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

Animal Ag News 10/24

Carrie Muehling

  • A nutrition expert, an innovative dairy farmer and a global food-security leader shared how animal agriculture and dairy can be part of world climate and hunger solutions in a panel discussion side event at the World Food Prize. The panel also discussed the upcoming U.S. hosting of the 2023 International Dairy Federation World Dairy Summit in Chicago, the world’s biggest global dairy conference.
  • PIC and the National Pork Board announced they are teaming up to develop a framework that will demonstrate the critical role genetics play in creating a more sustainable protein supply.
  • With ranchers continuing to produce high-quality beef at notable marks and consumer demand staying strong, Certified Angus Beef closed its books on the second-highest sales year of record.
  • Boehringer Ingelheim announced the launch of its proprietary barn monitoring technology, SoundTalks®, which offers swine producers a new tool to detect and respond to respiratory disease up to five days earlier than conventional methods.1 Early detection with SOUNDTALKS has been shown to lead to earlier treatment and recovery, resulting in improved productivity and reduced costs.
  • Make plans to attend the 30th annual Cattlemen’s College, sponsored by Zoetis, which precedes the 2023 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show, Feb. 1-3, in New Orleans. This premier education experience draws more than 1,000 attendees every year, and includes two days of learning, idea sharing and networking.
  • Laton, CA dairy farmer Melvin Medeiros, a family farm-owner of Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), was named the National Milk Producers Federation’s (NMPF) Farmer Communicator of the Year at the organization’s annual gathering of dairy-cooperative communicators. Tillamook earned top overall communications honors among NMPF member co-ops.
  • Wayne-Sanderson Farms’ senior vice president and general manager of retail, Bob “Pic” Billingsley, has been inducted into the Mississippi Poultry Association’s Hall of Fame during the association’s 85th annual convention. With this induction, Billingsley becomes the 36th member of the Mississippi Poultry Hall of Fame, which is comprised of individuals who contributed to the growth of the poultry industry as the state’s largest agricultural commodity.
  • The “butter board” food craze that has become a viral sensation is rooted in dairy checkoff strategy. Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) assembled a “Dairy Dream Team” consisting of chefs, recipe developers, “foodies,” gamers and lifestyle influencers who have a combined 25 million social media followers. They are joined by another 100-plus influencers who work with state and regional checkoff teams and are tasked with presenting unique recipes and ways dairy can be enjoyed by consumers, particularly Gen Z (ages 9 to 24). A TikTok video featuring steps to create a butter board has generated millions of views and coverage from some of the country’s largest news and entertainment outlets, including Good Morning America, New York Times, CNN and Bon Appetit.
  • With rising costs eroding dairy margins despite high farm milk prices, the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) is urging farmers to sign up for maximum 2023 coverage under USDA’s Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program, an important component of federal dairy risk-management programs supported by NMPF. USDA has announced that DMC signup is open, with a deadline of Dec. 7.
AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

CSS & Seed Expo 2022 Says Farewell Chicago

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) is saying “Farewell Chicago” after CSS & Seed Expo 2022 is held this December 5-8. After 77 years of holding this event in Chicago, and specifically, 45 years at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, 2022 will be the last year that this historic event will be held in that location before it moves to the Hyatt Regency Orlando in 2023.

ASTA President and CEO Andy LaVigne says it’s bittersweet to say goodbye to the Windy City. “There’s two towers in the Hyatt that we use there, we moved in when the first tower was just built,” said LaVigne.

To honor this long legacy, and particularly companies that have been participating in the conference for many years, ASTA will host a special “Legacy Walk.” ASTA is also asking for all previous attendees to send along their stories, memories and photos for a special archive collection that’s being created for presentation during the event. Memories and Legacy Walk sponsorships must be sent in by November 1.

The program this year is packed with important sessions on timely topics. Dan Basse will once again provide his annual Agricultural Economy Report during the first general session on Tuesday, and the final sessions on Thursday include a look at the Global Foresight for agriculture, conservation and foreign policy with former United Nations Ambassador and Indiana farmer Kip Tom, as well as a session on the Political Lay of the Land going into a very busy 2023. “Trying to look at the farm bill as we go forward,” said LaVigne. “We’ve got a midterm election that’s going to impact who’s on the Senate and House ag committees…in the Inflation Reduction Act we’ve got significant money in conservation programs, how does that carry over to the farm bill?”

