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

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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

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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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Cotton Market Update from Mid-South Farm & Gin Show

Jamie Johansen

A larger cotton crop than expected sets tone for an unusual year for the cotton market. Senior Cotton Analyst, Informa Economics, Kip Butts, was on hand at the recent Mid-South Farm & Gin Show to shed light on the current cotton market, where cotton stands with farm bill changes and what 2018 will look like.

“I think we will find out the latest USDA number will be a little lower in the near term. We have the second largest export sales on record. Those shipments are a little behind. Part of that is due to logistic problems, warehouse delays, trucking issues which have occurred this year…it is divided on if we will ship out as much as we thought,” Butts said.

Many cotton growers have had some challenges over the course of the year, but Butts said overall a great crop year as fair as production is concerned. However, challenges are expected throughout Texas with very dry conditions in the West. Timely rains could solve those predictions.

The cotton industry has needed more price security and the recent budget agreement provided just that. “It’s not the know all end all, but it’s certainly an improvement. And it helps the cotton farmers quite a lot,” Butts said.

Listen to my complete conversation with Kip to learn more about the current market and the impact future trade deals would have on cotton: Interview with Kip Butts, Informa Economics

View and download photos from the event here: 2018 Farm & Gin Show Photo Album

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Pork Industry Honors Tom Baas with Award

Cindy Zimmerman

The National Pork Board last week awarded former Iowa State University animal science professor at Tom Baas the Distinguished Service Award during the National Pork Industry Forum in Kansas City. The award is presented each year to recognize an industry leader’s lifelong contribution to the pork industry.

“Tom has provided extraordinary leadership to the pork industry,” said National Pork Board President Terry O’Neel, a pork producer from Friend, Nebraska. “Through the years, he worked tirelessly for the advancement of the pork industry and mentored numerous students at Iowa State University.”

Baas grew up in Kossuth County, Iowa, graduating high school in West Bend. He earned his bachelor’s degree in animal science and later his master’s and Ph.D. all from Iowa State University. Baas worked in various aspects of the pork industry, including with the Duroc Swine Registry and on his own farm raising pigs, before he became a mainstay at Iowa State University as an animal science professor and advisor.

Learn more about Tom in this interview from Pork Forum:
Interview with NPB Distinguished Service Award winner Tom Baas

2018 Pork Forum Photos

(photo courtesy of National Pork Board)

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Corn Growers Care About RINs

Cindy Zimmerman

The vast majority of people know nothing and care less about Renewable Identification Numbers, or RINs, the multi-digit code created under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) as a way to encourage refiners to blend more biofuels. But corn farmers both know and care what RINS are and why they are important.

As U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue took questions on the main stage in the Commodity Classic Trade Show Thursday, former National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) president Pam Johnson of Iowa wanted to know specifically if the secretary supported a cap on RIN prices. “Because as a farmer, I do care about RINs, because we would be limited to the demand we have now,” said Johnson.

“No, I don’t think a cap on RINs is the solution, but we’ve got to engage in how to use this opportunity to grow demand…we can’t sit back and just say no, no, no, no,” Perdue answered. “My goal is to get the RVP waiver in a way where we can have E15 pumps be the norm by 2022.”

Audio file: Pam Johnson/Secretary Perdue

After two meetings on the issue at the White House last week, NCGA president Kevin Skunes said the corn growers don’t understand the problem. “Farmers care about RIN values, not because we want them to be high, but because we want the RIN market mechanism to work freely to incentivize blending. Increased blending will, in turn, lower RIN values, exactly the way the RFS is intended to work. Government manipulation of the RIN market, on the other hand, disrupts the incentive to blend.”

NCGA passed a resolution asking President Trump to retain the current RIN system without change.

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Animal Ag Bites 3/5

Carrie Muehling

  • Dairy checkoff partner Pizza Hut has increased the amount of cheese on its pan pizzas by 25 percent, a move that will require an additional 150 million pounds of milk annually to meet the change. The project was made possible thanks to dairy scientist Nitin Joshi, a Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) employee who works onsite at Pizza Hut’s headquarters in Plano, Texas. Pan pizza is the chain’s signature product offering and the new formulations are now available at more than 6,000 restaurants nationwide.
  • The Dairy Calf and Heifer Association (DCHA) is now accepting applications for its annual scholarship program. The annual DCHA scholarship is awarded to a student currently enrolled in an agriculture-related program at an accredited college or university. Applicants must have completed at least one year of post-high school education. An individual may only receive the scholarship once. Download the application here. Applications are due March 30, 2018.
  • The 2018 National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Legislative Conference is scheduled for April 10-12 in Washington, D.C. To register, click here.
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Secretary Perdue Announces Cotton Assistance at #MSFGS2018

Cindy Zimmerman

Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue visited the annual Mid-South Farm and Gin Show in Memphis for the first time Saturday and brought good news for cotton growers.

“We are announcing a Cotton Ginning Cost Share (CGCS) program,” Perdue said to applause from a large crowd at the show, adding that it took longer than he wanted to get the assistance for the industry. “I had to look in between every cushion in every couch in USDA,” he said. The program will assist growers from the Southeastern U.S. to the San Joaquin Valley of California as they prepare to plant this season’s crop.

The National Cotton Council says the program will offset part of a cotton producer’s 2016 crop season ginning cost to help fill the safety net void until the seed cotton ARC/PLC program is implemented beginning with the 2018 crop year.

The sign-up period for the CGCS program runs from March 12, 2018, to May 11, 2018.

Audio file: Secretary Perdue at Mid-South Farm and Gin Show

Thanks to the “retired” Forrest Laws on hand for the announcement Saturday morning for helping us out with this content.

2018 Farm & Gin Show Photo Album

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FMC Expanding Crop Protection for Wheat, Cereal Crops

Carrie Muehling

FMC‘s acquisition of a portion of DuPont’s crop protection business expands the portfolio available to wheat and cereal crop producers in places like Montana and the Dakotas.

“The value in the short term means more tools,” said John Raisler, FMC Retail Market Manager for the Northern Plains. “Over the long term, that’s what is the most exciting. Looking at some of the things that are in the pipeline that FMC acquired and some of what FMC themselves had in their pipeline that will be coming along, it’s new modes of action. It’s a great opportunity to look at what we can do in the future as far as battling resistance because it isn’t going away.”

Raisler said the acquisition expands the portfolio, providing good tools to use for burn down in both spring and fall, and in crop in cereals.

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

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66th Annual Farm & Gin Show

Jamie Johansen

The 66th Annual Mid-South Farm & Gin Show takes place in Memphis, Tennessee March 2-3, 2018. The farm show focuses on crops grown in this region with special interest and history centered around cotton. The Show Manager, Tim Price, said they have over 400 exhibitors. He also shared what sets this show apart and why attendees keep coming back year after year.

“We have a combination of educational seminars along with a great backdrop of the latest and greatest in agriculture. We range from conventional and traditional methods to cutting-edge. This event is meant for the professional decision maker involved in commercial ag production,” Price said.

Price also said it is the perfect time to come to the show. It’s too wet to plow, too muddy to fish, so come to the Gin Show. But added, “It’s another watershed year for our industry, we have so much change, so much uncertainty in the world with trade and farm programs. I think people know they need to pay more attention to the markets, how they can become more efficient; that is what we try to provide.”

Listen to our complete conversation here: Interview with Tim Price, Show Manager

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
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