Joelle Orem

This #EarthDay, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation is celebrating the farmers on the frontlines of progress reaching our sustainability goals. The Environmental Protection Agency recently released a report that shows American agriculture slashed emissions by almost 2% from 2021 to 2022, the largest decrease of any economic sector. This number is certainly something to celebrate, but farmers are committed to our natural resources in more ways than one: 🌱 Overall, agriculture makes up less than 10% of GHG emissions in the U.S. compared to other sectors.   🌱 Just 30 years ago, farmers would have needed 100 million additional acres to harvest the same amount of corn, cotton, rice, soybeans and wheat they grow today. 🌱 Over the last decade, we have seen a 167% increase in farms and ranches using renewable energy-producing systems; that's nearly 100,000 additional farms. 🌱 Nearly 300 million acres of U.S. farmland is voluntarily dedicated to climate smart practices—that’s one-third of U.S. farmland.   🌱 Reduction of GHG emissions from ethanol and biodiesel is the equivalent to taking 30 MILLION cars off the road. 🌱 U.S. dairy and beef have both reduced their per-unit CO2 emissions by 26% and 17%, respectively. 🌱 U.S. pork has also reduced per-unit CO2 emissions by 23%. Being a part of agriculture and working alongside our nation's farmers is an absolute joy. Farmers are the solution-driven thought leaders committed to preserving and protecting our natural resources. While we celebrate Earth Day on the calendar today, remember: every day is Earth Day to a farmer.

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Successful businesses can grow out of supervised agricultural experiences (SAEs), so what do FFA members do when they need more capital to continue their enterprise? Recognizing the power of FFA members' SAEs, in 2023, donors Shorty and Ro Whittington provided a lead gift to launch the FFA Venture Capital Fund. Read more in this article I wrote for the most recent National FFA Annual Report: “THE KIND OF SEED THAT WE WANT TO PLANT” https://lnkd.in/g7-aJZ4c

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Thought leadership isn't reserved for specific industries, even if it can feel that way. For example, take Dr. Susan Smith*, a rockstar at sustainable agriculture. She has a depth of knowledge but felt nervous about stepping into a role as a thought leader due to her lack of background in marketing or comms. Swipe through to learn how she began her journey and gain insights you can implement yourself. Ready to take the next step? Apply to be a published thought leader on Digital Journal and share your unique, professional insights with a wider audience. 📢 https://lnkd.in/gNEHPHcR #JournalisticStorytelling #ThoughtLeadership #ContentMarketing *Note: Dr. Susan Smith is not a real person, but I'm using her persona to capture real-life conversations I'm having.

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The term "regenerative agriculture" has come into vogue in recent years, and I've used it many times in Local Food Forum. But there are many farmers who have invested much effort to obtaining and maintaining the USDA Organic label, believe organic practices are better for people and the planet, and — unlike regenerative — organic is clearly defined in federal law and regulation. A campaign launched by the Organic Farming Research Foundation, under the heading of "Organic is Regenerative," indicates that the community of organic advocates is pushing back. Read about the Foundation's messaging toolkit for organic ag advocates on localfoodforum.com https://lnkd.in/gMiu5XbR

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Soy farmers need reliable #infrastructure to move their products to market & keep U.S. ag competitive. ASA leaders advocate for policies to improve transportation & infrastructure, including trucks, rail & waterways. #FieldToHill #USSOY #AgPolicy

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For most, we check weather, news or what's happening on social with our phones. The average American doesn't think that those who are responsible for food production are using the same technology the improve crop yields. K-State is providing 40 years of data in easier to read format—literally in the fields—for farmers. The new site, AVYield, is a tool that provides visual data to help farmers understand how crops have performed based on location, irrigation method and other factors. Today's farms are technology and data driven, and farmers are data consumers. K-State is helping deliver data to where it can be used the most. #Dataispower #FeedingtheWorld #DoingGoodInKansas #GoCats

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Grounded in Ag is big and fills gaps so many companies and organizations are unable to build on their own. We are filling a real need. I am saying this with my full chest. We are building programs that matter, that can help people & organizations become more effective faster and that help people gain the confidence of being prepared for the jobs at hand. We don't have time to slow walk given the challenges we face.

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If your ag-based startup needs to increase brand awareness in the agricultural community but you dread the thought of finding a knowledgeable writer who understands both the ins and outs of the industry plus how to write about it…don’t get stressed out. With years of freelance writing experience and decades of ‘boots on the ground’ in all things ag, your writing needs can be confidently handed off—no lengthy explaining or handholding required. Even if you’re unsure what the specifics should look like, a simple call to discuss your needs will get the ball rolling. Take your tech to the next level. Message me, send a connection invite, or leave a comment. #freelancewriter #contentwriter #marketing #agtech #precisionag #precisionagriculture #agriculture #innovation

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Check out the latest issue of AcreageLife for information that can benefit your farmstead and the animals, whether small or large, in your care. I'm grateful to the editorial team for the opportunity to submit "Protect Your Pet: How to Keep Your Dog Safe From Lyme Disease" on p. 17 and "The Impact of Ulcers," which highlights a common equine condition affecting up to 60% of show horses and 90% of racehorses (p. 44). Tony Hawkins, DVM, Valley Vet Supply consulting veterinarian, shares more in each piece about the topics. Here are a few snippets: 🐕 “Ticks transmit serious diseases, such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Ehrlichia and Anaplasmosis, among others. These illnesses can be difficult to diagnose and dangerous if not treated early; therefore, prevention through tick control is best." 🐎 “Ulcers can affect horses from birth all the way to elderly, geriatric horses. Ulcers result from an erosion in the stomach lining. The stomach has a protective lining over the surface of it, and stomach acid – if it's not properly neutralized – can erode holes and sores into the surface of the stomach. It can potentially turn very serious if untreated.” Peruse the issue for great insights and fun recipes.

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I was pleased to read this recent article. What you may be wondering now is, "Why should I/we even care about bats? Aren't they creepy, disgusting, and dangerous?" The answer is definitively NO! Bats are super-important to our overall ecosystem: - They are natural insect (like mosquitoes) and pest eliminators, saving farmers BILLIONS of dollars a year in toxic chemical pesticides; - They are pollinators, helping our food chain flourish; - Their poo is fantastic fertilizer for our gardens; and, - - They can even help human health: a compound in bat saliva has been turned into a medicine to help stroke patients and scientists are studying bat DNA for other possible learnings. //(Bat pointers credited to the National Wildlife Fund blog: https://lnkd.in/eEswShqa So please think differently about these little critters. You don't have to want to cuddle them to recognize their critical value to our planet!

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What is the value of seed treatments to U.S. soybean farmers, and how do they feel about alternatives to seed treatments? A recent survey conducted by the American Soybean Association and the United Soybean Board sought to determine just that. https://ow.ly/N49250TZnHK #USSOY #Agriculture #Soybeans

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Really great article from the National Association of Landscape Professionals about #employeeappreciation in the green industry. Big take away: "According to a survey by Nectar, 83.6% of employees feel recognition affects their motivation to succeed at work. Another 77.9% said that they would be more productive if they were recognized more frequently. Also, 71% of employees said they would be less likely to leave their organization if they were recognized more frequently." What are you doing to improve your employee experience and culture with appreciation?

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If you're looking to raise the barn on helping your members market their farm or agribusiness, subscribe to my new Barn Raisers Ag Marketing newsletter. My August newsletter went out earlier this week - sign up to get on the list for the next one 💌 https://lnkd.in/e5xgSi9t #agmarketing #agriculturalmarketing #marketingnewsletter

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In these three episodes, I feel like we’ve only just touched the surface when it comes to soil health! Listen to my episode with Anne Bhogal from ADAS. We had a great time discussing soil organic matter, organic materials and what regenerative agriculture means to Anne as a soil scientist! Give the episode a listen if you’ve got a spare 25 minutes! https://lnkd.in/eMPEXeXj #Agriculture2050 #regenerativeagriculture #soilhealth

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US-based friends ~ Consider signing this petition. 🙏🏼🍃 “Congress did a great thing in the 2008 Farm Bill when it created the Conservation Stewardship Program. At its height, 72 million acres were enrolled—about 7 percent of all working lands in the U.S., including crop, forest, pasture and range land. But, this doesn’t reflect the true potential of the program, as more than three-quarters of qualified farmers get shut out of the Conservation Stewardship Program every year. The Conservation Stewardship Program zeroes in on the best way to draw excess carbon dioxide down from the atmosphere: helping farmers and ranchers improve soil health. Congress got back on the right track with the Conservation Stewardship Act when they passed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) that reversed the 2018 Farm Bill’s reductions in CSP funding. IRA investments in the Conservation Stewardship Program could increase the amount of carbon stored in working lands by about 70 million metric tons of carbon-dioxide equivalent per year by 2030. Agriculture is responsible for 10 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, with emissions in the range of 700 million metric tons of carbon-dioxide equivalent per year. So, we’re talking 10 percent of 10 percent or 1 percent of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. It seems small, but that’s the equivalent of taking about 16 million cars off the road. If that figure were quadrupled, which it easily could be given that 4 times as many farmers have tried to enroll in the Conservation Stewardship Program, it would reduce total greenhouse gas emissions by 4 percent—the same as taking 64 million cars off the road. Increasing Conservation Stewardship Program spending is worth it just for the climate, but higher soil carbon also increases yields and makes food more nutritious. Congress should quadruple funding for the Conservation Stewardship Program in the new Farm Bill, and while it’s at it, Congress should tighten up eligibility requirements. Right now, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is rewarding greenhouse gas polluting industrial farmers for what Bayer and the other agrochemical companies market as “precision agriculture.” What it amounts to is adjusting the nozzles on their pesticide sprayers and fertilizer applicators to make sure they use the “right” amount—with no promise they’ll use any less! Conservation Stewardship Program money shouldn’t go to nozzle adjustment. Send this letter to your congressperson with a simple click— https://lnkd.in/ghnve3YT (Letter, petition & text from the Organic Consumers Association)

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This Farm Progress's Prairie Farmer article on cover crops and Precision Conservation Management lists some of the grants that can help ease farmers and producers as they transition fields to cover crops. • PCM and PepsiCo offer up to $35 per acre for planting cover crops, minimizing tillage, and reducing nitrogen by at least 10%. • Transition Incentive Payments for New Cover Crop Acres: Farmers receive $25 per acre their first year, $15 per acre their second year, and $10 per acre their third year. • Signing Incentive Payments are available on old cover crop acres for farmers to receive a $2-per-acre payment • PCM Regional Conservation Partnership Program cost-shares $40-60 per acre in 20 counties in Illinois • Illinois Soybean Association and The Nature Conservancy (The Nature Conservancy in Illinois) Cover Crop Initiative is available for new cover crop acres for $10 per acre on up to 200 acres. It’s also stackable with other programs. Talk to your local SWCD or USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service office for possible grants to cover the time, effort, seed expenses, and other investments that go into transitioning into management for soil health and away from fertilizer and equipment operation expenses. https://lnkd.in/eNrWgpgt cc: Betty Haynes #AIMillinois #TakeAIM #conservation #illinoisagriculture #sustainablefarming #regenerativeagriculture #regenerativefarming #regenerativefarm #agvocacy #agriculture #farmer #illinois #farmersofillinois #sustainability #covercrops #soilhealth #farming #farm #agriculturelife #conservationchampions #PrecisionConservation #PrecisionConservationManagement #Pepsico

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