Precision Ag News 8/30

Carrie Muehling

  • Pairwise, a food and agriculture company known for bringing the first gene-edited food to the U.S. market, and Bayer announced a new five-year, multi-million dollar agreement focused on innovations in short-stature corn. This new program leverages Pairwise’s Fulcrum platform and builds on the success of the companies’ initial five-year collaboration for corn, soy, wheat, cotton, and canola.
  • The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is announcing the selection of 33 organizations to receive over $3.1 million in funding for projects under the Environmental Education Grants program, including $99,795 to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln will use the funding to expand the Know Your Well Project and develop a science curriculum that will be rolled out to over 100 rural Nebraska high school students with the goals of increasing science literacy, awareness of agricultural practices, and groundwater stewardship.
  • Encouraging results from a three-year on-farm sustainability project show that implementation of conservation practices can have a lasting impact on the natural resources of the farm and surrounding areas. Most notable was that 91 percent of fields in the project have improved water quality by mitigating excess loss of subsurface nitrogen. The three-year findings, based on 2020-2022 data, are detailed in a 19-page report available online at farmersforsustainablefood.com/projects.
  • New research by scientists at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center and Cornell University provides a key enabling technology to produce obligate outcrossing in soybean. The newly published study, Introduction of barnase/barstar in soybean produces a rescuable male sterility system for hybrid breeding in the Plant Biotechnology Journal revealed that obligate outcrossing with the Barnase/Barstar lines provides a new resource that can be used to amplify hybrid seed sets, enabling large-scale trials for heterosis in this major crop.
  • Agrela Ecosystems, a startup launched by Nadia Shakoor, PhD, principal investigator, at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center announced the pilot launch of its flagship product, PheNode. This milestone marks the first step towards a full-scale commercial release set for 2025. PheNode is an advanced, scalable environmental sensor platform designed to empower users with customizable data collection and the rapid integration of new technologies.
  • Corteva Agriscience announced the expansion of its U.S. fungicide portfolio with the launch of Viatude fungicide, a new solution for farmers from northern U.S. soybean-producing states to help protect their soybeans from white mold disease.
  • CropX, a global leader in digital solutions for agronomic farm management, announced the appointment of agricultural technology veteran John Gates to Chief Revenue Officer. Gates will oversee CropX’s commercial expansion globally following leadership roles in Europe and North America.
  • Trace Genomics, an industry-leading provider of science-validated soil biology insights, and Taurus Agricultural Marketing, market-leading distributor of agricultural products in Canada, announced an international partnership.
  • As Farm Equipment Magazine prepares to celebrate its 55th Anniversary this October with a special issue that looks back at the past five decades of the farm equipment industry, parent-company Lessiter Media has announced a special partnership with NAEDA’s Equipment Dealers Foundation to use the momentous occasion to raise funds for technical education scholarships.
  • Arva Intelligence Corp. and MillPont announce an innovative and strategic collaboration to enhance the confidence of ecosystem market participants in the integrity and exclusivity of environmental asset claims in the agricultural market. Arva will work with MillPont, leveraging their environmental claims clearing solution platform, Atlas.
  • Forty years ago, a desire to change the fertilizer industry brought Troy Bancroft and his father-in-law, Douglas Cook, together to start a groundbreaking company. Now AgroLiquid is celebrating the progress made throughout those 40 years and looking to the future.
    • AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

    Syngenta Seeds and Sustainable Oils to Sell Camelina Seed

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Syngenta Seeds was pleased to make a big announcement the first day of Farm Progress Show Tuesday about a new agreement with Sustainable Oils, Inc. to sell Camelina sativa (camelina) seed – an ultra-low carbon oilseed crop that can be used as feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel and renewable fuels, and an ingredient for sustainable animal feed.

    The collaboration reflects Syngenta’s strong commitment to enabling farmers to economically adopt regenerative practices around the world. Camelina can be planted on fallow land or land left idle between crop cycles. It is valued for its low water usage, quick maturity, and resilient yields. Camelina protects land like a cover crop providing a range of environmental benefits, including soil health and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

    “The collaboration of Syngenta Seeds and Sustainable Oils to sell camelina seed for use in sustainable aviation fuel, renewable diesel, and animal feed production is a significant step forward in promoting regenerative agriculture and renewable energy,” said Eric Boeck, Regional Director North America for Syngenta Seeds. “By supporting farmers and offering a sustainable source of fuel and animal feed, this partnership represents a win-win for producers, the environment, and the rural economy. It embodies our commitment to sustainability and our drive to bring innovative solutions to market.”

