Precision Ag News 10/3

Carrie Muehling Leave a Comment

  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced up to $7.7 billion in assistance for fiscal year 2025 to help agricultural and forestry producers adopt conservation practices on working lands. This includes up to $5.7 billion for climate-smart practices, made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act, which is part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda and $2 billion in Farm Bill funding. This is more than double the amount available last year and the most conservation assistance made available in a single year in U.S. history for popular USDA conservation programs.
  • With an eye toward the future of agriculture and the crop protection industry, the Mid America CropLife Association (MACA) announced the election of the 2024-2025 Board of Directors. Newly elected officers are, President Michael Lehman, AMVAC; Vice President John Oesch, Nutrien Ag Solutions, and Secretary/Treasurer Aaron Deardorff, Syngenta Crop Protection.
  • October 1 marked the second National Nematode Day, a day that’s especially exciting for the winners of The SCN Coalition’s $500 sweepstakes. They are: Feyisayo Akande, Austin Brand, and Jacob Mekidani Salu. These winners qualified for the drawing by participating in The SCN Coalition’s “Are You Smarter Than a Nematode?” quizzes. This fun, engaging and informative series sponsored by BASF, Bayer and Syngenta challenged participants to test their nematode knowledge.
  • California’s Citrus Research Board (CRB) has signed a $900,000 non-dilutive funding agreement with Nanovel that includes delivery of a citrus-harvesting robot after a series of field trials. The field trials are set to start in the spring of 2025 and will be conducted in cooperation with citrus growers. Nanovel, an Israeli company established in 2018 by Chief Executive Officer Isaac Mazor, has unveiled an AI-powered autonomous fruit-harvesting robot capable of picking citrus fruit for the fresh market. According to Nanovel, the robot offers a solution to growers dealing with farm labor shortages and rapidly increasing costs.
  • Solinftec, a global leader in artificial intelligence solutions and sustainable agricultural practices, has shared an update on the successful inaugural commercial season of its groundbreaking Solix Sprayer Robot. For the 2024 growing season there were 50 robots in commercial use on farms in Indiana and Illinois monitoring more than 65 million plants. The use of Solix resulted in a reduction of up to 98 percent in herbicide volume and up to 10 percent more potential yields of crops including wheat, corn, popcorn seed and soybeans.
  • Fruitnet Media International – the world’s leading publisher and event organizer for the fresh produce business – is bringing Agtools curated and audited data to enhance its audience’s understanding of the industry. This collaboration aims to empower Fruitnet’s audience with Agtools’ meticulously curated and audited market data, enhancing insights and fostering informed decisions in the dynamic agricultural landscape.
  • Syngenta Group, a global leader in agricultural innovation, announced the launch of Cropwise AI at the World AgriTech Innovation Summit in London. Cropwise AI is a cutting-edge GenAI system designed to increase the efficiency of agronomic advisors and growers to determine the best crop management practices. Leveraging advanced machine learning algorithms and data analytics, Cropwise AI empowers growers with deep insights and enhanced decision-making capabilities to optimize crop yields, improve sustainability, and drive profitability.
    • AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

