MyLand Expands Soil as a Service to Organic Growers
Soil health company MyLand announces that its microalgae-based Soil as a Service™ is now compatible with organic growing standards and has received California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) approval.
MyLand’s Soil as a Service™ offers a regenerative solution to soil health by using microalgae to enhance the natural microbial activity within the soil. This innovative solution empowers organic farmers to build healthier, more productive soils and enhance soil biology and fertility while adhering to the strict standards of organic certification. The MyLand Service integrates with a grower’s existing irrigation system to deliver algae to the field on a continuous basis.
Dane Hague, CEO of MyLand, emphasized the importance of expanding this service to organic growers: “Organic farmers are stewards of the land, and it’s crucial that they have tools that work in harmony with nature. The MyLand Service is a perfect fit for organic farming because it uses the land’s own organics – native microalgae – to enhance soil biology. We’re proud to offer a one-of-a-kind soil health solution that shows impact year after year, contributing to the success of our growers for generations to come.”
In the soil, microalgae act as a food source for the soil food web at the very base level, setting off a natural chain of events that enriches the microbial community and contributes to increased soil organic matter and improved soil function.
To learn more, visit www.myland.ag
Farm Income Continues to Fall
The USDA Economic Research Service 2024 Farm Sector Income Forecast shows farm income is down again this year, but not as much as it was last year.
While the report compares different measures of farm income, the bottom line is that, adjusted for inflation, net farm income is forecast to decrease by $9.5 billion (6.3 percent) from 2023 to 2024. Net cash farm income is forecast to decrease by $5.7 billion (3.5 percent). That compares to a 19 percent decline in net farm income last year and a 23.5 percent decrease in net cash income.
Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member John Boozman (R-AR) on Monday urged Congress to provide emergency economic assistance to agricultural producers facing market losses.
“It’s clear the pain our farm families are living through,” Boozman said in remarks on the Senate floor. “For some producers, this is the second or third consecutive year of negative cash flow. This means many farm families are ending 2024 in the red, unable to pay off this year’s operating loan, unable to get the loan to farm in 2025, and face the reality of being the generation to have lost the family farm due to extreme market conditions beyond their control.”
Sen. Boozman 12-2-24 (6:01)In reaction to the farm income report on Tuesday, Boozman and House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) called on Congress to also take action on a farm bill. “Reauthorizing a five-year farm bill with significant improvements to the safety net is critical to restore certainty to our producers,” they said in a statement.
“America’s farmers and ranchers are in serious trouble, and the outlook remains grim. From 2023 to today, row crop producers alone have lost more than $50 billion, and stand to lose even more next year. Immediate action is required to stabilize the farm economy and prevent a crisis that will only become more costly to address over time.”
Pivot Bio Appoints Melih Keyman to Board of Directors
Pivot Bio, one of the world’s leading innovative agtech companies, announced today Melih Keyman has been elected to the Pivot Bio Board of Directors, effective Dec. 1. Keyman brings to the company more than 40 years of leading expertise in the global fertilizer industry.
“I have known Melih for several years and he is one of the most admired leaders in the global fertilizer industry, with significant experience in the broader ag industry as well,” said Pivot Bio CEO Chris Abbott. “Melih’s vast leadership experience with global operations, strategy and M&A will be important to Pivot Bio as we continue our growth trajectory. Additionally, as Pivot Bio continues to build strategic partnerships, including with our fertilizer partners, Melih’s deep understanding of the global fertilizer market and commodity fundamentals will be a significant benefit to our team. I am thrilled to have him join the board and confident that his global experience will be a great addition to our dynamic board leadership.”
Keyman currently serves as president and chief executive officer, and founder of Keytrade AG, which is one of the world’s leading fertilizer trading companies that caters to the needs of suppliers, distributors, retailers and end users on a worldwide basis and across all fertilizer products. Beside the trading and marketing of conventional fertilizer products, it is engaged in bringing the next generation of fertilizer technologies to market through its subsidiary WeGrow, which provides customers with innovative sustainable crop nutrition solutions.
Keyman has devoted his career to the fertilizer industry. Prior to founding Keytrade, he held leading positions in ENKA Marketing of Turkey and Transammonia. He also has significant board experience, having served on the board of directors for The Fertilizer Institute and as a council member of the International Fertilizer Association. He also served on the board of FertGrow, as well as Transammonia and Ferpro AG, a joint venture between Sinochem and Transammonia.
Keyman was named the first international trustee of Northwestern University, a position he has held since 2012. An active philanthropist, he endowed the Keyman Modern Turkish Studies program at Northwestern University and is funding its Center for Synthetic Biology as it works to develop novel crop nutrition technologies and approaches to farming that will aid in the nourishment of a rapidly growing global population.
Keyman, who has a Bachelor of Science degree in economics from the University of New Hampshire, studied at Switzerland’s prestigious University of St. Gallen, a research university that specializes in business administration, economics, law, international affairs and computer science. After beginning his professional career, he chose to broaden his educational background as a Kellogg Executive Scholar in Leadership and Management at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.
A native of Turkey and a citizen of Switzerland, Keyman has been living in Zurich since 1984.
Advanced Agrilytics Names New CEO
Agricultural solutions provider Advanced Agrilytics announced today the appointment of Kenny Avery as the company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Avery previously served as President and CEO of Verdesian Life Sciences, leading the company in delivering sustainable crop nutrition solutions. Before that, he held several key leadership positions at Monsanto, including Vice President of Global Vegetables. Avery’s extensive experience leading large-scale agricultural initiatives and his proven track record in driving growth and innovation make him an ideal fit for Advanced Agrilytics.
Avery holds a master’s and bachelor’s degree in accounting from Mississippi State University and is a retired Certified Public Accountant. He serves on the board of Hopeful Community Outreach and previously served on the boards of the Mississippi Children’s Museum, United Fresh Produce, and Habitat for Humanity Wake County, NC.
Advanced Agrilytics is celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2025. “This is an exciting time to be a part of Advanced Agrilytics as we build from our existing foundation and chart our path to the future,” says Avery. “We want to bring our ‘best in class’ agronomic solutions to progressive, business-minded growers and agribusinesses worldwide.”
Animal Ag News 12/2
Syngenta’s Victrato® Getting Closer to Registration
Syngenta Seedcare technical lead Dr. Dale Ireland has been working on developing TYMIRIUM technology for over a decade and it is finally approaching the finish line.
“We’re nearing registration for soybeans and once it’s registered, it will be called Victrato®. And that’s for soybeans for nematodes, sudden death syndrome, red crown rot and several other early season diseases that it suppresses,” said Ireland during an interview at the recent NAFB Convention. “So we’re very excited about this product. It’s going to set a new standard of protection against nematodes as well as SDS and Red Crown rot of anything that’s on the market today.”
Approval of Victrato® by EPA for both soybeans and cotton is anticipated by the 2025 growing season. Learn more in this interview.
NAFB24 Dale Ireland, Syngenta (3:33)AgGateway Latin America Outreach
AgGateway Regional Director Jose Alexandre Loyola represented the Latin America region at the AgGateway North America Annual Meeting last month in Austin, Texas.
Loyola, who is from Brazil, has been regional director since 2017. “Most of the people that participate in AgGateway in Latin America, especially in Brazil, they see a lot of value in the group that we form, the network, the discussions that we provide,” said Loyola in an interview at the meeting. “My goal now is to bring more people from Argentina, from Paraguay. We have a kind of barrier of language, but now with the technology we promote in our virtual meetings we have translation next year and this with this tool my expectation is to bring people in from other countries.”
Loyola participated in several Working Group sessions to update members in the region on the status of ongoing projects, and accepted the AgGateway In Action Award for the Latin America region on behalf of member Flávio Barros of Proagrica.
AgGateway Latin America Regional Director Jose Loyola (6:35)Industry Ag News 11/29
