Industry Ag News 2/28

Carrie Muehling Leave a Comment

  • Farm Bureaus across the nation are mobilizing for Agricultural Safety Awareness Program Week, which takes place March 1-7. U.S. Agricultural Safety and Health Centers will join Farm Bureau in promoting the week with its theme “20:20 Vision on Ag Safety.”
  • From seed to harvest, the National Farm Machinery Show displays the latest equipment, showcases the most innovative technology and offers educational seminars to help farmers prepare for the upcoming planting season. Farmers and agribusiness professionals packed the halls of the Kentucky Exposition Center for industry updates and exciting tractor pull action. The 2021 National Farm Machinery Show takes places next year February 10-13 at the Kentucky Exposition Center.
  • FS Member Companies, along with their cooperative supplier, GROWMARK, named the 2019 Enduring Farm awards to acknowledge those farmers who have adopted best management practices that optimize nutrient utilization, leading to long-term soil and water quality while enhancing ROI.
  • Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary W. Black announced the Farm Recovery Block Grants for farmers and forest landowners affected by Hurricane Michael. The Georgia Department of Agriculture will begin accepting online applications for the $347 million in block grant funds on March 18, 2020. Georgia farmers and forest landowners in 95 eligible counties who suffered losses to beef, dairy, fruit and vegetable, pecan, poultry, timber, and uninsured infrastructure will need to enroll in the recovery program at farmrecovery.com.
  • Conference registration is now open for the American Seed Trade Association‘s Policy & Leadership Development Conference – which in 2020 is being jointly held with the AOSA/SCST Annual Meeting.
Zimfo Bytes

#Classic20 Gives Secretary Sonny a Warm Welcome

Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

Thousands of farmers from across the country welcomed Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue with open arms Friday during the general session of the 2020 Commodity Classic as he was introduced by a video message from President Donald Trump.

“That’s the real deal,” Perdue said about the president’s message. “I can assure you, that wasn’t political speak, that’s him true and true, he loves you and he shows it every way.”

Secretary Perdue talked about a number of issues important to the corn, soybean, wheat and sorghum producers attending the Classic including infrastructure, broadband, trade, sustainability, and biofuels.

Classic20 Secretary Perdue remarks 31:05

Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue press conference
Secretary Perdue presser 22:40

2020 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Audio, Commodity Classic, USDA

NCGA and EDF Launch Success in Stewardship Network

Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

The National Corn Growers Association and Environmental Defense Fund have joined forces to launch the Success in Stewardship Network to celebrate and accelerate the use of agricultural conservation practices on U.S. corn farms.

The network will showcase success stories from the many farmers and state-level programs putting stewardship into practice, starting with the Minnesota Corn Innovation Grant Program and the Illinois Corn Precision Conservation Management Program, recognized for their farmer-supported efforts to deliver clean water, healthy soils and farm profitability.

NCGA president Kevin Ross, Environmental Defense Fund Director Callie Eideberg; Adam Birr, MN Corn Growers Executive Director; Travis Deppe, director of Precision Conservation Management participated in a press conference Thursday at Commodity Classic to launch the program.

NCGA press conference 23:40

2020 Commodity Classic Photo Album

AgWired Precision, Audio, Commodity Classic, Conservation, Corn, Environment, NCGA

AFBF to Expand on Bayer Farm State of Mind Campaign

Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

At Commodity Classic on Thursday, Bayer and the American Farm Bureau Federation announced the transition of Bayer’s Farm State of Mind campaign to Farm Bureau.

The initiative aims to raise mental health awareness among the farming community and reduce stigma surrounding the topic of mental health in rural communities. Farm Bureau plans to combine the Farm State of Mind with its ongoing Rural Resilience campaign to expand the reach and effectiveness of its rural mental health initiatives.

“As a third-generation farmer, I’m familiar with the stress of farm life, and I’ve heard heartbreaking stories as I’ve traveled the country about warning signs missed and loved ones lost,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “We’d like to thank Bayer for taking the initiative around this important topic and are excited to expand our impact by growing this campaign to connect even more farmers and ranchers with the resources they need.”

Complicating this issue is that many farmers are reluctant to talk about the effects of stress or seek help. The Farm State of Mind initiative provides farmers with resources, encourages conversations and reduces the stigma surrounding the issue of mental health. Transitioning this program to an organization as trusted as Farm Bureau will greatly expand its reach and effectiveness among farmers.

“Bayer recognized the need to help raise awareness on the important issue of mental health in farm communities – these are difficult conversations to have and our heart goes out to those individuals and families who have been impacted. That’s why we developed the Farm State of Mind campaign,” says Lisa Safarian, President of Bayer Crop Science for North America. “It was important for us to provide information and resources on the topic to those who needed it, but we quickly realized that this issue is much bigger than any one single company and no group is better positioned than Farm Bureau to take the lead on this campaign to help realize its full potential.”

Bayer and American Farm Bureau press conference 19:28

Watch the press conference:


2020 Commodity Classic Photo Album

AFBF, Audio, Bayer, Video

AMVAC® Announces 10 New Products in 2020

Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

AMVAC®, an American Vanguard® company, today announced 10 new products for 2020 at the opening of the Commodity Classic in San Antonio. The announcement is a result of the corporation’s successful legacy of acquisitions and its “Innovation with Speed and Discipline” product development process, concentrating on specific, customer-focused solutions.

New products to AMVAC include a recent acquisition of four herbicide brands from Corteva Agriscience™.

• Classic® Herbicide: Expands the postemergence weed control spectrum in soybeans.
• FirstRate® Herbicide: Provides preemergence and postemergence control of key broadleaf weeds in soybeans.
• Hornet® Herbicide: Delivers postemergence broadleaf weed control of glyphosate resistant weeds in field corn.
• Python® Herbicide: Allows flexible broadleaf weed control in soybeans and field corn.

AMVAC also announces:
The developmental product Impact CORE™ Herbicide, a postemergence corn herbicide combining effective modes of action from a Group 15 residual herbicide with the power of Impact® Herbicide. EPA registration of the product is expected in the first quarter of 2020.

A new glufosinate premix that uses a proprietary formulation technology to combine the active ingredient found in Impact Herbicide to provide postemergence weed control in LibertyLink® corn is also expected in the first quarter of 2020.

AMVAC has selected COUNTER® Insecticide/Nematicide, broad spectrum AZTEC® HC Insecticide and zinc, a key micronutrient in corn, as the first products to be packaged in SmartCartridge™ containers and offered as part of SIMPAS™ Applied Solutions, pending EPA registration. SIMPAS (Smart Integrated Multi-Product Application System) is being introduced in a few select markets in 2020.

In addition, AMVAC recently announced its new herbicide – Surepyc IQ™ – a combination of two powerful chemistries for control of tough broadleaves and sedges in warm season turf. It’s the first line-extension for the Surepyc brand.

Listen to the full press conference with –
Neil DeStefano, Director – Portfolio, Business Development, Marketing Communications Management
Nathaniel Quinn, Marketing Manager – Corn, Soybeans, Sugar Beet
Jim Lappin, Director – SIMPAS, Product Portfolio and Alliances
AMVAC Product Launch press conference 21:31

2020 AMVAC Product Launch photo album

AgWired Precision, AMVAC, Audio, Commodity Classic, Corn, Crop Protection

BASF Hosts 14th Behind the Science Media Event

Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

For the 14th year, BASF held its Science Behind media event prior to the start of Commodity Classic.

“It gives a chance for you to see not just what the product is, but also what are the details behind it – kind of a peek behind the curtain,” said Scott Kay, Vice President, U.S. Crop, BASF Agricultural Solutions.

Much of the program focused on Veltyma™ fungicide in corn and Revytek™ fungicide in soybeans and the experience of more than 1,200 growers across the country as part of the RevX Fields program.

