Ag Retailers Conclude Annual Meeting

Cindy Zimmerman

*Post updated with interview*

New ARA chair Ian McGregor (left) with outgoing chair Rod Wells

The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) concluded its annual Conference & Expo this week after recognizing rising stars, installing a new chairman, and honoring industry leaders.

Listen in here for a wrap-up interview with Daren Coppock, ARA President/CEO: Interview with Daren Coppock (11:27)

Ian McGregor of The McGregor Company was installed as chairman of the association during the closing session of the conference. He succeeds Rod Wells with GROWMARK Inc., in the role and will serve a two-year term.

ARA also honored another McGregor with the Jack Eberspacher Lifetime Achievement Award for his legacy of leadership of The McGregor Company. Alex McGregor received ARA’s highest individual honor to celebrate his steadfast contributions to ARA initiatives and his fundamental role in advancing ag retail.

ARA recognized Anne Yargus Sheehy and Meg Yargus Steward of AGI Fertilizer Systems with the ARA Distinguished Service Award and Valley Ag was named ARA Retailer of the Year.

Finally, ARA recognized a group of emerging leaders as part of its Rising Stars professional development program, sponsored by Atticus.

ag retailers, ARA, Audio

Animal Ag News 12/13

Carrie Muehling

  • As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s ongoing efforts to support dairy farmers and rural communities, today the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) opened signup for the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program and expanded the program to allow dairy producers to better protect their operations by enrolling supplemental production. This signup period – which runs from Dec. 13, 2021 to Feb. 18, 2022 – enables producers to get coverage through this important safety-net program for another year as well as get additional assistance through the new Supplemental DMC.
  • “BEEF Strong” by Amanda Radke is now available online and can be purchased individually or as part of a complete five-book set. As a special bonus, $1 from each book sold in the first month of the launch will be donated to the South Dakota Junior Beef Ambassador Scholarship Fund.
  • The National Pork Industry Foundation, a nonprofit research and educational organization led by pork industry leaders and managed by the National Pork Producers Council, launched the Neil Dierks Scholarship to honor NPPC’s long-time CEO, who is retiring at the end of the year. The $5,000 scholarship will be given annually to a college student pursuing a graduate degree at a land grant university in a field related to the pork industry.
  • The U.S. House voted to pass two NCBA-supported pieces of legislation that are critical to providing producers with greater transparency in the cattle markets. The House voted 418-9 to advance H.R. 5290, introduced by House Agriculture Committee Chairman David Scott (D-GA). This legislation, which was supported by Ranking Member Glenn “G.T.” Thompson (R-PA) and unanimously approved by the Committee, would extend authorization for livestock mandatory reporting (LMR) through September 30, 2022. By an overwhelming vote of 411-13, the House also passed the Cattle Contract Library Act of 2021.
  • CattleFax is mourning the loss of Topper Thorpe of Gila, N.M., who passed away on Dec. 1, 2021. Thorpe moved to Denver in 1968 to work for CattleFax as one of the first two employees of the startup company. He worked as CattleFax’s General Manager/CEO for more than 30 years, during which time CattleFax grew to become the nation’s premier market information, analysis, research, and education service owned by cattle producers and feeders.
  • USPOULTRY recently hosted poultry industry professionals in Nashville, Tennessee, for the 2021 Poultry Processor Workshop. A wealth of information and practical instruction was provided by the speakers and covered topics on increased line speeds as they correspond to processing efficiencies and food safety, breast myopathies, Campylobacter interventions, gas and electrical stunning, plant automation and more.
AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

NK Field Forged Performs Well in 2021

Cindy Zimmerman

Syngenta Seeds has just released new data from the 2021 harvest on performance of the NK Field Forged Series™.

“Considering all that farmers had to be challenged with this year, from drought to flood, to corn rootworm to tar spot, we performed really well,” said Jim Shertzer, NK Seed marketing head, at last month’s NAFB Trade Talk.

The Field Forged Series is a lineup of corn hybrids and soybean varieties that combines proven performers and elite newcomers. This line of products maximizes profit potential through a diverse genetic toolbox designed to help growers tackle various field challenges and conditions ― and it’s delivering on that promise in the field.

Jim Shertzer, NK Seed marketing head – NK Seeds 2021 performance and Field Forged Series corn and soybeans for 2022
Interview with Jim Shertzer, Syngenta (2:31)

Audio, Corn, Seed, Soybean, Syngenta

Industry Ag News 12/10

Carrie Muehling

  • AgButler debuts a collegiate ambassador program to give back to students who serve daily as 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. Ambassadors will be tasked with helping connect laborers and employers within the app using their own personal network.
  • Kubota Tractor Corporation announced the appointment of Mr. Shingo Hanada as the new President and CEO of Kubota Tractor Corporation and Kubota North America, based in Grapevine, Texas, effective January 1, 2022.
  • Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc. announced Sara Waggoner as the new office manager. She is based in the Camdenton, Mo. office and will replace Sandi Schmitt, who is retiring at the end of this year but continuing to work part-time.
  • American Agri-Women presented Sara Wyant of Missouri the “American Agri-Women Journalism Award” at their recent convention in Phoenix, Arizona.
  • American Agri-Women presented the LEAVEN Award, its highest honor for members, to Janell Reid of Colorado Agri-Women at its 2021 National Convention held recently in Phoenix, Arizona.
  • Syngenta Group has appointed Feroz Sheikh as Chief Information and Digital Officer, effective January 1, 2022. Sheikh, based in Basel, will join the extended Syngenta Group leadership team and report to the CEO. He is currently the head of digital engineering and data science at Syngenta.
  • The Association of Equipment Manufacturers President Dennis Slater received The Lifetime Achievement Award from The International Association of Exhibitions and Events® (IAEE) in a special presentation held Wednesday during Expo! Expo!, IAEE’s Annual Meeting & Exhibition in Philadelphia, Pa.
  • Farmer-leaders of the soy checkoff elected Ralph Lott from Seneca Falls, New York, as 2022 Chair and 10 other farmer-leaders to serve on the Executive Committee at the United Soybean Board meeting Dec. 7-9 in St. Charles, Missouri.
  • OBP recently selected the three winners for its Rural Spirit Awards. These awards recognize the unsung heroes of rural America who are instilling hope, solving problems and committing to stepping up to meet the needs of their communities. Each award winner received a $2,000 donation for the nonprofit organization of their choice.
Zimfo Bytes

ASTA Chairs – Real and Virtual

Cindy Zimmerman

John Latham, Latham Seeds, will forever be known as the American Seed Trade Association‘s virtual chairman for the dubious honor of heading the organization during the year of COVID.

“It was weird,” said Latham. “We did everything on Zoom, I did a lot of video. I actually had a green screen set up in my living room and I got pretty good at it actually.”

Latham says the organization was still able to get things done, despite COVID.
Interview with past ASTA Chair John Latham, Latham Seeds (6:20)

Now that COVID is somewhat less disruptive and the world is returning to some semblance of reality, Brad May with BASF is the ASTA chair. “We’re coming out of virtual and people are getting back together!” said May, who has been working on ASTA’s new rebranded summer meeting to debut in 2022.

May says the ASTA Leadership Summit will be held in Indianapolis next June.

Interview with ASTA Chair Brad May, BASF (6:24)

ASTA, Audio, BASF, Seed

2021 #ASTACSS is a Wrap

Cindy Zimmerman

The 2021 American Seed Trade Association CSS & Seed Expo wrapped up Thursday with the announcement that the event will be held in a warmer location two years from now.

“In 2023 we are moving from the cold bridges of Chicago to the sunshine and palm trees of Florida,” said ASTA Senior Director, Meetings & Services, Jennifer Crouse.

The history of the original Corn & Sorghum Seed Research Conference being held in Chicago goes back more than 70 years, and the expo has been held at the Hyatt Regency Chicago for the past 37 years.

“We’ll be back here next year for the 38th year…and then the year after we end up at the Hyatt in Orlando,” said ASTA President and CEO Andy LaVigne in a wrap up interview from the event this week.

LaVigne says they were pleased with the way the 2021 CSS & Seed Expo turned out and it was just great to see everyone again. “We’ve got over 1700 member of the association here with us,” said LaVigne. “It was really a great success.”

Wrap up interview with Andy LaVigne, ASTA (4:47)

2021 ASTA CSS & Seed Expo Photo Album

ASTA, Audio, Seed

Ethanol Report Reviews EPA Announcements

Cindy Zimmerman

The ethanol industry got some long-awaited announcements from the Biden Administration this week on COVID aid from USDA and biofuel blending obligations from the Environmental Protection Agency.

It’s a mixed bag of good news and bad news for ethanol producers and in this edition of The Ethanol Report we get the details from Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Geoff Cooper.

Ethanol Report 12-9-21 (15:09)

The Ethanol Report is a podcast about the latest news and information in the ethanol industry that has been sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association since 2008.

