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Precision Ag News 3/6

Carrie Muehling

  • The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) presented the seventh-annual Davidson Prize to the top three innovative products, selected from the AE50 honorees on Friday, March 1, at Commodity Classic in Houston, TX.
  • With their crop consulting and plant breeding backgrounds, Brad and Joyce Doyle are continuing a family conservation legacy by using innovative solutions on their Arkansas farm. The Doyles have challenged the status quo for 30 years to make impressive strides, and that’s cause for celebration among the farm family’s fellow growers and conservationists. The American Soybean Association presented the Doyles with the 2024 National Conservation Legacy Award during the annual ASA Awards Celebration event at Commodity Classic in Houston.
  • Join the Nebraska Water Center and Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District on June 17 and 18 for the 2024 Water and Natural Resources Tour as we get up close and personal with water and natural resources in southeast Nebraska.
  • The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) published the report, Intent to Establish the Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program, authorized under the Growing Climate Solutions Act (GCSA). The GCSA was signed into law on December 29, 2022, as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. This report justifying the Secretary’s intent to establish the program follows USDA’s earlier publication of A General Assessment of the Role of Agriculture and Forestry in U.S. Carbon Markets, which found that voluntary carbon markets offer a promising tool to achieve greenhouse gas reductions from the agriculture and forest sectors and support producer livelihoods. By adopting science-based practices to reduce emissions or sequester carbon on their land, farmers, ranchers, and private landowners can access a new income stream through carbon credit sales while also combatting climate change.
  • The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) convened member company executives from leading seed companies for a weeklong trip to Japan. The group, led by Dr. Fan-Li Chou, ASTA’s Senior Vice President, Scientific Affairs and Policy, included representatives from GDM, J.R. Simplot Company, and Pairwise, and packed in several days of intense and productive engagement with government and industry partners, with the goal of supporting ongoing bilateral collaboration with our Japanese counterparts. During the trip, the executives participated in a technical seminar at the U.S. Embassy in Japan and a media outreach webinar hosted by the Network for Breeding by Genome Editing on the use of genome editing in plant breeding to support both a healthy planet and its inhabitants.
  • To instill confidence and foster innovation in the agricultural biologicals sector, DPH Biologicals announced the expansion of its science-first, data-verified approach with a multi-year effort to quantify the comprehensive value potential of biologicals.
  • AcreShield, the company that provides revolutionary seed selection with seed performance guarantees, announces its leadership team. Comprised of proven agricultural entrepreneurs adept at solving farmers’ problems, the team includes Billy Rose, chairman and CEO; Jim Rouse, executive vice president of seed trials program; Kevin McNew, chief data officer and Ryan Budnik, COO of seed trial program.
  • Sollum Technologies, the leader in dynamic LED grow light solution, is thrilled to announce that it is marking a key step forward with the expansion of its sales team in North America. The company is poised, more than ever, to meet the growing demand for supplemental lighting in controlled environment agriculture with the most advanced, intuitive and fully customizable dynamic LED lighting solution.
  • Global ag biologicals company Biolevel Ltd. announced the North American launch of two bionutrition products—MaizeNP for corn and PhosN for soybeans—to provide farmers more consistent results and convenient application options. Unlike other bionutrition products, the array of microbes in Biolevel products fix nitrogen and release crop-available phosphorous, potassium and micronutrients locked in soils.
  • Syngenta Crop Protection, a leader in agricultural innovation, is to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from its logistics operations by using Maersk’s ECO Delivery solution for its ocean shipments. This follows the finalization of an agreement for the transport of containers using biofuel for a Europe-US shipping route in 2024.
  • Building on 50 years of leadership and innovation in soybean research and variety development, Pioneer announces the commercial availability of Pioneer brand Z-Series soybeans in the United States and Canada. This new class of soybeans offers farmers a significant yield advantage and better disease resistance.
  • Corteva continues its drive to deliver farmer-focused solutions with the launch of Enversa herbicide. The new versatile solution received U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registration in December 2023. Pending state registrations, Enversa herbicide is expected to be available for use on soybeans, cotton, corn, sorghum, peanuts and sugar beets in the 2025 growing season.
  • AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

    Meister Media Worldwide Announces CEAg World

    Cindy Zimmerman

    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.

