Bayer Focuses on Credenz Soybeans in Midwest

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, Audio, Research, Soybeans

The expanded facility in Illinois is Bayer’s third grand opening of a research station in the past few days, says Marc Hoobler, Soybean Seed Product Manager.

“This faculty will specifically focused on Midwest soybean growers, so maturity groups two and three,” Hoobler explained. “Especially for the state of Illinois, we’re going to be providing new genetics that will be coming to the market and help growers manage several things in their field from nematodes and disease to insects and different herbicide trait platforms in soybeans to help them manage their weeds. Just a lot of new innovation coming out of Bayer.”

This new innovation will center around soybeans, so for Bayer that means a focus on their flagship brand, Credenz. Credenz offers state-of-the-art technology from a herbicide standpoint, Hobbler says, and gives growers dealing with glyphosate or PPO resistance another choice in the LibertyLink trait.

The expansion doubles the size of the facilities dedicated to understanding soybean traits and crop protection products, Brent Philbrook, Agronomic Development Director said. This new space demonstrates Bayer’s commitment to soybeans and the need to develop cultivators that cast a broader net.

“Bayer has made significant commitments and put a lot of energy into expanding their trait development and particularly their soybean breeding efforts to bring Credenz varieties to the U.S. soybean growers,” Philbrook notes.

Listen to Cindy Zimmerman’s full interview with both Hoobler and Philbrook to learn more about the new research center and Credenz soybeans:[wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/bayer-il-hoobler.mp3″ text=”Interview Marc Hoobler”] [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/bayer-il-brent.mp3″ text=”Interview with Brent Philbrook”]

Bayer Soybean Research – Illinois

ASA DuPont Young Leaders Complete Training

Kelly MarshallAg Group, ASA, Dupont Crop Protection, Dupont Pioneer

American Soybean Association (ASA) DuPont Young Leaders have finished their training, focusing on leadership, marketing, issues and discussions. Training took place in conjunction with the Commodity Classic Convention and Trade Show in San Antonio, Texas.

“For more than 30 years, the ASA DuPont Young Leader program has identified new and emerging leaders for the soybean industry. The program provides training that strengthens their voices while networking opportunities create a connected and more collaborative organization,” said ASA President Ron Moore. “We’re grateful to DuPont Pioneer and DuPont for their commitment to this program and for helping secure the future of the soybean industry.”

The 2017 Class of Young Leaders includes: Cade Grace (AL); Layne & Ryane Miles (AR); Brock Willard (IL); Jonathan & Derika Spaetti (IN); Alex Brownlee (IA); Casey Schlichting (IA); Brandon & Blair Geiger (KS); Brett Neibling (KS); Kyle Bugg (KY); Mike & Lindsey Gaspard (LA); Angela & Wenceslaus Provost (LA); Andrew Crawford (MI); Matthew & Jessica Swoish (MI); Trevore Brekken (MN); Chad & Monica McCollough (MO); Blake Hokamp (NE); Leslie Hamilton & Dan Stein (NY); Greg Manning & Jessica Harris (NC); Kasey Bitz (ND); Trish Levering (OH); Jean Lam (OK); Jeff & Janie Harrison (Ontario, Canada); Justin & Jessica Rivers (SC); Nick & Shelly Lorang (SD); Rob Holman (TN); Doug & Britni Singleteary (TN); Grayson Kirby & Cindy Dykes (VA); Wes & Amanda Marshall (VA) and Tony & Katie Mellenthin (WI).

Bayer Invests Big for Soybeans

Kelly MarshallAudio, Bayer CropScience, Research, Soybeans

ASA president Ron Moore, with Linda Kull and Jim Martin from Illinois Soybean Assn. at Bayer grand opening

Soybean growers are pleased with Bayer’s increased investment in the research and development of new soybean varieties.

“It’s outstanding that Bayer has put up a billion dollars to expand their soybean breeding all across the United States,” said American Soybean Association president and Illinois farmer Ron Moore. “Looks like Bayer is recognizing that soybeans are an important crop for their business.”

Moore, who farms in Roseville, Illinois, attended the grand opening of Bayer’s expanded breeding and trait development station in Champaign last week along with representatives from the Illinois Soybean Association research program director Linda Krull, and local district director Jim Martin of Pontiac, Illinois.

In this interview, Moore also talks about the importance of research funding for agriculture in the next farm bill, and activities this National Ag Week on Capitol Hill. [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/bayer-il-asa-moore.mp3″ text=”Interview with ASA president Ron Moore”]

Bayer Soybean Research – Illinois

FMC Receives Extended Approval for Topguard Terra

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, Audio, Farm & Gin Show, FMC, Weed control

Ken Smith, FMC Technical Service Representative for Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma, says Topguard Terra fungicide is something cotton growers are going to adopt. At the recent Mid-South Farm and Gin Show he explained how the product controls cotton root rot, a problem that has plagued cotton growers in the southwest since it was brought into the country, comparing it to the boll weevil in terms of severity.

And just as exciting as having a product that offers growers a solution to cotton root rot is the recent announcement that the USDA is expanding its usage.

“In the state of Texas we can apply this now either as a pre-plant injection; pre-plant injection means we can go out before planting and apply this in a strip or a furrow below the seed zone and then we come back and plant right on top of that. The other way we can put this out is behind the press wheel. We put a band right behind the press wheel in a three inch band. It’s what we’d call pre-emerge if we were doing other herbicides,” Smith explains. “The other technique that was approved through 2-EE is post emergence. We can go over the top of post emergent cotton with a band or we can direct it underneath the leaves in band right at the base of the stem.”

The new approvals are significant because it saves farmers on labor and allows them to put product in the field either before or after that critical planting window. Topguard Terra can also be applied through a drip irrigation system, making even more versatile.

Learn more about this product in Jamie Johansen’s interview with Ken Smith here: [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/farm-gin-fmc-cotton.mp3″ text=”Interview with Ken Smith, FMC”]

Mid-South Farm & Gin Show

Coverage of the Mid-South Farm & Gin Show is sponsored by
Coverage of the Mid-South Farm & Gin Show is sponsored by FMC

High Oleic Soybeans Growing Rapidly

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, Dupont Pioneer, Soybeans

Traditional soybean oil turns rancid rather quickly, limiting shelf life or needing hydrogen gas to be added, creating trans fats. Pioneer’s Plenish soybeans offer three times the shelf life of conventional beans without hydrogenation. Maybe that’s why growers will plant more than 600,000 acres in Indiana and Ohio, as well as Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. With yields that compare to Pioneer’s top varieties, the company is targeting 15 million acres to be planted to high-oleic soybeans in the future, aiming to replace cotton as the 4th largest crop in the U.S.

“Anywhere serious bean production occurs and there is processing plant access, we think, is an opportunity for Plenish,” said Russ Sanders, director of food and industry markets at DuPont Pioneer. “As volume grows, there are more delivery locations and more delivery windows for farmers and more seed products to choose from as we expand our portfolio. Those economics favor us as we increase our scale.”

INNVICTIS Announces Soybean Herbicide

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, Herbicides, Weed control

The EPA has granted registration for INNVICTIS CROP CARE, LLC‘s VANDAL MOC, a multi-mode of action soybean herbicide especially effective on glyphosate resistant weeds like waterhemp and palmar amaranth. It offers a flexible application window and a 45 to 60 day residual. It is labeled for pre-plant and pre-emerge and can be used on sunflowers or dry shelled peas as well.

“A good soybean production plan starts with excellent weed control. Having a pre-emergent herbicide product that incorporates a multi-mode of action approach is crucial. VANDAL MOC is our first line of defense which offers both group 14 and 15 MOA support for an excellent addition in our soybean production system,” says Will Scott, Tech Services and Market Development Manager for INNVICTIS.

Agri-Pulse Farm Bill Summit

Cindy ZimmermanAg Group, Audio, Farm Bill, Policy

Setting up official National Ag Day Activities Tuesday in Washington, DC, Agri-Pulse is holding a Farm Bill Summit today, part of their on-going Farm Bill Series.

Over 400 industry representatives, congressional staff members, and invited guests are gathering for the day long event that features farm bill veterans and policy experts discussing the road that lies ahead for the 2018 farm bill negotiations. Sponsors include the American Farm Bureau Federation, American Sugar Alliance, Association of Equipment Manufacturers, Farm Credit, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, National Crop Insurance Services, Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, FLM+, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, CropLife America, National Farmers Union, and Environmental Defense Fund.

Watch the Twitter hashtag #FarmBillSummit today and watch for our coverage of the event on AgWired.

In this podcast, Agri-Pulse president Sara Wyant talks about this premiere event: [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcast/zimmcast539-3-16-17.mp3″ text=”Agri-Pulse Farm Bill Summit”]

Wilkins Testifies to House Ag on Research Funding

Kelly MarshallAg Group, ASA, Farm Bill, Research

ASA Chairman Richard Wilkins (center) testifies on the importance of research funding in the farm bill, along with Dr. Jay Akridge (left), dean of agriculture at Purdue University, representing the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU), and Jim Carrington (right), Donald Danforth Plant Science Center president.

Richard Wilkins, soybean farmer from Greenwood, Delaware, Chairman of the American Soybean Association (ASA) and vice president of the National Coalition for Food and Agriculture Research (NCFAR) testified before the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture and Research on the role of public-sector research in providing innovations for the ag community.

His testimony urged members of Congress to support research at the USDA in the 2018 Farm Bill. Failure to provide public research presents a danger in terms of missed opportunity, Wilkins said.

“We as a nation are not investing enough in in publicly funded research to permit discovery necessary to regain and then maintain our nation’s place as the leader in agricultural research. Federal funding for food and agricultural research, extension and education has been essentially flat for over 20 years despite much greater demonstrated needs, and has reportedly declined by about 25 percent in real terms since 2003. At the same time support for other federal research has increased substantially. Our nation’s competitiveness in global markets is at risk, as investments in food and agricultural science by our global competitors have been growing rapidly.“

#Classic17 Announces Second Largest Event!

Kelly MarshallCommodity Classic

Despite some challenging economic times in farm country this year, thousands headed to San Antonio earlier this month to “Farmer Up!” and attend the 2017 Commodity Classic.

The final total for attendance was 9,303 – second only to last year’s Classic in New Orleans. That total included over 4100 growers and 920 first time attendees.

“Commodity Classic continued in its tradition of excellence this year, demonstrating the enthusiasm America’s farmers have for continuous learning and improvement,” said Commodity Classic Co-Chair Kevin Ross of Iowa. “From the exhibit halls to the learning sessions, the men and women who attended generated an electric energy sparked by their passion for agriculture.”

The trade show featured 425 participating companies, including 83 first-time exhibitors who filled 2,266 booth spaces and represented a wide range of technology, innovation, equipment, products and services.

We have most of our stories from Classic done at this point – you can find links to everything in the Commodity Classic virtual newsroom. Thanks to all of the great companies who made it possible for us to being Classic to you!

2017 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Commodity Classic coverage made possible by
Commodity Classic coverage made possible by FMCCommodity Classic coverage made possible by John Deere

Bayer Celebrates New $8 Million Research Center

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, Audio, Bayer CropScience, Research, Soybeans, Video

On Thursday, Bayer wrapped up a week of grand openings by celebrating the expansion of the Soybean Breeding and Trait Development Center in Champaign County, Illinois. The new station will house research and development to identify, develop and test new varieties, using modern breeding methods, pushing the limits of yield potential for growers in the Midwest.

The expansion is part of a three-year, $1 billion commitment from Bayer to invest in new research facilities, expansions and renovations around the country.

Listen to the complete press conference about expansion and future research here: [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/bayer-il-opening.mp3″ text=”Midwest Field Tech Station Soybean Breeding & Trait Development Presser”]

View and download photos from the event here: Bayer Soybean Research – Illinois