Industry Ag News 7/15

Carrie Muehling

  • An integral part of the oversight and review process of the 2018 Farm Bill and further preparation for the 2023 Farm Bill is getting direct input from producers, stakeholders, and consumers on how various farm bill programs are working for them. House Agriculture Committee Chairman David Scott and Ranking Member Glenn “GT” Thompson are offering the opportunity for members of the public to submit their feedback and ideas for the 2023 Farm Bill through an online form available here.
  • You are invited to a joint cocktail reception hosted by NAMA & NAFB at Ag Media Summit in Raleigh on Monday, July 18, from 9-11 p.m. at the Rye Bar Private Room, Marriott City Center. All are welcome. Feel free to bring a prospective member or guest. No cost or registration necessary.
  • MachineryPete.com announces that Machinery Pete Auctions, its online auction marketplace for selling and buying used farm equipment, has added an agriculture tire and wheel segment to its monthly online auctions in partnership with Dawson Tire & Wheel.
  • Michael Torrey Associates welcomes Katie Naessens to the policy team. The Washington, D.C.-based firm offers effective government relations, strategic communications and issue advocacy as well as full-service association management to a growing number of clients in the food, agriculture, and forestry sector.
  • National Corn Growers Association President Chris Edgington presented the organization’s prestigious President’s Award to Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) during the group’s Corn Congress meeting in Washington, D.C.
  • Delegates attending the National Corn Growers Association’s Corn Congress, which was held in Washington D.C., elected five farmers to serve on the organization’s Corn Board. Taking office on Oct. 1, the start of NCGA’s 2023 fiscal year, are new board members Matt Frostic of Michigan and J.R. Roesner of Indiana.
  • Kentucky Venues welcomed Jacky Eshelby as the new Executive Director of Expositions. This position was created to oversee the planning, execution and growth of signature events at the Kentucky Exposition Center. Kentucky Venues owns and operates numerous in-house agriculture-focused events including the Kentucky State Fair, World’s Championship Horse Show, North American International Livestock Exposition, North American Championship Rodeo, National Farm Machinery Show and Championship Tractor Pull.
  • Western Growers will honor California agricultural icon John Harris with the 2022 Award of Honor. The Award of Honor is Western Growers’ highest recognition of achievement and is given to individuals who have contributed extensively to the agricultural community. With more than 50 years’ experience in ranching, farming, hospitality and thoroughbred horse racing, Harris embodies the diversity of California agribusiness. The Harris Farms Group includes Harris Fresh and the Harris Farms Thoroughbred Division, in addition to the landmark property known to all Californians on the I-5.
  • The Georgia Peanut Commission is hosting a photo contest until Oct. 1, 2022, featuring peanut farm families to fill the pages of the 2023 Georgia Peanut Calendar. Photos will also be selected to be used in various promotional projects by GPC throughout the year. Farmers from across Georgia are encouraged to submit their best high-resolution photo of their family on the peanut farm throughout the growing season. Winning entries will be selected for each month of the calendar, as well as the cover page.
Zimfo Bytes

Verdesian Adds to Peanut Farmers’ Plant Health Options

Cindy Zimmerman

“The Nutrient Use Efficiency People™” at Verdesian Life Sciences are delivering a plant health lineup for peanut farmers with the addition of Primacy ALPHA®, MicroSync®, and SEED+™ GRAPHITE to their peanut product portfolio of offerings.

The three products complement the peanut industry staple, Primo Power CL, a standard production protocol for peanut growers and researchers, which is always supplied as fresh product every year to ensure rhizobia counts are healthy and ready to go to work when the product reaches the soil furrow. In addition, improved stand counts through better inoculation and multiple selected optimized strains of rhizobia with a concentration of more than 4.5 billion colony forming units bolster plant vigor throughout the growing season.

Primacy ALPHA® is a new product for peanut growers that offers the flexibility of foliar- or soil-applied application and works inside the plant to stimulate the efficient assimilation and utilization of nutrients. The increased plant metabolism and subsequent plant growth creates a healthier and more resilient plant, able to better withstand environmental stressors, pests and disease without any of the phosphite residue risks.

“Primacy ALPHA is a great substitute for those disease prevention products that create phosphite residue,” says Larry Stauber, Verdesian Technical Development Manager. “It can get a peanut plant healthy and keep it healthy to fight off leaf spots that are relentless in peanut crops without the phosphite residue.”

Also new for peanut growers in 2022, MicroSync packs the early-season micronutrient nutrition young peanut plants need to thrive. The custom blending and uniform granule size ensures the product spreads easily and uniformly with other macronutrient applications. The long-term, slow residual allows the product to feed both a crop and the bacteria that help a crop to thrive, ensuring micronutrients are present when the crop needs them most. And with eight different micronutrient packages, the application can be customized to address almost any soil test.

Rounding out the lineup is SEED+ GRAPHITE, a trifecta of performance and utility that combines soil microbiology support, a micronutrient package and talc graphite in a convenient and easy-to-use application that every farmer needs.

Verdesian will be at the upcoming Southern Peanut Growers Conference, July 21-23 in Panama City Beach, Florida where growers are encouraged to stop by their booth and enter to win a YETI cooler, complete with all of the necessities to make it through the summer. Verdesian is proud to sponsor the SPGC opening welcome reception on July 21.

Nutrient Management, Peanuts, Soil, SPGC

Precision Ag News 7/13

Carrie Muehling

  • USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) announced an expansion of the list of counties that are eligible for double crop coverage under crop insurance. Coverage will be expanded or streamlined in over 1,500 counties to double crop soybeans and sorghum behind wheat. RMA is also working with the crop insurance industry and farm organizations to help streamline and improve the written agreements for farmers that are outside the areas where coverage has been expanded. The announcement comes as part of the Administration’s efforts to support U.S. farmers during the volatility caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
  • The Soil Health Institute announced five strategic goals it is pursuing to address climate change, regenerative agriculture, water resources, farmer empowerment, and consumer demand + policy.
  • Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) is the leading yield-robber of the soybean crop in North America, causing more than $1.5 billion in losses annually. The good news is soybean farmers can actively manage SCN to protect yield potential. To bring attention to the importance of active SCN management, The SCN Coalition and Valent have joined forces to encourage soybean farmers to check for SCN females attached to roots during the growing season. Watch this video to learn how to check roots.
  • Randy Dowdy and David Hula, world record holders for corn and soybean yields, are proud to announce their nationwide farming program’s rebrand to Total Acre. Formerly called Next Level, Total Acre is a 3-year program where hundreds of progressive growers learn from two of the most successful farmers in the world. The program is in its 5th year and is aimed at helping farmers achieve higher yields and enhanced ROI.
  • Great Lakes Grain announced the 13th annual Great Lakes Grain Crop Assessment Tour scheduled for August 29 to September 9, 2022. Throughout the tour, Great Lakes Grain staff and partners from AGRIS Co-operative, FS PARTNERS and Coop Embrun will scout corn and soybean fields with farmers who sign up for the tour. The team will conduct yield estimates, gauge crop progress and evaluate the overall health of Ontario corn and soybean crops.
  • U.S. and Canadian ag tractor monthly unit sales in June 2022 fell, while harvester sales grew in both countries, according to the latest data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. U.S. total farm tractor sales fell 8.2 percent for the month of June compared to 2021, while U.S. self-propelled combine sales for the month grew 25.3 percent to 629 units sold. The 100+ horsepower 2WD tractor segment was the only one in the black for the fourth month in a row, up 9.6 percent, indicating continued demand in row-crop agriculture.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

Yield10 Bioscience Renames Canadian Subsidiary

Cindy Zimmerman

Yield10 Bioscience, Inc. (Nasdaq:YTEN), an agricultural bioscience company, today announced a name change for its Canadian subsidiary to Yield10 Oilseeds Inc. from Metabolix Oilseeds. Yield10 Bioscience is focused on innovation in oilseed crops to develop crop-based solutions to address global food security, climate change and plastic waste in the environment.

Yield10 Oilseeds was founded in 2010 and is based in Saskatoon, a city in the Saskatchewan province of Canada. This site, consisting of R&D labs and commercial greenhouse space, serves as Yield10 Bioscience’s Oilseeds Center of Excellence. Yield10 Oilseeds in Saskatoon is primarily responsible for the development and field testing of new commercial varieties of Camelina incorporating input traits such as herbicide tolerance, performance traits such as high oil content and new seed product traits such as PHA Bioplastics.

“By rebranding our Canadian subsidiary to Yield10 Oilseeds Inc. we are unifying our business under the Yield10 brand,” said Oliver Peoples, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Yield10 Bioscience. “We are taking this step now as we are placing an emphasis within our business on grower outreach and engagement to begin ramping up Camelina acres for the production of feedstock oil targeting the biofuels market and protein meal for animal feed. As we move forward, the Yield10 Oilseeds brand will signify our commitment to innovation and excellence in oilseed crops as we bring our elite Camelina varieties to market.”

Biofuels, Biotech, Seed, Sustainability

Animal Ag News 7/11

Carrie Muehling

  • The 2021 national winner of the Environmental Stewardship Award Program will be announced at a reception during the Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting in Reno, Nevada, July 25-27. Established in 1991 by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the award identifies outstanding land stewards in the cattle industry.
  • At the recent Board of Directors meeting of Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), the Board completed the transition of Dennis Rodenbaugh taking the helm as president and chief executive officer, as Richard (Rick) P. Smith officially stepped down on June 30 after 16 years of service. Rodenbaugh joined DFA in 2007 and has held several leadership roles throughout the organization. Most recently, he held the title of executive vice president, council operations, and president, Ingredient Solutions.
  • The National Bison Association (NBA) has announced the 2022 Throlson American Bison Foundation Scholarship, an annual scholarship that supports students pursuing studies related to the American bison. The online scholarship application is available online here and must be submitted by October 1, 2022.
  • The National Milk Producers Federation led eleven national agricultural, anti-hunger, nutrition and medical groups in a virtual listening session urging the White House to place a high priority on access to affordable, diverse and nutritious foods when it holds its Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health this September.
AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

Rest in Peace Ken Tanner

Cindy Zimmerman

A great Southern farm broadcaster will be laid to rest today in North Carolina.

Former NAFB president Ken Tanner passed away last month at the age of 83. While no official obituary has been published, there will be a Mass of Christian Burial for Ken today in Cary, NC at St. Michael the Archangel Church.

Ken was one of the North Carolina-based Tobacco Radio Network broadcasters, hired by Ray Wilkinson to be part of the team with Dix Harper in the 1980s. We have many fond memories of Ken from our earliest days in the business. He was a great broadcaster and a devout Catholic who really wanted to be a priest, or a sports announcer.

After TRN had its run, Tanner did go back to his first love – baseball. He joined the Durham Bulls as an announcer in 2000 until 2019 when he started having health issues.

In 2020, NAFB historian Mike Adams caught up with Tanner for a segment of “Where are They Now” and they reminisced about broadcasting and baseball.
Mike Adams interview with Ken Tanner 2020 (17:21)

May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace.

Audio, NAFB, obituariess, people

Industry Ag News 7/8

Carrie Muehling

  • The American Soybean Association wants to recognize exceptional soy volunteers and leaders. During 2023 Commodity Classic, individuals will be recognized and honored for state association volunteerism, distinguished leadership achievements and long-term, significant contributions to the soybean industry. The nomination period is open through Oct. 24, 2022.
  • Mark your calendars and make plans to join the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City and Agri-Pulse for the Ag Outlook Forum. Ag Outlook Forum is scheduled for September 26, 2022, at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown.
  • The bridge between the University of Illinois and prospective Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications (ALEC) students is expanding with The Morrow, a new student-produced online magazine.
  • If you’re new to agriculture or marketing – or an industry veteran who wants to enhance your expertise – then you need to be at NAMA Boot Camp August 10-12.
  • AGCO Corporation, a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of agricultural machinery and precision ag technology, proudly celebrates the 175th anniversary of its Massey Ferguson® brand.
  • Youth members of Farmers Union from around the country participated in the 84th annual National Farmers Union All-States Leadership Retreat. This year’s event was held at Wisconsin Farmers Union’s Kamp Kenwood on the shores of Lake Wissota near Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.
  • The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture has awarded $9,400 in grants to recognize the remarkable agricultural literacy programs of ten state and county Farm Bureaus. The grants are funded through the White-Reinhardt Fund for Education program, which acknowledges communities that are engaging with students on the fundamental role of agriculture in the everyday lives of all Americans.
  • Christine Gemperle, a second-generation almond grower in California’s Central Valley, has been honored by UPL, a global leader in sustainable agriculture solutions, as the inaugural winner of its Allies for Agriculture initiative. UPL introduced Allies for Agriculture to recognize the often-unsung heroes who are advancing and transforming the industry to ensure food security.
  • The World Food Prize Foundation announced that Mackenzie Carlson has joined the organization as the new Program Manager, Development and Finance. As Program Manager, Mackenzie will support and implement WFPF’s fundraising strategy and improve processes for finance management. Her responsibilities will include grant writing, donor relations, budgeting, spreadsheet management and financial reporting.
Zimfo Bytes

ZimmCast 695 – Preview of 2022 Ag Media Summit

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCastHello and welcome to the ZimmCast.

This will be episode 695 of the ZimmCast. I’d love any feedback you want to give. Do you like the format? What would change? What topics or speakers would you like to hear? Message me and I really appreciate it.

Agricultural Media SummitIn just over a week the annual Ag Media Summit will take place in Raleigh, NC. If you have not registered, you can do so on site if you need to. But you can also follow on social media with the hashtag #AgMediaSummit2022 and I’ll be posting lots of photos and interviews when I can.

In this week’s program you can hear a preview of the event from Kenna Rathai, Broadhead, who is Chair of the Steering Committee for the Ag Media Summit this year.

It is easy to find more information about the Ag Media Summit and to register. Just go to AgMediaSummit.com.

I hope you enjoyed this episode and thank you for listening.

Listen to the ZimmCast here:
ZimmCast 695 - Preview of 2022 Ag Media Summit (12:31)

Want to sponsor the ZimmCast? Just let me know and we can talk through ideas for your company. I’m AgriBlogger on Twitter or just email me at chuck@zimmcomm.biz.

Subscribe to the ZimmCast in:

ACN, Ag Groups, Ag Media Summit, Agencies, Agribusiness, Audio, LPC, Media, ZimmCast

Precision Ag News 7/7

Carrie Muehling

  • Koch Ag & Energy Solutions (KAES), a global provider of value-added solutions for the agriculture, energy and chemical markets, and OCP, the world’s largest phosphate mining and leading global fertilizer group, are pleased to announce they have successfully completed the acquisition announced March 2, 2022. KAES, through an affiliate, acquired a 50% interest in Jorf Fertilizers Com-pany III (JFC III) from OCP, establishing a 50/50 Joint-Venture between the two companies. The trans-action closed on June 30, 2022. JFC III owns and operates a cutting-edge industrial facility producing up to 1.1 million metric tons annually of phosphate-based fertilizers. Through its advantaged location within the Jorf Fertilizer Complex, the world’s largest phosphate fertilizer production platform, JFC III benefits from a unique relationship with OCP’s broader industrial operations at the Complex.
  • In 2019, the Alabama Cooperative Extension System brought the world of farming to the palm of a farmer’s hand with an app. The Farming Basics app opened a gateway of information for small and beginning farmers. Fast forward to 2022—this app has gotten a facelift, providing even more information to farmers. The Farming Basics app is available as a free download on iOS and Android devices.
  • In a recent election at the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST), Dr. J. Alex Thomasson — head of the Mississippi State University Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering and William B. and Sherry Berry Endowed Chairholder — was chosen as the President-Elect for 2022-2023.
  • Green Lands Blue Waters is excited to announce the launch of the Next Gen Ag and Conservation Professionals Mentorship Program. This program is funded by a 2022 Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Equity Conservation Agreement and is hosted in partnership with the Mississippi River Network.
  • NCGA has a new tool for growers: the Corn Rootworm Risk Tool. This calculator allows farmers to enter historical and current management data—along with corn rootworm intensity—to determine the potential risk of developing resistance to valuable Bt traits.
  • The North American Equipment Dealers Association (NAEDA) announced that the transition period is complete, and the new organization has successfully unified three regional equipment dealer associations with the Equipment Dealers Association. NAEDA is one of the most well-respected and fastest-growing equipment dealer associations in North America and has represented equipment dealers in North America since 1889. NAEDA will be hosting its first board meeting July 25-26, 2022, and will refine its strategic plan for the future at that meeting.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

DWFI Podcast – Business Ecosystem in Rwanda

Cindy Zimmerman

Of Rwanda’s roughly 600,000 hectares of irrigable land, only 10% is currently irrigated. With a more developed irrigation industry, farmers would be able to take advantage of three growing seasons, rather than one, enabling better food security and income. However, there are gaps in knowledge needed to advance the industry.

Seeking to make these advancements accessible, staff at the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute have completed a study which maps and analyzes the business ecosystem for smallholder irrigation in Rwanda. The Rwanda smallholder irrigation ecosystem map shines a light on farmer-led irrigation – the distribution and use of small irrigation pumps and associated equipment by individual farmers or shared between a few farmers – and analyzes the business ecosystem for providing those goods and services.

In this episode, Arianna Elnes, DWFI communications specialist, interviews Natacha Akaliza, DWFI program consultant; Savant Nzayiramya, DWFI policy intern; and Nick Brozović, DWFI director of policy; about the team’s research and key findings.

DWFI Podcast 13 - Business Ecosystem in Rwanda 24:22

View the full report and findings – https://go.unl.edu/ecosystem

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.

How to subscribe:

Audio, International, Irrigation, Water, Water for Food