Monday August 15 Crop Progress + Ag News

 NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending August 14, 2022, there were 6.9 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 39% very short, 39% short, 22% adequate, and 0% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 37% very short, 39% short, 24% adequate, and 0% surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn condition rated 12% very poor, 14% poor, 27% fair, 36% good, and 11% excellent. Corn silking was 95%, behind 100% last year, and near 99% for the five-year average. Dough was 64%, behind 78% last year and 71% average. Dented was 17%, near 16% last year and 18% average.

Soybean condition rated 8% very poor, 12% poor, 32% fair, 38% good, and 10% excellent. Soybeans setting pods was 88%, equal to last year, and ahead of 82% average.

Sorghum condition rated 15% very poor, 31% poor, 33% fair, 15% good, and 6% excellent. Sorghum headed was 63%, well behind 87% last year and 85% average. Coloring was 10%, behind 17% last year and 16% average.

Oats harvested was 96%, near 95% both last year and average.

Dry edible bean condition rated 2% very poor, 6% poor, 22% fair, 65% good, and 5% excellent. Dry edible beans blooming was 93%, near 90% last year. Setting pods was 54%, well behind 81% last year.

Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 44% very poor, 29% poor, 21% fair, 5% good, and 1% excellent.



IOWA CROP PROGRESS & CONDITION REPORT

Widely scattered rain across the State resulted in 5.8 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending August 14, 2022, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Dry conditions continued to stress crops and pastures. Fieldwork included harvesting corn for silage and cutting hay.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 24 percent very short, 29 percent short, 44 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. The shortage of moisture was evident with over half of the topsoil considered short to very short in the Northwest, West Central, Central, Southwest, South Central and Southeast Districts. Subsoil moisture condition rated 23 percent very short, 32 percent short, 43 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus.

Corn silking or beyond was 96 percent, 6 days behind last year and 5 days behind the 5-year average. Seventy-two percent of the corn crop has reached the dough stage or beyond, 3 days behind last year but 1 day ahead of the average. Fifteen percent of Iowa’s corn crop has reached the dent stage, 4 days behind last year and 1 day behind the 5-year average. Corn condition dropped to 66 percent good to excellent, 7 percentage points below the previous week.

Ninety-four percent of soybeans were blooming, 12 days behind last year and 3 days behind average. Eighty percent of the soybean crop was setting pods, 8 days behind last year and 2 days behind the 5-year average. Soybeans began coloring at 1 percent, equal to last year and the 5-year average. Iowa’s soybean condition fell to 63 percent good to excellent, 8 percentage points lower than the previous week.

Oats harvested for grain reached 86 percent, 6 days behind both last year and the average.

Ninety-seven percent of the State’s second cutting of alfalfa hay was complete, with the third cutting at 40 percent. All hay condition declined to 46 percent good to excellent.

Pasture condition rated just 32 percent good to excellent. Some producers are feeding hay and hauling water to livestock.



USDA: Corn, Soybean Conditions Down Slightly Week Ended Aug. 14

More hot, dry weather in parts of the country last week continued to put pressure on corn and soybeans, resulting in 1-percentage-point drops in the national good-to-excellent ratings for both crops, USDA NASS reported in its weekly Crop Progress on Monday.

CORN
-- Crop development: 94% of corn was silking as of Sunday, Aug. 14, according to NASS, 3 percentage points behind the five-year average of 97%. Corn in the dough stage was estimated at 62%, also 3 percentage points behind the five-year average of 65%. Corn dented was estimated at 16%, 4 percentage points behind the average of 20%.
-- Crop condition: 57% of corn was rated in good-to-excellent condition, down 1 percentage point from 58% the previous week and 4 percentage points below last year's rating of 62%.

SOYBEANS
-- Crop development: 93% of soybeans were blooming, equal to the five-year average. Seventy-four percent of soybeans were setting pods, 3 percentage points behind the five-year average of 77%.
-- Crop condition: 58% of soybeans were rated in good-to-excellent condition, down 1 percentage point from 59% the previous week but 1 percentage point above last year's rating of 57%.

WINTER WHEAT
-- Harvest progress: 90% of the crop was harvested as of Sunday, 4 percentage points behind the five-year average of 94%.

SPRING WHEAT
-- Harvest progress: 16% of the crop was harvested as of Sunday, 39 percentage points behind 55% last year and 19 percentage points behind the five-year average of 35%.
-- Crop condition: 64% of the crop was rated in good-to-excellent condition, unchanged from the previous week but far above last year's rating of 11%.

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DROUGHT CORN FOR SILAGE
– Ben Beckman, NE Extension Educator

High input costs and dry conditions mean making the most out of every forage opportunity critical this year.  If corn fields aren’t producing a grain crop, can we capture value in other ways?

While drought stressed corn may look like a lost crop, the value as silage may still be present. Even if corn has no grain, we can expect 80-90% of the energy value found in regular corn silage.  This energy is in a bit different form however and should impact our management decisions. Instead of starch in grain, energy is still in sugars in the stalk.  Because of this, getting a quick and efficient fermentation is critical to capturing as much value as possible before molds, yeast, and harmful bacteria can begin chipping away.  In these cases, using quality inoculant to speed up fermentation and improve stability is a good idea.

Another value of silage production the opportunity to lower nitrate risks.  While other options like grazing and haying may be a way to use droughty corn, they pose a very high risk of locking in toxic levels of nitrates that may have accumulating in the forage.  When ensiled properly, silage fermentation can reduce nitrate levels up to 50%.

Finally, drought impacted corn can be tricky to accurately assess moisture levels on.  While it may look overly dry, corn, especially without ears to signal the plant to dry down, can retain high levels of moisture in the stock for well into the fall.  Before you cut, take a test strip if possible or hand sample even dry looking corn stands to ensure moisture levels are right.

Drought stressed corn may still provide valuable forage, especially as silage.  Ferment fast to capture energy value, keep an eye on true moisture levels, and watch nitrates for success.



NE FFA Foundation Welcomes New Board Members

The Nebraska FFA Foundation is excited to welcome three new Board members. James Nygren, Alli Raymond and Jeremy Wilhelm join the Board this month.

James Nygren was a member of the Mead FFA chapter and was a past state officer. He works for Farm Credit Services of America and he and his wife Julie call Ashland home.

Alli Raymond and her husband Aaron and three children, Clara, Hugh and Lydia live in Lincoln. Alli is a former member of the Wisner-Pilger FFA chapter. She works for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Animal Science Department.

Jeremy Wilhelm grew up in Syracuse and currently lives there with his wife Irene and their 3 daughters. He has worked in the agriculture industry his whole life and currently is the CEO of Frontier Cooperative based in Lincoln.  With 1 in every 4 jobs tied to agriculture in Nebraska, Jeremy believes the future of agriculture lies in the hands of agricultural education and FFA to build the leaders of tomorrow.  



Habrock Joins the Nebraska FFA Foundation Team

The Nebraska FFA Foundation is excited to add Kyla Habrock to the team.  Kyla is a former member of the Gothenburg FFA chapter. Kyla worked for the Nebraska Pork Producers as the Director of Education and most recently opened the Hastings Early Child Development Center. Kyla served as a Nebraska FFA Foundation Board member from 2015-2021.

Kyla is joining the Nebraska FFA Foundation staff as the Development and Marketing Manager. Her responsibilities are to further the Nebraska FFA Foundation by educating and engaging more people in the work of the Nebraska FFA Foundation, connecting supporters with the mission of the Nebraska FFA Foundation and telling the stories of the Foundation's work.

Kyla says she "shares her excitement for FFA members, teachers and programs across Nebraska because she can feel the positive momentum and eagerly anticipates the greatness to come by investing in classroom instruction, experiential learning through a Supervised Agricultural Experience and leadership development. This positive momentum will propel success for students and communities higher and higher and higher!"



Childhood Agricultural Safety Network introduces first leadership team

The Childhood Agricultural Safety Network (CASN), a coalition of organizations and individuals established in 1999 through collaboration between the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety, the Progressive Agriculture Foundation and Farm Safety 4 Just Kids, has named its first-ever leadership team.
 
“I think the future of CASN is much brighter, thanks to this team,” said Marsha Salzwedel, Ed.D, National Children’s Center project scientist and program manager for CASN. “Their diversity of ideas, skills and networking capabilities have already made an impact.”
 
The six-person leadership team was drawn from more than 170 organizations and individuals who comprise the Childhood Agricultural Safety Network. They were introduced June 13 at the CASN annual in-person meeting in Fort Collins, Colo.
 
Leadership team members are:
    Cheryl Beseler, associate professor, Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center.
    Marsha Cheyney, evaluation and outreach coordinator, Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health, University of Iowa.
    Jana Davidson, program manager, Progressive Agriculture Foundation.
    Melanie Forti, Health and Safety Programs Director and Children In the Fields Campaign Director, Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs.
    Whitney Pennington, outreach program coordinator, High Plains Intermountain Center for Agricultural Health and Safety, Colorado State University.
    David Sullivan, director of programs, Ag Health & Safety Alliance.

The June meeting provided a glimpse of the team’s dynamics.
 
“Their effectiveness was very apparent at the meeting,” Salzwedel said. “Each of the team members facilitated different parts of the agenda, engaging all the CASN members in the discussions and ensuring we stayed on topic and on schedule, while also bringing out fresh ideas and new perspectives.”
 
Sullivan is excited about the team’s potential to make a difference. “The team as a whole is a skillful team, representing broad areas of agriculture from indigenous to research to boots-on-the-ground people,” Sullivan said. “It’s a great nucleus to help spread the word about childhood agricultural safety and health.”
 
Team responsibilities include helping with the selection of topics and content for CASN campaigns, identifying potential collaborators, helping to lead strategic planning for the network, and engaging members in the CASN Online Community.
 
Pennington said it was energizing to see colleagues in-person after a three-year break due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She is responsible for seeking feedback from CASN members on how to network, to meet in-person or online, and activities for regular collaboration in addition to the annual in-person meeting.
 
“Our aim is to have something organized, for example a Zoom meeting or a more robust workshop, where we can interact with one another each quarter,” Pennington said.
 
More frequent formal interactions, in addition to utilizing the new CASN Online Community, should enhance one of CASN’s long-time strengths: sharing members’ resources for the benefit of all members and for CASN campaigns.
 
Pennington said it’s important to, “help facilitate how we share knowledge and information with each other and break down those silos, so we can increase the speed at which we learn from each other and build on each other’s work and not feel like we’re duplicating … but actually moving forward.”
 
The first major campaign with the new team in place will feature all-terrain vehicle and utility-terrain vehicle (ATV/UTV) safety, a specialty for Sullivan. The upcoming campaign will utilize a process developed by Melanie Forti and the rest of the leadership team allowing CASN members to easily submit their own resources to be shared in the campaign.
 
This type of coordinated effort is required to, “change the safety attitudes and behaviors of the agriculture community as a whole on key topics such as ATVs and UTVs,” said Sullivan.



Aksarben Announces the 2022 Aksarben Farm Family Award Recipients for 100 or 150 years of Consecutive Farm Ownership within One Family

Aksarben began recognizing the dedication and perseverance of Nebraska farm families in 1956. Since then, nearly 10,000 families have been recognized statewide. Paying homage to these families is something Aksarben looks forward to each year and, along with Nebraska Farm Bureau who partners on this award, we are excited to announce this year’s honorees.  

The Aksarben Pioneer Farm Family Award recognizes the ownership of at least 40 acres of farmland held by the same family for 100 years and the Aksarben Heritage Farm Family Award recognizes 150 years of family farm ownership.

“It’s always such an honor to recognizes the hard work and dedication of these incredible families. The milestones these families have reached is a true testament to the strong Nebraska values that set our state apart and have been making Aksarben proud, for over 125 years,” said Sandra Reding, Aksarben Foundation President.

Mark McHargue, President of Nebraska Farm Bureau, adds, “Nebraska Farm Bureau is proud to be part of this long-standing program. Farm and ranch families deserve to be recognized with this coveted and prestigious award which includes nearly 10,000 families in its alliance. These awards recognize the commitment to preserve and build Nebraska agriculture for future generations.”

To commemorate this milestone, each of these families will receive an engraved plaque and gatepost marker at the county fair in the county where their farm is located.

Honoring 150 years – the 2022 Aksarben Heritage Farm Families include:
    Cuming County
        Gaster Family Farm, Established 1867
    Dixon County
        Sherman Family Farm, Established 1878
    Dodge County
        Paul H. Harms Family Farm, Established 1871
        Oscar A. Bergquist Family Farm, Established 1870
    Douglas County
        Dyer Family Farm, Established 1865
    Madison County
        Eldred Winter Farm, Established 1872
    Saunders County
        Zakovec Family Farm, Established 1872
        Thomas Homestead Farm, Established 1872
    Stanton County
        Long Family Farm, 150 years
    Washington County
        Brad & Barry Peterson Farm, Established 1872
        Giesselman Family Farm, Established 1867
        Niederhoefer Homestead
        Larsen Farms – Wild Rose Farm

Honoring 100 years – the 2022 Aksarben Pioneer Farm Families include:
    Cedar County
        Lauer Family Farm, Established 1920
    Cedar County
        Joe and Linda Hochstein (original owner: Bernard and Anna Wubben) Farm Est. 1898
    Cuming County
        Ahrens Family Farm, Established 1920
        Kratke – Roeber Family Farm, Established 1891
    Dakota County
        Gotch Family Farm, Established 1917
    Dixon County
        Courtland and Darlene Roberts Family Farm, Established 1920
        F. Roeber Family Farm, Established 1915
        Erwin Farm, Established 1920
    Dodge County
        Erickson Family Farm, Established 1906
    Douglas County
        Gordon Mueller Family Farm, Established 1880
    Platte County
        Nyffeler Family Farm, Established 1917
        Hoesly Family Farm, Established 1908
    Saunders County
        Masek Family Farm, Established 1907
    Stanton County
        Klug Family Farm, Established 1919
        Wolff Farms, Established 1922
        Stodola Family Farm, Established 1920
    Washington County
        Gerald and Patricia (Cain) Eskilsen
    Wayne County
        Hanson Family Farm, Established 1902

Established in 1895, Aksarben is a unified network of business and community leaders committed to preserving and expanding prosperity in our heartland communities through advancements in education, workplace development and civic projects born from effective private, public, and philanthropic partnerships.  



Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Awards Presented to 40 Farm Families at the Iowa State Fair

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg, Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, and Department of Natural Resources Director Kayla Lyon today recognized 40 Iowa farm families with Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Awards at the Iowa State Fair. The award acknowledges farmers who take voluntary actions to improve and protect our state’s natural resources while serving as leaders in their farming communities.

These farm families use scientifically proven practices like cover crops, wetlands, bioreactors, and saturated buffers that support the goals of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy. The recipients recognize the benefits of conservation practices extend beyond their fields to residents downstream, and their leadership encourages others to adopt similar conservation practices.

“Iowa farmers have always led on conservation and land stewardship, and continue to do so with more momentum than ever,” said Gov. Reynolds. “We are proud to recognize the recipients of the 2022 Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Awards who have shown great leadership in sustainably feeding and fueling our world, protecting our water and land resources, and supporting the next generation of farm families.”

"Achieving the goals that are outlined in the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy to improve soil health and water quality requires people, partnerships, and resources," said Secretary Naig. "We are proud to recognize these Iowa farm families. They are leaders in their communities and are making long-term investments in conservation that will benefit generations to come."

"We take great pride in recognizing these leaders in our farming communities throughout our state that put sound conservation practices on the forefront of their operations,” said Director Lyon. “It’s now more important than ever that we focus on protecting and enhancing our natural resources—especially our lands and waters.”

The winners were chosen by a committee representing both conservation and agricultural groups.

The 2022 award recipients include:
    Mark Brown, Joel Brown, Matt Brown, Plymouth County
    Mike and Kara Dickinson, Harrison County
    Dennis and Jeanette Kenealy, Harrison County
    Michael Vonnahme, Carroll County

More than 690 Iowa farm families have been recognized since the creation of the Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award in 2012. A list of previous recipients is available at iowaagriculture.gov/farm-environmental-leader-awards.



Iowa Governor's Charity Steer Show raises over $440,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa

The Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show set another record, raising more than $440,000 for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa. In 2021, cattle producers and local supporters raised $375,000, the most funds raised in the show’s history. In addition to breaking another show record, we surpassed $5 million raised since 1983.

The Iowa Beef Industry Council, Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and Office of the Governor of Iowa hosted the 40th Annual Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show on Saturday, Aug. 13. Brian McCulloh, of Viroqua, WI, judged this year’s steer entries and picked Steer 15 as Grand Champion. John Lawrence, Iowa State University Extension & Outreach Vice President, led the steer, Blue. Brady Werner, of Williamsburg, owned Blue and was sponsored by the Iowa County Beef Supporters.

Grand Champion Showman honors went to Gary Slater, Iowa State Fair Chief Executive Officer, who showed alongside Paige Evans, of Ellsworth, IA and was sponsored by the Volunteer Boards of Iowa Ronald McDonald Houses Charities. This year’s showmanship judges were Nancy Degner and Mark Fischer, both of Ankeny, IA.

The Community Hero Award, now in its second year, showcased a steer exhibitor’s efforts to raise non-monetary donations for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa. This individual not only collected pop tabs and non-perishable items, but also gained 172,000 likes and shares on social media, raising awareness for the show. The Community Hero Award went to Tucker Kilma, of Walker, IA. Kilma worked with Jamie Henderson, Eastern Iowa Ronald McDonald House, Board President, and was sponsored by the Eastern Iowa Ronald McDonald House and Quad Cities McDonald’s.  

People’s Choice, a crowd favorite, required steer teams to cheer loudly for their respective celebrity and exhibitor. Steer 20, shown by Clarissa Chun, University of Iowa Women’s  Head Wrestling Coach, and Tate Nelson, of Nichols, IA, received the loudest roar. They were sponsored by the Johnson County Cattlemen.  

The Iowa Beef Industry Council, Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, Office of the Governor of Iowa, and the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa thank the Iowa cattle producers and local supporters who back this event by paying it forward. Thank you to former Gov. Terry Brandstad, who started this event in 1983 and Gov. Kim Reynolds, for her support of Iowa’s agriculture industry and the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa. Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show Co-Chairs Tanner Lawton and Casey Anderson shared this about the event:

“It is hard to comprehend the impact $440,000 can have for Iowa families. This is a great achievement for every one of these teams. In the end, the compassion that all participants in this event show is what makes it so unique. The cattle industry is a tight knit group and we band together in a time of need.”



Strong Demand
Stephen R. Koontz, Dept of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Colorado State University

I have had a number of inquires regarding the strength in beef prices: what is the source? My response has been that if beef prices are strong and supplies are reasonably abundant then the only thing that it can be is the strength in demand. It’s the consumer – both domestic and international - and the downstream market. This strong consumer demand in being revealed in retail prices and strengthening the wholesale and farm level prices.

From a market fundamentals perspective, monthly beef production is strong running better than 1% above the year prior. The total volume for 2022 will be slightly smaller than 2021 and comparable to 2019. These are large volumes of beef. Forecasts for the third and fourth quarter reveal drops in production but current weekly slaughter remains strong. Those declines have not yet materialized.

Domestic consumption is likely flat in the second quarter but was large in the first. Again, the third and fourth quarters are forecast to be lower especially if strong beef exports persist. (Consumption is production less net exports.) Current monthly beef net exports for 2022 are on path to be record large.

Retail beef prices spiked following the COVID shutdown to levels I anticipated not seeing again for the foreseeable future. But those price levels were seen across much of 2019 and we are close to those levels now. Retail beef margins are very strong. The Daily Livestock Bulletin has done a story about forward beef sales and the strength of those prices and possible featuring that is worth a read. Forward or not packer margins are solid and fed cattle prices are benefiting. But the number of long-fed cattle remain persistent. Fed cattle are trading in the high $144-$148 with some trades reported at $150. These are levels not seen since 2015.

And cash prices for feeder animals in the week of August 12 across a number of regional markets – Oklahoma City, Montana, and Colorado – were also at levels not seen since 2015. 700-750 Medium & Large Number 1 Feeder Steers in OKC at $180.60/cwt.



Third AFBF Survey Reveals Stark Reality of Western Drought

Persistent drought continues to hammer farmers and ranchers in Western, Central and Southern Plains states, with far-reaching implications for not only farmers’ and ranchers’ bottom lines, but also food availability and affordability. The third edition of AFBF’s Assessing Western Drought Conditions survey illustrates many ground-level drought impacts, including expected reduction in yields, removing or destroying orchard trees or multi-year crops, and selling off portions of herds and flocks.

The survey, which was also conducted in June 2021 and October 2021, included more than 600 responses from county and state Farm Bureau leaders, staff and members in 15 states from Texas to North Dakota to California. Together, these states contribute nearly half of the U.S.’s agricultural production by value.

Nearly three out of four respondents rated a reduction in harvest yields as prevalent or higher, while two out of three respondents reported prevalence of selling off portions of herds or flocks.

“We have sold half our herd and may not be able to feed the remaining,” said a Texas producer in the open-ended question portion of the survey. “The ones we sold only brought 60-70 percent of what we bought them for in 2021.”

Across the surveyed region, respondents expected average crop yields to be down 38% this year because of drought conditions. One Arizona farmer commented, “Many of the fields near us are now fallow. Cropland is being converted to housing developments at an alarming rate. Over 10,000 new homes are expected within a 10-mile radius of my house—most within a 5-mile radius, all on cropland or former dairies. It is frustrating and alarming. Where will the food come from if we grow houses instead of food?”

AFBF President Zippy Duvall reacted, “The effects of this drought will be felt for years to come, not just by farmers and ranchers but also by consumers. Many farmers have had to make the devastating decision to sell off livestock they have spent years raising or destroy orchard trees that have grown for decades. Long-term solutions to drought mitigation must be discussed and implemented to ensure farmers in drought-prone regions can continue to provide safe, affordable and abundant food for their states and the rest of the country.”



Bayer launches ForGround, a unique sustainable agriculture platform focused on transforming how farmers and companies collaborate

Today, Bayer announced the launch of ForGround, a farmer-first digital platform that will transform the way farms of all sizes can more easily make the transition to sustainable agricultural practices. ForGround offers growers tools, resources, discounts, as well as and the potential to earn revenue through the Bayer Carbon Program7 for the adoption of regenerative practices and to connect with businesses looking to advance their sustainability and carbon goals.

Based on the successful foundation of the existing Bayer Carbon Program, ForGround will expand and evolve to go beyond carbon offsets to explore other ways that farmers can make a positive impact in their operations, through the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices and technologies, and the potential to connect with companies to help them meet their sustainability goals from foot printing to value chain interventions all the way to carbon offsets.

“As a global leader in agriculture, Bayer is uniquely positioned to help drive lasting change by working directly with farmers and businesses through leveraging our global scale to reduce our impact on the planet and support farms for generations to come”, said Leo Bastos, Head of Global Commercial Ecosystems, Bayer CropScience. “We know that better harvests and a better future start with healthy soils and investing in farmers' success – and believe that the ForGround platform will help them make the transition to more sustainable practices – and ensure agriculture is part of the climate solution.”

Through ForGround, Bayer will assist enrolled farmers to implement and manage practices that can help provide benefits to their land such as improved soil health1, increased water availability, fewer inputs3, increased weather resiliency4, and less soil erosion5, as well as the opportunity to generate incremental revenue by connecting them with programs like Bayer Carbon. The available benefits at launch are:
o Best-in-class practice transition support with agronomic support, evidence-based field studies & trials, curated content & events, like-minded community and trusted network of leading experts
o Connection to potential new revenue streams for adopting these new practices (i.e., Bayer Carbon Program)
o Reduced transition cost barriers, including incentives and rewards such as a free subscription to Climate FieldView™ Plus7 (Climate FieldView™ is Bayer’s industry-leading digital farming app, allowing even deeper understanding of farmers’ fields)

This platform enables farmers to participate in this increasingly transparent supply chain where consumers are interested in knowing how their food is produced.

ForGround participating companies can take advantage of a suite of digital applications powered by Climate FieldView™ to define and offer incentive programs that allow them to achieve their sustainability goals. “Our difference lies in understanding different needs, realities and adoption rates from farmers and different ways companies can create a positive impact to the environment”, says Bastos.

“ForGround is a key commercial piece of how we are working to achieve our goals of reducing our customers' in-field carbon emissions in major agricultural markets by 30 percent and becoming carbon neutral in our own operations by 20306. Supporting regenerative agriculture goes beyond our own sustainability commitments and together with farmers and other companies we can transform value for collective impact”, concludes Bastos.