Bringing Together Soy Food Stakeholders in SE Asia

Carrie Muehling

The U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) hosted its 13th Annual Southeast Asia Soy Food Symposium in Indonesia, bringing together all stakeholders in the soy food industry in that region.

“Soy food is one of the most important sources of diet for our region, so it has become one of the most important food sources for many of us here. So this event is really a place to build networking between soy suppliers and soy users in the region,” said Dady Maskar, Soy Food Program Manager for USSEC Southeast Asia.

Consumers in the region want tempe and tofu, primarily. Producers face challenges including food safety, hygiene and the ability to source good quality soybeans. Maskar said Indonesia chooses U.S. soybeans because of the quality and the support they get from the U.S. soy industry, including education for producers in that region. This event is an important opportunity for networking between the U.S. soy industry and soy buyers in Indonesia and other southeast Asian countries.

Listen to Jamie’s interview here: Interview with Dady Maskar, USSEC SE Asia

USSEC SE Asia Buyers Conference Photo Album

Audio, Soybean, USSEC

Customization Sets KEENAN Apart

Carrie Muehling

Since Alltech‘s acquisition of iconic Irish brand KEENAN Systems, the company has expanded into new markets and reignited the innovation side of the business. KEENAN Systems CEO Robbie Walker explained that the company’s philosophy is different than most industries where everything is outsourced.

“Because we have our own sales force who goes directly to the farmer, because we have our own nutritionists, because we have this good tie in with Alltech on the nutrition side, we know what farmers want. Farmers can then order customized products,” said Walker.

Even with the customization, that machine can be on the farm within 10 days made to order. Walker said the company can innovate much better because of direct communication with the farmer. Now they are taking that a step further with Internet of Things connection within those machines.

“When we sell a machine, the promise we make is that the farmer is going to have an improvement in feed conversion efficiency. And that Internet of Things connectivity allows us to maintain that promise because we can have an influence over the nutrition in a way that is much more efficient,” said Walker.

Listen to Jamie’s interview here: Interview with Robbie Walker, KEENAN Systems

Alltech KEENAN Great Green Getaway Photo Album


Alltech, Animal Agriculture, Audio, KEENAN, Video

Precision Ag Bytes 3/21

Carrie Muehling

  • Corn farmers and Midwest landowners who want to help honey bees and Monarch butterflies have a unique opportunity to do this in a strategic fashion through The Bee & Butterfly Habitat Fund’s SEED A LEGACY Pollinator Habitat Program, which is being supported by the National Corn Growers Association. The updated program, expanded in 2018 to include 11 states, seeks partnerships between landowners and beekeepers to provide cost-effective, high-quality pollinator habitat to ensure honey bee and Monarch butterfly populations thrive. Applications for each state are being accepted online at BeeAndButterflyFund.org/habitat-programs through March 31, 2018 for spring planting. A second application period will open later in 2018 for projects to be planted in the fall.
  • AgGateway has submitted its proposed irrigation data exchange standard to the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, a major achievement in precision agriculture to help growers manage data from their irrigation management systems. Equipment manufacturers and software companies can go to https://goo.gl/ZCyuwU for more information. More on AgGateway activities, including how to become involved, can be found at www.AgGateway.org.
  • For the second straight year, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers is working to help member companies discover and manage those opportunities through its Thinking Forward series of events. This year’s kick-off event is set for April 3rd from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Carnegie Mellon University – National Robotics Engineering Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
  • NRCS is seeking assistance to complete restoration work of degraded wetlands, floodplains and forestlands. Proposals are requested from qualified individuals and organizations to implement restoration activities on eligible easement properties.
  • A new ag company, Pairwise Plants, has closed a $25M Series A financing co-led by Deerfield Management and Monsanto Growth Ventures. In addition, Pairwise and Monsanto announced a collaboration to advance agriculture research and development by leveraging gene editing technology for corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton and canola crops.
  • The National Association of Conservation Districts assembled on Capitol Hill alongside conservation leaders to advocate for locally-led conservation. This year’s fly-in united 150 conservation district officials representing 27 states from across the country. Members met with their representatives to communicate the value of farm bill conservation programs and why funding for these programs and technical assistance is so crucial.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes

Administration Shows Support for Ag Day

Cindy Zimmerman

The Trump administration went out of its way to show appreciation for the nation’s farmers and ranchers on National Agriculture Day Tuesday, with proclamation at USDA featuring the vice president, and an address by Sec. Sonny Perdue during a Ag Day at the National Press Club.

Introducing Vice President Mike Pence, Perdue commented that he was happy to be able be there this year since, “last year I was not confirmed by National Ag Day and they had me held hostage at an undisclosed location for three months and they wouldn’t let me come celebrate with you.”

During his comments at the National Press Club, Perdue gave an update on some of the many issues concerning agriculture at this time including a fix to the 199A tax issue, farm bill negotiations, NAFTA and exports, RFS and RIN prices, infrastructure, and more.

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue Ag Day Remarks

2018 National Ag Day Photo Album

Ag Day, Audio, USDA

President Proclaims National Ag Day

Chuck Zimmerman

This morning U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, along with Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, presented a proclamation signed by President Trump naming the first day of spring National Ag Day. Cindy was attending and will have more to add later today. The photo is courtesy of @SecretarySonny‘s Twitter account! Also pictured with the proclamation is Spencer Flood, Minnesota FFA.

This year marks the second year that the administration has publicly recognized the first day of spring as National Ag Day as a salute to the contributions of America’s farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses.

In his remarks, Vice President Pence highlighted the critically important role America’s farmers and ranchers play in helping to feed, clothe and fuel not only 326 million people in the United States, but millions of people around the world. He applauded the tremendous output and resourcefulness of today’s farmers and ranchers, noting that one farmer today producers enough to feed 165 people, and that American’s spend far less for food compared to other countries – just 10 percent of their disposable income.

Listen here: Vice President Mike Pence Ag Day Remarks

2018 National Ag Day Photo Album

Watch USDA’s abbreviated video of the proceedings:


Ag Day, AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Audio

Fungicide Use Differs Based on Geography

Carrie Muehling

With another growing season approaching, growers all over the country will have to make decisions about using fungicides. And no two years are alike, with varying environmental conditions and stress factors that can lead to an increase in pathogens being present.

“The first line of defense is choosing a good hybrid or variety that is going to be tolerant to your key diseases in your area. And that can be different. It’s going to be different all the way from the Midwest to the South,” said Matt Wiggins, technical service manager with FMC.

Wiggins said timely scouting is also important as growers really have to be proactive or preventative rather than reactive. He recommended Preemptor for Midwest growers and Topguard EQ for those located in the South. Wiggins said FMC will launch a new fungicide in 2019.

Listen to Jamie’s interview with Matt here: Interview with Matt Wiggins, FMC Corporation

View and download photos from the event here: 2018 Farm & Gin Show Photo Album

Coverage of the Mid-South Farm & Gin Show is sponsored by
Coverage of the Mid-South Farm & Gin Show is sponsored by FMC
AgWired Precision, Audio, Farm & Gin Show, FMC, Fungicide

GROWMARK, NRCS Partner for Conservation

Cindy Zimmerman

GROWMARK and USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) recently signed a national Memorandum of Understanding to further sound agronomic and conservation practices.

Ryan White, Dir. of Agronomy Marketing and Agronomy Information Services for GROWMARK, says the MOU is about the GROWMARK system commitment to working with farmers in a profitable and sustainable way. “We both have the same customer and that is the farmer so we look at it as an opportunity to learn from each other using good agronomic principles and conservation practices,” he said.

Under the national agreement, GROWMARK and its FS companies in Iowa are initially working with the Iowa NRCS on these activities through a state contribution agreement that will provide an opportunity to pilot the effort before replicating in other states. The effort will build on initiatives started by Bill Northey when he was Iowa Agriculture Secretary, and will continue under his leadership now at USDA where NRCS falls under his mission area as Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Service, soon to be renamed Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation.

“We’re very excited with Bill’s confirmation and a lot this comes back to Bill’s vision of seeing more private and public partnerships in the space of agronomics and conservation coming together,” said White.

Learn more about the effort in this interview: Interview with Ryan White, GROWMARK Agronomy Information Services

Audio, Conservation, FS System, GROWMARK, USDA

Bayer Tailors Varieties with Credenz

Carrie Muehling

Bayer is working to ensure every grower’s portfolio offers significant products to meet the agronomic challenges that may come along. While many growers have already made variety decisions for the 2018 growing season, there is still seed for sale. Bayer’s Monty Malone said Credenz varieties continue to be popular with growers.

“This is a great time to be involved in any kind of trait development in terms of crops. It’s really exciting,” said Malone, who was at the Bayer AgVocacy Forum during the Commodity Classic in Anaheim. “Credenz is focused on LibertyLink. That’s our flagship platform and it will be for the foreseeable future. Over 90 percent of our portfolio is Liberty enabled, that you can spray over the top, and all of the varieties that we plan to add for this next year will be enable by LibertyLink, as well. We hope to add 14 more.”

Malone encouraged farmers to contact a local Bayer sales representative or go to the company’s website for more information about Credenz soybean varieties.

Tailored Credenz Soybean Varieties: Interview with Monty Malone, Bayer CropScience

Bayer at 2018 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Photos, video, and audio interviews from Bayer at Commodity Classic Bayer sponsor logo
Audio, Bayer, Commodity Classic

FMC Offers Precision Solutions

Carrie Muehling

FMC is protecting the investment of the farmers who trust the company’s products with exciting precision products available for the 2018 growing season.

“FMC is really proud of the product offerings we have for our grower customers for controlling pests, but even more effectively is a way to put it on in a precise way that makes sure all of the grower’s invested dollars get put to work protecting this crop,” said Mike Harper, industry relations manager.

FMC offers a couple of ways to do that, including the 3RIVE 3D platform and PrecisionPac technology. Harper said the 3RIVE 3D system mounts on the planter and applies a precise amount of foam bead into the furrow so the grower is ensured of getting pest control in a low amount of product that is environmentally friendly. Growers can apply almost 490 acres with one fill up, so does not slow down planting process. PrecisionPac is a dry, granular herbicide application metering system that retailers can use. Growers get very precise measurements of product mixed together in a container that can be disposed of after the application.

Harper said both systems offer great customer support and can work within the FMC Freedom Pass program to offer rebates to customers.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Mike here: Interview with Mike Harper, FMC

FMC at 2018 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Commodity Classic coverage made possible by
Commodity Classic coverage made possible by FMCCommodity Classic coverage made possible by John Deere
AgWired Precision, Audio, Commodity Classic, FMC

Registration Open for ARC 2018 Annual Meeting

Carrie Muehling

Registration is now open for the Ag Relations Council 2018 Annual Meeting in Lousville, Kentucky.

The June 20-21 conference at The Brown Hotel will feature presentations on how Monsanto handles social media from ARC member Janice Person, Online Engagement Director, Monsanto; “Truths in a Post-Truth World” from ARC member Colleen Parr Dekker and Leah Beyer, Elanco Animal Health; and “Is It A Facebook Apocalypse?“ from Philip Brown, Deph Digital. Agriculture tours to Hornback Farm, Mulberry Orchard, the Hermitage Thoroughbred Nursery and a distillery in Louisville will also be highlights of this year’s event.

For more information or to register, click here.

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, ARC