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

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