2017 Sunbelt Ag Expo

Chuck Zimmerman

I am here and ready for the games to begin. Here is the 40th Annual Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition in Moultrie, GA. It is a beautiful sunny day with cool temperatures. Kind of breezy but I can deal with that.

This year the show has 1,211 exhibitors with over 100 of them new to the show. Way back in 1978 the show had 410 exhibitors on 25 acres. The show now has 100 acres of exhibits with 600 acres of research farm. Every year the show has a spotlight state and this year it is Tennessee.

I have to thank the sponsor of my coverage of this year’s show which is John Deere. I’m heading that way first to see what the company is offering to southeast farmers.

So, there is more to come and I’ll see you from here soon. BTW. The show hashtag is #sunbelt40.

I’m just getting started but will be sharing photos here: 2017 Sunbelt Ag Expo Photo Album

Stories from Sunbelt Ag Expo sponsored by Stories from Sunbelt Ag Expo sponsored by John Deere
Agribusiness, John Deere, Sunbelt Ag Expo

Hubbard Robo-Max Custom Feed for Automated Systems

Cindy Zimmerman

As robotic milking equipment is becoming more prevalent in the dairy industry, the need for customized feed to use in the systems is increasing, so Hubbard Feeds came up with Robo-Max Computerized Feeder Pellets.

“What we’ve found is that you really need to fine tune what’s going into your pellet formula by having the right amount of starch or energy available right there at the robot,” said Hubbard Feeds dairy nutritionist Jon Pretz during an interview at World Dairy Expo.

Since the systems rely mostly on the animals desire to receive the feed offered through the robot, a high quality, palatable pellet is essential. “What we like to do is increase that starch level as much as we can to get a high-energy pellet into the robot to drive the cows to the robot,” said Pretz.

Learn more in this interview: Interview with Jon Pretz, Hubbard

2017 World Dairy Expo Photo Album

Coverage of World Dairy Expo is sponsored by Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Alltech Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Hubbard Feeds
AgWired Animal, Alltech, Audio, Dairy, Feed, Livestock, World Dairy Expo

Bayer Proves Strong Commitment to Cotton

Carrie Muehling

With lots of things going on in the cotton industry, Bayer is reinforcing its overall commitment to cotton. The company recently opened a new Cotton Breeding Station in Lubbock, and hosted its 2017 Showcase Plot Tour there. The new facility provides a place for the breeding group and trade development group to collaborate at the same site, allowing them to drive innovation more quickly.

“We’ve got the traits growers need, we’ve got the seed treatment packages and we’ve got all these harvest aids and a variety of things that we can just pull this whole thing together and really help the grower achieve their goals at the end of the year,” said Jason Wistehuff, Bayer Cotton Product Manager for North America.

Wistehuff said in field trials continue to provide the basis of the cotton breeding program, with areas like water use efficiency targets for future improvements.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Jason Wistehuff here: Interview with Jason Wistehuff, Bayer

Bayer Lubbock Tour

AgWired Precision, Audio, Bayer, Cotton

Bayer Crop Protection Portfolio Helps Farmers Fight Challenges

Carrie Muehling

Farmers who use seed treatments and premium seed packages can see early season advantages including better establishment, better root systems and better defense against disease and insect pressure. That was the key message from Bayer Senior Technical Service Representative Russ Perkins at the company’s Showcase Plot Tour in Lubbock, Texas. Perkins covered the company’s crop protection portfolio, sharing a number of products available to fight challenges in the field including insect and disease pressure, as well as weed resistance.

“Glyphosate resistance on the High Plains is obviously here these days,” said Perkins. “The easiest pigweed to control is one that never sees the light of day.”

Perkins encouraged farmers to use the STOP method with regard to controlling resistant weeds.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Russ Perkins here: Interview with Russ Perkins, Bayer

Audio, Bayer, Cotton, Crop Protection

EPA Announces New Dicamba Rules

Cindy Zimmerman

The Environmental Protection Agency has announced new requirements for the use of dicamba formulations “over the top” to further minimize the potential for drift when applying to dicamba-tolerant soybeans and cotton.

