DWFI Podcast 25- Soumya Balasubramanya, The World Bank

Cindy Zimmerman

The 2023 Water for Food Global Conference was held May 8-11 at the University of Nebraska Lincoln and produced by the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska (DWFI). It was the first time the event has been held since 2019 and it was a huge success with more than 120 global speakers and 400 participants.

For the next several Water for Food podcasts, we will be bringing you highlights from the conference, which had the theme “Cultivating Innovation: Solutions for a Changing World.” In this first episode, we hear from Soumya Balasubramanya, Senior Economist with The World Bank, who spoke at the conference about “Supporting entrepreneurship for smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa.”

Listen here or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform:
DWFI Podcast 25 - Soumya Balasubramanya, The World Bank 23:26

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.

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Audio, Food, International, Water, Water for Food

Industry Ag News 6/23

Carrie Muehling

  • The 2024 Commodity Classic trade show floor opened to new exhibitors today at 9:30 a.m. CT. Commodity Classic’s “New Frontiers in Agriculture” will be held February 28 through March 2, 2024, in Houston, Texas.
  • The Renewable Fuels Association welcomed its newest producer member, Aztalan Bio LLC, with operations based in Jefferson, Wisc. After completing significant technology upgrades, Aztalan Bio’s ethanol biorefinery is expected to begin production in October with an initial capacity of 110 million gallons per year.
  • Leading law firm Michael Best has joined the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association as a vendor member.
  • Congress can ensure more consumer choice in fuels and vehicles by taking greater advantage of low-cost, low-emissions biofuels like ethanol, a leader of the National Corn Growers Association told members of Congress.
  • The National Cotton Council announced training participants for this week’s Emerging Leaders Program in Memphis and St. Louis.
  • To support the next generation of agricultural professionals, National Farmers Union Foundation announced the 2023 recipients of its annual scholarship awards.
  • Controlling for Varroa mites, the parasitic mites that feed on honey bees and serve as vectors for viral diseases like deformed wing virus, can help with improving honeybee populations and make bees less susceptible to harmful insecticides, according to a recent study published in Environmental Pollution.
  • Alltech announced new leadership in the office of the president, the culture and talent team, and the marketing and communications team. Orla McAleer joins the culture and talent team as chief culture officer, while Susanna Elliott will lead the global marketing and communications team as chief marketing and communications officer, and Brian Lawless will lead the office of the president as chief of staff.
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    ZimmCast 713 – The Work of AgGateway

    Chuck Zimmerman

    ZimmCastHello and welcome to the ZimmCast. I’m Chuck Zimmerman.

    In this episode I am sharing a couple of interviews from the AgGateway Mid-Year Meeting.

    One of those is with Andres Ferrerya, Data Asset Manager for Syngenta Digital. The kind of work that he does and the work of AgGateway can get pretty technical but he describes it in a clear way to understand, in my opinion. Then you can hear Jeremy Wilson, AgGateway’s Executive VP/COO, as he talks about the various working groups in AgGateway and what they are doing.

    The work that AgGateway is doing is really vital for farmers, retailers and other companies that are seeking standards of various kinds to make the process of digital information quicker, simpler and more useful.

    Listen to the ZimmCast here:
    ZimmCast 713 - The Work of AgGateway (22:28)

    That’s the ZimmCast for now. I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.

    Subscribe to the ZimmCast in:

    Ag Groups, AgGateway, Audio, Precision Agriculture, Technology, ZimmCast

    Precision Ag News 6/21

    Carrie Muehling

    • Bayer announced its Crop Science Division will capitalize on opportunities presented by the shift to regenerative agriculture to grow in adjacent markets in addition to its core business of seeds, traits, crop protection and digital. At its 2023 Innovation Summit, the company identified growth potential in segments like crop fertility, biologicals, biofuels, carbon farming, precision application services as well as digital platforms and marketplaces, all of which are serving the needs of agriculture.
    • Make-A-Wish Iowa welcomes Stine Seed Company as the premier partner for the new Harvesting Wishes Program. Together, Make-A-Wish and Stine will cultivate hope and resiliency for critically ill children in our communities through the program. Farmers and the agriculture industry will now have an entirely new way to impact local families waiting for their life-changing wish.
    • The American Farm Bureau Federation signed a memorandum of understanding with CLAAS of America, providing even more farmers and ranchers the right to repair their own farm equipment. The MOU follows similar agreements AFBF entered with John Deere, CNH Industrial Brands (which includes Case IH and New Holland), AGCO and Kubota. Combined, the five MOUs cover approximately three quarters of the agricultural machinery sold in the United States.
    AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

    Tech Hub LIVE Announces Keynote Presenter

    Cindy Zimmerman

    The Tech Hub LIVE Conference and Expo, taking place July 24-26th in Des Moines, Iowa, has announced Dr. Alyssa Whitcraft as the keynote presenter for this year’s event.

    Whitcraft is well-known in the field of agricultural technology, dedicating her career to harnessing the power of cutting-edge technologies to address the challenges faced by the agricultural industry and her work continues to be a driving force behind advancements in the industry. She is the Executive Director of NASA Acres and the immediate-past Deputy Director of NASA Harvest. NASA Acres, which officially launched in April 2023, is NASA’s latest investment in agriculture that builds on the successes of the NASA Harvest global consortium to advance solutions for agriculture in the U.S. Her talk, titled “From Space to Soil: How NASA Data and Tools are Supporting a Revolution in Ag Tech,” will delve into the groundbreaking research and applications that NASA Acres is spearheading to tackle the unique challenges faced by farmers and ag retailers today.

    Tech Hub LIVE, now in its third year, provides a platform for sharing knowledge, fostering collaboration, and showcasing the latest advancements in ag tech. With a focus on digital farming, robotics, precision agriculture, and data analytics, Tech Hub LIVE attracts a diverse audience of ag retailers eager to explore emerging technologies and gain a competitive edge.

    Register today and secure your spot at the must-attend ag tech event of the year.

    AgWired Precision, Precision Agriculture, Tech Hub LIVE, Technology

    Animal Ag News 6/20

    Carrie Muehling

  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it is implementing a multi-step effort aimed at strengthening the substantiation of animal-raising claims. This action builds on the significant work USDA has already undertaken to protect consumers from false and misleading labels and to implement President Biden’s Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American economy.
  • Farm Journal’s Trust In Food is proud to welcome Tyson Foods to Trust In Beef, a collaborative value chain program designed to help ranchers integrate climate-smart agriculture into their operations while sharing their learnings and success stories.
  • The second stop of the Alltech ONE World Tour was held in Dublin, Ireland June 19–20 with more than 500 international agri-food leaders to discuss collaborative solutions and strategies for success in today’s agriculture and agri-food industries.
  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Young Cattlemen’s Conference program concluded its successful relaunch after a three-year hiatus. This year’s class included 71 leaders from across the nation and every segment of the beef industry. After nine days of intensive leadership training and a five-city tour which showcased every facet of the beef industry, these leaders completed their trip with a full day of representation in Washington, D.C.
  • The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) named Megan Fulmer, director of import and export programs for Darling Ingredients Inc., as one of AFIA’s 2023 Member of the Year award recipients.
  • According to news reports, Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) has decided to withdraw its membership from the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) over IDFA’s decision to proceed with its petition to modify the federal milk marketing order system. DFA said in a statement that the decision was made “following requests to return to a neutral policy position until a consensus position could be reached.” During an informational session, USDA shared that it is considering 38 proposals from 12 different organizations.
  • FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative applauds the introduction of the Dairy Farm Resiliency Act to make changes to the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program. This bipartisan supported bill would require USDA to update the production history calculation in the program every five years, and to be based on the producer’s highest production year out of the last three years. If included in the 2023 Farm Bill, this provision would update the production history to that of the highest production year of 2020, 2021, and 2022. The bill also increases the Tier 1 threshold from five million pounds to six million pounds.
  • The Public Lands Council launched a grassroots campaign regarding the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) proposed rule “Conservation and Landscape Health.” The proposed rule would create significant, concerning changes to the BLM’s authority to manage the nation’s public lands and would open the door to removing livestock grazing from the range.
  • In comments submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), R-CALF USA expressed general support of the agency’s proposal for new requirements for the voluntary “Product of USA” label but urged the USDA to take additional steps for mandatory reforms.
  • Ann Marie Magnochi, of Footville, Wisconsin, has been hired by Select Sires Inc. as a communications specialist. In this role, she will collaborate with team members and adjacent departments to create and implement digital communications highlighting Select Sires’ genetics, programs and services.
  • Norbrook has added Tauramox (moxidectin) Injectable Solution to its extensive portfolio of cattle health products available to North American producers and veterinarians. Tauramox is the first generic Cydectin (moxidectin) Injectable Solution available for the treatment of a broad range of internal and external parasites that impact the health and performance of beef and nonlactating dairy cattle (under 20 months of age).
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

    Second Alltech ONE World Tour Stop Wraps Up

    Cindy Zimmerman

    The second stop of the Alltech ONE World Tour (ONE) wrapped up today in Dublin, Ireland, after two days with more than 500 international agri-food leaders to discuss collaborative solutions and strategies for success in today’s agriculture and agri-food industries. The discussions fostered at ONE Dublin explore collaborative solutions to the greatest challenges facing the agri-food industry as it confronts the “4 Cs” — the major forces of climate, conflict, consumer trends and rising costs.

    Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech, welcomed delegates to Dublin. “Agriculture can transform things in ways that other industries cannot and is at the interface of nourishing the present and preserving the future,” Lyons said. “Our belief is that agriculture has the greatest potential to positively influence the future of our planet, provide nutrition for all, help rural communities thrive and replenish our planet’s resources.”

    Following Dr. Lyons, Dr. Vaughn Holder, director of ruminant research at Alltech, and Nikki Putnam Badding, registered dietician and director of human nutrition initiatives at Alltech, to discuss agriculture’s role in saving the planet.

    ONE Dublin delegates also heard from industry experts on various topics, including consumer demands, succeeding through conflict, and demonstrating the relationship between agriculture and sustainability for the world, and were able to attend focus-track sessions on soil and crops, animals, and the business of food and farming.

    The Alltech ONE World Tour continues after ONE Dublin, with the next stop in Calgary, Canada, on July 3–4, following the upcoming IFAJ Congress next week. For more information and to register for an Alltech ONE World Tour stop, visit one.alltech.com.

    Agribusiness, AgWired Animal, Alltech, Animal Agriculture

    Agricultural Relations Council Golden ARC Awards

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Janice Pearson, Deron Johnson, and Lynn Henderson

    The Agricultural Relations Council met last week in Des Moines and (ARC) inducted two members into the Agricultural Public Relations Hall of Fame during the Golden ARC Awards Banquet.

    The new members are Janice Person, Grounded Communications CEO/founder and Deron Johnson, Curious Plot executive vice president, chief brand & culture officer. This award is given to agricultural public relations professionals who have made lifetime contributions to the industry. The Agricultural Public Relations Hall of Fame is sponsored by ARC and Agri Marketing magazine.

    Golden ARC Award winners

    The winners of the 2023 Golden ARC Awards contest were also presented last week, recognizing the stellar work created by public relations professionals in the agricultural industry this past year. OBP won the Golden ARC de Excellence Award for its “DEKALB Brand + Field Of Dreams” created for client Bayer DEKALB.

    This year’s Golden ARC Awards contest drew 75 entries from 26 organizations, including individuals, agencies, companies, commodity groups and ag associations/checkoffs. In addition to the Golden ARC de Excellence Award, ARC presented 27 Golden ARC awards. Multiple awards were received by Kansas Farm Bureau, Purina, Bayer, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, State Fair of Texas, OBP, Padilla, AdFarm, and Curious Plot.

    Others receiving Golden Arc awards were Agoro Carbon Alliance, AgBiome, Merck Animal Health, TELUS, American Royal Rodeo, FMC, United Soybean Board, EarthOptics, Cargill, Missouri Soybean Assn and Farm Credit East, Filament and Cultivate.

    Ag Groups, Agencies, Agribusiness, ARC, Public Relations

    Field Notes from Koch Agronomic Services – Episode 29

    Chuck Zimmerman

    The Field Notes podcast series from Koch Agronomic Services (KAS) breaks down the science and technology behind agronomy to help growers do more with less.

    Micronutrient Deficiencies

    In this episode, we’re talking about micronutrient deficiencies. We’ll learn what growers can do to optimize their crops’ yield potential and how growers in each region can utilize testing and solutions to overcome limiting factors. We’ll speak with KAS technical agronomist, TJ Bingham, and product manager, Brandon Peterson. They’ll discuss the need for micronutrients and what solutions growers need to reach maximum yield potential in their regions.

    You can listen to the program here: Micronutrient Deficiencies 20:03)

    And to make sure you don’t miss an episode, choose an option to subscribe

    For Spotify on your computer download the desktop app

    Agribusiness, Agronomy, Audio, Koch Agronomic Services

    Industry Ag News 6/16

    Carrie Muehling

  • The outdoor recreation boom is paying dividends — as much as $20,000 per year — for farmers and ranchers using alternative passive income strategies by listing their land for hunting, fishing and other activities. In a free webinar, set for Tuesday, June 20, at 12 p.m. CDT, landowners will share how they have added income to their operations. Hosted by LandTrust.com and Farm Journal, the webinar is free, but attendees must register to access the session. Register now at: https://fjwebinars.com/account/register/agweb/171.
  • The National Corn Growers Association’s (NCGA) Corn Board has elected Ken Hartman Jr. to become the organization’s next first vice president for the new fiscal year, which begins October 1, 2023. Hartman is a fifth-generation farmer who operates a grain farm along with his wife, Anita, daughter, Amanda, and mother, Joann in Waterloo, Illinois.
  • More than 150 farmers and ranchers from across the country traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet directly with lawmakers and discuss priorities for the 2023 farm bill. The American Farm Bureau Federation Advocacy Fly-In included remarks from Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-Penn.) and Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member John Boozman (R-Ark.). House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member David Scott (D-Ga.) sent a video message.
  • Potato retail sales increased 16 percent in sales but decreased in volume by -4.4 percent from January to March 2023 compared to the same timeframe a year ago, according to Potatoes USA. Despite a decrease, volume sales remain above pre-pandemic levels.
  • The National Cotton Council (NCC) has scheduled tour dates and locations for the 2023 Producer Information Exchange (P.I.E.) Program. During the week of August 13-18, producers from the Southwest and West will see Mid-South farming operations in Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. The second tour, set for August 20-25, will enable Southeast and Mid-South producers to travel to the Southwest and observe farming operations in south Texas.
  • The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) elected its 2023-24 officer team during its annual Leadership Summit, June 10-14 in Sacramento, CA. The members of the new officer team, beginning official duties on July 1, are: Chair David Armstrong, Sakata Seed America; First Vice Chair Dan Foor, DLF North America; and Second Vice Chair Dave Treinen, Syngenta.
  • The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) released a report finding that 97% of fruits and vegetables sampled within the state in 2021 met federal pesticide safety standards. The 2021 California Pesticide Residue Monitoring Program Report shows that 97% of domestically grown and imported produce samples collected in 2021 had either no detectable pesticide residues or had residues within the allowable federally-established tolerances. In addition, more than 98% of produce samples labeled as “grown in California” had no residues or tolerances that exceeded allowable levels.
  • The Sunbelt Ag Expo is proud to continue the tradition of the Farmer of the Year Program into 2023. The Farmer of the Year Program selects one farmer from each of the participating states and recognizes them at the Sunbelt Ag Expo, where the overall winner is announced.
  • The 2023 Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue is scheduled for October 24-26 in Des Moines, Iowa. The theme Harnessing Change is a deliberate progression of the 2022 theme, Feeding a Fragile World. After focusing on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and conflict, this year will address harnessing innovation, adaptation and diversification to improve systemic resilience, recover from shocks and sustainably nourish all people.
    • Zimfo Bytes