    2023 Farm Progress Show interview with Eric Boeck, Syngenta Seeds 4:46

    “We are very excited to partner with Syngenta Seeds on this collaboration to expand camelina’s growth in the U.S.,” Sustainable Oils President Mike Karst said. “Camelina represents a key feedstock for the production of renewable fuels and sustainable aviation fuel. It is a remarkable crop that protects like a cover crop and pays like a cash crop. We’re proud to be working with Syngenta to bring this opportunity to more farmers, improving our soil health and carbon storage while strengthening our nation’s domestic energy production in the process.”

    2023 Farm Progress Show interview with Mike Karst, Sustainable Oils 5:11

    Camelina seed will be sold through Syngenta’s AgriPro® dealer network in a vertical marketing model. Farmers who buy camelina seed will have a harvest purchase contract. There is no marketing risk for the farmer since there is already an integrated value chain model.

    2023 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

    Audio, Biofuels, Farm Progress Show, Seed, Sustainability, Syngenta

    Welcome to Day 1 of the 2023 Farm Progress Show

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Farm Progress Show SunriseIt is that time. The gates are about to open on a beautiful morning in Decatur, IL. I was just a little later than normal so the sunrise, which was incredible, had to be a windshield pic. But you get the picture, eh?

    So, lots of interviews are on my schedule which includes Syngenta that is making it all possible. So, more to come

    You can find photos from the 2023 Farm Progress Show here: 2023 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

    Farm Progress Show

    Bayer and Kroger Team Up to Take Care, Now

    Cindy Zimmerman

    L-R: Sebastian Guth, Jackie Applegate, and Beth Roden, Bayer; Charlotte Halverson, AgriSafe; Ryan Davis, Kroger; Charlie Blazevich, Feeding America

    Bayer is announcing a new campaign with Kroger to remind rural America to “Take Care, Now” and help alleviate care deserts in rural America, areas significantly impacted by both food insecurity and limited access to healthcare.

    Bayer hosted a press event Monday at the Northeast Community Fund Food Bank in Decatur, Illinois, to announce the campaign, which includes Kroger and Luke Bryan. Bayer and Kroger will support AgriSafe Network, an organization working to address health disparities in agricultural communities. Bayer is hosting its annual #HerestotheFarmer initiative benefiting Feeding America during the Luke Bryan Farm Tour. In addition, Bayer will help provide one million meals* to people experiencing hunger through the Feeding America network of food banks.

    “Food, nutrition and health are interconnected, but across America – especially in rural America – people don’t always have access to the food, health services and preventive care they need,” said Sebastian Guth, President of Bayer U.S. and Pharmaceuticals North America. “We’re proud to support rural communities where our employees live and work, and where we do business.”

    Find content from the media event below and on AgNewsWire.

    Bayer Take Care, Now Event – Decatur, IL – Photo Album

    Audio

    Presentation at Northeast Community Fund Food Bank in Decatur, Illinois
    Sebastian Guth, Jackie Applegate, and Beth Roden, Bayer; Charlotte Halverson, AgriSafe; Ryan Davis, Kroger; Charlie Blazevich, Feeding America
    Bayer Take Care campaign event 19:20
    Interview with Sebastian Guth, President of Bayer U.S. and Pharmaceuticals North America
    Bayer Take Care interview Sebastian Guth, Bayer 4:12
    Interview with Dr. Jackie Applegate, President of Bayer Crop Science North America
    Bayer Take Care interview Jackie Applegate, Bayer 4:04

    Video

    Presentation at Northeast Community Fund, Decatur IL


    Audio, Bayer, Food, Video

    Agri-Pulse Hosting Two Webinars Sept. 13

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Livestock in the carbon markets and agricultural innovation are the topics for two upcoming complimentary webinars hosted by Agri-Pulse Communications on September 13.

    An exclusive dialogue, presented by the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) and Agri-Pulse, will bring together industry, government and non-profit organizations to discuss solutions that can accelerate progress across the livestock value chain, including the development of the first-of-its-kind livestock carbon credit marketplace. The event, “New horizons for the agricultural carbon market,” will take place in Washington, D.C., and virtually on Sept. 13 from 9:30-12 p.m. ET.

    The in-person and virtual event will have panels on carbon market integrity, livestock-specific carbon credit considerations and the intersection of policy and market-based climate solutions featuring a wide array of industry experts including:
    USDA Undersecretary Robert Bonnie; former Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman, Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-WI; Chuck Conner, National Council of Farm Cooperatives; Jeff Simmons, Elanco Animal Health; and many others.

