Precision Ag News 12/6

Carrie Muehling

  • In celebration of World Soil Day, December 5, the Soil Health Institute (SHI) announced the release of a free phone application, Slakes, to empower and engage citizens around the world to measure aggregate stability: one of the most common indicators of soil health.
  • On Tuesday, December 12th from 12-1pm EST, Jessica Kelton, Soil Health Educator at the Soil Health Institute (SHI) will present the Economics of Soil Health Management Systems on Eight Cotton Farms in Georgia. This webinar will discuss the Soil Health Institute’s partial budget analysis that was conducted to provide Georgia cotton farmers the economic information they need when deciding whether to adopt soil health management systems.
  • John Deere announced an enhanced self-repair solution, available initially in the U.S. through its Equipment Mobile app, enabling customers to remotely download secure software updates directly to embedded controllers on compatible 4G-connected John Deere equipment. This update follows the March 2022 announcement that expanded the availability to purchase Customer Service ADVISOR directly from John Deere.
  • The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) announced its 2024 officers and directors elected to the AEM Board of Directors and Agriculture and Construction Equipment Sector Boards during its annual business meeting this week. in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
  • During the final evening of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) Annual Conference in Ft. Lauderdale, two trailblazing figures who revolutionized product segments in the equipment manufacturing industry were inducted into AEM’s Hall of Fame. Akio Takeuchi, the visionary behind Takeuchi Manufacturing, and Susanne Cobey, the driving force as president and CEO of Eagle Crusher.
  • Increasing crop yields while improving soil and watershed health requires understanding how agriculture management interacts with local environmental conditions. To date, this research remains fragmented and limited in scope. To tackle these knowledge gaps and improve precision agriculture, the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) is awarding a $7,657,633 grant to Kansas State University (K-State). Funding will support an expansive study across the U.S. Corn Belt and Great Plains exploring how crop, soil and water management affect the soil microbial communities that drive agroecosystem functions. Bayer Crop Science provided $4,601,244 in matching funds, and Iowa State University, K-State, LandScan, LI-COR, Mississippi State University, The Ohio State University and The University of Kansas also provided funds for a total investment of $16,362,948.
  • During its annual meeting, the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) presented various awards. Toby Hlavinka, president and CEO of American Plant Food (APF), received the ARA Distinguished Service Award; Joe Hodges received the Jack Eberspacher Lifetime Achievement Award for his decades of leadership in ag retail; Mid Kansas Cooperative (MKC) with its Retailer of the Year; and Mike Twining, vice president of sales and marketing at Willard Agri-Service, with the new Excellence in Advocacy Award.
  • Due to its achievements in digital transformation, GreenPoint Ag has been named the 2023 recipient of The Scoop’s Business Innovation Award, sponsored by Ever.Ag. The award was presented Nov. 30 at the Agricultural Retailers Association Conference and Expo in Orlando.
  • Concept AgriTek, a leading innovator in agricultural technology solutions, is thrilled to announce the acquisition of Terra Ally, a prominent player in the turf management industry.
  • Syngenta Crop Protection, a global leader in agricultural innovation, has become a sponsor of the International Alliance for Phytobiomes Research, cementing a partnership between the research community and industry that is aimed at advancing both fundamental science and sustainable agriculture.
  • Since its inception in 1988, RiceTec has been at the forefront of sustainable rice agriculture, continually setting new standards in the industry. Dr. José Ré, a key figure on the company’s leadership team, is retiring from his role as Global Head of Research and Development by the end of March 2024.
  • Russell Taylor received the 2023 Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) Conservationist of the Year Award in a ceremony in Washington, D.C., hosted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) Conservationist of the Year Award recognizes a certified crop adviser who has demonstrated leadership in conservation within the agriculture industry. Russell Taylor is the Vice President of Live Earth Products, a company that mines and manufactures humic and fulvic acid-based products.
    • AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

