Field Notes From Koch Agronomic Services – Episode 11

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 episodes, you can find them on your favorite podcast platform.

Spring Planting

In this episode, we look at preparing for spring planting. You’ll hear from two experts: Jared Miller, master agronomy advisor for MKC and Garrett Buschjost, territory business manager for Koch Agronomic Services. They’ll discuss the impact unpredictable spring weather has on nitrogen and the solutions available to growers to address nitrogen loss.

You can listen to the program here: Spring Planting (11:29)

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

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Agribusiness, Audio, Koch Agronomic Services, Nutrient Management, Soil

USDA Announces Pandemic Assistance for Producers

Cindy Zimmerman

USDA has unveiled a new initiative for farmers, ranchers and biofuels producers impacted by COVID-19 market disruptions – Pandemic Assistance for Producers (PAP).

USDA is dedicating at least $6 billion toward the new programs. The Department will also develop rules for new programs that will put a greater emphasis on outreach to small and socially disadvantaged producers, specialty crop and organic producers, timber harvesters, as well as provide support for the food supply chain and producers of renewable fuel, among others. Existing programs like the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) will fall within the new initiative and, where statutory authority allows, will be refined to better address the needs of producers.

USDA will reopen sign-up for CFAP 2 for at least 60 days beginning on April 5, 2021. The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) has committed at least $2.5 million to improve outreach for CFAP 2 and will establish partnerships with organizations with strong connections to socially disadvantaged communities to ensure they are informed and aware of the application process.

Listen to Secretary Vilsack announce the new initiative to farm broadcasters. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack on Pandemic Assistance for Producers (9:53)

Learn more from USDA.

Audio, USDA

ZimmCast 667 – Feeding the Economy & Fueling Your WiFi

Chuck Zimmerman

Hello and welcome to the ZimmCast.

Since it is Ag Week and we just celebrated Ag Day I want to say thank you to farmers and everyone in the food and agribusiness industries for helping feed the world.

Ag Week emphasizes the importance of agriculture and in this program I’m sharing a conversation about a new impact study of the food industry to the U.S. economy. It’s titled, “2021 Food and Agriculture Industries Economic Impact Study.” To learn more about it I visited with Connor McKoy, Communications Director for the Biotechnology Innovation Organization. The study is impressive and there is a whole website dedicated to it and making the information simple to navigate.

After that discussion I move on to how farms and rural households can enhance and extend their wifi coverage with new products from Ayrstone Productivity. Bill Moffitt, President, talks about their newest Ayrmesh products.

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

Listen to the ZimmCast here: ZimmCast 667 - Feeding the Economy & Fueling Your WiFi (26:01)

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.

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Agribusiness, Audio, Technology, ZimmCast

EPA Chief Shares Climate Agenda

Cindy Zimmerman

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan told the Agri-Pulse Ag and Food Policy Summit he is looking forward to working with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on the Biden Administration climate agenda.

“I’m enthusiastic about the future of our partnership, identifying areas where we can be helpful as well as how we can work on advancing climate smart agriculture practices together,” said Regan.

Ag and Food Policy Summit - EPA Admin Michael Regan (23:45)

Agri-Pulse, Audio, EPA

Precision Ag News 3-24-21

Cindy Zimmerman

  • Syngenta announces its newest corn and soybean seed treatment, VAYANTIS® fungicide, has received EPA registration. VAYANTIS® fungicide contains the active ingredient picarbutrazox, a completely new systemic fungicide seed treatment developed to protect seedlings from key blight and damping-off diseases, such as Pythium and Phytophthora, in many different cropping systems.
  • The American Soybean Association (ASA) presented Brian Ryberg from Buffalo Lake, Minnesota, with the 2021 National Conservation Legacy Award during a virtual ASA Awards Program on March 16.
  • Meristem Crop Performance Group and Planet Earth Agronomy announced a new strategic product development alliance designed to bring innovative biological products to American farmers. Under the relationship, Meristem and Planet Earth will work closely to develop and market yield-enhancing technology.
  • 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. The AyrMesh Hub2x2C and AyrMesh ReceiverC are designed for easy set up and use by people with farm backgrounds.
  • Conservation’s Impact on the Farm Bottom Line is a new report from Soil Health Partnership (SHP) that details the financial impact of conservation tillage and cover crop usage among Midwest corn and soybean growers.
  • U.S. Farmers & Ranchers in Action (USFRA) celebrated National Ag Day by announcing the growing list of companies, organizations and individuals who have joined the Decade of Ag, an initiative centered around investing in the next generation of agricultural systems, restoring our environment, and regenerating natural resources.
  • The Mosaic Company and AgBiome have announced a strategic collaboration, aiming to discover, develop and launch novel biological approaches to enhancing soil fertility. The collaboration will support the development of innovative agricultural technologies that help growers increase nutrient use efficiency and ultimately minimize fertilizer loss to the environment.
  • With resistant weed control far and away the issue of greatest importance to ag retailers serving corn farmers, AMVAC has a wide portfolio of herbicides to help address weed resistance in corn – including Impact Core® and Sinate® Herbicide, both introduced to the market for 2021.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes

National Agriculture Day 2021

Cindy Zimmerman

National Ag DayPresident Joe Biden has proclaimed today, March 23, as National Ag Day, the fifth year that The White House has publicly recognized National Ag Day as a salute to the contributions of America’s farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses. The proclamation highlights how American agriculture has stepped up over the past year to ensure a safe and abundant food supply and highlights that ag will play a critical role in combating climate change.

National Ag Day activities were virtual this year instead of in-person in Washington, DC. On the program were two state governors with messages about today’s celebration.

First up was Governor Laura Kelly (D-KS): Governor Kelly Remarks

And next was Governor Mike Parson (R-MO): Governor Parson Remarks

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recorded a video to celebrate this week in honor of farmers and ranchers.


Ag Day, USDA, Video

Animal Ag News 3/22

Carrie Muehling

  • When the American Angus Association® was established in 1883, the founding fathers could have never imagined the power and impact registered Angus cattle would make by the year 2021. The headquarters of the world’s largest beef breed association in Saint Joseph, Missouri, surpassed 20 million registrations on March 17, 2021.
  • A bit of seaweed in cattle feed could reduce methane emissions from beef cattle as much as 82 percent, according to new findings from researchers at the University of California, Davis. The results, published March 17 in the journal PLOS ONE, could pave the way for the sustainable production of livestock throughout the world.
  • The North American Meat Institute reports that nearly one year after the first reported cases of COVID-19 among meat and poultry workers, comprehensive protections have brought case rates to just 2.67 cases per day per 100,000 workers – more than 85% lower than rates in the general population
AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

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