It is holiday time. As in years past we love to share Christmas and other holiday greetings we receive.
The winner of being first in our inbox is the Minneapolis Grain Exchange.
Wishing you health and happiness this holiday season and prosperity in the New Year.
The application of seed treatment technologies in agriculture is such a growing and important segment of the industry that it was the very first session at the ASTA CSS 2015 and Seed Expo this week in Chicago. The session on Monday afternoon featured (pictured left to right) Terry Meyer with INCOTEC, moderator Jim Shearl with AgReliant Genetics, and Eda Reinot of BASF.
“We wanted to be able highlight important components of the seed treatment recipe, how they all come together and how the proper testing is in place before those products come to market,” said ASTA Seed Treatment and Environment Committee Chair Jeff Daniels with the DuPont Seed Enterprise.
The seed treatment products coming on the market are delivering more value than ever to growers and Daniels says it’s important that they be used correctly, which is why ASTA developed the seed treatment stewardship guide a few years ago. “We’ve gotten the chance to get this in front of many grower groups and other key stakeholders, and other been able to demonstrate to EPA and other regulatory groups that we’re taking a proactive approach to steward seed treatment products,” said Daniels.
Learn more in this interview: Interview with ASTA Committee Chair Jeff Daniels, DuPont Seed Treatment
ASTA CSS 2015 and Seed Expo Photo Album
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A new logo is now available for member companies of AgGateway to use in promoting their eBusiness products and services. The logo, a checkmark proclaiming “Enabled by AgGateway eAgriculture Resources,” will allow companies to brand their business as being actively involved in promoting AgGateway’s industry-wide eAgriculture resources.
“We hope that use of this logo will encourage greater connectivity between trading partners – and that ultimately should mean greater efficiency and productivity within those businesses,” said Rana Kundu, Manager of the Innovation Group at YASH Technologies and 2016 Chair of AgGateway’s Allied Providers Council.
Companies can apply to use the logo on appropriate materials (e.g., products, websites, communications and marketing materials). The logo can only be used in connection with products and services that utilize AgGateway eBusiness resources, such as AgGateway standards, guidelines, the Ag Glossary, and/or the Agriculture Industry Identification System (AGIIS). Use of the logo does not represent an endorsement by AgGateway of the company using the logo or any of the company’s products or services. Companies must obtain permission by AgGateway before using the logo, including applying for its use, signing a waiver, and receiving acceptance of the company’s application.
The logo was created by volunteers serving in the Allied Providers Council. To learn about using the logo see the “Enabled by” page at www.AgGateway.org or contact Member Services at Member.Services@AgGateway.org or (+1) 866-251-8618.
The United Soybean Board is holding it’s board meeting in St. Louis, MO and held a press conference call this morning. You can listen in below if you’d like.
Kicking off the call was Jared Hagert, new Chairman of USB. He was joined by several other officers. They all answered questions posed by ag media representatives.
The USB Strategic Plan for 2017-2021 was a key topic of discussion. It included 9 main goals. You can see those goals here.
Core Value: The board, with honesty and integrity, collectively and individually, is committed to working within the letter and spirit of applicable law and regulation to achieve maximum value for each soybean farmer’s checkoff dollar.
Mission: Effectively invest and leverage soybean checkoff resources to maximize profit opportunities for U.S. soybean farmers.
Vision: U.S. soybeans will be the leader of the global oilseed industry. Strategy: Create and maintain partnerships that differentiate and increase the utilization of U.S. soy in a changing global market. – See more here.
You can listen to the press conference here: United Soybean Board Call
The principles of PRRS control are practiced throughout high-volume swine areas. During Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc.’s (BIVI) session at the recent North American PRRS Symposium, Area Regional Control (ARC) coordinators took the stage to share how they apply the tools and their approach to coordinated disease control.
Dr. Erin Lowe, BIVI, is no stranger to utilizing ARC and crunching the numbers to help make it viable to producers on the farm. She moderated the panel of coordinators, helped share key elements of the diverse programs and how coordinators have adapted their programs to fit the needs of the producers in their region.
“What do producers get our of participating? One thing is the knowledge. The knowledge about what is going on around them. What are their neighbors doing? What’s working well for their neighbors or what’s not working well. It also squelches the rumor mill. Some projects have identified where new viruses have come from and how they have moved within the project.”
The panel said communication is the largest hurdle they have to climb. Producers do sometimes struggle with getting the information back to the project coordinator in a useful or easy way.
Listen to my complete interview with Dr. Lowe to learn about ARC funding and where she sees the programs going in the future.Interview with Dr. Erin Lowe, BIVI
View and download photos from the event here: 2015 BIVI PRRS Seminar Photo Album
During a session on Taking Cover Crops Mainstream at the ASTA CSS/Seed Expo this week, a panel of representatives from across the industry spoke about their experiences with cover crops, the work they’ve done on either their farm or in their business, and the impact cover crops can have on soil health. Two growers who integrate cover crops on their farms sat on the panel, as well as three industry representatives. Hear from three of them below.
Jim Herr, with Beck’s Hybrids, spoke about the research on cover crops that Beck’s is implementing to benefit their customers. As a seed company, it’s important to them that they are aware of what their customers are looking for. Beck’s is committed to doing practical on-farm research to help their growers make decisions about which cover crop practices would work best in their individual operations.”We’ve spent a lot of time looking at cover crops and how they can benefit customers. In the process we’ve learned there is a lot of desire to learn more about cover crops and if they are able to fit into to their operation. They want real life information to make those guiding decisions.”
Interview with Jim Herr, Beck's Hybrids
Rodney Rulon, a grower from Indiana, has implemented no-till practices on their family farm for a number of years. This ultimately led to implementing cover crops about 10 years ago as a way to continuously improve soil health. “As we developed our no-till system, we started looked for ways to enhance the system while building the biology of the soil. After 10 years we seemed to be getting stagnant and sought out new ways to enhance the soil; cover crops seemed to be a good fit for us. Since we’ve started using cover crops we’ve seen a lot of improvements in soil tilth and our organic matter has been improved, as have water holding capacity and yield. We’ve done side-by-side trials and cover crops have time and time again produced more bushels.”
Interview with Rodney Rulon, Indiana Farmer
Don Guinnop, a farmer from Marshall, Illinois, also serves on the Illinois Soybean Board of Directors and has for 6 years. Don utilizes cover crops on his farm in the way of wheat and clover and encourages other growers to start small in cover crops to learn what works for each individual operation. “In recent years with water quality issues, nutrient management issues, and the mandate on the Mississippi Watershed to control nitrogen and phosphorus runoff, it has become a priority for the Illinois Soybean Association to help its members and checkoff payers to address those issues. Try 1 Thing [from ISA] encourages farmers to pick out a best management practice that will help you control one issue on your farm and try one thing for one year. Don’t try a lot of things on a lot acres, this is a learning experience. Cover crops have to fit in your operation so what works on my farm may not work on your farm. Economics will always be the bottom line.”
Interview with Don Guinnup, Illinois Soybean Association
ASTA CSS 2015 and Seed Expo Photo Album
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The very first sessions at the ASTA CSS 2015 and Seed Expo this week was on application and technology in seed treatments and Eda Reinot with BASF Seed Solutions was one of the presenters.
Reinot talked about the importance of seed applied technologies and how they go hand in hand with seed, tying it in with the message of ASTA’s “Better Seed Better Life” campaign that the seed industry “ensures farmers have the seeds they need today to feed the world tomorrow.”
“The global seed applied technologies industry contributes to that, to ensure that farmers have healthy seed and healthy crops,” said Reinot.
She says seed applied technologies include fungicides, insecticides, biologicals, rhizobium inoculants for nitrogen fixation, and functional seed applied coatings. “Seed applied technologies help to protect the seed in their most delicate, early growth stage,” Reinot says. “The seed is associated with life but the seed also has to have protection from the environment.”
Learn more in this interview: Interview with Eda Reinot, BASF Seed Solutions
ASTA CSS 2015 and Seed Expo Photo Album
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A new, narrow and highly-manuerverable tractor has been unveiled by John Deere. Their new 5G series tractors offer compact power solutions for specialty crops like orchards and vineyards. The new tractors meet the final Tier 4 engine emissions requirements.
“The 5G Series Tractors build on the success of the 5EN Series to offer customers more choices for their specialty applications,” says Christopher Lammie, product manager, John Deere Augusta. “With two chassis widths for narrow (5GN) and vineyard (5GV) applications, the 5G Series Tractors bring John Deere utility tractor performance into specialty row applications.”
The 5G Series Tractors offer a variety of benefits to vineyard producers. The new models – the 5GV and 5GN – are available in widths of 40.5 and 52 inches, respectively, reducing the chance that crops will be damaged in narrow rows. With a tighter turning radius than its 5EN predecessor, the 5GN reduces operator effort, time and fuel consumption during headland turns. Fuel tank capacity is improved over the 5EN with an option for an auxiliary 7.5-gallon fuel tank on the 5GN. Plus an increased cab width on the 5GN Series creates a larger, roomier work environment.
Each tractor promises strong engine performance, with 90 and 100 horsepower models additionally offering Intelligent Power Management. Economy PTO comes standard, reducing engine RPM by 15 percent.
“Customers also have flexible transmission choices with the 5G Series Tractors,” adds Lammie. ”The new 5G offers a mechanical 12F/12R transmission or 24F/12R transmission with PowrReverser™.”
For more information on the 5G Series, see your local dealer or visit www.JohnDeere.com/Ag.
The U.S. cotton industry faces some tough economic conditions right now, and leaders from the sector were on Capitol Hill to let lawmakers know how they could help. This news release from the National Cotton Council says the group outlined numerous market, policy and regulatory issues that threaten to undermine the U.S. cotton industry’s health during testimony before the House Agriculture Committee’s General Farm Commodities and Risk Management Subcommittee.
The hearing panel was comprised of National Cotton Council (NCC) Vice Chairman Shane Stephens, a Greenwood, Miss., warehouser; a group of four cotton producers: Nathan Reed, Arkansas state chairman, American Cotton Producers, Marianna, Ark.; Shawn Holladay, a NCC director from Lubbock, TX; Kent Wannamaker, president, Southern Cotton Growers, Saint Matthews, S.C.; and Cannon Michael, a NCC director from Los Banos, Calif.; and Mike Wright, a Lubbock banker.
Vice Chairman Stephens stressed that a thriving cotton industry is critical to the success of many local economies.
“With the lowest U.S. cotton acreage in more than 30 years, the smallest exports in 15 years, and cotton prices at their lowest level since the 2009 recession, economic pressure is mounting,” Stephens said. “Cotton demand, 10 percent below the peak observed in 2006, is struggling due to increased competition from synthetic fibers, and government support for international cotton production is increasing. To help address the current economic climate, the cotton industry is urging the designation of cottonseed as an ‘other oilseed’ for the purpose of participation in the farm safety net.”
Each of the producer panelists testified to the need for the Agriculture Secretary to designate cottonseed as an ‘other oilseed’ and be eligible for the Agricultural Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs. They stated providing a safety net for cottonseed “is desperately needed to provide stability in the cotton industry.”
The witnesses told legislators that if more stabilizing policies aren’t implemented very soon, cotton acres will continue to drop to the point where the infrastructure won’t survive.
Lisa Shepherd Jenkins
1972-2015
The life of this beautiful and brilliant young woman was cut short earlier this year at the age of 43 after contracting a very rare and incurable disease, but ASTA, Iowa State University Seed Science Center and the American Phytopathological Society (APS) have partnered to keep her memory alive within the industry she loved.
Lisa Shepherd Jenkins’ sister Kim Bartels and husband Andrew Jenkins keeping her memory alive
Her love for seed science led to the establishment of the Lisa Shepherd Jenkins Memorial Fundraising Initiative for two different programs to help educate the next generation of seed industry professionals. “One is a scholarship fund for undergraduates going into seed science and the other is a travel fund to help professionals get to meetings like ASTA,” Andy explained. An engineer with ALMACO seed equipment company, Andy says they have allowed him to take some time off to help promote his wife’s memorial within the industry.
Lisa’s sister Kim Bartels credits Lisa with mentoring her into the world of agribusiness market research. “She was instrumental in getting me to this meeting at ASTA to meet people that she knew,” said Kim, who works for Jefferson Davis Associates in Cedar Rapids.
Talking with Andy and Kim made me feel sad that I never had the opportunity to meet Lisa. Whether you knew her or not, learn more about Lisa in this interview with her husband and sister and consider donating to her memorial to help educate the next seed industry generation. Interview with Andy Jenkins and Kim Bartels, Lisa Shepherd Jenkins Memorial
ASTA CSS 2015 and Seed Expo Photo Album
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