Golden Harvest Corn at #FPS23
Golden Harvest is launching 24 new corn hybrids in 2024, including five new Enogen hybrids for fuel and feed. The complete portfolio includes hybrids ranging from 82 to 117 days, according to Corn Product Manager Andy Ackley.
“We made a significant investment into our business a few years ago, and we’re really starting to see that investment come to fruition with this class,” he said.
Ackley encouraged farmers to get in touch with a local Golden Harvest sales representative as these products are already available.
Andy Ackley, Golden Harvest Corn Product Manager
2023 Farm Progress Show interview with Andy Ackley, Golden Harvest 2:16
ZimmCast 718 – Opening of the Ag Innovation Campus
Hello and welcome to the ZimmCast.
Last week the Ag Innovation Campus held its grand opening in Crookston, MN. You can see lots of photos and interviews in the virtual newsroom I published on AgNewsWire.com. I’m going to share some of those interviews in the episode.
Before getting to the AIC facility I met a group of farmers and other ag leaders in Fargo, ND to tour the Northern Crops Institute. This is a collaborative effort among Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota to support the promotion and market development of crops grown in this four-state region and it is situated on the campus of North Dakota State University, in Fargo. I’ll share my interview with Mark Jirik, Director, who will describe the unique work they do there.
After that we got on a bus and traveled to the Riverview Waukon Dairy where I met David Yost who will provide an overview of the large and very impressive facility they have built.
Then we moved on to Crookston, MN to the Ag Innovation Campus. We had presentations from a variety of people who have played a part in the success of reaching phase one of the facility and a ribbon cutting. I talked with several leaders about the work that the AIC will do to deliver crops and processing technologies from bench top to commercialization. Think of the term, crush facility, and you’ll hear more about this staring with Tom Slunecka, Acting AIC CEO. Next we’ll hear from Mike Skaug, AIC Board Member. Finally in this episode you can hear from the AIC Plant Manger, Kent Meyers.
This was a very interesting day of seeing how all these facilities are helping farmers and also food companies and others. So, as everyone was saying, it looks like it’s time to “crush it.”
Listen to the episode here:ZimmCast 718 - Grand Opening of the AIC (27:51)
That’s the ZimmCast for this week. I hope you enjoyed it and thank you for listening.
Check out other content from grand opening event in the Ag Innovation Campus Grand Opening Virtual Newsroom.
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What’s New in Golden Harvest Soybean Products
As Golden Harvest looks to the coming growing season for soybeans, the number 24 rings true. The company is offering 24 new soybean varieties, as well as 24 Gold Series soybean varieties in 2024.
Soybean Product Manager Ryan Dunsbergen said there are four factors go into Gold Series soybeans, including proprietary genetics, high yield, great disease package, and adaptability.
Dunsbergen said they’ve seen a plethora of soybean diseases in farm fields this year.
“We have beans that get diseases like everybody else, but it’s our attention to detail and it’s our ability to be able to screen these new soybean products well and to be able to put them out into the countryside,” he said. “We do not want to be surprised by how our soybean products perform in real world situations.”
Dunsbergen encouraged farmers to continue to work closely with Golden Harvest agronomists and seed advisors as they plan for next year.
Ryan Dunsbergen, Golden Harvest Soybean Product Manager
2023 Farm Progress Show interview with Ryan Dunsbergen, Golden Harvest 3:58
Precision Ag News 9/20
Agtonomy and On-Target Debut Electrostatic Smart Sprayer
Agtonomy, a leading software and services company specializing in advanced autonomous and AI solutions for agriculture, is partnering with ontargetspray.com to develop an all-electric, electrostatic autonomous smart sprayer, debuting a prototype designed specifically for specialty crop producers today at the FIRA USA ag robotics and autonomy show in Salinas, California.
“Embedding Agtonomy’s AI ‘smarts’ into OnTarget’s proven electrostatic ag sprayers ups the ante in next-gen smart-spray solutions, bringing unparalleled results and better outcomes to more farmers, faster,” said Tim Bucher, CEO and co-founder of Agtonomy. “Both Agtonomy and OnTarget share a vision of smart, all-electric implement ecosystems as the future of agriculture, not only for efficiency and cost-savings, but for significant contributions to sustainable farming practices.”
