Precision Ag News 8/7

Carrie Muehling

  • Last week’s Tech Hub LIVE 2024 was a resounding success, bringing together nearly 700 industry leaders and passionate ag tech professionals and more than 70 companies on the expo floor. Tech Hub LIVE captured the current state of agriculture technology through engaging discussions, innovative sessions, and numerous networking opportunities.
  • Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will invest $400 million with at least 18 irrigation districts to help farmers continue commodity production while also conserving water across the West. This funding – which will support irrigation districts and producers in using innovative water savings technologies and farming practices while producing water-saving commodities in the face of continued drought – is expected to conserve up to 50,000 acre-feet in water use across 250,000 acres of irrigated land in production, while expanding and creating new, sustainable market opportunities.
  • Agri-Pulse is pleased to host a webinar on September 5 at 1 p.m. Eastern time, focused on climate change and how new climate insights can help manage your business.
  • The Fertilizer Institute is sponsoring the all-new Agronomy Conference and Expo in St. Louis August 12-14. Formally known as InfoAg, the conference has been reimagined to bring more value to the ag retail community. Complimentary registration for this inaugural year is being offered to qualified agronomists and crop consultants. See if you qualify here.
  • BioLumic, the world’s only company treating seeds with light to activate genetic expression for new crop traits, has achieved a breakthrough in enhancing inbred corn lines. These genetically ‘pure’ parent seeds are crucial for producing the world’s high-performing hybrid seeds favored by most farmers.
  • Ecorobotix, a company specializing in AI-driven agricultural technology, has formed a dealer partnership with RDO Equipment Co., marking a major expansion into the U.S. market. Through this collaboration, Ecorobotix’s innovative ARA ultra-high precision sprayer will be available at select RDO locations nationwide.
  • Millborn, an independently owned seed company dedicated to enriching land and lives for more than 37 years, owns and operates seed production facilities in Imperial and Hemingford, Nebraska. Both locations will offer trusted hard red and white winter wheat varieties from AgriPro, WestBred, and PlainsGold this fall.
  • Marion Ag Service and Columbia Seeds LLC have agreed to a supply and marketing consortium. The endeavor combines Marion Ag’s industry-leading fertilizer technology, combination products, organics, and soil amendment offerings with Columbia Seeds’ established expertise in the seed market. The consortium will enable both companies to combine their marketing efforts, relationships, and value creation into a collective market-leading suite of agronomic solutions.
    • AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

    4th Tech Hub LIVE is Another Success

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Last week’s fourth Tech Hub LIVE 2024 attracted nearly 700 attendees and featured over 70 exhibiting companies, making it another big success for the CropLife Media Group® event. Half of the companies participating this year have already rebooked for Tech Hub LIVE 2025 when the event will return to Des Moines to celebrate its 5th year.

    “We are thrilled with the success of Tech Hub LIVE 2024 and the incredible turnout we saw this year,” said Amy Reddington, Show Director of Tech Hub LIVE. “The energy and engagement from attendees, exhibitors, and speakers was outstanding. We’re already looking forward to welcoming everyone back to Des Moines in 2025.”

    The dates for 2025 are July 21-23.

    2024 Tech Hub LIVE Photo Album

    AgWired Precision, Precision Agriculture, Tech Hub LIVE, Technology

    BioLumic Partners with Seed Companies for New Traits

    Cindy Zimmerman

    BioLumic is partnering with Beck’s Hybrids, Peterson Corn Genetics, Peterson Farms Seed, Breeder Direct and other seed companies to use BioLumic’s Genetic Expression Trait™ light-activated technology on a wide range of inbred and hybrid corn lines aiming to enhance their productivity.

    BioLumic is the world’s only company treating seeds with light to activate genetic expression for new crop traits which achieved significant performance milestones in enhancing inbred corn lines that are crucial for producing the world’s high-performing hybrid seeds favored by most farmers. The inbred trials specifically target improved germination, emergence, seedling vigor, yield, and hybrid seed quality.

    Agtech startup BioLumic treats corn seed with short-duration exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light that naturally activates new genetic expression

    BioLumic harnesses ultraviolet (UV) light signaling, a scientifically-proven process, to rapidly activate natural genetic expression in plants for improved yield, quality, and plant defense traits without requiring genetic modification or chemical additives. BioLumic’s technology is being commercialized for inbred and hybrid corn cultivars, with plans underway for light-treated seeds to be available to farmers for the 2025 planting season.

    “By activating Genetic Expression Traits in corn parent lines and showing the ability to lock in those traits to hybrid corn progeny without any ensuing treatments, our UV light technology is rewriting the playbook for seed production,” said Steve Sibulkin, BioLumic CEO. “It eliminates years of trait identification and breeding work for driving yield, quality and plant health without the multi-year regulatory process associated with genetic modification.”

    BioLumic is set to commercialize Genetic Expression Traits for both inbred and hybrid corn in partnership with Gro Alliance starting next year. Additionally, BioLumic is advancing trait development of soybean parent lines, with initial trials commencing this year.

    Learn more in this interview with Sibulkin.
    Interview with Steve Sibulkin, BioLumic CEO 6:27

    AgWired Precision, Audio, Corn, Precision Agriculture, Seed

    Animal Ag News 8/5

    Carrie Muehling

  • The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) expressed its disappointment over the Food and Drug Administration and Association of American Feed Control Officials’ (AAFCO) announcements that they will be ending their longstanding relationship for the review of new animal food ingredients on Oct. 1, abolishing a system that has worked well for decades. The AFIA believes this relationship has been vital for building and maintaining confidence across the food chain that U.S. animal food products are safe – the ultimate goal of the industry’s customers at home and abroad.
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture has extended the 60-day comment period for their latest Packers and Stockyards proposed rule, “Fair and Competitive Livestock and Poultry Markets,” by 15 days to Sept. 11, 2024. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association says extension is welcome but is not nearly enough time to properly solicit public comment and review a rule that will have such an overarching impact on the cattle industry.
  • Animal challenge studies completed by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists show that infecting dairy cows with the H5N1 virus in a laboratory setting can trigger clinical signs of disease similar to those of naturally infected animals on dairy farms. The USDA scientists’ animal challenge study showing that field infections of H5N1 can be replicated under laboratory conditions is detailed in a paper that will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
  • Increasing consumer confidence in how beef is raised may seem like a tall task, but due to ranchers investing time in Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) training, progress is being made one certification at a time. Raised with Respect, a campaign launched in 2023 by Sysco and Certified Angus Beef (CAB), uses BQA as the conduit to talk about cattle care efforts with chefs and consumers purchasing beef.
  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is reminding cattle producers to consult with their tax attorneys regarding the Corporate Transparency Act, with key deadlines approaching at the end of 2024. NCBA’s grassroots members recently passed policy at the 2024 Summer Business Meeting directing the association to take action on the Corporate Transparency Act, including outreach and education to cattle producers.
  • North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge (NAIDC) recently elected new leadership, including two new board members and the 2024–2025 Executive Committee. As described in the NAIDC mission statement, the board focus is to “develop tomorrow’s dairy leaders and enhance the progress of the dairy industry, by providing education, communication and networking among students, producers, and agribusiness and university personnel.”
  • Ad Age, the leading global source of news and insights for the advertising and marketing industry, has recognized Suzanne Fanning, CMO of Wisconsin Cheese/EVP of Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, as one of its Leading Women of 2024. The 2024 list of Leading Women shines a spotlight on a group that is leading the charge for positive change in the industry and finding success in the process.
  • At the urging of the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), a newly published U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) study found zero Trichinella positives in more than 3.2 million pork samples, demonstrating to domestic and global consumers the safety of U.S. pork.
  • The primary objective of the 2023 Farmer Focus marketing campaign was to tell the stories of the growers behind its poultry products through in-store packaging, website and social media. As a result, Farmer Focus was recognized as the 2024 winner of the Chicken Marketer of the Year during Chicken Marketing Summit.
  • The 2025 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) is still six months away and has already surpassed 557,000 square feet of exhibit space and secured more than 1,070 exhibitors. As the only annual exposition highlighting the best of the poultry and egg, meat, and animal food industries, the 2025 IPPE will offer timely and critical information, providing producers and processors an efficient way to find solutions to enhance their operations.
  • Environmental managers in the poultry and egg industry face a range of challenges, including water quality, wastewater management, air emissions, sustainability and regulatory compliance. To help navigate these evolving issues, the USPOULTRY 2024 Environmental Management Seminar, scheduled for Sept. 19-20 at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Destin, Fla., will provide an invaluable opportunity to stay updated on the latest trends. The seminar will also feature the announcement of the 2024 Clean Water Award winners, complemented by a virtual tour of their facilities.
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

    Industry Groups Support Tech Hub LIVE

    Cindy Zimmerman

    ARA CEO Daren Coppock (L) joins Eric Sfiligoj for a Fireside Chat at Tech Hub LIVE

    Supporting organizations are an important part of the success Tech Hub LIVE has become in just a few short years. This year’s supporters included the Agribusiness Association of Iowa, AgGateway, Agricultural Retailers Association, FIRA 2024, and Iowa Ag Expo 2025.

    “This meeting is the single best place I go to learn about what’s new in the industry,” said Daren Coppock, Agricultural Retailers Association President and CEO. “The location here in Des Moines is ideal and it continues to grow and get more momentum.”

    Ag retailers make up a large portion of THL attendees, so it’s a great place for Coppock to meet up with his members and hear about their concerns, which includes everything from lack of a new farm bill, to labor and financial issues, to regulatory uncertainties.
    2024 THL Daren Coppock, ARA 3:46

    L-R: Ann Vande Lune, Bryce Hemm, Jennifer Clarke, Ben Cracker

    AgGateway also reaches a lot of its membership by supporting THL because so much of ag technology is based around data and that is what AgGateway is all about, according to Executive VP & COO Jeremy Wilson. “AgGateway is working really hard to streamline this whole data process and bring data interoperability to the entire industry,” says Wilson. “It’s fun being here with a bunch of like-minded folks.”

    AgGateway Portfolio Manager Ben Craker joined a panel at THL to discuss the ADAPT Standard 1.0 which was just released in June. Also on the panel with him was Ann Vande Lune with Key Cooperative in Central Iowa who has been actively involved in the development of that standard.

    2024 THL Jeremy Wilson, Ag Gateway 4:56

    2024 Tech Hub LIVE Photo Album

    AgGateway, AgWired Precision, ARA, Audio, Tech Hub LIVE, Technology

    Ag Media Summit in Full Swing

    Chuck Zimmerman

    2024 Ag Media SummitDuring the weekend attendees were able to participate in Saturday tours and on Sunday the associations held their board meeting, followed by the 1st Timer Reception and then the Welcome Party with a Roaring 20’s theme. Here’s an example of just a few photos from there.

    2024 Ag Media Summit Photo AlbumSo, now we’re starting with a breakfast, sponsored by Rabobank, and a session on “Managing Risk and Creating Resiliency in Animal Health.” I have it being recorded and will add it to this post later.

    Update:

    Managing Risk & Resiliency in Animal Health – Mitch Blanding, Zoetis, Lance Zimmerman, Rabobank and Greg Henderson
    Managing Risk & Resiliency in Animal Health

    So, beside the link to the photo album that you can find here and on AgNewsWire, I also have QR code for it if that make’s it easy for you.

    2024 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

    ACN, Ag Media Summit, LPC, Media

    25th Ag Media Summit Underway in KC

    Cindy Zimmerman

    It was 25 years ago that the Ag Media Summit began, first as the Ag Publications Summit in 1999, and it is still the largest gathering of the agriculture industry’s top writers, editors, photographers, publishers and strategic communicators in the U.S. A joint effort of the Livestock Publications Council (LPC), the Agricultural Communicators Network (ACN), and the Connectiv Ag Media Council, AMS is celebrating its silver anniversary this week in Kansas City.

    The event became known as Ag Media Summit in 2005, which was when our photo album collection begins. If you want to take a long walk down memory lane, go through all 18 albums with over 8,200 photos. For a shorter stroll, you can check out the Ag Media Summit Through the Years Album from 2020, with less than 900 photos.

    And more are being added into the latest album this week. Happy Anniversary AMS!
    2024 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

    Ag Media Summit, Photography

    AgriTalk Celebrates 30 Years

    Cindy Zimmerman

    It was 30 years ago this month that the nation’s first and only radio talk show focused entirely on agriculture and rural America debuted.

    It was, and still is, called simply “AgriTalk,” starting Aug. 1, 1994 as a one hour program hosted by Ken Root first, then Mike Adams until 2018 when it expanded to a two hour format with current host Chip Flory.

    To celebrate the anniversary, Flory hosted a special edition of “AgriTalk” featuring former hosts Ken Root and Mike Adams, long-time producer and industry veteran John Herath, along with “AgriTalk” news reporter Davis Michaelsen.

    AgriTalk at the 2007 National Ethanol Conference

    “Thirty years of anything in farm radio is worth celebrating, but when we are talking about the nation’s go-to farm talk show, we definitely need to celebrate,” Flory said. “I was thrilled and honored to have Ken, Mike and John on the show to talk about the history of the show and to get their takes on the historic events we are living through and talking about each day on ‘AgriTalk.’”

    It was fun to take a walk down memory lane with Ken and Mike and John, especially when they talked about the “road warrior” era. AgWired and AgriTalk followed each other around to meetings all over the country for over a third of that 30 years, from Farm Bureau and cattle, to biodiesel and ethanol, on through to the seed industry convention in Chicago every December. Those were the days!

    “AgriTalk” airs live each morning at 10 a.m. Central and each afternoon at 2 p.m. Central on more than 100 affiliates in 19 states. “AgriTalk” AM airs daily on Rural Radio/SiriusXM and both hours are available on-demand at www.agritalk.com and on all major podcast platforms.

    Farm Journal, Media

    Tech Hub LIVE Farmer Panel Provides Insight from the Field

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Farm4Profit podcast hosts Tanner Winterhof,and Corey Hillebo

    Five Iowa farmers shared their perspectives on ag tech and retailer relationships during the popular farmer panel segment at the 2024 Tech Hub LIVE.

    Farm4Profit podcast host and Iowa farmer Tanner Winterhof moderated the panel, which included his co-host and 4th generation farmer Corey Hillebo; Scott Henry, partner in LongView Farms in Nevada, IA; “Iowa Farm Mama” Rachel Fishback, People of Ag; and Brad McDonald, McDonald Farm and Continuum Ag. All five are row crop and livestock producers who are leaders in adopting new technology in many different ways.

    Fishback farms with her brother in Washington County, Iowa and is known on TikTok and Facebook as Iowa Farm Mama. She also started a media marketing company called People of Ag. “I think technology is growing with the times and keeping farming current with all of other industries that are out there, especially with social media and telling our stories via video,” she said. “I’ve got my brother on camera. We talk about our farming on social media a lot.”

    L-R: Scott Henry, Rachel Fishback, and Brad McDonald

    Henry focuses primarily on business development and growth for his family’s 10,000-acre farm and considers technology a path towards better insights on the farm “We’ve truly tried to adopt and be at the cutting edge as much as we can…we hope to be better farmers and better stewards by doing so.”

    McDonald takes the view of an economist when it comes to technology. “So the definition of the economy would be the allocation of limited resources. To me, technology is the enhancement of that allocation. So in layman’s terms, getting more with less is really how I view technology.”

    One of the advantages Hillebo likes to see when he adopts new technology is in the decision making process. “I think some of the best tech that really helps our farm helps take the emotion out of the decisions,” Hillebo says. “We’ve even got into artificial intelligence when it comes to grain marketing.”

    There was a good deal of discussion on the panel about incentives for adopting regenerative agriculture practices such as cover crops and no till to lower carbon intensity scores for farmers who sell grain to ethanol plants. McDonald serves as Chief Operating Officer of Continuum Ag, a company that has been helping farmers adopt these practices that, starting in 2025, could generate a new revenue stream.

    “So us as farmers can help the ethanol industry lower their CI score by producing a low CI grain. How do we do it? By using cover crops, no-till, and manure instead of synthetics. If you do those three things, that’s the trifecta to lower your score,” McDonald explained. “And now I’m providing a brand new value to the ethanol industry that I should be compensated for. So at the end of the day it it’s all tied to what is your actual score of the practices that you’re implementing on your farm.”

    To sum it up, Winterhof said, “Technology for us needs to be able to help us direct the narrative and tell our story. It needs to be able to help remove emotion, needs to be able to help us increase productivity, save time, reduce costs, and it needs to come with a positive user experience.”

    AgWired Precision, Precision Agriculture, Tech Hub LIVE, Technology

    Industry Ag News 8/2

    Carrie Muehling

  • Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai announced the appointment or reappointment of 55 members to serve on seven agricultural trade advisory committees. A complete roster of members and additional information about the committees is available at www.fas.usda.gov/atacs.
  • U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai announced Dr. Samuel Crowell, Senior Director, International Programs and Policy for the American Seed Trade Association, was appointed to serve on one of seven agricultural trade advisory committees (ATACs).
  • In preparation for the August Crop Production report, USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will review all available data, including survey data and the latest information from USDA’s Farm Service Agency and Risk Management Agency, for planted and harvested acreage for barley, corn, cotton, dry edible beans, oats, peanuts, rice, sorghum, soybeans, sugarbeets, Durum wheat, other spring wheat, and winter wheat. If the data review justifies any changes, NASS will publish updated planted and harvested acreage estimates in the Aug. 12, 2024, report.
  • As harvest season approaches, the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) is encouraging farmers to prepare by filling propane tanks early. Participating in early tank fill programs not only ensures a steady fuel supply but also offers significant cost savings. With early tank fill programs, farmers can benefit by securing propane supply ahead of peak demand. Because propane prices are generally lower before the peak harvest season, farmers can lock in lower rates and avoid potential price increases by purchasing fuel early. Filling tanks ahead of the busy season means farmers have uninterrupted energy access and mitigates the risk of fuel shortages during critical times.
  • Tim Welsh of Wenatchee, WA, who drew support from throughout the apple industry – including from an unprecedented three past winners – has been named the 2024 American Fruit Grower Apple Grower of the Year. The award is presented by American Fruit Grower magazine, published by Meister Media Worldwide.
  • Kelly Schwalbe, public relations professional and pioneer, has been named the Agricultural Communicators Network’s (ACN) Lifetime Achievement Award recipient for 2024. During his 35+ years in the agricultural public relations business, Schwalbe served in corporate, freelance, and agency public relations roles. The late George Rehm, University of Minnesota (U of M) Extension soil fertility specialist, has been posthumously named the Agricultural Communicators Network (ACN) Distinguished Service Award recipient for 2024. Rehm, who passed away in January 2024, was known for both being a skilled educator and a charismatic supporter of Minnesota and Nebraska farmers.
  • Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has awarded Michael Hinton a prestigious state of Kansas Proclamation, in connection with the website that he and his daughter Melissa (Hinton) Bledsoe [West Plains, MO], created: www.TalkingTractors.com, which serves as a ‘virtual educational resource’ for those who share a like passion for preserving America’s heritage farm machinery for future generations. Hinton explained the Governor’s Proclamation is both significant and “good for Kansas” for many reasons: The Proclamation is issued by the state of Kansas – Where his family’s story and agriculture heritage resonates; Secondly, it is issued to the people of Kansas – many of whom (if not most), have farming ancestors and/or current relations to farmers. Thirdly, it reflects Hinton’s desire to leave a legacy for tomorrows successors (consistent with the framed print on his home office wall); through the sharing of memories and stories of tractors long ago manufactured and used to farm with during a given era.”
  • The next Ag Outlook Forum hosted by the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City and Agri-Pulse is scheduled for September 16, 2024 from 8:00 am – 5:30 pm central at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. In-person & virtual registration options are available. Early bird pricing ends August 15.
  • The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) recently announced that Shea McCabe has been promoted to the director of accounting and finance at the organization.
  • The thirty-sixth annual Georgia Peanut Tour will be held Sept. 17-19, 2024, in Americus, Georgia, and the surrounding area. The tour brings the latest information on peanuts while giving a first-hand view of industry infrastructure from production and handling to processing and utilization. Tour stops will be made in several peanut producing counties in South Georgia.
  • North Dakota Soybean Processors (NDSP), a joint venture formed by CGB Enterprises, Inc., and Minnesota Soybean Processors, celebrates the completion of its soybean crushing plant near Casselton, North Dakota, with a day of VIP and public events. The organization will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, August 7, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. for local, state, and federal representatives. The festivities will include remarks from company leadership and supporting organizations, followed by ground tours of the new facility. Additionally, NDSP is offering tours for local producers in the afternoon, as well as a public open house at 5:00 p.m.
  • The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) elected Verity Ulibarri, a past chairwoman of the United Sorghum Checkoff Program, as its new chairwoman this week during the USGC’s 64th Annual Board of Delegates Meeting held in Salt Lake City.
    • Zimfo Bytes