Precision Ag News 11/25

Carrie Muehling

  • In 2018, an epidemic of corn tar spot plagued corn growers from Florida to Michigan. This plant disease, caused by the fungus Phyllachora maydis, reduced corn yields by as much as 60 bushels per acre. Compounding difficulties, the fungus cannot be grown in a lab, limiting scientists’ understanding of how to fight it. To combat its spread, the Foundation for Food & Agricultural Research awarded a $150,000 Rapid Outcomes for Agricultural Research (ROAR) grant to a group of plant pathologists to study and mitigate tar spot on corn. This ROAR grant was matched by the National Corn Growers Association, Corteva Agriscience, Wyffels Hybrids, Illinois Corn Growers Association and Purdue University for a total investment of $300,000.
  • NACHURS® Turf & Ornamental, a brand of Nachurs Alpine Solutions®, has announced the commercialization of a new line of products called Enhanced Turfgrass Management®, a group of turfgrass supplements that represent a unique new approach for improved turfgrass management.
  • At its virtual annual conference this week, AgGateway honored exemplary individuals who have made outstanding contributions in advancing the industry’s transition to digital agriculture. These digital solutions help companies reduce errors and increase efficiency; achieve interoperability in hardware and software systems to turn data into value; and leverage global resources and business relationships needed to enhance productivity, traceability and sustainability. Ann Vande Lune, Agronomy Administrator at Key Cooperative, received AgGateway’s Ron Storms Leadership Award, the organization’s top honor.
  • Major investments and an enhanced breeding strategy are producing tangible results in the Golden Harvest® corn portfolio. New heights in bushels per acre arrive just as farmers seek new ways to maximize their profit potential in the 2021 growing season. The key to these improvements is a commitment from Syngenta to spend $1.4 billion every year on global research and development, supporting the company’s seeds, traits, digital and crop protection businesses – and the customers they benefit.
  • Truterra, LLC, the sustainability business at Land O’Lakes, Inc., one of America’s largest farmer-owned cooperatives, announced a new collaboration with EFC Systems, Inc., a leading provider of solutions for ag retailers and growers. This initiative will unlock new value for ag retailers by allowing them to offer their growers an easy way to benchmark their current level of stewardship and identify additional practices and products that could benefit their farm, improve productivity and profitability, and better position their businesses and care for natural resources for the long term.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

Thanksgiving Dinner Cost Down 4%

Cindy Zimmerman

You might not be having a feast for ten people this Thanksgiving, but if you are, you can be thankful that it costs less than last year, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual survey.

Farm Bureau’s 35th annual survey indicates the average cost of this year’s Thanksgiving feast for 10 remains affordable at $46.90 or less than $5.00 per person. This is a $2.01 decrease from last year’s average of $48.91.

“The average cost of this year’s Thanksgiving dinner is the lowest since 2010,” said AFBF Chief Economist Dr. John Newton. “Pricing whole turkeys as ‘loss leaders’ to entice shoppers and move product is a strategy we’re seeing retailers use that’s increasingly common the closer we get to the holiday,” he explained.

The centerpiece on most Thanksgiving tables – the turkey – costs less than last year, at $19.39 for a 16-pound bird. That’s roughly $1.21 per pound, down 7% from last year. The survey results show that retail turkey prices are the lowest since 2010.

Click here to see the cost comparison for the whole dinner including turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a veggie tray, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, and coffee and milk.

AFBF, Food

ZimmCast 660 – Interviews from Virtual 2020 NAFB

Chuck Zimmerman

Hello and welcome to the ZimmCast.

In this week’s program Cindy and I share excerpts from interviews we recorded for the NAFB virtual convention. Some of these were before the convention so that they could be used in their virtual booth during Trade Talk. And some of them we recorded during the session.

Included are now past NAFB President, Rita Frazer, RFD Radio; Liz Hunt, Syngenta; Andy LaVigne, American Seed Trade Association (ASTA); Geoff Cooper, Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and Norm Davy, Heliae Agriculture.

I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.

Listen to the ZimmCast here: ZimmCast 660 - Interviews from NAFB Trade Talk (25:05)

Subscribe to the ZimmCast in:

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Audio, NAFB, ZimmCast

Syngenta Offers Advice for CRW Pressure

Cindy Zimmerman

Weakened roots due to corn rootworm (CRW) pressure helped to result in more downed corn in several Midwestern states this year from windstorms and the infamous derecho. Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota were among the states most affected this year, according to Syngenta. Other areas seeing heavier than normal CRW pressure this year included key rootworm geographies of northern Illinois, Wisconsin, and Colorado

Syngenta launched a CRW monitoring program this year to help growers minimize long-term impact through specific management strategies.​​​​ CRW was one of the topics addressed by Syngenta specialists during the NAFB virtual Trade Talk last week.

Listen to Drew Showalter, Strategic Marketing Manager for Corn, and Meade McDonald, Syngenta insecticide product lead, discuss CRW pressure in 2020 and how growers can prepare to manage it in 2021.

2020 NAFB Interview with Drew Showalter and Meade McDonald, Syngenta 14:44

Audio, Corn, Crop Protection, Insecticides, NAFB, Syngenta

Animal Ag News 11/23

Carrie Muehling

  • The National Pork Producers Council launched the “Give-a-Ham” challenge, a national social media campaign encouraging hog farmers and those involved in the industry to donate pork to organizations serving the food insecure, and challenging others to follow suit. The “Give-a-Ham” challenge runs through the end of the year.
  • The Dairy Calf and Heifer Association will present a webinar on Dec. 3 at 2 p.m. CST, titled “Genetic Focus: Creating the Most Valuable Calves Across the Dairy Herd.” Register here.
  • A third round of feeding trials conducted by a team of USDA Agricultural Research Service and university scientists has again shown that a dietary supplement called L-glutamine can naturally promote growth and wellness in pigs.
  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Executive Director of Natural Resources and the Public Lands Council Executive Director Kaitlynn Glover released a statement supporting U.S. Forest Service’s final rule to update the agency’s National Environmental Policy Act regulations.
  • World Dairy Expo® launches its new podcast, The Dairy Show. Available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and online at worlddairyexpo.com, new episodes of The Dairy Show are added on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. Expo’s podcast features a new guest during every episode discussing topics related to the dairy industry.
  • David Newman, a pork producer representing Arkansas, was elected to serve a second term as president of the National Pork Board at the organization’s November board meeting. The National Pork Board’s 15 producer directors represent America’s 60,000 pig farmers, who pay into the Pork Checkoff – a program that funds research, promotion and education efforts benefiting the industry.
  • The Dairy Business Association has announced the program lineup and keynote speakers for Dairy Strong, one of the Midwest’s premiere conferences for the dairy community, on Jan. 19-21. The featured speakers for the virtual conference will be Peter Sheahan, Matt Lewis, Ray Starling and Michael Torrey. Registration for the conference is open and farmers who register by Dec. 15 will receive two free passes per farm. Click here to register.
  • With the National Western Stock Show in Denver postponed for a year, the National Bison Association has teamed up with the Dakota Territory Buffalo Association to plan its annual live bison show and sale, along with its winter membership meeting for February 18-20, 2021 in Rapid City, SD.
  • The International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) is excited to announce that IPPE Marketplace will take place Jan. 25-29, 2021. IPPE will continue to support the poultry, egg, meat and feed industries through its new, online IPPE Marketplace that will be available during IPPE’s originally scheduled dates, Jan. 25-29, 2021, and beyond.
AgWired Animal, Animal Bites, Animal Health

Seed Industry Met Challenges of 2020

Cindy Zimmerman

American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) President and CEO Andy LaVigne says the seed industry was able to adapt quickly to meet the challenges of 2020 and they are moving forward with new tools to reach out in new ways.

“While we had a lot of adversity there, a lot of opportunity raised its head and I think we’ve seen some really positive changes,” said LaVigne in an interview for the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB). He says going virtual has helped many seed companies reach customers in a whole new way.

ASTA has already successfully held two of its four annual meetings virtually, and two more are just around the corner – the CSS & Seed Expo December 7-9, and the Vegetable and Flower Seed Conference February 1-3.

LaVigne talks about the upcoming virtual meetings, as well as challenges and opportunities for the seed industry in this interview.
2020 NAFB Interview with Andy LaVigne, ASTA CEO (7:04)

ASTA, Audio, NAFB, Seed

LidoChem Challenges Scott’s Miracle Gro Trademark

Cindy Zimmerman

LidoChem, Inc. is fighting to protect its “Performance” trademarks in a case against Scott’s Miracle-Gro.

LidoChem and its Performance Nutrition Division filed a claim to void Scott’s Miracle-Gro trademark registrations at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for “Miracle-Gro Performance Organics” and “Performance Organics.”

LidoChem, Inc. owns 10 ‘Performance’-containing trademarks for products and programs in the professional agriculture and turf and ornamental markets. Seven of these trademarks are incontestable since they are more than five years old. The longest held trademark of Performance Nutrition® dates back to March of 2004.

LidoChem, Inc. President and CEO Don Pucillo said, “Although we attempted to settle this dispute amicably, including issuing a cease and desist letter to Scott’s, they claimed to conduct business in different business channels of commerce therefore do not cause confusion in the marketplace. Unfortunately, their widespread marketing campaign is infringing upon our brand names and image within our targeted industry sectors and sales territories clearly causing confusion among customers and distributors.”

The company founder points out that “the names, styles and overlapping markets in Scott’s new product marketing initiative are remarkably similar and have already caused confusion among customers and distributors alike. We intend to vigorously defend our family of ‘Performance’ trademarks and our good name of producing quality products and programs that are effective for our customers’ needs as well as being safe and ecologically friendly.”

Karen Tripp is the attorney representing LidoChem in the trademark case and she explains in this interview why they are taking this action and what is at stake for the 40 year old family-owned business.
Interview with Karen Tripp, LidoChem trademark attorney 5:17

Agribusiness, Audio, Fertilizer, Organic

Industry Ag News 11/20

Carrie Muehling

  • For every dollar Americans spend on their Thanksgiving dinner this year, farmers and ranchers will earn approximately 11.9 cents, according to National Farmers Union. This marks a slight decline from 2019, when farmers claimed 12.15 cents of the Thanksgiving food dollar.
  • For the first time in show history, the 2021 World Ag Expo® will be an online event February 9-11. Officials at the International Agri-Center® announced the cancellation of the live event on September 14, and spent the next month carefully weighing the implications of a digital show.
  • The United Fresh Start Foundation has launched the Season of Giving Back, a month-long celebration recognizing the charitable efforts of the produce industry and their partners this year in support the Foundation’s mission to increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables for children and their families.
  • The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) announced its 2021 officers and directors elected to the AEM Board of Directors and Agriculture and Construction Equipment Sector Boards at its annual meeting.
  • Following a steep rise in COVID-19 cases throughout the Upper Midwest, both the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association and Minnesota Corn Growers Association have decided their respective annual meetings, originally set to take place in-person in Mankato, will now move to an all-virtual format.
  • Agricultural students in post-secondary education are eligible to compete for up to $15,000 in total scholarship awards through the Accelerating a Generation Syngenta Scholarship Program. Syngenta invites eligible university students to apply for six regional awards of $2,500 each, now offered in partnership with the National FFA Organization. Students can apply by visiting the FFA Scholarship Portal.
  • America’s leading agriculture commodity groups and trade associations sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer asking that he and the Trump administration work to “deepen trade discussions” in order to bring about WTO compliance and removal of EU retaliatory tariffs targeting U.S. food and ag exports.
  • U.S. potato imports for the first quarter of the July 2020 – June 2021 marketing year were up 19% in total. This increase was led by a 28% increase in fresh potatoes from Canada, a 20% increase in frozen potatoes, also mainly from Canada and increasing imports from the EU.
  • The National Corn Growers Association is partnering with Chemical & Engineering News to underscore the many uses of corn, including opportunities in plant-based packaging, chemicals, and nutraceuticals. The Market Development Action Team funded this effort.
  • The Livestock Publications Council Forrest Bassford Student Award, sponsored by Alltech, honors excellence, professionalism and leadership among students. Katelyn Harbert, a senior in agricultural communications and journalism and global food systems leadership at Kansas State University, was announced as the recipient of the 2020 LPC Forrest Bassford Student Award during the LPC Annual Membership Meeting, held virtually on Nov. 9, 2020.
  • Lyle E. Orwig, announces his retirement as chairman of C.O.nxt, Hartland, Wisconsin. In 1992, Orwig joined with business partner John Charleston to co-found the communications agency Charleston|Orwig, which recently rebranded as C.O.nxt.
  • A majority of U.S. adults have a positive view of farmers’ sustainability practices, and an overwhelming majority trust farmers, according to a new national public opinion poll from the American Farm Bureau Federation.
  • The World Food Prize Foundation announced a brand refresh to the Foundation’s 33-year identity, reflecting the organization’s evolution. The new logo was developed through a collaborative process by the entire Foundation staff, and reflects the organization’s passion and mission for improving the quality, quantity and availability of food for all. The rebranding includes a top-to-bottom redesign of the Foundation website, logo, graphics, communications and correspondence.
Zimfo Bytes

Heliae® Agriculture Expands Team and Meets NAFB

Cindy Zimmerman

Heliae® Agriculture has announced the addition of three new members to the U.S. sales team who will help to lead sales initiatives in the states of Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota, and North and South Dakota. In addition, the company exhibited this week at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Trade Talk for the first time.

Scott Chanley, Chad Bush and Cory Palm all join the Heliae® Agriculture team with more than 15 years’ experience in agronomy and agriculture sales. As Regional Sales Managers, Chanley, Bush and Palm will work closely with distributors and retail partners to bring awareness to the benefits of incorporating PhycoTerra® into soil health management programs.

“We are excited to continue the expansion of our sales team throughout the U.S.,” says Norm Davy, Chief Revenue Officer at Heliae® Agriculture. “With each new team member, we are increasing the resources and support growers need to begin implementing regenerative agriculture practices to help growers and retailers leverage PhycoTerra® in soil health strategies.”

Davy talked with farm broadcasters about PhycoTerra this week, along with Vice President of Ag Science Dr Karl Wyant, and Senior Field Agronomy Manager Brian Reineke. Listen to their interviews below and learn more about regenerative agriculture practices with Heliae® Agriculture and PhycoTerra®

2020 NAFB Interview with Norm Davy, Heliae Agriculture (9:09)

2020 NAFB Interview with Dr. Karl Wyant, Heliae Agriculture (15:56)

2020 NAFB Interview with Brian Reineke, Heliae Agriculture (14:39)

Audio, NAFB, Soil

Syngenta #RootedInAg Winner Announced

Chuck Zimmerman

2020 Syngenta RootedInAg WinnerHannah Borg, 22, of Wakefield, Nebraska, is the 2020 Syngenta #RootedinAg Contest grand prize winner. You can see her entry video here. In her heartwarming entry, Borg pays tribute to the matriarch of their sixth-generation family farm — her 86-year-old grandmother, Lois Borg

Borg is the seventh #RootedinAg Contest winner. She was chosen from a hearty pool of applicants and two other strong finalists with her testimony that moved both online voters and a panel of judges. The number of submissions this year was one of the largest – and one of the most difficult to rank, said Pam Caraway, Syngenta marketing communications lead.

“Thank you to everybody who took the time to share their story. Each submission was a delight to read or watch. Each story gives us confidence in the future of agriculture, thanks to those who take the time to teach us,” Caraway said.

This annual competition from Syngenta invites growers and other ag industry professionals across the nation to describe the person who most nourished their agricultural roots for their submission entry.

To learn more about the program and the entries this year I spoke with Pam Caraway, Syngenta marketing communications lead. Interview with Pam Caraway, Syngenta (10:23)

Agribusiness, Audio, Syngenta