An Overview of What Is New at Syngenta Seeds with Eric Boeck

Chuck Zimmerman

Syngenta continues to invest $1.4 billion each year into its corn and soybean research engine to provide farmers with the tools they need to get a harvestable and consistent yield. The company is currently changing the way they sell seed with the GHX, or Golden Harvest Extreme Seeds, platform.

“Instead of having to worry about deadlines for buying seeds, and instead of having to worry about variable costs on a per unit of seed. We’re simply approaching them with best product at the best price on a per acre basis at the best population anytime they want to buy it,” said Eric Boeck, head of North America for Syngenta Seeds.

Syngenta recently launched a mobile app to enhance its GHX platform.

You can listen to our interview or watch it below: Eric Boeck, North America Head, Syngenta Seeds
FPS22 Interview with Eric Boeck, Syngenta Seeds (5:00)

2022 Farm Progress Show Photo Album


Agribusiness, Audio, Farm Progress Show, Seed, Video

Precision Ag News 9/7

Carrie Muehling

  • Marking a major advance in improving crop health and nutrition worldwide, the Consortium for Precision Crop Nutrition (CPCN) and Agmatix launched a unique global platform designed to drive international research collaboration and expand open access to crop nutrient data to farmers, their advisers and policy makers. The online platform, powered by the Agmatix Insights solution and spearheaded by CPCN in collaboration with several leading research institutes, enables open access to essential crop nutrient concentrations data.
  • The Ecosystem Service Market Consortium’s (ESMC) recently launched Eco-Harvest market program is the first to reach pilot certification under the Value Change Initiative in the U.S.
  • AgriGold will bring 15 new corn hybrids with 21 new trait additions on new and proven hybrids as well as 35 new soybean varieties to the market in 2023. Its latest soybean lineup features 14 new XtendFlex® products, 13 new Enlist E3® soybeans and a new conventional line of eight agronomically sound and versatile varieties.
  • Case IH announced two new updates to the suite of AFS Connect™ tools available to producers: AFS AccuSync™ machine coordination and productivity-boosting AFS Connect features. With the introduction of AFS AccuSync, producers will be able to share real-time data between machines in the same field for a fully connected operation. New AFS Connect features will enable growers to use their connected fleet more efficiently than ever before, with Insights Dynamic Machine Reporting, Machine Reports & CSV Exporting, CAN Parameter Visibility and Archived Vehicle Benchmarking.
  • The new line of Vermeer mid-sized trailed mowers was designed to consistently deliver a clean cut, acre after acre. Vermeer TM105, TM120 and TM135 trailed mowers can finish fields in short order, with respective cutting widths of 10.7 feet, 12 feet and 13.5 feet. Plus, each mower in the lineup is built to withstand a variety of field conditions, with robust heavy-duty frames and large tires. The mowers’ Q3© cutter bar — a heavy-duty, modular, shaft-driven cutter bar — is backed by 3-year coverage. All of this adds up to maximize user productivity and minimize maintenance.
  • BASF and Corteva Agriscience announced a long-term collaboration to develop new soybean weed control solutions for farmers around the world. The two companies agreed to cross-license soybean traits, while developing complementary herbicide technologies, enabling both companies to offer innovative soybean weed management solutions.
  • John Deere has added three new Deere-powered self-propelled forage harvesters to its lineup – the 9500, 9600 and 9700. Each model addresses the needs of contractors, customer harvesters, and dairy and livestock producers challenged by increased operating costs, shorter harvesting windows and a smaller pool of skilled workers.
  • The AgTech Breakthrough Awards named several products, solutions, and companies within the agricultural technology market, as winners of awards in multiple categories. The award was announced after a rigorous process of review, scoring, and analysis of over 1,600 submissions. Within the Indoor Farming category, awards were given for best providers of lighting systems, automation, and environmental monitoring – with Urban Crop Solutions named the Indoor Farming Company of the Year, in a recognition of their complete and total offering.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

Animal Ag News 9/6

Carrie Muehling

  • The National Cattlemen’s Foundation (NCF) is accepting applications for the annual W.D. Farr Scholarship program. Two $15,000 grants are awarded to graduate students who demonstrate superior achievement in academics and leadership and are committed to the advancement of the beef industry. Graduate students must apply online by Sept. 30, 2022.
  • USPOULTRY’s 2022 Poultry Protein & Fat Seminar, developed by a panel of rendering industry leaders, provides valuable insights into the latest technology, equipment and management techniques in poultry and egg rendering. Sponsored by USPOULTRY and the Poultry Protein & Fat Council, the seminar will be held Oct. 5-6 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Downtown in Nashville, Tenn.
  • Zoetis presented the company’s second donation to Folds of Honor recently, bringing the company’s total first half contribution to $292,000 to help support the work of the nonprofit in honoring America’s heroes. Based in Owasso, Oklahoma, Folds of Honor provides academic scholarships to the families of men and women who have fallen or been disabled while serving in the U.S. armed forces.
  • A Kansas State University-led study has found that reintroducing bison — a formerly dominant grazer — doubles plant diversity in a tallgrass prairie. The research involves more than 30 years of data collected at the Konza Prairie Biological Station and was recently published in the prestigious journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, or PNAS.
  • Wayne-Sanderson Farms garnered 14 separate safety awards at this year’s National Safety Conference for the Poultry Industry, proving once again that the company’s Zero Accident Culture approach to employee safety and health reduces lost time accidents and injuries.
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced an additional $21.9 million of funding is being awarded to 111 grant projects through the Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grant Program (MPIRG), bringing total funding to $54.6 million.
  • Walmart announced that it signed an agreement to invest in a minority stake in Sustainable Beef LLC, a rancher-owned company based in North Platte, Neb. Walmart’s equity investment is part of a broader strategic partnership to source top-quality sustainable beef from Sustainable Beef LLC’s new beef processing facility.
  • The Animal Agriculture Alliance’s annual College Aggies Online (CAO) scholarship competition kicks off on September 12. Participants will have the opportunity to network and learn from a variety of industry professionals and farm influencers. Undergraduates, graduate students, and collegiate clubs and classes are invited to sign up.
AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

CarbonNOW Program Provides Guaranteed Payments

Cindy Zimmerman

With farmers being hit from all sides by carbon farming ventures, it’s important they ask the right questions and get the right answers.

Travis Kraft, director of row crops for Locus Agricultural Solutions® (Locus AG) and CarbonNOW carbon farming expert, says farmers should know how much they will be paid for their carbon and how long it will take to receive that payment. “With CarbonNOW, farmers don’t have to wait years for payment. They get guaranteed money upfront with no program fees, plus the chance for bonuses.”

Locus AG recently celebrated $1.2 million in carbon payments made upfront on a per-acre basis to over 40 growers through the program. Kraft says the CarbonNOW carbon farming program was developed to overcome the financial hesitations farmers have about participating in carbon markets and it is the first carbon program to offer guaranteed annual minimums with upfront cash payments, accruing performance bonuses and no program fees.

Learn more about Locus AG and CarbonNOW in this interview.
Travis Kraft, Locus AG CarbonNOW (10:07)

AgWired Precision, Audio, carbon, Farming, Precision Agriculture

RFA and Ethanol at the Farm Progress Show

Cindy Zimmerman

Ethanol was in the spotlight at the Farm Progress Show in Iowa this week and the Renewable Fuels Association was there to promote the high octane benefits of the fuel and the role of biofuels and farming in combating climate change.

RFA president and CEO Geoff Cooper, Director of Government Affairs Jared Mullendore, and Vice President of Industry Relations Robert White were all at the show and talking about some of the latest industry news. Topics include California’s plan to ban gasoline powered vehicles, funding for higher blends infrastructure, year-round E15, the inflation reduction act, and what’s next for the RFS.

As evidenced this week when California literally told residents to avoid charging electric cars because it might strain the power grid, Cooper says that state’s plan to ban the sale of gasoline powered vehicles is unrealistic.
FPS22 Interview with RFA CEO Geoff Cooper (8:46)

Mullendore discussed the status of the Next Generation Fuels Act in Congress as a pathway to year round E15.
FPS22 Interview with Jared Mullendore, RFA (5:35)

White says RFA is excited about the new funding for higher blends infrastructure. “This will allow both E15 and E85 to find new consumers and new markets,” said White. “We’re helping over 20 different companies already with their application and we’re talking hundreds upon hundreds of stations in the works.”
FPS22 Interview with Robert White, RFA (3:08)

2022 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Audio, Ethanol, Farm Progress Show

Field Data Supports NK Seeds 2023 Field Forged Series

Cindy Zimmerman

NK Seeds was highlighting new field data at the Farm Progress Show this week showing the superior performance of their 2023 Field Forged Series™ lineup of corn hybrids and soybean varieties.