Kay talks about what’s new with BASF in this interview.
Interview with Scott Kay, BASF

2020 Commodity Classic Photo Album

AgWired Precision, Audio, BASF, Commodity Classic

Friday is Deadline to Schedule CRP Signup Appointment

Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

Tomorrow is the deadline for agricultural producers and private landowners interested in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) 2020 general signup to make an offer of acres or schedule an appointment to do so with their local USDA service center.

The general signup is available to producers and private landowners who are either offering for the first time or re-offering acres for another 10- to 15-year term in the 35-year-old USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) conservation program.

“Call your FSA county office today to make an appointment to sign up for the Conservation Reserve Program,” FSA Administrator Richard Fordyce said. “As long as you have an appointment scheduled, your CRP offer will be able to compete in this general signup, even if the appointment is in the first week of March. This is the first opportunity for general sign up since 2016, and we want to make sure interested producers and landowners take advantage of this popular conservation program.”

So even if you are at the Commodity Classic, just call your local FSA office and make an appointment by end of day tomorrow. Learn more from USDA FSA.

Conservation, USDA

Veris Technologies Introduces Vision for Decisions™

Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

iScan+ embedded tillage sensors alert growers to yield robbing conditions

At the 2020 Commodity Classic in San Antonio this week, Veris Technologies is introducing Vision for Decisions™, a new seeding environment decision support system to help growers improve seedbeds, planter performance, and population scripts. Vision for Decisions utilizes iScan+ soil and implement sensors embedded in tillage tools and planters along with grower input to maximize the seeding environment.

Population scripts using Veris’ patented organic matter and CEC sensors provide the smartest variable seed management. These scripts are easily completed in Veris cloud-based software FieldFusion® and sent to the tractor using API’s.

An added plus is the personalized precision support specialist that comes with every Vision for Decisions system. New in 2020 are moisture/temperature/CEC/OM sensors that easily bolt to field cultivator tines, and new configurations that fit a variety of vertical tillage tools. The SoilViewer tablet displays and records all real-time soil data and implement settings, providing a geo-referenced database to improve future decisions.

Read the release and stop by booth 1379 at Commodity Classic to learn more!

AgWired Precision, Commodity Classic, Precision Agriculture

Documentary Highlights Ranch’s Commitment to Cattle Health

Carrie Muehling Leave a Comment

A new documentary shares the commitment of a Colorado ranch family to animal health and the environment.

“They’re raising their sixth generation on the ranch right now, so it’s a big legacy,” said Scott King, cattle marketing team lead for Boehringer Ingelheim. “They’re totally committed to caring for the land and the sustainability of it, and they’re very passionate about animal health and well being.”

King was speaking of the Johnson family, owners of Flying Diamond Cattle Ranch, who are featured in the film. He said the family embodies the concept of “Cattle First” with the passion they have for animal care.

“We really wanted to get that message out there about how our producers are so passionate about their animal and the care for their animals, and we really think that will help ensure a great future for all of us,” said King.

View the documentary at CattleFirstMovie.com. King was at the 2020 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show in San Antonio.

CIC2020 Interview with Scott King, Boehringer Ingelheim 3:56

2020 Cattle Industry Convention and NBCA Trade Show Photo Album

AgWired Animal, Audio, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA Convention

Seeing Our Future Clearly at 2020 Commodity Classic

Chuck Zimmerman Leave a Comment

Commodity Classic 2020Thanks to a #Classic20 attendee for helping me with this photo outside the convention center in San Antonio. It’s kind of like déjà vu since the weather was pretty nice yesterday and now we’ve got a wind warning and temps dropping into the 20’s tonight. Same thing happened at the Cattle Industry Convention just 3 weeks ago.

I’m getting ready to put the Golden ZimmComm Microphone into serious action as the pre-conference activities start later today and then it all gets busy, including time in the trade show and press conferences. I already have a photo album started in our virtual ag newsroom on AgNewsWire and that’s where fresh content will be published first before we select stories to share here on AgWired.

2020 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Commodity Classic, Corn, NAWG, NCGA, NSP, sorghum, Soybean, Wheat