Agri-Pulse Virtual Food & Ag Policy Summit West

Cindy Zimmerman

Responding to changing consumer tastes is one of the greatest challenges facing farmers and food producers going forward. The upcoming Agri-Pulse Food & Ag Policy Summit West on September 9 will feature new insights into the next generation of consumers, as well as the latest ideas for dealing with food waste, implementing sustainability programs and producing alternative forms of plant-based and cell-based proteins.

The event is similar in nature to the Washington DC policy summit Agri-Pulse normally hosts in March, but this is the first time Agri-Pulse has done it in California since starting dedicated coverage there last year. “As we’ve covered California food and ag issues this past year, we’ve seen tremendous innovation in methods and technology that can help revolutionize food production and reduce agriculture’s environmental footprint,” says Agri-Pulse Editor Sara Wyant. “We plan to showcase some of these success stories and also discuss the unique challenges ahead.”

The event will be hosted virtually from the California Farm Bureau Federation offices in Sacramento on September 9 from 9 am to 5 pm Pacific Time and broadcast live for all participants with a 30-minute lunch break from 12-12:30 pm. The event is free to current Agri-Pulse subscribers, state and federal legislative staff. The fee for non-subscribers is $149, which includes a free six-month subscription to Agri-Pulse, currently valued at $727 for a full year.

Wyant says agriculture and food stakeholders all over the country can benefit from the program. “Because some of these things that start in California tend to move all the way over to the East Coast and also to folks in the middle,” she said.

Learn more about the event in this interview.
Interview with Sara Wyant, AgriPulse

Find Summit West information and registration here at Agri-Pulse.com.

Also, the 2020 Ag & Food Policy Summit, which was delayed from its original date in March, will now be held virtually on September 21 with another great speaker line up. Find out more.

Agri-Pulse, Audio, Events, Virtual

Industry Ag News 8/28

Carrie Muehling

  • FLM Harvest announces it has selected the Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) as the recipient of its 2020 Seed to Succeed pro-bono program. The agency will provide up to $75,000 in services to promote PBH’s signature 2020 “State of the Plate” fruit and vegetable consumption research.
  • The Georgia Cotton Commission, Georgia Peanut Commission and the University of Georgia Extension Cotton and Peanut Teams, will co-sponsor a virtual research field day on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020. The virtual field day will begin at 9:30 a.m. and conclude at noon. Re-certification credits for pesticide applicators and CCA will be available pending approval. The field day is a free event, but attendees are encouraged to preregister at http://bit.ly/cottonpeanutfieldday.
  • Syngenta Group Co., Ltd. announced the Group’s first half year results after its formation on June 18, 2020. The Group increased sales by 2 percent to more than $12 billion compared to the same period last year. This corresponds to growth of 5 percent on an underlying basis adjusted for one-off change of control royalty income in Seeds and the impact of mandatory ADAMA and Sinofert production site relocations in China. All four business units, Syngenta Crop Protection, ADAMA, Syngenta Seeds and Syngenta Group China, increased their underlying sales in comparison to the previous year. Syngenta Group managed the impacts of COVID-19 well in the first half of 2020, maintaining supply throughout despite the challenging market environment and the need for innovative solutions to overcome logistical difficulties.
  • UPL North America recently announced the addition of two marketing managers: Chris Nowlan and Tony Dalgliesh. In his new role, Chris will manage the marketing portfolio for Canada and will report to Arturo Clari-Redes, Head of Marketing. Tony will manage the Seed Treatment, Fungicides and Horticulture portfolios for Canada and will report to Chris Nowlan.
  • Whether your local, county or state fair was canceled or held in person, you can still submit pictures of you and your livestock to the National Corn Growers Association’s (NCGA) Farm to Virtual Fair contest. The contest focuses on the benefits of using corn in the feed ration. You can submit entries through Monday, November 2, 2020.
  • Johnny Alavez has joined NCGA’s Washington, D.C. office as Legislative Assistant. In this role, Alavez will provide support to the Risk Management Action Team and other public policy areas as needed.
  • Due to the impact of COVID-19 and the increased risk of exposure while traveling and gathering in a large group, DTN has decided to make the 2020 Ag Summit a virtual event on December 7-9, 2020.
  • The 2nd Annual Florida Industrial Hemp Conference & Exhibition (FIHCE) is postponed due to Covid-19. The new date is May 18-20, 2021, at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Florida.
Zimfo Bytes

ZimmCast 654 – #FJFieldDays and DWFI Podcast

Chuck Zimmerman

Hello and welcome to the ZimmCast.

This week I had the opportunity to fly for the first time in over 5 1/2 months to put the Golden ZimmComm Microphone to work at a farm event. Thank you Farm Journal for having me help with your Farm Journal Field Days event which included on-farm activities as well as a significant virtual experience. I attended the field day program in Iowa to take photos, conduct interviews and record speaker presentations. All of this is in a virtual ag newsroom on AgNewsWire. Before going to Iowa Cindy and I have been interviewing sponsors of the Farm Journal Field Days by phone and Zoom. We have a few more to conduct still.

Ben Riensche, Blue Diamond Farming CompanyIn this program I’m going to share an interview with the Iowa farm owner and field day host, Ben Riensche, Blue Diamond Farming Company. Ben was a very gracious host and his family and staff were all on hand working to make the experience enjoyable.

After my conversation with Ben I’m going to include the newest podcast we’re producing with the first episode that just published. It is the Daugherty Water for Food Podcast. In the first session, you’ll hear from award-winning chef, entrepreneur, and agriculture advocate, Louise Mabulo, as she discusses youth and sustainable solutions to food security. Mabulo promotes sustainable agriculture and farm-to-table cuisine and was recently awarded as a Young Champion of the Earth by United Nations Environment Programme.

Looking ahead I don’t know when I’ll need to get back on the agriblogging highway. That doesn’t mean the ZimmComm Team isn’t still working on various projects which include assisting companies and organizations with virtual events and content. Let us know if we can help you out too.

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

Listen to the ZimmCast here: #FJField Days and DWFI Podcast

Subscribe to the ZimmCast in:

Audio, Farm Journal, Media, Soil, Sustainability, Water for Food, ZimmCast

Introducing the Daugherty Water for Food Podcast

Chuck Zimmerman

Daugherty Water for Food PodcastWelcome to the Daugherty Water for Food Podcast! Since 2010, the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska has worked toward one goal: a food and water secure world — one in which global food security is ensured without compromising the use of water to meet other essential human and environmental needs. It’s a daunting vision, but one that is vitally important. This podcast amplifies the voices of those making waves in this space. We hope you enjoy our first episode.

In the episode, we are excited to hear from award-winning chef, entrepreneur, and agriculture advocate, Louise Mabulo, as she discusses youth and sustainable solutions to food security. Mabulo promotes sustainable agriculture and farm-to-table cuisine and was recently awarded as a Young Champion of the Earth by United Nations Environment Programme.

You can listen to episode one of the podcast here: Daugherty Water for Food Podcast Episode 1

How to subscribe:

Audio, Podcasts, Soil, Sustainability, Water for Food

EPA and USDA Announce Next Gen Fertilizer Challenge

Cindy Zimmerman

The Environmental Protection Agency has teamed up with USDA to advance agricultural sustainability with the Next Gen Fertilizer Challenges. The competition includes two challenges that seek proposals for new and existing fertilizer technologies to maintain or improve crop yields while reducing the impacts of fertilizers on the environment.

EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the new initiative jointly during a virtual press conference on Wednesday. “The shared goal here is to accelerate the development of next generation fertilizers for corn production that can either maintain or increase crop yields while reducing environmental impacts to our air, land, and water,” said Wheeler.

“USDA is committed to encouraging the development of new technologies and practices to ensure that U.S. agriculture is socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable for years to come,” said Perdue. “This challenge will stimulate innovation and aligns with USDA’s Agriculture Innovation Agenda announced earlier this year.”

Also participating in the announcement were Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta, EPA Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for Science, as well as representatives from organizations working with the agencies on the competitions – The Fertilizer Institute, the International Fertilizer Development Center, the National Corn Growers Association, and The Nature Conservancy.

EPA and USDA announce Next Gen Fertilizer Challenges (18:40)

AgWired Precision, Audio, Corn, Environment, EPA, Fertilizer, NCGA, Precision Agriculture, USDA

