Yara Celebrates 75 Years in North America

Cindy Zimmerman

Yara North America is celebrating its 75th anniversary as a leading crop nutrition solutions provider, working toward a mission to responsibly feed the world and protect the planet by helping farmers produce better, healthier crops through nutrition fertilizers, industrial products and digital farming tools.

“Since 1946, Yara North America has been committed to being the crop nutrition company of the future, and we’re extremely proud of all of the significant strides that we’ve made within the industry. In 1946 our export of fertilizer to the U.S. helped rebuild a war-torn Norway as well as create an offtake market for U.S. crops on the return. Being a core contributor to the food value chain has always been our DNA,” said Magnus Ankarstrand, President of Yara North America.

Yara’s crop nutrition solution approach is centered around supporting grower profitability through efficient nutrient application to grow their best crop, while also protecting the environment by promoting proven 4R Nutrient Stewardship Practices. Over the years, Yara has made a number of contributions to the industry, most notably introducing YaraLiva® Calcium Nitrate in 1946, and the launch of a patented micronutrient coating technology, YaraVita® PROCOTE®, in 2018. Both of these products are cornerstones of Yara’s portfolio, along with a homogenous nitrogen and sulfur product, YaraVera® AMIDAS®, as well as the YaraVita® foliar nutrition line. In addition to the most comprehensive crop nutrition portfolio in the industry, the organization’s commitment to the future has sparked a focus on digital farming tools to enhance grower practices across all aspects of the cropping system. Such digital tools include the launch of the Farm Water Advisor App, which is a newer innovation to help growers better manage their irrigation, and Atfarm, a remote crop monitoring tool that uses satellite images and is currently under development.

To join in the 75th anniversary celebration, Yara is inviting friends to share a photo, video or memory about working with the Yara team, or that represents a nostalgic moment they’ve had as part of the agriculture community. Tag @cropnutrition.yaraUS or @cropnutrition.yaraCA on Facebook, or @Yara North America on LinkedIn and #YaraNorthAmericaCelebrates75, and they will send you a Yara 75th Anniversary hat**While supplies last.

Learn more about 75 years of Yara North America.

Farming, Fertilizer, Nutrient Management, Precision Agriculture

Animal Ag News 2/1

Carrie Muehling

  • There were 93.6 million head of cattle and calves on U.S. farms as of Jan. 1, 2021, according to the Cattle report published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). The Cattle report and all other NASS reports are available online at nass.usda.gov/Publications.
  • Cargill announced the expansion of its value-added protein footprint through the acquisition of ProPortion Foods, a food manufacturer that supplies a variety of innovative fully cooked products, portion control steaks and marinated ready-to-grill meats. Through the purchase, which closed in December 2020, Cargill gains two further-processed protein plants in Round Rock, Texas and Vernon, California.
  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) hailed the introduction of bipartisan legislation to create new opportunities for cattle producers and processors to market beef products. Introduced by U.S. Representatives Dusty Johnson (R – At-Large, S.D.) and Henry Cuellar (D – 28th Dist., TX), the Direct Interstate Retail Exemption for Certain Transactions (DIRECT) Act of 2021 would allow retail quantities of meat processed under state-inspection to be sold across state lines through e-commerce, providing beef producers and local processors alike with more options to market direct-to-consumers.
  • Homestead Dairy of Plymouth, Ind. was recognized as the 2021 Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year at the International Dairy Foods Association’s (IDFA) Dairy Forum. The award is presented each year by IDFA and Dairy Herd Management magazine. Homestead Dairy is one of the largest robotic farms in North America and has been a family owned and operated dairy for more than 75 years in the state of Indiana. Brian and Jill Houin and their 14 family members have created a blueprint for how to operate a large dairy with a focus on animal health, sustainability and efficiency.
  • The Poultry Health Management School is going virtual for its 20th anniversary. During the May 24-25 school, participants will learn about poultry housing and management – this year’s theme for the school. Registration for students begins February 1 at 10 a.m. CST at PoultryHealthSchool.com.
  • In January 2021, the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, as well as the Veterinary Drugs Directorate of Health Canada, added Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae to the approved label indications for Aivlosin® (tylvalosin) Water Soluble Granules (WSG). Complete label information is available at pharmgate.com.
AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

2021 IFAJ Contests deadline is February 19

Chuck Zimmerman

IFAJIt is that time if you want to enter the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists Awards program.

IFAJ contests recognize the world’s best ag journalism. Reflecting the many ways agricultural journalists and communicators reach their audiences around the globe, IFAJ’s contests celebrate excellence in print, photography, audio, video and online media.

IFAJ’s award program is part of the Federation’s deep commitment to professional development. Participating and reviewing the entries provides all our members opportunities to learn from colleagues around the world and appreciate exposure to some of the industry’s best work.

IFAJ, Media

AEM Releases Precision Agriculture Study

Chuck Zimmerman

AEM Precision Ag StudyAs the use of precision agriculture techniques and technology grows, so do the benefits to the the environment. Here’s a new study showing those benefits.

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), in partnership with the American Soybean Association, CropLife America, and National Corn Growers Association, released a study quantifying how widely available precision agriculture technology improves environmental stewardship while providing economic return for farmers.

Precision agriculture leverages technologies to enhance sustainability through more efficient use of critical inputs, such as land, water, fuel, fertilizer, and pesticides. Farmers who use precision agriculture equipment use less to grow more.

The Environmental Benefits of Precision Agriculture study highlights how policies and technological advancements can help farmers increase these outcomes.

“We are living in a new age of agriculture, and today’s precision technology on equipment can have an enormous positive impact on farmers and the environment,” said Curt Blades, Senior Vice President of Agriculture at the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. “One of our goals at AEM is to encourage the adoption of these technologies by more farmers, so they can all reap the benefits as we continue to focus on sustainability.”

Ag Groups, Precision Agriculture

Daugherty Water for Food Podcast Episode 5

Cindy Zimmerman

This episode of the Daugherty Water for Food podcast features a discussion on water law with the Nebraska Governance and Technology Center. Water regulations, and the subsidies and penalties that follow them, are not easy to change when a major weather event impacts water storage and use. As more and more weather events occur due to climate change, some advocates are suggesting that laws need to be more flexible and adaptable to promote equity.

DWFI executive director Peter McCornick co-hosts with Gus Hurwitz, the Menard director of the Nebraska governance and technology center at the University of Nebraska. Their guests include: meteorologist Rob Cifelli; water policy expert Felicia Marcus; UNL Associate Professor of Hydroinformatics and Integrated Hydrology Francisco Muñoz-Arriola; and UNL law professor Anthony Schutz.

Daugherty Water for Food Podcast Episode 5 53:59

How to subscribe:

Audio, Podcasts, Water, Water for Food

Industry Ag News 1/29

Carrie Muehling

  • Family farms comprise 96% of all U.S. farms, account for 87% of land in farms, and 82% of the value of all agricultural products sold, according to the 2017 Census of Agriculture Farm Typology report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Access the full farm typology report and additional information such as maps and data highlights on the NASS website.
  • Organizers of the 2021 Mid-South Farm & Gin Show announced the show would not be an in-person event but will move solely to its new online virtual show site for this year.
  • The Missouri Corn Growers Association and Missouri Corn Merchandising Council board of directors announce Bradley Schad as the organizations’ incoming chief executive officer.
  • Learfield IMG College is pleased to announce the addition of Mark DePrez to the Brownfield Ag News Sales Team.
  • Marcy Tessmann is the new chief executive officer of C.O.nxt. She succeeds Mark Gale, who continues as C.O.nxt chief growth officer and chairman of the agency’s employee stock ownership plan board.
  • AAEA/The Agricultural Communicators Network is excited to announce that it is accepting applications for four scholarship opportunities for 2021. Applications are due on or before Monday, February 22, 2021.
  • USDA has released the annual count of certified organic operations calculated from the USDA National Organic Program Organic INTEGRITY Database. The number of certified organic operations worldwide grew to 45,578 in 2020 with 28,454 — more than 62 percent — located in the United States. California remains the leader domestically with more than 5,000 certified operations. The Great Lakes Region, Pacific Northwest, and Iowa continue to round out the top ten.
  • Register now for the Agri-Pulse Ag & Food Policy Summit. Click here to register and see the speaker lineup for the virtual event March 22-24.
  • Floyd Gaibler, the U.S. Grains Council’s longtime director of trade policy and biotechnology, passed away Jan. 21 following complications during surgery.
Zimfo Bytes

National Farm Machinery Show Postpones to 2022

Chuck Zimmerman

National Farm Machinery ShowI was really hoping this would not happen but considering what other shows are having to do it is not surprising. I’ve learned that virtual trade shows are pretty expensive and time consuming to put together. I would think the National Farm Machinery Show would be a massive effort to try to do for a show like this. And this includes the Championship Tractor Pull too.

National Farm Machinery Show (NFMS) and Championship Tractor Pull announced scheduled events will be postponed until February 16-19, 2022. Despite initially planning to continue the shows this March, the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic has led show management to make the difficult decision to postpone events until next year.

“The health and safety of our guests, exhibitors and coworkers is our highest priority and unfortunately the best way to keep them safe is to postpone the show. Postponing the National Farm Machinery Show and Championship Tractor Pull was not made lightly , but in consultation with exhibitors, pullers, sponsors, and attendees who are a valuable part of our decision-making process” said President and CEO of Kentucky Venues David S. Beck.

The National Farm Machinery Show is held annually at the Kentucky Exposition Center and is the largest indoor farm show in the country consisting of 1.2 million square feet of sold-out exhibit space. The show is a key player in the global agriculture industry featuring the most comprehensive display of equipment, services, and technology.

Held in conjunction with the farm show, Championship Tractor Pull draws more than 70,000 fans in person and online from across the globe to watch five action-packed pulls over the course of four days. Sponsored by Syngenta, the event draws the nation’s top drivers as they compete for the title of grand champion and a prize pool of over $200,000.

Farm Machinery, National Farm Machinery Show

Professional Development Webinars for Ag Journalists

Chuck Zimmerman

AAEA & LPC WebinarThis is not a new thing. However, for members of the AAEA, the Ag Communicators Network and LPC, the Livestock Publications Council, the frequency and diversity of topics has grown. I participated in yesterday’s Leading with Focus webinar that featured, Beth Z, Your Nerdy Best Friend (pictured). It was all about leading your team to be more efficient and effective with their time, instead of being stuck in front of a monitor on never-ending video conferences.

I learned a lot from the presentation and the agnerd in me was most interested is a variety of computer and mobile applications that would be very helpful to anyone. If you are a member of one of these organizations and missed it, or previous webinars, you can find them online and on-demand.

Just a couple of interesting apps mentioned include:

Have I Been Pwned? – You might be surprised where your email address has been included in data breaches

Comeet.me – Record short videos to put on your calendar and share with other people.

ACN, LPC, Media

China Starting to Buy U.S. Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

Reports that China is buying U.S. ethanol again sent a positive message to the industry Tuesday that the Phase One trade agreement promises may yet be met.

During an investor call, Archer Daniels Midland Co-Chief Financial Officer Ray Young said they believe China has already made commitments “in the first half of the year for U.S. ethanol equal to the previous all-time high for the calendar year, roughly 200 million gallons.”

During a panel discussion at the Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit, former Ambassador to China and Iowa Governor Terry Branstad said Chinese purchases of U.S. ethanol are long overdue. “We need to hold their feet to the fire and keep the pressure on for them to fulfill the commitments they made under the Phase One trade agreement.”

Also on the panel with Branstad were U.S. Grains Council CEO Ryan LeGrand and Hagan Rose with Eco-Energy, with Absolute Energy CEO Rick Schwarck moderating the discussion. Listen to some of their comments here about the potential for China to buy more ethanol and DDGs.

IRFA Summit Trade panel segment (7:36)

Audio, Corn, Ethanol, Exports, Trade

Precision Ag News 1/27

Carrie Muehling

  • Cotton Farmer Showcase is part of the Healthy Soils for Sustainable Cotton project, which provides farmer-focused education and training events delivered by Soil Health Institute scientists, partnering with local soil health technical specialists and farmer mentors who have implemented successful soil health management systems. Sign up today to receive timely notifications and attend the conversations.
  • AgGateway and the Agricultural Industry Electronics Foundation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on initiatives to increase the seamless exchange of information in farm operations, supporting the goals of growers in managing and using farm data. The agreement allows the two global, non-profit organizations to share information as needed to pursue agreed-upon projects, and to share the rights for resources they develop together.
  • Heliae® Agriculture announced a new strategic collaboration with Rizobacter, a subsidiary of Bioceres Crop Solutions Corp., a global leader in sustainable solutions for agriculture.
  • Merge Marketplace, a new platform designed to connect organic producers with buyers of organic products, is now live. Buyers can list what they are in search of, while sellers can list their crops, livestock, and land. This new marketplace is hosted by Merge Organics, a consulting company that helps farmers establish organic, regenerative systems and field-level transparency to organic food supply chains. To mark the launch, Merge Marketplace is offering anyone who signs up before the end of January 2021, 90 days free access. With a subscription you get unlimited listings, and there are no fees associated with buying, sourcing or selling on Merge Marketplace.
  • CommoditAg has added Alta Seeds, the US brand for Advanta, as its newest product supplier. Expanding on its variety of seed products, CommoditAg now offers grain sorghum hybrids with seed treatment options to meet every farmers’ needs.
  • Precision Planting experts shared six planter upgrades and customizations that farmers can make to their existing planters to help them achieve a good stand and profitable crop in 2021 at the company’s 19th annual Winter Conference for farmers. Sessions from Precision Planting’s Winter Conference are available online as of Monday, Jan. 25. Farmers can visit planterexpert.com to learn more or find a Precision Planting dealer near them.
  • Deere & Company announced the companies that will be part of the 2021 cohort of the Startup Collaborator program. These startups are Nori, NVision Ag, Scanit, and Teleo. This program was launched in 2019 to enhance and deepen its interaction with startup companies whose technology could add value for John Deere customers.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture