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

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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

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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

SMART Farmer Leon Sheets

Cindy Zimmerman

In this episode of the SMART Farmer podcast, we hear from America’s Pig Farmer of the Year, Leon Sheets, who raises 33,000 pigs a year in northeast Iowa along with his wife and son. SMART Farmer podcast listeners may remember that we interviewed last year’s Pig Farmer of the Year Brad Greenway from South Dakota, who also serves as chairman of the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA).

The annual award is sponsored by the National Pork Board and recognizes a pig farmer who excels at raising pigs with an emphasis on animal care and environmental sustainability. Leon was actually the first runner-up last year when Leslie McCuiston was selected for the title, but she had to step down after taking a new position in the ag industry where she does not directly work with pigs, which is obviously the main requirement for Pig Farmer of the Year! But Leon has enthusiastically stepped up to fill the role and you can hear that enthusiasm in this podcast, which was recorded at the recent National Pork Forum.

Download or listen to this podcast here:
SMART Farmer Leon Sheets

If you have not yet subscribed to the SMART Farmer podcast and this is brand new to you, you can do it today and binge listen to all 24 podcasts produced to date. Also, SMART Farmer is now on TuneIn.

Subscribe to the SMART Farmer podcast

Learn more about USFRA and SMART Farm

AgWired Animal, Audio, Pork, Pork Checkoff, USFRA

Animal Ag Bites 3/19

Carrie Muehling

  • The Dairy Alliance‘s Global Dairy Summit convened state agriculture officials, industry stakeholders and thought leaders from across the Southeast to rally around a plan to reverse the dire economic circumstances facing the 2,000 local, family-owned farms in the Southeast. Since 2010, the U.S. has lost nearly a quarter of its dairy farms nationwide, and the situation is even worse in the Southeast, with a 33% loss. U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) CEO and President Tom Vilsack introduced USDEC’s “Next 5% Plan” that features common sense, proactive measures to reverse the economic tide for dairy farmers by 2025.
  • CattleFax celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2018. The member-owned organization serves producers in all segments of the cattle and beef business. To view a YouTube video about the CattleFax 50th anniversary, go here.
  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Stockmanship and Stewardship events provide beef and dairy producers with hands-on training, cattle handling demonstrations, beef quality assurance (BQA) certifications and more. Five regional events have been scheduled for 2018: Aug. 24-25 in Clemson, South Carolina; Sept. 21-22 in Montrose, Colorado; Oct. 5-6 in Stephenville, Texas; Oct. 12-13 in Pasco, Washington; and Dec. 12-13 in Tulare, California (dairy focused event).
  • Frank Mitloehner, PhD, will debunk myths about animal agriculture’s environmental impact at the Animal Agriculture Alliance’s 2018 Stakeholders Summit, set for May 3-4, at the Renaissance Capital View Hotel in Arlington, Va. Mitloehner is a professor and extension air quality specialist in the Department of Animal Science at the University of California, Davis. He is an expert on agricultural air quality, livestock housing and husbandry. To register, visit http://animalagalliance.org/summit.
  • Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch, the largest egg producer in Michigan, has accepted a 2018 U.S. Poultry & Egg Family Farm Environmental Excellence Award. The Family Farm Environmental Excellence Award recognizes exemplary environmental stewardship by family farmers engaged in poultry and egg production.
  • Hiland Dairy is giving away two family vacations to Silver Dollar City. With Hiland Dairy’s #RideWithHiland, which began March 1 and runs through June 30, 2018, Hiland customers and fans have the chance to win one of two prize packages that each include five front-of-the-line park passes to Silver Dollar City, hotel accommodations, a prepaid gas card, free Hiland Dairy products and a cooler to keep them cold. The winners will be announced on July 15, 2018.
AgWired Animal, Animal Bites

AMVAC Introduces New Products

Carrie Muehling

AMVAC introduced three new products for the corn and soybean market at the 2018 Commodity Classic in Anaheim.

Index Liquid At-Plant Insecticide offers two modes of action to control all species of rootworm and a broad spectrum of seed attacking pests. Traits no longer offer full protection for growers, according to Jim Lappin, AMVAC crop marketing director for corn and soybeans.

“Traits aren’t targeted at seed attacking pests. Seed treatments aren’t targeting at rootworm,” explained Lappin. “So, by using a dual mode of action product like Index, you can supplement the control of both your rootworm and your seed attacking pest. In fact, our data has shown when you use a supplemental insecticide for rootworm control, you’re getting an added yield bump and the reason we’re seeing that is a lot of growers have gone to these refuge in a bag hybrids, so you’re leaving five to 10 percent of your plants unprotected out there that don’t have those traits. The other issue we have is all four of the commercial Bt traits for rootworm now have demonstrated field resistance somewhere.”

Lappin said a broader level of protection will ultimately result with higher yields. Other new products from AMVAC include ImpactZ herbicide – a premix of Impact plus atrazine – and Acropolis fungicide, which offers two modes of action to fight frog eye leaf spot and white mold, as well as a broad range of other diseases. All three products are available for the 2018 growing season.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Jim here: Interview with Jim Lappin, AMVAC

AMVAC at 2018 Commodity Classic Photo Album

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AMVAC, Audio, Commodity Classic

Lucky Alltech KEENAN Great Green Getaway Winners

Cindy Zimmerman

For three U.S. dairy producers, the luck of the Irish was on their side when their names were selected in a live, random drawing at the 2017 World Dairy Expo for the Alltech KEENAN Great Green Getaway.

Hank and Joanne Greisen of Wisconsin; Mary and Mike Van Rossum of Wisconsin and Ashley Ervin, her mother and twin sister, have all been enjoying the journey of a lifetime this week in the Emerald Isle, including a tour of the KEENAN production facility in Borris, County Carlow, Ireland, a guided VIP experience at the new Pearse Lyons Distillery, and visits to a number of high-performance Irish dairy farms. The grande finale will be St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Dublin City Centre.

Jamie Johansen has been with the group all week and gotten to know them and their unique stories. Listen to her interviews with the winners below.

Great Green Getaway winner Ashley Ervin, Tennessee

Great Green Getaway winners Hans & Joanne Griesen, Wisconsin

Great Green Getaway winners Micheal & Mary Van Rossum, Wisconsin

2018 Great Green Getaway Photo Album

AgWired Animal, Alltech, Audio, Dairy, KEENAN

Talking Agricultural Marketing to UF Students

Chuck Zimmerman

Florida NAMA, the Florida chapter of the National Agri-Marketing Association, is working to generate interest in reviving the student chapter (Gator NAMA) at the University of Florida. Our first idea this year was to offer a panel of professional members to talk to students at the College of Agriculture. We appreciate the assistance from Spiro E. Stefanou, Professor and Chair of Food and Resource Economics, University of Florida, to put together a location and promoting the session to students.

I broadcast our panel live on the Florid NAMA Facebook page if you’re interested in seeing how the discussion went. The panelists included: Juan David Castro-Anzola, Prudential Agricultural Investments, Marshal Sewell, Seminis Vegetable Seeds, Eloise Seaman, Farm Journal Media and I moderated. Some of the key topics/questions related to new technology and its impact on agricultural marketing today as well as what students need to do to become ready for a full time career job.


Education, NAMA, Video

XCELIS™ is DuPont’s Fuel Ethanol Platform

Cindy Zimmerman

DuPont gave its new XCELIS™ fuel ethanol platform a colorful debut at the National Ethanol Conference last month in San Antonio, with a rainbow of pastel colored arches along the walkway to the meeting area.

“XCELIS is really the way we’re approaching the fuel alcohol market globally now as DuPont,” says Judy Underwood, DuPont Global Marketing Lead. “It’s a new approach pulling together all of the tools and technologies that we have access to and bringing them to this market.”

XCELIS is a partner-based approach tailored to each customer’s unique needs and Underwood says they unveiled XCELIS at the NEC because they know a lot of producers attend that event. “A lot of folks are invested and involved in the RFA,” she said.

Learn more about XCELIS in this interview. Interview with Judy Underwood, DuPont XCELIS

2018 National Ethanol Conference Photo Album

Audio, Ethanol, National Ethanol Conference, RFA

2018 Commodity Classic Grows Beyond to Another Record

Cindy Zimmerman

More than 8,000 farmers, agriculture leaders and ag advocates converged on the Anaheim Convention Center to “GROW BEYOND!” at the 2018 Commodity Classic which took place Feb. 27 thorough March 1.

Included in the preliminary number of 8,055 registered in Anaheim were a record number of non-exhibitor first-time attendees (1,533) and more than 150 media representatives. A total of 3,646 farmers from across the nation and several foreign countries were on hand to take part in a robust slate of educational sessions, tour the large trade show and hear from a wide range of experts and thought-leaders in agriculture. Attendance numbers are preliminary and subject to a final audit.

ICYMI – or you just want to relive it – we have lots of resources for you! Check out the virtual newsrooms below for photos, audio and video from Classic18.

2018 Commodity Classic newsroom
2018 Bayer AgVocacy Forum & Commodity Classic
FMC at 2018 Commodity Classic
John Deere at 2018 Commodity Classic
AMVAC at 2018 Commodity Classic
Farm Credit at 2018 Commodity Classic

AMVAC, Bayer, Commodity Classic, Farm Credit, FMC, John Deere