Industry Ag News 7/3

Carrie Muehling

  • During a board meeting in November 2019, the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance board of directors voted to move the organization’s activities from the prior 501c6 to a 501c3 charitable organization. This required USFRA to rebrand itself to avoid confusion between the two organizations. In March, the board of directors adopted the 501c3 organization’s new name – U.S. Farmers & Ranchers in Action.
  • A new summer field day has been announced for August 24th. The Ag Classic Expo will bring together farmers, businesses, and other agriculture professionals for a day of on-farm plot tours, educational presentations, networking, food, and fun. The field day can be attended in-person and will also be broadcasted live for those who are unable to attend or uncomfortable with crowds. The event is being hosted in partnership with AgMaxx, Inc., the Western Farm Show, Farm Journal’s U.S. Hemp Growers Association, and the Missouri Hemp Association LLC.
  • Woodruff has expanded its digital capabilities to offer the latest in web development – progressive web application (PWA).
  • A new video from the Renewable Fuels Association and Kansas Corn provides a clear introduction to other important products that come from ethanol production, primarily distillers grains used in livestock production, distillers oil used to make biodiesel, and captured carbon dioxide for the food and beverage industries.
  • Mark your calendars for July 23, 2020, at 3:30 p.m. Central time for a live viewing of the 2020 Golden ARC Awards. Folks can register for the Virtual Golden ARC Awards and Happy Hour here: https://bit.ly/GAA2020Virtual.
  • Farmers are invited to submit nominations for the 2021 Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year contest, with support from Purina. The grand prize winner – Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year – will win a year’s worth of Purina dog food and $5,000 in prize money. The winner will be recognized at a Farm Dog of the Year award ceremony at the AFBF Convention in January.
  • July 1, 2020 marks the 20th anniversary for AgReliant Genetics, an industry-leading agricultural company dedicated to the research, production and sale of corn, soybeans and other seeds across North America.
  • The Agricultural Retailers Association is celebrating the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement’s entry into full force.
  • The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) released a statement regarding the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. “Today is a big day for the U.S. seed industry, as this critical agreement brings much-needed certainty and key reforms to further strengthen trade between the U.S. and its neighbors to the North and South,” said ASTA President & CEO Andrew LaVigne. “Last year, U.S. seed exports to Mexico and Canada combined for a total of $570 million. Continued trade, guided by clear, science-based policies, is absolutely essential for the livelihood of American farmers and the U.S. economy at large.”
  • The American Soybean Association (ASA) and Corteva Agriscience are seeking applicants for the 2021 ASA Corteva Agriscience Young Leader Program. Applications are being accepted online now. Interested applicants should click here for additional program information and to apply.
  • A collaborative analysis conducted by four agricultural economics professors at the University of Tennessee and Oklahoma State University has found that U.S. sugar prices do not impede the financial performance of sugar-using firms.
  • Illinois teachers will experience agriculture firsthand and enhance student learning related to food, agri-science and STEM agriculture careers thanks to grant funding from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom Agricultural Academy: Integrating Agri Science program was recently awarded $120,000 to conduct 100 multiple day trainings over the next four years. The IAA Foundation, which serves in a fundraising capacity for Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom, successfully secured the grant on the program’s behalf.
  • STAR Energy FS, headquartered in Manson, Iowa, and GROWMARK FS, headquartered in Hartley, Iowa, are merging into one. The new company, named GROWMARK FS, will offer its farmer customers with a full line of agronomy, energy, and grain marketing needs.
  • Farm Foundation is pleased to announce its new Young Agri-Food Leaders and Young Farmer Accelerator Network cohorts for 2020-2021.
  • The National FFA Organization announced that the 2020 National FFA Convention & Expo will be held virtually. The organization also extended its contract with the host city of Indianapolis from 2031 to 2033.
Zimfo Bytes

2020 Agri-Marketing Conference Will Be Virtual Only

Chuck Zimmerman

Agri-Marketing Conference is Virtual OnlyThe National Agri-Marketing Association just announced that this year’s Agri-Marketing Conference will be virtual only.

Issues with travel and timing are bringing new information to light—and we’ve had to reevaluate plans for the 2020 Agri-Marketing Conference once again.

We’re going 100% virtual this year. There will be no live event in Kansas City.

Since we already have a fantastic virtual platform lined up, everything is ship shape and ready to set sail. Now we just need you to join us!

If you haven’t registered yet, now is the perfect time. You still receive your member discount on registration. Non-member registration comes with a free year of membership.

Already registered for the live or virtual event? Confirm your plans with NAMA!

We so appreciate you hanging in there with us as we navigate this constantly evolving situation. The virtual conference will feature:

A virtual trade show
Best of NAMA Awards ceremony
New presentations to energize you
Virtual happy hours and the chance to mingle with your colleagues from across the country
Special chat rooms
On-demand playback
And much more!

Stay connected with NAMA on our social channels for the latest updates and watch for future emails with new speaker announcements and more details as they become available.

No matter how we come together to celebrate agriculture and learn together, NAMA is committed to you and your success. Thanks again for your patience. We’ll “see you” in August!

NAMA

Syngenta to Build New R&D Center in Illinois

Chuck Zimmerman

Syngenta Innovation CenterSyngenta has announced plans to build a new R&D Innovation and Customer Experience Center in the heart of the US Corn Belt.

The 90-acre site will be located in Malta, Ill., DeKalb County, about one hour west of Syngenta’s global and North America Seeds offices in Downers Grove. The site was selected for its location, soil type and accessibility, and will provide facilities for large-scale events and engagement with growers on corn and soybean technology and innovation.

Justin Wolfe, Regional Director Seeds North America, says the new site will spotlight how Syngenta is transforming product development through on-farm collaboration with growers. “We’re committed to US farmers, and this site will allow to us to collaborate even more with our customers.”

Wolfe just recently took over that position after David Hollinrake was appointed head global Seeds Strategy and Portfolio.

Learn more about the new center and Syngenta’s commitment to farmers in this interview: Interview with Justin Wolfe, Syngenta

Agribusiness, Audio, Seed, Syngenta

Field Notes from Koch Agronomic Services – Episode 5

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. Crop science experts and others in the agriculture industry discuss topics ranging from nitrogen loss and soil health to ways growers can increase operational efficiencies.

4R Nutrient Stewardship

This episode features Tim Laatsch, technical agronomy manager for Koch Agronomic Services, and Sally Flis, Ph.D., senior director of agronomy for The Fertilizer Institute. Field Notes from Koch Agronomic ServicesThe two cover the 4R Nutrient Stewardship initiative and how it can empower growers to meet and exceed their yield goals. You’ll also learn more about the role that nitrogen stabilizers play in increasing production and profitability, enhancing environmental protection and improving sustainability.

You can listen to the program here: 4R Nutrient Stewardship

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, Audio, Crop Science, Fertilizer, Koch Agronomic Services, Soil

Precision Ag News 7/1

Carrie Muehling

  • WinField United will add cotton to its Armor brand seed offerings for the 2021 growing season. Armor, a brand long known as a strong advocate for farmers in the Southern United States, will continue to build on its promise of delivering quality products, providing agronomic support and advocating for farmers as WinField United moves its proprietary cotton seed from CROPLAN® to the Armor portfolio.
  • SGS announces the addition of soil screening services at its Brookings, South Dakota laboratory. Soil testing services will be available to clients beginning in the fall of 2020.
  • AgBiome® announced a recent patent directed toward the Connate™ product line granted in the United States, further strengthening AgBiome’s IP Protection around novel product offerings.
  • FMC Corporation has entered into a collaboration with Cyclica Inc, a leading biotechnology company specializing in artificial intelligence and computational biophysics, to accelerate and improve the efficiency of discovering new crop protection chemistry.
  • FMC Corporation announced that it has launched FMC Ventures. The new venture capital arm of FMC Corporation is targeting strategic investments in start-ups and early-stage companies that are developing and applying emerging technologies in the agricultural industry. FMC Ventures announced its first portfolio investment in Trace Genomics, Inc.
  • Farming meets 21st Century technology with an announcement from FieldMicro, an innovative automated agriculture and farm control monitoring system including SmartFarm, a platform that uses smart technology to make farming simpler and more efficient. FieldMicro also announced a partnership with John Deere to provide real-time data to the platform.
  • Farmobile LLC, The Independent Ag Data Company™, announces the launch of its Farmobile Services+SM for Ag Retail Fleet. The new offering, built with direct feedback from ag retailers, combines Farmobile’s real-time, machine data capture technology with personalized, advanced consultative services to help retailers use their own machine data to pinpoint fleet cost centers and opportunities to realize greater efficiency and profitability.
  • AgLaunch announces their continued partnership with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture to support field-trial projects with farmers and AgTech companies.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

IFAJ Presents Annual Awards

Cindy Zimmerman

The Delegate Assembly of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) held online this week presented annual Star awards for excellence.

Gil Gullickson received the 2020 AgTech Reporting Award for “Yours, Mine and Ours,” a feature article on outcome-based pricing for commodities that he wrote for Successful Farming.

Veteran radio presenter Damien O’Reilly was awarded the 2020 International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) Star Prize for Broadcast: Audio for his “Climate Change and Irish Farming” broadcast.

Fiona Lake – Star Prize for Photography

Fiona Lake’s delightful “Cobb and Co. Long Haul,” published in Queensland Country Life, received the 2020 Star Prize for Photography.

Diego Juste of Spain’s Union of Small Farmers and Stockbreeders was awarded the 2020 Star Prize for Broadcast: Video for his documentary about the decline of a rural community.

Ian Doig of the Canadian Farm Writers Federation received the 2020 Star Prize for Print for “Crisis Control,” which he wrote for GrainsWest.

Brett Worthington of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation was honored with the 2020 Star Prize for Broadcast: Digital Media for his “Popping Prosecco’s Bubble”.

Read more about all of the winners here.

The IFAJ Delegate Assembly also welcomed two new members at the online meeting held on Thursday, 25 June 2020. Sierra Leone and Zambia now become the 54th and 55th member countries in IFAJ.

