New National FFA Officers are Elected

Cindy Zimmerman

The 2019-20 National FFA Officer team was announced Saturday at the conclusion of the 92nd National FFA Convention in Indianapolis. Each year at the National FFA Convention & Expo, six students are elected by delegates to represent the organization as national officers. Kolesen McCoy, an agribusiness and applied economics major at Ohio State, was elected national president. Kourtney Lehman, an …

FFA

Animal Ag Bites 11/4

Carrie Muehling

Support from dairy checkoff food scientists has helped McDonald’s USA produce a reduced-sugar, low-fat chocolate milk that will be unveiled nationwide in January. The new formulation has 25 percent less sugar than McDonald’s previous chocolate milk and is no longer a fat-free product. Dairy Management Inc., which manages the national dairy checkoff, has had a partnership with McDonald’s since 2009. …

AgWired Animal, Animal Bites

Suterra Announces New Navel Orangeworm Control

Chuck Zimmerman

Here’s some latest news from Suterra. Suterra today announced the launch of CheckMate® Puffer® NOW Ace™, a new aerosol pheromone formulation for season-long Navel Orangeworm (NOW) control in almonds, pistachios, walnuts, figs and other crops where NOW is present. “California tree nut growers are very concerned about the serious and increasing threat Navel Orangeworm poses, with damage costs soaring over …

Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, Citrus

Zimfo Bytes 11/1

Carrie Muehling

To increase diversity and reach a broader applicant pool that more accurately reflects rural America, National Corn Growers Association’s Engaging Members Committee created two new scholarship programs and increased the benefit of their long-standing William C. Berg Academic Excellence in Agriculture Scholarship Program. Applications must be submitted by Dec. 1, 2019. Minnesota farmer and National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Ethanol …

Zimfo Bytes

Biofuels Groups Express Concerns at EPA Hearing

Cindy Zimmerman

Representatives from multiple ethanol and biodiesel stakeholder organizations and companies delivered basically the same message to the Environmental Protection Agency during a hearing Wednesday on the proposal to make up for volumes lost under the Renewable Fuel Standard due to small refinery waivers – nice try, but you still need to follow the law. Here is what some had to …

Audio, Biodiesel, Biofuels, EPA, Ethanol

USDA Deputy Secretary on Trade Mission in West Africa

Cindy Zimmerman

U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Steve Censky is on a trade mission to West Africa this week to help United States exporters unlock new opportunities in a region where strong economic growth is driving demand for imported food and farm products. He is joined by representatives of more than 40 companies and organizations seeking to increase exports of U.S. agricultural …

Audio, Exports, Trade, USDA

ASTA Events App Now Live

Chuck Zimmerman

The all-new, year-round mobile app for ASTA event information is now live and available. Replacing our former app, this new mobile experience includes a new, often-requested feature: one-to-one messaging and appointment setting with other attendees! To download the new app, search ASTA Events in your app store. Special thanks to our app sponsor, Corteva Agriscience! Like this sponsorship? Hurry to …

Ag Groups, Apps, ASTA

New PED Talks Video Series Digs into Soil Health

Chuck Zimmerman

You’ve heard of TED Talks. How about PED Talks? Here’s a new series of PED Talks on soil health. Soil peds are aggregated particles of sand, silt, clay and organic matter. Like their namesake, PED Talks combine soil-related topics including explanations of soil health, how we can improve it, and the progress that’s being made to ensure we have the …

Ag Groups, Soil, Soil Health Partnership, Video

Precision Ag Bytes 10/30

Carrie Muehling

Taranis announced its partnership with precision imaging company Stratus Imaging to bring specialized imagery services to farmers in Australia and strengthen its foothold in the region. John Fisher has joined BioLiNE® Corporation as the company’s new Director of Product Innovation & Market Development. NRCS is seeking public comments on 13 conservation practice standards. Per direction from the 2018 Farm Bill, …

AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes

USDA Unveils Domestic Hemp Production Program

Cindy Zimmerman

On Tuesday, USDA officials announced the establishment of the U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program to create a consistent regulatory framework around hemp production throughout the United States. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue made the announcement in a pre-recorded video. “At USDA, we are always excited when there are new economic opportunities for our farmers, and we hope the ability to …

Audio, Cannabis, hemp, USDA