Chris Turner Joins Pivot Bio as Chief Commercial Officer

Cindy Zimmerman

Sustainable agriculture company Pivot Bio announces the appointment of industry veteran Chris Turner as Chief Commercial Officer to lead the company’s global growth agenda and commercial sales organization. He will be a member of Pivot Bio’s executive leadership team, reporting to Chris Abbott, CEO.

“Chris is a highly regarded, results-oriented leader in the ag industry, and we couldn’t be more excited that he is joining our team,” said Chris Abbott, CEO of Pivot Bio. “With nearly three decades of industry experience, Chris has effectively led extensive global commercial, strategic and operational teams. Chris certainly exemplifies commercial leadership with a consistent focus on performance and results.”

Turner joins Pivot Bio from Bayer Corporation, where he has served as Head of the U.S. Crop Science division. Before joining Bayer, he was with Monsanto Company for more than 20 years. Raised on a farm in Northeast Missouri, Turner earned a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture from the University of Missouri and continues to participate in the operations on his farm.

Agribusiness, people

Vilsack Explains SAF Tax Credit for Farm Broadcasters

Cindy Zimmerman

USDA photo – Vilsack speaks to NAFB members

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack spent the majority of his time meeting with members of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Tuesday talking about the 40B sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) tax credit guidance and modified GREET model released that day by the Biden Administration.

“You need to understand this because you’re the folks who have to explain that it’s a point system,” Vilsack told the farm broadcasters. “And if you get enough points, you qualify for an enormously beneficial tax credit, which is how you start industries.”

Vilsack discussed the importance of the tax credit guidance and what it means for agriculture. “The key message here for farm country is, you’re in the game,” said Vilsack. “For the first time ever, we have a recognition by the IRS that climate smart agriculture has a positive impact on reducing greenhouse gases and carbon storage.”

Listen to some of Vilsack’s remarks to NAFB:
USDA Sec. Vilsack to NAFB members 16:03

Audio, Biofuels, Corn, cover crops, Ethanol, NAFB, USDA

Farmer Consultant Digs Into SAF Tax Credit Guidance

Cindy Zimmerman

Mitchell Hora, Continuum Ag, on panel at 2024 National Ethanol Conference

Iowa farmer and consultant Mitchell Hora, Continuum Ag, spent some time Wednesday morning breaking down the 40B sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) tax credit guidance released this week for farmers hoping to be eligible.

To qualify under the guidance, corn farmers have to do cover crop, no-till, and enhanced efficiency fertilizer, while soybean farmers are required to cover crop and no-till. However, Hora says it’s unlikely anyone will qualify this year under 40B. “The crop you grew last year probably didn’t qualify for all these check the box items and you definitely didn’t have a written plan, which is what’s required,” said Hora. “The crop we’re going to grow this year…nobody is really going to make any tax credits.”

The good news is that this lays the groundwork for 45Z. “There’s a very high chance that they actually switch away from this check-the-box program to use the actual GREET score, which is what we want,” said Hora. “It does lay out very clearly what qualifies and how to verify and prepare ourselves.”

Hora also noted that the revised GREET model in the guidance included a major surprise when it came to indirect land use change (ILUC). “We’ve been thinking that the indirect land use change would go up…but they did the opposite. It actually went down a little bit!….Massive win for American farmers,” said Hora.

There were over 400 farmers and other stakeholders on Hora’s webinar which ran for an hour and still was not able to address all the questions. Continuum Ag has its TopSoil® Summit coming up June 3 in Riverside, Iowa which will be focused on Carbon Intensity to help prepare for the SAF tax credits. Continuum recently introduced CI Certification as a product for farmers to earn premiums for producing lower carbon intensity grain while ensuring secure data control.

Listen to Hora’s summary of the 40B SAF tax credit guidance:
Mitchell Hora, Continuum Ag 12:53

Audio, Corn, Ethanol, regenerative ag, SAF

DPH Bio Receives BioAgTech Innovator Award

Cindy Zimmerman

DPH Bio VP of Strategy and Marketing Brad Holzworth (left) and President and CEO Mick Messman with award at BioAgTech World Congress

DPH Biologicals’ RegenAphex® received the first runner-up BioAgTech Innovator Award at the recent BioAgTech World Congress. RegenAphex is a plant-based liquid humus extract that fosters biological product innovation to improve soil and crop health by providing a superfood base of readily available organic carbon.

“RegenAphex is the culmination of DPH Biological’s unwavering commitment to unlocking the potential of the biological industry for improving crop production and land stewardship,” said Mick Messman, president and CEO of DPH Biologicals. “We are honored to be recognized by the BioAgTech World Congress and look forward to helping increase product development to meet farmer and consumer demand for more sustainable practices.”

First selected by the Congress Scientific Committee, finalists presented to a live-voting audience. During his presentation, Messman detailed RegenAphex’s potential to unlock value and accelerate agriculture’s transition to a more balanced biological approach through industry channel collaboration.

Learn more from DPH Bio

AgWired Precision, Biologicals, Precision Agriculture, Technology

SAF Tax Credit Guidance Affirms Climate Smart Ag

Cindy Zimmerman

Tuesday afternoon the U.S. Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released guidance on the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Credit established by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

The guidance released today will “catalyze innovation in the aviation industry and incentivize the production of cleaner and more sustainable aviation fuels,” said U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen during a House Ways and Means Committee hearing.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen 1:04

The new 40B GREET model will recognize GHG reductions from carbon capture and sequestration (CCS), renewable natural gas, and renewable power used to produce ethanol for qualifying SAF and include a “safe harbor” pilot program for corn ethanol produced with bundled climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices.

Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper says they view this as a starting point. “We are encouraged that, for the first time ever, this carbon scoring framework will recognize and credit certain climate-smart agricultural practices. We’re also pleased to see the integration of other carbon reduction strategies—like renewable process energy and carbon capture and sequestration—into the model.”

American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings says while the announcement a step in the right direction, it’s not likely to make a difference this year. “With the 2024 planting season underway and the expiration of the 40B credit on December 31, 2024, Treasury’s SAF guidance speaks more to the Administration codifying the important role CSA practices play in decarbonizing liquid fuels than the amount of ethanol-to-jet that will qualify for the 40B credit,” said Jennings. “Ultimately, we need to enable farmers and ethanol companies to recoup value from these tax credits for their investments to reduce GHG emissions.”

Jennings says ACE is leading USDA-funded Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) projects that will generate scientifically significant datasets of the GHG reduction benefits of CSA practices used to produce ethanol in various regions across the country. “We look forward to continued engagement with Treasury, USDA and DoE with respect to how the GREET model will apply to 45Z, which will not require bundling of CSA practices,” said Jennings.

Learn more in this interview:
ACE CEO Brian Jennings on SAF tax credit guidance 15:40

ACE, Audio, carbon, Corn, cover crops, Ethanol, RFA, SAF

AgTech PR Introduces Advisory Board

Cindy Zimmerman

AgTech PR, a global communications firm specializing in agriculture technology, has announced its inaugural Advisory Board of women leaders driving transformative change in agriculture who will provide AgTech PR with industry insights and strategic guidance to help advance the organization’s purpose.

“When I founded AgTech PR, I set out three objectives: to champion technology that adds tangible value to our food system; to collaborate with smart, passionate people; and to help lift up women in agriculture,” said Jennifer Goldston, AgTech PR founder and CEO. “As the agtech landscape advances, the know-how and experience of these advisors will help us continue to build and protect our clients’ brand reputation.”

AgTech PR represents a range of start-ups and scale-ups in ag and food technology. With an ag tech-savvy team skilled in PR, marketing, and digital communications, the company remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey.

Comprised of four independent and diverse members representing the global agriculture and agtech community, the composition of the Advisory Board mirrors the distinct ethos of the company:

Julie Borlaug, Borlaug Foundation & Borlaug Consulting
Bonnie Brayton, Fulcrum Global Capital
Erin Fitzgerald, Erin Fitzgerald Consulting
Sherry Frey, NielsonIQ

“There is a great need for clarity at a time when investments are not yet in line with demand by farmers and consumers,” Goldston said. “With our inaugural Advisory Board, we are creating the freedom and space to learn, adapt and grow as communicators and discover innovative ways to support the future of ag tech.”

AgWired Precision, people, Precision Agriculture, Technology

Liechtenstein Group Invests in PowerPollen

Cindy Zimmerman

International investment company the Liechtenstein Group, known for its commitment to sustainable agriculture and innovative technologies, is leading a funding round in Iowa-based company PowerPollen, which has developed a unique technology that allows pollen to be collected, preserved, and applied on-demand.

PowerPollen’s patented technology and hardware collects pollen from male plants, and then preserves the viability of the pollen up to four years for future application. Using a custom applicator, the pollen can be applied precisely at the right time and under ideal conditions in the fields. Yield improvements of over 20 percent with corn seeds significantly contribute to improving global food security. Targeted pollination “on demand” reduces the need for male plant rows, leading to reduced land use, as well as lower water and resource consumption.

In recent years, PowerPollen has proven its technology through successful partnerships with industry leaders, such as Bayer and Corteva for corn, and BASF for wheat, and underscores the value of leveraging scale-up innovation, like PowerPollen, to meet the world’s goals for more sustainable food production.

In addition, the Liechtenstein Group has also established a promising joint venture between PowerPollen and RiceTec to advance PowerPollen hybrid rice

Hybrid rice, with a 20 percent or higher yield advantage over conventional pure line varieties, remains a cornerstone of global food security. Traditional rice cultivation poses escalating environmental and economic risks, including groundwater depletion, methane emissions and labor challenges. Enabling better hybrid rice pollination systems has the potential to increase the global rice value and sustainable production.

“We are absolutely convinced of the technology and its importance for more sustainable agriculture and global food security. For RiceTec, our rice seed company, the technology also has enormous potential to further increase the efficiency of this staple food crop for billions of people worldwide,” said Johannes Meran, CEO of the Liechtenstein Group. “Through RiceTec genetics and PowerPollen’s technology, we can unlock untapped efficiencies in hybrid rice production, setting the stage for a significant leap forward in global food security and climate change mitigation.”

pollinators, Rice, Sustainability, Technology

ZimmCast 730 – AWIS and Nitrogen Pulse

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCastHello and welcome to the ZimmCast.

Cindy and I celebrated our 20th anniversary of ZimmComm at the Agri-Marketing Conference in KC, MO. We got to see and talk to many of our friends and clients and talk about the “old” days and what we think is on the horizon. We’ve needed to make changes, go in different directions and learn new skills as so much has changed, most especially just before and through the pandemic years. We’re looking ahead to the future discussing some new ideas and making some changes once again.

In the meantime, I’ll be on my annual retreat the end of the week and right on to Washington, DC for The Future of Food & Farming: The Modern Celebration of Ag on the National Mall, working with AEM. After that I’ll be on the road to the AgGateway Mid-Year Meeting in Des Moines, IA.

So, let’s dive in to this episode with Karl Harker, AWIS and Scot Benson, Nitrogen Pulse. These companies are cooperating on tools for farmers to better manage their nitrogen use, tied into weather data. You can learn more about it in our discussion.

Listen to the episode here:ZimmCast 730 - AWIS and Nitrogen Pulse (33:33)

That’s the ZimmCast for this week. I hope you enjoyed it and thank you for listening.

Subscribe to the ZimmCast in:

Agribusiness, Audio, Fertilizer, ZimmCast

Animal Ag News 4/29

Carrie Muehling

  • To further protect the U.S. livestock industry from the threat posed by highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza, USDA is sharing a number of actions that we are taking with our federal partners to help us get ahead of this disease and limit its spread. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced a Federal Order requiring the following measures, effective Monday, April 29, 2024: Mandatory Testing for Interstate Movement of Dairy Cattle and Mandatory Reporting. The Federal Order may be viewed here.
  • As the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a nationwide order including requiring lactating dairy cows to test negative for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) before interstate transport, the Meat Institute said that properly prepared beef remains safe to eat and called for USDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide worker safety guidance specific to beef processors to ensure workers are protected from infection.
  • National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Mark Eisele, a Wyoming rancher, issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) final traceability rule: “USDA’s final traceability rule updates the existing requirement for animal identification that has been in place since 2013, switching from solely visual tags to tags that are both electronically and visually readable for certain classes of cattle moving interstate. Many producers are already familiar with using these visual tags and under the new rule, they will instead use electronic tags. NCBA has worked hard to secure $15 million in funding for producers to reduce the cost of implementing this change. We also remain committed to safeguarding producers’ private data and continuing to reduce the cost of ear tags for farmers and ranchers. Our industry faces a tremendous threat from the risk of a future foreign animal disease on American soil. To avoid devastating financial losses during a potential outbreak and to help producers quickly return to commerce, we need an efficient animal disease traceability system.”
  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced that applications are now open for two internships that give students an opportunity to support the cattle industry and gain valuable experience. The programs include a public policy internship and a meetings and events internship.
  • The Dairy Business Association, Wisconsin’s leading dairy advocacy organization, announced its 2023-24 legislative awards. More than two dozen lawmakers earned the association’s recognition for their commitment to the state’s nearly $50 billion dairy industry. Representative Travis Tranel, R-Cuba City, received DBA’s 2023-24 Legislative Champion Award, the association’s highest honor, for leading the effort to create the state’s Agriculture Roads Improvement Program.
  • Get ready for a fish-out-of-water journey into the world of dairy farming with Emmy-nominated sketch comedian and actress Vanessa Bayer. Brought to you by U.S. dairy farmers, processors and importers, “Dairy Diaries” premieres on April 22 exclusively on the Roku Channel in the U.S. and takes viewers behind the scenes at Beck Farms, a fourth-generation dairy in upstate New York. Dairy Diaries will be available to stream for free on a Roku device, the Roku mobile app, therokuchannel.com, plus Samsung Smart TV, Amazon Fire TV and Google TV.
  • The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed again that pasteurization of milk consistent with the federal Grade “A” Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) destroys harmful pathogenic bacteria and other microorganisms, including Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and other viruses. The data cited by FDA is consistent with many other studies demonstrating that the legally required temperature and time for milk pasteurization will readily inactivate HPAI. Viral fragments detected after pasteurization are nothing more than evidence that the virus is dead; they have zero impact on human health. Further, the federal PMO prohibits milk from sick cows from entering the food supply chain. Milk and milk products produced and processed in the United States are among the safest in the world.
  • FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative proudly announces Mick Homb as the newly appointed General Manager, bringing expertise and a proven track record to lead the cooperative into its next chapter of growth and success.
  • A checkoff-led pilot in Cincinnati schools that offered lactose-free chocolate milk increased consumption and reached students who weren’t drinking milk because of real or perceived lactose intolerance. National Dairy Council (NDC) and American Dairy Association Mideast worked with Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) to offer the country’s first single-serve lactose-free chocolate milk package to six elementary and four high schools in the fourth quarter of 2023. Because of the program’s success, it was expanded to include all 15 CPS high schools through June of this year.
  • Alltech and Archbold formed a strategic research alliance in 2019 to jointly develop beef management approaches, specifically to increase the quality and quantity of beef produced in subtropical regions while maintaining and enhancing the environment. The Archbold–Alltech Alliance brought together scientists from two different disciplines — ecologists from Archbold and ruminant nutritionists from Alltech — to understand the impact that cattle production at Archbold’s Buck Island Ranch has on the ecosystem and the ability to sequester carbon.
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

    DWFI Podcast 35 – Nebraska’s Agtech Innovation Ecosystem

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Farmers are the original agtech innovators. As the population grows, and water resources become scarcer, there is a need for continued innovation in agricultural technologies, and a ready network to foster and accelerate them.

    The 2024 Nebraska Agtech Innovation Ecosystem Map, jointly published by Water for Food and The Combine AgTech Incubator by Invest Nebraska, outlines the ecosystem for entrepreneurs and all actors to connect with resources in the agtech community.

    In this podcast episode, DWFI Communications Specialist Arianna Elnes talks to program manager for The Combine, Josh DeMers and research program manager Water for Food, Ankit Chandra about Nebraska’s distinct and evolving agtech innovation ecosystem.

    View and download the map at https://waterforfood.nebraska.edu/news-and-events/news/2024/03/dwfi-invest-nebraska-release-2024-nebraska-agtech-innovation-ecosystem-map

    Upcoming Agtech Connect: https://www.agtechconnect.co/

    Listen here or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform:
    DWFI podcast episode 35 23:08

    The Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute (DWFI) at the University of Nebraska was founded with the mission to have a lasting and significant impact on achieving more food security with less pressure on scarce water resources by conducting scientific and policy research, using the research results to inform policy makers, and sharing knowledge through education and communication.

    How to subscribe:

    AgWired Precision, Audio, Precision Agriculture, Technology, Water for Food