FMC Wins Big at Agrow Awards
FMC Corporation took top honors in several categories at the 2018 Agrow Awards, an international competition honoring the top advancements in agriculture.
FMC won Best R&D Pipeline and Best Application Technology for its at-plant 3RIVE 3D® application system. In addition, Dr. William E. Barnette, retired director of Discovery Chemistry for FMC, was recognized with the prestigious Agrow Lifetime Achievement Award.
Over his 30-year career with FMC and DuPont Crop Protection, Dr. Barnette has been an industry leader in identifying new crop protection active ingredient development candidates.
Dr. Kathleen Shelton, FMC chief technology officer and vice president, said the company is honored to be recognized for its crop protection discovery research which is critically important to helping farmers produce an abundant and safe food supply for a growing world population. “Our R&D pipeline is focused on new active ingredients and new modes of action to address growers’ insect, disease and weed challenges around the world, including resistant pests, which are a serious threat to crop production.”
Rick Ekins, FMC Precision Platforms lead, accepted the award for FMC’s patent-pending 3RIVE 3D® application system, designed to deliver low volumes of crop protection solutions to the furrow during planting. Currently used in corn and soybeans, 3RIVE 3D technology is being tested in sugar beets, cotton, dry beans, sunflowers and more. New 3RIVE 3D formulated products are in development, like Ethos® 3D insecticide/fungicide just introduced to the market this month.
Corn Growers Request Changes in Trade Relief Package
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is urging Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to consider changes to the Market Facilitation Program (MFP) ahead of the second round of payments.
In a letter to Perdue, NCGA president Lynn Chrisp said that many farmers are “disappointed in USDA’s approach to calculating the first round of MFP payments because it was too narrow in scope and did not capture the real-time impacts of trade disruptions on our markets.”
Producers of oybeans, sorghum, corn, wheat, cotton, dairy, and hogs impacted by retaliatory tariffs, resulting in the loss of traditional export markets are the commodities eligible for payments, with soybeans getting the majority of the compensation package in the first round.
NCGA is asking Perdue to add ethanol and distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) to the calculation of damages for corn. Using USDA’s methodology, gross trade damages for ethanol and DDGS amounts to $254 million, which was not accounted for in the first MFP payments. Chrisp also asked the Secretary to allow farmers who suffer production losses from disasters to use an alternative to 2018 production for their MFP calculation. This would ensure farmers suffering from drought, hurricane-related losses or other natural disasters would not be penalized twice.
Ethanol Report from 2018 NAFB Convention
The new president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) met with farm broadcasters from around the country recently at the annual National Association of Farm Broadcasting Trade Talk. While Geoff Cooper has been with RFA since 2008, it was the first time he had the opportunity to talk with the ag media as CEO.
Among the topics he discussed were the process of getting E15 approved year round, record production and exports for 2018, and the crazy year it has been for the industry.
Listen here – Ethanol Report from 2018 NAFB Convention
Zimfo Bytes 11/21
- The National Corn Growers Association welcomes back Robyn Allscheid, who rejoins the organization as the director of Research and Productivity in the St. Louis, Mo. office. Allscheid previously served at NCGA as manager of research and business development from 2008 to 2010. She will serve as staff lead for the Corn Productivity and Quality Action Team as well as leading NCGA’s research programs.
- New Holland ended its two-year-long Survivor Tractor campaign the way it began: with an auction raising awareness and money for cancer research. A fully restored 1939 tractor, the Survivor Tractor was auctioned off for $8,000 to Mr. Joseph “Bubby” Knott, original tractor owner on Nov. 10 at the Mecum Auctions Iowa Premier 2018 in Davenport, Iowa. During the campaign, New Holland raised more than $100,000 with all funds being donated to the American Cancer Society and localized support organizations identified through participating New Holland dealers.
- Hannah Pagel will join the Agri-Pulse editorial team in Washington, D.C. as an associate editor, handling writing and broadcast duties.
- Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the appointment of eight members, eight alternate members and two advisors to serve on the Cotton Board.
New NCGA CEO Talks Corn Issues at #NAFB18
Jon Doggett participated in his first NAFB Trade Talk this year as CEO of the National Corn Growers Association.
Doggett is no stranger to farm broadcasters, having served as head of NCGA’s policy efforts in Washington D.C. since 2002 and becoming executive vice president in 2014. But he was just officially named CEO in September. “I thought I was traveling a lot before but I’m seeing a lot more of that,” he said.
The biggest issue on the plate for corn growers right now is getting a farm bill passed. “Farm prices are half of what they were a few years ago. We need to get a farm bill done now,” said Doggett.
Doggett comments on a number of issues in this interview, including the mid-term elections, trade policy, and getting year-round E15 approved. NAFB18 Interview with Jon Doggett, NCGA CEO
2018 National Association of Farm Broadcasting Convention Photo Album
Driving Ethanol Series on 10 Years of Growth Energy
Growth Energy was created in November 2008 and so is celebrating ten years of advocating for ethanol this month. This edition of the Driving Ethanol podcast is the first in a series of three focusing on a decade of accomplishments for the organization.
This podcast includes historical comments from the early years with industry leaders, including Greg Krissek, who was with ethanol plant engineering firm ICM, Inc at the time, first Growth Energy co-chairs Ret. Gen. Wesley Clark and former Rep. Jim Nussle of Iowa, first CEO Tom Buis and current CEO Emily Skor, and President Barack Obama.
Listen here: Growth Energy Driving Ethanol podcast 11-19-18
Precision Ag Bytes 11/20
- Over 60 scholars representing 30 leading U.S. universities have shown their solidarity for the proposed Agriculture Data Act of the next Farm Bill in a letter sent to Senate and House Agriculture Committee leaders. The Ag Data Act would establish the framework for a conservation and farm productivity national data warehouse; the first of its kind in the United States, that would unlock solutions to conserve natural resources and improve farmer success while protecting data privacy.
- Eighteen national organizations representing agriculture and science communities recently joined together in signing a statement in support of the International Statement on Agricultural Applications of Precision Biotechnology (“the International Statement”) – a global commitment to the fair, science-based treatment of agricultural innovation like gene editing, around the world.
- The Soil Health Partnership welcomes a new field manager to the growing staff, along with a program coordinator to support farmers in the soil health effort. Madelyn Rabenhorst joins the SHP team to cover the state of South Dakota as a field manager, and Stacey Stiens is already making an impact in her role as Program Coordinator.
- The U.S. Agency for International Development, Land O’Lakes International Development, and the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research announced the six winners of the Feed the Future Fall Armyworm Tech Prize at the AfricaCom conference in South Africa.
- The CHS Foundation, funded by charitable gifts from CHS Inc., announced a $1.5 million grant to support the South Dakota State University precision agriculture program and construction of the new Raven Precision Agriculture Center on campus.
- A locally-led, multi-stakeholder program designed to improve the sustainability of winter wheat production in the Southern Plains took top honors as the 2018 Collaboration of the Year at the Field to Market Sustainability Leadership Awards Ceremony in Denver, Colo. The winning collaborators on the innovative and successful Southern Plains Wheat Fieldprint® Project included Illinois-based Agrible, Inc., Archer Daniels Midland and General Mills.
- Land O’Lakes SUSTAIN and global ingredient supplier Tate & Lyle announced a new collaboration to advance conservation practices on Midwest farms – specifically in sourcing sustainable corn.
- Organic Materials Review Institute recently approved an organic formulation of Rhizolizer™, a line of non-GMO microbial soil amendments that has proven to be highly successful in increasing yields and reducing time to harvest. The unique treatments, which were developed by Locus Agricultural Solutions™, LLC, have drastically improved the vitality of more than 40,000 acres of crops, leading to demand for organic offerings.
- The Soil Health Institute (SHI) has released a 60-minute documentary that captures the history of the soil health movement. The film features rural and urban farmers from Maryland to California, selling everything from corn to bouquets, united by their care for the soil.
NAFB18 Participants Learn About Alternative Crops
A discussion about alternative crops was on the agenda at the 2018 National Association of Farm Broadcasting Convention in Kansas City. Participants included Dr. Rob Myers from the University of Missouri Plant Science Department and Michael Bowman from the National Hemp Association.
With low commodity prices challenging farmers, interest in alternative crops is again increasing. Myers said diverse plant communities can improve soil health, in addition to creating economic opportunities for growers. He talked about sunflowers and canola as two examples of alternative crops that might be possibilities to consider. Bowman spoke about how hemp production is increasing and what that could mean for American farmers.
Listen to the entire session here: NAFB18 Alternative Crops Session
2018 National Association of Farm Broadcasting Convention Photo Album
Can-Am Talks Outdoors at NAFB Convention
There is a new Defender in town and I have personal experience to tell you it is an awesome one. It is a Can-Am Outdoors Mossy Oak Edition Defender. With a 72 hp Rotax HD10 V-Twin engine it delivers both response and loads of low-down torque for active, sport-oriented riding that hauls.
My hunting club is using one of these vehicles for our annual deer hunt in Georgia. That season goes through mid-January and I’ll be back out there a couple more times before the end of the year. My first trip included deer sightings but no meat in the freezer. By the way, we also started hunting feral hogs a couple years ago after the nasty things showed up to rob corn from our feeders. We’ve harvested a few select ones but our goal is to at least try to reduce their numbers. But I digress from the story of the Defender.
During the 2018 NAFB Convention Trade Talk session I spoke with Can-Am representative Andrew Howard. Andrew is pictured sitting on the Outlander that was on display. Andrew says that Can-Am has a lot of new features and packages for both the Defender and Outlander lines of off road vehicles. There and many accessories that can make these into work horses on or off the farm.
When it comes to farm work Can-Am is making products that are very durable and suited for hard work while also providing serious comfort for the driver. Both Can-Am and their dealers offer financing options for people who need it. You can build your own by just going to the company website.
Listen to my interview with Andrew here: Interview with Andrew Howard, Can-Am
2018 National Association of Farm Broadcasting Convention Photo Album