BioAg World Congress Postponed

Cindy Zimmerman

BioAg World CongressOrganizers of the 2020 BioAg World Congress have changed the dates for the event in Sacramento, California from June to August 26-28 this year.

Global BioAg Linkages (GBAL) says the Congress will be held at the same location, the DoubleTree by Hilton, and will feature the same speakers and topics.

This congress is produced “by the BioAg industry and for the BioAg industry” and unites continents, allows face-to-face networking to grow distribution networks and offers the latest technological advances within BioAg.

In the over-crowded market of Bio-Ag events, based on some candid feedback and research, GBAL decided to bring a “one-stop annual BioAg event”, to bring all stakeholders together to address all the opportunities and challenges, see you soon.

GBAL will continue to monitor the situation with COVID-19 to determine if it will need to be moved again but they are planning to implement some new protocols to maintain social distancing.

Early bird registration ends July 13 if you would like to go ahead and make yours.

Agribusiness, Farm Shows

Farm Workers Not Included in Immigration Order

Cindy Zimmerman

President Donald Trump will be signing an Executive Order today prohibiting immigration into the United States for 60 days, but that order will not apply to seasonal farm workers.

“Farmers will not be affected by this at all,” the president said during the daily Coronavirus Task Force briefing on Tuesday. “If anything we’re going to make it easier.”

Pres Trump on farm workers immigration (:44)

Audio, Farming, labor

Analysis Shows $50 Per Acre Loss for Corn

Cindy Zimmerman

A new analysis from the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is projecting a $50 per acre revenue decline for the 2019 corn crop as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The analysis showed cash corn prices since March 1 have declined by 16 percent on average, with several regions experiencing declines of more than 20 percent.

NCGA commissioned the economic analysis, conducted by Dr. Gary Schnitkey of the University of Illinois, as part of the organization’s efforts to better understand the economic impact of the global pandemic on the corn industry and work to create solutions to help corn farmers and their customers recover from the financial impacts of this crisis.

“Corn will be one of the most impacted crops as its two largest uses – livestock feed and ethanol – are under pressure. Impacts of reduced livestock demand are just beginning to come to bear in the market, as livestock processing plants are beginning to be disrupted,” wrote Schnitkey.

The analysis was based on cash corn prices as of mid-April and estimated losses would likely increase through the rest of the marketing year. Further analysis is already underway for the 2020 crop year, with losses anticipated to be higher than those in 2019.

Read the analysis: Impacts of Coronavirus on 2019 Corn Revenue

Corn, Ethanol, NCGA

Ethanol Industry Losses Mount

Cindy Zimmerman

As the COVID-19 pandemic and crude oil glut continue to ravage world fuel markets, U.S. ethanol sales in 2020 could fall by more than $10 billion and the industry’s contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) could drop by nearly one-third, according to a new analysis by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA).

The economic losses stem from a “pernicious combination of steep production cuts and sharply lower prices” in response to COVID-19 stay-at-home orders and the resulting collapse in fuel consumption, according to the report.

RFA held a press conference Monday to discuss the new report, as well as other developments in the industry related to the COVID-19 response. Participating were:

Geoff Cooper, President and CEO, Renewable Fuels Association
Neil Koehler, Chairman, RFA; Co-Founder and CEO of Pacific Ethanol
Mike Jerke, CEO of Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy
Mick Henderson, General Manager, Commonwealth Agri-Energy
Scott Richman, Chief Economist, Renewable Fuels Association

RFA COVID-19 update (58:46)

Audio, Corn, Ethanol, RFA

AMVAC and Syngenta Team Up for Soybean Growers

Cindy Zimmerman

Syngenta Crop Protection and AMVAC, an American Vanguard® company have teamed up to promote the agronomic value of tank mixing Prefix® herbicide from Syngenta with FirstRate® herbicide from AMVAC for long-lasting and full-season weed control in soybeans.

The combination of Prefix and FirstRate herbicides provides unmatched flexibility and performance across all soybean trait platforms, including LibertyLink® GT27™, Enlist® and Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® soybeans. Together they provide unique flexibility and performance, resulting in better on-farm solutions for tough-to-control weeds.

Not only does Prefix plus FirstRate provide excellent crop safety with a flexible application window of preplant, preemergence and early postemergence, the combination delivers multiple modes of action to address tough-to-control weeds, such as waterhemp, Palmer amaranth, giant ragweed, common ragweed, morningglory, and marestail. Soybean growers should talk to their trusted retailer to further discuss the weed control benefits of Prefix and FirstRate herbicides.

