Dow Expects Enlist Duo to be Available for 2016

Kelly Marshall

EnlistThe EPA recently filed a motion to cancel the registration of Enlist Duo herbicide.  Dow Chemical Company is now working with the EPA to share the extensive data that supports the safety of the herbicide.  Dow is confident in the continued registration of this product.

“We believe the questions that have been raised about any potential synergy between 2,4-D choline and glyphosate can be promptly resolved in the next few months, in time for the 2016 crop use season,” said Tim Hassinger, Dow AgroSciences President and CEO.

“It’s possible that we could see some changes to use conditions on the existing Enlist Duo label,” Hassinger added. “However, based on the ongoing dialogue with EPA, we do not expect these issues to result in the long-term cancellation of the Enlist Duo product registration. We continue to prepare for commercial sales of Enlist Duo for the 2016 growing season with enthusiastic grower adoption.”

Evaluations of potential synergy from herbicidal mixtures are common within the crop protection industry and are not unique to Dow AgroSciences or Enlist Duo. EPA has not used observations of potential synergy in mixtures as a basis for regulatory action. Technology providers, like Dow AgroSciences, have commonly filed patent applications on mixtures, without there being any connection to EPA’s regulatory processes.

“EPA now has all of the data developed by Dow AgroSciences on observed potential synergies between 2,4-D choline and glyphosate in Enlist Duo,” Hassinger added. “From these data, EPA will readily see – after evaluating all of the efficacy data on the final formulation – why these data support the registration of Enlist Duo.”

Agribusiness, EPA, Herbicide

AFBF 97th Annual Meeting Coming up Soon

Cindy Zimmerman

afbf-annual-16The American Farm Bureau Federation 97th Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show is just around the corner now in Orlando, Florida, on January 11, 2016.

With the simple theme “The Future of Agriculture,” the 2016 meeting will feature “Shark Tank” investor Barbara Corcoran giving the keynote address. There will also be many educational workshops as well as the full trade show for seeing the latest in agricultural equipment and technology.

The delegates meeting where Farm Bureau policy for the coming year is set will garner some additional attention this year as a new president for the organization will be elected for the first time in 16 years.

Farm Bureau members can register for the 97th AFBF Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show through their state Farm Bureaus or online through AFBF.

AFBF

BASF’s Farm Network Conference Promotes Sustainability

John Davis

basf-new-logoBASF recently gathered experts from six European countries to talk about best farming practices and how to spread them across key stakeholder groups. This news release from the company says the conference is part of the Farm Network’s activites, a partnership by BASF, to foster programs that balance farm production with the protection of the land and the environment for generations to come.

“BASF is a strong supporter of partnerships like the Farm Nework. Similar to chemistry, partnerships are about creating the right bonds to shape the future ahead,” explained Vincent Gros, Senior Vice President, BASF Crop Protection Europe, CIS, Central Asia, Africa and Middle East. The conference was attended by professional farmers, organizations for nature conservation, universities, BASF experts and other providers of farm innovations. “We gathered experts with different backgrounds to discuss a crucial challenge for farmers and also society: How modern agriculture can contribute to a thriving environment,” explained Gros.

One example of a widely used measure promoted by the experts of the Farm Network is the planting of annual or perennial plants in the margins of fields to safeguard beneficial insects. The experts can give specific seeding and mowing recommendations that will ensure year-round flowering, all based on tailor-made analysis and local conditions. “These relevant results pushed us to a new target: Until 2020, we will grow the Farm Network from being European to become a global platform,” concluded Gros.​

The conference took place in Bad Dürkeim, Germany, from November 23 to 24. At the event, participants from Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and the UK, exchanged the results of their studies and developed recommendations for biodiversity and resource protection in European farms. These measures include adjusting agronomic activities inside the fields, improving the off-field habitat quality and finding new ways to promote the adoption of best practices.​

Agribusiness, BASF, Sustainability

#Thankful4Ag Today and Everyday

Cindy Zimmerman

As we contemplate our full plates and full bellies on Thanksgiving, remember that all the food we are blessed to have in this country is brought to you by farmers and ranchers, with a lot of help from our Creator. Thanksgiving blessings to all!
bayer-thankful

ZimmComm Announcement

Happy Thanksgiving from the American Doorstop Project

Kelly Marshall

ThanksgivingBefore 1863 each state scheduled its own day of thanksgiving at different times, generally states in New England.  But on Oct. 3 of that year President Abraham Lincoln gave a proclamation setting a National Day of Thanksgiving.

“The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.”

President Lincoln continued…”I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.”

This Thanksgiving remember to be thankful for our agricultural roots and the heritage that shaped our nation.  The American Doorstop Project invites you to learn more about this heritage and honor the legacy of agriculture.

Ag Groups

RFD-TV to Air Joey+Rory Special for Thanksgiving

John Davis

cic-12-26RFD-TV will air a marathon of the “The Joey + Rory Show” plus special tributes by country music stars on Thanksgiving Day. The celebration of Joey and Rory Feek’s musical talents, spirit and faith follows Joey’s recent decision to stop her treatments for cervical cancer.

The special program starts at 9 a.m. (ET) on Thursday, Nov. 26, with a five-hour marathon of the 10 best episodes of Joey+Rory from the past three years. Then, at 7:30 p.m. ET (with a replay at 11:30 p.m.), both networks will air an exclusive broadcast of personal messages to the Feeks from country-music stars such as Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, Marty Stuart and Connie Smith.

The Feeks have released six albums together and were named the Academy of Country Music’s Top New Vocal Duo in 2010, after Rory had already penned several hit country songs for artists such as Blake Shelton and Clay Walker. The RFD-TV series The Joey+Rory Show has followed the husband-and-wife singer-songwriters as they performed their country/bluegrass tunes and lived life on their small Tennessee farm with their newborn baby.

Joey was diagnosed with cervical cancer 16 months ago and has been in hospice in Indiana since Nov. 9.

Rory encourages fans to peruse his blog of their experiences at ThisLifeILive.com. In a recent entry, he wrote, “Joey’s hope never fades. No amount of pain or medicine can touch it. It runs too deep. It’s connected to her faith in God and, as she’ll tell you, God can do anything.”

Fans can also send handwritten cards or letters to Joey and Rory Feek and their family members at the following address: RFD-TV c/o Joey+Rory, 49 Music Square West, Nashville, TN 37203.

Uncategorized

Corn Growers Praise Feds Change on Ag Risk Coverage Rules

John Davis

NCGA-LogoGrowers on a farm with one or more tracts outside the administrative county now have the option to recalculate Agriculture Risk Coverage-CO benefits based on the farm’s physical location. This news release from the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) says the Farm Service Agency modification of the rule follows an extensive review of the potential impacts of the previous requirement that payments for the Agriculture Risk Coverage program be based on the administrative county where farm records are maintained.

“NCGA worked determinedly to bring this issue to the attention of FSA Administrator Val Dolcini. We greatly appreciate his consideration of our concerns and the decision to act on the information we provided,” said National Corn Growers Association Public Policy Action Team Chair Steve Ebke.

According to the FSA Administrator’s office, the payments for farms enrolled in 2014 and 2015 with payments “would be recalculated in each physical location and summed for the farm using weights according to the number of base acres (including attributed acres) in each county.”

Farms will not be allowed to retroactively change the administrative county or to be reconstituted. The choice for producers who may be adversely impacted is between recalculating all base acres on a farm or retaining the current calculation tied to the farm’s administrative county. The flexibility to select and choose among different tracts or crops is not available. In addition, a decision to recalculate based on the physical location of the tracts must be agreed upon by all producers on the farm with a share in the payment. The deadline for requesting a recalculation is February 1, 2016.

While NCGA acknowledges it will be a small percentage of farms affected, the potential for variation in payments can be very significant.

Agribusiness, ARC, NCGA, USDA

Dawn White Getting Some Real Yield with LibertyLink

Chuck Zimmerman

Bayer CropScience Real Yield GameWe often think of weed resistance as being some kind of midwest and south phenomenon but think east U.S. as in South Carolina. Cindy spoke with farmer Dawn White for an episode of LibertyLink Real Yield Radio and you can hear what she has to say below.

Now, while you’re celebrating some Thanksgiving with the family how about trying the Real Yield Game and get yourself entered to win big with Bayer CropScience.

Visit www.realyieldgame.com and click on the promotion link.
1. Complete all fields in the registration or log-in process.
2. Select five fields in the game area to spray Liberty® to reveal incremental bushels of soybeans.
3. Look at the total number of incremental bushels of soybeans for all five fields in the silo and determine the prize won.

Limit three game plays per person – one game play for complete registration, one game play for completion of LibertyLink® Ratings/Reviews/Attributes, one game play for social sharing through the promotion website.

In the real world, missed weeds compromise real yield. The LibertyLink® system is simply a better solution that ensures you don’t lose yield from missed weeds. Choose LibertyLink® and Liberty® to maximize real yields with high-performing genetics and better weed control.

Here’s Dawn’s story:


Sponsored Post

Agribusiness, Audio, Bayer, Seed, Soybean

Ethos XB from FMC

Chuck Zimmerman

FMC Ethos XBEarlier this month FMC announced the launch of Ethos™ XB insecticide/fungicide, the first of its kind, integrated in-furrow product for insect and disease control. It just so happens that Rick Ekins, fungicide and insecticide portfolio manager for FMC, was attending the NAFB convention. We talked about the announcement and what it provides to farmers. Here’s some information on the product and you can listen to my interview with Rick below.

Rick EkinFormulated with the patented Liquid Fertilizer Ready technology from FMC, Ethos XB insecticide/fungicide combines the market-leading at-plant insecticide with a broad-spectrum preventative biofungicide, the first corn biopesticide offering from FMC.

Ethos XB insecticide/fungicide offers the broadest spectrum of corn seedling defense against soil pests and diseases. Powered by the active ingredient in Capture® LFR® insecticide, it protects seedlings from corn rootworm, wireworms, grubs, seed corn maggots, cutworms and common stalk borers. The powerful, new biological fungicide in Ethos XB insecticide/fungicide aids in control of Fusarium, Pythium, Phytophthora and Rhizoctonia.

“The Ethos XB product provides early, integrated protection to create an environment where seedlings emerge more uniformly and with the vigor to optimize productivity,” said Rick Ekins, fungicide and insecticide portfolio manager for FMC. “As growers push for maximum yields, they are increasing plant populations and planting earlier under more adverse conditions. Our job is to help them protect every seedling with the most convenient and broadest spectrum insect and disease control.”

Listen to my interview with Rick. Rick Ekins, FMC

NAFB Convention Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, FMC, Fungicide, NAFB

Update on John Deere Acquisitions

Chuck Zimmerman

Barry NelsonEarlier this month John Deere announced a couple of big acquisitions that include Precision Planting and Monosem. During the NAFB convention I got an update on those from Barry Nelson.

The Monosem purchase allows John Deere to expand their planter lineup on a truly global basis when included with the Precision Planting purchase. The brand names will be continued according to Nelson. He says it’s 60 – 90 days to get the deal wrapped up and then there will be some dealer negotiations to do as well.

Listen to my interview with Barry here: Barry Nelson, John Deere

Barry is being interviewed in the photo by Michelle Rook, WNAX.

NAFB Convention Photo Album

Coverage of NAFB Convention is sponsored by
Coverage of NAFB Convention is sponsored by BASF
Agribusiness, Audio, Equipment, John Deere, NAFB, Precision Agriculture