Tuesday July 13 Ag News

 Cattle Risk Management Workshop Offered on July 28

Nebraska Extension will host a risk management workshop for cattle producers on Wednesday, July 28, 2021, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Lifelong Learning Center, 601 E Benjamin Ave., Norfolk. Cattle producers will learn strategies designed to reduce risk exposure to achieve a profitable outcome in uncertain times. Topics covered during the workshop include current issues and opportunities in the cattle industry, trends in grazing land cash rental rates and managing price risk for cattle with futures, options and insurance.
 
Current issues facing the cattle industry will be discussed to allow producers to make more informed decisions facing the in. Trends in grazing land covers current regional and county-level cash rental rates along with strategies for designing flexible cash leases for pastures or rangeland. Specific marketing tools covered during the workshop to manage price risk include futures and options as well as Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) Insurance. Funding for this project is provided in partnership with the USDA-NIFA under Award Number 2018-70027-28586.
 
The workshop is free and a meal will be provided, but registration is required one day prior to start of workshop to ensure an accurate meal count. For more information and to pre-register by July 27, please call Nebraska Extension in Madison County at 402-370-4040 or register online at http://go.unl.edu/cattlerisk.



Corn Potassium and Drought 
Jason Clark – South Dakota State University Extension Soil Fertility Specialist 

Potassium (K) is an essential plant nutrient, and corn will take up approximately 85 pounds (lbs.) of K per acre (ac) each year. For many crop producers, potassium deficiency has become an increased concern, and this year’s drought conditions have resulted in potassium deficiency symptoms showing up in fields where it would normally not occur. Potassium can easily be moved within the plant from older to younger leaves. Therefore, potassium deficiency symptoms first appear on older leaves. The visual symptoms normally include a yellowing to brown leaf tissue starting at the tip of the leaf and expanding down the margin (outer edge of leaf). These symptoms usually occur around four to six weeks after corn planting (V6 growth stage) when plants start growing rapidly and demand a large amount of potassium. 

Potassium deficiency symptoms can occur even though soil potassium levels are sufficient to optimize corn production (>160 parts per million - ppm). This deficiency occurs because corn plants need an actively growing root system and water in the soil to aid in the slow movement of potassium to roots. When soil conditions are dry, root growth slows and the speed that potassium in the soil can reach the plant root and be taken up slows down, potentially resulting in potassium deficiency symptoms. Potassium uptake can also be limited in tilled soils where soils have not settled sufficiently since tillage. The lack of settling results in poor contact between soil particles, slowing down the movement of potassium through soil water to plant roots. Therefore, potassium deficiency is sometimes not seen in the wheel-track areas, where soil is settled and well firmed, but it is seen between wheel-track areas. Further, soils with high amounts of smectite clays collapse in dry conditions, resulting in temporarily making the potassium held by these clays unavailable to plants. Recent research shows that these smectite clays are more common in the eastern part of South Dakota and less common in central and western South Dakota. Other soil factors that limit root growth or water uptake including compacted soil, root pruning by insects,  diseases  and sidewall compaction of the seed furrow, which can also limit potassium uptake and result in potassium deficiency symptoms even when soil potassium levels are sufficient. 

Correcting Potassium Deficiency 
In a drought year potassium deficiency is most often caused by the unavailability of potassium for plants to take up and not the lack of potassium in the soil. Therefore, if soil test potassium levels are adequate, or sufficient fertilizer was applied prior to planting, it is best to wait for precipitation to occur that will increase the availability of potassium already in the soil for uptake by plants. Once adequate precipitation is received, potassium deficiency symptoms often decrease or disappear. Insufficient data is available in South Dakota looking at the effectiveness of rescue treatments where fluid or dry potassium fertilizers are applied in-season to corn. Some studies in other states do show that a positive response to in-season potassium is possible. However, additional potassium applications will still not be sufficient if drought conditions continue. Therefore, the economic effectiveness of these rescue treatments is unknown. 

Preventing Future Potassium Deficiency 
The best way to prevent future potassium deficiency in crops is to apply enough fertilizer before planting based on soil test potassium levels. This year’s potassium deficient areas can be marked with GPS units and soil sampled after harvest. These soil samples can then be tested for plant-available potassium. This information can then be used to appropriately apply potassium fertilizer to these areas for the next crop. 



