Jack Welch will share his groundbreaking management practices with the attendees of ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference. The celebrated former CEO of General Electric is highly regarded for his track record of success and his commitment to building leaders and teams. Learn more and register at one.alltech.com for a savings of $400 before March 31.- A new study published in the American Journal of Hypertension showed that eating two or more cups of yogurt a week is associated with a lower risk for developing cardiovascular disease in adults who already have high blood pressure. The large-scale observational study, funded by the dairy-farmer-founded National Dairy Council (NDC) and others, is the first of its kind to examine the relationship between eating yogurt and reduced risk in hypertensive adults.
- Zoetis has developed the first complete Holstein de novo reference genome, giving geneticists the ability to map regions of the genome influencing a range of health and disease outcomes.
- As the dairy industry evolves and modernizes, dairy companies across the U.S. are looking to capitalize on increasing milk production through international joint ventures with companies that have significant manufacturing, networking and marketing expertise, according to a new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange Division. A video synopsis of the report, “Mutual Benefit: JVs with Foreign Dairy Companies on the Rise” is available here and the full report is available at CoBank.com.
- The Joint Poultry Industry Safety Award Program is accepting applications from poultry industry facilities with outstanding safety programs. The program is open to National Chicken Council, National Turkey Federation and U.S. Poultry & Egg Association members with poultry processing plants, further processing facilities, egg processing plants, hatcheries, feed mills and rendering facilities that, through the implementation of innovative and effective programs, have injury and illness rates below the industry average for three consecutive years.
- Dr. Stewart Galloway, senior swine nutritionist at Hubbard Feeds, will discuss how gut health strategies implemented early in the pig’s life affect its performance and how it can affect producer profitability during a live webinar on Tuesday, Feb. 27. Reserve a spot at the webinar here.
- The Integrity Beef Alliance is now accepting Hereford bulls as the newest breed sire in the program, which simplifies cow-calf producer management decisions and increases the marketability of calves through the production of high quality, uniform, preconditioned cattle.
- Leaders of Dairy Management Inc. (DMI), the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board and the United Dairy Industry Association announced new officers following elections held during the February board meeting of DMI. Visit dairy.org for more information.
- The World Brangus Congress will be Feb. 27 – March 3 in Houston, Texas. The Post-Tour will depart from Houston on March 4, and guests will travel across Texas until March 8. For more information or to register, click here.
FMC Focused on Crop Protection After DuPont Acquisition
Since FMC completed its acquisition of a portion of DuPont’s crop protection business last year, integrating the two groups has been a high priority.
“It’s been a monumental task to integrate all the people and the processes and things of that nature, but I think it’s gone very smoothly,” said David Wheeler, technical services associate director for DuPont integration, agronomic and product development. “We did a great job planning for that integration at closing, and we’ve hit the ground running. We’ve got all our folks cross trained across the product lines, so we’re all speaking this same language when it comes to the product lines.”
Wheeler said the two groups complement each other well, with each sharing different strengths that contribute to the overall goal of providing solutions to growers. He said DuPont’s presence in coastal markets helps to expand the FMC footprint beyond its traditional areas in the Midwest. He is even more excited about the future of the company and its focus on crop protection.
“I think the most exciting part of it is that discovery and development pipeline and the resources that we have to put into discovery today,” said Wheeler. “That’s something that FMC hasn’t had. We’ve sourced from other discovery pipelines to create our own, but we didn’t have the freedom to operate that we have today. And, just the sheer focus that we have on crop protection is something that’s not seen around the industry anymore today. I think that’s going to give us a competitive advantage in the discovery business, which, in turn, will give us a competitive advantage in the market going forward.”
Listen to Chuck’s interview with David Wheeler here: Interview with David Wheeler, FMC
2018 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album
Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by
Commodity Classic Opens Next Week in Anaheim
Farmers and others in the agriculture industry are gearing up for this year’s Commodity Classic next week in Anaheim, Calif. The annual gathering of corn, soybean, sorghum and wheat growers will start a day early this year, kicking off with the official welcome reception on Monday evening instead of Tuesday and wrapping up with entertainment on Thursday night.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue will keynote the general session on Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 9:00 a.m. at the Anaheim Convention Center. Secretary Perdue is expected to share his vision for the U.S. Department of Agriculture including thoughts on a new Farm Bill, international trade, rural development and the role of agriculture in America’s food security and economic vitality.
The conference is also an opportunity for farmer led organizations like the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) to hear from their members concerning policy priorities.
“It’s exciting to be in Anaheim, to bring our farmers together to craft the direction of our organization through the policy process. There’s learning and education opportunities where farmers can look at the profitability challenges that we’re facing right now and pick up new tools, tips, tricks that they can use to be more successful on their farms,” said Chris Novak, NCGA CEO.
Commodity Classic will also partner with Feeding America again this year. Feeding America works with U.S. food banks to distribute food to more than 60,000 food pantries. Secure donations can be made by visiting CommodityClassic.com and clicking on the Feeding America logo on the home page.
Although pre-registration is now closed, walk-in registration for single day attendance or the entire event is available on-site when the Commodity Classic opens on Tuesday.
Listen to Chuck’s interview with Chris Novak here: Classic interview with Chris Novak, NCGA
AgWired’s coverage of Classic this year will start with the Bayer Agvocacy Forum on Sunday afternoon, and include all the latest from John Deere and FMC, as well as AMVAC, Farm Credit, and AEM.
Water Management a Focus for Deere Award Winner
John Deere presented an Australian company with the inaugural Outstanding Utilization of APIs Award at the 2018 Develop with Deere Conference in Kansas City.
Stu Pocknee with Precision Terrain Solutions said he believes his company is doing things that are innovative and different and interesting. Terrain-based water management is the focus of the applications, from building levies to terraces to better drainage.
“We all know that water is the major vector for pollutants traveling off the farm, and the better job we do of managing water, using more efficiently, limiting leaching, limiting runoff, it’s good for the environment, it’s good for the sustainability of farms,” said Pocknee. “There’s no rocket science involved. It’s purely doing a better job with water management, and that has so many positive implications down the track for the profitability of farmers, for the sustainability of their operations, and the water community. It’s hard to see who can lose out of that. It’s a good situation.”
Pocknee described the future of the API as a “big, blue sky ahead of us.”
Listen to Chuck’s interview here: Interview with Stu Pocknee, Precision Terrain Solutions
You can find conference photos here: 2018 Develop with Deere Conference Photo Album
Agri-Pulse Announces 2018 Ag & Food Policy Summit
International trade, regulatory challenges and a new farm bill will be topics of discussion at the 2018 Ag & Food Policy Summit, scheduled for March 21 at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill in Washington.
“In a year that has the potential to transform agriculture in so many ways, from regulatory reform and trade policy to the farm bill and finding a solution to our labor shortage, it is important that we equip ourselves with knowledge and all the advocacy tools at our disposal,” said American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall.
Agri-Pulse Editor Sarah Wyant said the Summit is designed to harvest perspectives and foster a well-rounded discussion about the top issues confronting the future of food production and U.S. agriculture.
Zimfo Bytes 2/23
Michael Torrey Associates welcomed Barbara Patterson and Marissa Dake to its growing team in February 2018. The Washington, D.C.-based firm offers effective government relations, strategic communications and issue advocacy and full-service association management to a growing number of clients in the food, agriculture, and forestry sector.- Culver’s is celebrating National FFA Week in a big way. Through its Thank You Farmers Project, the restaurant will launch its fourth annual FFA Essay Contest on Feb. 19. The three winning essay writers will win $7,500, $5,000 and $2,500, respectively, for their FFA chapters. This year’s essay contest prompt is: The 2017 National FFA Convention & Expo theme was “I can. We will.” What does this mean to you, and how will you apply it in your future ag career? The contest ends April 6, 2018, at 5 p.m. CST.
- American Vanguard Corporation announced that its wholly owned subsidiary AMVAC Netherlands B.V. has recently hired Thomas Britze as general manager of AMVAC do Brasil Representações LTDA. Britze will be based in Sao Paulo. In addition to his responsibilities as General Manager for Brazil, Britze will coordinate the introduction of AMVAC’s new application technology SIMPAS (Smart Integrated Multi-Product Application System) in key international markets.
- Congress cleared a budget agreement and disaster-aid package that has a significant impact on farmers for the 2018 crop year. The budget agreement passed the House by a vote of 240 to 186 and passed the Senate by a vote of 71 to 28. The President has also signed the legislation. The legislation includes $90 billion in disaster assistance for communities impacted by storms, tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires and flooding. The legislation also includes provisions for cotton farmers by making seed cotton eligible for Title 1 Agriculture Risk Coverage and the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs.
- Bringing children accurate knowledge about how their food is grown is the goal of Feeding Minds Press, a new children’s book publishing venture from the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture. The new publisher’s first book will be “Right This Very Minute,” written by award-winning author Lisl Detlefsen. It is scheduled for release in January 2019.
FMC Introduces Steward EC Insecticide
FMC has introduced another tool for farmers to use in the fight against the Western corn rootworm beetle.
David Wheeler, Technical Services Associate Director, said Steward EC is not a new chemistry, but it represents a new use in corn to control adult rootworm beetles. Farmers can use the product in an integrated pest management program along with a larval control mechanism either through traits or a soil insecticide.
“He does that for two reasons. Primarily, it’s for population control and managing that population for the following year. And secondarily for any silk clipping that the beetles might do,” said Wheeler.
Wheeler said Steward EC is offering up to 85 percent control of adult rootworm beetles compared to maybe 50 percent effectiveness found in traditional products.
Listen to Chuck’s interview with David Wheeler here: David Wheeler, FMC Steward EC
2018 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album
Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by
Camso Announces Remanufactured Tracks Program
Camso just announced a new certified remanufactured tracks and wheels program that will be available as of March 16, 2018. While I was at the National Farm Machinery Show I spoke with Martin Lunkenbein, Service and Aftermarket Sales Executive Director – Agriculture at Camso. We talked about the program and another announcement that I’ll feature later.
“We’re giving multiple lives to a product farmers have always trusted, showing once again our commitment to provide the lowest operating cost solution,” said Lunkenbein. The launch follows a pilot program announced last August in which the product development team gauged and monitored product performance through validation in the field. Remanufactured track and wheel products for general AG applications, as well as service, will be available through the Camso distribution network in North America.
Learn more in the video below:
2018 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album
Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by
Blueprint Solutions for Beef Cattle Nutrition
Earlier this year, Alltech launched the premium Blueprint® beef nutrition program for the CRYSTALYX® and Hubbard Feeds brands. The 2018 Cattle Industry Convention was a perfect spot for us to get the scoop. We caught up with Mark Robbins, Ridley Block Operations who said Blueprint Solutions is more than a simple supplement program.
“It’s the total replacement of inorganic trace minerals with organic trace minerals which are bioplex, selplex and organic selenium. The inorganic trace minerals are sulfates, oxides and chlorides. Even though we have used them for years, we have always known they do have some baggage. They aren’t nearly as available, they do degrade vitamins in mineral mixes and they aren’t as palatable. Inorganic trace minerals also have a tendency to serve as an antagonist in the absorption of other trace minerals,” Robbins said.
The Blueprint Solution program is available in a number of free-choice supplements to meet the needs of any type of operation.
“The one thing customers will notice about the CRYSTALYX Blueprint compared to one of our older products is how much lower the trace mineral levels are. That is because the organic trace minerals have a much higher bio-availability. We need to get our customers and dealers to understand these organic minerals perform much higher,” Robbins said.
Listen to the complete interview here: Interview with Mark Robbins Ridley Block Operations
Pinnacle 2020: The Next Generation in Grain Drying
The Mathews Company has been manufacturing grain drying systems for close to 65 years. The company built its first continuous flow grain dryer in 1957 and now offers four different drying styles to serve farmers growing a variety of grains.
Company President Joe Shulfer said the Pinnacle control system has become a standard for grain drying systems, and this year’s display showcased the second generation Pinnacle 2020 system with two separate touch screens working side by side.
“It functions kind of like two monitors on your desktop for one computer. So you’re able to have operational content on one side, maybe service diagnostic content on the other. And it’s really an innovative way to get a lot more information in front of the customer,” said Shulfer.
He said the system also works on a smartphone app that will allow the farmer to monitor lots of different things from that mobile device.
Joe Shulfer, The Mathews Company2018 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album
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