2025 Tech Hub Live

ZimmCast 702 – Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCastHello and welcome to the ZimmCast. I’m Chuck Zimmerman.

I’m in Chicago this week for the ASTA CSS & Seed Expo. This is the last year for the event to be held in Chicago as it moves to Orlando, FL in 2023. I can certainly live with that change! Nothing like Florida in the winter.

Jane InindaI met one of the international attendees yesterday who lives in Kenya and is Head of Seed Research & Systems Development for the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). Her name is Jane Ininda and she has a great story and I think you’ll enjoy learning about farming challenges in the eleven country area that the organization works in.

I think it is always fascinating to learn more about agriculture in other countries. That’s why I’ve supported the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists. They have an annual meeting in a different member country each year. By attending many of them I have been able to travel in Japan, New Zealand, Argentina, Canada, Switzerland and many others. You can learn more about IFAJ at IFAJ.org.

That’s the ZimmCast for this week. I hope you enjoyed it and thank you for listening.

Listen to the ZimmCast here:
ZimmCast 702 - Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (22:33)

Want to sponsor the ZimmCast? Just let me know and we can talk through ideas for your company. I’m AgriBlogger on Twitter or just email me at chuck@zimmcomm.biz.

Subscribe to the ZimmCast in:

Ag Groups, ASTA, Audio, International, ZimmCast

Precision Ag News 12/7

Carrie Muehling

  • During the upcoming Dec. 14 Agri-Pulse webinar, “Understanding the CA regulatory environment and your role in bringing new technology to market,” participants will have a chance to hear from key leaders who will discuss how you can have an impact on the overall process; learn what growers, PCAs and other stakeholders in the industry can do to be more effective and efficient. The webinar is free but registration is required. It takes place at noon pacific time and is sponsored by BASF. Sign up by clicking on this link.
  • AgLaunch Initiative, a nonprofit ag innovation organization based in Memphis,Tennessee, announced the addition of Marcus Coleman, Ph.D. and Arielle Moinester to its Board of Directors. Coleman and Moinester will help provide strategic guidance and leadership to expand the organization’s farmer-led, open innovation model regionally and nationally.
  • Heliae Agriculture has announced the inauguration of the PhycoTerra® World Soil Day Scholarship program to support the next generation of agriculture and soil health leaders. Launched on World Soil Day, December 5, the scholarship recognizes three students in the U.S. and Canada who are completing studies in the soil, crop, or agronomy sciences.
  • Growers considering a biofungicide to manage diseases in their crops should ask their retailers and local trusted advisors about Actinovate from Novozymes BioAg. Actinovate can be used to protect crops against diseases including downy mildew, fusarium, phytophthora and many more. Actinovate becomes active in the soil when the temperature is above 45 F.
  • The non-profit Soil Health Academy (SHA) announced it has received a $200,000 grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation to further advance the adoption of soil health-focused regenerative agricultural principles and practices throughout the nation in 2023.
  • The Coalition for Responsible Gene Editing in Agriculture announced that food tech company Benson Hill, Inc. has formally endorsed the Framework for Responsible Use of Gene Editing in Agriculture. With consumer needs in mind, Benson Hill combines data science, food science and plant science to leverage the natural genetic diversity within plants, and design plant-based ingredients for new value-added markets.
  • To meet the rising demand of biological crop protection, Certis Biologicals announced that it is strengthening its innovation pipeline by naming Mike Allan Vice President of Business Development and Licensing. As such, Allan will seek opportunities for the biologicals leader to expand innovation efforts through partnerships, licensing and potential acquisitions.
  • The Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska took advantage of more opportunities for in-person connection this year and offers a glimpse of its significant movement forward in its annual report for fiscal year 2021-2022.
  • Another leading agronomic professional has joined Meristem Crop Performance, one of the fastest-growing crop input suppliers in America. Mike McNinch becomes a Meristem sales representative in Illinois. McNinch has deep experience in helping growers boost their profitability with the right products and practices.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

Basse Back for Farewell Chicago #ASTACSS

Cindy Zimmerman

AgResource economist Dan Basse is in high demand to provide his economic insights around the world, but he calls Chicago home and has been presenting his annual agricultural report and outlook at the ASTA CSS & Seed Expo 2022 every year since 2012. This last year for the event in Chicago was no exception and once again Basse packed a lot of information into an hour.

While he prefers to share upbeat analyses, Basse says 2023 looks to be a “downer” year for grain markets. “The last couple of years we’ve seen rather bullish agricultural markets … which has lifted corn prices up to seven dollars, soybeans up to 15 and we’ve sat at these prices for quite a while now,” said Busse. “The year ahead doesn’t look quite as pleasing …because of the rising dollar and rising interest rates, the slowing economy globally is not going to be very good for grain demand.”

Basse expects the U.S. will become more of a domestic market for grain. “Our share of world trade is dropping,” said Basse. “We are not as dominant in the world market as we used to be. Back when I first got into the business in 1979, the U.S. export share was 64%. Today we’re down around 12 percent.”

Listen to Basse’s remarks and two interviews with him here below:

ASTACSS Dan Basse, AgResource, report 60:00

ASTACSS Dan Basse, AgResource, summary interview 6:01

ASTACSS Dan Basse, AgResource, renewables outlook 4:25

2022 ASTA CSS & Seed Expo Photo Album

Find more audio from ASTACSS in the virtual newsroom for the event

ASTA, Audio

Cover Crops as a System at ASTACSS

Cindy Zimmerman

One of the first sessions of the 2022 ASTA CSS and Seed Expo as it kicked off in Chicago this week was all about a systems approach to breeding cover crops for optimal rotation and it was led by former USDA NRCS chief and nationally recognized conservation expert Bruce Knight, founder of Strategic Conservation Solutions, LLC, a consultancy focused on conservation and sustainability issues related to agriculture.

“The whole thing about cover crops is let’s do the right thing by the environment… but do it economically in a viable, sustainable long term manner, and that’s a systems approach,” said Knight.

Participants in the panel included Shalamar Armstrong and Dan Quinn, both with Purdue University, and Sara Lira, Corteva.

Dr. Armstrong’s research found that some farmers who started using cover crops got discouraged when they experienced yield lag. “Then we found if we rotate the cover crop in the system with the rotating cash crop, we can – with the right cover crop – reduce that negative trade off of the yield lag.” He used the example of cereal rye, a nitrogen scavenger, followed by soybeans, a nitrogen fixer.

Listen to interviews with Knight and Armstrong here:
ASTACSS interview with Bruce Knight, Strategic Conservation Solutions 7:19
Interview with Dr. Shalamar Armstrong, Purdue University “Systems Approach to Cover Crops”
ASTACSS interview with Dr. Shalamar Armstrong, Purdue 5:55

2022 ASTA CSS & Seed Expo Photo Album

Find more audio from ASTACSS in the virtual newsroom for the event

ASTA, Audio, Conservation, cover crops, Seed

Animal Ag News 12/5

Carrie Muehling

  • PIC (Pig Improvement Company) announced it has made a strategic minority investment in SwineTech, a farm management solutions company. As part of the investment, PIC and SwineTech will develop a strategic relationship to explore and advance the continued development of innovative products and approaches for improving the predictability and efficiency of swine production.
  • National Cattlemen’s Beef Association CEO Colin Woodall released a statement following the signing of H.J. Res. 100 to avert disruptions in rail service: “America’s cattle producers are grateful for the bipartisan effort that prevented disruptions in critical rail service across the country. A rail shutdown would have been disastrous to our supply chain, and would have interrupted the essential feed, fuel, and fertilizer shipments cattle producers need. We are pleased that this joint resolution was swiftly passed by Congress and signed into law.”
  • Join Dairy Calf & Heifer Association (DCHA) for its next webinar – “Achieving Better Outcomes when BRD Comes Knocking” – set for December 8, at 2 p.m. Central time (U.S./Canada). Tiago Tomazi, Merck Animal Health ruminant technical services, is the presenter for this free, one-hour educational offering. This webinar is RACE and ARPAS approved.
  • Royal DSM began construction of a new manufacturing facility at its site in Dalry, Scotland. The plant will significantly increase global production of Bovaer, DSM’s unique methane-reducing feed additive for cattle.
  • Vytelle outpaced their plan to double laboratory capacity to meet the demand for hormone-free in vitro fertilization (IVF). Part of the five-year plan, initiated at the conclusion of their Series A Funding, promised to double the laboratory capacity to produce bovine embryos through IVF. The announcement of the Franklin, Tennessee location marks the fifth laboratory opening since their Series A Funding in 2021.
  • The Animal Agriculture Alliance has concluded its release of reports from five prominent animal rights extremist conferences held over the course of 2022. The conferences included: Humane Society of the United States’ Taking Action for Animals (TAFA) Conference, The Rancher Advocacy Program’s (RAP) Summit, Animal Place’s Farmed Animal Conference E-Summit (FACES), Animal Legal Defense Fund’s (ALDF) Animal Law Symposium, and ALDF and the Center for Animal Law Studies’ Animal Law Conference. All 2022 animal rights activism conference reports, which include personal accounts of speaker presentations and general observations, are available to Alliance members in the Resource Center on the Alliance website.
  • Illinois Milk Producers Association during its 2022 annual awards program recognized two farmers who showcased leadership, stewardship and excellence in the dairy industry. David Ruppert, of Montgomery County, is the recipient of the 2022 Dairy Industry Service Award. This award recognizes an Illinois individual who has shown exemplary service and benefit to the state’s dairy industry. The 2022 Dairy Sustainability Award recognizes an Illinois dairy farm or dairy farmer who has made outstanding contributions toward innovative technologies and best management practices to improve environmental stewardship and economic viability. This year’s award recognizes Scheidairy Farm, in Stephenson County. Today, the operation is managed by Doug and Trish Scheider, fourth generation farmers, and Dan and Sarah Scheider, fifth generation farmers, who milk approximately 650 Holstein cows.
AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

DWFI Podcast 20 – Christopher Neale, DWFI

Cindy Zimmerman

In this episode of the Water for Food Podcast, Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute (DWFI) Director of Communications Frances Hayes sits down with her colleague and DWFI’s Director of Research Dr. Christopher Neale. Dr. Neale shares how his technical research translates to a more sustainable agricultural system through more precise use of water and savings for farmers.

Dr. Neale joined DWFI in 2013 and oversees its research efforts, engaging faculty in new projects and initiating partnerships all over the world with various organizations, universities and industry partners. Throughout his decades-long career, his research has focused primarily on developing remote sensing applications for irrigated agriculture, hydrology and natural resources monitoring. He has developed a low-cost airborne remote sensing system used in the western U.S. to map the energy balance and evapotranspiration of agricultural crops and natural vegetation. Dr. Neale is a founding partner and executive committee member of the Irrigation Innovation Consortium. He has led numerous national and international partnerships and projects to improve irrigation management in the U.S., Middle East and North Africa, India, Brazil, Dominican Republic and Kazakhstan.

Listen here or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform:
DWFI Podcast 20 - Christopher Neale, DWFI 34:54

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:

AgWired Precision, Audio, Farming, Precision Agriculture, Water, Water for Food

Industry Ag News 12/2

Carrie Muehling

  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) mailed survey codes to all known agriculture producers across the 50 states with an invitation to respond online to the 2022 Census of Agriculture at agcounts.usda.gov. The ag census is the nation’s only comprehensive and impartial agriculture data for every state, county, and territory. By completing the survey, producers across the nation can tell their story and help generate impactful opportunities that better serve them and future generations of producers.
  • Multi-platinum Southern Rock band 38 Special will close out the 2023 Commodity Classic during Saturday night’s Evening of Entertainment. Commodity Classic will be held Thursday, March 9 through Saturday, March 11 in Orlando.
  • The National FFA Foundation announced its new chair for the Sponsors’ Board during the 95th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis this fall. David Hollinrake, global head of strategy and portfolio management for Syngenta, was named chair for the upcoming year. Mary Snapp, vice president of strategic initiatives for Microsoft, was named chair-elect.
  • Trust In Beef announced that Syngenta has joined as a partner of the collaborative value chain program helping ranchers integrate climate-smart agriculture systems into their operations while sharing their learnings and success stories.
  • From farm to frontline, the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC) has taken another giant leap forward to highlight environmentally friendly investments from the soybean checkoff. In summer 2022, the Council, which directs the state’s soybean checkoff resources, launched the Stepping Up campaign to boost farmer profitability and promote the value-added uses of the “miracle bean” while making community connections.
  • The RaboAgriFinance Marketing and Communications department welcomes a new leader to their team, Melanie Bernds. Melanie previously served as the Director of Communications at Benson Hill, one of the fastest-growing food tech companies in the country, backed by Google Ventures, and a member of their core IPO team that led the company to go company in the fall of October 2021.
  • American Agri-Women (AAW) presented the LEAVEN Award, its highest honor for members, to Rose Tryon VanCott of California Women in Agriculture at its 2022 National Convention held recently in Bozeman, Montana.
  • While American families are spending 20 percent more for their holiday dinners this year and farmers are struggling to keep their doors open, the Department of Labor announced the new seven percent to 15.5 percent spike in Adverse Effect Wage Rates for farm guest workers that will drive up costs for farmers and American consumers. New research from ABIC Action breaks down the significant costs per employee and per state for farmers and agricultural producers using the H2A program.
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the appointment of 19 new farmer-leaders to serve on the United Soybean Board (USB). In addition, 24 farmer-leaders were reappointed. Forty-six leaders and alternates will serve three-year terms, and one new appointed member will serve a one-year term. Leaders will be sworn in for service during the USB December Meeting in St. Charles, Mo.
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is seeking nominations to the Advisory Committee on Agriculture Statistics. Members of this committee advise the Secretary of Agriculture on the scope, timing and content of periodic agricultural censuses, surveys of agriculture, and other related industries. The committee also makes recommendations on the content of agriculture reports and represents the views and data needs of suppliers and users of agricultural statistics.
  • The Renewable Fuels Association welcomed Pearson Fuels as its newest associate member. Established in 2002, Pearson Fuels became a pioneer in the alternative fuel industry in California and is the largest and fastest-growing distributor of E85 in the state.
Zimfo Bytes

Stakeholders React to EPA Biofuel Volume Proposal

Cindy Zimmerman

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published its proposed rule to establish required Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volumes and percentage standards for 2023, 2024, and 2025, as well as to propose a series of important modifications to strengthen and expand the RFS program.

Ethanol producers and corn farmers are generally pleased with the proposal, while soybean farmers and biodiesel/renewable diesel interests are disappointed.

The proposal sets next year’s (2023) total RFS requirement at 20.82 billion gallons, including 5.82 billion in advanced biofuels and 15 billion from conventional renewable fuels like corn ethanol. In addition, EPA proposes to add a supplemental volume of 250 million gallons on top of the 2023 standards to address a 2017 D.C. Circuit Court decision. The total RFS volume proposed for 2024 is 21.87 billion gallons, with 6.62 billion advanced and 15.25 billion conventional; and for 2025, EPA increases the total volume to 22.68 billion gallons, 7.43 billion of advanced biofuel and 15.25 billion of conventional renewable fuel.

Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Geoff Cooper said they are pleased because the proposed rule “solidifies a role” for the RFS going forward in future efforts to reduce carbon emissions. “By including three years’ worth of RFS volumes, EPA’s proposed rule will finally provide certainty and stability for the entire supply chain.”

Cooper answered questions from the media about the proposal during a conference call Thursday.
RFA CEO on EPA Proposed RFS Volumes Rule 20:23

“We are pleased with EPA’s forward-looking approach of annual increases in the proposal,” said National Corn Growers Association President Tom Haag. “EPA clearly recognizes that renewable fuels like ethanol play a critical role in cutting greenhouse gas emissions, increasing U.S. energy independence and providing long-term relief to consumers at the pump.”

However, Clean Fuels Alliance America criticized the agency’s minor increases proposed for biomass-based biodiesel volumes are for “undercutting investments in biodiesel and renewable diesel capacity.”

“EPA’s overdue set proposal significantly undercounts existing biomass-based diesel production and fails to provide growth for investments the industry has already made in additional capacity, including for sustainable aviation fuel. The volumes EPA is proposing for 2023, 2024 and 2025 ignore the more than 3 billion gallons currently in the market and fail to take into account the planned growth of the clean fuels sector,” said Clean Fuels Vice President of Federal Affairs Kurt Kovarik.

American Soybean Association president Brad Doyle was surprised and disappointed by EPA’s proposal. “This draft rule slams the brakes on progress being made in biofuels investment and growth. Instead of continuing to support available, low-emission plant-based fuel sources, EPA has changed course and seemingly is ignoring the major investments in and consumer demand for biomass-based diesel and other biofuels that exists right now,” said Doyle.

The entire proposal released by EPA this week is nearly 700 pages. EPA will hold a virtual public hearing by Zoom on January 10, 2023, for the proposed rule. An additional session will be held on January 11, 2023, if necessary, to accommodate the number of testifiers that sign-up to testify. There will be no in-person hearing.

Ag Groups, Audio, Biodiesel, Clean Fuels Alliance, Corn, EPA, Ethanol, Soybean

ARA Presents Awards at Annual Conference

Cindy Zimmerman

The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) held its 2022 Conference & Expo this week in San Diego with more than 600 agricultural retail industry professionals convening to share insights, network, and celebrate 30 years of ARA.

During the conference, ARA honored Tim McArdle with the Jack Eberspacher Lifetime Achievement Award for his legacy of leadership at the Brandt Co., and across the industry. “Tim’s quest to support our industry did not end when he retired from his role as chief operating officer at Brandt Consolidated,” says ARA President and CEO Daren Coppock. “Now serving as ambassador and recruiter for ResponsibleAg, Tim started as a charter board member and chair helping to develop the industry-led initiative into what it is today.”

Gary Vogen, vice president of corporate and regulatory affairs at Yara North America, received the ARA Distinguished Service Award. “Gary has served on the ARA Board of Directors for several years and acts as an insightful resource when the ARA policy team reaches out for input to inform our advocacy efforts on a variety of issues,” says ARA President and CEO Daren Coppock. “Gary’s leadership has benefited our industry in important ways as board chair of ResponsibleAg through its strategic transition in order to better meet the needs of ag retail facilities across the nation.”

ARA honored Marion Ag Service with its Retailer of the Year Award in front of more than 640 attendees during the 2022 ARA Conference & Expo. Known for the team’s incredible caliber of customer service and integrity, Marion Ag Service empowers its grower customers to thrive. “Marion Ag Service excels at more than delivering an exceptional level of value to its customers,” says ARA President and CEO Daren Coppock. “As a leader in government affairs, Marion Ag promotes the interests of the agronomy industry while balancing good environmental stewardship for farmlands, growers, and employees.”

ag retailers, ARA

AgriBlogger With a New Air

Chuck Zimmerman

MacBook Air M2I’m talking about the new MacBook Air M2. It was time for this agnerd to upgrade from my MacBook Pro 2019. I’ve already been on-location with it and I’m very happy (mostly) with it.

Things I like so far:

13.6″ display
Battery – I didn’t charge it for two full days of uploading photos, editing audio, etc!!
Faster performance
Light weight and thin

Things I’m so-so on so far:

MagSafe charging – Apple, I wish you could decide on some standards in your products
Only 2 Thunderbolt/USB-4 ports – That’s why I had to have a Hyper-Drive USB Type-C Hub (in picture)

I got the midnight finish and purchased a Speck clear case. I’m happy and would recommend it. And I’m happy to answer any questions you might have.

BTW. I’m still in the Windows world. I just got Cindy a Surface Laptop 4 recently to run Windows 11 on. She is doing well with it. Her older laptop couldn’t upgrade to Windows 11.

So, that’s about all I can say about that right now. I’m definitely enjoying my iPhone 14 Pro. I think I’m using it more and more as the camera just continues to improve to a point that I’ve used many photos from it for social media and other web use.

Technology