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Gowan Company, LLC has reached an agreement with Dow AgroSciences LLC (www.dowagro.com) to acquire the rights to its global zoxamide fungicide business, marketed primarily under the brand names ZOXIUM™, GAVEL™, ELECTIS™, UNIKAT™ and HARPON™. Zoxamide is a highly active low-use fungicide used to control oomycete fungi infecting potatoes, vines and vegetables.
DuPont announced that it has received U.S. regulatory approval of its proprietary herbicide tolerance trait, the Optimum GAT trait in soybeans — bringing the company a step closer to further extending the performance advantage of its Pioneer brand soybean seed.
Through the collective efforts of IDairy, the USDA, state governments, and allied organizations, more than 70% of the United States’ 59,000 commercial dairy producers are estimated to have registered their premises as part of the National Animal Identification System. IDairy’s goal is to have 100% of the operations registered in order to enable animal health officials to quickly respond to an animal health emergency.

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Posted by Melissa • July 23, 2008 • 8:11 am

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The Poncho® insecticide family just got better with its newest member: Poncho 500 seed-applied insecticide. Poncho 500 offers corn growers improved control of wireworm, black cutworm and other insects.

Update: Andy Vance, AgWired regular, commented that he was interviewing Kerry Grossweiler, Bayer, when he saw this post show up. You can listen to his interview with him here.

The greatly anticipated analysis of certain provisions of the new farm bill by Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute, University of Missouri–Columbia economists is now available on the Web site.
The American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers announces Ag Pro Outlook and their 79th Annual Meeting Nov. 11 - 14, 2008 at the Marriott Rivercenter in San Antonio, Texas. Conference attendees will have the opportunity to hear keynote speaker Dr. David Kohl on the Changing Face of Agriculture and Rural Landscape.
AgWeb.com has announced the launch of an improved weather section with a more robust packaging of online weather data, tools and information; and a section dedicated to keeping the industry informed of new developments — a press release library where all press releases received by AgWeb.com will be posted.

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Posted by Melissa • July 21, 2008 • 8:39 am

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A new Farm Foundation report, What’s Driving Food Prices?, will be released Wednesday, July 23, at the Farm Foundation Forum. This event begins at 9 a.m. at the National Press Club. Farm Foundation commissioned the report to provide an objective context for interpreting the rapidly growing literature on the forces driving food prices.
Bayer HealthCare, Animal Health has chosen Woodruff Sweitzer as the agency of record for all brands across companion and food animal markets in Canada.
REA Hybrids has launched a new company Web site. Features include product searches that will allow growers to tailor requests for the information they are interested in with the option of downloading and printing full technical specifications for individual products; downloads of marketing materials; and an entire section dedicated to agronomy information.
The Cattlemen’s Beef Board has launched a new Web site designed to be the one place to go to find out how national beef checkoff dollars are invested and the results of those investments. Some highlights of the site include: monthly e-newsletter sign-up; producer profiles from across the country and expanded state beef council information and access.

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Posted by Melissa • July 18, 2008 • 7:32 am

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Jay Stauffacher, a dairy producer from Darlington, was re-elected chairman of the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (WMMB) at its annual reorganization meeting. Stauffacher’s term is for the 2009 Fiscal Year which began July 1, 2008 and concludes June 30, 2009. Connie Seefeldt, Coleman, was re-elected vice chairperson, and Ed Jasurda, Phillips, was elected Secretary. Romona Averbeck, Fond du Lac, was elected Treasurer. Click here for more information.
People who work in the pork industry can now benefit from www.pig-international.com for the most immediate and relevant information available. From the publishers of Pig International magazine, the Web site complements the print edition with daily updates, an online forum and extensive collaboration between readers and editorial staff.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship announced that the state’s corn growers had overwhelmingly voted to increase the state’s corn checkoff from a half-penny to three-quarters-of-a-cent per bushel. Preliminary results show 73% voted in favor of the increase and 27% voted against it.

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Posted by Melissa • July 16, 2008 • 8:44 am

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Novus International, Inc. announces the appointment of Bob Buresh as Technical Manager of Poultry for North America. Buresh joins Novus from Tyson Foods, where he served as the Director of Poultry Nutrition and Research for 18 years. He has also held positions with Eastern Minerals, Inc. and Purina Mills, Inc.
The National FFA Organization has selected 40 outstanding young people to participate in the 2008 New Century Farmer Program. This exclusive, highly competitive program develops young men and women who are committed to pursing a career in production agriculture. Participants representing 21 states will take part in an intensive five-day seminar July 28 through August 1 in Johnston, Iowa.
The Wisconsin Dairy Products Association (WDPA), sponsor of the annual World Dairy Expo Championship Dairy Product Contest, has finalized an agreement with Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (WMMB) regarding contest entries. The WMMB is sponsoring a contest reimbursement program for all Wisconsin dairy processors. Wisconsin companies that enter a new cow’s milk dairy product in the 2008 World Dairy Expo Championship Dairy Product Contest will receive from WMMB a 50% reimbursement on the $50 contest entry fee. Click here for more details.

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Posted by Melissa • July 14, 2008 • 9:15 am

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Every year, the American Association of Agricultural and Biological Engineers sponsors the prestigious AE50 awards, celebrating the best and brightest agricultural products developed around the globe. This year, six Case IH products were honored with an AE50 award: Steiger® 485 tractor; True Tandem 330 Turbo vertical tillage tool; 2600 Series Chopping Corn Header; MagnaCut Straw Chopper; O-Ring Sealing; and the ST Rice Rotor for Axial-Flow® rice combines.
Agriculture Today is organizing the Agriculture Leadership Summit and Agriculture Leadership Awards to present people with an authentic reading of the year’s account in food and agriculture by releasing Agriculture Today Year Book 2008 on this occasion. The program is Sept. 19-20, 2008 at Taj Palace, New Delhi.
The Honorable Bruce Knight, Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, USDA, will address the next luncheon meeting of the Agricultural Business Council which will be held at noon on Thursday, July 17, at Lidia’s Kansas City. Knight will provide an “update on animal identification and related livestock marketing programs” to Council members. Send your RSVP to Erica Venancio at: erica@petersenconsultingllc.com no later than July 14.

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Posted by Melissa • July 11, 2008 • 8:34 am

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Asoyia has named George Magers as the company’s Missouri business development manager. Magers will be responsible for developing new alliances with grain elevators, growing the distribution network, contracting more soybean production, building relationships with seed partners and growers, as well as managing regional trade shows throughout Missouri.
Renée Norman, Liberty, Penn., has been named an assistant editor of Jersey Journal, the official publication of the American Jersey Cattle Association and National All-Jersey Inc. In this position, Norman will work closely with Jersey Journal editorial and ad design and also on JerseySites, the AJCA’s Web site service for Jersey owners.
Accelerated Genetics is pleased to announce the selection for a new President and CEO, Joel Groskreutz, Reedsburg, Wisc., who will assume his new role effective July 15, 2008. In this position, Groskreutz will continue to drive genetic progress for the benefit of cooperative members and all producers around the world by utilizing time-tested and cutting-edge genomic sire selection criteria.

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Posted by Melissa • July 9, 2008 • 8:16 am

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The United States Animal Health Association is making plans for its 112th Annual Meeting in Greensboro, N.C., Oct. 23-29, 2008. The meeting is held in conjunction with the 51st Annual Conference of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians. The feature of this year’s meeting will be Foot-and-Mouth Disease: If “When” Happened. For questions or more information about the USAHA/AAVLD Annual Meetings, click here or visit the Web site.
EMD Crop BioScience has placed renewed focus on Product Development with the hiring of Patrick Reed, new Director of Product Development for North America. Reed had previously served in various roles with EMD Crop BioScience and its predecessor companies for more than 17 years.
To kick off the 2008 Wisconsin Farm Technology Days, the Brown County Heritage Equipment Association will host a tractor parade beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 13. The three-day event showcases the latest improvements in production agriculture, including practical applications of recent research findings and technological developments.

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Posted by Melissa • July 7, 2008 • 8:45 am

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Alpharma Inc. announced a significant initiative expected to stimulate business opportunities for livestock producers suffering from recent flooding in the central U.S. agricultural heartland. Alpharma will donate a portion of all U.S. livestock product sales recorded in July to help fund flood relief efforts throughout the Mississippi River valley. The flood relief program will apply to Alpharma’s extensive line of livestock medicated feed additives.
DuPont business Pioneer Hi-Bred announced that it has identified and incorporated new proprietary molecular markers into its soybean research program. The new markers significantly enhance the company’s ability to bring to market soybeans resistant to three common destructive soybean pests - Asian Soybean Rust, soybean aphids and frogeye leaf spot.
Syngenta and DuPont announced an agreement to share the costs to prepare the regulatory studies for DuPont™ Cyazypyr™, a new broad spectrum insecticide for the control of lepidoptera and sucking pests.
CHS Inc. announced it has formed a joint venture with Triangle Ag LLC, Ulen, Minn. Under the agreement, CHS and Triangle Ag will combine agronomy services throughout central and east central North Dakota, including construction of a 25,000-ton crop nutrients plant with the ability to receive 110-rail car shipments near Hannaford, N.D. A crop protection product and seed distribution center will also be part of the joint venture.

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Posted by Melissa • July 3, 2008 • 8:19 am

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Massey Ferguson® 6400 and 7400 Series high horsepower tractors with new generation Tier III engines burn cleaner and smarter for greater fuel efficiency. Both the Dyna-VT™ CVT transmission on the 7400 Series, ranging from 100-155 PTO HP, and Dyna-6™ transmission, from 100 to 180 PTO HP, on the 6400 Series deliver power and torque more efficiently and effectively in the field and in transit.
Katherine DiMatteo, who served as executive director of the Organic Trade Association (OTA) from 1990 to 2006, was named President of the World Board of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements at their General Assembly held in Vignola, Italy.
RFD-TV, LLC announced a multi-year affiliation and distribution agreement with Verizon that set forth the terms and conditions for carriage of RFD-TV on Verizon’s FiOS TV service nationwide. Beginning this summer, RFD-TV will be rolling out carriage and will become available to customers in all FiOS TV service areas over the following months.
The message Chuck Leavell, Rolling Stones keyboardist, shared during his keynote address at the Ag in the Classroom conference in Costa Mesa, Calif., was “today’s children are increasingly disconnected from the natural world and schools can play a big role in fixing this.” Leavell addressed the teachers present not as a musician but as a Georgia tree farmer and the author of the 2007 American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture Book of the Year The Tree Farmer.

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Posted by Melissa • July 2, 2008 • 8:24 am

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Dow AgroSciences announces the European Union (EU) has included spinosad in its organic listing. This new regulatory action not only allows the use of spinosad containing products in organic agriculture within the EU, but also allows the organic certification of produce treated outside the EU. Organic crops treated with ENTRUST® and GF-120® NF insecticides may now be imported into the EU and sold under the EU organic logo, provided the crops meet the existing MRL requirements.
Ten high school students from northeastern and central Wisconsin were recognized as recipients of a $700 Agribusiness/Forestry Scholarship offered by Wisconsin Public Service Foundation, Inc. The winners are: Cariss Lavash, Ben Kinnard, Brandon Kruswick, David Altenhofen, Justin Englebert, Kristen Doster, Lindsay Dallmann, Vanna Herrmann, Lucas Leahy and Riley Ebert. More information about the scholarship program can be found in the “For Farms” section here.
The Ohio Agricultural Council will induct James Helt, Don Schriver, William Stalter and R. Craig Fendrick into the Ohio Agricultural Hall of Fame during a special breakfast ceremony held Friday, August 8 in the Rhodes Youth Center at the Ohio Expo Center during the Ohio State Fair. The 43rd annual event honors these four professionals for their lifetime of service and commitment to the agricultural industry.

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Posted by Melissa • June 30, 2008 • 8:35 am

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Merial announces the introduction of a combination radio frequency identification (RFID) tag and tissue collection device for use with the IGENITY® profile. Producers can now collect a tissue sample needed for the comprehensive IGENITY profile and apply an RFID tag in one simple and efficient step. Standard IGENITY tissue collection devices are still available.
The American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA) announces Summer Education Week ’08 held July 14-18, 2008, at the Embassy Suites Omaha Downtown/Old Market, Omaha, Neb. ASFMRA will premiere the new Requirements of UASFLA – The “Yellow Book”, which includes material that will give attendees an increased understanding of the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions. Registration and fee information can be found here.
BASF SE and Monsanto Company have signed an exclusive agreement for a new fungicide seed treatment solution for soybeans in the United States. The new product contains BASF’s top-selling fungicide F 500®, the same active ingredient found in Headline® fungicide with its disease control and plant health benefits. The treatment will provide soybean farmers with early-season disease protection which results in improved stand and extra vitality.

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Posted by Melissa • June 26, 2008 • 8:26 am

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Highly respected genetic researcher Gerard Davis has been named Head of Product Development and Laboratory Operations at Pfizer Animal Genetics. Dr. Davis will have global responsibilities for research and development of all new products in the Pfizer Animal Genetics portfolio.
The Progressive Agriculture Safety Day™ program is the only program serving farm and rural children that offers safety lessons that can be combined to fit the unique needs of participants in each specific community. The program’s selection of more than 25 lessons is as varied as its sponsors, such as Buck Knives, The Propane Education & Research Council and the MetLife Foundation. Local volunteers select from this wide array of information to offer Safety Days appropriate for the predominant safety challenges children in their area might face.
Monsanto Company has agreed to acquire Marmot, S.A., which operates Semillas Cristiani Burkard, a privately-held seed company headquartered
in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Once completed, the acquisition will build on Monsanto’s corn business leadership and enable it to offer farmers in Central American countries broader access to corn seed varieties.

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Posted by Melissa • June 25, 2008 • 8:15 am

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Cattle producers can use the first and only vaccine available that prevents persistently infected calves caused by bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) virus Types 1 and 2, and offers 365 days of protection – Bovi-Shield GOLD® FP® from Pfizer Animal Health. The USDA recently upgraded the label claim for Bovi-Shield GOLD FP to the “prevention of persistently infected calves caused by BVD Types 1 and 2,” which is the highest label claim the USDA has assigned to a BVD-containing vaccine.
Pork producers can now use Denagard® (tiamulin) 10 Medicated Premix to combat costly enteric diseases in pigs weighing more than 250 pounds. The FDA recently accepted the removal of the weight limit.
Planalytics WeatherPin, a unique tool for displaying weather information that impacts agricultural producers and the businesses they depend on, has been
selected by Farm Journal Media to power the new MyWeather section of the site. Scheduled for launch on July 1, MyWeather provides detailed, site-specific weather information in a user-friendly interface that incorporates historic and seasonal weather trends with radar imagery and other features.

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Posted by Melissa • June 23, 2008 • 8:17 am

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New Mustang Max EW insecticide from FMC Corporation is the answer for effective, economical control of key insects in tree, fruit and vegetable crops. Mustang Max EW is a cost-effective solution for controlling multiple pests, providing excellent knockdown of key insects and maintaining that control for higher yields and increased profit potential for growers.
Dow AgroSciences LLC announced it has submitted SmartStax™, a new insect-protection and weed control stacked trait combination in corn, to the U.S. EPA for regulatory review. SmartStax is the industry’s first-ever eight gene stack combination in corn that will feature multiple modes of action to control both above and below ground insects as well as herbicide tolerance.
The members of Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) voted to continue the historic dairy farmer self-help program through 2009. In a unanimous vote, the committee overseeing the management of CWT endorsed a continuation of the program – at the present membership assessment level of 10 cents per hundredweight – through calendar year 2009.

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Posted by Melissa • June 20, 2008 • 8:17 am

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The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association has launched a new Web site with a new user-friendly look. The site provides online visitors with dramatic improvements in navigation, uniformity, appearance, and accessibility.
Rhea + Kaiser Marketing Communications has named agribusiness journalist Drew Harris as senior account executive, public relations, working on the Bayer CropScience portfolio of Southern row crops products. Prior to joining Rhea + Kaiser, Harris was managing editor of Cotton International and Cotton Grower magazines, based in Cordova, Tenn.
Novus International, Inc., announces the appointment of Travis Boatwright as South Central Poultry Sales Manager covering OK, TX, AR, LA, AZ, and KS. Boatwright joins Novus from Lohmann Animal Health where he served as the Corporate Accounts Manager and was awarded Salesman of the Year three times.
Wisconsin Dairy Products Assn. announces that Gary Steinhauer has been selected to receive the 2008 WDPA Presidents Award. Steinhauer spent 24 years working for Madison Dairy as vice president in Madison, Wisc. Steinhauer will be honored at a special awards dinner on Sunday, July 13 at the 2008 Dairy Symposium.

