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Checkoff Report - February 14, 2018
 

Indiana soy candidates sought for national checkoff board

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Indiana soybean farmers interested in serving on the national soybean checkoff board have until Feb. 28 to submit an application to Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA).

The United Soybean Board (USB) is comprised of 73 volunteer farmer-directors who oversee the investments of the national soybean checkoff on behalf of all U.S. soybean farmers. Four directors represent Indiana on the USB board, with one of the seats up for reappointment this year. USB directors serve a three-year term.

Any Indiana farmer engaged in the growing of soybeans in the United States who owns, or who shares the ownership and risk of loss of, soybeans is eligible to apply. Although the USDA secretary appoints directors to the USB board, ISA submits director candidate names for the secretary’s consideration. Indiana candidates need to complete a background information form and questionnaire. To find the form, visit www.indianasoybean.com/elections  or call Chris Weldon at 800-735-0195. The deadline for completed documents is Feb. 28.

Michigan Corn Growers announces election results

LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Corn Growers Assoc. (MCGA) announced the results of its 2018 elections for the board of directors last week at the association’s 2018 Annual Meeting.

Matt Frostic (Applegate) was reelected to represent District 3, which encompasses Huron, Saginaw, Sanilac and Tuscola counties. Cade Klein (Marcellus) was elected to represent District 6, Allegan, Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties.

Phil Gordon (Saline) was reelected to represent District 8, Lenawee, Monroe and Washtenaw counties. And Russell Braun (Ovid) was reelected as an At-Large board member, representing the entire state.

“On behalf of the Michigan Corn Growers Association, I want to congratulate all of the new and reelected board members,” said Jason McConnachie, president of MCGA. “We look forward to having them serve as representatives for Michigan corn growers and thank them for their commitment to our state’s corn industry.”

MCGA board members serve three-year terms. Elections were held by mail and ballots were tallied and then verified by the MCGA Election Committee.

Soy Aquaculture Alliance elects 2018 Executive Committee

(Martin mug in 6349)

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Elections were held during the December board meeting of the Soy Aquaculture Alliance (SAA) board of directors. Serving as chair of the SAA is John Wray of Ottawa, Kan. He has previously served as both treasurer and secretary for the organization.

New to the Executive Committee and serving as vice chair for SAA is Matt Bainbridge of Ethan, S.D. Set to return to the Executive Committee in the role of treasurer is George Martin of Nebo, Ky. Also joining the Executive Committee will be Eugene Goering of Columbus, Neb., in the role of secretary.

The SAA was developed to ensure a safe supply of affordable seafood for America and an abundant supply of the highest quality soybeans and soybean ingredients for the aquaculture feed industry.

Indiana Corn, Soy groups choose their 2018 leadership

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Indiana Corn Growers Assoc. board elected a new leadership team at its meeting in December, including DeKalb County farmer Sarah Delbecq as president.

Other ICGA members elected to the ICGA executive committee include: Vice President Mike Beard of Frankfort, Treasurer Christian Rosen of Urbana and Secretary Ronnie Mohr of Greenfield.

The Indiana Corn Marketing Council (ICMC) board welcomed four new voting directors and elected a new officer team, too. Mike Beard of Frankfort was elected as president of the checkoff organization.

Other members elected to the executive committee include: Josh Miller of Anderson as vice president; Sarah Delbecq of Auburn as secretary; Paul Hodgen of Roachdale as treasurer; Jacob Walker of Waterloo as demand committee chair; and Kelly Whiteman Snipes of Rochester as supply committee chair.

ICMC is led by 17 farmer-directors who are elected by Indiana corn farmers. In 2017, the following board members were selected to serve a three-year term:

•Jacob Walker from Wabash was reelected to represent District 3

•Adam Howell from Middletown was appointed by the board to represent District 6

•John Adam Jr. from Sellersburg was appointed by the board to represent District 9

•Tim Gauck from Greensburg and Denny Maple from Greentown were elected to serve as at-large directors representing the entire state of Indiana

•Matt Brandyberry of West Lafayette was appointed by Purdue University’s Interim Dean of Agriculture Karen Plaut to represent the second-largest farm organization, Farmers Union

In addition, three ex-officio directors were appointed to the ICMC board. Tim Baumgart, Ohio Valley Region commercial manager for Consolidated Grain and Barge, will begin his first term as first purchaser ex-officio. State Sen. Mark Stoops and Rep. Joe Taylor III join the ICMC board to represent the Indiana General Assembly.

Finally, the Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA) welcomed new farmer-directors and elected a new officer team at its December board meeting. Tom Griffiths of Kendallville was reelected as chair of the ISA director board.

Others elected to the executive committee include: Joe Tuholski of Mill Creek as vice chair; Anngie Steinbarger of Edinburgh as secretary; David Rodibaugh of Rensselaer as treasurer; Jim Douglas of Flat Rock as grain marketing and utilization committee chair; Elaine Gillis of Dunkirk as marketing and communications committee chair; and Phil Ramsey of Shelbyville as membership and policy committee chair.

This year, ISA welcomed five new members to the board and four members returned for another three-year term:

•In District 1, Denise Scarborough of LaCrosse was elected to the board, and Joe Tuholski of Mill Creek will continue to serve for a third term

•In District 2, CJ Chalfant of Harford City was elected to the board and John Emmert of Ligonier will continue to serve his second term

•Derika Lynam-Spaetti of Evansville, Mark Legan of Coatesville and Gary McDaniel of Boonville were selected to represent District 3

•In District 4, Anngie Steinbarger of Edinburgh and Jim Douglas of Flat Rock were reelected to each serve a second term

USDA announces national dairy board appointments

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the appointment of 13 individuals, including 12 dairy producers and one importer, to serve three-year terms on the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board. Their terms end on Oct. 31, 2020.

The USDA established the 37-member board under the Dairy Production Stabilization Act of 1983. Newly appointed producers representing states in the Farm World area are:

•Region 7 (Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Nebraska): Alex D. Peterson, Trenton, Mo.

•Region 9 (Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia): Gregory A. Gibson, Bruceton Mills, W.Va.

•Region 10 (Alabama, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia): John M. Larson, Okeechobee, Fla.

USDA appoints two from Midwest to Popcorn Board

WASHINGTON, D.C. — USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the appointment of two members to serve three-year terms on the Popcorn Board. Newly appointed are Dan J. Sleaford of Manito, Ill., and Rachel C. Foley of Delphi, Ind.

The Popcorn Board is composed of five popcorn processors. The Popcorn Promotion, Research and Consumer Information program, operating as the Popcorn Board, helps maintain and expand existing markets and develop new markets for popcorn and popcorn products.

A roster of members is available on the Popcorn Board page at www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/research-promotion/popcorn online. More information is also available on the Popcorn Board’s webpage at www.popcorn.org

New IBCA-IBC board of directors set to begin work for 2018

(photo in 6401)

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Indiana Beef Cattle Assoc. (IBCA) held elections during recent Area Beef Meetings to choose three area directors who sit on the IBCA-IBC (Indiana Beef Council) board of directors.

Beef producers in Area 3 elected Mick Douglas of Owensville, producers in Area 9 reelected David Duncan of Wingate and those in Area 10 elected Bob Dragani of Plymouth.

During the annual business meeting at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Jan. 27, the IBCA membership elected officers for 2018-19. The new officers are President Joe Horstman of West Lafayette; President-elect Dr. Bruce Lamb of Milford; Vice President Neal Smith from Pendleton; and Treasurer Andrew Stewart of Greensburg.

Also serving on the Executive Committee with the officers are Promotions Committee Chair Dr. Jennie Hodgen, Membership Chair Neil Hollingsworth and Immediate Past President Tim Schwab. The board is made up of 10 area directors as well as representatives from dairy, veal and allied industries.

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT are Dr. Bruce Lamb, Tim Schwab, Joe Horstman, Neil Hollingsworth, Neal Smith and Andrew Stewart. Dr. Jennie Hodgen is not pictured.

(Photo provided)

USDA makes Christmas Tree Promotion Board appointments

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last week, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the appointment of five producers and one importer to serve on the Christmas Tree Promotion Board. The appointees will serve three-year terms ending on Dec. 31, 2020.

Newly appointed producer members are Jim Corliss of Newburgh, Maine, and Roger W. Beyer of Molalla, Ore. Reappointed producer members are Paul F. Battaglia of San Martin, Calif., Della Jean Deal of Laurel Springs, N.C., and Beth Walterscheidt of Elgin, Texas. The importer member reappointed is Christopher Maciborski of Manton, Mich.

The 12-member board has 11 producers representing production in the eastern, central and western regions of the United States, and an importer member.

USDA announces appointments to two sheep boards

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue recently announced the appointment of five members to serve on the American Lamb Board.

Those tapped to serve three-year terms are Sally J. Scholle, producer, Littlestown, Pa.; David Quam, producer, San Angelo, Texas; Peter J. Camino, feeder, Buffalo, Wyo.; Elizabeth A.W. Dressler, first handler, Parker, Colo.; and Greg Deakin, seedstock producer, Cuba, Ill.

The board is composed of 13 members, including six U.S. producers, three feeders, three first handlers and one seedstock producer.

Perdue also appointed three members to serve on the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center board of directors. The appointed producers and marketing expert who will serve three-year terms are Jeremy Geske, producer, New Prague, Minn.; Brenda J. Reau, producer, Petersburg, Mich.; and Steve W. Lewis, expert in marketing, Artesia, N.M.

The board is composed of seven voting and two non-voting members. Voting members include four who are active producers of sheep in the United States, two who have expertise in finance and management and one who has expertise in lamb, wool or lamb product marketing.

2/16/2018