NCBA President Reviews 2020 for Cattle Industry

Carrie Muehling

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) has continued to support cattle producers throughout a difficult year in 2020, said NCBA President Marty Smith.

“Producers got direct money to cattle producers all over the country, and throughout all of that, NCBA was the only organization to submit any kind of economic damage studies,” said Smith, speaking of the group’s work on the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). “We commissioned a group of our top livestock economists from our land grant institutions and asked them to develop some numbers for us, to do some damage analysis. They did that, and we hit very close in terms of what we ultimately got. In other words, we know we’re not going to get everybody back to where they’d like to be, but it’s going to keep us in business.”

The Florida cattle rancher said NCBA also worked diligently to keep packing plants open in March and April when shutdowns impacted beef demand and prices. Other priorities include policy and regulatory issues, as well as market transparency. Smith also discussed the group’s reaction to the 2020 election. NCBA participated in the National Association of Farm Broadcasting virtual Trade Talk event.

2020 NAFB Interview with Marty Smith, President, NCBA 12:14

AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Audio, Beef, NAFB, NCBA

John Oster Receives ARA Distinguished Service Award

Cindy Zimmerman

The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) leadership recognized have awarded John Oster of Morral Companies with the ARA Distinguished Service Award for his support of the association and the agricultural retail industry. The award was announced Wednesday during the virtual 2020 ARA Conference & Expo.

Oster served on the ARA Board of Directors from 2013 through 2019, entering the officer rotation in 2016, and finally serving as Chairman of the Board in 2018.

“John has always been the biggest supporter and recruiter for membership in ARA,” said ARA President and CEO Daren Coppock. “His support of membership recruitment has continued beyond his time in ARA leadership roles and is the main reason he was selected for this award. Of course, his contributions to the ag retail industry reach beyond ARA, as he is also an active supporter of the Ohio Agribusiness Association.”

Selected by the ARA Executive Committee, the ARA Distinguished Service Award honors individual members of the association who have gone above and beyond the traditional volunteer responsibilities.

Listen to an interview with Oster here:
Interview with John Oster, Morral Companies (8:25)

Virtual 2020 ARA Conference & Expo Newsroom

ARA, Audio

Precision Ag News 12/2

Carrie Muehling

  • In a paper published Nov. 25 in Nature, Kansas State University researchers, in collaboration with the international 10+ Genome Project led by the University of Saskatchewan, have announced the complete genome sequencing of 15 wheat varieties representing breeding programs around the world — an invaluable resource to improve global wheat production.
  • Kamterter Products, L.L.C. has won Syngenta‘s 2020 FarMore® Vision Award for its dedication in providing essential support to the seed treatment industry. The award is presented to companies that display excellence in their dedication to growers and their contributions to the seed treatment industry. Kamterter, an independently owned product development and seed enhancement service company based in Nebraska, brings a new generation of seed priming, seed lot refinement and seed coating technologies and services to the industry.
  • Syngenta is proud to unveil Spiropidion, an innovative new insect control technology that will help farmers protect their crops against damaging sucking pests in an effective and environmentally sustainable manner. Sucking pests, such as aphids, whiteflies, and scales, devastate high value fruit and vegetables like tomatoes, oranges and melons, as well as important arable crops like cotton and soybean. Spiropidion is safe to natural beneficial insects and pollinators, offering farmers a new tool for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs.
  • Major investments and an enhanced breeding strategy are producing tangible results in the Golden Harvest® corn portfolio. New heights in bushels per acre arrive just as farmers seek new ways to maximize their profit potential in the 2021 growing season. Farmers seeking locally relevant Golden Harvest performance data can sign up to attend a free virtual harvest report. Presented through Dec. 3, 2020, these events feature Golden Harvest agronomists’ insights on yield results and how they can help farmers plan for success in 2021. A complete schedule, as well as information on how to sign up, can be found at GoldenHarvestWins.com.
  • Raven Industries, Inc. announced that it is accepting pre-orders for its first commercially-available Driverless Ag Technology: AutoCart®. Part of Raven Autonomy™, this autonomous grain cart solution will be available to the market for use in the 2021 harvest season. AutoCart showcases the company’s unique position as the technology solutions leader in agriculture by bridging the gap from human-operated to fully-autonomous platforms.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

Yara Expands Southeast Distribution Support

Cindy Zimmerman

To further support retail partners and growers across Florida, Yara North America will now distribute their flagship calcium-based nitrogen and other Premium Products through Ambassador Services International located at Port Canaveral, Florida. The first Yara vessel was welcomed at Port Canaveral on Thursday, November 5th.

The move positions Yara to better serve key markets including citrus, specialty crops and turf and ornamentals across Florida and other niches of the Southeast region. Ambassador Services International’s climate-controlled storage facilities will ensure premium products, particularly YaraLiva® TROPICOTE®, will be stored at the ideal temperature and humidity level to maintain the quality standards Yara is committed to delivering to its customers and growers.

Ambassador will also enable Yara to improve storage and handling of bulk materials and bagging in both bulk and 50 lb. bags to deliver high-quality products that accommodate the crop nutrition needs of all end-users. Additionally, the convenient ground transportation and loading facilities are expected to keep load time at a minimum. Ambassador’s Port Canaveral facility complements Yara’s existing distribution footprint for YaraLiva TROPICOTE and other Premium Products on the east coast which already includes Wilmington, NC and Savannah, GA.

Learn more from Yara

Citrus, Produce, specialty crops, transportation

Virtual ARA is Underway

Cindy Zimmerman

The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) kicked off the 2020 ARA Conference & Expo as a virtual event Tuesday, featuring keynote speakers, engaging workshops, a 3D Expo Hall and networking opportunities.

Tuesday’s events included the debut of the 3D Expo Hall and the networking lounge as well as the opening general session featuring the ARA President’s Report from Daren Coppock and keynote speaker Kaihan Krippendorff. Following the opening session, The Scoop’s Margy Eckelkamp moderated a panel focused on insights showing the farmer of the future with Brett Sciotto and Scott Caine with Aimpoint Research.

On Monday, the ARA Board of Directors gathered for its quarterly meeting which included the review of regular business operations of the organization and opportunities to strengthen and create efficiencies.

“As the only national association representing the interests of agricultural retailers in Washington, D.C., ARA and its Board of Directors are always seeking avenues to strengthen the voice of the ag retailer,” said Coppock. “And the changes in leadership from this year’s election make it more important than ever to remain or become involved at a grassroots level.”

Registration is still open to attend the remaining sessions today and gain access to the session recordings to watch on demand.

Listen to Coppock’s president’s report below and find more content from the annual conference in the AgNewsWire virtual newsroom.

2020 ARA President's Report with Daren Coppock, president and CEO (10:47)

2020 ARA Virtual Conference & Expo Photo Album

ARA, Audio

Animal Ag News 11/30

Carrie Muehling

  • Rebel Nutrition and Proveta Nutrition Ltd. have joined forces under a new strategic partnership, designed to utilize the complementary expertise and resources of both companies to support new synergies and enhanced animal feed solutions – bringing both short- and long-term advantages for producers in the Swift Current area and more broadly across the West.
  • Michael Dykes, D.V.M., President and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association, released the following statement in support of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s proposed rule that would maintain flexibility in USDA child nutrition program meal requirements related to milk: “According to the federal government, American children and adolescents over four years old are not consuming enough dairy to meet federal dietary recommendations. Yet, over the past several years, the varieties of milk that can be offered to kids in school have been reduced. First, whole milk disappeared; then 2%; and then finally 1% flavored milk which kids prefer compared to non-fat flavored milk. As a result, we’re losing a generation of milk drinkers and pushing kids toward less healthy options including soft drinks, juices and/or caffeinated beverages. None of these replacements compare to the nutritional advantages of milk. That’s why IDFA is pleased to see USDA propose changes to bring low-fat flavored milk back to school nutrition programs. It has been proven time and again in schools across the country that when schools offer flavored milks, kids not only drink more milk—they are more likely to participate in the school meal programs and waste less food, acquiring more vitamins and nutrients. In fact, about 73 percent of the calcium available in the food supply is provided by milk and milk products. Milk is the top source of calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and vitamin D in the diet of children 2-18 years. It’s clear that low-fat flavored milk is highly nutritious, offering vitamins and minerals all kids need and most kids lack.”
  • Beth Bechdol, Deputy Director-General at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, previewed the 2021 Food Systems Summit and its implications for U.S. agriculture during her keynote address of the 2020 Sustainable Agriculture Summit held virtually, Nov. 18-19. Barbara O’Brien, president of the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, opened the Sustainable Agriculture Summit with a review of the COVID-19 crisis and its impact on the world. She said Feeding America projects an 8 billion meal deficit in the charitable food system over the next 12 months, and that the virus created a “reframing” of how people think about and define a sustainable food system.
AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

Field Notes from Koch Agronomic Services – Episode 8

Chuck Zimmerman

The Field Notes podcast series from Koch Agronomic Services (Koch) breaks down the science and technology behind agronomy to help growers do more with less.

The experts we’ve heard from on our previous episodes have covered topics ranging from how different crops use nitrogen to the 4R’s of Nutrient Stewardship and how growers and retailers work together to choose the best input for an operation. If you haven’t checked out the previous prior six episodes, you can find them on your favorite podcast platform.

Nitrogen Protection and Urea Ammonium Nitrate

This episode addresses nitrogen protection and Urea Ammonium Nitrate – better known as UAN. You’ll hear Tim Laatsch, director of agronomy for North America, and Sara Beasley, territory sales manager, both with Koch Agronomic Services. They’ll discuss this versatile source of plant nutrition, how and where it’s used in North America and what growers can do to protect their nutrient investment while improving plant health and productivity.

You can listen to the program here: Nitrogen Protection and Urea Ammonium Nitrate

And to make sure you don’t miss an episode, choose an option to subscribe

For Spotify on your computer download the desktop app.

Agribusiness, Agronomy, Audio, Koch Agronomic Services, Podcasts, Soil

ARA All in for Ag Retail

Cindy Zimmerman

The Agricultural Retailers Association annual 2020 ARA Conference & Expo is a virtual event this year and being held this week, December 1-2. Ag professionals from across the country are going “All In For Ag Retail” with interactive workshops, engaging networking opportunities, and a 3D Expo Hall.