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Posted by Melissa • June 19, 2008 • 8:25 am

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2008 Farm Progress Hay Expo, its 22nd annual show, will be held June 25 and 26 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The show site is located just south of Ossian, Iowa, at the Knutson Farms and Winkler Farms. Admission is free; parking is $7 per vehicle. For more show information, click here.
Ag Leader Technology has established the Ag Leader Technology Precision Agriculture Scholarship within the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at Iowa State University. Five Ag Leader scholarships will be awarded annually starting in the 2008-09 school year. Students can apply for the scholarship online.
The CHS Foundation has awarded $25,000 in scholarships to high school students pursuing careers in the agriculture industry. An independent, external committee selected recipients based on essays, career goals and extracurricular activities. More information on all CHS Foundation scholarships is available here.
Neogen Corporation announced the formation of its new subsidiary in Mexico, Neogen Latino America SPA. The new company, headquartered in Mexico City, will distribute the company’s food and animal safety products throughout Mexico.

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Posted by Melissa • June 18, 2008 • 8:06 am

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Monsanto Chairman, president and CEO Hugh Grant announced a three-point commitment to help increase global food production in the face of growing demand, limited natural resources and a changing climate. Monsanto has committed not only to meet, but exceed this threshold for its core crops, while addressing other critical needs: develop better seeds, conserve resources and help improve farmers’ lives.
The Board of Directors of the Nutrients for Life Foundation has selected Harriet E. Wegmeyer to serve as its first full-time executive director. Wegmeyer began her duties in mid-May. Wegmeyer had served as the director of communications at The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) since 2002.
American Farmland Trust (AFT) has chosen Nash Huber of Nash’s Organic Produce in Sequim, Wash., for its annual Steward of the Land Award. Nash and his team grow more than 100 types of produce, pasture raised pork, and seed crops on 400 sustainably managed acres in the Dungeness River Valley-a unique micro-climate that allows year-round production. He will receive the $10,000 AFT prize for his environmental stewardship and farmland protection efforts, the largest such award in the agriculture sector.

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Posted by Melissa • June 16, 2008 • 8:18 am

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Deere & Company has completed the acquisition of Plastro Irrigation Systems, Ltd., headquartered in Israel, to add significant momentum to the growth of John Deere Water Technologies.
The Poultry Science Education Fund of the U.S. Poultry & Egg Harold E. Ford Foundation supports student recruitment at colleges and universities with poultry science courses that do not have a full department with a poultry science degree. Applications for funding requests (recruitment grant of up to $7,000) are now available here.
The Wisconsin Guernsey Breeders Association will be hosting the National Guernsey Convention from June 26 through June 30th in Middleton, Wis. A complete schedule of events is available here.
Geile/Leon Marketing Communications is pleased to be recognized in The St. Louis Business Journal ’s annual list of fastest growing private companies. Geile/Leon ranked ninth out of 50 in the St. Louis Community.

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Posted by Melissa • June 13, 2008 • 8:50 am

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Truffle Media Networks is offering four podcast that feature the “Leveraging Interactive Marketing” workshop from this year’s NAMA convention. Explore new technologies; find out the emerging trends in search, content, applications and community; discover how farmers use online media; and learn what challenges impact your organization’s ability to successfully leverage the power of interactive marketing.
Hereford breeders from across the United States, Canada and New Zealand took part in the first-ever National Hereford Tour, “Rollin Through Dixie”, in Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama. Guests also enjoyed Music on the Mountain as the grand finale event on Friday evening which raised over $200,000 for the Hereford Youth Foundation of America.
Twenty-two U.S. pork producers have been selected for the Pork Leadership Academy, a program sponsored by the Pork Checkoff to identify and train industry leaders. The Pork Leadership Academy (PLA) participants are selected by their individual states and represent different production styles. The Checkoff provides initial leadership training, as well as long-term support in preparing presentations and interviews.

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Posted by Melissa • June 11, 2008 • 5:43 am

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