RFA Ethanol Podcast

Precision Ag News 9/30

Carrie Muehling

  • The United Soybean Board has joined the leadership of the Coalition for Responsible Gene Editing in Agriculture, a group of leaders in food, agriculture and science collaborating around the vision of global acceptance and support for gene editing. The coalition is facilitated by The Center for Food Integrity.
  • The Mid America CropLife Association presented the Industry Vision of the Year and Dean Roy Achievement awards during their virtual annual meeting. This year’s Industry Vision of the Year recipient is Brad Reed, Kova Fertilizer, of Greensburg, Indiana. The Dean Roy Achievement Award went to Michael Lehman, AMVAC.
  • AgriCapture‘s project listing is the second-ever greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction project in the Climate Action Reserve’s Soil Enrichment Protocol. Founded by landowners for landowners, AgriCapture works to increase the profitability and value of land through sustainable land management practices while simultaneously advancing agriculture in becoming a natural solution to climate change.
  • USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is investing $75 million for 15 partner-led projects to address natural resource concerns on private lands. This year, projects funded by the Regional Conservation Partnership Program’s Alternative Funding Arrangements focus on climate-smart agriculture and forestry and other conservation priorities as well as improving access for historically underserved producers.
  • According to a new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange, the ag retailer of the future has an opportunity to earn more income from precision agronomy services and emerging sustainability management programs, in addition to traditional crop input sales. The report suggests the current operating environment provides a timely opportunity for ag retailers to invest in new technologies and position themselves for success in a marketplace that is evolving rapidly.
  • Meristem Crop Performance is offering a first of its kind soybean replant program – part of Meristem’s continuing effort to treat farmers fairly and bring more innovative thinking to the crop input supply chain. Mitch Eviston, Meristem Founder and CEO, announced the offer during the Farm Science Review in London, Ohio.
  • Hybrid seed production is labor-intensive and results in higher costs for farmers. To circumvent this production bottleneck, the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research awarded a $600,000 Seeding Solutions grant to University of California, Davis to develop hybrid plants which produce seeds that are genetic clones of the parent plant, substantially reducing their climatic impact and farmers’ bottom lines.
  • The Bureau of Land Management recognized two ranches with federal grazing permits for their outstanding work to restore, enhance, and protect vital Western ecosystems. The 2021 Rangeland Stewardship and Sagebrush-Steppe Awards were presented during the 2021 Public Lands Council Annual Meeting. Honorees include the Dugout Ranch in Utah, Bruneau-Owyhee Sage-Grouse Habitat Project in Idaho, Reverse JL Bar Cattle Company in Colorado, and Nature Conservancy Great Basin Ecoregion.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

Daugherty Water for Food Podcast Episode 10

Cindy Zimmerman

This episode of the Daugherty Water for Food podcast features Amy Wu, an award-winning journalist, filmmaker and the creator of From Farms to Incubators.

From Farms to Incubators is a multimedia platform that uses documentary, video, photography and the written word to tell the stories of women leaders and innovators in agtech. It has a mission of highlighting women in food, farming, and farmtech, especially women of color. From Farms to Incubators includes a documentary that has been screened at South by Southwest, and a new book that was published earlier this year that profiles nearly 30 women founders in agtech.

Amy is also a featured speaker on a panel at the 2021 Water for Food Global Forum, where she and two women agtech entrepreneurs will be discussing a new generation of startups led by women, with a diversity of backgrounds and ethnicities, who are providing novel perspectives and solutions to agriculture’s problems with tech innovation.

Listen to her story here:
Daugherty Water for Food Podcast Episode 10 27:01

How to subscribe:

AgWired Precision, Audio, Precision Agriculture, Technology, Water, Water for Food

Animal Ag News 9/27

Carrie Muehling

  • A recent study by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) indicates that U.S. beef and pork exports added 41 cents per bushel to the value of corn in 2020. That’s 11.5% of the average annual price of $3.52/bushel, and the overall value of red meat exports was $5.8 billion.
  • The North American Meat Institute announced that it will join the U.S. government-led multistakeholder Coalition of Action on Sustainable Productivity Growth for Food Security and Resource Conservation to be launched by the Biden administration at the UN Food Systems Summit.
  • The Red Angus Association of America (RAAA), a leading progressive breed organization for seedstock beef cattle in the United States, announced they will provide herdbook registry of Red Angus animals carrying gene-edited traits for heat tolerance and coat color. Both trait approvals by RAAA emanate from specific genetic alterations designed and submitted by Acceligen, a technology company pioneering commercialization of gene-edited food animals.
  • The non-profit Soil Health Academy announced that it will conduct a pair of one-day workshops to help dairy producers transition from conventional cropping and confined diary operations to more profitable and productive regenerative operations. The first on-farm workshop is scheduled Oct. 26 at the host farm of Jim Harbach in Loganton, Pennsylvania. On Oct. 29 in Waterloo, New York, a second on-farm workshop will be conducted at the host farm of Jonas Stoltzfus.
  • As of Sept. 1, there were 75.4 million hogs and pigs on U.S. farms, down 4% from September 2020 but up 1% from June 1, 2021, according to the Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
  • Kansas State University and Elanco Animal Health Incorporated are combining efforts to tackle innovation for companion animal and livestock health. A five-year strategic alliance agreement between the university and Elanco will allow for collaborative research and intellectual property licensing for commercialization activities. Researchers will focus on activities supporting sustainable practices in livestock production and pet health; vector-borne and emerging disease prevention and treatment; and advanced understanding of the microbiome in animals.
  • Haiti’s Chief Veterinary Officer reported a positive case of African swine fever (ASF) to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) earlier this week.
AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

Start 2022 Weed Control with Acuron® GT

Cindy Zimmerman

Syngenta’s new corn herbicide Acuron® GT was registered earlier this year for post-emergence use in glyphosate-tolerant corn and keeping track of this year’s weeds will help get ready to control for next season.

Acuron GT combines the proven performance of Halex® GT corn herbicide with the active ingredient bicyclopyrone (BIR), which helps Acuron GT provide enhanced post-emergence control of yield-robbing weeds and longer-lasting residual in glyphosate-tolerant corn.

At the Farm Progress Show last month, Syngenta agronomy services manager Phil Krieg said the combination of four active ingredients and three sites of action in Acuron GT not only helps growers manage difficult weeds longer into the season, but also some others that have been popping up like fall panicum, cocklebur, and morning glory.

FPS21 Interview with Phil Krieg, Syngenta (3:12)

Audio, Corn, Farm Progress Show, Syngenta, weed management

USDA Grants Include Climate Smart Ag for Low Carbon Fuel

Cindy Zimmerman

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will invest nearly $75 million for 15 partner-led projects to address natural resource concerns on private lands.

The projects include a $7.5 million investment in the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE)-led Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) project to secure farmers premier access to low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) markets based on their adoption of USDA climate-smart agricultural practices.

ACE, together with RCPP partners South Dakota Corn Growers Association, Dakota Ethanol, South Dakota State University, Cultivating Conservation, and collaborator Sandia National Labs, will use the USDA financial assistance to compensate farmers for adopting climate-smart practices that sequester carbon, reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and improve soil health. The partnership will pair USDA technical assistance with significant partner financial and in-kind contributions to quantify the resulting soil health and GHG benefits, correlate them with existing models, and develop a non-proprietary verification system. This data will then be used to secure farmer access to clean fuel or LCFS markets for the first time based on the GHG benefits of USDA climate-smart practices.

Press release from ACE

Interview with ACE CEO Brian Jennings
ACE CEO Brian Jennings on USDA grant project 8:10

ACE, Audio, Biofuels, carbon, climate, Conservation, Corn, Ethanol, USDA

EPA Still Evaluating Dicamba Products

Cindy Zimmerman

The Environmental Protection Agency continues to evaluate dicamba products, according to Administrator Michael Regan.

At the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) annual meeting this week, Regan said they are still receiving and analyzing new incident information and are taking steps to better understand the nature and severity of any reports since the Trump administration approved the use of dicamba for five more years in October 2020. “EPA has been engaging with stakeholders to learn more about reports of adverse incidents in the 2021 growing season,” said Regan, noting that EPA has held listening sessions on the topic this summer.

Earlier this month, EPA notified registrants of the products containing dicamba that they are required to report any adverse effects of the pesticide to EPA.

NASDA21 EPA Administrator Michael Regan on Dicamba (2:14)

Audio, Crop Protection, EPA

Industry Ag News 9/24

Carrie Muehling

  • The National Biodiesel Foundation welcomes newly elected Director Todd Ellis to the NBF Board. Ellis currently is the Executive Director, North American Sales, for Renewable Energy Group, Inc.
  • In the midst of limited travel and continued uncertainty surrounding the pandemic, The Packer and PMG are launching a new virtual platform to conveniently connect fresh produce growers with the right retail and foodservice buyers. BizMatch Plus is an expansion of the popular in-person BizMatch program that has successfully paired buyers and sellers at recent West Coast Produce Expos and Global Organic Produce Expos. Sessions are scheduled to align with key commodity buying seasons with the first commodity-specific session Sept. 29, 2021, highlighting citrus growers to five top retail buyers. Subsequent sessions in October and November will feature onion and tomato growers.
  • Total Grain Marketing, a venture of GROWMARK, Inc., Illini FS, South Central FS, and Wabash Valley Service Company announce the acquisition of grain assets from The Andersons, Inc. in Champaign, Illinois.
  • The National AgrAbility Project, modeled after Purdue Extension’s Breaking New Ground Resource Center and hosted at Purdue University, is celebrating 30 years of making agriculture accessible for people with disabilities.
  • The development of innovations and technologies that can further agricultural sustainability, the future political landscape, and the need for uniting the voice of the pesticide industry were key topics at the 2021 CropLife America and RISE Joint Annual Meeting, held September 12 – 15. The meeting provided an opportunity for CLA and RISE members to review 2021 initiatives and reflect on the opportunities ahead for the industry. A highlight of the Annual Meeting is the recognition of members who have shown exemplary leadership within the pesticide industry.
  • AgCareers.com announces the new 2021-2022 season of Feed Your Future virtual career fairs across the United States. AgCareers.com developed this Feed Your Future initiative last year to virtually connect agri-food employers and job seekers, addressing travel constraints on traditional in-person recruitment events. Careers in agriculture and food remain essential, and virtual recruiting is here to stay.
  • The Farm Credit Administration recently made four key staff selections: Sara Lynn Major as FCA chief diversity officer in the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Inclusion; Autumn Agans as deputy director for the Office of Regulatory Policy; Dan Fennewald as deputy director for the Office of the Director and Chief Examiner in the Office of Examination; and Ward Griffin as deputy general counsel in the Office of the General Counsel.
  • In 2021, the Global Farmer Network is honoring three farmers who are working in different ways to build bridges and in doing so, take agriculture to a higher level. The recipients are Joanna Lidback, a dairy producer from Vermont, USA, Annechien ten Have Mellema, a pork producer from the Netherlands and Gabriel Carballal a crop and cattle producer from Uruguay.
Zimfo Bytes

ARC Annual Meeting Features National PR ‘Big Hitters’

Chuck Zimmerman

ARC LogoNow is a good time to register for the 2021 Agricultural Relations Council (ARC) Annual Meeting, Oct. 26-28, in Richmond, Va., at the Courtyard Richmond Downtown.

The dozen presenters will share strategies to develop your public relations skills and build your network of agricultural professionals and resources. To register for the meeting, click here. Reserve your hotel room by Oct. 3, to take advantage of the discounted ARC room rate.

With a theme of “Virginia is for Lovers (of Ag PR),” this event provides a forum for agricultural public relations professionals to share ideas and strategies, collaborate among peers and learn about innovative communication tools. “If you have a passion for excellence in agricultural public relations, join ARC members in Richmond, Va., for a career development event that will inspire you personally and professionally,” said ARC Executive Director Kristy Mach.

“This year’s ARC Annual Meeting is a phenomenal opportunity to hear from powerful Washington, D.C. communicators,” stated Mach. “Day in and day out, these ‘movers and shakers’ lead, strategize and implement creative and persuasive messages to build the reputation of U.S. agriculture – domestically and internationally.”

Find the complete ARC Annual Meeting agenda here.

The Agricultural Relations Council is the only association dedicated to serving the unique needs of public relations professionals working in agriculture, food, fiber and other related industries. ARC is a conduit for problem solving, idea sharing and collaboration among members, who share a passion for excellence in public relations.

ARC

NASDA Wraps With New President and New CEO

Cindy Zimmerman

New NASDA president Richard Ball of NY; new NASDA CEO Ted McKinney; NASDA Public Policy director RJ Karney; retiring NASDA CEO Dr. Barb Glenn

The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture wrapped up its annual meeting Wednesday with the election of New York Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball as 2021-2022 President.

Ball held a press conference at the conclusion of the annual meeting, along with retiring NASDA CEO Dr. Barb Glenn and her successor Ted McKinney, and NASDA Senior Director of Public Policy RJ Karney.

They discussed some of the policy positions taken at the meeting, including support for strengthening emergency food supply networks, amending visa programs to include year-round agriculture workers; and the free flow of interstate trade.

NASDA concluding press conference (24:29)

Audio, Trade

Precision Ag News 9/22

Carrie Muehling

  • BASF has expanded its Xitavo™ soybean seed portfolio with the addition of 14 new high-performing Enlist E3® soybean varieties. Xitavo soybean seed is owned by MS Technologies and is exclusively distributed by BASF.
  • Researchers at the Salk Institute’s Harnessing Plants Initiative (HPI) have established a five-year, $6.2 million collaboration with Nadia Shakoor, PhD, principal investigator and senior research scientist and her team at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center to identify and develop sorghum plants that can better capture and store atmospheric carbon.
  • JLG Industries, Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation company and leading global manufacturer of mobile elevating work platforms and telehandlers, marked its entry into the North American agricultural industry at Ag Progress Days in Furnace, Pennsylvania, Farm Progress in Decatur, Illinois, and Husker Harvest Days in Grand Isle, Nebraska, where the company featured its new AG925 telehandler.
  • CNH Industrial N.V. announced that it has joined the 5G Open Innovation Lab, a global applied innovation ecosystem for corporations, academia and government institutions working on developing 5G technologies, as corporate partner.
  • Available for fall 2022, the VT-Flex™ 435 vertical tillage tool from Case IH offers simple, variable gang angle adjustments, allowing producers to meet the soil management needs of any field with greater flexibility and precision. With adjustments that can be performed on the go and a rugged, durable design built to withstand tough conditions, this vertical tillage tool is ideal for mixed farms and small to midsize grain operations. The VT-Flex 435 is available in widths 11 to 25 feet.
  • U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), members of the Senate Agriculture committee, introduced the Precision Agriculture Loan (PAL) Act. The bipartisan legislation would create a program within the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide loan financing to farmers and ranchers interested in purchasing precision agriculture equipment.
  • The Soil Health Academy announced it has selected Jason Marmon to serve in the role of secretary on the non-profit organization’s board of directors. Marmon, who also serves as development director for US Energy, a social impact non-profit focused on sustainable system design coordination, is an accomplished program advisor and business development leader with 10 years of experience helping companies, communities, causes and individuals achieve measurable results through effective programs.
  • On Thursday, September 30th, Wayne Honeycutt, CEO & President of the Soil Health Institute will present the Economics of Soil Health on 100 Farms. In this study, farmers, who have successfully implemented soil health systems, reported the economic and productivity benefits they achieved through improving soil health. Registration is free and required to attend, so sign up today!
  • Registration is open for the 33rd IPSA Annual Conference in Indianapolis, IN, January 24-27, 2022. The IPSA Annual Conference will be held in conjunction with the Corn Belt Seed Conference.
  • THRIVE and Bayer have announced that MagGrow, the company behind the patented, proprietary technology that is reducing waste associated with conventional pesticide spray applications, has won the THRIVE | Bayer Sustainability Challenge “Sustainable Scaleup Award.” MagGrow is one of three winners chosen from a global pool of approximately 300 applicants from across 57 countries.
  • Cargill has been enrolling farmers in Cargill RegenConnect™, a new regenerative agriculture program that pays farmers for improved soil health and positive environmental outcomes, including payment per metric ton of carbon sequestered. The new program connects farmers to the growing carbon marketplace and will help scale the voluntary adoption of regenerative agriculture practices.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture