Industry Ag News 1/5

Carrie Muehling

  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) announced that starting Dec. 18 they will mail the 2023 Census of Aquaculture to all producers who indicated in their 2022 Census of Agriculture that they produce and sell aquaculture products. The deadline to respond is Jan. 15, 2024.
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, Alexis Taylor, will lead the agribusiness trade mission to Seoul, South Korea on March 25 – 28, 2024. USDA is currently inviting U.S. exporters who wish to participate in this trade mission to submit their application. U.S. exporters who wish to participate in this agribusiness trade mission must apply by December 18, 2023. Click to apply online.
  • Farm Foundation, an accelerator of practical solutions for agriculture, has announced its 2024 Agricultural Scholars recipients. This annual program is sponsored in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS). Twenty applied or agricultural economics graduate students were selected to join the program for inspiration and training in agricultural policy, commodity market analysis, agricultural finance, and other applied fields. This is the 5th cohort since the program began in 2020.
  • The National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC) announced that Becca Smith has been promoted to Senior Director of Member and Industry Relations. In this role, Smith will play a crucial role developing and maintaining strong relationships with both current and potential members and the broader industry.
  • Early bird registration closes Jan. 11, 2024, for the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture’s 2024 Winter Policy Conference. The conference will take place at the Conrad Washington, D.C., and the conference hotel rooming block will close Jan 11, 2024.
  • The annual MN Ag Expo returns in January 2024 and features a special guest who is sure to put the farming community in position to succeed in the year ahead. Join the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) and the Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) for the 2024 MN Ag Expo Jan. 17-18 at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center in Mankato.
  • Northern Soy Marketing (NSM), a farmer-led board comprising the soybean checkoff boards of Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Minnesota, is sending a delegation of farmers and industry experts to Vietnam and Cambodia, Jan. 6-19, 2024.
  • National Fisheries Institute welcomes Kayla Bennett to its staff. She will serve as Media and Communications Manager.
  • The National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) has named Colleen Callahan as its interim executive director. She will lead from the Platte City home office, with flexibility to commute. Callahan will serve in the role until a permanent executive director is hired.
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is amending the Florida Citrus Marketing Order to reduce membership of the Florida Citrus Administrative Committee and to update quorum requirements. The final rule for this action was published in the Federal Register on Dec. 27, 2023. The rule will be effective on Jan. 26, 2024.
  • The American Soybean Association is now accepting applications for the Valent Ag Voices of the Future program, which will be held July 15-18, 2024, in conjunction with the summer ASA board meeting and Soy Issues Forum in Washington, D.C. The Ag Voices of the Future program is for students interested in improving their understanding of major agricultural policy issues and the importance of advocacy, along with those who wish to improve their understanding of various agriculture policy career paths. To apply for the Ag Voices of the Future program and be considered for an AFA Leaders Conference scholarship, students should visit the Ag Voices of the Future section of the ASA website and follow the link to the AFA website to submit their application by March 6.
  • The Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute (DWFI) is uniquely positioned to advance water management for greater food security. By leveraging the world-class research at the University of Nebraska; the state’s expertise in agricultural and water resource management; and private sector partnerships, DWFI is making real progress on a more water- and food-secure future. In its recent annual report, DWFI demonstrates the impact this effective combination has achieved in the state of Nebraska and around the world.
  • The 2024 Women Managing the Farm Conference will be held February 14th-16th, 2024, in Manhattan, Kansas. The early bird deadline for registration in Jan. 18.
  • With one in every five U.S. potatoes destined for foreign markets, federal trade partners are essential for the continued health of U.S. potato growers and the entire supply chain. U.S. Chief Agricultural Negotiator Doug McKalip will speak at Potato Expo 2024 about how the Office of the U.S. Trade Representatives is working with the National Potato Council and industry partners to expand reach into foreign marketplaces and maximize impact with foreign consumers.
    • Zimfo Bytes

    U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol Update

    Cindy Zimmerman

    The Beltwide Cotton Conferences Sustainability Conference included an update on the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol by new executive director Daren Abney who assumed that position in July 2023.

    Abney says membership in the program continues to increase. “We work with the entire cotton supply chain so we take memberships from growers all the way up to retailers and brands,” said Abney. “The first year of the protocol had just over 300 or so growers but as of this season we are now over 970 growers participating.”

    The protocol saw an increase of 25% compared to 2022 in the total area of planted cotton acres enrolled in the program, reaching 1.6 million acres in 2023.

    Interview with Daren Abney, US Cotton Trust Protocol Executive Director 4:37

    Chad Brewer, who worked on the protocol since December 2022, says growers were able to sign up this year for the Climate Smart Cotton Program. “April 25 we began the program and we began staffing up and building out our enrollment interface,” said Brewer. “Of the 978 farmers that enrolled in the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, 778 of them submitted applications for the Climate Smart Cotton Program, which far exceeded our milestone for year one.”

    The Trust Protocol’s vision is to set a new standard in sustainable cotton production where full transparency is a reality and continuous improvement is the central goal. The program’s core values include a commitment to U.S. cotton’s legacy of authenticity, innovation and excellence, environmental stewardship, caring of people, and personal and corporate integrity. The program currently has more than 1,800 supplier members over 40 companies and brands including global brands and retailers such as Ralph Lauren, Gap, Levi Strauss & Co. and J.Crew. 

    Interview with Chad Brewer, US Cotton Trust Protocol/NCC 4:26

    2024 Beltwide Cotton Conferences Photo Album

    Audio, Beltwide Cotton, Cotton, Sustainability

    Cotton Consultants Kick Off Beltwide

    Cindy Zimmerman

    The Consultants Conference kicked off three days of Beltwide Cotton Conferences Wednesday in Fort Worth, Texas.

    Louisiana consultant Hank Jones says the committee works to include lots of topics of interest to cotton consultants. “We try to cover a wide range of topics and certainly we want to stay current, and want to address topics that are going to provide value for us and our customers,” said Jones. Some of those topics this year included new cottonseed varieties and how to best manage them, new technology and products, and a regulatory update on the Endangered Species Act.

    Interview with Hank Jones, cotton consultant 6:31

    The conference also included a panel discussion about Bayer’s ThryvOn Technology, the first biotech trait for tarnished plant bug and thrips species, which was fully approved for commercial use in 2023.

    Arkansas cotton consultant Tyler Hydrik says it has been very successful. “It has completely eliminated the need to spray for thrips and I think we can cut back on plant bug applications as well,” said Hydrik. “Overall, I think everybody’s really happy with it and the percent of acres that it’s going to take up in ’24 is definitely going to increase.”

    Listen to the interview with Hydrik and panel discussion to learn more.

    Interview with Tyler Hydrik, cotton consultant 4:49

    Consultants Conference Thryvon panel
    2024 BWCC Thryvon panel 47:42

    2024 Beltwide Cotton Conferences Photo Album

    Audio, Bayer, Beltwide Cotton, Cotton

    Second Women in Ag Tech℠ Meeting This Month

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Women in Ag Tech℠ (WiAT) will hold its second in-person meeting January 21-22, co-located with The VISION Conference at the Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel & Spa. WiAT continues to champion opportunities for women in agricultural technology and fostering a vibrant community through mentorship, idea exchanges, and collaboration.

    The event promises an enriching experience for attendees, featuring a keynote address, panel discussions, and interactive sessions led by industry professionals. Lara L. Sowinski of CropLife Media Group will lead the meeting and a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation will deliver the keynote “Cultivating Resilience: A Woman in Ag Tech’s Insights on Food Safety, Cybersecurity, and Leadership in STEM.” Lara shares, “Women in Ag Tech meetings aren’t about just sitting and listening. Here, we come together as women to actively learn, engage, and support one another. It’s a fresh and dynamic approach, setting us apart from the usual conference experience.”

    Women in Ag Tech offers various registration options. Attendees can opt for the Women in Ag Tech meeting only or combine it with The VISION Conference taking place on January 22-24. To learn more visit: https://www.thevisionconference.com/women-in-ag-tech/

    Support for WiAT comes from leading organizations and sponsors committed to advancing women in ag technology, according to Chris Pernell, WiAT Business Director. “This gathering is more than a conference; it’s a movement. By amplifying the voices and contributions of women in agricultural technology, we are driving innovation, fostering collaboration, and shaping a more inclusive future.”

    For more information and registration details, visit the WiAT website or contact Chris Pernell.

    AgWired Precision, Events, Precision Agriculture, Technology

    2024 Beltwide Cotton Conferences Kick Off

    Cindy Zimmerman

    The National Cotton Council (NCC) and its cooperating partners are starting the new year with the 2024 Beltwide Cotton Conferences getting underway today in Fort Worth, Texas.

    Conferences coordinator Lauren Krogman says attendance is back to pre-COVID levels. “Right now our registration numbers are close to 800 so we are really happy to see everyone here,” said Krogman, who adds that people are welcome to register on site through Friday.

    The Beltwide features a number of different conferences rolled into one for members of the cotton industry. “The goal of the Beltwide conferences is to help industry members, producers, and ginners make informed decisions aimed at improving productivity, sustainability, and profitability,” Krogman said. Three days of individual reports, panel discussions, hands on workshops and seminars are designed to provide attendees with information they need to help producers make key cotton production/marketing-related decisions.

    Learn more in this preview interview with Krogman.
    Interview with Lauren Krogman, NCC 4:20

    2024 Beltwide Cotton Conferences Photo Album

    Audio, Beltwide Cotton, Cotton

    Precision Ag News 1/3

    Carrie Muehling

  • Midwestern corn and soybean growers earned more than $140,000 in 2023 for reduced greenhouse gas emissions and increased soil carbon through implementing regenerative agriculture practices. These producers received both payments and technical assistance from Nutrien Ag Solutions as part of their participation in Eco-Harvest pilot projects.
  • The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) brought its well-known and widely attended Field Crop Seed Convention to Orlando for the first time in December. Highlights from the event included a streamlined schedule of sessions and panels, 112 exhibitors, a 14 percent increase from 2022, six large equipment displays, attendees and exhibitors representing 27 countries and 493 companies.
  • Andy Lavigne, President & CEO of the American Seed Trade Association, issued the following statement after New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed an amended version of S1856-A/A7460, the “Birds and Bees Protection Act.” Even though the legislation overrides existing EPA regulations, as amended, it establishes a process to continue to allow New York farmers access to vital management tools critical for food production in the state.
  • Agrimatics, an industry leader in mobile-based agricultural technology, announced an integration in partnership with Case IH and New Holland, both of which are brands of CNH Industrial. This integration enables users of the Case IH platform, AFS Connect, and users of the New Holland platform, MyPLM Connect, to interact with the Agrimatics Libra Cart system, as well as the Agrimatics Cloud Service.
  • Wyman Meinzer — state photographer of Texas — will keynote the joint 2024 Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) and Southern Weed Science Society (SWSS) meeting January 22-25, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. In addition to Meinzer, the joint meeting will also include four symposia, three graduate student events, tours that range from botanical gardens to tequila tasting, plus a host of posters and presentations on the latest weed science topics and technologies.
  • Ana Davis, head of health, safety and environment in North America at Syngenta, has been appointed to a three-year term as treasurer and member of the executive board at American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE).
  • The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) recognized a group of top performers and emerging leaders as part of its Rising Stars award program at the 2023 ARA Conference & Expo in front of more than 600 attendees.
  • Women in Ag Tech (WiAT) announced its second in-person meeting January 21-22, 2024, co-located with The VISION Conference at the Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel & Spa. WiAT continues to champion opportunities for women in agricultural technology and fostering a vibrant community through mentorship, idea exchanges, and collaboration. Click here to register for both VISION and WiAT.
  • EarthOptics, a next-generation soil mapping and measurement company, announced it has mapped and physically measured one million acres of farmland and ranchland. The important milestone places the company and its SoilMapper platform in the top market position, demonstrating a growing demand amongst farmers and ranchers for comprehensive soil intelligence.
    • AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

    Animal Ag News 1/2

    Carrie Muehling

  • Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association announced registration for the 2024 Cattle Raisers Convention & Expo taking place March 22-24, 2024 in downtown Fort Worth opened Jan. 1.
  • AgTech Insight is delighted to support the Animal AgTech Innovation Summit on March 18-19, 2024. Over 500 international animal ag tech leaders will engage in business critical discussions on implementing climate-smart farming practices, extracting the most value from animals through PLF platforms, and investigating the right funding models for innovators in the meat and dairy sectors.
  • The Animal Agriculture Alliance has concluded the release of reports from four prominent animal rights extremist conferences held throughout 2023. The conferences included: Direct Action Everywhere’s Animal Liberation Conference (ALC) (held June 9-14), The Animal and Vegan Advocacy Summit (held July 27-30), Humane Society of the United States’ Taking Action for Animals (TAFA) Conference (held August 5-6), and Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Animal Law Conference (held October 20-22). The Alliance also released a report from The Reducetarian Summit (held October 27-29).
  • The U.S. Poultry & Egg Harold E. Ford Foundation (USPOULTRY Foundation) and the Poultry Science Association Foundation (PSA Foundation) are pleased to announce the jointly sponsored Ph.D. and Vet Student Career Fair which will be held during the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE), scheduled for Jan. 30 – Feb. 1, 2024, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.
  • Smithfield Foods donated 64,576 hams in December to food banks in six states through its Helping Hungry Homes hunger relief program.
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

    ZimmComm 2024 Preview

    Chuck Zimmerman

    It’s hard to believe that it was 20 years ago this year that we started ZimmComm but here we are. While we are not as busy as we once were pre-COVID, we have a good line up of events on our calendar for the year.

    We are hitting the agriblogging highway already this week for the Beltwide Cotton Conferences in Fort Worth, TX. There are several different technical conferences that take place during the three days. We’ve been covering this event for the National Cotton Council since 2021.

    After that, we head to the VISION Conference, now in its seventh year, January 22-24 at the Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel & Spa, brought to you by Meister Media Worldwide and the Global Ag Tech Initiative. Co-locating with The VISION Conference and kicking off on January 21, the second in-person meeting for Women in Ag Tech will provide a vital platform for women in the industry to connect, engage, and build a community. This will be our third VISION Conference.

    Next it will be Onward to Orlando for the 2024 Cattle Con January 31 – February 2. Only at CattleCon will you find education, networking, business, advocacy, and fun for the whole family under one roof. We have been covering the Cattle Industry Conference & NCBA Trade Show since 2013.

    It’s back to Fort Worth February 5-8 for the Clean Fuels Conference, formally the National Biodiesel Conference, which has the distinction of being the first event blog we ever started back in 2006. The Clean Fuels Conference connects key players of the biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel industry for a week of expert sessions, exhibits and showcases.

    The 2024 National Ethanol Conference is February 19-21 in San Diego with the theme “Powered by Partnerships” and we are proud to continue our partnership with the Renewable Fuels Association since 2008.

    We will join Syngenta again this year for Commodity Classic in Houston at the end of February, and head to Washington DC in March once again to visit Capitol Hill with our friends at the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE).

    So, that’s a good start for 2024 – hope to see you on the Agriblogging Highway this year!

    ZimmComm Announcement

    Passing of Cliff Becker

    Cindy Zimmerman

    The American Royal Association shared some very sad news today for those in the agricultural marketing community that Cliff Becker, Vice President of New Campus Development, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, December 30th.

    Cliff Becker was a fourth-generation agriculturalist that always put his passion for food and food production into supporting his clients’ needs for over 39 years. Cliff’s prior experience included serving as the Executive Vice President at Farm Journal for over 10 years and a 23-year career with Vance Publishing Corporation, where he served as the Senior Vice-President and Publishing Director for their food360 Division. Cliff also served on many boards of several diverse food and agriculture organizations.

    Cliff had been recognized with several awards including the National Agri-Marketing Association’s Career Achievement Award and the Livestock Publication Council’s Distinguished Service Award. Along with these accomplishments, Cliff was a nationally recognized speaker on food and agriculture related issues.

    Since joining the American Royal team, Cliff expressed his excitement for the future of the new American Royal campus and its impact to the agricultural and food community and the nation. Cliff has been instrumental in the success of the organization and always jumped in to help with all events. He was a dedicated member of the team and was passionate about the mission of the American Royal. Cliff Becker will be deeply missed by all.

    He is survived by his wife Kristine and two children.

    Media

    Precision Ag News 12/27

    Carrie Muehling

  • A webinar hosted jointly by the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute and One CGIAR (through the International Potato Center’s Andean Initiative) will explore the nature of water-food interactions and the challenges posed by climate change in mountain environments by considering several agricultural production systems from the Andes and the Hindu Kush Himalayas, two of the world’s largest mountain chains. Register here.
  • The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) recognized Case IH for outstanding agricultural innovation across product lines with AE50 awards for the Steiger 715 Quadtrac, Model Year 2024 Steiger 425-645 tractors, AFS Furrow Command for Precision Disk Drills and toolbar lift system for 2120 Early Riser rigid trailing split-row planter. The awards highlight the continuous focus on technological innovation at Case IH designed to improve and enhance farmers’ efficiency across the globe.
  • The National Corn Growers Association applauds the sustained reductions in nutrient losses reaching the Gulf of Mexico and the resulting reductions in the average size of the hypoxic zone, as recently documented in the 2023 Report to Congress by the Hypoxia Task Force.
  • OPI, the global leader in grain storage management, announced that Adam Weiss has taken on the new role of Chief Executive Officer, stepping in as former CEO Dave Crompton begins his retirement.
  • The Biden-Harris Administration is taking critical steps to advance the American Climate Corps, a landmark initiative announced by President Biden earlier this year to train the next generation of clean energy, conservation, and climate resilience workers, while putting them on a path to good-paying union jobs. As part of this commitment, seven federal agencies – the Departments of Commerce, the Interior, Agriculture, Labor and Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, and AmeriCorps – are formally entering into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will serve as a blueprint for the multiagency program. The MOU lays out the mission, goals, priorities, and next steps for implementing President Biden’s American Climate Corps.
  • The 2024 class of Brevant brand soybeans is the largest to date, with 24 new Enlist E3 soybean varieties featuring elite genetics from Corteva Agriscience and a focus on consistent performance in any growing season.
  • Results are in for World Ag Expo’s 2024 Top-10 New Products Competition. The winners will be showcased February 13-15, 2024 during the World Ag Expo in Tulare, California.
  • Alex Forsbach, an AgLaunch farmer and small business owner from Savannah, Tennessee participated in a special White House Rural Roundtable discussion in Washington, D.C., alongside business and entrepreneurship advocates from across the country. The event, hosted by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), focused on the agency’s Community Navigator Pilot Program — an initiative under the American Rescue Plan aimed at breaking down barriers for underrepresented entrepreneurs seeking support to start, grow or recover their businesses. Forsbach, representing AgLaunch, expressed gratitude for the support received from the SBA’s Community Navigator Pilot Program. He emphasized the program’s tangible impact on their ability to support agtech entrepreneurs, facilitating their scalability and business growth.
  • Sentera, a leading provider of AI-powered tools for food and agriculture customers, announced the appointment of Michael Stern and Anthony Osborne to key advisory and director roles on its Board of Directors, respectively.
  • CropX Technologies, a global leader in digital agtech solutions, including the CropX agronomic farm management system, announced its acquisition of Green Brain, a prominent digital irrigation management solutions provider based in Adelaide, Australia. The acquisition significantly expands CropX’s reach in Australia and strengthens its position as a global leader in digital precision agriculture.
    • AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture