Biofuels Industry Reacts to Final RVO Numbers

Cindy Zimmerman

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released today its final Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) renewable volume obligations (RVOs) for 2018.

The agency finalized a total renewable fuel volume of 19.29 billion gallons, including 4.29 billion advanced biofuel – a slight increase from the proposal – and 288 million gallons of cellulosic biofuel. The agency maintained the requirement for conventional renewable fuels like corn ethanol at 15 billion gallons. EPA also kept the requirement for biomass-based diesel at 2.1 billion gallons again for 2019.

Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen says they are pleased that the final rule maintains the statutory requirement for ethanol. “The final rule is a marked improvement, increasing both total renewable fuel and cellulosic biofuel volumes by 50 million gallons over the proposed levels. Still, we would encourage EPA to closely monitor the commercialization of new cellulosic technologies, particularly regarding corn kernel fiber conversion, because we believe greater cellulosic production is likely. The RFS needs to remain a forward-looking program, driving investment in these new technologies.”

Hear Dinneen’s comments: RFA CEO Bob Dinneen comments on Final RVO

Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor – “The EPA’s on-time announcement upholds the statutory targets for conventional biofuels, which will provide much-needed certainty for hard-pressed rural communities. We would like to have seen a boost to the target blending levels for cellulosic biofuels, and we will continue to work with the administration to advance the RFS goal of further stimulating growth and showing U.S. leadership in 21st century fuels.”

Skor’s comments: Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor comments on Final RVO

American Coalition for Ethanol CEO Brian Jennings says the advanced biofuel volume of 4.29 billion gallons “represents a modest step in the right direction for the RFS” to “reassure retailers that it makes sense to offer E15 and flex fuels.”

Jennings’s comments – ACE CEO Brian Jennings comments on Final RVO

National Biodiesel Board chief operating officer Doug Whitehead says the industry is disappointed in the final numbers but optimistic moving forward “to right this wrong for future volumes.”

Whitehead’s comments – NBB's Doug Whitehead comments on Final RVO

Audio, Biodiesel, Biofuels, Ethanol, RFA

AMVAC® to Market and Sell ReTurn™ XL

Cindy Zimmerman

AMVAC® Chemical Corporation has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Rotam North America to market and sell ReTurn™ XL 42% insecticide/nematicide, a broad-spectrum oxymyl-based crop protection product which recently received federal registration to manage nematodes and control various sucking and chewing insects in potato, cotton, tobacco and peanut crops.

“AMVAC has been selected because of their long and successful history of crop protection sales, marketing and stewardship in specialty crops. It’s the right partnership to bring this product to key crop segments,” said Rotam North America Vice President of Global Marketing and Business Communications Tom Chavez.

AMVAC Vice President of Business Development and Marketing Peter Eilers said they are excited about the agreement. “We are well-aligned to market this product to specialty crop segments, and we will be working directly with distributors and retailers to ensure that the product gets into the hands of the grower in 2018,” said Eilers.

ReTurn XL includes two-way foliar and soil systemic activity for above and below ground protection, making it an excellent pest management option for growers. It allows for optimal control of key pests so that cotton, potato and peanut plants get off to their best start, helping to maximize the grower’s yield and return on investment.

AgWired Precision, AMVAC, Crop Protection, Insecticides

FBN Launches E-Commerce Platform

Carrie Muehling

Farmers have another option when it comes to buying inputs with a new e-commerce platform offered by Farmers Business Network (FBN).

FBN currently encompasses more than 16 million acres of farmland across the United States growing a variety of crops. FBN Vice President Charles Baron said customers can now buy inputs online with national pricing and financing programs to provide more transparency for growers.

“Buyers come to us wanting very specific genetics or very specific varieties of soybean, for example, or wanting a non-GMO crop,” said Baron. “If a grower is participating in FBN, then we can instantly identify them and bring them those opportunities as soon as we can get them from buyers. We’re out there working with buyers all across the country and all across the world to bring new premiums and bring offers for their crop.”

Baron said members can share data about agronomic practices, seed performance and price intelligence regarding seed and crop protection products. FBN also recently launched a crop marketing service.

Listen to Chuck’s interview from NAFB Trade Talk: Interview with Charles Baron, FBN

2017 NAFB Convention Photos

Coverage of the NAFB Convention is sponsored by
Coverage of the NAFB Convention is sponsored by FMC
Audio, NAFB

Deere ExactApply™ Nozzle Control System Wins AE50 Award

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) has recognized the ExactApply™ Nozzle Control System from John Deere with the AE50 Award for 2018. The award highlights the year’s most innovative designs in product engineering in the food and agriculture industry, as chosen by a panel of international engineering experts.

Introduced in 2016, the ExactApply Nozzle Control system provides sprayer operators a comprehensive solution that improves the coverage and control of spray applications due to an industry-exclusive Pulse Width Modulation (30 hertz pulsing) and automatic A/B nozzle switching from the sprayer cab. The system also offers operators turn compensation, individual nozzle on/off control, LED lights in each nozzle body for improved visibility, and smart diagnostics to improve, monitor and document sprayer applications at the nozzle.

Doug Felter, product marketing manager for sprayers at John Deere, says ExactApply enhances existing technology on the market and combines it into one innovative product completely integrated into John Deere R-Series Sprayers and rate control systems.

Listen to Felter talk about the nozzle system at the 2017 John Deere Product Reveal. Doug Felter, John Deere ExactApply Nozzle System

Audio, Equipment, John Deere, Technology

ARA Presents Distinguished Service and Lifetime Awards

Cindy Zimmerman

The Agricultural Retailers Association recognized the 40-year career of William “Tip” O’Neill with the Jack Eberspacher Lifetime Achievement Award, and presented the Distinguished Service Award to long-time board member Steve Nielsen during the ARA Conference and Expo in Phoenix this week.

Nielsen, most recently general counsel and corporate secretary for United Suppliers, joined the ARA board of directors in 2011. He has been an active board member during his tenure. In 2012, he participated in the Leadership at its Best program, and later served as chair of the Public Policy Committee. He frequently advocates on behalf of the industry in Washington, D.C.

O’Neill has been with International Raw Materials since its founding in 1979. Based in Philadelphia, IRM is an international marketing company specializing in the wholesale distribution of fertilizers and industrial chemicals. For many years, he served on the ARA Executive Committee of the Board of Directors and has been a steadfast supporter of the fertilizer industry’s advocacy and education efforts.

Listen to remarks from both honorees:
ARA Distinguished Service, Steve Nielsen
ARA Lifetime Achievement, Tip O'Neill
2017 ARA Conference and Expo Photo Album

AgWired Precision, ARA, Audio

Asmus Farm Supply Named ARA Retailer of the Year

Cindy Zimmerman

The Agricultural Retailers Association this week presented Asmus Farm Supply of Rake, Iowa with the 2017 Retailer of the Year at the ARA conference and expo in Phoenix.

The operation is lead by second-generation owners Harlan and Amy Asmus, who accepted the award along with their sons Garrett and Holden and daughter-in-law, Billie. Mark Helt, National Sales Manager for Monsanto, and ARA President and CEO Daren Coppock (far right), presented the award.

“Asmus farm supply started in the 1950s by my late father Harvey,” said Harlan. “Our customer relationships go deep-decades and three generations.”

“The family business goes beyond the ownership of the business. Everyone who works for and with Asmus Farm Supply is really part of that family,” said Amy.

AFS has five locations serving farmers in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota.

Read more about the Asmus’ from ARA, and listen to Harlan and Amy’s comments here: 2017 ARA Retailer of the Year

2017 ARA Conference and Expo Photo Album

AgWired Precision, ARA, Audio

“Change not a Choice” for Agribusiness

Chuck Zimmerman

The recent merger of Dow and DuPont is just one of the high profile deals in the agribusiness world that mean significant changes for the industry going forward. DowDuPont Agriculture Division Leader Jim Collins addressed the current consolidation atmosphere in the industry as opening keynote speaker at the 2017 ARA Conference & Expo in Phoenix this week.

“I know this industry recognizes, perhaps more than any other industry, that change is not a choice,” said Collins. “We confront it almost every day, as Mother Nature presents us with new challenges.”

In his address, Collins discusses the factors fueling changes, and the “constructive consolidation” of DowDuPont: Jim Collins, DowDuPont, at ARA2017

2017 ARA Conference and Expo Photo Album

Agribusiness, ARA, Audio

Arizona FFA Leaders Welcome ARA Conference

Chuck Zimmerman

This morning the opening general session of the 2017 ARA Conference & Expo got underway. ARA President/CEO, Daren Coppock, introduced us to Anisa Hermosillo, Arizona State FFA President and Sarah Toth, State Secretary.

Our keynote speaker after Anisa and Sarah spoke said he hates having to follow FFA leaders on the stage. I think you will hear why since I recorded their comments and invocation. I hope you enjoy it.

Arizona FFA Welcome: Arizona FFA Welcome

2017 ARA Conference and Expo Photo Album

ARA, Audio, FFA

ARA Explores Lessons Learned From Dicamba

Cindy Zimmerman

Two respected weed scientists presented their views on the lessons learned from this year’s introduction of new dicamba formulations for control of resistant weeds at a pre-conference workshop for the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) this week.

Dr. Ford Baldwin, Practical Weed Consultants, was extension weed scientist at the University of Arkansas for 28 years. Dr. Stanley Culpepper is a professor and Extension Agronomist in the Crop and Soil Science Department at the University of Georgia. Each had very different experiences with dicamba products in their states this year and shared their stories with ag retailers with the goal of applying the lessons learned to next year.

Arkansas led the nation in dicamba complaints in 2017 with over 1000, while Georgia had none. Listen to their presentations below.

Dicamba Lessons Learned, Ford Baldwin, Arkansas
Dicamba Lessons Learned, Stanley Culpepper, UGA
2017 ARA Conference and Expo Photo Album

AgWired Precision, ARA, Crop Protection, Herbicide, weed management

AdFarm Announces Changes

Cindy Zimmerman

AdFarm has made some organizational changes for the future, including the appointment of Ben Graham as president of the agency.

Graham moves into his new position after a 20-year tenure with AdFarm in various strategic roles. Hailing from a third generation Alberta farm family, Graham brings to his role more than 20 years of experience in leading strategic brand and communications efforts on behalf of leading companies in crop protection, equipment and technology, animal health and commodities.

Julia King has been named as Director of Client Services (U.S.) and Tracy Clark as Director of Client Services (Canada). King joins AdFarm with more than 15 years’ experience in account planning, research and strategic planning. Clark has been with the agency in Canada since 2014.

Agencies