohanbir Sawhney on March 2 at 3 p.m. CST. Sawhney has written seven management books as well as dozens of articles in leading academic journals and publications. Sawhney consults many Fortune 500 businesses, including John Deere, Cisco, Facebook, McDonald’s, Microsoft, and Unilever.

The KC Animal Health Corridor is now accepting applications from early-stage companies to present at the 13th annual Animal Health Summit, held virtually August 24-26, 2021. The Summit is one of the only opportunities in the world for early-stage companies in the animal health and nutrition sectors to present their vision, business plan and technology to potential investors. The selection committee will consider companies that meet the following criteria:

• Seeking $500,000 - $20 million in funding, or strategic partnerships to advance a company’s technology.

• Revenue projections of $20 million within 5-7 years

Applications are due April 5. To apply to present as an emerging company, visit the Animal Health Summit application page . For more information, contact Kimberly Young at young@thinkkc.com.