Precision Ag News 8/26

Carrie Muehling

  • Share the story of how conservation is part of your farm operation and you could be recognized with an American Soybean Association Conservation Legacy Award. The awards recognize farm management practices of U.S. soybean farmers that are both environmentally friendly and profitable. More information on past winners of the award and how to submit your application is available in the “About” section under “Awards” on the ASA website. All applications must be submitted by Sept. 1, 2020.
  • AGCO Corporation, a worldwide manufacturer and distributor of agricultural equipment, debuts the FendtONE™ operator’s interface to North American growers with the introduction of the Fendt® 700 Gen6 Series premium high-horsepower tractors. The innovative FendtONE interface is a complete redesign of the operator station, providing a streamlined and highly efficient work environment.
  • Agnition®, a brand of Ralco, announced that it has launched OMRI Listed® Generate®, a crop enhancement product to boost soil and plant health for organic production. This is the latest product in an extension of Agnition’s organic line which now includes crop enhancements and hay and silage preservatives. Generate is a natural product that utilizes patented Microbial Catalyst® technology to liberate nutrients in the soil for greater uptake, healthier crops and improved soil and plant health in a wide range of crops.
  • The online harvest entry is now available to all NCGA members entered in the 2020 National Corn Yield Contest. The yield threshold for a required recheck is now 325.0000 bushels per acre or greater, increased from 300 bushels per acre.
  • The Soil Health Partnership is dedicating three days to wheat’s role in soil health during Wheat Week September 8-10, 2020. Each day will consist of a virtual field day that begins at 9:00 am Central Time. To register for one or all three days go to: https://www.soilhealthpartnership.org/events/.
  • As corn rootworm (CRW) pressure spikes in the Midwest, Syngenta is helping growers minimize the long-term impact through a robust monitoring program to guide long-term management strategies. Long-term CRW management requires a multi-year, whole-farm approach that includes the integration of multiple control measures, not a singular technology. For growers looking to effectively control CRW, Syngenta recommends having a plan in place for each field that includes multiple control strategies including crop rotation, corn rootworm-traited corn hybrids, soil-applied insecticides and adult beetle management. The monitoring program, announced this spring, was designed to provide growers with the support they need to monitor adult CRW in their fields and supply knowledge to help make better, more informed management decisions. One tactic that has benefited growers is the use of yellow sticky traps, an easy and reliable tool for estimating CRW populations in corn fields.
  • World Ag Expo® established the Top-10 New Products Competition to encourage and celebrate innovation in agriculture. Since the first year, exhibitors have submitted their best new products for judging and have helped move ag forward with products focused on automation, incorporating technology into operations, money saving devices, and more. The contest is open to 2021 World Ag Expo® exhibitors with a product that is new to any market in the world between February 14, 2020 to February 11, 2021. To enter the 2021 World Ag Expo® Top-10 New Products Competition, sponsored by Bank of America, visit https://bit.ly/WAE21Top10App.
  • To help operators achieve high-efficiency application in challenging conditions, Case IH is launching the FA 1030 air boom applicator. Initially available for the Titan 4540 floater, this rugged applicator is built to carry more product, enhance productivity and deliver accurate application across changing terrain. The FA 1030 will be available for the Titan 3540 in July 2021.
  • Construction of the USDA Agricultural Research Service’s (ARS) new Agricultural Research Technology Center in Salinas, California, kicked off with a virtual and live groundbreaking ceremony. The cutting-edge research facility, which will include new laboratories, greenhouses and capacity for additional scientists, builds on the current ARS Crop Improvement and Protection Research Laboratory in Salinas.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

Iowa Governor Allocates $100 Million for Agriculture Relief

Cindy Zimmerman

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has allocated approximately $100 million of federal CARES Act relief funds for a range of agricultural programs to offset the impact of COVID-19 on farmers, producers and agricultural industries.

“Iowa is at the foundation of our global food supply chain and the epicenter of the renewable fuels industry,” said Gov. Reynolds. “COVID-19 and a devastating derecho dealt a major blow to everything from the demand for ethanol to the supply of meat on grocery store shelves. But just as important are the livelihoods of thousands of Iowa farm families, agricultural industries and the communities they support. Today’s investment reflects the critical role Iowa’s ag industry has in our state’s overall economic recovery.”

The assistance includes $60 million for the Iowa Livestock Producer Relief Fund which will provide grants of up to $10,000 to eligible producers of pork, beef, chicken, turkeys, dairy, fish or sheep to serve as working capital to stabilize livestock producers. There is also $6 million allocated for beginning farmer assistance, $2.5 million for meat processors, and 500,000 for specialty crops.

For renewable fuel producers, $15.5 million will go to the State Biofuel Grant Program. Since biofuels producers were excluded from receiving aid under other parts of the CARES Act, this program will provide relief to those Iowa ethanol and biodiesel producers based on gallons produced. Grants will also be awarded through an existing small business relief program and are capped at a maximum grant of $750,000 per producer.

AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Biofuels, Ethanol, Livestock, Meat

New Alltech ONE Virtual Session Focuses on Asia

Cindy Zimmerman

The Asian Agri-Business session of the Alltech ONE Virtual Experience began very early this morning for those of us in the western world, but a normal hour for our friends in Asia. As the energetic pace and market diversity in Asia have helped the region remain a global economic powerhouse, Alltech examines what the future may hold for the dynamic forces within Asian agri-business.

Kicking off the experience today was a young lady with an energetic spirit who began taking positive action to protect the environment before she was even a teenager.

Growing up near the rice fields and beaches of Bali, Melati Wijsen saw the impact of plastic waste firsthand, as it littered the landscape and endangered local wildlife. She was spurred into action, and at just 12 years old, Melati and her younger sister, Isabel, founded Bye Bye Plastic Bags, with a mission to rid the world of plastic bags and empower young people to take action.

Melati recently expanded her cause to develop the youth-led movement YOUTHTOPIA, and her Alltech ONE presentation focused on what this could mean for business leaders in Asia and around the world.

Listen to an interview with Melati and be inspired by this young changemaker.
Interview with Melati Wijsen, YOUTHTOPIA (4:47)

If you have not registered for the Alltech ONE virtual experience yet, you can still do that and enjoy all of the informative content that has been posted since May, and all that is to come yet this year.

AgWired Animal, Alltech, Animal Agriculture, Audio, Environment

Conservation Goals Unite Livestock and Sporting Groups

Cindy Zimmerman

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the Public Lands Council (PLC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Monday with Ducks Unlimited (DU) and Safari Club International (SCI) with a commitment to conservation of natural resources through sustainable multiple use.

The MOU outlines these groups’ efforts to cultivate healthier ecosystems, wildlife populations, and economies through active management. Hunting, fishing, and livestock grazing are all key components of successful, comprehensive management plans for our nation’s public lands and resources.

The MOU highlights decades of successful voluntary conservation programs and formalizes a partnership to allow these groups to coordinate multi-sector projects in the future. Cattle and beef producers, hunters, and conservationists often engage in conservation partnerships that maintain open space, honor the cultural and historical value of landscapes, and empower local communities and rural economies. Signatories of the MOU are proud of the meaningful conservation achieved, and today reaffirmed their commitment to voluntary conservation.

Ethan Lane, NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs, talks about the historic agreement, and the unique Blackbeard’s Ranch in Myakka City, Florida where the signing took place.
Interview with Ethan Lane, NCBA (4:35)

AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Audio, Beef, Conservation, Hunting, Livestock, NCBA

Animal Ag News 8/24

Carrie Muehling

  • Resero Genomics, a world-leading genomics company based in Utah, has launched Resero DNA Reserve, a DNA-banking service that enables livestock producers to store DNA information securely and – most importantly – maintain control of all genetic material in their own, proprietary DNA bank.
  • In the latest episode of the Dairy Stream podcast, two Wisconsin state lawmakers who headed up a water quality task force break down what has been accomplished so far, the importance of conservation efforts by farmers and others, and the prospects for stalled legislation aimed at curbing contamination. Dairy Stream host Mike Austin talked with Rep. Todd Novak, chairman of the Speaker’s Task Force on Water Quality, and Rep. Katrina Shankland, vice-chair of the task force, about a $10 million package of bills the state Assembly passed in February. Recommendations from the task force helped shape the bills. Novak and Shankland also talked about increasing well testing and bolstering conservation work.
  • University of Missouri Extension dairy specialist Reagan Bluel is a self-proclaimed “science geek.” She likes pawing through the latest science journals to keep on the cutting edge of dairy research that could improve the bottom line of Missouri dairy producers. Bluel translates the findings to boots on the ground in her podcast series, “Dairy Science Digest.” The podcasts get to the “meat and taters” of new research in simple language, she says. Podcasting allows busy dairy producers to listen when and where it is convenient. You can find the free podcasts at dairy.missouri.edu.
  • This year marked the 80th year of the Sturgis ® Motorcycle Rally™ and South Dakota Beef Industry Council (SDBIC) added a new twist to the 2020 Sturgis Beef Throw Down with the Beef, Brews, and Bikers experience. The SDBIC collaborated with Food Network Celebrity Chef Justin Warner and the City of Sturgis to create a tour experience with beef once again being center stage. This demand building experience is part of the partnership that designates BEEF as the official meat of the Rally™. The venues allowed beef to reach approximately 366,000 consumers throughout the ten-day event taking place August 7-16, 2020.
  • Red meat exports added 12 percent of bushel value to the U.S. corn farmer in 2019. The U.S. Meat Export Federation recently updated a study on the market value of red meat exports. At an average of $3.75 per bushel, $0.46 is from red meat exports. The study indicated that without red meat exports, corn growers would have lost $6.4 billion in corn revenue in 2019.
  • The American Feed Industry Association in partnership with Feedstuffs is suspending the annual Feed Facility of the Year program for 2020, citing issues brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. The temporary suspension of the program will allow the AFIA to make important and necessary changes to the program, allowing it to continue being one of the best operational benchmarking programs within the industry.
AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites