DWFI Podcast 15 – Roric Paulman, Paulman Farms

Cindy Zimmerman

Roric Paulman is a producer and owner of Paulman Farms, located just south of Sutherland, Nebraska and in the heart of the Ogallala Aquifer, comprised of both irrigated and rain fed farmland. The farm was established and harvested its first crop in 1985 and uses the latest on-farm technology to grow more than a dozen crops. It is one of two “smart farms” in Nebraska that DWFI and the Nebraska Water Center helped the University of Nebraska–Lincoln establish to test the real-world ability of innovations to increase yields and improve sustainability outside of a controlled environment. It is equipped with high-speed wireless internet for data access, cutting-edge sensors and precision application equipment that helps to improve water, nitrogen and other input efficiencies, as well as soil health, carbon sequestration and technology development.

Roric is an avid user of new technologies and practices he believes will help make his operation more sustainable while still increasing profits. He is also a member of the DWFI international advisory board and Board Chair of the Nebraska Water Balance Alliance, an organization that catalyzes best practices among Nebraska farmers by emphasizing practical, locally focused watershed management practices. Roric is active on state, regional, and national boards for many of the crops he grows and is focused on helping to promote farmer understanding of best practices in water use efficiency.

In this episode of our special series focused on water and agriculture in Nebraska, Frances Hayes, DWFI director of communications and public relations, chats with Roric about why technology’s intersection with agriculture is so top of mind and how he sees growers working together to protect groundwater and surface water.

Listen here or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform:
DWFI Podcast 15 - Roric Paulman, Paulman Farms 26:59

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.

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AgWired Precision, Audio, Irrigation, Precision Agriculture, Technology, Water, Water for Food

Syngenta Agronomy Alert – DuracadeViptera Success

Chuck Zimmerman

Corn rootworm is one of the primary insect pests, costing growers an estimated $1 billion annually in lost yields and control measures. I talked with Bruce Battles, technical agronomy manager for Syngenta to describe how bad it is and what his suggestions are for growers in this current season. He specifically talks about the successes growers have had using Syngenta’s DuracadeViptera which controls both above ground and below ground pests.

“There are several key insect pest corn growers should keep an eye out for this growing season – including corn rootworm and western bean cutworm,” says Bruce Battles, technical agronomy manager for Syngenta. “For those that plant corn on corn, conditions have supported an increase in corn rootworm populations in the last few years. Conducting root digs and monitoring adult corn rootworm beetles will help guide future management decisions.”

You can listen in to our conversation here: Interview with Bruce Battles (5:55)

Agribusiness, Agronomy, Audio, Corn, Syngenta

Plant Response Announces New Team Members

Cindy Zimmerman

(Research Triangle Park, NC) — Plant Response Inc. announces new team members joining the company as its biologicals business continues to grow.

Matt Sowder is the company’s new director of global agronomy. Sowder is responsible for building and leading Plant Responses global agronomy team to support new product development, assessment, and trialing as well as positioning and training as product near commercialization. He will be based in Memphis, TN.

Jennifer Lilly joins Plant Response as director of regulatory and government affairs. Lilly will shepherd the company’s expanding product registrations through global review, as well as represent the company in key industry and regulatory discussions. She has extensive experience in regulatory affairs across a range of product categories including pesticides, fertilizers, biostimulants, and organic certification at both small and large ag companies, including Isagro, Indigo Ag, Bayer, and BASF. Lilly will be based in RTP.

Anthony Finke joins the Plant Response commercial team as regional sales manager. He will lead growth across the company’s product lines in the states of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. Finke has over a decade of experience in the industry, including sales roles with Chief Agri and Syngenta. Finke will be based in Kearney, NE.

Plant Response Inc. is a biological solutions company discovering and commercializing technologies in the areas of live microbes, extracts and digests, and natural compounds. The solutions are grounded in science and designed to deliver a range of outcomes including enhanced nutrient acquisition and improved soil and plant health. The company’s headquarters is in Durham, NC and has offices in Madrid (Spain); Plant City, FL; and Redmond, WA.

Agronomy, people, Soil

Peanut Policy Remarks from Congressman Michael Cloud, R-TX

Chuck Zimmerman

Congressman Michael CloudCongressman Michael Cloud (R-Texas), shared thoughts on the state of U.S. peanut policy during the 2022 Southern Peanuts Growers Conference. He said the American agriculture industry continues to do a great job even amid policies that are sometimes restrictive.

“What we’ve seen over the last year is the American ag industry continues to have higher yields with less inputs. That’s an amazing story that needs to continue to be told,” Cloud said.

In the meantime, he recognized that farmers need solutions for supply chain breakdowns and high input costs rather than electric tractors.

Interview with Congressman Michael Cloud, R-TX: Interview with Congressman Cloud (3:12)

Full remarks from Congressman Michael Cloud, R-TX: Remarks from Congressman Cloud (22:17)

2022 Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Farm Policy, Peanuts, SPGC

Industry Ag News 7/29

Carrie Muehling

  • The American Farm Bureau Federation and Arkansas Farm Bureau presented Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.) with AFBF’s Golden Plow award. The Golden Plow is the highest honor the organization gives to sitting members of Congress.
  • During the 2022 Ag Media Summit (AMS), held in Raleigh, North Carolina, on July 16–20, agricultural communications students were honored for their excellence, professionalism and leadership. The Livestock Publications Council (LPC) Student Award Program, sponsored by Alltech, provides travel scholarships for four students to attend AMS. This year’s finalists were Lydia Johnson, Iowa State University; Faye Smith, Kansas State University; Lindsey Okuley, The Ohio State University; and Sydney Garrett, Kansas State University. Following a competitive application and interview process, Lydia Johnson from Iowa State University was awarded the LPC Forrest Bassford Student Award.
  • Nurturing and investing in our youth is the goal of The Agricultural Communicators Network (ACN) scholarships. Rachel McGreal, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, has been selected to receive the Dr. James Evans Scholarship. This $3,000 scholarship is in honor of Dr. James Evans who has had a tremendous impact on the establishment and growth of agricultural communications programs. Sydney Garrett, Kansas State University, is being awarded the Past Presidents’ Scholarship in the amount of $1,500. This award recognizes her leadership, dedication, and hard work in the agriculture community.
  • U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) introduced the Farmland Security Act to increase scrutiny over foreign investments in American agricultural land. The legislation ensures that the American people and Congress can address the impacts foreign investments have on family farms, rural communities, and the domestic food supply.
  • The Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City invites you to join Wednesday, August 17 a luncheon meeting at the Grand Street Cafe featuring Steve Censky, CEO, American Soybean Association.
  • The National Agri-Marketing Association will hold a webinar on August 4 at 11 a.m. Central titled “Why Influencer Marketing Should be Part of Your Strategy–How to Execute a Functional Approach.” Click here to register.
Zimfo Bytes

Performance Nutrition Launches NutriWise Biofertilizers

Cindy Zimmerman

Performance Nutrition is announcing its new NutriWiseTM brand, a granular fertilizer and water-soluble powder (WSP) that replaces the previous NutriSmart® product line.

NutriWise will be manufactured in the United States from components produced here. “This allows us to provide our customers with a practical alternative for agricultural applications,” said Wendy Kemmerer, Vice President of Performance Nutrition. “We felt that the time was right for us to offer a U.S.-made biofertilizer.”

The new core product features an analysis of 5-3-0 with 3% humic acids, 1.5% Fe and 0.5% Zn. It also contains three species of Bacillus, Trichoderma plus the Saccharomyces that was the core component of the NutriSmart line. “Adding additional microbial horsepower to NutriWise makes perfect sense as more customers are looking to improve their soils instead of just providing the same old NPK,” said Kemmerer.

NutriWise is available exclusively through Performance Nutrition and NovusAg distribution networks.

AgWired Precision, Fertilizer, Nutrient Management, Precision Agriculture

másLabor Announces Merger with AgWorks H2

Cindy Zimmerman

másLabor, the nation’s leading provider of comprehensive services for employers participating in the H-2A and H-2B nonimmigrant visa programs, has announced a merger with AgWorks H2, LLC (“AgWorks”) a Georgia-based H-2A and H-2B consulting firm that ranks among the nation’s top providers.

Together, the two companies obtain approvals for their clients to employ over 60,000 foreign workers per year – more than the next three largest service providers combined. This gives the companies unique insight into issues faced by clients in every geography and industry.

Under the new structure, AgWorks will expand its service offerings to align with those offered by másLabor, including assistance with domestic job applicants, comprehensive audit services, and other visa categories. The companies will also consolidate their compliance teams to provide clients with expertise and best practices unrivaled in the industry. Finally, integration also comes with a significant investment in technology to provide clients with a more efficient and effective process throughout.

labor

Precision Ag News 7/27

Carrie Muehling

  • Conference registration is now open for ASTA’s CSS & Seed Expo 2022, December 5-8 in Chicago. A time-honored tradition each December, this year’s event will be the last year in Chicago, where it has been held since 1946. Visit the conference webpage for the latest agenda details and to register.
  • BIO is hosting the Impact Ag & Environment Conference, in-person for the first time in two years, in Omaha, Neb., Sept. 19-21, 2022. Headlined by Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts, the event will convene leaders across the bioeconomy whose cutting-edge companies are using science to tackle some of our world’s most pressing challenges—from food security to climate, supply chains to energy security, and more.
  • Leading industry associations have launched the Ag Bioeconomy Coalition to advance federal policy initiatives that foster growth toward a circular economy based on innovative products derived from agricultural commodities. Founding Coalition members include: American Farm Bureau Federation; American Soybean Association; Corn Refiners Association; Growth Energy; National Association of State Departments of Agriculture; National Corn Growers Association; National Hemp Association; and Plant Based Products Council.
  • The National Corn Growers Association has launched a call-to-action asking advocates to submit comments to EPA in response to the recent announcement that they are revising the registration for atrazine. On June 30, The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that they are amending the registration of this well-studied herbicide that allows farmers to do more with less. The new level of concern for atrazine will vastly reduce the herbicide’s effectiveness, hindering farmers’ ability to utilize this critical tool.
  • As news broke that Florida’s citrus industry ended this year’s growing season with its lowest production in eight decades, an unlikely union has formed between two University of Florida startup companies to help reverse the trend. By combining expertise in precision agriculture with leading-edge aerospace technology, the two companies housed in one of UF’s business incubators, Agriculture Intelligence and Satlantis, believe they can offer a powerful tool to help the state’s growers more closely monitor their trees and manage problems faster.
  • Aerobotics has launched a new yield management platform for growers to help them with measuring, managing and protecting their yields every season. Growers will now be able to gain an accurate view of their yields and take action – a state-of-the-art technology that no one offers in terms of accuracy of the information on irrigation management, fertilizer spreading, and yield sizing, and counting.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

Cattle Industry Summer Meeting Underway in Reno

Cindy Zimmerman

More than 600 cattle industry leaders are attending the Summer Business Meeting in Reno this week to provide direction for important industry programs. The event includes meetings of cattlemen and women representing the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board (CBB), American National CattleWomen and National Cattlemen’s Foundation.

NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane provides an overview of some issues on the plate for their business meeting this week.
NCBA Summer Meeting interview with Ethan Lane (5:50)

Audio, Beef, Livestock, NCBA

2022 Peanut Efficiency Award Winners

Chuck Zimmerman

2022 FarmPress PEA Award WinnersDuring the Southern Peanut Growers Conference four peanut producers received the annual FarmPress Peanut Efficiency Awards presented at the Friday Saturday breakfast. Producers were praised and recognized for efficiently growing high-yielding peanuts.

The 2022 winners are:
Upper Southeast: Ben Cowin, Williamston, N.C.
Lower Southeast: Wayne Hobbs, Irwin County, Ga.
Delta: Mitchell Rogers, Covington County, Miss.
Southwest: Karl Stutzman, Weatherford, Okla.

Pictured are the three winners in attendance (l-r) Karl Stutzman, Wayne Hobbs and Ben Cowin. Mitchell Rogers, was not able to be there.

I asked each winner a couple questions about receiving the award and you can listen below. Key elements of their answers were to pay attention to detail and trust in God. All these winners made remarks about how important their faith is to them and their families.

Peanut Efficiency Award Winner, Upper Southeast States, Ben Cowin, North Carolina: Interview with Ben Cowin (1:27)

Peanut Efficiency Award Winner, Southwest States, Karl Stutzman, Oklahoma: Interview with Karl Stutzman (1:20)

Peanut Efficiency Award Winner, Lower Southeast States, Wayne Hobbs, Georgia: Interview with Wayne Hobbs (1:44)

2022 Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Peanuts, SPGC