Farm Bureau: Foundation for Agriculture Announces Book of the Year

HONOLULU, January 9, 2012 – The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture presented its fifth annual “Book of the Year” award to Chris Butterworth for “How Did That Get In My Lunchbox? The Story of Food.”  The book shows young readers how each ingredient made its journey to their lunchbox. Illustrations, by Lucia Gaggiotti, highlight many aspects of farming and include information on food safety and nutrition.

Butterworth, a native of England, is the author of more than 70 nonfiction books for children, covering a diverse range of issues.

“There's always something else to find out about, and writing about a thing is the best way to find out about it,” said Butterworth. “I started writing information books when my own children were little. I couldn't find the sort of book I wanted them to read, so I wrote one of my own.”

This spirit clearly resonates in How Did That Get In My Lunchbox? In the book, Butterworth shows her enthusiasm for food and for instilling in young readers an appreciation for our food’s journey. The book has received numerous accolades. The School Library Journal called it “a great springboard to units on food and nutrition.” The Library Media Connection said, “Results of reading this book include a greater understanding of the farm-to-table methodology.”

The Book of the Year award springs from the foundation’s effort to identify “accurate ag books,” a collection of more than 400 books for children, teenagers and adults that accurately cover agricultural topics. In addition to their accuracy, Book of the Year selections are educational, reflect farmers’ and ranchers’ love for the land and what they do, create positive public perceptions about agriculture, inspire readers to learn more and touch their readers’ lives as well as tell the farmer’s story. The Accurate Ag Books database is available at: http://www.agfoundation.org/.

The foundation has created an educator’s guide and classroom poster as companion pieces to How Did That Get In My Lunchbox? which takes elementary students through various learning activities.

In honor of Butterworth’s recognition and the host city of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2012 Annual Meeting, the foundation has teamed with the book’s publisher, Candlewick Press, to donate hardcover copies of How Did That Get In My Lunchbox? to Jefferson Elementary School near Waikiki and the Hawaii State Public Library System. Additionally, the foundation is making a $1,000 contribution to the library system’s reading program.

Farm Bureau: Climate Change Not Likely to Harm Ag

HONOLULU, January 9, 2012—Record yields for staple crops in the United States and globally in recent years seem to contradict fears that agriculture will be negatively affected by increasing climate temperatures, according to James Taylor, senior fellow for the Heartland Institute and managing editor of Environment and Climate News. Taylor spoke today at an issues conference at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 93rd Annual Meeting.

Beyond debating the issue of whether global climate change is actually taking place and whom is to blame, Taylor addressed the issue of any potential impacts on agriculture and what effect any legislation or regulation could have.

“Since 2007 we’ve seen record yields in production per acre in edible beans, cotton, alfalfa, sweet potatoes, canola, corn, hops, rice, wheat and more,” said Taylor. “This is a long-term trend, and it applies globally, too, as global grain harvests have nearly tripled since 1961. Climate is not the only factor, but even if we accept global warming as a problem, it’s clearly not inhibiting crop production.”

According to data presented by Taylor, computer models have incorrectly accounted for certain climate patterns over recent decades, and data has shown fewer and less severe periods of drought and less severe flooding on a global scale. Taylor conceded that there would certainly be regional exceptions, but on a larger scale, climate patterns could prove to be quite suitable for agriculture.

Referencing research done by the International Journal of Climatology, Taylor explained that increases in precipitation would occur more frequently during the hotter and drier seasons of the year—rather than during the spring—thus avoiding the time of year more prone to flooding.

While potential increases in temperature were not believed to be detrimental to crops, Taylor suggested that the greater threat to agriculture could come in the form of federal or state regulations regarding livestock production.

Farm Bureau: High Volatility, ‘Fierce’ Acreage War Ahead for Growers

HONOLULU, January 9, 2012 – Solid risk management “has never been more important” for producers of the nation’s major commodities, given a range of volatility factors, North Carolina State University Extension specialist Nicholas Piggott told producers at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 93rd Annual Meeting.

During AFBF’s session on the outlook for corn, soybeans, wheat and cotton, the Australian-born ag economist said that he anticipates “another fierce acreage-bidding war” this season. “This is fantastic for you farmers out there,” Piggott argued, citing producer reaction to strong market signals.

However, “acreage is not limited,” and tight corn stocks and continued high prices should translate to a significant boost in nationwide corn acreage, likely at the expense of cotton, and possibly soybean, production. Piggott noted 2011 was a “great year” for corn, cotton, and wheat but only a “moderate year” for soybeans, and this season’s U.S. bean market outcome may depend largely on South American weather and its impact on foreign supply.           

“Unless the corn price comes down, which I doubt it will with the tight corn stocks,
we’re going to need soybean prices to rally significantly to beat those (soybean-to-corn) acres back,” Piggott advised. “I think the balance sheets will look stronger for corn.”

Continued ethanol profitability also weighs in favor of increased corn plantings, he said, especially if the biofuels industry can overcome current regulatory and logistical obstacles and opposition from the small equipment sector to new 15 percent ethanol/gasoline blends. Hearty retail “E15” adoption could mean a 50 percent boost in ethanol market growth, Piggott projected.

Given a significant increase in cotton ending stocks for 2011 and concurrently healthy crops out of Australia, Pakistan and India, corn or wheat likely will grab more southern cotton acres in 2012.

Piggott sees growers weathering 2012 in good stead if they can manage anticipated high price volatility, particularly if they can sell crops in the top third of the market. That suggests reliance on crop insurance to provide a “base,” informed use of options, and aggressive forward contracting of “small parcels”—ideally, crop increments of no more than 5 percent.

“Volatility can be their friend, as long as they’re not greedy,” Piggott maintained. He chided growers to “spend far more time on your marketing.”