Animal Ag News 8/21

Carrie Muehling

  • The Greener Cattle Initiative (GCI), the first consortium investing in research mitigating enteric methane, awarded its initial grant to develop actionable options that reduce enteric methane emissions from cattle. GCI awarded its initial grant in the amount of $758,776 to Penn State’s Distinguished Professor of Dairy Nutrition Dr. Alexander N. Hristov to develop new enteric methane inhibitors and delivery methods for them.
  • The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA), in coordination with Feedstuffs and the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association (USPOULTRY), has opened the application phase for its Integrator Feed Facility of the Year (FFY) program. The program is open to all AFIA and USPOULTRY member integrator feed facilities.
  • USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation announce the completion of a funded research project at the University of Arkansas in which researchers evaluated the effects of variable light intensity programs on broiler welfare. The research was made possible in part by an endowing Foundation gift from Simmons Foods and proceeds from the International Poultry Expo, part of the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE). The research is part of the Association’s comprehensive research program encompassing all phases of poultry and egg production and processing. In total, $35,700,000 has been invested in research by the Association and Foundation.
  • Water quality, wastewater, air emissions, sustainability and regulatory compliance are all issues that poultry and egg industry environmental managers face daily. USPOULTRY’s 2023 Environmental Management Seminar is a great way to stay up to date on these ever-changing challenges. The 2023 Clean Water Award winners will also be announced with a virtual tour of the winner’s facilities. The Seminar will be held Sept. 28-29 at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Destin, Fla.
  • Registration is open for the 53rd Annual American Gelbvieh Association Convention to be held November 29-December 1, 2023, at the Omaha Marriott Downtown at the Capitol District in Omaha, Nebraska.
  • The National Cattlemen’s Foundation (NCF) is accepting applications for the annual W.D. Farr Scholarship program. Established in 2007, the scholarship recognizes outstanding graduate students pursuing careers in meat science and animal agriculture.
  • Registration and housing are now open for CattleCon24, the cattle industry’s largest event of the year. It’s “Onward to Orlando” where cattle producers from across the country will gather, January 31-February 2, for business meetings, educational sessions, engaging speakers and family fun.
  • The Animal Agriculture Alliance’s 2023 College Aggies Online (CAO) program kicks off on September 11, beginning with a dairy theme during week one. Emily Schaapman, known online as @DairyGirlFitness, and Pennsylvania dairy farmer and social media influencer Jessica Peters (@seejessfarm) will mentor students through the initial week.
  • Certified Angus Beef created the Dr. Bobby VanStavern Award for Beef Quality Research to recognize and support student researchers focused on beef quality. This year, the brand recognizes Andres Mendizabal as the recipient and acknowledges other successful researchers for their contribution to improving beef quality.
  • The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) recognizes 25 dairy business operations for their outstanding achievements and improvements in worker safety in 2022 with the IDFA Dairy Industry Safety Recognition Award. This is the 20th year that IDFA has sponsored this program, highlighting the outstanding workplace safety achievements of U.S. dairy companies.
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

    DWFI Podcast 27- Dick Wolfe and Felicia Marcus

    Cindy Zimmerman

    In our third and last episode from the 2023 Water for Food Global Conference, produced by the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska (DWFI), we hear about “Western rivers, a changing climate, and the role of irrigated agriculture.”

    Our guests for this episode are retired Colorado state engineer Dick Wolfe, a farmer and Senior Advisor at LRE Water, and DWFI board member Felicia Marcus, Landreth Visiting Fellow at Stanford University’s Water in the West Program.

    Listen here or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform:
    DWFI Podcast 27- Dick Wolfe and Felicia Marcus 18:05

    The Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute (DWFI) at the University of Nebraska was founded with the mission to have a lasting and significant impact on achieving more food security with less pressure on scarce water resources by conducting scientific and policy research, using the research results to inform policy makers, and sharing knowledge through education and communication.

    How to subscribe:

    Audio, Podcasts, Water, Water for Food

    Industry Ag News 8/18

    Carrie Muehling

  • Farm Credit Association American AgCredit, rural banking partner CoBank, and The Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation, also known as Farmer Mac, are donating $40,000 to Maui Food Bank to help aid during the devastating wildfires that are wreaking havoc in Hawaii.
  • Meyocks has named veteran communications professional, Beth Davis, as public relations lead. In her new role, Davis will be responsible for overseeing PR strategy for the agency’s robust client roster of food, agriculture, health and mentor brands.
  • The World Food Prize Foundation announced that Renee Cooper has joined its staff as a Program Manager.
  • American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented on the World Trade Organization ruling that China had no right to issue retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports five years ago in response to U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum. “AFBF is pleased that the WTO dispute panel ruled against China’s imposition of unjust retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agricultural products. Agricultural trade is necessary for food security around the world and should not be endangered by retaliation for unrelated concerns.”
  • The U.S. Trade Representative requested a panel formation under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement over Mexico’s decision to ban imports of biotech corn used for human consumption. Leaders at the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) said they are highly supportive of the move.
  • At the annual Kansas Governor’s Summit on Agricultural Growth hosted by the Kansas Department of Agriculture, Kansas State University announced the creation of the new Barry Flinchbaugh Center for Ag Policy. The center honors and continues the work of Barry Flinchbaugh, who served Kansas State University, the State of Kansas and the nation as a policy educator for nearly half a century.
  • Fifty-five students have been selected to receive scholarships totaling $2,000 each through the GROWMARK Foundation. More than 500 students from across the United States and Ontario, Canada, applied for the scholarships. Students who received the scholarships will have those funds available for the fall 2023 semester.
  • Sabrina Burkiewicz has been named as the new External Communications Manager for GROWMARK effective immediately. Burkiewicz comes to GROWMARK from the News and Communications Division at Illinois Farm Bureau. A graduate from Illinois State University, Burkiewicz is originally from Central Illinois where her family farmed grain and livestock.
  • AgGateway announced that registration is now open for its 2023 Annual Conference, November 13-15 at the Hilton Nashville Downtown in Nashville, TN.
  • The Nebraska Water Center recently named Karina Schoengold as the new Associate Director.
  • Organizations representing Pacific Northwest wheat growers and the U.S. milling industry are celebrating the latest Food for Peace donation of 28,000 metric tons of U.S. soft white wheat. On August 15, 2023, longshoremen at the Port of Longview, Wash., loaded the wheat on the U.S.-flag vessel “Liberty Glory” now bound for the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East to help alleviate one of the worst hunger emergencies on the planet.
  • The Georgia Peanut Commission is hosting a photo contest through Oct. 1, 2023, featuring peanut farms from across the state to fill the pages of the 2024 Georgia Peanut Calendar. Photos will also be selected to be used in various promotional projects by GPC throughout the year. Georgia farmers are encouraged to submit their best high-resolution photo from throughout the growing season. Winning entries will be selected for each month of the calendar, as well as the cover page.
    • Zimfo Bytes

    Azotic Technologies Expands Team

    Cindy Zimmerman

    To serve the increased demand and acre expansion of the company’s flagship product, Envita, Azotic Technologies, Ltd. has expanded its sales and agronomic services teams to better serve growing customer demand.

    “It is an exciting time at Azotic Technologies, Ltd. The retail partnerships we have worked to build and grow since day one, along with the incredible performance and ROI growers are seeing, has quickly fueled aggressive growth into new crops and regions,” says National Sales Manager, Aaron Eddy. “It’s time to make Envita easily accessible to every grower in the U.S.”

    Both Scott Bishop and Troy Dean are uniquely qualified to step into the newly created role of Regional Sales Manager. In their new roles, each will focus on sales activities, leading the newly created Technical Service team, and continuing to build and foster relationships with key influencers, retailers, and distribution networks.

    John Squire, who has been with the Envita team since 2020, brings more than 30 years of agronomic experience to his new role as U.S. Commercial Agronomist.

    “As an experienced agronomist, I sought out Azotic Technologies in 2020 because I wanted to work with Envita,” Squire says of his commitment to helping more U.S. farmers learn the nitrogen fixing benefits of the product. “We have seen a response from many different crops treated with Envita, and this expansion will allow more farmers to access and see the results on their own crops.”

    In Squire’s new role, he will work closely with the sales team to develop opportunities within the alfalfa market.

    Rounding out the Envita team’s expansion is the addition of Technical Service Representative (TSR) positions. Reporting to Bishop, Tom Kupke (IA/NE) and Vicki Schuler (MO/KS) will service the Midwest while Duane Melton (GA/FL/AL) and Charles Hoover (AR/LA/MS) will report to Dean to serve the south and southeastern U.S.

    The new team additions will work to expand focus on additional crops, including rice and cotton, while continuing to serve and support Envita performance and ROI on the product’s key focus of corn, soybeans, and potatoes.

    AgWired Precision, Nutrient Management, Precision Agriculture, Soil

    MyLand Partners with Texas A&M AgriLife for Soil Health

    Cindy Zimmerman

    MyLand Company has announced a new collaboration with Texas A&M AgriLife Research to drive significant advancements in agriculture and address critical challenges facing the global agriculture community.

    Together, MyLand and AgriLife Research will implement a statewide initiative focused on soil health integrating upwards of 12,000 acres of commercial farmland within the next two years aiming to cover over 20 unique crops, multiple ecosystems and soil types, and several growing regions. By leveraging the expertise and resources of both organizations, this collaboration seeks to address pressing agricultural issues while enhancing the quality of life and economic return for famers and communities through soil health research focused on MyLand’s impact of water availability, salinity, nutrient use efficiency, and carbon cycling.

    Learn more from MyLand.ag.

    Agronomy, AgWired Precision, Nutrient Management, Precision Agriculture, Soil

    Precision Ag News 8/16

    Carrie Muehling

  • As harvest begins across the country, the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) reminds farmers about the importance of taking the appropriate precautions to ensure treated seed does not enter the grain supply. ASTA and other stakeholder groups offer a variety of educational resources to assist those involved in the process of treating, handling, transporting, or planting treated seeds. To learn more, visit: seed-treatment-guide.com. Get more information about treated seed benefits and safety at betterseed.org/treated-seeds/.
  • Narrow operating windows make maximizing productivity essential during planting and harvest, regardless of farm size. That’s why Case IH has purposefully designed its latest models of the Early Riser planter, Early Riser 2120, and Axial-Flow combine, Axial-Flow 160 series, to ensure peak performance for all producers. 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.
  • NewLeaf Symbiotics announced the appointments of Nicole Phillips, Vice President – Marketing, and Lon Kreger, Senior Director – International Business Development.
  • CLAAS of America announced that David December has joined the company as Head of Sales and Marketing. David brings with him an extensive background in sales, marketing, and global communications with a number of prominent agricultural and industrial brands.
  • The Mosaic Company announced the formation of the Mosaic Biosciences platform, a global initiative to bring the latest science and innovation to the agriculture market. The technologies from Mosaic Biosciences enhance crop health and support the natural biology in plants and soil, ultimately maximizing the yield potential of every field.
  • Farmers’ grain marketing satisfaction increases with knowledge and use of cost of production data to price their crop, according to the 2023 State of the Farm Report published by Bushel. Bushel is an independently-owned software technology company focused on developing digital tools for the agricultural supply chain. Bushel’s 2023 State of the Farm Report is based on a comprehensive survey of more than 1,350 U.S. farmers.
  • Self-propelled combine sales continued to increase in the U.S., while total farm tractor unit sales in the U.S. and Canada declined in July, according to the latest data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. Overall unit sales of U.S. combines climbed 10.6 percent compared to July 2022, while sales of tractors declined 5.2 percent in the same month in 2022, driven largely by softness in the smaller horsepower segment.
  • Farmers in 20 states can now enroll in cost-share programs through Farmers for Soil Health. This corn, pork and soy commodity initiative, in partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and USDA’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities, establishes financial and technical assistance for corn and soybean farmers who adopt cover crops. The focus is to bring money directly back to farmers, where sustainability is happening at the farm level.
  • Meristem Crop Performance announced “Biology Is Fertility”, a comprehensive systems approach designed to fully harness the power of biologicals to boost plant nutrition and soil health.
  • The North American Equipment Dealers Association Board of Directors announced that Brad Hershey has been elected Chair of the Board. Hershey has previously served as NAEDA Vice Chair and as a Director representing the Northeast region of NAEDA. He also Chaired NAEDA’s Partner Programs Committee.
  • Indigo Ag announced the commercial launch of the company’s first bionematicide for the U.S. market. A continuation of the company’s biological innovations, biotrinsic Z15 for soybean and corn not only expands the company’s biological portfolio, but it also provides farmers with a new line of defense against soybean cyst nematode (SCN) and other plant-damaging nematodes.
    • AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

    Animal Ag News 8/14

    Carrie Muehling

  • Dr. Dave Daley, a leader in the California Cattlemen’s Association, Public Lands Council, and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association testified before the House Natural Resources Committee in a field hearing titled “Conservation in a Crown Jewel: A Discussion About Wildfires and Forest Management.”
  • Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative and the Dairy Business Association announced a pair of promotions to their member services team. Lauren Laubscher has been promoted to member services manager, and Reschke was promoted to member services compliance and regulatory representative. Both previously served as member services representatives covering different areas of the organizations.
  • The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) is seeking nominations for four top awards presented annually to leaders in the dairy industry. Nominations will close on Friday, Oct. 27. Winners will be announced and recognized at Dairy Forum 2024 in Phoenix, Ariz. Nominations are now open for the following awards: The IDFA Laureate Award, the 2024 Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year Award, the IDFA Food Safety Leadership Award, and the IDFA Workplace of the Year Award.
  • World Dairy Expo will host a Dairy Symposium featuring the Dairy Business Innovation (DBI) Initiatives from across the country on Tuesday, October 3, 2023 from 8:00 – 11:30 a.m. Registration is now open for this historic event.
  • The dairy checkoff marked its 13th year of impact through Fuel Up to Play 60 – a school wellness program in partnership with the NFL – while preparing an evolved strategy that will bring more partners together to support dairy’s role in youth wellness and improve education of the contributions of America’s dairy farmers. Beginning this school year, the checkoff will shift to the “Fuel Up” platform with a goal of bringing new and diverse partners together to expand opportunities to increase access to dairy with other nutritious foods and engage youth around healthy eating and food production. With this change, Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) is transitioning from a partnership with the NFL to a no-cost collaboration, which paves the way to co-create programs that support youth wellness.
  • U.S. Poultry & Egg Association announces the promotion of Matt Spencer to vice president, HR & safety programs, and Kris Early to director, communications.
  • The 2024 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) is less than six months away and has already booked 93 percent of the trade show floor. The 2024 IPPE has surpassed 570,000 square feet of exhibit space and secured more than 1,070 exhibitors. As the only annual exposition highlighting the best of the poultry and egg, meat and animal food industries, the 2024 IPPE will offer timely and important information and an efficient way for producers and processors to find solutions to enhance their operations.
  • Shopper concern over prices continues to change behavior with 93 percent of shoppers reporting they are worried about food cost inflation. Additionally, 46 percent of shoppers are buying less fresh meat and fresh produce to avoid food waste, according to new research presented at Chicken Marketing Summit. The 2023 edition of the executive conference was hosted by WATT Global Media on July 31-August 2 at the Hotel Effie Sandestin in Miramar Beach, Florida. The agenda included an exclusive presentation revealing the results of the 2023 Chicken Consumption Survey, which focused on current and anticipated US consumer behavior, specifically, consumption of chicken during an inflationary time.
  • One of the next climate change solutions might be found at your local dairy farm. A team of Michigan State University researchers are studying ways to generate renewable energy from dairy farm waste to charge electric vehicles. Wei Liao, a professor in MSU’s Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering and the director of MSU’s Anaerobic Digestion Research and Education Center, led a demonstration workshop July 19 showcasing the novel research linking dairy operations to the auto industry. He was joined by MSU animal science professor Barry Bradford, BAE professor Ajit Srivastava, dairy farm manager Jim Good and BAE research specialist and ADREC manager Sibel Uludag-Demirer.
  • Among the many critical issues slated for discussion at the 24th annual R-CALF USA Convention and Trade Show, to be held Aug. 17-18 in Rapid City, South Dakota, is the ongoing globalization effort to control the food supply and those who produce it. To emphasize the importance of this issue, the ranch group has invited Dutch farmers’ advocate and internationally renowned political commentator, Eva Vlaardingerbroek of Amsterdam, Netherlands, to give the keynote address. Vlaardingerbroek is well-known worldwide as one of the key voices advocating for farmers and fighting against globalization and the eradication of freedom.
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

    ASTA Excited About Field Crop Seed Conference

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Registration is underway for the event formally known as CSS & Seed Expo and the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) is excited about the newly named Field Crop Seed Convention to be held December 5-8 at the Hyatt Regency Orlando.

    “We see really strong participation numbers in our registration, outpacing where we have been in previous years,” said ASTA President and CEO Andy LaVigne. “The expo floor is nearly two-thirds sold out.”

    LaVigne says it is bitter sweet to not be meeting in Chicago after more than 75 years in that location, but Orlando has lots of great advantages in the weather and local attractions, and the convention layout will offer new opportunities for people to network. “We’re going to have a larger expo floor, a lot of the traffic going to any of the sessions will just about have to go through the expo floor,” he said. “That ability to see people and run into them easily is exciting for us.”

    LaVigne says the conference will still include the same great educational opportunities as always, including the annual economic outlook for agriculture by analyst Dan Basse. The conference is expected to draw around 2,000 attendees from 36 countries, working in all field crops, from corn and soybean, to wheat, rice, cotton, sorghum and more.

    In this interview, LaVigne talks about what to expect at the conference, as well as the big issues ASTA is watching, including the farm bill negotiations.

    ASTA Field Crop Seed preview interview with Andy LaVigne 11:37

    ASTA, Audio, Corn, Seed, Soybean

    USDA Adjusts Yields in August Report

    Cindy Zimmerman

    USDA’s first survey-based forecasts for the season slightly lowered yields for corn and soybeans compared to projections last month.

    In the August Crop Production report released Friday, USDA puts corn production for 2023/24 at 15.1 billion bushels, down 209 million from the July projection, but ten percent more than 2022 which would be the second highest on record behind 2016/17. The corn yield forecast, at 175.1 bushels per acre, is 2.4 bushels lower than July’s forecast. The report indicates that among the major producing States, yields are forecast above a year ago in Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Ohio, and South Dakota. Yields in Illinois, Minnesota, and Missouri are forecast below a year ago.

    The USDA World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates for August, also released on Friday, cuts total U.S. corn use for 2023/24 by 95 million bushels to 14.4 billion with feed and residual use lowered 25 million bushels while corn use for ethanol remained the same at 5.3 billion.

    Soybean production for 2023/24 is forecast at 4.2 billion bushels, down 95 million from July on lower yields and down
    2 percent from 2022. Harvested area is forecast at 82.7 million acres, unchanged from July. The first survey-based soybean yield forecast of 50.9 bushels per acre is reduced 1.1 bushels from last month. If realized, the forecasted yields in Arkansas, Indiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, and South Carolina will be record highs.

    Wheat production is forecast at 1.73 billion bushels, up 5% from 2022. Growers are expected to produce 1.23 billion bushels of winter wheat this year, up 2% from the previous forecast and up 11% from last year. Durum wheat production is forecast at 57.4 million bushels, down 10% from 2022. All other spring wheat production is forecast at 450 million bushels, down 7% from last year. Based on Aug. 1 conditions, the U.S. all wheat yield is forecast at 45.8 bushels per acre, down less than one bushel from 2022.

    Today’s report also included the first NASS production forecast of the season for U.S. cotton. NASS forecasts all cotton production at 14.0 million 480-pound bales, down 3% from last year. Yield is expected to average 779 pounds per harvested acre, down 171 pounds from 2022.

    Corn, Cotton, Soybean, USDA, Wheat

    Industry Ag News 8/11

    Carrie Muehling

  • Farm Progress, Ltd. announced new editorial leadership that will continue to build on its strong momentum and commitment to agriculture media. Mike Wilson will serve as Senior Executive, Editor and Eric Braun as Senior Executive, Content.
  • The National FFA Organization has a record-high student membership of 945,988, an increase of 11 percent from last year. In addition, the number of FFA chapters continues to grow — increasing by 168 this year, resulting in 9,163 chapters in the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
  • The Renewable Fuels Association welcomed its newest producer member, CIE Norfolk in Norfolk, Neb. The biorefinery produces 50 million gallons of ethanol each year. CIE purchased the facility, the former Elkhorn Valley Ethanol plant, from Louis Dreyfus in late 2022. The company’s Marion, Ind., location is already a longtime RFA member, and CIE President and CEO Ryan Drook represents the company on the RFA board of directors.
  • Six dynamic women will make up the inaugural Cohort of the American Agri-Women (AAW) Road to influence. The Road to Influence (RTI) is a new program developed by AAW designed to be a bold and innovative personal development experience for members. The program is intended to identify and move beyond limiting beliefs and behaviors, ultimately resulting in stronger leaders for AAW and beyond. The initial cohort will kick off their journey on August 24 in conjunction with the AAW event, Leading, Empowering & Aspiring toward Progress (L.E.A.P.) in Reno, Nev.
  • Benson Hill, Inc., a food tech company unlocking the natural genetic diversity of plants, announced the appointment of Kimberly Hurst as its Chief Transformation Officer. This newly created role underscores Benson Hill’s commitment to execute its long-term strategic playbook with a focus on operations, commercial and strategic initiatives.
  • In a letter to National Farmers Union (NFU), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) affirmed that the Clean Air Act (CAA) cannot be used as a basis to restrict independent repair of farm equipment. In their opposition to Right to Repair legislation, equipment manufacturers and dealers have invoked EPA regulations and the CAA – specifically related to tampering with emissions control systems – as justification for their need to restrict repair.
  • If you want to honor a cotton consultant, nominate him or her for the prestigious 2023 Cotton Consultant of the Year (CCOY) Award. Click here to access the 2023 nomination form. The deadline for nominations is August 15.
  • The 9th annual Ag Outlook Forum will feature top economic, policy, business, and government officials presenting their current outlooks and helping you identify the challenges and opportunities you face in these volatile times. Mark your calendars and make plans to join the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City and Agri-Pulse for the Ag Outlook Forum on September 25.
  • The Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council and Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council collaborated to strengthen SOYLEIC soybean acres in New York and Ohio through a powerful partnership with one of the few remaining full-line seed companies, SEEDWAY.
  • The 38th International Sweetener Symposium, held on August 4th to August 9th, 2023, in Napa, CA, brought together key leaders of the sugarbeet and sugarcane industries to discuss challenges facing the American sugar industry. The group gathered in California – the only state that produces sugar from both sugarbeets and sugarcane. The industry heard from a broad and bipartisan slate of members of Congress including leaders of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees.
    • Zimfo Bytes