Latest News & Updates in KC Agriculture - April 2021

Developments

As Agriculture Future of America celebrates its 25th anniversary, Farm Journal Media has elevated its support of AFA to a new level. With the establishment of a long-term, exclusive partnership, Farm Journal and AFA will collaborate to enhance AFA’s outreach to students while supporting connections with the agricultural industry. The partnership will allow Farm Journal to further strengthen its network of young professionals. “Farm Journal has been a long-standing supporter of AFA, and we are thrilled to welcome them as a partner,” said Mark Stewart, AFA president and CEO. “The partnership, which tightly aligns with our mission, heightens both organizations’ dedication to building transformational leaders in food and agriculture.”  Farm Journal will provide media support for a campaign that highlights AFA alumni and provides greater visibility to the organization. The two organizations will work closely in multiple industry events, broadening the opportunities for student and industry intersections.

Canadian National Railway announced April 20, 2021 its plan to buy Kansas City Southern, the longtime local rail operator, for $33.7 billion. Canadian National's bid to buy Kansas City Southern for $325 per share would represent a 21% premium over rival rail company Canadian Pacific Railway's proposed acquisition announced in March. Kansas City Southern's board had agreed to sell to Canadian Pacific for $29 billion, which valued Kansas City Southern at $275 per share. The deal was announced pending regulatory approvals, which are now underway. 

Boehringer Ingelheim has transitioned to renewable energy to power its largest U.S. manufacturing site, in St. Joseph, Missouri, as part of a broader company commitment to environmental sustainability in the United States and around the world. Wind energy now provides all the electricity used at the site, where BI employs nearly 1,000 people who manufacture vaccines for horses, pigs, cattle and other animals. BI and its predecessor companies have manufactured animal health products in St. Joseph for more than a century. The company recently signed a 10-year contract with Evergy Inc., which serves about 1.6 million customers in Kansas and Missouri, to buy energy generated at a wind farm in Kansas for its site in St. Joseph. The change will reduce carbon emissions at the site by 76% as part of a larger company commitment to environmental sustainability nationwide.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit heard a challenge to the EPA’s E15 decision brought by the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers, which argued EPA should not have allowed for the sale of E15 — a fuel mixed with roughly 85% gasoline and 15% ethanol — during the summer months. That decision was made in May 2019 following years of ethanol industry lobbying and negotiations with the Trump administration over biofuels policy.

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers reports a positive first quarter for tractor sales. Tractor sales growth continued for the 11th straight month in March, closing out the quarter with nearly 55% growth in total tractor sales over 2020 figures. According to figures from AEM, year-over-year sales in March increased 84.1% in 2021. The biggest gains were in small, sub-40 horsepower tractors, which nearly doubled in sales (up 96.5%). Sales of 100 horsepower units were also higher, shooting up 63.5%. Sales of larger four-wheel-drive units were up a modest 2.5% to reverse the slight sales decrease observed in February. “The strength of ag tractor and combine sales this month, driven largely by small tractors, but showing strength across all size classes, reinforces the optimistic findings of a survey we shared earlier this year,” AEM’s Curt Blades said in a statement. “That survey found increased customer demand has manufacturers optimistic that sales will increase or remain stable, despite COVID-19 and workforce challenges in 2021.” Combine sales also observed quarterly and monthly growth; March sales were 6.7% higher in 2021, capping off a quarter that observed a 16.5% sales increase over 2020.

The Lawrence-Douglas County Sustainability Office is teaming up with After the Harvest, a Kansas City, Missouri-based produce rescue nonprofit, and Community Organized Gleaners, a grassroots volunteer group of experienced farmers, to expand food recovery on Douglas County farms. The goal is to rescue nutritious fruits and vegetables from farm fields after the marketable harvest and distribute them to Douglas County agencies providing food and shelter assistance to community members.

To celebrate Buy Missouri Day, the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s Missouri Grown program announced funding for 13 retail businesses that carry Missouri Grown products. The Missouri Grown Retail Promotion Matching Grant awards up to $1,000 per retail store for reimbursement of expenses associated with promoting Missouri Grown member products.

