Zimfo Bytes 3/22

Carrie Muehling

  • New Ag International hosts three conferences at the same location during “High-Tech Ag Week” March 25-29 in Dublin, Ireland. Click here for more information or to register.
  • A new Farm Foundation Issue Report highlights the role of the judicial branch in the system of checks and balances created by the nation’s founders. The report, “Agriculture and the Judicial Branch: The Third Leg of Governance,” was co-authored by Karen Carr, a partner at Arent Fox LLP, and Megan Provost, vice president of policy and programs at Farm Foundation.
  • The winner of the American Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Collegiate Discussion Meet, announced at the Farm Bureau FUSION Conference, is Kylie Bruce of Georgia.
  • The American Farm Bureau Federation recently honored 10 outstanding young farm and ranch leaders as graduates of the organization’s ninth Partners in Advocacy Leadership class. Graduates of PAL Class 9 are: Angi Bailey, Oregon; John Boelts, Arizona; April Clayton, Washington; Becca Ferry, Utah; Amy France, Kansas; Amelia Kent, Louisiana; Matt Niswander, Tennessee; James O’Brien, Texas; Tyson Roberts, Utah; and Jamie Tiralla, Maryland.
  • Chris Grogan is the new Publications and Media Relations Manager at GROWMARK. He takes over for Matt Wettersten who accepted a position as Audio Visual Manager with the Illinois Farm Bureau.
  • The Renewable Fuels Association announced Technical Services Manager Missy Ruff was recently unanimously elected to the TRANSCAER® Executive Committee. The Executive Committee, which manages the TRANSCAER® program, is comprised of six seats. Ruff will serve a two-year term.
  • Adrian Percy, PhD, the former head of R&D for the Crop Science Division of Bayer, joined Finistere Ventures as Chief Technology Officer.
  • American Farmland Trust, the organization behind the national movement No Farms No Food®, announces its partnership with Seal the Seasons, maker of frozen produce sourced from local farms, to share the story of American Farmland Trust’s work in the regions where they source their products.
  • WATT Global Media announces the addition of three new staff members, Holly Nester, Jim Winter and Martine Landry.
  • Two business leaders from the People’s Republic of China visited the National Corn Growers Association’s St. Louis office to discuss the U.S. corn industry and NCGA’s role in working to create opportunities for corn farmers.
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture in coordination with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, invites the public to register to attend the first meeting of the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. The meeting will be held at USDA headquarters in the Jefferson Auditorium on March 28th and 29th. Registration for in-person attendance closes at 5:00 p.m. March 26, 2019. Please visit DietaryGuidelines.gov for registration details.
Zimfo Bytes

Ethanol Report on Fueling Knowledge

Cindy Zimmerman

Spring is here at last and after a rough winter in most of the country there are lots of people ready to hit the road and enjoy some warmer weather activities, like motorcycle riding and fishing, for example.

In this episode of the Ethanol Report, Renewable Fuels Association Vice President of Industry Relations Robert White talks about some of the ways they are helping people fuel their knowledge about ethanol as the nation hopefully moves toward E15 being available for the summer driving season.

Ethanol Report on Fueling Knowledge

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Audio, Ethanol, Podcasts, RFA

New Specialty Soya Alliance Names Executive Director

Cindy Zimmerman

The new Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA) now has an executive director.

Eric Wenberg has been named executive director of the organization and began work on Monday with meetings in Washington, D.C. and a visit to the 2019 Agri-Pulse Ag and Food Policy Summit. He is pictured here, second from right, with (LtoR) former American Soybean Association president and Delaware farmer Richard Wilkins, former USDA-NRCS chief and conservation consultant Bruce Knight, and Minnesota Soybean CEO Tom Slunecka.

Wenberg comes to SSGA after retiring as a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, and following a twenty eight-year career with USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) serving in American Embassies in Ottawa, Pretoria, Warsaw and Moscow. He was active abroad assisting U.S. agricultural businesses exports, negotiating trade agreements, settling disputes with foreign governments, and speaking and publishing reports on foreign agricultural conditions.

“SSGA is positioned to drive efficiency and create opportunity in the identity-preserved soy and grain sector, and help businesses and farmers enjoy the price premium they can earn with their hard work fulfilling those consumers’ demands,” said Wenberg.

I had a chance to meet Eric at the summit on Monday and do a brief interview with him to learn more about the recently announced alliance between the Midwest Shippers Association (MSA) and the Northern Food Grade Soybean Association (NFGSA).

Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance Executive Director Eric Wenberg

2019 Agri-Pulse Ag and Food Policy Summit Photo Album

Agri-Pulse, Agribusiness, Audio, Grains, Soybean

Mid-South Growers Interested in FMC’s Lucento

Cindy Zimmerman

Farmers at the 2019 Mid-South Farm and Gin Show showed a lot of interest in FMC’s new Lucento™ fungicide because of its high performing disease control in soybeans and peanuts. The new product is also approved for corn, wheat and sugarbeets.

“Growers reward innovation and this is a product that’s truly innovative,” said Matthew Wiggins, FMC technical service manager for the region. “It’s two modes of action on our key diseases.”

Learn more about Lucento in this interview from MSFGS 2019.
Interview with Matthew Wiggins, FMC Lucento


2019 Mid-South Farm and Gin Show Photo Album

Audio, Farm & Gin Show, FMC, Fungicide

CropLife America Supports Science Behind Glyphosate

Cindy Zimmerman

CropLife America president and CEO Chris Novak is hopeful that science will prevail in the end when it comes to legal and regulatory challenges to products such as glyphosate.

“The thing that we can rely upon is the science conducted by, not just the U.S. regulatory agencies, …but most all of our chemistries are approved and in use in countries around the world,” said Novak in an interview at the Agri-Pulse Ag and Food Policy Summit this week in Washington DC. “When you start to take a look at the safety profile of glyphosate, there’s a strong story to be told.”

CropLife America was a major sponsor of the Agri-Pulse summit. Listen to my interview with Chris here: Agri-Pulse 2019 Summit Interview with Chris Novak, CropLife America

2019 Agri-Pulse Ag and Food Policy Summit Photo Album

Agri-Pulse, Agribusiness, AgWired Precision

Bayer Reacts to Verdict in Second Roundup Case

Cindy Zimmerman

A jury in California reached a unanimous verdict Tuesday that the herbicide Roundup was a significant factor in causing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma to develop in a second person. Another jury reached that conclusion last year and awarded the plaintiff $289 million.

The verdict this week is the first phase of the trial in the case of 70-year Edwin Hardeman. The trial will now proceed to the damages phase.

Bayer, which acquired Roundup when it bought Monsanto last year, stands by the safety of the glyphosate-based herbicide.
A statement from the company says, “We are disappointed with the jury’s initial decision, but we continue to believe firmly that the science confirms that glyphosate-based herbicides do not cause cancer. We are confident the evidence in phase two will show that Monsanto’s conduct has been appropriate and that the company should not be liable for Mr. Hardeman’s cancer. Regardless of the outcome, however, the decision in phase one of this trial has no impact on future cases and trials because each one has its own factual and legal circumstances. We have great sympathy for Mr. Hardeman and his family, but an extensive body of science supports the conclusion that Roundup™ was not the cause of his cancer. Bayer stands behind these products and will vigorously defend them.”

AgWired Precision, Bayer, Herbicide

Precision Ag Bytes 3/20

Carrie Muehling

  • Kubota Corporation announced its decision to utilize the development and production capabilities of Buhler Industries Inc. for a new series of tractors. Buhler has a proven track record for designing, manufacturing, and distributing large tractors in North America.
  • The Yield Lab Institute has released a new report on agtech ecosystems titled “Foundations for Agricultural Ecosystems.” The Yield Lab Institute and Universidad Austral commissioned this whitepaper in an effort to begin to define the “Rules of Engagement” for agriculture technology stakeholders.
  • Weather conditions halted nitrogen applications last fall, and with a wet start to spring, it’s likely farmers’ fertilizer plans will remain behind schedule. With March in full swing, farmers may soon need to weigh their options on how and when to apply nitrogen and still hit optimum planting dates. Jason Welker, Mycogen Seeds commercial agronomist for western Nebraska, says there are still several valid options for farmers to apply the required nitrogen.
  • Belchim Crop Protection USA announces that Beloukha®, a new biodegradable herbicide, has received approval for EPA registration, and has been submitted to all states for registration across the United States.
  • Aromyx, Inc., a CA-based, big data start-up set to revolutionize agtech, has been announced as the winner of the Radicle Challenge at the World Agri-Tech 2019 Pitch Day in San Francisco. Selected from a pool of eight finalists, Aromyx, Inc. has unlocked a $250k investment and mentoring from Radicle Growth.
  • Concentric Ag Corporation, a developer of biological and plant nutrient inputs, has formed an alliance with AgroCares that will add real-time soil nutrient diagnostics to the services it currently provides to broadacre and specialty crop growers.
  • Corn researchers from around the world gathered in St. Louis last week for the annual Maize Genetics Conference. This year, many presentations and posters highlighted the importance of the Genomes to Fields research initiative, which has been financially supported through state and national corn grower organizations.
  • Scientists at NRGene have unveiled the most complete genome assemblies ever achieved for the top two leading cultivated cotton species. The study sheds light on the mysterious origins and domestication of modern cotton—and helps explain how differences in the genes between cotton species has led to striking changes in fiber quality, growth habits, and yields. The research was published in Nature Genetics.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes

ZimmCast 611 – National Ag Day

Chuck Zimmerman

This week’s program focuses on National Ag Day activities in our nation’s Capitol.

In the program you’ll hear from Senator Pat Roberts who made remarks during the Celebration of American Agriculture reception. I also interviewed Isabella Chism, American Farm Bureau Federation, who is the Chair for National Ag Day. 

Next up is USDA Deputy Secretary, Steve Censky, who spoke prior to moderating a panel discussion, “Observations from the Next Generation of America’s Agriculturists.” After his remarks you can listen to National Ag Day Essay Contest winner Grace Brose, South Dakota.

You can find a recap of National Ag Day activities here. If you’d like to listen to more from the events and find lots of photos then check out my virtual ag newsroom here.

I hope you enjoy this week’s program and thank you for listening.

Listen to the ZimmCast here: ZimmCast 611 - National Ag Day

Ag Day, AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Audio, USDA, ZimmCast

Another Successful Agri-Pulse Summit

Cindy Zimmerman

The 2019 Agri-Pulse Ag and Food Policy Summit was another success for the best farm policy news team in the free world.

The event at the National Press Club featured an all-star line up that started with USDA Chief Economist Rob Johannson, and ended with Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney, with Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Greg Ibach at midday. Dozens of agricultural organizations, agribusinesses and food companies were also included on the program, as sponsors, and in attendance.

The day packed in enough food for thought about the future of agriculture and farm policy to keep us all from going hungry for a long time! Here is just a taste of what was on the menu for your listening pleasure.

Agri-Pulse 2019 Summit - USDA Chief Economist Rob Johannson

Agri-Pulse 2019 Summit - USDA Under Secretary Greg Ibach

Agri-Pulse 2019 Summit - USDA Under Secretary Ted McKinney

2019 Agri-Pulse Ag and Food Policy Summit Photo Album

Agri-Pulse, AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Audio, Farm Policy, USDA

New Waivers Hurt Corn and Ethanol Producers

Cindy Zimmerman

Much to the dismay of farmers and ethanol producers, the Environmental Protection Agency has approved five more 2017 Small Refinery Exemptions to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and is considering two more petitions for 2018 exemptions, bringing the total to 39.

“It’s extremely disappointing and outrageous to see EPA once again allow oil refiners to undermine the RFS and hurt family farms, ethanol producers and our environment by exploiting and abusing a statutory provision that exempts them from their obligations to blend renewable fuels,” said Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) President and CEO Geoff Cooper.

RFA held a media call just hours before the waivers were announced by EPA to talk about a number of issues, including how the dozens of small refinery exemptions that have already been granted are destroying demand for corn and ethanol. A new analysis shows how ethanol consumption declined in the United States from 2017 to 2018, the first decline in two decades.

Taking part in the call with Cooper were RFA Chief Economist Scott Richman, RFA Chairman Neil Koehler, CEO of Pacific Ethanol, and Steve Walk, COO of Protec Fuel.

Listen here –
RFA media call 3-14-19

Audio, Corn, Ethanol, RFA