USGC recognizes Breitmeyer for 10 years of service

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ed Breitmeyer taught school for 30 years before he switched to farming full-time, but he never really left the classroom behind.

Instead, he has used his educational expertise to bolster Michigan’s involvement in the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) over a decade as a USGC delegate for the Corn Marketing Program of Michigan (CMPM). CMPM uses checkoff dollars to help fund the work of USGC, which works globally to expand existing markets and find new markets for grains.

Breitmeyer started his farm from scratch, moving to the country and starting a small vegetable business while he was still teaching in Kingsley, Mich. He said he and his wife kept expanding their operation until he retired from teaching.

“I had the best of both worlds,” he said. “I loved working with the kids, and I also was able to come work on the farm.”

Once he was no longer teaching, it did not take long for a good friend to get him involved in the Michigan Corn Growers Assoc. Breitmeyer finished his friend’s term and then completed his own, serving for a total of 13 years. From there, he went on to serve on the CMPM board for a subsequent six years.

At the time, the ethanol industry was emerging, causing many in Michigan and other states to wonder if there was a need for the USGC’s work promoting exports. Breitmeyer started asking questions about the USGC’s value and then attended his first meeting. He knew right away he wanted to serve on an advisory team, so he joined the Membership-Communications A-Team, a natural fit for an educator.

“I learned a ton about the Council’s activities, and I even went on and mentored a few people,” he said. “And I came back and spent a lot of time with our Michigan group.”

Breitmeyer continued to share that insight with his fellow farmers in Michigan, pushing for additional contributions and for more farmers to come to meetings and join advisory teams. While he was the only delegate from Michigan for a while, CMPM is now represented on several different A-teams.

As a member of a communications-focused A-team, Breitmeyer worked to fill that knowledge gap – working on surveying stakeholders, branding and even the USGC website.

“Farmers do not always see the work of the Council because they do not see the last part of the market,” he said. “What we use domestically here at home is great, but if that is all we did, we would be selling corn for even less.

“You have to talk about it – this is what the market would be without the Council. And that’s hard to get across. You just have to keep hammering it – this is what the Council is doing, this is why it is important.”

Later, Breitmeyer joined the Value-Added A-Team, where he said he learned more about the logistics of the U.S. grain marketing system and the growth in demand from the world’s rising middle class.

“We see countries, especially in Asia, that are developing so quickly,” he said. “And they want to eat meat, they want a better standard of living, which is a big encouragement to us because they want to buy grain.”

However, Breitmeyer recognizes the work needed to overcome barriers to trade in order to make those sales happen. “There are so many issues that have to constantly be worked on in order to keep the grain moving. The experience has been awesome, just learning about all the things we have to overcome to make trade happen. The more you think you know, the more you realize you do not know at all.”

He received some of this education firsthand, traveling to China in 2012 as part of a team of industry experts who visited the country’s top seven corn production provinces. He returned home, put together a video from the trip and took it on the road across Michigan to teach farmers about opportunities in China and the work of USGC.

“If I did anything at all, you can say education was one of my main issues,” he said. “I came back and just kept talking about what I did. I still feel that way; I come back from meetings and try to educate. I try to pass it on.”

USDA announces American Egg Board appointments

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the appointment of 11 members and 10 alternates to serve on the American Egg Board. Nine member appointees and nine alternates will serve two-year terms. Three appointees will serve the remaining one-year portion of vacant positions.

The appointed members and alternates in the Farm World region are: Thomas Stoller, Ohio City, Ohio; Steven L. George, Grinnell, Iowa; Tim Vande Bunte, Holland, Mich., alternate; Robert Gornichec, Centerburg, Ohio, alternate (one-year term); and Blair Van Zetten, Oskaloosa, Iowa, alternate.

The American Egg Board is composed of 18 members and 18 alternates representing six areas. The board is authorized by the Egg Research and Consumer Information Act of 1974.

Corn board calls for Indiana farmers to run for open seats

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Indiana corn farmers interested in directing state corn checkoff investments can now sign up to run for the Indiana Corn Marketing Council (ICMC) board of directors election.

ICMC manages state corn checkoff investments with the goal of supporting and growing Indiana’s corn industry. Five seats on ICMC’s board of directors are up for reelection or open in 2018.

To run for an ICMC director seat, Indiana corn farmers must be at least 18 years old, a registered Indiana voter and a resident in the appropriate district. All farmers who submit a valid petition by June 30 will be listed as a candidate on the election ballot. Voting takes place at county extension offices in August.

This year, ICMC has seats either open or up for reelection in Districts 2, 5 and 8. In addition two At-Large seats are open. Farmers can receive a petition by downloading the forms at www.incorn.org/elections or by calling Chris Weldon at the ICMC office at 800-735-0195. Forms are also available at all extension offices.

Newly elected directors will begin a three-year term Oct. 1. ICMC directors can serve three consecutive full terms or a total of nine consecutive years.