2025 Tech Hub Live

EPA Announces Dicamba Registration Decision

Cindy Zimmerman

With a background of cotton ready for harvest, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler announced Tuesday the approval of new five-year registrations for two dicamba products and extending the registration of an additional dicamba product for use by cotton and soybean growers. All three registrations include new control measures to ensure these products can be used effectively while protecting the environment, including non-target plants, animals, and other crops not tolerant to dicamba.

“With today’s decision, farmers now have the certainty they need to make plans for their 2021 growing season,” said Wheeler. “After reviewing substantial amounts of new information, conducting scientific assessments based on the best available science, and carefully considering input from stakeholders we have reached a resolution that is good for our farmers and our environment.”

EPA approved new registrations for two “over-the-top” (OTT) dicamba products — XtendiMax with VaporGrip Technology and Engenia Herbicide — and extended the registration for an additional OTT dicamba product, Tavium Plus VaporGrip Technology. These registrations are only for use on dicamba-tolerant (DT) cotton and soybeans and will expire in 2025, providing certainty to American agriculture for the upcoming growing season and beyond.

Listen to the press call with reporters after the in-person announcement.
EPA press call on dicamba decision (16:58)

National Cotton Council Chairman Kent Fountain, a Georgia cotton producer and ginner, said they will be evaluating the label to ensure the herbicide can be effectively utilized in controlling weeds without undue restrictions.

“The economic damage that would result from not being able to use dicamba herbicides would be tremendous,” Fountain said. “We greatly appreciate EPA’s timely issuance of a new five-year label for this critical crop protection product for cotton producers.” Fountain noted that research conducted prior to availability of dicamba-tolerant varieties reported a minimum 50 percent yield-loss in fields with resistant pigweed.

Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) President and CEO Daren Coppock says the decision, based on a rigorous scientific approval process, provides certainty and clarity for the industry. “Ag retailers and their farmer customers have already been working to make decisions for the 2021 growing season while waiting for clarity on if dicamba would be available for use. Now farmers and their retailers can make firmer plans for the next five years with this critical question answered.”

American Soybean Association (ASA) president Bill Gordon of Minnesota said, “We rely in great part on EPA support for the continued success of our industry, from measures encouraging biodiesel market expansion to these types of decisions regarding safe and effective use of crop protection tools. We thank EPA today for the many steps and time invested in coming to this decision to re-register a product relied upon by many soy growers.”

Read the EPA release for details.

ARA, Audio, Cotton, Crop Protection, EPA, Soybean

Syngenta Kicks Off Virtual Media Summit

Cindy Zimmerman

The 2020 Syngenta Virtual Media Summit officially kicked off Tuesday morning with a live event featuring Syngenta North America leaders.

Corporate Communications Lead Paul Minehart moderated the discussion:
Vern Hawkins, North America President of Syngenta Crop Protection
Trevor Heck, President, Syngenta Canada
Justin Wolfe, North America Regional Director, Syngenta Seeds

Each provided an update on their businesses, offered an industry outlook and discuss how Syngenta is “Leading the Way in the New Decade.”
Syngenta media summit live opening session (1 hour)

Audio, Syngenta

Economic Impact of Agriculture on the St. Louis Region

Chuck Zimmerman

Hello and welcome to the ZimmCast. This podcast was started back in 2004 with a theme of what’s new in the world of agribusiness focusing on agricultural marketing in particular. I really appreciate all the subscribers and listeners who have made this the longest running podcast about agriculture. The feedback and support has been great and I’ve had the opportunity to talk with many, many leaders in the industry.

So, what’s this week’s episode about? It’s about agriculture’s economic impact on a very urban region, specifically St. Louis. The St. Louis Agribusiness Club just announced the results of their Agricultural Economic Impact Study on the St. Louis Region. This study has been conducted every five years since the first one was conducted in 2004. And guess what. ZimmComm produced that first study and you can still see those results on the organization’s website.

To talk about the study I’m going to share conversations with Matt Amick, Missouri Soybean Association and President of the St. Louis Agribusiness Club. Then you’ll hear Alan Spell, University of Missouri Extension, who actually researched and prepared this year’s study.

I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.

Listen to the ZimmCast here: ZimmCast 658 - Agricultural Economic Impact on St. Louis Region (37:52)

Subscribe to the ZimmCast in:

Agribusiness, Audio, Marketing, ZimmCast

Animal Ag News 10/26

Carrie Muehling

  • Steve Kopperud died Oct. 19 of a sudden and highly unexpected arrhythmia while in Minneapolis for a family wedding. Kopperud was senior vice president of legislative affairs at the American Feed Industry Association for more than 20 years and a government affairs consultant for almost 15 years, before officially retiring in 2017. He founded the Animal Industry Foundation, now the Animal Agriculture Alliance, in the 1980s as a forum for producer and industry organizations to counter the rising public relations and legislative challenges of anti-meat activists.
  • With the holidays looking a little different this year, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, is ensuring one thing remains the same – Beef. It’s What’s For Holiday Dinner. Whether gathering around the ‘Beef Drool Log’ or learning how to cook the perfect holiday meal with beef, Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. has a little something for everyone this holiday season. To remind consumers across the country that beef is the only protein that they want to feed their families this holiday season, Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. will return to broadcast television. For the first time since 2003, Beef Checkoff-funded advertisements and the iconic Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. brand will be on television, airing a limited number of ads during the Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas movies.
  • Keeping with the commitment to offering educational opportunities to the poultry industry despite abnormal circumstances, USPOULTRY recently held its 2020 Poultry Processor Workshop in a shortened, virtual format. Dr. Marcos Sánchez-Plata, associate professor of global food security at Texas Tech University, provided a comparison of chemical versus non-chemical interventions for Campylobacter in processing plants. He discussed the importance of addressing these issues in processing for the benefit of general public health.
  • The American Feed Industry Association honored Keith Behnke, Ph.D., with the AFIA-Kansas State University Feed Manufacturing Lifetime Achievement Award for his lifelong contributions to the feed industry through business and education.
  • In a special edition of NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen, seven of the nation’s top cattle operations were honored for implementing practices that make them true stewards of land, air and water resources. Each of these farms and ranches exemplify the commitment of all producers to protect the resources in their care and improve their operations for future generations of cattlemen and women. To see videos of each winning operation, visit NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen here.
  • NovaQuest Capital Management LLC, a leading investor in life sciences and healthcare, announced a $20 million product financing agreement with Mileutis Ltd., an Israeli biopharmaceutical company, to help mitigate the use of antibiotics in animals. NovaQuest’s investment will drive the continued development and commercialization of Mileutis’ novel, biologically sourced, and residue-free therapies for animal health.
  • The North American Meat Institute and the Alliance for Meat, Poultry and Seafood Innovation sent a joint letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, calling on the agency to support mandatory labeling of cell-based/cultured meat and poultry products and to solicit input on what that labeling should look like through an Advance Notice of Public Rulemaking.
AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

USDA and USTR Release Report on China Trade

Cindy Zimmerman

An interim report from the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) highlights the progress made so far in implementing the agricultural provisions in the U.S.-China Phase One Economic and Trade Agreement.

To date, China has implemented at least 50 of the 57 technical commitments under the Phase One Agreement. These structural changes will benefit American farmers for decades to come. China also has substantially ramped up its purchases of U.S. agricultural products. To date, China has purchased over $23 billion in agricultural products, approximately 71% of its target under the Phase One Agreement.

Highlights in the report include:
Outstanding sales of U.S. corn to China are record high 8.7 million tons. Soybeans sales for marketing year 2021 are off to the strongest start in history, double 2017 levels. U.S. pork exports to China hit an all-time record in the first five months of 2020 as beef and beef products exports through August 2020 are already more than triple the total for 2017.

In addition to these products, USDA expects 2020 sales to China to hit record or near-record levels for numerous other U.S. agricultural products including pet food, alfalfa hay, pecans, peanuts, and prepared foods.

Read the full report

Exports, Trade, USDA

Industry Ag News 10/23

Carrie Muehling

  • Record potato sales continued at retail from July through September 2020. Total store potato sales increased by 13.6% in dollar sales and 10.6% in volume sales, compared to the same time frame in 2019. These sales levels are also the highest they have been for the past five years.
  • FFA members and supporters from across the country will log on to their smart devices next week to celebrate agricultural education and agriculture during the 93rd National FFA Convention & Expo. The event, which is traditionally the largest student convention in the country, will be held virtually this year, allowing even more people to participate.
  • As part of its ongoing efforts to support the next generation of American agriculture, National Farmers Union announced that fourteen participants had been selected for its tenth Beginning Farmer Institute cohort. Over the course of ten months, these beginning farmers and ranchers will attend three sessions focused on technical training, mentorship, and leadership development.
  • Charleston│Orwig is now C.O.nxt, amplifying the agency’s focus on guiding clients toward new possibilities and unexpected solutions. Pronounced “c o next,” C.O.nxt reflects an appreciation for the organization’s roots as well as optimism for the future. To align with the rebranding, the agency also launches a new logo and website, CO-nxt.com.
  • The GROWMARK Foundation continues its commitment to FFA by giving away 25 more jackets this fall. The effort honors the legacy of Mike Builta, a GROWMARK vice president and long-time employee who passed away unexpectedly in 2019. Mike’s wife Sheila, along with daughters Haley and Kelsey, wished to honor his memory by providing 100 FFA jackets to Illinois FFA members – 25 each year from 2019-2022.
  • Farm Foundation and USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) are partnering to host a conference dedicated to economic research into the challenges and opportunities experienced by beginning farmers and ranchers. This is a unique chance for attendees to learn, discuss and connect around these issues to improve future outcomes for new agriculture professionals. The virtual conference is scheduled for November 9-10, 2020. Register at bfr.cventevents.com.
  • The 2020 NAFB Foundation Auction is going virtual this year . . . and it is now LIVE! The online auction will be built into the virtual convention page at the top of the screen as a main-menu selection as well as a separate link. Those who want to bid on items will need to register within the auction site. Bidders will have from today until 12 a.m. Eastern, Tuesday, December 1, 2020 (11 p.m. Central, Monday, November 30, 2020), to place bids.
  • The winner of this year’s NAFB Membership Directory Cover Photo Contest is Chabella Guzman of KRVN/Rural Radio Network. Guzman submitted the winning photo and will receive a $100 Visa gift card from NAFB. Her photo will appear on the cover of the 2021 NAFB Membership Directory, as well. Guzman’s photo features Wyoming wheat, soaking in the sun, north of Pine Bluffs, Wyoming. The wheat is part of several plots in a University of Wyoming variety trial project.
  • U.S. Custom Harvesters will host its 37th annual convention in Des Moines, Iowa, January 21-23, 2021. The convention will be an in-person event. For the first time in five years, the annual convention will feature the four main U.S. forage harvester equipment companies. Krone, CLAAS, New Holland and John Deere will be showcasing their newest equipment to USCHI members in January.
Zimfo Bytes

Debate Mentions Farmers, Discusses Energy

Cindy Zimmerman

President Donald Trump highlighted his support for U.S. farmers and ranchers during the presidential debate with Democrat challenger Joe Biden Thursday night.

“China is paying … I just gave 28 billion dollars to our farmers,” President Trump said when asked what he would do to make China pay for its lack of transparency about the coronavirus.

Interrupted by Biden saying it was “taxpayers’ money,” President Trump argued that China paid for its treatment of farmers. “They devalued their currency and also paid up. And you know who got the money? Our farmers, our great farmers, because they were targeted.”

Presidential debate Trump on China and farmers (:22)

Former Vice President Biden expressed support for “complete zero emissions by 2025” by transitioning away from oil during climate change portion of the debate.

“Because the oil industry pollutes significantly,” said Biden. “It has to be replaced by renewable energy over time.”

Biden mentioned solar and wind energy, but renewable fuels were not specifically mentioned by either candidate. Later in the segment on climate change, Biden stretched the deadline for zero emissions beyond 2025. “We have to move toward net zero emissions. The first place to do that by the year 2035 is in energy production, by 2050 totally.”

The former vice president also said he is does “rule out banning fracking,” but wants to make sure we can “capture the emissions from the fracking.”

Listen to some of the debate on energy here:
Presidential debate discussion on energy (2:16)

Audio, Energy, politics

Precision Ag News 10/21

Carrie Muehling

  • University of Florida scientists achieved a major milestone in their quest to develop a citrus greening-resistant tree by sequencing the genome of a fruit plant that’s a close cousin to citrus trees.
  • Farmers will have 20 new Channel® XtendFlex® soybean products for their farms and fields in 2021. During the 2020 season, these XtendFlex products have been widely planted and evaluated in monitored field trials across the country, providing Channel team members and farmers a reliable assessment of agronomic vigor and yield potential.
  • Truterra, LLC, the sustainability business at Land O’Lakes, Inc., one of America’s largest farmer-owned cooperatives, announced a new collaboration with Ag Growth International Inc., a leading provider of equipment solutions for agriculture bulk commodities including seed, fertilizer, grain, feed and food processing systems.
  • The Soil Health Institute released a series of virtual soil health field days. The video tours include conversations with cotton growers and soil health specialists in Arkansas and South Carolina, according to David Lamm, Project Manager of Healthy Soils for Sustainable Cotton. The series of 13 videos are publicly available on SHI’s YouTube Channel.
  • Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies Inc. announces that Ron Restum, former VP Sales and Commercial Development for Concentric Ag, has joined Ostara as Chief Revenue Officer.
  • Ranch Systems, Inc. announced they have completed integration with John Deere Operations Center allowing data flow from Ranch Systems’ telemetry solutions and field monitoring platform. Ranch Systems has also completed integration work necessary to remotely read the John Deere Field Connect soil moisture probes.
  • The next Water for Food Global Webinar Series session on Thursday, Oct. 22, will examine the environmental and man-made challenges to water quality and how to find solutions to ensure healthy water for personal needs, agriculture and the environment. Register here.
  • HELM Agro US, Inc. announced that Gamma™ herbicide has received federal registration from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Gamma is a non-selective PPO-inhibitor herbicide with a novel active ingredient called Tergeo™ for directed postemergence applications in grapes.
  • CoverCress, Inc., announced a new collaboration with the Salk Institute to improve plant yield, soil health and soil organic carbon storage in cover crops via cutting-edge technologies developed by the Salk’s Harnessing Plants Initiative.
  • Case IH is launching updates to Puma® series tractors — models 185, 200, 220 and 240 — to enhance the efficiency, comfort and convenience. From an updated hood with new styling to increased service intervals and enhanced drivability, the new features and advancements aim to improve the operator’s experience and boost productivity.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

Field Notes from Koch Agronomic Services – Episode 7

Cindy 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 Cold Weather Myths

This episode addresses nitrogen protection and cold weather myths. Technical agronomist Derek Rapp and product marketing manager Eric Vogel with Koch Agronomic Services discuss the misconceptions that cold temperatures stop nitrogen loss and ammonia volatilization is the only cause of fall-applied nitrogen losses. The two also talk about what growers in the wheat belt should know this winter.

You can listen to the program here: Nitrogen Protection and Cold Weather Myths

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

Free Agri-Pulse Webinar to Explore Pork Exports

Cindy Zimmerman

With COVID-19 disrupting millions of lives and the ability to process protein, thousands of pork producers were forced to pivot to an unprecedented new reality in 2020 and international exports became even more important to producer profitability.

Agri-Pulse will explore the export situation for U.S. pork producers during a free one-hour webinar Oct. 29, from noon to 1 pm EST. The webinar is sponsored by the National Pork Board.

“Some might wonder why U.S. producers are working to expand exports when the domestic supply chain was so disrupted this year,” said Agri-Pulse Editor Sara Wyant. “But when you look at the types of products that are exported plus the factors that enable producers to stay in business, it’s a much more complex conversation.”

Wyant will moderate a panel on the topic with Ted Mckinney, USDA Undersecretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs; North Carolina pork producer Jan Archer; and Dr. Dermot Hayes, Iowa State University agricultural economist.

Click for more information and registration.

Agri-Pulse, Pork, Pork Checkoff