Animal Ag Bites 1/27

Carrie Muehling

  • Heidi Fischer of Fischer-Clark Dairy Farm was elected by members of Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative to its board of directors at the co-op’s annual business meeting during the Dairy Strong conference.
  • Brightmark Energy, a San Francisco-based waste and energy development company, announced that it has partnered with four dairy farms in central Florida to build and operate three anaerobic digesters that will convert a total of 230,000 tons of dairy manure per year from 9,900 cows into renewable natural gas. Brightmark will develop, own, and operate the project.
  • Culver’s will cover the registration fees of the first 250 FFA members and advisors for FFA Day at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Trade Show on Friday, Feb. 7, at the Henry B. González Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas. The FFA Day sponsorship is made possible through Culver’s Thank You Farmers® Project. To receive free registration, FFA members and advisors should visit convention.ncba.org and register to attend the trade show using the promotion code “FFACULVERS.”
  • Winners of the Young Farmers & Ranchers Achievement Award, Discussion Meet and Excellence in Agriculture competitions were announced at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 101st Annual Convention. Braden and Jordan McInnis of Texas won the Achievement Award. Sarah Rudolph of Virginia won the Discussion Meet. Kirby Green of Kentucky won the Excellence in Agriculture Award. Also at the convention, members of the AFBF YF&R Committee elected Morgan Norris from Florida as the committee’s chair for 2020.
  • The National Pork Board has announced senior leadership changes to better implement a new Pork Checkoff vision, structure and operating plan supported by its board of directors – the first major restructuring in nearly 20 years.
  • Agri-Pulse, the nation’s leader in farm policy coverage, will investigate several different aspects of the dairy industry as part of a new podcast series: Deep Dive. In this first season, broadcasters Spencer Chase and Ben Nuelle will broadcast a five-episode exploration of dairy issues from farm to plate, bowl, or glass.
AgWired Animal, Animal Bites

Hemp Farmer Now Processing, Bottling Local Oil

Carrie Muehling

What began as an opportunity to diversify a traditional row crop operation by growing hemp has been a learning experience and much more for Luke Poindexter and Poindexter Family Farms.

“We are traditional row croppers. We have lots of machines that do most of the work. This was quite different. A lot more manual labor. A lot more walking your fields,” said Poindexter.

Poindexter not only learned how to grow the hemp plants, but also about processing and extracting. A demand for local oil now has the Poindexter family bottling under their own brand, Rural Route Hemp Co., as a part of an additional business venture called MoCann Extracts. Poindexter encouraged farmers who are thinking about growing hemp to do extensive research when it comes to buying seed, and to develop a relationship with a processor early. The Missouri farmer spoke at the 2020 Heart of American Agricultural Hemp Classic in Independence, Mo.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Luke here: Interview with Luke Poindexter, MoCann Extracts

2020 Heart of America Agricultural Hemp Classic Photo Album

Audio, Cannabis, hemp

Conference Provides Valuable Education, Interaction

Carrie Muehling

The annual Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference is an opportunity for companies like Crosby Equipment to gain some knowledge and interact with customers.

“The biggest value for our company to exhibit here is just it’s a little more local,” said Jay Crosby, who was showcasing Oxbo blueberry harvesters at the 2020 event. “We see a lot of our customer base here. We get an opportunity to shake hands and just spend a little time talking with people one on one.”

Crosby said his participating in the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association has been valuable as a grower as well as an exhibitor. He is hoping for a better year in 2020 after a challenging 2019.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Jay here: Interview with Jay Crosby, Crosby Equipment

2020 Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference Photo Album

Audio, Produce, Vegetables

Zimfo Bytes 1/24

Carrie Muehling

  • Lessing-Flynn took home nine trophies recognizing the agency’s recent success on behalf of its clients at the National Agri-Marketing Association Region III Best of NAMA Awards Celebration held Wednesday, January 15, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
  • The American Farm Bureau Federation presented its highest honors, the Distinguished Service Award and the Farm Bureau Founders Award, to Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and Barry Bushue, respectively, during AFBF’s 101st Annual Convention.
  • Farmer and rancher delegates to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 101st Annual Convention adopted policies to guide the organization’s work in 2020 on key topics ranging from dairy to labor and climate change to conservation compliance.
  • AMVAC Chemical Corporation is now accepting applications for its 2020 Cotton Industry Advancement Scholarship. The scholarships, each worth $2,000, will be awarded to seven qualified students. Information on how to nominate a student is available AMVAC.com/scholarship. All applications must be completed and submitted by the July 1, 2020, deadline to be considered.
  • National Crop Insurance Services is proud to invest in the future of agriculture through the NCIS 1890 Scholarship Program. NCIS awarded five scholarships to students majoring in agriculture-related disciplines at historically-black 1890 Land Grant Universities.
  • In honor of National Cheese Lovers Day, Wisconsin proudly announces the first ever Art of Cheese Festival, happening August 14-16, 2020, in Madison, WI. The festival features an array of cheese-focused activities specially curated for ultimate cheese lovers. Go to ArtofCheeseFestival.com to stay connected and be the first to know when tickets go on sale.
  • UnitedAg, a member-owned agricultural trade association representing more than 1,000 organizations in California and Arizona, announced it will hold its 40th Annual Meeting & Conference March 18-20, at the Hyatt Regency in Maui, Hawaii. The keynote speaker will be Jeremy Gutsche, NY Times Best Selling Author and innovation expert.
Zimfo Bytes

Precision Ag Bytes 1/23

Carrie Muehling

  • The BASF Living Acres Monarch Challenge has completed another successful year. In 2019, 20,000 milkweed seedlings were shipped to farmers and golf courses across the Midwest who were passionate about preserving monarch populations.
  • The number of legislative bills, policies, and programs that advance soil health have increased significantly since the Soil Health Institute released its original catalog in 2018. The Soil Health Policy Resources catalog is a resource for anyone wanting to learn what is being done across the United States to enhance the vitality and productivity of soils.
  • Growers Edge Financial, Inc. announced the appointment of Dan Cosgrove as chief executive officer.
  • The Propane Education & Research Council announces the addition of an agronomic heat treatment systems equipment category for its 2020 Propane Farm Incentive Program, which offers up to $5,000 off of qualifying propane-powered equipment.
  • FMC launches Authority® Edge herbicide, a new preplant and preemergence herbicide for the 2020 growing season. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency registration has been granted for use in soybeans, sunflowers and dry shelled peas, including chickpeas.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes

Bayer R&D Supports Produce Growers

Carrie Muehling

Bayer continues to serve produce growers in the southeastern part of the country with the Seminis vegetable seed brand and a strong crop protection portfolio. Research and development continues to be a focus, according to Jonathan Mein, Eastern U.S. Commercial Lead.

“If you look at fruit and vegetable variety development, it requires a lot of work, a lot of data,” said Mein. “You look at advances in molecular technology, all these pieces that allow us to understand genetics a lot better have helped us to a degree and requires that R&D investment, but ultimately we still continue to maintain a very strong and robust connection to the field level.”

Mein said 19 different species of crops are available to the eastern United States under the Seminis brand, with peppers, sweet corn and watermelon getting the most focus in the southeast. He said growers attending the 2020 Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference had specific questions about Bayer products as well as inquiries about markets, labor availability and water quality.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Jonathan here: Interview with Jonathan Mein, Bayer

2020 Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference Photo Album

Audio, Bayer, Produce, Vegetables

Top Questions About Growing Industrial Hemp

Carrie Muehling

Potential hemp growers still have lots of questions about the product, how to raise it, and what the market looks like. James Bennett of Yeoman Farmers Brand presented on that topic at the 2020 Heart of America Agricultural Hemp Classic in Independence, Mo.

Bennett, who is a hemp grower himself, said the question he gets most often is what to do with the product after it is grown and harvested.

“Ideally, we need to educate society and the end consumer and that will create a larger market chain for us to get rid of the commodities we produce,” said Bennett. “But currently there is a lot of product that goes into extraction for cannabinoids which are then put into formulation and retail products for health and wellness or quality of life.”

Bennett said other common questions include how lucrative growing hemp can be, how much it costs to grow per acre, and how many acres a grower should plant. He described the hemp industry as the “Wild, Wild West” and stressed the importance of paying attention to the details when moving into this production opportunity.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with James here: Interview with James Bennett, Yeoman Farmers Brand

Listen to the full presentation here: Presentation by James Bennett, Yeoman Farmers Brand

2020 Heart of America Agricultural Hemp Classic Photo Album

Audio, Cannabis, hemp

Plasma Blue Debuts at Biodiesel Conference

Cindy Zimmerman

A novel process using electricity and liquid plasma to induce the transesterification process needed to produce biodiesel is generating a lot of interest at the National Biodiesel Conference this week in Tampa.

The Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council saw the potential for the technology, developed by scientists at the University of Minnesota, which could produce six gallons of biodiesel per hour. MSR&PC has since established a company, “Plasma Blue,” around the technology with CEO Tom Slunecka taking the lead on the project.

In this interview, Slunecka explains why Minnesota soybean growers have invested in this technology and the potential it has for the entire biodiesel industry.
NBB2020 Interview with Tom Slunecka, Plasma Blue (5:58)

2020 National Biodiesel Conference photo album

Audio, Biodiesel, Soybean

Getting Started with Industrial Hemp Production

Carrie Muehling

There are still lots of logistical questions about the process of growing industrial hemp, and Missouri Department of Agriculture Hemp Program Administrator Allen Freeman was on hand at the 2020 Heart of America Agricultural Hemp Classic to provide some answers.

“Our program has regulatory authority over viable industrial hemp. So if it is seed that is able to germinate, if it is a living plant, we have regulatory authority over that,” said Freeman.

Freeman pointed potential growers to the Missouri Department of Agriculture website to find more information about the two types of registration currently available in Missouri, required background checks, registering land parcels, and other topics.

Listen to Allen’s complete presentation here: Presentation by Allen Freemen, Missouri Department of Agriculture

2020 Heart of America Agricultural Hemp Classic Photo Album

Audio, hemp

Miravis Family Offers Long Residual Control

Carrie Muehling

The Miravis brand from Syngenta is one that is making an impact on growers in the southeastern region of the United States. Syngenta Agronomy Service Representative Wilson Faircloth was at the 2020 Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Growers Conference, where he shared information about three different Miravis products.

“2019 had a lot of challenges,” said Faircloth. “For those of us in the Deep South, we were recovering from a hurricane, and then beyond that we had drought and/or wet weather, so having products like the Miravis family that have extremely long residual activity gives growers a lot of flexibility. So if it’s raining too much, they’ve got the confidence to know that they can’t get back into the field, but my fungicide is still holding. These products certainly help out when our backs are against the wall.”

Faircloth said the advantages of the Miravis family of products include lengthened spray schedules and fewer spray applications due to extremely long residual control on foliar diseases. Miravis, Miravis Prime and Miravis Top are all registered and available for the 2020 growing season. Contact a local Syngenta representative for more information.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Wilson here: Interview with Wilson Faircloth, Syngenta

2020 Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference Photo Album

Audio, Produce, Syngenta, Vegetables