Passing of Don Funk, Seedsman

Cindy Zimmerman

We are sad to report the passing of Don E. Funk, fourth generation seedsman and grandson of seed industry pioneer, Edward J. Funk, who died June 9, 2022 of natural causes, according to his family.

Don became president of Edward J. Funk & Sons at the age of 25. It was later purchased by British Petroleum. In 1999, Don formed a new company, Channel Bio Corp, which is now owned by Bayer and is one of the major providers of corn and soybean seed to the U.S. market.

At a time when most would slow down, Don put his foot to the pedal. An unwavering optimist, Don re-acquired and re-launched the brands Midwest Seed Genetics and NC+ to provide American row crop farmers a true choice, independent of the ever-growing corporatization of the seed industry. His driving mission was to establish a team focused on earning the partnership, season after season, of progressive farmers and the agriculturalists who serve them. The sustained, record-setting growth of the three brands is a testament that Don’s relationship-based approach remains valued and vital.

Don’s hometown was Kentland, Indiana, and he is survived by his wife Abby, children Matt (Marcy), Dan (Grith), Katya (Mike) and Luke, and grandchildren William, Isla, Jens, Stella, True, and Sasha.

people, Seed

ZimmCast 693 – Stay Curious with Alltech Crop Science

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCastHello and welcome to the ZimmCast.

By the time many of you will listen to this podcast episode I will be on my way to Altoona, Iowa for the AgGateway Mid-Year Meeting, “Catalyzing E-Commerce.” I’ll be conducting interviews and taking photos, so you can keep on the lookout for that on AgNewsWire.com.

But this week, let’s look back a little bit. The Alltech ONE Conference, in-person, may be over but the conference is still live virtually. Yes. You can still register and have access to all the recorded sessions and speakers. So, for this week’s podcast I’m going to share a couple of speakers who have just been added to the AgNewsWire virtual newsroom for the event. I thought you might be interested in their topics.

Let’s start out with Amy Bell-Elmohammed, Quality Manager for Alltech. Amy managed the Stay Curious Track for the conference. She will explain what that means.

Next let’s turn to a topic area many of you are involved in which is crop science. Learn what Alltech is doing in this area from Steve Borst, Vice President of Alltech Crop Science.

So, if you liked these topics you can find more if you register for the Alltech ONE Conference and look through all the virtual content.

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

Listen to the ZimmCast here:
ZimmCast 693 - Stay Curious with Alltech Crop Science (18:29)

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:

Agribusiness, Alltech, Audio, ZimmCast

Industry Ag News 6/10

Carrie Muehling

  • The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer dropped to its lowest level since April 2020, down 22 points in May to a reading of 99. Agricultural producers’ perceptions regarding current conditions on their farms, as well as their future expectations, both weakened this month. The Index of Current Conditions dipped 26 points to a reading of 94, and the Index of Future Expectations fell 21 points to a reading of 101. The Ag Economy Barometer is calculated each month from 400 U.S. agricultural producers’ responses to a telephone survey. This month’s survey was conducted May 16-20.
  • The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Fields-of-Corn.com photo contest is now open and accepting entries for the 2022 contest. Since the beginning of the contest in 2014, nearly 3,000 pictures have been submitted across the various categories. This year a new category, Farm Babies, has been added.
  • Heidi Crnkovic, a longtime agricultural communicator who has experience working with and for farmers and ranchers across the western United States, joins AGDAILY’s editorial team as Associate Editor.
  • Save Citrus, a new coalition of citrus growers and industry partners, launched the first in a series of educational radio ads aimed at fellow growers. This ad focuses on a state-sponsored referendum on whether to continue the mechanism to tax growers to fund research that has proven ineffective.
  • American Farmland Trust has named Andrew Bahrenburg as its new Deputy Policy Director, where he will play a critical role in preparing an organizational strategy to advance transformational agricultural policy at the state and federal level, including through the 2023 Farm Bill.
  • More than 2,000 students are registered for the 2022 Washington Leadership Conference, the second-largest student experience that the National FFA Organization hosts each year.
  • Firestone Ag, a business of Bridgestone Americas, will kick off its 2022 Rock the Crop Concert Sweepstakes with Nashville-based country artist Dillon Carmichael, in celebration of U.S. agriculture. American farmers and ranchers can enter the 2022 Rock the Crop concert sweepstakes from now until July 25 for a chance to win a private concert with Dillon Carmichael, tickets to an upcoming show and a signed vinyl record. View rules and enter at https://woobox.com/nkw3k2.
  • American Agri-Women has named California 1st District Congressman Doug LaMalfa their 2022 Champion of Agriculture. AAW presented the award to LaMalfa at a recognition ceremony held recently in the House Agriculture Committee Chambers in Washington, D.C.
  • To support the next generation of agricultural professionals, National Farmers Union Foundation (NFUF) announced the 2022 recipients of its annual scholarship awards. More information about the scholarships is available on the NFU website at nfu.org/education/scholarships.
Zimfo Bytes

Hearing Explores Agricultural Trade Issues

Cindy Zimmerman

Senators heard from representatives of U.S. peanut growers, dairy producers and wheat farmers Thursday during a hearing on “Agricultural Trade: Priorities and Issues Facing America’s Farmers.”

Representing the U.S. Peanut Federation before the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management, and Trade, was Karla Baker Thompson with JET Farms Georgia and Integrity Farms of Camilla, Georgia. Thompson highlighted the decline in peanut exports to the European Union (EU) for U.S. peanuts, and issues in other top markets of Canada, Mexico, Japan and China.

“A look at our major export markets shows some of the issues we are facing. Our best markets, and those with the most potential for growth, are the markets that pay premium prices,” Thompson says. “These markets provide prices that are profitable for exporters and have an impact on grower prices. Unfortunately, some of these best markets are not healthy.”

Karla Baker Thompson, US Peanut Federation (4:34)

Sheryl Meshke, co-president and CEO of Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI), told senators that the government should pursue additional market access opportunities and address export supply-chain delays in order for the U.S. dairy industry to keep up with its global competitors.

“In pursuing exports, the U.S. dairy industry faces experienced and well-established competitors who have been exceptionally active with free trade agreements,” said Meshke. “The United States needs to get back in the game and craft an approach to pursuing comprehensive trade agreements.” Meshke serves on the board of directors for both the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC).

Sheryl Meshke, Associated Milk Producers (5:27)

Neal Fisher, administrator of the North Dakota Wheat Commission, spoke on behalf of wheat farmers and stressed the need to address non-tariff trade barriers. “Non‐tariff’ barriers have become some of the most complicated and damaging trade issues, often deployed aggressively with little or no basis in science,” said Fisher.

Neal Fisher, ND Wheat Commission (5:37)

Audio, Dairy, Exports, Peanuts, Wheat

Agoro Carbon Alliance Pays Over $9 Million in 1st Year

Cindy Zimmerman

Agoro Carbon Alliance has distributed more than $9 million in payments to U.S. farmers and ranchers in its first year, according to company officials.

“We are extremely proud of the company’s success in the first year,” said Agoro Carbon interim CEO, Elliot Formal. “We have connected with farmers and ranchers throughout the U.S., and look forward to our carbon journey together in the years to come.”

Backed by Yara International, Agoro Carbon’s carbon contract opportunities are based on improved management practices to sequester carbon and deliver sustained agriculture improvements, and are not packaged or paired with other product offerings

“At Agoro Carbon, we are focused on delivering a climate-positive change and financial returns to our farmer and rancher partners,” said Formal. “We provide education on the benefits of regenerative agriculture and work together to support their change to more sustainable practices. The transparency in our contracts, including options for early payments, help our farmer and rancher partners know exactly what to expect when working with Agoro Carbon.”

With Agoro Carbon’s background in agronomic knowledge and commitment to the carbon market, farmers and ranchers can be assured the company will be with them throughout their carbon journey. Those interested in carbon farming or learning more about conservation practices can visit AgoroCarbonAlliance.com or the Agoro Carbon Farming Knowledge Hub.

AgWired Precision, carbon, Farming

Traction Now Connected with Climate FieldView

Cindy Zimmerman

Traction™, a comprehensive farm accounting solution, is now connected to the Climate FieldView™ platform, providing farmers the option to share field records from their FieldView account. With this new capability, Traction delivers accurate field profitability analysis and up-to-date inventory tracking for farmers across the U.S.

This new connection is unique to the industry due to the integration of Traction’s farm accounting software. As field records are created automatically from the FieldView platform, Traction can assign exact costs to products and equipment from actual accounting entries. This enables farmers to see their margin per bushel, immediate visibility of their product inventories, and a clear picture of their overall profit on the farm.

“Reducing manual data entry and tying information back to your actual accounting numbers is our top priority,” said Ian Harley, Traction’s CEO. “Other companies claim to have accurate field costing but Traction is the only company to use actual financial data to drive field profitability analysis. We look forward to adding other integrations in the future that greatly enhance value for the farmer.”

“With every decision a farmer makes, profitability of those decisions is always top of mind,” said Marc Harris, Partner Engagement and Outreach for Climate LLC and Digital Farming at Bayer. “Easily collecting data with FieldView and connecting to a partner like Traction delivers value in a streamlined process when combining field level data insights and farm accounting.”

For more information and a free 30-day trial, please visit www.tractionag.com.

AgWired Precision, Precision Agriculture, Technology

Precision Ag News 6/8

Carrie Muehling

  • John Deere announces updates to its 5 Series Utility Tractors, which include more options to make it easier for rural property owners, farmers, ranchers and fleet owners to match the right tractor to the many jobs they need that tractor to do day after day.
  • General Mills and Ecosystem Services Market Consortium (ESMC) announced a multi-year roadmap to scale Eco-Harvest, ESMC’s market program that recognizes and rewards farmers for beneficial environmental outcomes from regenerative agriculture.
  • The largest, highest quality analysis of data ever conducted reveals that genetically modified Bt corn has little impact on nontarget insects and other organisms, especially compared to growing conventional corn. This study was published in Environmental Evidence by a USDA Agricultural Research Service scientist and his Swiss colleagues.
  • A new, $5.25 million greenhouse is being built on the University of California, Davis, campus to safeguard an important grapevine collection from red blotch disease and other pathogens. The 14,400-square-foot greenhouse will have a vestibuled entry, be insect-proof and provide another level of disease protection. It is being spearheaded by Foundation Plant Services, or FPS, which provides the U.S. grape industry with high-quality, virus-tested grapevine plant material.
  • Dr. Gary Beall and Dr. Rusty Phillips have teamed up with key experts in the produce industry to accelerate the growth of Nabaco Inc. Nabaco manufactures a revolutionary safe and edible coating, called NatuWrap, that extends the shelf life of produce.
  • Traction, a comprehensive farm accounting solution, is now connected to the Climate FieldView platform, providing farmers the option to share field records seamlessly from their FieldView account. With this new capability, Traction delivers accurate field profitability analysis and up-to-date inventory tracking for farmers across the U.S.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

Daugherty Water for Food Podcast Episode 12

Cindy Zimmerman

Managed aquifer recharge can be an innovative way to both satisfy endangered species’ habitat restoration and benefit crop irrigators in the area. This is exactly how it was used in Nebraska’s Central Platte Valley when river canals were already in need of repair after more than 100 years of use.

The process consists of recharging an aquifer using either surface or underground recharge techniques, making the stored water available for use in dry years when surface water supplies may be low. In the Central Platte Valley, this was done through a low cost, low energy method of timing the flow of water and managing its gravitational seep into the ground. It now contributes to the streamflow targets of each endangered bird species, with an estimated value of $43.7 million.

Crystal Powers, Nebraska Water Center

In this episode, DWFI Communications Specialist Arianna Elnes interviews Crystal Powers, research and extension communications specialist with DWFI and the Nebraska Water Center. They dive more into this collaboration between the Central Platte Natural Resource District (CPNRD), the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources (NeDNR), and the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program (PRRIP), as well as private irrigation districts and canal companies.

A new book published by UNESCO includes this project as a case study in effective managed aquifer recharge and it was co-authored by Powers.

Listen to the podcast here:
Daugherty Water for Food Podcast Episode 12 16:48

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, Podcasts, Water, Water for Food

Animal Ag News 6/7

Carrie Muehling

  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association praised the signing of an agreement between the U.S. and Japan to increase the Beef Safeguard Trigger level under the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement.
  • Navigating social, environmental and economic issues facing dairy businesses in a world shifting from COVID-19 restrictions took center stage at the 2022 Dairy Sustainability Alliance® Spring Meeting, held May 18-19.
  • FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative applauds the announcement made by the Biden Administration to initiate a second dispute panel over Canada’s most recent actions to delay fulfilling its obligations under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
  • This year’s World Pork Expo at the Iowa State Fairgrounds from June 8-10 is presented by the National Pork Producers Council, marking the organization’s 34th annual event. Thousands of producers and industry professionals will gather to learn the latest technologies and innovations in the field.
  • This June Dairy Month, Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) is turning up the heat with a new ad campaign featuring the “DFA Nerd Herd” that will show milk doesn’t just cut the heat in spicy foods, but it also can help protect the environment by cutting the heat that methane emissions trap in the planet. Launched in 2021, the DFA Nerd Herd is led by farmers along with a team of engineers, nutritionists, veterinarians, technology experts, scientists and more to help educate consumers about how DFA farm families are using renewable energy methods, like wind and solar, creating healthy soil and turning waste into power sources through anaerobic digesters to help protect the earth and reduce our carbon footprint.
  • The American Meat Science Association (AMSA) announced Kaitlyn Compart, director of scientific affairs for Smithfield Foods, Inc., is a recipient of its 2022 Achievement Award. The annual awards program recognizes young professional members who have demonstrated significant contributions to the industry.
  • The Animal Agriculture Alliance announced that a highlights report from the 2022 Stakeholders Summit is now accessible online. The 2022 event, themed “Come Together for Animal Ag: Be Informed, Be Ready, Be Here,” was held May 11-12 in Kansas City, Mo. and attracted a diverse audience of over 385 in-person and virtual attendees.
AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

Agri-Pulse West Summit Announces Speakers

Cindy Zimmerman

The agenda for the 2022 Agri-Pulse Food and Agriculture Issues Summit in Sacramento July 11 is shaping up to include some of California’s most prominent policy makers.

State Senator Melissa Hurtado, the youngest woman ever to be elected to the California State Senate and a representative of a new generation of Latina political leaders, will be the opening keynote speaker for the summit. California’s Secretary of Food and Agriculture Karen Ross, and Wade Crowfoot, Secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency, will also participate in the event which focuses on “Reinventing Resiliency for California Food and Agriculture.”

“If you are involved with food and agriculture, the concept of bouncing back from adversity and being resilient is likely not new. However, another year of western drought, supply chain disruptions, labor challenges and regulatory hurdles have prompted industry leaders to rethink how to adapt, transform and innovate in order to be resilient and stay in business,” said Sara Wyant, Agri-Pulse editor and founder. “Our Summit will focus on the top economic and policy issues impacting California farmers and food companies, including innovations to produce more crops with less water, opportunities to advance climate-smart practices, new strategies for job training and political engagement, and much more.”

The summit will offer participants a full day of presentations and panel discussions at the Sheraton Grand Sacramento in person on July 11, and virtual attendance options are also available. Find out more from Agri-Pulse.

Agri-Pulse, Events, Food