IFAJ

Planted Acreage up for Corn and Soybeans

Cindy Zimmerman

USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is estimating 92.0 million acres of corn planted in the United States for 2020, up three percent from last year, according to the Acreage report released Tuesday. Soybean area planted is estimated at 83.8 million acres, up 10% from last year.

The report also shows wheat and cotton acres are down this year. All wheat planted area for 2020 is estimated at 44.3 million acres, down
2 percent from 2019. This represents the lowest all wheat planted area since records began in 1919. All cotton planted area for 2020 is estimated at 12.2 million acres, down 11 percent from last year.

Corn, Cotton, Soybean, USDA, Wheat

USMCA Implementation Celebration Roundtable

Cindy Zimmerman

To celebrate the July 1 implementation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson and U.S. Senator Joni Ernst held a virtual roundtable Tuesday to discuss the importance of USMCA to farmers, rural communities and ag exports. The roundtable was hosted by Farmers for Free Trade, which showed support for USMCA with an 11 state, 4,300 mile RV tour across the country.

Participating were:
– Congressman Collin Peterson (D-MN)
– U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
– Congressman Jim Costa (D-CA)
– Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI)
– Blanche Lincoln, former U.S. Senator
– John Bode, President, National Corn Refiners
– Tamara Nelsen, Executive Director, Minnesota AgriGrowth Council
– Dave Milligan, President, National Association of Wheat Growers
– Michelle Erickson Jones, Farmer & Owner, Gooseneck Land and Cattle, Broadview, MT
– John Paul Dineen, Farmer & Owner, Dineen Farms (TX)
– Max Moncaster, Associate Director, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA)
– Angela Marshall Hofmann, Co-Executive Director, Farmers for Free Trade

USMCA implementation roundtable (53:06)

Audio, Exports, Trade

House Committee Releases Climate Crisis Plan

Cindy Zimmerman

The House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis today released a comprehensive plan titled “Solving the Climate Crisis: The Congressional Action Plan for a Clean Energy Economy and a Healthy, Resilient, and Just America.”

The Climate Crisis Action Plan, released as a majority staff report, recognizes the role agriculture plays in providing valuable climate and ecosystems benefits. Investing in American agriculture is one of 12 pillars in the plan, recommending an increased investment to support the voluntary efforts of America’s farmers and ranchers to employ climate stewardship practices. The report also recommends setting climate stewardship practice goals across all U.S. farmland and incentivizing producers to incorporate energy efficiency and renewable energy on-farm.

Biofuels groups are pleased to see the inclusion of a Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) in the recommendations.

“The Committee correctly points out that the LCFS policy model already has a proven track record and that renewable fuels have played a crucial role in achieving the objectives of the California LCFS,” said Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “We also concur with the Committee’s position that high-octane, low-carbon fuels could deliver substantial carbon benefits at a low cost in the years ahead.”

RFA and the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) were among a broad coalition of stakeholders that worked together to developed a framework and set of guiding principles for a Midwest LCFS program.

“The Select Committee’s report not only cites our Midwest Clean Fuel Policy framework as a positive example of progress, it also mirrors our recommendations to reflect the best-available science for lifecycle assessments and reward farmers and biofuel producers using climate-smart practices that reduce carbon emissions, store soil carbon, and reduce nitrous oxide emissions,” said ACE CEO Brian Jennings.

Biofuels, Environment, Ethanol

Farm Progress and Husker Harvest Shows Cancelled

Cindy Zimmerman

For the first time in history, the Farm Progress Show won’t go on.

It was announced yesterday that both Farm Progress Show and Husker Harvest Days are being cancelled for 2020 due to rapidly changing conditions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

While state and local officials had expressed support for both shows, Don Tourte, Senior Vice President, Farm Progress said that in a very short time it became apparent that the situation across the US had rapidly changed.

“We have been working with officials in Iowa and Nebraska for our shows, and we appreciate the support they expressed for us to hold the events,” Tourte says. “They are critical partners to us, and we are all disappointed to not host the events this year, but feel confident that this is the right decision for our community.”

One of the key features of both shows is their attraction to visitors from across the country, and across the globe.

Farm Progress Events Manager Matt Jungmann says they were committed to hold both shows until more than half the United States saw a significant spike in new cases of COVID-19. “Within the next two weeks tents and other work would be underway on site. We had to make a decision based on the current landscape so that our exhibitors and suppliers wouldn’t potentially waste valuable time and resources,” said Jungmann. “While we are hopeful that case numbers throughout the country will decrease soon, we felt compelled to make a proactive decision on our community’s behalf, given the information we have today.”

A virtual experience was already being planned as an extension to the live event, so Jungmann says the events team is gearing up to deliver a “robust and dynamic digital experience.”

“Market factors are changing fast, and we’ll have more information in the coming weeks about how our virtual experience will be expanded,” Jungmann says. “We have 400 acres of corn at two sites that have to be harvested. Ground that must be tilled. We’re looking at all of our options to ensure we keep our community connected and engaged.”

Farm Progress Show, Farm Shows