Ethanol Issues Top of Mind at #Classic20

Cindy Zimmerman

Agri-Pulse reporter Spencer Chase interviews RFA CEO Geoff Cooper at #Classic20

Ethanol stakeholders were hopeful that an announcement would be made on Friday about how EPA will deal with the recent court ruling on small refinery exemptions, but Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO Geoff Cooper says they are anxiously awaiting that decision.

“We don’t know what exactly what EPA is going to do, but we know what they should do, and that is take that 10th Circuit Court opinion and apply it nationally and that it would essentially put an end to the small refinery exemption program,” said Cooper in one of many interviews he did at the Commodity Classic last week in San Antonio.

Interview with Geoff Cooper, Renewable Fuels Association

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue confidently told the audience at Commodity Classic on Friday that the decision will mean less small refinery waivers. “I think you will see those waivers significantly reduced this year, which will also help the demand going forward,” Perdue said to applause.

During a press availability, Perdue added, “We were hoping to have an announcement even today but they want to just make sure they get it right and not fast.”
Secretary Perdue SRE comments 1:47

2020 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Audio, Commodity Classic, Ethanol, RFA, USDA

AEM Presents Davidson Awards

Carrie Muehling

For the third year, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) recognized three innovative products with the Davidson Prize, which celebrates breakthrough innovations in areas of agricultural, food and biological systems engineering.

“The products that have been featured over the past three years represent the diversity of ag engineering, as well as a variety of companies and organizations that continue to bring advanced technology and exciting improvements to the marketplace,” said Darrin Drollinger, ASABE Executive Director.

“We’re excited about the advancement of ag engineering and the positive impacts it continues to have on farmers’ ability to work more efficiently,” said Curt Blades, senior vice president of Agriculture for AEM. “These three products deliver on solutions that truly represent the spirit of J.B. Davidson and the innovative legacy of agriculture.”

The winners are:
John Deere – Quik-Knect System
Smart Guided Systems – Intelligent Spray Control System
Agricultural Industry Electronics Foundation – Tractor Implement Management

Drollinger and Blades presented the awards at the Commodity Classic last week.
AEM Davidson Awards press conference 16:47

2020 Commodity Classic Photo Album

AEM, AgWired Precision, Audio, Commodity Classic

Animal Ag News 3/2

Carrie Muehling

  • The 2020 International Production & Processing Expo had 31,504 animal food, meat and poultry industry leaders from all over the world in attendance, with an 8% increase in the number of buyers from last year. A total of 1,377 exhibitors showcased their latest technology and solutions, with more than 573,000 square feet of exhibit space. IPPE is the world’s largest annual feed, meat and poultry industry event of its kind and is one of the 30 largest trade shows in the United States. IPPE is sponsored by the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, American Feed Industry Association and North American Meat Institute.
  • Applications are being accepted for college scholarships that are awarded by America’s dairy farmers and importers through the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board. Eleven scholarships worth $2,500 each will be awarded, in addition to a $3,500 James H. Loper Jr. Memorial Scholarship to one outstanding recipient. NDB funds, in part, Dairy Management Inc., which manages the national dairy checkoff program.
  • Registration is now open for the 2020 World Pork Expo presented by the National Pork Producers Council. Attendees, media and exhibitors can complete their registration by visiting the World Pork Expo website. This year’s trade show will be hosted from June 3 to 5 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.
  • Newtrient, in collaboration with the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy and leading agriculture environmental experts, released an update on the potential of dairy feed additives for reducing dairy’s environmental footprint. Ranging from plant extracts to seaweed, some feed additive products are being explored on farms today while many others are in early stage development.
AgWired Animal, Animal Bites

#Classic20 Gives Secretary Sonny a Warm Welcome

Cindy Zimmerman

Thousands of farmers from across the country welcomed Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue with open arms Friday during the general session of the 2020 Commodity Classic as he was introduced by a video message from President Donald Trump.

“That’s the real deal,” Perdue said about the president’s message. “I can assure you, that wasn’t political speak, that’s him true and true, he loves you and he shows it every way.”

Secretary Perdue talked about a number of issues important to the corn, soybean, wheat and sorghum producers attending the Classic including infrastructure, broadband, trade, sustainability, and biofuels.

Classic20 Secretary Perdue remarks 31:05

Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue press conference
Secretary Perdue presser 22:40

2020 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Audio, Commodity Classic, USDA

Industry Ag News 2/28

Carrie Muehling

  • Farm Bureaus across the nation are mobilizing for Agricultural Safety Awareness Program Week, which takes place March 1-7. U.S. Agricultural Safety and Health Centers will join Farm Bureau in promoting the week with its theme “20:20 Vision on Ag Safety.”
  • From seed to harvest, the National Farm Machinery Show displays the latest equipment, showcases the most innovative technology and offers educational seminars to help farmers prepare for the upcoming planting season. Farmers and agribusiness professionals packed the halls of the Kentucky Exposition Center for industry updates and exciting tractor pull action. The 2021 National Farm Machinery Show takes places next year February 10-13 at the Kentucky Exposition Center.
  • FS Member Companies, along with their cooperative supplier, GROWMARK, named the 2019 Enduring Farm awards to acknowledge those farmers who have adopted best management practices that optimize nutrient utilization, leading to long-term soil and water quality while enhancing ROI.
  • Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary W. Black announced the Farm Recovery Block Grants for farmers and forest landowners affected by Hurricane Michael. The Georgia Department of Agriculture will begin accepting online applications for the $347 million in block grant funds on March 18, 2020. Georgia farmers and forest landowners in 95 eligible counties who suffered losses to beef, dairy, fruit and vegetable, pecan, poultry, timber, and uninsured infrastructure will need to enroll in the recovery program at farmrecovery.com.
  • Conference registration is now open for the American Seed Trade Association‘s Policy & Leadership Development Conference – which in 2020 is being jointly held with the AOSA/SCST Annual Meeting.
Zimfo Bytes

NCGA and EDF Launch Success in Stewardship Network

Cindy Zimmerman

The National Corn Growers Association and Environmental Defense Fund have joined forces to launch the Success in Stewardship Network to celebrate and accelerate the use of agricultural conservation practices on U.S. corn farms.

The network will showcase success stories from the many farmers and state-level programs putting stewardship into practice, starting with the Minnesota Corn Innovation Grant Program and the Illinois Corn Precision Conservation Management Program, recognized for their farmer-supported efforts to deliver clean water, healthy soils and farm profitability.

NCGA president Kevin Ross, Environmental Defense Fund Director Callie Eideberg; Adam Birr, MN Corn Growers Executive Director; Travis Deppe, director of Precision Conservation Management participated in a press conference Thursday at Commodity Classic to launch the program.

NCGA press conference 23:40

2020 Commodity Classic Photo Album

AgWired Precision, Audio, Commodity Classic, Conservation, Corn, Environment, NCGA

AFBF to Expand on Bayer Farm State of Mind Campaign

Cindy Zimmerman

At Commodity Classic on Thursday, Bayer and the American Farm Bureau Federation announced the transition of Bayer’s Farm State of Mind campaign to Farm Bureau.

The initiative aims to raise mental health awareness among the farming community and reduce stigma surrounding the topic of mental health in rural communities. Farm Bureau plans to combine the Farm State of Mind with its ongoing Rural Resilience campaign to expand the reach and effectiveness of its rural mental health initiatives.

“As a third-generation farmer, I’m familiar with the stress of farm life, and I’ve heard heartbreaking stories as I’ve traveled the country about warning signs missed and loved ones lost,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “We’d like to thank Bayer for taking the initiative around this important topic and are excited to expand our impact by growing this campaign to connect even more farmers and ranchers with the resources they need.”

Complicating this issue is that many farmers are reluctant to talk about the effects of stress or seek help. The Farm State of Mind initiative provides farmers with resources, encourages conversations and reduces the stigma surrounding the issue of mental health. Transitioning this program to an organization as trusted as Farm Bureau will greatly expand its reach and effectiveness among farmers.

“Bayer recognized the need to help raise awareness on the important issue of mental health in farm communities – these are difficult conversations to have and our heart goes out to those individuals and families who have been impacted. That’s why we developed the Farm State of Mind campaign,” says Lisa Safarian, President of Bayer Crop Science for North America. “It was important for us to provide information and resources on the topic to those who needed it, but we quickly realized that this issue is much bigger than any one single company and no group is better positioned than Farm Bureau to take the lead on this campaign to help realize its full potential.”

Bayer and American Farm Bureau press conference 19:28

Watch the press conference:


2020 Commodity Classic Photo Album

AFBF, Audio, Bayer, Video

AMVAC® Announces 10 New Products in 2020

Cindy Zimmerman

AMVAC®, an American Vanguard® company, today announced 10 new products for 2020 at the opening of the Commodity Classic in San Antonio. The announcement is a result of the corporation’s successful legacy of acquisitions and its “Innovation with Speed and Discipline” product development process, concentrating on specific, customer-focused solutions.

New products to AMVAC include a recent acquisition of four herbicide brands from Corteva Agriscience™.

• Classic® Herbicide: Expands the postemergence weed control spectrum in soybeans.
• FirstRate® Herbicide: Provides preemergence and postemergence control of key broadleaf weeds in soybeans.
• Hornet® Herbicide: Delivers postemergence broadleaf weed control of glyphosate resistant weeds in field corn.
• Python® Herbicide: Allows flexible broadleaf weed control in soybeans and field corn.

AMVAC also announces:
The developmental product Impact CORE™ Herbicide, a postemergence corn herbicide combining effective modes of action from a Group 15 residual herbicide with the power of Impact® Herbicide. EPA registration of the product is expected in the first quarter of 2020.

A new glufosinate premix that uses a proprietary formulation technology to combine the active ingredient found in Impact Herbicide to provide postemergence weed control in LibertyLink® corn is also expected in the first quarter of 2020.

AMVAC has selected COUNTER® Insecticide/Nematicide, broad spectrum AZTEC® HC Insecticide and zinc, a key micronutrient in corn, as the first products to be packaged in SmartCartridge™ containers and offered as part of SIMPAS™ Applied Solutions, pending EPA registration. SIMPAS (Smart Integrated Multi-Product Application System) is being introduced in a few select markets in 2020.

In addition, AMVAC recently announced its new herbicide – Surepyc IQ™ – a combination of two powerful chemistries for control of tough broadleaves and sedges in warm season turf. It’s the first line-extension for the Surepyc brand.

Listen to the full press conference with –
Neil DeStefano, Director – Portfolio, Business Development, Marketing Communications Management
Nathaniel Quinn, Marketing Manager – Corn, Soybeans, Sugar Beet
Jim Lappin, Director – SIMPAS, Product Portfolio and Alliances
AMVAC Product Launch press conference 21:31

2020 AMVAC Product Launch photo album

AgWired Precision, AMVAC, Audio, Commodity Classic, Corn, Crop Protection

BASF Hosts 14th Behind the Science Media Event

Cindy Zimmerman

For the 14th year, BASF held its Science Behind media event prior to the start of Commodity Classic.

“It gives a chance for you to see not just what the product is, but also what are the details behind it – kind of a peek behind the curtain,” said Scott Kay, Vice President, U.S. Crop, BASF Agricultural Solutions.

Much of the program focused on Veltyma™ fungicide in corn and Revytek™ fungicide in soybeans and the experience of more than 1,200 growers across the country as part of the RevX Fields program.

Kay talks about what’s new with BASF in this interview.
Interview with Scott Kay, BASF

2020 Commodity Classic Photo Album

AgWired Precision, Audio, BASF, Commodity Classic

Friday is Deadline to Schedule CRP Signup Appointment

Cindy Zimmerman

Tomorrow is the deadline for agricultural producers and private landowners interested in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) 2020 general signup to make an offer of acres or schedule an appointment to do so with their local USDA service center.

The general signup is available to producers and private landowners who are either offering for the first time or re-offering acres for another 10- to 15-year term in the 35-year-old USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) conservation program.

“Call your FSA county office today to make an appointment to sign up for the Conservation Reserve Program,” FSA Administrator Richard Fordyce said. “As long as you have an appointment scheduled, your CRP offer will be able to compete in this general signup, even if the appointment is in the first week of March. This is the first opportunity for general sign up since 2016, and we want to make sure interested producers and landowners take advantage of this popular conservation program.”

So even if you are at the Commodity Classic, just call your local FSA office and make an appointment by end of day tomorrow. Learn more from USDA FSA.

Conservation, USDA