One of the world’s foremost agricultural pioneers passed away last week. Mary-Dell Chilton, Syngenta plant biotechnologist, died on June 24 at the age of 87. Just one of her many awards and accolades over the years included being honored as the 2013 World Food Prize Laureate, with co-Laureates Marc Van Montagu and Robert Fraley, for her breakthrough achievement in developing …
DWFI Podcast 53 – Validating the Future of Carbon Markets
Five years ago, the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute (DWFI) was tapped by the U.S. Department of Energy to tackle a critical challenge: scientifically validating carbon sequestration in Midwest corn and soybean production. With this $3 million project now in its final 120-day closeout phase, DWFI Director of Research Christopher Neale discusses this initiative at the intersection of energy, …
Grounded in Ag and AgCareers Create Ag Onboarding Academy
Grounded in AgTM and AgCareers have partnered to create Ag Onboarding Academy to address the experience and market knowledge gap that many employees and new hires in the industry today have since fewer have lived on farms, studied agriculture in college or worked in the industry. “Our latest analysis indicates nearly 40 percent of AgCareers.com’s job applicants do not have …
ZimmCast 761 – Biofueling Agriculture
American agriculture is at a crossroads today, but biofuels could point the way to a brighter future, according to a recent study from S&P Global and commissioned by U.S. Farmers and Ranchers in Action (USFRA). “Fueling Agriculture: Biofuels as the Catalyst,” finds that biofuels have the potential to restore long-term profitability to American farms and drive investment in rural communities; …
Senators Say Study Shows Need for Biofuels Growth
Midwest lawmakers hope a new report out this week from S&P Global and commissioned by U.S. Farmers and Ranchers in Action (USFRA) will help grow momentum to get a bill allowing nationwide, year-round sales of 15% ethanol fuel through the Senate. At a press conference announcing the report, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) said time is running out to get legislation …
New Study Shows Benefits of Biofuels Expansion
A new S&P Global Energy study released today shows how expanded biofuel markets are a catalyst for agriculture, revitalizing farm communities, stabilizing farm incomes, and providing both food and energy security. Commissioned by U.S. Farmers and Ranchers in Action (USFRA), the research, titled “Fueling Agriculture: Biofuels as the Catalyst,” offers a detailed, evidence‑based assessment of agriculture’s future and presents a …
ZimmCast 760 – Award to Harry Siemens
Hello and welcome to the ZimmCast. I’m Chuck Zimmerman. In this episode I have a very special guest. I haven’t talked to him recently but we did quite a bit in the early days of AgWired. He’s Harry Siemens and some of you may have heard or read his Siemens Says. He just received a very well deserved award and …
ZimmCast 759 – AgGateway Mid-Year and AI
Hello and welcome to the ZimmCast. I’m Chuck Zimmerman. In this episode I’m sharing my preview interview for the AgGateway Mid-Year Meeting with President/CEO, Brent Kemp. Additionally I’ve got a few comments regarding AI, or Artificial Intelligence, for those of you who haven’t heard of it. But really, AI, is moving fast and besides it is a topic for the …
USDA Ramps Up New World Screwworm Fight
USDA confirmed the detection yesterday of a New World screwworm in a three-week old beef calf in Zavala County, Texas, about 60 miles from the Mexico border, and today officials laid out plans to keep it from spreading. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins updated the House Agriculture Committee Thursday morning. “It is a vexing challenge that we thought we had …
USDA Launches Great American Cotton Plan
USDA unveiled the Great American Cotton Plan Thursday, an initiative to “strengthen the cotton farm economy, restore domestic textile manufacturing, expand cotton trade opportunities, and increase demand for products made with American-grown cotton.” The announcement comes as cotton producers face a fifth consecutive year of negative returns driven by rising input costs, trade distortions, and increasing competition from synthetic materials. …