Tuesday August 29 Ag News

 Considering how hot and dry it has been, one may not think so!
Alfredo DiCostanzo, Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Educator

Yet, several indicators of presence or effects of moisture in the form of precipitation, soil moisture and crop and pasture conditions may indicate otherwise. Weatherwise, meteorologists describe a transition time from La Nina to El Nino at present time. Bursts of rain in the Northeast regions of Nebraska from July to August may support that. In contrast, Western Nebraska received continuous and significant rains, in addition to snow last winter, to the point where the US Drought Monitor declared that area free of drought.

Corn conditions reported by USDA for the week ending August 20 of 2023 indicate that 83% of the corn in Nebraska is at dough state while 43% of the corn is dented. Relative to corn crop conditions in 2022 or the average of crop years 2018 to 2022, the 2023 corn crop in Nebraska is somewhat ahead.

Similarly, only 11% of the pasture was reported to be in the very poor and poor categories for Nebraska in the report ending the week of August 20, 2023. This is in sharp contrast to the report for the same week in 2022 when 81% of pasture was considered very poor or poor.

Observations on top or subsoil moisture conditions support these characterizations. For the week ending June 25 of 2023, 30% of the soils evaluated were categorized as having very poor moisture content. By the week ending August 20, 2023, only 19% of the soils were described in this category.

Driving around the state while observing corn fields, it is clear to see the effects of drought on dryland corn fields. Relative to crop conditions in late June 2023, the USDA reports corn crop condition relatively unchanged for Nebraska or other states at the end of August, 2023.

What does this all mean for corn grain yields, prices, feeding costs and pasture availability this fall and into next year?

On a national level, because of the drought, the USDA projects corn grain yields down 2.4 bu per acre to 175 bu (15.1 billion bushels). Yet, a few situations are leading to a bearish corn grain market:  larger beginning stocks, lower usage domestically and abroad, and increased competition for export markets. September corn grain futures traded downwardly since January of 2023. Though it may be early to project, planning for corn grain to trade between the upper $4/bushel range into the lower $5/bushel range may be a prudent option. Considering the supply of feeder cattle, easing the pressure on feeding costs will help sustain a bullish cattle market.

Pasture and hay production have benefitted from rain. These conditions may favor keeping cattle in grow yards or pastures to heavier weights in 2023 and 2024. However, for cow-calf and stocker producers in Eastern Nebraska, managing pastures and hay fields to optimize grazing or haying in 2023 while preserving roots and moisture to over winter and prepare for 2024 is a must.

Although hay prices have moderated some, they are expected to remain high. Therefore, careful management during storage and delivery is recommended to preserve this resource.

While drought cannot be declared as having ended (simply based on the US drought monitor maps), effects of it on grain crops linger while there is some indication that forage supply may improve in the short term. In the meantime, economic pressures from a reduced cow inventory and ensuing low feeder calf supply, high interest rate, high fuel costs, and moderating feed prices continue to pressure cattle producers to fine tune their management for profitable and sustainable production.



CORN SILAGE KEYS: PACK AND COVER
– Ben Beckman, NE Extension Educator

Making good silage includes many factors. Are you prepared for corn silage harvest this year?

One of the most difficult pieces of silage harvest is getting the correct packing density A good density goal is to have 14 lb. of dry matter per cubic foot. Pack only a 4 to 6 inch layer at a time and have proper tractor weight. The 800 rule can be used to determine how fast a tractor can pack based on weight. Take the weight of the tractor and divide by 800. That will give a how many tons per hour a tractor can pack to have a good density. For example, if the tractor weights 32,000 divide that by 800, and we estimate 40 tons per hour that tractor can pack.

Silage harvesters can put out impressive volumes of chop, often overwhelming the packer with too many loads before they can get a proper pack. Remember, the speed of chopping should be determined by the packing speed, not the silage chopper.

The next item to address is covering the pile. Even after the silage is packed correctly, air and water can penetrate the outer layers and severely damage the quality and quantity of silage. Additionally, molds, unwanted bacteria, and fungi have a prime place to grow in uncovered silage.

Studies at Kansas State University have reported up to forty percent losses in dry matter from the top three feet of silage in uncovered silage bunkers compared to covered. Covering with plastic will give about an 8:1 return on investment for the producer.

Silage should be covered as soon as possible. Whether using standard black and white 6mil plastic or adding an oxygen exclusion layer, make sure the edges are sealed and the top has plenty of weight on it.  This helps hold the plastic as close to the pile as possible, even in high winds, to reduce oxygen exposure.

A solid pack and a good cover can reduce losses, increase profit, and be safer when facing the pile.



Flood: EU Climate Tyranny a Warning for American Ag States

Today, Congressman Mike Flood issued a statement following recent action by the European parliament imposing “restoration targets” on 20 percent of the European Union’s (EU) land and seas by 2030. Over the weekend, a New York Times profile detailed the stories of European farmers grappling with the fallout of EU climate policy.

“Europeans are living on the front lines of climate tyranny that is destroying the way of life of their farm families while putting the continent’s food security at risk. Their ag producers are being pushed to shrink herds, shift production, and even to shut down their operations forever. Their stories should serve as a warning to Americans: This is what happens when Green New Deal extremists take over. The EU is putting their own future at risk to appease activists pushing policy that’s destabilizing food chains even as Ukraine, the breadbasket of Europe, remains under siege by Russia.”

“America doesn’t have to follow the European model. The fight against Biden’s 30 x 30 land grab started here in Nebraska, and early opposition has helped raise awareness about the consequences of federal land controls. Furthermore, Nebraska has long innovated to better conserve our natural resources to ensure that we feed ourselves and the world while stewarding our resources more efficiently. To secure our future, we need to empower producers to innovate towards sustainable solutions, rather than caving to the demands of climate extremists who want to ‘rewild’ land, which would drive family farmers out of business and devastate the economy of ag states across the country.”



USDA Updates Livestock Disaster Payment Rate to Assist with Heat-Related Losses

Some financial relief is in sight for cattle producers following recent extreme weather conditions. USDA's Farm Service Agency announced it has updated its Livestock Indemnity Program payment rate to support livestock producers in the Midwest who have lost cattle to the high heat and humidity experienced this summer.

LIP provides benefits to livestock owners and some contract growers for livestock deaths exceeding normal mortality from specified conditions, including eligible adverse weather events such as the recent heat domes. Indemnity payments are made at a rate of 75% of the prior year’s average fair market value of the livestock.

Beth Doran, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach beef specialist in northwest Iowa, said both weight and color contribute to heat stress in the animals.

"Market weights have increased the past several years, with finished weights for market steers now hovering around 1,500 pounds," she said. "And color also makes a difference. The darker the hide the greater the heat stress for the animal."

To help indemnify ranchers to reflect a trend toward these higher weights, the 2023 LIP payment rate for beef calves over 800 pounds will increase from $1,244 per head to $1,618, an increase of $374. Producers who have already received LIP payments for 2023 losses will receive an additional payment, if applicable, commensurate with this updated rate.

Recent heat indexes across Iowa the past week have been over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, which is well above the comfort zone of 70 F for cattle. Temperatures over 90 F also are forecast for this weekend. Consequently, Doran said, more counties may qualify for the LIP program.

Producers who lost animals due to recent high temperatures are encouraged to contact their Local Farm Service Agency to see if LIP has been approved for the county and if their loss qualifies for reimbursement,” said Doran.

The livestock owner must provide evidence acceptable to FSA that an eligible loss occurred and was directly caused by extreme heat. Notice of this loss must be filed within 30 days of when the loss of livestock was first apparent to the producer.

For details on eligibility and the documentation process, producers should check with their county FSA office immediately.



New Study Finds U.S. Soybean Industry Has $124 Billion Impact on the United States Economy

The National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA) and the United Soybean Board (USB) are pleased to announce the availability of a new study, The Economic Impact of the U.S. Soybeans & End Products on the U.S. Economy, that examines the value of the American soybean industry. To develop the study, NOPA and USB commissioned LMC International Ltd., an independent economic consulting firm specializing in global agricultural commodity and agribusiness sectors.

NOPA’s President Thomas Hammer observes, “As indicated by this study’s findings, the economic contributions of the soybean processing and refining sectors to the U.S. economy are substantial, connecting soybean farmers with end users. Soybean processors convert soybeans into meal and oil. These value-added products are used in food, feed, industrial products and biofuels, supporting billions of dollars in domestic wages and tens of thousands of good paying jobs in the United States.”

This 33-page study analyzes the soybean value chain’s impact on the U.S. economy based on data from crop years 2019/20 to 2021/22. As highlighted in the report summary, during this period:
    The total economic impact on the U.S. economy from the soybean sector averaged $124 billion, including $85.7 billion from soy production and $9.8 billion from soybean processing — the U.S. soy sector accounts for approximately 0.6 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product.
    There are more than 500,000 individuals involved in soy farm decision-making. This includes 223,000 paid, full-time equivalent jobs and an additional 62,000 family members, beyond growers, who reside on farms and are integral to soybean farming operations.
    The total wage impact of the sector averaged $10 billion.

“It’s reaffirming to see that the U.S. soybean industry has such a tremendous impact on U.S. farmers and the economy overall,” says USB Chair and Missouri farmer Meagan Kaiser. “When we think about soy’s role in food security, renewable energy and more than 1,000 products on the market, it may be surprising to the everyday consumer how our product extends across multiple sectors. This report, funded by our U.S. soybean farmers, allows soy as an often invisible ingredient to become a visible contribution and sustainable solution for our future.”

Economic impacts highlighted in the study are quantified in terms of revenue, wages, jobs and the number of people dependent on the sector — all focused on the production, distribution and use of soybeans and soybean products, spanning across the value chain, from soybean farming and production to consumers and exports. Findings are presented, with educational intent, at the national and state level and by congressional district. The study also includes one-page summaries for key states where the soybean industry primarily operates.

A copy of the complete study and related national and state summary sheets are available for download from NOPA’s website at www.nopa.org.



To Conform with Recent Supreme Court Decision, EPA and Army Amend “Waters of the United States” Rule

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of the Army (the agencies) announced a final rule amending the 2023 definition of “waters of the United States” to conform with the recent Supreme Court decision in Sackett v. EPA. The agencies are committed to following the law and implementing the Clean Water Act to deliver the essential protections that safeguard the nation’s waters from pollution and degradation. This action provides the clarity that is needed to advance these goals, while moving forward with infrastructure projects, economic opportunities, and agricultural activities.

“While I am disappointed by the Supreme Court’s decision in the Sackett case, EPA and Army have an obligation to apply this decision alongside our state co-regulators, Tribes, and partners," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “We’ve moved quickly to finalize amendments to the definition of ‘waters of the United States’ to provide a clear path forward that adheres to the Supreme Court’s ruling. EPA will never waver from our responsibility to ensure clean water for all. Moving forward, we will do everything we can with our existing authorities and resources to help communities, states, and Tribes protect the clean water upon which we all depend.”

“We have worked with EPA to expeditiously develop a rule to incorporate changes required as a result of the Supreme Court’s decision in Sackett,” said Michael L. Connor, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works. “With this final rule, the Corps can resume issuing approved jurisdictional determinations that were paused in light of the Sackett decision. Moving forward, the Corps will continue to protect and restore the nation’s waters in support of jobs and healthy communities.

While EPA’s and Army’s 2023 rule defining “waters of the United States” was not directly before the Supreme Court, the decision in Sackett made clear that certain aspects of the 2023 rule are invalid. The amendments issued today are limited and change only parts of the 2023 rule that are invalid under the Sackett v. EPA decision. For example, today’s final rule removes the significant nexus test from consideration when identifying tributaries and other waters as federally protected.

The Supreme Court’s Decision in Sackett v. EPA, issued on May 25, 2023, created uncertainty for Clean Water Act implementation. The agencies are issuing this amendment to the 2023 rule expeditiously—three months after the Supreme Court decision—to provide clarity and a path forward consistent with the ruling. With this action, the Army Corps of Engineers will resume issuing all jurisdictional determinations. Because the sole purpose of this rule is to amend specific provisions of the 2023 Rule that are invalid under Sackett, the rule will take effect immediately.

The agencies will work with state, Tribal and local partners to safeguard waters in need of protection following the Sackett v. EPA decision and will continue to use all available tools to protect public health and provide clarity for stakeholders.

The agencies will host a public webinar on September 12, 2023 to provide updates on the definition of “waters of the United States.” For registration information, please visit EPA’s webpage for the amendments rule. The agencies also plan to host listening sessions this fall with co-regulators and stakeholders, focusing on identifying issues that may arise outside this limited rule to conform the definition of “waters of the United States” with the Sackett v. EPA decision.

Background
On January 18, 2023, the agencies published a final rule revising the definition of “waters of the United States”, which became effective on March 20, 2023. On May 25, 2023, the Supreme Court issued a decision in the case of Sackett v. EPA.

The Clean Water Act prohibits the discharge of pollutants from a point source into “navigable waters” unless otherwise authorized under the Act. “Navigable waters” are defined in the Act as “the waters of the United States, including the territorial seas.” Thus, “waters of the United States” is a threshold term establishing the geographic scope of federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act. The term “waters of the United States” is not defined by the Act but has been defined by the agencies in regulations since the 1970s and jointly implemented in the agencies’ respective programmatic activities.



Ricketts Statement on the EPA's Revised WOTUS Rule

Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE), a member of the Committee on Environment and Public Works, released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a revised Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Sackett v. EPA that struck down the EPA’s definition of “waters.”

“The Supreme Court told the EPA they took illegal actions in the original rulemaking,” Ricketts said. “The EPA’s new rule once again disregards concerns by farmers, ranchers, and small business owners across the country. The Biden administration had an opportunity to do better and failed. Today’s limited revisions reinforce once again big government overreach and ignoring the needs of the American people is the only method of governing President Biden abides by. We must continue to fight these detached-from-reality mandates with every tool we have.”



Secretary Naig Comments on EPA’s Amended Waters of the United States Rule
 
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig released the following statement today after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released an amended Waters of the United States rule:

“The Supreme Court made it abundantly clear in Sackett v EPA that the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers overstepped their legal authority and therefore must re-work their overly broad, confusing and burdensome Waters of the United States rule. Unfortunately, while this latest amendment does include some positive movement, the amended rule continues to overreach resulting in uncertainty. I would encourage the Biden Administration to head back to the drawing board, listen to stakeholders from Iowa and across the country and finally fix the rule.”



NCBA Statement on Updated WOTUS Rule

Today, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Chief Counsel Mary-Thomas Hart released a statement following the Environmental Protection Agency’s revised Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule that is intended to conform with the Supreme Court’s decision in Sackett v. EPA:

“The entire cattle industry breathed a sigh of relief when the Supreme Court curtailed the EPA’s overreach under the Clean Water Act. Today’s revised WOTUS definition is an important step toward bringing the EPA more in line with the Supreme Court’s ruling. NCBA looks forward to working with the agency to protect farmers and ranchers from burdensome regulations and provide them with lasting certainty on WOTUS.

“NCBA was proud to lead the fight against burdensome WOTUS rules from Congress to the courts. We will continue analyzing this latest development to ensure that cattle producers are protected.”



 ASA Expresses Concerns with EPA’s ‘Confusing & Harmful’ Final WOTUS Rule

The American Soybean Association released a statement today in response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s announcement of its final Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule:

“When EPA and the Army Corps announced they planned to tweak the flawed WOTUS regulations on the heels of the Sackett decision, we were concerned this could be the outcome," said ASA President Daryl Cates, a soybean farmer in Illinois. "These revisions are unfortunately window dressings and leave in place much of the rule’s confusing and harmful foundations. It is even more unsettling that EPA and the Corps plan to finalize this rule without public comment. This revision is a missed opportunity to address very real and impactful farmer concerns.”



Corn Growers Disappointed in EPA’s WOTUS Rule

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) expressed disappointment with the revised Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule that was issued today by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers.

“U.S. corn growers are disappointed by EPA’s revised WOTUS rule,” said NCGA President Tom Haag. “The agency failed to open the process to public comment and engagement, which would have been extremely valuable. Instead, the agency has released a rule that does not fully respect the holdings from the recent U.S. Supreme Court case on WOTUS. ”

EPA released the revised rule after the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling in Sackett v. EPA earlier this summer that narrowed the scope of the Clean Water Act’s jurisdiction by, among other things, a unanimous decision that “significant nexus” was unlawful.



New WOTUS Rule Still Unfair to Farmers

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on the Biden Administration’s revised Waters of the U.S. Rule.

“EPA had a golden opportunity to write a Waters of the U.S. Rule that’s fair to farmers and stands the test of time, but instead chose to continue government overreach and revise only a small slice of the rule that was rejected by the Supreme Court.

“We’re pleased the vague and confusing ‘significant nexus’ test has been eliminated as the Supreme Court dictated. But EPA has ignored other clear concerns raised by the Justices, 26 states, and farmers across the country about the rule’s failure to respect private property rights and the Clean Water Act.

“Farmers and ranchers share the goal of protecting the resources they’re entrusted with. They deserve a rule that respects farmers as partners in that effort.”



EPA’s revised WOTUS rule misses the mark for states’ rights and regulatory certainty

With today’s release of their revised ‘Waters of the U.S.’ rule, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers have disregarded the U.S. Supreme Court, local regulators and public stakeholders’ expertise and concerns. National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Ted McKinney shares the frustration agriculture departments across the country feel.
 
“The ruling in Sackett v. EPA was a chance for EPA and the Army Corps to correct a deeply flawed, prematurely released rule and work to truly improve water quality outcomes. It is baffling that the revised rule does not accurately address all the issues and questions raised by the Supreme Court in the Sackett decision, nor does it address many of the questions stakeholder groups raised about the WOTUS rule EPA released at the end of last year," McKinney said.
 
NASDA repeatedly asked for engagement with and offered input to EPA and Army Corps, yet the agencies made the decision to exclude active participation not only from regulated stakeholders but also from states who share in the regulatory responsibility.
 
NASDA remains ready and willing to work with the agencies on a durable, clearly defined rule and aiding farmers, ranchers and local regulators in interpreting how to implement the current rule.



Ethanol Is Turning Down the Heat on Labor Day Gasoline Prices
Scott Richman, Chief Economist, Renewable Fuels Assoc.

As temperatures have heated up this summer, so have gasoline prices. Regular unleaded gasoline rose to $3.87 per gallon during the week ending August 21—the highest price in nearly a year and well above the long-term average (Figure 1). However, the good news is that ethanol is keeping gasoline prices in check, saving American families money as they hit the road for Labor Day.

Almost all finished motor gasoline sold in the U.S. contains 10% ethanol, a blend referred to as E10. In June and July, E10 cost $0.40 less per gallon at wholesale than regular unleaded gasoline without ethanol.[1] Assuming a similar discount in August, which is conservative since ethanol prices have declined while gasoline prices have risen, the presence of ethanol will have directly reduced Americans’ spending on gasoline by $14 billion this summer, equivalent to $108 per household, according to an analysis by the Renewable Fuels Association. For Labor Day weekend alone, ethanol is expected to save travelers $155 million on gasoline purchases.[2]

The savings are even greater for E15, a 15% ethanol blend that is approved for more than 95% of the cars and trucks on the road today. In order to “provide Americans with relief at the pump,” the Biden administration has issued a series of waivers allowing E15 to be sold in conventional gasoline areas this summer. As noted by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, similar E15 waivers last summer helped keep a lid on pump prices. Given the compelling economics, RFA estimated that U.S. sales of E15 surged 26% to a record 1.02 billion gallons in 2022.

E15 has continued to be attractively priced this year. In June and July 2023, the cost of E15 was $0.48 less per gallon at wholesale than regular unleaded gasoline without ethanol.[1] If Americans had fueled up on E15 this summer, they would have reduced gasoline purchase costs by an additional $1.4 billion over the savings from E10, assuming the per-gallon discount remained the same in August.

It is worth noting that this further discount of $0.08 per gallon versus E10 might understate the savings due to E15. According to another source that focuses on E15 retail prices, E15prices.com, the national average price of E15 has been $0.22 per gallon less than E10 from June through August.

Moreover, the estimates provided above reflect only the direct savings associated with ethanol. A study conducted earlier this year by energy economists from the University of California-Berkeley and leading universities in Brazil and the Czech Republic demonstrated that the blending of 14 billion gallons of ethanol “into U.S. gasoline lowers global crude oil prices as well as retail gasoline prices.” The authors concluded, “Adding ethanol to gasoline decreases the price paid by U.S. drivers at the pump. We estimate the average discount per gallon to be $0.77 between 2019 to 2022 and averaged across our models.”

As Americans mark the “unofficial end of summer” this Labor Day, it’s helpful to know that ethanol is turning down the heat on gasoline prices.



AgroLiquid Celebrates 40 Years of ‘Prospering the Farmer’

Forty years ago, a desire to change the fertilizer industry brought Troy Bancroft and his father-in-law, Douglas Cook, together to start a groundbreaking company. Now AgroLiquid is celebrating the progress made throughout those 40 years and looking to the future.

More than 350 AgroLiquid employees and retail partners from across the U.S., Canada and Mexico gathered at AgroLiquid headquarters in St. Johns, Mich., on Aug. 17 to mark the company’s 40th anniversary.

Bancroft, owner and co-founder, reflected on the needs he and Cook set out to address and the strides AgroLiquid has made in researching and developing new crop nutrition products that maximize outputs while protecting plants.

“Farmers needed something different,” Bancroft said. “They were looking for foliars, transplant solutions and fertigation options.There was an opportunity to address those needs by providing a true solution chemically and agronomically. We could change the industry. We could ‘prosper the farmer.’

Bancroft and Cook co-founded the company in April 1983. Since then, the company has grown to include five manufacturing plants and a 1,400-acre research farm. AgroLiquid has also built a national team of agronomy experts and a network of more than 200 independent retail partners and hundreds of highly trained sales representatives.

“From day one, our goal has stayed consistent: providing farmers with what they need,” said Nick Bancroft, who took over as president and CEO from father Troy in 2020. “Looking forward to the next 40 years, the goal is the same, but the process has changed.”

Nick Bancroft also credited the AgroLiquid team and partners with driving the company’s mission to prosper the farmer forward.

“AgroLiquid has a unique organization and infrastructure that puts us ahead of the competition,” he said. “But that is only as strong as the people behind it – those of you here today. We thank you for being here to celebrate with us.”

The company, which manufactures and distributes precision crop nutrition products throughout North America, remains family-owned. In addition to Nick Bancroft serving as president and CEO, Troy Bancroft’s sons Albert and Gerrit are leaders in the company. Albert Bancroft is the company’s workplace development lead and Gerrit Bancroft is operations director. The third generation of Bancrofts is actively involved in the company’s management.

“I’m proud to be part of AgroLiquid and thank you for being a partner with us,” Troy Bancroft told the crowd. “Thank you for being here today to celebrate with us and those who have gone before us, especially Mr. Cook.”



Corteva Agriscience Launches New Fungicide With Best-in-class White Mold Protection for Soybeans

Corteva Agriscience today announced the expansion of its U.S. fungicide portfolio with the launch of Viatude™ fungicide, a new solution for farmers from northern U.S. soybean-producing states to help protect their soybeans from white mold disease.

“White mold is one of the most significant crop diseases soybean farmers in that northern geography deal with – it causes millions of dollars in yield loss every year,” said Clark Smith, U.S. Fungicides Product Manager, Corteva Agriscience. “Viatude fungicide is a new crop protection tool that will provide best-in-class protection against white mold in soybeans, and help prevent yield loss and protect profitability."

Viatude fungicide contains two effective modes of action on white mold in a convenient, all-in-one premix. Viatude fungicide has the same proven disease control and performance of Onmira™ active found in Aproach® fungicide that farmers have come to rely on, plus prothioconazole for added white mold protection and strong plant health.

Viatude fungicide offers preventive and curative action on white mold to reduce disease infection. Smith said the superior protection in Viatude fungicide leads to vigorous soybeans throughout the year.

“Viatude fungicide provides complete plant coverage with its rapid absorption and translocation. The four movement properties found in Viatude fungicide quickly surround, penetrate and protect leaves and stems,” Smith explained. “This strong plant health helps farmers achieve higher yield potential at harvest.”
 
According to Smith, farmers can pair Viatude fungicide with Aproach fungicide in a two-pass system for even stronger plant health throughout the year. A program approach with two fungicide passes, along with other Integrated Pest Management practices, can help prevent disease resistance from developing.

Viatude fungicide received federal regulatory approval in late 2022. Several key northern soybean-producing states have also approved the new solution. Viatude fungicide is also labelled for use in canola. A limited supply of Viatude fungicide is available this year for farmers in northern U.S. soybean states, with additional supply anticipated for 2024 in the same geographies.



Pairwise and Bayer start new five-year multi-million Dollar collaboration to further advance short-stature corn

Pairwise, a food and agriculture company known for bringing the first gene-edited food to the U.S. market, and Bayer today announced a new five-year, multi-million Dollar agreement focused on innovations in short-stature corn. This new program leverages Pairwise’s Fulcrum™ platform and builds on the success of the companies’ initial five-year collaboration for corn, soy, wheat, cotton, and canola.

The upcoming collaboration between Pairwise and Bayer will be focused on optimizing and enhancing gene-edited short-stature corn for future use in Bayer’s Preceon™ Smart Corn System. Short-stature corn – with a targeted height of 30 to 40 percent less than traditional corn – is an innovative new approach to growing corn and offers a number of sustainability benefits, including protections from crop loss due to increasingly severe weather events and extreme winds brought about by climate change. Short-stature corn also allows for more precise application of inputs throughout the growing season, sustainably growing more through reduced risk of crop loss.

"Pairwise’s proprietary base editing tools allow for specific changes at virtually any location in the genome, which has the potential to make targeted and much needed improvements in agriculture," said Bob Reiter, Head of R&D at Bayer’s Crop Science Division. "These kinds of new genomic techniques are extraordinarily focused and produce results much more quickly and precisely than the conventional breeding process, ensuring that we can accelerate the delivery of solutions that growers need."

The initial five-year collaboration focused on corn, soy, wheat, cotton and canola with the aim of empowering producers to grow more with fewer inputs on the same amount of land. The partnership, which concluded in June 2023, resulted in 27 novel traits being transferred into Bayer’s testing programs. Results of the program demonstrated significant commercial value including edited corn phenotypes with a 20 percent increase in kernel row numbers, which could lead to significantly more yield on the same number of acres. Another outcome has been edited soy that reduces the severity of Asian soybean rust, potentially reducing the need for fungicides to combat the disease and protecting the potential for higher yields.

These, and other significant achievements, were made possible through the development of custom gene editing tools by Pairwise. These include REDRAW™, or RNA encoded DNA replacement of alleles with CRISPR, a precise templated editing toolbox that can make any type of small edit at CRISPR-targeted sites. Another tool is SHARC™, a proprietary enzyme that works well for cutting, base editing, and REDRAW editing. These tools will also be used in the new collaboration focused on advancing short-stature corn.

"We look forward to continuing our work with Bayer, with new emphasis on contributing to their novel smart corn system," added Tom Adams, Co-founder and CEO at Pairwise. "Working closely with Bayer on furthering this revolution in corn gives us the market reach to enable our technology innovations to more quickly adjust to the biggest challenge of our time: the changing climate."



Enhancing Farmer's Confidence and Performance with New Soybean Seed Treatment

Corteva Agriscience is dedicated to empowering farmers with outstanding performance and unwavering confidence through its expanding LumiGEN® seed treatment portfolio. New LumiTreo™ fungicide seed treatment is a powerful three-way premix fungicide, with three effective modes of action for key early season diseases to help soybeans reach their full potential.

“LumiTreo fungicide seed treatment will bring a welcome and significant boost to yield potential as the ingredients will provide significant protection against Phytophthora sojae, known as the number one soybean disease for causing substantial yield reduction in North America,” said Brad Van Kooten, Seed Treatment Category Leader, Corteva Agriscience. “The active ingredients include oxathiapiprolin, ipconazole and picoxystrobin.”

For added insect protection, when farmers pair LumiTreo fungicide seed treatment with an imidacloprid insecticide, they will achieve a whole new level of yield potential, disease and insect protection for their soybeans – all backed by extensive research.

“Based on extensive trial research conducted over three years at 256 total locations in the U.S., this new soybean recipe will deliver disease protection, in-field performance and plantability,” Van Kooten said. “LumiTreo fungicide seed treatment will also help soybean seeds start the season off strong by protecting against common seedling diseases, such as damping off, seedling blight, and seed and root rot.”

The LumiGEN seed treatment portfolio is built on a proven foundation backed by the rigorous Corteva Agriscience seed applied technologies (SAT) evaluation process. At the Corteva Center for Seed Applied Technologies (CSAT) – a comprehensive facility encompassing a laboratory, testing center and seed treating plant – potential products undergo meticulous evaluation through an exclusive six-step PASSER process (Plantability, Application, Seed Safety, Stewardship, Efficacy and Regulatory requirements). This enables Corteva to nimbly meet the evolving needs and expectations of farmers while also minimizing potential adverse effects on the environment.

LumiTreo fungicide seed treatment will be available at Corteva production facilities and downstream treating facilities this spring.