USDA Farm Service Agency Now Accepting Applications for CRP Grasslands

Agricultural producers and landowners in Nebraska can apply for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Grasslands signup from today until August 20. This year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) updated signup options to provide greater incentives for producers and increase the program’s conservation and climate benefits, including setting a minimum rental rate and identifying two national priority zones.

The CRP Grasslands signup is competitive, and USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will provide for annual rental payments for land devoted to conservation purposes.

“USDA is excited to roll out our new and improved CRP Grasslands signup,” said Tim Divis, acting state executive director for FSA in Nebraska. “USDA is providing a bigger return on investment in terms of protecting natural resource benefits. The Grasslands signup is just one of the many tools available through CRP to help protect our nation’s working lands.”

Grasslands Signup
CRP Grasslands helps Nebraska landowners and operators protect grassland, including rangeland, and pastureland and certain other lands, while maintaining the areas as working grazing lands. Protecting grasslands contributes positively to the economy of many regions, provides biodiversity of plant and animal populations, and provides important carbon sequestration benefits.

FSA has updated the Grasslands Signup to establish a minimum rental rate of $15 per acre, which will benefit 1,300 counties.

To focus on important wildlife corridors, FSA also identified National Grassland Priority Zones, providing extra incentives to producers for enrolling grasslands in important migratory corridors and environmentally sensitive areas – the Greater Yellowstone Elk Migration Corridor and the Severe Wind Erosion – Dust Bowl Zone. Counties within these two zones get extra ranking points as well as $5 added to their rental rate. The CRP Grasslands Ranking Factors fact sheet has additional information.

How to Sign Up
To enroll in the CRP Grasslands signup, producers and landowners should contact their local USDA Service Center by the August 20 deadline. Service Center staff will work with customers through prescheduled in-person appointments, or via phone, email, and other digital tools. Contact your Service Center to set up an in-person or phone appointment.

More Information on CRP
Signed into law in 1985, CRP is one of the largest voluntary private-lands conservation programs in the United States. It was originally intended to primarily control soil erosion and potentially stabilize commodity prices by taking marginal lands out of production. The program has evolved over the years, providing many conservation and economic benefits. The program marked its 35-year anniversary this past December.



HAIL IN PASTURE AND HAY
– Ben Beckman, NE Extension Educator

Row crops often get priority attention when a hailstorm rolls through, but bad storms can do a number on perennial forages as well.  When hail strikes your pasture or hay field, do you know what to do?

Timing of hail is probably the most important factor when assessing hail impacts on forage crops.  Because our perennial forage crops are resilient, they do put up with regular grazing or haying after all, the real danger of a hail event is lost yield.

In pastures where standing forage may now be lying on the ground, it’s a good idea to move animals from the affected pasture to allow plants to recover.  If regrowth does occur, graze appropriately so overuse doesn’t occur.  When dry conditions and hail intersect, regrowth may not happen and returning animals to the pasture may not be an option until moisture returns.

In alfalfa fields, the amount of damage inflicted and timing are key.  The University of Wisconsin recommends management by assessing damage based on plant stages of development.  Fields with over 2 weeks to go before harvest can often be left alone and harvested normally, with some yield loss expected.  If damage of terminal buds is over 50%, management should instead focus on harvesting regrowth appropriately.

Stands with less than 2 weeks to go until planned harvest can be harvested normally, with expected yield loss.  For those with severe lodging, wait 3-4 days for plants to right themselves.  Disk mowers are better at picking up a lodged crop than sickle bars, but for both, tilt the bar or disc forward to increase forage pickup.  If stand damage is severe enough that expected yield does not justify harvesting, management should focus on the harvest of regrowth.

Hailstorms are an unavoidable part of living on the plains.  When a storm impacts your forage production, assessing damage and adjusting management appropriately can help make the best of an unfortunate situation.



Fortenberry’s appropriations work vital to rural small businesses, meat processors

The Center for Rural Affairs salutes the efforts of Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (NE-1) to secure funding for programs aimed at supporting rural small business owners and small meat processors as part of the U.S. House of Representatives’ appropriations process.  

In his position as Ranking Member of the House appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration, Rep. Fortenberry helped secure several proposed funding and policy instructions for the U.S. Department of Agriculture that, if finalized in the final appropriations law for 2022, would offer valuable and much-needed support for rural communities.

The first of these is an increase for the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP), which provides grants to organizations that help small businesses in rural communities access loans, training, and technical assistance. Rep. Fortenberry has championed $8 million for this program, a significant increase from FY21 funding.

“For rural entrepreneurs looking to make their dream of owning a business a reality, RMAP is a valuable tool,” said Johnathan Hladik, policy director for the Center for Rural Affairs. “The proposed funding will ensure a bright future for our rural main streets as the program continues to assist small entrepreneurs in accessing capital and acquiring training for business planning and financial management.”  

The Center, Hladik said, is also pleased to see the Subcommittee recommending that $2 million be reserved for training and apprenticeship programs for small meat processors. The funding would support regional and local efforts through partnerships with existing non-profits, community and junior colleges, vocational schools, and similar organizations. The funds may help support apprenticeships for individuals working in small and very small meat packing plants to assure that individuals find full and gainful employment.

“Many processors have found it difficult to find and train new employees, creating a key obstacle as these businesses work to scale up," Hladik said." Support for workforce training is an essential piece as we continue to grow the industry and make way for a new generation of entrepreneurs.”

Additionally, the appropriations bill directs USDA staff to, within 180 days, evaluate the needs of small meatpacking plants and make recommendations for how to provide capital to support flourishing small and medium-sized plants. The bill also provides for the development of a strategic plan for the creation of regional rural food hubs to support locally sourced, branded, value-added products that are properly inspected.

“Agriculture is the mainstay of the Cornhusker State and America’s economy,” Fortenberry said. “As the Ranking Member on Agriculture Appropriations, I continue the important work to grow ag innovation, connect the farmer to the family, and create new options for rural livability.  I appreciate the commitment of the Center for Rural Affairs to advancing opportunity for our farmers, small business owners, and small meat processors.”



Farmland Leasing Meetings to Answer Common Questions for Iowa Landowners and Tenants

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is hosting multiple farmland leasing meetings during July and August at various times and locations throughout the state, beginning July 26. The annual meeting is offered to address questions that land owners, tenants or other interested individuals have about leasing farmland.

Core components of this year’s program will be land values and cash rent trends, cost of production, methods for determining a fair rental rate, the latest legal updates that impact farm leases and land ownership (such as carbon credit contracts), and communication between tenants or landowners.

“The combination of the weather concerns and export sales have provided a significant platform for higher crop prices over the past several months,” said Chad Hart, professor in economics and extension grain markets specialist at Iowa State, in his recent Ag Decision Maker newsletter article.

“Demand signals have held strong in the face of higher prices, providing longer-term support for both crops beyond harvest. But it will be the weather forecast that sets the price table over the next couple of months,” he continued.

As Iowa agriculture looks ahead to 2022, farmland leasing meetings provide a base for decisions in rental arrangements for both tenants and landowners.

A 100-page workbook to compliment the program topics includes resources regarding land leasing agreements such as surveys, sample written lease agreements and termination forms, along with many other publications.

Local options for meetings and webinars
Participants are encouraged to plan ahead as most sites for 2021 require pre-registration Registration fees vary. To pre-register, call or email the local county extension office host site.

The leasing meetings being held across Iowa are facilitated by farm management specialists with ISU Extension and Outreach. A listing of the county offices hosting meetings is available online.

Out-of-state landowners, or those who are not able to attend a program in-person have the option to attend a statewide webinar series, starting the week of August 23, from noon to 1 p.m. each day. Topics from the regular leasing program will be presented by farm management specialists, with the opportunity to ask questions.

The series will conclude with a discussion panel comprised of ISU farm management field specialists. Paid registrations will have access to the live events, webinar recordings and electronic version of the 100-page workbook. The Ag Decision Maker meeting page will provide webinar details.

The Ag Decision Maker leasing section provides useful materials for negotiating leases, information on various types of leases, lease forms and newly updated decision tools.



Final Week to Register for the Must-Attend Event for Precision Agriculture Pros

The only event bringing together precision agriculture professionals from all segments of the industry is Tech Hub LIVE 2021. And it’s happening in less than a week, on July 20 to 21 at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines.

All the precision agriculture innovations you need to know about now are there, and you’ll walk away with workable strategies to elevate your precision agriculture program, no matter where you are on your ag-tech journey.

“Tech Hub LIVE puts innovation into practice,” says Paul Schrimpf, conference chair of Tech Hub LIVE and group editor of the Agribusiness Group at Meister Media Worldwide.

An engaging, expansive tradeshow floor and field day with demos offer strategies for integrating up-and-coming ag-tech innovations. Build your skills during workshops and take in Tech Talks from industry leaders. Get to know others who share your desire to advance business at our Welcome to Iowa Party, group reception and networking breaks. The list of industry players who will be there continues to grow.

“We took a different approach to the sessions, taking full advantage of our return to in-person events,” Schrimpf says. “The two-day event provides ongoing opportunities to engage, learn, network, build relationships, and find out how leaders across the ag-retail and tech spectrum are adopting innovation to improve their businesses.”

Sessions include topics that cover technology adoptions, nitrogen management, drones for beginners, retail precision programs, sensors, recruiting post-pandemic, robotics and automation, data integration, and more. On top of actionable, practical knowledge, attendees can acquire up to 25.5 CEUs.

Plus, a limited field day at Couser Cattle Company at Modern Ag Farm shows how a fully-integrated farming operation integrates systems for row crop production, along with animal and ethanol programs. Leading ag-tech companies will share their latest products and systems in a demo area.

The time is now to register and get in front of precision agriculture technology coming down the pike. The place is Des Moines, rated as one of five up-and-coming tech hotspots in the Midwest. Get in before it’s too late. Rates increase Friday, July 16. https://techhublive.com/register/.



Naig Comments on Federal Efforts to Strengthen Competition in Agriculture

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig released the following statement in response to today’s announcement that the federal government will begin taking steps to encourage more competition in several sectors of the national economy, including agriculture:

“As Iowa’s Secretary of Agriculture, one of my top priorities is ensuring that Iowa farmers have strong and accessible markets for the commodities that they produce. We know that producers are facing challenges when it comes to price transparency in the cattle market and we also want to ensure that when something is labeled as an American product, it truly is raised in the United States rather than simply processed here.

While much remains unclear, I am optimistic about the administration’s efforts to address competition in the agriculture industry to protect Iowa’s producers and consumers. We will be closely monitoring these proposals as they move forward in the rule making process and continue to look out for the best interests of Iowa farmers.”



Executive Order Creates Opportunities for Farmers and Ranchers

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on President Joe Biden’s executive order addressing livestock markets and “right to repair.”

“AFBF notes President Biden’s effort to address several pressing issues facing America’s farmers and ranchers comes at a time when many in the farm supply chain are frustrated. Growing concern about livestock market fairness is accelerated by the continued rise in grocery store meat prices while ranchers struggle to break even on the cattle they raise and poultry farmers being locked into agreements with very little recourse if they’re underpaid. It’s time to get to the bottom of what’s driving these imbalances. More opportunities for farmers and ranchers to sell their products will ensure they are paid fairly while providing more options for America’s families.

“Farmers increasingly rely on the latest technology as they grow healthy, affordable food. Business purchases—from robotic milkers to high-tech combines—require a substantial investment, and when those tools break down farmers need to get back up and running quickly. Limiting who can work on a piece of machinery drives up costs and increases down-time. Ensuring farmers have the ability to perform cost-effective repairs on their own equipment will keep America’s farms running and financially sustainable.”

“We will closely examine the details of this executive order as we continue to work with the administration to ensure changes are consistent with our grassroots policy, and farmers and ranchers are provided greater flexibility to remain competitive in our growing economy.”



USDA to Provide Pandemic Assistance to Livestock Producers for Animal Losses

Livestock and poultry producers who suffered losses during the pandemic due to insufficient access to processing can apply for assistance for those losses and the cost of depopulation and disposal of the animals. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Vilsack announced the Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program (PLIP) in [recorded] remarks at the National Pork Industry Conference in Wisconsin Dells, WI. The announcement is part of USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative. Livestock and poultry producers can apply for assistance through USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) July 20 through Sept. 17, 2021.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, authorized payments to producers for losses of livestock or poultry depopulated from March 1, 2020 through December 26, 2020, due to insufficient processing access as a result of the pandemic. PLIP payments will be based on 80% of the fair market value of the livestock and poultry and for the cost of depopulation and disposal of the animal. Eligible livestock and poultry include swine, chickens and turkeys, but pork producers are expected to be the primary recipients of the assistance.

“Throughout the pandemic, we learned very quickly the importance and vulnerability of the supply chain to our food supply,” said Agriculture Secretary Vilsack. “Many livestock producers had to make the unfortunate decision to depopulate their livestock inventory when there simply was no other option. This targeted assistance will help livestock and poultry producers that were among the hardest hit by the pandemic alleviate some financial burden from these losses.”

Additional Assistance Planned
The previous administration proposed pandemic assistance using flat rates across the industry, which does not take into account the different levels of harm felt by different producers. Pork industry supported analysis projected that disruptions in processing capacity in the pork supply chain create a situation with small hog producers and especially those that sell on the spot market or negotiate prices, bear a disproportionate share of losses. USDA has examined the difference between the negotiated prices for hogs and the 5-year average and documented a significant drop during April through September of 2020 due to the pandemic. USDA has set aside up to $50 million in pandemic assistance funds to provide additional assistance for small hog producers that use the spot market or negotiate prices. Details on the additional targeted assistance are expected to be available this summer.

PLIP Program Details
Eligible livestock must have been depopulated from March 1, 2020 through December 26, 2020, due to insufficient processing access as a result of the pandemic. Livestock must have been physically located in the U.S. or a territory of the U.S. at the time of depopulation.

Eligible livestock owners include persons or legal entities who, as of the day the eligible livestock was depopulated, had legal ownership of the livestock. Packers, live poultry dealers and contract growers are not eligible for PLIP.

PLIP payments compensate participants for 80% of both the loss of the eligible livestock or poultry and for the cost of depopulation and disposal based on a single payment rate per head. PLIP payments will be calculated by multiplying the number of head of eligible livestock or poultry by the payment rate per head, and then subtracting the amount of any payments the eligible livestock or poultry owner has received for disposal of the livestock or poultry under the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) or a state program. The payments will also be reduced by any Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP 1 and 2) payments paid on the same inventory of swine that were depopulated.

There is no per person or legal entity payment limitation on PLIP payments. To be eligible for payments, a person or legal entity must have an average adjusted gross income (AGI) of less than $900,000 for tax years 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Applying for Assistance
Eligible livestock and poultry producers can apply for PLIP starting July 20, 2021, by completing the FSA-620, Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program application, and submitting it to any FSA county office. Additional documentation may be required. Visit farmers.gov/plip for a copy of the Notice of Funding Availability and more information on how to apply.

Applications can be submitted to the FSA office at any USDA Service Center nationwide by mail, fax, hand delivery or via electronic means. To find your local FSA office, visit farmers.gov/service-locator. Livestock and poultry producers can also call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employee ready to offer assistance.



North American Meat Institute on Prop 12 Proposed Rules: Burdensome, Unworkable, and Complex

In comments submitted to the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), The North American Meat Institute (the Meat Institute) today said the State of California’s proposed rules for Proposition 12 (Prop 12 or the law) are burdensome, complex and unworkable providing no food safety or animal welfare benefit.

“The proposed rule by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) admits there are no benefits to Californians as a result of Prop 12 and admits the deaths of breeding sows will increase,” said Mark Dopp, Meat Institute Senior Vice President Regulatory & Scientific Affairs and General Counsel. "Multiple sections of the rule should be withdrawn or significantly revised."

The Meat Institute submitted 12 pages of comments, found here that said the rules, if finalized, would create a bureaucratic labyrinth of regulatory provisions:
    requiring an almost unworkable annual certification of veal and breeding pig (sow) facilities;
    creating an overly complex accreditation process for entities allowed to certify those facilities;
    imposing detailed recordkeeping requirements on producers and throughout the supply chain;
    imposing problematic labeling provisions; and
    granting legally questionable enforcement authority.

The following are key findings in the notice published along with the proposed rule:
     Estimated costs for businesses to comply regarding pork: “Estimated ongoing cost is greater than the initial cost of conversion at $100,000 per year for a typical breeding pig farm due to smaller inventory of breeding pigs, lower piglet output per animal and increased breeding pig mortality.”
     
    CDFA acknowledges that animal confinement space allowances prescribed in the Act (cage-free for egg-laying hens, 43 square feet for veal calves and 24 square feet for breeding pigs) “are not based in specific peer-reviewed published scientific literature or accepted as standards within the scientific community to reduce human food-borne illness, promote worker safety, the environment, or other human or safety concerns.”
     
    “This proposal does not directly impact human health and welfare of California residents, worker safety, or the State’s environment…”
     
    CDFA also identified higher costs for schools, universities, prisons, and county jails. And discussing “Benefits to human health, worker safety, or the State’s environment” CDFA said “The Department has made an initial determination that the proposed regulatory action will have significant, statewide adverse economic impact directly affecting California businesses including the ability of California businesses to compete with businesses in other states.”
     
