Meister Media Worldwide Announces CEAg World
Meister Media Worldwide announces the launch of CEAg World, the new and innovative multi-media global business “Advancing Food Under Cover.” The new global brand will strive to represent all segments of crops grown in controlled environments, including greenhouses, hoop houses and high tunnels, operations using shading or netting, vertical farms, container farms, and more.
The new CEAgWorld.com is the central hub for growers, produce companies, food retailers, academia, private industry, and other allies for insights and intelligence to advance this new generation of food grown under cover. “Local, fresh produce grown in controlled environments connects the food value chain from growers to final consumers and offers many economic, sustainability-related and consumer advantages,” Karen Varga, CEAg World Content Lead said. “Our mission is to fully connect and engage all these innovators, online and in person, to lead this new industry forward.”
CEAg World’s initial focus will be on greenhouse-grown produce, the largest and most rapidly expanding controlled environment industry segment, in the United States and Canada, under the brand CEAg World Greenhouse Produce. With support from Charter Partners Berger, BioSafe Systems, BioTherm, Greener Solutions International, Legacy Labor and Philips, CEAg World Greenhouse Produce is mobilizing the industry to help it fully realize the unique opportunities for greenhouse-grown produce.
ASTA Survey Finds 10.5 Million New Cover Crop Acres
A recent ASTA survey found that an added 10.5 million acres of cover crops will be planted in the next five years as a result of USDA’s Partnerships for Climate Smart-Commodities projects. The program, announced in February of 2022, was established to support conservation practices, particularly for small and underserved producers. ASTA’s survey focused on cover crop acres through the lifespan of the projects, using numbers provided by the respective projects leads.
“We’ve been paying close attention to the practice of cover crops and what that means for the seed industry and our ability to meet what is clearly a growing demand,” said Janae Brady, ASTA Vice President of Government Affairs. “As you look at sustainability practices, seed is a very important part of that solution.”
Cover crops provide a myriad of benefits – both economic and environmental – and are primarily used to slow erosion, improve soil health, help control pests and diseases, and offer many other benefits to producers. While helping farmers care for their land in between planting seasons, cover crops also enhance carbon sequestration and sustainability. The seed industry plays a critical role in supporting conservation programs by developing diverse, locally, and broadly adapted, high-quality seed.
Classic24 Janae Brady, ASTA 3:05Truterra Talks Climate Smart Programs at #Classic24
Land O’Lakes sustainability subsidiary Truterra recently announced its 2024 sustainability programs and they were at Commodity Classic last week to talk to farmers about what they have to offer.
“The financial assistance program is one of the first we’re able to roll out under the climate smart funding,” said Amber Leusink, Senior Manager for Programs and Grants with Truterra. “What Truterra is founded on is meeting the farmer where they’re at in their sustainable journey…and so we want to work with the farmer and provide that technical assistance. But now we’re also able to offer financial assistance.”
Leusink says they are looking at roughly 80,000 acres of financial assistance opportunity. “Another funding opportunity that’s really exciting is our early adopter. So those early adopters are those farmers that have been doing the right thing, and until recently, there haven’t been opportunities for those farmers.”
Learn more in this interview with Leusink from Commodity Classic.
Classic24 Amber Leusink, Truterra 7:06Intelinair Launches New Postseason Data Analytics Suite
Ag data analytics company Intelinair, makers of AGMRI, has announced the latest addition to its suite of data analytics for the 2024 crop season – AGMRI Analyze. AGMRI Insights, the in-season analytics suite, will continue to be available to inform real-time data-driven decision-making.
AGMRI Analyze monitors nine common yield-limited factors, enabling farmers to pinpoint and understand potential issues that have impacted their yield during the season. This data-driven approach helps farmers make informed decisions for the upcoming crop season, ultimately contributing to improved efficiency and yield potential.
“With the addition of Analyze, we have created a more complete data analytics package that farmers can rely on for both in-season monitoring and postseason analytics,” said Tim Hassinger, Intelinair president and CEO. “By consolidating in-season and postseason analytics into a unified platform, we’re taking real-time and postseason data-driven decision-making to the next level.”
For more information about Intelinair, AGMRI Insights and AGMRI Analyze, or how to sign up for the 2024 season, visit https://www.intelinair.com/agmri.
Animal Ag News 3/4
Syngenta Announces Upcoming Seed Treatment Addition
At the Commodity Classic last week, Syngenta had a new seed treatment in development for soybeans and cotton to talk about called Victrato®.
Upon approval by the Environmental Protection Agency for registration, which is anticipated by the 2025 growing season, the new seed treatment will introduce targeted technology to stop nematodes, Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) and Cotton Root Rot (CRR) without harming beneficial organisms.
“Victrato will protect against adults, juveniles and eggs from multiple nematode species, including Soybean Cyst (SCN), root knot, reniform, lance and lesion,” said Katie Jaeger, Soybean Seedcare Product Lead. “It will also help defend against Fusarium virguliforme, and provide early-season suppression of foliar diseases, such as frogeye leaf spot, target spot and Septoria brown spot.”
Featuring a novel SDHI active ingredient, TYMIRIUM® technology, Victrato will deliver targeted protection in the root zone. Upon registration, Victrato will be the newest edition to the Syngenta Seedcare portfolio and will help growers protect their crops from some of the most damaging early-season yield threats, while also offering crop safety.
Jaeger explains more about Victrato in this interview.
Classic24 Katie Jaeger, Syngenta Seedcare 2:55
Administration Officials Address Commodity Classic
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and U.S. EPA Administrator Michael Regan both addressed a record crowd Friday at the Commodity Classic in Houston, Texas.
Secretary Vilsack disappointed many in the audience who expected an announcement on the revised GREET model necessary for agriculture to benefit from tax credits for Sustainable Aviation Fuel under the Inflation Reduction Act. “Obviously we’re not in a position today to announce the guidance that will be coming forth from the Treasury Department as it relates to the Sustainable Aviation fuel and the tax credits that will be available in 2023 and 2024 and the tax credits that will go in place in 2025 and beyond. Now, the reason we’re not is because we’re measuring twice and cutting once. We want to make sure that the latest and best information is utilized in the modeling that will inform the Treasury guidance.”
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack remarks
Classic24 Vilsack remarks 22:48
While EPA is also part of the Interagency Working Group tasked with revising the GREET model, Administrator Regan was at Classic to announce the first EPA Office of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. “I’m excited also that this office will be led by Rod Snyder, who has served in as my senior advisor for Agriculture since 2021. We have someone competent who’s been on the job coming into this job and he’s going to do an awesome job for not only EPA, but for all of you as well. With Ron’s leadership and with the establishment of this new office, we will ensure agriculture and rural stakeholders have a continual seat at the table at EPA for many years to come.”
Classic24 Regan remarks 8:43Secretary Vilsack and EPA Administrator chat with Chandler Goule
Classic24 Vilsack and Regan fireside chat 22:15
Sec. Vilsack and Admin. Regan press conference
Classic24 Vilsack-Regan presser 17:40
Industry Ag News 3/1
USDA and EPA Leaders Today at Classic
At the general session this morning in Houston, Commodity Classic attendees will hear from both USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and EPA Administrator Michael Regan in an unprecedented appearance that is expected to announce the updated GREET model that would allow corn-based ethanol to qualify as a feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) credits.
Mary Kay Thatcher, Federal Government and Industry Relations for Syngenta, says speculation is they will be bringing good news. “They both requested to be here so you have to believe that in an election year, you don’t bring bad news,” said Thatcher. “The speculation is that Administrator Regan will indeed announce something about the GREET model.”
However, Thatcher says it may take some time to figure out the details of the announcement. “I suspect it’s going to be so darn complex…it’s really going to take a few days to read the fine points.”
It is likely that Regan will also address the recent court decision vacating the registrations of Dicamba products and EPA’s subsequent order to allow existing stocks to be used by farmers. Thatcher says that is a major issue for growers right now. “It affects both our seed side and crop protection,” she said. “I’m told EPA says 90 percent of the Dicamba is out of the stocks of people like Syngenta, but I’ve got a lot of farmers telling me they have prepaid for their dicamba but are not getting it.”
Thatcher says EPA could make an announcement about whether they will allow the companies to release dicamba stocks in inventory or if they will appeal the decision.
Listen to this interview with Thatcher and stay tuned for the news from Classic today.
Classic24 Mary Kay Thatcher, Syngenta 5:29