New Orleans Welcomes #CattleCon23

Cindy Zimmerman

Early Mardi Gras is in bloom on the streets of NOLA as cattle producers from around the nation gather for the 2023 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show.

Attendance is good and NCBA president Don Schiefelbein is seeing a lot of smiling faces. “It’s amazing what good prices do for good attitudes,” he said.

At the same time, producers are facing plenty of challenges, like the resurrected Waters of the United States (WOTUS). “Everybody wants to take what was once a pretty satisfactory solution and say let’s get the government involved more, create more complexities, and create more uncertainty for our ranchers – which is certainly something we don’t want.”

In this interview, Schiefelbein also reflects on his term this past year as NCBA president.
2023 CattleCon interview with NCBA president Don Schiefelbein (4:14)

Keep up with what’s happening at CattleCon23 in the official Virtual Newsroom where session audio and interviews will be posted throughout the convention.

2023 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show Photo Album

AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA

Regev and Timorex ACT Approved for Stone and Pome Fruits

Cindy Zimmerman

Summit Agro announced today the approved expansion of the use of Regev and Timorex ACT fungicides for both stone and pome fruit production.

This action by the EPA gives growers two new tools to use in their fruit orchards to battle fungal and bacterial disease. Both these fungicides benefit from the activity of Tea Tree Extract (FRAC BM 01).

Regev is the first hybrid fungicide in that it unites the disease fighting power of botanical and conventional chemistries. The product combines Tea Tree Extract with difenoconazole (FRAC 3).

Timorex ACT is an OMRI-listed fungicide that only contains Tea Tree Extract making it a purely organic formulation. It also can be used as an ideal tank-mix partner for growers looking to boost the performance of their organic or conventional fungicide program.

“Stone and pome fruit growers will find Regev delivers remarkable control of scab,” said Eric Tedford, Summit Agro R&D manager. “This control extends to both the leaf and the fruit even at low rates.”

Tedford added that Timorex ACT is an ideal organic solution for growers looking for powdery mildew control.

Tedford explained, “Both Regev and Timorex ACT provide the trifecta of disease protection — preventative, curative and anti-sporulant control — through eight mechanisms of activity. These are unique aspects that fruit growers will benefit from.”

Find more information about Regev and Timorex ACT on the Summit Agro website: summitagrro-usa.com.

Crop Protection, Fungicide, specialty crops

Animal Ag News 1/30

Carrie Muehling

  • U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) re-introduced two cattle-focused bills to improve the industry – his Butcher Block Act with co-lead Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) and the Amplifying Processing of Livestock in the United States (A-PLUS) Act with lead Rep. Mark Alford (R-MO). According to a 2020 report, an increase of packing capacity by 5,000-6,000 head of fed cattle per day is needed to get back to the historic baseline. Building new facilities could cost $100-250 million for every 1,000 head of cattle processed daily, according to estimates. The Butcher Block Act would establish a grant and loan program at USDA for new and expanding meat processors to drive competition within the packing industry.
  • As he works through the transition process to step away from a daily role on his family’s fifth-generation ranch outside Casper, Wyo., Brad Boner stepped into a new role during the American Sheep Industry Association’s Annual Convention. He will serve as ASI president for the next two years after unanimous election by the ASI Board of Directors.
  • The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) named Mike Aquino as director, ESG (environment, social and governance). Aquino was trained as a food scientist at Drexel University and has since held several professional positions in the food and agriculture space, including with Danone’s research and development pilot facility in White Plains, N.Y., and on the Global Sustainability Team at General Mills addressing corporate citizenship issues such as Scope 3 emissions reduction planning and animal welfare.
  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) has filed a Notice of Intent to sue the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) over the listing of the lesser prairie chicken under the Endangered Species Act. This is the first step in court toward overturning the listing and revoking FWS’s final rule for both the Northern and Southern Distinct Population Segments.
  • The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) commended Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and leading congressional dairy advocates for providing $100 million in additional, targeted payments under the Pandemic Market Volatility Assistance Program that will aid medium-sized and larger producers who missed out on equitable payments during the first round of assistance in 2021.
  • Bar 20 Dairy of Kerman, Calif., was recognized as the 2023 Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year at the International Dairy Foods Association’s (IDFA) Dairy Forum. The award is presented each year by IDFA and Dairy Herd Management magazine. Bar 20 Dairy, owned by third-generation dairy farmer Steve Shehadey along with seven other family members, is a 7,000-cow dairy that also farms 5,000 acres in the San Joaquin Valley.
  • The Dairy Business Association elected a new president during the group’s annual business meeting at DBA’s Dairy Strong conference. Lee Kinnard of Kinnard Farms in Casco, Wis., will enter his two-year term as president. Kinnard serves on several boards, including Peninsula Pride Farms and Farmers for Sustainable Food. He previously served as vice president of DBA.
  • Jarod Morrison, Farbest Foods, Huntingburg, Indiana, was elected chairman of the board of directors of U.S. Poultry & Egg Association. The board meeting was held during the International Poultry Expo, part of the 2023 International Production & Processing Expo. Morrison previously served as vice chairman.
  • Greg Hinton, vice president of sales for Rose Acre Farms, was named USPOULTRY’s Workhorse of the Year during the International Poultry Expo, part of the 2023 International Production & Processing Expo. The poultry industry’s most prestigious honor is awarded annually in recognition of dedicated service and valuable leadership given to the Association and poultry industry.
  • The 2023 International Production & Processing Expo has been a successful trade show with strong crowds, busy exhibitors and great energy evident throughout the trade show floor. This year, IPPE has approximately 28,000 attendees, 533,000 square feet of exhibit space and 1,180-plus exhibitors. Attendee numbers will be released after the registration database has been audited for duplications. Sponsored by the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, American Feed Industry Association and the North American Meat Institute, IPPE is the world’s largest annual poultry and egg, meat and animal food industry event of its kind.
  • “People worry climate policy will be done to them and not with them,” remarked Robert Bonnie, Under Secretary of Farm Production and Conservation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), during the Animal Agriculture Sustainability Summit held at the 2023 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE). The Animal Agriculture Sustainability Summit is sponsored by the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, along with the American Feed Industry Association and the North American Meat Institute.
  • Over 500 ranchers gathered last week for the National Bison Association Winter Conference, and brought with them about 100 head of live bison to the National Western Stock show to participate in the Gold Trophy Show and Sale.
  • Cattle producers, veterinarians and industry representatives attending the 2023 National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Convention in New Orleans can learn more about new Tulieve (tulathromycin injection), the newest anti-infective product from Norbrook.
AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

Time to Get Jazzed for #CattleCon23

Cindy Zimmerman

The streets of New Orleans will be filled with cowboy boots this week as thousands of cattle producers from around the country visit to attend the 2023 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show.

“This is the 125th anniversary of NCBA and the Cattle Industry Convention, so we’re excited to be celebrating that,” said NCBA Executive Director of Meetings and Events Kristin Torres.

The theme of the convention is Get Jazzed, and there’s definitely a lot to be jazzed about next week. The Opening General Session will include a fireside chat about ranch life between “Yellowstone” creator Taylor Sheridan and NCBA President and Minnesota cattle producer, Don Schiefelbein. Sheridan is an Academy Award®-nominated writer, actor, rancher as well as a member of the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame.

Torres says there is a lot of excitement around this year’s convention. “We have a sold out trade show – almost eight acres of exhibit space, both indoor and outdoor,” said Torres. “We’re anticipating 7500 to 8000 people to join us in New Orleans. That’s putting us back to some of our pre-pandemic numbers.”

The convention itself runs February 1-3, but the 30th annual Cattlemen’s College begins on January 31 and will feature live animal handling demonstrations and 18 educational sessions with industry leaders tackling innovative topics. The Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame banquet and Environmental Stewardship Award Program reception will recognize leaders for their achievements, and there will be more than eight acres of trade show exhibits to explore. “They’ve really been tweaking this program for years and really beefing it up,” Torres said.

There is so much more on the agenda for CattleCon23 and registration remains open if you want to attend, just go to Convention.NCBA.org. Find out more of what’s in store in this interview with Torres.

2023 CattleCon preview - Kristin Torres, NCBA (4:26)

Audio, Beef, Beef Checkoff, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA

Industry Ag News 1/30

Carrie Muehling

  • Deputy Secretary Dr. Jewel Bronaugh announced that she is leaving the Department of Agriculture in the weeks ahead to spend more time with her family. Her service, presence and leadership will be sorely missed. She has been an incredible partner over the last two years, and she has been instrumental in helping the department seize opportunity and address a host of challenges.
  • Delegates at the National Cotton Council’s upcoming annual meeting will review and approve resolutions to help U.S. cotton’s central organization guide the U.S. cotton industry in the coming year. At this forum, set for February 10-12 at the Fairmont Hotel in Dallas, Texas, industry representatives from the 17 cotton-producing states and all seven industry segments will establish policies reflecting common interests and promoting mutual benefits for its broad membership and ancillary industries.
  • GROWMARK, Inc. announced the acquisition of Allied Seed, LLC., based in Nampa, Idaho. Allied Seed offers a full line of forage, turfgrass, and cover crop seed as well as custom production, blending, packaging, and seed treatment services.
  • The nation’s leading agriculture experts and well-known personalities will be featured on the Main Stage during the 2023 Commodity Classic held March 9-11 in Orlando. The Main Stage, presented by Successful Farming and Commodity Classic, is located right on the trade show floor. Presentations are scheduled during trade show hours, and highlights of the Main Stage line-up for 2023 include: Strategies for Success: Where’s the Market Going? with Farm Credit and Kluis Commodity Advisors; Cashing In On Carbon with Garth Boyd of Context Network, sponsored by Truterra; How to Make the Most Success with XtremeAg, sponsored by FMC Corporation; Bring Soil Health to Life, sponsored by Ducks Unlimited; and Generation Next: A Retiring Couple’s Journey to Find a Successor to the Family Farm, presented by Syngenta.
  • The World Food Prize Foundation has named Terry Branstad, a former Iowa governor and U.S. ambassador to China, as its next president.
  • The Propane Education & Research Council announces its 2023 Propane Farm Incentive Program, which provides financial incentives of up to $5,000 toward the purchase of qualifying propane equipment — including irrigation engines, power generators, agricultural building and water heating systems and flame weed control systems.
  • The two groups that comprise Minnesota Soybean earned nine first-place awards at the National Agri-Marketing Association’s (NAMA) Region 3 Awards Jan. 19 in Minneapolis.
  • Southern States Cooperative is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2023 with events focused on its customers and employees. The agricultural cooperative operates in eight states across the Southeastern U.S. with more than 100 Southern States Cooperative branded retail locations.
  • The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol announced the membership of American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (AEO). AEO is a leading global specialty retailer offering high-quality, on-trend clothing, accessories and personal care products through its American Eagle, Aerie, OFFL/NE by Aerie, Todd Snyder and Unsubscribed brands.
  • Silent Shade Planting Company is the 2023 winner of Farm Journal’s annual Top Producer of the Year award. The operation, led by Jeremy and Elizabeth Jack, Stacie Kroger and Willard and Laura Lee Jack, is based in Belzoni, Miss., and includes 11,500 acres of soybeans, corn, cotton and rice, as well as a trucking company. The team also includes 10 full-time and 10 seasonal employees.
  • Beginning February 7, Farm Action and a coalition of organizations representing agriculture, health, faith, academia, conservation, labor, and animal welfare will co-host the Food Not Feed Summit in Washington, D.C., with participants across the country joining virtually. The Summit brings together a first-of-its-kind coalition of diverse perspectives to demonstrate the need and momentum to fundamentally change America’s agriculture policies ahead of 2023 Farm Bill negotiations.
  • Agri-Pulse is pleased to welcome the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives as the Platinum sponsor for the 2023 Ag & Food Policy Summit. The summit offers in-person and virtual attendance options on March 20. This year’s theme is “Next-gen farm and food policy.”
Zimfo Bytes

Making Autonomy Work in Agriculture

Cindy Zimmerman

L-R: John Appel, Biome Makers; Gabe Sibley, Verdant Robotics;
Michael Kohen, SparkAI; and Omar Gomez, Hectre

Artificial intelligence (AI) offers growers greater efficiency, from self-driving technology to a multitude of applications in the field from planting to postharvest. But in the unstructured environments of agriculture nothing is ever as simple as it seems.

The recent VISION Conference explored that topic in a session called “Making Autonomy Work in Agriculture,” featuring insights and perspectives from companies that are successfully integrating AI in ag.

John Appel, Head of Commercial Sales for Biome Makers, moderated the panel. “What was clear to me is the (companies) that are successful … are really looking to offer tangible cost reductions to a grower that they can measure themselves,” he said.

VISION 2023 interview with John Appel, Biome Makers (4:49)

Verdant Robotics founder and CEO Gabe Sibley says they are already saving growers 50-70 percent because the technology has that kind of value. “We want the growers to know that there’s significant cost savings to be had now,” said Sibley. “We’re really led by what the growers need.”

VISION 2023 interview with Gabe Sibley, Verdant Robotics (5:03)

Michael Kohen is Founder & CEO of SparkAI which is focused on perfecting the technology. “AI is hard to perfect,” he said. “It’s easy to build an AI model that works 95 percent of the time, but it’s that last five percent of unpredictability is a critical barrier that prevents the products from actually getting into the world and providing value.”

VISION 2023 interview with Michael Kohen, SparkAI (5:25)

Also on the panel was Omar Gomez, Washington lead at Hectre, an award-winning fruit tech start-up delivering data visibility via computer vision AI early fruit sizing solutions, and digital orchard management apps.

2023 VISION Conference Photo Album

AI, Audio, robotics, Technology

Soybean CEOs United For Clean Fuels

Cindy Zimmerman

The heads of several state soybean organizations and the American Soybean Association (ASA) sat down together at the first Clean Fuels Conference in Tampa this week to share their perspectives on the changing landscape for agriculture and clean fuels.

Kansas Soybean Association CEO Kaleb Little moderated the conversation with ASA CEO Steve Censky, Iowa Soybean Association CEO Kirk Leeds, North Dakota Soybean Council Executive Director Stephanie Sinner, and New York Corn & Soybean Growers Association Executive Director Colleen Klein.

Clean Fuels soybean CEOs panel (33:13)

While the clean fuels industry has expanded into other areas and other feedstocks, it’s good to remember where it started. “Certainly, it was soybean farmers that founded the biodiesel industry as we know it today…and it still is soybean farmers showing the strong support for the industry,” said Censky in an interview at the conference.

Clean Fuels interview with Steve Censky, American Soybean Association (7:52)

Clean Fuels Conference Blog

2023 Clean Fuels Conference Photo Album

Audio, Biodiesel, Biofuels, Clean Fuels Alliance, Soybean

Precision Ag News 1/25

Carrie Muehling

  • The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) awarded two AE50 recognitions to Case IH. The award-winning innovations include: Early Riser® 2150S front-fold split-row planter and Steiger® series tractor with 3-point hitch system.
  • CNH Industrial announces a minority investment in the US-based ag tech company EarthOptics through its Ventures arm. EarthOptics’ proprietary sensor technology precisely measures the health and structure of soil through a combination of ground-based sensors, satellites, physical soil samples, machine learning models and agronomic expertise.
  • John Deere released Operations Center PRO, an all-new level of the John Deere Operations Center built specifically for ag service providers requiring specialized fleet and logistics management capabilities beyond what is currently provided with Operations Center.
  • Congratulations to the 2023 winners of the World Ag Expo Top-10 New Products Competition. Click here to view product photos and descriptions of the Top-10 New Products.
  • Bayer and the agricultural biotech company Oerth Bio announced a new collaboration seeking to develop the next generation of more sustainable crop protection products. The unique protein degradation technology used by Oerth Bio has the potential to generate products that support Bayer’s sustainability objective to reduce the environmental impact of agriculture, via lower application rates and favorable safety profiles.
  • EVOIA and Albaugh announced an agreement to bring an innovative seed treatment solution to seed companies and farmers. Under the supply and distribution agreement, Albaugh’s experienced seed treatment team will now offer the new AmpliFYR product for their customers. This innovative and proprietary seed treatment for row crops improves crop establishment, increases seedling root and shoot growth, and enhances the ability of the seedling to tolerate abiotic stress.
  • Nutrien Ag Solutions Inc., a subsidiary of Nutrien Ltd., and John Deere jointly announced the release of advanced digital connectivity between the John Deere Operations Center and Nutrien Ag Solutions’ Digital Hub. This connectivity enables both companies to better serve growers by optimizing logistics and enabling variable rate agronomic recommendations to be seamlessly transferred to their equipment for execution. In addition, the two companies announced a multi-year commitment to deepen the integration and jointly develop streamlined solutions so that growers can more easily benefit from precision ag technology.
  • Seven new agtech startup companies that are addressing today’s most pressing farm and food production and sustainability issues have been selected to participate in AgLaunch365, a world-class accelerator program conducted by Memphis-based AgLaunch Initiative.
  • Crop Nutrition Week will connect growers and agronomy experts for five days of online learning Feb. 6-10. The week, in its inaugural year, will feature a wide range of topics that answer growers’ biggest questions, from how to balance fertilizer input costs and yield goals to how to understand and act on soil test results.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

BHN Announces Leadership Expansion

Cindy Zimmerman

Bio Huma Netics, Inc. (BHN), a leading miner and manufacturer of raw humates (humic and fulvic acids) as well as creator of soil amendments and crop nutrients based on humic technologies, has announced new leadership to better align with the company’s continued growth and strategic goals. In addition, the BHN Research and Development Center has welcomed two new members from Brazil. The newly promoted and appointed individuals stepped into their new roles this month as BHN prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary this year.

With these new developments, the BHN executive leadership team includes Lyndon Smith, Jonathan Plehn, Justin Smith, Steve Lunt, Melanie Parkinson, Mike Boyd and Fred Nichols.

Jonathan Plehn is the new president of BHN. He succeeds Lyndon Smith, who will continue to serve as chief executive officer. Plehn joined BHN in 2020 as the chief financial officer (CFO) with more than 20 years of experience as a proven leader in the global finance sector.

Steve Lunt has been promoted to chief financial officer, succeeding Plehn. Lunt is a finance and accounting professional with a career spanning 17 years in progressive leadership within world-class business environments including Big 4 experience.

Fred Nichols came on board as the chief marketing officer in October 2022. Having worked in 20 countries with a range of clients, Nichols brings more than 30 years of agricultural marketing experience.

Dr. Mirella Santos and Dr. Daniel Zandonadi are married visiting scientists from Brazil joining the research and development center. Santos has joined BHN as senior plant cell and molecular biologist and Zandonadi is senior plant physiologist/agronomist.

AgWired Precision, Nutrient Management, people, Precision Agriculture, Soil

Clean Fuels Industry United as One

Cindy Zimmerman

Clean Fuels Alliance America CEO Donnell Rehagen welcomed representatives of an industry united as one for a sustainable energy future at the first ever Clean Fuels Conference in Tampa, Florida Tuesday. Formally the National Biodiesel Conference, the new focus encompasses biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel.

“We are united with federal and state legislators and regulators who are looking for ways to reduce emissions,” said Rehagen. “We’re also united with consumers. They are the ones who are driving the demand for clean fuels.”

Rehagen says the industry is very optimistic about the demand for clean fuels but admits they face a policy hurdle with the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed Renewable Fuel Standard volumes. “We didn’t think these RVOs were very consistent with the last announcements for the previous year where they were much more aggressive on the biomass diesel side,” Rehagen said during a press availability. Noting that the EPA proposal includes multiple years, Rehagen said, “That could be a good thing when you start thinking about signals. If they get it right, it’s a really good thing. We believe they got it wrong for our industry, so that makes it not a very good thing at all.”

Listen to Rehagen’s remarks and press conference below:

Opening general session – Clean Fuels Alliance America CEO Donnell Rehagen annual address
Clean Fuels CEO Donnell Rehagen opening remarks (21:41)

Clean Fuels CEO Donnell Rehagen press conference
Clean Fuels CEO Donnell Rehagen presser (11:09)

2023 Clean Fuels Conference Photo Album

Clean Fuels Conference Blog

Audio, Biodiesel, Biofuels, Clean Fuels Alliance