Industry Ag News 2/9

Carrie Muehling

  • At noon EST on Feb. 13, USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will release the much-anticipated 2022 Census of Agriculture data at nass.usda.gov/AgCensus and in their online searchable database, Quick Stats. The release event that will start at 12:30 p.m. EST will be livestreamed on USDA’s YouTube channel and website.
  • U.S. consumers are paying more for chocolate products as confection manufacturers raise prices in response to the soaring cost of cocoa. Cocoa prices are nearly 65 percent higher than they were one year ago, and New York futures prices are at a 46-year high. While consumer demand has remained relatively strong, higher retail prices are poised to take a bigger toll on volume sales and stifle category growth through much of 2024. According to a new research brief from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange, cocoa prices are likely to remain elevated until a new African crop comes to market in late 2024. Consequently, additional price hikes for chocolate confections throughout the year are likely and any rebound in consumer engagement with the category is unlikely.
  • Registered voters support farmers and the protection provided by the crop insurance program, according to recently released data from National Crop Insurance Services (NCIS). American voters are asking Congress to support family farmers by passing a Farm Bill that protects, preserves, and improves crop insurance. A national poll of more than 1,100 registered voters conducted in September 2023 found that more than nine in 10 Americans agree that a strong and thriving American farming industry is critical to American national security.
  • Farmers can expect the largest recorded year-to-year dollar drop in net farm income in 2024. Income is estimated to be nearly $40 billion lower this year compared to 2023, down more than 25 percent. American Farm Bureau Federation economists analyzed the latest USDA data in a Market Intel. Net farm income is the profit farmers see after paying for operating expenses. Two major factors are impacting income forecasts – lower prices paid to farmers for crops and livestock, and increased costs for supplies. While these are early estimates and they could change throughout the year, USDA anticipates a decrease in net farm income, moving from $156 billion in 2023 to $116 billion in 2024.
  • Organic Seed Alliance (OSA) announced the appointment of Dr. Laura R. Lewis as its new executive director, effective January 29th. Dr. Lewis brings over 30 years of invaluable experience in agricultural systems from around the world to her new role at OSA.
  • Agri-Pulse welcomed CHS as the platinum sponsor for the 2024 Ag & Food Policy Summit focused on “Revitalizing Rural Revenues.”
  • Harold Wolle, president of National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), released a statement expressing condolences after the passing of Bill Northey, who served many important roles in agriculture, including president of the NCGA board from 1995 to 1996.
  • National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) board member and Iowa corn grower Bob Hemesath was recently elected to serve as president of the international agricultural advocacy group Farmers for Free Trade.
  • The American Soybean Association—the national advocacy organization for the industry—and 26 soy state affiliates have sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency asking the administration for help following a dicamba ruling in a federal district court in Arizona. The court ruled EPA made a procedural error in issuing 2020 dicamba registrations for over-the-top (OTT) use on dicamba-tolerant soybeans and cotton. Because EPA did not offer a public notice and comment period before issuing the registrations, the court ruled the agency was in violation of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act and vacated 2020 registrations for XtendiMax, Enginia, and Tavium.
  • The National Cotton Council released a statement expressing its disappointment with the new dicamba ruling.
  • Syngenta Group, one of the world’s leading global agriculture technology companies, announced that its manufacturing facility in St. Gabriel, Louisiana, US, has been recognized as a top user of green power by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Syngenta is the only company within the agricultural sector to be included in the latest EPA’s National Top 100 List of top users of green power from the Green Power Partnership.
  • Meyocks, a leading branding and marketing agency, announces the promotion of Kendra Kelly to operations leader. Kelly, who has been with the agency since 2016, is now overseeing human resources, information technology, risk management and facilities, as well as continuing her agency branding and marketing responsibilities.
  • Illinois fans tuning into this weekend’s big game may see some familiar faces in a new commercial featuring five Illinois farm families. The commercial, titled “Career Path,” will air during Super Bowl LVIII, Feb. 11, and close out Illinois Farm Families’ (IFF) “We are the 96%” campaign, highlighting the state’s family-owned farms.
  • Peanut growers from Alabama and Florida were able to fine-tune their farming operations with information gained at the Alabama-Florida Peanut Trade Show February 1, 2024 at the National Peanut Festival fairgrounds in Dothan, Alabama. The trade show was hosted by Alabama Peanut Producers Association (APPA) and Florida Peanut Producers Association (FPPA), and sponsored by National Peanut Board. The National Peanut Festival was the venue sponsor.
  • California produces the vast majority of kiwis that are sold in our local grocery stores, but due to recent research advancements from U.S. Department of Agriculture scientists, this may no longer be the case. In a recently published study, researchers noted that two cultivars that originated in Italy grew vigorously, and received little pruning before bearing fruit. There was also no need for supplemental irrigation, fertilizer, pesticides, or a warm climate for growth.
    • Zimfo Bytes

    CIRB’s Largest Emerging Leaders Program Class

    Cindy Zimmerman

    2023-2024 CIRB Emerging Leaders Program class

    The 2023-24 class of the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau (CIRB) Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) is the largest yet since the program started in 2015, and also the most diverse, including professionals from all aspects of the insurance business. The ELP allows crop insurance and reinsurance professionals to increase their knowledge of advocacy and communications and provides networking experiences with industry leaders.

