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

2018 was Tough Year With Big Wins for Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) President and CEO Geoff Cooper told nearly 1,000 National Ethanol Conference attendees today that while the U.S. ethanol industry had a “tough year” in 2018, it “continued to deliver huge wins for consumers,” including lower gas prices, cleaner air, a more secure energy supply, and increased job creation. As part of his State of the Ethanol Industry report, Cooper also outlined RFA’s plans driving future growth and creating new market opportunities for American-made ethanol.

Looking at the long term, Cooper outlined that the RFA’s vision for the future includes not only strengthening the RFS, but also pursuing a high-octane fuel standard. “The RFS and a high-octane, low carbon fuel program are not mutually exclusive,” he said. “Rather, they can work in concert, not in conflict, to assure air quality improvements, carbon emissions reduction, and consumer savings for decades to come.”

Read it here, listen to it and watch it below

RFA president and CEO Geoff Cooper Industry Address

2019 RFA National Ethanol Conference Photo Album


Audio, Ethanol, RFA, Video

Welcome to the 2019 National Ethanol Conference

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) 2019 National Ethanol Conference is kicking off today in Orlando with the theme “Powered with Renewed Energy.”

The annual golf tournament and networking tour are underway first off this morning. The tour is visiting Leu Gardens, an amazing 50-acre botanical oasis recognized as an historical landmark in Orlando. The venue includes palms, flowering trees, azaleas, vines, bromeliads and tropical philodendrons.

The annual golf tournament is sponsored this year by Bioleap, which provides innovative technical solutions and complete engineering services to the renewable fuels industry.

RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper got the golf tournament off on a shotgun start and in this interview he talks about what is in store when the conference officially gets underway with the general session on Tuesday morning, including the annual State of the Industry report, which he will be delivering for the first time. Interview with Geoff Cooper, RFA CEO

2019 RFA National Ethanol Conference Photo Album

Audio, Ethanol, National Ethanol Conference, RFA

Animal Ag Bites 2/11

Carrie Muehling

  • The American Feed Industry Association and Feedstuffs announced four category winners for the 2018 Feed Facility of the Year program. AFIA congratulates Famo Feeds of Freeport, Minn., as the winner of the commercial dry livestock feed plant category; Koch Foods of Morton, Miss., as the winner of the integrator category; Quality Liquid Feeds of Clovis, N.M., as the winner of the liquid feed plant category; and Trouw Nutrition of Highland, Ill., as the winner of the premix manufacturing plant category.
  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s Center for Public Policy released new Cost/Benefit Principles that will help guide its decision-making process on various policy proposals regarding climate change.
  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff Program, has announced the winners of its 2019 Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Awards at the 2019 Cattle Industry Convention in New Orleans, La. You can read more on each of the award winners’ operations at https://www.bqa.org/about/bqa-awards.
  • Linda Davis, a cattlewoman from Cimarron, N.M., has received the respected 2019 Swan Family Leadership Award for her decades of service to the cattle and beef industry. The award was made at the Best of Beef Breakfast Feb. 1 during the 2019 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show in New Orleans, La.
  • CattleFax has introduced its annual Cow-Calf Survey. Information requested in the survey provides participants and the rest of the industry with valuable information regarding industry benchmarks and trends. The survey can be accessed here. The deadline to complete the survey is Feb. 28, 2019.
  • CattleFax elected a new slate of officers at this year’s annual business meeting Jan. 31, 2019, in New Orleans, La., held in conjunction with the 2019 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show. The new CattleFax president is Don Quincey of Chiefland, Fla., a 5th generation rancher and cattle feeder in Florida and past president of the Florida Cattlemen’s Association.
AgWired Animal, Animal Bites