    Media, Meister Media, Produce, specialty crops, Sustainability

    ASTA Survey Finds 10.5 Million New Cover Crop Acres

    Cindy Zimmerman

    ASTA’s Jordan Gregory, Janae Brady, and Katrina Bishop at Commodity Classic

    Representatives of the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) were at the Commodity Classic last week with member GO Seed to talk about cover crops.

    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 3:05

    ASTA, Audio, Commodity Classic, cover crops, Seed

    Truterra Talks Climate Smart Programs at #Classic24

    Cindy Zimmerman

    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 7:06

    2024 Commodity Classic Photo Album

    Audio, carbon, Commodity Classic, Sustainability, USDA

    Intelinair Launches New Postseason Data Analytics Suite

    Cindy Zimmerman

    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.

    AgWired Precision, data, Precision Agriculture

    Animal Ag News 3/4

    Carrie Muehling

  • The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) is thrilled to unveil the highly anticipated 2024 World Pork Expo, set to take place on June 5-6 at the iconic Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa.
  • The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) commended the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) for again extending the New Swine Inspection System line speed trials through Jan. 15, 2025. Processing facilities will enroll in a modified time limited trial, which will include a study to evaluate the impact of increased line speeds on worker safety.
  • A new resource developed by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and CattleFax helps cattle producers maximize profitability from their culling decisions. “Right Way. Right Time. – A Guide to Cull Cattle Management” is now available at www.ncba.org.
  • Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association is urging donors to give to the TSCRA Disaster Relief Fund amid widespread wildfires impacting the Texas Panhandle and Western Oklahoma. Donations will go on to aid victims of the ongoing natural disasters.
  • Farmers throughout the Upper Midwest will have an opportunity to participate in a multi-year climate-smart sustainability program that uses data to inform new farming practices and potentially generate added value for the food the farms produce. Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative and partner Farmers for Sustainable Food announced that the groups will begin accepting farmer enrollment in the program, called the Farmers for Sustainable Food Climate-Smart Project.
  • Checkoff-founded GENYOUth teamed with the Dairy Council of Nevada, the NFL and other partners to increase access to and participation in healthy school meals by providing grants for Grab and Go school meal equipment packages, including milk coolers and mobile meal carts, for 73 high-need Nevada schools. Before each Super Bowl, state and regional checkoff teams collaborate with GENYOUth and purpose-minded partners on GENYOUth’s Super School Meals community initiative to improve the student health and wellness experience, including increased dairy consumption. This year’s program focused on Super Bowl host market Las Vegas and throughout Nevada.
  • The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) is pleased with the decision published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve the first-ever qualified health claim for yogurt, recognizing a potential link between its regular consumption and a reduced risk of type-2 diabetes. The FDA’s decision came in response to a petition submitted by Danone North America. The new claim is available for all yogurt makers.
  • The Animal Agriculture Alliance announced the opening of registration for its 2024 Stakeholders Summit, themed “Ready, Set, Solve! Advancing Animal Agriculture.” The 2024 Summit is set for May 8-9 in Kansas City, Mo. Register by March 8 for the lowest rates offering savings up to $100. Register here!
  • The Gold winning teams of the National FFA Poultry Evaluation and Food Science and Technology Career Development Events (CDEs) were invited to attend the International Poultry Expo (IPE), part of the 2024 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE). As a result of the USPOULTRY Foundation’s continued initiative to attract students to the poultry and egg industry, the teams that attended received an all-expenses paid trip and had the opportunity to visit IPPE’s record-breaking trade show floor.
  • IHT Group, a division of Decisive Dividend Corp. based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is bringing patented cooling pad technology for hogs to the North American market in spring 2024. The pads are 2-foot-by-4-foot aluminum tread plates on top of copper pipes that circulate water. Sensors in the pads determine if the hog is too hot and circulate new water to keep the pad cool. The technology was designed by researchers in Purdue University’s Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering and Department of Animal Sciences.
  • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

