Aptimmune Shares Vaccine Success

Carrie Muehling

Aptimune Biologics is fighting swine disease with vaccines formulated especially for Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus and influenza. In 2017, the company introduced the BARRICADE formulation technology. A recent symposium in San Diego gave veterinarians who have been conducting field trials with that mucosal vaccine to share how the product is performing.

“The reality is that we’ve got to know more about our product than anybody, and it doesn’t always work so it’s important for us to distinguish when it’s appropriate to use and when it doesn’t work as well so we can educate people when they’re making product choices,” said Aaron Gilbertie, Aptimune CEO.

Gilbertie reported about an 85 percent success rate for the BARRICADE vaccine, with more trials in progress.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Aaron here: Interview with Aaron Gilbertie, Aptimmune

2018 Aptimmune Scientific Symposium Photo Album

AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Audio

Farmers Slightly Optimistic About 2018

Carrie Muehling

After a couple of tough years, farmers attending this year’s Commodity Classic in Anaheim were hopeful of better days ahead when it comes to the economics of their operations.

“I think what we’re hearing here is some slight optimism,” said Tom Sloma, Jr., Senior Vice President of Financial Services at Farm Credit Mid-America. “The last three years have been a challenge, I think, for lots of operations. They had the low commodity prices, and what does that mean to their operation? How do we come out of some of the very best years we’ve had about five or six years ago and adjust the operations appropriately so that we can make sure we have staying power for the next three to five years? And as things cycle in agriculture, we’ll come out of this and then look at how to grow those operations either for ourselves or for the next generation that comes into farming.”

Sloma said now is the time for farmers to plan their financial forecasts for the next year. He encouraged them to get that meeting on the calendar and then revisit the plan quarterly to ensure the business strategy they have in place is viable for the long term.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Tom here: Interview with Tom Sloma, Jr., Farm Credit Mid-America

Farm Credit at 2018 Commodity Classic Photo Album

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2018 National Farm Machinery Show Sets Records

Cindy Zimmerman

The 2018 National Farm Machinery Show (NFMS) saw an increase in attendance and ticket sales and a record number of new exhibitors and exhibit sales.

Over 314,000 attendees packed the Kentucky Exposition Center for the four-day event that celebrated 53 years of providing the agricultural industry’s latest and most comprehensive display of equipment, services and technology. With the largest number of exhibitors in its history, NFMS spanned more than 1.3 million square feet filling 920 booths, for an increase of 40 exhibitors.

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the Championship Tractor Pull attendance was the largest number in recent history. Over 67,000 tickets were sold to the five performances in Freedom Hall. During the Saturday night finals, a ceremony honored past participants and the organizers of the first tractor pull. In a half-century of growth, the invitation-only tractor pull now draws the nation’s top drivers competing for the title of Grand Champion and more than $200,000 in prize money.

In case you missed it, you can find photos, audio and video in the NFMS18 virtual newsroom, sponsored by FMC and John Deere.

2018 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

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Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by FMCCoverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by John Deere
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AMVAC Plans for Growth

Carrie Muehling

AMVAC is working to bring more solutions for farmers to the market. While consolidation continues within the agriculture industry, many larger companies are focused on finding new active ingredients. But AMVAC is concentrating on existing products that can continue to bring value to its farmer customers.

“They want to make a crop. They want to make a yield. They want to make money. They want to solve a problem. So our job is to bring solutions to those problems,” said Neil DeStefano, Director, Portfolio and Marketing/eCommunications Management.

The company has an aggressive business plan for growth in the agriculture industry, with traction in the corn and soybean markets, southern row crops, and technology. DeStefano said the mood during this year’s Commodity Classic was upbeat as farmers anticipate a new growing season.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Neil here: Interview with Neil DeStefano, AMVAC

2018 Commodity Classic Photo Album

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Study Shows Impact of RIN Price Cap on Corn Prices

Cindy Zimmerman

A new analysis from the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD) at Iowa State University shows that any action to artificially cap Renewable Identification Number (RIN) prices in exchange for a waiver allowing year-round sale of E15 would result in reduced ethanol consumption, a drop in corn prices, and an effective cut of 5% to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) conventional renewable fuel requirement.

During meetings with RFS stakeholders last week at the White House, a proposal to lower RIN prices for oil refiners was made that would cap RIN prices at 10 cents in exchange for a Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) waiver for E15.

“The study confirms imposing a price cap on RINs would abrogate the potential benefit of RVP parity for E15. Fundamentally, a RIN price cap and E15 RVP parity work at cross purposes. One is intended to grow demand for biofuels; the other is intended to reduce demand. The net result would be an effective cut to the RFS, lower ethanol production, lower corn prices, and higher consumer gasoline prices,” said Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen.

National Corn Growers Association President Kevin Skunes said, “This economic analysis backs up what corn farmers have been telling the Administration – that manipulating the RIN market mechanism would reduce ethanol blending and impact corn prices. A drop of 25 cents per bushel in corn prices, as CARD economists project from a RIN price cap, would devastate farmers and stagger rural communities.”

Both corn and ethanol interests are standing strong on the option of capping RIN prices. “Not on any proposal that would reduce demand,” said Dinneen. “The message is simple, this program is not broken. It is working as it is intended.”

Dinneen discusses the RIN price issue in the latest edition of The Ethanol Report. Listen to it here: Ethanol Report on RINs in the White House

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Audio, Corn, Ethanol, NCGA, RFA

Precision Ag Bytes 3/7

Carrie Muehling

  • Caterpillar Inc. is using AT&T Internet of Things (IoT) services to connect and manage heavy machines and engines around the globe. The new multi-year, global deal connects Caterpillar products to the AT&T 4G LTE network.
  • MKC, a full-service farm cooperative offering a complete line of products, programs and services for both farm and urban customers throughout Kansas, has joined the CommiditAg network, where farmers can browse farm input products and view its transparent pricing.
  • CLAAS of America has reorganized its Dealer Council to represent the full CLAAS product line: combines, forage harvesters, balers, hay tools and tractors. The council consists of 10 newly appointed members representing the company’s diverse sales channel.
  • Natalie Shuman, a fresh produce marketing and communications professional, has joined Inocucor, the Denver-based developer and producer of biological crop inputs for agriculture, as director of marketing. Shuman will be responsible for brand management, communications, product management, trade marketing and product lifecycle management for Inocucor’s microbial and plant nutrient technologies.
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Northey Takes Oath of USDA Office

Cindy Zimmerman

It was a long time coming, but finally Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue administered the oath of office to Bill Northey to serve as the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Service (FFAS) at USDA. Northey has served as Iowa’s Secretary of Agriculture, and is a former president of the National Corn Growers Association.

“After months of waiting, I’m thrilled to finally have Bill on board at USDA,” Secretary Perdue said. “The patience he displayed throughout this process is an indicator of what kind of steady leader he will be on our team, and we are eager for him to get to work. Bill comes to us at an important time, as farm incomes are down and expected to fall further. Additionally, with work on the 2018 Farm Bill already underway, Bill will play an integral role in the advice we offer to Congress.”

However, there is still a little work to do when it comes to that title, and it is a little confusing right now. Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC), the position for which Northey is intended, is a new position created by the realignment of agencies to encompasses the Farm Service Agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Risk Management Agency. The realignment was necessitated by the creation of Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, as directed by the 2014 Farm Bill. So USDA is working with Congress to formally change the name of Northey’s mission area to FPAC. One step at a time.

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Welcome to ‘The New FMC’

Carrie Muehling

FMC is now the fourth largest chemical producer in the world after its purchase of assets from DuPont back in November. That gives the company a much larger reach globally, and particularly in the United States, said John Kasper, U.S. Commercial Director for FMC.

“It is the new FMC. We’re much larger. We’re on a wider range of crops and within those crops we have an increased portfolio, so it truly is a new FMC,” said Kasper, who noted customers are looking forward to the impact of the acquisition. “We’ve heard from customers that they are really excited about this new company, and it secures FMC’s future in the global marketplace, specifically innovating new products for the market needs.”

Kasper said the company already had a very robust pipeline, but this integration will allow for more internal synthesis and discovery. He said there are also more opportunities within the company as it grew from five sales regions to nine regions after the acquisition.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with John here: Interview with John Kasper, FMC

FMC at 2018 Commodity Classic Photo Album

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Delaro Fungicide Shows Yield Advantage in Corn, Soybeans

Jamie Johansen

Bayer has released results from 500 DelaroTM field trials which took place in 20 states. Across two years of trials, Delaro averaged a 12 to 18 bushel-per-acre increase in corn and a four to five bushel-per-acre increase in soybeans compared to an untreated check. In these trials, Delaro had a 90 percent win rate over the untreated check.

The recent Bayer AgVocacy Forum and Commodity Classic allowed us to talk with growers who participated in these field trials and have seen the results first-hand. Beau Morris, grower from Stewardson, Ill., said the results convinced him to use Delaro again for the 2018 crop year. “I saw an eight bushel per acre increase with Delaro on soybeans, compared to untreated acres,” said Morris. “That’s huge in soybeans. During the season you could see a noticeable difference in the areas treated with Delaro. The plants were much greener, and we didn’t have the dropped leaves or pods we had in the untreated acres. Honestly, Delaro is my preferred soybean fungicide right now.”

Randy Myers, product development manager, Bayer CropScience, said Delaro performed consistently in the trials. “The 90 percent win rate Delaro has over the untreated check is a great illustration of the consistent performance Delaro provides,” Myers said. “In fact, across weather conditions and geographies, this is the highest win rate I have seen on corn and soybeans in my 30-plus years in the industry.”

In this audio and video you will hear from both Beau and Randy share more about Delaro: Interview on Yield Advantage in Corn, Soybeans

2018 Bayer AgVocacy and Commodity Classic Photo Album

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FMH Celebrates 125 Years of Protecting Farmers

Cindy Zimmerman

FMH CEO Ron Rutledge and COO Shannon Rutledge

Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Company of Iowa (FMH) is celebrating 125 years as an American-based, family-run insurance provider and one of the oldest crop insurers in the United States.

“Farmers Mutual Hail continues to thrive after 125 years because of our mutual heritage that puts the policyholders first, because of the conservative management which has spanned six generations, and because of the continuous commitment of our employees who are proud to be a part of the FMH family,” said President and CEO Ron Rutledge. “Crop insurance is – and has always been – our main business. As others were leaving the industry, we invested in it by purchasing John Deere Insurance Company, further proving our commitment to protecting farmers. We are proud to call ourselves ‘America’s Crop Insurance Company.’”

Since forming in 1893, FMH has remained committed to providing America’s farmers with comprehensive risk management solutions, including private and federal crop insurance, reinsurance products and services, as well as farm and ranch insurance, serving a national writing area of 41 states. The 2015 acquisition of John Deere Insurance Company also allowed FMH to enter the precision ag space by offering Precision Crop Insurance Solutions, which provide farmers the ability to use precision data for crop insurance claims adjustments and required reporting.

Learn more about FMH from Ron and his nephew Shannon, FMH COO, in this interview:
Interview with Ron and Shannon Rutledge, Farmers Mutual Hail

Anniversary Photo Album

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