    Animal Ag News 12/5

    Carrie Muehling

  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) announced that researchers have reclassified the number of African Swine Fever (ASF) virus strains from 25 to only six unique genotypes. This scientific innovation may help redefine how ASF researchers across the globe classify ASF virus (ASFV) isolates and may make it easier for scientists to develop vaccines that match the different strains circulating in ASF endemic areas across the globe.
  • U.S. Representatives Tracey Mann (KS-01) and Jim Costa (D-CA), Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry, led 19 of their colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack opposing a new rule that would allow for the importation of beef from Paraguay. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Paraguay is currently affected with foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), a highly contagious viral disease affecting cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and other cloven-hooved animals.
  • The Meat Institute and the Protein PACT for the People, Animals & Climate of Tomorrow will highlight animal agriculture’s commitments and progress toward global goals in multiple high-level engagements at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai November 30-December 12.
  • The Rural & Agriculture Council of America (RACA) and six other organizations representing rural and agricultural interests wrote a letter to Congressional leaders urging extension of several tax provisions that are set to expire or have already expired.
  • The International Consortium for Antimicrobial Stewardship in Agriculture (ICASA) awarded three grants totaling $377,503 to track antimicrobial usage and support better-informed antibiotic treatment for bacteria that cause diseases in swine and beef cattle. The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) awarded Dr. Kathryn Havas from Pipestone a $202,555 grant through ICASA to develop a protocol that tracks antibiotic use across large-scale commercial swine production systems and compares it in real-time with its respective on-farm antibiotic use.
  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) hailed the introduction of the Senate version of the Black Vulture Relief Act introduced by Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), a companion bill to legislation introduced in the House of Representatives earlier this year that protects cattle producers from the devastating impacts of black vulture depredation.
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released grant-approval to significantly expand the Healthy Fluid Milk Incentives Projects (HFMI)—a program established by Congress in the 2018 Farm Bill and one of the Department’s key nutrition incentive programs for participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), led by President and CEO Michael Dykes, D.V.M., lauded the expansion of the HFMI program, noting the important role dairy incentives play in improving health outcomes for Americans experiencing increasing levels of food and nutrition insecurity.
  • Americans are writing a new chapter in their love affair with dairy products, according to fresh data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) which reports per capita consumption of all dairy products reached 653 pounds per person in 2022, 63 pounds above the historical average dating back to 1975 when USDA began tracking per capita dairy consumption. Cheese consumption set an all-time high in 2022 to reach nearly 42 pounds per person, a half-a-pound per-person increase over the previous year. For comparison, the average American consumed 32.2 pounds of cheese in 2000 and 21.9 pounds in 1980. Ice cream consumption in 2022 also edged out the previous year, while other dairy products including yogurt and butter remained consistent with recent year highs.
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

    AgGateway Exploring Animal Ag

    Cindy Zimmerman

    There is a lot of interest for AgGateway right now in moving into setting standards for data in the animal agriculture space.

    Ben Craker, AgGateway Portfolio Manager, moderated the Animal Ag Meetup at the recent AgGateway annual meeting and he says they just started a new working group focused on documenting use cases and data exchange around dairy feed. “There’s a lot of interest with carbon programs and understanding enteric emissions so knowing what animals are fed and being able to document that,” said Craker.

    2023 AgGateway interview Ben Craker, Portfolio Manager 6:46

    Two AgGateway members who attended the Animal Ag Meetup are excited about the possibilities. “We’ve done a lot on the crop side and at the field level but now we need to do more on the animal agriculture side,” said Philip Kubesh, IT Director at Vita Plus. “Other continents have gotten the jump on us and we need to take a look at that and address it.”

    Peter Schott with Format Solutions says the dairy working group is a start but there are many opportunities in the future. “I think further down the road there’s going to be more of a trend for using nutritional data to make better purchasing decisions and use of ingredients,” he said.

    2023 AgGateway - Philip Kubesh, Vita Plus and Peter Schott, Format Solutions 5:54

    2023 AgGateway Annual Meeting Photo Album

    AgGateway, AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Audio

    Industry Ag News 12/1

    Carrie Muehling

  • Join NAMA and Doug Foley of Giant Goat on December 7 for a 30-minute session titled “Unlocking AI for Marketing.” This session will dive into the world of AI and, in a short span, discover actionable marketing strategies that can transform the way you view technology. By the end of this session, we promise you’ll see AI not as a daunting tech challenge, but as your next indispensable marketing ally. We genuinely believe this knowledge could be a game-changer for each of our collaborative efforts in the marketing realm. Free to members. $50 for non-members. ​Register here.
  • The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture announced the hiring of Amelia Iliohan as Associate Director of Events and Member Engagement. As Associate Director, Iliohan will plan, manage and execute NASDA’s annual conferences and assist NASDA’s regional and affiliate organizations with meeting programming. Iliohan will also help strengthen NASDA’s member engagement through coordinating events designed to facilitate relationship building and cross-collaboration amongst states.
  • The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) installed Amy Asmus with Asmus Farm Supply as chair of the board of directors during the closing session of the 2023 ARA Conference & Expo. Asmus succeeds Ian McGregor with The McGregor Company in the role and will serve a two-year term.
  • The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) welcomes Katrina Bishop as Senior Director, Strategic Communications. Katrina comes to ASTA from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) where she served in Public Affairs since 2019. In her role at AEM, Katrina oversaw the advocacy messaging for the association’s government affairs and grassroots work. Prior to her time at AEM, Katrina worked in the office of Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25) in Washington D.C., serving as Press Secretary and later Communications Director.
  • Globally-renowned agricultural company Huma, Inc. has appointed industry leader David Chinn as their first-ever vice president of corporate compliance. After getting his start in business law, Chinn transitioned to the agricultural regulatory field, which has been his career passion for the past 15 years. He also has 10 years of experience serving on the Humic Products Trade Association (HPTA) Board and will apply his expertise to guide the company’s regulatory affairs, along with domestic and international product registration.
  • The National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) announces the resignation of Tom Brand, its current executive director, effective December 31, 2023. Brand joined the NAFB staff in August 2011. Prior to his role with the association, he served as farm director at KFEQ Radio in St. Joseph, Missouri.
  • Alltech, a leading global animal health and nutrition company, has been awarded a silver medal from EcoVadis — putting it in the top 25 percent of sustainable companies globally. The EcoVadis silver medal testifies to Alltech’s purpose of Working Together for a Planet of Plenty and its commitment to prioritizing the efficient production of nutritious food while minimizing environmental impact, implementing environmentally and economically sustainable solutions, promoting fair labor practices and fostering ethical business conduct. Alltech has also earned the EcoVadis platinum medal for its production site in Springfield, Kentucky, USA, which puts it in the top one percent of the over 200,000 businesses assessed by EcoVadis. Alltech Coppens, which produces industrial feeds for the aquaculture sector, earned gold-medal status, putting it in the top seven percent of sustainable companies globally.
  • In the dynamic landscape of American agriculture, two powerhouse organizations, Agriculture Future of America (AFA) and the National FFA Organization, recently made their partnership official – signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during AFA’s Leaders Conference in November. The MOU cements a bond that has existed for many years and underscores a shared commitment to developing and empowering the next generation of agricultural leaders.
  • The American Soybean Association is expanding its staff in both the D.C. policy office and the St. Louis headquarters to meet the growing needs of the soybean industry. Joining the advocacy team for the national soy group is Carson Fort, who starts Nov. 28 in the second of two newly created policy manager roles, the other filled by Joe Prosser in October. In St. Louis, the Industry Relations department is pleased to add Maria Brockamp to its ranks.
  • Anne Thompson, a veteran Washington advocate and the National Corn Growers Association’s (NCGA) senior director of PAC and political strategy, has been chosen by the National Institute of Lobbying & Ethics as its 2023 Top Grassroots Professional.
  • National Farmers Union (NFU) is pleased to announce the selection of Brittany Jablonsky as Chief of Staff. Jablonsky, who previously held various roles within NFU, is set to bring her wealth of experience and expertise back to the organization. She joins NFU from the Farm Credit Council, where she most recently served as Vice President of Public Policy and Stakeholder Relations.
    • Zimfo Bytes

    Alltech ONE World Tour Stops in Dubai

    Cindy Zimmerman

    The Alltech ONE World Tour (ONE), a series of international events bringing the ideas and inspiration of the annual Alltech ONE Conference to the world, wrapped up its final 2023 event this week in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates – just as delegates to COP 28 were arriving.

    ONE Dubai welcomed international attendees to explore collaborative solutions to the greatest challenges facing the agri-food industry in the Middle East, Africa and beyond featuring discussions led by local and international experts about the latest trends in sustainable agricultural, animal nutrition and business.

    In his opening remarks, Alltech President and CEO Dr. Mark Lyons welcomed delegates to Dubai to discuss agriculture’s role in saving the planet. “Agriculture can transform things in ways that other industries cannot and we are at the interface of nourishing the present and preserving the future,” he said. “Our belief is that agriculture has the greatest potential to positively influence the future of our planet, provide nutrition for all, help rural communities thrive and replenish our planet’s resources.”

    For the past 38 years, the Alltech ONE Conference has been held in Lexington, Kentucky, the home of Alltech’s global headquarters. This year, the company chose to bring the conference to its partners, customers, suppliers and friends around the world, providing the opportunity for more people than ever to experience the power of ONE. The Alltech ONE World Tour will continue with international stops in 2024. For more information and to register for an Alltech ONE World Tour stop, visit one.alltech.com.

    Alltech, Animal Health

    ZimmCast 722 – Interviews from NAFB Trade Talk

    Chuck Zimmerman

    ZimmCastHello and welcome to the ZimmCast.

    During this year’s NAFB Trade Talk I interviewed a lot of company representatives and am taking this opportunity to share some of them. These folks had a lot more than just the Golden ZimmComm Microphone in their face! But they are now members of the Golden Mic Club. Here’s who you can listen to in this order: Mike DiPaola,Taranis and Ethan Noll, Ag Partners Co-op; Mark Foster, AMVAC; Aaron Robinson, Benson Hill; Aaron Eddy, Azotic and Brian Neineke, Phospholutions.

    Cindy and I will be on the agriblogging and podcasting trail for the American Seed Trade Association’s newly named Field Crop Seed Conference. It is being held in Orlando, FL for the first time. The Golden ZimmComm Microphone will get a workout once again before we start the new year in Ft. Worth at the Beltwide Cotton Conference.

    Listen to the episode here:ZimmCast 722 - Interviews from NAFB Trade Talk (27:02)

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

    Subscribe to the ZimmCast in:

    Agribusiness, AMVAC, Audio, NAFB, ZimmCast

    DWFI Podcast 30 – Central Asia Partnership

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Since 2013, UNL Water Sciences Lab Director Dan Snow and other researchers in the University of Nebraska system (NU) have collaborated with faculty and students in Central Asian institutes to improve water quality research across the globe. The purpose of this effort is to share NU’s knowledge and expertise in water quality research with a region that has limited resources and important water quality issues to address.

    In this episode, guest host Ann Briggs, public relations and engagement coordinator at the Nebraska Water Center, chats with Dan during one of his visits to Kazakhstan, along with Marjan Kalmakhanova, an associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technology at M.Kh. Dulaty Taraz Regional University in Kazakhstan. Both discuss the importance and impact of global partnerships in water quality research.

    To learn more about this partnership, visit centralasiawater.unl.edu.

    Listen here or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform:
    DWFI Podcast 30 - Marjan Kalmakhanova and Dan Snow 16:15

    The Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute (DWFI) at the University of Nebraska was founded with the mission to have a lasting and significant impact on achieving more food security with less pressure on scarce water resources by conducting scientific and policy research, using the research results to inform policy makers, and sharing knowledge through education and communication.

    How to subscribe:

    Audio, International, Irrigation, Water, Water for Food

    Precision Ag News 11/29

    Carrie Muehling

  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the National Strategic Germplasm and Cultivar Collection Assessment and Utilization Plan in support of the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) U.S. National Plant Germplasm System’s (NPGS) mission.
  • The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) applauds the release of the National Plant Germplasm and Cultivar Collection Assessment and Utilization Plan. ASTA led efforts in the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 to further support the National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) through the development and implementation of this plan in order to preserve the viability of, and public access to, germplasm and cultivars.
  • Dan Funk, son of legendary seedsman Don Funk, announces he’s acquired the interests of Outward Ag, LLC from family members. The acquisition is a step further in his goal to reestablish Midwest Seed Genetics, NC+ and Crow’s as premium regional seed brands.
  • Bluegrass AgTech Development Corp launched a new incentive program designed to encourage ag-tech and food-based businesses to locate in Kentucky.
  • After considering the unique challenges that growers across the country have faced during the 2023 harvest season, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) has extended the National Corn Yield Contest (NCYC) Harvest Entry deadline from Thursday, November 30 to Tuesday, December 5.
  • The Ecosystem Services Market Consortium (ESMC), a non-profit, market program that pays farmers and ranchers for their environmental services to society, has chosen HabiTerre, an advanced technology company specializing in environmental and productivity insights for agriculture, to provide modeling services to ESMC’s Eco-Harvest market program. The goal of this work is to improve accuracy and value creation for farmers and ranchers, while further reducing barriers to scale.
  • Syngenta has reached a settlement agreement with Marty Fletchall of Beloit, Kansas, in response to Syngenta’s allegations of Mr. Fletchall’s unauthorized selling and offering to sell of AgriPro SY Monument variety. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Fletchall has agreed to cease and desist from all further efforts to offer to sell and/or sell Syngenta PVPA-protected wheat seed varieties. Fletchall will also pay a fine to Syngenta as part of the settlement agreement.
  • The UF/FAS Extension Florida Stakeholder Engagement Program (STEP) just concluded its second year growing corn at the UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center, Suwannee Valley (NFREC-SV). The competition, funded by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Office of Agricultural Water Policy, was devised to introduce best management practices and new technologies, while generating data on what makes for a successful harvest.
    • AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

    CattleCon24 is Onward to Orlando

    Cindy Zimmerman

    CattleCon, the cattle industry’s largest event of the year, will bring producers and their families to Orlando, Florida, Jan. 31-Feb. 2, 2024, for education, networking and business, along with family fun.

    “We’re looking forward to our convention in Orlando, it’s always a crowd pleaser,” said National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President-elect Mark Eisele from Wyoming during a recent interview.

    CattleCon24 will include plenty of entertainment and awards, as well as important informational sessions and policy updates. The Opening General Session will feature former professional football player and sleight-of-hand magician, Jon Dorenbos. while the Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program’s Celebration of Excellence, honoring BQA award winners features keynote speaker Jim Carroll, a renowned futurist, author, and innovation expert. As always, CattleFax will present their U.S. & Global Protein and Grain Outlook Session and the 31st annual Cattlemen’s College will include educational sessions with industry leaders tackling innovative topics.

    CattleCon is also where NCBA holds its annual meeting to guide policy for the coming year and Eisele says they have a lot of issues on their plate, as usual, including the farm bill, WOTUS, and endangered species with the relocation of grizzly bears planned by the Biden administration. “We’re watching the president and his agencies trying to drop bears into Washington (State) without any stakeholder input,” said Eisele.

    2023 NAFB Trade Talk - Mark Eisele, NCBA president-elect 3:17

    Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference, NAFB, NCBA

    Dalan Animal Health Recognized for Honeybee Vaccine

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Dalan Animal Health, Inc. (“Dalan”), a biotech company specializing in insect health, has been included in the 2023 Fast Company Next Big Thing in Tech list in recognition of developing the world’s first vaccine to protect honeybees against American Foulbrood (AFB), a devastating disease that weakens and kills honeybee colonies globally.

    In addition to Fast Company, Dalan has also been awarded the animal health innovator recognition by International Zendal Awards, which celebrates and financially awards innovative biotechnology solutions, as well as recent inclusion on TIME’s Best Inventions of 2023 in the sustainability category for the promise the vaccine holds for both protecting honeybees and advancing greater biodiversity.

    “Pollinators are the building blocks of our food supply and play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem biodiversity. Without them, the global food supply as we know it ceases to exist,” said Dr. Annette Kleiser, co-founder and CEO of Dalan Animal Health. “Our honeybee vaccine represents an important milestone in the collective fight for increased invertebrate health and environmental sustainability as we enable beekeepers to access proactive solutions for healthy, productive hives.”

    Learn more from Dalan Animal Health.

    AgWired Animal, Animal Health, Bees, pollinators, Technology