Alltech Acquires Crop Solution Company

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, Company Announcement

Joaquín Martínez, managing director at Solbiosur, is pictured alongside Jomi Bernad Blanch, Iberian regional director for Alltech, at the acquisition signing.

Alltech has acquired Solbiosur, a specialised agricultural and horticultural crop solutions company in Spain. Solbiosur is a provider of innovative agricultural and horticultural solutions dedicated to improving yield and efficiency for the producer. Solbiosur manufactures and distributes solutions that are respectful to the environment and are cost-beneficial for the producer.

“Solbiosur has worked in collaboration with Alltech for the past five years,” said Jomi Bernad Blanch, Iberian regional director for Alltech. “Our coming together will mean an ability to deliver greater value to our agricultural and horticultural farming customers. Between Alltech’s primacy in science and Solbiosur’s distribution strength and reach, we have a winning combination for delivering greater crop efficiency and profitability directly to our customers.”

“This is an exciting opportunity for the growth of our business, not just in Europe, but around the world,” said Steve Borst, general manager of Alltech Crop Science. “We are excited to have Solbiosur join with the Alltech Crop Science team and we look forward to the customer support this will enable us to provide in the region. Both companies have a very progressive mindset on the future of agriculture and the technologies needed to improve the health of crops while maintaining a high standard of environmental stewardship. This is a thrilling time for both of our businesses, and we look forward to the growth opportunities it will provide.”

“Joining the Alltech family creates an exciting future for Solbiosur,” said Pedro Navarro, commercial director at Solbiosur. “Alltech is a well-respected agricultural leader providing nutritional solutions across animal and crop production. Solbiosur’s new journey with Alltech will further strengthen our ability to deliver crop and horticultural nutrition solutions to a wider market given Alltech’s reach in more than 120 countries worldwide.”

#Farmers Find #GMOs Sustainable

Cindy ZimmermanAudio, biotechnology, Corn, GMO, NCGA, sustainability, USFRA

A new survey finds that the main reason farmers have increased their use of genetically modified (GM) crops is sustainability.

The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) surveyed farmers on their attitudes towards GM technology and found that farmers believe biotechnology helps raise crops more efficiently, and that the environment and sustainability practices will suffer if GMO technology utilization is reduced in crop production in the future. Moreover, when asked about farmers’ ability to lessen their environmental footprint, GMO seeds ranked top of the list (98%).

“With GMOs and advances in agricultural technology, we’re utilizing our resources much more precisely today and have pinpoint accuracy when applying fertilizer, nitrogen and chemical applications. This is especially important on my farm in the Chesapeake Bay watershed,” said Chip Bowling, a Maryland farmer who serves as vice chairman of USFRA and chairman of the NCGA. “The farmers’ perspective in the survey findings are a direct indication of how important genetic engineering technology is for the environment and our food supply, and how it benefits farmers and consumers alike.”

Bowling says they are hoping to help consumers understand the beneficial link between GMO technology and sustainability. “Only 11 percent of consumers see GMOs as being favorable,” he said. “But if you talk to them about increased yields and efficiency, then 50 percent believe GMOs are on the right path.”

Listen to my interview with Chip here: [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/usfra-ncga-bowling.mp3″ text=”Interview with Chip Bowling, USFRA vice chair”]

Understanding New Plant Breeding Innovations

Cindy ZimmermanASTA, seed, Video

Gene editing could be as revolutionary for plant breeders as cut and paste editing has been for the print industry. The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) held a press conference at the recent CSS & Seed Expo in Chicago to talk about new innovations in the industry that have great potential. We already posted the audio from that press conference but a couple of presenters used slides to help explain the new techniques that are very helpful. Watch it here:


ASTA CSS 2016 Photo Album

Coverage of ASTA CSS and Seed Expo brought to you by
Coverage of ASTA CSS and Seed Expo brought to you by the American Seed Trade Association and Coverage of ASTA CSS and Seed Expo brought to you by BASF Ag Products

NCGA Announces 2016 Yield Contest Winners

Kelly MarshallAg Group, Contest, Corn, NCGA

This year’s entires into the National Corn Growers Association 2016 National Corn yield Contest showed some of the highest results ever, with a record five entries surpassing the 400 bushel per acre mark.  Six production categories mean there is no overall winner, but the top three entries in each of the six categories averaged more than 375 bushels per acre.  When narrowed down to the top three yielding entries, that number jumped to 521.3968!

“The contest provides farmers more than just an opportunity for friendly competition; it generates data that impacts future production practices across the industry,” said Brent Hostetler, chair of NCGA’s Stewardship Action Team. “The techniques first developed by contest winners grow into far-reaching advances, helping farmers across the country excel in a variety of situations. Our contest emphasizes innovation both from growers and technology providers, thus enabling us to meet the growing demand for food, feed, fuel and fiber.”

Winners will be recognized at the NCGA Awards Banquet and the NCYC State Winners Breakfast during the 2017 Commodity Class.  Visit www.ncga.com for a list of the national and state winners.

Chromatin is Focused on #Sorghum

Cindy ZimmermanASTA, Audio, seed, Sorghum

One of the S’s in ASTA CSS stands for sorghum and one of the sponsors for this year’s American Seed Trade Association 71st Corn & Sorghum Seed Research Conference 46th Soybean Seed Research Conference and Seed Expo is a company that’s all about sorghum.

“Chromatin is a sorghum-focused company – we only work in sorghum,” said Charles Miller, Chromatin vice president of international sales and business development. “We are vertically integrated from seed research through sales and distribution.”

Chromatin’s corporate headquarters are located in Chicago, where the ASTA CSS is held every December, and the company is currently selling in 43 different countries around the world with lots of upside potential. “We’re seeing a need for crops that can adapt to harsher climates and sorghum is one of the best adapting crops in the world,” said Miller, which makes it an important crop in areas of the world such as Africa as the population grows to demand more meat and more starch.

For the more developed countries, Miller says sorghum is also great for gluten-free diets. “It’s been added to gluten-free beers, it’s been added to gluten-free cereals, so as that trend develops … we’re going to see sorghum grow there,” Miller said. Chromatin recently signed an exclusive license agreement for unique sorghum genetic stocks developed by Agrigenetics Inc., an affiliate of Dow AgroSciences.

In this interview, Miller also talks about why Chromatin is such as strong supporter of ASTA: [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/astacss-16-chromatin.mp3″ text=”Interview with Charles Miller, Chromatin”]

ASTA CSS 2016 Photo Album

Coverage of ASTA CSS and Seed Expo brought to you by
Coverage of ASTA CSS and Seed Expo brought to you by the American Seed Trade Association and Coverage of ASTA CSS and Seed Expo brought to you by BASF Ag Products

Chicago Ag HS Planting #Seeds for Future

Cindy ZimmermanASTA, Audio, Education

The American Seed Trade Association Future Seed Executives (FuSE) had the opportunity to hear about an agricultural high school right in Chicago that is growing the next generation for the industry.

The Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences (CHSAS) is located just about a half hour south of the Hyatt Regency where the ASTA CSS & Seed Expo is held every year so it was a short trip for the school’s agricultural sciences chair JaMonica Marion and the three students she brought to talk to the ASTA group last week. “We are located on a farm actually in the city of Chicago,” she said of the school that opened in 1985 and includes various ag career pathways. “We are promoting career success and providing our students with outstanding opportunities to get exposure to agricultural education in an urban setting.”

The school is open to any student in the city of Chicago, but they have to apply for the opportunity. “We receive over 3000 applications a year for only 180 spots,” said Marion. The school claims a 93 percent graduation rate and an impressive 75 percent go on to major in agricultural careers. “In fact, out of the nine agricultural teachers on staff (at CHSAS), seven of those are alumni, including myself,” Marion said.

The room full of young and more seasoned agribusiness professionals at ASTA were spellbound by JaMonica’s presentation of what the school does, from the working farm, to giving back to the community and showcasing agriculture in downtown Chicago. Many were interested in how they could help support the school. “With us being a farm, we will always take seeds, we’ll always take farm equipment, if they want to make donations,” Marion said.

Learn more about the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences in this interview: [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/astacss-16-chicago-ag-hs.mp3″ text=”Interview with JaMonica Marion, CHSAS ag teacher”]

ASTA CSS 2016 Photo Album

Coverage of ASTA CSS and Seed Expo brought to you by
Coverage of ASTA CSS and Seed Expo brought to you by the American Seed Trade Association and Coverage of ASTA CSS and Seed Expo brought to you by BASF Ag Products

Nuclear Methods Help MU Researchers Battle Pests

Kelly MarshallCorn, Research

Researchers at the University of Missouri are using nuclear methods to find ways to feed the growing populations.  Their process has allowed them to determine the mechanisms corn plants use to battle the western corn rootworm.  Now scientists believe that information could help them develop lines of resistance in corn.

“The western corn rootworm is a voracious pest,” said Richard Ferrieri, a research professor in the MU Interdisciplinary Plant Group, and an investigator at the MU Research Reactor (MURR). “Rootworm larvae hatch in the soil during late spring and immediately begin feeding on the crop’s root system. Mild damage to the root system can hinder water and nutrient uptake, threatening plant fitness, while more severe damage can result in the plant falling over.”

GeoAgro to Deploy Iteris ClearAg on Two Continents

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, Iteris

GeoAgro has chosen Iteris‘s ClearAg web and mobile applications to launch in Agrentina, Brazil, and South Africa, and possibly other Latin American and African countries.  To make this happen, GeoAgro has entered into a subscription agreement with Iteris, allowing them to embed the ClearAg platform into its solution and distribute the final product.

“Food, fiber and fuel are essential elements for civilization, and we’ve come a long way in the agronomic, climatological and computer sciences to sustain production of those elements in the near-term,” said Tom Blair, senior vice president at Iteris. “But to drive future innovation and pave the way for long-term sustainability in global agriculture, we must bring together the best minds and technologies around the world to identify new approaches to improving productivity and reducing waste. We are delighted that GeoAgro has chosen to purchase, integrate and deploy ClearAg in South America and Africa, helping to expand ClearAg’s international footprint. ”

New Holland Wins Four AE50 Awards

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, Award, New Holland

The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) has awarded New Holland with four of the year’s most innovative designs in engineering for food and agriculture.  The IntelliBale™ ISOBUS Class 3 Tractor & Baler automation for New Holland Roll-Belt™ Series, SmartTrax™ with Flex Technology, CX/CR Everest 20 levelling system, and the T7 Heavy Duty Enhanced Engine Brake each earned this honor.

“We are pleased and honored to receive recognition from ASABE for our innovation within the agriculture industry,” said Bret Lieberman, Vice President for New Holland North America. “Each of our technologies are designed to offer efficiency, increase productivity, and offer farmers advanced machinery to produce quality results.”

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Register for Precision Planting’s Winter Conference

Kelly MarshallEvents, Precision Planting

Precision Planting has built a reputation for it’s Winter Conference.  Attendees expect  valuable agronomic education and a full understanding of the reasons behind farming practices.  Now the event will not only be in at the central Illinois headquarters in Tremont, Illinois, but will simulcast in three other locations in North America.

Farmers can choose which day and which location to attend, with Winter Conference occurring in:
Tremont, IL (January 17, 18, 19, or 20)
Fargo, ND (January 18 or 19)
Lincoln, NE (January 18 or 19)
London, ON, Canada (January 18 only)

The 2017 conference will include topics such as: Smart Decisions with Tomorrow’s Planter, Nutrient Application Technology for Maximum Profitability, The Foundation for Higher Ear Count, and more. Attendees will also be able to hear a new speaker, Commercial Agronomist Jason Webster, as well as resident Research Agronomist Cory Muhlbauer.