That’s the gist of a new book, “Leadership in Agriculture: Case Studies for a New Generation.” Its authors pull upon their own global experience in agriculture and critique the  outcomes based on character and the cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, temperance and fortitude.

         This collaborative work by John Patrick Jordan, Gale Buchanan, Neville Clarke and Kelly Jordan pulls on their various administrative roles in the military, U.S. Department of Agriculture, state land-grant institutions and academia. Case studies look at a wide variety of issues that demanded strong leadership — from how a regional agricultural lab survived Hurricane Katrina to how leaders from around the nation were able to develop a shared vision to fund agriculture research.

Leadership in Agriculture: Case Studies for a New Generation, by John Patrick Jordan, Gale A. Buchanan, Neville P. Clarke and Kelly C. Jordan (Photo courtesy of Texas A&M University Press)

         “In essence, character is the sum total of an individual’s personality traits and the link between that person’s values and behavior,” the authors wrote. “Character helps enhance effectiveness.”

         Effective leaders, they add, must have the modern counterparts of the ancient virtues: wisdom, justice, moderation and courage.

         “The case studies are from our own experience – the good, the bad and the ugly,” said John Patrick Jordan of New Orleans, formerly USDA’s Cooperative State Research Service CEO and Agriculture Research Service Southern Regional Research Center director. “The book is about the act of motivating people to want to follow you in a direction with a specific goal, and that’s different than management. Fortitude and temperance, for example, are things that you don’t normally see in management books.”

         Clarke explained that leadership is getting people to do what needs to be done while management is “the doing, the practice.”

         “It’s not a textbook on procedures but a philosophical approach with general principles illustrated in case studies. We go past the ‘cookbook’ to how leadership works in diverse situations,” said Clarke of College Station, former Texas Agriculture Experiment Station director and U.S. Department of Homeland Security National Center for Foreign Animal Disease Defense head.

         Buchanan said that while working on another book about the importance of agriculture research he saw many instances “where leadership has made the difference in success.”

         “Likewise, there are many situations where lack of effective leadership has hampered success of agriculture,” said Buchanan of Tifton, Ga., who was an administrator in both Alabama and Georgia agriculture and served as USDA chief scientist and undersecretary for research, education and economics. “The success of agriculture made possible our civilization, and the continued success of agriculture will ensure the viability of our civilization. Character and leadership are inseparable. On countless occasions I have seen situations where character made the difference in effective leaders.”

         John Patrick Jordan, Clarke and Buchanan agreed that a pivotal part of the book is the leadership analysis by Kelly Jordan at the end of each case study.

Kelly Jordan, a retired U.S. Army officer who developed leaders for five years at the Culver Academies in Culver, Ind. before becoming the dean of students at Holy Cross College in Notre Dame, Ind., gives an outsider’s look at the leadership methods described in each case study pointing to the character traits and virtues that made a difference in the outcomes.

   “Leadership in Agriculture: Case Studies for a New Generation” is available at most online book suppliers or at Texas A&M University Press Consortium,  http://www.tamupress.com/.

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CLAUDE — Before the next health inspection, restaurants and other food-service operations may want to review whether or not they have a certified food manager. If not, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service is offering a course to help them meet state requirements.

“Food Safety:  It’s Our Business” will be offered May 22-23 at the Activities Building, 901 Hurley in Claude. Registration deadline is May 1.

By law, food establishments are to have at least one staff member with a valid certification, said Leicia Redwine, AgriLife Extension family and consumer science agent in Armstrong County.

AgriLife Extension officials from Gray and Armstrong counties are offering a two-day food manager certification training course. Completion of this course allows establishments to meet the state requirement.

Included with the training will be materials and the state food manager certification examination. Cost of the course is $125. For those individuals wanting to test only, the cost is $65, Redwine said.

Foodborne illnesses affecting an establishment are estimated to cost thousands of dollars in lost wages, insurance and medical bills, Redwine said.

For more information about the Food Manager Certification Training course, call Redwine at 806-226-3021 or Joan Gray-Soria, AgriLife Extension agent in Gray County, at 806-669-8033.

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AMARILLO – Extreme weather conditions experienced during recent years have caused property damage and early livestock liquidations for many Texas agricultural producers, and as a result, tax implications, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service specialist in Amarillo.

These unplanned events often create more revenue than usual in a given year, generating income tax issues, said DeDe Jones, AgriLife Extension risk management specialist. For example, in a typical year any gain on property loss reimbursement or the sale of livestock is subject to taxes.

Several options, including Internal Revenue Service Form 4684, IRS code 1033 and IRS code 451, are available to help farmers and ranchers deal with these weather-related issues in excess of normal business practices, Jones said. She encouraged producers to contact a tax accountant to determine the option that best fits their operation and business plan.

At the end of 2012, 90 percent of Texas counties had some form of drought designation and state reservoirs were only 66 percent full, she said. This situation fueled wildfires, ruined crops and pastures, and strained economic resources.

During the 2011-2012 season, approximately 41,823 fires scorched 4.15 million acres and 3,007 homes in Texas.  Damages were particularly severe in the Panhandle region due to strong winds, unseasonably warm temperatures and low humidity, Jones said.

In addition, the price of hay increased by 200 percent during this time, causing feed costs to skyrocket, she said. These factors prompted Texas ranchers to severely cull their herds and sell off large numbers of cattle.

IRS Form 4684 allows producers to postpone reimbursement gains for up to four years, while IRS code 1033 pertains to draft, breeding or dairy animals that will be replaced within a given time period. The final alternative, IRS code 451, allows a one-year postponement in reporting sale proceeds on raised livestock.

Reporting casualty losses on IRS Form 4684 allows farmers and ranchers to defer any gains that result from insurance reimbursements for fire-related losses associated with fences, equipment, etc., Jones said. Producers have up to two years under normal circumstances and four years during times of disaster to utilize any money received for property restoration or replacement.

The replacement period begins on the date their property was damaged, destroyed or stolen, she said. It ends two or four years following the tax year in which the gain is realized. The four-year option is available only to those located in a federally declared disaster area.

To be eligible for deferment, producers must attach a statement to their tax return indicating the date and details of their casualty, the amount of insurance or other reimbursement received, how the gain was calculated and proof of a disaster declaration, if applicable, Jones said.

Under the 1033 election, drought liquidations of breeding livestock are considered involuntary conversions of capital equipment, she said. Gains can be postponed for up to two years in typical circumstances and four years during times of disaster if animals are replaced. The county must be declared a disaster area.

All replacement cattle should be used for the same purpose as the livestock that were sold. For example, beef cows must be replaced with beef cows, Jones said. The taxpayer also has to show that adverse weather conditions caused the sale of more livestock than normal. Gain postponement is only allowed on those animals sold because of the unfavorable weather.

She explained that to be eligible for a 1033 election, producers must attach a statement to their tax return indicating the existence of an adverse weather-related condition, proof of a disaster declaration if applicable, and documentation listing the amount of gain realized on liquidated cattle. They should also show the amount and kind of livestock sold or exchanged, and estimate the number of animals typically sold or exchanged under normal weather conditions.

Section 451 allows cattle owners to postpone gains for one year on raised livestock only, Jones said. To qualify for this election, taxpayers must show that their principal business is farming or ranching and use the cash method of accounting.

The rules further state the producer should demonstrate that the livestock would normally have been sold at a later date but were liquidated early due to drought, she said. Additionally, they must provide proof that the sale of livestock was caused by weather conditions from a region officially declared a disaster area. The liquidation can take place before or after a disaster is declared as long as the same disaster caused the sale. Income can be postponed only on those cattle liquidated as a result of weather-related causes.

For more information and a further explanation of these options, go to http://agecoext.tamu.edu/resources/library/drought.html.
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COLLEGE STATION – Paul Schickler, DuPont Pioneer president, said there’s no doubt that grand challenges face production agriculture in the future to meet the needs of an expanding global population.

“The challenge is significant and you could say overwhelming,” Schickler said in a recent visit to Texas A&M University, prior to speaking to students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences as part of the Blue Bell Lecture Series.

To meet these challenges, Schickler said it will require the use of “all capabilities when it comes to modern science, technology, people and policy. All of them will have to come together.”

