Cargill and Performance Livestock Analytics, Inc. (PLA) are partnering to bring new data analytics to cattle production. PLA’s Performance Beef is now enhanced with the Cargill MAX system for beef, creating an advanced and more robust feedlot system, Performance Beef MAX. This new version is exclusive to Cargill and its customers.- The American Angus Association has announced the 2017-2018 board of directors and officers elected during the 134th Annual Convention of Delegates in Fort Worth, Texas. Those elected to serve the Association for a second three-year term are: Jerry Connealy, Whitman, Nebraska; David Dal Porto, Oakley, California; John Grimes, Hillsboro, Ohio; James Henderson, Memphis, Texas; and Dave Nichols, Bridgewater, Iowa.
- Donations to the Animal Agriculture Alliance will be doubled on Giving Tuesday, November 28th, thanks to Cooper Farms and Cattle Empire. Cooper Farms has pledged to match donations to the Alliance up to $5,000. Cattle Empire will be participating in the Alliance’s Giving Tuesday campaign for the first time this year by matching donations from $5,001 to $10,000. Visit www.animalagalliance.org/donatenow to make your contribution. Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving that harnesses the power of social media and community collaboration.
- Belgium headquartered feed additives producer NUTRIAD hosted a customer event at the 2017
European Aquaculture Society conference, which took place in Dubrovnik, Croatia, Oct. 17-20. The conference attracted over 1,600 participants and more than 40 exhibitors. NUTRIAD’S event “Functional feed additives in aquaculture: How to add more?” was well received by producers of marine fish, fish feed producers, and a large number of consultants and academic scientists that attended from Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Norway and Croatia.
MiField by FS Brings Applied Research to Your Field
Today’s farmers can gather all kinds of information about the crops they plant and harvest, but it can be difficult to know how to use that information to enhance yield and increase efficiency. GROWMARK is providing farmers with a tool to help in MiField Applied Research by FS.
“We can follow certain procedures and not only have that information relative to that grower, but now we can roll it up and incorporate that with maybe 50, 100 or 200 trials that were similar and have a database that we can help provide insight back to that grower,” said Brendan Bachman, GROWMARK Applied Research Marketing Manager.
The program is in its second year, with more than 1,000 trials already compiled for growers to use. The company plans to publish a yield book in December and January that will aggregate much of the information. Growers can also visit www.fssystem.com and select the state, county and trial type to research local trials.
Learn more in this interview from the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Trade Talk: Interview with Brendan Bachman, GROWMARK
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Larson Dairy Reacts to Latest Activist Video
One of the most well-respected dairy operations in the nation was the subject of an underground animal activist video that was released this past week.
Larson Dairy in Okeechobee, Florida is owned by Woody Larson, who bought the operation from his father Red Larson, who started in the dairy business in 1947. His son Jacob is also involved in the operation. The video released shows numerous cases of animal abuse by dairy employees over the course of three weeks. The Larsons are cooperating fully with the authorities and have already terminated employment of the employee in the video and put two others on leave while an investigation takes place.
In this interview, Gary Cooper with AgNet Media and Chuck Zimmerman, AgWired, talk with Woody and Jacob Larson about the disturbing video and the policies and training that they have put in place to avoid just such a situation. Interview with Woody & Jacob Larson
New ImpactZ™ Corn Herbicide from AMVAC®
AMVAC Chemical Corporation recently announced new corn herbicide ImpactZ has received EPA registration, giving growers a new safe and flexible solution for control of tough broadleaf and grass weeds, including glyphosate resistant species. We had a chance to learn more about this exciting new product during the National Association of Farm Broadcasting annual Trade Talk this week.
“We like to talk about the knock down activity of this product, but also the flexibility and crop safety,” said Jim Lappin, AMVAC crop marketing manager for corn and soybeans. “ImpactZ gives a grower the flexibility to go to either a pre-emergence followed by a post-emergence, a total post program, or perhaps a sequential.”
ImpactZ herbicide is registered for use in field corn, seed corn, popcorn and sweetcorn, with no restrictions on soil type, tank mix partners or insecticides. ImpactZ herbicide contains both Impact® and Atrazine for highly effective control of grass and broadleaf weeds in corn.
Learn more about ImpactZ in this interview or watch below – Interview with Jim Lappin, AMVAC
FMC Completes Deal with DowDupont
During the NAFB convention Trade Talk session Jamie and I visited with our sponsor, FMC. Mike Krull, North America Business Development, sat down with Jamie to talk about the FMC DuPont Integration.
FMC has announced that it has successfully completed the closing of its two pending transactions with DuPont. The companies signed a definitive agreement on March 31,2017, and have now satisfied all necessary conditions and approvals. FMC has acquired the portion of DuPont’s Crop Protection business it had to divest to comply with the European Commission ruling related to its merger with The Dow Chemical Company, which was completed on August 31, 2017 to form DowDuPont™. Additionally, FMC has completed the sale of FMC Health and Nutrition to DuPont.
Listent to Jamie’s interview with Mike for more details or watch below: Interview with Mike Krull, FMC
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Corn Crop Increase Surprises
USDA surprised many with the crop production forecast out this month estimating a two percent increase from last month for corn.
Based on conditions as of November 1, yields are expected to average 175.4 bushels per acre, up 3.6 bushels from the October forecast and up 0.8 bushel from 2016. If realized, this will be the highest yield on record for the United States.
“It’s a major surprise for the trade to see a production increase this large for corn,” said Brian Hoops, Midwest Market Solutions, during the MGEX crop commentary call. “It really is hard to make sense that this yield number would be justified by crop ratings, which all summer were near 10 year low ratings.”
Listen to Hoops’ corn commentary here: Brian Hoops, Midwest Market Solutions
The soybean forecast was lowered by one percent this month compared to October, but still a record at 4.43 billion bushels. Cotton production was increase by one percent to 21.4 million 480-pound bales, 25 percent more than last year. Yield is expected to average a record 900 pounds per harvested acre.
Orange production took less of a hit than expected from last month’s hurricane, but still down four percent overall and seven percent from last month. Compared to last year, orange production is down 19 percent overall and 27 percent for Florida.
Early, midseason, and Navel varieties in Florida are forecast at 21.0 million boxes (945,000 tons), down 9 percent from last month and down 36 percent from last season’s final utilization. The Florida Valencia orange forecast, at 29.0 million boxes (1.31 million tons), is down 6 percent from last month and down 19 percent from last season’s final utilization.
Howard Buffett Discusses World Ag Issues at NAFB
The National Association of Farm Broadcasting welcomed Howard G. Buffett to the 2017 NAFB Convention in Kansas City on Thursday. In addition to being Chairman and CEO of the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, Buffett also owns farms in Illinois and Nebraska and oversees ranches in Arizona and a farm in Texas.
Buffett participated in a question and answer session moderated by NAFB President Max Armstrong. He spoke to farm broadcasters about a number of issues important to agriculture on a local, state, national and world level. Topics included illegal immigration and border patrol, the opioid crisis, agricultural trade, technology and many other areas.
Listen to the Q&A with Howard G. Buffett here:
Howard G. Buffett at NAFB17
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Secretary Sonny’s First Visit to NAFB
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue made his first visit to the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) annual convention, where he made a stop in at Trade Talk and then spent nearly an hour talking with broadcasters.
The secretary’s first topic was the launch of USDA’s new resources to support veterans who might wish to pursue opportunities in agriculture, agribusiness, and rural America. “We’re very serious about supporting our veterans,” said Perdue. “They bring skill sets that we think work very well in agriculture.”
Asked when he might get a full court of under secretaries approved for USDA, Perdue pointed to his dress shirt and said, “I have a Free Bill Northey tee shirt under here.”
Perdue also commented on the bigger corn crop expected, trade issues and more. Secretary Sonny Perdue at NAFB
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2017 Missouri Leopold Conservation Award Winner
Sand County Foundation and Missouri Farmers Care announced the recipients of Missouri’s inaugural Leopold Conservation Award® during the 2017 National Association of Farm Broadcasting’s (NAFB) Annual Convention. The Leopold Conservation Award honors farmer, rancher and forester achievement in voluntary stewardship and management of natural resources. This marks the first year this prestigious award has been presented to a Missouri farmer or rancher.
Matt and Kate Lambert own and operate Uptown Farms along with their family in Brookfield, MO. On the family farm they grow corn, soybeans and raise cattle, sheep and kids. Conservation practices aren’t a new thing on the Northern Missouri farm. The use of cover crops dates back to the early 90’s and they continue to progressively stay-up-to-date on new and improved practices that ensure the family farm will be there for future generations.
Learn more about the Lambert’s and their family farm here: Interview with Matt & Kate Lambert, Uptown Farms
The Leopold Conservation Award Program in Missouri is made possible thanks to the generous support of Missouri Farmers Care, Missouri Soybean Association, Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council, Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, Missouri Corn Merchandising Council, Missouri Department of Conservation, MFA, Inc., Missouri’s Electric Cooperatives, Missouri Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Missouri Soil and Water Conservation Program, and USDA NRCS.
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NAFB17 Kicks Off With Kevin Folta
Dr. Kevin Folta has been on a crusade to educate the public about biotechnology for many years, in addition to his regular job as professor and chairman of the horticultural sciences department at the University of Florida.
Dr. Folta kicked off the 2017 NAFB Convention Wednesday morning with a session on “Communicating Concepts in Biotechnology to a Concerned Public” to give farm broadcasters some tips from his experience in explaining the science behind food production. “We have to identify the audience, understand that facts don’t matter until we establish trust, and that effective communication starts when we listen to people’s genuine concerns, no matter how crazy they are,” said Folta.
Listen to Dr. Folta’s session and a brief interview with him:
Dr. Kevin Folta at NAFB17
Interview with Dr. Kevin Folta, UF
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