Precision Ag News 12/21

Carrie Muehling

  • David Hula of Charles City, Virginia, set a new world record of 623.84 bushels per acre in this year’s annual National Corn Growers Association yield contest with Pioneer brand corn product P14830VYHR. Hula crushed his previous world record of 616 bushels per acre set in 2019 with the Pioneer brand P1197 family of products.
  • In response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s latest announcement that it will restore uses of chlorpyrifos and commit to a science-based review of the pesticide, Alan Meadows, American Soybean Association director and soybean grower from Halls, Tennessee, commented on behalf of the soy industry and echoed sentiments felt by other grower groups pleased by the decision.
  • Ag Leader is introducing BoomLoop, an upgrade for sprayers equipped with the RightSpot nozzle-by-nozzle control system. A complete recirculation solution, BoomLoop is seamlessly integrated into the InCommand display.
  • A new report by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Hypoxia Task Force (HTF) demonstrates that the hard work of farmers and ranchers to reduce nutrient losses in the Mississippi River watershed is paying off. The report reveals that the twelve participating states have met interim nitrogen reduction goals two years ahead of schedule and are also making considerable progress in bringing down phosphorus losses.
  • Gutwein Seed Services announced a partnership with Streamline Ag in offering groundbreaking biological pest solutions for corn rootworms and soybean cyst nematodes. This innovative collaboration introduces the TuneUp+ system, a planter box delivery system with BIO-CAPSULE Technology that offers a game-changing advancement in biological pest suppression.
  • Verge Ag is proud to announce a partnership with Haeusler’s Group, Victoria’s leading distributor of John Deere machinery and equipment, and a progressive dealer of John Deere machinery and equipment. Launch Pad, Path Planner and Equipment Explorer are solutions now accessible to growers through Haeusler’s dedicated digital consultant team.
  • Concept AgriTek has hired Mike DeLaughter to lead operational success and efficiency efforts in the newly created role of Director of Operations.
  • Jim Winn, a member of Farmers for Sustainable Food and president of Lafayette Ag Stewardship Alliance, was selected as the Field to Market 2023 Farmer of the Year.
  • Traction Ag Inc., the first cloud-based farm accounting software delivering solutions to growers across the Midwest, announced the appointment of Dustin Sapp as chief executive officer. Former CEO, Ian Harley, will take over as the company’s chief operating officer and remains an executive board member.
    • AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

    DWFI Podcast 31 – Agriculture in Space

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Yufeng Ge, Santosh Pitla and David Jones have already conducted research in the areas of ag-relevant sensors for more efficient application of fertilizer and water, and the development of an autonomous planter capable of seeding a 5-acre field all on its own. But now they’ve set their sights quite a bit higher — growing food in space. The three biological systems engineering faculty at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, along with others on their research team, were awarded a two-year Grand Challenge grant from Nebraska’s Office of Research and Economic Development to find ways to sustainably grow food in space.

    In this episode, Frances Hayes, DWFI director of communications and public relations, sits down with Yufeng, Santosh and David as they explore their short-term goal of developing a center dedicated to studying space agriculture and their long-term goals of actually growing enough food on space to sustain people while translating the lessons learned to agriculture here on Earth.

    Listen here or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform:
    DWFI Podcast 31 - Agriculture in Space 33:49

    The Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute (DWFI) at the University of Nebraska was founded with the mission to have a lasting and significant impact on achieving more food security with less pressure on scarce water resources by conducting scientific and policy research, using the research results to inform policy makers, and sharing knowledge through education and communication.

    How to subscribe:

    Audio, Food, Water, Water for Food

    Animal Ag News 12/18

    Carrie Muehling

  • The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposed regulation that would revise wastewater discharge standards for facilities that process meat and poultry products. Many of these facilities are located near communities with environmental justice concerns that have bodies of water impaired by nutrient pollution. The agency’s proposal would leverage the latest pollution control technologies to cut the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and other pollutants discharged to the nation’s waters by approximately 100 million pounds of pollutants per year, improving water quality for downstream communities and ecosystems.
  • The board of the National Institute of Animal Agriculture recently approved forming a new Council: the Animal Disease Issues & Emergency Management Council. The purpose of the Council is to provide a forum for animal agriculture, animal health industry, regulatory veterinarians, government agencies and academia to identify and seek solutions to issues involving emerging and emergency animal diseases of significant concern to animal agriculture or public health both domestically and globally.
  • Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative announced Rachel Malcore as the newest addition to the company’s communication team. Malcore will serve as the public relations specialist. She plays an integral role in crafting strategic messaging and creating engaging content on behalf of the association and its affiliates.
  • Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative plans to expand its service offerings to support large farms in regulatory and permitting processes and has hired an experienced industry professional to head up the program. The new fee-based services will be available to guide farmers through the complexities of local and state permitting and various regulations for large farms, whether they’re expanding to the threshold of a confined animal feeding operation or reapplying for a CAFO permit.
  • The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) emphatically commended the House of Representatives for taking a critical step toward improving child nutrition by approving the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act today with a commanding 330-99 bipartisan margin. The measure, led by Representatives GT Thompson, R-PA, and Kim Schrier, D-WA, expands the tools schools can use to deliver vital nutrition to students by increasing the variety of healthful milk options school can choose to serve.
  • Purdue University Extension is offering Purdue Beef Basics in the Eastern Corn Belt — a virtual, multi-session program aimed at the beef cattle industry that will take place in February and March.
  • More than 900 farmer and industry leaders recently gathered at the Sustainable Agriculture Summit held Dec. 6-7 in Charlotte, N.C. The Summit, in its ninth year, is co-hosted by the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture and six other national ag organizations to convene the collective food and agriculture value chain to learn, develop and advance a shared vision for a sustainable and resilient U.S. food system. This year’s theme was “Scaling Collective Impact: Collaborating to Accelerate Agricultural Sustainability.”
  • The Animal Agriculture Alliance recently welcomed Logan Hall as director, membership and marketing. In this role, Hall will lead the development and execution of the Alliance’s membership and sponsorship recruitment, engagement, and retention strategies. He assumed his new role on December 11.
  • Alexis Main, an Oklahoma State University student, and Les Voyageurs, a Louisiana State University club, took home the top prizes in the Animal Agriculture Alliance’s 2023 College Aggies Online (CAO) scholarship program. Throughout the nine weeks, $20,000 was awarded in scholarships to participating students and clubs.
  • Updated research, supported by the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, was released quantifying the U.S. poultry industry’s on-farm antibiotic use. The updated report shows further improved antibiotic stewardship and commitment to disease prevention within poultry production. As part of its commitment to the transparency and sustainability of a safe food supply, the poultry industry aims to strike a balance between the responsible use of antibiotics “medically important” to human health and keeping poultry flocks healthy.
  • Aivlosin WSG is a new option approved for controlling the pathogens that cause both swine respiratory disease (SRD) and porcine proliferative enteritis in groups of swine intended for slaughter and female swine intended for breeding. It is also approved for control of ileitis. The addition of females intended for breeding to the Aivlosin WSG label was approved recently in both the United States and Canada.
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

    ASTA FCSC Farm Bill Session

    Cindy Zimmerman

    As most of agriculture knows, Congress agreed last month to an extension of the current farm bill to avoid a lapse in funding for critical agricultural programs and provide certainty to producers, but when a new farm bill will be crafted remains uncertain.

    At the recent American Seed Trade Association Field Crop Seed Convention, Syngenta’s Mary Kay Thatcher moderated a panel on the farm bill future, which included Andrew Walmsley, Florida Farm Bureau Federation; Brian Glenn, CropLife America; and Samuel Crowell, American Seed Trade Association. Each discussed the impact of the extension on farm programs important to their members and what the options are for getting a new farm bill.

    Listen to their discussion.
    ASTA FCSC Farm Bill Session 1:11:08

    2023 ASTA Field Crop Seed Convention Photo Album

    ASTA, Audio, Farm Bill, Farm Policy, Seed, Syngenta

    Industry Ag News 12/15

    Carrie Muehling

  • American farms represent a diverse set of business operations and farm operators. An annual report issued by USDA’s Economic Research Service, America’s Farms and Ranches at a Glance: 2023 Edition, describes characteristics of U.S. farms and ranches with the most recent data from the Agricultural Resource Management Survey, an annual survey conducted by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service and Economic Research Service.
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Agriculture Future of America (AFA), formalizing a partnership to promote the common goals of strengthening the future competitiveness and sustainability of the U.S. agriculture industry by preparing more young people for careers in agriculture.
  • The National FFA Foundation announced its new chair for the Sponsors’ Board during the 96th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis this fall. Mary Snapp, vice president of strategic initiatives for Microsoft, was named chair for the upcoming year. Snapp grew up in rural Kansas and joined Microsoft in 1988 as the company’s first female attorney. She currently leads various strategic initiatives in the Office of the Vice Chair and President. She formerly led Microsoft’s legal support for all of its product and engineering teams, as well as Microsoft’s Global Philanthropies team, partnering with nonprofits and communities across the world to use technology to create a lasting positive impact.
  • Food insecurity is linked to numerous geopolitical risks, including mass migration, radicalization, terrorist threats, and lost economic opportunity, according to a recent report commissioned by Farm Journal Foundation.
  • Global futurist and best-selling author Jack Uldrich will address attendees as mid general session keynote speaker during the 2024 American Farm Bureau Convention on Sunday, Jan. 21.
  • During its annual meeting, the American Soybean Association elected the executive committee members who will lead the organization through the coming year’s top advocacy priorities. Josh Gackle (ND), will serve as 2024 ASA president. Immediate past president Daryl Cates (IL) moves to the role of ASA chairman and Caleb Ragland (KY) was elected as ASA vice president, a role that puts him in line to serve as the association’s president in 2025.
  • The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) welcomed the UN’s decision to designate 30 May as International Day of Potato, an opportunity to raise awareness of a crop regularly consumed by billions of people and of global importance for food security and nutrition.
  • Culver’s Thank You Farmer’s Project provides passionate support for the future of agriculture and the hardworking people that make up the industry. As the program celebrates the end of its tenth year, Culver’s has announced that the Thank You Farmers Project has officially surpassed $5 million in donations – including over $1 million raised in 2023 alone.
  • Ron Seeber, who serves as CEO Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association, Kansas Grain and Feed Association, and Renew Kansas Biofuels Association was elected chairman of the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City at the group’s annual meeting held December 14. Kristie Larson, Strategic Relationship Manager, The DeBruce Foundation, was elected vice chairman.
  • The U.S. economy has remained remarkably steady despite an unrelenting series of shocks over the last three years. America’s economic resilience was again on display throughout 2023, as the Federal Reserve continued the most aggressive round of interest rate hikes the country has seen in more than 40 years. Steadfast consumer spending has fueled the economy through much of the recent adversity. However, lingering high prices are expected to take a bigger toll on the economy in 2024, according to a comprehensive year-ahead outlook report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange.
  • AgTrust Farm Credit announced its official merger between the former associations of Lone Star Ag Credit and Ag New Mexico Farm Credit Services. With its headquarters based in Fort Worth, Texas, and Joe Hayman remaining Chief Executive Officer, AgTrust is poised to continue making a significant impact in the agricultural industry. This merger, which was completed in early December, resulted in a larger and stronger cooperative with approximately $3 billion in total assets and over $450 million of capital. The decision to pursue this merger was unanimous by both associations’ boards of directors, recognizing the potential for growth and diversity through the joint collaboration.
    • Zimfo Bytes

    Ethanol Industry Pleased with SAF Guidance

    Cindy Zimmerman

    The U.S. Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) today released guidance on the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Credit established by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

    Under the guidance issued today, numerous fuels will qualify for the credit, including valid biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuels, cellulosic biofuel, or cellulosic diesel that have been approved by EPA under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

    Fuels that achieve a 50% or greater reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions under the most recent Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) standard will continue to qualify under today’s guidance. In addition, EPA, DOT, USDA, and DOE are announcing their commitment to release an updated version of DOE’s GREET model by March 1, 2024. Pending further guidance from the Treasury Department, the updated GREET model will provide another methodology for SAF producers to determine the lifecycle GHG emissions rates of their production for the purposes of qualifying for the SAF Credit for SAF sold or used during calendar years 2023 and 2024.

    Reacting to the announcement, Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper said, “While there are important carbon modeling updates and details that still need to be worked out, we are cautiously optimistic that today’s guidance could open the door to an enormous opportunity for America’s farmers, ethanol producers and airlines. The Biden administration is recognizing that the best way to meet ambitious SAF targets is to maximize marketplace flexibility, make use of existing low-carbon fuel assets, and stimulate innovation and competition across the entire supply chain.”

    Cooper discusses the guidance in this interview:
    RFA CEO Geoff Cooper interview (5:53)

    Audio, Corn, Ethanol, RFA

    Climate Smart Ag Partnerships at ASTA FCSC

    Cindy Zimmerman

    L-R: Bruce Knight, Jared Knock, and Ben West

    With governments and corporations increasingly leading with climate-smart and sustainability initiatives, there is a role for the seed industry to play.

    At the American Seed Trade Association’s Field Crop Seed Convention last week, former USDA NRCS Chief Bruce Knight with Strategic Conservation Solutions led a panel on the topic with Ben West, Farmers for Soil Health, and Jared Knock, South Dakota farmer and Director of Business Development for Millborn Seeds.

    Listen to their conversation and an interview with Knight below:
    ASTA FCSC Climate Smart Ag Partnerships panel 1:06:15

    Interview with Bruce Knight, Strategic Conservation Solutions
    ASTA FCSC interview with Bruce Knight, Strategic Conservation Solutions 8:54

    ASTA, Audio, climate, Conservation

    Precision Ag News 12/13

    Carrie Muehling

  • A ruling by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service allows farmers and growers to run trials on corn plants developed by Insignum AgTech. These plants use naturally occurring pigment to signal when specific plant stresses begin. Insignum AgTech CEO Kyle Mohler said the plant turns purple to indicate that a fungal infection has started but is not yet apparent. Mohler, who earned his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Purdue University’s College of Agriculture, founded Insignum AgTech in 2019.
  • Unit sales of 4-wheel-drive agriculture tractors grew in both the U.S. and Canada in November, continuing a strong final quarter of 2023, according to the latest data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM). In the U.S., the November data shows that 4-wheel-drive tractors grew year-over-year 72.6 percent, the only segment to see growth for the month. Year-to-date, 4-wheel-drive tractor sales are up 38.2 percent, leading all segments in unit sales growth. In Canada, 4-wheel-drive unit sales were up 84.8 percent for the month, and 41.5 percent year-to-date.
  • Larry Estep has joined 4B Components Limited as Electronics Division Sales Manager, bringing his unique brand of customer success strategies and expertise to the industry.
  • Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute is uniquely positioned to advance water management for greater food security. By leveraging the world-class research at the University of Nebraska; the state’s expertise in agricultural and water resource management; and private sector partnerships, DWFI is making real progress on a more water- and food-secure future. In its recent annual report, DWFI demonstrates the impact this effective combination has achieved in the state of Nebraska and around the world.
  • The Tech Hub LIVE Conference & Expo is the premier event convening the ag tech and ag retail communities to connect, engage, and share insights and experiences with the latest innovations to deploy data-driven, tech-enabled agriculture solutions. Prospective speakers are encouraged to submit detailed proposals including: the session format – whether a slide presentation, a panel discussion, a pre-conference workshop, a facilitated small group discussion, or other proposed format; session specifics – the title, description, and intended attendee takeaways or an articulation of the actionability of the session; as well as speaker specifics – including contact information, a professional biography, and a headshot. The deadline to submit is January 12, 2024.
    • AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

    MyLand Agronomist Honored for Leadership

    Cindy Zimmerman

    MyLand Senior Manager for Agriculture Research Amy Rial has been named to the Fruit + Vegetable 40 Under 40 class of 2023. The award honors 40 outstanding individuals who exemplify leadership, innovative thinking, and commitment to the future of the industry.

    Rial’s work contributes to creating a healthier planet from the ground up. As the Senior Manager, Agriculture Research at MyLand, Rial partners with growers and staff researchers to pioneer sustainable agricultural practices that achieve improved soil health, greater productivity, and increased profitability.

    Under Rial’s leadership, MyLand’s grower testing program has expanded to include assessments for marketability, nutrient ratios, and microbial communities. “Amy quickly improved our service to fruit and vegetable growers with complementary soil health tests and analyses to address issues like blossom end rot, pests, and diseases. Her commitment to advancing agricultural science and sustainable practices in these sectors is setting a new standard for soil health innovation,” said Kris Nichols PhD, MyLand Principal Scientist and Research Director.

    Rial is a Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) and an experienced Agronomist with over 10 years of diversified experience in horticulture and agriculture. She holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental biology from Northern Arizona University.

    The 2023 award recipients were celebrated during the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable & Farm Market EXPO on December 5, 2023.

    Agronomy, land, people, Soil

    VISION Conference Advance Registration Deadline

    Cindy Zimmerman

    The advance registration discount deadline for the 2024 VISION Conference is approaching quickly. Register by December 15 to join the conversation and shape the strategic roadmap for the ag tech industry.

    VISION 2024, a premier gathering of leaders in the ag tech ecosystem, is set to strategize the future of agriculture at its 7th annual conference January 22-24 at the Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel & Spa. With a mission to foster sustainability and innovation in food, feed, fiber, and fuel, VISION promises an immersive experience for attendees, featuring collaborative sessions, industry experts, and groundbreaking solutions.

    Responding to attendee feedback, VISION 2024 introduces a more interactive agenda. A pre-event ‘Executive Insights’ report sets the stage for in-person discussions, with a focus on addressing challenges through interactive working groups. Amplified networking opportunities and a dedicated Women in Ag TechSM platform enrich the conference experience. Our esteemed sponsors Corteva Agriscience, AquaSpy, Ever.Ag Agribusiness, MentorMate, and Raven Industries are focused on addressing how to adopt technology that will align with future demands.

    AgWired Precision, Precision Agriculture, Technology