Paul Schickler, DuPont Pioneer president, visited Texas A&M University in College Station recently, taking part in the Blue Bell Lecture Series at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. (Texas A&M AgriLife Communications photo by Blair Fannin)

It is projected that there will be 2 billion more people to feed globally in the coming decades and the challenge lies in the hands of students of agriculture.

“It’s up to them and they need to be part of this,” he said. “What we need is their enthusiasm and commitment not only dedicated to the field of agriculture, but getting others interested.”

Schickler said students need to “open up their eyes” and broaden their interests of study.

“They may have an academic area they are focused upon or a hobby they have been focused upon. That’s great. But they need to look a bit more broadly,” he said. “Maybe take a double major or at least get interested in some other aspect of agricultural food science so that you’ve got different perspectives.”

He said it might even be as simple as, ‘I’m going to focus on plant improvement in rice,’ but take a foreign science to go with it, or molecular biology with a computer background. Those kind of combinations are great.”

Schickler said there’s not a better combination than an agriculture background with an international business interest. He said students or individuals interested in pursuing a career in agriculture should consider “broadening their lens.”

“It’s the same for DuPont Pioneer,” he said. “We need skills across the spectrum – we need marketing and sales people. We need agronomists, biologists, pathologists; we need patent experts, financial experts – any career whether agriculture or food science or traditional disciplines, we need all of them. And all of those careers can find a home in agricultural and food production.”

Schickler said DuPont Pioneer continues to innovate and help farmers become more profitable. Issues such as drought and scarce water supplies continue to put stress on plant crops. That’s where the company continues to invest heavily in research experiments with cutting-edge varieties.

“Today we have ability to go after specific issues such as water and heat. On drought, a perfect example is the Texas Panhandle where it has undergone devastating drought. Subsoil moisture is nonexistent. As a result, cropping practices have changed, moving away from corn and going to sorghum or wheat.”

Schickler said through advanced breeding practices and other technologies, the company has been able to anticipate traits in a corn plant that can better adapt to stressful conditions such as drought.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Optimum AQUAmax corn hybrids were introduced by the company in 2010, expanded in 2011 and in 2012 some 2 million acres were planted, Schickler said. He noted it was a good time to be testing drought tolerance in a year like 2012.

“And they performed exceptionally well,” he said. “The yield was 9 percent better than the products they were tested or compared against. That’s a nice advantage for a farmer in a year like we just got through with, to get a 9 percent advantage by products tolerating drought.”

Dr. Mark Hussey (left), vice chancellor and dean of agriculture and life sciences at Texas A&M University, presents DuPont Pioneer President Paul Schickler with a copy of the book, The Land-Grant Legacy in the Lone Star State. (Texas A&M AgriLife Communications photo by Blair Fannin)

He said even under irrigation and adequate rainfall, they performed equally well, not giving up anything “even when conditions are favorable.”

He said the company will double acres to 5 million with the Optimum hybrid this year. The company’s development program is moving east in the heart of the Corn Belt and “applying the same technology there” as the concern over drought expands. Texas drought testing was done in Taft and in Plainview.

In all, 44 hybrids total will be sold under the Optimum Aquamax brand and will be taken to Europe.

In summary, Schickler said students of agriculture need to bring public awareness about the merits of agriculture and its critical implications to human life.

“For students studying agriculture, I say ‘spread the word’ about getting into this industry and how agriculture improves lives throughout the world,” he said.

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Contact: Dr. Parr Rosson, 979-845-2116, prosson@tamu.edu

COLLEGE STATION – Dr. Victoria Salin has been appointed director of the Master of Agribusiness program in the department of agricultural economics at Texas A&M University and chair of the Intercollegiate Faculty of Agribusiness.

Salin is an associate professor specializing in agribusiness management and finance. She is a member of the Scientific Advisory Council of the World Food Logistics Organization and serves on the board of directors of the State of Texas Agricultural Finance Authority. Recent research projects include microfinance and credit rationing, and risk exposure of lending institutions. She has been at Texas A&M since 1996.

Dr. Victoria Salin

“We are extremely pleased have Dr. Salin lead our MAB program,” said Dr. Parr Rosson, department head. “She has chaired graduate committees and teaches courses in the program. Having her experience and leadership for the program will be important in helping us strive for excellence and achieve our goals for the future.”

Salin grew up in Cincinnati and graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio with a degree in political science and history. She completed a master’s of arts from the University of Virginia in government and foreign affairs before moving to Washington, D.C., where she was an editor in private industry. She also worked with the Economic Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and served as an international trade analyst at the U.S. International Trade Commission before pursuing a degree in agricultural economics. She received her doctorate from Purdue University in 1996, with specialties in agribusiness finance and international trade.

The master of agribusiness is an intercollegiate degree offered by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the Mays Business School at Texas A&M.

The master of agribusiness program is a professional degree program that is uniquely focused on the food and agribusiness sector with an emphasis on combining economic and business analysis, and incorporating quantitative methods as the basis for decision-making. The program emphasizes oral and written communication and presentation skills.

In 2012 the program was ranked ninth out of 1,000 master’s programs worldwide by BestMasters.com.

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Courtney Coufal, 979-845-1542, cacoufal@tamu.edu

COLLEGE STATION – A workshop on making processed meat products is scheduled for April 25-26 on the campus of Texas A&M University in College Station.

Hosted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the department of animal science, the Aggie Processed Meat school will engage participants on the important aspects of meat processing from raw material and ingredients through the manufacturing procedures and the finished product, according to organizers.

The school is being held in partnership with the Southwest Meat Association, North American Meat Association and Texas Association of Meat Processors.

“This workshop is designed for those directly involved in processed meat production as well as those who work in quality control, business management, public relations and marketing who could benefit from an overview of how processed meat products are made and the how’s and why’s of the process,” said Dr. Dan Hale, AgriLife Extension meat specialist. “Participants will obtain a better understanding of each step of a processed meat production system.”

Topics include choosing the meat products and other ingredients in the processed meat item, the art of making sausage, the production of whole-muscle processed meat items and how to evaluate the finished product for quality and safety. Participants also will be led through a product evaluation, similar to when products are evaluated during competitions.

Instructors include faculty from AgriLife Extension and the department of animal science as well as key meat industry leaders.

Early registration is $285 per participant through April 5 and $350 after. Registration closes on April 19. Attendance is limited to 60 people so attendees are encouraged to register soon, Hale said.  To register online, go to http://agriliferesigster  and enter “meat” into the keyword search.

For more information, contact Hale at dhale@tamu.edu, call 979-845-2053 or visit http://meatsense.tamu.edu/aggie-processed-meat-school/.

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WASHINGTON – Though the U.S. has a trade embargo with Cuba, food and other agricultural products can be exported to Cuba. These opportunities and other topics will be the focus of an April 8 “Doing Business with Cuba” workshop in Washington, D.C.

The half-day event will be held at the Rayburn House Office Building located at Independence Avenue and South Capitol St. in Room B-340.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas-Cuba Trade Alliance are co-sponsoring the event.

“This program will help export service providers, food processors and distributors, as well as agricultural producers and policy makers better understand the Cuban market for U.S. agricultural food products and associated regulations,” said Dr. Parr Rosson, AgriLife Extension economist and head of the department of agricultural economics at Texas A&M University.

Participants will also learn how to receive a license to travel and export to Cuba, and requirements for export inspection.

“They will be briefed on recent changes in Cuba and which products have the most potential in the Cuban market,” he said.  ”U.S. companies exported about $450 million to Cuba in 2012, but the market has potential to grow even more in the future.”

Rosson will present “The Cuban Market for Food and Agricultural Products.” Other speakers include Anthony Christino III, director of the foreign policy division of the U.S. Department of Commerce-Bureau of Industry and Security. Attorney Robert Muse will present “Payment and Travel Regulations,” while Ernest Bezdek, director of trade development with the Port of Beaumont, will present “Views from Cuba.”

There is no cost for this event, but seating is limited. Registration is required by April 3 and can be made by calling Cynthia Thomas, president of the Texas-Cuba Trade Alliance, at 972-527-7505.

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LUBBOCK – What to grow and when to market it are the main ideas behind the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service’s Profitability Workshop, set from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. March 19 at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Lubbock.
The center is a half mile east of Interstate 27 on U.S. Highway 1294 north of the Lubbock Airport.
“We are teaching only one profitability workshop at the Lubbock center this year,” said Dr. Jackie Smith, AgriLife Extension economist at Lubbock. “This training will center around an Excel spreadsheet developed by my coworker, Jay Yates, AgriLife Extension risk management specialist at Lubbock and myself.
“The overall objective of the workshop is to provide the tools and the data along with the skills needed to evaluate the potential profitability of alternative crops for the 2013 crop year,” Smith said.
The spreadsheet was developed and is maintained as part of a project supported by the Texas Cotton State Support Committee, Smith said. It is comprised of one Excel file with 16 irrigated and seven dryland crop budget and summary sheets that draw information from the individual crop budgets.
“The profitability spreadsheet has been used by many producers on the South Plains as well as statewide and internationally and can be downloaded at http://SouthPlainsProfit.tamu.edu ,”  Smith said.
He said he and Yates have also developed a mobile app now available that will also be demonstrated during the training. The app is similar, but contains less detailed cost data than the spreadsheet.
“The Crop Cost app can be found in the iPhone category in the Apple store, but is also compatible with the iPad,” Smith said.
Smith said workshop participants will learn to enter general price data into the program’s universal input price sheet, which will show the inputs used per acre as well as the potential yield.
“We as instructors, plan to provide participants with the necessary computer skills and the understanding of how the budgets are designed so they will leave equipped to use the tool to make better cropping decisions this year,” Smith said.
Smith and Yates have used the spreadsheet for several years at many crop conferences to compare the likely profitability of relevant crops. They said the spreadsheet is continually improved to make it more accurate and user-friendly and updated annually in January or monthly as needed.
Participants are encouraged to bring their own laptop computers to the class.
Individual registration is $20 per person due on arrival. The fee covers lunch, refreshments and a spreadsheet file on a CD, a USB flash or “jump” drive or installed on their personal computer.
To reserve a place in the workshop, RSVP to Viki Bartlett at the AgriLife center in Lubbock by calling 806-746-6101.
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AMARILLO – Because not all participants could make it to the 2013 High Plains Short Course “Intro to Futures and Options” hosted on Feb. 12 by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service after snow blanketed the region, Dr. Steve Amosson has set March 5 to hold a makeup session.

“We know not everyone signed up originally was able to get here, so we are offering it again,” said Amosson, AgriLife Extension economist. “This also is an opportunity for those who didn’t get signed up the first time to join us.”

Volatile markets in 2013 can be expected due to drought, record tight feed grain supplies in the U.S. and world markets, and the lowest cattle inventory in 60 years, he said. It is becoming essential that producers understand how to manage their price risk, which includes using a variety of marketing tools such as futures and options.

“This course is designed to help participants gain a better understanding of how futures and options can be used in agricultural markets,” Amosson said.

The workshop, set for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., will be at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, 6500 W. Amarillo Blvd. in Amarillo. A fee of $50 will cover costs associated with instruction, breaks, meals and materials.

To register and pay for these courses, go to: http://agriliferegister.tamu.edu. While this is the preferred method of registration and payment, Amosson said payments will be accepted at the door. However, all registrations must be completed by March 1, either online or by contacting Leon Guerrero at 806-677-5626 or lguerrero@ag.tamu.edu.
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FORT WORTH – The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in cooperation with the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association will conduct Agricultural Applications of Tablets and Smartphones from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. March 5.
The workshop will be held in the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association facility, 1301 W. 7th St. No. 201, Fort Worth.
Stan Bevers, AgriLife Extension economist at Vernon, said the workshop is designed to teach ranchers and farmers to use tablets and smartphones to improve their decision-making skills.
“The participants will be introduced to basics of utilizing electronic tablets and smartphones as well as currently available agricultural apps,” Bevers said. “They will learn to access market data and various apps to help them evaluate relevant pricing opportunities.”
Bevers said each participant will have access to an Apple iPad with apps selected by the instructors that have already been installed to illustrate what is available. The instructors will also demonstrate and discuss both Android and Microsoft tablets. Participants are welcome to bring their own tablet or smartphone, he added.
A $15 registration per person will cover the materials, refreshments and lunch.
RSVP by calling the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association office at 800-242-7820, ext. 192 or by emailing rsvp@tscra.org.
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