Thursday December 11 Ag News

2014 Nebraska Cattlemen Annual Convention & Trade Show Open Today

Nebraska Cattlemen (NC) today opened the 2014 Convention Trade Show at Younes Conference Center in Kearney, Nebraska. The annual convention is NC’s largest event and features more than 80 exhibitor and vendor booths related to Nebraska agriculture.

“Nebraska Cattlemen is proud to provide learning and networking opportunities for agriculture professionals from across the state and nation,” said NC Executive Vice President Pete McClymont. “Each year, the event grows in size and scope as Nebraska solidifies her place as the global epicenter of the beef industry.”

The tradeshow will be open all day [Thursday, December 11, 2014] while NC committee meetings are held. Thursday’s schedule also includes the Annual Banquet and announcement of NC’s 2014 Industry Service Award winners and Hall of Fame honoree.

The convention will conclude Friday, December 12 with the NC Market Outlook and Annual Business Meeting.

More than 600 attendees have registered at the event. Walk-in registrations continue to be accepted in the Younes Conference Center lobby.



CVA Annual Meeting Highlights

The member-­‐owners of Central Valley Ag Cooperative (CVA) had their first Annual Meeting as a newly merged Cooperative on November 24, 2014. Over 200 Member-­‐Owners traveled to the Veterans for Foreign Wars facility in Columbus, NE  to  attend  the  meeting.  Central  Valley  Ag,  having  recently  merged  with  United  Farmers  Cooperative  provided  statistics  on  just  how  beneficial  the  recent  merger has  proven  to  be  for  it’s  member-­‐owners,  reporting  a  combined  $21.5  Million  in  Local  Net  Profit,  $17.3  Million  Cash  Returned  to  Member-­‐Owners  and  $38  Million Re-­‐invested in assets for the Member-­‐Owners. 

“These kind of results only happen by having great people,” said Carl Dickinson, CEO of Central Valley Ag. Carl went on to congratulate the attendees on forming what he believes  to  be  the  strongest  local  farmer-­‐owned  Cooperative  ever.  Dave  Beckman,  CVA’s Chairman on their Board of Directors couldn’t agree more. Dave spoke highly of  his  peers  saying,  “I  want  to  thank  the  board  of  directors  for  your  vision  for  the  future,  and  fulfilling  your  responsibility  as  a  board  member  to  the  Cooperative,  to position  CVA  to  give  our  members  the  best  possible  service  and  access  to  world  markets for generations to come.”

The Board of Directors of Central Valley Ag Cooperative (CVA) and United Farmers Cooperative (UFC) met July 1 to ratify the votes casted by their respective member-­‐owners  approving  the  merger  of  the  two  companies,  which  became  effective September 1, 2014. 



House Passes Fiscal Year 2015 Funding
 
Today, the House passed the 2015 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, funding much of the government through Sept. 30, 2015. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President and Victoria, Texas cattleman, Bob McCan says this appropriations bill contained many of the priorities for cattlemen and women.

“We were very happy to see a number of issues that have affected our producers addressed in this legislation,” said McCan. “It is clear that Congress recognizes and agrees that the Administration’s regulatory zeal has gone too far and if left unchecked, it will impede the economic growth of rural America.”

Key for cattlemen and women, the report language for the USDA contained a provision instructing the Secretary of Agriculture to submit a report with his recommendations for any changes in the Federal law required to bring the Country of Origin Labeling program into compliance with our international trade obligations. This report would need to be submitted within 15 days of the appeal decision from the WTO or by May 1, 2015, whichever comes first.

“The WTO ruling on the COOL rule was very clear that this provision discriminates against our largest trading partners,” said McCan. “Moreover, this failed legislation has cost U.S. cattle producers in the form of lost revenue and added costs for labeling, all for a program that has not shown benefits to consumers or greater consumption of beef. It is time to fix COOL before our economy is damaged by retaliatory tariffs or our trade relationships are permanently damaged. Failure to abide by our trade obligations sends a signal to our current and future trade partners that they too can pick and choose what provisions to abide by.”

The report also directs the Secretary of Agriculture, not to implement a duplicative beef checkoff.

“The Beef Checkoff Program is the most effective tool for cattle producers to invest in research, education and promotion of our product,” said McCan. “With 78 percent support by cattle producers and an $11.20 return on every dollar invested, the Beef Checkoff has been an immense success. Congress has made it clear that they support cattlemen and women and oppose a government-run, duplicative beef checkoff under the 1996 Generic Commodity Promotion, Research and Information Act.”

Importantly for producers the bill would also direct the Environmental Protection Agency to withdraw the Waters of the United States Interpretative rule.

“The EPA’s Interpretative rule would have had unintended consequences for agricultural producers nationwide, making the Natural Resources Conservation Service a regulatory agency by prescribing limited production practices,” said McCan. “While we, along with all of agriculture, were disappointed Congress did not defund EPA’s larger Waters of the United States efforts, this was a first step demonstrating the concerns of landowners.”

The bill also contained language to continue the defunding of the GIPSA provisions and language on a number of environmental regulations. Specifically, the bill prevents funding for the EPA to require cattle producers to obtain greenhouse gas permits for livestock and to prevent mandatory reporting of greenhouse gas emissions from manure management systems. Finally, the bill prohibited the Department of Interior from listing the sage grouse on the Endangered Species list, threatening the viability of ranching in the West without a corresponding benefit to the sage grouse.

NCBA urges the Senate to pass the Omnibus legislation.



House Passes Trillion Dollar Funding Package for 2015

Today, with a vote of 219 to 206 the House passed a trillion dollar omnibus spending package to fund the government through the next year. The Senate is expected to take up the measure on soon and with large bipartisan support in the House, all indications are that the bill will pass.

Brenda Richards, Public Lands Council president, commended lawmakers for including critical policy provisions and funding levels for the land management agencies.

“The Public Lands Council remained very active during the development of the bill, making sure lawmakers understood the priorities of ranchers and the impact these decisions could have on the west,” said Richards, a rancher from Idaho. “There are several victories for ranchers in the package, including language that prohibits a sage grouse listing, a decision that could have devastating impacts on the ranching families in the West.”

The bill not only prohibits funding for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to list the sage grouse under the Endangered Species Act, but also includes $15 million within the Bureau of Land Management budget for sage grouse conservation, continuing the efforts already underway to protect the species and its habitat; helping to prevent a future listing.

The range/grazing management budgets for the BLM and U.S. Forest Service will both remain level with the Fiscal year 14 allocations, providing the necessary resources for the agencies to continue working through the backlog of NEPA analysis and respond to litigation pressure being brought by radical environmental groups. These allocations run contrary to the President’s proposal to drastically reduce funding for the federal range programs.

Congress addressed the Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers’ detrimental “waters of the United States” proposal, requiring the agencies to withdraw the controversial Interpretive Rule that attempts to clarify farming and ranching exemptions under the Clean Water Act. While the bill does not block the proposal in its entirety, Richards said this is a step in the right direction.

Richards applauded the decision of the House not to include an arbitrary increase in the grazing fee that the President had included in his budget request again this year. The proposed $1/AUM fee on top of the current market based fee would have cost an estimated total of $6.5 million and $5 million for BLM and the USFS permitees, respectively.

Combined with the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 14, Payment in Lieu of Taxes is funded in the full amount of $442 million. The Fish and Wildlife Service was also allocated $1 million in compensations for livestock loss due to wolves.

Also allocated was $3.5 billion for wildfire fighting and preventions programs within the Department of Interior and the USFS, $526 million for hazardous fuels reduction activities, and $65 million for the acquisition of aircraft to enhance firefighting capacity.

PLC urges the Senate to pass the omnibus bill.



ASA Announces 2015 Officers and Committee Assignments

The Board of Directors of the American Soybean Association (ASA) has confirmed Wade Cowan from Brownfield, Texas, as its newest President and moved outgoing President Ray Gaesser from Corning, Iowa, to the position of Chairman. Board members also elected Richard Wilkins, Greenwood, Del., to serve as First Vice President.

“I’m pleased with the team we elected today and I think it’s an important step toward a world class standard as an organization,” Cowan said. “We will work together this year to unify and move agriculture forward.”

First Vice President is an office that places Wilkins in line to be the association’s president in 2016.

“It’s an honor to be selected by your peers and given the opportunity to serve the soybean industry,” Wilkins said. “It will be an endeavor to work hard with the other leadership and address the challenges and opportunities we face as an industry.”

Also elected to form ASA’s nine-member executive committee were Secretary Ron Moore, Ill.; Treasurer Davie Stephens, Ky.; Vice Presidents Kevin Hoyer, Wis.; Bret Davis, Ohio; Joe Steinkamp, Ind. and John Heisdorffer, Iowa.

Gaesser said he looks forward to working with the newly elected leaders this year.

“We have a great team elected for leadership at ASA,” he said. “We’re excited about being proactive and addressing those issues that impact soybean farmers.”

Elections were held in St. Louis at ASA’s annual winter board meeting, and the meeting also served as a venue to celebrate the retirements of Alan Kemper, Jim Andrew, Robert Ross, Dean Campbell, Danny Murphy, Bob Worth and Ron Bunjer.

Assuming positions on the Board as new members at the meeting were Kendall Culp, Ind.; Wayne Fredericks, Iowa; E.L. Reed, Mo.; Brooks Hurst, Mo.; Bill Wykes, Ill.; Willard Jack, Miss.; Monte Peterson, N.D.;  Joel Schreurs, Minn. and George Goblish, Minn.



National Pork Board Funds New Swine Health Information Center

At its regularly scheduled November meeting, the National Pork Board’s board of directors approved the funding of a national Swine Health Information Center. The new, autonomous venture will focus its efforts on implementing industry preparedness for disease challenges that could affect U.S. swine herds.

According to Dr. Paul Sundberg, vice president of science and technology at the National Pork Board, a $15 million investment by the Pork Checkoff would fund the center for five years. The center would be governed by a board consisting of representatives from the National Pork Board, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), the American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) and at-large pork producers.

“It’s our intention to establish a center that can improve our preparedness for swine diseases with the combined resources of swine veterinarians, producers, researchers, diagnosticians and state and federal animal health officials,” Sundberg said. “We have learned a lot over the past year and a half from our experience with Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus and we want to create a unique, collaborative system that will help us achieve our overall goal of preparing for the next emerging swine disease.”

Sundberg says the proposed new center would work toward recognizing and filling the resource and knowledge gaps that currently exist in swine disease diagnostics as they relate to emerging diseases. Also, the new center would work with the Institute for Infectious Animal Diseases at Texas A&M University to help facilitate swine health data analysis.

“Although this is a one-time allocation of supplemental funds outside of our regular budget, we realize that this is an investment in the future of the U.S. pork industry,” said Dale Norton, National Pork Board president and producer from Bronson, Mich. “In the coming months, we will reach out to producers, gather their input and design a center that best meets their needs.”

Sundberg emphasized that the Swine Health Information Center would not be specifically responsible for a disease response plan nor would it duplicate current AASV, NPPC or National Pork Board efforts. The USDA will continue to oversee and manage classical foreign animal diseases, such as Foot-and-Mouth Disease, that already have a preparedness plan in place.

More information on the new center will be announced at the annual National Pork Industry Forum, which will be held March 5-7, 2015, in San Antonio, Texas.



PINs Required to Assure USDA Payment of Lab Tests

Last month, the Pork Checkoff issued an alert on a policy change by the Veterinary Services program of USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Effective Dec. 15, APHIS will no longer pay for Swine Enteric Coronavirus Disease (SECD) lab tests without a Premises Identification Number, or PIN, on the laboratory submission form.

The change is in follow up to a federal order issued this past June. Starting on Dec. 15, USDA will only pay for sample testing if the submissions include a valid PIN. For samples submitted without a valid PIN, laboratories will charge the submitter of the samples for the testing.

A detailed list of sample tests to be paid by USDA may include individual animal samples or environmental samples which are linked to specific farm sites and live pigs. Currently the USDA will only support diagnostic testing using PCR. Support for other diagnostic assays will be considered in the future. Approved sample types submitted for PEDV and PDCoV PCR testing eligible for reimbursement include:
-    Intestines
-    Feces
-    Fecal Swabs
-    Oral Fluids
-    Environmental Samples (specifically associated with a farm site and live pigs)

Samples submitted from truck washes, trucks, trailers, other transport vehicles, feed, feed mills, and other non-farm site samples including those submitted for research purposes will not be paid for by the USDA.

According to the USDA announcement of this policy change, significant federal and state authority resources, as well as practitioners’ time, is being spent researching location information for submissions lacking a valid PIN.  Therefore, USDA is reinforcing the requirement in the Federal Order that ALL submissions be accompanied by a valid PIN. The federal order also requires reporting the date of sample collection and type of unit being sampled (sow, nursery, finisher) at the time of sample submission.

The Pork Checkoff has been communicating the benefits of valid PINs and wants to reinforce the upcoming requirement that all submissions be accompanied by a valid PIN. The data required are critical for monitoring the potential increase in SECD cases through the coming winter months.

Please contact your NAHLN Laboratory for more information on what PEDV and PDCoV diagnostic assays are reimbursable by the USDA as well as for submission procedures for PEDV and/or PDCoV PCR testing. The local Veterinary Services district offices and NAHLN program office (NAHLN@aphis.usda.gov) are also able to answer specific questions.



U.S. Soy Buyers Outlook Conferences Attract 350 Participants in Japan

A total of 350 crushers, feed millers, soyfood processors, traders and media attended the two-day U.S. Soy Buyers Outlook Conferences held in Tokyo, Japan on November 17 and 18. Topics presented at this year’s conference included 2014 U.S. soy crop quality, farm updates, soy health benefits, soybean market outlook and soybean meal quality.  Additionally, eight U.S. food bean exporters used tabletop displays to showcase the new crop during the conference for soy food industry.

Delegates who traveled to the 2014 Soy Buyers Outlook Conference from the U.S. included USSEC International Food Program Marketing Manager / Oil Action Team Staff Lead Marypat Corbett; United Soybean Board Director Jim Carroll of Arkansas; and American Soybean Association (ASA) Director David Poppens of South Dakota.  This year’s conferences were sponsored by the Ohio Soybean Council and the Indiana Soybean Alliance.  The Ohio Soybean Council was represented by Jeff Magyar and Jennifer Coleman, while David Lowe and Rosalind Leeck represented the Indiana Soybean Alliance.



Turkey’s Biosafety Laws Restrict U.S. DDGS Shipments

Turkey is effectively no longer accepting imports of U.S. corn co-products following the stepped-up enforcement of existing biosafety laws that restrict which genetically modified (GM) corn varieties may enter the country’s grain supply.

As of Monday, three shipments of U.S. distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) have been rejected following the detection of unapproved GM events, and for the same reason at least one other vessel of U.S. DDGS has been diverted from Turkey to another buyer while on the water.

The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) alerted members on Monday that other shipments of corn co-products including DDGS sent to Turkey were also likely to be rejected.

Internal issues are the apparent cause of new enforcement measures that are leading to these rejections. One factor is that some companies inside Turkey that do not import DDGS have encouraged the Turkish government to increase its oversight of those that do import DDGS.

Turkey has approved 16 GM corn events including 13 in December 2011 and three more in February 2012. 

The country has also rejected six GM corn events. There have been no new applications for approval since February 2012, meaning any event introduced since that time is not approved. All of the approvals and rejections were based on applications from the Turkish Federation of Food and Drink Industry Associations and the Turkish Feed Millers Association rather than technology providers, who traditionally submit such dossiers.

Since the Turkish biosafety law was put into effect in 2011, U.S. exports of DDGS to the country have varied as trading companies took differing approaches to working within the restrictions that are now being fully enforced. 

Because U.S. DDGS is now being rejected under existing law, options for quick recourse are limited. However, USGC staff and consultants in the region and in the United States are working with contacts in Turkey and at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara to find an appropriate solution and reopen the market.

USGC staff members around the world also continue to work to find appropriate markets for U.S. DDGS and other products, including shipments that have been turned away.



USDA Seeks Public Comment on New Environmental Quality Incentives Program Rule

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is publishing a rule that outlines how it will improve the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), one of USDA's largest conservation programs. The interim final rule includes program changes authorized by Congress in the 2014 Farm Bill.

USDA has established a 60-day comment period for the rule. The rule is expected to be available in the Federal Register and regulations.gov on Friday, Dec. 12. Beginning Friday, public comments can be submitted through regulations.gov or by mailing them. Comments are due by Feb. 10, 2015. Full details are in the Federal Register notice.

"This interim final rule provides a roadmap to help streamline and simplify EQIP for farmers and ranchers," Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. "We strongly encourage agricultural producers, private forest landowners and stakeholders to provide comments on our implementation processes. This feedback will help us improve our operation and deliver technical and financial assistance more efficiently to our nation's agricultural producers and forest landowners."

The changes are intended to simplify the EQIP regulation regarding conservation practice scheduling, payment limitations and other administrative actions. Vilsack said USDA has enhanced EQIP by streamlining the delivery of technical and financial assistance to agricultural producers and forest landowners nationwide.

Highlights of program changes in this rule include the following:
-    Requires at least 5 percent of available EQIP funds be targeted for conservation practices that promote wildlife habitat;
-    Establishes EQIP as a contributing program for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program;
-    Increases the advanced payment from 30 percent to 50 percent for eligible historically underserved producers, including beginning farmers, to help purchase material or contract services;
-    Targets assistance to veteran farmers and ranchers including eligibility for the new 50 percent advance payment and up to 90 percent of the cost to implement EQIP conservation practices;
-    Increases the payment limitation for EQIP from $300,000 to a maximum of $450,000 for benefits received during 2014-2018 and removes the option for a waiver to exceed payment limitations;
-    Eliminates the requirement for a program contract to remain in place for one year after the last practice has been implemented, allowing practices to be scheduled through the tenth year of a contract;
-    Includes an option to waive the irrigation history requirement under certain conditions;
-    Incorporates the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program functions into EQIP.

This rule follows the publication of the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) interim final rule in the Federal Register on November 5. USDA is also seeking comments for the CSP rule.

USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) administers EQIP, a voluntary program that provides financial and technical assistance to eligible agricultural producers and forest landowners to help them address soil, water, air and related natural resource concerns on their lands in an environmentally beneficial and cost-effective manner. Resulting conservation and environmental benefits include improved water and air quality, reduced soil erosion and sedimentation, improved energy conservation, improved grazing and forest lands, and created or improved wildlife habitat on working farms, ranches and non-industrial forestlands.

EQIP has touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of agricultural producers and forest landowners since its launch in 1997. From that time through 2014, USDA has invested in 596,481 contracts for a total of nearly $11 billion on nearly 232 million acres nationwide.



Ore. GMO Label Backers Concede Defeat

(AP) -- Proponents of an Oregon ballot measure requiring labels on genetically modified foods conceded defeat Thursday after a judge ruled against them and an automatic recount appeared unlikely to sway the outcome.

The Yes on 92 campaign said there are no legal options remaining that could lead them to victory.

"The labeling movement will continue to grow," the campaign said in a statement. "We draw strength from the fact that we came so achingly close to winning this vote, despite being outspent by more than $12 million."

Measure 92 was defeated by just 812 votes out of 1.5 million, triggering an automatic recount. With two counties left to report their results, both of which opposed the measure in the initial tally, the recount has resulted in a net shift of just 11 votes in favor of the initiative.



Vilsack on the Departure of Dr. Joe Glauber

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack today made the following statement on the retirement from federal service of USDA Chief Economist Dr. Joe Glauber:

"No one has a higher level of credibility on issues impacting the agricultural economy than Dr. Glauber. Farm country and, truly, the country as a whole have been extraordinarily well served by Joe throughout his 30 years of federal service. I will miss Joe's expertise and wise counsel, and wish him well as he begins the next phase of his distinguished career."

Current USDA Deputy Chief Economist Dr. Robert Johansson has been named Acting Chief Economist. Johansson has served as USDA's Deputy Chief Economist since 2012 and holds a Ph.D. in agricultural economics from the University of Minnesota. Johansson will assume the duties of Chief Economist beginning January 1, 2015.



U.S. Small Tractor Sales Were Up Last Month

According to the Association of Equipment Manufacturer's monthly "Flash Report," the sale of all tractors in the U.S. for November, 2014, were down 6% from last year.  For the month, two-wheel drive smaller tractors (under 40 HP) were up 4% from last year, while 40 & under 100 HP were up 6%. Sales of 2-wheel drive 100+ HP were down 33%, while 4-wheel drive tractors were down 52%. Combine sales were down 56% for the month.

For the eleven months in 2014, a total of 190,149 tractors were sold which compares to 183,785 sold thru November 2013 representing a 4% increase year to date.  For the eleven months, two-wheel drive smaller tractors (under 40 HP) are up 9% over last year, while 40 & under 100 HP are up 7%. Sales of 2-wheel drive 100+ HP are down 12%, while 4-wheel drive tractors are down 23%.  Sales of combines for the first eleven months totaled 7,234, a decrease of 24% over the same period in 2013.



Titan Machinery Reports Lower Income Last Quarter

For the third quarter of fiscal 2015, revenue was $493.1 million, compared to $588.0 million in the third quarter last year. Equipment sales were $343.5 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2015, compared to $441.8 million in the third quarter last year.

Parts sales were $80.7 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2015, compared to $80.9 million in the third quarter last year. Revenue generated from service was $42.4 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2015, compared to $40.6 million in the third quarter last year. Revenue from rental and other increased to $26.6 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2015 from $24.7 million in the third quarter last year.

Gross profit for the third quarter of fiscal 2015 was $84.7 million, compared to $93.6 million in the third quarter last year, primarily reflecting a decrease in agriculture equipment revenue.

"Our Agriculture segment continues to face a number of industry headwinds as we have previously discussed, including lower commodity prices and lower projected net farm income," said David Meyer, Titan Machinery's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "While this has resulted in farmers' reducing their spending on equipment and in turn impacted our financial results, we remain confident in our business model and the long-term outlook for the agriculture industry."

The company's gross profit margin was 17.2% in the third quarter of fiscal 2015, compared to 15.9% in the third quarter last year, reflecting stability in the parts and service business. Gross profit from parts and service for the third quarter of fiscal 2015 was 61.0% of overall gross profit, compared to 55.2% in the third quarter last year.



DuPont Pioneer Announces High-Impact Corn Products for 2015

DuPont Pioneer today released its 2015 corn product offerings, featuring a broad line-up of locally advanced and tested products designed to deliver yield consistency and help improve grower profitability in the coming season.

“A grower’s seed decision is central to achieving whole-farm profitability,” said Ryan French, DuPont Pioneer senior corn marketing manager. “Our sales representatives and local field staff are committed to working closely with growers to build a seed plan that brings together the right combination of genetics and traits to complement their management practices and overall operational goals.”

The 2015 line-up includes 48 new corn products ranging from 70 to 121 comparative relative maturity (CRM) and features 27 new genetic platforms with high-performing trait packages that have been locally tested to meet growers’ agronomic, environmental and management challenges. Pioneer conducted more than 1,300 corn IMPACT™ trials (Intensively Managed Product Advancement, Characterization and Testing) in 2014 to determine the right fit for new products in the pipeline across a wide range of geographies and growing conditions.

Extensive product and agronomic knowledge gained through the Pioneer® GrowingPoint® agronomy on-farm trials also helps growers improve production practices and increase yields. Trials take place across the country and examine both products and practices in a wide variety of growing conditions to help growers identify local solutions to the toughest agronomic and management practices they face.

“Our intensive testing helps growers find a Pioneer® brand corn product that will help them meet their yield objective within their unique growing conditions,” said French.

Pioneer also is providing growers with ways to maximize their seed investment and increase whole-farm profitability beyond the bag of seed. Encirca℠ services are available in the United States to meet customer demand for more intensive and differential management on an acre-by-acre and an input-by-input basis. The service offerings today include enhanced market and news services, field-by-field weather and a nitrogen management service to drive efficiency, productivity and profitability.

Additionally, select Pioneer® brand corn products in the United States will feature DuPont™ Lumivia™ insecticide seed treatment in 2015 as part of the Pioneer Premium Seed Treatment (PPST) program as PPST 250 plus DuPont™ Lumivia™.  This option will be available on select new products for 2015 spring planting, and provides excellent insect pest and disease pressure protection for the top-yielding hybrids in the Pioneer corn hybrid line.

“Pioneer service doesn’t stop at the seed sale,” said French. “Our Pioneer team is with growers from the beginning of the season through harvest each year, giving them the tools they need to protect their investment.”

Corn Lineup Highlights
-    The 2015 product offering includes 12 new products from 96 to114 CRM featuring four new genetic platforms for the Optimum® AQUAmax® product line-up which was planted on about 10 million acres in 2014.  Optimum® AQUAmax® hybrids perform under water-limited conditions and also offer top-end yield potential under favorable moisture conditions, making it a strong choice for many growers.
-    New genetic platforms featuring 13 new products coupled with insect protection traits in the expanding lineup of triple-stack Optimum® AcreMax® products provide growers the opportunity to deliver the excellent yields.
-    The limited introduction of Optimum® Leptra® products in the Southern United States offers growers products with multiple modes of action for enhanced protection against above-ground insect pests such as European corn borer, corn ear worm, fall army worm and stalk borer, providing strong yield performance combined with reliable grain quality.
-    Pioneer® brand Brown MidRib (BMR) Silage Products with a CRM range of 102 to 114 will continue to offer strong performance in 2015, following impressive 2014 results in on-farm silage trials. BMR is a growing segment of the more than 7 million overall corn silage acres in the United States, and 2015 also will mark the first year Pioneer® brand BMR products will be available with integrated refuge solutions.



DuPont Pioneer Announces Powerful Soybean Lineup for 2015

DuPont Pioneer today announced its new class of Pioneer® brand T Series soybeans for the North American market. The new varieties lead a class of products that have been vigorously evaluated and selected to excel in the areas where they will be sold.

“The new varieties are the best of a class that has gone through broad-scale testing across a range of environments and weather conditions,” said André Trépanier, DuPont Pioneer senior marketing manager for soybeans. “The new T Series varieties raise the bar on product performance and enhance our complete product line that farmers have learned to count on to deliver reliable yields year after year.”

The new 2015 T Series lineup includes a variety of traits and agronomic characteristics to help meet the diverse needs of soybean growers across North America and expands Pioneer offerings of varieties with the Genuity® Roundup Ready 2Yield® trait. The new class contains 33 new products ranging in maturity from Relative Maturity (RM) 006 to RM 76, including two maturity group 7 varieties that expand the range of Pioneer products soybean growers need in the Deep South.

“For more than 25 years, more growers have chosen Pioneer soybeans over any other brand because they trust us to provide the best technology and genetics to produce and protect yields,” Trépanier said. “We are constantly improving and testing our products’ performance in the field to make sure that whatever a grower encounters, there is a Pioneer seed product, and a Pioneer expert, who can help him maximize profits and productivity.”

Soybean lineup highlights
-    Pioneer® brand T Series continued to deliver strong yields for many growers in 2014, including in areas with significant sudden death syndrome (SDS) pressure. The new introductions continue to improve Pioneer® brand T Series offerings across the heart of the corn and soybean belt.
-    Pioneer is enhancing its lineup for growers in Canada and the northern United States with the introduction of four new group 0 and 00 varieties.
-    The new lineup also contains three new Plenish® high oleic soybean varieties to provide growers even more options in the expanding high oleic soybean oil market.

“Our full range of Pioneer® brand soybean varieties delivered strong yield results for our customers in 2014,” said Trépanier. “To maximize the return on their seed investment in 2015, growers should work closely with their Pioneer seed experts to build a plan that includes soybean products which are developed and tested to suit their unique management practices and operational goals.”



EPA Approves Bayer CropScience’s Registration Application for ILeVO®

Today, Bayer CropScience announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved its application for the registration of ILeVO®, the only seed treatment that protects the root system against infections caused by the Sudden Death Syndrome fungus and has activity against dangerous nematodes in the seed zone.

Soybean growers across the country are constantly looking for ways to protect their crops from the fungus that causes Soybean Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) and nematodes, specifically the Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN) – two of the top five soybean yield robbing pests. In 2014 environmental conditions were such that growers experienced higher than normal pressure from SDS. Until now, there was no seed treatment available to protect soybean plants against both SDS and nematodes.

“Our field trials have shown that soybean seeds treated with ILeVO early in the season give valuable yield benefit across geographies and seed varieties,” said Jennifer Riggs, Bayer SeedGrowth product development manager. “Bayer CropScience is very excited to bring the first seed treatment fungicide/nematicide solution for SDS and major nematodes to the market.”

During research and field trials from 2011-2014, ILeVO was used on 181 fields with visual symptoms of SDS. In those trials, yield benefits ranged from 4 to10 bu/A over untreated seeds with visual SDS symptoms. Even when visual symptoms are not present, the results estimated growers could see an average yield increase of 2 bu/A when using ILeVO as part of an early season management approach.

SDS is a major issue in soybean-growing regions, causing massive destruction to soybean growers’ crops all across the United States. First seen in Arkansas in 1971, this deadly disease now has been documented in nearly every state that grows soybeans – and the stakes couldn’t be higher. According to the United Soybean Board, from 2009 to 2011, average losses from SDS in the United States were estimated at 42 million bushels per year, and the disease is spreading and intensifying.

The impact on yield depends on the growth stage at the onset of symptoms, as yield losses are greater when symptoms develop in early reproductive stages. By protecting the root system early in the growth stages, specifically the seed zone, against the SDS fungus and nematodes, it allows the plant to be healthier from the start for higher yield potential. Previously, growers had limited options when it came to SDS management: seed variety tolerance and delayed planting dates. By adding ILeVO to their Integrated Pest Management (IMP) program, growers can achieve higher yields at harvest.

Daren Mueller, assistant professor at Iowa State University said that growers should focus on an integrated approach to SDS management.

“While we do have some levels of resistance to the disease in many of the maturity groups, there are no soybeans that are completely immune to SDS. Having an integrated management approach with the addition of products such as ILeVO would provide a sound set of tools for growers to protect their crop when resistance may not be enough. We’ve tested ILeVO, and it appears to be a very effective product in preventing damage from SDS,” stated Mueller.

ILeVO and Poncho/VOTiVO® combine for unmatched root and plant protection with three modes of action against early-season fungus, insects and nematodes to deliver higher yield potential. ILeVO seed treatment is applied to the seed, which means less direct exposure to the environment compared to other crop protection methods of application. ILeVO is available for the 2015 growing season.