ASTA Honors Past, Present Industry Leaders

Cindy Zimmerman

ASTA chair Brad May (left) with award winners Richard Denhart, Rick Turner, Ed Podleckis, Rajat Pruthi, and Ron Walcott

The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) honored past and present seed industry leaders during its Leadership Summit this week in Indianapolis. In addition to the time-honored Lifetime Honorary Member and Distinguished Service Awards, this year’s slate of honors included the all-new Heritage Award and the Seed Science Foundation’s Excellence in Science Award.

ASTA’s Lifetime Honorary Member Award was presented to two worthy individuals this year – Rick Turner with BASF and Richard Denhart of the Illinois Seed Trade Association. In his 45-year career in agriculture, Turner served posts in domestic and international markets focusing on diverse seed portfolios, seed treatments and crop protection products. Denhart served in various leadership positions, including with Illinois Crop Improvement, Illinois Foundation Seeds, Illinois Seed Trade Association; as the first Chair of the ASTA State Government Affairs Working Group and the first State Association Representative to the ASTA Board of Directors.

The ASTA Distinguished Service Award honors Dr. Edward Podleckis, USDA-APHIS. For over 20 years, he worked as a risk analyst and risk manager developing APHIS plant pest risk analysis programs and policies, providing analytical support to inform agency import and policy decisions and plants for planting import policy.

The Roger Krueger Memorial Scholarship, established in 2008 by the American Seed Research Foundation, was presented to Rajat Pruthi, University of Georgia.

The first-ever Seed Science Foundation Excellence in Science Award was bestowed upon Dr. Ron Walcott, University of Georgia. Dr. Walcott has been a friend and resource for the vegetable seed industry for over 20 years through his research that focuses on diseases, especially those that can be seed borne, and of commercially important vegetables. He has been a major source of technical knowledge on vegetable pathogens to ASTA and the seed industry.

The inaugural Heritage Award, created to preserve and build seed industry history, recognized five individuals who have significantly impacted the seed industry and ASTA. The winners are: W. Atlee Burpee, W. Atlee Burpee & Co.; Dr. Harry Collins, Delta and Pine Land Company (D&PL); Dr. Owen Newlin, Pioneer Hi-Bred International; Dr. Norman Borlaug, CIMMYT; and Jerry Peterson, Peterson Seed Co.

ASTA, Seed

Animal Ag News 6/28

Carrie Muehling

  • Farmers, including pork producers, are encouraged to participate in USDA’s 2022 Agriculture Census. The data collected looks at land use and ownership, operator characteristics, production practices, income and expenditures. The information collected from the census provides a variety of public data that represents the ag industry. The census includes data from every operation – large or small, urban or rural – from which $1,000 or more of agricultural products are produced and sold, or would normally be produced and sold, in the ag census year. Sign Up for 2022 Ag Census by June 30.
  • Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative stressed flexibility and fairness in announcing its priorities for reforming the federal milk pricing system. Edge’s proposal primarily focuses on two key principles ― flexibility and fairness. Differences across the Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMMO) require added flexibility to meet their respective needs, and current markets driving milk outside the FMMO system point to a need for a standard set of “contracting principles” to build a more fair and equitable pricing system.
  • The National Safety Conference for the Poultry Industry gives poultry facility and safety professionals the necessary tools to help ensure the continued well-being and protection of industry personnel. The Conference, sponsored by the Georgia Tech Research Institute/ATRP and the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY), is scheduled for Aug. 15-17 at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Destin, Florida.
  • The Supreme Court of the United States denied R-CALF’s lawsuit against 13 state beef councils and the Beef Checkoff. This ruling effectively ends yet another R-CALF attack on the Beef Checkoff and prevents the activist attorneys at Public Justice, from further diverting Checkoff and beef industry resources.
  • Whether you grew up on a farm, visit farms for work, or have friends and family who are farmers, we all have life lessons learned from the farm. Pork industry colleagues have been filling LinkedIn newsfeeds recently with their #LessonsFromTheFarm to talk about the pork industry’s ethical principles, goals/metrics and elevate the industry’s story. When you post, use the hashtag #LessonsFromTheFarm and tag @NationalPorkBoard.
AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

Crow’s Seed Being Re-Launched in Eastern Corn Belt

Cindy Zimmerman

Crow’s Seed is being re-launched in the Eastern Corn Belt, by Outward Ag, LLC. This follows the re-establishment a few years ago of Midwest Seed Genetics in the Central and Northern Corn Belt and NC+ in the West, which have become two of the fastest growing seed brands in U.S. row crop agriculture.

Crow’s Hybrids, originally from Milford, IL, was one of the pioneering hybrid seed brands, launched in 1935. Over six decades, it provided strong performing seed through strong local relationships. In the late 1990s, Don Funk acquired Crow’s and turned this local company into a regional powerhouse. Crow’s became a key foundational brand that spurred the record-setting growth of Channel, subsequently acquired by Monsanto, now Bayer.

Michelle Vigna will lead efforts to re-introduce Crow’s to the Eastern Corn Belt, following a wide-ranging career at Monsanto, now Bayer. Vigna notably served as the System Launch Manager for the Roundup Ready Xtend Crop System in US Product Management and Marketing from 2012 through 2014. Following this, she led Monsanto’s DEKALB/Asgrow sales team as the Area Business Manager in Northern Indiana.

“My focus has always been to support American farmers in the manner that they need to be successful in their businesses. I see the re-launch of Crow’s as an opportunity to do this, by bringing simplicity and a customer-first approach in delivering the highest quality seed possible. That’s all we will be focused on, “says Vigna.

Read more about the re-launch of Crow’s Seed.

Corn, Seed, Soybean

Congrats to #ARCinMKE Winners

Cindy Zimmerman

The Agricultural Relations Council (ARC) 2022 Golden ARC Awards winners were announced last week in Milwaukee, during the group’s annual meeting.

MorganMyers won the Golden ARC de Excellence Award – the contest’s best all-around entry in the campaigns division – for its “The SCN Coalition: Battling A Bug to Improve America’s Soybean Profitability and Sustainability” entry in the PR Campaigns – Issues Management category. The Golden ARC Awards contest has recognized exceptional work created by public relations professionals in the agricultural industry since 1990.

This year’s Golden ARC Awards contest drew 72 entries – 27 campaigns and 45 tactics. Twenty-one entities, including individuals, agencies, companies, commodity groups and associations, submitted entries. In addition to the Golden ARC de Excellence Award, ARC presented 32 Golden ARC awards.

See all the winners.

Ag Groups, Agencies, ARC, Public Relations

Nebraska Inspires Water Partnership with Brazil

Cindy Zimmerman

The government of Mato Grosso, Brazil found what it was looking for in Nebraska – ways to improve the sustainable development of water for crop irrigation and pasture land, to intensify production on existing lands and decrease expansion of agriculture on fragile ecosystem.

As a result of a technical visit to Nebraska in May, Mato Grosso will sign a technical collaboration agreement with the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute (DWFI) and the University of Nebraska to map its water resources in order to identify, monitor and define any present and planned future use.

The state of Mato Grosso is Brazil’s agricultural giant, producing more soybeans and cattle than any other state in the country. It is also considered one of the world’s main food producers. However, the state faces many issues with the expansion of agriculture exerting pressure on the Amazon Forest and Cerrado savanna ecosystem. In addition, agriculture faces many water challenges, especially during long periods of drought.

With its mild climate and significant rainwater, Mato Grosso experiences two growing seasons. However, with just 5% of the state’s agricultural land currently irrigated, there is potential for a third crop production season within one year.

The new partnership is part of DWFI’s effort to strengthen relationships around the world to grow more food with less stress on water resources. DWFI’s mission is to have a lasting and significant impact on achieving more food security with less pressure on scarce water resources.

Read more from DWFI

International, Sustainability, Technology, Water, Water for Food

Cost of July 4th Cookout Skyrockets

Cindy Zimmerman

The cost of your July 4th holiday cookout has skyrocketed 17 percent since last year, according to the latest American Farm Bureau Federation survey.

According to the survey, the average cost of a summer cookout for 10 people is $69.68, or about $10 more than last year, which they attribute to ongoing supply chain disruptions, inflation and the war in Ukraine.

Survey results showed the retail price for 2 pounds of ground beef at $11.12, up 36% from last year. Meanwhile, the Agriculture Department’s Producer Price Index indicates that compared to a year ago, farm-level cattle prices are up 17.5%, but wholesale beef prices are down 14%. This serves to highlight the differences between farm-level, wholesale and retail beef prices and how the events of the last few years have had significant impacts on the beef production and cattle pricing cycles, making them all hard to predict.

Several other foods in the survey, including chicken breasts, pork chops, homemade potato salad, fresh-squeezed lemonade, pork & beans, hamburger buns and cookies, also increased in price.

One bright spot for consumers is the average retail price for strawberries, which declined by 86 cents compared to a year ago. Sliced cheese and potato chips also dropped in price, 48 cents and 22 cents, respectively. Better weather conditions in some fruit-growing regions and greater retailer pricing flexibility for processed products are the likely drivers behind the modest price declines for these items.

Read more from AFBF

AFBF, Food

Industry Ag News 6/24

Cindy Zimmerman

  • Michael Torrey Associates (MTA) welcomes Ashley Willits to the policy team for the Washington, D.C.-based firm with a growing number of clients in the food, agriculture, and forestry sector. Ashley serves as the Policy Manager for Michael Torrey Associates, where she provides policy communications and advocacy support for the firm’s clients. Prior to joining MTA, Ashley served as an Associate Director of Policy Communications at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.
  • GROWMARK is partnering with the Midwest Food Bank to deliver relief to war-ravaged Ukraine. GROWMARK System employees, members, and customers are making financial donations to the GROWMARK Foundation which will go directly to providing Tender Mercies to Ukraine. The GROWMARK Foundation is also offering a dollar-for-dollar match for the first $5,000 donated through the program.
  • American Farmland Trust (AFT) and the Farmers Market Coalition (FMC) announced the 14th annual America’s Farmers Market Celebration (AFMC) this week – the only annual ranking of the top farmers markets in the United States as voted on by the public. The AFMC will run June 20 to September 19 on markets.farmland.org. Markets can join the celebration and encourage their customers to vote, an excellent marketing tool and a pathway to winning a piece of the $10,000 prize pool.
  • The North American Equipment Dealers Association (NAEDA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Kipp McGuire as Director of Government Affairs. Kipp comes from the consulting world, where he was an advisor to the U.S. Navy’s Commander of Pacific Fleet as a member of the Commander’s Action Group and Government Affairs and Outreach teams.
  • The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol was accepted as an ISEAL Community Member following a rigorous and meticulous approval process and only eighteen months after the program’s launch. ISEAL is a global membership organization that supports credited sustainability systems in their work, with the goal to drive greater impact and establish markets that are a force for good.
  • AgriThority® continues to see increased demand for development projects for new agricultural innovations around the world. To meet current and future client growth, AgriThority announces the addition of two new associates to support global product and business development growth. Maria Karamagioli joins AgriThority to serve as Associate Product & Business Development Manager in Greece, while Luigi Radaelli takes on the same role in Italy.
  • The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) has launched a newly-redesigned, updated guide that allows farmers, land owners and others to easily locate and contact professional seed suppliers for quality environmental, conservation, and cover crop seed. The interactive Conservation, Environmental, and Cover Crop Seed Resource Guide allows buyers to find lists of specific seed types by geographic location to support production and sustainability goals.
ZimmNews

Tech Hub LIVE Ready to Deploy

Cindy Zimmerman

The second annual Tech Hub LIVE Conference and Expo will take place on July 19-21 in Indianapolis, building on last year’s premier event with timely educational programming, expanded business opportunities, and a keynote on strategies for delivering tech solutions to farmers.

Tech Hub LIVE co-chair Lara Sowinski says the CropLife Media Group® event is focused on proven, actionable solutions that can be deployed immediately. “Tech Hub LIVE is where business gets done, new connections are made and the industry advances through data-driven technologies,” said Sowinski.

The keynote speaker for this year’s Tech Hub LIVE is David Widmar, Managing Partner at Agricultural Economic Insights, who specializes in agricultural trends and the farm economy. He will share what lies ahead as he breaks down demographic trends in U.S. agriculture and how to navigate the hurdles to help producers increase profitability, reduce stress, and make better decisions.

The conference will offer diverse networking formats, including one-on-one meetings, break-out sessions, small group discussions, technology talks and fireside chats. The program has been specifically developed to help attendees leverage precision technologies for better profitability, find the latest hardware and software solutions, understand sustainability’s evolving demands, and break barriers to tech adoption. Plus, there will be multiple opportunities to engage with peers at the Welcome Party located at the Fowling Warehouse and during the Networking Reception.

Learn more about what’s in store for the 2nd annual Tech Hub LIVE in this interview with Sowinski.
2022 Tech Hub LIVE preview with Lori Sowinski 6:19

AgWired Precision, Audio, Precision Agriculture, Tech Hub LIVE, Technology

Senate Ag Committee Passes Cattle Market Bills

Cindy Zimmerman

The Senate Agriculture Committee advanced two bills on Wednesday with bipartisan support – the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act and the Meat Packing Special Investigator Act. Both bills were strongly supported by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA).

During his weekly call with agricultural reporters Tuesday, Grassley said he thinks the bills have a good chance of making it to the Senate floor. “I certainly hope as soon as we return after our July break that Leader Schumer will put these bills on the floor for a vote,” said Grassley.

The House included a version of the special investigator bill last week as part of the multi-faceted Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act, which also includes the Year-Round Fuel Choice Act to expand voluntary sales of E-15 gasoline. Grassley said he is “confident the Senate has 60 votes” to pass the House package on the floor.

Listen to segments of Grassley’s press call where he comments on the legislation in both chambers and how they might work together.
Sen. Grassley comments on cattle bills 3:23

The cattle market legislation is opposed by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association but supported by the United States Cattlemen’s Association.

Audio, Beef

Field Notes From Koch Agronomic Services – Episode 20

Chuck Zimmerman

The Field Notes podcast series from Koch Agronomic Services breaks down the science and technology behind agronomy to help growers do more with less.

The experts we’ve heard from on our previous episodes have covered topics ranging from how different crops use nitrogen to the 4R’s of Nutrient Stewardship and how growers and retailers work together to choose the best input for an operation. If you haven’t checked out the previous episodes, you can find them on your favorite podcast platform.

Hidden Hunger: Addressing Your Crop’s Unseen Nutrient Deficiencies

In this episode, we sit down with KAS agronomists, Edwin Suarez and Lacie Thomas, to discuss how the ‘hidden hunger’ phenomenon could be limiting your crops maximum yield potential. The KAS experts explain the importance of addressing hidden hunger before it’s too late and how KAS can provide the solution.

You can listen to the program here: Hidden Hunger: Addressing Your Crop’s Unseen Nutrient Deficiencies (17:51)

And to make sure you don’t miss an episode, choose an option to subscribe

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Agribusiness, Audio, Fertilizer, Koch Agronomic Services, Nutrient Management, Soil