Industry Ag News 5/6

Carrie Muehling

  • Leading climatologist, agronomist and former farmer Dr. Cynthia Rosenzweig has been named the 2022 World Food Prize Laureate for her pioneering work in modeling the impact of climate change on food production worldwide.
  • C.O.nxt is excited to welcome a new employee-owner to its growing team. Jill DeLucero joins the team as a senior account manager, bringing with her over 20 years of experience in the agriculture industry.
  • International Fresh Produce Association applauds President Biden’s announcement that the Administration will host the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health this September.
  • The American Soybean Association (ASA), United Soybean Board (USB), and soy states want to help farmers who may need a hand managing the stress of life on the farm. This May during Mental Health Month, the soy community will continue its proactive communications campaign to combat farm stress by offering #SoyHelp.
  • Register to attend Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association’s Annual Convention at the JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resorts & Spa in Orlando June 23-25.
  • Roxi Beck is the new president of Look East, a public relations and strategic communications firm that helps its clients in food and agriculture earn trust. Beck, who previously served in the role of vice president, joined Look East in 2007 and has received industry-wide recognition for her leadership and strategic insight.
  • The Renewable Fuels Association welcomed Summit Carbon Solutions as its newest associate member. In developing the largest carbon capture and storage project in the world, the company seeks to lower greenhouse gas emissions by connecting industrial facilities via strategic infrastructure to store carbon dioxide safely and permanently in the Midwestern United States.
  • The 3rd Annual Florida Industrial Hemp Conference & Exhibition is scheduled for May 20-22 at Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando.
  • Agriculture and its related businesses continue to be a driving force in the regional economy, according to an analysis released by the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City. Using the most recent data available, 66 agriculture, food, and food processing sectors were analyzed to determine their overall contribution to the economy supported by the Kansas City Agribusiness Council. These 66 sectors have an estimated total economic impact of approximately $24.445 billion and support 98,655 jobs in the Greater Kansas City area.
  • FAPRI-MU has released a market snapshot of latest projections. An April 2022 snapshot of U.S. agricultural markets indicates higher farm commodity prices, higher production expenses, and higher consumer food costs than were reported in the FAPRI-MU 2022 baseline outlook. The war in Ukraine and reduced soybean production in South America are two of the factors that have pushed prices higher.
  • Join an exclusive look at the 2022 Ag Media Usage Study, produced by AM&P Network’s Ag Media Council, the National Agri-Marketing Association and Readex Research on May 9 at 11:00 a.m. Central. The webinar is free of charge. Register here.
  • The American Farm Bureau Federation, in partnership with Farm Credit, is seeking entrepreneurs to apply online for the 2023 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge. Now in its ninth year, this national business competition showcases U.S. startup companies developing innovative solutions to challenges faced by America’s farmers, ranchers and rural communities.
Zimfo Bytes

Precision Ag News 5/4

Carrie Muehling

  • National Corn Growers Association has cancelled the in-person Corn Utilization and Technology Conference due to continuing travel complications in the wake of COVID. NCGA will be refunding all registration fees and hotel arrangements will be automatically cancelled. The organization is working on alternative plans to disseminate the quality information in the confirmed sessions.
  • The FieldLink® Podcast from Helena Agri-Enterprises, LLC debuted in March. With new episodes premiering every other week, it tells the story of agriculture through the eyes of farmers, industry experts and trusted advisors.
  • A new peer-reviewed research report published by the Soil Health Institute provides fresh insights into the vital role that soil organic carbon levels can play in preventing drought, reducing flooding and improving the health and water retention of the soils used to grow crops.
  • HELM Agro US, Inc announces Reviton™ herbicide has received approval for aerial application according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. The Reviton label expansion will increase aerial spring burndown options and soybean plant back intervals which have been troublesome for many growers.
  • Salford Group Inc. has announced it will be acquired by Linamar Corporation. The purchase is expected to close during the second quarter of 2022, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including the receipt of required regulatory approval.
  • Mark Williams, a U.S. Department of Agriculture scientist, was named a finalist for a Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal in recognition of his pioneering research to protect water quality and aquatic life from pollutants in agricultural runoff.
  • The World Food Prize Foundation is currently accepting nominations for the renowned Dr. Norman E. Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application, Endowed by The Rockefeller Foundation. This award recognizes exceptional, science-based achievement in international agriculture and food production by an individual under the age of 40. Nomination criteria, the selection procedure and other information can be found at worldfoodprize.org/nominate. Nominations will be accepted through June 15, 2022, for the 2022 Award.
  • AGCO announced it has acquired JCA Industries, Inc. JCA, based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, specializes in the design of electronic systems and software development to automate and control agricultural equipment.
  • Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting more than 2 million acres in offers from agricultural producers and landowners through the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) General signup, the first of the program’s multiple signups occurring in 2022. With about 3.4 million acres expiring this year, Vilsack encourages producers and landowners to consider the Grassland and Continuous signups, both of which are currently open.
  • The Ecosystem Services Market Consortium and the Conservation Innovation Fund announced the kick-off of a project to streamline the creation and sale of environmental credits from dairy and beef producers in the Mid-Atlantic.
  • #Plant22 is underway and the BeSure! initiative is back with its fourth annual national campaign to promote best management practices (BMPs) when applying neonicotinoid insecticides.
  • Globally farmers are facing a massive fertilizer shortage due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and rising input costs resulting from supply chain constraints. To remain competitive, more growers are turning to bio-solutions like H2OExcel to conserve water and reduce inputs during these challenging times.
  • The Seed Association of the Americas invites you to the Seed Congress of the Americas, to be held in Punta del Este, Uruguay on Sept. 26-28, 2022.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

