EU Approves 17 Biotech Traits for Import

John DavisAg Group, Agribusiness, ASA, biotechnology, Exports, GMO, Soybeans

asaAfter the European Commission had just proposed to let European Union (EU) states opt out of the import of food and feed containing biotechnology traits, the body seems to have reversed course a bit and approved 17 biotechnology traits for import. The news was met with guarded optimism from the American Soybean Association’s (ASA) First Vice President Richard Wilkins, a soybean farmer from Greenwood, Delaware, who was glad to see the traits include the Plenish and Vistive Gold high-oleic soybean varieties, as well as dicamba-tolerant and omega-3 soybeans.

“On the one hand, we’re happy to see these traits finally receive Commission approval after years of delay. The 17 products approved by the European Commission today have been pending for 69 months on average despite EU laws and regulations that foresee an 18-month time period for a decision. Whenever our technology partners bring a new trait to market, farmers in the U.S. aren’t able to fully recognize the benefits of products with those traits until they are accepted in all of our key export markets, so this is a big, big step forward. We are especially pleased with the announcement with regard to high-oleic soybeans, which will give food processors the frying and baking qualities they need in an oil without the need for partial hydrogenation which produces trans fats. Additionally, dicamba-tolerant soybeans will give soybean farmers another tool to prevent and manage weed resistance in their fields.

“On the other hand, however, this announcement means little if the EU persists in its current unscientific and delayed approval process for new varieties developed through biotechnology. Today more than 40 additional GM applications for import, submitted by various companies, remain pending in the EU system.”

Wilkins added that opting-out of a fully approved, safe GM product is a giant step backwards and would be in clear violation of the EU’s obligations under the World Trade Organization and would negatively impact U.S. soy exports to Europe.

Researchers Study Using Wastewater on Crops

John DavisAgribusiness, Research, Water Management

Kurt_Schwabe1A new study will look at the feasibility of using treated wastewater on crops. This news release from the University of California, Riverside says the school has partnered with The Hebrew University of Jerusalem to launch the two-year study they hope will lead to viable and cost-effective regional water reuse policies.

Kurt Schwabe, associate professor of environmental economics and policy and the project’s principal investigator, said the team will review existing research on using treated wastewater to improve the reliability of local water supplies; study the impact of treated wastewater on crop yields; and evaluate the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of new technologies for using treated wastewater on landscaping and agriculture.

The project, “Enhanced Resilience of Local Agricultural Water Supplies through Reuse of Municipal and Agricultural Water: A Dynamic Economic Analysis,” will initially be funded with a seed grant of approximately $300,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture-Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund partnership with Israel.

“The long-term goal is to determine the most cost-effective approach to utilizing treated wastewater with an eye toward water supply reliability and maintaining water quality standards,” Schwabe explained. “Given the integral role wastewater reuse will play in an agency’s water supply portfolio, a clearer understanding of reuse possibilities and their implications on agency costs can be helpful. Yet to identify cost-effective solutions to these problems requires an interdisciplinary approach. Collaborating with researchers in engineering, economics and soil science is a much more effective strategy to solve issues than a piecemeal or siloed approach.”

The work is seen as reflecting what many communities in the U.S., and especially California this year, experience in the form of short-term and long-term drought situations and how those areas could benefit from such an analysis.

Bayer Celebrates 10th Anniversary of One Ton Club

John DavisAgribusiness, Bayer CropScience, Cotton

bayer CropScienceBayer CropScience is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the FiberMax One Ton Club and honored 183 growers for hitting the 2,000-pound-per-acre yield during 2014.

During its first decade, the FiberMax One Ton Club has recognized 806 cotton growers who produced 2,000 pounds or more of lint cotton per acre on at least 20 acres using FiberMax cotton seed. In 2014, a grower from North Carolina became the first One Ton Club member from east of Texas. Growers have used 37 different FiberMax varieties to produce One Ton Club yields.

Bayer CropScience brought FiberMax cotton seed to the West Texas market in 1998 and revolutionized cotton production on the High Plains. The region once known for producing lower yields and quality began producing some of the highest yields and best quality in the United States.

Lee Rivenbark, head of Seeds North America for Bayer CropScience, remembers those early days when growers first started achieving yields that were previously unknown in West Texas.

Willem and Ruth Hartman, OTC truck winners“By elevating the use of water management, equipment and technology, these innovative growers showed they could successfully manage for high yields and high quality with FiberMax cotton,” Rivenbark said. “We began to hear stories about 2,000-pound cotton yields, and we needed to come up with a way to recognize producers who grew four-bale cotton. Then a grower told us, ‘It’s not just four-bale cotton. It’s a ton of cotton.’”

Willem and Ruth Hartman, first-year One Ton Club members from Pampa, Texas, won a Ford F-350 Super Duty King Ranch truck in a sweepstakes for all One Ton Club members. Read More

Zetor Debuts New 150 Horsepower Forterra HD

John DavisAgribusiness, Equipment, Tractor

zetorforterraZetor North America has added a new tractor to its offerings. The new 150 horsepower Forterra HD is the company’s most powerful, top of the line tractor.

Zetor Tractors has expanded its range of farm tractors for the US and Canadian markets with the 150hp Forterra HD. The objective was to introduce a high horsepower tractor with a four-cylinder engine offering fuel economy and low operating costs that no six-cylinder tractor with the same power can match, while also delivering the durability and reliability Zetor Forterra tractors have been known for almost 20 years. All that at a very attractive price.

Forterra HD tractors feature a unique combination of high power and torque, extreme fuel efficiency and high operator’s comfort. Equipped with the top version of the proven and highly popular Zetor 4-cylinder engine with Zetor 16-valve technology, it is one of the most fuel efficient tractors on the world market. At the same time, Zetor inline injection pump and mechanical injectors are simple in design, and their long track record shows very low operating costs, high reliability, and long life expectancy, compared with common-rail systems. Engine balancing shafts make the HD engine run as smooth as any six-cylinder, while reducing noise levels.

Forterra HD is equipped with proven 30/30 power shuttle transmission introduced in 2012 in the HSX series. New for HD is PTO clutch control that automatically adjusts the startup speed depending on the implement for fast but smooth engagement at all times.

To enhance operator’s comfort, Forterra HD has a significantly extended wheelbase so the comfort is fully comparable to six-cylinder tractors. The inside noise has been reduced by 3dBA.

More information is available at your nearest local dealer. Find them here.

DuPont to Buy Taxon Biosciences

John DavisAgribusiness, Dupont Crop Protection, Dupont Pioneer

duponttaxonDuPont will buy leading microbiome discovery company Taxon Biosciences, Inc. This company news release says the deal will build on DuPont’s in-house capabilities and market access in both seed and crop protection to discover and commercialize biological solutions for agriculture customers globally.

“In 2014, the businesses in DuPont’s Agriculture, Nutrition & Health and Industrial Biosciences segments sold more than $1 billion in biological solutions across four market sectors. Our in-house, cross-business venture, DuPont Biologicals, draws on our world-class science and deep understanding of food and production agriculture markets to deliver value-added crop biological solutions,” said Executive Vice President James C. (Jim) Borel. “Taxon has built a leading technology platform for the discovery of microbial based products that will further strengthen our capabilities in biologicals.”

Based in Tiburon, Calif., Taxon was founded in 2000, by leading microbial geneticists Matt Ashby and Jasper Rine, with the objective of developing a transformational microbial genomics platform to solve critical challenges in agriculture, energy and health sciences. The company holds a broad intellectual property estate in the field of microbial consortia and microbial genomics products which will contribute to the development of new DuPont seed treatment, foliar and soil application products for important row crops, fruits and vegetables.

“The acquisition of Taxon will complement and enhance our in-house microbial discovery programs,” said Frank DeGennaro, director of DuPont Biologicals. “With this added capability, we expect to accelerate our time from discovery to market and we are field testing biological discovery leads identified by Taxon this year.”

“DuPont has a legacy of innovation, and we are excited to join the company in transforming the future of global agriculture through crop biologicals,” said Glenn Nedwin, chief executive officer and president, Taxon Biosciences, Inc. “Our unique technology platform coupled with DuPont’s robust research capabilities and positioning across several markets makes the integration of Taxon into DuPont a natural fit and will support DuPont’s ability to bring new products to the market, faster.”

Crop biologicals, including microbes, plant extracts, and other natural substances used to control pests and improve plant health, quality and yield, can provide more choice and flexibility for growers, and complement leading-edge solutions for growers available from DuPont Crop Protection and DuPont Pioneer.

Granular Buys AcreValue

John DavisAgribusiness

granularAgriculture software and analytics company Granular bought farmland real estate evaluation business AcreValue. This company news release says the deal enhances Granular’s service offerings to the farmland market and gives farmers and potential investors valuable information into land values across the country.

The free service allows buyers, sellers, agents and other interested parties to browse AcreValue estimates using a map-based interface. Users will also be able to download reports on each field that includes valuable data on soil type, topography, crop history, basis trends and other important features, as well as produce estimates of the value of individual fields. These estimates have proven accurate to the level where they provide useful guidance to farmland buyers and sellers.

“Acquiring or leasing more acres at the right price is a top priority for members of Granular’s professional farm network,” said Sid Gorham, Granular’s CEO. “We believe that AcreValue will make the farmland resale and rental markets more convenient, transparent and efficient. This is an exciting new service the market has been waiting for and we will continue to invest in its expansion so it can benefit Granular subscribers and the agriculture industry more broadly.”

“The idea for AcreValue came out of my own family’s discussions about valuing our farmland in Iowa,” said Christopher Seifert, AcreValue’s CEO. “Granular’s vision of adding technology innovation to the farmland and agricultural market makes it a perfect acquiring partner for AcreValue. I’m excited to build out the service as part of the Granular team and to work with its base of industry-leading farmers. We hope AcreValue helps the farmland market like Zillow has the residential real estate market.”

As part of the deal, Seifert joins Granular to head the agronomy data science team.

White House Climate Initiative Announced

Cindy ZimmermanAudio, climate, USDA

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and presidential advisor Brian Deese visited Michigan State University Thursday to announce a comprehensive national strategy to partner with farmers, ranchers and forest land owners to address the threat of climate change. The new initiative, “Building Blocks for Climate Smart Agriculture & Forestry”, will utilize voluntary, incentive-based conservation, forestry, and energy programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase carbon sequestration and expand renewable energy production in the agricultural and forestry sectors.

climate-deese“This is an innovative and creative effort to look across all of USDA’s programs and put forward voluntary and incentive-based programs that will increase the bottom lines of ranchers and farmers while reducing net greenhouse gas emissions,” said Deese. “Taken together, these partnerships will reduce emissions by 120 million metric tons or two percent of our economy-wide emissions in 2025 – exactly the collaborative, bold action this moment demands of us.”

climate-vilsack“American farmers and ranchers are leaders when it comes to reducing carbon emissions and improving efficiency in their operations. That’s why U.S. agricultural emissions are lower than the global average,” said Vilsack, who was joined by agricultural producers and other private partners in Michigan. “Through incentive-based initiatives, we can partner with producers to significantly reduce carbon emissions while improving yields, increasing farm operation’s energy efficiency, and helping farmers and ranchers earn revenue from clean energy production.”

Listen to or download announcement here: [wpaudio url=”http://www.zimmcomm.biz/usda/climate-4-23-15.mp3″ text=”White House Climate Change initiative announcement”]

Soybean Leaders Talk Biotech in China

Cindy ZimmermanASA, Audio, International, Soybeans, trade, USB

round-soyRepresentatives from U.S. soybean organizations are in China this week joining their counterparts from several other countries to discuss the biotech-approval process there.

United Soybean Board (USB) chairman Bob Haselwood of Kansas, the American Soybean Association (ASA) president Wade Cowan of Texas, and the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) chair Laura Foell of Iowa teamed up with their fellow soybean farmers from Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay and Canada, representing the International Soy Growers Alliance (ISGA).

“We met with Chinese buyers, government officials and influencers to discuss the importance of timely, science-based approvals for biotech soybeans,” said Foell during a press call from China today, noting that they brought with them a white paper that shows the economic impact of slow approvals. “This data helps put a value on the problems caused by the biotech approval system (in China).”

Haselwood said some may question why they are partnering with other countries that compete with U.S. producers. “We do represent over 90 percent of the exportable soybeans and that is a force to be reckoned with,” he said.

“It’s very important that we come together with our partners in South America and develop a working relationship and that we come with a united message,” added Cowan.

Listen to the press conference here: [wpaudio url=”http://www.zimmcomm.biz/usb/isga-4-23-15.mp3″ text=”Soybean stakeholder press conference from China”]

EU Plan Would Allow Countries to Ban Biotech

Cindy ZimmermanASA, biotechnology, trade

european-commA new proposal by the European Commission which would allow member countries to ban the import of food and feed containing biotech ingredients, causing a concern for U.S. agricultural interests.

“We are very disappointed by today’s announcement of a regulatory proposal that appears hard to reconcile with the EU’s international obligations,” said United States Trade Representative Michael Froman. “Moreover, dividing the EU into 28 separate markets for the circulation of certain products seems at odds with the EU’s goal of deepening the internal market. At a time when the U.S. and the EU are working to create further opportunities for growth and jobs through the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, proposing this kind of trade restrictive action is not constructive.”

American Soybean Association Vice President Richard Wilkins of Delaware expressed concerns about the impact of the plan on EU’s existing international trade obligations as well as the ongoing T-TIP negotiations. “The World Trade Organization has ruled against the EU for not operating a timely and science-based approval process, and today’s decision would create new WTO violations by allowing member states to restrict these imports based on something as trivial as political or popular whims,” said Wilkins. “We believe this proposal, if finalized, would negatively impact U.S. soy trade with the EU.”

The proposal still must be adopted by the 28 EU member states and the EU parliament, but no timeline has been set for that.

Trimble Acquires HarvestMark

Jamie JohansenAgribusiness, Company Announcement, Food, Trimble

trimbleTrimble announced that it has acquired the assets of HarvestMark®, a provider of food traceability and quality inspection solutions, from YottaMark, Inc. of Redwood City, Calif. HarvestMark is a market leader in delivering insights throughout the fresh food supply chain from farm to fork. Its platform and tools make food data collection efficient, complex information simple to view and prioritize, and provides actionable insights to drive sales and profit. HarvestMark enables food producers, distributors and retailers to meet food safety requirements, build shopper loyalty, secure their supply chain and optimize product freshness and quality. The acquisition of HarvestMark further enhances Trimble’s position in Agriculture and Transportation and Logistics within the food supply chain.

Screen Shot 2015-04-23 at 8.46.06 AMThe HarvestMark portfolio includes four software-as-a-service products:
– PTI & Item Level Traceability is affordable software that enables food producers, retailers and food service companies to comply with the Produce Traceability Initiative and create visibility throughout the supply chain.It provides an easy way to create rich analytics to improve performance from a product’s source to the end consumer.
– DC Insights is a flexible, ERP agnostic mobile application that prioritizes and guides quality inspections, provides analytics for improved buying and gross margin, and creates visibility in real time with automated performance reports and supplier notifications.
– Retail Insights is a lightweight, mobile application that allows retailers, food service companies and food producers to easily collect and synthesize food data, prioritize companies’ initiatives and ensure execution of priorities with real time—and trended—information.
– Connect is a platform that allows retailers and food producers to engage their customers, share details about particular products and buying practices, suggest recipes and complimentary products, and receive customer feedback.

The food industry is being transformed by demands for greater transparency, quality and safety, creating opportunities to provide meaningful analysis of food from the farm to the fork. HarvestMark provides applications for food producers, distributors and retailers to address these demands to deliver predictably higher quality, fresh food to build buyer loyalty, drive sales and improve profitability.

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