Announcing the Alltech ONE World Tour 2023

Cindy Zimmerman

The Alltech ONE Conference is coming to a country near you in 2023.

Alltech is transforming its annual Alltech ONE Conference (ONE) in 2023 into a series of international events that will invite collaboration on the greatest challenges facing the agri-food industry. Instead of welcoming the world to Alltech’s home in Lexington, Kentucky, as it has for the past 38 years, the Alltech ONE World Tour will bring the ideas and inspiration of the ONE Conference to communities throughout the world.

Stops are planned in Brazil, Canada, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, the Middle East the Philippines, Singapore, Spain, the United States and Vietnam, providing the opportunity for more people than ever to experience the power of ONE and to hear from experts on trending topics in the agriculture industry. Additional stops are expected to be announced in 2023.

“As our customers and partners continue to face many challenges and uncertainties, we determined that 2023 would be dedicated to meeting them in their market,” said Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO. “This special edition of the ONE will endeavor to deliver global expertise to locally relevant issues. In the midst of economic and political uncertainties that fuel regionalization, this ONE reflects the responsibility we have as a global company to be a connector of people and ideas, ever advancing our purpose of Working Together for a Planet of Plenty.”

AgWired Animal, Alltech, Animal Health, International

Animal Ag News 12/12

Carrie Muehling

  • The National Pork Producers Council is pleased to announce that Julie Schwalbe has accepted the director of industry resource development position for the National Pork Producers Council. Schwalbe will oversee the Pork Alliance membership retention and recruitment, serve as a member of the World Pork Expo team, assist with raising Pork PAC funding and attract revenue from sponsorships thru business development.
  • The USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) recently announced that it has extended the enrollment and coverage election period for 2023 Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) to Jan. 31, 2023. The program’s previous deadline was Dec. 9, 2022.
  • At the annual Celebration of Dairy event held at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., International Dairy Foods Association President and CEO Michael Dykes, D.V.M., recognized Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Senator John Thune of South Dakota, Congressman John Garamendi of California, Congressman Dusty Johnson of South Dakota, Chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) Mr. Daniel Maffei, and Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response Mr. Frank Yiannas of the Food and Drug Administration, with the IDFA Leadership Award.
  • Ralco has announced the expansion of their poultry line with Essential Dry XP, a litter treatment for targeted ammonia control. Essential Dry XP contains diatomaceous earth (DE), yucca schidigera and patented essential oils and is OMRI Listed for organic production.
  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) welcomed the release of a final rule from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to stand up the Cattle Contract Library Pilot Program. This program was authorized following NCBA’s engagement with Congress on the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022.
  • The U.S. is facing an alarming shortfall of veterinarians to treat livestock and poultry in rural areas, threatening public health, food safety, and economic growth in communities that depend on agriculture, according to a new report commissioned by Farm Journal Foundation.
  • Vytelle announced the relocation of their global headquarters from Hermiston, Oregon to Lenexa, Kansas effective immediately. Kansas City – located 25 minutes from the Vytelle’s new global headquarters – is home to largest concentration of industry professionals devoted to the health, well-being, and genetic progress of animals.
  • The Heart of America Grazing Conference will take place Feb. 20-21 at the Ferdinand Community Center in Ferdinand, Indiana. Hosted by the Indiana Forage Council, with input from Purdue Extension, the annual event will feature forage and grazing experts from across the nation.
AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

#ASTACSS Looks at Political Lay of the Land

Cindy Zimmerman

L-R: Davie Stephens, Mary Kay Thatcher, Karis Gutter, Jon Doggett

The closing panel before the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) CSS & Seed Expo 2022 bid farewell to Chicago last week took a look at the political lay of the land with some industry experts offering insights into what the midterm elections mean for agriculture and the impacts of the new Farm Bill.

The panel was moderated by ASTA Senior Director of Government Affairs Janae Brady and featured Mary Kay Thatcher, Syngenta; Karis Gutter, Corteva Agriscience; Jon Doggett, National Corn Growers Association; and Kentucky farmer and past chair of the American Soybean Association Davie Stephens.

Brady says major current issues for ASTA include climate, competition, intellectual property rights, trade, supply chain, and the bioeconomy, but most important in the coming year will be the farm bill. “ASTA was directly involved in the 2018 Farm Bill getting policies in place that impact the industry, particularly in the research title,” she said, noting that ASTA is already providing input on the upcoming farm bill discussions, providing testimony last week at a Senate Agriculture committee hearing.

Lots more in the conversation from different perspectives:
ASTACSS Political Lay of the Land panel 47:48

Doggett, who is retiring as CEO of NCGA at the end of the year after more than 20 years with the organization, lamented the ability of Congress to even do basic tasks like pass spending bills on time. “The House and Senate ag committees are the last bastions of bipartisanship in Washington DC and that is eroding,” said Doggett. “A Congress that can go ahead and blow off the deadlines for spending bills and not deal with really important things that effect millions of Americans…what are they going to do with a farm bill when things get more and more contentious.”

Chuck talked with Jon a little bit about his career on Capitol Hill for the past 34 years as he prepares to move on to whatever comes next.
ASTACSS Interview with Jon Doggett, NCGA 6:06

2022 ASTA CSS & Seed Expo Photo Album

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

Ag Groups, ASTA, Audio, Corn, NCGA, politics, Syngenta

#ASTACSS Says Farewell Chicago and Hello Orlando

Cindy Zimmerman

When the American Seed Trade Association moves its annual December meeting and expo to Orlando next year, it will be a whole new world for attendees, with not only a new location but a new name.

“It’s going to be our ASTA Field Crop Seed Conference,” said ASTA President and CEO Andy LaVigne. “It really does cover all field crops, not just corn, soybeans and sorghum.”

Corn, soybeans and sorghum is what the CSS has stood for, but ASTA Chair Jim Schweigert with Gro Alliance says the conference has grown beyond that. “The diversity of the seed industry continues to expand and grow,” said Schweigert. “We wanted to make it more inclusive.”

The final swan song for ASTA in Chicago this week was definitely one everyone will remember after 77 years of holding this event in Chicago, and the past 45 years at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.

Listen to wrap up interviews with LaVigne and Schweigert below:
ASTA Chair Jim Schweigert, Gro Alliance 10:12

ASTA President and CEO Andy LaVigne 2:17

2022 ASTA CSS & Seed Expo Photo Album

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

ASTA, Audio, Seed

Industry Ag News 12/9

Carrie Muehling

  • The House Republican Steering Committee elected Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15) as Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture for the 118th Congress. Mr. Thompson will be the first Chairman from Pennsylvania in nearly 170 years.
  • The introduction of Aerobotics Crop Insurance Services, a new crop insurance agency, was announced by the company. The company will employ artificial intelligence to create extremely precise crop insurance plans for producers of perennial crops, a significant first for the crop insurance industry.
  • During its annual meeting in St. Louis, the American Soybean Association elected the leaders who will guide the organization through the coming year’s top advocacy priorities, including the much-anticipated 2023 Farm Bill, among other policy issues. Daryl Cates of Illinois, who previously served as ASA vice president, will serve as 2023 ASA president.
  • Labor demands continue to tax the bottom lines of farmers and ranchers, with rising wage rates and record usage of the H-2A visa program. Meaningful reforms to the federal government’s guest worker program must be a priority for Congress by the end of the year. The American Farm Bureau Federation, along with more than 350 other food and farm organizations that are part of the Ag Workforce Coalition, sent a letter urging the Senate to pass legislation to address the nation’s agricultural workforce challenges before the end of the 117th Congress. The House of Representatives has passed a farm labor reform bill, but the legislation needs improvements to adequately address pressing needs facing agriculture.
  • The International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) and Corteva Agriscience have launched applications for the 2023 IFAJ/Corteva Master Class to be held in Alberta, Canada from June 24-26, 2023. Application deadline is December 14, 2022.
  • MorganMyers announces the addition of two accomplished communicators who will deepen the company’s agricultural and digital capabilities to serve its growing client base. Greg Ehm joins the company as senior counselor while Alex Blake will serve as senior digital strategist.
  • The Georgia Peanut Commission hosted a photo contest throughout 2022 to fill the pages of the 2023 Georgia Peanut Calendar, “The Farm – Best Home of the Family.” Peanut farmers from across Georgia were encouraged to submit their best, high-resolution photo of families on the farm for a chance to feature the photo in the 2023 calendar. More than 30 entries were submitted from across the peanut belt and only 12 were selected as a monthly feature.
  • The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture announced the hiring of Stephanie McBath as Associate Director of Public Policy and Josie Montoney-Crawford as Manager of Public Policy.
  • The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) announced Julie Busse has accepted the role of Director of Renewable Fuels. In her new position, Busse will serve as lead staff for the Ethanol Action Team (ETHAT) driving the organization’s ethanol related development, promotion, research, and education efforts.
  • USDA MiCa, USDA Dint and USDA Klondike, the first winter pea cultivars specifically developed to be used whole or as an ingredient in human food, have been released by the Agricultural Research Service.
  • AgCareers.com awarded their first-ever U.S. Feed Your Future Scholarship to Lindsay Mikell, a student at the University of Florida. Mikell is co-enrolled in the University of Florida’s Doctor of Plant Medicine program and Master’s in Environmental Horticulture.
  • The 2023 Golden ARC Awards Contest is open. Deadline to enter is April 14, 2023. Entries for the 2023 contest must include public relations activities conducted in full or in part during 2022. Members of the Agricultural Relations Council and non-members may enter the Golden ARC Awards. Each first entry for a non-ARC member will include the registration fee for an individual to become an ARC member. Entrants may be individuals and/or teams.
  • Farmer-leaders of the United Soybean Board (USB) elected Meagan Kaiser from Missouri as 2023 Chair and nine additional farmer-leaders to serve on the Executive Committee during the USB December Meeting in St. Charles, Missouri.
Zimfo Bytes

Seed Industry and Sustainability Demands at #ASTACSS

Cindy Zimmerman

Wednesday’s general session at the ASTA CSS & Seed Expo on Wednesday focused on the opportunities and challenges for the Seed Industry and Sustainability Demands.

Tristan Brown with the SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry, Kerry Trombley of Marathon Petroleum, and Honeywell’s Kevin O’Neil discussed how governments and corporations are increasingly leading with climate-smart and sustainability initiatives and what impact those initiatives may have on supply chain and standardization.

Listen to their remarks:
ASTACSS remarks Tristan Brown, SUNY College 20:44

ASTACSS remarks Kerry Trombley, Marathon Petroleum 19:49

ASTACSS remarks Kevin O'Neil, Honeywell UOP 14:27

2022 ASTA CSS & Seed Expo Photo Album

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

ASTA, Audio, Biofuels, carbon, Seed, Soil, Sustainability

ASTA Witness Testifies on Farm Bill Research Programs

Cindy Zimmerman

*POST UPDATED WITH AUDIO*

Members of the Senate Agriculture Committee heard testimony from Dr. Katy Martin Rainey, Associate Professor, Agronomy, Purdue University, on behalf of the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) during a hearing Tuesday on “Farm Bill 2023: Research Programs.” Rainey spoke to the foundational role of agriculture research in the 2023 Farm Bill in ensuring a secure agricultural production and food system, which starts with quality seed.

“Strong federal investment in agriculture research—leveraged through effective public-private partnerships– is vital to ensuring the success of U.S. farmers in the face of a complex array of emerging challenges,” stressed Rainey. “We rely on the support of Farm Bill funding and programs to ensure continued U.S. leadership as the provider of the best seed to the world.”

Rainey emphasized the importance of Farm Bill research programs for the seed industry. Continued investment and support for these programs, including the National Plant Germplasm System, Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), and the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority (AGARDA), are priorities in the next Farm Bill reauthorization. “As we deal with the challenges of feeding a growing population, all of these programs have unique roles creating solutions for a more secure and sustainable future, while keeping the U.S. competitive globally,” she said.

Rainey underscored the role of emerging innovations in crop improvement, made possible by long-term, sustained investments in ag research, in supporting farmers’ successful use of conservation practices. “Breeding will bolster practices for climate adaptation and mitigation, soil health and habitat restoration, such as cover crops, while also benefiting farm productivity,” she said. “This includes the exploration of new and emerging tools like gene editing, which has the potential to unlock new capabilities in plants, thanks to robust private and public sector R&D investments over time.”

Rainey will be in Chicago today to join her colleagues at the ASTA CSS and Seed Expo.

Listen to Dr. Rainey’s testimony here:
Dr. Kaity Martin Rainey testimony 5:59

Interview with Kaity Martin Rainey from ASTACSS
ASTACSS Kaity Rainey interview 8:42

2022 ASTA CSS & Seed Expo Photo Album

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

ASTA, Audio, Farm Bill, Research

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