The 2021 American Seed Trade Association CSS & Seed Expo wrapped up Thursday with the announcement that the event will be held in a warmer location two years from now. “In 2023 we are moving from the cold bridges of Chicago to the sunshine and palm trees of Florida,” said ASTA Senior Director, Meetings & Services, Jennifer Crouse. The history …
Ethanol Report Reviews EPA Announcements
The ethanol industry got some long-awaited announcements from the Biden Administration this week on COVID aid from USDA and biofuel blending obligations from the Environmental Protection Agency. It’s a mixed bag of good news and bad news for ethanol producers and in this edition of The Ethanol Report we get the details from Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Geoff …
Carbon Markets Take Spotlight at #ASTACSS
The growing role of carbon management in agriculture is such an important topic right now that the ASTA CSS & Seed Expo devoted a special general session to it on Wednesday. Two panels, with an introductory keynote from Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), explored carbon management from the local to the global scale, and what is new in the carbon marketplace. …
Basse Provides Annual Ag Economic Update at #ASTACSS
AgResource Company president Dan Basse was back in person with his annual update on the global agricultural market at the 2021 ASTA CSS & Seed Expo on Tuesday. Basse has presented at the event every year since 2012 and, as always, he packed a lot of information into an hour. Among the trends he noted for the coming year – …
Seed Industry Opportunities in Alternative Proteins
Demand for plant-based proteins is skyrocketing and that means seed to grow the plants being used to make alternative proteins is in high demand. One of the first panels of the ASTA CSS & Seed Expo kicking off Monday explored the rapidly growing world of plant-based proteins and how the seed industry can help meet the increased consumer demand. Plant …
Remembering Bob Dole
Many members of the agricultural community have fond memories of former Sen. Bob Dole (R-KS), who passed away Sunday at the age of 98. Here’s mine. In 2008, Dole was honored with the World Food Prize, along with former Democrat Sen. George McGovern, for their work in creating the McGovern-Dole international school-feeding program. They both remind us of a time …
Truterra Carbon Program Reports Successful First Year
POST UPDATED with audio Truterra, the sustainability business of Land O’Lakes, Inc., is reporting high farmer interest and participation in its inaugural carbon program, launched in February 2021 and plans for 2022. Truterra’s 2021 offering made more than $4 million in cash payments upfront to participating farmers, who sequestered over 200,000 metric tons of carbon. Designed to be the most …
Enogen in the MILK Business
Now in its 19th year, the MILK Business Conference is a must-attend event for commercial dairy farmers seeking seeking insight to better manage their dairy and their bottom line and one of this year’s elite sponsors was Enogen Feed from Syngenta. The Farm Journal event last week was an opportunity for Enogen Strategic Account Manager Todd Axtell to tell the …
USDA Announces $633 Million in Climate-Smart Investments
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack was in Pennsylvania Friday to announce $633 million in investments to reduce the impacts of climate change on rural communities. In a press call with reporters, Vilsack highlighted 791 investments that USDA is making in five programs specifically designed to help people and businesses in rural areas. These programs include Community Facilities Disaster Grants, Electric Loan …
Partnership Acquires Willamette Egg Farms
Breaking news in the egg industry today. Northwest Farms and Proterra Investment Partners (Proterra) has acquired the operations and assets of Willamette Egg Farms (Willamette) in the Pacific Northwest from Michael Foods, Inc., a subsidiary of Post Holdings. Northwest Farms is a newly formed company that includes several egg farming families who also are owners in Versova Management (Versova). Versova, …