Make Plans to Attend InterDrone 2016

Jamie Johansen June 24, 2016

InterDrone’s debut event in 2015 brought in an impressive 2,797 delegates from 48 nations and returns to Las Vegas Sept. 7-9 in a premier location: The Paris Las Vegas Hotel. The ZimmComm family of agricultural news sites is once again a media sponsor and wanted to share how this year’s event will top the debut just a year ago.

Three distinct tracks define the event in 2016: Drone TechCon for builders; Drone Enterprise for those using drones for commercial activities including precision agriculture; and Drone Cinema: where image quality and range are paramount. In total it will feature 120 sessions for engineers, software developers, executives, investors, regulators and commercial drone “buyers and flyers” in more than a dozen vertical market segments. 4,000+ attendees from 6 continents and 125+ exhibitors.

InterDrone also has a partnership with CTIA Super Mobility 2016, being hosted less an one km away, in which InterDrone attendees get free expo access (a $200 value) to visit 1,000 mobile infrastructure exhibitors, with shuttle buses running between the sites. Receive a $150 discount off the prevailing rate of the 3 day InterDrone pass by inserting the code FLYIT or a $25 discount off any InterDrone expo pass with code EXPO when prompted at www.interdrone.com.

Ag Groups, Technology

Get to Know Emily Skor, CEO, @GrowthEnergy

Chuck Zimmerman June 23, 2016

After meeting Emily Skor during the recent EPA RFS hearings in Kansas City I got to sit down and visit with her at the Fuel Ethanol Workshop in Milwaukee, WI. Emily is the new CEO of Growth Energy. At her very first FEW event she was the keynote speaker. You can listen to her speech here.

Prior to joining Growth Energy Emily was vice president of communications for the Consumer Healthcare Products Association. While there she had much success in building strategic communications plans where you harness the support of consumers, thought leaders of stakeholder groups and basically a broad coalition of voices. She says you can harness that support in a way that affects policy.

The position with Growth Energy intrigued her because as a Minnesota native she loved the idea of working for an industry that is so important to the heart of America. She sees that the ethanol industry has built a megaphone to champion issues and the cause in the marketplace. Now the conversation needs to expand beyond the corn belt and the beltway to all consumers.

Emily says there are three key areas of focus for Growth Energy. One is continue to make sure the regulatory and policy environment is pro-ethanol. Another is helping build the marketplace, the infrastructure. And finally to drive consumer demand for ethanol.

Learn more about Emily and her work for Growth Energy in this week’s program: ZimmCast with Emily Skor, Growth Energy

Subscribe to the ZimmCast podcast here.

The ZimmCast

sponsored by

Locally owned, globally strong.

Audio, Biofuels, Ethanol, ZimmCast

Historic #ASTAannual with OSA is a Win-Win

Cindy Zimmerman June 23, 2016

The leadership of the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) and the Oregon Seed Association (OSA) were all smiles at the Gala Banquet concluding the trailblazing joint annual meeting of the two organizations this week in Portland, Oregon.

“This worked out wonderfully,” said OSA president Greg Loberg of West Coast Beet Seed. “We wanted to enhance the partnerships between members of OSA and members of ASTA… we’re pleased that we have made as much progress we have made in strengthening relationships.”

Listen to my interview with Greg here: Interview with OSA president Greg Loberg

This historic annual meeting, which drew more than 470 seed industry professionals from across the nation, would not have been possible without the trailblazing first woman chair of the American Seed Trade Association, Risa DeMasi of Grassland Oregon. She was thrilled with the joint meeting that marked the end of her year as chair for ASTA. From here, Risa will continue serving on the board of ASTA as a past chair.

