The seeds planted in the 2018 farm bill legalizing the production of hemp as an agricultural commodity are starting to grow. Florida has officially entered the field with the governor just signing a measure allowing an agricultural hemp program to be developed. Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried believes hemp could be the boost the state’s farm sector and rural areas …
USDA Corn Acreage Report Surprises
With all the weather-related planting delays we’ve had, USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Acreage report out Friday was a big surprise to the trade with corn acres estimated to be three percent higher than last year. At the same time, soybean acres are estimated to be the lowest in six years. Corn planted area for all purposes in 2019 …
BASF Receives EPA Registration for Revysol Fungicide
BASF has received Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registration for Revysol® fungicide. The new active ingredient (AI) is the first and only isopropanol azole of its kind in the market for a broad range of crops and disease combinations. Revysol, and its related product brands, will be available to growers for the 2020 planting season. Revysol fungicide has a unique isopropanol …
FMC Announces $50 Million Global R&D Investment
This morning I spoke with Kathy Shelton, FMC Chief Technology Officer, about a major R&D announcement from the company. Over the next three years FMC will be investing more than $50 million in capital improvement projects, including a state-of-the-art reconfiguration of a greenhouse and research facility at the company’s Global Research and Development headquarters in Newark, Delaware known as the …
NPPC Launches Keep America First in Ag Campaign
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) has launched a new campaign to highlight the importance of establishing a proper regulatory framework for gene editing in American livestock. The “Keep America First in Agriculture” campaign was officially kicked off Tuesday with a media teleconference featuring leading researchers, veterinarians, producers and industry experts. “Gene editing is a huge step forward for America’s …
The Passing of Jerry Stoller
I am sad to learn of the passing of Jerry Stoller, founder of Stoller Enterprises. I only met him once but he’s one of the men in this industry who made an impression and impact on me in just the short time I got to talk with him. Here’s the announcement from the company. Stoller Enterprises Founder, Jerry H. Stoller …
Advancements with Ted Danson to Feature AMVAC SIMPAS
An upcoming episode of Advancements with Ted Danson will highlight recent advances in agriculture, including AMVAC’s unique SIMPAS® (Smart Integrated Multiproduct Prescription Application System) technology. Viewers will learn about the ISO-based tool, which allows farmers to automate and variably apply multiple inputs across a field. “SIMPAS fulfills our dream at AMVAC of being able to apply crop inputs to a …
Renewable Fuels Association Features E85 Can-Am Conversion
During the Fuel Ethanol Workshop (FEW) this year the Renewable Fuels Association featured a racing Can-Am X3 (2018 model) which has been converted to running on E85. This beautiful vehicle wrapped with the RFA’s “Fueled With Pride” image, has been racing this season. The extra horsepower provided by the E85 fuel has provided a performance boost as you’ll hear RFA’s …
ZimmCast 619 – President Trump’s Visit to Ethanol Plant
In this week’s program you will hear from industry attendees to President Trump’s visit to Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy (SIRE) in Council Bluffs, IA. Included in the program are: Mike Jerke, CEO, SIRE Craig Floss, President/CEO, Iowa Corn Growers Mike Naig, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Kevin Ross, farmer and 1st VP, NCGA Monte Shaw, Executive Director, IRFA Geoff Cooper, President/CEO, …
Behind the Scenes with President Trump at Iowa Ethanol Plant
Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) CEO Geoff Cooper and Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy CEO Mike Jerke shared their thoughts about President Donald Trump’s behind the scenes tour of the ethanol plant Tuesday. Jerke and Cooper met the president as he arrived at the plant and escorted him in to meet some local farmers and plant employees and learn more about ethanol. …