National FFA and AgriNovus Indiana Announce Blue Room

Agribusiness, AgWired Animal, AgWired Energy, AgWired Precision, Audio, Education, FFA

The National FFA Organization and AgriNovus Indiana have joined together to announce the “Blue Room” will debut at the 2018 National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis Oct. 24-27.

The Blue Room is the kickoff to Blue 365, an initiative that will bring this same innovation into classrooms and impact more than 650,000 members nationwide. FFA student members are the future leaders of the food industry, which is relying on this generation to meet unparalleled challenges to feed a growing world population.

The 17,000-square-foot interactive Blue Room will center on the challenges facing our community—from respecting the planet to the urgent matter of feeding the world. This cutting-edge approach will focus on experiential learning and thought-provoking exposure to the convergence of agriculture, technology, human health, engineering, and more.

Corteva Agriscience, the agriculture division of DowDuPont, and Elanco are also proud participating sponsors of The Blue Room and supporting partners of AgriNovus Indiana.

Making the Blue Room announcement Monday in Indianapolis were National FFA CEO Mark Poeschl, AgriNovus Indiana president and CEO Beth Bechdol, Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, and FFA alumnus Loren King. Listen to their remarks here: National FFA and AgriNovus Indiana Announce Blue Room

Doggett Interim CEO for NCGA as Novak Joins CropLife America

Ag Group, AgWired Animal, AgWired Energy, AgWired Precision, Corn, CropLife America

Jon Doggett has been named interim CEO for the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) starting August 1, taking over for Chris Novak, who becomes president and CEO of CropLife America (CLA) in August.

Novak will become just the fifth staff leader of CLA in its 85-year history on August 20. He replaces Jay Vroom, who has been CEO since 1989 and announced his plans to retire last year. Novak has served as NCGA CEO since October 2014, after six years as CEO of the National Pork Board.

Doggett has been with NCGA since 2002 and has served as Executive Vice President since 2014. Prior to that, he served as Vice President, Public Policy, and continues to manage the organization’s 11-person Washington office and lead its public policy efforts.

Raised on his family’s Montana ranch, Doggett has substantial knowledge of production agriculture and more than 30 years of agricultural policy experience. Before joining NCGA, Doggett served 11 years at the American Farm Bureau Federation, where he was the Bureau’s lead lobbyist on a number of public policy issues, including ethanol, climate change, land use, conservation, and endangered species. Doggett also worked for the National Cattleman’s Beef Association/Public Lands Council and served as senior legislative assistant for former Montana Congressman Ron Marlenee.

An announcement regarding the formal search process for a permanent CEO will be made at a later date.

GROWMARK Promotes Sustainability with Endure Initiative

agronomy, AgWired Precision, Audio, Growmark, sustainability

GROWMARK‘s Endure 4R Advocate Awards program and Enduring Farms program are working together to recognize individuals for using best management practices and to tell that story to those outside of agriculture who want to know how farmers are practicing stewardship on their land.

GROWMARK Director of Agronomy Marketing and Agronomy Services Ryan White says they continue to grow the programs, and for good reason.

“In the end, what we want to do with this program is to always find ways to work with farmers to improve, to tell the great story that farmers are already doing,” said White. “There are so many farmers who already put good practices – outstanding practices – to work every day to manage crop nutrients and crop inputs. Lifting those folks up as the best examples of what’s happening out there, and telling their stories to those outside our industry is very important, but it’s also great within our industry because we have those people that are doing exemplary work that we can point to.”

GROWMARK just recognized five FS crop specialists with the Endure 4R Advocate Awards. Earlier this year the company awarded 26 farmers with the Enduring Farms recognition. White said these individuals truly are leaders in the industry who work every day to do the right thing for their clients and on their farms.

Interview with Ryan White, GROWMARK

Congratulations to the 2018 Endure 4R Advocate award winners:

• Tim Berkland – GROWMARK – Iowa

• Gary Brandt – Gateway FS – Illinois

• Courtney Mahr – West Central FS – Illinois

• Sal Pustizze – GROWMARK FS – New Jersey

• Todd Wibben – Evergreen FS – Illinois

Erin Fitzgerald is New USFRA CEO

AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, USFRA

The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) has ended a five- month search for a new chief executive officer with the selection Erin Fitzgerald to lead the organization. Fitzgerald previously served as Senior Vice President, Global Sustainability for the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy®, a part of Dairy Management Inc. (DMI).

“The USFRA Board of Directors is pleased to hire Erin Fitzgerald as our new CEO,” said Chip Bowling, USFRA Vice Chair and Chair of the CEO Search Committee. “With an outstanding number of qualified candidates for the CEO position, Erin was the obvious choice to lead our organization through the next chapter of its history, and it was a unanimous decision by the board.”

Fitzgerald will lead USFRA as it approaches its eighth year as an organization with 100 affiliates and industry partners. “American farmers and ranchers have an incredible legacy and will define the sustainable food systems of the future – I am grateful for the privilege to continue to work for the farmers across the United States who are committed to stewardship and inspire a sustainable future,” said Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald will start with USFRA on July 16.

Enogen Waves Flag for Ethanol at NASCAR Race

AgWired Energy, AgWired Precision, Audio, Corn, Ethanol, NASCAR, Syngenta

For the sixth consecutive year, Syngenta Enogen sponsored NASCAR® racing at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa this past weekend.

The Iowa 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series race presented by Enogen on Sunday highlighted both corn and ethanol around the track and allowed Syngenta to thank some of the farmers who are enzyme suppliers for their local plants.

Chris Tingle, head of commercial operations for Enogen at Syngenta, says Enogen premiums-to-date paid to Enogen corn growers are expected to surpass $100 million this year. “This is a milestone year for Enogen corn and we are pleased to be able to take this opportunity to say thank you to the ethanol plants and corn growers who are making this game-changing technology a success. To do so in collaboration with NASCAR makes it even more special.”

NASCAR has been supporting American ethanol since 2011, when it began using Sunoco Green E15, (15 percent ethanol) in all three touring races. Grower account lead Craig Abell had the opportunity to check an item off his bucket list when he waved the green American Ethanol flag to start the race. “Been watching NASCAR for 30 years, so I’ve prepared for this moment my entire life!” said Abell

By the end of 2018, Syngenta anticipates more than 280 million bushels of Enogen corn will have been grown on nearly 1.5 million acres and contributed to approximately 7 billion gallons of ethanol produced.

Listen to interviews with Tingle and Abell to learn more about the Enogen technology and how it is helping both corn farmers and ethanol producers be more profitable.

Interview with Chris Tingle, Syngenta Enogen

Interview with Craig Abell, Syngenta Enogen

NASCAR Xfinity Series Iowa 250 presented by Enogen Photo Album

Precision Ag Bytes 6/20

AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes

  • Stine Seed Farm Inc, an affiliate of Stine Seed Company, has invested $5 million in Smart Ag Inc., an Iowa technology firm that has revolutionized automation in agriculture with the development of a full stack software platform and aftermarket kit for driverless tractors. The Stine Seed investment In Smart Ag’s Series Seed Round comes just five short months after Smart Ag unveiled its technology with the release of AutoCart, a software application that fully automates a grain cart tractor for use during harvest.
  • AgBiome, LLC, has recently been awarded a multi-year grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in the area of nematology. The project, entitled “Biological Nematicides for Root and Tuber Crops,” aims to discover and develop a microbial solution for smallholder farms in West Africa to manage yield-damaging plant-parasitic nematodes.
  • Kubota Tractor Corporation announced the completion of a 200-acre land purchase within Phase II of Logistics Park Kansas City in Edgerton, making the company the first major tenant for the industrial park.
  • Syngenta Seeds facilities in Iowa, Illinois and Minnesota have been recognized for outstanding safety performance in the workplace. The Jefferson, Iowa, Syngenta Seeds production and supply facility was honored by the Iowa-Illinois Safety Council(IISC). For the second year in a row, the Jefferson site earned the Presidential Award in Hazard Recognition, one of only five recipients of this honor given annually by the IISC. Employees at the Syngenta Seeds production and supply facility in Pekin, Illinois, recently celebrated 10 years without an injury in the workplace. This achievement represents more than 670,000 hours safely worked at the Pekin site, which was also recognized by the IISC for continuous improvement with the identification and control of workplace safety hazards. The Minnesota Safety Council recently recognized the Syngenta Seeds Amboy and Dassel, Minnesota, production and supply facilities with its highest level of recognition, the Governor’s Award of Honor.
  • The GO In-Depth Cover Crop Event 2018 was a great success! Catch up on all the speaker presentations by visiting the Grassland Oregon YouTube channel.
  • Five FS crop specialists are being recognized for their work with GROWMARK’s Endure 4R Advocate award. The 2018 winners include: Tim Berkland – GROWMARK – Iowa; Gary Brandt – Gateway FS – Illinois; Courtney Mahr – West Central FS – Illinois; Sal Pustizze – GROWMARK FS – New Jersey; and Todd Wibben – Evergreen FS – Illinois.

Bayer Hosts Pollinator Week Webinars

AgWired Precision, Bayer, Bees

In celebration of National Pollinator Week, Bayer is hosting live webinars showcasing innovative bee health research and practical applications for improving honey bee colony health.

This is the second year that Bayer has hosted the webinars featuring researchers working on projects funded through Bayer’s Healthy Hives 2020 initiative, in partnership with Project Apis m. and hosted by Bee Culture. New this year, they’ll be joined by beekeepers highlighting the practical applications and real-world implications of the researchers’ work in the bee health landscape.

Hive Management 2.0: Developing a Practical Tool for Commercial Beekeepers – Tuesday, June 19, 12 – 1 p.m. EDT
Featuring Dr. Brandon Hopkins, Assistant Professor, Department of Entomology at Washington State University, and Brody Tomazin, Commercial Beekeeper at 2J Honey Farms and Round Valley Honey Company and President, Idaho Honey Industry Association

The Changing Face of Deformed Wing Virus – Thursday, June 21, 12 – 1 p.m. EDT
Featuring Dr. Stephen Martin, Professor, School of Environment & Life Sciences at University of Salford, Manchester, UK, and Randy Oliver, Commercial Beekeeper and Founder of ScientificBeekeeping.com

Click here for more information and registration.

The Healthy Hives 2020 initiative is a $1 million research effort to improve the health of honey bee colonies in the U.S. by the end of 2020. The National Pollinator Week webinar series is an extension of Bayer’s commitment to research, education, partnerships and stewardship to address the needs of honey bees.

2018 Seed Industry Awards

AgWired Precision, ASTA, seed

The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) announced the winners of its 2018 seed industry awards last week during the Policy & Leadership Development Conference in Washington, D.C.

The ASTA Distinguished Service award was presented to Osama El-Lissy, Deputy Administrator for the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS) Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ). The award recognizes those whose efforts have made a significant contribution to the association and the seed industry.

The ASTA Honorary Lifetime Member award was presented to Wendell Howard, Warner Seed, Inc. Honorary Members distinguish themselves through leadership, vision and service.

During his career, Warner has held a number of volunteer leadership positions with the industry, including serving as President of the Texas Seed Trade Association from 1992-93, President of the Southern Seed Association in 1999, and President of the Western Seed Association in 2014.

John Deere Updates 9R Family of Tractors

AgWired Precision, John Deere, Precision Agriculture, Tractor

John Deere‘s 2019 lineup of large 9R, 9RT and 9RX tractors will feature technology updates and other enhancements.

For the first time, John Deere is offering a 120-inch track spacing option on 9470RX, 9520RX, 9570RX and 9620RX Series Four Track Ag Tractors equipped with 30- and 36-inch tracks.

“The extra wide stance of this machine is ideal for customers wanting to control traffic patterns and enhanced stability on hilly terrain,” says Tiffany Turner, product marketing manager, large tractors for John Deere. “A wider stance also makes it easier to perform daily maintenance and service plus it offers hassle-free material cleanout.”

Turner says customers requiring a John Deere 9RX equipped with a 3-point hitch must select the 87-inch track spacing option with the 30-inch tracks as the wider 120-inch track spacing is not compatible with a 3-point hitch.

Deere is also offering the option of a factory- or field-installed Hydraulic Intelligent Power Management (IPM™) system to boost tractor performance when operating implements requiring continuous hydraulic power. A factory-installed Generation 4 CommandCenter™ 18-1 Software update is also included as base equipment for model year 2019 on John Deere 9R, 9RT and 9RX Tractors. A CommandCenter AutoTrac™ activation comes with the MY 2019 update and provides a non-transferrable, machine-specific AutoTrac functionality on the integrated Gen 4 Command Center. The previously available Command Center Premium Activation will be discontinued and replaced with the 4600 CommandCenter Premium Activation 3.0 or 4600 CommandCenter Automation 1.0.

All Ag News DC Audio

AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Cotton, Farm Bill, farm broadcasting, Government

Last week was a busy one in Washington DC and that gave Tony St. James plenty of news to discuss with lawmakers and industry leaders during his second annual All Ag, All Day DC Capitol Ag Tour.

The purpose of the event is to talk with Congressional Representatives (House & Senate) who have a hand in policy that affects agriculture and rural America. Partners for the event include: Corn Producers Association of Texas (CPAT), Plains Cotton Cooperative Association (PCCA), Plains Cotton Growers (PCG), Southwest Council of Agribusiness (SWCA) and Texas Cattle Feeders Association (TCFA).

St. James interviewed more than a dozen members of the House and Senate agriculture committees, as well as policy representatives from organizations including American Farm Bureau, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, and the National Corn Growers Association. All of his audio is posted on the All Ag News website and available for your listening and downloading pleasure. Some really good and timely stuff here! Thanks, Tony!

2018 All Ag, All Day DC Capitol Ag Tour