RFA Ethanol Podcast

Syngenta’s Thatcher Provides Policy Perspective

Cindy Zimmerman

Mary Kay Thatcher has been in policy “since the first Bush administration” when she left Iowa for Washington DC after college, so when she talks about policy, people in agriculture listen. After 30 years with the American Farm Bureau Federation and now Sr. Manager, Federal Government & Industry Relations at Syngenta for almost five years, most everyone knows Mary Kay and her policy talks are highly anticipated wherever she speaks.

Thatcher gave her policy overview at the Syngenta media event this week in New Orleans, hitting all the major issues, starting with the very important midterm election next week. “I wouldn’t get all excited about staying up on November 8th, or probably November 9th for that matter, because I suspect we’ll have 10 or 12 races that will be within one percent,” she said during her remarks.

As for the 2023 Farm Bill, Thatcher expects that will not happen by October 1 of next year. “Very little chance,” she said in an interview. “The fact is that we really don’t have to reauthorize nutrition or crop insurance programs because they go on regardless…and the Inflation Reduction Act did the same for conservation…so that is going to take the pressure off getting this done.”

The biggest challenge for farmers Thatcher believes comes from the Environmental Protection Agency. “Farmers have a lot of tools in their toolbox from EPA but it appears they’re trying to remove those tools and that’s going to make life difficult on the farm,” said Thatcher.

Listen to Thatcher’s interview below.
Syngenta media - Mary Kay Thatcher interview 6:59

Audio, EPA, Farm Bill, Farm Policy, Syngenta

Precision Ag News 11/2

Carrie Muehling

  • USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is reinstating the Cost of Pollination Survey, that was suspended on December 6, 2018. NASS has mailed the questionnaires and will collect data immediately. The report, to be published on Jan. 11, 2023, will include data for 2017 and 2022 reference dates, including paid pollinated acres, price per acre, colonies used, price per colony, and total value of pollination per crop.
  • Repair Done Right is a campaign created by the North American Equipment Dealers Association (NAEDA) to change the narrative on Right to Repair. The main part of the campaign is a training platform providing dealer personnel a foundational understanding of what the Right to Repair issue is and how our industry is supporting customer repair.
  • Clariant announces that it has completed the acquisition of BASF’s U.S. based Attapulgite business assets for USD 60 million in cash.
  • Canadian company Nutrien partnered with San Diego, California, Radicle Growth, an accelerator and venture capital firm focused on early-stage agriculture and food technology startups, to sponsor the Radicle Inclusion Challenge. Agtools was one of four finalists chosen that went on to win the Radicle Inclusion Challenge Award.
  • Reinke Manufacturing and FreeWave Technologies announced a partnership to simplify data connectivity between irrigation systems and the cloud, making way for another best-in- class hardware line-up for Reinke’s ReinCloud-Ready products.
  • October 28 marked two years since the groundbreaking ceremony of the Ag Innovation Campus (AIC). As a not-for-profit, the AIC will process about 9 semi-trucks a day, crushing a grand total of 62,400 tons of soybeans per year. Phase two will be an office complex and research labs, with the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute operating the research labs. Phase three consists of rentable discovery bays and a Crushwalk that will be available for short to midterm use for companies who want to prove their designs at full production scale.
  • AgReliant Genetics announced it will invest $18 million in capital improvements at its Decatur, Illinois, foundation seed facility. Scheduled over the next three years, the improvements will expand capacity and add the latest technology and automation to better serve farmers across the U.S. and Canada.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

US Identity Preserved Brand Introduced in Vietnam

Cindy Zimmerman

The U.S. Identity Preserved brand is now officially a global entity with its introduction this week at an event in Vietnam.

The Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA) met with buyers and food producers in Saigon to introduce the new international mark designating premium crops with verifiable origins and superior products from the U.S.

“(SSGA) is here today to announce a significant certification advancement for food manufacturers to consider when purchasing ingredients for their products,” Executive Director Eric Wenberg said during a livestreamed event from the Saigon Sheraton Hotel & Towers. “We are excited to make this first official announcement in Vietnam because this is an important and growing market for high-quality foods that require high-quality ingredients.”

The U.S. Identity Preserved quality assurance plan and brand mark symbolizes a landmark advancement in the verification of trust, traceability and value for food manufacturers, processors and exporters. Since the brand was unveiled to an American audience in December 2021, a dozen U.S. companies have joined the program and are using the mark – with several more companies currently going through the application and qualification process.

