May 22, 2020
Updated 2:06 p.m. May 22
The global pandemic has brought forth many goodwill efforts to protect and help thy neighbor.
Here's some of the information we've received.
DMI, Pizza Hut partner to honor Class of 2020
Dairy Management Inc. and Pizza Hut are joining forces to give away half a million pizzas to Class of 2020 high school graduates.
“We are so excited to partner with Pizza Hut to help high school seniors and their families celebrate this special milestone in their lives,” said Marilyn Hershey, a Pennsylvania dairy farmer and chair of Dairy Management Inc., which manages the national dairy checkoff. “This is a shining example of what we accomplish when dairy farmers and importers build relationships with a company such as Pizza Hut through our checkoff.”
To claim a free pizza, visit www.pizzahut.com/gradparty, sign into your Hut Rewards account and a coupon for a one-topping medium pizza will be deposited into your account while supplies last. Coupons will be valid for online redemption through June 4.
Titan launches Goodyears Ahead campaign
Titan International Inc. has launched its Goodyears Ahead campaign to recognize and thank agricultural workers. The campaign also gives farmers an opportunity to pay it forward with some assistance from Titan. Visitors to GoodyearsAhead.com can select the nonprofit organization of their choice to receive a $5 donation from Titan/Goodyear Farm Tires, and as a token of thanks, Titan will send a free hat to anyone who participates, while supplies last.
The nonprofit organizations that participants can choose from include:
FFA – the premier youth organization preparing members for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture.
Feeding America – a nonprofit organization with a nationwide network of more than 200 food banks that feed more than 46 million people.
Farm Rescue – a nonprofit organization that plants and harvests crops free of charge for family farmers who have suffered a major illness, injury or natural disaster.
Frontline Foods – a nonprofit whose army of volunteers raises funds to support local restaurants and feed heroes working on the frontlines.
Action Against Hunger Canada – an international humanitarian organization that fights hunger and its root causes.
The social portion of the campaign allows followers to recognize and nominate those in agriculture who are working hard to put food on our tables, including farmers, growers, producers, ranchers and more. Titan will select five winning nominations each from Facebook and Twitter to receive a Goodyear Farm Tires cooler. Entries must be made by June 12, and winners will be notified within Facebook and Twitter through direct message by June 16.
Toro donates $500K
The Toro Company is giving $500,000 to assist families and communities worldwide that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Grant funding from the Toro Foundation will span all regions where The Toro Company operates, and will focus on providing food, health and humanitarian assistance to helping people adversely impacted.
“Supporting our customers and communities is an important part of our culture and core to who we are as a company,” said Rick Olson, chairman and chief executive officer of The Toro Company. “Now more than ever, it is critical that we come together to respond to the unprecedented challenges posed by COVID-19 and to support those most vulnerable in our communities.”
Read more here.
American Farmland Trust starts mailing grant checks
American Farmland Trust’s Farmer Relief Fund started sending out $1,000 grant checks to 1,000 farmers across the country as Americans witnessed unprecedented disruptions to the food system. The funds are going to help small to mid-size producers that sell direct to consumers, to food services businesses, or to institutions. All funds raised by AFT are being put in the hands of farmers with no restrictions on use, only that they use the money to support modifications to their business model that will get them through until their normal markets return.
“We are helping in a small way where the need is huge. We believe that farmers who sell direct to consumers were most immediately impacted when the pandemic set it, with no federal safety net in place,” said John Piotti, AFT president and CEO. “There’s no question that our farmers and ranchers are struggling, no matter what size operation or what they produce. Challenges with transportation, labor shortages and even COVID-19 among the processing workforce has disrupted Americans’ ability to put food on their tables, especially those that have been or are now food insecure.”
The range of farmers that will be helped by The Fund is diverse, from farmers that sell specialty produce items tailored to restaurants, to farmers that depend on flower sales for weddings or Community Supported Agriculture memberships to sell their vegetables, small grass-fed beef operations that sell to local butcher shops and farmers that market all kinds of products through farm to school programs.
Read more here.
Simmental association adopts member support package
The American Simmental Association Board of Trustees recently passed a member support package for fiscal year 2021 totaling more than $280,000.
“We all know the reality of current struggles,” says Tim Curran, Ione, CA, ASA Board of Trustees Chairman. “It is only appropriate that ASA does what it can to aid members and their families as they plow ahead with the task of building the best genetics they can for the beef business.”
Starting in July 2020, the ASA will offer a 10% allotment for active ASA members based on their 2019 fiscal year (July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2019) animal registrations, transfers, and Total Herd Enrollments (THE). Members may view the dollar amount of their individual allotment through their Herdbook accounts beginning July 1. The allotment can be put toward the same services in fiscal year 2021. When members submit registrations, transfers, or THE transactions, from July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021 the total fees will be reduced until the allotment has been depleted.
Learn more at www.simmental.org.
Beef from farmers for families
The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association and the North Dakota Stockmen’s Foundation are teaming up to provide beef for a growing number of families in need as the COVID-19 pandemic persists. The non-profit organizations have developed the Beef Relief Program, donating $20,000 to the Great Plains Food Bank to purchase beef from North Dakota ranchers to help feed struggling families in the state. The Great Plains Food Bank supplies more than 200 food pantries, shelters, soup kitchens and charitable feeding programs.