RIP Tom Riter, WNAX

Cindy Zimmerman

So sad to hear over the weekend about the passing of Tom Riter, farm broadcaster with WNAX radio in Yankton, South Dakota. Tom was a member of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) for over 25 years.

Tom Riter was born and raised in Rock Rapids, Iowa, where he spent many summers walking beans and detasseling corn. After graduating from the University of Northern Iowa and attending Brown Institute, Tom filled a variety of roles on the air as a morning-show personality, sportscaster, overnight announcer, and then news director for KORN radio in Mitchell, South Dakota, and KGRN in Mitchell, Iowa. His first introduction to farm broadcasting came in Aberdeen, South Dakota, where he was part of a pilot project at KKAA and KQAA radio, serving as both news and ag director.

In 1991, he moved to Colorado, where he served as farm director until 1998 before taking a position with WNAX radio in Yankton, South Dakota, where he contributed to both the farm and news departments.

A celebration of life service with family fellowship is set for 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021 at Calvary Baptist Church, 2407 Broadway Ave., Yankton, SD. Goglin Funeral Home in Yankton is handling arrangements.

NAFB

Douglas Plant Health Rebrands as DPH Biologicals

Cindy Zimmerman

As of today, Douglas Plant Health will now be known as DPH Biologicals. The new name was officially announced this morning at the Biostimulants World Congress in Hollywood, Florida and recognizes the century-long commitment of its parent company, Douglas Products, to deliver effective and high-quality products to its customers while more clearly focusing on expanding its biologicals product platform to deliver value to customers by sustainably increasing productivity, yield and profitability.

In 2018, the assets of AgriEnergy Resources and Growth Products were acquired to form Douglas Plant Health. Over the next three years, complementary technologies were brought together and further developed to meet the needs of customers. Today, DPH Biologicals was created to further scale the business and expand access to one of the most complete biofertility solutions available – SP-1 Classic.

“As we look to the future, we are excited to build upon the proven track record of this innovation. We value the trust our customers put in us to deliver quality products that consistently improve overall soil and plant health,” said Mick Messman, President and CEO. “As supply chain challenges escalate and fertilizer shortages loom, uncertainty remains as to how growers will fertilize their crops. In addition to our name change, today we are also announcing plans to scale production of our flagship biofertilizer to help meet the immediate market demand for expanded fertility options and ensure growers access to a leading biological product to sustainably manage yield and margin per acre.”

DPH Biologicals will celebrate the new brand name at leading industry events and customer meetings over the next several months.

Listen to Messman talk about the history of the company and the new focus moving forward in this interview.
DPH Biologicals CEO Mick Messman (9:54)

Read more

Audio, Biologicals, Fertilizer, Soil

CSS & Seed Expo 2021 Coming up Fast

Cindy Zimmerman

ASTA’s CSS & Seed Expo 2021 is less than a week away but there is still time to register to attend, in-person or virtually, the nation’s largest seed industry conference, Dec. 6-9 in Chicago.

Recent additions to the program include a panel discussion on Monday exploring the rapidly growing topic of plant-based proteins. “It’s a growing business and somebody’s going to have to provide the seed for those beans, peas and lentils, and it’s going to come from the seed industry,” said American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) CEO Andy LaVigne during an interview at the recent NAFB Trade Talk.

LaVigne talks about some of the current issues facing the seed industry and how many of them will be topics at the CSS & Seed Expo. This year’s conference offers an all-new “Villages” concept, showcasing interactive programming in the following key areas: ag tech innovation, operations and logistics, career skills and research/lab facilities, and treated seed. The Seed Expo’s “Field Village” offers a first-hand look at the latest in large field equipment, seed sorting and processing and seed logistics and packaging.

Interview with Andy LaVigne, ASTA (4:04)

Agribusiness, ASTA, Audio, Seed

Golden Harvest Thrilled with Gold Series Soybeans

Cindy Zimmerman

Golden Harvest is reporting outstanding performance with its Gold Series line of soybeans.

“The performance that we’re seeing is just frankly out of this world,” said Dave Young, Golden Harvest Marketing Head, during the recent NAFB Trade Talk. The new lineup includes Enlist E3® soybeans and XtendFlex® soybeans is are available for the 2022 season.

Young says overall performance of Golden Harvest hybrids was “absolutely fantastic” in the field around the country this season despite many different weather challenges.

Interview with Dave Young, Syngenta (2:52)

Audio, NAFB, Soybean, Syngenta

Animal Ag News 11/29

Carrie Muehling

  • U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the investment of $32 million in grants awarded to 167 meat and poultry slaughter and processing facilities to support expanded capacity and efficiency through the Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grant (MPIRG) program.
  • Barbara O’Brien, President and CEO of Dairy Management Inc. and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, said agriculture has an “open door of opportunity” amid growing pressures and expectations to feed a growing population sustainably and responsibly during her opening comments at the Sustainable Agriculture Summit, Nov. 17-18.
  • WATT Global Media has announced agenda and speaker details for the 2022 Feed Strategy Conference, co-located with 2022 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) on January 25, in Atlanta, Ga. Registration is now open with early savings available for this premier animal feed conference.
AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

The VISION Conference 2022 Preview

Cindy Zimmerman

The way we produce and supply food around the world is changing fast and the voices driving this change are gathering at The 2022 VISION Conference, January 18 -19, at the Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel & Spa in Arizona. The conference is now in its fifth year and the world of data and technology has grown rapidly since VISION last convened in 2020.

“The development and adoption of regenerative agriculture practices, responsive to consumer and societal demand, are accelerating. New capabilities to aggregate and curate data to create a ‘proof of practice’ for cropping systems to document stewardship, regenerative practices, carbon capture and more offer great promise. Autonomous equipment, along with expansion of rural broadband and power of handheld devices, will accelerate real progress,” says Eric Davis, Managing Director. “The 2022 VISION Conference provides an in-person forum to connect and engage with the innovators leading these industry advancements.

Consumers are driving food trends, and manufacturers are responding with new best practices, technologies, and production systems. “A couple years ago, the industry was focused on technologies that could be deployed to boost efficiencies within ag production. Today, the landscape has expanded significantly as agribusiness has moved into the mainstream media and new voices now have a direct impact. The entire food value chain needs to be responsive, integrating new systems and capabilities, to meet heightened consumer expectations,” says Richard Jones, Meister Media Worldwide Corporate Content Director and VISION Conference Chair.

Consumers want to know how their food was grown, tracking it from farm to fork. Major food retailers implementing technologies to meet these demands on quality assurance and traceability now require agribusiness to have the new capabilities to meet and prove they are compliant with these new, high standards. “Eyes are on the agribusiness industry now more than ever, and the 2022 VISION Conference will address this whole new world with an expanded perspective, from crop production to the consumer,” Jones says.

Learn more about the conference from Davis and Jones in the preview interview below, and register at TheVisionConference.com/Register.

2022 VISION Conference preview 13:28

Agribusiness, Audio, Events, Media

Agri-Pulse and Apex-Brasil Hosting Free Webinar

Cindy Zimmerman

Agri-Pulse is hosting a webinar Wednesday, December 1, entitiled “AgriTalks Brazil/USA – Green technologies in agribusiness for a sustainable future.” The free program is part of a series created by Apex-Brasil and includes the participation of high-level Brazilian and U.S. spokespersons, including ministers, CEOs and others.

“AgriTalks Brazil/USA” will consist of two panel discussions. The first will cover green agriculture policies and investments in Brazil and U.S. The second will discuss Agritech: startups and the innovation bridge. You can sign up for this free webinar by clicking on this link. Agri-Pulse Senior Trade Editor Bill Tomson will serve as moderator for the event which begins at 11 a.m. EST.

The webinar is organized by Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc. and Apex-Brasil. The event is also supported by Brazil-U.S. Business Council, Embassy of Brazil Washington D.C., EMBRAPA and the Brazilian Government: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA), Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovations and Communications (MCTI) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE).

Registration for the webinar is free.

Agri-Pulse, International, webinar

Industry Ag News 11/24

Carrie Muehling

  • Farm Journal announced that Cliff Becker has been promoted to executive vice president of the company’s Livestock Division. In this role, Becker will continue to provide leadership to a broad portfolio of best-in-class livestock media brands while also launching new initiatives for beef, dairy and swine audiences.
  • Roquette celebrated the opening of the world’s largest pea protein plant, further extending its leadership position to meet surging global demand for alternative proteins. The new “Plant for the Future” gives Roquette the largest pea protein supply in the world alongside some of the world’s best experts in developing new plant-based foods.
  • Guided by feedback from the latest Women in Food & Agriculture Survey, Alltech is converting insight into action by partnering with WFA to connect women from across the agri-food sector with mentors to champion their professional success. The Women in Food & Agriculture Mentorship Program will facilitate meaningful conversations and professional development while also providing a valuable networking experience.
  • The Georgia Peanut Commission hosted a photo contest May 12-Oct. 1, 2021, to fill the pages of the 2022 Georgia Peanut Calendar, “The Farm – The Natural Providence.” Peanut farmers from across Georgia were encouraged to submit their best, high-resolution photo of peanut production on their farm for a chance to feature the photo in the 2022 calendar. For more information on GPC programs and to view the winning photos, visit www.gapeanuts.com.
  • Kyle Walker, AFM, AAC, with Peoples Company in Indianola, Iowa, has been presented with the 2021 Professional Farm Manager of the Year award from the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers.
  • Applications are now open for the 2022 IFAJ/Alltech Young Leaders Award. If you are an individual who wants to be considered as your guild’s nominee, don’t delay! Each of IFAJ’s member guilds may submit one nominee for the prestigious award, which recognizes outstanding young journalists who demonstrate great potential to become leaders in the agricultural journalism industry.
  • The Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska has released its 2021 annual report online, showcasing the institute’s work over the past year — both local and global — related to water and food security.
Zimfo Bytes

Mike Adams Retiring

Cindy Zimmerman

Mike Adams interviews Ted McKinney at 2020 National Ethanol Conference

The ageless Mike Adams is hanging up his microphone and heading out to pasture at the end of this year.

Adams made the announcement during his Adams on Agriculture broadcast last Friday. “As I mentioned on the air today, I’ll be retiring on December 23, wrapping up a nearly 48 year career on the air,” Adams tweeted after the show. “I can never say thank you enough to everyone who has helped and supported me over the years. I appreciate it more than you know.”

Adams is past president of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting and recipient of the national Farm Broadcaster of the Year award, among many other accolades in his career.

Effective January 3rd, Mike Pearson will take over as host of the syndicated daily radio program, which will be called Agriculture Of America (AOA). Mike is a 10+ year broadcast veteran, hosting “Market to Market” on Public Television, producing the Ag News Daily podcast and most recently on This Week in Agribusiness with Max Armstrong.

Media

Precision Ag News 11/23

Carrie Muehling

  • Overall unit sales of both ag tractors and combines continue their growth above an already-hot pace set in 2020, according to the latest data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. U.S. total farm tractor sales climbed 4.8 percent in October compared to 2020, while U.S. self-propelled combine sales jumped 72.9 percent, the fourth month in a row of growth near or above 20 percent for harvesters.
  • FarmLogs, a farm management software for growers from Bushel, now offers key equipment integrations to reduce manual entry into farm operations. FarmLogs subscribers can now connect their account to their John Deere Operations Center account to automatically create Activities. This new capability allows the seamless transfer of field work captured by equipment monitors. By doing so, subscribers can reduce the amount of time spent entering data, keep accurate records across systems, automatically calculate cost of production, and more easily determine their farm’s Profit & Loss down to the acre.
  • Case IH is adding the Patriot® 50 series sprayer to its lineup of self-propelled application equipment. With an exceptional operator environment, complete vehicle control, enhanced connectivity solutions and integrated spray technology, the Patriot 50 series sprayer is designed to help operators work more productively and achieve high-efficiency spraying. Three new models — the Patriot 3250, 4350 and 4450 — are available to order for fall 2022.
  • Recognizing that less than 5% of U.S. farmers participate in carbon farming programs, Locus Agricultural Solutions® addresses growers’ top concerns by adding new incentives to its globally recognized CarbonNOW® program. These upgrades help eliminate uncertainties and make it easier than ever to participate, with guaranteed payments twice per year, earning the landowner a minimum of $48/acre over the four-year commitment, plus extra performance bonuses.
  • The Heinz Family Foundation named Jacqueline Patterson, M.S.W., M.P.H., environmental justice advocate and founder of the Chisholm Legacy Project, and Gabe Brown, a pioneer in regenerative agriculture and soil health, the recipients of the prestigious 26th Heinz Awards for the Environment. As part of the accolade, Ms. Patterson and Mr. Brown will each receive an unrestricted cash award of $250,000.
  • AgGateway hosted more than 125 attendees in Nashville this month for its Annual Conference, its first in-person event in two years and an opportunity for the industry to collectively move the ball forward on digital connectivity efforts, as well as to honor outstanding individuals in digital agriculture.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture