The Seam, a leading provider of agribusiness software and trading solutions, is launching new business intelligence tools for peanut farmers and handlers with real-time, actionable insights. The tools are part of The Seam’s Peanut Commodity Management Platform, which was released a year ago.- Illinois Nutrient Research & Education Council (NREC) has released “Considerations for First Time Cover Crop Adopters.” This guidebook for Illinois farmers contains the most recent research and information on the best management practices for effectively incorporating a cover crop ahead of soybeans.
Help Finally on the Way for USDA
Secy Perdue greets McKinney and Censky before Senate hearing (USDA Photo)
Yesterday, the Senate voted to formally approved the nominations of Stephen Censky as Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, and Ted McKinney as Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs.
“I am pleased that the U.S. Senate was able to work in a bipartisan and swift manner to confirm Stephen Censky and Ted McKinney,” said Senate Agriculture Committee chair Pat Roberts (R-KS). “Secretary Perdue, help is on the way.”
“I commend the Senate for confirming these two experienced, prepared, and capable nominees, who will provide the steady leadership we need at USDA,” said Secretary Perdue in a statement. “We eagerly await their arrival at USDA, and urge the Senate to continue to act on other nominees who are awaiting confirmation.”
The Senate Agriculture Committee held a hearing with both nominees on September 19. Tomorrow, the committee will hold a hearing on the nominations of Greg Ibach of Nebraska to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, and Bill Northey of Iowa to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services. No hearing has been scheduled yet for Sam Clovis of Iowa, President Trump’s controversial pick for Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics.
A Bayer Phytobac Helps Farms Become More Sustainable
I first learned about the Bayer Phytobac system last year while on a tour in Germany. My second look at this unique innovation to make farms for sustainable came in Germany again this year during the Future of Farming Dialog last month.
With my group of journalists from North America, David Lembrich, Product Stewardship Manager at Bayer, showed us a demonstration unit and talked about how it works and then answered questions. So what is a Phytobac? It’s a system a farmer uses to clean the water used to wash out sprayers by directing it into a special tank.
Phytobac™ – a biological system for the sustainable disposal of crop protection effluent. In the tank, millions of microorganisms immediately take action and start cleaning the water voluntarily.
You can see more details and learn how one German farmer is using it here.
You can listen to David’s presentation here or watch it below: David Lembrich, Phytobac Presentation
Groups Urge Trump to Stop EPA Changes to RFS
Biofuels stakeholder organizations have sent a letter to President Donald Trump, urging him to “act quickly to prevent actions” at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that threaten to undermine future growth of the biofuels industry under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).
“If the proposed changes are finalized, EPA’s actions would cause severe harm to our industry, undermining your efforts to drive economic growth and secure America’s status as the global leader in biofuel production,” wrote the 11 organizations, which include the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), National Biodiesel Board (NBB), and National Corn Growers Association (NCGA).
The letter is a response to rumors of EPA considering “drastic, unprecedented changes” designed to benefit petroleum refiners in which U.S. biofuel export volumes would count towards compliance with the RFS, on top of EPA’s reduction in the total 2018 RFS renewable fuel blending requirements below the levels required in 2017 and consideration of further reductions to the 2018 RFS volumes.
In the letter, the groups clarified that they oppose any weakening of the 15 billion gallon conventional biofuel requirement, believe the proposed reduction of the 2018 advanced biofuel requirement is unwarranted and the current treatment of imports and exports under the RFS should be maintained.
Can-Am adds 50-Inch side-by-side to Maverick Family
It’s time for fall hunting and lots of preparations are underway. I’ll be spending some work days later this week at the Crystal Pig Hunt Club in fact.
So, what will you be driving into the woods or wherever your hunt leads you? How about a brand new Can-Am Maverick?
Can-Am, unflinching in its sworn efforts to solidify its side-by-side vehicle lineup, introduces the 2018 Maverick Trail family of 50-in. (127 cm) class side-by-side vehicles. The new, two-person Can-Am vehicles present trail enthusiasts with new levels of control, convenience, comfort and versatility by supplying an agile, adventurous and confident platform. The Maverick Trail vehicles target off-road enthusiasts with their strategic proficiencies, dogged capabilities and resourceful customization options, helping owners and their passengers escape into nature. Can-Am Maverick family DNA further enhances the class-changing attributes with an impactful design that provides the Maverick Trail family with unmatched styling, durability and fit-and-finish.
The choices, specifications and overall description of this addition to the Can-Am lineup is too long to share here. But you can find out a lot more here.
Percy is Demystifying Science at Bayer
My main man Adrian Percy, Bayer CropScience, is definitely a voice to help people understand the highly technical world of science and agriculture today. I’m really happy to see him blogging about it! Here’s an excerpt from his latest in a 3-part series on the subject.
After many years involved in conducting research to evaluate the safety of our products, I’m still surprised that there are many people who not only don’t appreciate the incredible accomplishments of modern agriculture, but who also believe that its products and practices threaten people, wildlife and the environment. Where I see miraculous innovations that will help sustainably feed the world, they see a profit-driven industry with no regard to safety. Why do we view the world through such different lenses?
Why do we? And how do we educate people who are caught up in emotional movements that don’t have any basis in science or fact? I try to with my online channels and I’m glad that Adrian is too.
If you read Adrian’s post you’ll see him mention how so much information is shared “in a world where scientific debates are often framed by 140-character tweets.” I’d add that so many tweets are sent just on the emotion of the moment without careful thought about the message and its impact. Fortunately, companies like Bayer and many farm organizations are working diligently to use our new channels of communication to help with this process of demystifying science.
Ag Export Coalition Urges Increased Funding for Export Programs
More than 120 members of the Coalition to Promote U.S. Agricultural Exports are urging leaders of the House Committee on Agriculture to increase funding for USDA export promotion programs in the new farm bill.
The coalition ssent a letter to Committee Chairman Michael Conaway (R-TX), and Ranking Minority Member Collin Peterson (D-MN), asking them to increase funding for the Market Access Program (MAP) to $400 million annually and the Foreign Market Development (FMD) program to $69 million annually, phasing in the additional funding over the life of the next farm bill. Coalition members include virtually all of the major commodity organizations, as well as state and regional groups, representing everything from apples to wine.
“Over the years we’ve had a decrease in funding based on sequestration, administrative costs, and just overall inflation and depreciation of the U.S. dollar,” said Mark Powers, president of Northwest Horticultural Council and chairman of the coalition. “It’s a very positive public-private partnership, but the real purchasing power of those matching funds provided to MAP and FMD has decreased over the years.”
MAP and FMD are cost-share programs. Overall, producers and other participants contributed matching funds representing 70 percent of total program funds in 2016. Federal MAP funding has been apportioned at an annual level of $200 million since 2006 and FMD at its annual level of $34.5 million since 2002.
In this interview, Powers talks about how successful the programs have been and how important exports are to specialty crop producers, and you can learn more at AgExportsCount.org. Interview with Mark Powers, NW Horticultural Council
Animal Ag Bites 10/2
Seven decades after its founding, Sanderson Farms is proud to still be providing jobs in the United States. They are currently the only Fortune 1000 company headquartered in Mississippi and have no plans to ever leave.- Rachel Robinson from Kansas City, Missouri, has joined the American Angus Association as a senior communications specialist.
- The September Dairy Market Report is now available on the National Milk Producers Federation website.
- A team comprised of member of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) helped to ensure the survival of thousands of cattle during Hurricane Irma. The team oversaw efforts to get two dozen freight cars of feed through to the Lake Okeechobee area.
- BIOMIN, a feed additive producer, has announced plans to strengthen its commitment to the Mexican poultry and livestock sectors by adding a local business unit in Guadalajara, Mexico.
- Ree Drummond, also known as the The Pioneer Woman, will be the keynote speaker at the 2018 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show.
- The American Sheep Industry Association is hosting the Let’s Grow Webinar on Ewe Selection and Culling of Underperforming Ewes with Maryland’s Susan Schoenian on October 3, 2017.
Bayer Showcasing Commitment to Cotton
The Head of Seeds, North America, for Bayer CropScience is Lee Rivenbark. Lee was a lunchtime presenter during the Bayer Showcase Plot Tour in Lubbock, TX. I thought he would be a great person to provide an overview of why Bayer holds these events and especially the one in their new Cotton Breeding Station. He started out by telling me, “Today gives us a unique opportunity to interact with our growers. That’s what we’re here to do today.”
The event allows growers to hear about Bayer’s new technologies, germplasm, new varieties and commitment to agriculture and the cotton industry. Probably the most visible sign of that commitment is the Cotton Breeding Station itself. Growers got to tour the facility and see some of the equipment Bayer is using in its research. You can see photos from that part of the tour in the photo album below.
For more on what was going on during the day listen in to my interview with Lee: Interview with Lee Rivenbark, Bayer
GROWMARK Announces 2018 Essay Contest Theme
For the past 25 years, GROWMARK has challenged students to think creatively about the future of agriculture and how cooperatives can continue to thrive and contribute to the industry through an annual essay contest.
This year’s 2018 GROWMARK Essay Contest asks students “How can cooperatives demonstrate their value to the next generation of agriculturists?” All high school FFA members in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin can participate.
GROWMARK invites students to submit essays online by November 10, 2017. Winning students in each state receive $500, with the winner’s FFA chapter receiving $300.