ACROFAN

Report shows differences in food insecurity, sustainable food purchasing between racial and ethnic groups

Farmer sentiment plummets as production costs skyrocket

Urban-rural food satisfaction, food security gaps show in new report

Producer sentiment improves with strengthened commodity prices, but high cost inflation worries farmers

Ripken Baseball Celebrates National Beef Month with Tommy’s Jerky

Up to 45% discount on 12 selected Super Tuscan Wines at Dining Room and Living Room

Policy opinions revealed in Consumer Food Insights Report

Ag Economy Barometer slides lower, producers concerned about war’s impact on input prices

DataWeave Releases Report on Grocery Private Label: Finds Inflation-Driven Explosion

Consumer Food Insights Report details consumer reaction to inflation

iTradeNetwork Offers Two Introductory Webinars on OrderMaestro

iTradeNetwork, the food and beverage industry’s largest network, will be hosting two webinars to introduce its new solution—OrderMaestro, a branded mobile ordering experience that streamlines and automates ordering and inventory for the foodservice industry. Each webinar is designed for a specific OrderMaestro customer segment—distributors or operators—and will be hosted by Mike Anderson, iTradeNetwork’s Vice President of Sales Solutions. Webinar details: OrderMaestro for Operators | March 10, 2022, at 2 p.m. EDT / 11.a.m. PDT OrderMaestro for Distributors | March 17, 2022, at 2 p.m. EDT / 11 a.m. PDT OrderMaestro solves the unique, complex challenges that distributors and operators are facing today. With thousands of competitors on the market, OrderMaestro gives distributors a competitive advantage by delivering a best-in-class e-commerce solution that customers love. For operators, not only does OrderMaestro make their teams faster and more productive with a simplified ordering experience, but it also gives them the visibility to maximize purchasing compliance and uncover new contracting opportunities across geographies, categories and operating units. OrderMaestro customers increase productivity, reduce costs and drive revenue growth with a host of valuable features. Webinar attendees can look forward to learning more about how operators and distributors can: Combat labor shortages with an intuitive, easy-to-use mobile app - no formal training required. Use smart barcode scanning and voice recognition technology to place an order or take inventory in as little as 3 clicks. Collect rich, comprehensive data on the products that are being purchased across their organization or customer base. Build in-app promotion programs that create new sources of revenue and even distributor loyalty programs. Collaborate in real time with alerts and in-app messaging and save the hours spent communicating through phone calls and emails. Take inventory from a mobile device in any environment, online or offline.

Farmer sentiment rises during commodity price rally; concern over production costs remains

Farmer sentiment continues to fluctuate month-to-month as the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer rose 6 points to a reading of 125 in February, a mirror image of the previous month. The Index of Current Conditions was down 1 point to a reading of 132, while the Index of Future Expectations improved 10 points to a reading of 122. The Ag Economy Barometer is calculated each month from 400 U.S. agricultural producers’ responses to a telephone survey. This month’s survey was conducted Feb. 14-18, days before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Farm Financial Performance Index remained unchanged in February at a reading of 83. However, the sharp drop in the index, down 27% from late 2021 to 2022, indicates producers expect financial performance in 2022 to be worse than in 2021. The financial index is generated based upon producers’ responses to whether they expect their farm's current financial performance to be better than, worse than or about the same as the previous year. “These survey responses suggest that concerns about the spike in production costs and supply chain issues continue to mostly outweigh the impact of the commodity price rally that’s been underway this winter,” said James Mintert, the barometer’s principal investigator and director of Purdue University’s Center for Commercial Agriculture. Higher input costs have consistently been the number one concern identified by farmers over the past six-months, according to results from the Ag Economy Barometer survey. To gain additional insight into the concerns of producers, this month respondents were provided with a more detailed set of possible responses when answering this question. While a majority still consider input costs as their number one concern (47%), it was followed by lower output prices (16%), environmental policy (13%), farm policy (9%), climate policy (8%), and COVID-19’s impact (7%). Tight machinery inventories continue to be a problem. In February, over 40% of producers stated that low farm machinery inventories are holding back their investment plans. While plans for farm building and grain bin construction were more optimistic this month, 56% still said their plans for new construction are below the previous year. Thirty percent of corn and soybean producers say they’ve had difficulty purchasing crop inputs from their suppliers. In a follow-up question posed to corn and soybean producers who said they experienced difficulty procuring inputs, herbicides are the most problematic input to source followed by fertilizer and farm machinery parts. To learn more about how crop producers are responding to surging fertilizer prices, corn producers were again asked if they plan to change their nitrogen fertilizer application rate in 2022 compared to the rate used in 2021. One-third of corn producers in this month’s survey said they plan to use a lower nitrogen application rate this year than in 2021, compared with 37% of corn producers who said they planned to reduce their nitrogen application rate when surveyed in January. Each winter, the barometer survey asks producers to project their farm’s annual growth rate over the next five years. In 2022, 53% stated they either had no plans to grow or plan to retire/exit in the next five years, 19% expect their farm’s annual growth rate to range from 5%-10% and while 18% expect their farm’s annual growth rate to be less than 5%. The need for better broadband coverage in rural areas has been highlighted in several legislative proposals at both the state and national level. The February barometer survey included a question asking respondents to characterize the quality of their farm’s internet access. Just three of 10 respondents said they had “high-quality” internet access, 41% said “moderate quality,” 16% chose “poor quality” on the survey, and 12% stated that they did not have internet access at all. Responses to this question suggest that nearly three of 10 farms in this month’s survey are unable to take advantage of many applications and services which require reasonable quality internet access. Read the full Ag Economy Barometer report. The site also offers additional resources – such as past reports, charts and survey methodology – and a form to sign up for monthly barometer email updates and webinars. Each month, the Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture provides a short video analysis of the barometer results. For even more information, check out the Purdue Commercial AgCast podcast. It includes a detailed breakdown of each month’s barometer, in addition to a discussion of recent agricultural news that affects farmers. The Ag Economy Barometer, Index of Current Conditions and Index of Future Expectations are available on the Bloomberg Terminal under the following ticker symbols: AGECBARO, AGECCURC and AGECFTEX.

Kosher Wine Options Are Flourishing More Than Ever as Renowned Wine Producers Continue to Innovate

Every spring, Jews around the world celebrate Passover. The highlight of the holiday is the Seder—a festive meal when the story of the Jewish exodus from Egypt is recalled and celebrated across the generations. Wine, considered the drink of royalty, plays a central role in the Seder ritual. Jews are commanded to drink four cups throughout the evening as a symbol of freedom from bondage. That’s a lot of wine! Fortunately, the pandemic couldn’t stop the evolution and expansion of the kosher wine market, and there will be no shortage of wine options when the 8-day Passover holiday begins on April 15. Quite the contrary. “Consumers looking for wines from renowned regions throughout the old and new world can satisfy their thirst with more options than ever before,” said wine expert Gabriel Geller, Director of Public Relations for Royal Wine Corp., the largest manufacturer, importer, and exporter of kosher wine. It seems the problem is not the availability of great wine but the overwhelming number of great wines to choose from. "Royal Wine offers a delicious selection of kosher for Passover wines from around the world,” said Geller. “Some of the top producers are creating award-winning varietals at every price point.” With Passover just around the corner, he wants to take the guesswork out of buying wine. Red or white? For those who love a luxurious, bold, layered red, Geller recommends Jewel, Psagot’s new flagship wine (SRP $150). “It’s an impressive bottle of wine with notes of rich black fruit, cedar, and vanilla.” White wine enthusiasts will enjoy Rimapere (SRP $23), “a delicious, fragrant, floral, citrusy Sauvignon Blanc”. And it’s hard to go wrong with Baron Herzog Rosé (SRP $12). “Fruit-forward, light, flavorful and crisp,” he says, “this crowd-pleaser is a fantastic value.” Of special interest to the wine world is the return of a kosher batch from the very prestigious Château Pontet-Canet, 5th Cru Pauillac (SRP $225). Geller warns that it may be very difficult to find this fine Bordeaux. “The 2019 vintage is extremely limited and fully pre-booked pre-release in March,” he explains. However, it will be easy to sample a good selection from Baron Herzog, the historic entry-level quality kosher wines from Herzog Wine Cellars. “They recently underwent a complete revamping,” Geller notes. “Reasonably priced at $9 to $13, Baron Herzog showcases the best in California wines.” New from South Africa - Royal Wine has added ESSA Winery to its portfolio, just in time for Passover. This new boutique winery produces arguably the best quality kosher wine to ever come out of South Africa. ESSA offers four different wines - a white Bordeaux-style blend, a red Bordeaux-style blend, a Malbec, and a Cabernet Franc grown in some of South Africa’s most prized vineyards. The wines range from SRP $20-$50. ESSA is the dream come true of Joshua Rynderman, a young Boston-raised winemaker. He spends half of the year making kosher wine in California and the other half making kosher wine in South Africa. Chana, his South African wife, is the CEO. Carmel Winery’s new Carmel Special Reserve 40th Anniversary Edition 2016 (SRP $80) is also high on Geller’s list. “This wine is a tribute to the legendary 1976 Carmel Special Reserve, Israel’s first modern high-quality red wine.” Carmel, the pioneer of the modern Israeli wine industry, was founded by Château Lafite’s Baron Edmond de Rothschild in 1882. Rounding out Geller’s recommendations are Rothschild’s Rimapere Sauvignon Blanc 2021 from New Zealand (SRP $25) and semi-dry rosés and a Pinot Noirs from Tura, the estate winery in the heart of biblical Israel (SRP $25-$90). As for coming trends, Geller is pleased to note that Burgundy is making a comeback, and fans of Italian wine can look for new releases in the coming months, including a Vermentino, a Barbera d’Asti, and a Super Tuscan.

Kosher Wine Options Are Flourishing More Than Ever as Renowned Wine Producers Continue to Innovate

FreshEdge Launches New Website

FreshEdge, a family of produce and specialty food companies, has launched a refreshed and expanded www.freshedgefoods.com FreshEdge partnered with DMA Solutions (Dallas, Texas), a marketing agency dedicated to exclusively serving the fresh produce industry. The website creates opportunities for connecting with FreshEdge’s operating companies and engaging in what makes their family unique. FreshEdge now operates with 1,640 employees, approximately 700,250 square feet of warehouse space, with a fleet of more than 650 trucks, delivering fresh food to customers in 22 states. Through rapid growth and consistent execution, FreshEdge has quickly amassed a reputation for adding value throughout the fresh foods industry. “FreshEdge’s new website is a splash of freshness,” said Steve Grinstead, CEO of FreshEdge. “It also symbolizes who we are – a growing family of customer-obsessed fresh food companies who care.” Greg Corsaro, President and COO of FreshEdge, added, “The revamped website reflects FreshEdge’s value proposition of providing dependable, customized solutions with cutting-edge technology for consistent, reliable delivery of fresh food with a sense of family and trust.” “We’re excited about the unique space this new website delivers for connecting FreshEdge, its family, and our industry partners,” said Daniel Corsaro, President of Indianapolis Fruit (FreshEdge retail operating company) and participant in the development of the new site.

Jellyfish Inspired Rare Japanese Whisky Collection on Sale Friday.

This Friday, a rare opportunity will arise for whisky enthusiasts to experience the increasingly sought-after taste of Japanese single malt. From the legendary Karuizawa distillery, online luxury spirits retailer dekantā exclusively presents their latest bottling; The Kurage Collection. With 40 sets available, this limited-edition, single malt pair offers dekantā clients a chance to own some of the world’s rarest whisky. Containing liquid distilled in the millennium, before the Karuizawa distillery ceased production, bottlings of the remaining Karuizawa stock are in increasing demand. The duo set Kurage Collection will go on sale on a first-come-first-served basis on dekanta.com on Friday, February 11, 2022. The two-bottle set of 1999-2000 vintage ($13,500 per set: 70cl; 55 % ABV and 70cl; 60.6 % ABV) were designed to showcase one of Japan’s legendary sea creatures; the Japanese Sea Nettle. These gentle jellyfish frequent the Pacific waters with their long, trailing tentacles, earning the series its name; Kurage. “We feel that Japanese Sea Nettles capture the true essence of Japanese people and our culture, while also having parallels with the legendary Karuizawa liquid - they are beautiful and elegant in appearance but strong, powerful and determined underneath,” said dekantā founder and director, Makiyo Masa. The text on the two bottles tells the origin story of dekantā. “You’ve not seen a collection like this before, this set is one the most visually impressive designs in the world to date,” said Liam Hiller, head of content for dekantā. Various European oak sherry casks and maturities were selected and blended to showcase the full range of notes unique to Karuizawa expressions. “The casks have subtly influenced the color of the liquid, turning it to a gentle mahogany, while also imparting an incredible array of notes onto the spirit. It’s fruity, spicy, and incredibly smooth on the palate,” said Liam Hiller. Makiyo Masa said; “This collection joins an extensive list of exquisite old and rare single malt bottlings that dekantā have sourced, designed and bottled over the years, becoming a piece of Japanese whisky history in the process.” The Kurage Collection goes on sale on dekanta.com on February 11, 7pm EST, 4pm PST and 9am JST. Customers will receive their sets in mid-March.

Farmer sentiment rises on strengthening current financial position

The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer rose for only the second time since May, up 9 points to a reading of 125 in December. The Index of Current Conditions and the Index of Future Expectations also rose this month with a stronger current conditions index primarily responsible for the barometer’s rise. The December’s Index of Current Conditions rose 18 points to a reading of 146, while the Index of Future Expectations rose 4 points to a reading of 114. The Ag Economy Barometer is calculated each month from 400 U.S. agricultural producers’ responses to a telephone survey. This month’s survey was conducted Dec. 8-14. December marked the second month in a row that farmers reported a stronger financial performance for their farms. The Farm Financial Performance Index rose 7 points to 113 in December which is the index’s highest reading since May and is 21% higher than readings obtained just before the pandemic’s onset. “Excellent crop yields this fall, combined with strong crop prices, provided many producers with their most positive cash flow in recent years. That combination helps explain the year-end rise in the financial index as well as the barometer overall,” said James Mintert, the barometer’s principal investigator and director of Purdue University’s Center for Commercial Agriculture. Even as supply chain issues continue to hamper producers’ capital investment plans, the Farm Capital Investment Index rose in December, up 10 points to a reading of 49. This marks the most positive value for the investment index since August, but remains 47% lower than in December. The investment index’s improvement was primarily the result of fewer producers in December saying they planned to reduce their machinery purchases in the upcoming year, responding instead that they plan to hold their investments steady with the prior year. This month, 45% of survey participants said that low farm machinery inventory levels impacted their farm machinery purchase plans. Farmers expressed concern about rising production costs and the availability of production inputs. When asked what their biggest concerns are for their farming operation in the upcoming year, 47% of respondents selected higher input cost from a list that included lower crop and/or livestock prices, environmental policy, farm policy, climate policy and COVID’s impact. Over half (57%) of producers said they expect farm input prices in the upcoming year to rise by more than 20% compared with a year earlier, and nearly four out of 10 respondents said they expect input prices to rise by more than 30%. This month’s survey also asked crop producers if they have had any difficulty purchasing crop inputs from their suppliers for the 2022 crop season. Nearly four out of 10 (39%) of respondents said they’ve experienced some difficulties. In a follow-up question, producers who indicated that they were experiencing difficulties in making purchases were asked which crop inputs they’ve had trouble purchasing. Responses were varied, which could be an indication of problems across the supply chain and included difficulties in purchasing fertilizer (31%), herbicides (28%), farm machinery parts (24%) and insecticides (17%). Both the short-term and long-term farmland value indices declined slightly in December. The Short-Term Farmland Value Expectation Index declined 4 points to 153, while the long-term index declined 6 points to 152. Although both indices declined in December, they remain near their all-time highs. Producers who indicated they expect farmland values to rise over the next five years were asked a follow-up question asking them about the main reason they expect farmland values to rise. Producers indicated nonfarm investor demand (61%), low interest rates (13%), and strong farm cash flows (11%) were their primary reasons for expecting values to rise. Read the full Ag Economy Barometer report. The site also offers additional resources – such as past reports, charts and survey methodology – and a form to sign up for monthly barometer email updates and webinars. Each month, the Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture provides a short video analysis of the barometer results. For even more information, check out the Purdue Commercial AgCast podcast. It includes a detailed breakdown of each month’s barometer, in addition to a discussion of recent agricultural news that affects farmers. The Ag Economy Barometer, Index of Current Conditions and Index of Future Expectations are available on the Bloomberg terminal under the following ticker symbols: AGECBARO, AGECCURC and AGECFTEX.

Tiger Beer inspires fans to set aside their fears and pursue bold ambitions in the Year of the Tiger

Tiger Beer, the number one international premium beer in Asia, has today ignited a new movement to encourage people everywhere to set aside their fears and achieve bold ambitions in the Year of the Tiger. The Year of the Tiger will begin at Lunar New Year on 1st February 2022 and marks the perfect opportunity to embody the symbolic power of the Tiger and uncage your bold ambitions for the year ahead. Tiger Beer will be showcasing a series of inspirational stories that show what can be achieved in the Year of the Tiger by going for your ambitions in your own way. Fans across the globe can participate in the movement by responding to the "My Year, My Goals", Instagram "Add Yours" story sticker feature created by Tiger Beer with their own ambitions for the Year of the Tiger. Tiger Beer has also launched a new campaign film entitled 'The Year of Your Tiger', celebrating the optimism and bold ambitions of people across the world ahead of the Year of the Tiger. The film features individuals from all walks of life sharing their determination to ignite their inner courage and make 2022 their year. Sean O'Donnell, Global Brand Director, Tiger®, Tiger Beer comments: "Tiger Beer was born from defying the odds with a bold and courageous spirit. Brewing beer in the tropics was thought to be impossible until we did it. We believe that we are all born with a Tiger inside us - a version of ourselves that knows no limits to what is possible - but few of us are able to uncage it. We're delighted to launch this year-long movement to encourage people everywhere to own the year." Follow @tigerbeer on Instagram and Facebook for more updates on the campaign.

Farmer sentiment weakens as production cost concerns mount

The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer slipped 5 points in November to a reading of 116 as producers continue to be pessimistic about both the current and future outlook of the agricultural economy. The Index of Current Conditions declined 7 points in November to a reading of 128, and the Index of Future Expectations fell 4 points to 110. November marked the lowest reading of 2021 for all three measures of producer sentiment and comparing year-over-year, the barometer is 30% lower than in November of 2020. The Ag Economy Barometer is calculated each month from 400 U.S. agricultural producers’ responses to a telephone survey. This month’s survey was conducted Nov. 15-19. “Farmers are facing sharp rises in production costs coinciding with fluctuating crop and livestock prices, the prospect of changing environmental and tax policy, uncertainty over COVID-19, as well as a host of other issues, all of which are negatively impacting farmer sentiment,” said James Mintert, the barometer’s principal investigator and director of Purdue University’s Center for Commercial Agriculture. Rising production costs, including those for fertilizer, farm machinery, seed and fuel, are of increasing concern to farmers. For example, in November 43% of survey respondents said they expect farm input prices to rise by more than 16% in the upcoming year. This compares with the actual average rate of farm input price inflation over the past decade of less than 2%. Supply chain problems could be responsible for a drop in the Farm Capital Investment Index. The index declined 7 points to a reading of 39, the lowest reading since April of 2020. In November, 44% of producers said their farm machinery purchase plans were impacted by low farm machinery inventories. When asked what their biggest concerns are for their farming operation in the upcoming year, nearly half (47%) of survey respondents chose higher input costs. Unlike the broader sentiment measures, the Farm Financial Performance Index rose 2 points to 106 in November, 10% above its low reading in June of 2021. “Compared to late spring, strong crop yields for fall harvested crops and strength in wheat prices helped push 2021 crop revenue and profitability estimates up, compared to one year ago,” Mintert said. Producers remain very optimistic about farmland values over both the next 12 months and the next five years, as both the short-term and long-term farmland value expectations indices remain near their peaks. Mintert says, “Strong cash flows from crops in 2021, low interest rates and, possibly, rising concerns about inflation continue to propel farmland values higher.” Somewhat surprisingly, given the concerns about rising input costs, 52% of corn/soybean producers expect cash rental rates to rise in 2022 compared with 43% in October. This marks the highest percentage of producers reporting that they expect rental rates in 2022 to rise since the May 2021 survey. Both interest and awareness of leasing farmland for solar energy projects is on the rise. In November, 11% all respondents reported having a discussion with a company or companies about leasing farmland for solar energy production; however, reported lease rates continue to vary widely. In November, 25% of producers who reported having discussions with a solar leasing company said they were offered less than $500 per acre, while 34% of producers said they were offered a lease rate of $1,000 or more per acre. Concerns over governmental policy and regulations remain elevated among farmers. On the November 2021 survey, 82% of respondents said they expect more restrictive environmental regulations, 74% expect higher estate taxes, and 77% expect higher income taxes in the years ahead. These percentages compare to results from the October 2020 survey when just 41% of producers expected more restrictive environmental regulations and 35% expected higher estate taxes over the next five years. Read the full Ag Economy Barometer report online. The site also offers additional resources such as past reports, charts and survey methodology, and a form to sign up for monthly barometer email updates and webinars. Each month, the Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture provides a short video analysis of the barometer results. For even more information, check out the Purdue Commercial AgCast podcast. It includes a detailed breakdown of each month’s barometer, in addition to a discussion of recent agricultural news that affects farmers. The Ag Economy Barometer, Index of Current Conditions and Index of Future Expectations are available on the Bloomberg Terminal under the following ticker symbols: AGECBARO, AGECCURC and AGECFTEX.

Japanese Whisky Paired With J Jazz Will Have You Tasting Notes

Japanese whisky specialists dekantā present a Japanese Jazz LP compiled by BBE Music and featuring beloved tracks each matched with a Japanese whisky. Produced in association with independent record label BBE Music, this new LP from dekantā - an award-winning independent bottler of Japanese whisky and leading online retailer of spirits and wine from Japan - features nine vintage Japanese Jazz tracks from legends of the industry, including previously unreleased tracks, each paired with a classic expression of Japanese whisky, creating a unique sensory experience. Compiled exclusively for dekantā by Tony Higgins and Mike Peden, both long-time collectors of Japanese jazz, ‘Transient Tones For Timeless Spirits - A dekantā LP’ (RRP 399.99 USD) seeks to present the very best in modern jazz from Japan, including limited releases adored by fans of the genre, and rare recordings that were nearly lost to history, lovingly remastered at Grammy nominated London studio The Carvery. From the post-war modern jazz scene in Japan emerged some of the most dynamic and influential recordings in the genre's history. This was a world before a commitment to digital, when the culture grew through the recording of intimate sessions and some of the most historic performances were pressed to vinyl only in tiny numbers. Among the artists featured are truly seminal figures in the J Jazz scene, including Kohsuke Mine and Takashi Miyasaka; among some of the finest players in jazz history, such as Takeo Moriyama, Aki Takase, and the combined power of J Jazz supertrio Isao Suzuki, Masahiko Togasgu and Hideo Ichikawa. Created by contemporary illustrator and animator, Edu Fuentes, the album cover is a reimagining of Kitagawa Utamaro’s ‘Kinko Riding Catfish’, originally a woodblock print; here Kinko rides through the city of Tokyo at night, muted shades turning fluorescent, spotlighting the vibrancy of modern Japan and the culture of J Jazz. This limited edition collection features nine 5cl miniatures of Japanese whiskies from the country’s most highly regarded producers, including Yamazaki 12, Taketsuru 17 Year Old, Hibiki 17 Year Old and other award-winning and recognisable expressions. Each whisky has been selected to complement the Japanese Jazz track it has been matched with. Only 300 boxes have been produced. “This album was created out of a desire to find the truly collectible pieces of J Jazz history to match the scarce produce of Japan’s acclaimed whisky producers,” said dekantā Founder and Director Makiyo Masa. “A true showcase of the genius musicianship and stunning compositions that form the identity of this imitable era of jazz history, this album, and accompanying whiskies, will take your mind, nose and palate on a journey that you’ll remember for a lifetime.” This release arrives at a time when demand for the category has been demonstrably high. In a recent survey (February 2021) of more than 1,600 randomly sampled individuals, conducted by dekantā, nearly two thirds of surveyed drinkers reported spending more on Japanese whisky in 2020 than the previous year. Furthermore, in April this year, the major producers of Japanese whisky agreed to move towards a new standard for labelling, with the aim of protecting the interests of consumers and creating a fairer market for Japanese whisky. ‘Transient Tones For Timeless Spirits - A dekantā LP’ will be available to order from dekanta.com from Friday 3 December 2021, delivery available worldwide (excluding some regions).

iTradeNetwork Features Blue Book Ratings and Scores in iTradeMarketplace

As a recently established Blue Book Registered Developer, iTradeNetwork, the food and beverage industry’s largest network with over 8,000 food and beverage trading partners, is delivering real-time access to Blue Book Ratings and Scores through the iTradeMarketplace platform. Now iTradeMarketplace users who are also Blue Book Services subscribers can view a company’s Blue Book Rating and Blue Book Score within the iTradeMarketplace platform. This integration provides maximum efficiency for end-users to view critical Blue Book information before a business transaction. “As we worked with our produce customers to build the iTradeMarketplace features, we repeatedly heard the need to have quick, easy access to Blue Book Ratings and Scores. This integration delivers on that vital industry need,” said Nathan Romney, chief product officer of iTradeNetwork. “We welcome iTradeNetwork as a Blue Book Registered Developer,” said Mark Erickson, Senior Vice President of Blue Book Services. “Our mission is to provide Blue Book content where, when and how members need it. So, the arrangement with iTradeNetwork is a very good fit and provides a useful complement to the suite of content, analytics and tools now available via Blue Book Online Services.” A free 30-day trial of the data integration is available for iTradeMarketplace users who do not currently subscribe to Blue Book Services.

Food and Beverage Industries’ COVID-19 Vulnerability Index goes live; experts available

The U.S. is facing supply chain disruptions as it enters the holiday season, and the impacts reach far beyond the delivery of gifts and ingredients for traditional meals. Purdue University experts are available to discuss supply chain disruptions and the new Food and Beverage Industries’ COVID-19 Vulnerability Index. [COVID-19 Vulnerability Index] A pair of new online dashboards show the vulnerability of food and beverage manufacturing to the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic significance of these industries across the nation. Jayson Lusk, a nationally recognized food and agricultural economist, and head and Distinguished Professor of Agricultural Economics at Purdue University, led the team that developed the interactive dashboards. They are part of a portfolio of public dashboards created through Purdue University’s Center for Food Demand Analysis and Sustainability. The Food and Beverage Industries’ COVID-19 Vulnerability Index by U.S. States and Counties dashboard quantifies the risks to the supply of these products. It estimates production value that could be lost due to COVID-19 illness among industry workers. The data can be tuned from the U.S. total down to an individual county. A user also can select and see data for specific food and beverage sectors, for example, dairy product manufacturing, sugar and confectionary product manufacturing, and animal processing. The dashboard is updated daily and adjusts its estimates based on the number of reported COVID cases in an area. The Food and Beverage Industries’ Value Added by U.S. States dashboard shows the total revenue of these industries, as well as their contribution to the state’s gross domestic product, and the number of employees. It also shows the costs of materials, labor and capital for each industry, so that the relative significance of each to the supply chain can be seen. Ahmad Zia Wahdat, a postdoctoral research associate with the Center for Food Demand Analysis and Sustainability, developed the online dashboards with Lusk. “A goal of the center is to take scattered and challenging-to-process data and convert it into useful information that is easily accessible,” Wahdat said. “The first COVID Vulnerability dashboard focused on agriculture, and we wanted to add the food and beverage industries for a more complete picture in terms of food security.” [Jayson Lusk] Lusk is a leader in the development of online dashboards that can track, report and visually represent the factors that lead to supply chain disruptions during national and global emergencies. His team was the first to create an online dashboard to estimate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on a food supply chain when the team developed the Purdue Food and Agriculture Vulnerability Index in collaboration with Microsoft. The index quantifies the potential risk to the supply of agricultural products as a result of farm and agricultural worker COVID-19 illness. Lusk oversees one of the country’s top agricultural economics programs and leads Purdue’s Center for Food Demand Analysis and Sustainability. The center’s mission is to bring together and present data in new ways to help inform the decisions of consumers, farmers, businesses, academics and policymakers. He also is an expert in food and consumer preferences, and he has authored several books about the economics of food consumption. “COVID-19 has highlighted the complexity of food supply chains and underscores the need to understand how food makes it from farm to fork,” Lusk said. “For consumers, supply chain disruptions have contributed to rising food costs. Our center aims to help consumers, farmers and agribusinesses predict and grapple with rising inflation.” [Joseph Balagtas] Joseph Balagtas, associate professor of agricultural economics at Purdue, served as a senior economist on the White House Council of Economic Advisers when the COVID-19 pandemic began. From that point to the end of Balagtas’ term, the council focused on the economic consequences of the pandemic and related supply chain issues. Balagtas co-authored a 2021 Agricultural and Applied Economics Association journal volume dedicated to the impacts of the pandemic on U.S. agriculture. His piece focused on the impact of COVID-19 on U.S. meat and livestock markets. He conducts research on the economics of agricultural markets, including agricultural and food policy, the industrial organization of agricultural markets, and poverty and food security. One of his current research projects focuses on supply chain issues in livestock and meat supply chains. “The current supply chain disruptions are complex and multifaceted,” Balagtas said. “Policy solutions that fail to appreciate the complexity may be ineffective, or even exacerbate existing problems or create new ones.”

Farmer sentiment declines in September, inflation expectations jump

The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer declined in September, down 14 points to a reading of 124. With producers feeling less optimistic about both current conditions on their farming operations as well as their expectations for the future, this is the weakest farmer sentiment reading since July 2020 when the index stood at 118. The Index of Current Conditions declined 12 points to a reading of 140 and the Index of Future Expectations fell 16 points to a reading of 116. The Ag Economy Barometer is calculated each month from 400 U.S. agricultural producers’ responses to a telephone survey. This month’s survey was conducted Sept. 27-29. The Farm Financial Performance Index was unchanged from last month with a reading of 110. However, examining the detailed responses reveals there was a shift among producers with regard to their farms’ financial performance. In September, fewer farms said they expected their farm’s financial performance to match last year’s, while the percentages of producers expecting both worse and better financial performance rose. “Although the combined responses left the Farm Financial Performance Index unchanged from a month earlier, the increasing divergence in expectations among respondents from August to September could reflect differences in how individual farms managed risk in a period of rapidly fluctuating commodity prices,” said James Mintert, the barometer’s principal investigator and director of Purdue University’s Center for Commercial Agriculture. The decline in farmer sentiment spilled over into the Farm Capital Investment Index, which declined 10 points to a reading of 43, down 50% since the beginning of the year and the lowest investment index reading since April 2020. Fewer farmers this month said they planned to increase their machinery purchases than on the August survey as just 8% of respondents plan to increase purchases, down from 10% last month. In a follow-up question, over half (55%) of respondents reported that their farm machinery purchase plans have been impacted by low farm machinery inventories, likely contributing to weak sentiment regarding whether now is a good time to make large investments. Although plans for machinery purchases fell, producers’ plans for new construction rose this month with 13% expecting to increase construction of grain bins and farm buildings, up from 8% in August. Producer concerns about rising input costs rose sharply this month with over one-third of respondents saying they expect input prices to rise by more than 12% in the coming year, which is six times the average farm input inflation rate of the last decade. Inflation expectations were higher this month across the board with the percentage of respondents expecting input inflation to rise above 12% doubling since July with an increase to 34%, up from 21% last month. Despite September’s decline in farmer sentiment, farmers remain bullish about farmland values. The Short-Term and Long-Term Farmland Values Expectations Indices rose this month, with the long-term index hitting a record-high reading of 159, which is 4 points higher than the previous month. The short-term index rose 9 points to 155, which is its third-highest reading since data collection began in 2015. Additionally, about one-half of corn/soybean growers continue to say they expect farmland cash rental rates to rise above 2021 levels in 2022. Among growers who expect cash rents to increase, 44% said they expect rental rates to rise from 5 to less than 10%, and three out of ten respondents indicated they expect rates to rise by 10% or more. In early 2020, about 70% of producers expected agricultural exports to increase over the next five years. Since then, farmer expectations regarding future agricultural trade prospects have continued to weaken with only a few exceptions. September recorded the lowest percentage (37%) of growers expecting agricultural exports to increase since the question was first posed early last year. Concerns regarding the future of agricultural trade could be another factor behind weakness in the Future Expectations Index. Read the full Ag Economy Barometer report. The site also offers additional resources – such as past reports, charts and survey methodology – and a form to sign up for monthly barometer email updates and webinars. Each month, the Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture provides a short video analysis of the barometer results. For even more information, check out the Purdue Commercial AgCast podcast. It includes a detailed breakdown of each month’s barometer, in addition to a discussion of recent agricultural news that affects farmers. The Ag Economy Barometer, Index of Current Conditions and Index of Future Expectations are available on the Bloomberg Terminal under the following ticker symbols: AGECBARO, AGECCURC and AGECFTEX.

Farmer sentiment improves in August, but inflationary concerns mount

The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer improved in August, up 4 points to a reading of 138. The modest rise was attributable to improvements in both of the barometer’s sub-indices. The Index of Current Conditions rose 9 points to a reading of 152, and the Index of Future Expectations rose 2 points to a reading of 132. The Ag Economy Barometer is calculated each month from 400 U.S. agricultural producers’ responses to a telephone survey. This month’s survey was conducted Aug. 23-27. In August, producers had a more positive view of their farms’ financial situation than earlier this summer. The Farm Financial Performance Index rose 11 points to 110, its highest reading since May, as more farmers indicated they expect profitability to be better this year compared with 2020. “Although corn, soybean, and wheat prices have declined in recent weeks, farmers have more confidence in their 2021 revenue expectations,” said James Mintert, the barometer’s principal investigator and director of Purdue University’s Center for Commercial Agriculture. “Yield prospects stabilized or improved for many producers in August as some precipitation fell in areas that had been abnormally dry and drought-stricken. That helps explain this month’s improvement in the Farm Financial Performance and Current Conditions indices.” Producers are becoming increasingly concerned about farm input price inflation. On the August survey, 39% of respondents said they expect input prices to rise by 8% or more in the next 12 months, up from 30% who felt that way in both June and July. One in five producers (21%) expect farm input price inflation to exceed 12% in the next 12 months. Just 13% of producers surveyed said they expect input price pressure in the upcoming year to fall in a range of 0 to 2%, which would be similar to the average rise in farm input prices over the last decade. Both the Short-Term and Long-Term Farmland Values Expectations Indices rose by 4 points in August compared with July, as producers remain optimistic that farmland values will continue to rise. At the same time, about one-half of corn/soybean growers expect farmland cash rental rates to rise above 2021 levels in 2022. Among growers who expect cash rents to increase, 44% said that they expect rental rates to rise from 5% to less than 10%, with one-third of respondents indicating they expect rates to rise by 10% or more. The Farm Capital Investment Index leveled out after four consecutive months of declines, up 3 points to a reading of 53. The small improvement in the index could be traced to fewer producers in August saying they planned to reduce their farm construction activity compared with a year ago. Farmers’ machinery purchase plans reported on the August survey were unchanged from those reported in July. “Industry reports continue to suggest that supply chain challenges are hampering farmers’ machinery purchase plans and could also be playing a role in reduced construction activity,” Mintert said. The August barometer survey included a series of questions designed to learn more about producers’ use of cover crops in their farm operation. Nearly two-thirds (65%) of respondents indicated they currently use or have used cover crops in the past. Among producers currently using cover crops (41%), nearly half (47%) began planting cover crops within the last five years, while 29% have been planting cover crops for 10 years or more. Most producers report that they plant cover crops only on a portion of their farms’ acreage. Fifty-nine percent of cover crop users said they plant cover crops on 25% or less of their total acreage, while 10% of cover crop users reported planting cover crops on 75% or more of their acreage. When asked why they choose to plant cover crops, the most common responses (in order) were to improve soil health, improve erosion control, and improve water quality. Although the existence of carbon sequestration contracts requiring the use of cover crops is a relatively new phenomenon, 10% of cover crop users said that was one of the reasons they choose to plant cover crops. Read the full Ag Economy Barometer report at https://purdue.ag/agbarometer. The site also offers additional resources – such as past reports, charts and survey methodology – and a form to sign up for monthly barometer email updates and webinars. Each month, the Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture provides a short video analysis of the barometer results, available at https://purdue.ag/barometervideo. For even more information, check out the Purdue Commercial AgCast podcast. It includes a detailed breakdown of each month’s barometer, in addition to a discussion of recent agricultural news that affects farmers. Available now at https://purdue.ag/agcast. The Ag Economy Barometer, Index of Current Conditions and Index of Future Expectations are available on the Bloomberg Terminal under the following ticker symbols: AGECBARO, AGECCURC and AGECFTEX.

delicafé introduces two new refreshments on the menu: “Nitro Coffee” and “Nitro Latte Chrysanthemum”

delicafé by Shell continues to deliver an unrivaled experience of premium and freshly crafted coffee to meet the needs of motorists coming to refresh themselves throughout the day at Shell stations with 2 special drinks from August to October. Nitro Coffee, attentively crafted 100% Arabica coffee with a soft touch of the signature Nitro Foam, is now available for 75 bath (22 oz.) Nitro Latte Chrysanthemum, another special drink with superior softness and the perfect combination of the signature Nitro Foam and aromatic chrysanthemum, is available at 90 baht (22 oz.). Customers can enjoy the two special drinks at delicafé at participating Shell stations nationwide from today to 31 October 2021.

As producer sentiment holds steady, farmers weigh in on rising input prices and farmland values

The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer leveled off after two months of sharp declines, down just 3 points to a reading of 134 in July. Both producers’ sentiment regarding current and future conditions also dropped. The Index of Current Conditions was down 6 points to a reading of 143, primarily as a result of weakened principal crop prices. The Index of Future Expectations was down 2 points to a reading of 130. The Ag Economy Barometer is calculated each month from 400 U.S. agricultural producers’ responses to a telephone survey. This month’s survey was conducted July 19-23. “This month’s sentiment index marks the lowest barometer reading since July of 2020 and actually marks a return to sentiment readings observed from much of 2017 through 2019, when annual average barometer readings ranged from 131 to 133,” said James Mintert, the barometer’s principal investigator and director of Purdue University’s Center for Commercial Agriculture. “Producers’ sentiment regarding their farms’ financial condition was more optimistic when prices for corn, soybeans and wheat were surging last fall, winter and early spring. Still, recent sentiment readings suggest farmers remain cautiously optimistic about financial conditions on their farms.” There was a modest improvement in the Farm Financial Performance Index, which asks producers about expectations for their farm’s financial performance this year compared to last year. The index improved 3 points from last month to a reading of 99 and remains 43% higher than in July 2020 when the index stood at 69. The Farm Capital Investment Index declined for the fourth consecutive month, down 4 points to a reading of 50. Weakness in the investment index was primarily attributable to more producers indicating they plan to reduce their farm building and grain bin purchases in the upcoming year. Two-thirds of July’s respondents said their construction plans were lower than a year earlier, compared with 61% who indicated that in June. Plans for farm machinery purchases were also somewhat weaker, with a shift of more respondents planning to reduce their machinery purchases compared with last year instead of holding them constant. Producers were also asked about their expectations for farm input prices. Just over half (51%) of the producers in the July survey expect input prices to rise 4% or more over the next year, 30% expect costs to rise 8% or more, and nearly one out of five (18%) expect input prices to rise by 12% or more. “It is important to point out that these expectations are markedly higher than the rate of 1.8% per year that input prices rose over the last decade,” Mintert said. Farmers remain optimistic about farmland values, although recent value increases could make some producers more cautious about where land values are headed in the next one to five years. The Short-Term Farmland Values Expectations Index weakened this month to a reading of 142, down 6 points from June, and the long-term index weakened to a reading of 151, down 4 points from a month earlier. While both indices remain near all-time highs, Mintert suggests recent declines in the farmland indices could be more of a reflection of the rapid increase in farmland values over the last year, leading producers to be cautious about the likelihood of further price increases. For example, Purdue University’s annual Farmland Values and Cash Rent Survey, conducted in June and published in late July, indicated that Indiana cropland values rose 12%-14%, depending on land quality, compared with the June 2020 survey results. Finally, both the June and July barometer surveys included questions on leasing farmland for solar energy production. The percentage of all respondents who have engaged in solar energy leasing discussions ranged from 6% (July survey) to 9% (June survey). New to the July survey, producers were also asked if either they or one of their landlords had signed a solar leasing contract, with 4% indicating an agreement had been signed. In a follow-up question on both surveys, producers were asked about the lease rates being offered by solar leasing companies. In July, more respondents reported lease rates being offered that were greater than $1,000 per acre than on the June survey. However, Mintert noted that more information is needed, as the number of respondents reporting lease rates remains quite low and the rates are variable. Read the full Ag Economy Barometer report online. This month’s report includes additional insight into producers’ thoughts on farmland cash rental rates and the Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy signed in early July by President Biden. The site also offers additional resources – such as past reports, charts and survey methodology – and a form to sign up for monthly barometer email updates and webinars. Each month, the Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture provides a short video analysis of the barometer results, available online. For even more information, check out the Purdue Commercial AgCast podcast. It includes a detailed breakdown of each month’s barometer, in addition to a discussion of recent agricultural news that affects farmers. The Ag Economy Barometer, Index of Current Conditions and Index of Future Expectations are available on the Bloomberg Terminal under the following ticker symbols: AGECBARO, AGECCURC and AGECFTEX.

New mobile health diagnostic for animal breeding may help meet growing demand for food

A Purdue University-affiliated, woman-owned startup is working to use mobile artificial intelligence technology to help meet the growing demand for food expected over the next several decades. Verility LLC develops and markets patented technologies that use proprietary machine learning frameworks for rapid, low-cost and accurate assessment of livestock semen and ovulation samples. "Fertile-Eyez, our advanced technology platform, offers real-time precision data for animal reproduction. No specialized training is required," said Liane Hart, CEO of Verility and an alumna of Purdue's College of Agriculture. "Improvements in sperm analysis and ovulation detection for animal breeding are two of the most important ways to meet the critical need for more edible protein. Conception rate is highly correlated with producer profitability and food sustainability; we believe Fertile-Eyez will play a key role in the breeding sheds and labs around the world to assist with this effort." Hart said Fertile-Eyez is a cloud-based mHealth, or mobile health, technology that can provide immediate animal-side testing by rapidly analyzing semen for morphology, motility and concentration along with saliva ferning for ovulation detection. "It is like having a skilled laboratory technician and a microscope in the palm of your hand," Hart said. "This fertility platform has the potential to change how testing is done in the breeding industry across all of the major livestock species, resulting in increased performance of livestock production facilities and furthering superior genetics." Hart said Fertile-Eyez has several benefits for end users. "Not only is it affordable, but it completely removes all subjectivity of analysis since the person reading the sample is completely removed," Hart said. "Because it is a mobile system, it doesn't require someone to send samples to a lab or a different part of the farm for analysis. "The three major components of semen quality – morphology, motility and concentration – are extremely important in animal breeding and can be often underanalyzed due to labor and time shortages or the ability to have the right machine in the right location at an affordable price. On top of that, estrus detection is a very labor-intensive and time-consuming procedure, resulting in people checking for heat detection only once a day. This results in errors as to when ovulation actually occurs leading to missed cycles and increased labor and animal costs." The technology was invented at Brigham and Women's Hospital, a nonprofit teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School. It was originally developed for humans in the lab of Hadi Shafiee, a current co-founding member of Verility, to improve the user experience by allowing sample testing at home versus in-clinic. It was most recently studied for further application in boars for testing semen quality in the lab of Kara Stewart, associate professor of animal sciences at Purdue University. The data proved that the technology was highly correlated with current best practices, and the Verility team is currently working on publishing these results in a credited, peer-reviewed journal. The Verility team has partnered with other swine experts throughout this development phase: The Maschhoffs, a Top 5 U.S. Pork Powerhouse company; its sister company, Acuity, a pork technology company that delivers competitive genetic resources for unique pork operations; and Summit SmartFarms, a startup that is focused on providing decision-ready information to understand cost of dysfunction in wean-to-finish systems through its SmartMargin app. Hart has been partnering also with the Purdue Foundry, an entrepreneurship and commercialization hub housed in the Convergence Center for Innovation and Collaboration in Purdue's Discovery Park District, to capture entrepreneurial insights and funding through established venture networks. Verility is currently seeking seed-stage funding for further development phases.

Industry	Economy	TECH	GAME
Society	Comfort	AUTO	MEDIA