NCGA Corn Board Members Elected

Kelly MarshallAg Group, NCGA

NCGA-LogoThe National Corn Growers Association‘s Corn Congress elected five new farmers to serve on the Corn Board this week.  The new board members will begin their terms on October 1; the start of the NCGA’s fiscal year.  New members are: Chris Edgington of Iowa, Don Glenn of Alabama, Tom Haag of Minnesota and John Linder of Ohio. A current board member, Kevin Ross of Iowa, was re-elected.

“Again this year, we had an impressive slate of candidates for the Corn Board, growers who already have an extensive history of service to American agriculture,” NCGA Chairman Martin Barbre, who chairs the nominating committee, said. “It inspires me to see such an interest on the part of these growers, particularly at this time when our industry faces so many challenges. I am certain they will be a valuable addition to the board and look forward to see what they do for corn farmers I the years to come.”

Chris Edgington has been serving on NCGA’s Trade Policy and Biotechnology Action, as well as acting as chair for the Iowa Corn Promotion Board.

Don Glenn has previously chaired NCGA’s Production and Stewardship Action Team and Mycotoxin Task Force, and has also served on the Ethanol Committee.  He has also been a president of the Alabama Soybean and Corn Association.

Tom Haag is a graduate of the Advanced Leadership Program and a member of the NCGA Research and Business Development Action Team.  Previously Haag has chaired the Grower Services Action Team and been a past president of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association.

John Linder has worked as chair of the Ohio Corn Marketing Program and been a member of the Ag Credit Co-op Board of Directors.  He now serves as chair of the NCGA Trade Policy and Biotechnology Action Team.

Current Corn Board member, Kevin Ross, is the board liaison to the Trade Policy and Biotechnology Action Team and the 2017 Commodity Classic Joint Venture Committee co-chair.  He has previously chaired the Finance Committee and is a past president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association.

The NCGA Corn Board is responsible for directing policy and day-to-day operations.  They supervise NCGA activities and affairs and implement NCGA policy.  Members also act as spokespeople for the organization.

NREC Hosts 2016 Field Days

Kelly MarshallAg Group, Events

Illinois NRECThe Illinois Nutrient Research and Education Council is hosting three field days, each focusing on a different research project.

The July 27th event will cover the Impact of Cover Crops on Water Quality and Nutrient Efficiency in Towanda, Illinois.  Presenters include Dr. Catherine O’Reilly, an Associate Professor at Illinois State University, and members of Dr. Shalamar Armstrong’s research team.  Registration is not required for this event.

A discussion of multifunctional buffers on marginal farmland will take place on August 18th at Urbana, Illinois, immediately following Agronomy Day. Dr. Sarah Taylor Lovell, Assistant Professor of Landscape Agroecology in the Department of Crop Sciences at University of Illinois, will give the presentation.  Registration is not required for this event either, and additional details may be found here.

The final field day is scheduled for August 19th at the Dudley Smith farm between Pana and Taylorville.  Dr. Cameron Pittelkow and Dr. Laura Christianson  from the Department of Crop Sciences, Dr. Bhattarai of Agriculture and Biological Engineering and Extension specialist Gary Letterly will offer information about balancing water quality and nutrient management for sustainable corn production.  To attend this event, please register here.

A flyer with times and locations of each event is available on the website.

Is the Trump-Pence Republican Ticket Good for Ag?

Joanna SchroederAgribusiness, ZimmPoll

zp-nh1Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What do you think about the Senate’s GMO Disclosure Bill?

The Senate has passed it’s version of the GMO Disclosure Bill followed by the House passing the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard, and the President is expected to sign the bill into law soon. However, 40 percent of voters believe the legislation is bad for everyone.

Zimmie Poll Results

Here are the poll results:
Good for Ag – 10%
Good for consumers – 5%
Good for both – 25%
Bad for everyone – 40%
Other – 20%

 

Our new ZimmPoll is live and asks the question, Is the Trump-Pence Republican ticket good for agriculture and biofuels? During his campaigning Trump has been a vocal supporter of biofuels visiting an ethanol plant in Iowa last summer and has repeatedly said he could “be a farmer“. However, one-term Indiana Governor Mike Pence is being heralded by the ag industry as understanding and supporting many facets of agriculture from small farms to large agribusinesses.

Catch up with CropTrak at #InfoAg

Chuck ZimmermanAudio, CropTrak, InfoAg

CropTrakIt’s CropTrak now (not iCropTrak) as the company has changed the name slightly. You will see it on full display at the upcoming InfoAg Conference in St. Louis, MO. I’ll be there and will stop to visit CropTrak and I hope you will too.

I visited with Jonathan Sherrill, Central Business Lead at CropTrak / Cogent3D, Inc., to find out what the company has been up to lately. I wanted to get the full preview of what they will unveil at InfoAg but we’re just going to have to wait for the show to see that. However, what Jonathan told me is that the company has had a single minded focus on customer needs to solve problems and not just create new technologies to help sell more chemicals, seed and services. Those problems they’ve been solving involve the large amount of paperwork that farmers have to do today. Depending on the crop there can be a vast amount of paperwork today that includes insurance forms, n-application forms, water use forms. Just forms, forms, forms!

You can listen to my interview with Jonathan here to learn more about what CropTrak is doing: [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/croptrak-7-7-16-sherrill.mp3″ text=”Jonathan Sherrill, CropTrak”]

Don’t forget to visit CropTrak at booth #32 in the trade show at InfoAg!

.@DuPontPioneer Introduces Tech to Boost Soy Yields

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, biotechnology, Dupont Pioneer, Soybeans, technology, yields

Dupont PioneerDuPont Pioneer is introducing Accelerated Yield Technology (AYT) 4.0. This technology will more than double the rate of genetic gain of the soybean varieties in Pioneer’s research pipeline, translating to greater yield potential in the field and a reduced time to bring new products to market.

“This is revolutionary technology that is helping deliver higher yielding soybeans to market faster than ever before,” said Paul Stephens, DuPont Pioneer senior director for soybean research. “In my three decades of soybean variety improvement work, I have never seen rates of genetic gain as high as AYT 4.0 is producing.”

The average year-to-year yield improvement for soybeans in the United States is about half a bushel per acre. With AYT 4.0 Pioneer has more than doubled this rate of genetic gain of varieties in the Pioneer pipeline.

AYT 4.0 is an advanced proprietary soybean breeding approach focused on increasing yield. It uses sophisticated analytics and cutting-edge computing to evaluate millions of points of genetic data gathered across hundreds of thousands of local plots each season. By applying these results, DuPont Pioneer researchers identify and advance the highest yielding varieties within the Pioneer soybean research program.

The first generation of Accelerated Yield Technology was introduced in 2007.  It used a molecular marker technique to enhance yields for a select group of commercial soybean varieties.  Now the 4.0 version will be used across the entire early-stage soybean breeding program, allowing scientist to identify the highest yielding varieties.  The process allows Pioneer to cut product development time down to five to seven years.

“AYT 4.0 gives us the most detailed understanding of the soybean genome we’ve ever had,” said Stephens. “Just a few years ago our researchers could only dream of applying the precise breeding activities that we are routinely doing today. It is important that we continue to push the boundaries of our science to deliver better products to our customers.”

The first commercial soybean variety from AYT has been released and 2017 expects to see the majority of new varieties coming from this technology.  Pioneer anticipates the coming years will result in all commercial brands being produced with AYT 4.0.

“Many growers are already experiencing the increased yields AYT 4.0 delivers,” Stephens said. “Pioneer® variety P31T11R is the first commercial variety developed using AYT 4.0. In 2015, it delivered a yield advantage of 3.8 bu/acre against similar maturing varieties in Iowa. This outstanding yield potential, coupled with a great defensive package, has already made it one of our top-selling varieties.”

Friday in the Field Focuses on Nitrogen Management

Joanna SchroederEvents, Fertilizer, Nitrogen

logosAgro Liquid, in partnership with AgPhD, is hosting a Friday in the Field event with a focus on responsible nitrogen management. The event is taking place on Friday, July 29, 2016 from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm in Michigan, at the North Central Research Station. Attendees will learn about experiments conducted to determine the best nitrogen management practices, as nitrogen is one of the largest input costs for a growers.

The experiments consisted of a series of nitrogen rates that were applied to corn plots in two states after planting. Some plots received only 50 pounds of nitrogen (as UAN) with the intention of applying more at sidedress time. In these plots, different nitrogen guidance tools were  employed to determine sidedress application rates:

  • Pre-Sidedress Nitrate Test, or PSNT
  • Weather monitoring tools
  • Farmer’s ‘Instinct’ where each option was applied to a sidedress plot, and yields will be compared at season’s end. These will also be compared to the single early applications, as well as the ‘same-as-always’ application rate.

Which of these will provide the best yield response? Which will prove most profitable? Learn the answers at the AgroLiquid / Ag PhD Friday in the Field Learning Experience. For those who can’t attend, the experiments will be replicated at AgroExpo taking place in Michigan August 16-18, 2106. Click here for more information and to register.

Equipment Market Tracks Ahead of 5 Year Average

Kelly MarshallAEM, Agribusiness, environment

AEM AG June 2016 Data 5 Year - 1 BDThe Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) reports that U.S. sales of tractors and combines is tracking ahead of the 5-year average.  As 2016 hits the mid-year mark small tractors under 40 horsepower continue to lead the way, up 3 percent over last year.  Combine sales were also up in June, with 8 percent growth, although still down from last year.

“We have passed the midyear mark for 2016 and overall, tractor sales continue to show downward trends in the larger horsepower categories but when combined with the unit sales of smaller hp tractors, total tractor sales are tracking above the 5-year average,” said Charlie O’Brien, AEM senior vice president.

“While there have been monthly year-over-year fluctuations, currently the positive end of the market is still geared toward smaller equipment sales, which are tied to hobby farmers, landscaping (housing) and livestock. The larger production ag machinery continues to experience double-digit declines.

“Looking later into 2016 and going into 2017, it is important to consider the 2016 farm income forecasts, where the USDA foresees lower livestock receipts and higher crop receipts.”

You can view the full report here.

Alltech Crop Science Finalizes Registration in China

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, Alltech, International, Nutrient Management

Alltech Crop ScienceJuly is a month that calls attention to World Population Day and Alltech Crop Science  is taking stock of the technology needed to feed the world, specifically China.  The rapidly growing middle class in China is a large market that will need to feed itself, explains Vice President and head of Greater China for Alltech, Dr. Mark Lyons.  “For years, there has been much discussion about who will feed China,” he said. “The answer is: China will feed China.”

To that end Alltech’s China Now initiatives and Alltech Crop Science China have been working together to gain registration for two natural plant and soil activators.  These products are designed to streamline plant processes to offer optimal performance and to revitalize soil.

“The excellent results from the registration and demonstration trials conducted thus far make us extremely excited about the future of this technology in China and the role Alltech can play to support the development of new agricultural practices in this country,” said Dr. Xue Kai, technical and project manager for Alltech Crop Science China.

Currently China is the second largest producer of wheat, corn, potatoes and other commodities.  The nation’s population is also migrating to urban areas and demanding healthier, safer and more nutritious food.  To meet that need Dr. Lyons moved to China four years ago to head up Alltech’s efforts.  The company hopes to address common issues like nutrient management.

“Across the globe, farmers are working to become more precise with nutrient management,” explained Dr. Steven Borst, Alltech Crop Science compliance manager. “With our global experience, we can share best practices with producers and others involved in Chinese agribusiness.”

“Consumers and producers alike are demanding more natural alternatives and products that fit into sustainable management systems,” concluded Borst. “Alltech Crop Science is focused on providing new solutions that meet environmental sustainability and food safety standards.”

.@TheYieldLab Launches Yield Lab Galway

Joanna SchroederAgribusiness, technology

Galway, Ireland is the home of the latest Yield Lab. The Yield Lab was the first food and agriculture technology business accelerator launched in the U.S. The venture fund and business accelerator invests $100,000 in early stage food and ag technology (AgTech) start-ups. They also provide mentoring, free workspace and networking opportunities for businesses located in the St. Louis, Missouri area.

The Yield Lab logo“We believe finding innovative solutions to sustainably feed the world’s rapidly growing population is the biggest problem facing human kind today,” said Yield Lab Managing Director Thad Simons. “The launch of the Yield Lab Galway is the appropriate next step and will provide greater access to financial and strategic opportunities for both our St. Louis and Galway based investments.”

The Yield Lab Galway has been established on the same building blocks and strategy of sourcing, transacting, and mentoring as the Yield Lab in St. Louis. The fund plans to invest in 8- 12 companies over the next two years. Galway was the obvious choice to establish a European footprint, according to The Yield Lab, due to the strong relationship as a sister city with St. Louis. The city also offers a number of regional resources such as NUI Galway, GMIT, Mountbellew Agriculture College and a central location to the vast agricultural production in the west of Ireland. Galway has built itself into an entrepreneurial stronghold, boasting a thriving technology park and growing support ecosystem.

“AgTech companies work in a global economy and our goal is to build a bridge to St. Louis for Irish AgTech companies looking for a U.S. footprint,” said Joe Reagan, president & CEO of the St. Louis Regional Chamber. “In St. Louis, we are focused on supporting entrepreneurs and innovators, and our economic development strategies in the 21st Century must be bold and innovative as well.” The St. Louis Regional Chamber will make a founding investment in the Yield Lab Galway from its Spirit of St. Louis Ventures fund.

West Central Distribution Releases New Elite Adjuvants

Joanna SchroederFungicides, Herbicides, Pesticides, Spraying

West Central Distribution has a new line of Elite adjuvants: Veracity Elite, Jackhammer Elite and Cerium Elite. The line was designed to work alongside new herbicide technologies including dicamba and 2,4-D tolerance are introduced, the company says there is a need for new adjuvants to work with them, especially since many of them are not compatible with those that contain ammonium sulfate. When added to increasing requirements for drift reduction and on-target application, the adjuvant landscape is changing. The Elite adjuvants from West Central work with new herbicide technologies because they contain water conditioners without any ammonium sulfate, and do not affect the pH of the herbicide solution.

West-Central“We work to proactively help our retail customers protect growers’ investments and help them achieve a higher yield,” said Brian Kuehl, director of product development, West Central Distribution. “Our new family of Elite Adjuvants will help applicators and growers capitalize on the benefits of the new trait systems by ensuring on-target placement, coupled with unprecedented weed control.”

According to West Central, Veracity Elite an all-in-one adjuvant with an extremely low use rate of two quarts per 100 gallons. The principal functioning agents in this complete system encompass most applicator’s four greatest needs — water conditioner, quality surfactant, defoamer and enhanced drift reduction agents. Veracity Elite improves the performance of glyphosate and other herbicides that recommend a surfactant. This complete system, says West Central, also helps mitigate risk by improving drift control and off-target movement.

Jackhammer Elite is suited for situation where drift control is not required. The technology provides the same water conditioning function with an application rate of two quarts per 100 gallons. Jackhammer Elite also contains one of the most widely used surfactants in agriculture proven across millions of acres to increase glyphosate herbicide activity and maximize application effectiveness.

Cerium Elite is a patent pending surfactant that replaces traditional oil adjuvants and is applied at one quart per 100 gallons, a fraction of the traditional oil adjuvant use rate. This technology, says West Central, is a great solution for crop protection products where an oil concentrate, nonionic surfactant or improved deposition is required or recommended. Cerium Elite is also effective at reducing drift and off-target movement.