Monsanto has filed a complaint in Pulaski County Circuit Court in response to the Arkansas Plant Board’s decision to continue Arkansas’s ban of XtendiMax® for the 2018 growing season. The Plant Board overlooked extensive volatility data provided to it – including data EPA used in its registration decision, says Scott Partridge, Vice President of Global Strategy.- The AgGateway Annual Conference in San Diego, California will feature speakers on Inventory Management, “Design Thinking,” and Farm Data Challenges. The 2017 conference theme is “Efficiency-Opportunity-Profitability” and takes place November 6-9 at the Hilton Resort & Spa.
- Verdesian Life Sciences is offering growers a money back guarantee on their AVAIL and/or NutriSphere-N products for the coming season. Growers are guaranteed an increased yield or Verdesian will cover the product costs.
- Precision Tank, a leader in liquid storage solutions, has unveiled a new brand identity. The new brand represents the capabilities of two industry leaders, the former Precision Tank & Equipment (PT&E) and A & B Welding companies.
- Adama, a global crop protection company, has entered into agreements with Syngenta AG to transfer certain crop protection products and distribution rights in exchange for products in the Nufarm Limited line. These transfers are part of the acquisition of Syngenta by ChemChina.
National FFA Kicks Off Today
Today is the official start of the 90th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, but the blue coats have been seen around the city for the past week, since the national officer team joined state and local officials last Thursday in a welcoming ceremony that included turning the downtown Indy canal blue.
This year, the theme of the convention and expo is I Can. We Will. More than 64,000 FFA members from across the U.S., representing all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, are expected to attend the event.
The convention and expo kicks off with the National FFA Band leading a grand march down Georgia Street in downtown Indianapolis today. The march will end at Bankers Life Fieldhouse and usher in the start of the opening session. The National FFA Convention & Expo is scheduled to be held in Indianapolis through 2024.
Our Jamie Johansen is at the convention, doing some judging today and then heading to the opening session to see USDA secretary Sonny Perdue’s address.
Next Generation Will Help Solve Food Production Challenges
Bayer understands the importance of engaging the next generation as the company works towards improving society’s understanding of food production and the challenges associated with it. That was part of the message to young people attending the 2017 Youth Ag Summit in Brussels.
“I think in the past, years ago, we probably had the image that we are a highly innovative company as far as products are concerned, solutions for the farmer, but we believe that innovation has to take place also in other areas, particularly sustainability, but also social responsibility, so we want to address all categories,” said Bernd Napf, head of business affairs and communications.
Napf told participants in this year’s conference to continue to stay engaged as Bayer works to build a large community that will help to support food production on this planet.
Listen to Jamie’s interview with Bernd Napf here: Interview with Bernd Napf, Bayer Business Affairs & Communications
View and download photos from the event here: 2017 Youth Ag Summit Photo Album
New John Deere Round Balers and Accumulators
John Deere has a new line of Round Balers – the O Series. I talked with Jason Eubanks, Engineering Team Leader, John Deere, about the baler as well as the new Accumulator Attachments.
With the introduction of the 0 Series Round Balers for the 2018 haying season, John Deere is offering its first North American-built round baler precutter and the industry’s first 5-foot precutter baler.
In addition to the new 0 Series Round Balers, John Deere is introducing two models of round bale accumulators to give customers the ability to carry up to two round bales behind the baler while making a third bale in the chamber. The new John Deere A520R and A420R Plus2 Accumulators are fully integrated into the design of the balers and can be used with 6-foot diameter John Deere 7, 8, 9 and 0 Series Round Balers.
Learn more from Jason in our interview – Interview with Jason Eubanks, Round Balers
2017 Sunbelt Ag Expo Photo Album
Stories from Sunbelt Ag Expo sponsored by 
Today is Full of Bologna
Today is National Bologna Day and the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (NHDSC) has joined with the Beef Checkoff to celebrate by unveiling a new guide to bologna that tells you everything you could ever want to know about this lunch time staple that originated in Bologna, Italy as a variation of mortadella. It can also be spelled baloney, which is more American, and you can also test your knowledge with a bologna quiz and check out a range of bologna recipes.
“Bologna is an American classic that links us back to our childhoods,” said NHDSC President Eric Mittenthal. “No matter how it is served, it is a guaranteed crowd pleaser.”
Bologna is often served differently depending upon where people live. While most Americans have enjoyed traditional sliced bologna that is common on store shelves around the country, regional styles vary. In the Midwest, ring bolognas are often the preferred choice. These are smaller in diameter and sold as a semi-circle or a ring and may be sliced and eaten with crackers or split lengthwise and enjoyed in pastas and other dishes. Lebanon bologna is popular in Pennsylvania. It’s a beef bologna that is heavily smoked, known for its tangy and smoky flavor. In Ohio, traditional bologna is often thick cut and fried before being enjoyed on a sandwich and in Memphis it is smoked and served with BBQ sauce. The Baltimore style hot dog features bologna wrapped around the hot dog for a meaty masterpiece.
So if people tell you that you’re full of baloney today – say Thank You!
Registration Open for ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference 2018
Like the song from “A Chorus Line” says, ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference is a singular sensation, a thrilling combination, and a one of a kind experience, and it’s scheduled to be held May 20–23, 2018 once again in Lexington, Kentucky.
An idea, even in its root meaning, is “to see.” Da Vinci, Einstein, Edison, the Wright brothers, Tesla, Bell, Borlaug and Fleming — they had the ability to see what others could not. Because they opened their eyes to possibilities and thrived in pursuit of them, we have light. We have abundant food. We can even fly. Ideas change everything. The transformative power of ideas will be the focus of ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference 2018. Join us to explore how ideas can germinate into innovations that change the course of our businesses and lives.
The annual Alltech symposium, which draws 5,000 people to Lexington each May, is the brain child of Irish entrepreneur and scientist Dr. Pearse Lyons, founder of Alltech. Founded in 1980 with just $10,000 and a dream, Alltech now has more than 100 manufacturing sites globally and is a leading producer and processor of yeast and organic trace minerals. “If I can do, rest assured, you can do it,” say Dr. Lyons. “And that’s the message of ONE.”
Listen to Dr. Lyons explain what ONE is: Dr. Pearse Lyons, Alltech, explains ONE
Registration for ONE is now open. Register before Nov. 1 to save $600. To view last year’s presentations, visit ideas.alltech.com, where access is free after sign-up.
Meet the North American #YouthAgSummit Delegates
North America was represented by nine young agricultural minds at the 3rd Youth Ag Summit held in Brussels, Belgium. The North American delegates along with 91 of their international peers joined forces to talk about change for a better future.
Bayer Crop Science has a continued focus on feeding a growing world sustainably and organized the conference enabling youth to take the conversation further. I was able to sit down with four of the nine to learn more about their ideas for change and what ‘3 Little Things’ they have created to help put those ideas into action.
U.S. Delegates:
Benjamin Carson – Interview with Ben Carson
Emily Buck – Interview with Emily Buck
Noah Hamlish – Interview with Noah Hamlish
Canadian Delegate:
Brandon Hebor – Interview with Brandon Hebor
View and download photos from the event here: 2017 Youth Ag Summit Photo Album
SMART Farmer Rochelle Krusemark
Rochelle Krusemark is a Minnesota grain and soybean farmer, a state and national soybean board and USFRA board member, wife, mother and grandmother – all at the same time!
Obviously a busy lady, Rochelle squeezed in time as she was watching her two toddler grandsons to tell us what being a SMART farmer means to her, and why she is so passionate about education about agriculture. A former teacher herself, Rochelle has been a longtime advocate of the Ag in the Classroom program and has worked with Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council (MSR&PC) and the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) start a program to help urban teachers learn more about agriculture so they can teach it to their students.
Listen to Rochelle here – SMART Farmer Podcast with Rochelle Krusemark, MN farmer
New Growth Energy Podcast
Growth Energy has launched a new monthly podcast discussing the latest developments in the ethanol industry.
In this first edition, Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor discusses this very exciting week that has seen the biofuels industry unite, led by champions in the Senate and state governors, to get the attention of the White House and defend the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). She says the response to the pressure by EPA administrator Scott Pruitt in the form of a letter to senators he met with this week on the issue, is very encouraging. “I look forward to the promises becoming policy,” said Skor. “There have been commitments made so we look for the final renewable volume obligations to come out at the end of November and we see this in writing we will all be able to breathe a sign of relief.”
Skor also comments on the Ethanol Summit of the Americas held in Houston this week that brought together industry and government officials from more than 15 countries in the Western Hemisphere to discuss current and future opportunities for ethanol in the region.
Listen to the podcast here: Growth Energy Podcast 10-20-17
Stay tuned for subscription details!
Animal Ag Bites 10/23
The Allflex Group is proud to announce that two SCR products were awarded innovation honors at the World Dairy Expo earlier this month. The SenseTime cloud-based electronic cow monitoring system and the eSense ear tag were both named as winners in the 2017 Dairy Herd Management Innovation Awards – World Dairy Expo Edition.- The Pork Checkoff has a new partnership with Yummly, a leading recipe app and website. The agreement means Pork Board’s more than 2,100 recipes will be placed in front of Yummly’s more than 23 million registered users.
- Craig Morris, Ph.D. is the New Vice President of International Marketing for the National Pork Board. Morris has been serving as the Deputy Administrator over the Livestock, Poultry and Seed Program of the Agricultural Marketing Service at the USDA.
- Kenny Miller has been promoted to chief financial officer at the American Angus Association. He replaces Rich Wilson who served as CFO for 48 years.