More Beans and Cotton, Less Corn and Wheat

Cindy Zimmerman

The first estimate for crop plantings this year by USDA is calling for less corn and wheat but more soybeans and cotton.

The 2017 Prospective Plantings report based on farmer surveys estimates that corn planted area for all purposes in 2017 will be 90 million acres, down 4 percent or 4.0 million acres from last year. Soybeans planted area for 2017 is estimated at a record high 89.5 million acres, up 7 percent from last year.

All wheat planted area for 2017 is estimated at 46.1 million acres, down 8 percent from 2016, which would be the lowest total planted area for the United States since records began in 1919. All cotton planted area for 2017 is estimated at 12.2 million acres, 21 percent above last year.

The MGEX crop call on the report today featured commentary from Brian Basting of Advance Trading, Inc. Listen to it here: MGEX Crop Call with Brian Basting, Advance Trading

Audio, Corn, Cotton, Soybean, USDA, Wheat

Tebow Wins 2017 Charles Eastin Award on Ag Day

Kelly Marshall

Sue Tebow was the recipient of this year’s Charles Eastin Award, presented on National Ag Day. The award honors advocates who communicate between rural and urban audiences; Tebow’s Facebook page, agri.CULTURE, certainly does that job. She credits her vantage point as an outsider to the industry with shaping the message that has allowed her to reach thousands of people.

“I realized it is a life; it is not a job,” Tebow explains. “So it gave me a very special insight on what people do not know about farming and what they do know.”

Her Facebook page features the stories Tebow has captured with her camera– the culture of the hard working men and women. It’s the simplicity that makes it the success it is, Tebow says.

Listen to Tebow’s message here: Ag Day Eastin Award, Sue Tebow

National Ag Day Photo Album

Ag Day, Audio

FMC to Acquire Portion of Dupont Crop Protection

Chuck Zimmerman

In an early morning call FMC and DuPont made a major announcement:

FMC Corporation (NYSE: FMC) and DuPont (NYSE: DD) today announced the signing of a definitive agreement for FMC to acquire the portion of DuPont’s Crop Protection business it must divest to comply with the European Commission ruling related to its merger with The Dow Chemical Company. Additionally, DuPont will acquire FMC Health and Nutrition and receive $1.2 billion in cash. FMC will acquire DuPont’s global chewing pest insecticide portfolio, its global cereal broadleaf herbicides, and a substantial portion of DuPont’s global crop protection R&D capabilities. In 2017, FMC expects this acquired business will generate approximately $1.5 billion in revenue and $475 million of EBITDA.2

After closing of the acquisition, FMC Agricultural Solutions will become the fifth largest crop protection chemical company in the world by revenue, with estimated annual revenue of approximately $3.8 billion.

“This is a significant step forward for FMC, and for our Agricultural Solutions business in particular,” said Pierre Brondeau, FMC president, CEO and chairman. “The combination of market-leading products from DuPont’s crop protection portfolio and its world-class R&D capabilities will transform our Agricultural Solutions business into a tier-one ag technology company.

You can learn a lot more from the call this morning and I’m sure we’ll be getting more details and updates as time goes on. Of course, this deal is dependent on the success of the Dow and DuPont merger. You can see the slides from the webcast in this .pdf.

You can listen to or download this morning’s call here: FMC Acquisition from DuPont Call

Agribusiness, Audio, FMC, Herbicide, Insecticides, International, Technology

World Backup Day 2017

Chuck Zimmerman

It is back. It is more important than ever. It is World Backup Day.

C’mon, what are you waiting for? Back up your phone, tablet, computer. You don’t want to be one of the ones who does not and waits to think about it when they have lost all their photos, music, confidential company documents, etc. Do you?

Check out the World Backup Day Graphic on their website for some really interesting statistics.

Technology

It’s Time for IFAJ in Africa

Chuck Zimmerman

It looks like the Two Gregs Guide Team is ready for action in Africa as the 2017 IFAJ Congress gets underway this week (Greg Lamp & Greg Hillyer).

The AgriBlogger and FarmPodcaster could not make things work to be there for this year’s event but we are able to attend virtually. BTW. The IFAJ email software got hacked and sent out a fake request so please don’t fall for the scam that was perpetrated on us this week. #IHateScammers

This year’s location and program provide you with just one reason why being involved in IFAJ is such a good thing for an agricultural journalist. Next year it’s on to the Netherlands!

IFAJ, International

Bridger Gordon Wins Ag Day Essay Contest

Kelly Marshall

Ag Day chair Annette Degnan, CHS Inc., presents check to Bridger Gordon of South Dakota

Bridger Gordon is more than just junior from South Dakota. He is one of the bright, enthusiastic youth who are part of bringing the message of agriculture to the world. Gordon’s message rang loud and clear as he read his winning essay to the attendees of last week’s National Ag Day.

“I think about the many families, like mine, who rely on farming for their livelihood, but I also realize the local bank, grocery store, school and other businesses from the the auto dealer to the insurance agent to the gas station are all intertwined with the agriculture economy,” Gordon’s essay reads. “This interconnectedness between agriculture amongst families, communities, and economies is mirrored across my state, across the nation, and around the world.”

Thanks to the sponsorship of CHS, Gordon received $1,000 for his essay. You can hear him read it here: Ag Day essay winner, Bridger Gordon

National Ag Day Photo Album

Ag Day, Audio

Ag Groups Applaud EPA Decision on Chlorpyrofis

Kelly Marshall

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently dismissed a petition regarding the crop protection tool chlorpyrifos, a decision the National Corn Growers Association and American Farm Bureau Federation have praised. The Obama administration had considered a ban on chlorpyrifos in 2015, but the decision had not been finalized.

“We are pleased with the EPA’s decision today to deny a petition against chlorpyrifos and return to the standard pesticides review process as called for under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA),” said NCGA President Wesley Spurlock. “The overwhelming scientific consensus is that chlorpyrifos is safe for use by farmers, and we are confident that the pesticide review process will reaffirm this.”

“Farmers nationwide depend on chlorpyrifos in managing their crops,” said American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall. “It is widely and safely used for a wide range of crops, including alfalfa, citrus, vegetables, soybeans, almonds and others. It also protects hundreds of thousands of acres of grass seed production, where it controls aphids, cutworms and other pests. As USDA has noted, chlorpyrifos has been used as a part of environmentally friendly IPM (integrated pest management) programs for nearly 50 years.”

Ag Groups, EPA, NCGA

Can the Farm Bill Help Bring Back the Next Generation?

Kelly Marshall

Agri-Pulse‘s final panel discussion at their Farm Bill Summit covered “How the Farm Bill Can Help Bring the Next Generation Back to the Farm Through Investments in Infrastructure, Research, and Rural Development.” The moderator was Spencer Chase, Agri-Pulse Associate Editor.

Krysta Harden, Vice President of Public Policy and Chief Sustainability Officer, DuPont; Laura Batcha, CEO, Organic Trade Association; Travis Medine, Louisiana Farmer, Ryan Quarles, Commissioner, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Chair, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Communications Working Group; and Neil Dierks, CEO, National Pork Producers Council, all participated in the panel discussion.

“I’m thinking about it from sort of a macro succession planning perspective,” says Laura Batcha. “Take a step back and analyze the situation, but you have to be willing to be creative and invest in some things that might not be the immediate burning thing that is banging down your door at that moment– and that takes discipline and it takes being really committed to solving the problem long term.”

Listen to the rest of the panel discussion here: How the Farm Bill Can Help Bring the Next Generation Back to the Farm

Photos can be found on the Agri-Pulse website. Agri-Pulse Farm Bill Summit photos

Agri-Pulse, Audio, Farm Bill

Novozymes & Boehringer Ingelheim Collaborate in Probiotics

Jamie Johansen

Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health and Novozymes announced a strategic collaboration to develop and commercialize probiotics for global poultry production. The parties will focus on developing products for hatcheries. As part of the agreement, Boehringer Ingelheim will market and distribute Novozymes’ FloraMax® probiotic product for the U.S. poultry industry.

“Boehringer Ingelheim is continuously exploring new science, products and industry categories, to deliver a powerful range of innovative solutions with a focus on customer needs. Poultry producers are looking for improved ways to deliver on the growing global need for sustainable protein,” said George Heidgerken, Global Head of Livestock at Boehringer Ingelheim. “Collaborating with Novozymes enables Boehringer Ingelheim to enter an exciting new segment of products to provide alternatives in an environment that is increasingly challenged by antibiotic bans.”

“We are excited to collaborate with Boehringer Ingelheim to develop a range of probiotic solutions for poultry that will improve sustainability in the industry”, said Susanne Palsten Buchardt, Vice President, Animal Health & Nutrition at Novozymes. “The collaboration is an important step in solidifying Novozymes’ capabilities within probiotics and helping poultry producers deliver greater quantities of safe, affordable protein. Utilizing Boehringer Ingelheim’s close relationships with large-scale producers, Novozymes will gain valuable access to new distribution channels and customers, many of which are seeking sustainable alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters”.

Agribusiness, Animal Health, Boehringer Ingelheim, Poultry

Perdue Moves Toward Confirmation

Cindy Zimmerman

The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry today moved the Trump Administration one step closer to a full cabinet by voting to favorably report nominee Sonny Perdue to serve as the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, which means he will now be considered by the full Senate for confirmation.

Committee chairman Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS) is pleased Perdue’s nomination is closer to the finish line. “Our farmers and ranchers have been waiting too long for this important position to be filled,” said Roberts. “We need to get Governor Perdue down to USDA to get to work.”

Governor Perdue has the bipartisan support of six past agriculture secretaries and more than 650 agriculture groups from across the nation.

There is no vote scheduled yet for the full senate. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) was the only member of the committee to vote against Perdue, due to her concerns about how he might unfavorably impact food assistance programs at USDA.

USDA