    Finally, the agency identified an impact Prop 12 is likely to have – forcing low income consumers to pay more for food. “Covered pork, and especially covered egg products will become more expensive to consumers starting in January 2022 because of the animal confinement standards mandated in statutes. … Therefore, the Act will disproportionately reduce food purchasing power of low-income consumers. … Food consumers most affected will be those low-income consumers that are not enrolled in assistance programs.”

The North American Meat Institute is the leading voice for the meat and poultry industry.  The Meat Institute’s members process the vast majority of U.S. beef, pork, lamb, and poultry, as well as manufacture the equipment and ingredients needed to produce the safest and highest quality meat and poultry products.



Continued Drought Conditions Threaten Organic Wheat Supply

The record-breaking heat wave in the Northwest, paired with the continued drought across a broad-range of crop-producing states, may challenge the organic wheat supply heading into harvest. According to the Mercaris Monthly Update, released today, the prolonged drought will likely move harvest earlier this year lending itself to other pressures.

“While we’ve seen improving conditions in some parts of Wyoming and eastern Nebraska, other parts of those states, along with the Dakotas, have had drought worsen through the first week of July,” says Megan Thomas, economist for Mercaris. “With these conditions through much of the wheat growing region, we are expecting an earlier harvest, which will likely further reduce yields and impact protein levels.”

In the report, Mercaris explains that the chance of reduced yields and increased protein levels for organic wheat will likely put upward pressure on organic food grade wheat prices. Organic hard red spring wheat already averaged $12.77/bu in the second quarter, a gain of $2.38/bu year over year, while organic hard red winter wheat averaged $13.60/bu for the same time period, up $2.65/bu over the same period last year.

“The full effects of the spring and summer’s drought season will be unknown until harvest fully concludes,” adds Thomas. “There are a number of questions related to producers’ reliance on crop insurance, as well as changing weather conditions that will result in price and supply implications.”

With the organic wheat harvest threatened and already tight organic soybean supplies, Mercaris notes that higher organic food and feed grade prices are likely through the rest of the 20/21 marketing year and beyond.

More details on the organic crop market, along with animal production and imports can be found in the July Organic Market Update that is available on www.mercaris.com.



Corteva Agriscience Reveals New Corn Herbicide Planned for 2022

Today, Corteva Agriscience revealed a new corn herbicide planned for the 2022 season. Resicore® XL herbicide is a preplant, pre- and postemergence corn herbicide with three powerful modes of action. The new product will offer increased crop safety and application flexibility on corn greater than 11-inches tall to control more than 75 of the toughest broadleaf and grass weeds. Resicore® XL is a flexible solution designed to fit nearly any corn farmer’s weed control program. The product will be available upon obtaining U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registration.

“We’re excited to continue to bring innovative products to the marketplace by announcing our newest corn herbicide today,” said Brandon Walter, U.S. product manager, Corn Herbicides, Corteva Agriscience. “Resicore® XL is the next chapter in that innovation story — a game-changing corn herbicide that combines the weed control farmers trust with next-level application flexibility and crop safety.”

Over the last 20 years, Corteva launched nine cutting edge corn herbicide formulations to fit the way farmers farm, as their needs changed. SureStart® II herbicide, a flexible pre-emergence that allows farmers to start clean, and Resicore® herbicide, a powerful solution with extended residual control, were two of those innovative solutions. In fact, according to Kynetec Market Research, Resicore was the most widely used residual corn herbicide in the U.S. in 2019 and 2020.

Resicore® XL will build on the success and proven weed control corn farmers have come to expect from its predecessor Resicore. The new solution will elevate the farmer experience with enhanced features and benefits, such as, increased crop safety, a wider application window and greater tank-mix compatibility.

Resicore® XL will fit a wide variety of weed control and agronomic programs, because it can be applied preplant, pre- or postemergence on corn greater than 11-inches tall. Farmers will also have the option to customize their application rates. This flexible solution will give farmers power over weeds with three proven modes of action to control more than 75 of the toughest broadleaves and grasses, including Palmer amaranth, waterhemp, marestail and giant ragweed.

“Farmers are looking for innovative solutions that fit their farming operations. Resicore® XL herbicide offers increased crop safety and the widest application window of any Corteva Agriscience corn herbicide along with the proven, powerful weed control they’ve come to expect from our products,” Walter said. “Resicore® XL will make an excellent addition to almost any weed control program as a preplant, pre- or postemergence option to help manage herbicide resistance and optimize yield potential.”

Resicore® XL is anticipated for EPA registration in 2022. Following registration, the solution will be available for sale. To learn more about Resicore® XL, visit ResicoreXL.com on Corteva.us, or reach out to your local Corteva Agriscience representative.



New Lumiderm® Soybean Insecticide Seed Treatment From Pioneer

Beginning in 2022, soybean growers will be able to protect the genetic potential of their seed investment against double the damaging pests. Lumiderm® is a new insecticide seed treatment, containing a novel Group 28 insecticide mode of action, that shields soybean seedlings against twice the number of insect species when compared with Gaucho® seed treatment, adding cutworms, white grubs, thrips and wireworms to the spectrum of control.

“Growers — especially those who prefer to plant early — want better protection from emerging pest pressure during the early critical growth stage,” said Brad Van Kooten, Pioneer Seed Treatment Category Leader. “Getting soybeans off to a strong start with less insect pressure is key to developing healthier root systems and fuller and more uniform plant stands; and helping to maximize yield potential.”

The new Lumiderm insecticide seed treatment provides additional advantages over Gaucho® seed treatment, including a consistent 1 to 2 bu/A yield advantage in multi-year trials and an 8% reduction in plant stand gaps.1 In fields with a history of heavy insect pressure, Lumiderm also works exceptionally well when paired with Gaucho® seed treatment and other seed-applied products, adding a unique mode of action on bean leaf beetles, seedcorn maggots and aphids.

Lumiderm is part of the LumiGEN® seed treatment portfolio from Pioneer for soybeans. It was released in limited grower testing quantities this season and will be fully available for the 2022 planting season. Tony Collins, owner of Collins Ag Services, Inc., partner in Pfeiffer Seeds, Inc.; and a Pioneer sales representative in Hastings, Nebraska, planted Pioneer® brand A-Series soybeans, Pioneer® variety P27A30, in side-by-side trials. He planted half with a LumiGEN seed treatment package that included Gaucho®  insecticide and half that also added Lumiderm® insecticide.  

“Visually, the soybeans with the Lumiderm package just look healthier at this point; they’re fuller, more mature and a little taller than the plot treated with the standard package,” said Collins. “We also saw better final stand counts — 158,000 plants per acre versus 142,000 plants per acre on a 170,000 seed per acre planting rate.”

In addition to growers who are focused on realizing higher soybean yield potential, Lumiderm insecticide seed treatment has a clear fit with growers who plant cover crops.

“Cover crops can be an important part of a sustainable agriculture system by suppressing weeds, preserving nitrogen and improving soil quality, but they also can attract increased and broader insect populations to decaying crop residue and cover crop plants,” said Van Kooten. “Lumiderm reduces the risk of stand loss issues in fields with cover crops with its enhanced protection against heavy insect pressure."



New Fendt Rogator 900 Series Applicator Coming to North America Soon

AGCO Corporation, a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of agricultural machinery and precision ag technology, will showcase its newly introduced Fendt® Rogator® 900 Series applicator to North America at two major agricultural trade shows in August 2021.

True to Fendt’s tradition of delivering innovative solutions that meet the needs of farmers, this first-of-its-kind self-propelled applicator adjusts between standard and high clearance with the push of a button and converts from liquid to dry application and vice versa in as little as two hours. The new Fendt Rogator applicator offers season-long crop care versatility, delivering a single machine for applying liquid or dry crop care products any time ‒ pre-plant, post-emerge, mid-season or late-season ‒ as well as cover-crop seeding or application of nutrients or burndown products in the fall.

Full details about the design and capabilities of the Fendt Rogator 900 Series applicator and its availability in North America will be announced in August. The new Rogator applicator will be on display at AGCO Lot #806 at the Midwest Ag-Industries Exposition (MAGIE) Aug. 25-26, 2021, in Bloomington, Illinois. The following week, Aug. 31 – Sept. 2, the machine will be at AGCO Lot #333 during the 2021 Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Illinois.

As part of the Fendt family of reliable, high-quality equipment, the Rogator 900 Series applicator is backed by the three-year Gold Star Customer Care maintenance, service and warranty program. More information will also be available in the future from Fendt dealers or by visiting Fendt.com/us.