Listen to my closing interview with Risa here: Interview with outgoing ASTA chair Risa DeMasi

2016 ASTA-OSA Annual Meeting photo album

ASTA, Audio, Seed

#ASTAannual Elects New Leadership

Kelly Marshall June 23, 2016

LtoR: ASTA officers Jerry Flint, DuPont Pioneer; Tracy Tally, Justin Seeds; Mark Herrmann, AgReliant Genetics

Among all the seminars and committee meetings of the American Seed Trade Association’s annual meeting one of the most important items of business was the election of the officer team for the coming year. They are:

• Chair: Mark Herrmann, AgReliant Genetics
• First Vice Chair: Tracy Tally, Justin Seeds
• Second Vice Chair: Jerry Flint, DuPont Pioneer

The 2016-2017 team will work to move the strategic five year plan forward, which includes advocacy, efficiency of operations, as well as internal and external communications.

“The seed industry today faces both unprecedented challenges and opportunities,” said incoming Chair Mark Herrmann. “Whether it’s the threat of regulatory uncertainty, international issues impacting the movement of seed, or simply a lack of understanding from the public about the importance of the work we do—it’s never been more important that we proactively drive a strong and unified industry to address the issues we will face in the future.”

Herrmann is an Illinois native and first went to work for DEKALB, moving to Monsanto when the company was acquired, and now has made the switch to AgReliant Genetics. He is committed to being the voice of the American seed industry, saying that communication is the clear opportunity for the future. With the disconnect between consumers and those producing food, sharing that message is vital, not just to the seed industry, but to life.

“The continuous advancement in knowledge about how plants function provides information that enables breeders and seed companies opportunities to meet the challenges facing agriculture, and society, today and in the future,” said Herrmann. “Whether a company is on the cutting edge of breeding techniques or they can see them on the horizon, what happens in the coming years will impact us all. There will continue to be challenges and opportunities ahead of and I am confident that ASTA is well positioned to lead the seed industry into the future.”

Listen to Cindy’s interview with Mark here: Interview with incoming ASTA chair, Mark Herrmann

Tracy Tally has been a member of ASTA for a relatively short 8 years, but in that time he’s been much more than a member. He appreciates the opportunities he’s had to stretch beyond his world through his connections in the organization and remembers a key speaker whose message of volunteering struck home.

“Volunteering at this level, on a national level, is just such an honor you just can’t turn it down,” he told AgWired.

You can hear the rest of his interview here: Interview with incoming ASTA first chair, Tracy Tally

2016 ASTA-OSA Annual Meeting photo album

Ag Groups, ASTA, Audio, Seed

Reconnecting with Zimmie at #ASTAannual

Kelly Marshall June 23, 2016

You may remember seeing stripes when ZimmComm attended the National Agri-Marketing Association earlier this year – stripes that looked a lot like a giant stuffed zebra. Zimmie the Zebra made many appearances on Twitter during the event until, at last, Casey Zeller and Samantha Bock with AgReliant Genetics were declared the winner and took Zimmie on to her new home.

Unfortunately, we here at ZimmComm didn’t anticipate just how much we would miss our fuzzy friend. During our team retreat last month a new ‘Zimmie’ was procured and ‘Mini-Z’ has since become our mascot.

So imagine our surprise to run into Zeller again here at the American Seed Trade Association annual meeting! We got a chance to catch up on Zimmie’s new life as part of the Zeller family and we’re happy to hear that he gets plenty of exercise each day being ridden and loved on by their two-year old daughter.

We also discovered Zimmie’s new owner has been serving as the chair for ASTA’s FuSE subcommittee (Future Seed Executives). This group provides an opportunity for professionals who have been in the seed business for less than 7 years to receive training and support. Here at the annual meeting they have been connecting with industry leaders and reaching out to possible new candidates.

If you too would like to hear an update on Zimmie you can listen to my interview with Zeller here: Update on Zimmie with Casey Zeller, AgReliant Genetics

2016 ASTA-OSA Annual Meeting photo album

Ag Groups, ASTA, ZimmComm Announcement

Senate Committee to Vote on Plant Genetics Treaty

Cindy Zimmerman June 23, 2016

The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee will be voting today on one of the the American Seed Trade Association’s (ASTA) top legislative priorities – the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. ASTA is urging the Committee to vote in favor of the Treaty to move it forward to the full Senate for ratification.

ASTA president and CEO Andy LaVigne says the Treaty, which was a big topic at the association’s annual meeting this week, is a simple and non-controversial solution to enable the exchange of plant materials globally.

“The treaty was adopted globally back in the late 1990s and companies began to adopt it in the early 2000s,” said LaVigne. “President Bush pushed it forward to the Senate for passage back in 2008 so this has been hanging out there for eight years trying to get through Senate ratification.”

LaVigne says research shows that more than seventy percent of the food we eat and grow comes from crops that are not native to the U.S. and American researchers need access to global plant materials as they work to develop the next generation of plant varieties to prepare for future challenges like evolving plant pests and diseases, changing climates, and feeding a growing population.

The Treaty has been ratified by more than 139 countries, many of which are both competitors of U.S. agriculture as well as important sources of seed exchange for public and private breeders here at home. Ratification would require no new laws, and it would not require any appropriations from Congress.

In this interview, LaVigne talks about the treaty and the issue of GMO labeling, which is also on the Senate’s plate as a state law in Vermont is due to be implemented by July 1. Interview with Andy LaVigne, ASTA

2016 ASTA-OSA Annual Meeting photo album

ASTA, Audio

Mukuka Talks Food Security at #ASTAannual

Kelly Marshall June 22, 2016

For most of us, a lack of food security isn’t so much a problem as it is a distant possibility. For many on the African continent, however, food security is still an awaited hope. John Mukuka attended the American Seed Trade Association event from Africa to share the important message of what is being done to replace hope with reality.

Mukuka works on behalf of the COMESA Region, an area of Africa made up of countries with different laws regarding seeds. Because of these conflicting regulations growers have restricted access to tools that could help make them successful. Being able to trade seeds across African countries would ensure access to good seeds. With a full set of tools feeding their continent can be done, Mukuka assures. The resources are there.

“We want an Africa which is food secure. When we have an Africa which is food secure, then we will be able to develop our continent. And developing our continent is on us,” he emphasizes.

Naturally, working across borders isn’t an easy task. Some believe changes are happening too quickly. But Mukuka believes a little bit of success will help to change their minds. Everyone wants to eat good food, he told me, and when they see the results they will support the program.

Mukuka has reason to believe this because already the efforts have seen some small success– if, in fact, you call doubling yeidls a “small success.”

“We have farmers that are buying seed at a cheaper price. And this is part of the work we are doing. And so we are excited about that. Because if a farmer has a good quality seed he is assured of increasing his yields by 50 percent.”

A 50 percent increase in yields from access to good seeds? We’re excited about that too.

You can listen to my full interview here: Interview with John Mukuka, COMESA

2016 ASTA-OSA Annual Meeting photo album

Ag Groups, ASTA

#Enogen Growers Help Increase #Ethanol Production

Joanna Schroeder June 22, 2016

Farmers growing the Enogen technology for ethanol production are not only benefiting the environment, but the ethanol production industry as well. The Enogen enzyme trait enables more ethanol output from each kernel of corn. The race media learned about about the role of Enogen in ethanol production and the benefits of using E15 in race cars this weekend during the American Ethanol E15 250 presented by Enogen. Syngenta hosted a press conference to educate the racing media about the benefits of E15, including the amazing fuel benefits of the high octane fuel. Following the briefing, Chuck Zimmerman was able to catch up with Jack Bernens.

“We’re here because we feel really strongly about the ethanol industry, and we’re developing products to make the ethanol industry more efficient and than it already is, which it’s very efficient,” Bernens told Zimmerman during an interview. “So we’ve developed products like Enogen, which are corn hybrids that are specifically designed for the ethanol industry to make those ethanol plants more efficient.”

“The farmer gets a play in that because he’s actually producing the corn that contains the Enogen enzyme marked for the ethanol corn plant. The ethanol corn plant becomes more efficient and the unity benefits from both of them putting more in to their pockets. So we like to say the ethanol plant wins, the farmer wins and the local community wins. And it’s really all about sustainability and how do we get more out of every kernel of corn that is processed, Bernens added.

Bernens noted that his company believes that a company should never stop innovating. Quad County Corn Processors was one of the very first plants to start innovating with Enogen technology back in 2012. They had developed a process to turn the fiber into of the corn kernel into cellulosic ethanol, coined Cellerate. Syngenta thought the process was innovative and Bernens said when they looked at what would happen if they combined Enogen it became one plus one equals three. Syngenta was so impressed they took an exclusive license to market the technology. Today, the Cellerate technology is producing about six percent more ethanol out of the same kernel of corn, and when you combine it with the Enogen technology, that plant is getting around 20 percent more ethanol output from the same amount of corn.

To learn more about Enogen and Cellerate technologies, listen to Chuck Zimmerman’s interview with Jack Bernens here: Interview with Jack Bernens, Syngenta Enogen

You can find lots of photos from Iowa Speedway race weekend here: Enogen Syngenta NASCAR Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Biofuels, Corn, Ethanol, NASCAR, Syngenta

Soil Health Institute at #ASTAannual

Cindy Zimmerman June 22, 2016

The cover crops session at the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) annual meeting in Portland, Oregon heard about a new initiative focused on soil health – the Soil Health Institute.

Dr. Wayne Honeycutt, who was Deputy Chief for Science and Technology for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, is president and CEO of the group that is working to protect and enhance the soil through science-based research and advancement. He says the initiative was started by the Noble Foundation just last December as an evolution of the Soil Renaissance. “The Noble Foundation has committed $20 million over the next ten years to enhance the health of not only our nation’s, but the world’s soils,” said Honeycutt.

Honeycutt says the institute will be holding their first annual meeting at the end of July in Louisville. “There we’re going to have a number of thought leaders and working with them to help identify and prioritize research needs,” he said. After that, they will be putting together a strategic action plan for the institute.

Cover crops are playing an increasingly important role in soil health and Honeycutt says more research in the area will definitely be in the plan. “There’s so many things we don’t know yet,” he said. “So that’s a real key area of research there.”

Learn more about the Soil Health Institute in this interview: Interview with Wayne Honeycutt, Soil Health Institute

2016 ASTA-OSA Annual Meeting photo album

ASTA, Audio, cover crops, Soil

Supporting Future #Seed Researchers

Cindy Zimmerman June 22, 2016

The future of the seed industry is in good hands if the students who are attending this year’s American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) annual meeting are any indication.

ASRF scholarship winner Matthew Rhine (center) with Glen Austin of Monsanto and Jim Tobin, retired from Monsanto

ASTA has a strong interest in encouraging young people pursuing careers in the industry in a number of ways, from programs that mentor students to supporting the efforts of the American Seed Research Foundation (ASRF) which has a scholarship program for graduate students.

This year’s Roger Krueger Memorial Scholarship was presented to Matthew Rhine, a graduate student at Texas A&M University who is working on improving soybeans across specific soil types. “I’m looking at trait identification based on nursery populations to see which traits are required for performance in each environment,” said Rhine, who added that being at ASTA and being able to interact with so many different people in the seed industry was a great experience.

The scholarship is named in honor of Dr. Roger Krueger, a seed researcher with Monsanto who passed away in 2007. “We’ve been giving a scholarship ever since to recognize him and to encourage students doing graduate work in the area of seed to follow in the footsteps of this terrific man who was a good friend of ours,” said Jim Tobin, who is retired from Monsanto but represented the company in awarding the scholarship this week.

Listen to my interview with Jim and Matthew here: Interview with ASRF Scholarship sponsor Monsanto and winner Matthew Rhine

2016 ASTA-OSA Annual Meeting photo album

ASTA, Audio, Research, Seed

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