Dow-DuPont is Done Deal

Cindy Zimmerman

The “merger of equals” between The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) and E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company (“DuPont”) became official on Friday, now operating as a holding company under the name “DowDuPont™” with three divisions – Agriculture, Materials Science and Specialty Products. Moving forward, DowDuPont intends to separate the divisions to stand within their own legal entities by the …

Agribusiness, AgWired Precision

Northey and Two More Nominated for USDA Posts

Cindy Zimmerman

Three more nominations for key posts at USDA were made Friday as Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue remains the only Trump nominee approved in the department. “I’m hoping that the Senate can move very quickly on the ones before them when they get back,” said Perdue during a stop at Farm Progress Show last week. “I need some help and I …

AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Audio, Farm Progress Show, USDA

USDA Allows Dairy Farmers to Opt Out of Program

Cindy Zimmerman

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) has announced that, starting today, dairy producers can enroll for 2018 coverage in the Margin Protection Program – or opt out, a new option granted by Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. To opt out, a producer should not sign up during the annual registration period. By opting out, a producer would …

AFBF, AgWired Animal, Dairy, USDA

Credenz Soybeans Launch New Varieties for 2018

Cindy Zimmerman

Soybean growers visiting the Farm Progress Show this week got the news that Bayer is introducing 15 new Credenz® variety options to fight against key agronomic issues in 2018. The new Credenz® varieties include LibertyLink® traits and feature Bayer smart genetics. In addition, six new Balance® GT varieties have been developed for maturity groups 2.1 to 4.1. Upon approval, the …

AgWired Precision, Audio, Bayer, Farm Progress Show, Soybean

Biofuels Voices Comment on RFS Rule

Cindy Zimmerman

The comment period for the EPA’s proposed volume obligations for biofuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) has officially ended and stakeholders in both the biodiesel and ethanol industries made their voices heard. The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) submitted comments “urging the agency to finalize the RVOs that were included in EPA’s first draft of the proposal that was submitted …

ACE, Biodiesel, Biofuels, Corn, Ethanol, RFA

GROWMARK Leading in Nutrient Loss Reduction

Cindy Zimmerman

GROWMARK and the FS System have been leaders in the state of Illinois when it comes to helping farmers adopt best management practices to reduce nutrient losses, contributing to the success of the state’s Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy. At the Farm Progress Show this week, Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey visited the GROWMARK FS tent to learn what he can …

AgWired Precision, Audio, Farm Progress Show, FS System, GROWMARK

House Ag Committee at #FPS17

Cindy Zimmerman

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (R-TX), Ranking Member Collin Peterson (D-MN) and members of the committee hosted a farm bill listening session at the Farm Progress Show Thursday in Decatur, Illinois. It was the fifth such session the committee has held so far. “This was a terrific listening session that will benefit us as we write the next farm …

AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Audio, Farm Bill, Farm Policy, Farm Progress Show

Verdesian Life Sciences Introduces FlexConnect™

Cindy Zimmerman

Verdesian Life Sciences introduced FlexConnect™, the first closed transfer system for soybean inoculants, at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Illinois this week. Combined with a mixing port, FlexConnect enables applicators to handle and mix inoculants of any volume straight from the packaging, without transferring to a separate tank. This saves applicators time and money by minimizing the waste normally …

AgWired Precision, Farm Progress Show, Seed, Verdesian, Video

Stoller Fortified Stimulate Yield Enhancer Plus

Cindy Zimmerman

At the Farm Progress Show Tuesday, StollerUSA launched its new Fortified Stimulate Yield Enhancer Plus for the 2018 growing season. During a press conference at the show, Stoller Market Development Agronomist Rob Jerek explained that the product contains a proprietary blend of four bio-identical growth-regulating hormones for optimal yield production. “These hormones are naturally in the (soybean) plant,” said Jarek, …

Audio, Farm Progress Show, Soybean

Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Report

Cindy Zimmerman

The directors of the Illinois Department of Agriculture and Illinois Environmental Protection Agency yesterday presented the state’s Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy Biennial Report at the Farm Progress Show. This report describes actions taken in Illinois during the last two years to reduce nutrient losses and influence positive changes in nutrient loads over time. Illinois’ Strategy is one of numerous other …

Audio, Conservation, Farm Progress Show, GROWMARK, Nutrient Management, Water