Mike Johanns, former U.S. Agriculture Secretary and Nebraska Senator, is now serving on the board of directors of the Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska.- The American Soybean Association reminds growers the deadline to submit a nomination for the Recognition Awards Program is October 27, 2017 at midnight. This year’s program includes three new categories: ASA Outstanding State Volunteer Award, ASA Distinguished Leadership Award, and the ASA Pinnacle Award.
- “Grow by FarmHer” events are now in their third year of inspiring, educating and empowering young women in agriculture. Their upcoming slate of events are at: Iowa State University on Monday, November 6; the University of Minnesota on Tuesday, November 7; and the University of Wisconsin- Madison on Thursday, November 9.
- Recently critics took to the Hill to attack crop insurance. The National Association of Wheat Growers has responded with an informational video about the program.
- The Yield Lab St. Louis 2018 Accelerator program encourages start-ups seeking to revolutionize agriculture and food system to apply by November 3, 2017. Selected companies will receive $100,000 in investment, 1 on 1 mentoring, and access to the award-winning accelerator program and global agtech network.
Celebrating National Farmers Day
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is among organizations celebrating Oct. 12 as National Farmers Day. RFA honors farmers for providing food, fuel and fiber for the nation and the world.
According to new monthly U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates issued today, America’s farmers are forecast to produce 14.28 billion bushels of corn for the 2017/2018 marketing year, up 96 million bushels from last month. Additionally, farmers are estimated to have a corn yield of 171.8 bushels per acre, up 1.9 bushels from the September forecast. If realized, these would be the second highest U.S. corn production and yields on record.
Last year, the U.S. ethanol industry used 5.43 billion bushels of corn, valued at $18.8 billion, to make 15.3 billion gallons of ethanol and 42 million metric tons of animal feed. Ethanol and agriculture continue to work hand in hand, helping to fuel and feed the world.
“Ethanol provides a vital value-added market for corn and other commodities, providing an economic boost to rural America,” said Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen. “Meantime, ethanol is helping to clean the air, reduce our reliance on petroleum, boost local economies and lower prices at the pump. Tremendous increases in the productivity of U.S. farmers have ensured ample supplies of grain are available for food, feed and fuel. Farmers touch every part of our lives and today, we give thanks for National Farmers Day.”
Weather Variability Affecting Silage Crop
Dairy producers at the 2017 World Dairy Expo had two primary questions for Alltech Farm Specialist Pat Crowley regarding silage. Those questions centered around variability of the crop this year because of unique weather patterns in the Midwest, and what to expect from the silage because of those factors.
Crowley says farmers are typically producing silage each fall they will use for the next 12 to 18 months. Analysis of fresh samples straight out of the field can help them to know what to expect from each year’s crop. But Crowley says producing good silage begins with planting.
“If you want quality in the end, we’ve got to start with quality in the beginning. We’ve got to look at correct seed selection, correct tillage practices, what type of fertilizers,” said Crowley.
Other factors later in the season like chopping height can also be a factor. Crowley likes to sit down with both producers and custom harvesters to ensure everyone is on the same page before heading into a new season.
Listen to Jamie’s interview with Pat Crowley here: Interview with Pat Crowley, Alltech
2017 World Dairy Expo Photo Album
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Hubbard Fitting Well Into Alltech Family
Hubbard Feeds is a heritage brand with a strong history. Today Hubbard is a part of the Alltech family, and that transition has gone very well, says Ken Petersen, general manager for the central part of the United States covering an area from Minnesota to Missouri.
“Our focus in the past has always been on animals that produce meat, milk and eggs. I think that will continue to be our main focus,” said Petersen. “But I think what will set us apart from others in the industry is the technologies that Alltech has and they’ve always been a leader in that area, and I think that’s been one of the things that has made them so strong.”
Petersen says new technologies will continue to lead Hubbard into the future, especially with a transition away from antibiotics in the animal feed industry.
Listen to Jamie’s interview with Ken Petersen here: Interview with Ken Petersen, Hubbard
2017 World Dairy Expo Photo Album
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Florida Citrus Production Takes Hit From Irma
Aerial view of flooded citrus groves after Hurricane Irma from Sen. Rubio tour
The first citrus forecast for the season from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service is calling for the all orange forecast for the 2017-2018 season to 4.34 million tons, down 16 percent from the 2016-2017 final utilization.
The Florida all orange forecast, at 54.0 million boxes (2.43 million tons), is down 21 percent from last season’s final utilization. Early, midseason, and Navel varieties in Florida are forecast at 23.0 million boxes (1.04 million tons), down 30 percent from last season’s final utilization. The Florida Valencia orange forecast, at 31.0 million boxes (1.40 million tons), is down 13 percent from last season’s final utilization.
The California forecast is also lower than last year at 35.0 million boxes (1.40 million tons), down 11 percent from last season’s final utilization, while the Texas all orange forecast, at 1.65 million boxes (70,000 tons), is up 20 percent from last year.
AgNet Media has carried the citrus forecast live from USDA for many years. Listen to Gary Cooper with Candi Erick, agricultural statistics administrator with the Florida Agricultural Statistics Service, who gives the numbers: AgNet Media Oct 2017 Citrus Crop Forecast
ZimmCast with Simon Pampena
This week’s Youth Ag Summit in Brussels, Belgium featured moderator Simon Pampena, Australian Numeracy Ambassador and contributor to Science Channel’s Outrageous Acts of Science. Jamie Johansen is on location there and talked with Simon about what he does which includes being a professional nerd and math comedian.
Simon also moderated the Summit in Australia two years ago. He says science, like agriculture, needs to become better at telling stories. He loves engaging with young people, motivating them and seeing them make connections and become agvocates. You can learn more in this week’s program.
Listen to the ZimmCast here: ZimmCast with Simon Pampena
You can find more of Jamie’s coverage of the Youth Ag Summit on AgNewsWire.
2017 Youth Ag Summit Photo Album
Subscribe to the ZimmCast podcast here. Use this url in iTunes or your favorite news reader program/app.
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AFBF Endorses Farmers for Free Trade
American Farm Bureau Federation Zippy Duvall took part in a press conference this week to support Farmers for Free Trade, a bipartisan campaign to rebuild support for trade at the grassroots level.
Farmers for Free Trade, led by former Senators Max Baucus and Richard Lugar, is a bipartisan, non-profit organization that informs, mobilizes and amplifies the voice of U.S. farmers and ranchers who depend on worldwide markets. This critical grassroots push comes at a time when trade is under fire, despite the fact that U.S. farmers export half of all major commodities, contributing to a $20 billion agricultural trade surplus this year and supporting millions of rural jobs.
The press conference call also included remarks from Farmers for Free Trade Co-Chairs Baucus and Lugar, Sara Lilygren, President of the Farmers for Free Trade Board; and Kansas Farm Bureau President Rich Felts.
Thanks to Julie Harker with Brownfield Ag News for sharing the audio – but there is a lot of background and extraneous noise, likely caused by the number of participants on open lines.
FFT presser opening comments
FFT presser questions
FS FAST STOP Retailers Registered as TOP TIER™ Diesel Fuel Sites
FS FAST STOP locations are among the first to become registered TOP TIER™ Diesel Fuel sites under a program developed by leading diesel equipment manufacturers who recognized the benefits of additized diesel fuel in their engines.
The TOP TIER program, originally launched in 2004, focused on gasoline standards before introducing a diesel fuel standard this September. FAST STOP locations featuring Dieselex® Gold are among the first retailers to earn the new certification.
“We strive to provide the best fuel standard in the industry by not only meeting, but exceeding, the new TOP TIER Diesel Fuel standards,” said Curt Dunafin, GROWMARK energy services manager. “Additional performance benefits of Dieslex Gold include: cleaning up dirty engines, controlling moisture, faster starts, lower emissions, and extending storage stability.”
In this interview, Dunafin talks about why quality diesel fuel is important, especially with new engine efficiencies.
Interview with Curt Dunafin, GROWMARK EnergyImproving Crops Through Biological Products
Alltech Crop Science is bringing biological and natural products into crops to make them better. Technical Advisor Brian Springer says the company has a broad portfolio that really sets it apart from similar companies that only offer one or two products.
When working with dairy customers like those at the 2017 World Dairy Expo, Springer often answers questions about how to help improve silage.
“And it’s not only about tonnage. A lot of times it’s about quality. If you can get more milk per ton of the same silage, that’s important. So we really do focus on that,” Springer said. “We have a lot of research done in Wisconsin specifically on those topics. We look at plant health. We look at the nutrition going into the plant and the nutrition coming back out.”
Springer says Alltech has people collaborating from both the animal side and the plant health side to help identify problems and find solutions on the farm.
Listen to Jamie’s interview with Brian Springer here: Interview with Brian Springer, Alltech Crop Science
2017 World Dairy Expo Photo Album
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National Hay Association: Forages Important to Dairy Industry
National Hay Association President Amy Freeburg has been a commercial hay grower supplying the dairy industry for 45 years. Alfalfa hay is a key feed used in the dairy industry, but Freeburg says wheat straw is also used in dairy rations because it floats in the rumen of the cow. Members of the association also grow grasses for dairy goats, horses and to sell to zoos.
Freeburg says technology has become prevalent in the forage industry just as it has in other parts of agriculture. Her booth at the 2017 World Dairy Expo included a brand new probe to take temperature and moisture readings of individual hay bales.
“The end user on the other end can see how hot the hay got, or how much moisture was in it before it started to cool back down. It’s quite a new technology. The back side of it is, though, that your hay barns have to have wifi because these little probes all have to have some kind of an internet connection,” she said.
Freeburg said the forage market has also become a global market, with China, Japan and India representing important export opportunities.
Listen to more of Jamie’s interview with Amy Freeburg here: Interview with Amy Freeburg, National Hay Association
2017 World Dairy Expo Photo Album
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