Reconnecting Nebraska's Farmers and Grocery Retailers

Sponsored by your Nebraska Grocery Industry Association

Message from Kathy Siefken, Nebraska Grocery Industry Association

As we say goodbye to 2013 and welcome in a new year, we are grateful for so many things. We live in a country that allows us to speak our minds, we are free to worship where we want, we are able to live a clean life in a fresh environment that promotes healthy eating and living.

In Nebraska we truly do live "The Good Life," and I believe it is because of the attitudes and the people who are our neighbors and friends. In Nebraska, our Unicameral works together to find solutions, and our state officials look for ways to constantly improve our great quality of life. Our educational system is of very high quality and is available to all.

We hope the New Year continues to bring prosperity and good health to all of our readers, members, and the citizens of this Great State!

Sincerely,

Kathy Siefken

Executive Director

Nebraska Grocery Industry Association

Nebraska's soybean farmers are proud to bring you this information to help answer customer questions

Nebraska soybean farmers and their checkoff are proud sponsors of the Farmer Goes to Market program, realizing that this program provides an integral link in the food system chain. The information provided in this newsletter is a key step in our educational initiative, providing consumers with information on our effort to provide them with a safe, affordable, abundant food supply.

The farm and ranch families represented by Nebraska Farm Bureau are proud sponsors of the Farmer Goes to Market program. We take great pride in supporting Nebraska's agricultural foundation. A key part of that effort is to make sure we produce safe and affordable food. This newsletter is an important part of our effort to connect the two most important parts of the food chain -- the farmer and the grocer -- with the goal of increasing consumer awareness and information about how their food is raised in Nebraska.

An educational program produced by Food-Chain Communications and delivered to members of the Nebraska Grocery Industry Association. Farmer Goes to Market was established in 2008 to help bridge the growing gulf between today's grocery retailer and today's farmer, empowering them with full-chain knowledge to carry agriculture's true message to food consumers.

Navigating the New Food Movement:
'Local food' concerns more than food.
Why it's a way of viewing the world

Local fanaticism

With definitions that range from within the same county to halfway across the country, pinning down the meaning of "local" continues to confound retailers. According to a series of recent articles, though, you may be best simply ignoring the contradictions. 'Local' is more than the number of miles a food travels; it's a way consumers express what they believe. What that means to you.

Translating Food Technology:

Why Nebraska ranchers choose the worst
time of year to have baby calves

Why have baby calves in winter?idden here?

Much of the nation's attention was momentarily focused on the devastating losses Nebraska ranchers faced this fall from blizzard-related cattle deaths. People were again reminded farming often comes only at the permission of an often-brutal Mother Nature. So that situation begs an important question: Why do those same ranchers typically choose the frigid late winter months to have their baby calves? A look at the mechanics of cattle raising.

Competitive Commodity Insight:
New baby pig virus reaches Nebraska.
Will it impact pork prices?

How will this new pig virus affect pork prices?

"Pig virus migrates to US, threatens pork prices," the headlines read earlier this year. Now that this new disease that strikes baby pigs has arrived in Nebraska, are supplies of pork at risk? We break down some of the market numbers to help give you a realistic assessment. Click here for an outlook.

Foresight on Food Politics:
Nebraska senators pen a letter to EPA
demanding it listen to your energy concerns
Why Nebraska's congressmen are at odds with EPA over coal

Nebraska's two U.S. senators asked the EPA administrator this month to make sure it listens to Nebraskans while formulating new carbon regulations. "These regulations will drive up costs for every Nebraska farmer and rancher, business owner and manufacturer," they told EPA. Click here to read why they have reason to be concerned.

Meet your Farmers...
Columbus farmer explains how today's farming helps save the environment

Take a tour of a typical medium-sized Nebraska crop, hog and cattle farm, as Columbus' Luckey family farmers explain why today's farming tools actually reduce the environmental footprint of raising crops and animals.

On the Lighter Side:
Share in a moment
of joyous seasonal generosity

'Twas the season before Christmas, and all through the air
Travelers hustled and bustled, burdened down with their cares.
When what to our wondering eyes did appear
But this brilliant commercial that resurrected our cheer.
So spring to this YouTube with no doubt nor dismissal;
let cynicism drift off like the down on a thistle.
Witness the power of generosity to make melancholy disappear.

As we wish a joyful Christmas to all, and to all a good year!

Click here for more details on today's Food Morality Movement