Syngenta Seeds Investment Announced 5 Years Ago Pays Off

Chuck Zimmerman

GW Fuhr, SyngentaThe 2022 Farm Progress Show saw a long-term investment paying off for Syngenta as the company continued showcasing new technology including corn hybrids, soybean varieties, biotech traits and digital advancements that will help farmers.

“Five years ago at this very show, we talked about our investment in U.S. seeds. We talked about a $400 million investment to really rebuild our pipeline in seeds,” said G.W. Fuhr, head of Golden Harvest’s U.S. Sales Team. “That investment is benefiting us today with great products. We’ve doubled the number of plant breeders in this organization, we’ve doubled our product testing, we’ve made key infrastructure investments.”

Fuhr said the company’s number on value is passion for the customer, which is the farmer.

GW Fuhr, Head of U.S. Sales, Golden Harvest
FPS22 Interview with GW Fuhr, Golden Harvest (3:51)

2022 Farm Progress Show Photo Album


Agribusiness, Audio, Farm Progress Show, Seed, Syngenta

Land O’Lakes Project Receives USDA Climate-Smart Funding

Cindy Zimmerman

Truterra, LLC, the sustainability business of Land O’Lakes, Inc., and American Farmland Trust (AFT), along with other partners, have received funding from USDA’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities forf a project aimed at scaling production and addressing equity.

Truterra and AFT’s Climate SMART (Scaling Mechanisms for Agriculture’s Regenerative Transformation) pilot project intends to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by approximately 7.2 million metric tons of CO2e over the course of five years. The project seeks to engage up to 20,000 farmers and dairy producers and impact more than 7 million acres, with a focus on reaching historically underserved farmers.

Ag retailers will play a central role in the pilot project, working with grant partners to incent farmers to adopt regenerative agriculture practices, including helping match farmers with incentives, agronomic advice, peer-to-peer networks, data entry support and more to support improved soil health systems. Grant partners will deploy existing digital infrastructure, including the Truterra sustainability tool, to aid in measuring impact and supporting validation and quantification processes.

The pilot project will use initial funding from USDA and matching funds from grant partners to help incentivize practice changes. Over time, the partners intend for the project to become self-funding through the sale of climate-smart commodities and ecosystem credits to downstream buyers, some of which will be, in turn, reinvested in delivering technical assistance to farmers to support additional practice changes.

Additional partners and supporters include: Ag Gateway, Biofiltro, Continuum Ag, ESRI, Equilibrium Capital, Farmobile, FarmRaise, John Deere, La Crosse Seed, Macquarie, Microsoft, Northern Star Seed, Sound Ag, Strand Gard Stewardship, WinField United, Black Family Land Trust, Farm Credit Council, Federation of Southern Cooperatives, Minorities in Ag, Natural Res. & Related Sciences, Soil Health Institute, ButcherBox, Campbell Soup Company, Green Plains, The Hershey Company, Land O’Lakes Dairy Foods, Nestlé Purina Pet Care, Purina Animal Nutrition, Perdue, Primient, Tate & Lyle, Perennial, Colorado State Univ., SustainCERT and 50 ag retail cooperatives.

carbon, Corn, Cotton, Dairy, Soybean, Sustainability

Agronomy in Action 2022 Research Review Explained

Chuck Zimmerman

Bruce Battles, Golden HarvestGolden Harvest is working to help growers better understand how specific hybrids respond to different management practices. After surveying 100 random Midwest growers, the company learned that 84 percent believe having access to hybrid specific information is extremely important. But, only slightly more than half said they were not managing their hybrids down to that level.

Golden Harvest has an answer for helping those growers to get the hybrid specific information they need with the annual Agronomy in Action Research Review.

“We’re trying to give them a starting point,” said Bruce Battles, technical agronomy manager. “We realize there is still room and a need to experiment on their own farm, but we’re giving them a starting point around basic things like fungicide response, seeding rate response, fertilizer placement and response to that versus a broadcast application.”

The research is available as a hard copy or online, or by contacting a local Golden Harvest seed advisor.

You can find their release on this from earlier this year here: https://www.syngenta-us.com/newsroom/news_release_detail.aspx?id=223108

Bruce Battles, Technical Agronomy Manager, Golden Harvest
FPS22 Interview with Bruce Battles, Golden Harvest (4:50)

2022 Farm Progress Show Photo Album


Agribusiness, Agronomy, Audio, Farm Progress Show, Syngenta, Video

Precision Ag News 9/14

Carrie Muehling

  • The Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance (FACA) commends USDA for its consideration and selection of pilot projects through its Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities.
  • CLAAS announces three new products to its North American baler and hay tool lineup – the VARIANT 500 series round baler, the QUADRANT 5300 EVOLUTION series square baler, and the DISCO 9300 TREND disc mower. These products provide growers with new technology and options to increase output and maximize efficiency.
  • National Cotton Council Chairman Ted Schneider said the U.S. cotton industry applauds USDA for promoting sustainable farming practices through its Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities — including the new Climate Smart Cotton Program led by the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol.
  • The American Farm Bureau Federation, in partnership with Farm Credit, continues its focus on advancing agricultural innovation by supporting start-up business from across the nation. AFBF and Farm Credit announced the 10 semi-finalist teams in the 2023 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge.
  • The Mid America CropLife Association (MACA) held its annual business meeting this week in St. Louis, Missouri, and elected officers and several board of director positions for 2022-2023. New officers are President Joe Olson, Helena Agri-Enterprises, LLC; Vice President Jaime Yanes, Albaugh, LLC; and Secretary/Treasurer is Michael Lehman, AMVAC. Rodney Schmidt, Bayer CropScience will serve as immediate past president.
  • Combine harvester sales grew for August in both the U.S. and Canada, while total tractors fell in the U.S., but grew in Canada according to the latest data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM). Total U.S. ag equipment unit sales rose above the 5-year average for the first time since April 2022. U.S. total farm tractor sales fell 11.7 percent for the month of August compared to 2021, while U.S. self- propelled combine sales for the month grew 25.8 percent to 790 units sold, making for a three-month growth streak for that segment.
  • Summit Nutrients, LLC, a precision-based manufacturer and marketer of bio-nutritional and fertilizer products, announced that it has acquired AGVNT, LLC., an R&D company known for pioneering the industry’s most recognized technology platform of nutrient efficiency innovations.
  • Biodel Ag, Inc., an ag-tech company, announced the launch of Sequester®, a soil reclamation product, used to restore the soils’ ability to capture CO2 from the atmosphere and help reverse climate change. Sequester enables farmers to transition to regenerative agriculture practices and earn carbon credits.
  • ThorSport Racing has partnered with Kubota Tractor Corporation to serve as the Official Tractor Company of ThorSport Racing in multiple NASCAR Truck Series events starting this weekend in Kansas with Ben Rhodes’ No. 99 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro.
  • Meristem announced the commercial launch of two patent-pending biological delivery systems – BIO-CAPSULE™ and MICROBILIZE™ – building on their effort to bring real productivity gains to farmers.
  • With the introduction of the 2150S Early Riser front-fold trailing planter in February 2022, Case IH gave producers a high-performance split-row configuration option to increase planting productivity. Now the latest updates include greater liquid capacity for the 2150 Early Riser front-fold planter, a dealer-installed 48th row option for the 2160 Early Riser large front-fold planter, and planter software updates for the AFS Pro 1200 display.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

USDA Announces Climate Smart Commodities Project Funding

Cindy Zimmerman

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing up to $2.8 billion in 70 selected projects under the first wave of the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities funding opportunity, with more projects to be announced later this year.

More than 450 proposals were submitted for the funding opportunity and the strength of the projects identified led USDA to increase its investment from the initial $1 billion to more than $3 billion. “Through today’s announcement of initial selections for the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities, USDA is delivering on our promise to build and expand these market opportunities for American agriculture and be global leaders in climate-smart agricultural production. This effort will increase the competitive advantage of U.S. agriculture both domestically and internationally, build wealth that stays in rural communities and support a diverse range of producers and operation types,” said Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.

Sec. Vilsack discussed the announcement with reporters Tuesday afternoon and made the official announcement this morning.
Vilsack Climate Smart Partnership press call 32:26

Vilsack Climate Smart Partnership announcement 12:50

Audio, USDA

DWFI Podcast 17 – Karina Schoengold, UNL Agricultural Economics

Cindy Zimmerman

DWFI Faculty Fellow Karina Schoengold is leading a $6 million, 4-year project to reduce the use of plastics, herbicides and associated environmental impacts in agricultural production. The use of plastics has been growing in agriculture over recent years to help increase productivity by limiting weeds, protecting growth and extending growing seasons. The team aims to create a bio-based material called BioWRAP — Bioplastics with Regenerative Agricultural Properties — which can be sprayed onto the fields. The material will then break down and add to the nutrients of the soil as a bio-based fertilizer. Once the technology is created, the team will measure the effectiveness under different conditions, as well as soil impacts such as runoff, sedimentation, erosion, water filtration and any water quality impacts that would occur from using it.

In this episode, Arianna Elnes, DWFI communications specialist, interviews Karina about the goals of the project, the economic and social impacts of the technology and its future potential for agriculture and the environment.

Listen here or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform:
DWFI Podcast 17 - Karina Schoengold, UNL Agricultural Economics 12:09

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

How to subscribe:

Audio, Farming, Podcasts, Water, Water for Food

Syngenta Corn Traits Helping Growers Control Pests

Chuck Zimmerman

Drew Showalter, SyngentaA new naming system for Syngenta corn traits will help growers better understand the benefits available in 2023.

“At Syngenta, we view ourselves as an industry leader in corn trait technology, continually researching and developing new technology to help growers protect yield. We’re constantly innovating,” said Drew Showalter, Corn Portfolio Lead with Syngenta Seeds.

The new system focuses on two familiar Syngenta brands – Duracade for rootworm control and Viptera for above ground protection. Showalter said combining the two offers the most comprehensive insect control trait stack in the industry.

Other developments from Syngenta will include opening a brand new innovation center in Malta, Illinois, in 2023. That facility will complement the Syngenta Biotech Institute in Raleigh, North Carolina, which is the company’s innovation center for corn traits.

You can listen to our interview or watch it below: Drew Showalter, Corn Portfolio Lead, Syngenta Seeds
FPS22 Interview with Drew Showalter, Syngenta Seeds (5:52)

2022 Farm Progress Show Photo Album


Agribusiness, Audio, Corn, Farm Progress Show, Syngenta, Video

Animal Ag News 9/12

Carrie Muehling

  • Wayne-Sanderson Farms has unveiled a new brand identity and logo following the recent merger of the two industry leaders. The company’s new identifying mark was designed to resonate the shared values and business objectives of what is now the third-largest poultry producer in the nation.
  • The Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) New Product Competition is accepting applications for innovative products that focus on dairy’s qualities related to calming. The program, formerly the National Dairy Council New Product Competition, is open to U.S. undergraduate and graduate students to develop products in line with industry and consumer insights to uncover innovative dairy-based products that offer calming benefits.
  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) urged the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works to approve the Livestock Regulatory Protection Act.
  • Standard Nutrition Services (SNS) announced that Christopher Mateo, DVM, MS, Ph.D. has been hired to lead the company’s nutrition consulting business beginning October 1, 2022. Mateo, who has more than 25 years of animal nutrition and ag industry experience, previously worked for Standard Nutrition Canada from 2009 to 2018, first as a Director of Nutrition, then General Manager (Northwest Region) and finally as a Managing Partner.
  • The widespread outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) that roiled U.S. poultry production earlier this year and led to skyrocketing prices for eggs and turkey has subsided. Cases of HPAI diminished significantly as temperatures warmed and the migratory season for wild birds ended. However, the risk of another outbreak this fall remains elevated and the stakes for poultry producers couldn’t be higher, according to a new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange.
  • Dairy Management Inc. (DMI), the planning and management organization that oversees the national dairy checkoff program on behalf of America’s dairy farmers and importers, has posted its 2021 annual report at www.usdairy.com/for-farmers/resources.
  • The Business Intelligence Group named Vytelle a Sustainability Leadership Award winner in the 2022 Sustainability Awards program. The Sustainability Awards honor those people, teams and organizations who have made sustainability an integral part of their business practice or overall mission.
  • The Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization (PAACO) has again certified the National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Animal Care Program as an approved animal welfare evaluation. PAACO provides training and certification credentials for animal welfare auditors and audits for all sectors of food animal production.
  • The Beef Alliance is pleased to announce the finalists for the 2022 Startup Challenge. This is the second year the Beef Alliance has sponsored and promoted a virtual pitch competition for entrepreneurs and innovators with solutions related to the cattle feeding industry.
AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

Industry Ag News 9/9

Carrie Muehling

  • America’s farmers and ranchers will soon have the opportunity to be represented in the nation’s only comprehensive and impartial agriculture data for every state, county and territory. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will mail the 2022 Census of Agriculture to millions of agriculture producers across the 50 states and Puerto Rico this fall.
  • Twelve agricultural organizations sent a letter to President Biden requesting a seat at the table during the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. Since the White House launched the conference in early May, many in agriculture have participated in the listening session and provided public comments on the five pillars outlined by the Administration. As we look forward to the conference on September 28, our members constitute the literal base of the food supply chain and should be included in any conversation that seeks to end hunger and reduce diet-related disease by 2030. Our organizations look forward to participating in the upcoming conference, just as agriculture did in the 1969 White House Conference on Food, Nutrition, and Health.
  • The National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC) announced that Zachary Gihorski was joining the organization as director of government affairs and sustainability.
  • Western Growers is debuting five documentary short videos online that give first-hand accounts of how the unrelenting historic drought is hurting Caifornia farmers. The videos are available in their entirety now on the Western Growers YouTube channel, and will be rolled out on WG and CFWC social platforms over the next month. Click here for a playlist of all the videos; links for individual videos and their embed codes are available below.
  • USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will review all available data, including survey data, satellite-based data, and the latest information from USDA’s Farm Service Agency and Risk Management Agency for planted and harvested acreage for chickpeas, corn, cotton, dry edible peas, lentils, peanuts, rice, sorghum, soybeans, and sugarbeets in preparation for the September Crop Production report. If the data review justifies any changes, NASS will publish updated planted and harvested acreage estimates in the Sept. 12 report.
Zimfo Bytes

ZimmCast 698 – What’s New from Syngenta at #FPS22

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCastHello and welcome to the ZimmCast.

In this episode I’m going to share interview with Syngenta/Golden Harvest representatives who were on location at the Farm Progress Show in Boone, IA. Thank you Syngenta for making my attendance possible this year. There is a lot of content in the virtual newsroom on AgNewWire that includes lots of photos and interviews. Just go to AgNewsWire.com to check it out and feel free to download and use.

So, in this program you will hear what’s new from the company from:

Rex Gray, Golden Harvest corn product manager
David Schlake, Golden Harvest agronomy manager – west
Andy Ackley, Ph.D., Golden Harvest corn portfolio manager
Ron Beyer, Golden Harvest agronomist
Logan Romines, Syngenta fungicide product lead

Listen to the ZimmCast here:
ZimmCast 698 - New Products from Syngenta (18:45)

We’re not only looking ahead to events coming up during the rest of 2022 but also into 1st quarter of 2023. There’s a lot on the calendar already. Just let me know if you’d like to discuss coming to your event anytime.

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

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:

Agribusiness, Audio, Corn, Farm Progress Show, Soybean, Syngenta, ZimmCast