Legal Diligence Important for Hemp Farmers

Carrie Muehling

Farmers looking to experiment with industrial hemp production have a lot of legal factors to consider, according to Joel Cape of Cape Law Firm.

“The thing that has caught my attention is aside from the fact that this is a brand new industry – the production practices are brand new – there are a lot of unknowns,” said Cape, who focuses his law practice on agriculture intellectual property and seed production. “The Farm Bill and the interim rule from the USDA introduces this concept of negligence, and they introduce that in order to draw a boundary between what they consider to be legal hemp production and what is going to go into illegal production of marijuana, which is still a violation of the Controlled Substances Act.”

Cape said farmers will have to be very certain they are complying with either a state-based or USDA plan for growing hemp. He believes there will be some challenges because there are few tested best practices for growing hemp and few standards for measuring yield and price discovery. Cape told farmers attending the 2020 Heart of America Agricultural Hemp Classic that record keeping will be extremely important when growing industrial hemp.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Joel here: Interview with Joel Cape, Cape Law Firm

2020 Heart of America Agricultural Hemp Classic Photo Album

Audio, Cannabis, hemp

Announcing the new AyrMesh® Hub2x2

Chuck Zimmerman

Ayrmesh Hub 2While USDA is handing out grants and loans all over the country to help with rural broadband infrastructure you’ve got to work with what you have. If you’re on a farm or other type of rural property then I can personally recommend Ayrstone products. Ayrstone Productivity, headquartered in North Oaks, MN., just announced the availability of their AyrMesh Hub2X2. The bottom line is to use the service you have and be able to cover significantly more range than with any other product out there. Here’s more information.

If this seems a little “back to the future” – it is! After almost a year waiting, we are finally introducing the new, improved model of the AyrMesh Hub2x2!

This new model of the favorite AyrMesh Hub is more powerful, tougher, and has longer range than the old Hub2x2 – it has the same range as the Hub2T with twice the bandwidth. And the new case is simpler and more resistant to heavy weather.

Want to learn more? See the blog post on Efficiency and Productivity Through Wireless Farm Technology.

Novel concept, eh? Using your blog to write about your products!

But if you need to cover lots of area check this product out. I’ve been using Ayrstone products for many years and have never had any problem with them. I don’t know any other tech product I can say that about.

Gadgets, Internet, Technology

New Biodiesel Board Chair Optimistic for 2020

Cindy Zimmerman

Renewable Energy Group (REG) CFO Chad Stone was recently elected as the new chairman for the National Biodiesel Board and last week he addressed the membership at the National Biodiesel Conference in Tampa.

While 2019 was a disastrous year for the industry, which saw REG having to shut down a plant, Stone is very optimistic about biodiesel going forward. “For biodiesel, this is our time to get back up,” said Stone. “We won’t be held down, we adapt, we grow and we fight. We are the future of energy and we won’t let anyone stand in our way.”

Listen to Stone’s remarks and interview from the conference last week:
NBB2020 Remarks from new NBB Chairman Chad Stone, Renewable Energy Group (13:11)

NBB2020 Interview with NBB Chairman Chad Stone, Renewable Energy Group (8:18)

Full multi-media coverage of the conference can be found for the 15th year on the Biodiesel Conference Blog.

Photos

2020 National Biodiesel Conference photo album

Audio, Biodiesel, Biofuels, National Biodiesel Conference

Precision Ag Bytes 1/29

Carrie Muehling

  • Bushel, an innovative provider of grain industry software, and Granular, a leading Farm Management Software platform, have announced an agreement to collaborate, streamlining farmers grain management and marketing tasks.
  • Following engagement with As You Sow, The Kellogg Company announced a commitment to phase out the use of glyphosate as a pre-harvest drying agent in its major wheat and oat supply chains by 2025.
  • Radicle Growth announced that Claudia Roessler, the Director of Agriculture at Microsoft, has joined its team as its newest Venture Partner.
  • General Mills, Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Ecosystem Services Market Consortium (ESMC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to pilot test ESMC’s program that rewards farmers for generating environmental assets by improving soil health on their land.
  • BRANDT, a leading agriculture retailer and manufacturer of specialty agriculture products, has promoted five managers to corporate leadership positions.
  • Discovery Park of America announced the initial sponsors and partners for “AgriCulture: Innovating for Our Survival.” The permanent exhibit, dedicated to telling the story of innovation in agriculture, will open Oct. 22, 2020 and will be located in the 8,900-square-foot building that currently houses the museum and heritage park’s antique tractor exhibit.
  • HydroSide Systems LLC is the winner of the sixth annual Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge, becoming the 2020 Farm Bureau Entrepreneur of the Year. AFBF, in partnership with Farm Credit, announced the winner at AFBF’s 101st Annual Convention.
  • Granular announced new functionality designed to help farmers easily assess the impact of labor and equipment on their profitability across the operation, down to the field level.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes

FMC Grows Presence in Fruit, Vegetable Market

Carrie Muehling

Since the 2017 acquisition of DuPont assets brought the diamide chemistry over to FMC, the company has continued to increase its presence in the fruit and vegetable market.

