Bayer’s Delaro Fungicide Boosts Yields

Carrie Muehling

Numbers from the 2018 harvest show strong evidence that Bayer’s Delaro fungicide delivered yield boosts for growers.

“We’re very, very excited about Delaro. In today’s marketplace, yield is more important than ever with the commodity prices that we have,” said Eric Ifft, Bayer Customer Business Advisor in Central Illinois. “And now, with our Bayer seed brands, we have great yielding germplasm. To help our growers make the most of that germplasm, stay away from fungal diseases, and take away stress relief, Delaro is a fantastic product.”

Ifft said the company did a number of trials in Illinois and across the Midwest last year, which showed a 16-bushel yield advantage in corn and a six-bushel yield advantage in soybeans versus untreated fields. Ifft said growers attending the Commodity Classic in Orlando showed a tremendous amount of interest in Bayer products, from Climate FieldView to crop protection to seed treatments.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Eric here: Interview with Eric Ifft, Bayer Delaro

2019 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Audio, Bayer, Commodity Classic, Fungicide

IFAJ-Alltech Agricultural Journalism Award Announced

Cindy Zimmerman

The International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) and Alltech are proud to announce a new award that recognizes excellence and leadership by young journalists. The IFAJ-Alltech International Award for Leadership in Agricultural Journalism will be presented during ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference (ONE19), held May 19–21, 2019, in Lexington, Kentucky, USA.

The award marks a long tradition of celebrating journalistic achievements that began with late Alltech founder Dr. Pearse Lyons. A storyteller himself, Dr. Lyons appreciated the ability to share the stories of agriculture.

Young journalists (aged 40 years or younger by Dec. 31, 2019) can be nominated through their IFAJ guilds via the online application form. A global winner will be selected by an international committee based on their journalistic achievements and the leadership they demonstrate within their guild. The global winner receives complimentary registration and a travel stipend to attend ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference, where they will be recognized on stage in front of a global audience of nearly 4,000 attendees and press.

The deadline for nominations is March 15, 2019 – find more information here on the IFAJ website.

AgWired Animal, Alltech, IFAJ, Journalism

Zimfo Bytes 3/8

Carrie Muehling

  • BIO is now accepting nominations for the the 2019 George Washington Carver Award for Innovation in Industrial Biotechnology and Agriculture to be presented at this year’s BIO World Congress, July 8 -11 in Des Moines, Iowa. Submit nominations by March 14, 2019.
  • March is National Peanut Month, and the Georgia peanut industry kicked off the celebration by hosting the 2019 Georgia PB&J Day at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta, Georgia. During the event, the Georgia Peanut Commission and Peanut Proud donated 14,400 jars of peanut butter to the Atlanta Community Food Bank.
  • Reserve a spot for the 2019 NAMA Agri-Marketing Conference April 10-12 in Kansas City. Conference early bird registration ends March 29, 2019.
  • National Farmers Union (NFU) presented its Meritorious Service Award, the organization’s highest honor, to two individuals at the NFU 117th Anniversary Convention. NFU presented Gene Paul of Minnesota with the Meritorious Service Award to Humanity and Paul Symens with the Meritorious Service Award to Farmers Union and to American Agriculture. NFU also awarded broadcaster Joel Heitkamp with the 2019 Milt Hakel Agriculture Communications Award.
  • The American Farm Bureau Federation announced that Kathleen Cullins, a finance professional with more than 27 years of experience, has joined the nation’s largest general farm organization in the position of chief financial officer.
  • The American Soybean Association recognized exceptional volunteers and leaders at its annual awards banquet in Orlando, Fla. on Mar. 1. Honorees included: Pinnacle Award Winner Paul Casper, Lake Preston, S.D.; Distinguished Leadership Award Winner Ron Moore, Roseville, Ill.; and Outstanding State Volunteer Award Winner Jim Miller, Belden, Neb.
  • The American Soybean Association (ASA) presented Iowa farmer Rob Stout with the 2019 National Conservation Legacy Award during the annual ASA Awards Banquet on Friday, March 1, at Commodity Classic, in Orlando, Florida.
  • Rhea + Kaiser announces the promotions of Patty Blystone to Senior Accountant and Michelle Nickrent to Account Manager, Public Relations.
  • Deere & Company announced that its Board of Directors elected John C. May, 49, as President, Chief Operating Officer, effective April 1.
  • U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance has appointed Dr. Nick Goeser as Vice President, Sustainability Sciences and Strategy.
  • The Propane Education & Research Council recently redesigned and launched its website to better showcase all the things propane can do, including new propane-powered agricultural equipment’s efficiency and versatility for producers.
  • The Agricultural Relations Council (ARC) is pleased to announce the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) will host the ARC intern for the second year in a row. Student applications are due March 15.
  • The American Farm Bureau Federation and Alabama Farmers Federation presented Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) with AFBF’s Golden Plow award. The Golden Plow is the highest honor the organization gives to sitting members of Congress.
  • The National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) has announced that Dean Broadhead, CEO of broadhead, has been selected as the 2019 NAMA Marketer of the Year.
Zimfo Bytes

BASF at #Classic19

Cindy Zimmerman

As it has for many years, BASF once again partnered with the American Soybean Association (ASA), the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), the National Sorghum Foundation (NSF) and the National Wheat Foundation (NWF) to award $20,000 in academic scholarships to 11 agriculture industry students.

Jessica Olson of Warren, Minnesota received the $5000 2019–2020 ASA Soy Scholarship. NCGA presented scholarships to Kayla Beechinor, a junior from Walla Walla, Washington; Catherine Jones, a senior from Bellevue, Nebraska; Amber Oerly, a sophomore from Booneville, Missouri; Osler Ortez, a Ph.D. student from Nicaragua; and Krista Russell from Jerseyville, Illinois. NSF presented $2,500 scholarships to Isabelle Stewart of Columbus, Nebraska, and Payton Harrell of Spearman, Texas. And the National Wheat Foundation awarded scholarships to Kayla Beechinor, a junior at Washington State University; Samantha Fischer, a sophomore at Kansas State University; Adrienne Blakey, a junior from Stillwater, Oklahoma; and Storm Soat, a senior at Michigan State University.

The new bigger and better BASF was on display at the Classic trade show, with new products to spotlight from last year’s acquisitions.

Kerry Grossweiler, BASF Marketing Lead, U.S. Seed Solutions, was on the trade show floor talking with farmers about some of those new products like the soybean seed treatment ILeVO. Listen to Chuck’s interview with him.

Interview with Kerry Grossweiler, BASF

2019 BASF Science Behind Event Photo Album

Audio, BASF, Commodity Classic, Corn, sorghum, Soybean, Wheat

FMC Authority® Supreme Tackles Resistant Weeds

Cindy Zimmerman

Resistant weeds is a wide spread concern around the country and new FMC Authority® Supreme is helping farmers from the Midwest to the Mid-South take on the challenge.

“Authority Supreme was a new product for 2018, we had a limited launch, limited quantities,” said FMC technical service manager Matthew Wiggins at the Mid-South Farm and Gin Show last week in Memphis. “Primarily we’re talking about herbicide-resistant Palmer amaranth.”

Learn more about Authority Supreme in this interview. Interview with Matthew Wiggins, FMC Authority Supreme

Also last week at the Commodity Classic, FMC’s Dr. Brandon Schrage was talking to farmers in the Midwest about staying in front of dicamba resistance with Authority Supreme. Watch below.


AgWired Precision, Audio, Commodity Classic, Farm & Gin Show, FMC, Herbicide, Video, weed management

Pig Farmers Pack 900 Meals for Orlando-Area Children

Cindy Zimmerman

The National Pork Board kicked off activities for Pork Industry Forum in Orlando this week by packing 900 meals to help feed hungry children in the area in partnership with the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. Contributing to a better way of life in the communities where pig farmers live and work is one of the We Care ethical principles.

“We have a We Care principal that we live by and we are really in tune with the environment and we really care about our community,” said NPB member Deborah Ballance of Fremont, NC. “We like to give back to the community we may be visiting.”

Second Harvest Food Bank’s Hi-Five Kids Pack program will distribute the meals. Since 2006, the program supports educators seeking a solution to students who came to school sick and unable to learn on a Monday because they had not eaten since their school lunch the previous Friday. Second Harvest Food Bank partners with elementary schools that have a significant percentage of student participation in free and reduced-cost lunch programs to distribute the packs.

Learn more in this interview with Ballance: Interview with Pork Board member Deb Ballance, North Carolina

National Pork Industry Forum virtual newsroom

AgWired Animal, Audio, Pork, Pork Checkoff

New Alliance Promotes Specialty Grains

Carrie Muehling

The merger of two agricultural organizations promises stronger representation for U.S.-grown identity preserved crops on the global stage.

The Northern Food Grade Soybean Association and Midwest Shippers Association will now operate as the Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA).

“As the specialty grains market has grown, the demand for containerized processed soy and especially grains has grown across the world,” said Tom Slunecka, CEO of Ag Management Solutions, which is managing the launch of the new organization.

“This alliance is going to do much of the same thing that the other groups had been doing, with a larger emphasis on marketing and establishing the United States as the premier spot for purchasing specialty grains,” said Slunecka.

The group was successful in securing a $1.5 million Agricultural Trade Promotion grant from the USDA, which they plan to use to begin operations and also to create a new globally recognized brand for United States specialty grains. The boards of the two groups have been meeting together for the past six months, and they are now searching for an executive director to oversee day to day operations.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Tom here: Interview with Tom Slunecka, Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance

Audio, Grains, specialty crops

ZimmCast on the Bayer AgVocacy Forum

Chuck Zimmerman

This week’s program includes where in the world the ZimmComm Team has been as well as interviews from one of those places.

We’ve been to Destin, FL for BASF Legacy Club events, then on to Orlando for the Commodity Classic and associated activities. At the same time, Cindy was in Memphis with FMC for the Mid-South Farm & Gin Show.

In this week’s program, I’m sharing interviews with Darren Wallis, Vice President, North America Communications at Bayer CropScience and Willie Vogt, Executive Director, Content and User Engagement, Penton Farm Progress Group. They talk about the Bayer AgVocacy Forum that took place prior to Commodity Classic.

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

Listen to the ZimmCast here: ZimmCast 610 - Bayer AgVocacy Forum

Audio, BASF, Bayer, Commodity Classic, Farm & Gin Show, ZimmCast

Fighting Fescue Toxicity

Carrie Muehling

The decrease in productivity caused by fescue toxicosis has been estimated to cost U.S. beef producers more than $2 billion per year due to reduced growth and diminished reproductive efficiency. At the recent Cattle Industry Conference and NCBA Trade Show, Alltech territory manager Klair Hartzold talked to us about how Alltech is focusing on prevention.

Listen to Jamie’s interview with Klair here: Interview with Klair Hartzold, Alltech Territory Sales Manager


2019 Cattle Industry Convention Photo Album

AgWired Animal, Alltech, Animal Agriculture, Audio, Cattle Industry Conference, Video

AMVAC Excited About Growing Portfolio

Cindy Zimmerman

American Vanguard Corporation, parent company to AMVAC Chemical Corporation, is celebrating 50 years in business this year and the future has never looked better.

“We’re excited about the 2019 season as we continue to innovate around our existing product portfolio and add elements to our portfolio through recent acquisitions,” said Jim Lappin, AMVAC Crop Marketing Manager, Corn and Soybean Portfolio, at last week’s Commodity Classic.

During Classic, it was announced that AMVAC has entered into an agreement for the purchase of selected product lines and related inventory from Willowood USA, which would include more than a dozen herbicide technical registrations and nearly two dozen formulation registrations. The acquisition must be approved by a bankruptcy court which will rule by mid-April.

Lappin talks about the AMVAC portfolio and new products for 2019 including Force® 10G HL corn soil insecticide for broad-spectrum control of listed corn rootworm and seed-attacking pests –
Interview with Jim Lappin - AMVAC Corn/Soybean Portfolio


AMVAC at 2019 Commodity Classic

AMVAC, Audio, Commodity Classic, Corn, Video