Last Minute Senate Farm Bill Introduced

Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

On Monday, with only weeks before the end of this session of Congress, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) at last released the text of her nearly 1400 page farm bill the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act.

According to Sen. Stabenow, the bill includes funding from the IRA. “This bill will roll the historic investment we made in the Inflation Reduction Act into the farm bill baseline for the future,” she said on the Senate floor. “We take dollars for voluntary conservation programs that farmers are using, right now that funding is outside the farm bill baseline, we can make a tremendous move forward for farmers by moving it into the farm bill baseline while keeping the language regarding climate.”

Stabenow says her bill improves on crop insurance for farmers. “Importantly, I include a provision that will partially reimburse farmers crop insurance premiums,” she said. “Again, we can use the structure and policies of a farm bill rather than ad hoc assistance and just move up the payments, provide more assistance right now, and do it while we’re passing a five year farm bill.”

Also on Monday, the White House made a formal request to Congress for $21 billion in disaster aid for farmers who have lost crops and livestock due to natural disasters over the past two years, including the most recent hurricanes.

Sen. Stabenow farm bill (10:47)

Audio, Farm Bill

NCBA Pleased with Election Results, Hopeful for Farm Bill

Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

The 2024 election turned out well for the nation’s cattle producers, according to National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane.

“Whether it be a president that we’ve worked with before, whether it be the defeat of radical animal rights action around the country, a tremendous election cycle, and I think now eyes turn to what can be done with this in this new administration,” Lane said during an interview at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting convention last week. “There’s been discussion for months about how to tackle the tax package that’s expiring. The best case scenario was exactly what we’re looking at, which is, Republican control of the House, the Senate and the White House. So he I think is going to be very focused on getting that renewed, whether that’s the budget reconciliation process or elsewhere.”

During a panel at the convention, Lane agreed that the opportunity exists to get a farm bill through in the lame duck session. “You have this moment in time now where you’ve got a bill that passed out of the House Ag committee on a bipartisan basis,” he said. “So I think there are a lot of us that feel like maybe they could put the pieces together and get this cleared off the decks before we go into the 119th Congress.”

The last minute introduction Monday by Sen. Chairwoman Deb Stabenow of the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act could make that more difficult.

NAFB24 Ethan Lane, NCBA (4:56)

2024 NAFB Convention Trade Talk photos

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Industry Ag News 11/18

Carrie Muehling Leave a Comment

  • U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA is funding new projects in nearly every state to lower costs, expand access to clean energy and strengthen American farms and small businesses. USDA is making the investments through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), a program that has seen record demand in response to historic funding provided by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act.
  • William “Bill” Richards, a soil conservation pioneer who served as chief of USDA’s Soil Conservation Service (now the Natural Resources Conservation Service) from 1990-1993 under President George H.W. Bush, died Tuesday. He was 93.
  • AgCareers.com continues to prioritize the development of future talent with the launch of the third edition of the U.S. Classroom Implementation Kit. This essential resource for teachers, educators, advisors, and leaders helps students prepare for their future while they discover and explore careers in agriculture and food. The education experts from the National FFA Organization created the kit to use in conjunction with the latest AgCareers.com U.S. Food & Agriculture Career Guide. The Classroom Kit includes lesson plans, activities, interactive worksheets, resources, links, standards, and optional extended learning opportunities. The lessons lead students toward career success using the AgCareers.com Food & Agriculture Career Guide.
  • The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture is excited to announce the hiring of Patrick Wade as Director of Public Policy. As Director, Wade will advance the organization’s public policy advocacy with his nearly 10 years of experience in agricultural policy and government affairs. Wade will be the staff lead for NASDA’s Plant Agriculture and Pesticide Regulations and Rural Development and Financial Security Committees.
  • USDA is excited to continue its support for local foods in schools by opening applications for the 2025 Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grants. For the first time, USDA is allowing organizations to select the type of Farm to School Grant that best fits their needs by offering three different requests for applications.
  • The National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC) announces the retirement of Charles F. “Chuck” Conner from his position as President and CEO, effective December 31, 2025. Conner has led the organization with distinction for over 15 years.
  • Members of the leadership team of the American Society of Agricultural Consultants (ASAC) moved up the chairs, assuming new officer roles at the organization’s annual business meeting held in Fort Myers, Fla., November 5. The election was held in conjunction with the Annual Conference there. Dave Mielnicki, Newmark Valuation and Advisory, Clarkston, Mich., advanced to president of the group.
  • Arthur Appel will serve as interim dean of the Auburn University College of Agriculture and interim director of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, effective Jan. 1. Appel has served in his current role as associate dean for research and assistant director of the Experiment Station since 2021.
  • Texas A&M student Kaitlynn Hughes has joined the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) as their policy intern. Kaitlynn is from Royse City, Texas, and is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics with a focus on policy and economic analysis and a certificate in International Trade in Agriculture. Growing up, she was active in FFA and 4-H, where her passion for agricultural advocacy sparked through public speaking, livestock ambassadorships, showing market cattle and hogs, and state leadership roles. At Texas A&M, she has focused her coursework on agriculture policy and the impacts of the industry in marketing and trade.
  • The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) announced that Dr. Becky Langer-Curry will serve as director of inputs and innovation at the organization. She officially started her new role on Oct. 28.
  • The United Sorghum Checkoff Program (USCP) is pleased to announce that four new forms of sorghum have been officially added to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s FoodData Central Database. This significant milestone ensures that the most up-to-date nutritional information on commonly used sorghum products is readily available to consumers and food companies amid growing demand for sorghum.
  • Beck’s, the largest family-owned retail seed company in the United States, is excited to announce the groundbreaking of its new soybean processing facility in New Madrid, Missouri. The state-of-the-art facility will help meet the growing demand for soybeans in the Mid-South region, expanding opportunities for local farmers and strengthening Beck’s commitment to serving the agricultural community.
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    AgGateway Wraps Up Successful Annual Meeting

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    AgGateway wrapped up another successful annual meeting last week in Austin, Texas.

    “We’ve had increase in attendance, increase in registrations, increase in in sponsorship. It’s been just a solid year for the conference,” said AgGateway CEO Brent Kemp. “The conversations, the energy, the discussions and debates that we fostered here have all been super. We say bring your people and your problems here because we’re the place to to have the conversations, to get them solved. And boy did we.”

    Kemp says one key topic this year has been identifying end user businesses and farmers for the purpose of helping retailers manage the rebate programs. “This is something that’s not new to the industry. We’ve been doing it since at least 1998 in one form or another, but we’ve got decades of stuff layered on top of things and everybody came together this week and said the system isn’t working as efficiently as it should be. How do we fix it together?”

    Learn more in this interview.
    AgGateway interview with Brent Kemp, CEO (9:23)

    2024 AgGateway Annual Conference Photo Album

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    President-Elect Continues Naming Cabinet at Record Pace

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    President-elect Donald Trump nominated Colorado oil executive Chris Wright for Energy Secretary over the weekend, continuing an almost daily announcement of cabinet nominees since the election.

    “It is amazing to me how quickly Trump has named 10 or 11 people out of the top 25,” said veteran farm policy expert Mary Kay Thatcher with Syngenta during an interview at the NAFB Convention last week. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we have them all before Thanksgiving and they’re going to be ready to go. And you know, one difference we will see from four years ago is that it was a Democratic Senate. So I’m not saying they stalled things, but I don’t think they had the incentive to move those confirmations along as quickly as possible as this Republican Senate is going to have. So I think we’re going to see those confirmations go much quicker.”

    Still no Secretary of Agriculture announcement has been made, but industry organizations have welcomed the nominees made so far including North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum for Secretary of the Interior, and former New York Congressman Lee Zeldin for EPA Administrator.