Learn more about what’s in store for the final CSS & Seed Expo in Chicago in this interview with LaVigne.
ASTA CEO Andy LaVigne previews CSS & Seed Expo 9:58

ASTA, Audio, Seed

Industry Ag News 10/21

Carrie Muehling

  • Michael Torrey Associates announced they will be rebranding as Torrey Advisory Group. The name change reflects the the 17-year evolution of the D.C.-based agriculture and food consulting firm, along with a renewed focus on the expertise and value the entire team provides for clients.
  • The Best of NAMA Call for Entries is live on the web. NAMA members can enter their best work by October 21, 2022. Check out this year’s awards program and get your entries ready now.
  • Agri-Pulse Communications is looking for an intern who is passionate about reporting on farm, food and rural policy issues and serving our growing audience. This temporary paid internship will be based in Washington, D.C. One position is open for the summer of 2023. Start and end dates are flexible, but preferably mid-May through mid-August.
  • Kubota Tractor Corporation and Trackhouse Racing announced a partnership for Kubota to become the Official Tractor Company of Trackhouse Racing and serve as the primary sponsor of Ross Chastain’s No. 1 Chevrolet at the NASCAR Cup Series Race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on October 23, 2022, in addition to added races in the 2023 season.
  • Robert E. Saunders, a multi-generational farmer from Piney River, Virginia, who grows woody ornamentals, annuals, perennials, field ornamentals, grafted trees, peaches, nectarines, apples, and Asian pears, has been selected as the overall winner of the Swisher/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year award for 2022.
  • The National Sorghum Foundation announced a leadership transition as Jeff Dahlberg, Ph.D., begins his role as chairman of the foundation, replacing Larry Lambright.
  • FFA members and supporters from across the country will celebrate agriculture and agricultural education next week during the 95th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis. This time-honored tradition, hosted by the city of Indianapolis, will be held Oct. 26-29.
Zimfo Bytes

Ethanol Report from Export Exchange 2022

Cindy Zimmerman

Export Exchange was back for the first time in four years with the 2022 conference in Minneapolis October 12-14 and attendance was as good as it has been in the past with more than 200 international customers from 50 countries and nearly 300 domestic suppliers of grains and co-products, including distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS). This marked the sixth biennial conference since 2010 and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) has co-sponsored every one.

In this edition of The Ethanol Report, we hear about the production, marketing, supply and global demand for the ethanol co-product DDGS from RFA Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Kelly Davis; RFA Senior Analyst Ann Lewis; Neal Kemmet, Ace Ethanol and Fox River Valley Ethanol; and Matt Fitzthum with CHS, Inc.

Ethanol Report 10-18-22 17:06

The Ethanol Report is a podcast about the latest news and information in the ethanol industry that has been sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association since 2008.

