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Precision Ag News 3/14

Carrie Muehling

  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) honored the second annual National Biobased Products Day on March 8, a celebration to raise public awareness of biobased products, their benefits and their contributions to the U.S. economy and rural communities. Biobased products offer opportunities for more revenue streams for small and mid-sized farmers while giving consumers more in-demand, clean options for everyday items.
  • Unit sales of 100+ horsepower ag tractors increased slightly in February 2024 in the U.S., according to new data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. The month recorded an increase of 2.8 percent compared to February 2023. Year-to-date data, however, reflects sales are below 2023 in total units of ag tractors and combines. Ag tractor sales dipped 14.2 percent, while combines finished under 18.9 percent.
  • FloraPulse, the first easy-to-install water sensor that provides accurate and low-cost water-sensing technology, is enhancing the lives of farmers and researchers who want real-time data that will enable them to make the quick, accurate decisions that will benefit their crops.
  • Newly released third-party data from the 2023 growing season is showcasing unprecedented yield increases in row and specialty crops across the United States. The extensive dataset confirms that farmers who used novel biologicals, developed by Locus Agriculture, saw significant boosts in profitability and crop productivity.
  • The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) is conducting its annual New Uses Forum on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, at the Mayo Health System Event Center in Mankato, Minn. This year’s event will highlight some of the market challenges and emerging opportunities for agricultural feedstocks in the evolving field of bioindustrial innovation.
  • AgroLiquid announces the upcoming construction of a new 48,355-square-foot production facility in Lake City, Florida. This strategic decision reflects AgroLiquid’s unwavering commitment to prosper the farmer, by providing liquid fertilizers closer to our customers through faster and more efficient services.
  • Millborn Seeds is expanding their North American footprint with the acquisition of Union Forage in Alberta, Canada and Luhrs Certified Seed in Imperial, Nebraska. The acquisitions further deliver on Millborn’s commitment to create a vertically integrated seed supply chain.
  • Marking the one-year anniversary of successfully acquiring the biological companies Stoller and Symborg, Corteva Agriscience is proud to introduce Corteva Biologicals, a proven portfolio of solutions to help farmers navigate ever-changing market conditions and growing challenges. The acquisitions positioned Corteva as a global leader in the biologicals market, illustrating the company’s commitment to providing farmers with new tools for sustainable and integrated farming practices.
  • The future availability of irrigation water for California growers has never been less certain. To help growers survive a future of “water uncertainty,” the non-profit Soil Health Academy announced an on-farm school at the Burroughs Family almond orchard April 30-May 2 in Denair, California, that will offer agricultural producers principles and tools to grow profits and resiliency with much less water.
  • Kubota Tractor Corporation and ThorSport Racing announced that Kubota will return as the Official Tractor Company of ThorSport and a primary sponsor of two-time Truck Series champion Ben Rhodes’ No. 99 Ford F-150 for six races during the 2024 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series season. The continued partnership marks the second full season Kubota is a primary sponsor after the partnership began in September of the 2022 season.
    • AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

    Big Names Confirmed for Agri-Pulse Summit

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Agri-Pulse has confirmed that USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and Senate Agriculture Committee leaders are scheduled to appear at next week’s Agri-Pulse Ag & Food Policy Summit March 18 in Washington DC. With a farm bill yet to be passed, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Ranking Member John Boozman (R-AR) will be able to provide the latest insight into whether there will be a bill yet this year.

    The Summit, which this year is titled “Revitalizing Rural Revenues,” will be held at the National Press Club and is also open to virtual attendees. Keynote speakers and panelists will cover a wide variety of ways that people who live and work in Rural America are developing innovative new products from the land and finding creative ways to start businesses. Registration options and additional information available at Agri-Pulse.com.

    Ag Groups, Agri-Pulse, Agribusiness, politics

    Animal Ag News 3/12

    Carrie Muehling

  • Researchers at the Agricultural Research Service’s (USDA-ARS) Eastern Regional Research Center in Wyndmoor, Pa., used a novel thermal technology that pasteurizes eggs and inactivates Salmonella cells with a short processing time.
  • On March 20, Miranda Meehan from North Dakota State University will present on livestock water quality concerns in the Great Plains, part of the Spring Seminar Series at Nebraska Water Center.
  • Professional Dairy Producers (PDP) provides a solution for tracking progress on reducing the environmental impact of milk production with a new initiative, Your Farm – Your Footprint. The first-of-its-kind, farmer-led sustainability initiative empowers dairy producers to know and easily understand the environmental footprint of their farms. It gives farmers the opportunity to measure carbon and methane emissions so they can make informed decisions and shape their farms’ futures while retaining control of their data.
  • Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative will award $10,000 in secondary education scholarships to its membership, the cooperative announced today. Two $2,000 scholarships will be awarded to current students pursuing a degree in a four or two year program. Three $2,000 scholarships will be awarded to high school seniors. The full application and guidelines can be found on the Edge website. The application portal will remain open now until April 1.
  • Midwest Dairy, the checkoff organization representing over 4,000 dairy farmers in a ten-state region, officially announced that Corey Scott of Marine on Saint Croix, Minn. has been named its new Chief Executive Officer. Scott is an accomplished dairy leader with more than 15 years of food and agriculture experience.
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the finalization of Inclusive Competition and Market Integrity Under the Packers and Stockyards Act. The final rule will be effective 60 days following publication in the Federal Register. The final rule Inclusive Competition and Market Integrity Under the Packers and Stockyards Act (the Inclusive Competition Rule) establishes clearer, more effective standards under the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act for prohibited practices relating to discrimination, retaliation and deception in contracting. This will help producers and growers that have suffered from increasingly consolidated markets over the last 30 years by enhancing market integrity and ensuring fair access to economic opportunities.
  • National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane issued a statement following the release of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) latest Packers and Stockyards rule: “NCBA’s concern with this regulation has always been based in the rule’s unforeseen impacts to standard business practices. We have remained consistently opposed to any discriminatory practices in the marketplace. While we still have concerns about the unintended consequences of the rule, we are pleased that USDA has addressed most of our significant concerns between the proposed and final rules. We continue to urge USDA to ensure this rule remains focused on its stated objective—with which we wholeheartedly agree—and does not stray into extraneous, unrelated subject matter discussed in the proposal’s preamble.”
  • In a letter submitted to the House Natural Resources Committee, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) urged members of Congress to support the recently introduced America’s Wildlife Habitat Conservation Act (H.R. 7408). The landmark conservation bill, led by Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.), was considered in a Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee hearing. The legislation would invest in state-led conservation projects, push the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to delist species that are recovered, and provide regulatory certainty for landowners who participate in voluntary species conservation agreements.
  • The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) announced the induction of Bill Prestage into the NPPC Hall of Fame during the 2024 National Pork Industry Forum. This prestigious award recognizes individuals who have devoted their lives to advancing the pork industry.
  • The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) announced the induction of new officers and the election of members to its board of directors.
  • As the Smokehouse Creek Fire continues to impact Texas, Wayne-Sanderson Farms’ Bryan Processing Complex has donated 20,000 pounds of fresh chicken and 500 cases of ice to help feed local families and first responders. Company representatives delivered the chicken to the Borger Salvation Army, which is working with local officials to provide relief to victims and emergency responders. The blaze has become the largest fire in state history, engulfing over a million acres and burning across several towns along the Texas Panhandle.
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

    Truterra Outreach to Under-served Producers

    Cindy Zimmerman

    In an effort to make sure all farmers have the opportunity to adopt climate smart practices and be rewarded for it, Truterra is reaching out to historically under-served producers with information about USDA’s Climate Smart Commodities Partnership project.

    Truterra Outreach and Partnership Liaison John Porter says under-served producers include racial and ethnic minorities, veterans, beginning farmers, and limited resource farmers. “We also add in small farmers and women farmers for some of the programs,” said Porter. “Under-served means they’ve been left out of programs before, they’ve not had access to them before.”

    Porter says they are working with organizations that represent these types of farmers to try and get information about the programs to them. “We’re providing resources so that all farmers can be on the journey together at the same time,” he said.

    Learn more in this interview from Commodity Classic.

    Classic24 John Porter, Truterra 6:58

    2024 Commodity Classic Photo Album

    Audio, carbon, climate, Farming, Sustainability, USDA

    Radical Corn Value Chain Challenge Launched

    Carrie Muehling

    Radicle Growth, a company-building platform investing in early-stage agriculture and food technologies, is delighted to announce, “The Radicle Corn Value Chain Challenge sponsored by U.S. Corn Farmers.”

    “We review about 1,000 technologies from around the world every year and make two or three investments,” said Kirk Haney, managing partner of Radicle Growth. “In partnership with U.S. corn farmers, we’re excited to think about what new technologies can we identify anywhere in the world and bring them to the U.S. to help U.S. corn farmers not only find new uses of corn, but also improve the sustainability scores for corn growing.”

    Iowa Corn Promotion Board President Stan Nelson welcomed the new opportunity.

    “You are hearing from folks that understand our oversupply issues, and they understand and know what a 20 percent stocks to use ratio means,” Nelson said. “But I feel it. I feel the burdensome supply and my two daughters that are farming with their families, they feel the burdensome supply, and U.S. corn farmers feel the burdensome supply. That’s why we’re investing our checkoff dollars into the Radicle Corn Value Chain Challenge.”

    The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is one of several groups supporting the effort.

    “Our growers are really excited to help support the Radicle Challenge and to really leverage both state and national resources to optimize the opportunity in this value chain,” said Sarah McKay, NCGA Director of Market Development.

    Potential companies can apply now at https://radicle.vc/the-radicle-corn-value-chain-sponsored-by-us-corn-farmers/.

    Radicle Growth Launches The Radical Corn Value Chain Challenge Sponsored by U.S. Corn Farmers – press conference
    Classic24 Radical Corn Challenge press conference 6:35

    Audio, Commodity Classic, Corn

    Industry Ag News 3/8

    Carrie Muehling

  • The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) honored Representatives Jim Baird of Indiana and Jimmy Panetta of California with its 2023 Legislator of the Year awards. Each year, ARA recognizes top legislators who have championed the issues of importance to agriculture and agriculture suppliers.
  • The American Soybean Association presented industry awards during the recent Commodity Classic. ASA recognized Steve Pitstick, Illinois, with its Distinguished Leadership Award. Dr. Gary List, retired research chemist, was presented with the Pinnacle Award, and Theresia Gillie of Minnesota received the Outstanding State Volunteer Award.
  • The March Coffee and Collaboration presented by the Livestock Publications Council will be on Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at 10 a.m. CT. This session is titled “Mentoring: A two-way street” with Angie Denton, Emily Grund, and Lauren Gatz – Kansas State University.
  • Agri-Pulse announced the promotion of Steve Davies to Deputy Managing Editor, effective immediately.
  • Join the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City on Wednesday, March 27, for a monthly luncheon meeting featuring Congressman Sam Graves. The Congressman was the first speaker hosted by the Ag Business Council in October 2003, and the group is delighted to have him back 20 years later.
  • The Renewable Fuels Association released its 2024 Ethanol Industry Outlook and Pocket Guide as a kickoff to the 29th annual National Ethanol Conference in San Diego. The annual publications serve as the go-to source of ethanol industry information, facts, and statistics, and follow the NEC theme of “Powered by Partnerships.”
  • American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) President & CEO Andy LaVigne announced the promotion of two staff members. Pat Miller has been promoted to Senior Director, Special Projects; and Jordan Gregory has been promoted to Director, State Government Affairs.
  • The National Cotton Ginners Association announced the recipients of the Cotton Ginner of the Year Award and Distinguished Service Award.
  • The National Cotton Council’s National Cotton Ginners Association also announced its officers for 2024.
  • The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) elected Keeff Felty as President during their 2024 Annual Conference in Houston, Texas.
  • On Wednesday, February 28, in Houston, Texas, over 250 people gathered to celebrate the 24 National Winners for the 2023 contest. Wheat growers and partners from all segments of the wheat industry gathered to honor the achievements of these growers and share ideas on how to achieve both high yield and high-quality wheat. An exciting announcement was shared during this event, the reveal of the new contest website! All wheat growers will need to register on the new site, found at www.wheatcontest.org.
    • Zimfo Bytes

    SOTU Mentions Family Farms But Not Farm Bill

    Cindy Zimmerman

    President Joe Biden made no mention of passing a farm bill in his State of the Union address Thursday night, but he did claim to have already made life better for farmers in the nation.

    “Because of my investments, family farms, my secretary of agriculture knows more about this than anybody I know, are better able to stay in the family and their children and grandchildren won’t have to leave home to make a living. It’s transformative,” said President Biden.

    Not sure what he means by that, but here is the quote.
    Biden SOTU family farms :21

    Audio, politics

    RhizoSorb®Takes Off at Classic

    Cindy Zimmerman

    It was a year ago at Commodity Classic that Phospholutions introduced RhizoSorb® and this year they are ready to go full scale with a product that is the first proven fertilizer technology to reduce phosphorus use by 50% while preserving grower yields.

    “We just recently completed a life cycle analysis that shows we can reduce carbon emissions 45% compared to MAP (Mono-Ammonium Phosphate fertilizer), said Craig Dick, VP of Sales and Marketing at Phospholutions. “That’s huge with the impending 45Z low carbon fuels initiative. It can really help a grower lower his carbon index score…every little bit potentially matters.”

    There was a lot of grower interest in RhizoSorb® during a session at Classic and at the booth. To help farmers adopt RhizoSorb 8-39-0 this year Dick says they are offering the RhizoSorb Grower Guarantee to corn growers who purchase a minimum of 200 acres.

    Learn more in this interview from Commodity Classic.
    Classic24 Craig Dick, Phospholutions 3:55

    AgWired Precision, Audio, carbon, Commodity Classic, Precision Agriculture

    SD Paves Way for Pipeline Project to Move Forward

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Summit Carbon Solutions

    The South Dakota Legislature this week gave a win to the proposed carbon pipeline projects in the state, passing a package of legislation that provides landowner protections and property tax relief to those affected, as well as preserves local zoning. The South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB), South Dakota Corn Growers Association, South Dakota Soybean Association, and South Dakota Ethanol Producers Association all gave their blessing to the nation’s first Landowner Bill of Rights. Governor Kristi Noem has said she will sign the bill which will allow Summit Carbon Solutions to move forward with its multi-state carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) pipeline project.

    “Our goal has been for South Dakota producers to have market access to value-added opportunities while protecting property rights on both sides of this issue,” said Scott VanderWal, SDFB president. “We also fought to ensure that affected landowners would be treated fairly and share in profits. Both affected property owners and counties will have an annual amount to apply toward property tax relief or county general funds.”

    A $.50 per linear foot annual property tax credit will go to affected landowners. The county tax credit is tied to a claim of the federal tax credit in 45Q by a pipeline company.

    Summit Carbon Solutions CEO Lee Blank at 2024 National Ethanol Conference

    Lee Blank, CEO of Summit Carbon Solutions, called it a win-win scenario for all involved. “We appreciate the attention and engagement from so many South Dakotans, especially our partners and agricultural leaders,” said Blank. “We are excited to have a path forward that establishes best practices we are committed to following in South Dakota and across our entire project.”

    Blank was on a panel at the recent National Ethanol Conference where he had a very frank discussion with Renewable Fuels Association VP for Strategy and Innovation Tad Hepner about where the pipeline project stands right now. He said that the company has “hardened (its) attitude towards accomplishing this project” in spite of all the set backs and challenges and he admits they made some mistakes at the beginning. “To be fair, I think we deserved a little criticism early…which is the reason I think the original founders of the company decided to take a more agricultural role,” said Blank. “We have made 5800 route changes to this pipe because we do recognize now how that landowner values his acre.”

    Listen to some of Blank’s comments on the panel here:
    NEC24 Lee Blank, Summit Carbon Solutions, panel comments 9:50

    2024 National Ethanol Conference Photo Album

    Audio, carbon, Corn, Ethanol

    Envita SC Nitrogen Fixing Compound Approved in California

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Azotic Technologies announces approval of Envita® SC today by the California Department of Food and Agriculture for agricultural use in California.

    Envita® SC is a highly effective nitrogen-fixing product based on Gd (Gluconocetobacter diazotrophicus) that creates a symbiotic relationship with plant roots, stems and leaves, fixing nitrogen from inside plant cells. Envita SC is one of the most efficient N-fixing microbes available for use in agricultural applications and has demonstrated outstanding results across a multitude of crops worldwide.

    The company’s Global VP Commercial, Thomas Chavez, states that “Azotic® has confirmed results (N-fixation) of Envita SC, with expanding market access in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. The company has demonstrated efficacy in a variety of crops that ensure significant benefits to growers.”

    Aaron Eddy, US National Sales Manager, emphasizes that this registration is timely as farmers in California are looking for new and effective crop inputs. Envita SC can be applied post-emergence foliar or in-furrow at planting, which fits seamlessly with modern farming practices.

    AgWired Precision, Nutrient Management