    Syngenta Announces Upcoming Seed Treatment Addition

    Cindy Zimmerman

    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

    Audio, Commodity Classic, Seed, Soybean, Syngenta

    Administration Officials Address Commodity Classic

    Cindy Zimmerman

    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 8:43

    Secretary 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

    2024 Commodity Classic Photo Album

    Audio, Commodity Classic, EPA, USDA

    Industry Ag News 3/1

    Carrie Muehling

  • The Senate has confirmed the appointment of Dr. Basil Gooden as USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development. Dr. Gooden has served as Director of State Operations for Rural Development since July 2021 and will fill the under secretary position left vacant by Xochitl Torres Small, who was confirmed in July 2023 as Deputy Secretary of Agriculture.
  • The Agribusiness Association of Iowa (AAI) Foundation announced that its building will be named after Bill Northey and simply called “The Northey Building”.
  • Craig Curry, 70, a Protect The Harvest advisor since 2013, succumbed to a lengthy battle with health issues on Feb. 3. A Greenwood, Ind., resident, Curry provided Protect The Harvest with the management of regulatory, legislative and litigation issues on national, regional, state and local animal welfare, property rights, food security, environmental and non-government organization (NGO) matters.
  • Elite Octane — a leader in the biofuel industry, producing 150 million gallons of bioethanol annually — joined the nation’s leading biofuel trade associations, the Renewable Fuels Association and Growth Energy.
  • Alltech is proud to continue to partner with the Women in Food & Agriculture (WFA) Mentorship Program. Applications are now open for new mentors of any gender and for female mentees from across the global food and agriculture sector. Now in its fourth year, the free-to-join program is dedicated to supporting women across the global food and agriculture sector by providing invaluable mentorship opportunities and has proven to be a beacon of support for women seeking guidance, advice and networking opportunities in their careers.
  • Meister Media Worldwide announces the launch of CEAg World, the new and innovative multi-media global business “Advancing Food Under Cover.” This global brand will represent and unify all the emerging industry 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.
  • A federal District Court in Arizona vacated the registration for over-the-top (OTT) applications of dicamba on dicamba-tolerant soybeans and cotton. OTT dicamba products Xtendimax (Bayer), Engenia (BASF) and Tavium (Syngenta) were all included in the decision which is national in scope. The Agricultural Retailers Association disagrees with this decision. It removes a determination that should be made by a science- based regulatory agency to a federal court, and the timing of the decision will be extremely disruptive to ag retailers, distributors, manufacturers and farmers who made plans to use these products in 2024.
  • The National Cotton Council is extremely disappointed in a ruling by the Arizona Federal court that vacates the label for over-the-top use of dicamba products for the 2024 crop. The impacts of this ruling will be felt across the Cotton Belt as dicamba-tolerant varieties account for more than 75 percent of U.S. cotton acres.
  • Members of the Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers elected a new leadership team during the organization’s annual meeting held February 8 in Champaign, IL with Elizabeth Strom being named the new president.
  • Saying U.S. farmers depend on the strong demand that comes with expanded market access, the National Corn Growers Association’s (NCGA) Corn Congress passed a consensus statement encouraging federal officials to pursue trade opportunities and invest in foreign market development to ensure that the U.S. remains a global leader in corn production and trade.
  • National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew was appointed by President Biden to the White House Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations (ACTPN).
  • Zimfo Bytes

    USDA and EPA Leaders Today at Classic

    Cindy Zimmerman

    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

    2024 Commodity Classic Photo Album

    Audio, Commodity Classic, Corn, Ethanol, Syngenta