Choose an option to subscribe

Audio, Corn, Ethanol, Exports, Grains, RFA

Precision Ag News 10/19

Carrie Muehling

  • The Sustainability Consortium (TSC) announced grant funding for two USDA Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities projects that received a total of $135 million to reach underserved farmer populations and support climate-smart agriculture. TSC will receive a total of $480k to support corporate engagement and participation in these efforts over 3 years.
  • Combine harvester sales grew in September 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. Total U.S. ag equipment unit sales stayed above the 5-year average for the second month since April 2022. U.S. total farm tractor sales fell 12.8 percent for the month of September compared to 2021, while U.S. self-propelled combine sales for the month grew 6.6 percent, slowing the previous month’s gains.
  • AgMission, an initiative founded by the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research and the World Farmers’ Organisation to unlock agriculture’s potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, is issuing its first Request for Information (RFI) that seeks input into the development of a new digital integration hub to enhance collaboration between agricultural producers and researchers.
  • SGS announced the expansion of its testing capabilities to include plant genotyping at its crop science laboratory in Brookings, South Dakota. Drawing on the expertise of renowned SGS Institut Fresenius GmbH TraitGenetics Section (SGS IF TG) in Germany, this development will significantly expand SGS’s seed testing and molecular analysis portfolio in North America.
  • Aqua-Yield announced several additions to its senior executive team. Marco Guirado has been appointed Vice President of International Sales where he will oversee the company’s international revenue growth and client experience teams. In addition, Trent Whiting has joined Aqua-Yield as its new Vice President of Sales for the U.S. and Canada, with responsibility for growth strategies and business development for the North American market.
  • More than 16,000 farmers and agricultural organizations representing corn, citrus, grain sorghum, sugar cane, and other crops recently united against EPA’s proposed revision to its 2020 atrazine registration review decision, submitting comments calling for the agency to base decisions on credible scientific evidence. Efforts to help farmers speak out against the proposal were coordinated by the Triazine Network, a diverse coalition of state and national agricultural groups across the nation that rely on atrazine and other triazine herbicides to control weeds. The atrazine comment period ended October 7.
  • A new interactive online tool for visualizing and exploring freeze-date trends and other climate patterns is now available, thanks to a partnership between Purdue University’s Midwestern Regional Climate Center and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Midwest Climate Hub. The tool covers 25 states in the upper Midwest, the Northeast and Appalachia.
  • Bayer announced that the company has closed the previously announced transaction with Ginkgo Bioworks to begin a multi-year strategic partnership to accelerate research and development of biological products for agriculture. The transaction includes the divestment of Bayer’s West Sacramento Biologics Research & Development site, and its internal discovery and lead optimization platform.
  • To celebrate the start of the first American edition of FIRA, the international agricultural robotics conference, Western Growers debuts an inside look at cutting-edge technologies on the farm that will help ease the industry’s ongoing labor shortage.
  • Esendo fungicide is the latest in AgBiome’s lineup of microbial-based solutions and the first of its proprietary Connate portfolio to receive approval from the Environmental Protection Agency. AgBiome, Inc., a leader in developing innovative products from the Earth’s microbial communities, is the developer of both Howler fungicide and recently EPA-approved Theia fungicide.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

Field Notes from Koch Agronomic Services – Episode 23

Chuck Zimmerman

The Field Notes podcast series from Koch Agronomic Services breaks down the science and technology behind agronomy to help growers do more with less.

Fall Nutrient Planning Brings Spring Success

In this episode, we discuss the importance of incorporating a fall nutrient program into a comprehensive, year-round nutrient plan and how KAS can help growers set up for a successful spring planting season. Lacie Thomas, technical agronomist for KAS, and Zach Havens, KAS territory business manager, also discuss a common cold weather myth, and how protecting fall-applied nitrogen can lead to higher yield potential.

You can listen to the program here: Fall Nutrient Planning Brings Spring Success (10:56)

And to make sure you don’t miss an episode, choose an option to subscribe

For Spotify on your computer download the desktop app

Agribusiness, Audio, Koch Agronomic Services, Podcasts, Soil

Preliminary Hurricane Losses to Agriculture in Florida

Cindy Zimmerman

Citrus trees downed by Hurricane Ian (UF/IFAS)

According to preliminary assessments by the University of Florida, the combination of seasonal crops, livestock, nursery and aquaculture products potentially lost as a result of Hurricane Ian will likely range between $787 million and $1.56 billion.

“This estimate only accounts for production losses, or changes in expected revenues for the current calendar or market year; citrus, for example, had not yet begun harvesting, and some fall vegetables, like tomatoes and peppers, were already planted,” said Christa Court, UF/IFAS Economic Impact Analysis Program director. “Our preliminary estimate is a range, a wide range, to account for many of these unknowns. What isn’t destroyed might have diminished yield or quality, which will not be apparent for weeks or months, and then even more effects can appear in the long-term.”

Despite heavy flooding prohibiting full assessments of some fields, the researchers collected some visual assessments that indicate what those larger impacts may be. Among their predictions:

Citrus crops are expected to sustain significant production losses ($147 million to $304 million), depending on the level of fruit drop, damage to branches, and impacts due to heavy precipitation and flooding.
Vegetables and melons are expected to sustain significant production losses ($208 million to $394 million), with impacts heavily dependent on the ability (or inability) to replant damaged or destroyed crops.
Livestock operations (beef and dairy cattle, horses, apiculture, etc.) and producers of animal products (milk, eggs, honey) are expected to suffer losses ($113 million to $222 million) due to damaged fencing, power outages and flooding.

Read the full report and listen to Court’s summary:
UF-IFAS Hurricane Ian damage estimate 7:42

Audio, Citrus, Livestock, Weather