The Growing Enogen Footprint

Jamie Johansen

Enogen hosted about 1,200 farmer-customers at the American Ethanol E15 250 Presented by Enogen. As Enogen continues to grow, the NASCAR race held at Iowa Speedway was the perfect place to spotlight the farmers who supply the Enogen corn which will produce about 2 billion gallons of ethanol this year.

“We see this race as a great opportunity to support the efforts of E15. E10 is already blended in 89% of the fuel consumers purchase. The E15 market is just developing and can really help corn farmers. As Enogen, I can’t think of a better place for us to step up and demonstrate how we can help farmers,” said Ron Wulfkuhle, head of Enogen at Syngenta.

Ron said the Enogen footprint is growing in local communities providing new income and incentives. Other examples of those helping to expand that footprint include partnerships with Growth Energy and Kum & Go to continue sharing the message of the clean-burning, high-octane fuel E15 gives customers.

Listen to my complete interview with Ron here: Interview with Ron Wulfkuhle, Enogen at Syngenta

View and download photos from the race here: American Ethanol E15 250 Presented by Enogen Syngenta Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Biofuels, Corn, Ethanol, NASCAR, Syngenta

Animal Ag Bites 6/29

Jamie Johansen

ag_wired_animal-ag-bites

  • Alltech will host a webinar Friday, June 30, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. ET featuring Dr. Corale Dorn, a vet from South Dakota, on calf care and development, calf diseases and how to identify different types, & a new look at preventative care and how dairy producers can incorporate it in their operation.
  • Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) is offering Future Service Scholarships to support future cattle veterinarians graduating from the Iowa State University (ISU) College of Veterinary Medicine. The final amount of the scholarship is determined by BI vet and producer customers submitting box tops from Pyramid® 5 and Pyramid® 5 + Presponse® SQ product boxes.
  • Nutriad launched its NutriTrace minerals, a line of organic minerals, developed by using state-of-the-art technology, which offers the industry new ideas on mineral nutrition.
  • Nutreco has completed the acquisition of Hi-Pro Feeds. As part of the integration, Nutreco’s combined animal nutrition businesses in North America, consisting of Shur-Gain, Landmark and Hi-Pro Feeds, will now trade under the name Trouw Nutrition.
AgWired Animal, Animal Bites

Agribusiness News Briefs

Cindy Zimmerman

Syngenta has announced its new ambition and priorities following the completion of the transaction with ChemChina. The company aims to profitably grow market share through organic growth and collaborations, and is considering targeted acquisitions with a focus on seeds. The goal is to strengthen Syngenta’s leadership position in crop protection and to become an ambitious number three in seeds.

Agricultural retailers and manufacturers recently offered powerful testimonials on how moving from paper-based tracking systems into electronic connectivity – through standardized transactions, barcoding and other systems – has dramatically improved their efficiency, accuracy and customer service; and they called on others to embrace eConnectivity to better streamline the supply chain.

Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank, was announced as the 2017 World Food Prize Laureate during a ceremony at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Hon. Sonny Perdue gave keynote remarks and applauded the selection.

Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, Syngenta, World Food Prize

Ag Groups Provide NAFTA Input

Cindy Zimmerman

A number of agricultural organizations provided their input to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) this week regarding the upcoming negotiations to update the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

“NAFTA has been overwhelmingly beneficial for the vast majority of farmers and ranchers across the U.S. for decades,” said Colorado Farm Bureau President Don Shawcroft in comments on behalf of the American Farm Bureau Federation. “A modernized NAFTA should at best eliminate, at worst reduce, barriers to trade that keep our farmers and ranchers from having a level playing field with our neighbors.” U.S. agricultural exports to Canada and Mexico have quadrupled, from $8.9 billion in 1993 to $38.1 billion in 2016. Although the benefits from NAFTA are clear and many, there are reasons to reform and update the agreement, Shawcroft said.

“Free trade has benefited American farmers, and NAFTA has been extremely valuable to our industry,” National Corn Growers Association First Vice President Kevin Skunes of North Dakota testified. “Twenty-three years of investment has led to a sizeable increase in trade. Since 1994, U.S. corn exports to NAFTA partners have increased more than seven-fold. Today, we export a record volume of more than 14 million metric tons of corn to Mexico and Canada, valued at $2.68 billion.” Mexico is the largest export market for U.S. corn as well as a significant market for distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS). Canada is a top-10 export market for corn and DDGS, and the number one export market for U.S. ethanol.

Others who testified included: Chandler Goule, CEO, National Association of Wheat Growers;;Ben Connor, Director of Policy, U.S. Wheat Associates; Randy Gordon, President, National Grain and Feed Association; and Chip Councell, U.S. Grains Council.

Listen or download here: NAFTA hearing testimony panel 4

AFBF, Audio, Corn, NAWG, NCGA

The BEEFabulous App

Chuck Zimmerman

Need beef recipes? The California Beef Council has you covered.

Does this sound familiar? You’re in the grocery store and you see a special on Chuck Roast, but you’re not sure what to do with a Chuck Roast–Slow-cook? Braise? (What’s “braise,” anyway?) Or you need meal options that are fast, satisfying and nutritious. Or you know that if you’re tired of making the kids the same old thing for lunch, they must be positively bored out of their minds.

“We’ve all been there in one form or another,” laughs Annette Kassis, Director of Consumer & Brand Marketing for the California Beef Council. “So we thought we’d do our bit to help.”

And the BEEFabulous mobile app was born.

Find it in iTunes or Google Play.

Ag Groups, AgWired Animal, Apps, Beef, Beef Checkoff, Food

ASTA Preparing Farm Bill Input

Kelly Marshall

Virginia Houston

The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) has an interest in several titles of the farm bill, so the organization is making preparations for the 2018 legislation.

The research title is extremely important to the industry, and trade promotions are absolutely critical, Jane DeMarchi, VP of Government and Regulatory Affairs and Virginia Houston, Associate Director for Domestic and Government Affairs for ASTA reiterate. But it’s conservation that got a lot of attention at the recent annual meeting.

“Part of our membership segment supply conservation seed that goes for the farmers to implement these programs and just like the farmers you’re hearing are having difficulties with program efficiencies and deliveries, so do seed suppliers,” explained Houston. “So we’re really looking at how can the seed industry help NRCS and help the farmer partners improve the program efficiency– make them more cost efficient and also help them meet conservation goals.”

ASTA’s Jane DeMarchi

ASTA will work with a lot of partners to meet these goals, but most especially their members. The process is already rolling along; members of the working group heard a first draft last week at the meeting and now staff members will head to the hill to find out how the ideas float with lawmakers and other stakeholders.

Learn more about ASTA’s work on the farm bill in Cindy’s interview here: Interview with Jane DeMarchi and Virginia Houston, ASTA

2017 ASTA Annual Meeting Flickr album

AgWired Precision, ASTA, Audio, Farm Bill, Seed

E15 at the Pump with Kum & Go

Jamie Johansen

Kum & Go stores launched E15 about two years ago because of the growing demand for higher octane and a lower cost fuel option for customers. We met up with Jim Pirolli, Vice President of Fuels at Kum and Go, during the recent NASCAR American Ethanol E15 250 presented by Enogen to learn more about those blue pumps.

“We found E15 to be a fuel that 9 out of 10 cars on the road can use. It provides a great pathway for us to differentiate ourselves and another choice at the pump,” Pirolli said.

This is Kum & Go’s second year on board with Richard Childress Racing and their first year sponsoring #62 Brendan Gaughn. “We’re excited just to be affiliated with NASCAR and their green initiatives and American Ethanol.”

Pirolli reminds us that E15 is a great way to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and said Kum & Go has a strong focus towards sustainability overall. They have over 100 LEAD certified stores and offer recycling at the pump.

Listen to my complete interview with Pirolli here: Interview with Jim Pirolli, Kum & Go

View and download photos from the race here: American Ethanol E15 250 Presented by Enogen Syngenta Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Biofuels, Ethanol, NASCAR

Farm Groups Cheer WOTUS Repeal

Cindy Zimmerman

Ding dong the ditch rule is dead!

The Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have officially begun the process to withdraw the highly controversial Waters of the United States (WOTUS) final rule and begin a replacement rulemaking process to gather input and re-evaluate the definition of WOTUS, to cheers from farmers and ranchers nationwide.

American Farm Bureau – “Today’s announcement shows EPA Administrator Pruitt recognizes the WOTUS rule for what it is—an illegal and dangerous mistake that needs to be corrected. Farm Bureau looks forward to supporting Administrator Pruitt’s proposal. EPA should ditch this rule once and for all, go back to the drawing board, and write a new rule that protects water quality without trampling the rights of businesses and the states.”

National Corn Growers – “We are thankful this Administration is working to draw clear lines in terms of what is and what is not jurisdictional under the Clean Water Act. In doing so, they will enable farmers to implement best management practices such as grass waterways and buffer strips without the burden of bureaucratic red tape or fear of legal action. These types of land improvements have enormous water quality benefits, such as reducing sediment and nutrient runoff—a win for farmers and the environment.”

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association – “This is another great step in the right direction, and the Administration deserves a great deal of credit for injecting some much-needed common sense into our nation’s environmental policies. It’s important to remember, though, that this rule isn’t dead yet. The rulemaking process continues, and NCBA will submit and solicit additional comments on behalf of America’s cattle producers so that they finally get the sanity and clarity they need on land use policy.”

National Pork Producers – “The WOTUS rule was a dramatic government overreach and an unprecedented expansion of federal authority over private lands. It was the product of a flawed regulatory process that lacked transparency and likely would have been used by trial lawyers and environmental activists to attack farmers.”

AFBF, AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, NCBA, NCGA, NPPC

Prices for a July 4th Cookout Down Slightly

Jamie Johansen

The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) says we can cookout for a little less this year. Favorite foods for a Fourth of July meal will run about $6 per person according to an informal survey conducted by AFBF. The average cost of a summer cookout for 10 people is $55.70, or $5.57 per person. One reason for this is competition in the meat and dairy cases.

“Retail pork prices also declined in 2017, largely due to more pork on the market and ample supplies of other animal proteins available for domestic consumption. Lower beef prices are most likely putting downward pressure on pork prices,” said AFBF Director of Market Intelligence Dr. John Newton.

AFBF’s summer cookout menu for 10 people consists of hot dogs and buns, cheeseburgers and buns, pork spare ribs, deli potato salad, baked beans, corn chips, lemonade, chocolate milk, ketchup, mustard and watermelon for dessert.

Newton said, “We continue to see stability in dairy prices because of the improving export market. Chocolate milk will be a little more affordable this July 4th, in part because some retailers are promoting it as a sports recovery drink superior to other sports drinks and water.”

Newton said retail dairy and meat prices included in the survey are consistent with recent trends and are expected to continue to be stable.

AFBF, Ag Groups, AgWired Animal, Dairy, Food, Meat

Engine Smart. Earth Kind.

Jamie Johansen

The story of biofuels seems pretty simple when you hear the words, “Engine smart and earth kind,” from Growth Energy’s CEO Emily Skor. The Iowa Speedway is smack-dab in the middle of corn country. You can’t find a better location for the NASCAR Xfinity American Ethanol E15 250 presented by Enogen Syngenta.

“E15 is a win, win fuel for consumers. It’s the 21-century fuel for the 21-century consumer and for their 21-century car,” said Skor. The clean burning fuel boosts performance and is better for the environment using fewer greenhouse emissions leading to cleaner air for us all to breath. Skor said savings at the pump is just icing on the cake when it comes to E15.

As a consumer, even NASCAR at first had questions. But after seeing it in action, they were quick adopters. “If it’s good enough for the most demanding road conditions, then it’s good for driving your kids to soccer practice too,” said Skor.

Listen to my complete interview with Emily Skor here: Interview with Emily Skor, Growth Energy

View and download photos from the race here: American Ethanol E15 250 Presented by Enogen Syngenta Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Ethanol, NASCAR, Syngenta