Growmark, Inc. held its annual meeting in a virtual online event. Hundreds of people from across North America, including shareholders, boards of directors, and friends of the Growmark System all participated in the interactive live broadcast.

Normally the Growmark Annual Meeting happens every August at the Hilton Chicago, but in an effort to keep everyone safe and comply with Illinois mitigation measures, the decision was made to hold it virtually after the fiscal year closed on August 31^st.

“With mitigation measures evolving every week in Illinois, we had to continually adapt to keep our team members safe while also delivering an informative and interactive meeting for Growmark System stakeholders. The feedback we have received has been overwhelmingly positive and allowed a broader audience to participate that may not have been able to travel to Chicago in past years.”

said Cliff Dolbeare, manager of corporate programming.

Holding the meeting in December allowed for audited financial results to be presented in full, and also bring an update after the acquisition of certain Southern States Cooperative agronomy and energy assets.

“We grow not just to get bigger but to get better. The recent partnership with the Southern States is an opportunity for us to do both. Growmark pursues expansion opportunities if they allow us to serve more farmers and benefit the current farmer-owners of the Growmark System. We are especially open to partnerships with farmers who value the cooperative business model. That’s why the Southern States agreement is such a good fit. I’m very excited about this partnership and want to welcome the Southern States and 46 local cooperatives to the System.”

said Growmark Chairman of the Board and President John Reifsteck.

“Since we closed over two months ago, we have made great strides in synchronizing operations. As John mentioned, all forty-six Southern States’ members signed special membership agreements. Growmark ’s Energy and Agronomy employees are engaged with our new Growmark members, seeking to earn their business every day. I’m pleased to say the partnership is designed to help each other succeed.”

added Growmark CEO, Jim Spradlin.

Despite the challenges from COVID-19, a devastating derecho storm in key Midwest markets, and energy volatility in the markets, Growmark Chief Financial Officer Wade Mittelstadt said the financial performance was very respectable with strong earnings from operations. Growmark was able to distribute nearly $66 million in patronage distributions to shareholders this year.

“Growmark continues to maintain our strong financial position, excellent liquidity and we are well-positioned for long-term growth. We continue to focus on delivering solid financial results and maintaining a strong and efficient distribution network. We are committed to executing on our GROW enterprise strategy, and to delivering an unsurpassed customer experience. Our balanced approach to prioritizing capital positions us for growth which creates value for shareholders rewards shareholders with solid returns and provides financial flexibility for Growmark to take advantage of marketplace opportunities.”

added Mittelstadt.

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It’s the leading symposium for the military-to-agriculture movement – the growing movement to support the veteran men and women who choose to continue their service to the country by feeding it. The gathering returns for the sixth year.

A national non-profit that helps veterans pursue careers in agriculture, FVC mentors members of our Armed Forces who seek new ways to stay in communities they left in order to serve. When FVC was established in 2008, no one was connecting veterans with the farming community. Today there are more than 250 organizations supporting this movement. The Stakeholders Conference brings all the players together.

Founder Michael O’Gorman said:

“A study showed that ever-increasing numbers of our all-volunteer military are coming from rural areas. We want to help them have a meaningful career when they return home. Farming has become their new mission.”

FVC has assisted thousands of veterans with everything from equipment and grants, business plans, training, and peer collaboration.

The conference connects veterans who are geographically isolated and sometimes separated from access to services. It’s a forum for members to share their stories – their triumphs, struggles, lessons learned, and successes gained. It also serves as an introduction to resources available to veterans – from government, higher education, and partner organizations. Farmer veteran members benefit from exchanging ideas, and building their own community, together as individuals with unique goals, but in a united spirit of camaraderie.

America’s farmer veterans have been severely impacted by Covid-19. This year’s conference features two days of resources crucial to members during this time, through education, workshops, distinguished speakers, guest panels, networking, and development of FVC’s 25 state chapters.

FVC welcomes veterans – including those still serving – who are currently farming, interested in farming, or just want to learn more about the movement. They also welcome non-veterans who would like to show their support of these brave men and women and tune in for agricultural education.

Natalie Monroe, Communications Director, said:

“While nothing can replace the energy of an in-person gathering, we are thrilled that this likely will be the largest gathering of our community. A virtual platform means every single one of farmer veterans has the real possibility of attending without having to travel away from their farms. They can even tune in from the seat of their tractor!”

Even in this virtual capacity, FVC has plans for attendee interaction so that the experience is beyond simply tuning into a screen.

With the whole nation taking a new interest in the health of our rural communities and economies, the collaborative effort of these farmer veterans becomes even more important for making a greater impact in their home towns.

FVC member Rachael Taylor-Tuller of Lost Peacock Creamery in Washington reflects:

“I think people who join the military feel called to be part of something bigger than themselves. Farmers are the same way. When you’re in the military, you’re helping keep your community safe. When you’re in farming, you’re helping keep your community fed. You go from national security to food security. I am very proud to call myself a farmer and I consider it an honor to nourish my neighbors.”

Source: Farmer Veteran Coalition

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The hearing process involves a set up similar to what you might see at any official hearing with a governmental committee or board.  The NOSB members are seated in a group in the front of the room facing the audience made up of organic stakeholders such as certifiers, organic farmer organizations, environmental organizations, consumer groups and farmers.  The meeting was opened with reports from Harriet Behar the chair of the NOSB and Jenny Tucker Deputy Administrator of the NOP. Following that the Board heard from a couple of working groups discussing organic celery powder and its use in organic meat processing and the use of synthetic methionine in organic poultry feed. This was followed by public testimony, which lasted into the morning of the second day.  Kate Mendenhall, OFA Director, provided testimony for OFA on the first day.  The remainder of the meeting, about a day and a half, involved deliberation of the various recommendations to the committees of the Board.  This involved discussion of over fifty materials either petitioned or under sunset review by the Board.

The NOSB working agenda for this meeting is determined by the National Organic Program.  Typically comments and testimony relate to the agenda scheduled to be discussed.  However, the majority of the comments at the April meeting strayed from direct NOSB agenda matters and focused instead at areas of discontent within the organic community.  There was a lot of discussion on two areas currently of concern with the National Organic Program.

1. Origin of Livestock Standards
2. Organic Certification of Hydroponic Production

Many organic dairy farmers from Washington State testified to the importance of moving forward with a final rule for Origin of Livestock. Dairy farmers nationwide are hurting financially because of the glut of organic milk in the marketplace. The organic farming community is united on the need for swift action from USDA on moving the Origin of Livestock to a final rule in 2019 and stopping the loophole for large dairies to continually transition animals into their organic system, allowing for cheaper growth costs that have allowed for rapid expansion of large dairies.

OFA and other organizations challenged the National Organic Program to clarify whether outdoor container hydroponic farms were required to comply with the same three-year transition that soil-based farms are required to complete prior to organic transition.  Even after continual pressure for clarity from OFA, NOSB members and other organic organizations, National Organic Program could not clarify that the national organic standards require a three-year transition. Organic Farmers Association feels this is unacceptable and undermines the work organic farmers have done to promote healthy soil and contribute to clean air and water since the inception of the NOP almost two decades ago. We will continue to hold them accountable and demand that they clarify national organic standards that comply with the Organic Foods and Production Act.

We thank the members of the National Organic Standards Board for the immense amount of volunteer time they contribute to advising the National Organic Program and for supporting transparent involvement from the organic community.

Source: The Organic Farmers Association (OFA)

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