    Syngenta Sr. Manager, Federal Government and Industry Relations Mary Kay Thatcher
    NAFB24 Mary Kay Thatcher, Syngenta (4:02)

    2024 NAFB Convention Trade Talk photos

    Audio, Farm Policy, NAFB, Syngenta

    Research Finds Brand New Mode of Nitrogen Action for Crops

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    New research published in Scientific Reports describes a breakthrough in nitrogen fertilizer technology seen as the first new mode of nitrogen action in crops to be discovered in a century.

    Conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Purdue University and Pivot Bio, the study shows that gene-edited microbes can fix nitrogen from the air and feed it to cereal plants’ roots, providing the essential nutrient to crops. The study highlights PROVEN® 40, Pivot Bio’s second-generation corn product, which introduces the first new mode of nitrogen action this century. It includes lab and field evidence of nitrogen fixation.

    In field trials, researchers used isotopic experiments to confirm nitrogen fixation in real-world conditions and measure plant nitrogen levels. On average, plants treated with PROVEN 40 showed higher nitrogen levels early in the season with no yield loss, despite a reduction of 35-40 pounds of synthetic fertilizer per acre. This suggests PROVEN 40 can be integrated into nutrient management plans while maintaining crop productivity.

    Pivot Bio senior manager of commercial agronomy Ryan Van Roekel, who is co-host of Pivot Bio’s new “N-SIGHTS from the Farm” was at the NAFB convention this week talking about the advantages of PROVEN® 40.
    NAFB24 Ryan Van Roekel, Pivot Bio (2:38)

    2024 NAFB Convention Trade Talk photos

    AgWired Precision, Audio, Fertilizer, Nutrient Management, Precision Agriculture

    Precision Ag News 11/14

    Carrie Muehling Leave a Comment

  • U.S. sales of Ag tractors decreased 14.2 percent in October 2024 compared to the year prior, according to new data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. Sales of combines also fell during the month, dropping 34.6 percent compared to 2023.
  • U.S. agriculture, with enhanced implementation of conservation practices and emerging technologies, has an opportunity to more than offset its carbon footprint while increasing farmer profitability and farm resilience, according to a new report initiated by U.S. Farmers & Ranchers in Action (USFRA) and published by the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST). The report, “The Potential for U.S. Agriculture to Be Greenhouse Gas Negative,” was authored by 26 leading independent researchers and peer reviewed by the National Academy of Sciences. The findings are based on a comprehensive analysis of scientific literature, computer simulations, and life cycle analysis estimates.
  • Bushel, an independently-owned software technology company for the agricultural supply chain, announced a new feature in Bushel Wallet that allows verified farmers and agribusinesses to invite their trusted partners into Bushel’s digital payment network for fast and secure payments. By bringing businesses such as agronomists, truckers, and custom harvesters—into Bushel’s payment network, farmers and agribusinesses can now avoid the hassle of traditional checks and ACH delays, achieving near real-time payments tailored specifically for agriculture.
  • Enhanced Nature (EN), a newly formed U.S. company, announced that it has begun operations to supply AMF (arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi) bionutrients to partners worldwide from its cutting edge manufacturing facility in Delhi, India. EN’s founding partner Symbiotic Sciences has been manufacturing the highest quality concentrated AMF for over 15 years, and these AMF bionutrients are now available to partners exclusively through EN.
  • The Florida Conservation Group (FCG) has been awarded a Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) project funded by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). With an allocation of more than $21 million, this funding will enhance FCG’s ongoing efforts to protect vital agricultural and natural lands in the Peace River Valley.
  • Cargill RegenConnect has surpassed one million enrolled acres for the 2025 U.S. planting season, a milestone that underscores Cargill’s ongoing efforts to support farmers in adopting regenerative agriculture practices. Through partnerships with farmers across the United States and beyond, Cargill is helping to transform agricultural systems for a more sustainable, food secure world. The expansion of Cargill RegenConnect builds on the progress Cargill recently shared in its 2024 Impact Report, which highlights the company’s efforts to scale regenerative agricultural practices globally.
  • Kansas State University officials say a multimillion-dollar award from the U.S. Agency for International Development will support work by researchers on multiple continents to make agriculture more resilient to varying management practices, climates and extreme weather events. The university was selected as the management entity for the Climate Resilient Sustainable Intensification Innovation Lab, or CRSIIL, as part of USAID’s Feed the Future program, with funding of up to $50 million over the next five years.
  • Pivot Bio has introduced “N-SIGHTS from the Farm,” a digital hub providing real-time harvest data and weekly agronomic insights that showcase how Pivot Bio PROVEN 40 is performing in corn fields across the United States. Farmers can visit PivotsProvenIt.com to explore yield data, track nitrogen efficiency metrics, and hear directly from other farmers who are incorporating this advanced nitrogen solution into their operations. The vidcast is being co-hosted by Ryan Van Roekel, Ph.D., senior manager of commercial agronomy at Pivot Bio.
  • Marking a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to advancing a sustainable, resilient food system, Yara North America is launching the YaraAmplix biostimulant portfolio in the United States and Canada. Backed by over five years of global and regional research and development, the YaraAmplix portfolio is designed to enhance crop resilience, nutrient uptake, and overall crop quality while promoting healthier soils and better adaptability to environmental stressors.
  • The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) has entered into a matching $750,000 contribution agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) for a total of $1.5 million to fund increased education and adoption of climate-smart practices that will help increase carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse gases. ISA will use part of the funding to hire additional staff, including agronomists, to help manage the efforts. The ISA Agronomy Team is responsible for cross-functional agronomic research and education that creates opportunities for Illinois soybean farmers to increase on-farm profitability and manage crop production risks. Partnering with NRCS will help to increase conservation education for farmers alongside additional agronomic support from trusted ISA advisors.

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    NAFB Post Election Panel Urges Farm Bill in Lame Duck

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    During a post-election newsmakers panel at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting annual meeting Wednesday, representatives from National Farmers Union, American Farm Bureau Federation, and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association all agreed that Congress should work to pass a farm bill during the lame duck session.

    “If we say that the Farm Bill is toast and it doesn’t stand a chance, that pretty much guarantees that’s going to be the outcome,” said NFU president Rob Larew. “The agenda that we’ll be talking about right next year is going to be crazy busy…where there isn’t going to be much desire for talk about beefing up the safety net, I just think this is our best opportunity right now in this lame duck.”

    AFBF Vice President for Public Policy Sam Kieffer agreed 100 percent. “We’ve got an opportunity, I think, to continue to convey from rural America, from all across the country, that not only is there an opportunity, there’s a need to get it done in ’24.”

    “I am in complete agreement with both of these guys on on that topic,” said NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane. “This team has things to do and doing the farm bill starting from scratch is not one of them, nor should it be,” said Lane. “I think that the Dems are going to get a lot more reasonable about some of the SNAP provisions…this is a fair farm bill, this is a good farm bill and ag groups like it. It is time to get it passed. Clear the decks and and start fresh the next month.”

    Of course they talked about a lot more on the panel, which also included former NCGA CEO Jon Doggett, Camas Creek LLC; and previous Senate Ag Committee economist John Newton, now with Terrain.
    NAFB Post Election panel (59:49)

    AFBF, Audio, NAFB, NCBA

    AgGateway Award Winners

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    The AgGateway Annual Conference wrapped up Wednesday in Austin after recognizing some of the members who help make this organization successful in its goals.

    President’s Award – Theresa Fitzsimmons, Senior Business Analyst, Bayer US

    Launched in 2016, the AgGateway President’s Award is presented to one individual or group that has made consistent and far-reaching positive impacts on organizational achievement over the course of several years.

    “It really means a lot for me personally and for Bayer Crop Science. We’ve benefited from the work here at AgGateway for over a decade,” said Fitzsimmons.

    AgGateway interview with Theresa Fitzsimmons, Bayer (1:33)

    AgGateway in Action Award – U.S. – Zach Leiser, GROWMARK

    The AgGateway In Action Awards are designed to recognize some of the hardest-working volunteers in the organization who have driven significant and tangible results over the past year in the organization’s the mission to promote and enable the transition to digital agriculture.

    “Being a part of the Field Boundary Working Group has been something I can really sink my teeth into…being able to work collectively to move things forward across the industry is something we’re really excited about,” said Leiser.

    AgGateway interview with Zach Leiser, GROWMARK (1:16)

    Ron Storms Leadership Award – Kelly Nelson, FarmBelt North

    The Ron Storms Leadership Award was created in 2004 to honor one of the early leaders and proponents of electronic connectivity in agriculture and to recognize consistent, outstanding efforts by an AgGateway volunteer member in promoting collaboration among AgGateway teams and advancing initiatives in digital agriculture. “It’s a team effort and I’m humbled to receive this award,” said Nelson, who is part of the AgGateway Digital Resource Center (DRC) team that publishes and maintains AgGateway’s digital resources, in close coordination with the Portfolio Management Center.

    AgGateway interview with Kelly Nelson, FarmBelt North (:55)

    Ron Farrell Attitude Award – Stuart Rhea, Endless Wonder Consulting

    Ron Farrell, who passed away in 2020, was a founder of AgGateway, and for nearly two decades was a catalyst for the connectivity and interoperability initiatives the organization has enabled throughout its history. The Ron Farrell Attitude Award was launched in 2023 to recognize volunteers who make it their personal responsibility to make a difference in the industry. Rhea, who was honored last year with the Ron Storms award, was blown away to be chosen for this honor this year.

    “I love what AgGateway is about, I love what they’re trying to accomplish,” said Rhea, who worked for Syngenta until the end of last year but has continued his work in the organization while starting a consulting business.

    AgGateway interview with Stuart Rhea, Endless Wonder Consulting (1:23)

    2024 AgGateway Annual Conference Photo Album

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    Pivot Bio Launches Weekly ‘N-SIGHTS from the Farm’

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    Pivot Bio has introduced a new vidcast for farmers to explore yield data, track nitrogen efficiency metrics, and hear directly from other farmers who are incorporating this advanced nitrogen solution into their operations.

    “N-SIGHTS from the Farm” is a digital hub providing real-time harvest data and weekly agronomic insights that showcase how Pivot Bio PROVEN® 40 is performing in corn fields across the United States.

    The vidcast is being co-hosted by Ryan Van Roekel, Ph.D., senior manager of commercial agronomy at Pivot Bio.

    “Farmers know that nitrogen isn’t simple,” Van Roekel said. “The N-SIGHTS platform gives them harvest data and agronomic insights to understand how PROVEN® 40 is working in real-world conditions. With the “N-SIGHTS from the Farm” vidcast and digital hub, we’re bringing them data from their regions and sharing insights on how their peers are using PROVEN® 40.”

    The vidcast will deliver weekly internet shows that feature agronomists and innovative farmers who are benefiting from PROVEN® 40. The first four episodes are already available:
    · Episode 1: Wet Fields, Big Yields
    · Episode 2: Growing by the Bushel. Delivering by the Ton
    · Episode 3: A New Mode of Nitrogen: Where Science Meets Soil
    · Episode 4: The N Factor: How Agronomists Evaluate Nitrogen Programs

    The website features an interactive map that allows farmers to obtain national and state-specific data on yield, nitrogen replacement, nitrogen advantage and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). After selecting their states, farmers can download comprehensive reports detailing PROVEN® 40 performance. Data will be updated as new information becomes available.

    Visit PivotsProvenIt.com.

    Agronomy, AgWired Precision, Nutrient Management, Nutrition, Precision Agriculture