Enogen Waves Flag for Ethanol at NASCAR Race

Cindy Zimmerman

For the sixth consecutive year, Syngenta Enogen sponsored NASCAR® racing at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa this past weekend.

The Iowa 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series race presented by Enogen on Sunday highlighted both corn and ethanol around the track and allowed Syngenta to thank some of the farmers who are enzyme suppliers for their local plants.

Chris Tingle, head of commercial operations for Enogen at Syngenta, says Enogen premiums-to-date paid to Enogen corn growers are expected to surpass $100 million this year. “This is a milestone year for Enogen corn and we are pleased to be able to take this opportunity to say thank you to the ethanol plants and corn growers who are making this game-changing technology a success. To do so in collaboration with NASCAR makes it even more special.”

NASCAR has been supporting American ethanol since 2011 when it began using Sunoco Green E15 (15 percent ethanol) in all three touring races. Grower account lead Craig Abell had the opportunity to check an item off his bucket list when he waved the green American Ethanol flag to start the race. “Been watching NASCAR for 30 years, so I’ve prepared for this moment my entire life!” said Abell

By the end of 2018, Syngenta anticipates more than 280 million bushels of Enogen corn will have been grown on nearly 1.5 million acres and contributed to approximately 7 billion gallons of ethanol produced.

Listen to interviews with Tingle and Abell to learn more about the Enogen technology and how it is helping both corn farmers and ethanol producers be more profitable.

Interview with Chris Tingle, Syngenta Enogen

Interview with Craig Abell, Syngenta Enogen

NASCAR Xfinity Series Iowa 250 presented by Enogen Photo Album

AgWired Precision, Audio, Corn, Ethanol, NASCAR, Syngenta

Precision Ag Bytes 6/20

Carrie Muehling

  • Stine Seed Farm Inc, an affiliate of Stine Seed Company, has invested $5 million in Smart Ag Inc., an Iowa technology firm that has revolutionized automation in agriculture with the development of a full stack software platform and aftermarket kit for driverless tractors. The Stine Seed investment In Smart Ag’s Series Seed Round comes just five short months after Smart Ag unveiled its technology with the release of AutoCart, a software application that fully automates a grain cart tractor for use during harvest.
  • AgBiome, LLC, has recently been awarded a multi-year grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in the area of nematology. The project, entitled “Biological Nematicides for Root and Tuber Crops,” aims to discover and develop a microbial solution for smallholder farms in West Africa to manage yield-damaging plant-parasitic nematodes.
  • Kubota Tractor Corporation announced the completion of a 200-acre land purchase within Phase II of Logistics Park Kansas City in Edgerton, making the company the first major tenant for the industrial park.
  • Syngenta Seeds facilities in Iowa, Illinois and Minnesota have been recognized for outstanding safety performance in the workplace. The Jefferson, Iowa, Syngenta Seeds production and supply facility was honored by the Iowa-Illinois Safety Council(IISC). For the second year in a row, the Jefferson site earned the Presidential Award in Hazard Recognition, one of only five recipients of this honor given annually by the IISC. Employees at the Syngenta Seeds production and supply facility in Pekin, Illinois, recently celebrated 10 years without an injury in the workplace. This achievement represents more than 670,000 hours safely worked at the Pekin site, which was also recognized by the IISC for continuous improvement with the identification and control of workplace safety hazards. The Minnesota Safety Council recently recognized the Syngenta Seeds Amboy and Dassel, Minnesota, production and supply facilities with its highest level of recognition, the Governor’s Award of Honor.
  • The GO In-Depth Cover Crop Event 2018 was a great success! Catch up on all the speaker presentations by visiting the Grassland Oregon YouTube channel.
  • Five FS crop specialists are being recognized for their work with GROWMARK’s Endure 4R Advocate award. The 2018 winners include: Tim Berkland – GROWMARK – Iowa; Gary Brandt – Gateway FS – Illinois; Courtney Mahr – West Central FS – Illinois; Sal Pustizze – GROWMARK FS – New Jersey; and Todd Wibben – Evergreen FS – Illinois.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes

Iowa Corn Growers Attend CUTC

Carrie Muehling

Members of the Iowa Corn Growers Association and Iowa Corn Promotion Board attended the 2018 Corn Utilization and Technology Conference in St. Louis to showcase a current research project on developing monoethylene glycol (MEG) from corn.

MEG is used in products like antifreeze, plastic soda bottles and polyester clothes. It provides a renewable product and expands the market for corn.

“It’s huge. As corn growers, we keep producing more and more corn, and then we have to find some way to get rid of it. and, the checkoff dollars that we get through the corn promotion board, we try and utilize those to find new ways, new uses, new markets for the corn any way that we can,” said Pete Breck, an Iowa corn grower who is a member of the Iowa Corn Promotion Board.

The project focused on getting a renewable and bio-based product into markets where consumers are asking for it, and plastic bottles is one place that trend exists, according to Rodney Williamson, director of research and development with Iowa Corn. It’s a product that has not traditionally been made from corn. The project was part of an open innovation contest hosted by the National Corn Growers Association to generate an interest in developing new products from corn.

“We have a lot of technologies in our pipeline at Iowa Corn to continue this trend of developing new products,” said Alex Buck, industrial innovation manager with Iowa Corn. “What I would say is this has been a great example of corn growers making things for themselves, being preemptive about trying to discover new products and new technologies that they can use, and really diversify their own products. Corn farmers working for corn farmers.”

The group from Iowa also included Iowa State University students who competed in the National Corn Growers Association’s Corn Utilization and Technology Conference 2018 Poster Contest.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Iowa Corn here: Interview with Iowa Corn

2018 Corn Utilization & Technology Conference Photo Album

Audio, Corn, CUTC

ZimmCast 588 – Social Networking & Ethanol Education

Chuck Zimmerman

In this week’s program I’m going to cover a couple of different topics, although there are some common elements from an educational perspective.

First up is Joanna Guza, Digital Communications Manager, Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative and Dairy Business Association, as well as volunteer with GMO Answers. We talk about social networking as a tool to reach people about topics like GMOs, especially during Dairy Month. Joanna has some great insight and advice for using the tools we have.

Next I talk with Paul Teutul, Jr., Paul JR Designs and Discovery’s American Chopper. Paul built two motorcycles that run on E85. One bike is for the Sturgis Buffalo Chip and the other for the Renewable Fuels Association. During the project Paul learned a lot about ethanol and shares some of what he learned. The whole project is part of an on-going educational effort by RFA and uses a lot of social networking.

This is why I love my podcast. I get to talk with some awesome people in all kinds of places and about all kinds of topics!

Listen to the ZimmCast here: ZimmCast 588 - Social Media & Ethanol Education

I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.

Subscribe to the ZimmCast podcast here. Use this url in iTunes or your favorite news reader program/app.

The ZimmCast

sponsored by
The ZimmCast podcast is sponsored by GROWMARK
Locally owned, globally strong.
Audio, Dairy, Education, Ethanol, Social Networking, ZimmCast

WPX18 Sets Records

Cindy Zimmerman

The 2018 World Pork Expo, presented by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), marked 30 years June 6-8 with a record number of trade-show exhibitors, hospitality tents, educational seminars and live hogs in the Junior National show.

“It’s hard to believe Expo has been around for 30 years,” says Jim Heimerl, NPPC president and producer from Johnstown, Ohio. “I hope there are many more Expos to come.”

More than 20,000 producers, employees and pork professionals attended the expo, and nearly 1,000 international guests from 35 countries visited.

Heimerl talks about the expo and issues facing the industry in this interview and in the opening press conference from the event.
Interview with Jim Heimerl, NPPC President

WPX18 NPPC presser

The world’s largest pork-specific trade show was even bigger this year, topping 360,000 square feet with more than 500 U.S. and international companies displaying the latest products, services and technologies for pork production. Among those exhibitors was Hubbard Feeds, and swine specialist Steve Toft spent his time chatting with producers about PowerStart Nursery Program.

In this interview with Jamie, Toft talks about this total program that starts with day one.

Interview with Steve Toft, Hubbard

2018 World Pork Expo photo album

Coverage of World Pork Expo is sponsored by World Pork Expo virtual newsroom sponsored by AlltechWorld Pork Expo virtual newsroom sponsored by showriteWorld Pork Expo virtual newsroom sponsored by hubbard
AgWired Animal, Alltech, Animal Agriculture, Animal Health, Audio, Feed, NPPC, Swine, World Pork Expo

Bayer Hosts Pollinator Week Webinars

Cindy Zimmerman

In celebration of National Pollinator Week, Bayer is hosting live webinars showcasing innovative bee health research and practical applications for improving honey bee colony health.

This is the second year that Bayer has hosted the webinars featuring researchers working on projects funded through Bayer’s Healthy Hives 2020 initiative, in partnership with Project Apis m. and hosted by Bee Culture. New this year, they’ll be joined by beekeepers highlighting the practical applications and real-world implications of the researchers’ work in the bee health landscape.

Hive Management 2.0: Developing a Practical Tool for Commercial Beekeepers – Tuesday, June 19, 12 – 1 p.m. EDT
Featuring Dr. Brandon Hopkins, Assistant Professor, Department of Entomology at Washington State University, and Brody Tomazin, Commercial Beekeeper at 2J Honey Farms and Round Valley Honey Company and President, Idaho Honey Industry Association

The Changing Face of Deformed Wing Virus – Thursday, June 21, 12 – 1 p.m. EDT
Featuring Dr. Stephen Martin, Professor, School of Environment & Life Sciences at University of Salford, Manchester, UK, and Randy Oliver, Commercial Beekeeper and Founder of ScientificBeekeeping.com

Click here for more information and registration.

The Healthy Hives 2020 initiative is a $1 million research effort to improve the health of honey bee colonies in the U.S. by the end of 2020. The National Pollinator Week webinar series is an extension of Bayer’s commitment to research, education, partnerships and stewardship to address the needs of honey bees.

AgWired Precision, Bayer, Bees

2018 Seed Industry Awards

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) announced the winners of its 2018 seed industry awards last week during the Policy & Leadership Development Conference in Washington, D.C.

The ASTA Distinguished Service award was presented to Osama El-Lissy, Deputy Administrator for the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS) Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ). The award recognizes those whose efforts have made a significant contribution to the association and the seed industry.

The ASTA Honorary Lifetime Member award was presented to Wendell Howard, Warner Seed, Inc. Honorary Members distinguish themselves through leadership, vision and service.

During his career, Warner has held a number of volunteer leadership positions with the industry, including serving as President of the Texas Seed Trade Association from 1992-93, President of the Southern Seed Association in 1999, and President of the Western Seed Association in 2014.

AgWired Precision, ASTA, Seed

John Deere Updates 9R Family of Tractors

Carrie Muehling

John Deere‘s 2019 lineup of large 9R, 9RT and 9RX tractors will feature technology updates and other enhancements.

For the first time, John Deere is offering a 120-inch track spacing option on 9470RX, 9520RX, 9570RX and 9620RX Series Four Track Ag Tractors equipped with 30- and 36-inch tracks.

“The extra wide stance of this machine is ideal for customers wanting to control traffic patterns and enhanced stability on hilly terrain,” says Tiffany Turner, product marketing manager, large tractors for John Deere. “A wider stance also makes it easier to perform daily maintenance and service plus it offers hassle-free material cleanout.”

Turner says customers requiring a John Deere 9RX equipped with a 3-point hitch must select the 87-inch track spacing option with the 30-inch tracks as the wider 120-inch track spacing is not compatible with a 3-point hitch.

Deere is also offering the option of a factory- or field-installed Hydraulic Intelligent Power Management (IPM™) system to boost tractor performance when operating implements requiring continuous hydraulic power. A factory-installed Generation 4 CommandCenter™ 18-1 Software update is also included as base equipment for model year 2019 on John Deere 9R, 9RT and 9RX Tractors. A CommandCenter AutoTrac™ activation comes with the MY 2019 update and provides a non-transferrable, machine-specific AutoTrac functionality on the integrated Gen 4 Command Center. The previously available Command Center Premium Activation will be discontinued and replaced with the 4600 CommandCenter Premium Activation 3.0 or 4600 CommandCenter Automation 1.0.

AgWired Precision, John Deere, Precision Agriculture, Tractor

All Ag News DC Audio

Cindy Zimmerman

Last week was a busy one in Washington DC and that gave Tony St. James plenty of news to discuss with lawmakers and industry leaders during his second annual All Ag, All Day DC Capitol Ag Tour.

The purpose of the event is to talk with Congressional Representatives (House & Senate) who have a hand in policy that affects agriculture and rural America. Partners for the event include: Corn Producers Association of Texas (CPAT), Plains Cotton Cooperative Association (PCCA), Plains Cotton Growers (PCG), Southwest Council of Agribusiness (SWCA) and Texas Cattle Feeders Association (TCFA).

St. James interviewed more than a dozen members of the House and Senate agriculture committees, as well as policy representatives from organizations including American Farm Bureau, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, and the National Corn Growers Association. All of his audio is posted on the All Ag News website and available for your listening and downloading pleasure. Some really good and timely stuff here! Thanks, Tony!

2018 All Ag, All Day DC Capitol Ag Tour

AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Cotton, Farm Bill

Animal Ag Bites 6/18

Carrie Muehling

  • The 2019 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) will have the largest trade show floor ever in the event’s history. IPPE has already surpassed 560,000 square feet of exhibit space and has secured more than 1,100 exhibitors with eight more months to go to the Expo. IPPE is the world’s largest annual feed, meat and poultry trade show of its kind and is one of the 50 largest trade shows in the United States. IPPE is sponsored by the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, the American Feed Industry Association and the North American Meat Institute.
  • The IPPE is pleased to announce its recognition by Trade Show Executive as ranking first in their Fastest 50 listing as the fastest-growing annual trade show in net square feet of exhibit space for 2017. IPPE was honored in the large show category during Trade Show Executive’s Fastest 50 Awards & Summit, held this week in Chicago.
  • David Jones, DVM, chairman of Brooke USA, was named the recipient of the 2018 Equine Industry Vision Award. Zoetis, in partnership with American Horse Publications, presented the award to Dr. Jones during the AHP Equine Media Conference in Hunt Valley, Maryland. Zoetis established and sponsors the annual Equine Industry Vision Award, which showcases an individual’s innovation and commitment toward making positive impact on the equine industry.
AgWired Animal, Animal Bites