CREAATE Act Would Promote Ag Exports

Cindy Zimmerman

U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Angus King (I-Maine), Joe Donnelly (D-IN), and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced bipartisan legislation this week that would increase funding to USDA’s export promotion programs.

The Cultivating Revitalization by Expanding American Agricultural Trade and Exports (CREAATE) Act would double funding for two of the USDA’s most successful programs, the Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development Program (FMDP) over five years.

“As American farmers and ranchers are struggling with historically low commodity prices, maintaining and strengthening U.S. trade relationships around the world is critical to the survival and profitability of the agricultural community,” said Senator Ernst.

The bill has the support of agricultural groups like the National Corn Growers Association and American Soybean Association, as well as agricultural trade coalitions made up of a number of organizations. Members of the Coalition to Promote U.S. Agricultural Exports and the Agribusiness Coalition for Foreign Market Development both strongly support the legislation noting that funding for USDA export programs have stagnated over the years due to inflation, sequestration, administrative costs and increased global competition. CREAATE calls for phasing in additional annual funding for MAP to $400 million in FY 2023 and additional annual funding for FMD to $69 million in FY 2023. The coalitions cite research that found increased public funding for MAP and FMD, coupled with increasing private contributions from farmers and others, would increase average annual agricultural export value by $3.4 to $4.5 billion and increase farm cash income by $500 million to $700 million.

The introduction of the CREAATE Act in the Senate follows the House version, H.R. 2321, introduced May 3 by Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) and Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME).

Ag Groups, International, Trade

Senate Ag Committee Hears from USDA Nominees

Cindy Zimmerman

Nine months into the Trump Administration and the Senate Agriculture Committee just held a hearing this week on the first two nominees to help out Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue at the USDA.

The committee heard from Stephen Censky, long time CEO of the American Soybean Association nominated to be Deputy Secretary of Agriculture; and Indiana Director of Agriculture Ted McKinney, nominated for the new position of Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs.

Both farm boys with a long history of service in the agriculture industry, the two nominees are not controversial and are expected to be approved whenever the Senate gets around to it.

Here are opening statements from the two nominees at the hearing on Tuesday: Censky and McKinney opening statements

AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Audio, USDA

Bayer’s Condon Answers Questions About Future Goals

Carrie Muehling

This week Chuck is traveling with Bayer for the 2017 Bayer Future of Farming Dialog taking place in Monheim, Germany. The U.S. delegation of journalists had the opportunity to visit further with Liam Condon, President, Crop Science, a division of Bayer, following his executive address. Condon talks about goals for the company moving forward.

“The most important thing is what the combined new company is going to stand for,” says Condon. “It’s all about generating more innovation faster that will benefit our growers and help them improve their yields, but also their profitability.”

Condon says the company also wants to help growers work in the most sustainable way possible and wants to make whatever innovations the company is generating available to farmers of all sizes. While he wouldn’t reveal a new name for the company, Condon says that will be clear on the first day the merger is complete.

Listen to the full interview with Bayer’s Liam Condon here: Liam Condon, Bayer

2017 Future of Farming Dialog Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Bayer

Precision Ag Bytes 9/20

Kelly Marshall

  • The Things Network is working to build a global Internet of Things network.  They took a step closer to that goal when they helped a team of collaborating companies connect a Vinduino agricultural sensor station to the eVineyard application via a long-range wireless data connection.
  • The Purdue Agricultural Data Engine (PADE) is a new, online tool developed by Purdue University engineering professor, Dharmendra Saraswat, that allows farmers to process data from their fields without the need to share information with a third-party company.
  • The premier golf and sports turn brand in the BRANDT product portfolio is being re-named.  Grigg Brothers will now be known simple as GRIGG.
  • Matt Hesse will serve as the Chief Executive Officer at FieldReveal, a joint venture created by Wheat Growers, Landus Cooperative, Central Valley Ag and WinField United to provide the next generation of precision agriculture tools and capabilities.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes

Corn Progress Lagging

Cindy Zimmerman

About seven percent of the nation’s corn crop has been harvested so far, but maturity of the crop is running behind average.

Less corn acres have reached the dented or mature stage than the five-year average according to the latest USDA crop progress report. With 86 percent of total corn acres dented by September 17 and mature acres at only 34 percent, corn progress trails the five-year average by four and 13 percentage points respectively.

The number of corn acres harvested also is running about four percent behind last year, given maturity delays. Crop condition remained the same as last week, with 61 percent in good or excellent condition, but that is 13 percent lower than last year at this time.

Corn, USDA

Executive Address From Liam Condon, Bayer

Chuck Zimmerman

During the 2017 Bayer Future Farming Dialog we heard an address from Liam Condon, President, Crop Science, a division of Bayer.

Focusing in his speech on sustainable agriculture, Liam Condon also reaffirmed the commitment of the Crop Science Division to investing in innovation and developing customized agronomic solutions for farmers that address their individual needs and challenges.

In this context, Condon emphasized that the proposed acquisition of Monsanto presents a tremendous opportunity to positively shape the future of farming. “It is our responsibility to ensure that innovation is made available to farmers large and small, all over the world. Only then can we make a meaningful contribution to ensuring a sustainable world food system.”

Condon says that the current expectation of closing the acquisition of Monsanto is in early 2018.

Please listen to Liam’s address to hear more: Liam Condon Address

I broadcast the address live on the AgWired Facebook page (about 3am Central time U.S.) and you can watch it below:


2017 Future of Farming Dialog Photo Album

Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, Audio, Bayer

Moving Beyond “Farm to Table” Discussion

Chuck Zimmerman

During the 2017 Bayer Future of Farming Dialog the first panel discussion focused on Moving Beyond “Farm to Table”: Understanding the Food Supply Chain. Moderating was Stephan Brunner, who works on food chain partnerships for Bayer. Also on the panel are Karen Buch, RDN, LDN, President/Founder, Nutrition Connections; Ben Burgers, Food Safety Manager/Agronomist, Roveg Fruit BV; Andreas Lenz, Managing Director, DHL Food Logistics and Wilbert van Wijk, Grower, Van Wijk Fruit.

In the discussion you’ll hear their ideas on what will be needed in the future for a successful agricultural supply chain for all stakeholders. In my interview with Stephan he sums up some of the key points or take aways from the panel.

First panel discussion: Moving Beyond “Farm to Table”: Understanding the Food Supply Chain – Panel Discussion #1

First panel moderator – Stephan Brunner, Global Key Relations Manager, Crop Science, a division of Bayer – Takeaways: Interview with Stephan Brunner, Bayer

2017 Future of Farming Dialog Photo Album

Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, Audio, Bayer, Farming, Food

Starting off the 2017 Bayer Future of Farming Dialog

Chuck Zimmerman

This week I’m traveling with Bayer for the 2017 Bayer Future of Farming Dialog taking place in Monheim, Germany. Welcoming everyone to the first panel discussion in this photo is Beth Roden, Head of Communication, Crop Science, a division of Bayer.

During this week you will find a growing amount of stories that includes panel discussions, one-on-one interviews, video and of course, lots of photos.

Listen here as the U.S. delegation of journalists including Chuck interviews Liam Condon,President, Crop Science, a division of Bayer: Liam Condon, Bayer

2017 Future of Farming Dialog Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Bayer

Animal Bites 9/18

Jamie Johansen

  • Merck Animal Health and the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) recently presented Dr. Dee Griffin with the Mentor of the Year Award as a result of his significant contributions to the bovine medicine industry and his commitment to mentoring the next generations of bovine veterinarians.
  • Vermeer introducing the world’s first self-propelled round baler. Unveiled at Husker Harvest Days, the prototype ZR5 self-propelled baler promises to make quick work of any field while offering unprecedented ride quality and maneuverability.
  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) released the second video in its media campaign to promote comprehensive tax reform. The video features Jay Wolf, a third-generation Nebraska rancher, who discusses the time, energy, and financial cost he’s forced to spend on estate planning due to the death tax.
  • Imagine using precision nutrition to meet the needs of individual animals. Imagine meeting the expectations of the new consumer, “the prosumer.” Imagine the farm of the future. How will technologies help to achieve greater transparency and safety? This is a new age in agriculture in which nutrigenomics and big data play an everyday role in revolutionizing the way food is produced. Join Alltech and moderator, Peabody Award-winning journalist Tom Martin, for a live webinar discussing the future of agriculture and technology with a panel of agribusiness experts on September 25th at 9:00am ET.
AgWired Animal, Animal Bites

Syngenta Seeds Increases Investment in NK Brand

Chuck Zimmerman

New members to the #GoldenMic Club include David Hollinrake, President of Syngenta Seeds and Quinn Showalter, Head, NK US Sales at Syngenta Seeds. I met with them during the Farm Progress Show to learn more about their announcement of increasing investment into the NK brand.

Growers who purchase corn and soybean seeds from retailers will have even more choice and greater value through the reinvigorated NK® seeds brand. Syngenta today announced a comprehensive long-term commitment to NK seeds that includes boosting research and development, expanding staff and enhancing retailer support.

As part of the investment, the number of U.S. plant breeders will increase by 50 percent while the number of product selection leads will increase by 38 percent. In addition, trialing will increase by 30 percent.

“More than ever, today’s growers are looking for increased options to maximize returns. We are committed to investing in our NK seeds brand to deliver unique choice and greater value through our retail partners,” said David Hollinrake, president of Syngenta Seeds. “We will rapidly bring to market new hybrids and varieties, offering greater value for growers to help them achieve that better ROI.”

You can listen to my interview with David here: Interview with David Hollinrake, Syngenta Seeds

You can listen to my interview with Quinn here: Interview with Quinn Showalter, NK Seeds

View all our photos from FPS here: 2017 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by John DeereCoverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by GrowmarkCoverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Bayer CropScience
Agribusiness, Audio, Farm Progress Show, Seed, Syngenta