2022 CUTC In-Person Has Been Canceled

Chuck Zimmerman

Just announced by NCGA.

Thank you for registering for the Corn Utilization and Technology Conference. There is a great community of science and business leaders that NCGA is committed to supporting but unfortunately, we had to make the decision to cancel the in-person event due to continuing travel complications in the wake of COVID. We will be refunding all registration fees and hotel arrangements will be automatically cancelled. We please ask you to stay tuned as we work on alternative plans to disseminate the quality information in the confirmed sessions.

Please watch your email for information on virtual CUTC sessions.

Ag Groups, Corn, Technology

Animal Ag News 5/2

Carrie Muehling

  • Michigan dairy farmer Ashley Kennedy, a member of the Michigan Milk Producers Association, testified on behalf of MMPA and the National Milk Producers Federation at the Senate Agriculture Committee’s first hearing dedicated to the upcoming Farm Bill, the twice-a-decade reauthorization of all USDA programs.
  • U.S. consumer demand for retail meat remains exceptionally strong despite higher prices stemming from increased production costs and supply chain limitations. However, once the full effects of producer price inflation finally hit retail meat cases, consumer demand for meat will be tested again, according to a new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange.
  • Following two Congressional hearings on the beef and cattle markets largely focused on prices producers receive for their cattle, the North American Meat Institute said the latest USDA annual report on livestock income clears up misconceptions about the state of cattle markets and shows cash receipts for the sale of cattle and calves increased 16 percent, from $63.1 billion in 2020 to $72.9 billion in 2021.
  • Elanco Animal Health Incorporated and Royal DSM have created a strategic alliance connecting two leading, sustainability-focused companies to address one of society’s most significant opportunities of the decade, mitigating climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from farming. Elanco has secured the exclusive U.S. licensing rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize Bovaer® for beef and dairy cattle.
  • Leading-edge research and insights on critical issues and progress impacting the animal nutrition industry will be shared at the 2022 Animal Nutrition Conference of Canada, May 10-12 in Saskatoon.
  • The Dairy Business Association and Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative announced the hiring of Melissa Haen as marketing and events manager.
  • Scientists with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture Research Service (ARS) announced that a vaccine candidate for African Swine Fever (ASF) passed an important safety test required for regulatory approval, moving the vaccine one step closer to commercial availability.
  • Join the Dairy Calf and Heifer Association for its next webinar – “Scours Prevention Starts with Colostrum” – set for May 5, at 2 p.m. Central time.



AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

Rail Disruptions Impacting Ag and Biofuels

Cindy Zimmerman

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) heard about how agricultural and biofuels producers are being impacted by rail service challenges during a two-day hearing last week.

USDA Deputy Secretary Dr. Jewel Bronaugh told the board how rail disruptions are impacting farmers, ranchers and consumers. “Elevators are full and therefore cannot purchase more grain from farmers, and livestock operations are unable to receive the grain they need for feed,” said Bronaugh. “At the same time, ethanol and biodiesel facilities report numerous slowdowns and even shutdowns due to delays in their outbound train service—delays which permeate through the entire supply chain from farmers selling grain to customers buying fuel.”
STB hearing-USDA Deputy Bronaugh (7:37)

National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) President and CEO Mike Seyfert testified before the board, listing several examples of rail service failures experienced by grain shippers across the country and outlining recommended actions for the STB.

“Almost every shipment made by an NGFA member via rail will be used for either human food, animal food or fuel production,” said Seyfert. “Grain and oilseeds processors, such as flour mills, crushing and biofuels facilities have experienced rail challenges on the inbound and outbound.”
STB hearing-NGFA CEO Seyfert (4:23)

Growth Energy Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley testified on how disruptions have impacted the biofuels industry, including extreme delays in unit traffic and getting loaded trains offsite. “Nearly 70 percent of all ethanol is shipped by rail with 377,000 carloads in 2018 alone,” said Bliley. “Rail service is vital to get ethanol from our biorefineries in the Midwest to American consumers from coast to coast. It is perhaps even more important today with drivers facing high gasoline prices and ethanol continuing to trade 80 cents to a dollar less per gallon than wholesale gasoline.”
STB hearing-Chris Bliley, Growth Energy (3:22)

Audio, Corn, Ethanol, Grains, transportation

Industry Ag News 4/29

Carrie Muehling

  • Join the National Agri-Marketing Association for an exclusive look at the 2022 Ag Media Usage Study, produced by AM&P Network’s Ag Media Council, the National Agri-Marketing Association and Readex Research. The 60-minute webinar is scheduled for May 9 at 11:00 a.m. Central.
  • Agriculture’s greenhouse gas emissions fell more than four percent from 2019 to 2020, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The most recent Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks shows agriculture continues to represent just 10 percent of total U.S. emissions, much lower than other economic sectors.
  • The American Farm Bureau Federation joined 119 other agriculture organizations in sending a letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) asking for an extension of time to comment on its proposed rule, “The Enhancement and Standardization of Climate Related Disclosures for Investors.” Read the full letter here.
  • The National Association of Wheat Growers and U.S. Wheat Associates applaud the Biden Administration’s announcement stating the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Agency for International Development are providing $670 million in food assistance to countries in need. Specifically, this announcement will utilize the $282 million in the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust and USDA will provide an additional $388 million through the Commodity Credit Corporation to help cover the transportation costs.
  • Food loss and waste globally contribute to poor human and environmental health, but solutions exist to enable value chains to become more sustainable, according to a panel of experts participating in Farm Journal Foundation’s Speaker Series.
  • National Farmers Union and Farmers Union Enterprises, owned by the state Farmers Union organizations in Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana, are donating $125,000 to help with the humanitarian and agricultural crisis in Ukraine.
  • With policy and regulatory advocacy as one of its foundational strategic priorities, the International Fresh Produce Association is pleased to announce it has enhanced its already strong government relations practice with the addition of Rebeckah Freeman Adcock as its new Vice President of U.S. Government Relations.
  • According to a whitepaper released by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, the global population is projected to increase to 2.2 billion by 2050, meaning farmers will have to grow 70% more food than what is now produced, with less environmental impact. This as well as 12 other trends are outlined in the Future of Food Production whitepaper, the culmination of a 2-year look at the agriculture industry through the generous contribution of time spent by a dozen AEM member leaders who participated in research, discussion, debate, and consensus building.
  • Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA), Republican Leader of the House Agriculture Committee, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN), and Rep. Darren Soto (D-FL) issued statements after introducing H.R. 7614, the Digital Commodity Exchange Act of 2022 (DCEA).
  • The Agricultural Relations Council (ARC) has selected Lydia Johnson, daughter of Craig and Katie Johnson, Bondurant, Iowa, as the 2022 ARC/C.O.nxt scholarship recipient. Annually, ARC awards one $1,500 scholarship to a college student studying ag communications and public relations. Lyle E. Orwig, founder of Charleston|Orwig, now rebranded as C.O.nxt, generously funds this program through an endowment he established with the ARC Foundation.
Zimfo Bytes

Agri-Pulse Newsmakers Focuses on Cattle Hearings

Cindy Zimmerman

The newest edition of Agri-Pulse Newsmakers is out and this week the focus is on cattle hearings and beef politics.

The House and Senate Agriculture Committees both convened hearings to examine the beef sector this week. Now, Congress is left to determine its next steps and whether or not to pursue big reforms to the nation’s cattle sector.

Newsmakers interviews Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) and then gets comments from U.S. Cattlemen’s Associations’s Lia Biondo, North American Meat Institute’s Mark Dopp, and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s Ethan Lane on the hearings and where Congress goes from here.

Newsmakers is also available as a podcast and/or you can sign up to get free access to Newsmakers.


Agri-Pulse, Beef, Video

NCBA President Testifies on Cattle Market Policies

Cindy Zimmerman

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association NCBA President Don Schiefelbein of Minnesota testified before a House Agriculture Committee hearing Wednesday on cattle market policy issues.

Schiefelbein urged House members to support key policies with broad, unified support across the entire cattle industry including a cattle contract library, Livestock Mandatory Reporting (LMR) reauthorization, and investments in small regional processing capacity expansion.

“The only people who know exactly how cattle producers should navigate these uncertain times are the individuals who work around the clock, day in and day out, to raise the safest and highest quality beef in the world—in other words: cattle producers,” said Schiefelbein.

Schiefelbein’s testimony was rooted in the policies adopted by NCBA through its century-old grassroots policymaking process. Instead of focusing on controversial matters, NCBA has encouraged Congress to support policies with wide industry backing.

“Broadly supported proposals have seen tremendous legislative success in this chamber recently,” said Schiefelbein. “However, repeatedly belaboring the same divisive issues has detracted from that collaborative work to the benefit of no one. It is time to move on and focus on areas where agreement can be reached.”

Listen to Schiefelbein’s opening remarks here:
NCBA President Don Schiefelbein (5:16)

Wednesday’s hearing included a panel consisting of the CEOs of the four major meat packing companies – Cargill, Tyson, National Beef and JBS. The hearing was based on allegations that the big four meatpackers have engaged in unfair practices that have driven down prices for cattle producers and led to distorted markets.

Audio, Beef, NCBA

National Grange Recognizes Rural America Champions

Cindy Zimmerman

National Grange president Betsy Huber (right) with honorees Rep. Newhouse, Sara Wyant, & Nona Bear

The National Grange presented its 2022 Champion of Rural America Awards this week to four recipients who exemplify the mission of the family-focused organization founded in 1856.

The 2022 Champions of Rural America are Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Sara Wyant, founder of Agri-Pulse Communications, and patient rights advocate Nona Bear.

“This is one of the most important awards that could be given,” said National Grange President Betsy Huber. “For 155 years, the Grange has worked through nonpartisan means for America’s agricultural communities and rural residents nationwide. The process of selecting these Champions is something we take very seriously, as we want to ensure that our honorees are truly deserving because of their lifelong efforts.”

Huber said that each of this year’s honorees is a true “Champion” for the people living and working in rural America and she noted the contribution that Agri-Pulse has made. “Agri-Pulse connects the people who live in rural America directly to the people who make decisions about rural America,” said Huber.

Ag Groups, Agri-Pulse

Yara Establishes Potato Incubator Farm

Cindy Zimmerman

Yara has established a Incubator Farm in the Columbia Basin of Washington with the goal of determining how a complete potato crop nutrition program that drives productivity and grower profitability can simultaneously lead to a reduced carbon footprint.

The 260 acre trials will analyze the role of crop nutrition and practices such as 4R nutrient management in supporting the industry’s need to continue to produce high yielding, quality crops, while also implementing solutions to decarbonize the value chain.

“The global food chain continues to be under pressure to produce food for a growing world population, while also being tasked with reducing the environmental footprint. These two missions don’t have to be mutually exclusive, but take investment in research and exploration to find solutions that both improve farmer profitability and have a nature-positive impact,” said Trey Cutts, market development director, Yara North America. “The Incubator Farm network in North America is designed for this challenge, and we are excited to establish a farm that focuses on such a globally important crop such as the potato.”

The farm will enable collaborative research efforts to address sustainability and crop nutrition goals through the latest innovations in digital tools and future focused technologies in the industry. Yara’s partners and other industry stakeholders will be invited to leverage the farm’s research and findings with the opportunity to see firsthand the benefits of the crop nutrition solutions implemented.

This is the fourth incubator farm for Yara North America with three others in Modesto, CA; Auburn, AL; and Saskatoon, SK. The farms are part of Yara’s mission of “growing a nature positive food future” by building solutions to decrease carbon footprint, improve water and nitrogen use efficiency, regenerate soil sources and more.

AgWired Precision, carbon, Precision Agriculture