Choose an option to subscribe

Audio, EPA, Ethanol, RFA

Precision Ag News 12/8

Carrie Muehling

  • Farm Journal announced the acquisition of Precision Reach, the leading programmatic digital services company serving the agricultural market. Precision Reach (formerly known as Big Reach Network) is a data-driven programmatic advertising network that reaches farmers, ranchers and a suite of proprietary niche influencer audiences on digital devices across thousands of websites, mobile apps and streaming devices.
  • Experienced ag account professional and seed rep Nick Maple has joined Meristem Crop Performance Group, LLC, one of the fastest-growing crop input suppliers in America. Maple becomes Meristem’s sales and dealer coach in the Western Corn Belt, operating out of Norfolk, Nebraska.
  • Growers can get a sneak peek at AgReliant’s pre-commercial hybrids on the newly launched virtual field trials webpage. The site includes an interactive map and videos of regional agronomists reporting in-season observations. Videos highlight region-specific product performance on such characteristics as root and stalk strength in Minnesota and the Dakotas and corn leaf blight and rust tolerance in the South.
  • With changing weather events, increasing pesticide resistance, new market requirements, and modified chemical technologies, the required knowledge for agriculture, horticulture, and industrial vegetation management continues to expand. To stay ahead of these changes, Exacto continues to amplify its solution-based capabilities and services it offers to increase research-proven results.
  • The non-profit Soil Health Academy announced it has received a $200,000 grant from financial services company Wells Fargo to further advance the adoption of soil health-focused regenerative agricultural principles and practices throughout the nation. The grant will fund 100 scholarships for women, veteran, new and beginning, and historically under-represented farmers and ranchers to attend SHA’s upcoming, on-farm regenerative agriculture schools.
  • Beginning January 1, 2022, Verdesian Life Sciences’ NUE-Charge G™ (and any other NUE-Charge products) will be rebranded as N-Charge® G. This name change does not impact the product or its features and benefits at all. Only the name of this product is changing.
  • Precision Planting, LLC, a subsidiary of AGCO Corporation, announced an agreement to acquire the business and assets of Creative Sites Media, Inc., a leading software and app development company in Bloomington, Ill.
  • The Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance announces the introduction of U.S. Identity Preserved, a designation signifying a premium crop with a verifiable origin. This quality assurance program represents a significant advancement in food traceability for food manufacturers, processors and exporters.
  • CIBO and Continuum Ag have announced a partnership to offer a new program, CIBO Carbon Bridge. Carbon Bridge shortens the time to ROI for regenerative ag by providing a significant pay-for-practice financial incentive as well as agronomic support for qualifying growers to adopt new practices.
  • Indigo Agriculture introduced a new Market+ by Indigo identity for its keystone digital offer. The change from Indigo Marketplace to Market+ acknowledges the company’s evolution of the offer from a digital merchant to the industry’s neutral and independent digital merchandising solutions provider.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

Carbon Markets Take Spotlight at #ASTACSS

Cindy Zimmerman

The growing role of carbon management in agriculture is such an important topic right now that the ASTA CSS & Seed Expo devoted a special general session to it on Wednesday. Two panels, with an introductory keynote from Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), explored carbon management from the local to the global scale, and what is new in the carbon marketplace.

LtoR: Elizabeth Fastiggi, Amazon; Sheila Remes, The Boeing Company; Bruce Knight, Strategic Conservation Solutions; Jason Weller, Truterra

Bruce Knight, Strategic Conservation Solutions, moderated the carbon marketplace panel featuring three major companies making news in the carbon space.

Sheila Remes, The Boeing Company, talked about the opportunities for the seed industry in sustainable aviation fuels. “A week ago, I was on the first 100 percent biofuel flight, sustainable aviation fuel flight, with United leaving from Chicago to Washington D.C.,” she said. “It was seed to sky.”
Sheila Remes, The Boeing Company (9:28)

Elizabeth Fastiggi with Amazon shared today’s major announcement from Bayer, Bushel and Amazon Web Services (AWS) unveiling Project Carbonview. “This is designed currently for the ethanol supply chain and specifically for..ethanol processing facilities and the information they need to make good procurement decisions.”
Elizabeth Fastiggi, Amazon (6:34)

Finally, Jason Weller, Truterra/Land O’Lakes, was able to show how they are helping farmers monetize their carbon with the results of its first year carbon program. “We launched our program in February, it was national in scale, we were a little bit blown away by the response from growers,” he said. “Thousands of producers were interested in enrolling in a carbon program.” Truterra’s 2021 offering made more than $4 million in cash payments upfront to participating farmers, who sequestered over 200,000 metric tons of carbon.
Jason Weller, Truterra/Land O'Lakes (6:30)
Interview with Jason Weller, Truterra (11:15)

2021 ASTA CSS & Seed Expo Photo Album

ASTA, Audio, carbon, Seed

Basse Provides Annual Ag Economic Update at #ASTACSS

Cindy Zimmerman

AgResource Company president Dan Basse was back in person with his annual update on the global agricultural market at the 2021 ASTA CSS & Seed Expo on Tuesday.

Basse has presented at the event every year since 2012 and, as always, he packed a lot of information into an hour. Among the trends he noted for the coming year – a commodity “super cycle” and peak farmland; the role of farming and biofuels in carbon reduction; hog hotels in China and renewable diesel driving demand for corn and soy; and skyrocketing food prices.

Basse sees rising demand for renewable diesel as especially disruptive for the agriculture industry. “The problem we have in every bushel of soybeans as you put it through processor you get 47 and a half pounds of soybean meal and 11.6 pounds of bean oil,” said Basse. “I need more bean oil. If U.S. seed breeders could give me more bean oil, you’re going to have a very glorified future.”

Listen to an interview with Basse, as well as some of his insights from the presentation:
ASTACSS - Interview with Dan Basse, AgResource (6:44)

ASTACSS - Dan Basse, AgResource, trends overview (5:34)

ASTACSS - Dan Basse, AgResource, China hog hotels and renewable diesel (8:16)

2021 ASTA CSS & Seed Expo Photo Album

ASTA, Audio, Corn, Seed, Soybean, Swine