    2023-2024 CIRB Emerging Leaders Program class
    Dustin Bourgois, American Farm Bureau Insurance Services
    Mara Garris, American Farm Bureau Insurance Services
    Carolyn Payne, AgriSompo North America
    Jake Chamness, AgriSompo North America
    Scott Barhorst, Aon
    Marin Bozic, Bozic LLC
    Brian Davis, COUNTRY Financial
    John Grant, COUNTRY Financial
    Kate Lewarne, Farmers Mutual Hail
    Rafeeq Shaik, Farmers Mutual Hail
    Trevor Robins, Farmers Mutual Hail
    Zach Hyland, Farm Bureau Financial Services
    Jon King, Gallagher Re
    Andy Anderson, Guy Carpenter
    Joe Voye, Hudson Crop
    Steve Milholland, Hudson Crop
    Geoff Childress, Rural Community Insurance Services
    Matt Bledsoe, Rural Community Insurance Services
    Sam Arocho, Rural Community Insurance Services
    Weston Kimm, Watts and Associates

    All 20 of the class members were present at the CIRB annual meeting in Scottsdale last week, and I managed to interview all but Andy Anderson who got away! Learn more about the other 19 and why they are part of the ELP below:
    CIRB ELP 2023-24 Class interviews 31:52

    Audio, CIRB, Insurance

    Harnessing Ag Tech for Sustainable Ag

    Cindy Zimmerman

    As the agricultural landscape grapples with macro issues such as extreme weather, economic pressures, and evolving consumer demands, growers are compelled to not only prepare for challenges but also adapt their entire business models. Harnessing Ag Tech for Sustainable Ag was the title of a panel at the recent VISION Conference that explored how cutting-edge agricultural technology serves as a catalyst for this transformative journey.

    “Primarily we talked about the front line activity to introduce these frontier technologies into enterprises and work with seed companies and retailers and NGOs to introduce those to growers,” said panelist BioLumic CEO Steve Sibulkin.

    BioLumic offers UV technology to trigger biological mechanisms that increase plant growth and yields, and recently announced a partnership with GroAlliance to utilize ultraviolet (UV) light seed treatment technology for corn and soybean seed production. Sibulkin says they utilize a business-to-business approach to bring ag technology to farmers. “BioLumic works across twelve crops,” said Sibulkin. “We also announced a partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in sustainable rice.”

    Learn more in this interview.
    2024 VISION interview with Steve Sibulkin, BioLumic 6:55

    AgWired Precision, Audio, Precision Agriculture, Technology

    Talking Policy at #CattleCon24

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Ethan Lane moderates panel of NCBA policy specialists

    The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA) Executive Committee last week approved the organization’s policy priorities for the year which focus on advocating for the reauthorization of the Farm Bill, protecting cattle producers from federal regulatory overreach, and defending the U.S. cattle industry against external attacks.

    NCBA’s policy priorities include:
    Secure reauthorization of the animal health provisions in the 2018 Farm Bill and advocate for expanded funding of the National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank (NAVVCB) to protect against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).
    Defend the U.S. cattle industry against radical animal activist groups that want to end cattle production, including the Beef Checkoff.
    Fight against misguided Endangered Species Act rules and any expansion of bureaucratic red tape under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). 
    Preserve family farms and ranches for future generations by advocating for essential tax relief for cattle producers.

    NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane led the policy issues update last week with many of the organization’s specialists in different areas. Listen to their interviews below:

    Ethan Lane, NCBA Vice President, Government Affairs
    Interview with Ethan Lane 10:20
    Kent Bacus, Executive Director, Government Affairs, NCBA
    Interview with Kent Bacus 8:38
    Tanner Beymer, NCBA Sr Dir, Government Affairs
    Interview with Tanner Beymer 6:30
    Sigrid Johannes, Director, Public Lands Council and NCBA Government Affairs
    Interview with Sigrid Johannes 4:51
    Kelsey Kemp, Associate Director, Government Affairs, NCBA
    Interview with Kelsey Kemp 4:13

    2024 CattleCon Photo Album

    AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Audio, Cattle Industry Conference, Livestock, NCBA

    Precision Ag News 2/7

    Carrie Muehling

  • Case IH is launching the AF11 combine, an industry-leading powerhouse purposefully redesigned from the ground up to maximize time in the field. The AF11 brings together runtime advancements through speed and technology to maximize in-field productivity in this 775 hp machine. By coupling Case IH’s first-ever dual rotor, the AFXL2, with an active and dynamic cleaning system, the AF11 delivers industry-leading capacity.
  • The next wave of automation is coming to large square baling in 2024 through Case IH Baler Automation. Designed for hands-free efficiency, Large Square Baler Automation maximizes throughput and delivers consistent, high-quality bales regardless of operator experience level. The dealer-installed automation kit connects seamlessly with Class 3 ISOBUS Puma, Optum and Magnum tractors.
  • American Farmland Trust (AFT) released a white paper summarizing the climate benefits associated with agricultural conservation easements. The paper comes when global attention is focused on addressing climate change on the heels of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai last December.
  • The Agtools team is getting ready to share its substantial experience on the first-mile (origin) supply chain at Fruit Logistica, Europe’s largest tradeshow for Food and Agriculture, to be held in Berlin, Germany, from February 7th to 9th, 2024. Agtools is succeeding at converting raw data into reliable, curated and audited data to make it simple for every food supply chain stakeholder.
  • Yanmar Compact Equipment rolls its first compact track loader production models, the TL100VS, off the line for the North American market. This expansion to Yanmar’s compact equipment offering is the culmination of four years of extensive research and development following the company’s acquisition of a U.S. manufacturing facility and engineering team focused on compact track loaders.
  • Yanmar Agribusiness Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Yanmar Holdings, has revealed its e-X1 concept, an electric drive compact electric agricultural machine designed to achieve zero emissions in agriculture.
  • A collaborative effort led by scientists from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), in partnership with researchers from various institutions, dove into the long-term ramifications of advancing agricultural production on the delicate ecosystems of grasslands and wetlands to gain critical insights. In the process they devised strategies for policymakers and land managers that facilitate sustainable agricultural productivity across these expansive landscapes. The study is published in the journal Nature Communications.
  • Michigan State University has hired a new farm manager for its Pollinator Performance Center, a recently developed on-campus station dedicated to pollinator research, education and outreach. Dan Wyns, who previously served as an academic specialist for honey bee colony health and management in the MSU Department of Entomology, will direct daily operations.
  • BioWake Prime, the new EPA-registered corn rootworm bioinsecticide from AMVAC GreenSolutions, is now available through retail facilities for the 2024 growing season. BioWake Prime contains unique microbes that colonize corn plants, priming their natural defenses to protect against corn rootworm, which has exerted significant pressure on growers across the Corn Belt. Larval feeding of corn rootworm has led to millions of dollars in crop damage in recent years.
  • CropX Technologies, a global leader in digital agriculture solutions, announced the launch of a new product in partnership with Reinke Irrigation to refine water management for farmers through field-specific Evapotranspiration (ET) measurements of crop water use. Reinke Direct ET by CropX is an innovation that provides affordable Actual Evapotranspiration (ETa) measurements with a sensor mounted on a Reinke center pivot irrigation system, available exclusively through Reinke.
    • AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

    Clean Fuels CEO Optimistic as Industry Faces Headwinds

    Cindy Zimmerman

    On the MainStage at the 2024 Clean Fuels Conference, Clean Fuels Alliance America CEO Donnell Rehagen, provided a state of the industry report noting that it is a very transformative time for clean fuels, biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel.

    “We are facing a serious headwind right now with the low RVOs set by the EPA as part of the Renewable Fuel Standard. I see the recent downturn and the impact that these low RVOs have had on our producers. But please, do not despair. We have faced this and arguably worse before and we’ve come out on top.”

    A large component of Rehagen’s remarks focused on demand from the rail industry and other markets.

    Listen to his opening remarks and press availability below:
    Opening remarks with Donnell Rehagen 3:03
    Press Conference with Donnell Rehagen 21:58

    2024 Clean Fuels Conference Photo Album

    Audio, Biofuels, Clean Fuels Alliance

    Amazon Web Services Supports VISION

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Cross-Industry Insights: Accelerating Ag Tech Advancement and Adoption was the title of one of the panels at the recent VISION Conference, taking a look at how different industries might be addressing challenges parallel to those in agriculture. Ram Devarajulu, Cambridge Consultants, moderated the panel which included Ron Osborne, Amazon Web Services (AWS); Cassie Edgar, McKee Voorhees & Sease PLC; and Meiko Martin, Trimble.

    Ron Osborne is the Global Head of Technology for Agriculture at AWS, helping global agribusinesses across the value chain to modernize, achieve business and enterprise agronomy product and IT goals. He says AWS is proud to be a part of the VISION Conference and the Global Ag Tech Initiative. “We bring a carefully, curated voice to the Global Ag Tech Initiative to represent the industry from a lot of different perspectives, not just AWS but what our customers are really thinking about too,” said Osbourne.

    Looking ahead, Osbourne wanted conference attendees to have quantum computing on their radar. “The work being done with quantum computing with Amazon Braket as an example, is we believe going to be changing how agribusinesses work in many respects,” he said.

    Learn more in this interview.
    2024 VISION interview with Ron Osborne, AWS 4:03

    AgWired Precision, Audio, Precision Agriculture, Technology

    Alltech Ponders World Without Cows at #CattleCon24

    Cindy Zimmerman

    “Are we better off in a world without cows?”

    It might be a strange question to ask in the middle of a convention with 8,000 cattle industry stakeholders, but it is one that is being asked on the global level when it comes to addressing climate change – and one that two filmmakers sought to answer in a documentary that took them from the heartland of the United States to Kenya, India, Brazil and beyond.

    The World Without Cows project was spearheaded by Alltech and CEO Mark Lyons says it was produced by two of their most creative employees but the intended audience is global. “This is a documentary that is not about Alltech at all. It is about our industry, it’s about our producers…and a really balanced conversation,” said Lyons in an interview at CattleCon24.

    The documentary includes interviews with experts in agriculture and environmental science, farmers and others to look at the complex and often surprising ways in which cattle impact our world and Lyons says they hope that combined with the website WorldWithoutCows.com it will have an impact. “We want to make a website which is a repository for data (so that) when you have that chat with that person on the plane who said they stopped eating meat because of the environment, this is a place you can send them,” Lyons said.

    Learn more in this interview about World Without Cows and how you can get involved.
    Interview with Mark Lyons, Alltech 8:24

    2024 CattleCon Photo Album

    AgWired Animal, Alltech, Animal Agriculture, Audio, Beef, Environment, Livestock

    Beef Advocates Recognized During CattleCon24

    Cindy Zimmerman

    The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) selected Alli Fender, owner of Flying F Ranch in San Diego, California, as this year’s top beef advocate.

    Fender was honored as the Advocate of the Year for the positive example she sets for other beef advocates by sharing her journey in ways that connect with people outside of her immediate beef community. Through her advocacy efforts, and as a member of the Trailblazers advocacy program, Fender has grown her presence on social media where she works to educate those wanting to learn about the beef industry.

    Learn more about her in this interview.
    Interview with Ali Fender, California 8:35

    Trailblazers Colt Coffee and Paige Schmidt

    The Trailblazers program, funded by the Beef Checkoff, was established in 2021 to identify, train, equip and empower the next generation of advocates in the beef community. Over the course of a year-long program, 10 elite advocates develop the necessary tools to facilitate quality conversations and help safeguard the work of producers, ranchers and cattle farmers across the United States.

    The 2023 Trailblazers include Tucker Brown, Texas; Colton Coffee, Montana; Sam Cossio, Washington; Allison Fender, California; Rocky Forseth, Montana; Macey Hurst, Missouri; Joe Lowe, Kentucky; Erin Perkins, New York; Paige Schmidt, Kansas; and Ally Spears, Texas. The 2024 Trailblazers cohort will be announced in mid-February.

    Listen to interviews with a few more of the 2023 Trailblazers class.

    Interview with Tucker Brown, Texas 6:34
    Interview with Macey Hurst, Missouri 4:26
    Interview with Erin Perkins, New York 3:47
    Interview with Paige Schmidt, Kansas and Colt Coffee, Montana 6:50

    2024 CattleCon Photo Album

    Audio, Beef, Beef Checkoff, Cattle Industry Conference, Livestock, NCBA

    CIRB Elects Rinkenberger as 2024-25 Chairwoman

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Lindsey Rinkenberger, COUNTRY Financial®, is the new chairwoman of the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau (CIRB) for 2024-2025. She stepped into the role at the conclusion of the CIRB Annual Meeting last week in Scottsdale, Arizona.

    Rinkenberger served as the director of commercial agribusiness underwriting operations at COUNTRY Financial® since 2020. Prior to that she held various positions at the company, starting as a crop insurance underwriter in 2002. She graduated from Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Arts in mass communications and media studies.

    “I am proud to step into the this new position and I look forward to working with all CIRB members this year as we work to ensure crop insurance remains the most effective and efficient way to deliver risk management to farmers across the country,” Rinkenberger said.

    As a CIRB member, she most recently served as vice chair under former Chairman Brian Young of Great American Insurance Group. In addition, Rinkenberger was a participant in the second Emerging Leaders Program sponsored by CIRB.

    Listen to an interview with Rinkenberger from last week’s CIRB annual meeting.
    Interview with Lindsey Rinkenberger, COUNTRY Financial 3:27

    2024 CIRB Annual Meeting Photo Album

    Audio, CIRB, Insurance