ZimmCast 627 – Commercial UAV Expo Americas

Chuck Zimmerman

Drones, drones and more drones!

In this week’s program you will hear Jeremiah Karpowicz, Executive Editor of Commercial UAV News, talk about this year’s Commercial UAV Expo Americas. This trade show and conference focuses on commercial drone integration and operation in a variety of industries, including agriculture.

Here’s some more information about the conference.

Commercial UAV Expo AmericasIn the Conference Program, UAV industry experts share key insights into the issues asset owners face when implementing unmanned aerial systems, including systems selection and integration; developing enterprise workflows, guidelines and policies; data management and integration; and legal, safety and regulatory considerations. Plenary sessions and panels cover topics of interest to all end-users regardless of industry, while breakout sessions focus on UAV technology, applications and opportunities in the vertical markets listed above.

The International Exhibition includes drone airframe manufacturers, component and sensor manufacturers, software developers and service companies. Commercial UAV Expo Americas has more exhibitors than any other commercial drone show.

AgWired is a supporter of the conference again this year and I hope we’ll be able to bring you some news from the event even though I can’t attend. But if you would like to attend you can register here.

Listen to the ZimmCast here: ZimmCast 627 - Commercial UAV Expo Americas
Subscribe to the ZimmCast by clicking here.

Audio, Precision Agriculture, Technology, ZimmCast

President Trump Addresses Farmers Through NAFB

Cindy Zimmerman

The National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) worked with officials from the White House to share remarks from President Donald J. Trump that he recorded from the Oval Office to the nation’s farmers, ranchers, and agriculture community through NAFB broadcast members.

In his remarks, the President talked about a number of different topics important to the agricultural community as harvest is underway around the country. He expresses his deep appreciation for farmers and ranchers and makes note of recent actions he has taken to help them, including trade efforts, tax cuts, the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, ethanol, disaster assistance, and more.

Click the player below to hear President Trump comments from NAFB.
President Trump addresses farmers through NAFB

AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Audio, NAFB

Animal Ag Bites 10/14

Carrie Muehling

  • Cattle producer record-keeping can be improved and simplified through the Redbook, a pocket-sized recordkeeping tool from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Redbooks can be purchased for $7.00 each, plus shipping and handling. To order, visit https://store.ncba.org.
  • The National Dairy Promotion and Research Board, through Dairy Management Inc., which manages the national dairy checkoff, annually awards $2,500 scholarships to 11 students. In addition, the NDB awards a $3,500 James H. Loper Jr. Memorial Scholarship to one outstanding recipient. Kathryn Lyne Gardner, a University of Arkansas student who is double majoring in agribusiness and agricultural communication with a minor in agricultural leadership, has earned the 2019-20 James H. Loper Jr. Memorial Scholarship. Students earning $2,500 scholarships are: Sanne de Bruijn (South Dakota State University), Ariel Graveen (University of Wisconsin-River Falls), Cynthia Hamlett (Iowa State University), Theodore Jacoby (South Dakota State University), Gloria Koester (Purdue University), Ashley Maus (South Dakota State University), Brianna McBride (Iowa State University), Jessica Mehre (University of Wisconsin-Madison), Jessica Schmitt (Iowa State University), Margaret Socha (South Dakota State University) and Collin Weltzien (University of Wisconsin-River Falls).
  • The 2019 World Forage Analysis Superbowl winners were announced during the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin where FS InVISION DairySelect and W-L Alfalfa had outstanding performances.
  • Two members of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association joined President Trump at a White House event spotlighting past federal overreach by the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency. During the event, the President signed two Executive Orders that will provide more clarity and transparency to often-daunting and complicated federal regulatory processes.
  • A new course on Organic Dairy Compliance is now available in the free, online Organic Integrity Learning Center. The course provides an overview of the USDA organic livestock standards with a special focus on dairy operations.
  • A seasonal flu vaccination is a public health recommendation and part of the One Health approach to protect people, pigs and the global environment. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone 6 months of age or older be vaccinated annually against seasonal influenza.
  • Harriet Hageman, Senior Litigation Counsel with the New Civil Liberties Alliance, filed a lawsuit in federal district court in Casper, Wyoming, representing the Ranchers Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of America (R-CALF USA) and four ranchers from Wyoming and South Dakota, to stop the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s effort to eliminate all animal identification options other than radio frequency identification (RFID) devices and premises registration for adult cattle and bison moving interstate.
  • The National Cattlemen’s Foundation is now accepting applications for 2020-2021 beef industry scholarships sponsored by CME Group. Ten scholarships of $1,500 each will be awarded to outstanding students pursuing careers in the beef industry. Online applications should be submitted by Nov. 8, 2019 at midnight Central Time. To apply, or learn more about the scholarship, click here.
  • After nearly two years of planning, development and implementation of a cattle disease traceability infrastructure, CattleTrace is inviting all beef industry stakeholders to attend the first-ever CattleTrace Industry Symposium on November 22, 2019, in Manhattan, KS, at the Kansas State University Student Union.
  • The National Pork Producers Council have unveiled a commemorative painting in honor of Kay Christian, a highly respected pork producer who contributed to the industry in countless ways before her passing on Nov. 4, 2018.
  • Novus International, Inc. announced that François Fraudeau plans to retire as President and Chief Executive Officer after 28 successful years with the company. Novus’s Board of Directors will hire a former Novus Executive, Dan Meagher, to be the next President and CEO, effective April 1st, 2020.
  • Global animal health company Huvepharma®, after receiving FDA approval in July 2019 for Monovet® 90, the first-available generic monensin in the United States, continues to expand the list of approved feed combinations with which Monovet can be fed.
AgWired Animal, Animal Bites

Global Ethanol Summit Kicks Off in DC

Cindy Zimmerman

The first Global Ethanol Summit gets underway this morning in Washington D.C. with industry and government officials from 60 countries are meeting with U.S. officials to learn about prospects for expanded global ethanol use.

This week’s Summit, sponsored by the Council, Growth Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), features high-level government and industry officials from Algeria to Vietnam, who are working together to expand the global use of ethanol by developing policies with a role for trade.

Building on the success and momentum of 2017’s Ethanol Summit of the Americas and 2018’s Ethanol Summit of the Asia Pacific events, the Global Summit seeks to capitalize on potential markets around the world as demand increases for higher-level biofuels policies – including decreasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improving clean air quality. The Council and its partners are working in all of these countries to highlight ethanol’s benefits and address constraints to expanding ethanol’s use.

The two-day conference will feature remarks from both the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Deputy Secretary Stephen Censky and Foreign Agricultural Service’s Associate Administrator Daniel Whitley, who will speak on collaboration and trade and the U.S. energy renaissance, respectively.

Ethanol, Events, Exports, RFA, USGC

Zimfo Bytes 10/11

Carrie Muehling

  • U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Donald “DJ” LaVoy announced that USDA is investing $152 million in 19 projects to provide or improve rural broadband service in 14 states.
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary Scott Hutchins announced that the National Institute of Food and Agriculture has invested $11 million in research that will support specialty crop farmers.
  • Join seed industry professionals from around the world December 9-12 in Chicago for America’s largest seed conference! The American Seed Trade Association CSS 2019 & Seed Expo brings together nearly 3,000 attendees representing more than 30 countries for a week of collaboration, education, and the industry’s largest trade show.
  • Save the date for the Agri-Pulse Ag & Food Policy Summit on March 23, 2020 at The National Press Club in Washington, D.C. from 8:30 – 4:30 p.m. with reception to follow at same location.
  • The American Soybean Association wants to recognize exceptional soy volunteers and leaders. During ASA’s annual awards banquet, individuals will be recognized and honored for state association volunteerism, distinguished leadership achievements and long-term, significant contributions to the soybean industry. The nomination period is open through Oct. 14, 2019.
  • The American Coalition for Ethanol recently welcomed two new ethanol producer members Heron Lake BioEnergy located in Heron Lake, Minnesota, and Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy located in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
  • Online registration is open for the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 101st Annual Convention & Trade Show, Jan. 17-22, 2020, in Austin, Texas.
  • CommoditAg.com expands its network once again. The company announced it has expanded into Missouri and Arkansas with the addition of MFA Incorporated and its five distribution locations throughout the Midwest.
  • Sign up to participate in a new Farm Foundation forum which will bring together a panel of experts Oct. 22, 2019 in Washington, D.C. The topic is Incentivizing Conservation Agriculture.
  • The Georgia Peanut Commission and Georgia Bankers Association will join forces Oct. 14-18, 2019, to promote the 43rd annual Georgia Peanut Bank Week.
  • Tractor Supply Company continues its mission to support youth in their local communities by launching its Fall Paper Clover campaign, a biannual fundraiser in partnership with National 4-H Council to provide scholarships for 4-H members.
  • Culver’s and its Thank You Farmers Project has raised $2.5 million to support agricultural education since its inception six years ago. So far in 2019, over $400,000 has been raised.
  • Expanding data-driven solutions for the ag industry, GROWMARK, Inc. and Growers Edge Financial, Inc. have announced a strategic partnership to help farmers become more efficient and profitable. Growers Edge will provide a yield guarantee program for GROWMARK’s expansive North American customer network and an extension to its AgValidity technology testing platform.
Zimfo Bytes

USDA Outlook Lowers Corn and Soybean Estimates

Cindy Zimmerman

The October World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates out today from USDA lowered the 2019-20 production outlook for corn and soybeans.

This month’s 2019/20 U.S. corn outlook is for slightly lower production, reduced exports and corn used for ethanol, greater feed and residual use, and lower ending stocks. Corn production is forecast at 13.779 billion bushels, down 20 million as a decline in harvested area more than offsets an increased yield forecast. Corn supplies are forecast down sharply from last month on a reduced crop and lower beginning stocks based on the September 30 Grain Stocks report. Exports are reduced 150 million bushels reflecting smaller supplies and U.S. price competitiveness. Corn used for ethanol is down 50 million bushels based on weekly production data as reported by the Energy Information Administration during September.

Soybean production is forecast at 3.6 billion bushels, down 83 million, mainly on lower yields. The soybean yield is projected at 46.9 bushels per acre, down 1 bushel from the September forecast. Harvested area is reduced slightly to 75.6 million acres. Soybean supplies for 2019/20 are forecast at 4.5 billion bushels down 175 million on lower production and beginning stocks. With a small increase in soybean crush, ending stocks are projected at 460 million bushels, down 180 million.

Corn, Soybean, USDA

Record Attendance for NAMA Fall Conference

Chuck Zimmerman

2019 NAMA Fall ConferenceI was not able to attend this year’s NAMA Fall conference. I know I’m missing a good one.

Here are some highlights about the conference which wraps up today in St. Louis.

  • The Fall Conference kicked off with a record attendance of over 200.
  • Over 40 people turned out for the Gateway Ag Tour which included stops to Purina and Stumpy’s.
  • A welcome reception sponsored by Brownfield Ag Network kicked off the conference.
  • Keynote speaker Steve Lerch shared stories from a decade at Google.
  • The agency panel of area C-suite executives was well received and videotaped and will be pushed out to members later
  • A networking reception hosted by Brighton Agency concluded the near perfect day.

Watch Max Armstrong’s summary of the early activities:


NAMA

Precision Ag Bytes 10/9

Carrie Muehling

  • Sentera announces that its Tassel Count analytics product will be available to all FieldAgent™ customers in March 2020.
  • Expanding data-driven solutions for the ag industry, GROWMARK, Inc. and Growers Edge Financial, Inc. (Growers Edge) have announced a strategic partnership to help farmers become more efficient and profitable. Growers Edge will provide a yield guarantee program for GROWMARK’s expansive North American customer network and an extension to its AgValidity technology testing platform.
  • Join seed industry professionals from around the world December 9-12 in Chicago for America’s largest seed conference! The American Seed Trade Association CSS 2019 & Seed Expo brings together nearly 3,000 attendees representing more than 30 countries for a week of collaboration, education, and the industry’s largest trade show.
  • Dan Vradenburg, the former president of leading ag-retailer Wilbur Ellis, has joined Trace Genomics as chief executive officer.
  • A&L Canada Laboratories Inc. announced Brandon Yott has joined the company as Strategy & Business Development Manager of Precision Agriculture Technologies.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes

First Florida Hemp Conference Next Month

Cindy Zimmerman

The inaugural Florida Industrial Hemp Conference (FIHCE 2019) will be held November 3-5 in Orlando. FIHCE 2019 is a networking and educational event designed to foster the development of an industrial hemp industry in Florida.

Topics at the conference include the latest information on the hemp market, state and federal legislation, growing and cultivation, research, banking, and lots more.

Gene Jones is co-founder of the conference and in this interview he talks about this new agricultural crop and the information growers need to make it happen.

Interview with Gene Jones, Florida Industrial Hemp Conference 9:48

Audio, Cannabis, Events, hemp

Agriculture Wins With Japan Agreement

Cindy Zimmerman

President Donald Trump gathered farmers and ranchers and other stakeholders at the White House on Monday for the signing of the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement.

In his remarks prior to the signing, President Trump talked about the many agricultural commodities that will benefit from the new agreement.

President Trump remarks on signing of Japan agreement
Audio, Trade