AgBiome Announces Sale of Products to Certis Biologicals

Chuck Zimmerman

AgBiome has announced sale of its products to Certis Biologicals to provide the products with new opportunities, enabling them to realize fully their transformative potential.

Founded in 2012, AgBiome embarked on a visionary journey to make a real difference in the world and emerge as a leading force in agricultural innovation. Throughout its trajectory, the company has remained steadfast in its mission to revolutionize crop protection, demonstrating that microbial solutions can rival established conventional technologies.

”AgBiome’s products, Howler and Theia fungicides, are the most effective biological fungicides with unique modes of action and efficacy similar to synthetic chemicals but with substantial environmental benefits. We are delighted that a company like Certis Biologicals, with a deep commitment to these products, will steward their future growth and development. More growers than ever will be able to see first hand the benefits of these products,” said Scott Rabe, Head of Product Development.

Both Howler® and Theia® fungicides are registered in all 50 states and deliver highly effective disease control with ultimate flexibility, including OMRI-list designation, zero-day pre-harvest interval, minimal restricted-entry interval and exemption from U.S. residue tolerances.

Agribusiness, Biologicals, Fungicide

AEM Planning 2nd Celebration of Modern Ag in DC

Cindy Zimmerman

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) is preparing to showcase the Future of Food and Farming in the heart of Washington, DC, during the 2nd Celebration of Modern Ag on the National Mall.

On May 6-8, 2024, more than 20 AEM members will be onsite in the nation’s capital between the Smithsonian Museums to illustrate the equipment manufacturing industry’s contribution to sustainably providing for a growing world.

“AEM is honored to lead our member companies and other industry partners in showcasing the sustainability of our food system on the National Mall,” said AEM Senior Vice President Curt Blades. “This is a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate how technologically advanced farms and ranches are today, as well as emphasize why the needs of rural America must be at the forefront of the policies lawmakers support.”

Blades spoke about the event during the National Ag Day celebration this week in Washington DC. Learn more in this interview.
2024 Ag Day Curt Blades interview 2:21

AEM, Ag Day, Audio

Precision Ag News 3/21

Carrie Muehling

  • The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) updated its guide assisting farmers, landowners, and others to easily locate and contact professional seed suppliers for quality environment, conservation, and cover crop seed. The interactive Environment, Conservation, and Cover Crop Seed Resource Guide helps buyers find dealers for specific seed types by geographic location to support production and sustainability goals.
  • Join the Nebraska Water Center and Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District on June 17 and 18 to get up close and personal with water and natural resources in southeast Nebraska.
  • UPL Corporation Ltd., a global provider of holistic and sustainable agricultural solutions, and Radicle Growth, a company-building platform investing in early-stage agriculture and food technologies, are delighted to announce SOLASTA Bio as the winner of ‘the Radicle Natural Plant Protection (NPP) Challenge by UPL’, securing a $1M investment, with the runner-up, Impetus Ag, receiving a $750,000 investment. The Challenge sought to identify entrepreneurs advancing natural and biological solutions and saw applications from 237 start-ups.
  • Solinftec, a global leader in artificial intelligence solutions and sustainable agricultural practices, has announced that its Solix Sprayer Robot is now commercially available to farmers, cooperatives and ag-retailers, and will be on farms around the country this month. In addition to Solinftec’s existing Solix Scouting Robot, the newer Solix Sprayer is designed to detect and spray weeds.
  • Biotalys, an Agricultural Technology company pioneering protein-based biocontrol solutions for sustainable crop protection, and Novonesis, a global leader in biosolutions, have unveiled a comprehensive, long-term collaboration agreement. This partnership encompasses the production, global supply, and certain commercialization rights of EVOCA NG, slated to be Biotalys’ inaugural margin-generating biofungicide.
  • Pioneer brand seed from Corteva Agriscience reaffirms its leadership in seed technology by advancing more than 60 new corn hybrids for 2024, offering farmers exceptional yield potential and industry-leading insect protection and herbicide-tolerant traits, where enabled. This year’s class expands the availability of Pioneer brand Vorceed Enlist corn and introduces PowerCore Enlist and PowerCore Ultra Enlist corn.
  • FloraPulse, the first easy-to-install water sensor that provides accurate and low-cost water-sensing technology, is enhancing the lives of farmers and researchers who want real-time data that will enable them to make the quick, accurate decisions that will benefit their crops.
  • Bayer announced the pilot of an expert GenAI system to benefit farmers and up-level agronomists in their daily work. The company has been using proprietary agronomic data to train a large language model (LLM) with years of internal data, insights from thousands of trials within its vast testing network, and centuries of aggregated experience from Bayer agronomists around the world.
  • ZeaKal announced the successful development of its groundbreaking PhotoSeed technology in corn, improving the crop’s oil and sustainability profile without compromising yield or protein. With the immediate implementation of PhotoSeed corn’s route to market, ZeaKal aims to redefine the value proposition of this vital crop for growers, industry, and consumers alike.
  • Mycorrhizal Applications LLC, a leading company that provides biological solutions for the horticulture industry, is excited to welcome three new team members to support its product development, research, trade events, and marketing.
  • Lavie Bio Ltd., a leading ag-biologicals company that develops microbiome-based, computational-driven bio-stimulant and bio-pesticide novel products and a subsidiary of Evogene Ltd., announced that Ceres Global Ag Corp., a global agricultural, energy and industrial products merchandising and supply chain company, has chosen Lavie Bio as a supplier in its sustainability programs with grain producers. Ceres will integrate Lavie Bio’s bio-inoculant, Yalos, into its regenerative agriculture initiatives across the USA and Canada.
  • CropX Technologies, a leading provider of digital farm management, announced an API integration with WiseConn, a global leader in precision drip irrigation solutions, to further improve data gathering and analytics for farmers worldwide. WiseConn users will be able to seamlessly incorporate the CropX system into their precision irrigation network. WiseConn irrigation systems are used throughout North and South America, Europe and Australia.
    • AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

    Ag and Food Summit Features SAF Discussion

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Tim Obitts, Alder Renewables; Alan Weber, MARC-IV; Alex Menotti, LanzaJet

    Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) was the topic of two panels at Monday’s “2024 Ag & Food Policy Summit: Revitalizing Rural Revenues” in Washington D.C. and there was a lot of discussion surrounding the GREET model, changes in the RFS, carbon sequestration, corn ethanol, and new feedstocks.

    Alder Renewables CEO Tim Obitts says agriculture holds the key to the future for SAF. “You are above ground oil wells,” said Obitts. His company’s technology can utilize a range of sustainable woody residues, agricultural byproducts, and next-generation energy crops like miscanthus to produce SAF.

    Alan Weber has been involved in the biodiesel industry for over 30 years and as founding partner of MARC-IV he is excited about innovative new oilseeds like pennycress, camelina, and brasica carinata. “Each of them very unique in how they fit in a grower’s rotation but also similar in that they help to improve soil health and the second in that those crops are being grown on acres otherwise not in production.”

    LanzaJet VP of Government Affairs Alex Menotti says getting the GREET model updated to include climate smart agriculture practices is only half the battle right now for getting corn ethanol to qualify for SAF. “The other half is EPA updating their own rules to recognize the climate benefits of corn ethanol and do things like enable CCS (carbon capture and storage) which is a key enabler for alcohol-to-jet,” said Menotti, who also noted that the top legislative priority for the industry right now is getting the IRA tax credits extended.

    Listen to some of their discussion here:
    Agri-Pulse Summit SAF Panel One 31:11

    Kevin Welsh, Airlines for America; Gene Gebolys, World Energy; Amelia DeLuca, Delta Air Lines; and Dr. Patrick Gruber, Gevo

    The second panel focused on the role of the airlines. “Sustainable aviation fuel is the only lever we have at this point to decarbonize,” said Amelia DeLuca, Chief Sustainability Officer, Delta Air Lines.

    World Energy has been in advanced biofuels for over 25 years and is now on the forefront of SAF. “Ultimately, biofuels want to fly and the reason is, that’s where you can get the best value,” said CEO Gene Gebolys. “As we work to establish this market, it won’t be a SAF market, it will be a decarbonization market.”

    The GREET model remains key to making it work. “If we’re getting paid for carbon abatement and it’s a virtual attribute, how the heck do you measure it? That’s where the GREET model comes in,” said Gevo CEO Dr. Patrick Gruber. “We like real data, real science, measured, reported, verified. That’s what we have to get to.”

    The Ag and Food Policy Summit was a function of Agri-Pulse Communications.

    Listen to the panel:
    Agri-Pulse Summit SAF Panel Two 29:26

    2024 Agri-Pulse Ag and Food Policy Summit Photo Album

    Agri-Pulse, Audio, Biofuels, carbon, Corn

    National Ag Day Celebrated in DC

    Cindy Zimmerman

    The 51st National Ag Day celebration took place in Washington D.C. Tuesday with groups gathering at USDA headquarters to recognize the individuals who feed, fuel, and clothe our nation and the world.

    Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack spoke in particular to the young people in attendance. “Every person who wakes up in the morning and doesn’t have to grow or harvest their own food gets to do that thanks to the small percentage of our population who work the land day in and day out,” Vilsack said. “You can choose to do whatever it is you want to do with your life because we delegated the responsibility of feeding our families and ourselves.”

    2024 Ag Day Vilsack remarks 15:04

    Ag Day is organized by the Agriculture Council of America (ACA), which is a nonprofit organization composed of leaders in the agriculture, food and fiber communities.

    ACA Chair Jenni Badding, John Deere, says the Ag Day activities target student participation. “Each year we encourage 9th through 12th graders to submit video essays and this year the theme was ‘If you could talk to a farmer for two minutes,'” said Badding. “We had over 100 applicants and we ran the videos of the top three winners as part of the USDA event.”

    Learn more about Ag Day in this interview.
    2024 Ag Day Jenni Badding interview 2:59

    A panel of students representing four different agricultural youth organizations spoke on the topic of “Agriculture: Growing the Climate for Tomorrow.”

    Shelby Bashum, Southern Illinois Univ., Agriculture Future of America
    Allison Walbrecht, Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln, National 4H
    Kanyon Huntington, Iowa State University, National FFA
    Anushka Tandon, Univ. of Maryland, Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS)

    2024 Ag Day Student Panel 20:19

    Other speakers at the event included American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall, and Curt Blades with the Association of Equipment Manufacturers.

    2024 National Ag Day Photo Album

    Ag Day, Audio, USDA

    Agri-Pulse Celebrates 20th Anniversary

    Cindy Zimmerman

    This week’s Agri-Pulse 2024 Ag & Food Policy Summit was a good time to celebrate the news organization’s 20th anniversary of shining light on farm and food policy.

    Twenty years ago, the concept of an all-digital, paid subscription publication was almost unheard of in agricultural publishing. Agri-Pulse Editor and Founder Sara Wyant believed it was not only possible, but represented the future for high-quality journalism. Thanks to so many subscribers, advertisers and sponsors who also believed in the firm’s commitment to balanced reporting and trusted insights, Agri-Pulse has grown into the largest media company devoted to covering farm and food policy in Washington, D.C. and across the country.

    “It was clear to me that we could serve people in agriculture with information about what is happening in Washington, D.C., and other parts of the country, and they can make their own decisions on how to advocate,” said Wyant.

    Since 2004, Agri-Pulse has grown from a single, weekly newsletter to a full-time staff from coast-to-coast, developing daily online content, audio newscasts and interviews, daily digests of aggregated news articles on agricultural and energy topics, frequent webinars and special issues podcasts, three annual in-person policy summits, and a weekly video news program.

    Many who attended the Ag and Food Policy Summit Monday had well-wishes for Agri-Pulse celebrating two decades. “Sara, let me use a couple minutes you would have used to introduce me to acknowledge the great work that you and Agri-Pulse have done over the last 20 years,” said Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack at the Summit. “It’s really phenomenal.”

    Chuck Zimmerman caught up with several other long time Agri-Pulse fans to get their comments, including former Congressman Collin Peterson; NASDA CEO Ted McKinney; former NRCS Chief Bruce Knight, Strategic Conservation Solutions; Mary Kay Thatcher, Syngenta; Daren Coppock, Ag Retailers; Tim Trotter, Edge Dairy Cooperative; Tara Smith, Torrey Advisory Group; and Curt Blades, AEM.

    Listen to what they had to say:
    Agri-Pulse 20th anniversary comments 11:25

    Agri-Pulse 2024 Ag & Food Policy Summit Photo Album

    Agri-Pulse, Audio

    New USSEC Chair Sees Export Opportunities

    Carrie Muehling

    During its annual meeting prior to Commodity Classic in Houston, the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) seated its new Board of Directors for 2024/2025, with Kansas farmer Lance Rezac, representing the United Soybean Board, elected to serve as chairman for the next year.

    Rezac said with 150 people working in 82 countries, USSEC continues to promote U.S. soy and the advantages it brings to markets around the world.

    “They need our protein. We want to be a reliable supplier. We want to let them know that we’ll be here,” said Rezac. “The U.S. has some advantages. We can store beans. We can ship them year-round. We do a lot of work with developing countries just to help them increase the protein available for their diets.”

    Rezac said China continues to be an important market, but as demand there levels off and Brazil picks up their supply, the United States needs to diversify. He gave examples of places like Pakistan and Kenya where USSEC continues to build and sustain market share for U.S. soy.

    Lance Rezac, USSEC Chairman, United Soybean Board, Onaga, Kansas
    Classic24 Lance Rezac, USSEC Chairman 4:25

    Audio, Commodity Classic, Exports, Soybean, Trade, USSEC

    Senate Ag Committee Leaders Say Farm Bill is Possible

    Cindy Zimmerman

    The Ranking Member and Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee are still holding out hope for a new farm bill this year.

    A Slido poll at the beginning of the Agri-Pulse Ag and Food Policy Summit Monday showed more than 80 percent of attendees believed there would not be a farm bill this year. Ranking Member Sen. John Boozman (R-AR) said he hopes that is wrong. “If you talk to the average person in Congress, most members on both sides very much want to get a farm bill done,” said Boozman. “I know how important it is for rural America to give our farmers stability.”

    Listen to his comments:
    Agri-Pulse Summit Sen. Boozman 13:34

    Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) stressed that the only way to get a farm bill is by building coalitions, not by pitting one title against another. “What does not work is playing politics of food assistance and nutrition against everything else in the farm bill,” said Stabenow.

    The chairwoman noted that since coming to the Senate in 2001, she has worked on six bills, leading three of them. “Shoot me now!” she exclaimed. “The same fights come up every time and they never work. If we abandon the coalition, we don’t get a farm bill.”

    Listen to her comments:
    Agri-Pulse Summit Sen. Stabenow 24:00

    Agri-Pulse 2024 Ag & Food Policy Summit Photo Album

    Agri-Pulse, Audio, Farm Bill, politics

    Zeakal PhotoSeed Breakthrough Delivers Higher Energy Corn

    Cindy Zimmerman

    ZeaKal today announces its groundbreaking PhotoSeed™ technology in corn, designed to improve the crop’s oil and sustainability profile without compromising yield or protein.

    In first year replicated field trials, PhotoSeed increased corn oil composition by an average of 23 percent. PhotoSeed enhances a plant’s photosynthetic capacity, capturing more CO2 and sunlight. This additional carbon capture increases oil production without taking away the energy necessary to maintain modern yields. Despite tremendous demand, previous efforts to boost oil content without compromising yield have eluded agribusinesses. ZeaKal now introduces the first viable solution.

    ZeaKal’s PhotoSeed hybrid corn, grown in collaboration with the Wisconsin Crop Innovation Center in a glasshouse setting.

    Han Chen, co-founder and CEO of ZeaKal, emphasized the imperative for accelerated innovation to meet the escalating demand for sustainable corn oil production. “This trait technology allows us to elevate the overall value of U.S. corn and creates a differentiated, value-added product that addresses industry demand,” said Chen. “U.S. farmers need innovation faster if we hope to compete in a challenging global commodity market. While we cannot change sunlight availability and geography for our growers, we can bring a latitude advantage to them through genetics.”

    ZeaKal created the NewType model in 2022 to restore value across the soy supply chain. PhotoSeed corn follows that model’s success by expanding its partnership with Gro Alliance’s extensive germplasm collection, breeding program, and fully integrated seed production.

    “Starting with the grower, our vision is to leverage trait technology and replicate our NewType model to ensure value creation and sharing across the entire supply chain,” said Chen.

    PhotoSeed corn commercialization is expected in the 2027 growing season. For more information about ZeaKal and PhotoSeed technology, or to become part of the NewType model, visit zeakal.com.

    Learn more in this interview with Chen:
    Zeakal CEO Han Chen interview 10:55

    AgWired Precision, Audio, Biofuels, Corn

    Animal Ag News 3/18

    Carrie Muehling

  • Cattle raisers impacted by wildfires in the Texas Panhandle and Western Oklahoma can apply for financial aid through the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) Disaster Relief Fund. The TSCRA Disaster Relief Fund, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting ranchers and landowners impacted by natural disasters, will distribute financial assistance to reduce the financial burdens incurred by cattle raisers from recent wildfire damages that were not covered through insurance or other means of aid. To learn more about the TSCRA Disaster Relief Fund, including information on how to donate or apply for funds, visit tscra.org/disaster-relief-fund/.
  • Celebrating nearly 120 years of leadership on behalf of America’s meat companies, the Meat Institute (formerly the “North American Meat Institute”) unveiled a new logo and brand identity reflecting its dynamic, forward-looking approach to ensuring meat remains at the heart of nourishing the present and sustaining the future.
  • The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) announced the induction of Bill Prestage into the NPPC Hall of Fame during the 2024 National Pork Industry Forum. This prestigious award recognizes individuals who have devoted their lives to advancing the pork industry.
  • The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) announced Anne Miller as winner of the prestigious Paulson-Whitmore State Executive Award. This award, jointly developed by NPPC and the National Pork Board (NPB), honors exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment exhibited by state executives within the pork industry. Miller served as the Montana Pork Producers Council executive director from 2004-2022.
  • To help consumers better identify yogurt, frozen yogurt, and other cultured dairy products containing live and active yogurt cultures, the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) is relaunching its Live & Active Cultures (LAC) Seal for manufacturers. IDFA’s LAC Seal is the only widely recognized, independent verification that a dairy product contains significant levels of live and active yogurt cultures. Recently, IDFA updated the policies and guidelines around use of the LAC Seal and is broadening the availability of the logo to the full yogurt and cultured dairy products industry.
  • The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) announced new roles and responsibilities for three members of the association’s executive, as well as the retirement of IDFA’s longtime senior vice president of finance and administration, Neil Moran. IDFA adds Becky Rasdall to the Executive Team and expands the responsibilities of Tom Wojno and Colin Newman.
  • The dairy checkoff hosted more than 100 national and international health and wellness experts for a two-day scientific conference addressing the dairy matrix, the concept of exploring the unique nutrient, non-nutrient and molecular compositions of dairy foods. The farmer-funded National Dairy Council (NDC) organized the meeting, titled “Undercover Nutrition: A Symposium Decrypting Food and Dairy Matrix Science,” in Washington D.C., Feb. 21-22.
  • In response to growing domestic and international demand, Phibro Animal Health Corporation is expanding its manufacturing facility to support Animate. Animate nutritional specialty product is a patented anionic mineral supplement for prepartum dairy cattle, which, when fed as recommended, may help to reduce the incidence of clinical and subclinical hypocalcemia, leading to enhanced cow health and milk production.
  • Purina Animal Nutrition, along with the Land O’Lakes Foundation, has opened its scholarship program designed to assist students with experience in agriculture and livestock production in pursuing their passions and furthering their educations. Now, along with undergraduate students, current high school seniors who have experience raising and caring for small or large livestock, equine and/or poultry, are eligible to apply for one of four $5,000 scholarships.
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites