On-Farm Data Key to Developing New Cotton Varieties

Carrie Muehling

BASF cotton breeders are excited about launching new product innovations that will continue to help growers.

Dr. Cory Mills works out of a state of the art facility in Lubbock, Texas, where his breeding group uses molecular tools to help select traits farmers need to grow better cotton crops. Mills, who was at the 2019 BASF APT Summit, spoke highly of the people he works with and the location where the trials happen, but he said the most important research happens on the farm.

“The growers are key to our success as a breeding group,” said Mills. “We actually go out on their farm and lease the ground to do all of the testing, all the screening. The farmers have all of the tools and the land, and we are able to go on and take basically their best land to screen for these traits. So, we appreciate their help. We wouldn’t be able to bring a product to the market without their help.”

Mills said the breeding group screen soil types in different areas to gain information about disease resistance as they select both native and genetically modified traits for development into new cotton varieties.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Dr. Cory Mills here: Interview with Dr. Cory Mills, BASF

2019 BASF APT Summit Photo Album

Audio, BASF, Cotton

New Platform for Food and Agriculture Innovation

Cindy Zimmerman

The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) and the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) have announced the launch of Innovature, a new platform for dialogue around innovation in food and agriculture, with an initial focus on gene editing.

ASTA CEO Andy LaVigne says they are aiming to engage key influencers in a dialogue around shared values. “Our goal is to cultivate broad-based partnerships in order to fully realize the potential of evolving innovation in plant and animal breeding for the benefit of our health, our planet, and our food,” said LaVigne.

“There is too much at stake as a society today not to have an open and transparent conversation about how gene editing in plants, animals and microbes can help address growing global challenges, such as climate change, sustainability and hunger,” said BIO CEO Jim Greenwood.

Currently, the platform is focused on gene editing, but plans are to incorporate additional innovations in food and agriculture as they develop.

AgWired Precision, ASTA, Biotech, Food, Technology

Soil Health Summit Awards Honor Best in Soil Health

Cindy Zimmerman

Five dedicated leaders in soil health received “Seeds of Change” awards at the 2019 Soil Health Partnership Summit this week in St. Louis. The awards highlight those participants in the program who have gone above and beyond to promote soil health throughout the year.

The five award recipients are (pictured left to right)
Exceptional Educators: John (and Joan) Maxwell, Donahue, Iowa
Ace Agronomist: Bryce Kujawa, Mount Vernon, Illinois
Champion Communicator: Deb Gangwish, Springview, Nebraska
Super Sprout: Brian Ryberg, Buffalo Lake, Minnesota
Data Dominator: Brian Martin, Centralia, Missouri (not pictured)

The Maxwells received the educators award because they take the initiative to tell the story of what’s happening on their farm to anyone and everyone, from local kindergarten students to visitors from Brazil. They love to share how a successful dairy and crop farm can sustainability feed the growing population while caring for the land. John is a strong advocate for the Soil Health Partnership and has been featured in print and television news.

In this interview, John talks about their passion for sustainability and soil health on the farm –
SHS19 Interview with award winner John Maxwell, Iowa

Day One Photo Album
Day Two Photo Album

AgWired Precision, Audio, Conservation, Soil, Soil Health Partnership

Farm Credit System Outlook on Agriculture Credit Conditions

Cindy Zimmerman

Three Farm Credit CEOs briefed the media Wednesday on credit conditions and the general agricultural economy.

Below are links to audio files of the remarks from each CEO representing different parts of the country. Click here for supporting materials.

Kathy Heustess, CEO, ArborOne Farm Credit – South Carolina/Southeast
Farm Credit Outlook, Kathy Heustess

Mark Jensen, CEO, Farm Credit Services of America/Frontier Farm Credit – NE/IA/SD/WY
Farm Credit Outlook, Mark Jensen

Marc Knisely, CEO, AgCountry Farm Credit Services – ND/MN/WI
Farm Credit Outlook, Marc Knisely

Audio, Crop Insurance, Farm Credit

BASF Expanding Cotton Weed Control Choices

Carrie Muehling

Weed control was among topics discussed at the 2019 BASF APT Summit in New Orleans. BASF Technical Service Representative Alvin Rhodes presented an overview of current crop protection products available to cotton growers.

“Well, we at BASF are, of course, very excited that now we have such a broad list of products that we can help the cotton farmer with,” said Rhodes. “Having a spectrum of products to help those growers is very important and we are planning for the future for the pipeline of things that may even be needed further down the line.”

Rhodes said weed control is imperative as even highly productive varieties won’t produce if challenged by pests or weeds. He said overlapping modes of action will help the long-term survival of crop protection tools, but noted there have not been many new modes of action for herbicides recently. He said trait technology is now beginning to include weed control, and growers are eager to learn about their options.

“I think it is going to be a great 2019,” said Rhodes. “I think cotton acres are going to be up, and our goal is to help those growers who are planting cotton that they can utilize the best technology available and use it timely and properly so they can get the best weed control opportunities they have over the course of the season.”

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Alvin here: Interview with Alvin Rhodes, BASF

Listen to Alvin’s presentation here: Presentation by Alvin Rhodes, BASF

2019 BASF APT Summit Photo Album

Audio, BASF, Cotton, Herbicide

Farm Bureau Adopts Policies

Cindy Zimmerman

As the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 100th Annual Convention wrapped up yesterday in New Orleans, member delegates adopted policies on key topics such as farm bill implementation, cell-cultured food products, trade, rural broadband access and rural mental health programs.

“As our organization has done for the last 100 years, grassroots delegates from across the nation came together to express a unified voice on issues vital to the success of our farms, ranches and rural communities,” American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall said. “We continue to face a challenging farm economy and we stand ready to work with Congress and the Trump administration to address the issues important to our farm and ranch families.”

Delegates urged the administration and Congress to work together to end the government shutdown as soon as possible. Delegates voted to favor negotiations to resolve trade disputes, rather than the use of tariffs or withdrawal from agreements. They also voted to support the United States’ entry into the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Regarding cell-based food, delegates adopted a comprehensive policy to support innovation in cell-based food products while ensuring a level playing field for traditional protein. The policy also calls for complete and accurate product labels to ensure that consumers have all the pertinent information they need.

Listen to Duvall’s closing remarks to the press – AFBF19 Pres Duvall closing press conference

Press releases, audio downloads, video, and photos from the entire convention can be found in the AFBF Newsroom.

2019 AFBF Annual Convention photo album

AFBF, AgWired Animal, Audio

Guess Whose Boots

Chuck Zimmerman

It has been a while since I’ve lightened things up with a guessing game about boots. So, here we go again.

The first person who posts the correct answer in comments will be the winner. Simple, right? If it gets to be too tough I’ll add some hints but I’m betting I won’t have to.

There will be a prize for the winner but I don’t know what that is yet. I’ll come up with something that will make it worth your while though. When we get a winner I’ll update this post so you’ll know who knew!

Now, GO.

Uncategorized

Biodiesel Conference Next Week in San Diego

Cindy Zimmerman

America’s largest celebration of all things biodiesel returns to San Diego next week for a record fifth visit in the Golden State. Local residents are invited to join in the festivities at no cost during the National Biodiesel Conference and Expo kick off at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina on Tuesday, January 22.

The conference, which runs through Thursday the 24th, will offer a diesel-vehicle ride-and-drive opportunity and dozens of demonstrations and presentations on the latest in public policy under the Trump Administration and a new Congress; the environmental and commercial benefits of biodiesel use; and more focus on California and Western carbon markets.

National Biodiesel Board CEO Donnell Rehagen says California is the largest market for renewable fuels, driven by the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). “Biodiesel and renewable diesel have been the real stars of the LFCS,” Rehagen said. “Since 2011, biodiesel and renewable diesel use in California has grown from 14 million gallons to more than 500 million gallons today. That represents a compounded annual growth rate of 89 percent and was nearly 20 percent of the national market for biodiesel last year.”

And the future looks even brighter. According to targets set by the state, biodiesel and renewable diesel use could reach one billion gallons by 2021 and as much as two billion gallons by 2030.

NBB Director of Communications Kaleb Little provides a preview of the conference:
NBB conference preview with Kaleb Little

Follow the action next week on the Biodiesel Conference Blog for the 14th year!

Audio, Biodiesel, National Biodiesel Conference

5th Soil Health Summit Biggest Yet

Cindy Zimmerman

The 2019 Soil Health Summit kicked off Tuesday in St. Louis with a record number of attendees. This is the 5th Summit and the program has grown tremendously in a very short time.

Soil Health Partnership Executive Director Shefali Mehta says this year’s program is the most diverse in terms of presentations and breakout sessions and the attendees, partners and speakers are also more diverse than in previous years. This is the first year that the event has been opened up to all interested parties, where it has previously been limited to partners in the program.

The number of farmer partners in the Soil Health Partnership program has grown from 16 to well over a hundred. This surprising growth has fueled a need for more organizational resources and interest from companies like McDonalds.

Mehta discusses this year’s event in this interview – Interview with Shefali Mehta, Soil Health Partnership

2019 Soil Health Summit Photo Album

As in previous years, all content from the Summit is being aggregated onto the Soil Health Summit blog site, so check there to catch all the action.

AgWired Precision, Audio, Conservation, NCGA, Soil, Soil Health Partnership

Eco Agro Resources Files Suit Over Contract Violations

Cindy Zimmerman

Eco Agro Resources LLC has filed a lawsuit against Hocking International Laboratories LLC alleging contract violations and asking for damages in an amount of at least $2.5 million dollars.

In the complaint filed to commence the lawsuit, Eco Agro Resources, LLC claimed it granted a sublicense to Hocking International LLC allowing Hocking to sell certain products in the United States market only.

Eco Agro Resources, LLC alleges that Hocking exceeded the scope of that sublicense by selling outside of the U.S. and by refusing to adhere to the clear labeling requirements provided for in the license, further inducing infringement by third parties.

Eco Agro Resources LLC also claims that Hocking sold products in territories that were specifically not allowed under the contract. The case has not yet been given a trial date.

AgWired Precision, Nutrient Management, Precision Agriculture