Listen to comments from the event:
Eric Wenberg, executive director, SSGA;
Shane Frederick, manager of strategic programs, SSGA;
Hathairat Prachayaphiphat, Green Spot Co., Thailand;
Todd Sinner, partner, SB&B Foods (North Dakota processor/food ingredients company)
David Williams, (Michigan farmer and United Soybean Board director)

SSGA US Identity Preserved Vietnam 19:26

Audio, Exports, Food, Grains, International, Soybean

Research Reveals Farmer Concerns About Carbon Markets

Cindy Zimmerman

Are farmers ready for carbon markets – or not?

That was the question that Farm Journal’s Trust In Food™ set out to answer in its inaugural “Ready or Not? Ag Carbon Markets and U.S. Farmers” report, highlighting perspectives from 500 U.S. row crop producers on pathways and barriers to participating in carbon ecosystems.

The answer? “Not quite yet,” according to Amy Skoczlas Cole, executive vice president of Trust In Food. “Our initial findings suggest that even the most carbon-curious farmers are signaling that their participation under current market conditions would require prohibitive investments of time, effort and resources without fair financial and market returns,” she said. And that is something everyone in the carbon market value chain should take very seriously with so much being staked on it as a critical tool for addressing climate change.

The majority of farmers surveyed report serious concern about overcoming technical and financial roadblocks to success in carbon markets. In addition to more fundamental warning signs, producers fear that costs will outweigh benefits; that ongoing compliance will require too high a burden; that existing conservation ag practices will not be compensated fairly; that data will not be handled appropriately or will be difficult to collect; or that upfront investments will be a barrier to entry. More than half of farmers surveyed labeled each respective concern a “significant” challenge to carbon market entry.

Learn more in this interview with Cole and read the full report.
Interview with Amy Skoczlas Cole, Trust In Food 20:09

carbon, Farm Journal, Farming

Animal Ag News 11/1

Carrie Muehling

  • For more than three decades cattle producers have simplified their recordkeeping with a handy pocket-sized booklet from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. The 2023 version of the Redbook is now available to help cattle producers effectively and efficiently record their daily production efforts, which can help enhance profitability and reduce stress levels.
  • The National Pork Producers Council has appointed Kelly Cushman as its new vice president of domestic policy. In this newly created position, Cushman will oversee U.S. government engagement, advocacy and lobbying efforts on behalf of the U.S. pork industry.
  • National Milk Producers Federation leadership unanimously endorsed a proposal to modernize the Federal Milk Marketing Order milk-pricing system at its annual meeting in Denver.
  • Ralco has announced that the Jon Knochenmus Center for Innovation is fully operational with its first research studies being conducted. Ralco purchased this 13.6-acre site in fall 2020 which now includes a swine research barn, poultry research barn, ruminant lab, radio frequency gas production system, mycotoxin testing and particle size analysis services for Ralco customers.
  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association announces the four finalists in the 10th annual National Anthem Singing Contest, sponsored by Norbrook®. The winner receives a trip to the 2023 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show in New Orleans to perform the “Star-Spangled Banner” at the Opening General Session on Feb. 1 as well as during the evening event on Feb. 3. Videos of the finalists will be available for viewing and voting at https://convention.ncba.org beginning Nov. 1. The public can vote for their favorite singer once per day per person through Nov. 15, and the winner will be announced Nov. 18, 2022.
  • World Ag Expo seminars are included with the price of admission and feature experts in global agriculture. In 2023, four sessions from the University of California will focus on Dairy and Livestock with speakers coming from the Extension system and the CLEAR Center at UC Davis.
  • The Dairy Innovation Hub will hold its third annual Dairy Summit conference on November 16, hosted by UW–River Falls. Formatted for a general audience, the Summit features the Hub’s newest projects. Anyone unable to attend in person can participate through a live virtual option. Sessions will also be recorded and posted to YouTube.
  • In a strong show of support for healthy nutrition incentive programs, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a significant expansion of the Healthy Fluid Milk Incentives Projects, a pilot program that provides a dollar-for-dollar match to participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) when they purchase healthy fluid milk options at qualifying food retail outlets.
  • The dairy checkoff has awarded 12 academic scholarships to students enrolled in programs that emphasize dairy and who have shown potential to become future dairy leaders. The National Dairy Promotion and Research Board, through Dairy Management Inc., which manages the national dairy checkoff, annually awards $2,500 scholarships to 11 students. In addition, the NDB awards a $3,500 James H. Loper Jr. Memorial Scholarship to one outstanding scholarship recipient.
  • Royal DSM, the global purpose-led science-based company, has announced the update of its OVN Optimum Vitamin Nutrition guidelines to deliver sustainable farming practices. OVN, produced with a low environmental footprint, improves animal health and welfare by providing animals with high-quality vitamins in the optimal amount.
AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

