AgGateway Honors Members at Annual Conference

Cindy Zimmerman

AgGateway wrapped up its annual conference last week with the presentation of awards to member volunteers who have demonstrated outstanding dedication and service to the organization and its mission to enable seamless digital connectivity in agriculture.

The AgGateway in Action Award is given to volunteers for exceptional work over the past year in their respective regions. The 2022 recipients are Jim Glynn, Senior Business Operations Manager for Winfield United in the North America region, and Bruno Lucio, Director of Sales, Latin America for Topcon Agriculture in the Latin America region. Lucio received the award from AgGateway Regional Director Jose Loyola and AgGateway President and CEO Brent Kemp presented the award to Glynn.

“The professionals we honored at the Conference have consistently gone above and beyond our expectations, providing time, talent, leadership, and dedication that have measurably moved our efforts forward,” said Kemp.

The Ron Storms Leadership Award, named for a pioneer in agriculture connectivity in the early days of AgGateway and its predecessor organizations, honors long-term effort, leadership, and achievement on behalf of the organization. The 2022 award recipient is Joe Gifford, Customer Service e-Connectivity Manager at Syngenta. He was presented the award by Ann Vande Lune of ag retailer Key Cooperative who was the recipient of the same award in 2019.

“We value the work of every volunteer,” said Kemp at the ceremony’s close. “Each and every one of you make it possible to move the agriculture industry forward on digital connectivity.”

Last but not least, the President’s Award is presented to one individual who has made consistent and far-reaching positive impacts on organizational achievement over the course of several years. The 2022 recipient is Jeff Griffeth, Senior Director of Technology at Co-Alliance Cooperative.

“We truly appreciate the extraordinary efforts of this year’s award recipients, whose dedication to the mission is truly an inspiration to us all,” said Kemp. “We thank them again for their exemplary service.”

2022 AgGateway Annual Meeting Photo Album

Find more interviews posted in the AgGateway Annual Conference virtual newsroom.

ag retailers, AgGateway, Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, data

Industry Ag News 11/18

Carrie Muehling

  • The National Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow (National ACT) elected five students from Arkansas, Texas and Wisconsin to serve as 2022-23 officers until July 2023. The new team will lead over 400 student and associate members in opportunities to learn and grow in agricultural communications.
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the appointment of four members to serve on the United Sorghum Checkoff Program’s Board of Directors. All four appointees will serve three-year terms starting December 2022 and ending December 2025.
  • Kaycee Rippey joined the Alabama Peanut Producers Association (APPA) staff on Nov. 3, 2022 as the Communications Coordinator. Rippey holds a bachelor’s degree in Animal Sciences with a minor in Communications from Auburn University.
  • Attendees at the 2023 Commodity Classic in Orlando can make their experience even more memorable by signing up for one or more of the fascinating, family-friendly tours available during the event. These optional tours provide the opportunity to discover more about the history, attractions, and culture of the Orlando area.
  • Conservation Technology Information Center (CITC) welcomes Ryan Heiniger as its new Executive Director. Heiniger is a fourth-generation Iowa farmer, wildlife biologist, and non-profit leader.
  • The National Grange hosted its 156th annual conference and legislative session at the Nugget Casino Resort in Sparks, Nevada from November 15 through 19. With more than 400 elected Delegates and guests attending, the annual convention serves to establish national legislative policies for the organization, while conducting the other various business of the Grange.
  • The National Corn Growers Association Board of Directors has hired Hedlin Ag Enterprises of Ankeny, Iowa to assist with the search for a new CEO. The initial part of the search involves identifying and vetting potential candidates for the position which will occur through the end of this year and into the beginning of 2023. Candidate interviews for the CEO position will be held in February with the intention of introducing the new CEO during Commodity Classic in March.
  • Farm Journal announces Eric Peterson has been named Chief Executive Officer of Machinery Pete, agriculture’s premier used equipment destination.
  • The National Corn Growers Association announced Krista Swanson joined the organization as Lead Economist. Swanson will serve as the economic analyst resource for NCGA and its state affiliates.
  • American Agri-Women (AAW) awarded its prestigious Veritas Award to Forrest Lucas at its 2022 national convention held recently in Bozeman, Mont. The Veritas Award is bestowed upon individuals who have been public witness to the “pursuit of truth.” Mr. Lucas’ lifelong association with agriculture and his passion for our American traditions led him to found Protect the Harvest in 2011.
  • Jim Prevor has suddenly passed away from heart failure after being stricken by a heart attack and stroke. Founder of PRODUCE BUSINESS magazine in 1985, just a couple years after his education at Cornell University, Jim saw the need for a publication to inform and educate the buying segments of the fruit and vegetable industry.
Zimfo Bytes

AgGateway Wraps Up Successful Annual Conference

Cindy Zimmerman

AgGateway wrapped up a successful annual conference this week in Clearwater Beach, Florida. President and CEO Brent Kemp says a lot of work was accomplished toward the AgGateway strategic plan to “Create, Engage and Grow 2.0.”

“All of activities, all of our work, all of our outreach is based around those three words,” said Kemp in an interview at the end of the conference. “The 2.0 is not so much as we need to change as it is, it’s time to accelerate.”

There were 61 first time attendees at the conference this year and Kemp says they are excited about that growth. “Hopefully we’ve whetted their appetite for the ways they can contribute to standards, interoperability and business efficiency in the industry.”

Next year the conference will be held in Nashville.

Listen to an interview with Kemp and his remarks to the membership to learn more about what AgGateway is doing.

AgGateway CEO Brent Kemp - remarks 14:59

AgGateway interview Brent Kemp, AgGateway 6:40

2022 AgGateway Annual Meeting Photo Album

Find more interviews posted in the AgGateway Annual Conference virtual newsroom.

Ag Groups, ag retailers, AgGateway, Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, Audio, data, Technology

Soil Regen Co-Owner Breaks National Dryland Corn Yield Record

Cindy Zimmerman

Soil Regen is proud to share that co-founder and first-generation farmer, Russell Hedrick has submitted an entry of 459.51 bushels per acre to the North Carolina Corn Growers Association, a result that beats the current national yield record of 442 bushels per acre held by Francis Childs.

“The average corn yield for Catawba County is somewhere between 100 and 124 bushels an acre according to USDA NASS data,” Hedrick says, adding that his yield climb didn’t happen overnight.

“This all started five years ago when Richard Linton, the previous Dean of NC State University, challenged us to push our yields to see what was possible in our state, chasing 400-bushel corn,” he says. “It’s taken us all five years – we’ve seen some 400s on the yield monitor trying new techniques but seeing a field average over 400 has taken us five.”

To learn more about Hedrick’s road to 459-bushel per acre corn and the soil health journey that has paved, make plans to visit this year’s Big Soil Health Event, December 6-7, 2022 in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Corn, Soil

Precision Ag News 11/16

Carrie Muehling

  • In a letter to congressional leadership, more than 300 agriculture, environment, academic, infrastructure, and other stakeholder groups are calling on Congress to reaffirm federal pesticide preemption on labeling and packaging. Failing to do so, the groups warn, could hold disastrous consequences for our food security, the environment, public health, vital infrastructure, and other uses where pesticides provide important societal benefits.
  • Sentera, the industry leading ag analytics platform powered by machine learning, announced the launch of its 65R Sensor, an ultra-high-resolution aerial sensor purpose-built for drone integrations.
  • Bayer announced the acquisition of German biotech start-up Targenomix. The spin-off of the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology (MPI MPP) uses novel systems biology and computational life science tools to identify new modes of action for crop protection compounds.
  • Experienced ag agronomist and seed rep Aaron Diederich has joined Meristem Crop Performance Group, LLC, one of the fastest-growing crop input suppliers in America. Diederich becomes Meristem’s Sales Rep and dealer coach in Kansas and other Plains states, operating out of Hanover, Kansas.
  • Traction Ag Inc., the first cloud-based accounting software delivering solutions to growers across the Midwest, announced its acquisition of Granular Business, a Corteva Agriscience product. Granular Business is farm financial management software focused on helping farmers become more profitable and efficient.
  • Combine harvester sales report double-digit gains in October for both the U.S. and Canadian markets, while total tractors fell in both countries according to the latest data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM). Total U.S. ag equipment unit sales stayed above the 5-year average for the third month since April 2022. U.S. total farm tractor sales fell 10.8 percent for the month of October compared to 2021, being dragged down by a 23.6 percent drop in the sub-40hp category.
  • Syngenta Crop Protection was recognized as a winner in 5 award categories at the annual Crop Science Awards, a strong endorsement of its best-in-class scientific, technological and leadership contributions within the global crop protection industry.
  • The DJI Agras T40 spray drone hit the United States market in October 2022. This new flagship model is an upgrade from the DJI Agras T30–still considered an industry leader. Thanks to a donation from Agri Spray Drones, Alabama Extension at Auburn University is the first land-grant institution in the U.S. to begin agriculture research using the new T40 model.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

Farm Bureau Reports Thanksgiving Dinner Up 20%

Cindy Zimmerman

It should be no surprise to anyone who buys food that the cost of this year’s traditional Thanksgiving dinner is higher, but 20 percent may be an even bigger jump than some expected.

The American Farm Bureau’s 37th annual survey for the cost of a classic Thanksgiving feast for 10 this year totals $64.05 or 20% more than last year’s average of $53.31. But it is still a relative bargain compared to other countries at less than $6.50 per person.

The turkey alone is up 21 percent from last year, at $28.96 for a 16-pound bird, but there are always bargains to be had this time of year. According to USDA Agricultural Marketing Service data, the average per-pound feature price for whole frozen turkeys was $1.11 the week of Nov. 3-9 and 95 cents the week of Nov. 10-16, a decline of 14% in just one week; and the share of stores offering feature prices rose from 29% to 60%.

“General inflation slashing the purchasing power of consumers is a significant factor contributing to the increase in average cost of this year’s Thanksgiving dinner,” said AFBF Chief Economist Roger Cryan. General inflation has been running 7% to 9% in recent months, while the most recent Consumer Price Index report for food consumed at home reveals a 12% increase over the past year.

“Other contributing factors to the increased cost for the meal include supply chain disruptions and the war in Ukraine,” Cryan said. “The higher retail turkey cost at the grocery store can also be attributed to a slightly smaller flock this year, increased feed costs and lighter processing weights.” Cryan said the supply of whole turkeys available to consumers should be adequate this year, although there may be temporary, regional shortages in some states where avian influenza was detected earlier this year.

AFBF, Food

GreenPoint Ag Embracing Data Challenges

Cindy Zimmerman

“Advancing Agribusiness: Embracing the Challenges Ahead” was the title of the keynote address at this week’s AgGateway Annual Conference presented by Jeff Blair, President and CEO of GreenPoint Ag, a retail operation serving farmers across 10 southern states. Based in Decatur, Alabama, GreenPoint Ag operates 114 retail and wholesale agronomy locations in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas.

Blair believes the agribusinesses industry must aggressively face challenges and pursue opportunities in the crop production sector that help farmers find new ways to add value to their operations. “We have all these incredible platforms coming out to gather this data, but to turn it into something that is really beneficial for the farmer, you’ve got to have data standards to convert it to information and ultimately to intelligence to help the farmer,” he said in an interview after his presentation. “Farmers know incentives…at the end of the day you can’t ask a farmer to just go save the planet and give up their economics.”

Listen to an interview with Blair from the AgGateway meeting here:
AgGateway keynote Jeff Blair, GreenPoint Ag 6:43

Find more interviews posted in the AgGateway Annual Conference virtual newsroom.

2022 AgGateway Annual Meeting Photo Album

AgGateway, Agribusiness, Agronomy, AgWired Precision, Audio, carbon, Precision Agriculture, Technology

AgGateway Changes Chairs

Cindy Zimmerman

New AgGateway board chair Feroz Sheikh, Syngenta, receives gavel from outgoing chair Doug Farrington, Adar Technologies

AgGateway leadership changed hands at the organization’s annual meeting in Clearwater Beach, Florida this week, as Feroz Sheikh of Syngenta became the new chairman, succeeding Doug Farrington, formally with BASF and now with ADAR Technologies.

Sheikh, who is Syngenta’s Chief Information and Digital Officer, says the need for data standards in the agriculture industry is critical. “AgGateway, with its large membership pool, has the responsibility to bring everybody together,” he said. “The other important element is evangelizing and making it known what standards exist… and helping organizations adopt these standards.”

Sheikh adds that standards are also important for the future of sustainability and carbon reduction. Listen to an interview with him below.
AgGateway chair Feroz Sheikh, Syngenta - interview 5:43

Doug Farrington recently became the chief operating officer for Wyoming-based start-up ADAR Technologies, which is focused on dehydration and sanitization to help companies lower costs, add revenue, and achieve their carbon reduction goals.

“The technology was invented four years ago and it’s basically taking a known fact of science that when you move things at the speed of sound you get a separation of moisture,” said Farrington. He used the example of shrimp husks, a waste product that ADAR Technology can convert into a useable, and organic, high-protein supplement powder for the agriculture and livestock industry.

Learn more in this interview with Farrington.
AgGateway past chair Doug Farrington, Adar Technologies 4:07

Find more interviews in the AgGateway Annual Conference virtual newsroom.

2022 AgGateway Annual Meeting Photo Album

AgGateway, Agribusiness, Audio, data, Syngenta

Animal Ag News 11/14

Carrie Muehling

  • The finalists for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association 10th annual National Anthem Contest, sponsored by Norbrook have been chosen. Now it’s your turn to vote! The winner will sing the Star-Spangled Banner during the 2023 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show Opening General Session and the Friday Night Event in New Orleans, LA. Vote once per day for your favorite finalist.
  • To help reduce the financial burden of attending conventions and meetings, the National Cattlemen’s Foundation and Cargill created the Rancher Resilience Grant, which is administered by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. The grant reimburses producers for registration fees and other expenses at specific educational events, including Cattlemen’s College during the 2023 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show in New Orleans.
  • The 139th Annual Convention of Delegates of the American Angus Association assembled November 7, 2022, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Five directors were elected to the board of directors, as well as a president/chairman and a vice president/vice chairman of the board. Jonathan Perry will serve as treasurer for the 2022-2023 term. Elected officers are Chuck Grove, Forest, Virginia, president and chairman of the board and Barry Pollard, Enid, Oklahoma, vice president and vice chairman of the board.
  • Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, one of the largest dairy co-ops in the country, and Minnesota Milk Producers Association, a state advocacy group, jointly announced a new agreement to strengthen the two organizations’ work on behalf of their farmers. Effective immediately, Minnesota Milk has chosen Edge to replace the administrative and program services currently provided by Midwest Dairy.
  • With the support of partners across the industry, Certified Angus Beef awarded an annual record $70,000 in scholarships to 20 students pursuing careers at the ranch, in meat science, in a research lab or supporting agricultural business and marketing. The Colvin Scholarship Fund recognizes students for the commitment and energy they bring to agriculture, their education and community involvement. Young leaders with bright ideas for making the best beef even better earned five production agriculture, ten undergraduate and five graduate scholarships in 2022.
  • Applications are being accepted until March 10, 2023, for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association 2023 Environmental Stewardship Award. Established in 1991, the Environmental Stewardship Award Program annually recognizes outstanding stewardship practices and conservation achievements of cattle producers across the nation.
  • Phibro Animal Health Corporation announces the launch of its new podcast series, “You Herd Right,” available now from the Apple Store, Google Podcasts, Spotify and other popular podcast platforms.
  • The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) is now accepting applications for the 2023 Lois Britt Memorial Pork Industry Scholarship awards. Ten $2,500 scholarships are awarded to students annually who intend to pursue a career in the pork industry with aspirations to become industry leaders. The scholarships are sponsored by CME Group and the National Pork Industry Foundation.
  • Three emerging livestock industry leaders received welcomed financial support this month as they were named recipients of the 2023 Throlson American Bison Foundation scholarship.
AgWired Animal, Animal Bites, Animal Health

NCBA Praises White House Food and Ag Security Focus

Cindy Zimmerman

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) praised the signing last week of the National Security Memorandum to Strengthen the Security and Resilience of U.S. Food and Agriculture, which will allow the federal government to identify the threats facing our food supply and enhance national preparedness and response.

“Our agricultural sector faces a variety of threats that could inhibit cattle producers’ ability to bring beef from pasture to plate,” said NCBA CEO Colin Woodall. “NCBA appreciates the Biden administration’s focus on identifying threats and developing new ways to mitigate them. Together, we can protect our industry while ensuring that all Americans have access to wholesome foods like beef.”

The memorandum instructs top government officials, including the Secretaries of State, Defense, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Labor, Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security, the Attorney General, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Director of National Intelligence, and the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy to identify threats to the food and agriculture sector and coordinate with federal, state, local, and tribal governments to develop responses.

Ahead of the memorandum signing, Woodall attended a pre-briefing at the White House that included discussion of key security issues for the cattle industry—tools like the National Veterinary Stockpile, which helps prevent the spread of disease and aids recovery, and cybersecurity and worker training programs that support the continued operations of other members of the beef supply chain.

Listen to an interview with Woodall conducted by NCBA staff member Hunter Ihman.
NCBA CEO Collin Woodall interview 5:34

AgWired Animal, Audio, Beef, Food, Livestock, NCBA, Security