FCS Financial recently selected 34 recipients for their Scholarship Program who will each receive a $1,500 scholarship to assist with the cost of higher education. Since 2004, more than $720,000 has been distributed through the FCS Financial Scholarship Program. The program is designed to encourage and support higher education for children and grandchildren of FCS Financial members.

Farm Journal Foundation announced its support for the America Grows Act of 2021, a bipartisan bill introduced April 27 that would significantly increase U.S. public investment in agricultural research and development. The bill, introduced by Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS), would increase funding for agricultural research by 5% annually on an inflation-adjusted basis at four agencies at the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the next 10 years. The America Grows Act would increase funding for four agencies at the USDA: Agricultural Research Service, Economic Research Service, National Agricultural Statistics Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Compass Minerals observed International Workers’ Memorial Day, April 28,  with a moment of silence across all sites at 9 a.m. CDT. The annual day of remembrance recognizes workers killed, disabled, injured or made ill by their work. “We encourage our employees to pause, reflect and remember on this day,” said Allen Dupree, senior vice president, environment, health, safety and sustainability. “Safety is essential and our company continuously works to maintain focus on our Top Risks and ensure the well-being of all employees.”

Tyson Fresh Meats has joined U.S. CattleTrace, making it the first beef processor to become a member of the animal disease traceability program. Shane Miller, the company’s chief operating officer, said Tyson is hopeful their involvement will help advance industry efforts to implement the program across the country.  CattleTrace was launched as a pilot project in 2018 as part of a collaborative partnership between KLA, the Kansas Department of Agriculture, Kansas State University, USDA and individual producer stakeholders. The name of the organization was changed to U.S. CattleTrace in January 2020, with the involvement of additional cattlemen’s organizations in Florida, Kentucky and Texas.

People 

Mikayla Bodey has joined the Senate Ag Committee as professional staff to the majority. Bodey will handle the rural development and energy portfolio. She previously worked for Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn., as her senior legislative assistant covering the portfolio for the House Ag Committee and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. She also oversaw the congresswoman’s work as co-chair of the Congressional Biofuels Caucus. Before working for Craig, Bodey worked for former Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., as a legislative correspondent with a focus on agriculture and environment issues.

Former Farm Production and Conservation Undersecretary for USDA during the Trump Administration Bill Northey has returned to Iowa to start a consulting business, WHNorthey, focusing on agriculture, conservation, and sustainability issues. 

TechAccel LLC has hired Mike Dean as controller. Dean has worked in accounting and finance for more than 20 years, most recently with the USDA and a pharmaceutical contract research organization. He holds a BS degree in business administration from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. TechAccel invests in and advances innovations to produce healthier plants, animals and foods, while protecting and rejuvenating the environment. 

TechAccel also brought Joe Langle on board as vice president of its Program Management Office. Langle previously was Program Management Manager at the Kansas City National Security Campus, a U.S. Department of Energy facility managed by Honeywell Federal Management and Technologies LLC. Langle has an MS in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas San Antonio, and a BA in mechanical engineering from the University of Missouri Columbia. 

Events

The 2021 World Pork Expo will take place at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa. Professionals in the pork industry can expect three days of networking, education, and innovation from June 9-11. National Pork Producers Council will continue to monitor developments in COVID-19 guidelines (local, state, federal) for the World Pork Expo to ensure the health and safety of all participants. NPPC will provide guidance to exhibitors and attendees. Registration information will soon be available online for those who plan to attend the 2021 World Pork Expo, June 9-11.

The Missouri Agribusiness Association is holding its MO-AG Summer Meeting July 8-9 at the Lake of the Ozarks. They will have speakers on topics ranging from carbon, federal and state ag policy, river issues, pesticide, and more. Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe, Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler, Senator Mike Bernskoetter, and the Missouri Department of Agriculture will speak on important topics pertaining to agribusiness. More information is available here.

The Missouri Governor’s Conference on Agriculture is coming back to Tan-Tar-A Resort in Osage Beach, Missouri, this fall for its 49th celebration of agriculture.  Missouri Department of Agriculture has set the conference dates for November 18-19, 2021. Missouri farmers, ranchers, agribusiness leaders and aspiring agriculturalists are invited to enjoy the packed program that will include a commodity outlook, Missouri Agriculture Awards luncheon and nationally recognized speaker line-up. More information is available at www.agriculture.mo.gov.