BASF Opens New R&D Center

Kelly Marshall

basf-logoBASF has just opened a new Research and Development center at their Crop Protection headquarters in Limburgerhof, Germany.  The new center offers research areas for biological crop protection and seed solutions, making it a hub of expertise for researchers and farmers world wide.

“Our investment in this expanded capacity is a step forward to unlocking the agricultural potential in seeds and crops in different and untapped ways”, said Philipp Rosendorfer, Vice President R&D Functional Crop Care for BASF’s Crop Protection division.

The research on biological solutions, which consists of naturally occurring organisms or extracts thereof, provides great opportunities to complement BASF’s chemical crop protection. Moreover, the combination between chemistry and biology generates a new range of pioneering solutions for seed treatment.

“With BASF’s unique skills in research and state-of-the art formulations, we are one of a few companies that can provide a seed treatment with a mixture of both biological and chemical compounds. This means farmers can have a well-protected and strengthened crop right from the beginning of its life,” concluded Rosendorfer.

The addition of this center will be a boost to R&D centers and trial centers in Brazil, Argentina, France, UK, South Africa, China, Australia, U.S., and Canada.  BASF is adding to its current portfolio of seed solutions and biological crop protection products with new biological insecticides and fungicides for foliar and seed applications, seed-applied chemical actives and seed enhancements.  The new center offers the opportunity for an advanced biological strain library, laboratories and facilities for screening and product application tests, a joint lab to combine BASF’s biological fermentation and chemical formulation know-how, and facilities to develop solutions enhancing application properties and handling of treated seeds.

Agribusiness, BASF, Crop Protection, Research, Seed

ATF Rules West Fertilizer Explosion a Criminal Act

Kelly Marshall

aralogoThe U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) has ruled that the fire which caused the explosion at the West Fertilizer Company in West, Texas on April 17, 2013 was started intentionally. ATF says they have tested and ruled out all accidental or natural causes, and are now offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person responsible for the deaths of 15 people.

The Agricultural Retailers Association has released a statement in response to the ATF’s findings.

The impact of this disaster is still being felt — within and beyond the West community — more than three years after the incident. It’s tragic someone would intentionally start a fire that would lead to such devastating consequences. We hope the criminal, or criminals, responsible for deliberately setting the fire are brought to swift and decisive justice.

Safety is our top priority. Through ResponsibleAg and other efforts, the agricultural retail industry continues to advance initiatives to improve upon its sound stewardship practices.

ARA also states that they are working with The Fertilizer Institute through their combined program, ResponsibleAg, to enhance safety and accountability in the fertilizer industry.

Our hearts go out to all those personally affected by this news.

Agribusiness, ARA, Fertilizer

I AM USFRA – Lisa Lunz

Cindy Zimmerman

i-am-usfra-webLisa Lunz of Nebraska has been on the board of the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) from the start and she has been pleased to see how the organization has grown to have a significant influence on conversations about food across the country.

“USFRA’s mission is to develop trust in modern day agriculture,” says Lunz, who served as chairman of the Nebraska Soybean Board. “USFRA has had the opportunity to get into conversations that typically agriculture hasn’t been a part of.”

nafb13-usfra-lunzOne example of that, Lisa says, is the New York Times “Food for Tomorrow” event at the end of 2014. “If we can work together that gives us more power,” she says. “We need to have a common voice when we talk about GMOs, or antibiotics, or sustainability.”

Lunz is also pleased with the agricultural education tools that have been developed by USFRA from the movie Farmland. “To talk about conventional agriculture in the schools I think is very important,” she says.

Learn more about why Lisa is part of USFRA here: Interview with Lisa Lunz, Nebraska farmer

usfra-banner

Audio, Soybean, USFRA

Concerned About #FeedingThe9?

Jamie Johansen

New Holland ZimmPollOur latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “How many generations has your family been involved in agriculture?”

It is always humbling to see the number of farmers and ranchers across the country who have been in the business for many generations. But honestly, I am more excited to see so many people involved in agriculture for the first generation. Farming isn’t easy. It is far to often hard to meet ends meet. However, there is nothing more rewarding. I am proud to say my family has been involved in agriculture too many years to count.

Here are the poll results:

  • 1st gen – 20%
  • Under 5 generations – 18%
  • 5-10 generations – 31%
  • Too many to count – 31%

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, How concerned are you about feeding 9 billion by 2050?

Demographers project we will have over 9 billion people to feed by 2050. Do you think this is a realistic prediction? If so, it opens a lot of opportunity for agriculture but also adds pressure to do so in a sustainable way. If not, then perhaps we don’t have too much to worry about. Just how concerned are you about #Feedingthe9?

ZimmPoll

Book Review – Coolbean the Soybean

Joanna Schroeder

Ahhh…Spring is here and planting has begun and it’s a perfect time for kids to meet Coolbean. This week I read “Coolbean The Soybean,” by Shawn Conley, Ph.D. who is the state soybean specialist, aka agronomist, at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Who better to write a book about the life of a soybean from seed to seed.

Coolbean has a lot oCoolbean the Soybeanf friends including researchers and plant breeders and Haila, a farmer. He heads home with her and she plants him. Along the way we learn about the scientific method, making better soybeans, no till, soil health, planting, crop rotation, photosynthesis, precision agriculture technology, harvesting and more. The book includes cute illustrations, cool facts and fun information written in an easy to understand language for girls and boys grades 3-5. But the book taught me a few things so its fun for adults too. I really liked the “Do Something Cool” and “Think Like a Scientist” elements that provide, well, food for thought, above and beyond Coolbean’s journey. At the end of the book Coolbean takes a trip to his final destination but I won’t spill the soybeans….

This is a great book for the classroom for teachers who are teaching kids not only about agriculture, but science. The book includes some hands on activities as well as supplementary activities on coolbeanthesoybean.org. The activities would also be great fun for parents and children and for parents who homeschool their kids. Coolbean the Soybean is available on Amazon and there are volume discounts for purchases above 15 books. With planting underway, now is the perfect time to purchase the book and follow Coolbean’s journey throughout the growing season.

Agronomy, Soybean

Bettinghouse Joins Brownfield Sales Team

Lizzy Schultz

Brownfield-Bettinghouse Learfield News & Ag is delighted to announce that Stacy Bettinghouse has become the latest addition to the Brownfield Ag News Sales Team. Stacy will work with Brownfield’s advertising partners in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana.

“Stacy will be a great addition to the Brownfield team and will strengthen our relationships with advertisers in these key states,” said John Baker, Senior Vice President of Learfield News & Ag.

Bettinghouse received her Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from Michigan State University, and was previously employed with the Michigan Cattlemen’s Association and Michigan Beef Commission. She most recently served as Milling & Grain Department Territory Manager for Neogen Corporation.

The addition of Bettinghouse comes as Brownfield recently acquired Minnesota Farm Network and Michigan Farm Radio Network, expanding their existing coverage in Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin, South Dakota and Nebraska to solidify Brownfield’s footprint in the U.S. corn and soybean belt. More than 400 radio stations carry agricultural programming created by Brownfield’s award-winning team of a dozen full-time farm broadcasters.

Ag Groups, Journalism

Poeschl Named CEO of National FFA

Kelly Marshall

ffa_logoThe National FFA Organization and the National FFA Foundation are welcoming Mark Poeschl of Brookville, Ohio, as their new chief executive officer of both organizations.  Poeschl will begin his responsibilities on Aug. 1, 2016.

“Mark’s management and leadership experience will embrace the mission of FFA and enhance our vision to grow leaders, build communities and strengthen agriculture, says Dr. Steve A. Brown, National FFA Advisor and Chairman of the FFA Board of Directors.  “I look forward to working with a visionary leader who will continue developing student success within agricultural education.”

Screen Shot 2016-05-12 at 1.14.39 PMPoeschl, a former FFA member and past state FFA president from Nebraska, brings strong business, customer service, financial, IT and global perspectives to the organization. He currently serves as vice president, group director, stakeholder engagement at Cargill, Inc., Cargill Animal Nutrition. 

Poeschl is a 1983 graduate of University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  He began his career at Ralston Purina, St. Louis, Mo. In 1987 he moved to the animal nutrition firm Carl S. Akey, Inc., in Lewisburg, Ohio, where he co-led the company’s sale to Provimi Holding BV. He served as president and CEO of North American Nutrition, a subsidiary of Provimi Holding BV, from 2007 to 2009. Poeschl then served as group vice president at Provimi Holding BV. In 2011 he moved to Cargill Animal Nutrition.

Poeschl and his wife, Nancy, have two sons, Nathan and Christopher. Over the past few years, they volunteered to serve as judges at the National FFA Convention & Expo. They also established a scholarship endowment for FFA members through the National FFA Foundation. In addition, Poeschl assists in the oversight of a family farming operation in Nebraska.

In accepting the position, Poeschl said, “I am honored and excited to assume this leadership role in the FFA, an organization that has been instrumental in both my personal and career development. I have deep admiration and affection for the FFA and I look forward to contributing to the continued growth and success of the organization. It will be a privilege to work with the FFA team, FFA members and agricultural education professionals.”

Ag Groups, FFA

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

Zimfo Bytes

  • U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) has hired Fiona Lee as Executive Assistant and Accountant in the organization’s office in Taipei, Taiwan.
  • Dr. Lorin D. Warnick, interim dean of the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, has been named the Austin O. Hooey Dean of Veterinary Medicine, effective May 6.
  • Farm Journal announces distribution expansion of “The Farm,” its 24/7 digital radio station, to the iHeart and TuneIn Apps.
Zimfo Bytes

AFBF Concludes Farmers Want Data Control

Kelly Marshall

AFBFThe American Farm Bureau Federation has released the results of a survey that shows America’s farmers and ranchers want to control their data.  The survey also showed that farmers believe a cooperative-style central repository for their information would be the best way to control security and ensure its value.

“We asked our members what they thought about data, and it is clear that boosting farmer confidence in security and data management will be critical to unlocking the potential this technology holds,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “This survey also shows that we are on the right track with various ag group initiatives designed to improve data integration and promote transparency about how the data is collected and used.”

AFBF is one of the founding member of an organization designed to help farmers better store and manage their information in a central location.  The Ag Data Coalition is already working to establish a co-op-style repository for data, with farmers having a governing role over the group.

Duvall said that is consistent with survey findings that 71 percent of respondents said they are interested in having access to the kind of data bank that ADC is developing, while 82 percent say it is important that farmers have a voice in the ag data co-op.

Survey respondents also ranked vendor transparency high among their priorities. Farm Bureau and other groups recently introduced a tool, the Ag Data Transparency Evaluator, to explain in plain English the convoluted details often found in data contracts with agricultural hardware and software providers.

Further results of the study show a high level of misunderstanding regarding the details of a grower’s contracts.  55 percent reported that they did not know if they owned or controlled their own data.  12 precent indicated their contracts didn’t cover that information, and only 33 percent reported that their contracts specifically gave them ownership or control over the data they create.

Additionally, 54 percent of survey participants were unsure if data sharing with a third party, business partner or affiliate required approval from the grower.  32 percent reported their contracts did require approval and 14 percent said approval was not required for data sharing.

“This indicates a higher level of clarity and transparency is needed to secure grower confidence,” Duvall said. “One of the topics I hear most about from farmers on the data issue is having a clear understanding about the details of ‘Terms and Conditions’ and ‘Privacy Policy’ documents we all sign when buying new electronics. You should not have to hire an attorney before you are comfortable signing a contract with an ag technology provider. Farmers have real questions and the Transparency Evaluator goes a long way in helping farmers better understand the contracts before they sign on the dotted line.”

The survey covered a number of other issues as well, all of which can be viewed here.

AFBF, Ag Groups, data

NCGA Yield Contest Entry Now Open

Kelly Marshall

National Corn Yield Contest#Plant16 is moving ahead and the National Corn Growers Association is getting their yearly National Corn Yield Contest underway as well.  Participants in this year’s contest can register now through June 30th to save on entry fees.  The early-bird fee is only $75, promising to save growers money for taking the time to register sooner rather than later.

“We are excited to announce that yield contest entry is now open. While it may still seem a ways out, we all know how quickly the time passes once planting season starts,” said Production and Stewardship Action Team Chair Brent Hostetler. “Every year, we gain valuable data from the contest that help develop the production practices of tomorrow. I urge those who haven’t entered before to become NCGA members and try their hand at high-yield techniques as contest entrants in 2016.”

Register now online, even from your mobile devices.  Registration will remain open through July 29 at the cost of $110.  Harvest forms will be due by November 21.  Winners will be announced on December 16.

The 2016 rules state than an entry form must be submitted two week prior to the date harvested.  You can see a full list of the entry and harvest rules here.

Winners will be honored at the 2017 Commodity Class in San Antonio, Texas and will be recognized in publications like the NCYC Corn Yield Guide.  Winners will also receive trips and other awards from sponsoring seed, chemical and crop protection companies.  Contact ncyc@ncga.com with any questions.

Ag Groups, Corn, NCGA