The National Science Foundation has awarded a Small Business Innovation Research grant to Advanced Biological Marketing (ABM). The money will allow ABM to develop a new class of biorational chemicals based on chemical communicants from plant symbiotic fungi to offer greater crop yields, enhanced root growth and resistance to stress.- Penn State University Extension reminds growers to be ever vigilant against spider mites and offers a solution to producers with a center-pivot irrigation system. A chemical injection of Boundary Rider from Agri-Inject is specifically designed to control the migrating insects.
- Verdesian Life Sciences has field tested Take Off, a product that speeds up the rate corn processes nitrogen. South Dakota Wheat Growers have seen a respectable yield increase and improved ROI for farmers using the product.
New Propane Irrigation Engines Available
The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) has partnered with Origin Engines to develop new 5.7- and 6.2- liter engines, EPA-certified and optimized for industrial applications like irrigation and power generation.
Pete Stout, Origin Engines
“We are excited to introduce these highly efficient, innovative engines to the market,” said Pete Stout, product manager for Origin Engines. “We built our product line based on feedback from the end users because their satisfaction is what is most important to us. We are confident they will be very pleased with these new products.”
The new engines complement Origin’s larger 8.0-, 9.1-, and 10.3-liter engines, which were introduced in 2015, and are now available from distributors Industrial Irrigation, KEM Equipment, and Flint Power and Western Power Products. In addition, a new Propane Farm Incentive Program is offering $300 per liter of fuel displacement for propane-powered irrigation engines (up to $5,000 total), according to Cinch Munson, director of agriculture business development at PERC.
Munson and Stout talked about propane engines for irrigation at the 2014 World LP Gas Forum in Miami when the larger propane engines were first announced. Here is a segment of their remarks about the development and benefits of propane irrigation engines in general. PERC's Cinch Munson and Origin's Pete Stout
Corn and Soybean Condition Down Slightly
Most of the corn and soybeans around the country remain in good to excellent condition but dry weather is taking a toll in some areas.
According to the latest USDA-NASS report, corn condition as of Sunday was rated 64 percent good to excellent and only 11 percent poor to very poor, but South Dakota’s corn is ranked as 38% poor to very poor. Colorado, Indiana, and North Dakota also have low rankings.
Similar situation for soybeans, with 61% good to excellent and 11 percent poor to very poor. South Dakota soybeans are also suffering with 33% in poor to very poor condition.
Syngenta Receives China Approval for Agrisure Duracade®
Syngenta has received notification of import approval from the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture for its Agrisure Duracade® trait, which covers corn grain and processing co-products, including dried distillers grains (DDGs), for food and feed use.
“Obtaining this regulatory approval opens up new opportunities within our portfolio,” said David Hollinrake, president of Syngenta Seeds, LLC. “Moving forward, growers can expect expanded access to the full depth and breadth of our genetic portfolio with more choice and exciting new hybrids that offer elite genetics plus the latest in corn rootworm control technology.”
Hollinrake adds that Syngenta will continue to offer Agrisure Duracade for the 2017 and 2018 planting seasons under its grain-use marketing program.
Animal Ag Bytes 7/17
- National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) brought veterinarians from around the country to Washington D.C. last week to educate members of Congress on the importance of pork industry issues. The team of 17 visited 34 representatives in two days, focusing on the 2018 Farm Bill and the establishment of a vaccine bank in the event of an outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease.
- The National Pork Board is hosting the first Pig Welfare Symposium in Des Moines, Iowa on November 7-9, 2017 in order to raise awareness of issues in the industry and begin to identify potential solutions.
- The U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (USRSB) General Assembly met in Denver last week. In addition to taking part in educational opportunities the group also elected new officers for the coming year.
Blue Ridge Biofuels Proud to Supply Local
Blue Ridge Biofuels (BRB) started as a way for one business to make its own sustainable diesel fuel – now they provide clean burning biodiesel for customers all over Western North Carolina.
The Asheville, N.C.-based company collects over 700,000 gallons of used cooking oil annually from nearly 1,500 restaurants in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia to produce renewable biodiesel according to General Manager Woody Eaton.
“We do bioheat, transportation fuel, we can make biodiesel blends in any ratio from B100,” said Eaton. “Right now our biodiesel blends are the cheapest diesel in our area, so we’re also saving consumers money at the pump,” said Eaton.
BRB is a proud member of the National Biodiesel Board, which Eaton says has helped his small company grow. Learn more in this interview.
SMART Farmer Carla Wardin
Our SMART Farmer in this episode comes from Michigan where she and her husband have a dairy operation that has been in her family for over a century.
Carla Wardin is dedicated to telling the real story of dairy farming through her blog Truth or Dairy, and in 2014 was chosen to represent agriculture as one of the USFRA Faces of Farming and Ranching. Jamie Johansen had the pleasure of sitting down with Carla to find out why smart farming is so important to her.
Listen to this episode here and subscribe below – SMART Farmer Podcast with Carla Wardin, Michigan dairy farmer
ASTA Shares Story of Plant Breeding
The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) has released a new animated video as the latest installment in ASTA’s Better Seed, Better Life initiative. The video, produced in conjunction with CropLife International, explores the history, and future, of plant breeding-from the ancient domestication of wild crops, to gene editing and beyond. Check out the video below, and share it using the hashtag #JustGrowIt.
AdFarm Founder Receives High Canadian Honor
Kim McConnell C.M., a founder of the agricultural communications firm AdFarm, was recently appointed to the Order of Canada for his leadership in promoting Canada’s agricultural industry and his support of youth, entrepreneurship and rural communities. The Order of Canada is one of the highest civilian honors, recognizing outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation.
Raised on a farm in Hamiota, Manitoba, McConnell started his communications and marketing business in the basement of his house in 1984 – eventually growing it to be one of the most awarded agricultural marketing communications firms in North America. In addition to leading numerous national and international brand and marketing assignments for several respected companies, McConnell has been a catalyst in leading industry initiatives including advancing the Canadian beef industry, developing strategic marketing plans for global commodity players, and spearheading recent efforts to build greater public trust in food and farming.
McConnell was named to the Order of Canada on June 30, 2017.
Zimfo Bytes 7/14
- MGEX continues to break open interest records. Another daily record of 105,832 contracts set after Thursday’s activity, with records set almost every day this week.
- USDA announced that a proposed amendment to the federal marketing order for cranberries allowing the Cranberry Marketing Committee to receive and expend voluntary contributions from domestic sources failed to receive a majority of processor volume, but the original cranberry marketing order, first established in 1962, remains in effect.
- Charleston|Orwig (C|O) announces the promotion of two client services team members. Alli Hartman and Matt Olson both advance from junior account executives to assistant account executives.
- Registration is open for the 31st annual Georgia Peanut Tour to be held September 19-21