RFA Ethanol Podcast

President Trump Signs USMCA

Cindy Zimmerman

President Donald J. Trump today signed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), replacing the outdated North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), with improved access to both markets for U.S. farmers and ranchers.

“This agreement is a tremendous breakthrough for American agriculture,” said President Trump in remarks before signing the agreement. “Poultry exports to Canada are expected to rise 50 percent and egg exports could increase by 500 percent.”

American agricultural exports are expected to increase by $2.2 billion under USMCA, with annual dairy exports anticipated to grow by nearly $315 million. “Very importantly, Canada will finally give fair treatment to American grown wheat,” President Trump said.

Listen to the president’s remarks, along with those from Vice President Mike Pence and Amb. Robert Lighthizer.
USMCA signing remarks (25:35)

Once again, there were farmers and ranchers on hand to witness the signing, and agricultural organizations are united in praise for the agreement.Read More

Ag Groups, Audio, Trade

AgWorks + FieldReveal Delivers Decision Support Software

Cindy Zimmerman

The recently announced partnership between AgWorks and FieldReveal is focused on delivering world-class zone-based variable rate and decision support software to retailers throughout North America.

AgWorks has invested decades developing a decision support system that creates real value for both the grower and retailer through their award-winning HighQ® product. This product has been utilized on over 5 million acres and is a key tool in helping retailers realize the value of their data, and assist growers in making more profitable decisions. The HighQ® DSS (Decision Support System) provides the grower with a tool to analyze numerous decisions they made during the growing season and how these variables affect profit per acre. It also provides a powerful community-based benchmarking tool for a grower to anonymously compare their operation to similar operations in their area.

Both AgWorks and FieldReveal are firmly committed to developing software solutions for retailers and growers that lead the way toward an information-based future, and both businesses are invested in technology and retail for the long haul.

AgWorks President Greg Duhachek and FieldReveal CEO Matt Hesse recently teamed up for a Users Conference in Kansas City where they shared their vision for the partnership. Learn more in these interviews with them.

Interview with FieldReveal CEO Matt Hesse (6:10)

Interview with AgWorks President Greg Duhachek (7:40)

Photos

2020 AgWorks+FieldReveal User Conference photos

AgWired Precision, Audio, data, Precision Agriculture

Secretary Perdue Press Call from Rome

Cindy Zimmerman

Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has been traveling Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy this week to engage with his counterparts on important issues facing agriculture at home and abroad. The Secretary, along with Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney has been participating in events with government officials and agricultural leaders.

As President Trump was preparing to sign the USMCA trade agreement with Mexico and Canada Wednesday, Secretary Perdue spoke by phone from Rome and answered questions related to China and coronavirus, Europe and geographical indicators (GI), non-tariff trade barriers, and more.

USDA Secretary Perdue call from Rome
Audio, Exports, International, Trade, USDA

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