The main event kicks off on Tuesday morning with the general session and expo hall opening and Wednesday will also offer a full day of activities. Registration is available anytime.

In this interview, ARA President and CEO Daren Coppock comments on the impacts of 2020 on the ag retail industry and provides a preview of the conference.

2020 ARA preview interview with Daren Coppock, president and CEO (7:11)

ARA Chairman Rod Wells with GROWMARK offers a look at the virtual format in this video:


ag retailers, ARA, Audio, Video

Heliae® Ag Webinar Series Rethinks Soil Health

Cindy Zimmerman

More than 900 participants joined in November 17 and 18 for Heliae® Agriculture’s two-day virtual event “Rethinking Soil Productivity” to learn about soil health strategies and farm trial results from a variety of regions.

The event featured two main morning sessions and six afternoon breakout sessions spread out over two days, with a focus placed on soil health, regenerative agriculture and the soil health benefits that come from the incorporation of the specialized microalgae. Both days featured three breakout sessions focused on diverse regions throughout the United States and Canada, including a session held entirely in Spanish with crop data from the United States and South America.

These sessions showcased regional PhycoTerra® trial results and the soil health benefits that every soil type can gain from the incorporation of this specialized microalgae. All sessions featured a dedicated live Q&A segment that allowed viewers to submit questions to the panels of professionals for real-time answers.

Heliae® Agriculture will be sponsoring an upcoming webinar in partnership with No-Till Farmer on regenerative agriculture and an exciting new product being launched in the spring, PhycoTerra® ST (Seed Treatment). This webinar will be held on January 19, 2021. Another Heliae hosted webinar featuring news surrounding the PhycoTerra® ST launch will also be held on Tuesday, February 23, 2021. Follow phycoterra.com/blog for the registration and more information.

Videos of all presentations are now posted on the PhycoTerra® blog. To view recaps and recorded versions of all sessions, click this link.

Learn more about the virtual event and what Heliae Agriculture is all about in these interviews with Norm Davy, Chief Revenue Offer at Heliae® Agriculture and Dr. Karl Wyant, VP of Ag Science at Heliae® Agriculture.

2020 NAFB Interview with Norm Davy, Heliae Agriculture (9:09)

2020 NAFB Interview with Dr. Karl Wyant, Heliae Agriculture (15:56)

Audio, Soil, Sustainability

Industry Ag News 11/27

Carrie Muehling

  • Miami International Holdings, Inc., the parent holding company of the MIAX Exchange Group™, and the Minneapolis Grain Exchange, Inc., a Designated Contract Market and Derivatives Clearing Organization, announced that in connection with MIH’s anticipated acquisition of MGEX, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission has approved the transfer of MGEX’s Contract Market Designation to Minneapolis Grain Exchange, LLC, an entity created for purposes of the transaction.
  • USDA is proud to announce the official launch of its AskUSDA program. In an effort to transform how the public interacts with the Department, the AskUSDA program has been established as the “one front door” for customers to access information and help from USDA. AskUSDA gives customers the ability to resolve questions by creating a single destination for phone, chat and web inquiries in order to create a more streamlined experience for the public. AskUSDA also hosts over five thousand knowledge articles that facilitate self-service customer service to address citizens’ most common issues and questions.
  • John Deere and top country artists Dustin Lynch, Maddie & Tae, Mickey Guyton, Travis Denning and Tyler Farr are coming together to raise money for farmers in need. On December 9, these musicians will be performing at The Farm Must Go On by John Deere virtual benefit concert. Fans can join John Deere in its support for Farm Rescue with the chance to win exclusive virtual meet and greets with the performing artists. To enter, fans can show support by donating a minimum of $10 here.
  • COVID-19 has forced marketers to rethink live events and how brands activate. Hear how the experiential team at OBP charted a new course for their clients at Farm Progress Show — and how they’re using these learnings to redefine experiential for the future. The webinar, entitled “Case Study: The Future of Experiential” with Zach Hicks, John Roth & David Camma from OBP, is scheduled for December 3 at 11 a.m. CST. Registration is free for NAMA members and $40 for non-members.
  • Farm Foundation® and Farm Credit will host Training for Success: Resources and Tools for Working with Beginning Farmers and Ranchers—a free, two-day virtual conference—on December 10-11, 2020. A follow-up to November’s Emerging Research on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Conference, which highlighted academic research, this event will focus on providing practitioners and organizations with practical tools and information to support new agriculture professionals. The conference will run from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. CST on December 10, and 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. CST on December 11, with networking opportunities both days until 4:00 p.m. CST. Attendees may review session descriptions and register at farmfoundation.org/training-for-success.
  • On Fri., Dec. 4, 2020, Discovery Park of America will offer media and leaders in agriculture a sneak peek at its new exhibit, “AgriCulture: Innovating for Our Survival.” This one-million- dollar permanent exhibit located in Discovery Park’s 14,000-square-foot Simmons Bank Ag Center will tell the stories of farming innovation in the past, present — and especially — future.
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