“We’ve been in this market, but not to the substantial efforts we have today,” said Bubba Stripling with FMC. “And with the pipeline that’s coming we’re looking for tree, fruit and vegetable products. So it’s important for us to be here now, and ever since 2017 you’ll see FMC’s faces and familiar faces in the tree, fruit and vegetable market.”

Stripling said products like Coragen and Verimark continue to perform well against piercing and sucking pests like white fly. FMC exhibited at the 2020 Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference in Savannah, Ga.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Bubba here: Interview with Bubba Stripling, FMC

2020 Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference Photo Album

Audio, Crop Protection, FMC, Produce, Vegetables

Closing the Crop Protection Gap in Hemp

Carrie Muehling

Certis USA was an event sponsor at the 2020 Heart of America Agricultural Hemp Classic in Independence, Mo.

“We find that this group of people – leaders in agriculture and in the hemp industry – are really at the forefront, and Certis is excited to be leaders in the industry for farmers, for people coming in as well as for existing farmers,” said Remi Wright, Certis USA.

The company currently has one product labeled for industrial hemp and plans to add more options for hemp growers pending EPA registration. Wright said there are lots of options for hemp growers when it comes to stimulants and nutrients, but there’s a big gap when it comes to pest control.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Remi here: Interview with Remi Wright, Certis USA

2020 Heart of America Agricultural Hemp Classic Photo Album

Audio, Crop Protection, hemp

Students Learning More About Hemp Industry

Carrie Muehling

The co-founder of Missouri Students for Hemp Education and Research is helping other students to network within the industry and learn more about hemp production and policy.

“Hemp is one of those things where you can’t just see it as a drug. There are a lot of other industrial benefits to it, too, and that’s always fascinated me on how practical and flexible the plant is,” said Bharani Kumar, a political science major at the University of Missouri. “So just having the opportunity to create some of that policy really excites me.”

Kumar said the independent organization has visited a hemp farm firsthand, and has also talked with both farmers and lobbyists as they learn more about the industry and make connections for the future. Kumar said more information about the group is available by contacting him at (801) 913-8376.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Bharani here: Interview with Bharani Kumar, Missouri Students for Hemp Education and Research

2020 Heart of America Agricultural Hemp Classic Photo Album

Audio, Cannabis, hemp

Alltech Global Feed Survey Reveals Production Decline

Chuck Zimmerman

Alltech Global Feed SurveyDr. Mark Lyons, President/CEO, Alltech held a public livestream this morning to share results of the company’s latest global feed survey. You can find more information and watch the recorded presentation here. You can also listen to the presentation below.

Panelists with him included:

Jack Bobo, CEO, Futurity, USA
Bianca Martins, General Manager, Alltech, Mexico
Matthew Smith, Vice President, Alltech, UK
Brian Lawless, North American Species Manager, Alltech, USA

Audio of presentation: Alltech Global Feed Survey Presentation


The 2020 Alltech Global Feed Survey estimates that international feed tonnage decreased by 1.07% to 1.126 billion metric tons of feed produced last year, due largely to African swine fever (ASF) and the decline of pig feed in the Asia-Pacific region. The top nine feed-producing countries are the U.S., China, Brazil, Russia, India, Mexico, Spain, Japan and Germany. Together, these countries produce 58% of the world’s feed production and contain 57% of the world’s feed mills, and they can be viewed as an indicator of overall trends in agriculture.

The global data, collected from 145 countries and nearly 30,000 feed mills, indicates feed production by species as: broilers 28%; pigs 24%; layers 14%; dairy 12%; beef 10%; other species 6%; aquaculture 4%; and pets 2%. Predominant growth came from the layer, broiler, aqua and pet feed sectors.

Alltech, Animal Agriculture, Animal Health, Audio

USDA Supporting International Year of Plant Health

Chuck Zimmerman

International Year of Plant HealthUSDA is kicking off efforts to create awareness in the U.S. for this International Year of Plant Health. The international campaign was declared by the U.N. at the end of 2019. A conference on plant health is planned for later this year with details to come.

To bring worldwide attention to this challenge, the U.N. has declared 2020 as the International Year of Plant Health. They are calling on people, organizations, industries, scientists, and governments to work together to protect plants against the introduction and spread of invasive pests. The U.S. National Plant Protection Organization—the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Plant Protection and Quarantine—is leading the effort in the United States.

“At USDA, we do all we can for our farmers, ranchers, foresters, and producers so that they can continue to feed and clothe this nation and the world,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, Greg Ibach. “That’s why we’re urging everyone to take this issue seriously and to do their part. Protecting plants from pests and diseases is far more cost effective than the alternative.”

International, USDA

New BASF Insecticide Performs on Vegetables

Carrie Muehling

BASF offers a wide portfolio of fungicides for use in fruits and vegetables, but it was a new insecticide getting the attention of growers at the 2020 Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference in Savannah, Ga.

Sefina is the new product offering white fly and aphid control, according to Joe Mitchell, BASF technical service representative for Florida and South Texas.

“It’s actually a novel, new product that controls white fly. It’s in its own mode of action, Group 9D. There are no other products in that area. So it’s a different mode of action. Good for IPM concerns and resistance management. And it’s extremely active on white flies and aphids,” said Mitchell.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Joe here: Interview with Joe Mitchell, BASF

2020 Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference Photo Album

Audio, BASF, Insecticides, Produce, Vegetables