Wrap-up Of 2023 NAMA Fall Conference

Chuck Zimmerman

NAMA Fall Conference Ag TourThe 2023 NAMA Fall Conference was very successful and started off the first day with an ag tour of two farms that have diversified into some unique products and services. The first stop was at Riegel Dairy & South Point Hemp. The dairy was very impressive and I had not actually been on a hemp farm, along with the processing that they use to sell products. The other stop was at Crooked Creek Beef. The owners focus on raising beef and selling direct to consumers. They also have an event venue that is a beautiful place for a wedding. It is Haue Valley. Also on their property is Earth Angel Mushrooms. It was another first for me to see how they grow and sell their products. Here’s the group picture from our last stop.

Back at the Ritz-Carlton in Clayton we started the networking with an opening reception. Then we had keynote speakers, breakouts and more. Of course there are a lot of photos from the conference and I have them split into the tour and the conference in general. You can find them here:

2023 NAMA Fall Conference Ag Tour Photos
2023 NAMA Fall Conference Photos

I talked with John Rozum, AEM, NAMA President for a conference review: Interview with John Rozum (5:38)

You can put on your calendar some 2024 NAMA events:

Agri-Marketing Conference – April 24-26, Kansas City, MO
NAMA Boot Camp – August 13-15, Kansas City, MO
NAMA Fall Conference – October 14-16, Minneapolis, MN

Audio, NAMA

USDA Lowers Forecast for Corn, Soybeans and Cotton

Cindy Zimmerman

The October Crop Production report from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) lowered the production forecast this year for corn, soybeans, and cotton.

Corn production is forecast at 15.1 billion bushels, down less than 1% from the previous forecast but up 10% from last year; soybean growers are expected to decrease their production 4% from 2022, forecast at 4.10 billion bushels.

Based on conditions as of Oct. 1, corn yields are expected to average 173.0 bushels per harvested acre, down 0.8 bushel from the previous forecast and down 0.4 bushel from 2022. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 87.1 million acres, unchanged from the previous forecast.

Also based on conditions as of Oct. 1, soybean yields are expected to average 49.6 bushels per acre, down 0.5 bushel from the previous forecast but unchanged from 2022. Area harvested for beans in the United States is forecast at 82.8 million acres, unchanged from the previous forecast, but down 4% from 2022.

All cotton production is forecast at 12.8 million 480-pound bales, down 2% from the previous forecast and down 11% from 2022. Based on conditions as of Oct. 1, yields are expected to average 767 pounds per harvested acre, down 19 pounds from the previous forecast and down 183 pounds from 2022.

Corn, Cotton, Soybean, USDA

Industry Ag News 10/13

Carrie Muehling

  • International Federation of Agricultural Journalists is seeking a new Global Manager as the current Global Manager prepares to retire. The position involves a wide range of responsibilities, including administration, communications, bookkeeping, and meeting planning. To learn more about this exciting opportunity, please click here for a detailed summary of the scope of work and approximate compensation.
  • According to a new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange, the sheer volume of consumers experiencing food insecurity due to poor access represents a potential market opportunity for food manufacturers. Serving these customers through direct-to-consumer ecommerce platforms or direct delivery could be a relatively easy and profitable means to improve their food options.
  • AgGateway announced registration is now open for its 2023 Annual Conference, November 13-15 at the Hilton Nashville Downtown in Nashville, TN.
  • American Vanguard Corporation announced that its subsidiary AMVAC LATAM has acquired Punto Verde, a well-established distributor in Guayaquil, Ecuador, to strengthen its product portfolio and market access in the Latin American region. AMVAC LATAM is a key player in the Latin American agricultural sector and has become a leader in the commercialization of crop protection products.
  • On Friday, Oct. 6th and Saturday, Oct. 7th, National Farmers Union (NFU) convened the in-person programming for the Beginning Farmer Institute (BFI) in Des Moines, Iowa.
  • Agriculture Future of America (AFA), an organization committed to cultivating the next generation of agricultural leaders, welcomes Nicole Erceg as Director of Marketing.
  • The Distillers Grains Technology Council (DGTC) is seeking an Executive Director to provide leadership and guidance in support of the DGTC’s vision, mission, strategic objectives and initiatives. Candidates for consideration will provide evidence of organizational, leadership and communications skills, interorganizational networking, membership development and support. For more information, click here.
  • GROWMARK recently completed its move to a new corporate headquarters located at 1705 Towanda Avenue in Bloomington, Ill. A little more than a year ago, GROWMARK’s purchase of the building from COUNTRY Financial was announced. Illinois Farm Bureau, COUNTRY Financial, and GROWMARK are all located on a shared campus.
  • POET, the world’s largest producer of biofuels and a leader in bioproducts, South Dakota State University, and South Dakota Mines celebrated the grand opening of the POET Bioproducts Center.
  • The U.S. rice industry is giving away $10,000 to high school seniors in Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Texas as part of USA Rice’s annual National Rice Month Video Scholarship Contest. Students are asked to create a video that – in three minutes or less – shines a light on U.S.-grown rice. Interested students should visit www.reelricecontest.com for details, tips, and to view past winners. The deadline is October 31.
  • The Georgia Peanut Commission and Georgia Bankers Association will join forces Oct. 16-20, 2023, to promote the 47th annual Georgia Peanut Bank Week. Financial institutions and local banks across the state will offer a tribute to Georgia’s 4,000 peanut farm families and the sustainability they provide to Georgia’s state and local economies.
    • Zimfo Bytes

    Precision Ag News 10/11

    Carrie Muehling

  • Registration is officially open for the 2024 VISION Conference taking place January 22-24, 2024, in Glendale, Arizona. The VISION Conference is the premier event where forward-thinking executives of the ag tech community come together to chart the strategic roadmap for the adoption of the latest innovative technologies and systems, with a focus on the drivers that will transform the agribusiness industry within three to five years.
  • AGI announced the appointment of Kate Glasser to the position of Executive Vice President, Global Operations. This is a new leadership role at AGI. Kate will lead and manage AGI’s global business functions including product management, sales execution, manufacturing, supply chain, and engineering.
  • Syngenta, a member of The Sustainability Consortium (TSC), announces alignment of their Sustainable Outcomes in Agriculture (SOA) standard with TSC’s THESIS, or The Sustainability Insight System, for a turn-key sustainability solution designed specifically for growers. Enabled through an easy-to-use mobile application, Cropwise Sustainability, Syngenta’s SOA standard is a framework for continuous improvement – allowing any grower or supply chain company to seamlessly track and communicate their progress in adopting regenerative practices.
  • CNH continues to support the acceleration of smart harvesting technologies with a minority investment in the California-based start-up Advanced Farm Technologies, which specializes in the robotic harvesting of apples, strawberries and other fruits. The two businesses will partner to drive industry and ecosystem innovation by collaborating across R&D and commercialization.
  • GDM announced that it signed an agreement to acquire all of Biotrigo, a leading wheat breeding company in South America. The acquisition, which depends on approval by the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE) in Brazil and the National Commission for the Defense of Competition in Argentina, represents an opportunity for innovation for U.S. farmers and multipliers, as well as development possibilities for employees of both companies with potential growth opportunities at GDM’s four U.S.-based research and development stations located in Gibson City, Illinois; Jonesboro, Arkansas; Des Moines, Iowa; and Hutchinson, Minnesota.
  • As farmers reflect on the season and evaluate input decisions from the combine cab, they can use the TruChoice offer to help maximize their budget and plans for next year. The TruChoice offer is now open for the 2024 growing season, providing farmers with opportunities to earn upfront savings or finance their crop protection needs to help improve cash flow next year.
  • Valent U.S.A. LLC announced the release of its fiscal year 2022 Sustainability Report. The comprehensive report reflects the company’s commitment to sustainable agriculture and its contributions to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically focusing on Zero Hunger, Quality Education, Gender Equality, Industry Innovation and Infrastructure and Responsible Consumption and Production.
  • Priva and IUNU announced that they have expanded their ongoing partnership to focus on AI-driven growing. Combining their complementary strengths to give growers the advanced, flexible oversight and control they need to run their operations their own way, now and in the future.
  • Members of the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement (LGMA) will adopt Western Growers‘ proprietary GreenLink data sharing platform to collect and analyze food safety data.
    • AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

    Animal Ag News 10/10

    Carrie Muehling

  • The cost of purchasing a turkey could be lower this Thanksgiving, thanks to a drop in avian influenza cases and a recovery of the turkey population in the United States. American Farm Bureau Federation economists analyzed turkey and egg prices in the latest Market Intel report, which states the average price for an eight to 16-pound turkey typically served for Thanksgiving was $1.27 per pound in August 2023, 22 percent lower than the same time last year.
  • The 2024 edition of the Redbook is now available to help cattle producers effectively and efficiently record their daily production efforts, which can enhance profitability and reduce stress levels. The pocket-sized booklet, developed by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, helps cattle producers simplify their recordkeeping. Redbooks can be purchased online at https://store.ncba.org/ for $8.00 each, plus shipping.
  • The Rancher Resilience Grant offers support to beef and dairy cattle producers attending CattleCon24 and Cattlemen’s College for FREE. Eligibility depends on qualifications and application responses.
  • The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) is now accepting the 2024 Lois Britt Memorial Pork Industry Scholarship applications. Ten $2,500 scholarships are awarded to students annually who intend to pursue a career in the pork industry with aspirations to become industry leaders. CME Group and the National Pork Industry Foundation sponsor the scholarships.
  • U.S. pork producers tasked the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) with leading an effort to update the existing swine traceability system. NPPC is asking swine producers, veterinarians, cull swine and breeding operators and show pig enthusiasts to comment on the draft standards by Oct. 27, 2023.
  • The National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program announced the launch of FARM Biosecurity – Enhanced, a new aspect of the FARM Biosecurity Program that includes training and an online database.
  • A new dairy checkoff growth program with pizza partners is expected to drive an additional 12-plus million pounds of cheese use. The bulk of the cheese will be used internationally through an effort with a major quick-serve restaurant pizza chain and a U.S. cheese company. On the domestic front, Domino’s has added Pepperoni Stuffed Cheesy Bread to its lineup of Stuffed Cheesy Bread.
  • A fan favorite, Erbacres Snapple Shakira-ET, rose to the top of World Dairy Expo’s Dairy Cattle Show and claimed the title of 2023 Supreme Champion on Friday, October 6. Shakira is owned by Jacobs, Antelimarck, Ty-D Holsteins, K Theraulaz, and Attaboy Holsteins of Cap-Sante, Quebec.
  • Dr. Pearse Lyons, founder of Alltech, was honored posthumously this week as a recipient of the National Dairy Shrine’s Pioneer Award, which recognizes dairy industry leaders who have made significant contributions to dairy throughout their lives. An Irish biochemist and entrepreneur, Dr. Lyons immigrated to the United States and founded Alltech, a leading animal nutrition company, Alltech, in 1980, with the mission to improve the health and performance of people, animals and plants through natural nutrition and scientific innovation.
  • Magnum Feedyard was recognized as this year’s Feedyard Commitment to Excellence award winner at the recent Certified Angus Beef Annual Conference in Las Vegas. While Magnum hasn’t always had pens filled with Angus-influenced cattle, their more recent approach to quality-based marketing changed the genetic makeup at their feedyard.
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

    2023 NAMA Fall Conference

    Chuck Zimmerman

    2023 NAMA Fall ConferenceThe 2023 NAMA Fall Conference is off to a great start with an ag tour of some very diversified farmers. You can find the schedule online.

    In our virtual ag newsroom on AgNewsWire you will find award winner remarks and interviews.

    2023 NAMA Fall Conference Ag Tour Photo Album

    2023 NAMA Fall Conference Photo Album

    Agencies, Agribusiness, Media, NAMA

    American Vanguard Acquires Punto Verde in Ecuador

    Cindy Zimmerman

    American Vanguard Corporation subsidiary AMVAC LATAM has acquired Punto Verde, a well-established distributor in Guayaquil, Ecuador, to strengthen its presence in Latin American.

    AMVAC LATAM is a key player in the Latin American agricultural sector and has become a leader in the commercialization of crop protection products and Peter Eilers, Managing Director of American Vanguard’s international operations, says Ecuador is the seventh largest agricultural market in LATAM. “While not a sizable transaction (this will add about five percent to our total LATAM sales), we see this as an important path for market access in South America through a well-managed distribution business,” said Eilers.

    Gerardo Suárez, general manager of AMVAC LATAM, added that the acquisition “provides an important addition to our expanding GreenSolutions business, as we anticipate development of our portfolio of AMGREEN bio-rational solutions through Punto Verde. This deal reinforces our commitment toward leaving a better world for future generations.”

    Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

    Agribusiness, AMVAC, Crop Protection, International

    Industry Ag News 10/6

    Carrie Muehling

  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Grain Stocks report showed that old crop corn stocks on hand as of Sept. 1, 2023, totaled 1.36 billion bushels, down one percent from Sept. 1, 2022. Old crop soybeans stored in all positions were down two percent from Sept. 1, 2022, and all wheat stocks were up slightly from a year earlier.
  • Laura Wolf, a seasoned communications strategist, has joined the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) as director of investor relations and communications.
  • Customers of U.S. Identity Preserved-certified suppliers will be able to begin using the Identity Preserved United States label on their retail packaging, following a decision by the Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA) Board of Directors on Sept. 14 in Fargo, N.D.
  • The American Farm Bureau Federation announced the opening of general registration today for the 2024 American Farm Bureau Convention. The convention will be held Jan. 19-24, 2024, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
  • The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) is celebrating the second annual National Propane Day on October 7, 2023. National Propane Day is an opportunity to celebrate all the ways propane keeps America running and to highlight the benefits of propane.
  • American Farmland Trust has announced it will sponsor the new national public television series America The Bountiful with its premiere planned for Spring 2024. America The Bountiful is a food, history, and travel series exploring the regional food traditions of America’s heartland, hosted by tv personality, cookbook author, and radio podcast host Capri Cafaro. The new series takes viewers on a journey into America’s heartland to learn about culture and find inspiration in the chronicles of farmers, artisans, restauranteurs, and home cooks through the bounty that they grow, produce, and eat. The show will help shine a spotlight on the vibrant, culturally diverse, untold food stories and traditions hidden across America.
  • The Sustainable and Responsible Business team from Syngenta is excited to announce a partnership with the Potato Sustainability Alliance (PSA) to bring on-farm sustainability insights on potato production using Syngenta’s Sustainable Outcomes in Agriculture (SOA) standard and Cropwise Sustainability mobile application.
  • Nelson-Jameson, a leading distributor in the dairy and food processing industry, is expanding its marketing team with company veteran Melissa Pasciak heading up event marketing and new hire Teresa Laurent overseeing digital marketing.
  • NASCAR announced that it is bringing its first-ever NASCAR Cup Series race to Iowa Speedway on Sunday, June 16, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. CT on USA Network. This inaugural Cup Series race in Iowa Speedway culminates a weekend that will also include the NASCAR Xfinity Series at 2:30 p.m. CT on USA Network and ARCA Menards Series racing on June 14-16, 2024. Iowa Corn will be the entitlement partner for the first-ever Cup Series race at Iowa Speedway. Comprised of the Iowa Corn Promotion Board and Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Corn works to unlock the potential of corn in a sustainable manner to meet the global need for food and energy. The name and logo of the Cup Series race will be announced in the near future.
  • The 2024 World Ag Expo season was kicked off by Show Chairman, Stan Creelman, on Saturday, September 23rd. Hosted at the International Agri-Center, the annual “Kickoff Dinner” was attended by volunteers, staff, and invited guests. The event provides the opportunity to gather and enjoy fellowship while setting the tone for the coming show.
  • The National Grange, the United States’ oldest agricultural fraternity and rural service organization, will be holding its 157th annual conference and legislative session at the Niagara Falls Convention Center in Niagara Falls, New York from November 14-18, 2023.
  • Three dedicated Canadian agri-food marketers are being recognized for their industry contributions by the Canadian Agri-food Marketers Alliance (CAMA). Susan Groeneveld, National CAMA Honour Roll Award, Colin Steen Agri-Marketer of the Year and Ben Graham, CAMA Lifetime Achievement Award. Winners will receive awards at the upcoming Canadian Agri-food Marketers Alliance (CAMA) Best of CAMA awards event November 2 in Winnipeg, Man.
  • A group of Alabama culinary educators and a food blogger became students this week as they joined the Alabama Peanut Producers Association (APPA) for the 2023 Alabama Farm to Table Peanut Harvest Tour on Sept. 24-26, 2023.
    • Zimfo Bytes

    Precision Ag News 10/4

    Carrie Muehling

  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making more than $3 billion in funding available for agricultural producers and forest landowners nationwide to participate in voluntary conservation programs and adopt climate-smart practices in fiscal year 2024 as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.
  • AGCO Corporation, a worldwide manufacturer and distributor of agricultural machinery and Precision Ag technology, announced it has entered into a Joint Venture with Trimble, where AGCO will acquire an 85 percent interest in Trimble’s portfolio of Ag assets and technologies for cash consideration of $2.0 billion and the contribution of JCA Technologies.
  • The Tech Hub LIVE Conference and Expo, a leading event at the crossroads of agriculture and technology, was held in Des Moines on July 24-26. The conference, under the theme of Integrated Solutions Driving Profitable Decisions, drew a record-breaking attendance and showcased groundbreaking advancements in ag technology.
  • A partnership of 13 public and private entities led by Roeslein Alternative Energy (RAE) finalized an $80 million grant from the federal government’s first pool of funds from the U.S.D.A’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program. The funding will be used in a five-year pilot project in Iowa and Missouri called ‘Horizon II’ to demonstrate a “Climate-Smart Future for Corn, Soybean, Livestock, and Renewable Natural Gas Production.”
  • Biotalys announces the appointment of seasoned agricultural executive Kevin Helash as the company’s new CEO. Mr. Helash, currently CEO of EnviroKure, will take on his new responsibilities upon termination of his current engagement, at the latest on December 1. Mr. Helash will replace Patrice Sellès, who will then step down from his position as CEO and director in mutual agreement with the company. Mr. Sellès has agreed to remain in an advisory role for 30 days from the end of his appointment to ensure a smooth transition.
  • Bonsai Robotics, which provides the first computer vision-based automation solutions for harsh, off-road environments, announced that it has raised a $13.5M seed round led by Acre Venture Partners with participation from E14, Congruent, Serra Ventures, Fall Line Capital, SNR Ventures, Andros, and angels including Travis Deyle (founder of Cobalt Robotics), Lee Redden (founder of Blue River Tech), and Matt Barnard (founder of Plenty). Bonsai Robotics will use the funds to accelerate its product roadmap and invest in both hiring and sales & marketing.
  • A new farm manager has been hired at the Michigan State University Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center in Benton Harbor. Michael de Schaaf, a small agricultural service business owner with nearly three decades of winemaking experience, assumed the role Oct. 1.
  • Precision Farming Dealer has announced the full speaker and session lineup confirmed for the 2024 Precision Farming Dealer Summit that is 100 percent focused on equipping your company to run a more profitable precision farming business.
  • LG Seeds will add 28 new corn hybrids ranging from 80- to 118-day relative maturities (RMs) in 2024. The new corn hybrids feature seven different trait offerings – conventional, Roundup Ready, Agrisure 3110, VT Double PRO, Agrisure Duracade 5222, SmartStax and SmartStax PRO.
  • Kubota North America Corporation (KNA) announced at its annual Kubota Connect dealer meeting the company’s plan to be a first-time exhibitor at CES 2024 in Las Vegas in January 2024. The move signifies Kubota’s readiness to share its broad technology story and 2030 vision, built on more than 100 years of providing customer solutions to societal issues in the areas of food production, clean water, and the environment, and to provide attendees a virtual glimpse into the future of its vision for next-generation equipment announcements.
  • BioLumic, an agricultural biotech startup, announced grant funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to use the company’s proprietary ultraviolet (UV) light seed treatment technology to enhance the crop performance of rice – specifically Direct Dry Seeded Rice, rice grown using sustainable practices.
  • Stine Seed Company is celebrating the 50th episode of the Stine Seedcast — the company’s agricultural podcast — with company founder Harry Stine. Since its introduction in November 2021, the biweekly podcast, hosted by Stine national marketing and sales director David Thompson, has had Stine leadership, agronomy experts and industry partners on the show to provide timely agronomic and product advice to growers when and where they need it.
    • AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

    Minnesota Farmer Takes Over as NCGA President

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Minnesota farmer Harold Wolle, takes over as president of the National Corn Growers Association this week with a theme of “shaping the future.”

    During a press conference today, Wolle talked about his goals over the next year, saying reauthorizing a farm bill that reflects the priorities of corn growers will be a pressing concern. “My most immediate objective is to make sure corn grower priorities are included in the farm bill and that we get the bill across the finish line,” said Wolle. “We are particularly focused on crop insurance and the safety net programs of the farm bill.”

    Wolle said ethanol remains a top priority for NCGA, including support of the Next Generation Fuels Act in the House and Senate while making ethanol a go-to biofuel in the aviation sector. “First off, we need to get year-round E15 approved,” said Wolle. “Our marketers need to have the reassurance that they’re going to be able to market that year round. We’ve seen a tremendous increase in consumer demand for E15.”

    Listen to Wolle’s press conference here:
    New NCGA president Harold Wolle 20:32

    Audio, Corn, Ethanol, Farm Bill, NCGA