AMVAC® Partners with NewLeaf Symbiotics® for Biologicals

Cindy Zimmerman

AMVAC®, an American Vanguard® Company, is partnering with St. Louis-based NewLeaf Symbiotics® to bring new and existing biologicals solutions to North American crop markets beginning in 2023.

This collaboration will harness the complementary marketing and technical strengths of each partner to expand the application of existing products and advance the development of future products utilizing the combined technical resources of both companies. The partnership also will expand and accelerate AMVAC’s growing GreenSolutions™ biological portfolio and facilitate NewLeaf Symbiotics’ objective of securing wider market penetration.

AMVAC leverages its deep market access, its strong sales teams in U.S. crop markets, and its growing portfolio of GreenSolutions™ biologicals. In the U.S., AMVAC’s GreenSolutions recently passed the 1.2-million-acre mark for application, a milestone for the company. AMVAC previously has announced biologicals-related partnerships with 3Bar Biologics, BASF, and Azotic North America.

NewLeaf Symbiotics brings to the partnership its proprietary microbial library, continued research and development capability, and its current product offering including PPFMs – pink pigmented facultative methylotrophs – which are naturally occurring beneficial microbes that deliver a range of benefits to crops throughout the entire growing season. Leading this new class of ag biologicals is NewLeaf Symbiotics’ Terrasym® microbial inoculants, which can make crops stronger, more resilient, and more tolerant of abiotic stress throughout their life cycle.

AMVAC, Biologicals

Industry Ag News 10/28

Carrie Muehling

  • American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) announces the hiring of Dr. Samuel Crowell as the association’s new Senior Director, International Programs and Policy. In this role, Crowell is responsible for managing and implementing the association’s international programs and trade policy.
  • Brownfield Ag News is pleased to announce Carah Hart has joined the Brownfield team as Anchor/Reporter based in Mid-Missouri. A Missouri native, Carah graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural journalism in 2012. She interned with Brownfield while attending Mizzou and most recently worked for Red River Farm Network since 2015.
  • On Nov. 1 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, the Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA) will hold a special event to launch the U.S. Identity Preserved brand internationally and build global awareness of the assurance plan that ensures the high quality that comes from the U.S. system. The international launch is co-sponsored by the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council, Wisconsin Marketing Board and Vinamilk, Vietnam’s largest dairy company.
  • Online registration and housing for the 2023 Commodity Classic will open on November 15, 2022. America’s largest farmer-led agricultural and educational experience will be held Thursday, March 9 through Saturday, March 11 in Orlando.
  • Syngenta Group announced strong financial results for the third quarter and first nine months of 2022. Syngenta Crop Protection sales grew 27 percent to $12.6 billion with North America up 17 percent; Syngenta Seeds sales grew 14 percent to $3.2 billion while North America grew 13 percent in seed sales.
  • To support the education of today’s youth as they grow into the ag leaders of tomorrow, National Corn Growers Association invites eligible students to apply for the 2023 Scholarship Programs.
Zimfo Bytes

Six Companies Compete in AgLaunch Livestock Challenge

Cindy Zimmerman

AgLaunch is hosting six livestock agtech start-ups this week solving on-farm issues for the 2022 AgLaunch365 Livestock Challenge to select up to five teams that will move forward in the AgLaunch365 Accelerator that include on-farm trials with AgLaunch Farmer Network members.

Selected teams will participate in a 12-week accelerator with opportunities to showcase at the Farm Journal Top Producer Summit in Nashville, TN and the Mid-South Farm and Gin Show in Memphis, TN. They will also be able to deploy on-farm trials with AgLaunch farmers. During these trials, AgLaunch Farmers work hand-in-hand with start-ups to trial, provide feedback, share data, and ultimately aid in the success of the company.

One of the teams participating is AgButler, a digital marketplace, bringing the gig economy to agriculture by connecting farmers and ranchers with high-quality laborers in rural communities through its online application. AgButler is addressing the growing labor challenges across rural America and was developed by Kevin and Jamie Johansen, and the team now includes Kevin’s brother Dustin Johansen.

Other teams in the Livestock Challenge:
ECOW: helps dairy farmers increase milk yield, profitability and decrease methane emissions by using insights and an internal sensor.
GenoTwin: revolutionizing biosurveillance and sustainability for livestock with advanced omics insights into infectious diseases.
Motion Grazer AI: developing an inexpensive and effective method to use camera, computer and proprietary algorithms to quantitatively evaluate animal gait, posture and condition. With an initial focus on breeding swine, real-time health data and productivity predictions for individual animals is provided.
ReproHealth Technologies: uses Embryology and Engineering to create devices to improve cattle production. Our patented intravaginal embryo culture device creates embryos in the cow, rather than the lab, and brings the ‘Lab to the Farm.’
Tracker Sled: developed patent-pending SunFarmor™ modules to stabilize farmers’ and ranchers’ energy and fertilizer costs while affording a path to carbon-free farming, increased profits, and rural economic renewal.

Livestock, Technology

Hunting with a Can-Am Defender

Chuck Zimmerman

Can-Am Defender HD10 It’s a new season, deer season that is. The founders of the Crystal Pig Hunt Club have been hunting together continuously for over 30 years. We’ve used a wide variety of vehicles to work on the property and camps to get ready each year as well as getting to our stands and bringing our harvest back to camp. That’s what we have put this loaner from Can-Am to work with on opening weekend of deer season.

It was a very successful hunt. We harvested three does and two bucks between the five of us who were able to be there last weekend. We’ll be back soon though since the annual rut for deer is at its peak during the first couple weeks of November.

The Can-Am Defender made the whole experience even more enjoyable. This unit has a cab with ac/heat, automatic windows and more great features. I’ll be writing about our experience on AgWired soon. Thank you Can-Am.

Here’s how the Defender looks in the woods: 2022 Hunting with a Can-Am Photo Album

Can-Am, Hunting

Precision Ag News 10/26

Carrie Muehling

  • New third-party proprietary data shows that NK Seeds is the nation’s fastest-growing seed brand for the period of 2019-2022. The brand attributes this rapid growth to its ongoing, significant investments in R&D and product innovation, which are helping NK continue to earn farmers’ acres.
  • The German American Business Awards announced this year’s winner of “The Coolest German Thing Made in the USA” – presented by Comcast – was CLAAS and their fourth-generation LEXION 8000-7000 combine.
  • Total Acre has formed a strategic partnership with Sound Agriculture to empower growers to optimize crop nutrient usage, maximize return on investment and pro-actively promote climate-smart commodities, aiming to reduce nitrogen usage by 10 million pounds.
  • Rob-See-Co, an independent seed company located in Elkhorn, Neb. acquired Federal Hybrids, an Iowa-based seed company. This acquisition positions Rob-See-Co as the 14th largest corn seed company in the United States.
  • The National Wheat Yield Contest (NWYC) is announcing the winners for the 2022 contest, which is the seventh year the National Wheat Foundation has held the contest. This year we had a contest record yield of 231.37 bushels per acre that was achieved by Rylee Reynolds in Twin Falls County, Idaho. Rylee’s 231 bu/ac tops the prior contest record of 211 bu/ac in 2019. Rylee and his dad, Gary, both placed as National Winners in the winter wheat irrigated category. Additionally, the Pacific Northwest (PNW) had some great wheat this year; all 4 of the Bin Buster winners are from the PNW.
  • Nitricity, the agtech startup revolutionizing nitrogen fertilizer production, announced the close of its Series A investment capital raise at $20 million. This fundraising round was led by Khosla Ventures and Fine Structure Ventures with additional participation from Energy Impact Partners, Lowercarbon Capital, and MCJ Collective. Nitricity electrifies and distributes the production of nitrogen fertilizer. The Nitricity approach uses a new technology for regionalized nutrient production using low-cost solar or wind. This marks a major difference from the existing nitrogen supply chain, which is highly centralized and uses fossil fuels and costly transportation.
  • AgTrax, a software company for accounting and advanced grain bin management, was honored to host Kansas Governor Laura Kelly & Kansas Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Beamat its downtown Hutchinson, Kan. headquarters recently for talks on ‘Agriculture & Economic Development in Central Kansas.’ The company is the fastest-growing software developer of its kind and was named the Hutchinson Chamber of Commerce 2021 Business of the Year.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture