Bill Exempts Farms From Reporting Emissions

Jamie Johansen

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and poultry groups including National Turkey Federation, National Chicken Council, U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, and United Egg Producers applaud introduction of bipartisan legislation in the U.S. Senate that would prevent farms, ranches, and other agricultural operations from having to report livestock manure data under Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA).

The law governs toxic Superfund sites which are used primarily to clean hazardous waste sites but also includes a mandatory federal reporting component. Lead sponsors include Sens. Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Joe Donnelly (D-IN), along with 18 other Republican and Democratic senators, including Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman John Barrasso (R-WY) and Ranking Member Tom Carper (D-DE).

“There’s not a lot of truly bipartisan legislation in Washington these days, but one thing that pretty much everybody can agree on is that a responsibly-run cattle ranch isn’t a toxic Superfund site,” said fifth-generation California rancher and NCBA President Kevin Kester. “On behalf of cattle producers across America, I want to sincerely thank the Senators from both parties who worked together to introduce this bipartisan bill. I also want to encourage other Senators to join the effort and pass this bill as quickly as possible.”

“Routine emissions from hog manure do not constitute a ‘hazardous’ emergency that requires the Coast Guard to activate a national cleanup response,” said NPPC President Ken Maschhoff, a pork producer from Carlyle, Ill., “We’re extremely grateful to the 19 cosponsors of the FARM Act for their leadership and common sense on this issue. EPA exempted farms from CERCLA reporting because it knew responses would be unnecessary and impractical. Frankly, the court created a problem where none existed.”

“CERCLA was never intended to be applied in this way to dairy farms,” said NMPF President and CEO Jim Mulhern. “Congress needs to stipulate that this burdensome regulatory overreach serves no legitimate health or safety purpose, and needs to stop.”

“This is significant breakthrough legislation restoring CERCLA reporting to its intended purpose, a united legislative effort that has been nearly 15 years in the making, and we appreciate their swift action on behalf of America’s turkey, chicken and egg farmers,” said the poultry groups in a joint statement. “Marking a bi-partisan level of cooperation, the bill demonstrates strong support from both Republicans and Democrats on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee to clarify Congress’ intent.”

Ag Groups, AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Health, Beef, Dairy, Livestock, Pork, Poultry

Precision Ag Bytes 2/14

Carrie Muehling

  • Vegalab, Inc. has announced the successful trials of its Pollen Boost product and initial first orders of Pollen Boost for delivery in early February from Stanislaus Farm Supply, Buttonwillow Warehouse Company, and Mid Valley Agricultural Services, Inc.
  • Apache Sprayers will launch the Apache AS630 Sprayer at the 2018 National Farm Machinery Show. The Apache AS630 was built to meet the needs of farmers who want to upgrade to a self-propelled and spray on their own or the larger producer that needs an extra sprayer for their operation.
  • The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) has released the following statement regarding President Donald Trump’s budget for conservation programs in the 2019 fiscal year. “Once again, this administration is calling on American producers to do more with less,” NACD President Brent Van Dyke said. “The President’s budget proposes cuts to almost every area of USDA’s discretionary and mandatory budgets, including nearly $15 billion in cuts to farm bill conservation programs and over a 20 percent reduction to Conservation Operations.”
  • Salford Group is releasing a row crop air boom for the new 8700 Pull-Type Air Boom Applicator. Both the new 6700 and 8700, and the newly released Ferti-GO 4S, will be on display at the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville.
  • A cloud-based, micro-irrigation system tested on a farm in India has cut water use by up to 80 percent and doubled the crop yield, and could relieve the environmental stress that agriculture places on India’s natural resources. The system, which was developed by scientists at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, combines a highly localized weather forecast with local know-how on irrigation needs and soil conditions and has been trialled as part of the Innovate UK-funded Smart Control of Rural Renewable Energy and Storage (SCORRES) project.
  • Members of the North American Plant Phenotyping Network (NAPPN), an association representing major plant phenotyping centers across the continent, have elected Iowa Corn Technology Commercialization Manager David Ertl to the Executive Board. The goal of the NAPPN is to increase the visibility and impact of plant phenotyping and facilitate communication and cooperation within the plant phenotyping and related communities.
AgWired Precision, Precision Agriculture

Fighting Bovine Respiratory Disease

Carrie Muehling

Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) is the leading cause of calf death after weaning. Boehringer Ingelheim takes a holistic approach when helping producers fight the disease, said Professional Services Veterinarian Dr. Rich Linhart.

“We look at everything on the ranch, from personnel to feed bunk space to mud to wind to the way pens are set up, and cattle flow,” said Linhart, who is based in Boise, Idaho.

He said the company does offer both vaccines and antibiotics to help prevent and battle BRD, but also recognizes the importance of good nutrition and many other factors when it comes to keeping the disease off the farm or ranch. Linhart answered questions from producers at the 2018 Cattle Industry Convention and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Trade Show in Phoenix.

Listen to Jamie’s interview with Dr. Linhart: Interview with Dr. Rich Linhart, Boehringer Ingelheim

2018 Cattle Industry Convention & Trade Show Photo Album

AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Audio, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA

Data Flow a Priority at Develop with Deere Conference

Carrie Muehling

This year’s Develop with Deere conference in Kansas City was the biggest yet, showing growth in the demand for the opportunity to learn more about data flow and the tools available to help farmers make the most of the information they collect on their farms.

“This conference is really valuable for the software companies to learn some of what not only we provide in terms of data and connectivity, but also what John Deere dealers are looking for and how they can help make all that work. So we’re all kind of working together to achieve that goal,” said Randy Kasparbauer, API Product Manager for John Deere.

He said dealers have common problems around collecting precision ag data and making it useful for their customers. Solutions will differ according to geography, crop type, and equipment, but the conference represents an opportunity to get together and work through some of those issues.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Randy here: Interview with Randy Kasparbauer, John Deere

You can find conference photos here: 2018 Develop with Deere Conference Photo Album

AgWired Precision, Audio, John Deere, Precision Agriculture

Farm Credit at #CattleCon18

Chuck Zimmerman

During #CattleCon18 I visited with Farm Credit to learn what they are offering to cattle ranchers. I talked with Todd Moore (pictured), Farm Credit Mid-America, first and asked him what the message is for those attending. He says that with the volatility in cattle prices lender are talking to their customers and asking questions like, “Do they have a risk management plan?” And if they do, “Do they have enough information to know their fixed and variable costs to devise a good plan?”

When it comes to what questions he is getting from producers he says they are very diverse but with some common themes like interest rates. With interest rates expected to continue to rise they wonder about locking in rates or having fixed interest rates. He says that is something Farm Credit can help them with. Learn more from my interview with Todd.

Listen to my interview with Todd here: Interview with Todd Moore, Farm Credit Mid-America

During my time with Farm Credit I also spoke with Rod Alt, Capital Farm Credit. He says that one of the benefits of being able to be a part of the NCBA Trade Show is the wide variety of cattle producers who attend and have very different needs. He also talks about having a good business plan and how Farm Credit and help their customers with that effort. He also offers some ideas for dealing with the upcoming year with all of its challenges.

Listen to my interview with Rod here: Interview with Rod Alt, Capital Farm Credit

Farm Credit also held a series of open forum roundtable discussions during the convention. The first one was conducted by Trevor Amen, Cobank and Sarah Fitzgerald, Capital Farm Credit. The topic was trade. As you can imagine that is a very important one for the industry. Listen in to hear about things like alternative meats and more.

Listen to the roundtable discussion here: Forum with Trevor Amen, Cobank & Sarah Fitzgerald, Capital Farm Credit

2018 Cattle Industry Convention & Trade Show Photo Album

AgWired Animal, Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference, Exports, Farm Credit, Trade

ARA Recognizes Efforts to Support Ag Retailers

Jamie Johansen

ARA Vice Chairman Troy Johnson with Wilbur-Ellis, Immediate Past Chairman Tim McArdle with Brandt Consolidated and Chairman John Oster with Morral Companies, present award to Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.).

The Agricultural Retailers Association recognized two legislators who led efforts to defend the industry’s freedom to operate: Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas). Both were named ARA’s 2017 Legislator of the Year.

ARA recognized the congressmen for leading legislative relief on regulatory issues such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s illegal Process Safety Management retail exemption enforcement memo and the Department of Transportation’s new Electronic Logging Device requirements.

“It is an honor to present Sen. Lankford and Rep. Babin with ARA’s Legislator of the Year award,” said ARA President and CEO Daren Coppock. “The work they did to help block PSM enforcement, as well as the fight against DOT’s ELD mandate is greatly appreciated by ag retailers. We are grateful for their dedication and continued support of the agriculture industry.”

ARA President and CEO Daren Coppock presents award to Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas).

ARA presents its Legislator of the Year award annually to a member, or members, of Congress who champion legislation important to the agricultural retail industry. The awards were presented during the ARA Board of Directors and Committee Meetings in Washington, D.C.

“It’s an honor to be recognized by the Agricultural Retailers Association,” Lankford said. “Farmers and ranchers respect the land, their neighbors, and the rules. But they want the rules to be fair, and they want their voices to be heard. Regulators that live their lives on concrete should listen to the insight of families who live on the soil before they make policy decisions about agriculture. Our Oklahoma farm communities rely on their local agricultural retailers to meet their farm business needs. In this never-ending work, agribusinesses should not have to battle their federal government over-burdensome regulatory guidance.”

“Every day in Washington brings another story about hacking by domestic, foreign and non-state actors bent on theft or terrorism,” Babin said. “Creating a digital footprint from an ELD, most of which are ‘self-certified’ and assembled from Chinese components, on a truck carrying potentially hazardous materials such as anhydrous ammonia or ammonium nitrate fertilizer is the last thing we should allow.”

Ag Groups, ARA

State of the Industry – Ethanol Strong

Jamie Johansen

The Reverend of Renewable Fuels took the stage at the 2018 National Ethanol Conference to give his annual State of the Ethanol Industry Address. Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO Bob Dinneen said with confidence the state of U.S. ethanol is strong, because of the strong character of the people who call the ethanol community home.

“I am more confident than I have ever been that the U.S. ethanol industry, led by the visionaries in this room, is poised for continued growth and unprecedented success. Not just because the industry is strong today and getting stronger. It is because this industry knows what it takes to succeed, and remains resolute in the face of a setback, determined in the face of adversity, and committed to the farmers who grow our feedstock, consumers who use our fuel, and a nation that rewards innovation,” Dinneen. “I am proud to represent you in Washington and to be counted among you. I am grateful for your leadership, your counsel, and your friendship. I am inspired by your strength. You are Ethanol Strong.”

Listen to his complete address here: State of the Industry Address, Bob Dinneen

View and download photos from the event here: 2018 National Ethanol Conference Photo Album


Ag Groups, Corn, Energy, Ethanol, RFA, Video

ASA Hires Ryan Findlay as CEO

Jamie Johansen

The American Soybean Association have selected Ryan Findlay as its new Chief Executive Officer. Findlay replaces Stephen Censky, who left ASA in October of 2017 after confirmation by the U.S. Senate as Deputy Secretary of Agriculture.

“ASA is extremely pleased to have found someone of Ryan’s caliber and experience to lead us into our next chapter as a first-class U.S. commodity organization,” said ASA President John Heisdorffer, a soybean producer from Keota, Iowa. “Ryan’s background growing up on a farm and working for the Michigan Farm Bureau and for Syngenta give him the right combination of life and work experience that will serve ASA well in the coming years,” Heisdorffer stated.

Findlay is a native of Caro, Mich., where his family still farms row crops. The last four years Ryan worked for the global agricultural company Syngenta, focusing on freedom-to-operate issues impacting farmers. His seven-year tenure with the Michigan Farm Bureau included work on two farm bills, international trade, climate change and regulatory issues. Ryan, his wife Gretchen, and their two children will be relocating to the St. Louis area, where he will work out of ASA’s headquarters office.

“I am honored to be selected to lead a premier policy organization that I have worked with and admired for years,” Findlay said. “I look forward to building on Steve Censky’s strong legacy as ASA and its state affiliates continue to lead the public debate on key policy issues including farm risk management, international trade and rural infrastructure.”

Ag Groups, AgWired Precision, ASA, Soybean

John Deere Collaborates with Dealers and Developers

Carrie Muehling

Precision agriculture is giving farmers more and more tools to use in their operations, but it continues to be complex. That’s one reason the company has offered the Develop with Deere Conference to allow farmers, dealers and developers an opportunity to collaborate, said Deanna Kovar, director of production and precision ag marketing with John Deere.

“It’s not just about John Deere equipment and technology. It’s about the support our dealers provide to farmers all across the U.S. and Canada to help them select the right tool for their farm,” said Kovar. “We believe that it’s really important for our dealers to understand all of the options that are out there, and really create that solution to make the Gen 4 display that’s in a lot of tractors, combines and sprayers today as well as a universal option, plus the John Deere Operations Center, work for every farm and how they farm.”

She said the conference is a great example of John Deere understanding that farmers don’t farm alone, and that the company cannot provide all the tools they need to make decisions on the farm. More than 240 dealers attended this year’s conference.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Deanna here: Interview with Deanna Kovar

You can find conference photos here: 2018 Develop with Deere Conference Photo Album

AgWired Precision, Audio, John Deere, Precision Agriculture

Precision Ag Meets Customized Crop Insurance

Cindy Zimmerman

PartnerRe Ltd and Farmers Edge™ have joined forces to couple real-time field data with customized insurance products to help farmers around the globe.

This exclusive, four-year agreement between Farmers Edge and PartnerRe brings together precision farming technology and agriculture insurance in a landmark deal that will fundamentally advance the $5 trillion global food and agriculture industry. Under the terms of the agreement, PartnerRe and Farmers Edge will jointly develop new agriculture insurance products in main crop growing areas worldwide, aimed at addressing the specific needs and challenges of farmers.

Farmers Edge president and CEO Wade Barnes says this groundbreaking agreement will help farmers have more insurance options based on more accurate data while simultaneously opening up new financing options. “Through this partnership, Farmers Edge is making digital agronomy a reality and empowering farmers all over the globe with data-driven insights so they can maximize crop yields, make better decisions and secure tailor made insurance solutions that make sense for their market,” said Barnes.

In this interview, Barnes discusses the potential impact of the agreement, and how it could farmers in both developing countries and here at home. Audio Interview with Farmers Edge President and CEO Wade Barnes

AgWired Precision, Audio, Crop Insurance, Precision Agriculture