Precision Ag News 2/14

Carrie Muehling

  • U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small made her inaugural visit to North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University to see firsthand the ways the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (CAES) is using the federal agency’s funding to advance programs, research and scholarships. She also came to announce that USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) will invest nearly $1 million in a new A&T project to help advance environmental justice in agriculture through its Agricultural and Food Research Initiative (AFRI).
  • The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) is providing a $998,784 Seeding Solutions grant to Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) to quantify how adopting soil health practices can reduce the need for nitrogen inputs without sacrificing yield. Growers Edge, Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Meridian Institute, Midwest Row Crop Collaborative and PFI are matching the grant with $1,428,849 for a total project investment of $2,427,633.
  • Memphis-based AgLaunch Initiative has selected 10 game-changing agtech startups to participate in AgLaunch365, a leading accelerator program aimed at tackling contemporary challenges in farm and food production and promoting sustainability.
  • The non-profit Soil Health Academy recently announced that Kim Barmann has been appointed president of the regenerative agriculture education organization. Barmann, who previously served as vice president, is a managing partner at CS Ranch in Colfax County, New Mexico. She replaces Dawn Breitkreutz who recently stepped down as president of SHA after serving for two years in that position.
  • AgGateway announced that Stephen Christian has joined the organization as Member Serices Analyst. Stephen fills a staff role that was vacated by the departmental promotions of Chris Crutchfield and Nikki Marshall late last year.
  • National Farm Machinery Show is the site for several next-level announcements from Case IH, continuing to drive purposeful solutions for producers. Building on the legacy of Axial-Flow and Steiger, Case IH is not only showcasing the recently unveiled AF11 and the next generation corn head, designed to match its capacity, but also introducing the Quadtrac Heavy Duty Suspension for Steigers that ups the ante in track technology. For farmers looking to cover more acres in less time, the AF11, which Case IH announced earlier this month, sets the bar in maximizing time in field. To maximize capacity of the AF11, Case IH is introducing the C516 corn head, offering improved performance with a swift, clean harvesting solution.
  • LG Seeds successfully completed a series of experimental corn test plots in a wide geographical area of the Western Corn Belt, expanding the company’s knowledge base and enhancing its product portfolio.
  • Farmers Business Network, Inc. (FBN), the global AgTech platform and farmer-to-farmer network, announced updates to its Gradable platform, its sustainability partnerships & supply chain programs, and regenerative financing offers for farmers for 2024, all of which aim to increase the profitability of growers while enhancing sustainability.
  • February is National Pesticide Safety Education Month and a time to review pesticide safety practices at your home or business, announces the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA). WSSA, The American Phytopathological Society (APS), and the Entomological Society of America (ESA) are among the many organizations in public and private sectors that promote pesticide safety awareness during February and throughout the year.
  • Surtain herbicide, the first solid encapsulated premix formulated product on the market, has received registration from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and is now approved for use, subject to state approvals. Surtain herbicide’s innovative technology offers growers a wide application window ranging from pre-plant through early post-emergence with control or suppression of 79 key broadleaf and grass weeds.
    • AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

    USDA Releases 2022 Census of Agriculture Data

    Cindy Zimmerman

    USDA officials release 2022 Census of Agriculture

    USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) on Tuesday released results of the 2022 Census of Agriculture, which includes more than 6 million data points about America’s farms and ranches and the people who operate them down to the county level.

    The information collected directly from producers shows a continued decline in the total number of U.S. farms. However, the data also show a rise in the number of new and beginning (operating 10 or fewer years on any farm) as well as young (under the age of 35) producers. The full Census of Agriculture report as well as publication dates for additional ag census data products can be found at nass.usda.gov/AgCensus. Ag census data can also be found in NASS’s searchable online database, Quick Stats.

    Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack joined NASS Administrator Hubert Hamer and USDA Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economic Chavonda Jacobs-Young to present the report, which showed a decline since 2017 in the number of U.S. farms and ranches and amount of acres in farmland.

    “This survey is a wake up call…Are we okay with losing that many farms? Are we okay with losing that much farmland? Or is there a better way,” said Vilsack. “I hope we take this information very seriously and understand that it need not be that every five years we report fewer farmers and less farm land, it doesn’t have to be.”

    There were 1.9 million farms and ranches (down 7% from 2017) with an average size of 463 acres (up 5%) on 880 million acres of farmland (down 2%). That is 39% of all U.S. land.
    Family-owned and operated farms accounted for 95% of all U.S. farms and operated 84% of land in farms.
    U.S. farms and ranches produced $543 billion in agricultural products, up from $389 billion in 2017. With farm production expenses of $424 billion, U.S. farms had net cash income of $152 billion. Average farm income rose to $79,790. A total of 43% of farms had positive net cash farm income in 2022.

    Secretary Vilsack - 2022 Census of Agriculture 16:50

    Audio, USDA

    BQA Honors Best in Beef Quality Awards

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Each year, the National Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Awards, funded in part by the Beef Checkoff program and sponsored by Cargill, recognize outstanding beef and dairy producers, marketers and educators who demonstrate high-quality animal care and handling principles, as well as express a strong desire to continually improve their operations through BQA.

    The 2024 honorees include Cow-Calf Award winner VanWinkle Ranch, Colorado; Dairy FARM Award recipient Dotterer Dairy, Pennsylvania; Feedyard Award winner Adams Land & Cattle, Nebraska; Educator Award recipient Dr. John Wenzel, New Mexico; and the Marketer Award presented to Power Genetics, Nebraska.

    The BQA program continues to grow in importance and numbers. “We have 46 states that have BQA programs,” says Emma Mulvaney, BQA Associate Director. “It’s more important than ever to be BQA certified and stay BQA certified.”

    Mulvaney says re-certification now provides even more education. “If you are becoming re-certified, you can do continuing education on-line or in person,” she said. In addition, BQA is developing its educational resources in Spanish.

    Learn more in this interview from CattleCon.

    Interview with Emma Mulvaney 7:09

    2024 CattleCon Photo Album

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

    CIRB Honors Ron Rutledge for Industry Service

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Ron Rutledge retired at the end of 2021 after a successful 40-year career at Farmers Mutual Hail, and this year as he officially goes off the board, the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau (CIRB) had a chance to properly honor him for his years of service to the industry with the Chairman’s Award.

    Outgoing CIRB Chairman Brian Young, Great American Insurance Group, presented the award. “It’s not too much to say that Ron, like his family before him, has been an institution in the crop insurance industry,” said Young. Ron is the fifth member of the Rutledge family to be honored with the CIRB Chairman’s award since it was implemented in 1984.

    Farmers Mutual Hail has been run by the same family for over 130 years and as Ron rides off into the sunset in his golf cart, his nephew Shannon Rutledge carries on the family tradition of service to the industry. “CIRB is vital to the success of the crop insurance industry and we just want to do what we can to support it,” Ron said.

    Award presentation and interview with Ron Rutledge, Farmers Mutual 4:32

    2024 CIRB Annual Meeting Photo Album

    Audio, CIRB, Insurance

    ZimmCast 725 – NCBA Leaders

    Chuck Zimmerman

    ZimmCastHello and welcome to the ZimmCast.

    The last two weeks have been hectic for the ZimmComm Team. I was in Orlando for CattleCon and I’m going to share some interviews from there in this episode. Then I was off to Ft. Worth for the Clean Fuels Conference while Cindy went to Scottsdale for the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau Annual Meeting. You can find virtual newsrooms for all of them on AgNewsWire.com. They contain links to the photo albums, interviews and selected session audio. We’ve got a break this week but a lot more on the schedule in the next couple months.

    So, let’s get on with CattleCon. I’m going to share interviews with Todd Wilkinson, Past NCBA President; Mark Eisele, NCBA President; Buck Wehrbein, NCBA President-Elect and Colin Woodall, CEO, NCBA.

    Besides these CattleCon interviews there are many more that are separated as officers, staff, trade show and other interviews. Besides looking them up online you can also easily get them by subscribing to the ZimmComm Golden Mic Audio Podcast with your favorite platform.

    Listen to the episode here:ZimmCast 725 - NCBA Leaders (41:47)

    That’s the ZimmCast for this week. I hope you enjoyed it and thank you for listening.

    Subscribe to the ZimmCast in:

    Audio, Beef, NCBA, ZimmCast

    Animal Ag News 2/12

    Carrie Muehling

  • A sharp decline in the number of dairy heifers available to replace older cows exiting the U.S. dairy herd could limit any meaningful growth in domestic milk production over the next few years. The number of dairy replacement heifers has fallen almost 15 percent over the last six years to reach a 20-year low, according to data from the USDA’s most recent Cattle report. While the global demand outlook for U.S. dairy products remains murky due to export market uncertainties, any potential growth opportunities may be stymied by an inability to expand U.S. milk production. According to a new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange, the rising cost of rearing dairy heifer calves has far outpaced increases in heifer values over the last several years.
  • Registration is now open for the fourth California Dairy Sustainability Summit, taking place on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at the UC Davis Conference Center in Davis, California, with an option to participate in person for virtually.
  • For 12 years, students in U.S. public schools have not been able to access the milk options that they prefer and consume at home: whole and reduced-fat (2%) milk. As the U.S. Senate considers the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2023—bipartisan legislation to reinstate these nutritious milk options in school meals—a new Morning Consult poll of parents with children in public shows near unanimous support for the bill. Large majorities of parents surveyed in the Morning Consult national tracking poll commissioned by the International Dairy Foods Association want to see whole and 2% milks back in school meals.
  • To ensure the National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA) continues to meet its mission, the board of directors adopted the NIAA 2024 – 2026 Strategic Plan during their January 24, 2024, meeting. Adoption of the strategic plan culminates the work of NIAA elected leaders, members, partners, and staff who began work on the latest strategic plan in November 2023.
  • America’s families might soon see record-high beef prices at the grocery store, thanks to the lowest cattle inventory in more than 70 years. American Farm Bureau Federation economists analyzed the USDA inventory report in the latest Market Intel. There were 87.2 million cattle and calves in the United States as of Jan. 2, 2024, 2 percent lower than the same time in 2023. It’s the lowest inventory since 1951. Just four years ago, there were almost 95 million cattle in the U.S.
  • Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, the oldest and largest livestock association in the Southwest, today announced it will hold its first-ever Giving Day Feb. 15. The 24-hour fundraising effort is scheduled in conjunction with the association’s founding date and will raise funds to support the Special Ranger Foundation and the newly established Leadership Development Foundation.
  • dsm-firmenich, the leading innovator in nutrition, health and beauty, received market authorization for Bovaer in Canada for use with dairy and beef cattle. Bovaer is a feed ingredient which immediately and effectively reduces methane emissions from cattle. This feed ingredient is an important tool for the nearly 10,000 dairy farmers in Canada, and will enable them to make a substantial step forward towards their net zero ambitions. Bovaer reduces methane emissions by 30 percent on average for dairy cows, and thereby lowers the overall greenhouse gas footprint per liter of milk by 10-15 percent.
  • The 2024 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) recognized three exhibitors with the New Product Showcase “Best of the Best” award. The award acknowledges outstanding exhibitors that have distinguished themselves by developing an innovative technology in products, services or operating techniques that will advance the industry.
  • The American Feed Industry Association’s (AFIA) Production Compliance Committee hosted its annual Feed Education Program Jan. 31 during the 2024 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE), covering what the animal food industry can expect from U.S. federal regulators in 2024. In addition, in partnership with Feedstuffs, the AFIA also named MFA Incorporated’s Aurora Mill plant as its 2023 Commercial Dry Feed Facility of the Year.
  • U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY) presented the organization’s annual Lamplighter Award to five individuals at the International Poultry Expo, part of the 2024 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE). The award pays tribute to individuals for “sustained and exemplary service” to the poultry and egg industry.
  • The International Coalition of Fisheries Associations (ICFA) has launched its first website fishcoalition.org. ICFA is a collective of national fish and seafood industry associations from the world’s major fishing nations formed in 1988. The group provides decision makers with a unified voice on global issues.
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

    Federal Clean Fuels Policy Update

    Cindy Zimmerman

    At the Clean Fuels Conference in Fort Wort last week, Kurt Kovarik, who serves as Vice President, Federal Affairs for Clean Fuels, provided an update on federal policies and described the work Clean Fuels does on the Hill. A significant part of it is education and persistence.

    Kovarik leads members in advocating federal policies that support the industry’s growth. Kovarik has helped the industry secure a long-term extension of the biodiesel tax incentive; preserve important protections against unfair international trade; ensure the integrity of the Renewable Fuel Standard program; and organize the industry’s advocacy for equitable tax, infrastructure, and environmental policies.

    You can listen to his remarks here:
    Kurt Kovarik Remarks 8:52

    2024 Clean Fuels Conference Photo Album

    Audio, Biodiesel, Biofuels, Clean Fuels Alliance

    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