Precision Ag News 6/27

Carrie Muehling

  • A team of Michigan State University researchers has received a $750,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture to investigate the climate change mitigation potential of switchgrass cropping systems.
  • Sky Power International, one of the leading providers of innovative propulsion solutions for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), announced the launch of its new online shop. The new shop provides a user-friendly platform for customers worldwide.
  • A new article researched and co-authored by American Soybean Association staff explores how farmers can potentially benefit from new biotechnology innovations. The piece offers promising options for America’s half a million soy growers and was recently reviewed and published in the journal Frontiers in Plant Sciences. The article by ASA Director of Government Affairs Kyle Kunkler and Chief Economist Scott Gerlt, Ph.D., is part of a research topic symposium hosted by the journal. It considers how plant molecular farming can benefit U.S. soybean farmers and create new markets for consumers and the most successful ways to launch these varieties.
  • Nutrien, a leading crop inputs and services provider, recently committed $1 million over four years to support sustainable agriculture practices for rice growers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Texas and California. Through the USA Rice and Ducks Unlimited decade-long Rice Stewardship Program, we have built a field team of partners who have worked on more than 1,000 rice farms spanning nearly one million acres, improving agricultural and environmental performances.
  • Syngenta has introduced four new sustainability priorities, each with a clear set of targets, to drive farmer success and positive environmental outcomes in agriculture:
    Higher Yields, Lower Impact: This priority focuses on accelerating crop productivity while reducing the impact on the planet through more sustainable technologies.
    Regenerate Soil and Nature: This priority will help us enable the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices to help farmers improve productivity, soil health, biodiversity and climate.
    Improve Rural Prosperity: This priority drives us to improve the prosperity of low-income and under-served farmers by improving their access to inputs, knowledge, finance and markets.
    Sustainable Operations: This priority centers on reducing the environmental impact of our operations and supply chain, strengthening our diverse and inclusive culture, and ensuring the health and safety of our people.
  • Tampa Bay Sun FC, the first professional women’s soccer team in Tampa, has inked a multi-year partnership with BRANDT, an innovator in agricultural solutions. The new official ‘Plant Health Partner’ will work with the Club on educating fans about ways to reduce food waste through community programming and gameday activities.
  • BeeHero, the pioneer of data-driven precision pollination, revealed its ESG data from 2023. The data showcases how the company’s Precision Pollination as a Service (PPaaS) solution, which is operational globally including across Australia and North America, has resulted in 629 million bees saved, 1,174 tonnes of CO2 emissions avoided, and an over 240 percent increase in acres pollinated. In doing so, BeeHero has contributed to SDG goals of food security, reduced emissions, and the protection of the ecosystem.
  • Biolevel Ltd., a global biological nutrition company dedicated to developing and delivering a new generation of products that benefit farmers, has appointed Bill Cordingley as Chief Executive Officer. A senior executive of 19 years at Rabobank Group in both New York and Sydney, Cordingley most recently served as the bank’s Global Head of Grains, Oilseeds and Sugar in its Corporate Finance Group. His wealth of global agribusiness finance experience, and leadership expertise, positions Biolevel for a new phase of rapid growth to become a global biologicals market leader.
  • Bayer aims to launch ten blockbuster products in the next ten years to support farmers worldwide, the company announced at its 2024 Crop Science innovation update in Chicago. Each blockbuster is expected to contribute more than 500 million euros of the over 32-billion-euros peak sales potential in the R&D pipeline – unparalleled across the global agricultural industry. Farmers will benefit from new technologies that will help them produce more while restoring nature through innovations that power regenerative agriculture.
  • Veteran ag industry seedsman and business leader Nathan Louiso has joined the management team at Meristem Crop Performance as Vice President and National Sales Manager. In the new role, Louiso will focus near-term on building the sales organization to better serve the growing number of farm businesses benefiting from Meristem’s innovative product portfolio, including the game-changing Bio-Capsule seed fluency delivery system.
    • AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

    Rabobank BBQ Index is Hotter Than Ever

    Cindy Zimmerman

    At a cost of $99, the latest Rabobank BBQ Index is hotter than ever this year and consumers are feeling the heat.

    The 2024 Rabobank BBQ Index, which measures the cost of staple ingredients for a 10-person barbecue, shows that it will cost $99 to host a cookout on the Fourth of July this year, up from $97 last year and $73 in 2018. This year, beer, beef, soda and lettuce account for a hefty 64% of total barbecue cost. That brings the inflation gain for a Fourth of July barbecue up to 32% since 2019.

    Food inflation jumped 25% from 2019 to the end of 2023. But it has been the little bit of additional inflation in the first half of 2024 that has been the tipping point.

    “The consumer is waving the white flag on food inflation,” said Tom Bailey, senior consumer foods analyst at Rabobank. “With an added 2% in price hikes in 2024 coupled with the cost disparity between dining out and cooking at home at its widest margin in history, we’re seeing heightened fatigue and frugality.”

    Bailey, along with Rabobank senior beef analyst Lance Zimmerman, and senior poultry analyst Christine McCracken, took a look at the numbers and how consumers are adjusting their spending habits to cope during the BBQ Index presentation on Wednesday.

    Learn more here.

    Beef, Food

    UFA Co-operative and MyLand Announce Commercial Pilot

    Cindy Zimmerman

    MyLand UFA ReleaseUFA Co-operative (UFA) and soil health company MyLand are excited to announce a three-year collaboration on a commercial pilot with various growers in Alberta, Canada. The goal of the initiative is to transform responsible farming practices and soil health management, leveraging advanced microbial technologies to benefit farmers and the environment.

    The commercial pilot will be integrating MyLand’s proprietary technology and Soil as a Service to enhance the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the soil. This integration aims to result in enhanced soil fertility, optimized crop yields, and the promotion of eco-friendly farming practices through the MyLand Service.

    The key objective of the commercial pilot is to evaluate the impact of the MyLand Service on farming operations within Alberta.

    “We are thrilled to collaborate with MyLand on this commercial pilot,” said Janay Meisser, Director of Innovation at UFA. “Combining our agricultural expertise with MyLand’s innovative soil health solution will enable us to deliver significant benefits to our farmers and demonstrates UFA’s commitment to advancing innovation and technology in Alberta’s agricultural sector.”

    “We are excited to partner with UFA in this groundbreaking initiative,” said Dane Hague, CEO & Co-Founder of MyLand. “This collaboration will not only enhance soil health and crop yields but also promote sustainable and responsible farming practices, benefiting farmers and the environment.”

    This announcement marks a significant step forward in the collaboration between UFA and MyLand, showcasing a commitment to innovation and regenerative solutions in support of Alberta’s agricultural sector.

    AgWired Precision, Precision Agriculture, Soil, Technology

    AMVAC® Promotes Rick Rice to Business Unit Leader

    Cindy Zimmerman

    AMVAC®, an American Vanguard® Company, announces the promotion of Rick Rice to business unit leader, application technologies.

    In his new role, Rice leads the company’s application technology business unit (ATBU) which oversees the commercial aspects of AMVAC’s legacy systems SmartBox® and Lock’N Load® as well as SIMPAS® technologies (SIMPAS, SmartBox+/SIMPAS Solo), SIMPAS-applied Solutions® and ULTIMUS®.

    Under Rice’s leadership, AMVAC’s ATBU will continue its commitment to positioning the company’s innovative precision ag technologies as tailored solutions to address evolving market demands.

    Rice has enjoyed a long career in sales and marketing in the crop protection, seed genetics, biotechnology and application technology sectors. He holds a B.S. in agricultural economics and business development from Arkansas State University and joined AMVAC in 2015 as director, application technology, demonstrating exceptional leadership qualities and a deep understanding of the agriculture landscape.

    AMVAC, people

    Animal Ag News 6/24

    Carrie Muehling

  • The National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA) has released the white paper from the 13th Annual Antibiotics Symposium – Thriving in a Changing Landscape. The White Paper provides a summary of the science-based information presented regarding the use of antibiotics in food-animals, public and environmental health implications, and the next steps of stewardship.
  • Registration is now open for the Public Lands Council’s (PLC) 56th Annual Meeting that will be held in Grand Junction, Colorado from September 17-19.
  • Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative announced a first-of-its-kind program providing dairy farmers with the tools and resources needed to navigate the permitting process. The Maestro program assists farmers in orchestrating the many steps and processes of obtaining and maintaining a permit. It will also include a proprietary technology platform to help farmers capture their on-farm data.
  • Florida Conservation Group proudly announces the appointment of Don Quincey to its esteemed Board of Directors. With his wealth of experience and passion for environmental preservation, Quincy is set to make a significant impact on the organization’s mission.
  • On June 1, CK6 Consulting, along with strategic partners Texas Beefhouse, launched the first-of-its-kind auction platform for beef sales. Bid on Beef is the vision of Chris Earl, owner of Reverse Rocking R Ranch and CK6 Consulting in New Mexico. Working with beef cattle producers across the nation. CK6 Consulting has conducted $150 million in sales through price discovery in auctions, and now the team is taking that same concept directly to the consumer.
  • Twenty students will receive a total of $22,250 in scholarships from FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative this year. 2024 marks the twelfth year that the cooperative has been providing scholarships, for a grand total of 261 recipients totaling $248,500.
  • When Wade Leist first came back to the family’s stockyards from auctioneer school in 2004, his dad didn’t exactly turn the auctions over to him — and he says that’s a good thing. Instead, the elder Leist started his son out selling a few baby calves here and there, and spending plenty of time working in the back. The tactic paid off, as 20 years later, Leist came out on top in the World Livestock Auctioneer Championship, hosted by Livestock Marketing Association. It was the ninth time to compete for the auctioneer who regularly sells at Mitchell Livestock Marketing, Mitchell, South Dakota, United Producers Inc., St. Louis, Michigan, and his family’s Northern Michigan Livestock, Gaylord, Michigan.
  • A University of Minnesota team took first place in the Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) New Product Competition with a cheese spread that meets the contest’s guidelines of creating innovative dairy-based products for consumers’ health and wellness needs. The students created Yay-tost, a creamy Norwegian-style, brown, whey-based cheese spread that offers health-conscious consumers a good source of protein, contains 3 grams of dietary fiber and is an excellent source of calcium. The product comes in an aluminum squeeze tube that is recyclable.
  • Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative announced efforts, in partnership with several other dairy supporters, to codify the protection of timely payments and accurate testing as legislative text in the next farm bill. The request to move these specific FMMO provisions into legislation was prompted by the uncertainty created when volumes of milk are de-pooled, leaving farmers outside of the FMMO and oversight of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service. This action aims to extend these protections, currently granted when a processor is pooled, to all farmers and processors regardless of their participation in the FMMO.
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

    Industry Ag News 6/21

    Carrie Muehling

  • The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service’s (NASS) announced Joseph L. Parsons as its new Administrator as of June 16; this follows Administrator Hubert Hamer’s retirement in March. Parsons, who was Acting Administrator and before that Associate Administrator, has been serving American agriculture through NASS for more than 37 years, since joining the federal service in 1985.
  • NAMA Boot Camp features the latest tips, trends and best practices to take you forward in your career—at any level. It’s the event to learn about modern agriculture and our industry, grow your network and prepare to be a leader. NAMA members receive a discounted rate. Non-members receive a year of NAMA membership when they register. Sign up for Boot Camp today and prepare to join us in Kansas City, August 20–22!
  • The Hass Avocado Board (HAB) names Meyocks, a marketing and branding firm, as its agency partner to lead research and nutrition-focused advertising and creative strategy promoting the benefits of avocados to health professionals.
  • The American Soybean Association would like to recognize exceptional soy volunteers and leaders and requests your help with candidate nominations. During the 2025 Commodity Classic, individuals will be honored for state association volunteerism, distinguished leadership achievements, and long-term, significant contributions to the soybean industry. The nomination period is open through Oct. 25. For more information and to submit nominations, click here.
  • The World Food Prize Foundation announced that Angeline Neo has joined its staff as a Program Coordinator. As a Program Coordinator, Ms. Neo will work closely with the Senior Director of Strategic Communications and assist with the facilitation of the World Food Prize Foundation’s social media channels, press releases, newsletters, graphic design and many other communications projects. Ms. Neo will assist with upholding the reputation and brand identity of the World Food Prize Foundation through print and online mediums.
  • Six students are recipients of the 2024 scholarships offered by the Canadian Agri-Business Education Foundation. The $2,500 scholarships are awarded to students entering or currently pursuing an agricultural or agri-food related program at a Canadian college, university or technical institution.
  • Who do you know moving the industry forward while making a significant, positive impact within NAMA? Take the time to recognize them and submit a nomination for the NAMA Professional Development Awards by August 1. The online nomination form is a simple process.
  • COFCO International, Ltd. and GROWMARK Inc. have entered into definitive agreements whereby, COFCO International has agreed to purchase GROWMARK’s minority stake in the transloading facility located in Cahokia, Illinois, and, at the same time, GROWMARK has agreed to purchase from COFCO International its ownership in the Chicago grain warehouse facility.
  • Join us on October 22-24, 2024, in Chicago for The Center for Food Integrity Transparency Summit where CFI and industry leaders come together to create actionable strategies for operationalizing transparency across the food and agriculture value chain. Register here.
    • Zimfo Bytes

    Pathogens Identified as Cause of Citrus Fruit Drop

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Research conducted in the European Union by KeyPlex at the University of Torino in Italy have determined causes of fruit drop on citrus, and the results will help to guide the citrus industry into the future.

    While fruit drop was thought to be caused by physiological conditions and other pathogens such as huang long bing (HLB), the research has clearly identified Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and further fungal pathogens as playing a major role.

    Since fruit drop causes significant crop loss in oranges, lemons, grapefruit, limes, and other types of citrus, it is a major concern for the industry. Dr. Vladimiro Guarnaccia, associate professor of Plant pathology at the University of Torino and a lead researcher on this project, will present the methods and results of his team’s two years of work at the third and final KeyPlex Citrus Symposium on July 25, 2024, at Seven Sebring Raceway Hotel in Sebring, Florida. Most importantly, he will present solutions to aid citrus growers, such as agronomic practices and control methods based on his observations and preliminary tested conclusions.

    “We started hypothesizing that Glomerella cingulata — the sexual phase of C. gloeosporioides — was the main cause of early fruit drop in citrus, not HLB, as has been long presumed,” says Gerald O’Connor, CEO of KeyPlex. “We scoured the world looking for information on this and came across Dr. Guarnaccia, who was already working on it at the University of Torino. We are excited to present the results of this groundbreaking research — the result of many years of work — that will help the citrus industry.”

    Contact O’Connor at GOC@KeyPlex.com for a personal invitation.

    Citrus, Research

    Precision Ag News 6/19

    Carrie Muehling

  • At the 17th annual Conservation in Action Tour, Dr. Linda Prokopy, department head and professor at Purdue University, was honored with induction into the CTIC (Conservation Technology Information Center) Hall of Fame. Prokopy’s dedication to advancing conservation agriculture and her contributions to the field have earned her this recognition as only the fifth conservation leader to ever receive this prestigious recognition from CTIC. Her research, more than 140 publications and commitment to sustainability are making a significant impact on the conservation community.
  • U.S. sales of 4-Wheel-Drive tractors increased 9.4 percent in May compared to 2023, according to new data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM). This increase follows April 2024’s uptick of 24 percent compared to the year before. The data also indicates U.S. year-to-date sales of 4-Wheel-Drive tractors are up 3.2 percent. Total U.S. agriculture tractor sales dropped 11.5 percent compared to May 2023, while combine sales dropped 17.7 percent compared to last year.
  • During the week of June 17-23, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is recognizing and celebrating National Pollinator Week. Pollinator species, such as bees, other insects, birds and bats play a critical role in producing more than 100 crops grown in the United States. Learn more about USDA pollinator work at www.usda.gov/pollinators.
  • Pearl millet, an annual grass used for grain and forage, can be a good food source for honey bees and hover flies, according to a recent study. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences researchers studied the impact of pearl millet as a source of insect food by surveying insects collecting and consuming the sucrose-rich pollen of this crop. Researchers planted Tift Long-Headed Bulk, a type of pearl millet known for its long candlestick-like heads, at a research farm in Tifton, Georgia, during the past summer.
  • AgGateway announced the release of ADAPT Standard version 1.0 (ADAPT Standard), another high-value tool in the ADAPT set of resources alongside the ADAPT Framework, ADAPT plugins, and the ADAPT Serialization Specification. It is freely available for download with a business-friendly license.
  • Cropler has introduced what is believed to be the world’s first agri-camera designed for remote real-time plant monitoring. Unlike traditional plant monitoring systems, Cropler utilizes plants as a primary data source, revolutionizing the way agricultural insights are obtained.
  • Nutrien Ag Solutions announces the acquisition of Suncor Energy’s AgroScience assets, which consists of several patented and patent pending technologies in the area of biocontrol. The acquisition is aligned with Nutrien Ag Solutions’ strategy to invest in novel, patented, and effective biocontrol technologies through its Loveland Products business. The proprietary technology for use in the global agriculture industry aims to offer a new mode of action, plus advantages in resistance management. Categorized as a biocontrol tool, research and field-trial data show the technology as having market-competing potential in delivering efficacy, stability, and economic value comparable to traditional synthetic crop protection inputs.
  • AgriThority, an agricultural product, business and market development company, welcomes regulatory affairs expert, George Fountas to the leadership team. Specializing in accelerating new technologies to commercialization around the world, AgriThority expands regulatory expertise with the addition of Fountas.
  • Yield10 Bioscience, Inc. announced that U.K.-based Rothamsted Research Limited has granted to the Company an exclusive global, commercial license to advanced technology for producing sustainable omega-3 products in Camelina sativa. Yield10 is executing a plan to use engineered Camelina to commercially produce omega-3 oil and meal products targeting the aquafeed, pet food, and nutritional markets for omega-3 fatty acids. In consideration for the commercial license, Yield10 is expected to pay certain license fees, future milestone payments, and royalties based on commercialization of Rothamsted’s omega-3 technology.
  • Syngenta Seeds, one of the world’s leading global agriculture technology companies, announced a collaboration with AI company, InstaDeep, to bring Syngenta’s proprietary trait research and development capabilities together with InstaDeep’s Large Language Model (LLM) platform to accelerate the development of solution-providing crop traits for farmers.

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    AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

    RFA and NFU File Separate Lawsuit Over EV Mandate

    Cindy Zimmerman

    The Renewable Fuels Association and National Farmers Union have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals challenging recently finalized light- and medium-duty vehicle emissions standards.

    This action is separate from the lawsuit filed last week by National Corn Growers Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, and American Petroleum Institute to “ensure that ethanol producers and farmers have a strong and independent voice in the proceedings.”

    RFA and NFU claim in the lawsuit that “EPA clearly lacked the authority to adopt the regulation, which essentially mandates the production of battery electric vehicles while, at the same time, ignoring other technologies—like low-carbon ethanol and flex fuel vehicles—that reduce emissions from light- and medium-duty transportation.”

    “EPA grossly exceeded its statutory authority by finalizing regulations that effectively mandate the production of EVs, while blatantly excluding the ability of flex fuel vehicles and low-carbon, high-octane renewable fuels like ethanol to achieve significant vehicle emissions reductions,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “By relying on the false premise that battery electric vehicles have ‘zero emissions’ and no impact on the climate, the regulation essentially forces automakers to swiftly ramp up the production of EVs and phase out liquid-fueled vehicles that could actually deliver the same—or better—emissions reductions. America’s ethanol producers and farmers would be severely injured if EPA’s regulation were allowed to stand.”

    EPA, Ethanol, RFA

    Animal Ag News 6/18

    Carrie Muehling

  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and University of Wisconsin–Madison’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a world-class dairy research facility that will expand the two organizations’ long-standing partnership to tackle key issues affecting dairy farms across the country. Scheduled for completion in 2027 and administered by ARS’ U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center in partnership with UW–Madison CALS, the new facility and its associated buildings will house robotic milking systems, chambers for measuring greenhouse gas emissions, an advanced animal nutrition unit and state-of-the-art laboratories for agronomy and dairy science, as well as offices and a visitor center.
  • Dr. Aspen Workman, a scientist with the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Agricultural Research Service (ARS), has been honored with the 2023 Arthur S. Flemming Award in Applied Science and Engineering for her contributions to the advancement of safeguarding livestock from endemic diseases and ensuring healthy and economically viable food systems and food security.
  • Deborah Okedoyin ‘24, a North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (CAES) alumna, has received the International Livestock Congress Student Fellowship for 2024.
  • The National Institute for Animal Agriculture will host the 14th Annual Antibiotics Symposium in Denver, Colorado at the Colorado State University’s SPUR Campus from November 19-21, 2024.
  • The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) hosted more than 1,000 members of Congress and congressional staff at its 40th Annual Capitol Hill Ice Cream Party—Washington’s must-attend summertime event. IDFA staff and leaders from U.S. ice cream makers served more than 950 gallons of ice cream, 1,200 ice cream novelties, and 32 ice cream cakes during the event, which was held in Union Square Park in front of the U.S. Capitol Building.
  • The 36th World Pork Expo, presented by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), hosted more than 12,000 producers and industry professionals from 37 countries at the Iowa State Fairgrounds on June 5-6. World Pork Expo is the world’s largest pork-specific trade show, with a wide range of free seminars, networking and hospitality opportunities.
  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) welcomed the Farm Bill framework released by Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member John Boozman (R-AR). Included in the framework are top priorities for cattle producers, similar to the bipartisan House Farm Bill, such as funding to protect the U.S. cattle herd from foreign animal disease, continued support for voluntary conservation programs, and other critical food security provisions.
  • FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative is pleased to welcome Michael Richter as their newest Member Services Representative. He is based out of Rice Lake, Wisconsin and will serve members in Northwest Wisconsin, Minnesota and South Dakota. Michael comes to FarmFirst most recently from Quality Liquid Feeds, where he served as Dairy Technical Services Manager. He has also worked in various roles with Tractor Central, LLC, Kemin Industries, Inc., and Vita Plus Corporation.
  • Effective hatchery and breeder management is one of many crucial factors in a successful poultry operation. USPOULTRY’s 2024 Hatchery-Breeder Clinic will keep hatchery and breeder managers up to date on the latest technology, equipment and management techniques. This year’s program, developed by a panel of hatchery-breeder specialists, will give attendees necessary tools to help increase performance and quality throughout hatchery and breeder operations. The Clinic will be held July 9-10 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Downtown in Nashville, Tennessee.
  • KENT Nutrition Group is taking their decades-long commitment to real world solutions for swine producers to new levels with the debut of Nexgen Advanced swine feeds. This rebranded line of swine products includes all stages of animal development and combines more than a decade’s worth of performance enhancements, continuous improvements and recent research.
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites