Hail to the New #Soybean King

Cindy Zimmerman

GA farmer Randy Dowdy accepts world record soybean yield award from AJ Woodyard, BASF

GA farmer Randy Dowdy accepts world record soybean yield award from AJ Woodyard, BASF

Randy Dowdy of Georgia already broke corn yield records with nearly 504 bushels per acre in 2014. Now he has claimed the world record soybean yield title with 171 bushels per acre, topping Kip Cullers’ previous soybean yield record of 160 set back in 2010.

“As growers, sometimes we make high yields and sometimes we don’t,” said Dowdy at a recent press conference held by BASF. “This year, everything from weather to management decisions went right to enable a really great season.”

Dowdy says his method to achieving high yields is to identify why yield loss might occur and then do something about it. “Understanding these yield components and being a steward of the crop makes sure we’re on track to hit our yield goals,” he said.

Dowdy partnered with BASF in pursuit of higher soybean yields. “Randy came to me after breaking the corn world record,” said AJ Woodyard, Technical Crop Production Specialist, BASF. “He told me he wanted take his learnings from corn and apply them to soybeans.”

Woodyard believes this yield record of 171 bushels per acre is just a start. “Randy epitomizes the Grow Smart with BASF approach,” Woodyard said. “With Randy’s passion and willingness to push the limits of crop potential, the expectations he has for his crop will become even greater as he becomes more familiar with soybeans and hones in on his most successful strategies.”

Congratulations, Randy, on your world-record accomplishment!

BASF, Soybean

Egg, Dairy & Chicken Prices Down, Beef Too

Jamie Johansen

screen-shot-2016-09-27-at-8-10-50-amThe American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) Fall Harvest Marketbasket Survey indicates lower retail prices for several foods, including eggs, whole milk, cheddar cheese, chicken breast, sirloin tip roast and ground chuck.

The informal survey shows the total cost of 16 food items that can be used to prepare one or more meals was $49.70, down $4.40 or 8 percent compared to a survey conducted a year ago. Of the 16 items surveyed, 13 decreased and three increased in average price.

Egg prices dropped significantly due to production recovering well from the 2014 avian influenza, according to John Newton, AFBF director, market intelligence. Milk prices are down substantially, particularly compared to record-highs in 2014, due to the current global dairy surplus.

“Dry conditions in the Northeast and Northwest the last few years likely contributed to smaller supplies and higher retail prices for apples,” Newton said. In addition, he said salad prices are up due to lower output particularly in California and Arizona.

The year-to-year direction of the marketbasket survey tracks with the federal government’s Consumer Price Index report for food at home. As retail grocery prices have increased gradually over time, the share of the average food dollar that America’s farm and ranch families receive has dropped.

“Through the mid-1970s, farmers received about one-third of consumer retail food expenditures for food eaten at home and away from home, on average. Since then, that figure has decreased steadily and is now about 17 percent, according to the Agriculture Department’s revised Food Dollar Series,” Newton said.

Using the “food at home and away from home” percentage across-the-board, the farmer’s share of this $49.70 marketbasket would be approximately $8.45.

According to USDA, Americans spend just under 10 percent of their disposable annual income on food, the lowest average of any country in the world. A total of 59 shoppers in 26 states participated in the latest survey, conducted in September.

AFBF, Ag Groups, Food, Markets

Re-energizing The @OfficialNAMA Brand

Chuck Zimmerman

NAMAThe National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) brand is getting re-energized thanks to a fresh look at the organization’s mission, especially why it exists and membership value. Sounds very logical for an organization of members involved in agricultural marketing!

Here’s are NAMA’s key pillars:

  • Focus on agriculture
  • Agri-marketing education that increases skills
  • Connections that advance careers
  • Student involvement that secures the future

Here is the brand promise:

We are leaders in agri-marketing, connecting brands, agencies, publishers, media companies, students, business leadership, faculty, sponsors and exhibitors through interactive and engaging experiences that increase knowledge, recognize achievement and build relationships, to ensure personal and industry growth.

NAMA plans for regular fresh information that will be posted across all channels. Below is a video that was just published during the NAMA Fall Conference about the Agri-Business Education Foundation (ABEF).


NAMA, Video

FMC Creating More Minutes

Chuck Zimmerman

FMC MinuteWe’ve got our minutes back. As in The Minute, brought to you by FMC.

FMC Corporation will produce 12 new episodes of The Minute to help growers prepare for the 2017 season. The Minute series is designed to provide growers and retailers timely information about current agronomic issues impacting their businesses.

“Our host, Jake Turner, is back traveling the country, talking with industry experts and growers about best practices, new technologies and emerging trends,” said Aaron Locker, FMC marketing director. “Growers have told us how much they enjoy The Minute, and we are pleased to bring it back with new information and ideas to help them prosper.”

For every new episode posted to http://www.fmcminute.com, five winners will receive a $100 Visa® gift card. Registered viewers of The Minute by FMC are automatically entered to win each time they view an episode.

Here’s what you’ll find in the first new episode now online:

Creating an optimal yield environment for your corn takes a combination of modern genetics, crop protection products and fertilizers. Host, Jake Turner, and Dr. Fred Below, a crop physiologist at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, discuss how a strong start is key to achieving high yields.


Agribusiness, FMC, Video

+3,500 Commercial Drones Showcased InterDrone 2016

Jamie Johansen

interdrone16-expohallBZ Media LLC’s InterDrone™ The International Drone Conference & Exposition, held at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas Sept 7-9, drew 3,518 attendees from 54 different countries on 6 continents. The event featured 155 exhibitors and sponsors in more than 230 booths. FAA Administrator Michael P. Huerta gave the Grand Opening Keynote speech to thousands gathered on the first day.

“The second year of InterDrone leapt over every high bar that the first show had set,” said Ted Bahr, Chairman of InterDrone. “Its success reflects the exciting growth in the commercial drone market and the strong desire of businesses to take part in it. Attendance grew 26% and we had 58% more exhibitors and sponsors than last year. More than 260 media and association partners have helped build InterDrone into the largest dedicated commercial UAV event in the world.”

“InterDrone 2016 took Vegas by storm. Enthusiasts from every state and over 50 countries gathered together to geek out over the latest products and services. I found myself mesmerized,” said Nathan Tennant, a Blogger and Instructor with UAV Ground School. Anthony Merlino, CEO, Verge Aero added, “We heard such great feedback on the opening day, we literally bought plane tickets and flew across the country to be here for the final days!”

Exhibitors and sponsors included a cross section of the entire commercial drone industry including AeroVironment, PrecisionHawk, Yuneec, Intel, SenseFly, Insitu, Parrot, NovaTel, 3D Robotics, eHang, Autel, AUVSI, Hubsan, C-Astral, Brother, Airbus, SlantRange, Kodak, Flir, Parrot, AEGis Technologies, Sentera, and pavilions from Iowa, North Dakota and Nevada.

“InterDrone has been a great show for us. Traffic has been really good. The people who were coming by were knowledgeable and asking great questions. We feel like the show definitely paid for itself and we’ll be back in 2017,” said Adam Sloane, Founder, BirdsEyeView Aerobotics. John Ferguson, CEO of Saxon Remote Systems added, “Our staff was absolutely exhausted. There were nine of us working the booth and not one person had five minutes to sit down the entire show. The traffic was overwhelming. We were definitely making sales, getting tremendous contacts and generating a lot of interest.”

Sally French, Columnist, Wall Street Journal and Founder, DroneGirl called it a “great conference!” And Alan Phillips, Publisher, DroneLife said it was “A great show for us. InterDrone has become the CES for the new drone economy.”

“I have never seen an event with more buzz and energy, and I have been to them all,” said Mark Barker, Director of Business Development, NIAS-UAS.

Enrico Schaefer, Managing Partner, Traverse Legal said, “The turnout was insane. The response to our products and services was way beyond what we expected. We go to a lot of shows but this is THE show that people need to come to if you are in the Commercial UAV market. Where do we sign up for 2017?”

Read More

Agribusiness, Technology

Bill Would Help Grow Urban Farming

Cindy Zimmerman

urban-ag-wikiSenate Agriculture Committee ranking member Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) this week introduced the Urban Agriculture Act of 2016 to “addresses the unique needs of urban farmers by investing new resources and increasing flexibility through existing programs administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).”

Senator Stabenow announced her legislation Monday during a press conference at D-Town Farm in Detroit. “Urban agriculture is steadily growing in cities and towns across Michigan and across our country, creating new economic opportunities and safer, healthier environments,” said Senator Stabenow. “The Urban Agriculture Act will continue this momentum by helping urban farmers get started or expand their business, so they can sell more products and supply more healthy food for their neighbors.”

American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) president Zippy Duvall said the legislation would help urban farmers by providing them with the technology and tools to succeed. “As an organization that supports farmers of all sizes, commodities and production systems, Farm Bureau believes this legislation will build a stronger bond among all farmers—rural, suburban and urban,” said Duvall. “It’s exciting that more Americans want to become farmers… Farm Bureau looks forward to being a partner in those efforts.”

The legislation would provide support for urban farmers in a variety of ways through USDA, such as helping to develop farm cooperatives in urban areas, making it easier for urban farms to apply for USDA farm programs and assists producers with information on operating rooftop and vertical farms and investing $10 million for cutting-edge research to explore market opportunities for urban agriculture and develop new technologies for lowering energy and water needs.

AFBF, Farming, Food

It’s Time for #CFWF16 in Saskatoon

Chuck Zimmerman

Canadian Farm Writers FederationI’ll be traveling with Case IH this week to attend the 2016 Canadian Farm Writers Federation Conference. This year we will be in Saskatoon. It’s another Canadian place I’ve never been. This annual conference has been a great way to see parts of Canada I’ve never had a chance to visit. And I have made lots of good friends as well. Tours are going to be fun, including one on bicycles. The conference hashtag is #CFWF16.

Tour options include a bike tour around the University of Saskatchewan, a bus tour looking at big business on a small land base, plus a second bus tour exploring farm businesses on a big land base. The conference also includes a pre-tour on Thursday, a slate of interesting speakers at Saturday’s PD day and an awards banquet Saturday evening. See you in Saskatoon!

Coverage of the Canadian Farm Writers Federation 2016 Conference is sponsored by
Coverage of the Canadian Farm Writers Federation 2016 Conference is sponsored by Case IH
Case IH, International, Media

Zimfo Bytes

Lizzy Schultz

Zimfo Bytes

  • The National Farmers Union (NFU) General Counsel and Vice President of International Relations Dave Velde represented the world’s farmers during high-level meeting of the United Nations (U.N.) earlier this month to discuss global antibiotic resistance, which concluded with all 193 U.N. member countries adopting a declaration to fight antibiotic resistance and reduce the use of the drugs in agriculture and human medicine.
  • Bad Boy Off Road, a Textron Specialized Vehicles brand, acted as the title sponsor at New Hampshire Motor Speedway’s upcoming NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race Sept. 25 in Loudon, N.H.
  • Verdesian Life Sciences recently announced that its board of directors has named Kenneth M. Avery chief executive officer effective Monday, September 19.
Zimfo Bytes

Pearse Lyons Accelerator Seeking Entrepreneurs

Kelly Marshall

Alltech Founder and President, Dr. Pearse Lyons presents during the Alltech 30th Annual International Symposium in Lexington, Kentucky.

Alltech Founder and President, Dr. Pearse Lyons presents during the Alltech 30th Annual International Symposium in Lexington, Kentucky.

The Pearse Lyons Accelerator is now accepting applications for its inaugural term.  The progarm is looking for food and agribusiness innovators with a proven technology that is ready for market.  Selected participants will be part of a three-month intensive boot camp that offers market opportunities to allow entrepreneurs to develop their agribusiness plans.

Chosen innovators will present at ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference in Lexington, Kentucky.  This is an chance to share their innovations with more than 3,000 attendees, representing nearly 80 countries.

With plenty of opportunities existing today in agriculture, farmers and producers need to be able to make decisions more accurately and scientifically with the help of ag-tech and big data. The program seeks game changers in the ag industry and opens today for applications. Following a selection process, successful applicants will commence the program in January 2017.

In addition to the conference experience, Alltech is also investing $10 million USD in the program.  Funds will go to support the boot camp, run by Aidan Connolly, chief innovation officer at Alltech.

“Entrepreneurs have the potential to discover solutions today to meet the challenges of tomorrow,” said Connolly. “The Pearse Lyons Accelerator aims to discover the brightest ideas in agriculture, food and technology, and we want these future ag-tech entrepreneurs to be fully equipped to develop successful, sustainable businesses. Alltech is one of the few truly global companies positioned to assist in opening doors, such as routes to market and worldwide market access.”

Alltech is already knows as a leader in innovation for animal health and nutrition.  Now the organization hopes to position itself to be a leader in investments for food and agribusiness as well.

“Thirty-six years ago, I founded Alltech in my home with just $10,000 in my pocket, and that investment has grown into an international business of over $2 billion,” said Dr. Pearse Lyons, founder and president of Alltech. “Alltech’s roots are in entrepreneurial innovation, and it’s an exciting time to be in agriculture. Some of the recent ag-tech applications on-farm today include automation, drones, soil sensors and big data. What next? Personally, I am looking forward to supporting and empowering rising entrepreneurs in making tomorrow’s innovations a reality.”

Agribusiness, Alltech

Candidates Give Views on #Ag Issues

Cindy Zimmerman

clinton-trumpWhile the candidates may weigh in during tonight’s debate on issues such as immigration and trade, which are important to agriculture, it’s not likely they will address topics such as the farm bill and biotechnology.

So, the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) went to both nominees and asked them the same questions on a number of issues that concern farmers and ranchers and the responses are being posted in the organization’s digital newsletter FBNews. In the first responses posted last week, both candidates explained their positions on regulatory reform; the Clean Water, Clean Air and Endangered Species Acts; and the farm bill, biotechnology, and food safety.

“The fact that the candidates took the time in the middle of this very competitive election season to go into such detail in their responses says a lot about the importance of these issues and the farmers and ranchers who care about them,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. While AFBF cannot endorse or support a political candidate, the organization is providing the candidates’ positions to inform Farm Bureau members and others.

The Trump campaign responses to the issues are in first person, while the Clinton camp took a third person approach. For example, in response to the question about the Clean Water Act – What would you do as president to ensure that the EPA acts within the bounds of the Clean Water Act?

Trump Response: “First, I will appoint a pro-farmer Administrator of EPA. Next, I will eliminate the unconstitutional “Waters of the US” rule, and will direct the Army Corps of Engineers and EPA to no longer use this unlawful rule and related guidance documents in making jurisdictional determinations.”

Clinton Response: “The Clean Water Act not only stemmed these environmental disasters but helped to reverse course and restore healthy swimmable and fishable waters for all Americans to enjoy. As president, Hillary will continue this legacy. She will work to ensure waters are safe and protected, will maintain the longstanding exemptions for common farming practices, and will continue pushing for clarity within the law.”

The candidates’ opinions on Immigration, International Trade and TPP, and Energy will be posted this week.

AFBF, politics