RFA Ethanol Podcast

Verdesian Life Sciences Acquires SFP

Jamie Johansen

Verdesian Life Sciences of Cary, North Carolina has announced the acquisition of Specialty Fertilizer Products (SFP), a Leawood, Kansas-based company focused on fertilizer efficiency products. According to Verdesian CEO J.J. Grow, joining forces with SFP will add more than 270 patent properties to the company’s portfolio. “SFP’s innovative fertilizer solutions are a natural fit with Verdesian’s expansive product offerings that …

Agribusiness, Fertilizer

NCGA Climbs to New Membership Heights

Jamie Johansen

National Corn Growers Association membership set yet another membership record at the end of June, with 41,185 active members. This membership record replaces the former record of 40,797, set in April. Notably, the April record concluded a three-month run of consistent record membership. “The membership records just keep coming in 2014, and we couldn’t be more excited,” said NCGA President …

Ag Groups, Corn, NCGA

AgChat Foundation Seeks Full-Time Executive Director

Jamie Johansen

As an organization which is experiencing significant growth, the AgChat Foundation Board of Directors is launching a search for a full-time Executive Director. “Emily Zweber has served as the part-time Executive Director since 2011. Since that time she has been a remarkable asset successfully steering ACF,” President Jeff VanderWerff said. He adds that, “As a key part of our new …

Ag Groups

Bayer CropScience Introduces Credenz Soybean Seed

Jamie Johansen

Offering growers a new level of choice and performance, Bayer CropScience announced the introduction of Credenz, the company’s first global soybean seed brand, commercially available in U.S. markets this month. Delivering a wide range of varieties and traits, Credenz builds on Bayer CropScience’s substantial technology platform, integrating smart genetics, traits and varieties to maximize yield performance. The new brand will …

Agribusiness, Bayer, Seed, Soybean

2014 Forrest Bassford Student Award Competitors

Jamie Johansen

The Livestock Production Council (LPC) has announced that four United States agricultural journalism students will be rewarded for their talent with the 2014 Forrest Bassford Student Travel Award. The award, sponsored by Alltech, supports the journalists’ travel fees and participation at the Livestock Production Council annual convention and Ag Media Summit in Indianapolis, Indiana July 26-30, where they will have …

Ag Groups, Journalism

NCGA Joins USB, Taking Action on Weeds

Jamie Johansen

The National Corn Growers Association has added a new “Take Action on Weeds” section to its website as a resource of farmers combating herbicide resistance issues. This resource, developed by the United Soybean Board through its Take Action program, offers a wide array of information developed over several years to help farmers combat weed resistance through best management practices. “The …

Ag Groups, Corn, NCGA, Soybean, USB, weed management

Lotz Wins World Livestock Auctioneer Championship

Jamie Johansen

Blaine Lotz of Edna, Kan. proved his world-class talent as a livestock auctioneer at the 51st anniversary of the Livestock Marketing Association’s (LMA) World Livestock Auctioneer Championship (WLAC) in Knoxville, Iowa, on Saturday, June 21. As a third-generation auctioneer, the world champion was quite familiar with the livestock marketing industry. When he was 15, Lotz attended auctioneering school at Western …

Ag Groups, Beef, Livestock, LMA

Where Are You in #Hay14?

Jamie Johansen

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “How important are biobased products for agriculture?” An overwhelming majority of those polled believe biobased products serve a purpose in the agriculture community. At the USB Biobased Stakeholders Dialogue in Washington D.C., USDA officials shared what they are doing to expand biobased opportunities. Listen to those interviews here. Our poll results: Very – need …

ZimmPoll

Soil Renaissance Strategic Plan for Soil Health

Jamie Johansen

Goals and strategies for advancing soil health were announced with the release of the Soil Renaissance Strategic Plan during the World Congress of Conservation Agriculture in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. “This Strategic Plan is a starting point that will evolve and expand as work is completed, new challenges are identified and more individuals and groups join the Soil Renaissance,” said Neil …

Agribusiness, Soil

Advocates at World Conservation Congress for Ag

Jamie Johansen

During the upcoming World Conservation Congress for Agriculture you will hear from outspoken advocates for conservation agriculture from around the globe. The event will take place June 22-25 in Winnipeg, Manitoba and it’s the first time being held in North America. DAY 1 – David Montgomery, author of Dirt, sees no-till farming as “the hope for a new agricultural revolution …

Ag Groups, Conservation