Farm Journal Announces The Carbon Council

Cindy Zimmerman

Farm Journal has announced the formation of The Carbon Council, which includes eight farmers and ranchers who actively participate in and advocate for carbon-related programs.

Members of The Carbon Council include:

Rick Clark, Williamsport, Ind.
Meredith Ellis, Rosston, Texas
Lukas Fricke, Ulysses, Neb.
P.J. Haynie, Reedville, Va.
Trey Hill, Rock Hall, Md.
Mitchell Hora, Washington, Iowa
Kyle Mehmen, Plainfield, Iowa
Ben Riensche, Jessup, Iowa
 
“Farm Journal is committed to being an advocate for producers from grassroots efforts to top-down efforts in national and state policies,” said Charlene Finck, president of Farm Journal. “We’re proud to form this prestigious council that will provide knowledge in the carbon arena, practical and factual advocacy and a valuable sounding board.”

The group will include additional members to meet regularly and discuss the latest developments in the carbon space and Farm Journal will use their insights to guide coverage of carbon-related issues on its more than 20 media platforms including print, digital and broadcast.

Farm Journal’s commitment to informing agriculture audiences about carbon-related issues began in 2020 with the launch of the Carbon Innovation Center, which is hosted on AgWeb.com.

carbon, Farm Journal, Farming, Media

Industry Ag News 1/31

Carrie Muehling

  • Exhibitors are booked, speakers are warming up, and Commodity Classic is letting farmers know “The Future Is in Your Hands” March 10-12 in New Orleans. Show officials report the 2022 trade show floor is 99% sold out with very limited space still available. Registration and housing reservations can be made online at CommodityClassic.com.
  • Applications are still open for the 2022 IFAJ/Alltech Young Leaders Award. Guild nominations are due by February 11, 2022.
  • Enter the Golden ARC (Agricultural Relations Council) Awards contest. This program provides an opportunity for agricultural communicators to have their 2021 tactics and campaigns evaluated by marketing and public relations (PR) experts and receive helpful feedback. See how your work stacks up against the best in the business. To be eligible, entries must be completed in full or partially in 2021. Entries are due March 1.
  • Providing deep analysis with a side of humor, the new podcast “3Squares” features a trio of heavy hitters who dish up the latest food and retail industry news, trends, insights and commentary – and laugh along the way. The bi-monthly podcast features Charlie Arnot, CEO of The Center for Food Integrity (CFI) and president of Look East, Susan Schwallie, president, Food & Beverage Practice at the NPD Group, and Kevin Ryan, founder and CEO of Malachite Strategy and Research, a CPG, retail and foodservice-focused insights and innovation agency.
  • On Thursday, January 27, International Fresh Produce Association Co-CEOs Cathy Burns and Tom Stenzel met with Canadian Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, DC, to discuss supply chain issues critical to the fresh produce trade.
  • National Corn Growers Association is proud to support 3 scholarship programs for 3 distinct audiences. To apply, students or a parent/guardian must be a member of the NCGA. Past scholarship winners and employees and the families of employees of any division of BASF or their subsidiaries or the NCGA are not eligible for the scholarship. The scholarship application deadline is Monday, January 31, 2022.
  • AgButler announces the 10 collegiate ambassadors committed to being advocates for the agricultural industry. The gig economy platform is in the connections business and serves as a solution to the rural labor shortage in America. The AgButler Ambassadors are tasked with helping connect laborers and employers within the app using their own personal agricultural networks.
  • Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has confirmed that he will speak at the Jan. 31 webinar, “Digging into the ag export supply chain crisis and how to fix it.” The event starts at 1 p.m. ET. Register here.
  • The Alabama Peanut Producers Association and the Florida Peanut Producers Association will hold the Alabama-Florida Peanut Trade Show on Thursday, February 3, 2022, at the National Peanut Festival Fairgrounds in Dothan, Alabama.
Zimfo Bytes

AEM Panelists Share Views on Precision at VISION

Cindy Zimmerman

Deanna Kovar, John Deere: Kurt Coffey, Case IH; Todd Stucke, Kubota

Representatives from three of the largest farm equipment manufacturers shared their views on the precision vision for the future at the The 2022 VISION Conference last week in Phoenix, Arizona. The panel was organized by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and focused on the role that OEMs have in helping agriculture be more sustainable.

“Our job is to make sustainable doable for our customers,” said Todd Stucke with Kubota, who serves as chair of the AEM Ag Sector board. “So we have to provide the equipment, the connectivity, the data management, everything for our customers to practice a more sustainable farming.”

Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) panel interviews:
Deanna Kovar, Vice President, Production & Precision Ag Production Systems, John Deere
Kurt Coffey, Vice President, Case IH North America
Todd Stucke, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Product Support & Strategic Projects, Kubota
VISION 2022 interview with AEM panel 8:15

Last year was a good one for sales of tractors and combines, with gains of more than ten percent in nearly every segment in both the U.S. and Canada, according to Curt Blades, AEM senior vice president, industry sectors & product leadership. “Sales gains over an already-successful 2020 came despite the supply chain issues and workforce challenges that made 2021 a challenging year for manufacturers. Our industry is working hard to navigate these supply chain challenges to deliver equipment and parts to farmers as they approach the 2022 growing season.”

VISION 2022 interview with Curt Blades, AEM 7:49

AEM, Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, Audio, Case IH, John Deere, Media, Precision Agriculture

Precision Ag News 1/27

Carrie Muehling

  • Agmatix, a start-up AgTech business owned by leading global specialty minerals company, ICL, announces the launch of its Plant Nutrition Carbon Footprint Optimizer within its highly acclaimed new data technology platform.
  • Meristem Crop Performance Group, LLC and Caleb Oxendale of Oxendale Ag, LLC announced a new dealership agreement to serve farmers in Northwest Indiana.
  • Sakata Seed America recently announced the addition of John Lindbo to the company’s reputable and expanding Research Department. As Senior Biotechnology Manager, John will be responsible for the management of the biotechnology team, which includes Marker Assisted Selection, Marker Discovery, and a new tissue culture lab for developing di-haploid lines in multiple crops.
  • Regenerative farming authority, Advancing Eco Agriculture, has announced that it is holding the second annual virtual Regen Rev on February 2 and 3, 2022. The two-day event shall take place from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm PT and shall cover topics like ‘Building Soil Health with Microbes,’ ‘Realistic Steps to Boost Fruit Quality,’ ‘Managing Crop Nutrition with Sap Analysis,’ and so much more.
  • Arva Intelligence and Augmenta have partnered to offer clients convenient infield analytics, automation, and environmental opportunities.
  • BBI International announced that it will be starting a new magazine titled, Carbon Capture Magazine. There will be one print issue of the magazine published in 2022, along with a carbon capture industry directory and a map of storage and capture facilities. In addition to printed materials, the magazine will produce timely and relevant online industry stories, on a weekly basis. There will also be a newsletter emailed bi-weekly.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

SIMPAS-applied Solutions Adds First Liquid Formulation

Cindy Zimmerman

AMVAC® announces its iNvigorate® Biological is the first liquid product available for application using the SIMPAS® system on corn and soybeans.

iNvigorate – developed by Agrinos®, now an American Vanguard® Company – is part of AMVAC’s expanding line of biological and Green Solutions products. iNvigorate creates a highly productive microbial community when applied to the soil, assisting in nutrient uptake, improving fertilizer efficiency and optimizing root growth.

iNvigorate is the latest addition to a growing portfolio of SIMPAS-applied Solutions™ (SaS™), which are solutions – both granular and liquid – prescriptively applied with patented SmartCartridge® container technology to address unique agronomic needs. SIMPAS enables farmers to precisely apply rates of crop inputs that their trusted advisor prescribes, by management zone. Multiple SaS products including insecticides, fungicides, nematicides, and micronutrients are delivered simultaneously in-furrow during planting using SIMPAS equipment available through select Trimble® dealers.

“iNvigorate optimizes root growth to boost plant access to and absorption of available nutrients,” said Jim Lappin, Director of SIMPAS Portfolio and Alliances at AMVAC. “iNvigorate is a proprietary consortium of microbes that growers will be able to target to challenged areas of their fields to mitigate plant stress and improve soil health. Now combined with the prescriptive application capabilities of SIMPAS and a growing SIMPAS-applied Solutions portfolio, growers will have more options as AMVAC brings both granular and liquid solutions into the SaS portfolio. iNvigorate SmartCartridge is poised to play an important role in the vitality and vigor of a corn or soybean farmer’s soil.”

AgWired Precision, AMVAC, Corn, Crop Protection, Precision Agriculture, Soybean

UPFIELD GROUP Announces New Vice President

Cindy Zimmerman

The UPFIELD GROUP, owners of Cooler Management, are pleased to announce their new Vice President of Corporate Partnerships, Melissa Malcolm-Cullison.

Malcolm-Cullison most recently served as Director, National Sales and Field Marketing at the Milk Processors Education program (MilkPEP), responsible for the national got milk? campaign. In this previous role for 12 years, she oversaw industry relations, retail partnerships and the development of fresh milk’s path forward in America’s food banks.

She has spent the past 6 years concentrating on hunger relief programs in partnership with the USDA, Feeding America, Dairy Management Inc. and the National Dairy Council, resulting in hundreds of millions of pounds in donated and purchased dairy products. She has built programs like The Great American Milk Drive, the first of its kind national consumer donation program for fresh fluid milk and supported the roll-out and adoption of USDA’s first fresh milk commodity purchase programs under TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program).

Taking on the new role of Vice President of Corporate Partnerships, Malcolm-Cullison first initiatives will be leading the charge on serving our non-profit partners to build the proper refrigeration infrastructure that is required to maximize donations of fresh food, minimize food waste and transport fresh foods to areas that are severely underserved.

Agribusiness, Dairy, Equipment, Food

Field Notes From Koch Agronomic Services – Episode 16

Chuck Zimmerman

The Field Notes podcast series from Koch Agronomic Services (Koch) 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.

Research and Innovation from Koch Agronomic Services

In this episode, we’ll focus on research and innovation. You’ll hear from Tim Laatsch, director of agronomy for North America for Koch Agronomic Services, and Jeremiah Roeth, chief executive officer of aerialPLOT. The two discuss how growers can know when research is credible, why peer-reviewed studies are considered the gold standard and what new research tools are in the fields right now.

You can listen to the program here: Research and Innovation (18:40)

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

For Spotify on your computer download the desktop app.

Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, Audio, Koch Agronomic Services, Podcasts, Soil

MN Soybean Leaders Attend Biodiesel Conference

Cindy Zimmerman

Minnesota soybean and biodiesel industry leaders had a chance to attend last week’s National Biodiesel Conference on behalf of the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council’s (MSR&PC) See For Yourself program.

After a year hiatus due to the pandemic, the NBB See For Yourself program returns in 2022, and industry leaders are ready to get back on track to continue learning about the growing biodiesel industry. With Minnesota having one of the largest impacts in the push for biodiesel, MSR&PC understands the value of engaging with industry leaders about how checkoff dollars are invested. The See For Yourself program gives individuals the ability to see firsthand what MSR&PC is doing to make a difference in Minnesota and how biodiesel makes a huge impact for the profitability of soybean farmers.

Among those who attended were MSR&PC farmer board members Jim Willers and Ron Obermoller, Nick Bredeson with Kibble Equipment and Dan Schmidt, Ag Partners Coop. We had a chance to chat with them and get their reactions to what they saw for themselves at the biodiesel conference.

NBB2022 Interview with Jim Willers, MN Soy (2:55)

NBB2022 Interview with Nick Bredeson, Kibble Equipment, MN Soy (1:50)

NBB2022 Interview with Dan Schmidt, Ag Partners Coop, MN Soy (2:25)

NBB2022 Interview with Ron Obermoller, MN Soy (4:20)

Audio, Biodiesel, Soybean

ZimmCast 684 – Talking with Mike Adams

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCastHello and welcome to the ZimmCast.

Recently retired farm broadcaster Mike Adams was honored by the biodiesel industry last week at the National Biodiesel Conference and Expo in Las Vegas. Adams was presented with the Biodiesel Impact Award.

“As I look back, I remember those soy diesel days,” said Adams. “It made so much sense to me I couldn’t understand why anyone would ever be against either ethanol or biodiesel.”

During the conference I sat down with Mike to talk about his career and the award.

That’s the ZimmCast for this week. I hope you enjoyed it and thank you listening.

Listen to the ZimmCast here:
ZimmCast 684 - Talking with Mike Adams (19:49)

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:

Audio, Biodiesel, ZimmCast

Animal Ag News 1/24

Carrie Muehling

  • The American Farm Bureau Federation announced its support of the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act of 2021, with the exception of the bill’s establishment of mandatory minimums for negotiated purchases.
  • The Alltech ONE Conference (ONE) returns May 22 – 24, 2022, to unite changemakers and thought leaders in a collaborative exploration of solutions within agri-business and beyond.
  • John Deere is showcasing a variety of equipment and technology catered to today’s cattlemen, along with the latest information of interest to you and your producer audiences, at the 2022 NCBA Trade Show, Feb. 1-3 in Houston.
  • Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative President Brody Stapel was re-elected during the co-op’s annual business meeting at the Dairy Strong conference. Brody Stapel of Double Dutch Dairy in Cedar Grove, Wis., who has been Edge president since 2018, will continue in that role. Stapel owns and operates the farm with his brother and father.
  • Attendees at the National Bison Association’s 26th annual Winter Conference at the Renaissance Central Park Hotel in Denver this week caught a glimpse of a new documentary film highlighting the contribution that ranchers, tribal leaders and conservationists are making to the restoration of this species. The feature trailer for NATIVE: The Prodigies of an Icon, aired during the bison association’s annual meeting.
  • Continuing on the legacy of customer-centric technical service, Valley Vet Supply welcomed Tony Hawkins, DVM, to its longstanding Technical Service veterinarian team.
  • CattleFax has introduced its annual Cow-Calf Survey. Information requested in the survey provides participants and the rest of the industry with valuable data regarding industry benchmarks and trends.
  • Taco Bell is continuing its run of dairy-based beverages thanks to dairy checkoff support. The chain released the Island Berry Freeze that uses a shelf-stable creamer created by dairy checkoff scientists. It is Taco Bell’s third beverage launch featuring the dairy creamer, beginning with the Pineapple Whip Freeze in May of 2020 and the Mountain Dew® Baja Blast® Colada Freeze last May.
AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites