Agricultural Leaders Release Roadmap for Trade

Cindy Zimmerman

Farmers for Free Trade held a virtual press conference Tuesday to release a new report on the challenges and solutions for American agriculture on trade, supply chains and global competitiveness. The report is the culmination of a series of discussions across rural America with farmers, ag leaders and related industries including manufacturing and food producers and distributors.

The report, organized by Farmers for Free Trade and its membership, is being released to the incoming Biden administration, Congressional offices and the general public at a time when the ag community is facing enormous challenges, including the potential loss of a trade surplus it has enjoyed for decades.

Participating in the press conference were:
Brian Kuehl and Angela Hofmann, Co-Executive Directors of Farmers for Free Trade
Mary Andringa, Chair of the Board of Vermeer Corporation
Kevin Ross, Iowa farmer and chair of the National Corn Growers Association
Jaime Castaneda, National Milk Producers Federation Senior VP, Policy Strategy & International Trade
Chris Hoffman, PA pig farmer and 2020 Pig Farmer of the Year
Ryan Quarles, KY Agriculture Commissioner and NASDA President

Listen to the first part of the press conference here:
Ag Talks report announcement (33:36)

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Audio, Corn, Dairy, Pork, Trade

NK Corn Portfolio Offers Strong Genetics, Traits

Carrie Muehling

A focus on yield, consistency, and leveraging technology is bringing the NK corn portfolio into 2021, according to Joe Bollman, NK Corn Product Manager for Syngenta.

“We have depth in our portfolio,” said Bollman, who participated in the National Association of Farm Broadcasting virtual Trade Talk event. “What that goes to show is that we’ve been doing a good job with advancing and bringing products to the market that have consistency and strong agronomics that deliver farmers the choices that they want, that deliver the ROI that they need.”

Bollman said growers should look for products that fit both the soil type and management strategies of their operations, including products like Agrisure® Duracade and Agrisure® Viptera.

“We have great breeding advancements that bring strong performing genetics that can handle these weather stresses, but if you’re not getting that protection from the traits, as well, you’re giving up yield potential that you have out there,” he said.

NK plans to offer 11 new corn hybrids in 2021.

2020 NAFB Interview with Joe Bollman, NK Corn Product Manager 4:51

Audio, Corn, NAFB, Syngenta

ZimmCast 662 – ASTA CSS & Seed Expo Recap

Cindy Zimmerman

Each December, the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) hosts America’s largest seed industry convention as the Christmas Season begins traditionally in the Chicago Hyatt Regency at the top of the Magnificent Mile.

This year, like everything else since March, the ASTA CSS and Seed Expo was virtual, and that allowed nearly 1000 attendees from around the world to participate and have access to timely industry content, like the annual outlook for the agricultural economy with Dan Basse. People are still registering for the event to see some of the great panels and presentations.

In this edition of the ZimmCast, we recap some of the highlights of #ASTACSS, including interviews with Basse, ASTA chair John Latham, Iowa farmer Pam Johnson, and ASTA CEO Andy LaVigne. Find more interviews and other media content from the event on the AgNewsWire virtual newsroom.

Listen to the ZimmCast here: ZimmCast 661 - ASTA CSS & Seed Expo Recap (25:56)

Subscribe to the ZimmCast in:

ASTA, Audio, Podcasts, Seed, ZimmCast

Syngenta Saltro® Fungicide has Strong First Year

Carrie Muehling

Growers who have dealt with Soybean Cyst Nematode or Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) know that both are perpetual challenges, potentially creating substantial issues when planting into that environment.

Syngenta‘s Saltro fungicide proved to protect against these threats during the 2020 growing season, which was the first it was available commercially.

“It protects the plant against SDS, it protects the plant against Soybean Cyst Nematode,” said Paul Oklesh, Syngenta Seed Care Product Lead for the U.S. Soybean Portfolio. “It keeps that infection level in the roots low, so that if you get the right environmental conditions later in the season that would normally flush those toxins up into the canopy of the plant, you don’t have as much disease pressure in the roots so you don’t see as much disease pressure in the canopy later.”

Oklesh, who participated in the National Association of Farm Broadcasting virtual Trade Talk event, encouraged growers to visit whysaltro.com for more information about product performance and comparisons to ILEVO-treated soybeans.

2020 NAFB Interview with Paul Oklesh, Syngenta seedcare lead 6:13

Audio, Soybean, Syngenta

Animal Ag News 12/14

Carrie Muehling

  • The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy announced Starbucks intent to support the Net Zero Initiative, a partnership of the U.S. dairy community seeking to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions, optimize water usage and improve water quality on farms.
  • The number of consumers who say they intend to eat beef at least weekly increased from 67 percent to 72 percent compared to 2019, and consumer positive perceptions of beef reached 70 percent for the first time, according to a new report released by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, that examines the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on consumer attitudes, behaviors and perceptions. The full “State of the Consumer” Report, with detailed statistics and graphs can be found here.
  • Our world is changing at a more rapid pace than ever before, and we are closing out one of the most memorable years in recent history. How has your business revolutionized to shift with such seismic change? Are you finding ways to adapt and thrive in the years ahead? Join the Alltech ONE Virtual Experience on December 15 for interactive discussions with four authors who are dedicated to inspiring reinvention and transformation for the future.
  • Members of the American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) elected five candidates to the board of directors during the 2020 AGA Annual Membership Meeting held virtually on December 4. The newly elected board member is William McIntosh, Georgetown, Kentucky. Re-elected to serve a second term were Dustin Aherin, St. Charles, Missouri; Jeff Loveless, Spanish Fork, Utah; Dan McCarty, Rifle, Colorado; and Derek Martin, Bucklin, Kansas. The AGA board of directors also elected individuals to serve in leadership positions on the executive committee for 2021. Dan McCarty was re-elected president. Klint Sickler was re-elected vice president. Both John Carrel, Columbus, Montana, secretary, and Derek Martin, treasurer, were elected to serve a second term in their role.
  • As U.S. pork exports continue to break records in 2020, new reports from the National Pork Board demonstrate opportunities that may diversify U.S. pork exports in Vietnam and the Philippines. The reports also show how African swine fever outbreaks in Asia have impacted both countries’ pork industries and related supply chains. The full reports are available for download at pork.to/international.
  • The Beef Alliance is pleased to announce a new initiative, Feeding Innovation: The 2021 Startup Challenge. The Startup Challenge is a virtual pitch competition for innovators with solutions related to the cattle feeding industry.
  • The checkoff-founded GENYOUth organization and Campbell’s Chunky® are hosting an e-sports initiative that will raise money to deliver 100 million meals, including milk, as part of its COVID-19 Emergency School Meal Delivery Fund to help tackle hunger in schools.
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture Research Service announced a groundbreaking treatment that prevents anemia, weight loss, poor wool and meat production, and even death in sheep.
AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

Evaluating a John Deere Gator During 2020 Deer Season

Chuck Zimmerman

CPHC Hunting CrewHere is most of the team from the Chrystal Pig Hunt Club. We’re in front of a new John Deere Gator XUV 855M S4 that we put through its paces to evaluate and report on. I’ll have more photos and video to share after getting some time at ZimmComm World Headquarters.

We’ve had great weather this season and have seen more deer on our property than ever. And better yet, we’ve only seen a few feral hogs. That makes us happy. The harvest has filled a few freezers and we have room for more. The season here in Georgia lasts a few weeks longer so you can probably guess where we’ll be when we can.

I’m collecting photos of this Gator during our trips to hunting camp here: 2020 Hunt with a Gator Photo Album

Hunting, John Deere

ARA Member Programs Help Grow Leaders

Cindy Zimmerman

The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) recognized its Rising Stars Class of 2020 in a video shown from the main stage during the closing session of the ARA Conference & Expo, held virtually on Dec. 1-2.

Despite the transition to a virtual ARA Conference due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ARA Rising Stars were still able to attend educational sessions and expand their network among the agricultural retail industry’s top influencers and decision makers.

The purpose of the Rising Stars program, sponsored by Atticus, is to develop and hone their leadership skills while providing a platform for ARA and its member companies to reward top performers for going above and beyond. When employees are challenged, engaged in their own professional development, and get recognized for their hard work, they are more likely to continue advancing their career with the company already investing in their future.

Rising Stars is just one of many professional improvement programs offered by ARA. Donnie Taylor, Vice President of Membership & Corporate Relations, is excited about a couple of new programs introduced this year, ARA NAVIGATOR 360° and the ARA Fleet Optimization Program with FARMOBILE. Learn more about the professional programs offered by ARA in this interview.

Interview with Donnie Taylor, ARA (10:34)

If you missed the virtual 2020 ARA Conference & Expo, you can still register to enjoy all of the great content. Interviews and other news from the convention can be found in the AgNewsWire virtual newsroom.

Watch the video of this year’s class of Rising Stars.


ag retailers, ARA, Audio, Video

Industry Ag News 12/11

Carrie Muehling

  • AMVAC® Chemical Corporation, an American Vanguard® company, has named Archer Malmo the company’s integrated agency of record to support its SIMPAS-applied Solutions™ product portfolio.
  • Miami International Securities Exchange, LLC (MIAX®) and the Minneapolis Grain Exchange (MGEX) announce the planned December 14 relaunch of futures on the SPIKES® Index on MGEX via the CME Globex® platform. Miami International Holdings, Inc. (MIH), the parent holding company of the MIAX Exchange Group™, and MGEX announced the completion of MIH’s previously announced acquisition of MGEX for a combination of cash and MIH common stock. MGEX will continue as a wholly owned subsidiary of MIH.
  • Cultiva LLC, a provider of proprietary, food-grade biofilms used in agricultural markets, announces the appointment of Christina Coen, vice president and general manager of Nalco Water, an Ecolab company; to the company’s Board of Directors.
  • At GROWMARK, Inc’s 2020 Annual Meeting, the Board of Directors said goodbye to David Watt, who is retiring from the board. Watt of Murrayville, Illinois has served on the GROWMARK Board since 2002. He and his family raise operate a grain farm. Watt is a former director of the Prairieland FS Board, and past president of its predecessor company, Lincoln Land FS.
  • The Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference announce the full 2021 Virtual Schedule including over 85 hours of educational programs across 15 different specialty crop commodity conferences. This year, SE Regional is offering allied industry partners 15 percent off an All Access Registration price. Use promo code, SEFRIENDS21, and register and save. All educational content and trade show exhibits will be available for on-demand viewing to registered attendees after the conference until April 30, 2021.
  • In preparation for National Ag Day 2021 on March 23, the Agriculture Council of America (ACA) is hosting an essay contest. The theme for this year is Food Brings Everyone to the Table. This essay contest is divided into two categories of competition: written essay and video essay. Both are national competitions. Both winners will receive $1,000. The contest is open to students currently enrolled in grades 9 through 12. Contestants must be a U.S. citizen and attending school in the U.S. Contestants must meet all requirements to compete. The deadline for submitting entries in the essay contest is January 31, 2021. The complete list of rules and regulations for this contest may be found online: https://www.agday.org/essay-contest.
  • Leading global apparel retailer Gap Inc. has joined the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol as part of its integrated sustainability strategy and to help it achieve its commitment to use only 100% sustainably-sourced cotton by 2025. Gap Inc.’s target of sourcing 100% of its cotton from more sustainable sources by 2025 is set across its collection of purpose-led lifestyle brands including Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic and Athleta.
Zimfo Bytes

#ASTACSS Content Lives On

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Seed Trade Association CSS & Seed Expo is a wrap, but the content lives on and will lead into the next ASTA conference, the virtual Vegetable and Flower Seed Conference in February.

ASTA President and CEO Andy LaVigne says they had nearly 1000 attendees at the virtual CSS & Seed Expo. “The great thing about virtual is you can continue the life of this event,” said LaVigne. “And you reach a lot more people. We had people from South America, Europe, even Asia, participating in our event this week.”

The event included the annual outlook from ag economist Dan Basse, as well as interesting sessions with the major players in the seed industry, sustainability, premium markets, genome editing, corn research, and much more. All content remains available for attendees and the platform will even be open for appointment setting through December 18.

You can find interviews and other content from the event in the 2020 ASTA CSS & Seed Expo Virtual Newsroom.

In this interview, LaVigne sums up the annual event and talks about how it will tie into future events. He also comments on the nomination of former Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to serve in the same role under the Biden Administration.

ASTA Wrap up with Andy LaVigne, President and CEO (12:20)

ASTA, Audio, Seed

Tom Vilsack Officially Nominated for Ag Secretary

Cindy Zimmerman

Tom Vilsack last press conference at NAFB 2016

Tom Vilsack has officially been nominated to serve as Secretary of Agriculture in the Biden Administration, reprising the role he held under President Obama for eight years.

Vilsack was the only cabinet member to serve all eight years under Obama, and the longest serving Secretary of Agriculture in modern times (James Wilson served for 16 years under three presidents 1897-1913).

During his term, Vilsack frequently attended the major agricultural events and commodity organization meetings. He visited with the National Association of Farm Broadcasting at Washington Watch and almost every year at the NAFB convention. He has still remained in the industry since leaving USDA, being named president and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council in 2017.

Most major farm and biofuel organizations have already reacted favorably to Vilsack’s nomination.

USDA