Ethanol Supporter Optimistic About Industry

Cindy Zimmerman

Senator Joni Ernst has earned the title of “ethanol champion” for her work on behalf of the industry to protect the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), but she took the time today to visit with people she thinks are the real champions – the grassroots farmers, producers, retailers and investors who make up the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE).

“You are all out there making a difference,” said Sen. Ernst in her address to ACE members in Washington DC.

Her main remarks centered around the continuing debate over the RFS and Renewable Identification Number prices and her own discussions with Sen. Ted Cruz and others on the idea of a “win-win” solution for both ethanol and refiners. “Their ‘win-win’ is to cap RINs. That’s not a win for us,” said Ernst. “For us the “win-win” is the RVP waiver and going to E-15 year-round….The president thought that was a brilliant idea.”

During an interview, Sen. Ernst says she believes the White House is “backing away” from the RIN cap idea and leaning toward sending the whole issue to Congress to resolve. “We have had a strong coalition in Congress as well that pushes back against any efforts to weaken the RFS,” she said.

Listen to her remarks and my interview below where the senator also comments on the omnibus bill and trade issues.

Sen. Joni Ernst remarks to ACE

Interview with Sen. Joni Ernst

2018 ACE DC Fly-in Photo Album

ACE, Audio, Ethanol, Exports

KEENAN Connects Farmers to Nutrition Specialists

Carrie Muehling

U.S. dairy farmers visiting the headquarters for KEENAN Systems in Dublin, Ireland, learned more about MechFiber and the impact it can make on a dairy herd.

KEENAN Corporate Marketing Manager Martin Minchen shared that the concept, developed in 2008, has been a key value proposition for the company globally. The focus is on consistent fiber lengths and an even mix that encourages rumination and feed efficiency. The company’s newest development is the InTouch app controller, connecting the farmer to a nutrient specialist at any time.

“The company developed MechFiber. That was one step in terms of the physical mix,” said Minchen. “But delivering that consistently is crucial, so they set about using their own in-house team of software engineers developing an InTouch platform which was launched by the company in 2009 and since then has undergone various updates and with the latest ones being the app that was released in 2018.”

Minchen said almost 300,000 cows are currently part of that system, which is unique to KEENAN Systems.

“We can analyze real time data, mixer performance, if feed is over or under mixed, if the farmer has been adding the right ingredients, how long the feeder has been working, and then we can get the output data back from the cows so if the nutritionist noticed that cow output may have dropped on farm, they can proactively call the farmer,” he said.

Listen to Jamie’s interview here: Interview with Martin Minchen, KEENAN Systems

Alltech KEENAN Great Green Getaway Photo Album

AgWired Animal, Alltech, Animal Agriculture, Audio, KEENAN

Sen. Heitkamp Opposes RIN Price Cap

Cindy Zimmerman

Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) one of several lawmakers on Capitol Hill who received a visit from a team of American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) members in DC for their annual fly-in, and she was overjoyed to be presented with one of the organization’s special corn kernel cracking display for her office. She’s pictured here with National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) president Kevin Skunes of North Dakota.

Sen. Heitkamp is obviously a friend of ethanol, speaking out this week against the idea of a cap on Renewable Identification Number (RIN) prices. “If the administration takes this action, it would undercut our farmers and biofuel producers at a time we should be bolstering our renewable fuel industry – not sabotaging it,” Heitkamp said. “While I’ve long pushed for the year-round sale of E15 to support biofuels, the artificial RIN cap reportedly being considered by the administration could tank biofuel prices and cost North Dakota jobs. We must keep fighting for our rural communities and farmers, and I urge the administration to reject a RIN price cap.”

Listen to the senator explain why a RIN cap is a bad deal:
Interview with Sen. Heidi Heitkamp

2018 ACE DC Fly-in Photo Album

ACE, Audio, Ethanol

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