Industry Ag News 9/3

Carrie Muehling

  • Protein is a critically important part of a basic diet but how can the global animal protein sector continue to sustainably feed a growing and increasingly hungry world? That question is at the core of the upcoming forum, Sustainable Solutions for Zero Hunger by 2030: A Vision for Animal Agriculture, scheduled virtually for 12-5 p.m. ET on September 14, 2021.
  • The Georgia Peanut Commission is hosting a photo contest May 12-Oct. 1, 2021, to fill the pages of the 2022 Georgia Peanut Calendar. Photo entries must be taken during the 2020 or 2021 peanut crop year and feature peanut production. Entries must also be high resolution (300 dpi), horizontal and not taken with a phone; otherwise, they may be disqualified.
  • The Georgia Cotton Commission, Georgia Peanut Commission and the University of Georgia Extension Cotton and Peanut Teams, will co-sponsor a joint research field day on Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2021, in Tifton, Georgia.
  • MGEX, a Designated Contract Market and Derivatives Clearing Organization, reports August 2021 as the third best month in the history of the Exchange with a total of 394,547 contracts traded. This past month is now the best August in history edging out August 2020 by 24%. Total options volume was 11,033, making it the third month in a row where volume surpassed 10,000 contracts.
  • To more accurately reflect current capabilities and premier execution solutions for the agriculture marketplace, Beck Ag, Inc. announced updated branding. This new branding represents the ongoing evolution of Beck Ag’s capabilities and focus on strategic partnerships with clients enabling execution excellence within their organizations.
Zimfo Bytes

Day Three of the 2021 Farm Progress Show

Chuck Zimmerman

2021 Farm Progress ShowIt is a beautiful day for a farm show in Illinois. However, I’m on my way back to ZimmComm World Headquarters in Cantonment, FL. This has not been easy since my Springfield, IL flight was cancelled this morning and I’m now on a flight out of St. Louis, MO.

At the end of the day yesterday the Chicago, Gateway, Heartland
& Mid-America Chapters of the National Agri-Marketing Association got together for a reception during the Farm Progress Show. Here are some of our reception attendees having fun and enjoying some friendly camaraderie.

Speak of NAMA, the annual NAMA Fall Conference will be held in St. Loui, MO, October 4-6. I’m planning to attend and hope you will too. Registration is open.

Farm Progress Show, Farm Shows, NAMA

Wednesday was Biofuels Day at Farm Progress Show

Cindy Zimmerman

It was a bipartisan biofuels day at the Farm Progress Show Wednesday.

First, six Republican members of Congress from Illinois, Iowa and Indiana held a Biofuels Summit at the show to discuss the importance of ethanol and biodiesel to the region and the challenges being faced by the biofuels industry.

House Biofuels Caucus Co-chair Congressman Rodney Davis (R-IL) was joined by Mike Bost (R-IL), Darin LaHood (R-IL), Randy Feenstra (R-IA), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), and Jim Baird (R-IN) to hear from farmers and others at the show about a number of issues, including maintaining the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), keeping E15 year round, and tax issues, just to name a few.

FPS21 Congressional Biofuels Summit (1:19:42)

In addition, Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL) paid a visit to the show and talked about her Next Generation Fuels Act introduced last week in the U.S. House. “It would require manufacturers of vehicles to make sure it could burn to start, E20, and go all the way up to E25 and E30 over the coming decade,” she said.

Bustos says the bipartisan legislation first goes to the Energy and Commerce Committee and she hopes to get it passed as either a stand-alone or as part of another environmental bill.

Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper, pictured here with Rep. Bustos at the RFA exhibit, says they are very supportive of the legislation. “If we are able to get her bill passed, it would really open a new chapter of growth for the renewable fuels industry. It has virtually every regulatory fix that we need in there, it’s got an octane standard, it’s got a low carbon requirement…it would really benefit our industry in many ways.”

Interview with Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL) about Next Generation Fuels Act
FPS21 Interview with Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL) (3:37)

Interview with Geoff Cooper, President and CEO, Renewable Fuels Association
FPS21 Interview with RFA CEO Geoff Cooper (11:12)

2021 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Audio, Biodiesel, Biofuels, Ethanol, Farm Progress Show

Benson Hill and CropTrak Collaborate for Sustainability and Innovation

Cindy Zimmerman

Benson Hill, Inc. today announced a relationship with CropTrak that allows them to accelerate collection of agronomic data to improve product performance and farm sustainability.

The CropTrak relationship provides the technological infrastructure to accelerate this connection and further positions Benson Hill as a leader, providing the ingredients needed to deliver more healthy and sustainable food and feed products.

“Our collaboration with CropTrak accelerates in-depth agronomic data collection from our farmer partners, increasing our ability to benchmark and provide verifiable sustainability metrics to our customers and other stakeholders,” said Jason Bull, Chief Technology Officer of Benson Hill. “With this technology infrastructure, we will work to strengthen our CropOS® data library, continue to increase profitability for our partner farmers and build valuable ESG metrics for our food company customers, while also enhancing transparency and traceability across the supply chain.”

The CropTrak platform increases the efficiency to geo-locate acres contracted by Benson Hill, collect soil samples and measure protein content, and seamlessly uploads holistic data directly from existing farm management information systems and equipment. The information is delivered to CropOS®, Benson Hill’s technology platform that combines data analytics and artificial intelligence with plant biology and food science to produce crops that are optimized for taste and nutrition while maximizing agronomic performance and assisting in the assessment of sustainability impacts on the farm.

“By digitally enabling and connecting an entire supply chain management process, food companies can more seamlessly weave together the story of their product and certification to defend against dynamic markets and environmental conditions that may affect production. We’re proud to be working together and to see Benson Hill adopt the CropTrak platform in a unique way to deliver on our shared commitment of providing safe, affordable and sustainable food,” said Aaron Hutchinson, President of CropTrak.

Learn more here.

Agronomy, CropTrak, data, Food

Illinois Farmer Mental Health Grant Announced at #FPS21

Cindy Zimmerman

During the 2021 Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Illinois this week, state officials led by Gov. JB Pritzker announced a grant award of $500,000 to increase farmer stress-related mental health initiatives statewide. The Illinois Department of Agriculture applied for the grant in coordination with Southern Illinois University Medicine Center for Rural Health and Social Service Development and University of Illinois Extension.

In 2019 the Farm Family Resource Initiative (FFRI) was established in Illinois to specifically address mental health needs of the farming and agricultural communities. The FFRI Committee consists of members from government, commodity groups, academic institutions, healthcare and industry. Led by Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, the FFRI launched a six-county pilot program to provide resources to Christian, Logan, Macon, Macoupin, Morgan and Sangamon counties through a telephone hotline connecting farmers with mental health resources and providers. This grant will allow for the expansion of the pilot program to the entire state.

“I’m proud to expand our Farm Family Resource Initiative to all 102 of our counties to ensure our rural communities are getting the care they deserve,” said Pritzker.

FPS21 Ill Gov. JB Pritzker press conference (26:35)

Audio, Farm Progress Show, Farming

Precision Ag News 9/1

Carrie Muehling

  • The co-founder of the Soil Health Academy (SHA), David Brandt, has stepped down from his position as president. Brandt, an Ohio farmer, cover crop innovator and soil health pioneer, has served as president of the regenerative farming education organization since its inception in 2017. Dawn Breitkreutz, who currently serves on the SHA board of directors as treasurer, has been selected to replace Brandt.
  • Farmers Edge Inc. and Merit Functional Foods have launched a pilot program aimed at improving the production, quality, traceability, and marketing opportunities of Canadian protein crops. Merit is a Canadian producer of non-GMO pea protein and is first to market in the world with non-GMO canola protein.
  • Grower organizations representing a variety of crops are disappointed with the Environmental Protection Agency’s draft biological evaluation (BE) for several neonicotinoid products, including imidacloprid, thiamethoxam and clothianidin. The groups representing farmers across the country say that failure to consider real-world usage data in the analysis conducted as part of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) could limit growers’ ability to protect their crops and livelihoods and not assure endangered species are any safer. The American Farm Bureau Federation, American Soybean Association, National Cotton Council and Minor Crop Farmer Alliance say ESA analyses are, by law, required to “use the best scientific and commercial data available” to ensure endangered species and their habitats will not be adversely affected by an agency’s action.
  • Nebraska farmers and landowners are encouraged to join their peers from Antelope, Knox and Pierce counties to explore conservation and nutrient management practices at the Bazile Demonstration Site Field Day, set for Thursday, Sept. 9, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. CDT. The event is hosted by Bazile Groundwater Management Area. To learn more or register for the event, go to https://events.farmjournal.com/bgma-field-day-2021.
  • Show support and appreciation for those who have worked so hard to make our industry a success by celebrating their accomplishments at the 2021 ARA Conference & Expo in San Antonio, Texas.
  • NewLeaf Symbiotics® and Meristem Crop Performance Group, LLC announced a new strategic alliance designed to efficiently bring new biologicals to more farmers faster. Under the new relationship, Meristem and NewLeaf will work together to make this yield-enhancing technology reliable, accessible and easy-to-use.
  • Case IH is introducing the WD5 series windrowers to its lineup of self-propelled harvesting equipment. These new models offer more consistent drydown and the fastest speeds in the industry, making them the most productive and efficient hay-harvesting solution on the market.
  • Case IH is adding the AFS Connect™ Optum® series tractor to its lineup of all-purpose farming equipment. The AFS Connect Optum series tractor is engineered to deliver the muscle and horsepower needed for extensive roading and haulage — plus enhanced comfort for high-volume hay and forage operation — in one all-purpose tractor.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

Day Two of the 2021 Farm Progress Show

Chuck Zimmerman

2021 Farm Progress ShowHello from Decatur, IL and the second day of the Farm Progress Show. It’s another beautiful day with some cooler temperatures and lots of excitement in the air.

The Golden ZimmComm Microphone got off to a great start yesterday with the current president of the National Corn Growers Association, John Linder, a farmer from Ohio. Linder and other association leaders stopped by the media tent to talk with reporters as the show was getting underway.

There is no shortage of important topics for corn growers right now, like ethanol and WOTUS, for example. But Linder also had some good news to share like the great strides corn growers are making in sustainability.

FPS21 Interview with NCGA president John Linder (6:34)

2021 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Corn, Farm Progress Show, NCGA

Conversation with Secretary Vilsack Webinar

Cindy Zimmerman

USDA Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack joins Farm Journal Editor Clinton Griffiths Thursday September 2 at 2:00 pm Central for conversation and audience questions in a town hall-style virtual event webinar.

During this very special Farm Journal Farm Country Update, Secretary Vilsack will discusse policy priorities, COVID assistance, trade, climate, market transparency and goals for the upcoming year.

Click here for more information and registration.

Farm Journal, USDA, webinar

Day One of the 2021 Farm Progress Show

Chuck Zimmerman

2021 Farm Progress ShowWelcome to Day One of the 2021 Farm Progress Show. I’m here all by my lonesome for a change. However, I’ve got plenty to do which includes working with Syngenta and some of our other clients like the Renewable Fuels Association. I’m going to do my best to take care of them while also getting interviews and lots of photos today and tomorrow.

I really wanted to have a FPS sunrise photo but the fog did not allow it. However, this nice traffic guide posed for me on his horse so I’m good with that. We’re about to open up the gates on a new day and a new world. Due to Illinois Covid restrictions an “indoor” facility holding 50 plus people requires face masks. The media tent qualifies for that so you’ll be seeing some folks in my photos wearing them. If we could lift some tent sides we wouldn’t be required but that defeats an air-conditioned tent!

Here are some photos I’ve just started with: 2021 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Agribusiness, Farm Progress Show, Farm Shows, Media

RIP NAFB Member Brian Allmer

Cindy Zimmerman

Farm broadcasters around the country are saddened to hear about the passing of Brian Allmer, 55, of Briggsdale, Colorado on Thursday, August 26.

Brian was always involved in agriculture; managing the family farm, working at Lextron Animal Health, Colorado Equipment and then for 1010 KSIR radio. He was a trailblazer in ag radio, creating The BARN™ (Brian Allmer Radio Network), FarmCast Radio™, and Colorado Ag News Network™. He participated in FFA and 4-H as a youth and continued supporting those organizations professionally throughout his life. Brian was a member of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB), the Colorado FFA Foundation, the Colorado 4H Foundation, the Colorado Farm Show Committee and many more organizations.

He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Connie Allmer; children, Samantha (Nate) Munson; three grandchildren and Tucker Allmer (fiance Lindsay Miller); mother, Lillian Allmer; brothers and sister Gerald Allmer, Steve (Penny) Allmer and Brenda Durland; uncles and aunts, Duane, Bonnie and Eddie Durland, Arlene Neese; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

Brian believed heavily in the investment of the youth of the world, our nation, our state and our local communities. His countless hours and unsurpassed dedication to the success of this insurmountable and noble task he took on with great pride and heart. The numerous individuals he impacted in his wake is simply unfathomable.

A visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, September 1, 2021 at Adamson. Life Celebration to be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Island Grove Event Center, 501 N. 14th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80631. Memorial gifts may be made to “Brian Allmer Memorial Ag Media Scholarship Fund” in care of Adamson, 2000 47th Ave., Greeley, CO 80634. Friends may leave condolences at AdamsonCares.com.

NAFB