Audio: Iowa, Nebraska Producers Team Up for Corn-Fed Beef Trade Mission

Jun 29, 2009

Audio from Japan with Iowa-Nebraska Corn-Fed Beef Delegation

(Includes audio with Alan Tiemann (pronounced: TEA-MUN), a corn and soybean farmer from Seward, Neb., is representing the Nebraska Corn Board on the trade mission, and Terri Carstensen, a feedlot operator and grain farmer from Odebolt, Iowa, (pronounced OH-DEE-BOLT) who is representing the Iowa Beef Industry Council.)

June 24, 2009 - A delegation of six producers representing the Iowa Beef Industry Council, the Iowa Corn Promotion Board, the Nebraska Beef Council and the Nebraska Corn Board has arrived in Tokyo for a trade mission organized by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) to promote U.S. corn-fed beef in Japan and South Korea.

The group began its activities June 23 with a briefing at the U.S. embassy in Tokyo and meetings with Japanese meat buyers, manufacturers and retailers. Team members met with more beef industry representatives on June 24, including importers, distributors and cold storage operators. USMEF also held a press conference and beef cutting demonstration that allowed the group to discuss current beef industry issues with Japanese broadcasters and trade reporters and to share their personal histories as family farmers and ranchers.

Alan Tiemann (pronounced: TEA-MUN), a corn and soybean farmer from Seward, Neb., is representing the Nebraska Corn Board on the trade mission. He emphasized the importance of beef exports to the profitability of U.S. corn growers.

Tiemann Audio Clip #1 :20 Outcue: (…moving forward together.)

Tiemann added that it is very gratifying to see USMEF’s promotional efforts paying dividends in Japan.

Tiemann Audio Clip #2 :16 Outcue: (…doing their promotions.)

These observations were echoed by Terri Carstensen, a feedlot operator and grain farmer from Odebolt, Iowa, (pronounced OH-DEE-BOLT) who is representing the Iowa Beef Industry Council on the trade mission.

Carstensen Audio Clip #1 :28 Outcue: (…taste of U.S. beef.)

She added that consumers in Japan are very pleased to meet face-to-face with the family farmers and ranchers who produce U.S. beef, and to have the opportunity to learn more about the products they are purchasing.

Carstensen Audio Clip #2 :23 Outcue: (…then they purchased.)

Both Tiemann and Carstensen feel relief from the 20-month cattle age limit on U.S. beef exports to Japan is needed in order for the market to reach its full potential.

Tiemann Audio Clip #3 :15 Outcue: (…able to do that.)

Carstensen Audio Clip #3 :12 Outcue: (…definitely ready for it.)

Other producers in the delegation are Mark Jagels of Davenport, Neb., representing the Nebraska Corn Board; David Hamilton of Thedford, Neb., representing the Nebraska Beef Council; Merle Unkrich of Winfield, Iowa, representing the Iowa Corn Promotion Board; and Kevin Carstensen of Odebolt, Iowa, representing the Iowa Beef Industry Council. The group will travel from Tokyo to Seoul, South Korea, on June 25 before returning to the United States June 28.

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The U.S. Meat Export Federation (www.USMEF.org) is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry and is funded by USDA, exporting companies, and the beef, pork, corn and soybean checkoff programs.

Video: The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

In the vast prairies of Alberta, Olds College’s Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) stands as a beacon of innovation and research in the agricultural world. The institution has become a key player in advancing agricultural technologies and practices. The FCDC’s commitment to applied research has driven them to seek effective means of disseminating their findings and creating a positive impact on the farming community.

One such avenue that aligns with their mission is AgSmart, an event dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge agricultural technologies. The coming together of the FCDC’s annual Field Day and Ag Smart has proved to be a natural fit, fostering a synergy that benefits both parties and propels the agriculture industry forward. The FCDC Field Day took part in conjunction with AgSmart for the first time this week on Aug. 1-2 in Olds, Alta. FCDC Program Director Kofi Agblor and Olds College VP of Development Todd Ormann sat down for an interview with Marc Zienkiewicz to discuss the significance of the two events taking part together and what the future holds.

The Intersection of Research and Technology The essence of the FCDC lies in its dedication to plant breeding and new seed varieties, particularly barley and triticale. While conducting research is essential, it becomes meaningful when its benefits are shared with the wider community. This is where AgSmart steps in, providing a key venue for the FCDC to showcase their research. This union between research and technology creates a holistic and enriching experience for farmers, ranchers, and industry professionals, the pair said.

Seeds as Technology For the FCDC, the partnership with AgSmart goes beyond mere event collaboration. It is about creating an environment that bridges the gap between seeds and smart technology, Ormann said. The college believes that for technology to truly revolutionize agriculture, it must begin with a strong foundation — high-quality seeds. As the saying goes, “it all starts with a seed.” To demonstrate this critical aspect, the collaboration aims to showcase the seed value chain as an integral part of the smartphone.

The Birth of a Powerful Alliance The idea of joining forces emerged when staff realized the potential synergy between AgSmart and the FCDC Field Day. With just a few days separating the two events, a proposal was put forward to merge them. The marketing and communications teams from both sides worked seamlessly to ensure the essence of both events remained intact, creating a powerful alliance that leverages the strengths of each, Agblor said.

Driving Advancements in Breeding For Agblor, the partnership with AgSmart has tremendous potential to drive advancements in breeding and other technology. With technologies like drones and imaging becoming integral to phenotyping, breeding is no longer confined to vast fields to assess thousands of plants manually. Instead, it benefits from the data-rich insights brought about by smart technologies. These advancements make breeding more efficient, precise, and instrumental in shaping the future of agriculture.

Overcoming Challenges Together While the partnership between Olds College and Ag Smart has been a resounding success, there are challenges on the horizon. Securing stable funding for long-term breeding initiatives is crucial to sustain progress. The college is committed to navigating these challenges and investing in agriculture’s future sustainably, Agblor said.