Thursday December 1 Ag News

Nebraska Students Head to Taiwan as Part of Ag Student Exchange Program

Three Nebraska high school seniors are heading to Taiwan next week to represent the Nebraska Agricultural Youth Institute (NAYI) as part of a long-standing student exchange program. Selected by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA), the students will learn about Taiwan’s agricultural industry and how Nebraska ag exports benefit both Nebraska and Taiwan.

“This agricultural student exchange program shows our continued commitment to this partnership,” said NDA Director Greg Ibach. “It’s important for the Nebraska students and the students from Taiwan to broaden their world view. The students involved in this exchange program get to experience different types of agriculture, technology and cultures, while gaining an understanding of how everything fits together in a global economy. It’s an opportunity of a lifetime.”

For the past 13 years, as part of this exchange program, three students from an agricultural high school in Taiwan have visited Nebraska to attend the annual Nebraska Agricultural Youth Institute – a week-long summer program coordinated by NDA. In return, NDA chooses three NAYI delegates to travel to Taiwan.

The students will leave for Taiwan on Dec. 4 and will return to Nebraska on Dec. 10. While in Taiwan, the students will be staying at the Taichung Agricultural High School. Their visit will include tours of the campus, interaction with Taiwanese students, participation in presentations, visits to local farms and observations of several agricultural research institutes. They also will have the opportunity to do some sightseeing.

The three students going to Taiwan this year are:
-    Maisie Kennicutt from Elsie. Maisie is a senior at Wallace High School and is the daughter of Scott and Jill Kennicutt.
-    Trevor Ricenbaw from Beaver Crossing. Trevor is a senior at Friend High School and is the son of Lisa Ricenbaw.
-    Jared Stander from Ashland. Jared is a senior at Ashland-Greenwood High School and is the son of Dave and Jen Stander.

The trip is coordinated by NDA and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Denver and is sponsored by the Nebraska Farm Bureau and TECO. Students who attend NAYI are eligible to apply for this agriculture exchange program.

The three students going to Taiwan will share their experiences from their trip at the 2017 Nebraska Agricultural Youth Institute this summer in Lincoln.



Columbus Couple Sees the Benefits of High Oleic Soybeans

As a director on the Nebraska Soybean Board, Eugene Goering knew about the development of high oleic soybeans to produce a cooking oil free of trans fats. When a high oleic variety became available in Nebraska this year, he planted all high oleic beans on his farm near Columbus, Neb. As a chef, Sheila Goering put the high oleic cooking oil to the test, and she’s pleased with its performance in the kitchen.

The Goering’s have a unique perspective on the benefits of high oleic soybeans to farmers and consumers. Eugene Goering shared his thoughts recently as he harvested his soybeans.

“I went in with both feet,” said Goering. “Agronomically they grow the same as conventional soybeans with yields that are supposed to be comparable to the elite varieties. This is our first harvest of high oleic soybeans and we’re seeing very good yields.”

Goering will receive a 50-cent-per-bushel premium when he sells his soybeans. He says in this low-price market the premium is a big help. But he believes the long-term benefit to farmers will be in recapturing a share of the cooking oil market lost due to health concerns over trans fats.

Sheila Goering is already sold on the benefits of the high oleic oil she uses to cook and bake at Traditions Inn in Columbus.

“You don’t taste the oil,” she said. “It’s very light and blends well in salad dressings. The oil performs very well in the high heat of deep fat fryers, making clean-up much easier. And it’s a very healthy oil with no trans fats.”

Research at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, funded by the Nebraska Soybean Board through the soybean checkoff, helped lead to the development of high oleic soybeans. The next step is to increase the supply of high oleic soybeans so oil production can grow to meet anticipated consumer demand. The United Soybean Board has set a goal of planting18 million acres nationwide by 2023.

“I think it’s going to be really good for the industry as we gain a greater share of the food oil market,” said Eugene Goering. “It’s great for farmers in Nebraska and across the country. I’d encourage other producers to consider it.”

Farmers interested in growing high oleic soybeans should talk with their seed dealers about availability.



Cattle producers invited to 2016 Iowa Cattle Industry Leadership Summit

Cattle producers and friends of the industry are invited to attend the Iowa Cattle Industry Leadership Summit and Political Action Committee (PAC) fundraiser on December 9 and 10. The events will be held at the Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center in Ames. Interested attendees may register online at www.iacattlemen.org or call 515-296-2266.

Cattlemen’s Night Out PAC Fundraiser
The Cattlemen’s Night Out PAC fundraiser on Friday, December 9 at 5:30 will feature a New York Strip Steak dinner and update on federal agriculture policy from Jacqui Fatka, Iowa native and policy editor for Feedstuffs and Farm Futures. Fatka will provide valuable insight on environmental regulations including WOTUS, international trade agreements and immigration. Tickets for the dinner are $50 and proceeds will go towards candidates who support agriculture.

Iowa Cattle Industry Leadership Summit
Saturday, December 10 from 8:30 to 5:00 will be the inaugural Iowa Cattle Industry Leadership Summit. This free event is similar to past Iowa Cattle Industry Conventions. A complimentary lunch will be served, featuring the 2016 Iowa’s Best Burger from the Chuckwagon Restaurant in Adair.

Alan Feirer, Group Dynamic, will be the keynote speaker, focusing on communication and collaboration strategies. Breakout sessions will build upon that theme and include ways county cattlemen’s organizations can work more closely with the state organization. There will also be a breakout session devoted to social media and advocating for agriculture.

The day will also include the annual meeting of the Iowa Beef Industry Council, the beef checkoff.

Iowa Cattlemen’s Association Policy Meetings
Throughout the day, the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association will hold their policy committee meetings and annual meeting. These meetings are open to any members of the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and will determine the priorities for the association for 2017.

Anticipated policy topics include the Conservation Reserve Program, market volatility, foreign animal disease preparedness, protecting Iowa’s fence law, the green and gold tag preconditioning programs, and specific uses for the new state beef checkoff, if the referendum passes. Members who would like to provide their input should plan to attend.

“State of the Cattle Industry” Panel
A “State of the Industry” panel in the afternoon will dissect the current challenges Iowa’s cattle industry is facing and provide an outlook into the future. Dr. Phil Reemtsma, current ICA president and veterinarian from DeWitt, will join Cassie Fish, market analyst, and John Hinners from the US Meat Export Federation in the panel discussion.

Cattle Industry Awards
Cattlemen and women from across the state will be honored with a variety of awards throughout the day. Award winners include:
-Iowa Commercial Producer of the Year: Lyle and Linda Kenobbie, Greenville
-Hall of Fame: Kent Pruismann, Rock Valley
-Environmental Stewardship Award: AJ & Kellie Blair, Dayton
-Iowa Beef Quality Assurance Feedyard Award - Rock River Feeders, Kent Prusimann, Rock Valley
-Iowa Beef Quality Assurance Cow-Calf Award - Mosher Angus Farms, Liscomb
-Iowa Beef Quality Assurance Educator Award - Dr. Beth Doran, Orange City
-Retiring Iowa Cattlemen’s Directors
    -Richard Nelson, Emmetsburg
    -Tom Hiler, Rockwell City
    -David Rueber, Luxembourg
    -Brian Wilson, Monroe
    -Ed Lehman, Summit Livestock
    -Ed Greiman, Garner

President-elect Mike Cline, Elgin, will be sworn in as the new Iowa Cattlemen’s Association president. Allamakee, Black Hawk, Howard, Sioux & Union County Cattlemen’s Associations will be honored for their membership recruitment efforts.

For more information or to register, visit www.iacattlemen.org or call 515-296-2266.



Attend ISA Research Conference Feb. 7-8 in Des Moines

The Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) is challenging farmers to realize “There’s more to your field than yield” at the ISA Research Conference to be held Feb. 7-8 at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines.

Farmers, landowners and agronomists will gain valuable information on agronomic and environmental practices to help make informed decisions. Registration is open now at www.isafarmnet.com. 

“Each year, ISA organizes a research conference to help farmers find new ways to improve their operations,” said ISA President Rolland Schnell of Newton. “Many farmers have seen excellent yields during the past few years, but sustaining those yields won’t be possible without a conscious look at production research, environmental practices and data usage.

“I’ve always come home with good sound research-backed information to apply in my operation,” Schnell added. “Every farmer, whether they farm 100 or 10,000 acres, will take home tangible information to help make the most of every acre.”

The conference opens Feb. 7 at 1 p.m. with a mega issues discussion. Steve Bruere, Peoples Company; Matt Darr, Iowa State University; and Kraig McPeek, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, will empower attendees to leverage the value of improved landowner-operator relationships, on-farm data and monarch and pollinator habitat developments. Tips for gaining the upper hand on weed management by reducing herbicide resistance and effectively using new chemistries also will be explored by Amy Asmus of Asmus Farm Supply.

More than 30 breakout sessions will take place on the second day of the conference highlighting topics including soil and water quality, on-farm research results, pest and weed management, crop health, cover crops, conservation drainage and technology. To better serve attendees, this year's conference will offer shorter sessions repeated more often.

“Farmers attending this premier research conference will learn about on-farm production and conservation research that will benefit their farming operations immediately and in the future,” said Ed Anderson, ISA senior director of supply and production systems. “At ISA, everything we do is intended to increase the competitiveness of Iowa’s soybean farmers through engagement and continuous improvement of productivity, profitability and sustainability.”

Registration prior to Jan. 10 is $150 for the conference; $175 after Jan. 10. Individual day prices also are available. Certified crop advisers will be eligible to receive credit for sessions attended.

For additional event information or to register, visit www.isafarmnet.com or call 800-383-1423.

Follow ISA on Twitter @IowaSoybeans or search #ISARC17.

The ISA Research Conference is made possible by the support of our sponsors. Supporters include ASGROW, BASF, Farm Credit Services of America, Bayer, Aeroptic, AgriDrain Corporation, Ecosystem Services Exchange, Hertz Farm Management, West Bank, Iowa Soybean Research Center, Midwest Labs and Timewell Drainage Products.




ASA Participates in Soy Transportation Coalition Meeting, Hayden Elected Chairman

The Soy Transportation Coalition (STC) held a meeting in Williamsburg, Va. this week to conduct organizational business and visit key transportation components in the region.  American Soybean Association (ASA) Directors Gerry Hayden (KY) and Ken Boswell (NE) attended the meeting, along with ASA Washington staff and numerous soybean farmers and state soybean staff.  At the meeting, Hayden of was elected to serve as the next chairman of the STC.

Boswell and ASA Washington staff provided an update to the STC on the outlook on federal transportation issues in 2017, including discussion on the potential for significant infrastructure initiatives that have been proposed by President-elect Donald Trump.  In addition the group heard from Sharon Clark, vice president of Perdue Agribusiness, on their operations and transportation issues, which are primarily focused in the mid-Atlantic and Eastern United States.

Other topics and activities included a discussion of alternative financing approaches for dredging on the lower Mississippi River, a visit to Norfolk Southern Railway and the Port of Virginia.



 Proposed Tax Regulation Threaten Multigenerational Cattle Operations

The Internal Revenue Service hosted a public hearing today on a Department of Treasury proposed rule that would eliminate or greatly reduce available valuation discounts for family-related entities. Kevin Kester, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association vice president, said the regulation would effectively discourage families from continuing to operate or grow their businesses and passing them on to future generations.

Many cattle operations are family-owned small businesses, facing the same concerns as other small-businesses - making payroll, complying with numerous federal and state regulations, and paying bills, loans, and taxes. However, cattle producers face a number of unique challenges specific to agriculture.

“Ranching is a debt-intensive business, making the U.S. livestock industry especially vulnerable to the estate tax,” said Kester. “Beef producers largely operate an asset-rich, cash-poor business model: a cattleman’s biggest asset is his land. In the event of the death of a principal family member, illiquid assets are often sold in order to meet the costs associated with the estate tax.  As a result, many families are unable to keep their estates intact.”

For more than two decades, livestock producers have utilized legitimate valuation discounts as a means of maintaining family ownership. These discounts, which accurately reflect the actual market value of minority ownerships in closely-held businesses, reduce the tax burden at death allowing agricultural operations to maintain family ownership from one generation of producers to the next.

“Should the discounts be eliminated, a significant number of farmers and ranchers will face an even greater tax burden during the difficult task of transferring minority interests to the next generation,” said Kester. “Having dealt with the death tax on multiple occasions, I can assure you that it’s not easy to settle the estate of a loved one while coping with the loss of that loved one. To add insult to injury, the proposed rule will upend succession plans, halt planned expansion and growth, and require a majority of livestock operations to liquidate assets in order to simply survive from one generation to the next.”

The proposed regulations under Section 2704 will have a profoundly negative impact on the business climate for farmers and ranchers, ultimately dis-incentivizing a new generation of cattle producers from carrying on the family business. For that reason, NCBA calls for the IRS to formally withdraw the proposed rule.



USDA Fats and Oils: Oilseed Crushings, Production, Consumption and Stocks

Soybeans crushed for crude oil was 5.28 million tons (176 million bushels) in October 2016, compared to 4.15 million tons (138 million bushels) in September 2016 and 5.10 million tons (170 million bushels) in October 2015. Crude oil produced was 2.03 billion pounds up 25 percent from September 2016 and up 3 percent from October 2015. Soybean once refined oil production at 1.54 billion pounds during October 2016 increased 13 percent from September 2016 but decreased 2 percent from October 2015.

Canola seeds crushed for crude oil was 215 thousand tons in October 2016, compared to 213 thousand tons in September 2016 and 99 thousand tons in October 2015. Canola crude oil produced was 179 million pounds down 2 percent from September 2016 but up 119 percent from October 2015. Canola once refined oil production at 169 million pounds during October 2016 was down 3 percent from September 2016 but up 104 percent from October 2015. Cottonseed once refined oil production at 49.9 million pounds during October 2016 was up 34 percent from September 2016 and up 3 percent from October 2015.

Edible tallow production was 67.3 million pounds during October 2016, down 2 percent from September 2016 and down 19 percent from October 2015. Inedible tallow production was 284 million pounds during October 2016, down 9 percent from September 2016 but up 3 percent from October 2015. Technical tallow production was 110 million pounds during October 2016, up 6 percent from September 2016 and up 33 percent from October 2015. Choice white grease production at 116 million pounds during October 2016 increased 4 percent from September 2016 and increased 2 percent from October 2015.



Grain Crushings and Co-Products Production

Total corn consumed for alcohol and other uses was 507 million bushels in October 2016. Total corn consumption was up 5 percent from September 2016 and up 3 percent from October 2015. October 2016 usage included 91.6 percent for alcohol and 8.4 percent for other purposes. Corn for beverage alcohol totaled 3.18 million bushels, up 14 percent from September 2016 and up 23 percent from October 2015. Corn for fuel alcohol, at 455 million bushels, was up 5 percent from September 2016 and up 3 percent from October 2015. Corn consumed in October 2016 for dry milling fuel production and wet milling fuel production was 89.4 percent and 10.6 percent respectively.

Dry mill co-product production of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) was 1.93 million tons during October 2016, down 2 percent from September 2016 but up slightly from October 2015. Distillers wet grains (DWG) 65 percent or more moisture was 1.28 million tons in October 2016, up 8 percent from September 2016 but down 5 percent from October 2015.

Wet mill corn gluten feed production was 343 thousand tons during October 2016, up 5 percent from September 2016 and up 5 percent from October 2015. Wet corn gluten feed 40 to 60 percent moisture was 301 thousand tons in October 2016, down 1 percent from September 2016 but up 1 percent from October 2015.



RFS is Working, Driving Innovation and Growth in Cellulosic Fuels

Today, the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Oversight Subcommittee held a hearing to discuss two Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports regarding the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). In response, Growth Energy CEO, Emily Skor, issued the following statement:

“The GAO reports discussed today do not shed any new light on the RFS. It is our country’s most successful energy and climate policy that strengthens our nation’s energy security, while also reducing harmful emissions.

“Corn ethanol reduces greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 34 percent compared to conventional gasoline while saving consumers money at the pump, displacing toxic additives found in gasoline, creating American jobs and adding high-performance octane to the country’s fuel supply. Ethanol producers have shown time and time again that they are capable of meeting the goals for conventional biofuel production under the RFS.

“The goals laid out by the RFS are ambitious, especially in regards to next generation biofuels. It is difficult to predict the timing of new technology, and adding to that is the economic, administrative and congressional uncertainty that have contributed significantly to the projections made in these GAO reports. EPA’s recent decision to set the 2017 Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) for conventional biofuels to the statutory level of 15 billion gallons is a great first step in creating certainty for the industry.

“The ethanol industry is a shining example of American innovation and ingenuity. We now see our first commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plants bringing advanced biofuels to the market. These are technological advancements that would not have happened without the goals laid out under the RFS. Policymakers can help further spur this progress by continuing to let the RFS program work as intended.

“Lastly, EPA has the multiple, very explicit authorities to adjust the levels of advanced and cellulosic biofuels called for under the RFS, some of which have been used multiple times. To suggest that the policy needs to be changed to accomplish these reductions in advanced and cellulosic biofuels simply ignores that the policy already has these mechanisms in place.”



USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for December 2016

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced interest rates for December 2016. The CCC borrowing rate-based charge for December is 0.750 percent, up from 0.625 percent in November.

The interest rate for crop year commodity loans less than one year disbursed during December is 1.750 percent, up from 1.625 percent in November.

Interest rates for Farm Storage Facility Loans approved for December are as follows, 1.125 percent with three-year loan terms, up from 1.000 percent in November; 1.375 percent with five-year loan terms, up from 1.250 percent in November; 1.750 percent with seven-year loan terms, up from 1.500 percent in November; 2.000 percent with 10-year loan terms, up from 1.750 percent in November and; 2.000 percent with 12-year loan terms, up from 1.750 percent in November.



Biodiesel Leaders Take Jobs, Energy Security Message to D.C.

Nearly three dozen biodiesel leaders from Kansas to Rhode Island took to the halls of Congress this week to champion America’s Advanced Biofuel.

“We have a great message to share with our elected officials. Biodiesel is working today to support jobs, diversify our fuel options and support American energy security,” said National Biodiesel Board CEO, Donnell Rehagen. “We want our messages and our success story to be top of mind now and when any tax extenders or reform is considered.”

Biodiesel is a true American success and innovation story. The U.S. market has grown by nearly 2 billion gallons in the last ten years, bringing with it support for nearly 48,000 jobs and $1.9 billion in wages across the country.

“We want to do all we can to ensure our elected leaders know the decisions they make in D.C. make a difference in our back yards and our communities across the nation. Effective federal policy has helped level the playing field for our relatively new product. This is about so much more than a standard or tax code. It’s about real people, making a real difference to bring jobs and economic growth all while supporting clean air and renewable fuel options,” Rehagen explained. 

The group was specifically championing a call to extend the biodiesel tax incentive and move it from a blender’s tax credit to a producer’s tax credit. The current blender’s credit is slated to expire December 31, 2016. Proposed legislation in the House and Senate (HR 5240, S 3188) has strong bi-partisan support and would adjust the credit to support domestic production over imports.

U.S. biodiesel producers have more than 1.5 billion gallons of unused production capacity that stands ready to be utilized under the right policy framework. Mobilizing that capacity would create thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic activity.

Under the current “blender’s” structure of the incentive, foreign biodiesel imported to the U.S. and blended with petroleum diesel in the U.S. is eligible for the tax incentive. Increasingly, foreign biodiesel producers are taking advantage of the U.S. incentive by shipping their product here. In 2015 alone, some 670 million gallons of biodiesel and renewable diesel were imported to the U.S., making up nearly a third of the U.S. market.



 Soil Health Institute, Datu Research receive grant to evaluate economic impact of soil health practices

The Soil Health Institute (SHI) and Datu Research today announced a $626,000 grant from the Walton Family Foundation to quantify the economic risks and rewards of soil health management systems used in farming.  Management practices that improve soil health can increase resilience to drought, improve water quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance sustainability.  However, quantifying the economic impact of such practices is key for increasing farmer adoption, and such impacts are largely not yet quantified.

SHI will conduct a systematic review of scientific literature that evaluates economic risk and yield impacts of soil health-promoting practices, such as no-till, zone tillage, reduced tillage, cover crops, crop rotation, manure/biosolid application, and other management practices. SHI will curate this data and conduct a comprehensive analysis to determine how such factors as climatic zone, soil properties, cropping system and management practices influence soil health and economic risk relationships.  Datu Research LLC, Durham, NC, will conduct focus groups to learn what risks farmers perceive in adopting cover crops, then collect actual budget data from cover crop adopters to compare perceived versus actual risks.

"Economics is a primary driver influencing adoption of soil health-promoting practices and systems. Consequently, to realize the environmental and resilience benefits of soil health management systems, the economics of such practices must be assessed, demonstrated and communicated," explains Wayne Honeycutt, Ph.D., SHI president and CEO.  "This generous grant from the Walton Family Foundation will allow us to assess and communicate how soil health management systems influence farmers' investment risk. We believe it's important to summarize the nation's research, viewing the results objectively from a business perspective," said Honeycutt.

"We want to be sure that farmers have the evidence-based information they need in making their management decisions," added Marcy Lowe, Datu CEO. Following data curation and analysis, SHI and Datu will develop fact sheets to distribute project findings to farmers through numerous public and private partners.

"The Soil Health Institute consists of a broad collaboration of agricultural and environmental leaders that was created to safeguard and enhance the vitality and productivity of soil through scientific research and advancement," Honeycutt said. "Studies show that increasing soil organic carbon can significantly enhance resilience of our soils, cropping systems and grazing systems to both drought and heavy precipitation. Unfortunately, most of our cultivated soils have lost approximately 20-40% of their native organic carbon, thereby increasing crop vulnerability to extreme weather events like drought. The Walton Family Foundation grant will allow us to pull the scientific evidence together and discern which management systems work best for both our agricultural producers and our environment as a whole. The on-farm surveys conducted by our partner, Datu Research, will provide much needed ground-truthing of real world economics as experienced by farmers. Collectively, this will give us a fairly complete picture of how soil health practices impact farmers' economic risk."

For continuing information, please visit www.soilhealthinstitute.org and www.daturesearch.com.



USDA Proposes Revisions to Nutritional Fact Panel for Meat and Poultry Products

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) today proposed a critical step in ensuring that consumers have updated nutritional information for meat and poultry products, helping Americans make better informed decisions when purchasing meat and poultry products.

FSIS is proposing to amend the nutrition labeling regulations for meat and poultry products to parallel the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) final nutrition regulations, which were published on May 27, 2016. The proposed rule will improve the presentation of nutrition information to assist consumers in maintaining healthy dietary practices.

"This new rule will provide more transparency on nutrition labels so that American consumers can make informed decisions about the foods they eat and feed their families," said Alfred Almanza, Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety at USDA. "The new nutrition facts panel will complement the many other proactive, prevention-based food policies that we've put in place in recent years."

Specifically, FSIS is proposing to:
-    Update the list of nutrients that are required or permitted to be declared;
-    Provide updated Daily Reference Values (DRVs) and Reference Daily Intake (RDI) values that are based on current dietary recommendations from consensus reports;
-    Amend the labeling requirements for foods represented or purported to be specifically for children under the age of 4 years and pregnant women and lactating women and establish nutrient reference values specifically for these population subgroups;
-    Revise the format and appearance of the Nutrition Facts label;
-    Amend the definition of a single-serving container;
-    Require dual-column labeling for certain containers;
-    Update and modify several reference amounts customarily consumed (RACCs or reference amounts); and
-    Consolidate the nutrition labeling regulations for meat and poultry products into a new Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part.

The proposal may be viewed on the FSIS website at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/a8674ea1-0c26-4bf3-8413-43b6551c0680/2014-0024.pdf?MOD=AJPERES. FSIS is seeking public comment for 60 days from the publication date. Comments may be submitted: online through the Federal eRulemaking Portal; by mail to the Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Patriots Plaza 3, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Mailstop 3782, Room 8-163B, Washington, DC 20250-3700; or by hand at Patriots Plaza 3, 355 E Street SW., Room 8-163B, Washington, DC 20250-3700.



Soy Growers Support Expanded Enlist Duo Registration

The American Soybean Association (ASA) filed comments with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) supporting the addition of 19 states for Enlist Duo registration. The herbicide is already registered in 15 states.

“ASA has provided comments on this registration previously and our position is unchanged: there is a critical need for new technology to address the problem of glyphosate-resistant and hard to control weeds. This product helps to meet that need: Enlist Duo, when used with Enlist Duo herbicide, enables reduced tillage systems to be successful,” ASA President Richard Wilkins wrote. “We agree with the Agency’s conclusion that, the pairing of two well-established herbicides into a systems approach with a GE crop will allow growers and applicators the opportunity to control many weeds in a way which fulfills the important principle of using multiple mechanisms of action, which the weed science community has been touting for many years.”

With this approval, Enlist Duo will be approved in 34 states, where the vast majority of soybeans are grown: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.



 Liquid Formulation Valor® EZ Herbicide Available for 2017

Valent U.S.A. Corporation announced today the release of Valor® EZ; a liquid formulation of the company's leading herbicide, Valor. Named Valor EZ Herbicide1 for its easy-to-mix, in-tank suspension properties, Valor EZ is an ideal residual partner for the Roundup Ready® Xtend Crop System.

With its easy mixing and loading and great suspensibility, Valor EZ helps provide growers a residual herbicide that is easy to use at all stages of the application process.

"The liquid formulation of Valor EZ makes the mixing process easier and more effective for growers and applicators by eliminating the pre-slurry step," said Dr. John Pawlak, senior product development manager at Valent. "Better mixing will ensure a more even application, and less unmixed material in the spray equipment."

Available for the 2017 growing season for use on soybeans and cotton, Valor EZ provides residual protection against a broad spectrum of weeds, including tough-to-control waterhemp and Palmer amaranth, for four to six weeks.

And for the first time ever, Valent will offer increased grower incentives on the Valor EZ formulation for the 2017 growing season when used in next generation seed systems such as the Roundup Ready® Xtend Crop System and with PhytoGen® Enlist™ varieties. Valent is offering a $6 per acre incentive on qualified purchases.  Additionally, financing options will be available through John Deere Financial2.

"An application of an effective preemergence herbicide, like Valor EZ, lays a strong residual foundation in a next generation soybean or cotton system," said Eric Miller, marketing manager with Valent. "Valor EZ offers soybean and cotton growers a win-win solution by maximizing the effectiveness of their crop management systems, while still enabling them to effectively manage their finances through Valent's expanded grower programs."

To protect soybeans and cotton during the most crucial stages of development and to manage weed resistance, Valent recommends proactive herbicide stewardship, including using multiple effective modes of action, crop rotation and applications at full labeled rates.