    Animal Ag News 10/2

    Carrie Muehling Leave a Comment

  • As of Sept.1, there were 76.5 million hogs and pigs on U.S. farms, up slightly from September 2023 and up 2 percent from June 1, 2024, according to the Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
  • In a victory for America’s pork producers and swine veterinarians, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) celebrated the United Nations’ (UN) decision to reject proposed on-farm target reductions of antimicrobials. Instead, the UN declaration on antimicrobial resistance invests in stewardship programs and strengthens veterinarians’ roles on the farm, which NPPC strongly supports. Without NPPC’s leadership and science-based voice in these discussions, by 2030, the UN could have implemented a 30 percent global on-farm reduction in antimicrobials, as well as limits on the use of certain antibiotics in animal agriculture. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, domestic sales of all medically important antimicrobials intended for use in food-producing animals decreased by 33 percent between 2016 and 2017.
  • During their 56th Annual Meeting, the Public Lands Council (PLC) honored two individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the public lands ranching community. PLC selected Nevada Agriculture Director and federal grazing permittee Dr. J.J. Goicoechea as the 2024 President’s Award recipient and longtime advisor and friend of ranching, Dick Loper, as the 2024 Friend of PLC.
  • National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) sends thoughts and prayers to the farmers and ranchers impacted by Hurricane Helene and the floods following her path. This Category 4 hurricane affects producers across the Southeast from Florida northward into the Appalachians. Producers in Florida can find resources from the Florida Cattlemen’s Association here. Contact Georgia Cattlemen’s Association at (478)-474-6560 or gca@gabeef.org. As more information becomes available, please visit the NCBA website for more resources and ways to assist at ncba.org/producers/disaster-relief-resources.
  • Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) has launched www.dairycheckoff.com to more effectively communicate the full national and local impact of the dairy checkoff to farmers and importers. Content focused toward these audiences previously was housed at www.USDairy.com, which will continue to serve as a go-to resource to reach consumer and thought leader audiences with information and research-backed information on dairy and its benefit on health and wellness and the environment.
  • Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, Dairy Business Association and Minnesota Milk Producers Association announced a new umbrella brand, the Voice of Milk, bringing together three dairy organizations working on federal policy as well as state policy throughout the Midwest.
  • Smart, practical solutions that deliver results – that’s the theme for GEA’s innovations unveiled at World Dairy Expo, Oct. 1-4. From the latest in teat dip and parlor wash controls to high-tech milk monitoring and AI detection of lameness and body condition scoring, GEA’s new products offer something for every dairy farm.
  • Since its debut in April 2024, Dairy MAX’s Fortnite Farm Tycoon map has successfully sold over 400,000 pounds of milk through its innovative blend of ecommerce and gaming. As youth gaming reaches unprecedented levels, this virtual environment allows players to immerse themselves in the world of dairy farming, giving them hands-on experiences in managing a farm, making agricultural decisions and learning about the importance of dairy farming in a fun, interactive setting.
  • The leader in intelligent nutrition, Novus International, Inc., and Ginkgo Bioworks, which is building the leading platform for cell programming and biosecurity, announced a partnership to develop advanced feed additives designed to meet the evolving needs of the animal agriculture industry. NOVUS will utilize Ginkgo Enzyme Services to build more efficient enzymes that can be produced cost-effectively.
  • The average broiler chicken lives 6–8 weeks and spends much of that time indoors, but researchers at Auburn University are investigating the use of natural light in broiler houses and its effects on bird performance and welfare. A team of agricultural engineers, animal scientists and extension specialists at the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station was awarded $300,000 by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture to study the impact natural light will have on commercial broiler flocks’ growth and welfare. The team will also develop a method for measuring the environmental impact of using more natural light, as well as prepare light-focused presentations for Alabama poultry producers.
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

    Walz References Farmers in Debate

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    Minnesota Governor and Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz brought the farm bill into the debate Tuesday night, in answer to a question about when he was in China.

    Walz was asked about a discrepancy between when he said he was in Hong Kong in the spring of 1989 during the Tiananmen Square protests and media reports that he was not there until August of that year. “I have poured my heart into my community. I’ve tried to do the best I can,” said Walz. “Those same people elected me to Congress for 12 years and in Congress I was one of the most bipartisan people working on things like farm bills that we got done.”

    Walz also brought up farmers earlier in the debate during a question about climate change. “My farmers know climate change is real,” said Walz. “They’ve seen 500 year droughts, 500 year floods back-to-back. But what they’re doing is adapting. And this has allowed them to tell me, “Look, I harvest corn, I harvest soybeans and I harvest wind, we are producing more natural gas and more oil at any time than we ever have. We’re also producing more clean energy.”

    Gov. Walz debate comments 1:34

    Four years ago this month, Gov. Walz spoke at the groundbreaking of the Ag Innovation Campus (AIC) processing plant, a facility spearheaded by Minnesota soybean growers which held its grand opening just over a year ago. However, last week the AIC announced the closing of the facility:

    We must announce with deep regret that the operations of the Ag Innovation Campus (AIC) processing plant have come to an end.

    At our groundbreaking event, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz recognized that this was a bold idea. It certainly was and everyone involved gave it a valiant effort that we are all proud of.

    …While our Board of Directors strongly believes in the AIC mission and has put in years of volunteer effort to advance the AIC mission, it has come time to bring the process to an end.

    Audio, Corn, Farm Bill, politics, Soybean

    Golden Harvest Updates from FPS24

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    Harvest is now in full swing around the country and for many farmers it’s a Golden Harvest kind of year.

    Golden Harvest had lots to talk about at the 2024 Farm Progress Show – already a month ago now! – including 14 new corn hybrids and 27 new soybean varieties for 2025, new traits, zero percent Golden Advantage financing, and agronomic research. Learn more about what’s new with Golden Harvest in these interviews from the show.

    Heather Volpe, Golden Harvest Brand Marketing Manager
    FPS24 - Interview with Heather Volpe, Golden Harvest 2:21
    Rex Gray, Golden Harvest Corn Product Manager
    FPS24 - Interview with Rex Gray, Golden Harvest 3:03
    Ryan Dunsbergen, Golden Harvest Soybean Product Manager
    FPS24 - Interview with Ryan Dunsbergen, Golden Harvest 3:21
    Adam Haag, Golden Harvest Agronomy Manager
    FPS24 - Interview with Adam Haag, Golden Harvest 4:11
    David Schlake and Joe Bollman, Golden Harvest Corn Technical Product Leads
    FPS24 - Interview with David Schlake and Joe Bollman, Golden Harvest 3:35

    2024 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

    Audio, Corn, Farm Progress Show, Golden Harvest, Soybean, Syngenta

    Helene Causes Extensive Damage in Southeast

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    Poultry houses damaged by Hurricane Helene in Georgia/Photo by Angie O’Steen

    Agricultural damage from Hurricane Helene is being evaluated this week around the southeast.

    At a press conference Sunday, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp said they expect the damage toll to be worse than Hurricane Michael in 2018. “We know we have 107 poultry facilities damaged or totally destroyed, 15 dairies that have been affected and dozens and dozens of other facilities,” said Kemp. “Literally every commodity in the state has been damaged by this storm.”

    Rep. Austin Scott speaks about hurricane damage

    House Agriculture Committee member Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA) pledged he will get relief for farmers at the federal level. “When we get back to Washington there will be a bipartisan disaster relief package passed,” said Scott.

    State agriculture commissioner Tyler Harper said they are working to assess losses as quickly as possible but he stressed that farmers need to document any damage. “We’re going to do everything we can to get our ag industry back on its feet as quickly as possible,” said Harper, urging others to “pray for our farm families…we have a lot of folks hurting across our state.”

    Agricultural damage is also being evaluated in Florida, North and South Carolina, and Tennessee.

    Read more about the damage in Georgia in this post from Jennifer Whittaker, Georgia Farm Bureau, and listen to comments from Gov. Kemp, Rep. Scott, and Commissioner Harper below.

    GA Gov. Brian Kemp - Helene damage (:30)
    Rep. Austin Scott - Helene damage (1:18)
    GA Ag Commissioner Harper - Helene damage (4:05)

    Audio, Cotton, Poultry, Weather

    Industry Ag News 9/30

    Carrie Muehling Leave a Comment

  • More support and action are urgently needed to tackle the worsening global hunger and malnutrition crisis, exacerbated by climate change and other challenges, according to a side panel at the United Nations General Assembly meetings in New York. The panel event, hosted by Farm Journal Foundation, Catholic Relief Services, and Caritas Internationalis brought together leaders to discuss global malnutrition challenges and solutions that can address the root causes of food and nutrition insecurity.
  • The World Food Prize Foundation announced the selection of 10 students for the 2024-25 internship program. Since the creation of its collegiate internship program in 2001, the Foundation has welcomed over 400 students from around the country. Internship programs provide undergraduate and graduate students an opportunity to explore global issues of food insecurity, sustainability, and international development. Providing students the ability to take on significant responsibility and initiative within a wide variety of Foundation projects. Interns will focus on awards management, youth programming, archival research, and much more.
  • The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) has changed the publication date of the 2023 Irrigation and Water Management data report. The data from this 2022 Census of Agriculture Special Study was scheduled to be released Nov. 14, 2024, at noon EDT. The new release date is Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, at noon EDT. All NASS reports are available online at www.nass.usda.gov/Publications.
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) long-awaited updates to the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Farm Loan Programs are officially in effect. These changes, part of the Enhancing Program Access and Delivery for Farm Loans rule, are designed to increase financial flexibility for agricultural producers, allowing them to grow their operations, boost profitability, and build long-term savings.
  • During the 2024 National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Annual Meeting, members elected their 2025 officers. Arkansas Department of Agriculture Secretary Wes Ward will serve as NASDA’s 2024-2025 President.
  • Farm Journal, U.S. agriculture’s leading business information and data insights company, has named Chris Seper as executive vice president, Farm Journal brands. He will lead the company’s audience center of excellence, which includes the editorial, broadcast, audience development, events, content studios and product development teams.
  • The Renewable Fuels Association welcomed Specialist Nutrition and Mickelson & Company to its expanding roster of associate members. These organizations share a common vision with RFA’s membership and bring innovative approaches and fresh perspectives to the renewable fuels industry.
  • As part of their Thank You Farmers Project, Culver’s launched the third annual To Farmers With Love Contest today – this year more than doubling total prize money to reward deserving farmers across the country. This year’s contest begins today and will run through Oct. 11, leading up to National Farmer’s Day on Oct. 12.
  • Key findings from the 2024 Farmer Voice survey, a study among 2,000 farmers across Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, India, Kenya, Ukraine, and the United States, conducted by global market research firm Kynetec on behalf of Bayer, are now available. It reveals the challenges, aspirations, and needs of farmers in times of climate change, digitalization, and economic and political volatility.
    • Zimfo Bytes

    Evolving Weather Patterns Challenge Farmers

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    Changing precipitation patterns continue to challenge farmers across the Corn Belt, according to Dennis Todey, director of USDA’s Midwest Climate Hub.

    “As the agricultural landscape evolves, it’s vital to keep farmers informed with the latest data and insights,” said Todey. “Understanding changes in weather patterns and other factors empowers them to make better decisions and optimize their operations.”

    Todey recently spoke to farmers in the Pivot Bio booth at the 2024 Farm Progress Show on a range of topics, from the potential threat of an early freeze to the changing dynamics of precipitation and its implications for growing seasons. Three of his main points were:

    1. Early-Freeze Concerns Are Minimal
    Todey reassured farmers that based on current weather models and historical data, there is no imminent threat of an early freeze this season. He highlighted that freeze-risk assessments are generally guided by trends such as seasonal temperature patterns and climatic conditions, which currently do not indicate a high probability of frost.

    2. Growing Seasons Are Extended Due to Warming Trends
    Warming trends have resulted in longer growing seasons, with the average dates for last spring and first fall freezes shifting. This provides more time for crop growth but also introduces new challenges for farmers, such as an increase in insects and weeds.

    3. Rainfall Patterns Are Shifting
    The Corn Belt will still experience moderate rains; however, farmers should expect larger intense rainfalls. These heavy rainfalls, especially in the spring, can lead to rapid soil saturation, runoff, and potential erosion, impacting crop health and soil structure. Todey says this change in rainfall distribution affects soil-moisture levels. Additionally, rainfall is becoming more variable as to when or where it occurs during the year.