    Click for more information and registration.

    At 1:00 pm Eastern time on September 13, House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson (R-PA) will lead the discussion on how new tools and technologies, like biological fertilizers, can boost profitability and increase sustainability and efficiency. The webinar entitled “Building domestic stability and global influence through innovation” is sponsored by Pivot Bio and additional speakers include:

    Lynn Tjeerdsma, a conservation and farm bill adviser and manager of his farming operation in South Dakota. Tjeerdsma assisted in drafting four farm bills in the U.S. Senate, working for Senator John Thune, and administering two farm bills at the USDA Farm Service Agency.
    David Kanter, Ph.D., associate professor of environmental studies at New York University and chair of the International Nitrogen Initiative. He is on the Pivot Bio scientific advisory board.
    Jon Doggett is the former CEO of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA). He retired from NCGA in 2023 after 20 years with the organization, first in its public policy office before four years as CEO.
    Jacqlyn Schneider is a partner in FGS Global’s food and agriculture practice, based in Washington, D.C. She has spent more than 16 years leading food and agriculture policy on Capitol Hill, most recently serving as Deputy Staff Director for the Senate Ag Committee under Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow.

    Click here to learn more and register.

    Agri-Pulse, AgWired Precision

    Animal Ag News 8/28

    Carrie Muehling

  • The National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA) has launched a new program to review organizational policies and positions specific to animal agriculture as a third-party reviewer. NIAA Animal Agriculture Policy Review Panels are assembled upon request by animal agriculture stakeholders to review a specific organizational policy or position statement.
  • Optimism greeted beef cattle producers from around the country attending the Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course recently for two primary reasons — high cattle prices and continued consumer demand, despite the higher beef prices. Unlike in previous decades, Americans today eat higher-grade beef and pay a premium for it.
  • Certified Angus Beef recognized a pioneer in the cattle feeding business, honoring Steve Hunt with the Industry Achievement Award at its recent Feeding Quality Forum event.
  • The United States Environmental Protection Agency and The Hershey Company announced the joint commitment of $2 million to support local dairy farmers. The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, in collaboration with Land O’Lakes, Inc., will use funds to promote the adoption of practices that support local and regional environmental goals with dairy farmers in Land O’Lakes’ eastern region milk shed.
  • The first day of USDA’s once-in-a-generation hearing on federal milk pricing represented a critical moment for dairy’s future, one in which the National Milk Producers Federation intends to lead, President and CEO Jim Mulhern said.
  • Dairy Management Inc., the planning and management organization that oversees the national dairy checkoff program on behalf of America’s dairy farmers and importers, has posted its 2022 annual report.
  • Zoetis donated $250,000 in the first half of 2023 to Folds of Honor. This is the second year of partnership with the nonprofit, bringing Zoetis’ overall total contribution to $830,000 which has funded 166 scholarships to deserving recipients. Folds of Honor was founded in 2007 by Lt. Col. Dan Rooney and is based in Owasso, Oklahoma. Folds of Honor provides academic scholarships to the families of men and women who have fallen or been disabled while serving in the U.S. armed forces.
  • The 2024 Latin American Poultry Summit is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 29, in Atlanta, Georgia USA. The Summit will be held in conjunction with the International Poultry Expo, part of the International Production & Processing Expo, and is co-hosted by the Latin American Poultry Association.
  • dsm-firmenich’s World Mycotoxin Survey continues to be the longest-running and most comprehensive data set on mycotoxin occurrences and contamination. The survey accurately identifies mycotoxin risks based on time period, animal species and location.
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

    Farm Progress Show Celebrates 70 Years

    Chuck Zimmerman

    I have attended many Farm Progress Shows but not 70 of them! What a milestone and what memories over the years. You can learn a little bit of the history of the show here.

    I’m on my way with a full schedule of activities. Once again Syngenta has made my trip possible and I’ll be conducting interviews and finding out “What’s New in the World of Agribusiness.” So, you can look forward to a lot of photos. I have a number of other scheduled booth visits and interviews too. Once again the media tent is made possible by BASF so I’ll be there during breaks out on the grounds.

    On Wednesday I get to be shadowed by one of the AgComm students that University of Illinois AgComm professor Owen Roberts is bringing over to see what it’s like in the real world of ag journalism. His name is Logan and we’ll get to know more about him. I’ve already got some good ideas for what he can do to learn and help during the agriblogging highway.

    So, here’s to good weather, a big crowd and happy exhibitors.

    Farm Progress Show, Farm Shows

    2023 American Coalition for Ethanol Annual Conference

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Cindy has been working on the ACE Annual Conference and you can find her stories on Energy.AgWired.com and also in our AgNewsWire virtual newsroom. Here’s a taste from the start of the conference.

    The increased emphasis on reducing carbon provides a great opportunity for the ethanol industry and everything counts when it comes to getting that carbon score down.

    In his opening remarks at the organization’s annual meeting in Minneapolis this week, American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings congratulated the ethanol producers in attendance for the investments they have already made in lowering carbon intensity.

    “The common thread for this investment activity is appreciation for the fact that everything indeed counts, from how the bushels of corn are produced to the BTUs powering your facility, counting carbon is the name of the game,” said Jennings.

    Panels during the first general session for the conference included Untangling and Maximizing IRA Biofuel Incentives, and Cultivating Progress: Climate-Smart Farming for Carbon Markets, both focused on the potential for the ethanol industry in the carbon market.

    Listen to Jennings’ opening remarks below.
    2023 ACE - Brian Jennings, ACE CEO 17:51

    2023 ACE Conference photo album

    ACE, Ag Groups, Audio, Energy, Ethanol

    Industry Ag News 8/25

    Carrie Muehling

  • GROWMARK, Inc. announced Andrew Durward of Thomson, Illinois and Scott McGeachy of Chatham, Ontario, Canada, have been elected to the GROWMARK Board of Directors.
  • The Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition will celebrate its 45th Anniversary show October 17-19, 2023. Over 1,200 exhibitors will display and demonstrate products and welcome thousands of visitors to the 100-acre show site.
  • USDA’s Economic Research Service and Farm Foundation are hosting a one-day virtual conference on September 13, 2023. The conference, U.S. Farm Households’ Social and Economic Needs and the Future of Agriculture, will feature paper presentations and panel discussions. The aim is to unite perspectives in the social sciences to explore ways in which existing social programs and policies can better support the farm sector’s economic and social needs.
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced $72.9 million awarded to 55 states and territories through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. The grant program provides funding to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops and support specialty crop growers through marketing, education, and research.
  • BRANDT, a leading retailer of professional agronomic services and manufacturer of specialty input products, has broken ground on the Evelyn Brandt Thomas Ag Innovation Center at the BRANDT Research Farm in Pleasant Plains, Illinois. The Center will enable BRANDT to continue advancing and sharing the state-of-the-art in agriculture products, processes and practices.
  • Missouri Farmers Care, agricultural leaders, and partners joined together at the Missouri State Fair to capstone the 2023 Drive to Feed Kids. The effort to stand in the gap for those facing hunger in the state raised 1,200,389 million meals. Over the past eight years, this collaborative partnership has raised resources to provide over twelve million meals for children and families across the state.
  • U.S. potato exports reached record value and volume in the 12-month period from July 2022 – June 2023. Export values increased 19.05 percent to $2.2 billion, and export volume increased 3.85 percent to 3.3 million metric tons (fresh weight equivalent).
  • The World Food Prize Foundation announced that it will honor Iowa native Simon Estes with the 2023 Robert D. Ray Iowa SHARES Humanitarian Award. The award will be presented to Mr. Estes for his profound humanitarian commitment to creating “peace through music,” and elevating the voices of impoverished youth across the globe and here at home in Iowa.
  • The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced new members of the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee (ATAC) for Trade in Grains, Feed, Oilseeds, and Planting Seeds. Among the members is Jake Westlin, National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) Vice President of Policy and Communications, who has been appointed to serve on the committee. The newly appointed committee members will serve until August 2027.
  • Fields-of-Corn.com, the official photo contest of the National Corn Growers Association, is set to relaunch on the first of September. Along with a new look built to showcase the rich history of visual storytelling comes a more robust interface for quicker and more efficient access for entrants. The reboot comes just in time for the tenth photo contest.
  • The Georgia Cotton Commission, Georgia Peanut Commission and the University of Georgia Extension Cotton and Peanut Teams, will co-sponsor a joint research field day on Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023, in Tifton, Georgia.
  • An exclusive dialogue, presented by the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) and Agri-Pulse, will
    bring together industry, government and non-profit organizations to discuss solutions that can accelerate progress across the livestock value chain, including the development of the first-of-its- kind livestock carbon credit marketplace. The event, “New horizons for the agricultural carbon market,” will take place in Washington, D.C., and virtually on Sept. 13 from 9:30-12 p.m. ET
  • How can forward-looking and flexible federal policies unlock further groundbreaking technologies in agriculture? This is the topic of the upcoming Sept. 13 Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc. webinar, “Building domestic stability and global influence through innovation.” This complimentary one-hour program will discuss how new tools and technologies, like biological fertilizers, can boost profitability and increase sustainability and efficiency.
    • Zimfo Bytes

    Precision Ag News 8/23

    Carrie Muehling

  • Seven Israeli scaleup companies have successfully completed the Cultivo Virtual Academy, speeding their planning for U.S. market entry. The six-week virtual program is hosted and coordinated by America’s Cultivation Corridor, providing participants a unique experience featuring mentorship, interaction with Iowa’s agricultural leaders and an online curriculum that included regulatory and financing systems, and customer perspectives. The Iowa Economic Development Authority was the presenting sponsor of the program.
  • Bushel, the leading digital platform connecting farmers and agribusinesses, successfully closed an oversubscribed $26 million funding round led by The Banc Funds Company with further support from new and existing investors. In addition to The Banc Funds Company, other investors in this round included 50 South Capital, The Andersons, Inc., Cargill, Germin8, Lewis & Clark AgriFood, The Scoular Company, and Conti Ventures (an investment group within Continental Grain Company).
  • Philadelphia, Penn.-based Burro, an autonomous mobility company providing solutions for the agriculture industry, has added New Zealand-based Agri Automation, a regional provider of innovative agricultural solutions designed to improve productivity and efficiency of farms and nurseries, to its growing list of distributors. The move firmly establishes Burro as the leading provider of autonomous mobility platforms for the agriculture industry in the Southern Hemisphere.
  • Nick Fries of Summit View Ag, Norwalk, Wisc. and Meristem Crop Performance Group, LLC, based in Columbus, Ohio, announced a new dealership agreement to serve farmers in Wisconsin.
  • Concept AgriTek has added seasoned agriculture sales professional Clay Nelms as a District Sales Manager (DSM) for the southeast. Nelms will serve farmers across Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi.
  • Applications are open from now to Sept. 4 for the 2024 AgLaunch365 Accelerator program, a one-of-a-kind, farm-immersive business development experience for startups with a product or service that has the potential to be transformative in production agriculture.
  • North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University’s College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (CAES) will receive nearly $2 million to test environmentally friendly growing techniques, improve educational training on food allergies, strengthen nutritional science programs and more – six projects in all – as part of a competitive grant program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
  • Fluid Quip Technologies, a global leader in advanced biofuel, biochemical, and innovative co-product technologies, announced today that it will provide the world’s first wheat-based Maximized Stillage Co-products system, to Ensus UK Limited’s ethanol facility in Teesside, a subsidiary of Crop Energies AG. The agreement between the companies is a testament to the feedstock flexibility and efficiency of MSC.
  • Narrow operating windows make maximizing productivity essential during planting and harvest, regardless of farm size. That’s why Case IH considered solutions related to purposeful design when deciding to bring its latest models of the Early Riser planter, Early Riser 2120, and Axial-Flow combine, Axial-Flow 160 series, to the market. Both equipment solutions deliver advanced technology to small- and mid-scale operations at a price point that makes sense for their operation. These new models will be on display at Farm Progress Show 2023 from August 29-31.
  • Ecorobotix, the pioneering Swiss agtech and AI software company, is thrilled to announce the introduction of its ground-breaking ARA to the United States. ARA’s unique technology is set to transform agriculture with its advanced UHP-Sprayer and Plant-by-Plant AI-based software solution.
  • Pattern Ag, the leader in Predictive Ag technology, announced the addition of corn and soybean foliar diseases to its groundbreaking Complete Bio Panel for fall 2023.
  • AgGateway is pleased to announce that registration is now open for its 2023 Annual Conference, November 13-15 at the Hilton Nashville Downtown in Nashville, TN.
  • Golden Harvest celebrates 50 years as a seed company that partners with farmers to deliver custom solutions for each unique agronomic challenge. Since 1973, Golden Harvest Seeds has been listening to farmers with intention, offering in-depth seeds expertise combined with local agronomic know-how.
  • If you have a novel bio-based or chemical active ingredient, AgXelerators, is here to turn it into a stable, effective product. Founded by highly accomplished scientists and innovators, AgX partners with crop protection companies from around the world to accelerate the development of their new active ingredients into sustainable, commercially viable products that express their full performance potential.
    • AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture