New NCGA Officer Talks Top Issues at #FPS18

Cindy Zimmerman

The National Corn Growers Association leadership team was out in full force last week at the Farm Progress Show, including the new kid on the board, Kevin Ross of Iowa.

Ross was elected this summer to become the organization’s first vice president for the next fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, and he is jumping right into the issues head first – and there is definitely a lot talk about.

In our 10 minute sit down at FPS, Ross covered everything from the latest trade and tariff developments, to ethanol and the RFS, the 2018 Farm Bill and zombie WOTUS. Since we will be hearing a lot from him in the next few years as an NCGA officer, listen here and get to know Kevin Ross a little better. FPS18 Interview with Iowa farmer Kevin Ross, NCGA vice president

2018 Farm Progress Show

Content Creation at the Farm Progress Show brought to you by Farm Progress Show content creation courtesy of John DeereCoverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by GrowmarkCoverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Bayer CropScience
Audio, Corn, Ethanol, Farm Bill, Farm Progress Show, NCGA, Trade

GROWMARK Watching Farm Policy and Regulation

Carrie Muehling

While farmers and cooperators gathered at GROWMARK‘s annual meeting in Chicago last week still have concerns about what’s happening in the nation’s capitol, they continue to be optimistic about agriculture.

“I think what they’re concerned about is where the election is going to go and what that means for their business. Overall, the mood is still very strong in the agricultural sector, and that’s in the face of some very challenging pricing,” said Chuck Spencer, GROWMARK director of corporate and government relations.

Spencer said the month of September is critical when it comes to farm bill discussion, as well as trade agreements. Even though harvest is just beginning across the Midwest, farmers and agribusinesses are already making decisions that will impact next year’s growing season.

“Business and farmers alike like to know consistency of regulation. What are the programs? How are they going to be implemented? Certainly, transparency in their development and then predictability of what will occur in the coming updates of regulation,” said Spencer.

Other important concerns for farmers include risk management, conservation, and regulatory items like the Waters of the United States ruling.

Listen to Carrie’s interview with Chuck here: Interview with Chuck Spencer, GROWMARK

Audio, Cooperatives, Farm Policy, GROWMARK

ASTA Outlines Seed Industry Priorities for Farm Bill

Cindy Zimmerman

The 2018 Farm Bill Conference Committee is holding its first public meeting today in Washington and the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) has notified committee members of key provisions important to the seed industry within the legislation. In a recent letter to Conferees, ASTA highlighted priorities within the Conservation, Trade, Research, Horticulture and Crop Insurance titles.

ASTA CEO Andy LaVigne says among priorities in the Conservation title is concern about a provision in the House version that would limit the cost share for seed in the Conservation Reserve Program to 25-percent. “In order to promote transparency in conservation seed mix formulations, ASTA suggests conference report language directing states to form standing Seed Subcommittees under the State Technical Committees,” says LaVigne.

In addition, related to conservation but under the Crop Insurance title, ASTA supports language in the Senate bill which amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to clarify conditions for voluntary conservation practices, including cover crops.

In the Trade title, ASTA supports language in both versions that would merge the Market Access Program (MAP), the Foreign Market Development Program (FMD), the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops Program (TASC), and the Emerging Markets Program (EMP) and provide funding for the merged programs at or above current levels.

LaVigne says ASTA is also supporting new authorization of $200 million in mandatory funds for research, which is included in the Senate bill but not the House, and specific language in the Horticulture title to amend the Plant Variety Protection Act to include asexually propagated materials such as flowers. as well as language in the House Farm Bill which creates a definition for biostimulants.

LaVigne talks about ASTA priorities and his thoughts on when a final bill will be completed in this interview:
Interview with ASTA CEO Andy LaVigne on Farm Bill priorities

AgWired Precision, ASTA, Audio, Farm Bill, Seed

Deere Introduces High-Capacity Self-Propelled Forage Harvesters

Cindy Zimmerman

John Deere showcased the all-new 9000 Series Self-Propelled Forage Harvesters (SPFH) at last week’s Farm Progress Show, drawing a lot of interest from attendees.

The four new models, which range from 616 hp to 957 hp, are able to provide up to 400 tons of throughput per hour, along with optimum corn silage processing independent of the length of cut, according to Shaun Fritchey, senior marketing rep, forage harvesters. “Compared to its predecessor, the 9000 Series is 10 percent more productive per horsepower and offers a 10 percent improvement in kernel processing.”

Fritchey says the improved performance and capabilities of the 9000 Series enable producers and custom harvesters to obtain the highest possible return on investment under narrow harvesting windows where high-capacity and high-quality feed are the goal.

Learn more in this press release and this interview from Farm Progress Show –FPS18 Deere interview with Shaun Fritchey

John Deere at the 2018 Farm Progress Show

Content Creation at the Farm Progress Show brought to you by Farm Progress Show content creation courtesy of John DeereCoverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by GrowmarkCoverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Bayer CropScience
AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Audio, Equipment, Farm Progress Show, Forage, Harvest, John Deere

Precision Ag Bytes 9/5

Carrie Muehling

  • Kansas State University and Topcon Agriculture are collaborating to develop tools and systems to advance precision agriculture and support farmers.
  • Legion Bio Chem is the newest player in the soil enhancement market. Four product families currently comprise the GroWell offering to maximize growth potential: FasGro, ZenaGro, FortiGro and EnduraGro. Each product category delivers on the Legion Bio Chem promise: Start Well, Grow Well.
  • Kubota Tractor Corporation announced a new partnership with Tavant Technologies, a leading provider of aftermarket solutions. Going into effect in early 2019, Kubota will deploy the Tavant Warranty On-Demand (TWOD) platform as its sole application for handling warranty claims and related aftermarket business processes.
  • Golden Harvest® announced the rollout of E-Luminate®, an exclusive digital offering that draws upon extensive agronomic data to help farmers make more informed seed selection decisions.
  • Vermeer is building the first five ZR5-1200 self-propelled balers to make available at a limited number of Iowa and Nebraska Vermeer dealerships. These dealerships are in key cornstalk baling areas where the machines can put up a large number of bales during this fall season. The select dealerships have participated in specialized training to help support the ZR5.
  • One year after announcing a comprehensive long-term commitment to the NK® seed brand, Syngenta is reporting significant growth across the NK organization. The combined NK sales and agronomy team is tripling in size, the number of U.S. plant breeders is increasing by 50 percent and product trials by 30 percent, and the number of new corn chassis is going up by 58 percent, from 19 per year to 30 per year.
  • As Corteva Agriscience™, Agriculture Division of DowDuPont, continues to prepare the market for the large-scale commercialization of Enlist E3™ soybeans, growing knowledge about this technology remains essential. Enlist E3 soybeans will be broadly licensed to the industry, and the Corteva Agriscience team is engaged with seed companies across the country that are preparing to incorporate Enlist E3 soybeans into their product lineup.
  • Ag Leader announced new fall features added to its full-farm connectivity platform, AgFiniti®, bringing an even higher level of in-season visibility to growers and trusted advisors.
  • The American Seed Research Foundation and the National Council of Commercial Plant Breeders voted at their joint 2018 Annual Meeting to combine their efforts and resources into a new not-for-profit foundation named the Seed Science Foundation. Its central mission is to address seed and plant science challenges and to encourage plant breeding education and seed research in support of the ever-changing needs of the global seed industry.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Syngenta

Nelson Leaving GROWMARK Board After 28 Years

Carrie Muehling

Over the course of his 28 years of service on the GROWMARK Board of Directors, Illinois farmer Rick Nelson has seen a lot of change in the organization.

When he was elected to the board in 1990, the cooperative operated exclusively in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. Nearly 30 years later, GROWMARK has a presence in at least 40 states, as well as Ontario, Canada. While tremendous growth is the biggest change Nelson has seen, there were plenty of challenges and difficult decisions faced over the years. He said he was fortunate to farm with his father in the early years and more recently with his son, as serving on a board like this one does take time away from the farming operation.

“Serving on a co-op board at whatever level you do that is a time commitment,” said Nelson, who farms near Paxton, Ill. “It’s a passionate commitment. You need to be dedicated to doing that because it will draw you away from your own personal activities or farming activities at times that are inconvenient. But that’s what the job involves, so you accept that commitment when you come on and live by that.”

Nelson named the decision to purchase assets of companies in the eastern part of the country as major decisions he’ll remember from his time on the board. He also called his Cooperator of the Year award for Illinois in 2017 a personal highlight. Nelson is retiring from the GROWMARK Board, but will continue farming and will also continue as president of his local cooperative elevator board.

Listen to this interview from the GROWMARK annual meeting: Interview with Rick Nelson, Vice Chairman of GROWMARK Board of Directors

AgWired Precision, Audio, Cooperatives, GROWMARK

Animal Ag Bites 9/4

Carrie Muehling

  • Alpaca Owners Association, Inc. invites you to visit their member farms and ranches on National Alpaca Farm Days on September 29th and 30th. This is a unique opportunity for the public to explore the many aspects of the alpaca livestock industry in North America. For a complete list of participating farms and ranches, visit www.AlpacaFarmDays.com.
  • Huvepharma® announces the acquisition of T-HEXX Animal Health, a division of Hydromer, Inc. The T-HEXX lines of products are based upon innovative hydrophilic polymer technologies for animal health, primarily in the dairy and equine markets.
  • Balchem Corporation, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Balchem Italia S.r.l., acquired Bioscreen Technologies, S.r.l., a small privately held manufacturer of encapsulated and fermented feed nutrition ingredients, headquartered in Bertinoro, Italy.
  • Dairy.com, the world’s leading provider of software as service solutions powering dairy supply chains, is acquiring Data Specialists, Inc., a technology company with deep roots and multiple platforms deployed across the dairy industry. The combined companies will feature over 100 employees in four main locations.
  • The board of directors of Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative has appointed Gordon Speirs, a dairy farmer from Brillion, Wis., to fill the vacant board seat held by the late John Pagel.
  • The Board of Trustees of the Meat Industry Hall of Fame announced seven new members will be inducted into the Hall as the Class of 2018. To learn more about the Meat Industry Hall of Fame or purchase tickets to this event, go to www.meatindustryhalloffame.com.
AgWired Animal, Animal Bites, Dairy, Horses

Farm Bill Conference Committee Meets This Week

Cindy Zimmerman

The 2018 Farm Bill Conference Committee will hold its first public meeting this week on Wednesday, September 5 at 9:30 am Eastern.

Agriculture Committee Chairmen Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Rep. K. Michael Conaway, R-Texas, and Ranking Members Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., announced the meeting last month, saying that they are “committed to working together on a Farm Bill that delivers certainty and predictability to our farmers and families as quickly as possible.”

The Farm Bill Conference Committee is composed of 56 members, including nine Senators and 47 Representatives.

Faced with the lowest farm income in 12 years, the presidents of the American Farm Bureau Federation and National Farmers Union are asking Senate and House conferees to move quickly.

AFBF and NFU, together with more than 150 other organizations, also sent a letter to the Senate and House Agriculture committees asking the farm bill conference committee to pass an on time, five-year farm bill before the September 30 expiration of the 2014 farm bill.

The hearing will be webcast live on ag.senate.gov.

AFBF, AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Farm Bill

GROWMARK Embraces Change in Agriculture

Carrie Muehling

GROWMARK CEO Jim Spradlin (left) and Chairman of the Board John Reifsteck (right) address those gathered for the company’s annual meeting in Chicago.

GROWMARK CEO Jim Spradlin said the company’s new strategy – based on the acronym ‘GROW’ – is not just focused on getting bigger. It’s focused on getting better.

During a shared address at the company’s annual meeting in Chicago, Spradlin and Board Chairman John Reifsteck reflected back on the past 30 years or more in agriculture, sharing both personal experiences as well as changes that have come to the GROWMARK system.

“We thrive on change,” said Spradlin. “We thrive on it primarily because where we can get better and we can utilize the skills of our people to lend advice and support and help to our customers, and help them be more successful, we think that’s our spot in this world.”

Spradlin recognized farmer members are dealing with a very difficult agriculture economy right now, with trade issues only adding to the seriousness of the situation. But he believes farmers are resilient and will continue to adjust. He said great attitudes prevail across the organization at the farm level, even though it is more challenging than it has been in recent years.

GROWMARK began a new fiscal year on Sept. 1, and Spradlin shared that this was a solid year fiscally for the cooperative, especially in the agronomy and grain divisions.

Listen to Carrie’s interview with Jim here: Interview with Jim Spradlin, GROWMARK CEO

AgWired Precision, Audio, Cooperatives, GROWMARK

BASF launches Credenz with LibertyLink GT27

Cindy Zimmerman

At the 2018 Farm Progress Show, BASF launched Credenz® soybean with LibertyLink® GT27™, the first soybean seed technology with herbicide-tolerant stacked traits that allows growers to apply both Liberty® herbicide and glyphosate over the top of soybeans for post-emergence control of broadleaf and grass weeds.

“It’s very exciting for the Credenz brand,” said Marc Hoobler, BASF Soybean Agronomy Lead. “We’re only a four year old brand, but last year we were the 10th most planted soybean seed brand in the U.S.”

Recent BASF field trials have demonstrated that Credenz LibertyLink GT27 varieties can have as much as two to four bushels per acre average yield advantage over leading commercial soybean trait systems.

“We believe that growers need to have choices in their weed management programs,” said Hoobler. “We know resistance is increasing across the U.S. and we want to make sure growers steward their products and at the same time have the highest producing soybean acres that they possibly can.”

Learn more in this interview from Farm Progress Show – #FPS18 BASF Interview with Marc Hoobler, Soybean Agronomy Lead

BASF at the 2018 Farm Progress Show virtual newsroom

AgWired Precision, Audio, BASF, Farm Progress Show, weed management