Vilsack Kicks Off Agri-Pulse Summit

Cindy Zimmerman

The virtual 2021 Agri-Pulse Ag & Food Policy Summit kicked off the first of three half-day sessions Monday morning with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. The topic this year is “Climate Risks, Rewards and Uncertainties.”

Vilsack stressed the importance of markets for agriculture. “At the end of the day, that is really the job of USDA, creating opportunities for markets,” he said.

The secretary touched on a number of topics, including trade, carbon markets, biofuels, climate smart agricultural practices, conservation programs, and more. Listen to his comments and questions from Agri-Pulse Founder and Editor Sara Wyant.

Agri-Pulse Summit - Secretary Vilsack (24:58)

Registration for the 5th annual Agri-Pulse Ag and Food Policy Summit is still open as the event continues through Wednesday.

Agri-Pulse, Audio, USDA

Industry Ag News 3/19

Carrie Muehling

  • The American Soybean Association recognized Dr. Pengyin Chen from Sikeston, Missouri, with its Pinnacle Award and John Heisdorffer, from Keota, Iowa, with its Distinguished Leadership Award during an awards ceremony broadcast March 16.
  • Farm Foundation and the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute will host a free, two-day virtual conference to explore agricultural trade in the context of a global environment in which climate change policies have become increasingly ambitious and diverse among international players. Register here for the April 7 and 9 conference.
  • The virtual 2021 Water for Food Research Forum on Tuesday, April 6, 10-12:00 p.m. celebrates the important research of University of Nebraska students working toward food and water security and supported by the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute. The forum will showcase examples of their work, focusing on the theme “Creating Impact through Science.”
  • For the fifth year, the Stoneville® Legacy Club™ celebrated cotton growers who, despite unprecedented times, proved their ability to grow high-quality, high-yielding Stoneville cotton – and with record enrollment. The Stoneville Legacy Club honors cotton growers across the entire Cotton Belt who pair the high-caliber performance and premium quality of Stoneville cotton with their own skills to maximize yields.
  • For this upcoming weekend, Anthony Alfredo will have a new nickname thanks to the Georgia Peanut Commission. Alfredo, known as “Fast Pasta,” will be sponsored by the Georgia Peanut Commission during Sunday’s 500-miler at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. The new partnership will make Alfredo become “Fast Peanut” for the one-race partnership.
  • For the first time since the agency’s founding, the FLM Harvest Board of Advisors has a new chair. Danita Rodibaugh, an eight-year veteran of the board, has been named chair, assuming the role held since 2011 by Ted Priebe, who will remain on the board as past chair and assist in the transition. In addition, 25-year ag and food marketing leader Heidi Nelson is joining the board as an Advisor.
  • The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol welcomes one of China’s top three denim manufacturers, Advance Denim, as a member of the system that provides mills and manufacturers the critical assurances they need to prove to their customers that they are an approved supply chain partner for brands and retailers who are sourcing more sustainably grown cotton.
Zimfo Bytes

Ayrstone Announces New Compact Product Line

Cindy Zimmerman

Since global COVID-19 pandemic has made having reliable and strong Internet access in homes and businesses, and across farms and ranches, Ayrstone is proud to introduce a new compact product line to make that easier.

For over ten years, Ayrstone’s AyrMesh line of products has made it easy to have a wireless network covering the maximum area by placing the Hubs as far apart as possible – typically between 1 and 2.5 miles. However, many customers need a denser configuration for coverage.

The new AyrMesh Hub2x2C is a true MIMO 2×2 Ayrmesh Hub, but in a smaller, lower-power, lower-gain configuration suitable for somewhat denser WiFi installations.

Bill Moffitt, President of Ayrstone Productivity, said they want to be able to offer AyrMesh Hubs that will allow farmers, ranchers, and other rural businesses to have continuous WiFi across hundreds and even thousands of acres. “We are also aiming this product more at specialty growers, livestock operations, commercial nurseries, and rural homeowners,” said Moffitt.

Ayrstone is also announcing the new AyrMesh ReceiverC, a smaller, slightly less-powerful version of the AyrMesh Receiver, suitable for use from a few hundred feet to two miles away from an AyrMesh Hub. It can be used to bring the AyrMesh network into outbuildings or connect non-WiFi-equipped devices in the field to the AyrMesh network.

The new AyrMesh products are available now at the Ayrstone store – https://ayrstone.com.

AgWired Precision, Internet, Precision Agriculture

Register for 2021 Virtual National Ag Day

Chuck Zimmerman

National Ag DayIt is not too late to register for next week’s virtual National Ag Day program.

Food brings everyone to the table. And this year, our virtual Ag Day celebration will bring everyone together to recognize the importance of American agriculture.

The program will include both live and pre-recorded segments with remarks from government leaders on the agriculture industry’s economic growth opportunities and how the future will be shaped by lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A representative from the collegiate Ag Day student program will share their experiences and participants will get to hear the winning Ag Day essay as well as view the winning Ag Day video essay. 2021’s Outstanding Young Farmers will also be recognized during the event.

The program begins on March 23, 2021, at 8:30 a.m. CST. You can register to attend now.

“Hosting a virtual Ag Day event has led to some creative ways to celebrate American ag,” said Jenny Pickett, President. “The program will include informal thank you videos to farmers from individuals and companies in the industry so even though we can’t gather in person, it will still have a personal feel and energy to it.”

Ag Day

Precision Ag News 3/17

Carrie Muehling

  • MachineryPete.com, the fastest-growing used farm equipment marketplace, reported record-breaking traffic to its industry-leading auction price data since opening it to the public for free last August. This includes more than 775,000 actual auction sale prices on all types of farm and construction equipment, updated daily from Machinery Pete’s network of 1,100+ auction firms throughout North America.
  • Enko, the crop health company, announced the opening of their new headquarters and research facilities in Mystic, Connecticut. The move significantly expands the company’s capabilities to design safe and sustainable solutions for farmers’ most urgent crop threats, from pest resistance to new diseases.
  • New Dawn Crop Performance, a unique direct-to-farm agribusiness, is a new line of crop production solutions designed to serve North and South Dakota farmers with the quality crop inputs needed to boost yields and improve return on investment. The new farmer-owned company will be led by ag industry veteran and South Dakota native Rob Fox.
  • Farm tractor and self-propelled combine unit sales start the year continuing growth in both the U.S. and Canada according to the latest data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. U.S. total farm tractor sales rose 24.7 percent in January compared to 2020 while U.S. self-propelled combine sales grew a significant 76.8 percent.
  • NRCS will invest up to $75 million under the Regional Conservation Partnership Program’s Alternative Funding Arrangements to fund unique projects that take innovative and non-traditional approaches to conservation solutions at the local, regional and landscape scales. NRCS is accepting AFA project proposals now through May 28. Proposals must be submitted through the RCPP portal at https://nrcs-sites.secure.force.com/.
  • Trust In Food, a Farm Journal initiative working to accelerate the adoption of sustainable agriculture, announces the successful completion of the first wave of dedicated regional conservation agriculture programming for farmers in five states. America’s Conservation Ag Movement is comprised of leading industry organizations aligned around a common mission to assist farmers, growers and ranchers on their conservation ag journeys.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

Syngenta Chooses Site for NA Crop Protection

Cindy Zimmerman

Syngenta has chosen to redevelop its North American Crop Protection headquarters on the current campus location in Greensboro, North Carolina.

The company intends to construct a more than 100,000 square-foot office building to connect with its existing laboratory facility on the north side of the 70-acre campus. Plans also include a complete renovation of the lab facilities. The new workspaces will support about 650 employees and 100 contract workers.

Construction is expected to begin on the new building later this year and the entire project is expected take about three years to complete. Syngenta is assessing options for the south side of its campus.

In early January 2020, Syngenta announced it had engaged in a comprehensive assessment of is current facilities on Swing Road. The large campus, with 17 structures, was established in the mid-1960’s and was later acquired by a Syngenta legacy company, Ciba-Geigy. Syngenta was formed in 2000 and this site has remained one of the company’s major workplaces in the U.S.

Agribusiness, Syngenta

Animal Ag News 3/15

Carrie Muehling

  • U.S. Poultry & Egg Association is accepting applications for the 2021 Clean Water Awards. The awards recognize outstanding performance of wastewater treatment plants that operate at poultry and egg processing facilities. Winners will be announced at USPOULTRY’s 2021 Environmental Management Seminar to be held Sept. 16 – 17, at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Destin, Florida.
  • Working with National Football League (NFL) players and Discovery Education, the dairy checkoff is unveiling initiatives that provide fresh opportunities for consumers and youth to engage with dairy and learn about the industry’s sustainability story. The efforts include the Smoothie Blitz, created in partnership with the checkoff-led Fuel Up to Play 60 program, and a new Undeniably Dairy “Farming to the Future” Virtual Field Trip with Discovery Education. Both programs seek to highlight dairy’s unique health and wellness benefits, as well as farmers’ commitment to the planet.
  • Farmers Business Network announces the acquisition of two outstanding animal health and nutrition businesses – Prairie Livestock Supply and ProPig/ProCattle all based in Worthington, Minnesota.
  • Precision livestock company, Vytelle, is reshaping how cattle producers worldwide optimize their herds. Vytelle has assembled the first integrated technology platform built to accelerate genetic progress in cattle. This allows producers to sustainably deliver more protein with fewer inputs, helping to ensure meat and milk are viable, competitive food choices for future generations.
  • The Quesalupa is making a comeback to Taco Bell’s menu and this version is cheesier than its predecessor, thanks to dairy checkoff scientists. It will roll out nationally on March 11 as a limited-time-only offering for 10 weeks.
AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

CNH Presents First Digital Ag Machinery Fair – YOUNIVERSE

Chuck Zimmerman

YouniverseCNH has created a unique digital machinery show called YOUNIVERSE and it runs April 9-18, 2021.

In a rapidly changing landscape, where the worldwide agricultural trade fair program has been seriously disrupted, CNH Industrial N.V. (NYSE: CNHI / MI: CNHI) has devised an exceptionally innovative way of reconnecting with its customers, the world’s farmers and the wider public. YOUNIVERSE, the first digital agricultural machinery fair designed around the protagonist “you” is not just another live streaming event or virtual showroom, rather a totally immersive, infotainment experience like no other.

YOUNIVERSE is a bespoke platform which uses cutting-edge technology, designed specifically for farmers, contractors and dealers – you – to provide a virtual gateway to CNH Industrial’s global agricultural brands: Case IH, STEYR and New Holland Agriculture as well as sister powertrain brand FPT Industrial and CNH Industrial’s accelerator for tech startups, AgXtend. YOUNIVERSE is easily accessible through both an interactive website and all mobile devices enabling “you” to stay connected, cultivate and grow networks.

Free registration opens starting on April 9, 2021 at youniverse.cnhindustrial.com. The event is open from April 9 to 18, 2021.

You can read more here.

Agribusiness, Equipment, Farm Shows, New Holland, Tractor

Industry Ag News 3/12

Carrie Muehling

  • Brownfield Ag News is pleased to announce Kellan Heavican has joined the Brownfield team as Anchor/Reporter. He is based in Nebraska.
  • Dr. Barb Glenn, CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, announced that she will retire from her position this fall. Serving as a champion for state agriculture departments over the last seven years, Glenn has marshaled NASDA as the unified voice for agriculture, but her profound influence on the industry stretches over her entire 40-year career.
  • To celebrate National Peanut Month, Georgia’s 4,500 peanut farmers are donating 10,080 jars of peanut butter to DC Central Kitchen. The donation is made possible by the Georgia Peanut Commission through Peanut Proud, which is the peanut industry’s humanitarian relief organization. Georgia based truckload carrier, SouthernAG Carriers, graciously donated their truck carrier service to deliver the peanut butter.
  • Farm broadcaster George Gatley passed away Feb. 24, 2021. Gatley joined the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) at KGNO Radio in 1974 and immediately became active in the association, serving as West Region Vice President in 1978 and Chats editor from 1982-83. He hosted multiple regional meetings, served as a convention photographer starting in the 1980s, and was named the 1993 West Region Farm Broadcaster of the Year.
  • Sydney Hefty of Auburn, Indiana, is the recipient of the 2021-22 Soy Scholarship award, sponsored by BASF and the American Soybean Association (ASA).
  • The Steve and Laurie Henry family, including sons Scott and Eric, are the 2021 winners of Farm Journal’s annual Top Producer of the Year award. Their operation, LongView Farms, is based in Nevada, Iowa, and includes 10,000 acres of corn and soybeans as well as hog and cattle enterprises. Matt Splitter, owner of Splitter Farms in Lyons, Kan., is the 2021 Tomorrow’s Top Producer Horizon award winner. Jennie Schmidt of Schmidt Farms in Sudlersville, Md., is the 2021 EWA Trailblazer award winner. Learn more about Top Producer Summit at TPSummit.com.
  • You’re invited to the National Ag Day Virtual Celebration on March 23 at 8:30 a.m. (CST). Sign up for this FREE event and join us in recognizing the hard work and contributions of America’s agriculture.
  • J. Frank McGill passed away Wednesday, March 3, 2021. Mr. Frank, or Mr. Peanut as many called him, was dedicated to advocating for Georgia’s peanut industry. His career began as a county agent for the University of Georgia’s Cooperative Extension Service. From there, he became the very first Peanut Extension Specialist, working at the Coastal Plains Experiment Station, here in Tifton, Georgia. For nearly 30 years, he worked closely with other scientists to establish the “Peanut Team” to help Georgia’s peanut producers nearly quadruple their yields per acre. After his retirement, he continued advocating for peanuts grown in Georgia and across the U.S. He was honored as the first inductee into the Georgia Peanut Hall of Fame at the Georgia Peanut Commission in 1982.
Zimfo Bytes

World Pork Expo Plans 2021 Return

Cindy Zimmerman

Remember World Pork Expo? That big event that was always held at the beginning of June in Des Moines? The last time it was held was 2018, but officials say it will be back this year.

The 2021 World Pork Expo will take place at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa. Professionals in the pork industry can expect three days of networking, education, and innovation from June 9-11.

“We’re more than thrilled to be hosting World Pork Expo this year,” said NPPC President Jen Sorenson, communications director for Iowa Select Farms in West Des Moines, Iowa. “We look forward to connecting with our fellow producers, business partners and others who contribute to our nation’s essential pork production system.”

NPPC will continue to monitor developments in COVID-19 guidelines (local, state, federal) for the World Pork Expo to ensure the health and safety of all participants. NPPC will provide guidance to exhibitors and attendees.

NPPC, Pork, World Pork Expo