Zimfo Bytes 2/15

Carrie Muehling

  • Tom Sleight, president and chief executive officer of the U.S. Grains Council since 2012, will retire this summer following the appointment of his successor, the Council’s Board of Directors announced this week at the organization’s membership meeting in Cartagena, Colombia.
  • American Vanguard Corporation, parent company to AMVAC Chemical Corporation, is celebrating 50 years in business. The milestone is being honored with new brand logos for both corporations and the tagline “An American Vanguard Company” added to all operating subsidiaries, reinforcing its continued commitment to technological innovation and business growth in the U.S. and in international markets.
  • Register now for the Agri-Pulse Ag & Food Policy Summit to be held at the National Press Club on March 18 from 8 am to 5 pm with a “Customer Appreciation” reception to follow at the same location for all Agri-Pulse subscribers.
  • Amyris, Inc., a leader in the development and production of sustainable ingredients for the Health & Wellness, Clean Beauty and Flavors & Fragrances markets, announced the appointment of Oreste Fieschi as President of Sweeteners & Ingredients, to lead the commercial growth of its sweetener business and the implementation of its strategy to build capability across the entire ingredients portfolio.
Zimfo Bytes

Optimism in Crop Insurance Reinsurance Industry

Cindy Zimmerman

This time last year, the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau (CIRB) was concerned about what might happen with the new farm bill. This year, members are pretty pleased with how it all turned out.

CIRB chairman Zane Vaughn with ARMtech Insurance gives a lot of credit to the organization’s “Protect Crop Insurance” campaign. “It was very beneficial for staff on Capitol Hill gaining awareness of the program, what it does for farmers in their districts and their states,” said Vaughn. “That was a great outreach tool for us.”

Vaughn says this year’s annual meeting for CIRB is the largest ever and there is plenty of energy and optimism in the industry.

Listen to this interview with Vaughn from the 2019 CIRB Annual Meeting this week in San Diego.

CIRB2019 Interview with Chairman Zane Vaughn

2019 Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Annual Meeting photo album

AgWired Precision, Audio, CIRB, Crop Insurance

New Holland Launches Genesis T8 Tractor with PLM Intelligence

Chuck Zimmerman

New Holland used this year’s National Farm Machinery Show as the venue to unveil their new GENESIS® T8 Series tractor with Precision Land Management (PLM™) Intelligence. I talked with two New Holland representatives, Ken Paul, product marketing manager for New Holland, North America and Luke Zerby, PLM product marketing manager for New Holland, North America, about the new machine.

The new GENESIS® T8 with PLM Intelligence™ is designed to adapt to every individual farmer’s unique needs. With features ranging from advanced connectivity between operators, vehicles, advisors and dealers to improve productivity and reduce downtime, to customizable controls, improved visibility and enhanced comfort.

Customizable controls allow every operator to adjust based on their unique preferences and requirements. The all-new cab features more accessible storage, increased power ports and vents, egress lights, and an ergonomic seat for optimal comfort.

The in-cab experience has been enhanced to remove obstructions and ensure maximum visibility. The new InfoView™ monitor is positioned in direct line-of-sight on the dash so you can keep your eyes on the horizon ahead. Strategically placed cameras make it easy to navigate in and out of traffic and keep your eyes on in-field work as well. New 360-degree LED work lights turn night into day, delivering up to 25 percent more visible light for greater awareness of surroundings while operating.

But the most innovative features extend far beyond the cab with the complete integration of New Holland’s advanced PLM platform. “New Holland’s approach to precision farming solutions can be summed up in four words,” says Luke Zerby, PLM product marketing manager for New Holland, North America. “Open, Connected, Smart, Supported. PLM Intelligence maximizes all of these, utilizing ISOBUS CLASS III technology to keep you completely connected through MyPLM™Connect and APIs to share and analyze your data, and now to enhance support functionality through one’s local New Holland Dealer. This is all through a simple tablet-based user interface, allowing the farmer to do more, and do it easier than ever before.”

Interview with Luke Zerby, PLM product marketing manager for New Holland, North America: Interview with Luke Zerby, New Holland

Interview with Ken Paul, product marketing manager for New Holland, North America: Interview with Ken Paul, New Holland

2019 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

AgWired Precision, Audio, National Farm Machinery Show, New Holland, Precision Agriculture, Tractor

FMC Helping Battle Weed Resistance

Chuck Zimmerman

Matt Wiggins is a Technical Services Manager for FMC. I visited with him about weed resistance and what practices growers can use to avoid or slow the development of resistant weeds.

In our interview we start out talking about growth in the problem of resistant weeds and how weeds become resistant to herbicides. Matt has some solid suggestions for a good herbicide program which has proven to be effective. He also talks about the future outlook for herbicide resistance.

Listen to my interview with Matt Wiggins, FMC Technical Services Manager, or watch below: Interview with Matt Wiggins, FMC


2019 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

Audio, FMC, National Farm Machinery Show, weed management

USDA Deputy Secretary Stresses Ethanol Support

Cindy Zimmerman

USDA Deputy Secretary Steve Censky visited the 2019 National Ethanol Conference in Orlando this week to stress the administration’s strong support of ethanol.

“You have very strong advocates in Sec. Perdue, myself and all of us at USDA who are working on your behalf as well as President Trump, who has also been a strong supporter – as you all know – of U.S. corn farmers and the U.S. ethanol industry,” said Censky in his address.

Censky talked about the efforts of EPA to complete at rule allowing year-round sales of E15 by summer, and said there is an option of the government potentially using “discretionary enforcement” of the summertime ban if there is a delay.

The deputy secretary also talked about trade challenges and farm bill implementation during his address and meeting with reporters. Listen below.

NEC19 USDA Deputy Secretary Steve Censky address

NEC19 USDA Deputy Secretary Steve Censky media avail

2019 RFA National Ethanol Conference Photo Album

Audio, Ethanol, National Ethanol Conference, RFA, USDA

American Lamb Board New Chair and Annual Report

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Lamb Board has elected a new chairman and released its 2018 Annual Report.

Dale Thorne, a sheep producer from Michigan, has been elected chairman of the American Lamb Board (ALB). He is serving his second 3-year term on the Board, representing the lamb feeding sector. Thorne has previously served as ALB vice chairman, treasurer and chairman of the Research Committee.

Thorne and his family have a flock of 1,000 Polypay ewes, half of which lamb in the fall and half in the spring. Because he is near Detroit, which is the largest Muslim community in the US, Thorne sees first-hand the value of both traditional and non-traditional markets. The majority of the farm’s lambs are marketed at about 80 pounds. The farm also produces hay for the horse market, and row crops such as corn and soybeans.

In addition, the Lamb Board has released its Fiscal Year 2018 annual report which directs the American Lamb Checkoff.

FY 2018 result highlights include:
Blogger Lambassadors developed 38 new American Lamb recipes and reached over a million consumers
2,353 consumers attended a Lamb Jam event and 54% were new attendees
Lamb flavor research addressing quality factors entered final phases
ALB showcased American Lamb at 24 festivals and events across the US

Click here to see the complete annual report.

AgWired Animal, American Lamb Board, Animal Agriculture

Poultry Industry Recognizes Leaders, Honorees

Carrie Muehling

2019 chairman of U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, John Prestage (left), senior vice president of Prestage Farms, Clinton, N.C., was presented with the traditional “working man’s gavel” by outgoing chairman, Tom Hensley, president, Fieldale Farms.

The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY) elected new leaders and presented several awards at the International Poultry Expo, part of the 2019 International Production & Processing Expo.

John Prestage, senior vice president, Prestage Farms, Clinton, N.C., was elected chairman of the board of directors. He previously served as vice chairman. Prestage was presented with the time-honored
“working man’s gavel” by Tom Hensley, 2018 chairman.

Greg Hinton, Rose Acre Farms, Seymour, Indiana, was named vice chairman. Mike Levengood, Perdue Foods, Salisbury, Maryland, was named treasurer. Mikell Fries, Claxton Poultry, Claxton, Georgia, was named secretary. Tom Hensley, Fieldale Farms, Baldwin, Georgia, is immediate past chairman.

USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation recognized Dr. Kenneth Anderson as the 2019 recipient of the annual Charles Beard Research Excellence Award. Tommy Bagwell, former chairman & CEO of American Proteins, received the Harold E. Ford Lifetime Achievement Award. Mike Robach, retired vice president, Corporate Food Safety, Quality & Regulatory for Cargill, was named USPOULTRY’s Workhorse of the Year.

AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Poultry

Former Sen. Tom Daschle Visits #RFANEC

Cindy Zimmerman

Tom Daschle of South Dakota been an advocate for ethanol and other biofuels for over three decades, as both a U.S. representative and senator in the 1980s and 1990s, and continuing since then as an advisor, consultant and author on issues such as climate change, food security and renewable energy policy.

As Founder and CEO of The Daschle Group, Daschle advises clients on economic, policy and political issues and remains passionate about renewable energy.

Speaking at the Renewable Fuels Association National Ethanol Conference in Orlando this week, Daschle talked about the incredible growth he has seen in the ethanol industry over the past three decades and the great respect he has for the people who have stayed the course and made it what it is today.

Listen to Daschle’s address and interview with Agri-Pulse reporter Ben Nuelle below.

NEC19 address by Tom Daschle

Interview with Sen. Tom Daschle

2019 RFA National Ethanol Conference Photo Album

Audio, Ethanol, National Ethanol Conference, RFA

Precision Ag Bytes 2/13

Carrie Muehling

  • Marrone Bio Innovations Inc., a leading developer of biological crop protection and plant health solutions, is offering a pair of products – Haven® for Plant Health and Regalia® Biofungicide – to serve California almond growers as market demand for almonds continues to boom around the globe.
  • Valent U.S.A. LLC announced the launch of MycoApply® EndoPrime® SC – a liquid formulation of the company’s leading soil enhancement product, MycoApply EndoPrime. Applied in-furrow, MycoApply EndoPrime SC contains four unique species of mycorrhizal fungi that help improve soil health, nutrient efficiency, drought tolerance and maximize yield potential throughout the season.
  • January 2019 saw increases in U.S. sales of self-propelled combines and 4-wheel-drive tractors as well as total U.S. 2-wheel-drive tractor sales compared to January last year, according to the latest data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. U.S. 4-wheel-drive tractor sales gained 38.2 percent in January compared to last year and U.S. January self-propelled combine sales grew 14.5 percent. View the full report here.
  • Results are in for World Ag Expo’s® Top-10 New Products Competition, sponsored by Bank of America. The winners will be showcased February 12-14, 2019, during the World Ag Expo® in Tulare, California.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes

National Cotton Council Announces Leaders, Intentions

Carrie Muehling

The National Cotton Council (NCC) named its leaders for 2019 and also shared planting intentions for the coming growing season at the group’s annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas.

The group announced results of its 38th Annual Early Season Planting Intentions Survey, which show that U.S. cotton producers intend to plant 14.5 million cotton acres this spring. That number is up 2.9 percent from USDA’s December 2018 estimate.

Mike Tate of Huntsville, Ala., will serve as NCC chair and Kent Fountain of Surrency, Ga., will be vice chair for 2019.

Elected as NCC vice presidents are Kirk Gilkey, ginner, Corcoran, Calif., and Ron Harkey, warehouser, Lubbock, Texas. Re-elected as vice presidents are: Robert Lacy, Jr, cottonseed processor, and Kevin Brinkley, marketing cooperative executive, both from Lubbock, Texas; Joe Nicosia, merchant, Cordova, Tenn.; and David Hastings, textile manufacturer, Mauldin, South Carolina. Re-elected as secretary-treasurer is Barry Evans, a producer from Kress, Texas.

Elected to the NCC Board during segment caucuses were: Producers – Neal Isbell, Muscle Shoals, Ala.; Patrick Johnson, Tunica, Miss.; Shawn Holladay, Lubbock, Texas; Doyle Schniers, San Angelo, Texas; and Mark McKean, Riverdale, California. Ginners – Wesley Morgan, New London, N.C.; Curtis Stewart, Spade, Texas; George LaCour, Morganza, La.; Tom Pires, Riverdale, Calif.; and Drake Perrow, Cameron, South Carolina. Warehousers – Joe Tillman, Memphis, Tenn.; Jay Cowart, Altus, Okla.; Coalter Paxton, Wilson, N.C.; Joe Cain, Bakersfield, Calif., and Robert Swize, Corpus Christi, Texas. Merchants – Jordan Lea, Greenville, S.C.; Raymond Faus, Plano, Texas; William Barksdale and Jeff Johnson, both of Cordova, Tenn.; and Bobby Walton, Memphis, Tennessee. Cottonseed – Paul Scruggs, Overland Park, Kan.; Sammy Wright, Tifton, Ga.; Austin Rose, Altus, Okla.; and John Chisum and Jerrod Drinnon, both of Lubbock, Texas. Cooperatives – Keith Lucas, Lubbock, Texas; Hank Reichle, Greenwood, Miss.; Paul Bush, Glendale, Ariz.; Wayne Boseman, Garner, N.C.; and Reid Nichols, Altus, Oklahoma. Manufacturers – Anderson Warlick and James Martin, both of Gastonia, N.C.; William Bowen , Inman, S.C.; Robin Perkins, Sanford, N.C.; and Owen Hodges, Columbus, Georgia.

AgWired Precision, Cotton