Animal Ag News 3/8

Carrie Muehling

  • Plans for the 54th World Dairy Expo®, set for September 28 through October 2, continue to progress at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Expo recognizes that uncertainty remains surrounding future health regulations that may govern Madison this fall at the time of WDE 2021. For the latest Expo news, follow WDE on social media and visit www.worlddairyexpo.com.
  • The National Pork Producers Council elected new officers and members to its board of directors at its National Pork Industry Forum. Jen Sorenson was introduced as the 2021-2022 NPPC president. For the past decade, Sorenson has been with Iowa Select Farms, an Iowa farming business that markets more than five million hogs per year. She grew up on a livestock farm, raising pigs and row crops. In addition to serving on NPPC’s board, Sorenson chairs NPPC’s Labor Security Task Force.
  • Al Deutsch, a longtime pork-industry stalwart who was instrumental in building the NPPC’s Pork Alliance membership, was inducted into the organization’s Hall of Fame during the recent National Pork Industry Forum. Also at the forum, Missouri Pork Producers Association Executive Vice President Don Nikodim was presented with the Paulson-Whitmore State Executive Award.
  • The Beef Alliance is pleased to announce the ten finalist companies selected to present in the 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. Information about the Startup Challenge is available at beefalliance.com/startupchallenge/.
  • The U.S. Dairy Export Council, National Milk Producers Federation and International Dairy Foods Association issued joint comments on Canada’s Phase II Consultations on its Comprehensive Review of the Allocation and Administration of Tariff Rate Quotas for Dairy, Poultry, and Egg Products. The three organizations, which have repeatedly expressed concerns about Canada’s failure to align its TRQ conditions with its commitments in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, are united in their insistence that Canada must dramatically reform its policies regarding the administration and allocation of its TRQs.
AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

Ethanol’s Role in a Net-Zero Future

Cindy Zimmerman

This edition of the Ethanol Report explores ethanol’s role as a “net-zero hero” with highlights from the 26th annual National Ethanol Conference (NEC).

The report includes remarks from David MacIntosh, Environmental Health & Engineering Inc.; Stefan Unnasch with Life Cycle Associates; and Michael Berube, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation, who all spoke at the 2021 NEC. In addition, we have comments from Renewable Fuels Association CEO Geoff Cooper, Chief Economist Scott Richman, and VP of Industry Relations Robert White.

Ethanol Report 3-4-21 (21:54)

The Ethanol Report is a podcast about the latest news and information in the ethanol industry that has been sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association since 2008.

Choose an option to subscribe

Audio, Corn, Environment, Ethanol, RFA

Digital Commodity Classic Attracts Thousands

Cindy Zimmerman

2021 Commodity ClassicThe 2021 Special Edition of Commodity Classic last week appears to have been a virtual success.

According to the organizers, by Thursday, the total number of attendees was nearly 6,000, with more than 4,000 farms represented from 49 states and 24 countries. The online event concluded Friday with a live keynote address from USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack.

If you missed it last week, you can still register by March 12 and watch more than 50 archived sessions on-demand until April 30, 2021.

Commodity Classic, Corn

Virtual Agri-Pulse Summit Has Packed Agenda

Cindy Zimmerman

The agenda for the virtual 2021 Agri-Pulse Ag & Food Policy Summit offers insight from members of Congress, political appointees, food and agricultural leaders from coast to coast, along with industry and academic experts with the theme: “Climate Risks, Rewards and Uncertainties.”

Leaders of both the House and Senate Agriculture Committees are headlining the three day event March 22-24. House Agriculture Committee Chairman David Scott (D-GA) and Ranking Member Glenn Thompson (R-PA), Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Ranking Member John Boozman (R-AR) will all provide their perspectives over the course of the Summit.

This year’s summit will feature three virtual half-day sessions and discussions will focus on research needs, potential costs, carbon payments, federal policy options, proposed regulatory changes and more. Registration and other information can be found on the Agri-Pulse website.

Agri-Pulse

Vilsack Speaks at 2021 Commodity Classic

Cindy Zimmerman

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom VilsackThe 2021 Commodity Classic Special Edition ended today with a closing general session featuring U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. Moderating was National Association of Farm Broadcasting president Gale Cunningham, WYXY, who posed questions to the Secretary after his opening remarks.

Secretary Vilsack addressed a number of topics, including COVID relief, trade with China, renewable fuels, and conservation and carbon sequestration.
Remarks from Secretary Vilsack (48:53)

Audio, Commodity Classic, USDA

Industry Ag News 3/5

Carrie Muehling

  • Bayer announced a series of decisions to accelerate the strategy implementation of its Crop Science division. In order to focus on its core agricultural business, this includes the intent to divest the company’s Environmental Science Professional business.
  • National Sorghum Producers launched a new podcast Sorghum Smart Talk: Policy Edition. The spin off of the original Sorghum Checkoff Sorghum Smart Talk podcast will focus on legislative and regulatory matters impacting sorghum farmers, answering a call for more information that can be accessed easily at home, on the road or in the tractor cab.
  • For his seminal coverage of farm stress and rural mental health, National Farmers Union awarded farm broadcaster Don Wick of the Red River Farm Network with its 2021 Milt Hakel Agriculture Communications Award.
  • Register now for the next Farm Foundation Forum, titled Emerging Carbon Markets in Agriculture: Issues and Opportunities. The Zoom forum is scheduled for Tuesday, March 16 from 9-11 a.m. CST.
  • The Agriculture Council of America has announced the 2021 National Ag Day video and written essay winners. The winners were chosen based on the theme: How American Agriculture Brings Food to the Table. The theme presented an opportunity for high school students to address how agriculture brings everyone together by feeding a growing population. Entrants chose to either write an essay or create a video. A first-place written winner and a video winner were selected.
  • Farm Journal announced that Craig Heimbuch joins the company as chief creative officer. In this new role, he will guide Farm Journal’s multi-layered content ecosystem to extend reach and engagement with audiences across agriculture.
  • The Yield Lab Institute, in partnership with the United Soybean Board, Syngenta, Amazon Web Services and the ICL Group, is proud to announce the winners of the Soy Innovation Challenge. Seven finalists were selected from nearly 90 worldwide applicants.
  • IFAJ Star Prize entries are due March 15. You will find the rules and registration forms on the IFAJ website or by clicking here.
  • Big Idea Ventures LLC announces the appointment of Bette Brand, former Deputy Under Secretary for USDA Rural Development and Bill Northey, former Under Secretary for USDA Farm Production and Conservation as senior advisors to the General Food Rural Partners fund.
  • John Deere unveiled new tractors, sprayers and other equipment for the coming year. Deere updated its 8 Series and 9 Series tractors, as well as introducing the industry’s first factory-installed, integrated tractor and planter solution. John Deere also unveiled new 400 and 600 Series sprayers with See and Spray Select technology, as well as a new lineup of Hagie self-propelled sprayers. The company has also made key updates for model year 2022 to its lineup of air seeding tools.
Zimfo Bytes

Precision Ag News 3/3

Carrie Muehling

  • PureAcre™ has released their first product to row-crop farmers. Augere is a soil amendment that increases nutrient assimilation when added to liquid fertilizers, such as UAN (urea ammonium nitrate) and starter fertilizers.
  • The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) presented the fourth-annual Davidson Prize to the top three innovative products, selected from the AE50 honorees on March 2 during the virtual special-edition of Commodity Classic.
  • UPL Ltd. announced a long-term strategic collaboration with FMC Corporation, a leading global agricultural sciences company. The agreement provides UPL access in key markets prior to patent expiration, to commercialize Rynaxypyr®active, FMC’s leading insecticide. As per the agreement, UPL will toll manufacture and supply Rynaxypyr to FMC in India, and FMC will supply the active ingredient to UPL depending on the markets. The deal adds a key portfolio of products to UPL’s business and supports FMC in maximizing the penetration of this important active ingredient.
  • UPL announces the Environmental Protection Agency has granted approval for TEPERA® PLUS HD, a new liquid-fertilizer-compatible fungicide and insecticide formulation that offers exceptional protection from seedling disease and insect pressure. With Tepera Plus HD growers see consistent results in improving stand, uniformity, and plant health.
  • Golden Harvest farmers now have access to the E-Luminate® Mobile app, a digital agronomy platform designed to deliver timely insights directly to farmers from their trusted Seed Advisors.
  • Raven Industries has joined BASF and AGCO as the newest Operation Weed Eradication coalition member to support farmers in their weed control efforts. Operation Weed Eradication is an industry-wide mission to enlist tough-minded farmers and industry leaders to take the approach that the last weed standing is the strongest, most capable and most genetically resistant weed on the farm.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

ZimmCast 666 – The Off-Farm Income Podcast and More

Chuck Zimmerman

Hello and welcome to the ZimmCast.

This week Commodity Classic is having a Special Edition. Which means virtual since it is not an in-person event this year. For many of you and including myself, it was the last farm show or event we’ve attended since the pandemic shutdown a year ago. But, like so many virtual events we’ve been participating in, it is still nice to see and hear from people we know and to still help clients with their media outreach when they are involved in this type of event. Just check out our AgNewsWire website to see what I mean.

Off-Farm Income PodcastThis week I’m going to talk with a fellow farm podcaster. He’s Matt Brechwald, producer of the Off-Farm Income Podcast and a lot more. Matt produces a lot of podcasts and when I learned about what he’s doing I wanted to talk with him about it since he really jumped into farm podcasting in a big way. So, listen in to our conversation and at the end we let you know the best way to find either of us.

I’m going to keep in touch with Matt and hope you’ll subscribe to his podcasts.

So, that’s the ZimmCast for this week. I hope you enjoyed it and thank you for listening.

Listen to the ZimmCast here: ZimmCast 666 - The Off-Farm Income Podcast and More (54:41)

If you like what you hear in the ZimmCast please subscribe in any of the major platforms. And you can also search for the ZimmComm Golden Mic Podcast too, which includes all the audio we produce.

If you would like to advertise in the ZimmCast or become an on-going sponsor please let me know and we’ll work out a plan just for you.

Subscribe to the ZimmCast in:

Audio, Podcasts, ZimmCast

Syngenta Press Conference at 2021 Commodity Classic

Chuck Zimmerman

Syngenta Press ConferenceIt is early on day one of the 2021 Commodity Classic Special Edition. First up on the schedule have been press conferences.

I sat in on the Syngenta press conference which featured the following speakers and was moderated by Paul Minehart, Head, Corporate Communications, North America at Syngenta. You can listen in to the conference below.

Syngenta announced the new Field Forged Series™ from NK® Seeds, coming this fall, which will include 10 new NK corn hybrids, four new Enogen® corn hybrids and 20 new NK soybean varieties for the 2022 growing season, selected for both agronomics and yield potential.

  • Digital Ag – Ron Cowman, the new head of North America Digital Ag Solutions at Syngenta, will provide an update on the state of Syngenta Digital Ag and his vision for Syngenta Digital Ag in the U.S.
  • Golden Harvest – Grant Merron, Golden Harvest digital enablement lead, to introduce the E-Luminate® Mobile app, a digital agronomy platform designed to deliver timely insights directly to farmers from their trusted Seed Advisors.
  • NK – Joe Bollman, NK® corn product manager, announced the Field-Forged Series from NK Seeds. The Field-Forged Series is a new class of products from NK Seeds that features new innovations and proven products for both corn and soybeans.
  • Vayantis – Dale Ireland, seedcare technical product lead, will unveil a new standard of Pythium protection. Upon EPA registration, Vayantis® seed treatment will deliver reinforced Pythium protection for corn growers.
  • Acuron GT – Mark Kitt, herbicide technical product lead, will speak on a new product in the Acuron® corn herbicide family of brands: Acuron GT, anticipated to receive registration in 2021.

Listen in to the Syngenta Press Conference: Syngenta Press Conference

You can also find images of the speakers in this photo album: Syngenta at 2021 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Commodity Classic, Seed, Syngenta

Fastline Marketing Group Launched

Chuck Zimmerman

Fastline Marketing GroupFastline is now a full service agency according to this announcement. The company provides a full suite of digital offerings including website development, SEO, digital advertising, social media and email marketing.

Fastline, known primarily for its print and online marketplace for farm equipment, parts and machinery, is rebranding and repositioning as Fastline Marketing Group. The new name highlights an expanded and evolving suite of digital and marketing tools the company offers to the agricultural community alongside its traditional media properties.

Fastline Marketing Group is a full-service agency that provides marketing solutions exclusively for agricultural dealers and manufacturers, many of whom lack the time and resources to market their business. With the rebranding, Fastline has positioned itself to help its core customers tackle the challenges of an ever-changing digital landscape, while building off more than 40 years of industry experience.

“Fastline has grown and evolved alongside our core audience throughout our history,” said John M. Anderson, President of Fastline Marketing Group. “We pride ourselves on listening to our customers —both the dealers and farmers ­— to create solutions that meet their needs. Fastline Marketing Group is a natural continuation of that promise and combines our experience with innovative marketing tools geared specifically to the agricultural industry.”

Agencies, Marketing, Media