Savlus Ready to Test Contaminant Detection Devices

Cindy Zimmerman

Salvus™ LLC is expecting its first commercial pathogen and chemical contamination detection devices to be delivered by December and anticipates clinical and market/demo trials to commence in early 2022.

Earlier this year, Salvus announced plans to commercialize a novel interferometric platform that provides highly accurate detection of contaminants or pathogens in many industries. Applicable in human and animal health, agriculture, water quality management, food processing and the chemical and transportation industries, Salvus detection technology features handheld detection in minutes with extreme specificity and at parts per billion accuracies in many applications.

The platform is proven to detect SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, with sensitivity and specificity comparable to molecular tests, as well as dozens of other potentially dangerous pathogens and chemical contaminants.

Andre Weltman Tatar
Product Manager,
Salvus LLC

The Salvus detection system consists of a lightweight, handheld analyzer and a disposable cartridge – both patent pending – that is adaptable to many point-of-care and on-site uses ranging from airports and health care facilities to water containments, farm fields, food processing sites and animal enclosures.

Andre Weltman Tatar has joined Salvus as product manager and will be responsible for developing and implementing strategies, plans and tactics to create demand and enhance the growth and profitability of Salvus’ detection technology and business

Tatar is an industrial engineer with a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial and systems engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. A native of Brazil, Tatar is fluent in Portuguese, Spanish and English.

For more information on Salvus detection technology, go to salvusdetect.com.

AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Animal Health, Precision Agriculture, Safety, Technology, Water

Precision Ag News 10/27

Carrie Muehling

  • Heliae® Agriculture announced that its flagship product, PhycoTerra® soil microbial food, has received a label expansion in the U.S. for post-harvest residue management use.
  • Missouri corn and soybean farmers have a new opportunity to expand pollinator-friendly landscapes through a first-of-its-kind pilot project that quantifies and certifies biodiversity credits. The pilot offers farmers an opportunity to participate in an innovative program to earn biodiversity credits along with agricultural carbon and water quality credits as part of Ecosystem Services Market Consortium’s national ecosystem services market program.
  • Dryland Genetics announced that it has named an industry veteran to the position of Chief Operating Officer. Craig Anderson, who previously served as the brand manager at LG Seeds and the COO of AgReliant Genetics, will oversee production, sales, and supply chain management at Dryland Genetics.
  • The Soil Health Institute announced the launch of the U.S. Regenerative Cotton Fund, an initiative to draw down 1 million metric tons of CO2e from the atmosphere by 2026 through increased adoption of regenerative soil health practices by cotton producers.
  • Woods End Laboratories LLC announced it is a recipient of a USDA research award intended to perform integrated soil sampling, analysis and reporting of the carbon status of US CRP lands.
  • Pluton Biosciences announced the appointment of new CEO Steven Slater, PhD. Dr. Slater has more than 30 years of experience in microbial genomics, biotechnology and business leadership.
  • The non-profit Soil Health Academy announced that it has launched a web-based platform to connect its regenerative farming and ranching graduates with a growing base of consumers, food processors and retailers interested in purchasing regeneratively grown products.
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing fiscal year 2022 assistance opportunities for agricultural producers and private landowners for key programs, such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), and Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) program.
  • T-L Irrigation Co. introduces Precision Point Touch Pro, an add-on board combined with a firmware upgrade that dials up simplicity, options and functionality for pivot system controls while decluttering the irrigation workspace.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

ASTA Highlights Role of Plant Breeding Innovation at Hearing

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) highlighted the role of plant breeding innovation in solving global challenges during a House Agriculture Subcommittee hearing on biotechnology Tuesday.

ASTA Vice President of Scientific Affairs and Policy Fan-Li Chou testified at a joint hearing of the House Agriculture Subcommittees on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture and Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research about the unprecedented challenges facing today’s agriculture and food system and how evolving plant breeding innovations like gene editing offer solutions to many global issues. Her testimony highlighted examples of cutting-edge research across a wide array of crops in public and private sector breeding programs across the country creating new and innovative varieties can allow farmers to grow more, using less, while fighting food waste, sequestering carbon, boosting nutritional benefits, and much more.

“One of the exciting things about gene-editing tools is the potential for widespread access across breeding programs of all sizes, including the public and private sectors, across all crops, and across farming operations of all sizes, production methods, and geographies,” said Chou. “Federal and global policies will play a huge role in access to these products. It is important that policies be clear, and risk- and science based; it’s also important that there is harmonization across global policies — otherwise, innovation will be limited to very few crop varieties, and the benefits will never be fully realized across the agriculture sector. Appropriate policies can incentivize investments in plant breeding innovation, such as gene editing, creating new jobs and market opportunities, and boosting sustainability throughout the agriculture and food value chain.“

Listen to Chou’s opening remarks here:
House Ag biotech hearing - Fan-Li Chou, ASTA (4:36)

ASTA, Audio, Seed

Registration Open for VISION Conference 2022

Cindy Zimmerman

Registration is now open for the 2022 VISION Conference, January 18 -19, at the Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel & Spa in Arizona.

The 2022 VISION Conference, now in its 5th year, engages leaders throughout the agricultural technology ecosystem to address the dynamic recent advances in technology, systems, and platforms enabling interconnected solutions from farm to retail. The world of data and technology continues to advance rapidly since VISION last convened in 2020. The 2022 VISION Conference has a broader scope and wider perspective mapping the exciting new future for agriculture.

The 2022 VISION Conference features one main track of programming focused on the top priorities for agriculture and technology: regenerative agriculture, automation, connectivity, and transparency. Attendees will engage with a mix of expert presentations, panel discussions, active Q&A and debate, small group roundtables, and high-value networking.

“The 2022 VISION Conference continues a strong legacy as the event that is leading agriculture forward by capitalizing on the power of new technologies that are grounded in the realities of agriculture. Space is limited so early registration is encouraged,” says Katie Smith, VISION Conference Show Director.

Register for The 2022 VISION Conference at TheVisionConference.com/Register.

AgWired Precision, Precision Agriculture, Technology

Skyward Apps Expands Training on Software Security Risks

Cindy Zimmerman

With ransomware attacks on the agriculture and food supply chain on the rise, Skyward Apps, a top-tier agriculture technology firm, has put its software engineers through training on the Top 10 software security vulnerabilities, as defined by the global Open Web Application Security Project.

“We have always had multiple sets of eyes review every piece of software we develop, but the protection of our clients’ interests—as well as our own—is paramount,” said Skyward CEO Kat Crawford. “Agriculture is now a high-tech business, which brings with it both benefits and risks.”

Agriculture is regarded as highly vulnerable to cyber threats due to the complexity of integrating data from farm equipment, sensors, GPS and automation systems, including legacy systems without updated security controls. Another issue is the overall lack of security awareness throughout the sector.

“The theme of Cybersecurity Awareness Month is ‘Do Your Part. #BeCyberSmart’, which is what we strive to do year-round,” said Skyward CTO Nick Elliott. “We systematically check for errors and vulnerabilities as part of our code reviews, automated and manual testing processes.”

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and National Security Agency (NSA) just published a cybersecurity advisory last week regarding BlackMatter ransomware cyber intrusions targeting multiple U.S. critical infrastructure entities, including two U.S. food and agriculture sector organizations.

Skyward Apps creates custom software that helps large organizations accelerate their digital advantage. Established in 2011, the company works across industry sectors, with a core practice in agriculture technology.

AgWired Precision, Precision Agriculture, Technology

Animal Ag News 10/25

Carrie Muehling

  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced that it is mobilizing a stronger, and more comprehensive effort to reduce Salmonella illnesses associated with poultry products. The agency is initiating several key activities to gather the data and information necessary to support future action and move closer to the national target of a 25% reduction in Salmonella illnesses.
  • Beef is now the official protein of the 2021 ESPN Events Tailgate Tour. The event is stopping at more than 20 college football games during the 2021 season and is an opportunity to serve up some tasty beef to the crowds and to share beef’s great story with a broad and slightly younger consumer audience.
  • Wayne Farms LLC, a subsidiary of Continental Grain Company, announced that on October 17, 2021, it completed the sale of its Fresh Processing Complex in Laurel, Mississippi, to Amick Farms. The complex includes live production, hatchery, feed mill, manufacturing and production facilities. The divestiture is a key milestone towards completing the previously announced transaction which will combine Wayne Farms and Sanderson Farms, Inc. under the joint ownership and control of Cargill and Continental Grain.
  • Certified Angus Beef is accepting applications for three communications internship positions for Summer 2022. Junior or senior college students are encouraged to apply by November 19, 2021. Summer interns will be expected to work from the brand’s office in Wooster, Ohio, 40 hours per week for 10 to 12-weeks between mid-May to mid-August, depending on the student’s availability. Applications require a cover letter, resume and online portfolio of work samples in communications.
  • Dairy Management Inc. (DMI), the planning and management organization that oversees the national dairy checkoff program on behalf of America’s dairy farmers and importers, recently posted its 2020 annual report.
  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association welcomed the introduction of the Cattle Contract Library Act, led by Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) and Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX). The bipartisan bill would establish a cattle contract library within USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA-AMS), equipping cattle producers with the market data they need to make informed business decisions and exert greater leverage in negotiations with major meatpackers.
AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

Industry Ag News 10/22

Carrie Muehling

  • The American Farm Bureau Federation announced the opening of general registration for the 2022 American Farm Bureau Convention. The convention will be held in-person Jan. 7-12, 2022, in Atlanta, Georgia, with a virtual option for portions of the event available to those not attending in-person.
  • The Farm Credit Administration board announced the selection of Ashley Waldron as secretary to the board. Dale Aultman, who has served as secretary to the board since November 2010, is retiring at the end of this month.
  • After a 16-month wait, the 2022 World Ag Expo® season was kicked off by Show Chairman Steve Wilbur on Saturday, September 25. The “Kickoff Dinner” was attended by volunteers, staff, and invited guests at the Social Hall on the International Agri-Center® grounds.
  • GROWMARK and its FS System of companies announced the results of its Check-In to Cash-In program during the Farm Progress Show in late August.
  • To help the industry understand the demand for domestically produced potatoes and better understand the sales in the domestic market, Potatoes USA conducts an annual sales and utilization study. This study utilizes retail data from IRI, estimated foodservice sales from Technomics, and import and export data to provide additional clarity of domestically produced potatoes. The results showed an overall decline of U.S. potato use for the July 2020 – June 2021 marketing year.
  • The National Corn Growers Association is now accepting applications for the 2022 Scholarship Programs.
  • Bill Conrad of Malone, Florida, was named the overall winner of the 2021 Southeastern Hay Contest as part of the 2021 Sunbelt Ag Expo. Conrad wins a choice of a Massey Ferguson DM Series disc mower or RK Series rotary rake for the 2022 hay production season, plus $1,000 cash.
  • Agricultural consultants: Make your continuing education more efficient by attending the American Society of Agricultural Consultants Annual Conference, Nov. 7-10, at the Hilton Garden Inn Nashville Downtown, Nashville, Tenn., and then take ASAC 410 – Agricultural Consulting Practice Management – on Nov. 10.
Zimfo Bytes

Short-Stature Corn Next Big Thing from Bayer

Cindy Zimmerman

“Short-stature corn is the next big thing in agriculture,” said Liam Condon, member of the Board of Management of Bayer AG and President of the Crop Science Division, during an investor call this week on the company’s latest progress in delivering customer-focused, sustainable agricultural innovation.

Condon says short-stature corn has several benefits for growers. “First, it has thus far shown unparalleled production stability in high winds, as evidenced by our still-standing plots of short-stature corn in Iowa following last summer’s devastating windstorm, and again at our Field of Dreams plots this summer. Second, it allows for extended in-season crop access due to its shorter height, which enables tailored solutions for precise, late-season applications of fertilisers or crop protection. Finally, we see a more sustainable future with this technology.”

Bob Reiter, Bayer Head of R&D for Crop Science Division, says they are anticipating full launch of short-stature corn in 2024. “That’s of course our first generation of the technology, so that is based on our approach that we use with traditional breeding,” said Reiter. “The biotech version will be launching later in the decade, … and really will be the one that unlocks, I would say, the biggest part of the value proposition.”

Condon: Short-stature corn development (1:35)

Reiter: Short-stature corn release timeline (1:39)

Audio, Bayer, Corn

Cattle Contract Library Act Introduced in House

Cindy Zimmerman

Reps. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) and Henry Cuellar (D-TX) this week introduced the bipartisan Cattle Contract Library Act of 2021 to create a library for cattle contracts within the USDA’s Agriculture Marketing Service Department equipping cattle producers with market data to make informed decisions in negotiations with meatpackers.

Currently, USDA maintains a pork contract library, and following significant volatility in the cattle market and the release of the July 2020 Boxed Beef & Fed Cattle Price Spread Investigation Report, the creation of a library was recommended by experts and stakeholders. In response to this investigation, Johnson introduced sweeping cattle reform legislation to provide more transparency in the market, including the creation of a contract library.

The cattle contract library is widely supported by industry groups and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, and the introduction of this legislation comes after more than a year of National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) pushing for the creation of the library.

“After more than a year of upheaval, facing everything from extreme drought to supply chain disruptions, many cattle producers have been backed against a wall. We need to act urgently to provide them with relief,” said NCBA President Jerry Bohn. “There is no single, silver bullet solution to the wide variety of needs among our diverse membership, but lawmakers can start by focusing on viable solutions that have broad-base support across the industry. The cattle contract library is one such solution, and it will help our producers command more leverage in negotiations with the packers. We appreciate the work of Congressman Johnson and Congressman Cuellar to move the ball forward on this urgent issue.”

Earlier this month, NCBA Vice President and South Dakota rancher Todd Wilkinson testified before the House Agriculture Committee and underscored the need for greater transparency in cattle markets. One of the solutions he advocated for was the creation of the cattle contract library, as well as full reauthorization of Livestock Mandatory Reporting (LMR).

House ag hearing - NCBA VP Todd Wilkinson (4:58)

AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Audio, Livestock, Marketing, Markets, NCBA

Bayer Says LA Glyphosate Plant Back in Production

Cindy Zimmerman

The Bayer glyphosate plant in Luling, Louisiana is back on line after being down for five weeks following Hurricane Ida. Bayer Crop Science Division President Liam Condon provided an update during an investor call this week.

“It was actually in the eye of the storm of Hurricane Ida and it is standard practice that when you have a hurricane of that kind of magnitude we had to shut down the facility,” said Condon. “The reason we were offline was less because the plant was heavily impacted but that the surrounding infrastructure was partially destroyed with no access to energy or water.”

The Louisiana plant provides all of the active ingredient for Bayer Roundup products in the U.S. and demand for glyphosate remains high, but Condon says they expect to recover production quickly. “We have lost five weeks of production and this will involve some idle cost and some impact on sales but nothing to any degree that would impact our full year guidance,” he said.

Liam Condon Update on Bayer Louisiana plant (1:39)

Audio, Bayer, Crop Protection