Alltech E-CO2 Helps Lower Dairy Carbon Footprint

Cindy Zimmerman

Alltech has pioneered the use of on-farm environmental tools and assessments to provide opportunities to benchmark and improve efficiency, leading towards increased profitability and sustainability. From individual farms to multinational organizations, Alltech E-CO2 service provides a comprehensive range of advice, tools and services to help measure and improve environmental performance.

Alltech E-CO2 Vice President Matthew Smith says they can help processors improve efficiencies by looking at the carbon footprint of each individual dairy unit supplying their product. “And then you get the opportunity to provide some management advice about how nutrition could be improved which will lower that carbon footprint,” said Smith during an interview at the recent Alltech ONE Conference. Lowering a farm’s carbon footprint goes hand-in-hand with increasing farm efficiency and, therefore, profitability.

Learn more in this interview with Smith.
ONE22 Interview with Matthew Smith, Alltech E-CO2 (7:05)

Did you miss Alltech ONE in person? You can still register to enjoy all of the virtual content. Click here.

Virtual Newsroom

2022 Alltech ONE Conference Photos and Audio

AgWired Animal, Alltech, Animal Agriculture, Audio, Dairy

Alltech Honors Global Ag Journalists at ONE

Cindy Zimmerman

Lindi Botha, South Africa – 2022 IFAJ–Alltech award

The recent 38th annual Alltech ONE Conference (ONE) in Lexington, Kentucky, hosted 65 journalists from approximately 20 countries. Another 213 were in attendance virtually, representing nearly 35 countries. In a presentation during the conference, Alltech presented several awards to honor some of those journalists for their excellence.

In partnership with the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ), Alltech announced Lindi Botha of South Africa as the recipient of the 2022 IFAJ–Alltech International Award for Leadership in Agricultural Journalism. This recognition honors Alltech’s late founder, Dr. Pearse Lyons, who was a passionate storyteller with a great respect for agricultural journalists. Botha is an agricultural journalist and communications specialist and serves as the deputy chairperson of Agricultural Writers South Africa.

Alltech CEO Dr. Mark Lyons presented awards to Sofia Neumann (right) of Chile and Marlene Bernal Munoz (middle), accepting on behalf of Nicolás Gómez Bernal of Ecuador

Alltech also partnered with the Latin American and Caribbean Network of Agricultural Communicators (Red CALC) to present the ninth annual Innovation and Quality Awards in Agricultural Journalism to Sofia Neumann of Chile and Nicolás Gómez Bernal of Ecuador.

Neumann’s winning article, entitled “5 Chilean innovations that will impact the agricultural industry,” was published in Chile’s Financial Journal and addressed the impact of the adoption of research and development in the fruit sector of Chile. Gómez Bernal’s award-winning report, “RAZA 4 joins Latin American countries in defense of their plantations,” published in the newspaper El Productor de Ecuador, focuses on the banana industry as the first export area of many Latin American countries.

Virtual Newsroom

2022 Alltech ONE Conference Photos and Audio

Alltech, Media

Biofuel Groups React to Final RFS Rules

Cindy Zimmerman

The Environmental Protection Agency finalized a package of actions Friday setting biofuel volumes for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program for years 2020, 2021, and 2022, and introducing regulatory changes intended to enhance the program’s objectives.

According to the Renewable Fuels Association, the final regulatory actions taken by EPA “bring certainty back to the Renewable Fuel Standard and pave the way for future growth in the production and use of low-carbon renewable fuels”, and will lead to lower gas prices and greater energy security. However, RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper says they are disappointed with the EPA’s decision to reopen and retroactively lower RFS requirements for 2020, which they believe is entirely unnecessary.

RFA CEO Geoff Cooper interview 6-3-22 (7:32)

American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings agreed. “While we strongly object to the unnecessary retrospective cut EPA is making to 2020 volumes, we are pleased the Agency is upwardly revising the 2021 volumes to align more closely with actual consumption and upholding base conventional volume of 15 billion gallons for 2022, along with 250 million supplemental gallons to address the DC Circuit court order in 2017.”

“When President Biden visited an Iowa ethanol production facility in April, he said ethanol reduces our reliance on foreign oil, creates choice and competition at the pump for better prices, creates good-paying jobs and reduces greenhouse gas emissions,” said National Corn Growers Association President Chris Edgington. “Farmers agree, and the increased RFS volumes for 2022 and denial of pending refinery exemptions will advance these objectives and move renewable fuels forward.”

Clean Fuels Alliance America is pleased the final rule recognizes the continued growth of biodiesel, renewable diesel and other clean fuels and establishes readily achievable program obligations. Vice president of federal affairs Kurt Kovarik says they particularly support EPA’s decision to deny pending small refinery exemptions and its consistent finding that the program benefits Americans without hardships for refiners. “EPA’s denial of pending small refinery exemptions for 2019 through 2021 assures our industry that the volumes set today will be fully met, even with compliance flexibilities. This is an important first step in restoring integrity to the program.”

Kovarik says they encourage the agency to quickly finalize new feedstocks pathways, such as that for canola oil.

Audio, Biodiesel, Biofuels, Ethanol, RFA

Brownfield Baby Boom

Cindy Zimmerman

May brought a baby boom to Brownfield’s broadcast news team, according to the boss, Cyndi Young-Puyear.

Brownfield has 12 reporter/anchors, five of them are women, and three of them had babies last month!

Left to right in order of birthing, Rhiannon Branch with daughter Kimber Grace born May 12; Nicole Heslip and son Rory Thomas born on May 25; and Amie Simpson with daughter Olivia Michele born on May 28.

Cyndi says, “Although having 3 Anchor/Reporters on leave at the same time creates a great deal of extra work for the other members of the content creating team, they choose to see the Brownfield baby trifecta as a blessing and have gladly stepped up.”

Congratulations to all! Meanwhile, we are anxiously awaiting the birth of our fourth grandchild any day now.

Media

MN Soybean Farmers “Stepping Up” for Health Care Workers

Cindy Zimmerman

This summer, Minnesota soybean farmers, with the help of the soybean checkoff, are Stepping Up to salute the front line health care heroes throughout the state by donating sets of soy-based Sketchers shoes to thank them for their selfless work.

The goal of the Stepping Up campaign is to give back to local health care facilities across the state, as well as promote the versatility and environmental benefits of soy.

As part of the Stepping Up campaign, Minnesota’s 44 county boards (no other state has an organized county soybean program) are eligible to donate up to 50 pairs of Skechers soy-based GO shoes to a local health care facility, including (but not limited to): local hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

In 2020, Skechers released its GO line of footwear, which uses soybean oil to improve grip, stability and durability. Skechers is using the same checkoff-supported technology featured in Goodyear Tire Company’s line of sustainable soy-based tires, which incorporated soy into its rubber technology.

Using soybean oil not only reduces the use of petrochemicals, but is readily available, renewable and uses soybeans grown right here in the U.S.

“Each year, the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC), which is made up of elected soybean farmers from across the state, highlights checkoff-funded, soy-based products – everything from biodiesel to road sealants to tires – in unique ways,” MSR&PC CEO Tom Slunecka said. “These checkoff investments, which ultimately create new and innovative ways to use soybean oil, help us reduce our dependency on petroleum while increasing demand. Thanks to investments made by soybean farmers, more than 1,000 commercially available products use soybean oil.”

From June 1 through Aug. 4, MSR&PC is encouraging farmers and consumers to nominate a health care hero in their community through a nomination form. From those nominations, 20 health care personnel will be selected, and the winning nominees will receive a free pair of Skechers soy-based shoes, courtesy of Minnesota soybean farmers and the soybean checkoff.

Find out more.

Soybean

Truterra’s 2022 Carbon Program Open for 2nd Enrollment

Cindy Zimmerman

Truterra, LLC, the sustainability business of Land O’Lakes, has announced the opening of an additional signup period for its 2022 carbon program. Truterra had its initial enrollment in December 2021 and is looking to drive additional supply through this second opportunity to meet buyer demand. After successful verification, farmers can earn up to $25 per ton upfront for new carbon stored in soils.

The 2022 Truterra carbon program builds on the results generated by its 2021 program, which resulted in more than $4 million in payments to participating farmers, who sequestered over 200,000 metric tons of carbon. Truterra offers farmers greater earning potential by paying based on results – actual carbon stored – rather than a set payment per acre.

“We are extremely proud to be putting money directly in farmers’ pockets for the work they are doing to store carbon in their soils,” said Jason Weller, President, Truterra. “We continue to learn from farmers and ag retailers and improve our program to best fit their needs and support their transitions to more sustainable practices that will hopefully open up new profitability opportunities for their operations and improve their soil health for the long-term.”

Truterra recently announced it would be continuing its relationship with Microsoft as a buyer of carbon dioxide removals in 2022 and 2023, in addition to its purchases through Truterra’s 2021 program.

Get more information from Truterra.


AgWired Precision, carbon, Farming, Soil, Sustainability

Precision Ag News 6/1

Carrie Muehling

  • The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) will be celebrating its 40th anniversary and hosting its 15th annual Conservation in Action Tour in St. Louis, Missouri, September 12 & 13, 2022. Online registration for the tour is quick and easy at https://www.ctic.org/tour.
  • Syngenta Seeds announced that it is offering farmers its NK® Corn Replant Calculator for free, which will help agronomists and farmers make data-based decisions on whether to consider replanting their corn.
  • The recently introduced KestrelMet 6000 AG Weather Station has been updated to provide growers with field-specific data related to evapotranspiration and growing degree days — key factors in managing for enhanced crop performance and more efficient irrigation.
  • AgSensor Solutions, a platform company designed to help sensor creators move agricultural applications to market more quickly, has been named to the Industrial Practitioner Advisory Board (IPAB) of the Internet of Things for Precision Agriculture (IoT4Ag).
  • SynTech Research Group and Alteia have concluded a cooperation agreement to use Alteia’s AI software platform to support SynTech’s services and its clients’ digital information needs. Alteia supports major breeding & crop prop protection companies to enable fast, precise and standardized traits and plant response measures.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

USDA Announces Framework to Transform the Food System

Cindy Zimmerman

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced details of a “framework to transform the food system to benefit consumers, producers and rural communities by providing more options, increasing access, and creating new, more, and better markets for small and mid-size producers.”

Vilsack said the framework “builds on lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain disruptions caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine. This announcement also provides additional details on the June 2021 announcement to strengthen critical supply chains and address longstanding structural challenges that were revealed and intensified by the pandemic.”

The actions are focused on food production, food processing, distribution and aggregation, markets and consumers and make a total of more than $2.8 billion available for various initiatives from $25 million to support SNAP technology improvements to modernize the delivery of incentive programs, to as much as $600 million in financial assistance to support food supply chain infrastructure.

Get all the details from USDA and listen to Vilsack’s announcement here:

USDA Framework to Transform Food System (25:38)

Audio, Food, USDA

Alltech Business Session Showcases Startups

Cindy Zimmerman

Innovation is one of the keys to achieving the Alltech vision of a Planet of Plenty, which is why the company sponsors the Pearse Lyons Cultivator (PLC) program. Participants in the year-round program were part of the business track of the Alltech ONE Conference last week in Lexington.

Alltech European Growth Officer Robbie Walker says the program was introduced as the Pearse Lyons Accelerator program four years ago, but an interruption by COVID caused them to rename and restructure. “We’re always looking for companies and when we find them we rapidly do a demo with them,” said Walker. “We expect to be able to present ten a year, that’s our mission.”

Five companies presented at the ONE conference last week, including an insect genetics company developing and distributing black soldier fly breeds to the insect farming sector. “The same way that chickens improved in efficiency of production by 300 percent over 50 years, we believe that in the future the black soldier fly could be also be improved…and make that industry viable,” said Walker.

In this interview, Walker talks about the PLC program and the business track for last week’s ONE conference.

ONE22 Interview with Robbie Walker, Alltech Europe (12:58)

Virtual Newsroom

2022 Alltech ONE Conference Photos and Audio

Alltech, Audio, Technology

Animal Ag News 5/31

Carrie Muehling

  • The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) applauded the Biden administration for its initiation of a second U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) dispute panel concerning Canada’s ongoing refusal to meet its USMCA dairy trade obligations.
  • The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) announced the return of the annual Capitol Hill Ice Cream Party to the National Mall on June 22, 2022. The Ice Cream Party has been an essential summertime event for members of Congress, their families, Capitol Hill staff and many other special guests since it began in 1983. However, IDFA did not hold the event in 2020 or 2021 due to the pandemic.
  • Poultry farms are being devastated by the recent bird flu outbreak. Although the risk to public health remains low, the virus is highly contagious and fatal to flocks, which has had a significant impact on commercial poultry facilities, food processing plants, and other sectors along the supply chain. Decontamination is a key biosecurity measure. However, many cleaning and disinfecting chemicals can be toxic to livestock and soil or pose health hazards to humans. As a leading provider of safer, more sustainable infection prevention solutions, EvaClean established the Avian Influenza Mitigation (AIM) program to help farmers stop the spread of the virus in a safer way by providing process enhancement protocols and unprecedented price reductions on EvaClean’s unique PurOne disinfectant chemistry.
  • Enteric methane, which animals release into the atmosphere by belching or exhaling, is a significant source of direct greenhouse gas emissions. The Greener Cattle Initiative, an industry collaborative created by the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) and Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, is issuing a request for applications to advance enteric methane reduction research. The initiative specifically seeks research to develop scalable technologies that reduce enteric methane emissions and enhance sustainable production of beef and dairy.
  • The University of Florida Veterinary Hospital at World Equestrian Center in Ocala opened for business May 26 to provide leading-edge patient care to horses and small animals located on-site as well as from the local community.
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced more support, resources, and new rules that will strengthen the American food supply chain, promote fair and competitive agricultural markets, prevent abuse of farmers by poultry processors and make prices fairer for farmers and American consumers.
AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites