Aptimmune Biologics Partners with Kemin Industries

Carrie Muehling

Aptimmune Biologics and Kemin Industries have formed a partnership in the global vaccine industry.

As of July 31, 2018, Kemin is now an equity shareholder in Aptimmune and has exclusive rights to its vaccines and vaccine technologies outside the U.S. As part of the Kemin-Aptimmune partnership, the companies have formed Kemin Biologics, which will manufacture and market Aptimmune’s proprietary Barricade™ swine vaccine technology and products outside the U.S. According to Andy Smythe, Technical Sales and Marketing Director for Aptimmune Biologics, the relationship with Kemin is an ideal fit for both companies.

In the U.S. market, Aptimmune will retain development, sales and marketing responsibilities for its intellectual property and existing vaccine products made with Barricade technology. The Kemin Biologics partnership will be managed by representatives from both companies.

The relationship brings together Kemin’s long-standing dedication to novel and value-added products in the global marketplace and Aptimmune’s unique and field-tested Barricade swine product portfolio.

AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Health, Swine

RFA on the Wolfman Jack Stage at #SturgisRally

Chuck Zimmerman

From Tuesday through Thursday this week the Renewable Fuels Association team gets on the Wolfman Jack Stage at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip to promote Free Fuel Happy Hours.

Here you can see RFA’s Robert White letting the huge crowd know that the beach balls the team is tossing off stage need to be checked because some of them have $50 fuel cards. They are a big hit and you will usually see the balls bouncing around later in the evening. The stage promotion has been taking place prior to the headliner act. See what it’s like in the video below.


2018 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Photo Album

Biofuels, Ethanol, RFA, Video

Babes With Bullets at Sturgis Guns

Chuck Zimmerman

This year Sturgis Guns opened at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip. It is a store that not only sells guns and gear but also has an indoor range!

Sturgis Guns, working with The Sturgis Buffalo Chip, is providing the media with high speed wifi so we can get our work done. I am very thankful to them for this service.

While I was working here I met Maggie Reese Voigt who is a national and world award winning handgun shooter. She is representing Babes With Bullets and is a camp instructor. I talked with her to learn more about this great organization. Here’s what they do.

Babes with Bullets™ is the only US traveling firearms academy to offer handgun and rifle training to women at all levels. Taught by an all-female team of national and world shooting sports champions, our three-day gun camps are designed to teach women to safely and confidently handle and operate a firearm in an informal “camp” atmosphere.

Interview with Maggie Reese Voigt

2018 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Photo Album

Audio

Precision Ag Bytes 8/8

Carrie Muehling

  • American Farmland Trust, the organization behind the national movement No Farms No Food®, was awarded a highly competitive 2018 Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. Authorized by the 2002 Farm Bill, CIG helps develop the tools, technologies and strategies to support next-generation conservation efforts on working lands.
  • Agrinos, a leading biological crop input provider committed to improving the productivity and sustainability of agriculture worldwide, announces Breen Neeser has joined the company as executive vice president, North America commercial operations.
  • Share the story of how conservation is part of your farm operation and you could be recognized with a Conservation Legacy Award. The awards recognize farm management practices of U.S. soybean farmers that are both environmentally friendly and profitable. More information on past winners of the award and how to submit your application is available in the “Awards” section of the ASA website. All applications must be submitted by Friday, Sept. 7, 2018.
  • The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) during the organization’s conservation forum and tour in Williamsburg, Va. The MOU between NACD and NWTF establishes an agreement to enhance the productivity of wild turkey and other wildlife habitats on private lands. Additionally, the agreement signifies the commitment both organizations share to collaborate on future engagements and events.
  • Natural Resources Conservation Service released a comprehensive, three-year action plan that outlines its priorities and goals for using current and future Farm Bill conservation programs to help agricultural producers improve the water quality and overall health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
  • Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists in Albany, California, have found a way to streamline the process that scientists use to insert multiple genes into a crop plant, developing a reliable method that will make it easier to breed a variety of crops with vastly improved traits. The technology is expected to speed up the process for developing new varieties of potatoes, rice, citrus and other crops that are better equipped to tolerate heat and drought, produce higher yields and resist a myriad of diseases and pests.
  • Sakata Seed America announced the sale of its onion seed breeding program to Zaad Holdings Limited, a subsidiary of Zeder, effective July 27, 2018. The acquirer, Zaad, is a vertically integrated agriculture company headquartered in Cape Town, South Africa. The company has strong R&D, production and distribution systems established in continental Africa, Europe and the US. Dr. Sean Fort, the program’s breeder for over 18 years, will continue onion breeding efforts for Zaad.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes

Legends Ride Press Conference During #SturgisRally

Chuck Zimmerman

Participating in a pre-Legends Ride press conference in Deadwood, SD were (l-r) Tom Berenger, Sarah Palin and Rusty Wallace. I got to ask them to make a comment about a ten percent blend (E10) of ethanol into gasoline and what it means for our country.

Rusty is very familiar with the renewable fuel from his NASCAR experiences which include designing the Iowa Speedway while Sarah did campaign for Vice President throughout the corn belt. Tom Berenger is someone I’ve gotten to know here at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip and he has ridden his bike all over this countryside while filming his new movie, American Dresser, which is scheduled to release next month. Listen in to what they had to say. I’m also including Robert White’s statement in the press conference and a post-press conference interview with him.

Robert White, RFA - Legends Ride Press Conference

Q&A with Tom Berenger, Sarah Palin, Rusty Wallace

Interview with Robert White, RFA

2018 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Photo Album

Audio, Biofuels, Ethanol, RFA

2018 Legends Ride Took off From Deadwood, SD

Chuck Zimmerman

Driving the Renewable Fuels Association motorcycle in this year’s Legends Ride is RFA’s Robert White. I have a short video clip of the beginning of the parade of bikers who took part in the event.

The event is sponsoring the Special Olympics South Dakota – Rapid City Flame and Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame. RFA is a sponsor of the Ride.

The Legends Ride® was created by the Sturgis Buffalo Chip® to raise significant funds for worthwhile charities in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Its goal is to positively impact local youth and preserve the rich heritage and history of motorcycling by uniting the motorcycle, music and entertainment industries, as well as riders from around the world.


2018 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Photo Album

Biofuels, Ethanol, RFA, Video

Solar Project New to GROWMARK Distribution Facility

Carrie Muehling

GROWMARK has been looking at alternative sources of energy for its Alpha, Ill. distribution center since 2010. After previous opportunities to use solar or wind power did not add up for the company, they found the right fit with a solar project completed in the summer of 2018.

GROWMARK is working with Straight Up Solar and investment partner Shine Development Partners, which actually owns the solar array. GROWMARK signed a 25-year agreement to buy power generated from the 525-kilowatt array at reduced rates. Because Shine Development Partners actually owns the array, GROWMARK’s only expense was building a fence to go around the facility. The company expects to save between $9,000 and $12,000 per year over the life of the 25-year contract. The project is designed to power the distribution facility only and not to provide power back to the grid for sale to other entities.

“It should generate most of the power needed for the distribution center,” said Tracy Mack, Director of Supply Chain Optimization and Logistics. “We run the facility 24 hours a day, six days a week, so at nighttime when the solar panels aren’t generating we’ll pull utility power.”

Mack said the company also used pollinator mix available from its FS member companies instead of gravel to fill in the area around the solar panels – a “win-win” from the standpoint of environmental sustainability. He expects GROWMARK will look to expand the project to other facilities if this one proves successful.

Listen to Carrie’s interview with Tracy Mack here: Interview with Tracy Mack, GROWMARK

Audio, Energy, GROWMARK

NCBA Wraps Up Summer Business Meeting in Denver

Carrie Muehling

Research, promotion and policy discussions filled work sessions at this year’s Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting in Denver, attended by more than 700 cattle producers.

Trade continues to be an important topic in the cattle industry, as well as environmental property rights. Other talks centered around alternative proteins and which agency should regulate the inspection and branding of those products. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) CEO Kendal Frazier said producers are optimistic about the cattle industry for now.

“People seem to be pretty upbeat. We’re selling record amounts of beef at good prices. Demand domestically and internationally is really good for beef. Except for some areas of the country that have experienced some pretty severe drought situations, the cattlemen from across the country seem to be in a pretty positive mood,” said Frazier.

The group also announced six regional winners of Environmental Stewardship Awards. This year’s finalists are Birdcall and Clark Ranch of Henrietta, Texas, Thunder View Farms of Grahamsville, NY, Haleakala Ranch of Makawao, Hawaii, The Hahn Ranch of Townsend, Montana, Moes Feedlot of Watertown, SD, and Landuyt Land and Livestock of Walnut Grove, Minnesota. They will go on to national competition and recognition at the 2019 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show in New Orleans in January. Registration for that meeting opens Oct. 1.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Kendal Frazier here: Interview with Kendal Frazier, NCBA

2018 Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting Photo Album

AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Audio, Beef, NCBA

Scholarships Awarded at Ag Media Summit

Cindy Zimmerman

Several talented and motivated young ladies were awarded scholarships this week at the Ag Media Summit to help them with their future careers in the industry

The Livestock Publications Council and Alltech recognized four students as Forrest Bassford award finalists. Pictured left to right are Jenn Norrie with Alltech; Madison Hokanson, SDSU; Alexa Nordwald, MU; Sarah Moyer, K-State; and Kiera Leddy, OSU.

Maddie Hokanson was named the recipient of a $2,000 scholarship and all received $750 travel scholarships to attend the convention.

The AAEA scholarships, made possible in part by CoBank and through a grant from the Professional Improvement Foundation, were presented to (LtoR) Carryn LaRue, Utah State; Alexa Nordwald, MU; Jill Seiler, K State; and Catherine Jones, UNL (not pictured).

The Jim Evans Scholarship was presented to Alexa Nordwald, who is also one of two AAEA interns here at the summit, along with Cheyenne Dunn, Purdue.

I had the opportunity to interview Maddie and Alexa about what the awards mean to them.

LPC Forrest Bassford award winner –
Interview with Madison Hokanson, SD State University

AAEA Jim Evans Scholarship award winner –
Interview with Alexa Nordwald, University of Missouri

2018 Ag Media Summit photo album

Content creation at Ag Media Summit is sponsored by
Coverage of the Ag Media Summit is sponsored by FMC
ACN, Ag Media Summit, Audio, LPC

2018 Ag Media Summit Bigger than Usual

Cindy Zimmerman

There are nearly 800 agricultural communications professionals and students attending the 20th annual Ag Media Summit this week in Scottsdale, AZ, which is bigger than normal because a new organization is part of the event this year.

The Association for Communication Excellence (ACE) in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Life and Human Sciences has joined with the American Agricultural Editors’ Association, Livestock Publications Council and the Connectiv Agri-Media Committee to meet the theme of “Everything Under the Sun.”

“It’s great because we have added more people to help out and added more sessions,” says AMS 2018 chair Molly Shoen, Charolais Journal.

The university extension communicators have added a new dimension this year, and Molly says they might become a permanent addition but not until after next year when the Summit hosts the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) in Minneapolis.

Listen to my interview with Molly here:
Interview with Molly Shoen, AMS 2018 chair

2018 Ag Media Summit photo album

Content creation at Ag Media Summit is sponsored by
Coverage of the Ag Media Summit is sponsored by FMC
ACN, Ag Media Summit, Audio, LPC