House Ag Hearing on Specialty Crop Innovations

Cindy Zimmerman

The House Agriculture Committee heard testimony Wednesday on technology and innovation in specialty crops as input toward the making of the 2018 farm bill.

“As we look at the farm bill through the lens of the current farm economy, innovation and technology will remain essential for farmers and ranchers to continue producing more food and fiber with fewer resources,” said Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (R-TX).

ASTA’s Andy LaVigne testifies at House ag committee hearing

Among those who testified was American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) President & CEO Andy LaVigne, who stressed that Farm Bill research programs and policies based on sound science are critical to the development of new technologies for plant breeding.

“New and evolving innovations like gene editing represent exciting opportunities for agriculture,” said LaVigne. “However, if policies toward breeding methods are overly burdensome, then smaller, regional companies and the public sector will likely be precluded from fully utilizing these innovations.”

LaVigne’s opening statement prompted questioning from committee members that allowed him to elaborate on the potential for gene editing and the importance of educating the public about plant breeding. “We have an uphill road just to talk about the plant breeding methods we use today,” said LaVigne, noting that most people have little or no knowledge of genetics.

Listen to LaVigne’s opening remarks and answers to questions from Reps. Neal Dunn (R-FL) and Austin Scott (R-GA) – ASTA CEO Andy LaVigne testifies at House ag hearing

Other witnesses at the hearing included California Farm Bureau President Paul Wenger; Paul Heller with Wonderful Citrus; Gary Wishnatzki, owner of Wish Farms in Plant City, Florida; and Driscoll’s CEO Kevin Murphy. Listen to their opening remarks and those of Chairman Conaway and Ranking Member Collin Peterson (D-MN) – House Ag Innovation in Specialty Crops Hearing

AgWired Precision, ASTA, Audio, Biotech, Farm Bill, Seed, specialty crops, Technology

Animal Ag Bites 7/12

Jamie Johansen

ag_wired_animal-ag-bites

  • The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) and 17 other food and agriculture organizations, representing the vast majority of production agriculture, sent a letter to the Trump administration urging it to refrain from placing restrictions on imports of steel and aluminum. The organizations are very concerned that such restrictions will boomerang against U.S. food and agriculture exports.
  • Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) is launching the new Producers for Progress recognition program to salute dairy producers who have demonstrated a significant commitment to the well-being of their animals by using antibiotics judiciously.
  • The American Angus Association hired Clint Mefford as the organization’s director of communications. He will be responsible for establishing strategy for all communication elements, both external and internal, for the Association and its entities, Angus Productions Inc. (API), Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI) and the Angus Foundation.
  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association applaud the inclusion of language in the U.S. House’s Transportation-HUD appropriations bill that will delay for one year a requirement mandating the use of the new Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) for livestock and insect haulers.
AgWired Animal, Animal Bites

Mark Your Calendars: It’s Bison Hump Day!

Lizzy Schultz

Increased demand for sustainable meat has the bison industry poised to grow significantly this year, and the industry recently announced the “Bison One Million” campaign, which sets sights on helping the North American bison population grow to one million strong this year.

North America’s bison population, once on the verge of extinction in the 1880’s with less than 700 bison, has steadily recovered. Today, an estimated 391,000 bison are in North American private, public and tribal herds, according to National Bison Association (NBA) data. Adding 609,000 head of America’s official mammal to this continent’s collective herd will be no easy or swift feat.

The industry isn’t stopping their efforts at growing herd sizes across the continent. National Bison Association executive director Dave Carter, says the industry is building off the recent increase in consumer demand for bison products with a “Bison Hump Day” campaign in an effort to incorporate bison into dinner menus across America every Wednesday.

“Consumers love bison because the nutritional profile of the meat fits right in with people’s concerns about diet and health: it’s low in fat, high in protein and iron, and it’s got a great cholesterol profile,” said Carter. “It also fits within their interest for natural and sustainable foods. What could be more sustainable than the animal that helped shape this environment over the last several thousand years?”

Those interested in taking part in Bison Hump Day can find information on local producers and restaurants that serve bison products can check out NBA’s website or download NBA’s new Bison Finder app.

Learn more in this interview:
Interview with Dave Carter, National Bison Association

Ag Groups, AgWired Animal, Audio, Food, Meat

Bayer Showcases InVigor® Canola Hybrids

Cindy Zimmerman

The canola was in full bloom for the Bayer Showcase Plot Tour this week in North Dakota, soaking up the spotlight on the latest InVigor® canola hybrids.

U.S. InVigor Sales Lead Kristie Sundeen says the Liberty Link trait canola hybrid just celebrated 20 years on the market and the most recent hybrids with pod shatter reduction technology are gaining in popularity. “It keeps the canola from shattering as we get closer to harvest, so it allows for straight cutting canola,” said Sundeen. “Probably 50 percent of our market has switched from swathing to straight cut.”

Sundeen says this year they have been working on trials to evaluate the agronomics of the InVigor hybrids. “We have two locations looking into everything from the seed size to seeding depth, to hybrid evaluation, seeding rates, a little bit of everything.”

Learn more about Bayer InVigor® canola hybrids in this interview: Interview with Kristie Sundeen, Bayer, InVigor Canola

Bayer Showcase Plot Tour – North Dakota Photo Album

AgWired Precision, Audio, Bayer

Showcase Plot Tour with Bayer in North Dakota

Chuck Zimmerman

I did a whole lot of PT on my recovering shoulder out in a field west of Minot, ND. It was a Bayer Showcase Plot Tour and a beautifully sunny day, with lots of wind. Glad I brought my wind screen for the Golden ZimmComm Microphone!

The focus was on cereal crops as well as products for soybeans, canola and corn. To get an overview, I spoke with Pete Neal, Technical Sales Representative for Bayer. In the plots we toured we got to see herbicides at work as well as seed treatments and different varieties of several crops.

Learn more in this interview: Interview with Pete Neal, Bayer, Plot Tour Overview

Bayer Showcase Plot Tour – North Dakota Photo Album

Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, Audio, Bayer, Soybean

Helio Celebrates Win at Iowa Corn 300

Cindy Zimmerman

Helio Castroneves celebrates Iowa Corn 300 win with Iowa corn growers

The IndyCar spotlight was on Helio Castraneves Sunday as he cruised to his first win in three years at the Iowa Corn 300 and celebrated with his trademark Spider-Man climb up the track fence – giving the #IowaCorn300 hashtag lots of Twitter traction, since it was coincidentally the opening weekend for the new Spider-Man: Homecoming movie.

The race showcases Iowa’s corn farmers, who awarded Helio with the Iowa Corn 300 trophy in victory lane. Iowa Corn Promotion Board President Larry Klever kicked off the race by saying “Drivers, start your Iowa corn ethanol power engines” while Iowa Corn Growers Association President Kurt Hora waved the green flag.

“This event continues to be an excellent platform for promoting and showcasing the true power and performance of ethanol,” said Klever. “Over the past decade, INDYCAR drivers have logged millions of miles racing on E85.”

Hora says the race was a good time to celebrate the Iowa Corn Growers Association 50th anniversary this year. “We thank our Iowa Corn members and their families for helping us celebrate 50 years and another great Iowa Corn 300,” he said.

Iowa corn growers members heard from a number of fans and visitors who stopped by their hospitality tent, including IndyCar driver JR Hildebrand, who finished second in the race, as well Senator Joni Ernst, Reps. Rod Blum, and Dave Loebsack, and Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds.

Corn, Ethanol, Events, Indy Racing

Precision Ag Bytes 7/11

Kelly Marshall

  • Hortau Irrigation Management Systems was recently named a CogX Award finalist in the Best Artificial Intelligence Product in Agriculture category at the recent awards event in London.
  • InfoAg 2017 is coming July 25-27, Union Station, St. Louis, MO and it’s not too late to register.  This year’s keynote speaker will be Steve Sonka, the Emeritus Chaired Professor of Agricultural Strategy at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL.
  • PowWow Energy, a Software-as-a-Service provider, has announced a patent application for pump alerts and water records using energy data has been granted. Twenty thousand acres of farm land are already using the service.
AgWired Precision, Zimfo Bytes

Dicamba Concerns Prompt State Actions

Jamie Johansen

*POST UPDATE* 7/14/17 Missouri Department of Agriculture releases Stop Sale, Use or Removal Order for ENGENIA, XTENDIMAX and FEXAPAN herbicides

On the heels of Arkansas, Missouri has issued a pause on sale, use, and removal of all products labeled for agricultural use that contain dicamba. As of today, Monday, July 10th, the Missouri Department of Agriculture has had 145 pesticide drift complaints. The order applies to FeXapan herbicide plus VaporGrip Technology, Engenia Herbicide, and XTENDIMAX with VaporGrip Technology.

Missouri Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn said, “We want to protect farmers and their livelihoods. At the same time, my commitment to technology and innovation in agriculture is unwavering. That’s why I am asking the makers of these approved post-emergent products, researchers and farmers to work with us to determine how we can allow applications to resume this growing season, under certain agreed upon conditions.”

The Department is waiting for companies to create a special local needs label specific to Missouri. Director Chinn said they are looking at what has been successful in other states and want to give Missouri farmers the tools to be successful. Once that is in hand, it will go into effect immediately.

“We are hoping we can have a new label in place this week. That is our goal. We truly want to make sure the farmers who are counting on this technology have it available to them and the companies want that same thing,” Chinn added.

Listen to my complete interview Director Chinn here: Interview with Missouri Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn

Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, Audio, Crop Protection, Soybean

ZimmCast with NCGA Communications

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast 552In this week’s episode of the ZimmCast I talk with Mary Hagan, Vice President of Communications, National Corn Growers Association (NCGA).

Although Mary didn’t imagine a career working in agricultural communications she has become a farm lover after the opportunity to work for NCGA came about. Mary’s background has suited her well to work on some of the challenges facing corn growers as you will hear her discuss in the program.

A topic that came up which is very near and dear to my heart right involves the word, measurement. This important concept should be pretty easy when you consider how many statistics are created by the digital data involved in today’s communications channels. However, making sense of it, especially to measure return on investment, success, or even to figure out what your audience is thinking and what is really important to them is a big challenge. Mary talks about some ways NCGA is dealing with this issue.

I also like a few anecdotes Mary brings up about the work of some of the state affiliate organizations to NCGA. They are doing very valuable work on their own and Mary sees trying to foster good internal communications with them as a very important element of the work she does.

I hope you enjoy the program and thank you for listening!

Listen to the ZimmCast here: ZimmCast with Mary Hagan, NCGA

Subscribe to the ZimmCast podcast here. Use this url in iTunes or your favorite news reader program/app.

The ZimmCast

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Ag Groups, Audio, Corn, Marketing, NCGA, ZimmCast

High Octane 10% Ethanol at the Buffalo Chip

Cindy Zimmerman

Buffalo Chip Campground fueling station in Sturgis, SD

Motorcycle riders – and all motorists – traveling around Sturgis, S.D., can now fuel up 24 hours a day with 93 octane, 10% ethanol thanks to the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), which has donated a permanent fueling station to the Buffalo Chip Campground.

RFA VP of Industry Relations Robert White says they have partnered with the Buffalo Chip since 2009 to help educate motorcyclists about ethanol during the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, but this new fueling station will keep that going year round. “Motorcycle owners are typically looking for high octane, and ethanol helps provide that,” said White. “The Buffalo Chip is the only location in the area that offers 93 octane. The 93 is achieved by adding 10% ethanol to standard 91 octane premium, and thanks to the cost savings of ethanol, 93 octane is actually cheaper than 91 octane.”

RFA’s partnership with the Buffalo Chip has been fostered by the strong support of owner Rod Woodruff. “We are excited about this new addition and the ability to offer fuel to the public thanks to the Renewable Fuels Association,” said Woodruff. “It will be one more service we can provide while helping set the record straight on ethanol.”

RFA has been offering 10% ethanol for motorcyclists at the campground with Free Fuel Happy Hours during the Sturgis rally, so White says the new fueling station will make that effort a lot easier this year. “We’ll be doing it at an actual gas station, so it will be a unique experience, but we are very excited to see how many motorcycles we can get through in those three hours each day,” said White. The 77th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally will be held August 4-13. Watch the video below to see more.

White talks about about the partnership in this edition of The Ethanol Report podcast: Ethanol Report on Sturgis E10 Station

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Audio, Ethanol, RFA