AMVAC, Crop Protection, Soybean, Syngenta

Animal Ag News 4/20

Carrie Muehling

  • With the spread of COVID-19 and its impact on so many Americans, Zoetis is recognizing the resilience of cattle producers and initiating a special fundraising initiative to support those in need. Zoetis is asking cow/calf producers to submit inspiring pictures or videos at CalvingSeason.com to celebrate the commitment of cattle producers, and in turn, every submission will raise money to meet the challenges posed by this global crisis. For every photo or video submitted at CalvingSeason.com between April 17 and May 29, Zoetis will donate $1 to the COVID-19 Response Fund with Feeding America®.
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a COVID-19 relief package that includes $3 billion in planned agricultural product purchases and $1.6 billion in direct payments to hog farmers, including payment limitations of $125,000 per commodity and $250,000 per individual. Industry economists conservatively estimate that hog farmers will lose $37 per hog marketed, or $5 billion collectively, for the remainder of the year. Howard “A.V.” Roth, president of the National Pork Producers Council and a hog farmer from Wauzeka, Wisconsin, responded on behalf of the organization.
  • National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Marty Smith issued a statement applauding the announcement related to USDA’s plan for distribution of CARES Act funding.
  • Promotion programs being managed by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association as a contractor to the Beef Checkoff have shifted and grown in response to the worldwide coronavirus pandemic. These efforts reflect a consumer population that is concerned for their day-to-day health and the availability of delicious, safe and wholesome food products, like beef.
  • GENYOUth, a nonprofit organization founded by dairy farmers through their checkoff to create healthier schools, named Maureen Bausch as Chief Development Officer – GENYOUth COVID-19 Emergency School Nutrition Fund.
  • ANIMART, LLC (Beaver Dam, WI), Animal Profiling International (Portland, OR), Midwest Supply & Distributing (St. Joseph, MN) and Stockmen’s Supply (Mandan, ND) have become Armor Animal Health.
  • Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection have been fielding calls from concerned consumers and farmers about retailers limiting the amount of dairy that shoppers can purchase. The two organizations have been working diligently to contact retailers in Wisconsin to understand why, to urge them to lift the limits, and to continue to drive consumer demand for dairy.
  • The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, which represents more than 250,000 meatpacking and food processing workers all across the country, announced an agreement with JBS — the leading processor of beef and pork in the United States — to increase wages for workers by $4 per hour and further strengthen safety measures in these plants.
AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

USDA Announces Coronavirus Food Assistance Program

Cindy Zimmerman

Late Friday U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced a new Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) to assist farmers, ranchers, and consumers in response to the COVID-19 national emergency.

President Trump directed USDA to craft this $19 billion immediate relief program to provide critical support to our farmers and ranchers, maintain the integrity of our food supply chain, and ensure every American continues to receive and have access to the food they need.

“During this time of national crisis, President Trump and USDA are standing with our farmers, ranchers, and all citizens to make sure they are taken care of,” Secretary Perdue said. “The American food supply chain had to adapt, and it remains safe, secure, and strong, and we all know that starts with America’s farmers and ranchers. This program will not only provide immediate relief for our farmers and ranchers, but it will also allow for the purchase and distribution of our agricultural abundance to help our fellow Americans in need.”

Secretary Perdue held a press conference to discuss details of the plan with the media.

USDA Coronavirus Food Aid Press Call (30:49)

AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Audio, Food, USDA

Industry Ag News 4/17

Carrie Muehling

  • American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall will join the Great American Economic Revival Industry Group focused on agriculture. President Donald Trump created 17 groups to help shape plans to reopen the economy following the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • As food banks struggle to keep up with dramatic increases in demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic, farmers and ranchers are eager to work with the Agriculture Department to bridge the supply gap and get farm products to those in need, according to a letter from the American Farm Bureau Federation and Feeding America.
  • The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture’s My American Farm STEM app, named a gold medal winner in the 2019 Horizon Interactive Awards, is just one of the ways the Foundation is helping parents and educators adapt to at-home learning.
  • North Hill Group is pleased to announce two staffing updates: the promotion of Greg Dana to vice president and the addition of Mary Locke as a senior advisor.
  • Volunteers at U.S. Sugar recently donned masks and carefully packed crates brimming full of green beans. Each crate full of fresh produce was destined for a local church or community group.
  • American Farmland Trust’s Farmer Relief Fund received a much needed infusion of cash over the last couple weeks, with corporations that rely on farmers making commitments to serve the growing number of applications. Anuvia Plant Nutrients, Cargill, Farmland®, Tito’s Handmade Vodka and Valent donations brought the total in the fund to $750,000.
Zimfo Bytes

ZimmCast 641 – CommiditAg App & COVID-19 Messaging

Chuck Zimmerman

Hello and welcome to the ZimmCast.

In this week’s program I’m featuring a conversation with John Demerly, CEO, CommoditAg, about the new app they launched during Commodity Classic. That was the last on location meeting either of us attended and it seems like a lot longer ago than it really is!

John says the app provides the opportunity for agricultural producers and farmers to research and order products anytime, anywhere with their mobile devices. He says they have a growing line-up of products available and just announced a “free shipping” program for the first time for customers.

To download the app, go to the Apple App Store for iOS devices and the Google Play Store for Android devices. To learn more about CommoditAg, visit commoditag.com.

If you’re interested to see what farmers think about regarding COVID-19 check out these survey results from Farm Market ID.

I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.

Listen to the ZimmCast here: ZimmCast 641 - CommoditAg App & COVID-19 Messaging

Subscribe to the ZimmCast in:

Agribusiness, Apps, Audio, ZimmCast

U.S. Soy is Open for Business

Cindy Zimmerman

The U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) held a webinar for the media Wednesday to provide an update on the industry and its continued resilience through this time.

Participating in the webinar were, USSEC CEO Jim Sutter, USSEC Chairman Monte Peterson, and Regional Directors Brent Babb and Rosalind Leeck. They discussed the industry’s response to COVID-19 in various export markets, how they are engaging customers virtually, and the upcoming U.S. planting season.

USSEC media webinar on COVID-19 (37:00)

Audio, Exports, Soybean