Sweet Deal with Mexico

Cindy Zimmerman

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and Mexican Secretary of Economy Ildefonso Guajardo announced a new agreement this week to suspend antidumping and countervailing duties against Mexican sugar imports into the United States.

“We have gotten the Mexican side to agree to nearly every request made by U.S. industry to address flaws in the current system and ensure fair treatment of American sugar growers and refiners,” said Secretary Ross.

According to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, the agreement reduces the percentage of Mexican refined sugar that may be imported into the United States, lowers the polarity dividing line between refined and raw sugar, and requires that raw Mexican sugar be shipped flowing freely in the holds of ocean-going vessels, rather than being shipped in packages or by land. “Finally, it is of great importance that USDA will have the flexibility to protect the U.S. sugar industry by making polarity adjustments in the event of extraordinary or unforeseen circumstances,” said Perdue. “The agreement prevented potentially significant and retaliatory actions by the Mexican sugar industry and sets an important tone of good faith leading up to the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement.”

Corn Refiners Association President and CEO John Bode praised the agreement. “In this Administration’s first major negotiation with Mexico, Secretary Ross succeeded in protecting against unfair trade practices and maintained vulnerable export markets,” said Bode. “Thanks to his leadership, U.S. sugar interests have much stronger protections than the previous Suspension Agreements without threatening the $500 million in U.S. corn sweetener exports to Mexico that support 4,000 U.S. jobs.”

The American Sugar Alliance (ASA) is also pleased with the agreement, but concerned about a loophole they say “takes away the existing power of the U.S. government to determine the type and polarity of any additional sugar that needs to be imported and cedes that power to the Mexican government.”

“We will work with Secretary Ross in the coming days to see if that loophole can be effectively closed so that the basic provisions of the agreement are not undermined and USDA can effectively manage the sugar program,” said ASA spokesman Phillip Hayes.

USDA

A John Deere Tractor for Every Need

Kelly Marshall

Dennis Ogle, Senior Marketing Representative, focused on the R Series tractors at John Deere‘s Reveal event in Moline, Illinois last week. They offer almost anything you could want for on-farm jobs, Ogle explains.

From the 1000 tractor to the 8 R option, there are big things to think about. Choose tracked models or wheels, pick the cab comfort level you’ll need for the time spent in the equipment, and decide how much horsepower the operation needs.

“The big thing about the 8R tractors is it’s a versatile tractor,” Ogle says. “A lot of guys within row crops love to use it, a lot of specialty guys. Folks can use it for planting, for tillage, put it on a grain cart, they can ballast it differently, they can change a lot of different features on the settings for optionality to make it really work for their operations.”

The 6 and 7 R family of tractors is equally versital for dairy or hay and forage folks. They offer the horsepower while being compact and maneuverable. The 1000 to 5000 series tractors do utility work– loader work and smaller round baler jobs.

Whatever the need, your local John Deere dealer is the tried and true answer for questions. Listen to Jamie’s interview with Ogle here: Interview with Dennis Ogle, John Deere

2017 John Deere Reveal Photo Album

Agribusiness, AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Audio, John Deere, Tractor

Precision Ag Bytes

Kelly Marshall

  • Farmers Business Network (FBN) is launching FBN Crop Marketing, a crop marking tool that utilized networks and data to help growers increase profit. The site is made up of FBN Profit CenterTM and an exclusive crop marketing service called FBN Select MarketsTM.
  • Zetor North America, in cooperation with their dealers, is now offering a free ZL 31 loader with purchase of any new tractor. The offer expires June 30th.
  • INNVICTIS CROP CARE, LLC. is introducing TREVO TRZ to help fight against disease in corn, soybeans, and sugarbeets.  The new product offers curative and preventative control of gray leaf sort, Northern corn leaf flight, frogeye leaf spot cercospora, powdery mildew, rust and others using 2 modes of action.
  • National Agricultural Genotyping Center (NAGC), a non-profit initiative founded by the National Corn Growers Association and Los Alamos National Laboratory, will provide research and testing services on the corn diseases Goss’s Wilt and Xanthomonas.
AgWired Precision, Zimfo Bytes

Aptimmune Launches World’s First Mucosal PRRSV Vaccine

Cindy Zimmerman

On opening day of World Pork Expo, Aptimmune Biologics launched the world’s first commercially available mucosal PRRSV vaccine for swine administered via nasal spray.

Aptimmune’s autogenous mucosal PRRS vaccine utilizes the BARRICADE® proprietary vaccine technology, which offers producers and veterinarians a revolutionary approach to PRRSV management. The mucosal vaccine offers a new class of vaccine to combat a devastating and costly disease. BARRICADE® PRRSV combines three core components: First, a powerful and safe immune stimulating adjuvant based on mycobacterium whole cell lysate. Second, high-titer PRRSV antigen produced on ZMAC, the world’s only commercially available porcine based alveolar macrophage cell line. Lastly, Aptimmune’s proprietary nanoparticles deliver the vaccine payload to immune cells responsible for mucosal immunity, potentially offering enhanced cell-mediated immunity and antibody production.

“Aptimmune has benefited from ground-breaking research conducted at the University of Illinois, The Ohio State University, and several private companies,” said Aptimmune CEO Aaron Gilbertie during a press conference. “We are proud the launch of BARRICADE® validates our collaborative innovation model. We are exceptionally pleased with early customer feedback. In the coming months, we expect to launch additional vaccines formulated with BARRICADE®, including influenza.”

Gilbertie was joined at World Pork Expo by Dr. Jianqiang Zhang with the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory to talk about the new vaccine: Aptimmune press conference

Gilbertie explains more about the vaccine in this interview: Interview with Aptimmune CEO Aaron Gilbertie

2017 World Pork Expo photos

Coverage of the World Pork Expo is sponsored by
Coverage of the World Pork Expo is sponsored by Aptimmune
AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Health, Audio, Swine, World Pork Expo

Animal Ag Bites

Lizzy Schultz

ag_wired_animal-ag-bites

  • AgriLabs is pleased to announce the hiring of Dr. Robert Rust as Technical Service Manager effective June 1, 2017.
  • The National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program, in collaboration with Colorado State University, is conducting a dairy farmer survey to learn more about perceptions of the FARM Program and how it can continue to improve the resources it offers producers. The voluntary survey, available here, will probe producers’ knowledge of the program and the value they think it provides to their operations.
  • Angus Media, the communications arm of the American Angus Association in Saint Joseph, Mo., has hired Sara Reardon as their new general manager.
  • The American Sheep Industry Association’s Young Entrepreneur Program is announcing a farm and ranch tour July 17-18 in Sioux Falls, S.D. that aims at helping young and beginning sheep producers network and gain a broader understanding of the industry.
    • AgWired Animal

    Agri-Pulse Signs Governors’ Food & Farm Agreement

    Kelly Marshall

    Agri-Pulse, the nation’s leading source of food and farm policy content, has announced an agreement to provide a unique service for The Governors’ Food and Farm Partnership. The organization will be creating a quick-read news format to be sent governors and their staff to keep them current on the fast-moving world of agriculture issues.

    “We are very pleased that The Governors’ Food and Farm Partnership has chosen Agri-Pulse and our experienced team of journalists to provide this information,” said Allan Johnson, vice president and marketing director at Agri-Pulse.

    “This program is a terrific complement to the partnership we already have with the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture to provide their members with Agri-Pulse content. We will now be communicating with governors’ staff members as well as the top Ag Department officials in every state in the U.S. each morning and throughout the day as news breaks.”

    Agri-Pulse

    Deere’s 3-Point Mounted Sprayer Packs a Punch

    Kelly Marshall

    Scott Geier is a marketing Manager for implements and attachments at John Deere, making him the go-to guy for information on their recently released 3-point mounted sprayer.

    The 3-point mounted sprayer is designed for use with tractors between 50 and 180 horsepower. While it’s small it’s also mighty, providing many features typically available only on larger-scale equipment.

    The new attachment comes in 4 width options, from 25 foot to 40 foot, can be run on PTO or hydraulic system, offers some section control and pressure control from inside the cab, and can provide foam marking options for growers who need it. The 250 or 300 gallon tanks are another of John Deere’s innovations; the unique tear drop shapes allows products to drain completely before switching or storing and the shape shortens the tank, moving it closer to the tractor and requiring less ballast.

    Learn more about the 3-point mounted sprayer in Jamie’s interview with Geier here: Interview with Scott Geier, John Deere

    2017 John Deere Reveal Photo Album

    Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, Audio, Equipment, John Deere

    4-H Challenges Students to Tackle Soil Health

    Kelly Marshall

    Students in the midwest are tackling the challenges of healthy soils as part of the 2017 4-H Ag Innovators Experience (4-H AIE) activity. Sponsored by Monsanto, the two-part challenge was developed by The Ohio State University and focuses on soil composition, impacts of tillage, and new ways to farm. Teams of students in 4-H clubs, camps, after school programs, and enrichment classes conduct tests to determine soil health and then search for solutions to maintaining microbials and nutrients while minimizing the environmental impact. Students will have the opportunity to build a 1:64 scale no-till planter to gain a better understand of how to reduce agriculture’s carbon footprint.

    “This program was created for students to get hands on experience and generate an understanding of the challenges farmers face,” said National 4-H Council President and CEO Jennifer Sirangelo. “We’re excited this program brings together students throughout their communities for an education on real-world problems and the opportunity to apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills for solutions.”

    AgWired Precision, Education, Soil

    Seasoned Ag Journalists Stay Credible in Fake News World

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Three well seasoned agricultural journalists will be holding a webinar for the Agricultural Communicators Network (AAEA) next week. So how do you stay credible with all the fake news out there? This looks like a good place to get ideas.

    Staying Credible in a “Fake News” World

    Thursday, June 15, 2017, 12 p.m. CST – Register here

    How can ag journalists and communicators stay relevant and credible in an era when the media is scrutinized more closely than ever, and news is not taken seriously if a reader disagrees with the story topic or slant?

    As trained journalists and professional communicators, how do we make sure our stories and the organizations we represent are taken seriously when the internet allows anyone to be an “expert” on any given topic?

    Join us Thursday, June 15 at 12 p.m. CST for a webinar with seasoned agricultural journalists Chris Clayton, Willie Vogt and Betsy Freese on their thoughts about “fake news,” how to advocate for trust in ag journalism and writing for rural America. Participants will hear from Clayton as the guest speaker for the first 20 minutes, followed by a 20-minute panel discussion featuring all three panelists. The last 20 minutes will be a Q&A session.

    BTW this webinar is brought to you by the AAEA Young Professionals Taskforce.

    ACN, Media

    ZimmCast on Climate Change & Paris Accord

    Chuck Zimmerman

    ZimmCast 548The decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Accord has generated reactions from many I am connected with via social media that border on hysteria. But the majority have expressed approval of the decision. As we reported earlier this week, agricultural interests seem to be pretty quiet on the matter. I think that’s because they are more likely to be science based thinkers, realists, business oriented and personally concerned about taking care of our natural resources. They don’t see that deal as one to accomplish anything except hurt business and transfer wealth, in particular our wealth!

    So, I reached out to the Heartland Institute for someone to talk with me about this whole issue. I visited with Dr. Jay Lehr, senior fellow and science director of The Heartland Institute. It is a good conversation that I hope you’ll enjoy.

    The Heartland Institute is one of the world’s leading free-market think tanks. It is a national nonprofit research and education organization based in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Its mission is to discover, develop, and promote free-market solutions to social and economic problems.

    For those who might have seen some very questionable information about the Heartland Institute you are invited to see their responses on this web page. I would also point you to a presentation that Jay made during this year’s 12th International Conference on Climate Change on March 23, 2017 (ICCC12). You can also find lots of information on climate change here.

    Listen to the ZimmCast here: ZimmCast with Dr. Jay Lehr, Heartland Institute

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

    The ZimmCast

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