EPA worked worked with impacted states and land-grant universities, as well as Monsanto, BASF and DuPont on measures that will allow farmers to make informed choices for seed purchases for the 2018 growing season.

Label changes that impose additional requirements for “over the top” use of these products next year include classifying the products as “restricted use,” permitting only certified applicators with special training, and those under their supervision, to apply them and requiring farmers to maintain specific records regarding the use of these products to improve compliance with label restrictions. Other restrictions include limiting applications to when maximum wind speeds are below 10 mph (from 15 mph), reducing the times during the day when applications can occur, including tank clean-out language to prevent cross contamination, and enhancing susceptible crop language and record keeping with sensitive crop registries.

American Soybean Association president Ron Moore of Illinois was encouraged by EPA’s label changes to allow farmers to continue to utilize this important tool while also working to protect and prevent damage to non-dicamba tolerant crops. “Moving forward, ASA looks forward to working with EPA, states, manufacturers and our farmers to implement these changes while also seeking the root cause of this issue so new technologies can be used in years to come,” said Moore.

AgWired Precision, ASA, BASF, Cotton, Soybean

Animal Ag Bites 10/16

Kelly Marshall

  • On January 17 and 18, 2018 dairy farmers will attend the Dairy Strong conference and trade show in Madison, Wisconsin.  Those who register before November 1, 2017 can attend for free.
  • The National Pork Board is celebrating a new song titled Porkchop by recording artist Cowboy Troy, American country rapper, Hick Hop innovator and songwriter currently traveling with Big & Rich.  Download the song here.
  • Gostwyck Partners‘ sheep farm in Gostwyck, NSW Australia has been certified by SCS Global Services under the Responsible Wool Standard.
  • The 201 World Dairy Expo has come to an end with a record 884 participating companies.  A Show Summary is now available with complete details about the event.
  • RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness group has released a new report, “Steady Growth Ahead for the U.S. Pork Industry- Outlook Hinges on Increased Exports.”  Contact Sarah.Kolell@RaboAg.com for more information.
  • Novus International, Inc. has raised of $20,000 to help those affected by the recent hurricane in Texas.  As a global animal nutrition and health solutions provider with more than 700 employees in 35 countries worldwide, part of this workforce includes manufacturing and business offices in Texas.
  • The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) has given their 2017 Distinguished Service Award to Anne Dawson, senior trade advisor for the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service.  The award honors those whose leadership contributes towards achievement of USMEF’s export goals.
AgWired Animal, Animal Bites

Bayer Agrees to Sell Selected Crop Science Businesses to BASF

Chuck Zimmerman

I didn’t see this one coming. Just learned of this announcement and it’s a big one. I’m sure we’ll have more to come. From the Bayer website today:

In light of the planned acquisition of Monsanto, Bayer has signed an agreement to sell selected Crop Science businesses to BASF for EUR 5.9 billion. The assets to be sold generated net sales of approximately EUR 1.3 billion in 2016. “We are taking an active approach to address potential regulatory concerns, with the goal of facilitating a successful close of the Monsanto transaction,” explained Werner Baumann, Chairman of the Board of Management of Bayer AG. “At the same time, we are pleased that, in BASF, we have found a strong buyer for our businesses that will continue to serve the needs of growers and offer our employees long-term prospects.” The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals as well as the successful closing of Bayer’s acquisition of Monsanto.

The assets to be sold include Bayer’s global glufosinate-ammonium business and the related LibertyLink™ technology for herbicide tolerance, essentially all of the company’s field crop seeds businesses, as well as respective research and development capabilities. The seeds businesses being divested include the global cotton seed business (excluding India and South Africa), the North American and European canola seed businesses and the soybean seed business. The transaction includes the transfer of relevant intellectual property and facilities, as well as more than 1,800 employees primarily in the United States, Germany, Brazil, Canada and Belgium. As part of the agreement, BASF has committed to maintain all permanent positions, under similar conditions, for at least three years after closing of the transaction.

Bayer will continue to own, operate and maintain these businesses until the closing of this divestiture. After the closure of the planned Monsanto acquisition, Bayer will continue to be active in these same areas as a result of Monsanto’s current programs, products and offerings.

The base purchase price of EUR 5.9 billion excludes the value of any net working capital and will be subject to customary adjustments at closing, including the value of any inventories transferred to BASF. Bayer will use net proceeds from the announced divestiture to partially refinance the planned acquisition of Monsanto. Bayer will provide an update on the total expected synergies from the Monsanto acquisition latest upon closing of the transaction.

Post Update: You can listen to the BASF Conference Call and download more information here. Here’s the link to the BASF news release.

Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, BASF, Bayer

Zimfo Bytes 10/13

Kelly Marshall

  • Mike Johanns, former U.S. Agriculture Secretary and Nebraska Senator, is now serving on the board of directors of the Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska.
  • The American Soybean Association reminds growers the deadline to submit a nomination for the Recognition Awards Program is October 27, 2017 at midnight.  This year’s program includes three new categories: ASA Outstanding State Volunteer Award, ASA Distinguished Leadership Award, and the ASA Pinnacle Award.
  • “Grow by FarmHer” events are now in their third year of inspiring, educating and empowering young women in agriculture.  Their upcoming slate of events are at: Iowa State University on Monday, November 6; the University of Minnesota on Tuesday, November 7; and the University of Wisconsin- Madison on Thursday, November 9.
  • Recently critics took to the Hill to attack crop insurance.  The National Association of Wheat Growers has responded with an informational video about the program.
  • The Yield Lab St. Louis 2018 Accelerator program encourages start-ups seeking to revolutionize agriculture and food system to apply by November 3, 2017.   Selected companies will receive $100,000 in investment, 1 on 1 mentoring, and access to the award-winning accelerator program and global agtech network.
Zimfo Bytes

Celebrating National Farmers Day

Carrie Muehling

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is among organizations celebrating Oct. 12 as National Farmers Day. RFA honors farmers for providing food, fuel and fiber for the nation and the world.

According to new monthly U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates issued today, America’s farmers are forecast to produce 14.28 billion bushels of corn for the 2017/2018 marketing year, up 96 million bushels from last month. Additionally, farmers are estimated to have a corn yield of 171.8 bushels per acre, up 1.9 bushels from the September forecast. If realized, these would be the second highest U.S. corn production and yields on record.

Last year, the U.S. ethanol industry used 5.43 billion bushels of corn, valued at $18.8 billion, to make 15.3 billion gallons of ethanol and 42 million metric tons of animal feed. Ethanol and agriculture continue to work hand in hand, helping to fuel and feed the world.

“Ethanol provides a vital value-added market for corn and other commodities, providing an economic boost to rural America,” said Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen. “Meantime, ethanol is helping to clean the air, reduce our reliance on petroleum, boost local economies and lower prices at the pump. Tremendous increases in the productivity of U.S. farmers have ensured ample supplies of grain are available for food, feed and fuel. Farmers touch every part of our lives and today, we give thanks for National Farmers Day.”

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Weather Variability Affecting Silage Crop

Carrie Muehling

Dairy producers at the 2017 World Dairy Expo had two primary questions for Alltech Farm Specialist Pat Crowley regarding silage. Those questions centered around variability of the crop this year because of unique weather patterns in the Midwest, and what to expect from the silage because of those factors.

Crowley says farmers are typically producing silage each fall they will use for the next 12 to 18 months. Analysis of fresh samples straight out of the field can help them to know what to expect from each year’s crop. But Crowley says producing good silage begins with planting.

“If you want quality in the end, we’ve got to start with quality in the beginning. We’ve got to look at correct seed selection, correct tillage practices, what type of fertilizers,” said Crowley.

Other factors later in the season like chopping height can also be a factor. Crowley likes to sit down with both producers and custom harvesters to ensure everyone is on the same page before heading into a new season.

Listen to Jamie’s interview with Pat Crowley here: Interview with Pat Crowley, Alltech

2017 World Dairy Expo Photo Album

Coverage of World Dairy Expo is sponsored by Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Alltech  Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Hubbard Feeds
AgWired Animal, Alltech, Animal Agriculture, Audio, World Dairy Expo