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Controlled Environment Agriculture Census Underway

Cindy Zimmerman

Agritecture and CEAg World, a business venture of Meister Media Worldwide, are partnering to undertake the world’s largest Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Census.

Focusing on a technology theme this year, the CEA Census survey launched May 31, 2024, with the aim to gather data for a global view of the industry. The findings will be shared through a keynote presentation by Henry Gordon-Smith, CEO of Agritecture, at the inaugural CEAg World Conference & Expo in Raleigh, N.C., August 26-28, 2024. The full report will also be available for download online in October 2024.

The census survey takes only ten minutes to complete and will be available on-line until July 18. All growers — from high-tech CEA operations to more traditional outdoor setups using hoop houses, tunnels, nettings, and retractable roofs — are invited to participate.

Survey respondents will receive six months of free access to Agritecture Designer, Agritecture’s award-winning farm planning software, and will be entered into a drawing to win one of five complimentary registrations to the CEAg World Conference & Expo. This premier event is a must-attend for anyone involved in CEA, offering unparalleled networking opportunities, expert presentations, and the latest innovations in the field.

For more information and to participate in the census, visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CEAGE001.

AgWired Precision, controlled environment, indoor farming, Precision Agriculture

2024 Tech Hub LIVE Preview

Cindy Zimmerman

The 2024 Tech Hub LIVE Conference and Expo, powered by CropLife Media Group®, is just around the corner now, scheduled for July 29-31 at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines.

Lara Sowinski, Crop Life Group Editor for Meister Media Worldwide, says this will be the fourth year for the event that continues to grow. “As we evolve, we see a more diverse group of attendees and exhibitors,” said Sowinski. Some of the new additions this year include two hands-on workshops on day two – one on drones and one on biologicals.

Sowinski says they are excited to have Ted McKinney, CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), as keynote speaker on day one, and another keynote address on day two featuring a panel of Women in Ag Tech.

Get a preview of the 2024 Tech Hub LIVE in this interview:
Tech Hub LIVE preview - Lara Sowinski, Meister Media 7:21

AgWired Precision, Audio, Tech Hub LIVE, Technology

MyLand Adds Algae Operations & Innovation Director

Cindy Zimmerman

Soil health company MyLand announces that Mike LaMont has joined the company as Senior Director, Algae Operations & Innovation.

With nearly three decades of excellence in biotechnology and algae innovation, LaMont will oversee algae and lab operations, leading a diverse team of scientists and engineering staff on the Operations team. He will also spearhead MyLand’s research and development initiatives to improve algae strains, cultivation techniques, and processing methods while ensuring compliance with environmental regulations and sustainable practices.

LaMont is the chairman of the Algae Biomass Organization, a non-profit organization with the mission to promote and accelerate the power of algae to create a step-change in the health and well-being of humanity and the environment. He has served in leadership positions in the agriculture space, including as Chief Technical Officer for Heliae Development and Pilot Plant Manager for Velocys, Inc.

LaMont holds a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering from Washington State University and a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. LaMont has over 25 patents and has contributed to multiple scientific publications.

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Precision Ag News 6/5

Carrie Muehling

  • The much anticipated Tech Hub LIVE Conference and Expo, powered by CropLife Media Group®, is taking place July 29-31, 2024, at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. This premier event promises to deliver an innovative and forward-looking experience for all participants, emphasizing the latest tech-enabled solutions for the agriculture industry. Keynote speaker this year is Ted McKinney, CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), who will share insights on the future of agriculture.
  • Diflufenican, a new mode of action herbicide for preemergence use in corn, demonstrates effectiveness as an integrated weed management strategy for multiple-herbicide resistant (MHR) waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) control. That’s the conclusion from a recently published research article in the journal Weed Technology, a journal of the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA).
  • Nori announced the issuance of over 125,000 Regenerative Tonnes from the Bayer Carbon Program in the U.S. in its marketplace, marking the largest single issuance of credits in the company’s history. The credits represent an unprecedented expansion to Nori’s carbon removal supply and add significant supply across the soil organic carbon industry as a whole. With this volume of credits, climate-conscious companies have the opportunity to support regenerative agriculture and carbon removal at scale. In addition, there are more than 240,000 tonnes in the pipeline to be issued as carbon credits later this year.
  • ResponsibleAg — the comprehensive certification program that demonstrates agribusinesses’ commitment to environmental, health, safety, and security — unveiled its newly redesigned website at www.responsibleag.org.
  • DPH Biologicals, a leading developer and supplier of agricultural biologicals, announced its new Prime platform that uses a patented production process for Bacillus spp., a leading plant growth rhizobacterium, to accelerate the germination of bacteria spores, supporting overall plant development while providing crops with more consistent resilience against heat, drought, and alkaline and saline soil conditions.
  • JCB began work on a new $500 million factory in San Antonio, Texas – the biggest investment in the company’s history. An official groundbreaking ceremony at the site marked the beginning of construction, where The Hon. Alice Bamford, the daughter of company Chairman Anthony Bamford, as she turned the first shovelful of dirt on the property.
  • Syngenta Group, one of the world’s largest agricultural technology companies, will provide rights to selected genome-editing and breeding technologies for academic research globally, as part of its commitment to foster innovation and drive sustainability in agriculture. These rights are accessible through its innovation collaboration platform Shoots by Syngenta.

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    AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

    Pivot Bio Releases 2023 Impact Report

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Since 2022, Pivot Bio customers have reduced carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions by over 932,000 metric tons (MT), according to the company’s 2023 impact report. The report looks back on 2023 and provides in-depth evidence demonstrating the critical role microbial nitrogen plays in permanent on-farm decarbonization.

    Last year alone, growers who used Pivot Bio products avoided the emission of more than 700,000 MT of CO2e — nearly 20x the annual capacity of the world’s most advanced direct air capture facility in Iceland.

    “Nitrogen is an essential building block for life and agriculture, necessary to produce the food needed to meet global demand. But the status quo in nitrogen management is not enough,” said Karsten Temme, Pivot Bio co-founder and chief innovation officer. “The data is clear — when our microbial-produced nitrogen is a foundational pillar of a holistic crop nutrition plan, growers can substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and make a positive on-farm impact that extends across global supply chains.”

    The 2023 Impact Report also highlights the company’s N-OVATOR™ program, the first-ever insetting initiative to focus on nitrous oxide emissions by connecting growers with companies looking to draw down Scope 3 emissions.

    To learn more, read the company’s latest Impact Report.

    AgWired Precision, carbon, Precision Agriculture, Sustainability

    Alltech Introducing Levelset™ at World Pork Expo

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Alltech introducing Levelset to reinforce gut health in pigs

    As the 2024 World Pork Expo gets underway this week in Des Moines, producers will be able to learn about an innovative solution designed to reinforce gut health in pigs from Alltech called Levelset™. In addition, Alltech will be hosting a business seminar at Expo on the U.S. pork industry’s role in global trade, animal health, and sustainability.

    Levelset consists of a blend of key technologies that synergistically supports natural resistance against diarrhea challenges while enhancing overall enteric health. Designed for maximum impact during three different life stages of production, pre-farrow sows, suckling pigs and weaned pigs — Levelset is an exceptional tool in any production strategy.

    Alltech’s Andy Rash and Mark Hulsebus

    “Across the industry, pathogen resistance is an ever-growing challenge, and solutions to reduce reliance on conventional antibiotics are of critical importance,” said Andy Rash, general manager of Alltech’s U.S. swine business. “Levelset is an innovative blend of carefully developed technologies that minimizes undesirable organisms within the gut, thus promoting the overall health and productivity of pigs.”

    The business seminar on “Challenging Health and Productivity – How does the U.S. lead the world in sustainable, profitable pork production?” will be held on Thursday June 6, 10-11:30 am, at the Varied Industries building. Alltech Pork Team Sales and Portfolio Director Mark Hulsebus will moderate the panel including:
    • Dr. Mark Lyons: President and CEO, Alltech
    • Dr. Frank Mitloehner: Director – Clear Center, UC Davis
    • Maria Zieba: VP of Government Affairs, NPPC
    • Dr. Gordon Spronk: DVM Chair Emeritus, Pipestone

    To learn more about Levelset at World Pork Expo, visit the Alltech Pork Team at the Alltech Booth #V419 and the Hospitality Tent #EV420. Experts from Alltech, Hubbard and Ridley Feed Ingredients will be on site to discuss proactive nutrition strategies and solutions, new technologies, upcoming research and development, and trending industry topics. For more information, visit go.alltech.com/swine-research.

    Learn more about Levelset and Alltech’s activities at Pork Expo this week in this interview with Rash and Hulsebus.
    Alltech at 2024 World Pork Expo 8:59

    AgWired Animal, Alltech, Animal Agriculture, Animal Health, Audio, Livestock, Pork, Swine, World Pork Expo

    DPH Biologicals Unveils New Technology Platform

    Cindy Zimmerman

    DPH Biologicals has announced its new Prime platform to deliver next generation biologicals with an expanded portfolio.

    The platform uses a patented production process for Bacillus spp., a leading plant growth rhizobacterium, to accelerate the germination of bacteria spores, supporting overall plant development while providing crops with more consistent resilience against heat, drought, and alkaline and saline soil conditions.

    “Historically biologicals have been dinged for inconsistent performance when used in a variety of environmental conditions. By utilizing a unique manufacturing process, we’ve enabled Bacillus spores to germinate faster resulting in more consistent performance especially in stressful conditions. Ultimately, Prime gives channel partners and growers more confidence in biologicals and allows them to differentiate from the plethora of microbial-based products on the market,” said Mick Messman, DPH Bio President and CEO.

    DPH Bio has exclusive rights to offer Prime-based products and has recently integrated Prime into several existing biofertilizers in its TerraTrove™ product line, including Envelix Prime available this fall and Essential™ Prime PAK available for the 2025 crop season.

    For more information about DPH Bio’s technology platforms – RegenAphex™ and Prime, as well as DPH Bio’s expanded product portfolio, visit www.dphbio.com.

    AgWired Precision, Biologicals, Precision Agriculture, Soil

    Animal Ag News 6/3

    Carrie Muehling

  • U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) celebrated the 100-year anniversary of Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory and its past and present contributions to the livestock industry and scientific community.
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it is taking several additional actions to ensure the health and viability of the nation’s livestock and poultry. In the two months since the initial detection of H5N1 in dairy cattle, USDA has worked quickly and in concert with its federal and state partners to better understand the virus and contain the disease and remains committed to seeking additional ways to collect the data needed to better understand and mitigate the risk created by this outbreak. USDA is adding an additional $824 million in emergency funding from the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to bolster these efforts and is launching a new Voluntary H5N1 Dairy Herd Status Pilot Program to give dairy producers more options to monitor the health of their herds and move cows more quickly while providing on-going testing and expanding USDA’s understanding of the disease.
  • The National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program announced that it has opened the nomination period for the 2024 FARM Excellence Awards. These prestigious awards spotlight participating farms and FARM Evaluators that demonstrate excellence in their engagement with the FARM Program. Awards are divided into four categories: Animal Care & Antibiotic Stewardship, Environmental Stewardship, Workforce Development and FARM Evaluator of the Year.
  • A nutrition incentive program that helps low-income families purchase healthy fluid milk products is expanding to California. The Add Milk! program is being launched in grocery stores to provide a dollar-for-dollar match for participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, when they purchase low-fat or non-fat milk. A community event held at Mother’s Nutritional Center in San Bernardino, Calif., marked the launch of the HFMI project, Add Milk!, at 78 participating Mother’s Nutritional Center grocery stores across Southern California. Representative Pete Aguilar (CA-33) was in attendance. The Add Milk! program is made possible by a $3 million cooperative agreement between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Auburn University’s College of Human Sciences Hunger Solutions Institute (HSI) through a program named Healthy Fluid Milk Incentives Projects.
  • We’re heading to San Antonio February 4-6, 2025, and you and your best beef recipe can be too! To enter the Beef It Up Recipe Contest, complete the form below on the CattleCon website. Recipes can be entered via file upload or written in the text box through the submission form below. The winning recipes will be tested and selected by NCBA officers.
  • Fortiva is committed to advancing foundational ingredients for the future of animal health. The brand offers the swine, poultry, dairy and cattle industries a curated portfolio of non-medicated feed additives designed to work with an animal’s physiology to support animal resilience and customers’ operations.
  • From Gregg Doud, President and CEO, National Milk Producers Federation: “FDA approval of Elanco’s Bovaer is another important step on U.S. dairy’s journey toward a net-zero future, one in which dairy farmers have already made great progress. Bovaer and other new technologies that reduce enteric emissions will help U.S. farmers be rewarded for participating in voluntary, producer-led sustainability initiatives, which is critical for the success of such efforts. Consumers around the world are demanding lower-carbon foods. Innovations such as Bovaer will help U.S. dairy farmers remain globally competitive and maintain their role as leaders in more sustainable dairy production. We thank FDA for its recognition of and support for these efforts.”
  • Wisconsin farmers are making progress in sustainable farming practices, according to the results of the annual conservation survey supported by Farmers for Sustainable Food. The report, released today, captures farmers’ conservation efforts statewide, demonstrating continued progress and environmental benefits. This report marks the sixth consecutive year of documenting conservation practices with farmer-led conservation groups, signifying the farmers’ commitment to continuous improvement and enhancing soil and water quality.
  • Mike VanMaanen married into a family of Livestock Marketing Association members in the 1980s, but never dreamed he’d one day lead the organization. Even though he immediately recognized the benefits of membership, he thought he was too busy to get involved or since his niche market wasn’t nationally known, he didn’t have a place. Soon enough, VanMaanen learned he was wrong on both accounts, and May 17, he was elected president.
  • Poultry industry professionals from around the country recently met in Nashville, Tenn., for USPOULTRY’s 2024 Poultry Processor Workshop. Attendees were provided with a wealth of resources for every aspect of plant operations, including leading effectively, meeting customer and regulatory requirements, incorporating new technology and collaborating between departments to maximize results.
  • EmGenisys, Inc., an animal health company that aims to improve the success rates of embryo transfer (ET) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) for cattle producers, announces participation in the BioTools Innovator Accelerator.
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

    AgGateway Mid-Year Meeting Preview

    Cindy Zimmerman

    The AgGateway Mid-Year Meeting is coming up June 10-12 in Altoona, Iowa.

    AgGateway Executive VP & COO Jeremy Wilson says this meeting is where the organization’s work of digital connectivity gets done. “We have a lot of different working groups that meet and work on different items that we have as priorities right now the and we have a wide array of of who attends,” said Wilson during an interview at the recent Ag on the Mall event in Washington D.C. “A lot of it is the folks of the IT staff and and other people that’s actually working with the data.”

    Among the key areas of focus for AgGateway Working Groups this year include:
    Weather data API, Dairy feed data, Field boundary, Entity management, Agrisemantics, ADAPT Standard, Modus v2 Status, and more.

    Registration is still available and welcome via AgGateway. Learn more in this interview.
    AEM Ag on the Mall - Jeremy Wilson, AgGateway 4:34

    AEM, AgGateway, AgWired Precision, Audio, data, Precision Agriculture, Technology

    Industry Ag News 5/31

    Carrie Muehling

  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking information from the public on protocols that may be considered for inclusion in a new Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program, the main program of the Growing Climate Solutions Act. The input is being collected through a Request for Information and will be considered in the preparation of a proposed rule to establish the program.
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of the Chief Economist announced the appointment of Kent Lanclos to USDA’s World Agricultural Outlook Board (WAOB), serving as Chair of the Interagency Commodity Estimates Committee (ICEC) for cotton, responsible for the cotton forecasts in the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report.
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service is accepting applications from current and potential U.S. exporters for a trade mission to Vietnam, Sept. 9-13, 2024. Participants will attend events in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, and will also have the opportunity to engage with visiting buyers from Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia and Thailand.
  • Seven FFA student members have been named U.S. Presidential Scholars — one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students — for their accomplishments in academics, the arts, and career and technical education. Of the 3.7 million students expected to graduate from high school this year, more than 5,700 candidates qualified for the 2024 award and only 161 students received the honor. A complete list of 2024 U.S. Presidential Scholars is available at http://www.ed.gov/psp.
  • Cornell University student Jake Zajkowski has joined the Agri-Pulse team of journalists as an intern this summer in Washington. Zajkowski is writing and conducting research for the Agri-Pulse and Agri-Pulse West newsletters and also contributing to the Agri-Pulse DriveTime podcast and Newsmakers TV show at Agri-Pulse.com. An Ohio native, he is a junior agriculture science major at Cornell, with experience as a farm broadcaster for the Ohio Ag Net, a staffer in the Ohio Legislature, a strategic partners intern with the Ohio Farm Bureau and an international dialogues intern for the World Food Prize Foundation.
  • Machinery Pete, LLC, a leading online marketplace for used farm and construction equipment, announced its partnership with FBN Finance, a trusted provider of agricultural financing solutions including farm equipment loans. FBN Finance will be the premier finance partner for MachineryPete.com, offering farmers a direct link to FBN Finance’s secure and straightforward application process.
  • American Vanguard Corporation announced that, after 35 years in the agrochemical industry, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Bob Trogele, will be retiring effective May 31, 2024. Mr. Trogele joined the company’s principal operating subsidiary, AMVAC, in January 2015 to focus on growing the business across multiple product lines and geographies, achieving greater profitability, and establishing a pipeline of future opportunities through innovation and strategic relationships.
  • Syngenta Crop Protection announced that Riley Titus has accepted the position of state affairs lead, effective May 20, 2024, reporting to David Flakne, head of U.S. State Affairs. In this role, Riley will oversee the management and implementation of legislative and regulatory priorities and stakeholder relations in key states within the western corn belt, mid-South and mid-Atlantic regions. He joins a team of four who advocate for and support the U.S. business.
  • Register now for the June Luncheon Meeting of the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City: State Ag Issues featuring Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam and Missouri Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn on Thursday, June 6, 2024 from 11:30 AM – 1:15 PM at the American Royal in Kansas City.
  • Cotton Australia has announced the finalists in the 2024 Australian Bayer Cotton Grower of the Year award and the AgriRisk High Achiever of the year award, with the results to be announced at the Cotton Conference on the Gold Coast in August.
  • On May 23, 2024, the National Association of Wheat Growers’ (NAWG) CEO Chandler Goule attended the White House State Dinner with President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto of the Republic of Kenya. Goule was chosen to participate in this event due to President William Ruto’s background in agriculture.
  • Purdue University researchers are developing biodegradable materials that retain water in a cleaner, more sustainable way and have much less environmental impact. Senay Simsek leads a team of researchers in Purdue’s College of Agriculture using cellulose extracted from hemp and refined through a sequence of treatments to create the patent-pending, superabsorbent materials. Simsek is a professor in and the head of the Department of Food Science, and holds the Dean’s Chair in Food Science.
    • Zimfo Bytes