A highlight for all who attended the American Seed Trade Association’s (ASTA) CSS & Seed Expo is an agricultural economy report from Dan Basse, AgResource. Back by popular demand, Basse took us through the 2018 economic themes he forecasts we will see in agriculture. “Generally speaking, it looks to be another year like the last one. We are thinking farming …
ASTA Announces Student Video Awards
The first-place winner of the first “Better Seed, Better Life” student video contest was awarded this week during the CSS 2017 & Seed Expo in Chicago. Sponsored by the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), the National Association of Plant Breeders (NAPB), and the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America and Soil Science Society of America (Tri-Societies), the …
Milk Gets A New Voice
Edge is the new name for a large dairy cooperative formerly known as the Dairy Business Milk Marketing Cooperative. John Pagel is a Wisconsin dairy farmer currently serving as president of Edge. “As we continued to grow, we could understand and see that we did not have what we believed was good, solid representation of federal issues in [Washington] D.C. …
ASTA CSS 2017 Attendance Strong
The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) is ushering in the holiday season in its traditional way – with the annual CSS & Seed Expo in Chicago. ASTA president and CEO Andy LaVigne says turnout at the annual event that includes the industry’s biggest trade show is still very strong despite ongoing mergers and acquisitions. “We’ll probably have close to 2700 …
FMC Awaits Steward EC Approval
FMC‘s Great Plains Sales Manager, Tom Koranek, covers Canada to Mexico and lands between the Mississippi and the Rockies. We had the opportunity to learn about one of the products awaiting approval to combat those pesky insects interesting in corn. Steward® EC insecticide controls western corn rootworm adult populations. “There’s resistance today of a lot of the products that are …
GROWMARK’s Wells Joins ARA Executive Committee
GROWMARK Crop Nutrients Division Manager Rod Wells is the newest member of the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) executive committee. Wells has been involved in ARA for a number of years and believes it is an important place to participate. “It’s all about being engaged in the process. It’s about advocating for the industry,” said Wells. “It’s critical that we make …
Missouri Farm Bureau Listening Session on #FarmBill18
The Missouri Farm Bureau held their annual meeting earlier this week and a highlight for many was the discussion on the 2018 Farm Bill. In a packed house, a Focus on the Farm Bill Seminar took place with Capitol Hill decision makers and thought-leaders in Missouri agriculture. Panelists: – Ranking Member House Ag Committee, Congressman Collin Peterson – Missouri Congresswoman …
FMC’s 3RIVE 3D Part of Freedom Pass Program
We’ve done several stories on FMC’s 3RIVE 3D technology and now growers have a way to get a free system! Jamie talked with Mike Harper, FMC Industry Relations Manager, during the recent NAFB Convention about how this can happen. According to Mike the FMC Freedom Pass program has a 3RIVE 3D option. As part of the FMC Freedom Pass program, …
ARA Conference Chair Optimistic Amid Challenges
For the past nine years, Leroy Startz with ING Capital has chaired the committee that plans the Agricultural Retailers Association annual conference. Startz said this year’s conference had strong attendance and even stronger enthusiasm from participants, even though low commodity prices continue to challenge the industry. “Prices are not where they need to be. Everybody’s trying to figure out how …
GROWMARK Opens New Tank and Truck Center
Bolt cutters instead of scissors cutting through a chain instead of ribbon marked the grand opening of GROWMARK’s new Tank and Truck Center in Morton, Illinois last month. The bolt cutters were a last minute change when weather forced the celebration inside. Tank and Truck Center Sales and Operations Manager Mike Davis says they were supposed to use a blow …