Submit nominations now for The Fertilizer Institute’s 2018 4R Advocate program to recognize farmers and retailers promoting the 4R Nutrient Stewardship principles. Nominations are due October 31, 2017.- Syngenta has entered into non-exclusive licensing agreements with Dow AgroSciences LLC and M.S. Technologies, L.L.C. for the Enlist E3 Event in soybeans in North and Central America, and the Conkesta Enlist E3 stack in soybeans in Central America, with options for global rights for both. The company has also entered into a non-exclusive licensing agreement with Dow AgroSciences for global rights for Enlist in corn.
- Online forms for the 2017 National Corn Yield Contest with the National Corn Growers Association are now available. Entrants are asked to report within two weeks of their final yield check or by Nov. 17, whichever comes first.
- Trevor Mecham has joined precision irrigation management systems company, Hortau, as Vice President of Business Development.
Sturgis Bikers Have New E10 Fueling Station
For the first time this year, motorcycle enthusiasts staying at the Buffalo Chip Campground for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally have a place to buy 93 octane, 10 percent ethanol fuel as they head out for a ride in the Black Hills.
“It’s like jet fuel for your bike,” said Buffalo Chip owner Rod Woodruff. “It’s on your way out of the Chip, so you can stop and don’t have to go get in line at some place downtown. It’s 24/7 operated by credit card, so fill up and head for the hills!”
The single pump fuel station was donated by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) which has been sponsoring events at the campground and rally for nine years now, and Woodruff is a big fan of ethanol.
“I personally have been using it myself since we’ve had it available,” he said. “It’s phenomenal.”
Woodruff says the fueling station has already been doing a brisk business, but it will definitely get a good workout this afternoon, as RFA will again sponsor Free Fuel Happy Hours at the rally, providing a free tank of 93 octane E10 for motorcycles. The free tank giveaway will be held today, tomorrow and Thursday from 1-3 pm each day at the Buffalo Chip Campground.
Audio file: Interview with Rod Woodruff, Buffalo Chip Campground owner
Young Beekeeper Recognized by Bayer
Bayer recently announced the recipients of the fifth annual Bayer Bee Care Community Leadership Award for dedication to pollinator protection and educating their communities about bee health. This year’s winners are young beekeeper Jake Reisdorf, and Kirk and Heidi Tubbs of Tubbs Berry Farm in partnership with the Twin Falls County Pest Abatement District.
Bayer expanded the scope of its awards program this year to show support for the future of the beekeeping industry with a new young beekeeper award.
Jake is the first-ever beekeeper under 18 years of age to receive this award, which includes a $1,000 prize to support his school and community honey bee-focused initiatives. Among 20 entries, based on his standout application, 14-year-old Jake was selected for his diversified approach to pollinator health and commendable efforts to ensure that future generations understand the significant impact of bees on the ecosystem.
“It is so cool to receive the Bayer Bee Care Community Leadership Award for my efforts to educate the world about the honey bee,” said Jake Reisdorf, owner of the Carmel Honey Company. “With the money I’ve been awarded, I’d like to fulfill my dream of building an educational center called Pollination World to teach people about all types of pollinators including bees, bats, birds and butterflies.”
Learn more about how Jake got started in beekeeping and how he gives back to the community in this interview.
Interview with young beekeeper Jake Reisdorf
Tubbs Berry Farm began beekeeping 10 years ago due to pollination issues and have since become a local resource in Twin Falls, Idaho, for anything related to beekeeping. They were recognized for their pollinator-supportive partnership in the Pacific Northwest for its positive impact in the realm of honey bee health.
Staff Changes at Brownfield and Agri-Pulse
Brownfield Anchor/Reporter Meghan Grebner has a new role on the Brownfield team, stepping in to take over livestock market reporting for Brownfield’s radio network, mobile application and website to replace retiring Jerry Passer. In this role, Meghan will be the lead reporter for the network’s livestock coverage and will continue to host Brownfield’s Weekly Livestock Market Update with University of Missouri State Extension Ag Economist Scott Brown, as she has done for the past year.
Meghan grew up on a diversified family farm in central Illinois, majored in communications and animal science at Western Illinois University and managed a farrow to finish swine operation before becoming a farm broadcaster in 2006. A graduate of the Illinois Ag Leadership Program, Meghan received the 2009 National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) Horizon Award and she joined Brownfield in 2011.
Agri-Pulse has promoted Spencer Chase to the position of Deputy Managing Editor.
The South Dakota native began working with Agri-Pulse as an intern in 2013, covering agricultural policy issues on Capitol Hill, interviewing lawmakers for the “Meet the Lawmaker” series and assisting with the website and social media. He took a full-time position with Agri-Pulse in the summer of 2014, doing writing and broadcasting and later, producing an audio feed for Agri-Pulse each weekday.
Spencer is an active member with National Association of Farm Broadcasting and serves on the NAFB board as East Region Vice President.
We are happy to congratulate these two very talented young agricultural journalists and proud to call them friends.
Soil Health Institute Endorses 19 Soil Health Measurements
After three years of industry collaboration, the Soil Health Institute (SHI) has endorsed 19 national soil health measurements that will help answer the question “Just how healthy (or unhealthy) are the nation’s soils?”
“We can’t really know the answer to that question until we have a set of common soil health measurements that scientists and farmers can compare and track over time,” said Dr. Wayne Honeycutt, CEO of the Soil Health Institute. “But we believe our endorsement of 19 measures will help us seek and track that common ground – and ultimately answer that important question.”
Over the last three years, scientists from public and private sectors, farmers, field conservationists, soil test laboratories and many others provided input to develop a “Tier 1” list of recommended soil health measures, considered effective indicators of soil health. These specific measurements are regionally defined, have known thresholds, and help define management strategies to improve soil function – like providing nutrients and water.
“Many of these Tier 1 measures have proven effective to help producers achieve high yields for decades,” Honeycutt said. “Consequently, many of the soil test laboratories and field conservationists are already using these measurements. Currently, the Soil Health Institute is reaching out to those organizations to explore additional implementation opportunities.”
Work continues with the agricultural industry to add more measurements to the Tier 1 classification – currently being researched as Tier 2 and Tier 3 measurements. They require additional research to elevate them to Tier 1 usefulness. Such research may involve understanding regional differences in interpretation, establishing thresholds, and developing management recommendations to improve soil functioning.
Ag Community Remembers Adam McClung
UPDATED
The beef and agricultural media communities lost a great man and passionate spokesperson for the industry. Adam McClung, executive director, Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association, passed away over the weekend after a brief but severe illness. Just weeks ago many Livestock Publications Council and American Ag Editors Association members were gathered together and Adam was among us. We all have such fond memories of his wit and commitment to agriculture.
Just three weeks ago, I was able to spend the day with Adam on a farm in North Central Arkansas gathering a story on the Black Headed Vultures and depredation loss Arkansas cattlemen are seeing. This policy issue is just one example of Adam’s dedication. We send prayers to his family and friends during this time, along with love and support to his wife and young daughter.
An education memorial fund has been set up in memory of Adam for his daughter, Maggie Blair. Make checks to “Maggie Blair Education Fund” in memory of Adam McClung. They can be mailed to Peoples Bank, Maggie Blair Education Fund, 20409 Arch Street, Little Rock, AR 72206.
USDA Getting #BackToOurRoots
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue has been on a five-state “Back to Our Roots” Tour to gather input on the 2018 Farm Bill, meeting with farmers, ranchers, foresters, producers, students, governors, USDA employees, and other stakeholders. This is the first of two RV tours the secretary will undertake this summer.
This first RV Tour features stops in five states: Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana. “The ‘Back to our Roots’ Farm Bill and rural prosperity RV listening tour will allow us to hear directly from people in agriculture across the country, as well as our consumers – they are the ones on the front lines of American agriculture and they know best what the current issues are,” Perdue said.
Secretary Sonny held a press conference this morning to talk about his trip, with reporters’ questions including issues with Sam Clovis’ nomination, dicamba concerns, and drought in the Dakotas.
Sec. Perdue presser on Back to our Roots tour
Animal Ag Bites 8/7
Elanco celebrated the opening of their new autogenous poultry vaccine manufacturing facility in Winslow, Maine earlier this summer. The new facility is dedicated to manufacturing customized inactivated vaccines for unique disease challenges.- This month the National Young Farmers Coalition is hosting the Young Farmers Roundtables to provide an oppoturnity for members to express their needs to members of the House Agriculture Committee.
- On Aug. 4, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) announced that its members have approved a three-year extension of the labor contract covering 29 West Coast ports. The contract between ILWU and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) now runs through June 30, 2022 reports the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).
Free Fuel Happy Hours at The Buffalo Chip
The Buffalo Chip Campground now has its own gas dispenser. It’s a high octane blend of E10 which as all bikers need to know is warrantied safe by all manufacturers. In fact, this 93 octane, is highly sought after by the attendees of this year’s Sturgis Rally who are out at The Chip and is usually hard to find. But thanks to the Renewable Fuels Association, working with The Buffalo Chip, there is now a supply at a self service pump on the property.
During this week I will be working with RFA as they hold daily Free Fuel Happy Hours when bikers can just pull up and get a free tank for their next ride. During the week I’ll be visiting with many of our customers to learn what they know about ethanol. While they are filling up they will learn more about ethanol, get the facts and hopefully be able to help spread that word to others.
RFA is a major sponsor here during the Sturgis Rally. One of the locations you’ll see educational information is on the jumbotrons on either side of the Wolfman Jack stage where major bands like Shinedown and Ozzy are playing this week. Last night Shinedown performed to a large crowd which I imagine will be even bigger when Ozzy takes the stage later this week.
I’ll be collecting photos and interviews to share during the week so keep an eye on AgWired for the latest.
CropTrak Continues Steady Success
In an industry where tech start-ups abound, CropTrak is a self-made success story in the precision ag space by simply selling a good product that people want to buy.
The company started in 2009 and has just continued to grow year after year “with a little rinky dink booth at InfoAg” and little to no marketing, as VP of sales Jonathan Sherrill told attendees during a session at the 2017 InfoAg Conference. “Most people don’t know that we are entirely self-funded and have been self-funded since 2009,” said Sherrill.
CropTrak creates software that focuses on improving customer efficiency in data collection, management, reporting, and results while helping produce safer food and Sherrill says they have never offered a “freemium” product to attain over 500 paying customer companies with a software and services renewals rate of 96 percent. “We’ve maintained that for 6-7 years running,” Sherrill said.
Learn more about CropTrak in the video below of Sherrill’s session at InfoAg.
2017 InfoAg Conference Photo Album
Coverage of the InfoAg Conference is sponsored by