OnTarget’s electrostatic technology, which creates charged spray droplets that more uniformly cover and cling to surfaces, helps growers cut their spray time in half while using less water and using crop protection products more efficiently.
“Building upon 28 years of engineering and in-field experience as the leader in electrostatic applications for specialty crops, partnering with Agtonomy lets OnTarget bring the grower next generation technology and autonomy, reducing costs, liability and achieving better results at the lowest cost per acre,” said Willie Hartman, founder of OnTarget, whose prototype has already been used in test sites across California.
Agtonomy’s 2024 pilot program on the West Coast will give growers the first chance to use and contribute to the ongoing development of this cutting-edge technology.
Learn more in this interview with Agtonomy CEO and Co-founder Tim Bucher
Interview with Tim Bucher, Agtonomy 10:49
Animal Ag News 9/19
American Vanguard Releases Sustainability Report
American Vanguard Corporation has released its 2023 Corporate Sustainability Report, a detailed update of the Company’s commitment to the principles of Sustainable Agriculture, which is at the center of its Environmental, Social Responsibility, and Governance (ESG) initiative.
With the 39-page report, the Company focuses on the central role that agriculture can play in mitigating climate change. More specifically, the Company profiles its portfolio of Climate-Smart Ag solutions, including soil health products, its proprietary SIMPAS® precision application system, and MRV (measure, record, verify) platform ULTIMUS®. The Company also reports on its progress with its sustainability initiatives and provides an update of safety and environmental metrics at its manufacturing plants and laboratory facilities. To improve transparency, in future reports the Company will detail plans to expand reporting, to include Scope 3 GHG emissions, warehouses, office spaces, and international businesses, as well as social and governance metrics.
“At American Vanguard, we recognize the importance of our role and effect on the planet – from our local communities to the global environment,” said Eric Wintemute, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, of American Vanguard. “With this 2023 Sustainability Report, we reiterate our commitment to environmental and social responsibility featuring our efforts to promote diversity and inclusion within, while engaging in community outreach outside the Company. We strive to improve the well-being of our employees and those in our communities, while safely and responsibly operating our businesses with a sense of mindfulness – toward the climate, the environment, and the good of humans and other species.”
An executive summary of the 2023 Corporate Sustainability Report along with an opportunity to download the report in its entirely can be found here: www.American-Vanguard.com/ESG/2023-Corporate-Sustainability-Report.
Soybean Farmers Help Make Ag Innovation Campus Reality
L-R:Tom Slunecka, Tom Frisch, Jimmy Gosse, Bob Worth, Mike Skaug, Shannon Schlecht
After nearly five years of advocating, planning and construction, the Ag Innovation Campus facility itself is complete, but is awaiting a few final components before launching formal operations in the coming weeks. “Getting to this point was no easy task. We had to navigate COVID-19. We dealt with supply chain shortages, workforce shortages and inflation,” said AIC Board Chair and Beltrami, Minn., farmer Mike Skaug. “That makes this moment all the more rewarding. It’s also rewarding to know that farmer-led advocacy was crucial in putting the Ag Innovation Campus in a position to succeed.”
“Thanks to checkoff support from both the Council and United Soybean Board, the AIC is bringing both public and private industry together to bring ideas and technologies from benchtop all the way to commercialization,” said Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC) Chair Tom Frisch, who farms in Dumont and also serves as AIC treasurer. “The AIC will also allow for teaching of the next generation of crush plant managers and operation personnel, and we’re confident that the AIC can continue to keep our industry at the forefront of new and emerging technologies and value-added uses.”
The crush plant is only the first phase in this three-phase project. Phase two will feature an office complex and research labs. Phase three consists of rentable discovery bays that will be available for short to midterm use. Companies can then use the space to prove their designs at full production scale. The “Crushwalk” will also allow visitors to view the processing facility in a safe and bio secure manner.
Listen to interviews with Skaug and Frisch from the grand opening last week.
AIC interview with Mike Skaug, AIC Board chair 4:33
Industry Ag News 9/18