    “While farmers in the Corn Belt faced many challenges this year, the potential for nitrogen loss through leaching and denitrification was especially prevalent during the early planting season, when there was so much rain,” said Clayton Nevins, Ph.D., Pivot Bio senior agronomic scientist. “Our goal at Pivot Bio is to help farmers solve for a percentage of nitrogen loss by diversifying their fertilizer sources with nitrogen-fixing microbes that live on the plants’ roots and provide consistent access to nitrogen.”

    Learn more about what Pivot Bio can do for nitrogen loss in this interview with agronomist Karen Zuver from Farm Progress Show.
    FPS24 - Interview with Karen Zuver, Pivot Bio 4:30

    Audio, Farm Progress Show, Nutrient Management, Weather

    NAMA 2024 Professional Development Awards of Excellence

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    The National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) is pleased to announce three marketing and agricultural leaders as winners of the 2024 Professional Development Awards of Excellence.

    Marketing Communications – Erin Kolstad, G&S Business Communications
    During her 7-year tenure at G&S, Erin has quickly learned new technical information and understands how to apply communication strategy to help achieve business goals. Erin demonstrates a keen understanding of the industries she supports and has leveraged that knowledge to drive successful and innovative campaigns. Over the past 18 months, Erin has been a key driving force behind several mission critical campaigns. As a member of the Carolinas-Virginia chapter board, Erin has served as the communications chair, promoting and helping plan the chapter’s key events. She also manages social and email communications to engage chapter members.

    Public Relations – Sandra Mason, Association of Equipment Manufacturers
    Sandra Mason has served as the Director of Public Relations for the Association of Equipment Manufacturers for over 8 years, responsible for setting and implementing the strategic direction of the public and media relations efforts for theassociation, as well as trade shows, including Commodity Classic, CONEXPO• CON/AGG, World of Asphalt and the Utility Expo. Additionally, within the last 18 months, Sandra has led the public relations charge on two high-profile initiatives for AEM: the Celebration of Modern Agriculture on the National Mall and the AEM Manufacturing Express. In addition to participating in conferences and meetings, she also serves on the Student NAMA Committee and has participated in Best of NAMA judging.

    Sales – Cheri Knoy, Farm Progress
    Cheri Knoy has been honored for bringing teams together, receiving Vance Publishing’s Tony Pugliese Award. An expert in relationship building, Cheri knows how to put together an overall proposal for a client to hit their goals. She focuses on more than traditional advertising and gets to know the strategy and objectives of her customers and puts together packages that achieve success. As a NAMA member since 1998, she has served in many roles including president of the NAMA Pacific and Southwest Chapters. She has served on the conference committee and judged the marketing competition.

    The awards will be presented in conjunction with the NAMA Fall Conference, October 14-16 in Minneapolis.

    NAMA

    Precision Ag News 9/25

    Carrie Muehling Leave a Comment

  • CropLife America elected Darren Dillenbeck, president, FMC North America, as its new chair of the CLA Board of Directors. Mr. Dillenbeck will hold the position for two years and utilize his strong leadership skills to help guide the association. He succeeds Andy Lee, president and CEO of Valent USA, who chaired the Board from 2022 – 2024. Mr. Dillenbeck previously served on the association’s Executive Committee as a Vice Chair.
  • Terviva, Inc., an agricultural innovation company partnering with farmers to grow and harvest pongamia, announced the appointment of two senior members of its executive leadership team – Simmarpal Singh as Chief Operating Officer and Manju Kohli as Senior Vice President, People Operations. Singh and Kohli will provide critical support as Terviva continues scaling its global pongamia production and pongamia bean processing technology across three main agricultural applications: food, feed, and fuel.
  • The Mid America CropLife Association (MACA) has awarded Dr. Christy Sprague the prestigious 2024 Educator of the Year award. The honor was presented by MACA President Jaime Yanes during the association’s Annual Meeting in Bloomington, Minnesota on Tuesday, September 3.
  • The Mid America CropLife Association (MACA) presented its prestigious Industry Vision Award to Ben Kaehler, former Vice President of National Accounts at Corteva Agriscience.
  • The Pesticide Stewardship Alliance (TPSA) is pleased to introduce a new logo and a revamped website. With the 25th anniversary of TPSA on the horizon, the new logo reflects a dedicated mission to pesticide stewardship and a revamped website reflects an ongoing commitment to a user-friendly experience.
  • UAS Magazine announced the keynote speaker for the 2024 UAS Summit & Expo, scheduled for October 8-9 at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, North Dakota. The UAS Summit & Expo is designed for companies and organizations advancing UAS commercialization and utilization. Palmer Luckey is best known for founding Oculus VR and designing the Oculus Rift, a virtual reality head-mounted display, when he was 20 years old. At age 22, he sold the company to Meta for $2 billion in cash and stock. His most recent defense start-up is now turning heads and impressing military leaders around the world. In 2017, he founded Anduril Industries, a defense technology company focused on autonomous drones and sensors for military applications.
  • FS crop specialists have been collecting corn yield estimates in Illinois and Iowa as part of the FS Crop Tour. As of September 20, the data estimated a yield of 220 bushels per acre for Iowa, with 120 data locations, and 222 bushels per acre for Illinois, with 204 data locations.
  • The Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership (ISAP) has recently accepted four new member organizations into the Partnership. Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Nutrient Research & Education Council (NREC), Savanna Institute, and Saving Tomorrow’s Agriculture Resources (STAR) are the newest members to join ISAP, whose mission is to create a network to support a systems approach to improve soil health and reduce nutrient loss.
  • Leaders from agInnovation, the network of agricultural experiment stations at the nation’s land-grant universities, revealed a new 10-year Research Roadmap in Washington D.C. The plan was created by a working group consisting of state agricultural experiment station directors from each of agInnovation’s regions: North Central, Northeastern, Southern, Western and 1890 land-grant universities, as well as members of the Association of Public and Land-grant University’s (APLU) Boards on Agriculture Assembly and Natural Resources, 1994 land-grant institutions and others. The Roadmap will address some of the primary obstacles to a prosperous future, according to George Smith, Michigan State University AgBioResearch director and agInnovation chair.
  • Farmers in Wisconsin are using data to better understand on-farm sustainability and the environmental impact of farming practices. These efforts are part of multi-year sustainability projects led by Farmers for Sustainable Food. The organization supports nine farmer-led watershed conservation groups, two of which have participated in the projects, using sustainability metrics to inform their farm management decisions. The release of the Peninsula Pride Farms Sustainability Project year four results and the Lafayette Ag Stewardship Alliance Sustainability Project year five results demonstrate continuous improvement in sustainability and water quality across Wisconsin.
    • AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

    ZimmCast 735 – Preview of 2024 NAMA Fall Conference

    Chuck Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    ZimmCastHello and welcome to the ZimmCast.

    It’s time for the 2024 NAMA Fall Conference which will be held in Minneapolis, MN, October 14-16. The theme is “Fall Back” and you’ll hear why in my interview with Laura Rustmann, Director of Marketing and Sales, J.L. Farmakis, Inc. and Chair of the committee that is organizing the conference. BTW. You can register here.

    Cindy and I have enjoyed a few weeks without travel since the Farm Progress Show but things will get started again the beginning of October. I will not be able to attend the NAMA Fall Conference this year due to a conflict but we’re going to get a preview from Laura.

    That’s the ZimmCast for now. Please let me know if you have ideas for a future podcast. Just email me at chuck@zimmcomm.biz.

    Listen to the episode here:
    ZimmCast 735 - Preview of the 2024 NAMA Fall Conference (13:23)

    I hope you enjoyed it and thank you for listening.

    Subscribe to the ZimmCast in:

    Agencies, Agribusiness, Audio, Media, NAMA, ZimmCast