Precision Ag Bytes 11/13

Carrie Muehling

  • Syngenta announced that it has sued agrochemical maker Atticus LLC for patent infringement. The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, alleges, among other things, that Atticus’ Acadia 2 SC, Acadia ESQ, Aquila XL, Artavia 2 SC and Artavia Xcel products each infringe certain Syngenta patents relating to the manufacture of azoxystrobin fungicide.
  • CLAAS has announced a global partnership with The Climate Corporation, Bayer’s digital farming arm, and its industry-leading FieldView™ digital farming platform, providing farmers with seamless connectivity and unlimited storage of machine-generated agronomic data directly to their FieldView account.
  • Marrone Bio Innovations Inc., an international leader in sustainable bioprotection and plant health solutions, announced positive results for the 2019 field trials for its novel bioherbicide, known as MBI-015.
  • Learn more about AgIntegrated by visiting the company’s new website. AgIntegrated builds APIs and tools for service providers and software vendors to help collect, clean, and move agronomic data to and from different agricultural related systems, software, and hardware solutions.
  • Pioneer® brand corn and soybean product yields across the country continue to set records thanks to rigorous research and testing programs. Despite what may be the most challenging growing season in recent history in terms of weather, yields from Pioneer brand corn and soybeans continue trending up.
  • USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service seeks public comments on its interim final rule for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). CSP is the nation’s largest conservation program, designed to help farmers have more robust conservation activities. The rule – now available on the Federal Register – takes effect upon publication and includes changes to the program prescribed by the 2018 Farm Bill.
  • October 2019 saw increases in U.S. sales of self-propelled combines while both 4-wheel-drive tractors and 2-wheel-drive tractor sales fell modestly compared to October of last year, according to the latest data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers.
  • Topcon Agriculture announces the Topcon Technology Roadshow for North America featuring the Topcon Agriculture Platform. Event stops are planned to showcase the cloud-based farm workflow improvement tool integrating state-of-the-art connectivity, cloud services and data analytics. Four stops are planned for November and December across Indiana, Iowa and Nebraska, with more on the way for the North American tour in 2020. The up-to-date schedule is available at topconagriculture.com/roadshow.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes

NPPC Launches Pork O’Clock Somewhere

Cindy Zimmerman

What would Jimmy Buffett do for a pulled pork sandwich in paradise?

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) has launched a new campaign, “It’s Pork O’ Clock Somewhere,” to highlight the importance and benefits of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement. The campaign focuses on pork and the many ways it’s enjoyed across North America.

“Ratification of USMCA is the top priority for U.S. pork producers and there is no better way to highlight its importance than a campaign that illustrates how pork is enjoyed across United States, Canada and Mexico,” said David Herring, NPPC president and a pork producer in Lillington, N.C. “A USMCA agreement provides much-needed market certainty for U.S. pork producers, ensuring zero-duty market access to two of our largest export markets.”

Last year, more than 40 percent of U.S. pork exported went to Canada and Mexico. The campaign thanks lawmakers for making USMCA ratification this year a priority and highlights the history behind pork-related dishes in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

To learn more about NPPC’s campaign, visit www.porkoclock.org.

Exports, NPPC, Trade

WASDE Lowers Wheat, Corn and Soybean Forecasts

Cindy Zimmerman

The latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report from USDA has lower production and reduced use in the outlook for wheat, corn and soybeans.

Wheat supplies are decreased 42 million bushels, based on updated production estimates for the states resurveyed following the NASS Small Grains Summary, issued September 30. Adjustments to production in these States, where significant acreage remained unharvested in early September, lowers production estimates for Hard Red Spring wheat, White wheat, and Durum with most reductions occurring in North Dakota and Montana.

Corn production is forecast at 13.661 billion bushels, down 118 million from last month on a 1.4-bushel reduction in yield to 167.0 bushels per acre. Feed and residual use is down 25 million bushels based on a smaller crop and higher expected prices. Exports are reduced reflecting the slow pace of early-season sales and shipments. Corn used for ethanol is down 25 million bushels based on September data from the Grain Crushings and Co-Products Production report and weekly ethanol production data as reported by the Energy Information Administration for the month of October.

Soybean production is forecast at 3.55 billion bushels, down less than 1 million on fractionally lower yields and unchanged harvested area. Soybean crush is reduced 15 million bushels to 2.11 billion on lower-than expected early-season crush and reduced soybean meal export prospects.

Listen to commentary from Randy Martinson, Martinson Ag Risk Management, on MGEX Crop Call.
Crop Call 11-8-19

Audio, Corn, Soybean, USDA, Wheat

Opportunities Exist with Veterans for Cannabis

Carrie Muehling

The CBD industry is a significant opportunity for veterans, not only when it comes to treating medical challenges but also when it comes to finding purpose professionally after serving, according to Joshua Littrell, founder and CEO of Veterans for Cannabis.

Littrell was at the Inaugural Florida Industrial Hemp Conference in Orlando, where the group shared its purpose and product line with others in attendance. Veterans for Cannabis began in 2014 as an advocacy group and entered the industrial hemp business in 2015 with a product launch.

“The big purpose behind the product launch was to find a safe alternative to the pharmaceuticals that were killing us,” said Littrell, who believes the products can help to reduce accidental overdoses and mitigate suicides.

The product line is grown by veterans, for veterans, from seed to sale. Littrell encouraged people to begin the conversation about the potential benefits of medical cannabis with veterans in their own families. More information is available at www.vcfusa.com.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Joshua here: Interview with Joshua Littrell, Veterans for Cannabis

2019 Inaugural Florida Industrial Hemp Conference Photo Album

Audio, Cannabis, hemp

Animal Ag Bites 11/11

Carrie Muehling

  • GMO Answers has partnered with the American Feed Industry Association to create a new video that answers common consumer questions about GMOs, animal feed, and pet food.
  • The Animal Agriculture Alliance announced a new chair-elect and six new board representatives. The Alliance’s full board of directors, which includes representatives from all segments of animal agriculture, is listed on its website at: https://animalagalliance.org/about/board.
  • Leaders of Dairy Management Inc.™, the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board and the United Dairy Industry Association announced election results to lead national dairy checkoff strategies and programs to protect and grow sales. Marilyn Hershey, a farmer from Cochranville, Pennsylvania, was re-elected chair of DMI.
  • The National Dairy Promotion and Research Board honored William “Bill” Siebenborn as the 2019 recipient of the Richard E. Lyng Award for his contributions and distinguished service to dairy promotion.
  • A live look at innovative in vitro fertilization (IVF) technology will be on display when the 27th Cattlemen’s College is held in San Antonio, Texas, Feb. 4-5, immediately prior to the 2020 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show. Information about registration and the programs can be found at https://convention.ncba.org
AgWired Animal, Animal Bites

Intergro Helping Farmers Grow Their ‘Hempire’

Carrie Muehling

Farmers attending the inaugural Florida Industrial Hemp Conference in Orlando had lots of questions about growing hemp as a commodity crop. Intergro was one company providing some answers for them.

Intergro CEO Joe Gordhamer told farmers that if they have experience growing other crops, they can grow hemp. He said the potential use for the hemp is important, suggesting growing for CBD is more like growing vegetables, and growing for industrial hemp is more like raising row crops.

“Bottom line is, if you take care of the plants under drip and plastic, if you treat them carefully and give them what they need, you’ll get a good crop,” said Gordhamer.

He told farmers the growing environment is important, from raised beds to nutrition and protection from disease. Because the the list of crop protection products available for growing hemp is very restricted, Gordhamer said Intergro’s preventative prebiotic foliar spray is a valuable product to give leaves a protective coating.

“We have thousands and thousands of acres of vegetables on these products successfully defending against disease. And really it is just using these natural products, powered by nature, for hemp,” Gordhamer said.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Joe Gordhamer, CEO, Intergro
Interview with Intergro CEO Joe Gordhamer

2019 Inaugural Florida Industrial Hemp Conference Photo Album

Audio, hemp

ZimmCast 629 – Farming Hemp in Florida

Chuck Zimmerman

This week I attended the inaugural Florida Industrial Hemp Conference & Expo in Orlando. Hemp has become a hot topic in agriculture today since so many states have created legislation allowing it to be grown and more are in the process. That includes my home state of Florida.

I asked all the people I spoke with or interviewed during the Conference how USDA’s announced interim final rule on the Domestic Hemp Production Program would affect the budding industry and their company or organization. It appears that Florida and USDA are taking big steps to help create some certainty for farmers to grow a product that can be made into thousands and thousands of products.

Included in the program are: Florida Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services, Director of Cannabis, Holly Bell; Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Jerry Frankhauser; Geoff Whaling, Chairman of the National Hemp Association; and Coordinator of the Florida Industrial Hemp Conference, Gene Jones. You can find more interviews in our virtual ag newsroom on AgNewsWire here.

I hope you enjoy this episode of the ZimmCast and thank you for listening.

BTW. Feel free to contact me if you have ideas or suggestions for a future program. I’m always open to what would be of interest.

Listen to the ZimmCast here: ZimmCast 629 - Hemp Farming in Florida
Subscribe to the ZimmCast by clicking here.

Ag Groups, Audio, Farming, hemp, ZimmCast

Secretary Perdue Talks Mexico Trade

Cindy Zimmerman

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue led a trade mission to Mexico this week to investigate new opportunities with our nation’s largest bilateral trading partner and second-largest export market for agricultural products.

The secretary was joined by the heads of six state departments of agriculture: Bryan Hurlburt of Connecticut, Celia Gould of Idaho, Joseph Bartenfelder of Maryland, Chris Chinn of Missouri, Doug Goehring of North Dakota, and Derek Sandison of Washington. Other participants included representatives from various companies and organizations, including Alltech, Almond Board of California, Renewable Fuels Association, U.S. Grains Council, U.S. Soybean Export Council, and USA Rice.

Secretary Perdue held a call regarding the trade mission on Thursday where he also talked about USMCA, immigration and farm labor, disaster aid, and trade aid. Listen or download below.
USDA Secy Perdue press call on Mexico trade mission (18:16)

Audio, Exports, Trade, USDA

Ethanol Powered Jeep Wrangler Debuts in Vegas

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and Kenny Hauk of Hauk Designs unveiled a new project at the 2019 SEMA Show in Las Vegas this week that highlights the benefits of higher ethanol blends in high performance vehicles – a Flex Fuel Jeep Wrangler with more than 1,000 horsepower using a high-octane, low-carbon fuel containing up to 85 percent ethanol (E85).

Fans can watch the Hauk team design and build the RFA flex-fuel Wrangler in a special “Hauk Machines” Amazon Prime video series now airing. Since August, a series of five-minute mini-episodes have been airing on RFA’s Facebook page as a preview.

“This project is all about educating different consumer groups in a fun and innovative way,” said RFA Vice President for Industry Relations Robert White. “At RFA, we want to push the boundaries to show the potential of ethanol as a fuel for a wide variety of vehicles and demographics, especially when special interests tell us it can’t be done. Ethanol is a high-powered fuel that is perfectly suited for on road and off-road applications. It also helps keep our air and water clean, something important to off-road enthusiasts and conservationists. Kenny Hauk is the perfect person to help us tell this story and educate consumers globally through social media, television and at future events.”

White says plans are underway to get the one-of-a-kind Wrangler on the road for special events and shows around the country, to showcase the power and opportunities behind ethanol. He talks about the project in this interview:

Interview with Robert White on Flex Fuel Jeep Wrangler (8:11)

Audio, Ethanol, RFA

Zimfo Bytes 11/8

Carrie Muehling

  • New Holland is supporting agricultural non-profit organizations in the U.S. and Canada in conjunction with its Great New Holland Haytools Giveaway. The National FFA Foundation and 4-H Canada will be recognized as the beneficiaries in the U.S. and Canada respectively. For every entry New Holland receives, the brand, with a corporate match from CNH Industrial America LLC, will give $2 to FFA (if the entrant is located in the U.S.) and $2 to 4-H Canada (for entrants located in Canada) up to $100,000 USD. The final donations will be given in May 2020 at the conclusion of the giveaway. Producers can enter the giveaway at trade shows, their local New Holland Dealers, via text codes by texting BLUE to 31313 in the U.S. or 393939 in Canada, or via the contest website at newhollandgiveaway.com/BLUE.
  • Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Georgia Young Peanut Farmer. The state winner will be announced at the Georgia Peanut Farm Show. Applications are due to the GPC office by Monday, Dec. 2, 2019. The award application is available online at www.gapeanuts.com or by contacting Joy Crosby at 229-386-3690 or joycrosby@gapeanuts.com.
  • Make plans to attend the 44th annual Georgia Peanut Farm Show and Conference scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020, from 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center in Tifton, Georgia. The one-day show is free and open to all farmers and industry representatives to attend.
  • CommoditAg welcomes two new leaders, and introduces new roles to current team members. Ben Van Nostran, Chief Operating Officer, brings a 20-year career spanning marketing, sales and strategy leadership roles in U.S. and global markets to his role as COO. Kait Sheehan joined the CommoditAg team as the Marketing Manager. Karen Whitt serves as the Chief Financial Officer for CommoditAg, and Cheryl McWhorter recently assumed the role of CommoditAg Technology Manager. Harley Rensing joined the team in 2018 as Business Operations Associate and was named Customer Care Manager at the end of October 2019.
  • The World Food Prize announced the public launch of the Archive of the Foundation President, Ambassador Kenneth M. Quinn. The Archive, which represents his entire 52 year public career, can be found at www.ambassadorkennethquinnarchive.org.
  • The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) was recognized last week for 50 years of support of the National FFA Organization at the organization’s 92nd annual convention held in Indianapolis.
  • The Michigan Agri-Business Association (MABA) Board of Directors announced Chuck Lippstreu has been selected to lead the association upon the retirement of current MABA president Jim Byrum in February 2020. He will join the association effective January 2
Zimfo Bytes