Zimfo Bytes 5/17

Carrie Muehling

  • The American Farm Bureau Federation and Florida Farm Bureau today presented Rep. Theodore Yoho (R-Fla.) with AFBF’s Golden Plow award. The Golden Plow is the highest honor the organization gives to sitting members of Congress.
  • The World Food Prize Foundation announces the opening of registration for the 2019 Borlaug Dialogue International Symposium Pax Agricultura: Peace Through Agriculture.
  • Anheuser-Busch has announced it is investing $30,000 in Hop Growers of America (HGA) as part of its commitment to its 2025 Sustainability Goals and to the broader agricultural community.
  • Highlights from Swanson Russell’s annual meeting in April point to continued business growth as well as a milestone in high employee satisfaction and culture. In 2018, Swanson Russell had one of its best years financially and as a result, staff has increased to a record high of 163 full-time employees in the Lincoln, Omaha and remote offices. Recently, the agency was recognized by Quantum Workplace as one of Lincoln’s Best Places to Work in the medium-size business category. The Quantum Workplace competition annually surveys and recognizes employee engagement.
Zimfo Bytes

GrainCoat App Streamlines Grain Marketing

Carrie Muehling

Like many farmers, Sean Arians also has a job that sometimes takes him away from his agriculture operation. Arians needed an easier way to manage grain marketing activities, so he developed the GrainCoat application.

“Cloud spreadsheets and shared spreadsheets are sometimes tough to keep up to date and I really wanted an application that I could take with me on my phone, my iPad, or work with it from the desktop,” said Arians.

Arians said GrainCoat can project multiple years of crops based on data entry by the farmer. When a market move happens, the farmer has immediate access to how many bushels are available of each respective commodity, and can even make sales or offers to an elevator through the app. When that offer fills, the farmer will receive a text message with that notification, eliminating a step for the grain elevator, as well.

A delivery notification feature will be the next thing to launch, streamlining the delivery process and eliminating the need to track physical contracts to manage how many bushels to deliver to each elevator. Arians said the GrainCoat application is available at graincoat.com or for download on an iPad or iPhone. A free version is available with reduced features, or farmers can choose GrainCoat Advantage for $199/year.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Sean here: Interview with Sean Arians, GrainCoat

AgWired Precision, Apps, Audio, Marketing, Precision Agriculture

American Butter Institute: ‘Fake’ Butter is Mislabeled

Carrie Muehling

More plant-based products are entering the marketplace labeled as butter, and the dairy industry wants to put a stop to that practice. American Butter Institute Executive Director Tom Balmer said these products are mislabeled based on the standard of identity that exists for butter.

“The butter standard of identity, which is the only federal food standard established by an act of Congress, and it’s the oldest food standard that’s still in effect in the United States, requires that the product be made from cream and be not less than 80 percent milk fat in the finished product,” said Balmer.

He added that butter has a very simple ingredient list. “Virtually no product has as clean a label as butter, in the case of salted butter being cream and salt – two ingredients,” he said.

Balmer attributes the increase in these types of products coming into the marketplace to a decline in sales of margarine and vegetable spreads, while per capita consumption of butter continues to increase. He said the dairy industry has no problem with these products, but disagrees with labeling them as butter instead of margarine or some other kind of spread.

Learn more in this interview: Interview with Tom Balmer, American Butter Institute

AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Audio, Dairy

Precision Ag Bytes 5/15

Carrie Muehling

  • The National Corn Growers Association welcomes Nicole Hasheider, who joins the organization as director of biotechnology and crop inputs in the St. Louis office.
  • U.S. sales numbers of ag tractors and combines were up in almost every category, according to the latest Association of Equipment Manufacturers sales data. Total 2-wheel-drive tractors experienced an 11.8 percent growth in sales from April of 2018. Specifically, under-40 HP tractor sales grew 16.6 percent, 100-plus-HP tractor sales grew 6.6 percent, and 40-100-HP tractors were the only tractor to see a decline in sales at a small 1.8 percent decrease. Additionally, 4-wheel-drive tractor sales saw a 32.2 percent growth from April of 2018. Between the increase of sales between total 2-wheel-drive tractors and 4-wheel-drive tractors, overall farm tractor sales experienced 12 percent growth. However, self-propelled combines did see a 4.2 percent drop in sales.
  • Premier Crop Systems helps farmers understand the importance of their field profitability by assisting growers in managing farm decisions at a finer scale. Understanding breakeven cost per bushel at a finer scale than the whole operation can change how growers manage those fields.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes

Dairy Industry Recognizes Sustainability Winners

Carrie Muehling

Winners of the eighth annual U.S. Dairy Sustainability Awards announced by the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy are, front row from left, Kathryn Cardoza (Philip Verwey Farms), Shelley Verwey (Philip Verwey Farms), Joan Maxwell (Cinnamon Ridge Farms), Cortney VanOeffelen (VanOeffelen Farm Services), Dean Strauss (Majestic Crossing Dairy), Nicole Zammit (Gleaners Community Food Bank); back row, from left, are: Frank Cardoza (Philip Verwey Farms), Philip Verwey (Philip Verwey Farms), John Maxwell (Cinnamon Ridge Farms), Craig Metz (EnSave Inc.), Kevin O’Donnell (General Mills), Josh Luth (Foremost Farms), Kris Strauss (Majestic Crossing Dairy), Bridget Brown (Gleaners Community Food Bank), Stacy Averill (Gleaners Community Food Bank) and Julie Beamer (Gleaners Community Food Bank).

The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy announced its eighth annual U.S. Dairy Sustainability Award winners during a May 8 ceremony in Rosemont, Illinois.

The program recognizes dairy farms, businesses and partnerships whose practices improve the well-being of people, animals and the planet.

Through creative problem solving, this year’s winners addressed environmentally beneficial production practices, resource and energy reduction as well as the essential role of dairy in bringing quality nutrition to food insecure populations.

The 2019 U.S. Dairy Sustainability Awards winners are:

Outstanding Dairy Farm Sustainability

Cinnamon Ridge Farms (Donahue, Iowa)
Majestic Crossing Dairy (Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin)
Philip Verwey Farms (Hanford, California)

Outstanding Dairy Supply Chain Collaboration

General Mills and Foremost Farms (Reed City, Michigan)

Outstanding Community Impact

Gleaners Community Food Bank (Detroit)

The U.S. Dairy Sustainability Awards program is supported by generous sponsors. This year’s sponsors are: DeLaval, Phibro Animal Health, Syngenta, USDA and World Wildlife Fund.

AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Dairy, Sustainability

Bayer Reacts to Latest Glyphosate Trial Result

Cindy Zimmerman

A third case over the herbicide Roundup resulted in a jury awarding a California couple who developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma more than $2 billion in damages, the largest award so far. The jury found that Monsanto “acted with malice, oppression or fraud” for failing to warn about the risks of spraying Roundup, which became part of Bayer last year.

A press release from Bayer expressed disappointment with the decision and said the company will appeal the verdict in this case, “which conflicts directly with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s interim registration review decision released just last month, the consensus among leading health regulators worldwide that glyphosate-based products can be used safely and that glyphosate is not carcinogenic, and the 40 years of extensive scientific research on which their favorable conclusions are based.”

Bayer is also appealing the two previous court decisions against Roundup, which both resulted in awards of about $80 million.

AgWired Precision, Bayer

Study Shows Economic Impact of Grain Exports

Carrie Muehling

A new study commissioned by the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) points to the importance of export markets to U.S. farmers.

The study highlights the total economic impact of U.S. grain exports to be $55 billion in 2016 and also shows grain exports supporting 271,000 jobs directly or indirectly, according to Kimberly Atkins, vice president and chief operating officer for the USGC. The results are available through a complete report and also an interactive tool that breaks the information down to show the value of production and exports by state or congressional district.

“It’s important for our farmers to see the exact impact that exports are having for their exact state,” said Atkins, who said this kind of information is particularly important amid trade challenges happening right now.

“For U.S. grain producers, this report really highlights why it is that we need good trade policy in place and hopefully can be used to strengthen that conversation as we move forward in the next few months,” she said.

Atkins discusses the study in this interview: Interview with Kimberly Atkins, U.S. Grains Council

Audio, Exports, NCGA, Research, USGC

ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference Preview

Chuck Zimmerman

ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference (#ONE19) has some big name keynote speakers but the biggest is Dr. Mark Lyons, President and CEO, Alltech. I spoke with Mark to get a preview of this year’s conference. I’ve been attending this annual event since 2007 and it has continued to grow with an expectation of a record attendance this year according to him. I’m looking forward to seeing many friends from around the world that I’ve met at the annual event. BTW, Cindy will be with me for the first time this year.

Here is some information about what to expect at ONE this year.

ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference (ONE19) returns May 19–21, 2019, in Lexington, Kentucky, to welcome everyday heroes united by the search for inspiration, motivation and ONE meaningful idea. ONE19 is a unique global conference that transcends culture and industry, presenting innovation-driven solutions for overcoming challenges in agriculture, business, health and wellness, brewing and distilling, and everyday life.

Keynote speakers who will anchor ONE’s 35th annual exploration of transformative ideas include Bear Grylls and Chris Zook.

Alltech’s flagship conference is attended annually by nearly 4,000 people from over 70 countries who gather to dream bigger and explore solutions to improve their businesses and the world around them. The conference experience extends beyond superior presentation content, as attendees are invited to embark on area tours throughout the Bluegrass State and network with peers from across the globe.

While world-class speakers will light up the plenary stage with universal themes of perseverance and achievement, subject- and species-specific breakout sessions with industry experts give attendees an opportunity to explore their particular fields, including aquaculture, beef, crop science, dairy, pig, poultry, equine, health and wellness, business, and brewing and distilling.

Listen to my interview with Mark here: Interview with Dr. Mark Lyons, Alltech

AgWired Animal, Alltech, Animal Agriculture, Audio

New Dicamba-tolerant Stoneville Varieties from BASF

Cindy Zimmerman

***Post Updated with interview***

BASF has added three new dicamba-tolerant Stoneville® cottonseed varieties to its ever-expanding cotton portfolio.

“At BASF, we’re committed to providing growers with choice and innovation in the seed traits they’re using in their fields,” said Malin Westfall, Head of U.S. Cotton Business at BASF. “With the new line of Bollgard® 3 XtendFlex® cotton technology added into our Stoneville portfolio, the Bollgard II® XtendFlex varieties introduced in January and the strength of our existing traits, we are able to provide growers with a wealth of options to bring value back to their farms.”

Each of these new varieties is tolerant to Liberty,® Engenia® and glyphosate herbicides and brings three-gene lepidopteran resistance, which decreases the likelihood that an application for worm control will be needed. The new varieties include:

ST 4480B3XF
A new early- to mid-maturity variety for growers in Oklahoma, Kansas, all of West Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, ST 4480B3XF brings excellent performance on all kinds of acres. It features good seed size, storm tolerance and a very good fiber package.

ST 4990B3XF
Growers across the eastern Cotton Belt, East and South Texas, the Rolling Plains, Oklahoma, the Southern High Plains, New Mexico and Arizona who want hardy, early-season vigor can plant ST 4990B3XF with confidence. It’s a new early- to mid-maturity variety that’s very adaptable, with strong emergence and a good fiber package.

ST 5610B3XF
A new medium-full maturing Bollgard 3 XtendFlex variety that will fit non-irrigated and irrigated production areas across the eastern Cotton Belt, East and South Texas, the Rolling Plains, Oklahoma, the Southern High Plains, New Mexico and Arizona. ST 5610B3XF offers a high lint percentage, strong emergence, has a smooth leaf and is medium in plant height.

Listen to Malin talk about the new varieties in this interview: Interview with Malin Westfall, BASF

Westfall said BASF is preparing for the launch of the largest volume of cottonseed the company has ever seen as it enters into 2020. To learn more about these new varieties, talk with your local BASF representative.

BASF, Cotton

Animal Ag Bites 5/13

Carrie Muehling

  • With research confirming that swine viruses can be transmitted through feed and feedstuffs, new studies are looking at how to prevent the spread of foreign animal diseases, such as African swine fever, via these vehicles. Based on new research, the Swine Health Information Center, the National Pork Board, the National Pork Producers Council and the American Association of Swine Veterinarians have revised the information for feed holding times.
  • Plant-based imitations of butter and other dairy products pose an increasing challenge for consumer understanding in the butter sector, which is dealing with proliferating imposters even as butter’s popularity grows. The American Butter Institute filed a lengthy complaint to the FDA in September calling out imitators. It also supports the National Milk Producers Federation’s citizen petition with the agency filed in February, outlining a road map toward a constructive resolution of the problem of mislabeled, fake dairy products. That petition may be accessed here.
  • The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, established under the leadership of dairy farmers and leading companies, announced its eighth annual U.S. Dairy Sustainability Award winners during a May 8 ceremony in Rosemont, Illinois. The 2019 U.S. Dairy Sustainability Awards winners are: Cinnamon Ridge Farms (Donahue, Iowa); Majestic Crossing Dairy (Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin); Philip Verwey Farms (Hanford, California); General Mills and Foremost Farms (Reed City, Michigan); and Gleaners Community Food Bank (Detroit).
  • An official manual for the Beef Quality Assurance program that is both detailed and extensive is now being distributed nationwide throughout the cattle industry. The manual and the BQA Program are both managed by the producer education team at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff.
  • The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association and the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, with funding provided by the USPOULTRY Foundation, have launched a new My American Farm game, along with a supporting lesson plan, an activity sheet and an eComic. The An Egg-Citing Poultry Adventure game and resources were developed to help third through fifth grade students better understand the poultry and egg industry, with students adventuring through the progression of stages in poultry and egg production in the game.
AgWired Animal, Animal Bites