According to the data, 51 NK® Field Forged Series corn hybrids landed in the top 10 in 2021 Farmers Independent Research of Seed Technologies (FIRST) tests.

“These multi-year results show what happens when high standards meet proven results,” says Joe Bollman, NK Corn Products Manager. “Farmers who choose to plant Field Forged Series hybrids in 2023 can expect to see strong yield potential in their area of adaptation, as well as strong roots and stalks, consistency and excellent disease tolerance.”

On the soybean side, 38 NK Field Forged Series soybean varieties landed in the top 10 in 2021 FIRST tests — and 13 of those placed within the top three.

“For the 2023 growing season, we’re turning things up a notch, with yield and agronomic strength in every seed,” says Eric Miller, NK Soybean Product Marketing Manager. “Each product in our latest lineup was hand-selected in response to grower demand for innovative agronomic traits, proven yield and herbicide trait flexibility. It’s proving to be a powerful combination that’s really driving farmers’ profit potential.”

Listen to Bollman and Miller discuss the benefits of the NK® Field Forged Series in this interview from Farm Progress Show.
FPS22 Interview with Joe Bollman and Eric Miller, NK Seeds (4:24)

2022 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Audio, Corn, Farm Progress Show, Seed, Soybean, Syngenta

Industry Ag News 9/2

Cindy Zimmerman

  • Pro Farmer, a division of Farm Journal, recently shared its estimates for the 2022 U.S. corn and soybean crops after analyzing information from the 30th annual Pro Farmer Crop Tour and other sources. Pro Farmer estimates the 2022 corn crop at 13.759 billion bushels based on an average yield of 168.1 bushels per acre, down sharply compared to USDA’s August estimate of 175.4
    bushels per acre; the soybean crop at 4.535 billion bushels with a national average yield of 51.7 bushels per acre, down from the 51.9 bushels per acre USDA estimate.
  • The Best of NAMA Call for Entries is live on the web. NAMA members can enter their best work by October 21, 2022. The Best of NAMA awards program honors the best work in agricultural communications. The national awards ceremony will take place April 26, 2023, at the Marriott Grand in St. Louis, Missouri.
  • The Governing Board of Clean Fuels Alliance America has appointed Danielle Brannan of San Diego-based New Leaf Biofuel, to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Eric Kayser, who left his employment with Imperial Western Products earlier this summer.
  • Dr. Mahalingam Govindaraj, Senior Scientist for Crop Development at HarvestPlus and the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, has been named the 2022 recipient of the Norman E. Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application, Endowed by The Rockefeller Foundation.
  • After an extensive search process, the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) is thrilled to welcome Dr. Saharah Moon Chapotin as the executive director.
  • U.S. Wheat Associates has hired Ralph Loos as Director of Communications. He comes to the organization with nearly 14 years of experience in agriculture communications, serving both the grain and livestock industries. He replaces Amanda Spoo who left USW for another position in July.
  • The dates are set for the 2023 Commodity Classic. Mark your calendar for March 9-11, 2023 and plan to be in warm and sunny Orlando for America’s largest farmer-led, farmer-focused agricultural and educational experience.
  • GROWMARK, Inc. is pleased to announce Steve Hopkins to the newly created position of Advisory Director on the GROWMARK Board of Directors. Hopkins is from Louisa, Virginia, and is a board member of EverGRO Cooperative. He is also an active member of the Virginia Farm Bureau.
  • Farmer-leaders from the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC) are heading to Uzbekistan to see the potential in this emerging market. In August, the Council helped make history when the first shipment of U.S. soymeal arrived in the country.
Zimfo Bytes

Golden Harvest Offers 12 New Corn Hybrids

Cindy Zimmerman

Golden Harvest has added 12 new hybrids to its corn portfolio for the 2023 season, which gave them a lot to talk about at the Farm Progress Show this week. The new products include 10 corn hybrids and two conventional corn hybrids which feature improved agronomics and increased yield potential.

“With investments in research and development, trait introgression, and trialing, we are seeing great improvements in our newly advanced hybrids,” said Rex Gray, Golden Harvest corn product manager ― West. “Because of their improved agronomics, standability, disease tolerance, test weight and yield potential, our newest products truly are a step-up when compared to our key competitors.”

Listen to an interview with Gray here:
FPS22 Interview with Rex Gray, Golden Harvest (3:21)

“Our game-changing corn hybrids deliver best-in-class performance across the industry,” said Andy Ackley, Golden Harvest corn portfolio manager ― East. “We put agronomics first and focus on placing the right management structure on the right acre to bring farmers broad adaptability, high yield potential, solid agronomics and great late-season health. Golden Harvest corn hybrids are the cornerstone on which to build a whole farm corn solution package farmers can count on.”

Listen to an interview with Ackley here:
FPS22 Interview with Andy Ackley, Golden Harvest (3:41)

Get more details on the new hybrids from Golden Harvest.

2022 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Audio, Corn, Farm Progress Show, Seed, Syngenta

Syngenta Hosts Legislative Outlook Panel at #FPS22

Cindy Zimmerman

Agri-Pulse editor Sara Wyant moderated a legislative outlook panel of Midwest lawmakers in the Syngenta tent at Farm Progress Show Wednesday.

Joining Wyant were (L-R) Reps. Rodney Davis (R-IL); Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA); Vicky Hartzler (R-MO); GT Thompson (R-PA); Randy Feenstra (R-IA); and Ashley Hinson (R-IA). The discussion included what might happen if Republicans regain the House, farm bill planning, the “Inflation Reduction Act,” and biofuels.

There were some technical issues with the audio so this is an edited version that cleans it up some.
FPS22 Syngenta legislative panel (54:24)

2022 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Agri-Pulse, Audio, Farm Progress Show, Syngenta

Precision Ag News 8/31

Carrie Muehling

  • Western Growers and S2G Ventures are now accepting applications for the 2022 AgSharks Competition, a unique event where startup companies pitch their innovations in front of a live audience of the world’s largest specialty crop producers to win a $250,000 minimum investment. Impact-driven entrepreneurs and startups developing technologies that promote a more healthy and sustainable food and agriculture system can apply for the AgSharks Competition at 2022agsharksevent.splashthat.com. Applications close on Monday, Sept. 12, 2022.
  • NK Seeds unveiled new field data highlighting the superior performance of their 2023 Field Forged Series lineup of corn hybrids and soybean varieties, which combines the strongest performers, old and new alike. NK Seeds will share 2022 corn and soybean yield results later this year on their website, social channels and blog, The Amplifier.
  • GHX by Golden Harvest announced the launch of GHXTM Mobile, an online and app experience that puts the future of seed sales in the farmer’s hands. GHX Mobile is currently available for farmers using iOS (Apple) devices and is being piloted in Iowa and Illinois.
  • Heliae® Agriculture announced PhycoTerra ST has been selected as the winner of the “AgTech Innovation of the Year” award in the 2022 AgTech Breakthrough Awards conducted by AgTech Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence organization recognizing the top companies, technologies, and products in the global agricultural and food technology markets.
  • PatternAg, Inc., announced a $35 million funding round led by Conti Ventures, joined by Bidra Innovations. Pattern provides predictive soil analytics that track pest, pathogen, biofertility, and nutrient levels for corn and soybean growers across the Midwest.
  • Case IH and Raven Industries introduce the agriculture industry’s first autonomous spreader: the Case IH Trident 5550 applicator with Raven Autonomy. Unveiled at Farm Progress Show 2022, this innovative solution delivers on customers’ demands for autonomous equipment to help solve labor challenges and increase productivity on their operations.
  • A successful hay season starts with industry-leading equipment. While Case IH RB5 series round balers, DC3 series disc mower conditioners and the small square baler family have long-delivered the reliability and efficiency producers can count on, new models and upgrades to each lineup — as well as the addition of an all-new, high-efficiency Professional (Pro) series of round balers — further improve that reliability.
  • Solinftec has announced that it is expanding its Solix Ag Robotics offerings. In addition to its Solix Scouting robot, the company has unveiled its Solix Sprayer robot designed to detect and spray weeds. In partnership with the award-winning manufacturing, research, and development company, McKinney Corporation, who will produce and manufacture the Solix spray robot, this new cutting-edge technology is slated to become commercially available in 2023 to the entire agricultural market including farmers, cooperatives, and ag-retailers.
  • Growcentia, a Colorado-based biological agtech company producing microbial and natural soil and plant health solutions, announced that its co-founder and department head of the Ecosystem Science and Sustainability department at Colorado State University, Dr. Richard Conant, was elected as chairman of the board of directors at the company’s second quarter board meeting.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture