Thursday November 09 Ag News

CHILD CARE OPTIONS LACKING IN RURAL NEBRASKA, POLL SUGGESTS

Most rural Nebraskans see a lack of affordable child care options in their communities and believe that increasing access should be a high priority, according to the 2023 Nebraska Rural Poll.

Sixty-one percent of rural Nebraskans surveyed agree that there is a shortage of affordable child care options in their community, while just 6% disagree. Fifty-nine percent also agree their community needs more before- and after-school options.

Most respondents recognize the importance of child care for the growth of their community and think boosting access should be prioritized. More than three-quarters of respondents agree or strongly agree that increasing access to high-quality, affordable child care should be a high priority for their communities. Furthermore, 81% agree or strongly agree that such child care is important to their communities’ growth.

“Access to high-quality child care is an economic and social investment,” said Holly Hatton-Bowers, associate professor of child, youth and family studies at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. “Child care providers are essential for supporting families and businesses, and the provision of high-quality early learning and care is an investment in our children’s futures. We need to collectively build a stable early-learning system in Nebraska where families, children and the economy thrive.”

Fifty-seven percent of Nebraskans surveyed believe the community should invest public resources to support the availability of child care, while just 12% disagree.  

“This data reinforces what we’ve been hearing from communities across the state,” said Becky Vogt, poll manager. “When community residents are advocating for investing public dollars to address the issue, that speaks volumes as to how important child care is to their communities.”

This issue can impact a community’s workforce. More than 70% of rural Nebraskans surveyed agree that inadequate or unreliable child care options cause work disruptions.  

“Workforce capacity can be impacted by the availability of high-quality child care that can foster the positive development of young children,” said Steve Schulz, associate professor of logistics and supply chain management at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. “When adequate child care is not available, parents may be forced to stay at home or rely on informal or substandard arrangements for child care, and their children’s development and safety may be at risk.”

Opinions are mixed on whether child care is affordable, according to the poll. Less than a third of respondents agree that it is affordable for a parent in their profession to use child care, while 36% disagree.

This perception differed by occupation. Those who work in construction, installation or maintenance are more likely than people in other occupations to disagree that child care is affordable. More than two-thirds of respondents working in these occupations disagree with that statement, compared to 16% of Nebraskans with jobs in agriculture.  

“What we might be seeing here is also the perception of flexibility, as well as affordability,” said Cheryl Burkhart-Kriesel, professor of agricultural economics at Nebraska. “If you have to clock in with a job that requires a team of people to complete the task, you have little flexibility and need options immediately that could be pricey, if they are available at all. Agriculture would offer some flexibility on a day-to-day basis. The affordable option might be to find a way to take the child with them, but then that opens up safety issues for the both the child and adult.”

The survey also showed that most rural Nebraskans who currently use child care most frequently use a child care center or school (58%), while just over 40% use a home-based provider. And most were driving less than 10 miles outside of their normal commute to get to their child care.

The Rural Poll is the largest annual poll gauging rural Nebraskans’ perceptions about policy and quality of life. Questionnaires were mailed to more than 6,000 households in Nebraska in late spring and summer, with 1,100 households representing 86 of the state’s 93 counties responding. The margin of error is plus-or-minus 3%. The University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Department of Agricultural Economics conducts the poll with funding from Nebraska Extension. For the full report, visit https://ruralpoll.unl.edu.



CVA pays $13.672 million of revolving equity payments to member-owners

Central Valley Ag (CVA) continues to give back to its member-owners by providing equity payouts. This year, the CVA Board of Directors approved $13.672 million dollars in Revolving Equity payouts for 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Equity is returned to member-owners in the form of redeemed equity. The amount of revolving equity producers receive depends on the amount of business they do in a given fiscal year; this year that is 2009, 2010, and 2011. Producers will see their investment into the cooperative come back to them throughout their career and CVA is grateful for the opportunity to share with them its success.

"I am very proud of Central Valley Ag’s performance and our ability to return equity to our member-owners," said Carl Dickinson, President and CEO of Central Valley Ag, “The cooperative has an important role to play in giving back to its members and because of CVA's performance, we are able to continue to do that."

In addition to cash patronage, the co-op has earnings that are reserved for later distributions. In the short-term, these equity dollars are an investment by members in their co-op and can be used by the co-op to make capital improvements, which further grow the business or make the co-op more efficient.

“It is because of the loyalty from our member-owners that this cooperative is able to thrive. It is a true honor to be able to share this with them,” said Dickinson.



USMEF Strategic Planning Conference Underway in New Orleans

The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) kicked off its Strategic Planning Conference Wednesday in New Orleans, covering a range of topics impacting global demand for U.S. pork, beef and lamb.

USMEF Chair Dean Meyer, a livestock and grain producer from Rock Rapids, Iowa, welcomed attendees with a reminder of how the organization brings together diverse sectors of agriculture to work toward common objectives.

“Regardless of the sector we are based in, we’re able to come together on most issues and provide a unified voice,” Meyer said. “And I don’t need to tell you, American agriculture needs that unified voice now more than ever, because there are critical programs and issues that need our support.”

Meyer highlighted the urgent need for progress crafting a new Farm Bill and reauthorizing agricultural appropriations, citing examples of programs critical to the U.S. meat and livestock industries. Protecting the U.S. livestock herd from foreign animal diseases is one such need, and Meyer drove this point home by noting that next month will mark the 20th anniversary of the first BSE case in the United States. This incident prompted most international markets to halt imports of U.S. beef, with some countries remaining closed for several years.

Keynote speaker Alexis Taylor, USDA under secretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs, spoke about a new market development program recently announced by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. USDA plans to utilize $1.3 billion from the Commodity Credit Corporation to fund a Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP) aimed at diversifying export markets for U.S. agricultural products. While everyone is anxious to know the specifics of this new initiative, Taylor said USDA is “feverishly working” to finalize the details and will provide more information about the program soon – including how to apply for RAPP funds.

Taylor also spoke about USDA’s successful partnership with the red meat industry in expanding global demand. Noting the strong track record of USDA market development programs in providing value-added returns to U.S. producers, Taylor provided examples of how USMEF utilizes USDA funds to grow the international customer base. She also cited examples of USMEF member companies’ successful participation in USDA trade missions and USDA-endorsed trade shows. Taylor said the industry partnership also extends to market access, as USDA relies on USMEF’s in-market expertise to address trade barriers around the world.

Taylor also participated in a panel with USMEF staff to discuss how USMEF leverages industry investments in export markets. USMEF Senior Vice President of Industry Relations John Hinners kicked off this discussion by pointing to a recent Texas A&M study that found every dollar invested in USDA export market development programs returned an average of $24.50 to the industry. Hinners also highlighted a critical strategy that USMEF utilizes to leverage industry investments in export markets – third-party contributions. For many promotional activities that USMEF implements, importers, retailers and other industry partners make significant financial commitments, thereby extending the U.S. industry’s reach in key markets.

Jihae Yang, USMEF vice president for the Asia Pacific, emphasized the analytical approach USMEF uses to develop specific marketing strategies. Knowing where and how to invest is critical, she said, and working in-country enables USMEF staff to analyze individual markets, understand supply chains and build long-term relationships with businesses. Yang provided return-on-investment examples for specific promotions in which sales were calculated against USMEF’s investments, along with those of promotional partners.

USMEF Latin America Representative Homero Recio reviewed a USMEF training and evaluation program in Colombia that was developed to help butcher shops improve operational practices and, ultimately, increase sales of U.S. red meat. The butcher shop program, which was primarily developed for retail outlets owned by importers, improves food safety practices, customer service standards, product handling, packaging and merchandising. Recio shared investment and sales data for specific Colombian importers enrolled in the program, demonstrating the positive impact these operational improvements had on sales of U.S. pork and beef.

USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom also addressed conference attendees, providing an update on the current state of red meat exports and his outlook for 2024. Halstrom highlighted Mexico as a market in which both U.S. pork and beef are performing exceptionally well, with pork exports to Mexico well on the way to another annual record. He noted that U.S. pork exports are achieving broad-based growth in 2023, with demand accelerating in Central America and the Caribbean and the U.S. recapturing market share from European pork in several Asia Pacific destinations. The environment is less favorable for U.S. beef, with 2023 exports running well below last year’s record-large volumes in major Asian markets. But Halstrom emphasized that even in the face of significant headwinds, the U.S. beef industry has opportunities to capture new customers, especially by highlighting the value and versatility offered by underutilized beef cuts.

Guest speakers at the conference included ag policy journalist and analyst Jim Wiesemeyer, who provided an update on Farm Bill negotiations, the fast-approaching government shutdown deadline and other items of interest currently before Congress. Wiesemeyer also highlighted U.S. agricultural interests’ growing frustration over the lack of progress on some key trade issues, as well as the low priority placed on improving market access and exploring new trade agreements.

The conference’s opening day concluded with remarks from Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen. A veterinarian and pork producer by trade, Pillen recalled that early in his career, the United States was a net importer of pork. He expressed appreciation for USMEF’s efforts to expand global demand and to highlight the quality and safety of U.S. red meat.

“We have to work together to defend agriculture, grow agriculture, and sell it all over the world,” Pillen said. “And it’s important that we're very, very transparent, so that we can maintain the trust we’ve earned as the most respected producers in the world.”

Pillen also recapped his recent trade missions to Vietnam, South Korea and Japan, where he said it was a great privilege to represent Nebraska agriculture and promote U.S. products.

Thursday’s conference activities will include meetings of USMEF’s standing committees and a tour of the Port of New Orleans and nearby cold storage facilities. The conference will conclude Friday with a session on emerging transportation and logistics issues and election of the 2023-2024 USMEF officer team.



NEBRASKA CROP PRODUCTION REPORT

Based on November 1 conditions, Nebraska's 2023 corn crop is forecast at 1.66 billion bushels, up 14% from last year's production, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Area to be harvested for grain, at 9.59 million acres, is up 9% from a year ago. Yield is forecast at 173 bushels per acre, up 8 bushels from last year.

Soybean production is forecast at 265 million bushels, down 4% from last year. Area for harvest, at 5.20 million acres, is down 8% from 2022. Yield is forecast at 51 bushels per acre, up 2.0 bushels from last year.

Sorghum production is forecast at 17.4 million bushels, up 153% from last year. Area for harvest, at 220,000 acres, is up 76% from 2022. Yield is forecast at 79 bushels per acre, up 24 bushels from last year.

Potato acres of 22,000 were planted in 2023, up 10%. Harvested acreage set at 21,900 acres, up 10%. Production is forecast at 11.1 million cwt, up 15% from last year. Yield is forecast at 505 cwt per acre, up 20 cwt from last year.

Sugarbeet production is forecast at 1.31 million tons, up 37% from last year. Area for harvest, at 46,000 acres, is up 16% from 2022. Yield is forecast at 28.5 tons per acre, up 4.3 tons from last year.

Iowa Crop Production Estimate  
Iowa corn production is forecast at 2.52 billion bushels according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Crop Production report. Based on conditions as of November 1, yields are expected to average 200.0 bushels per acre, up 1.0 bushel per acre from the October 1 forecast but unchanged from last year. Corn planted acreage is estimated at 13.1 million acres, with an estimated 12.6 million acres to be harvested for grain.

Soybean production is forecast at 572 million bushels. The yield is forecast at 58.0 bushels per acre, unchanged from the October forecast but down 0.5 bushels per acre from 2022. Soybean planted acreage is estimated at 9.95 million acres with 9.87 million acres to be harvested.

The forecasts in this report are based on November 1 conditions and do not reflect weather effects since that time. The next corn and soybean production estimates will be published in the Crop Production – Annual Summary report which will be released January 12, 2024.

USDA: U.S. Corn, Soybean Production Up 1 Percent from October Forecast
Corn production for grain is forecast at a record high 15.2 billion bushels, up 1 percent from the previous forecast and up 11 percent from 2022. Based on conditions as of November 1, yields are expected to average 174.9 bushels per harvested acre, up 1.9 bushels from the previous forecast and up 1.5 bushels from last year. Area harvested for grain, forecast at 87.1 million acres, is unchanged from the previous forecast but up 10 percent from the last year.

Soybean production for beans is forecast at 4.13 billion bushels, up 1 percent from the previous forecast but down 3 percent from last year. Based on conditions as of November 1, yields are expected to average 49.9 bushels per acre, up 0.3 bushel from both the previous forecast and 2022. Area harvested for beans in the United States is forecast at 82.8 million acres, unchanged from the previous forecast but down 4 percent from 2022.



Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig Completes Annual 99 County Tour

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig started his annual 99 county tour in Black Hawk County in January and completed his annual 99 county tour this week by touring a national ag distributor in Hardin County. To commemorate his annual successful statewide tour, Secretary Naig released a brief video which includes a personal message and a selection of photos highlighting some of his visits.

“It’s one of the best parts of my job – traveling to each of our 99 counties every year and seeing first-hand the exciting things happening within Iowa agriculture and communities of all sizes across our beautiful state,” said Secretary Naig. “I log a lot of miles listening to and learning from Iowans. It is a privilege to meet these Iowans, see their work and hear their ideas, and I am always inspired by their creativity and commitment to innovation.”



Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor to Deliver Industry Keynote at the 2024 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit

When it comes to lowering emissions and improving air quality, reinvigorating rural economies, and reducing consumer costs, American biofuels feed and fuel the demand. During her keynote address at the 2024 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit, Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor will dive into what’s next for biofuels and the broader bioeconomy that the industry supports.

“Today, biofuels are lowering emissions and saving consumers money in Iowa and across the American heartland. Even more, their production also yields an ever-growing array of value-added co-products like high protein animal feed and drives investments in emissions-reducing technologies like carbon capture and sequestration,” Skor said. “The biofuels industry serves as the cornerstone of a broader, expanding bioeconomy—one that will continue to revitalize rural communities across the U.S. I look forward to joining producers and industry partners across Iowa to collaborate on how we can stay on this upward trajectory by enacting smart policies, accelerating innovation, and expanding consumer access to clean, low-carbon bioethanol.”

The 2024 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit is taking place on January 11, 2024 and will be at the Meadows Event Center at Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino. The Summit is free and open to the public, but registration is required.

“We look forward to hearing Emily expand upon the path forward that grows the market for biofuels and expanding opportunities for producers,” said Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Marketing Director Lisa Coffelt. “Growth Energy is spearheading the effort of expanding consumer access to higher blends at the pump.”

Growth Energy represents producers and supporters of ethanol working to drive demand, grow America's economy and improve the environment for future generations.

To register and learn more about the Summit, please visit IowaRenewableFuelsSummit.org.



Growth Energy Unveils New Brand, Focus on Expanding the Bioeconomy

Today, Growth Energy, the nation’s largest biofuels trade association, rebranded with a new look and feel that reflects the full spectrum of the opportunities and innovations that are transforming the biofuels industry and expanding the bioeconomy.  

“Growth Energy members are fueling a new era for America’s bioeconomy,” said CEO Emily Skor. “We are blazing a new trail toward a clean-energy future that is both affordable and sustainable, and we want our brand to reflect these advancements.  

Our new brand identity puts our industry’s innovative spirit front and center. Our new look highlights our forward-thinking membership and emphasizes how the science of biofuel production is echoing across America’s bioeconomy, cultivating a new generation of plant-based solutions on the ground, and in the air.

From carbon capture to high-protein animal feed to sustainable aviation fuel, our members are leading the charge on game-changing innovations.”

The new Growth Energy logo is a natural evolution from the leaves depicted in the organization’s former logo. Each color and line forming the new leaf and its echoes reinforces the diversity of the biofuels industry. The logo is designed to showcase the full spectrum of plant-based solutions Growth Energy represents – from animal feed to low-carbon fuel to biogenic CO2 and more.  

The rebrand also encompasses a newly-redesigned website that reflects the organization’s new brand identity. Explore more at the new and improved GrowthEnergy.org.  



United Soybean Board Infrastructure Investments Give U.S. Soybean Growers a Competitive Edge

The United Soybean Board (USB) invests in many infrastructure projects that will help increase profits for soybean growers and the industry itself, which is undergoing significant changes. Through the soy checkoff, USB pursued feasibility studies that led to the dredging of the Mississippi River in Louisiana, a terminal expansion at the Port of Grays Harbor in Aberdeen, Wash., and a reduced freight toll agreement on the St. Lawrence Seaway.

“The goal of these investments is to give U.S. soybean growers a competitive edge in the global market,” says Maryland farmer Belinda Burrier, USB director and the board’s priority area coordinator for infrastructure and connectivity. “These investments help us to be more reliable in moving soybeans from our farm to the global customer.”

Burrier will speak on this topic at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) national convention in Kansas City. USB prioritizes investments in infrastructure to keep U.S. soybean growers in a global leadership position while also benefitting transport of other commodities and agricultural inputs. She says that while the checkoff is not allowed to invest directly in construction projects, it is enabling these projects by investing in feasibility and engineering studies.

“These projects are a win-win for the soybean farmer as far as return on investment,” Burrier says. “We’re making $12.34 on every dollar invested. I don’t know too many investments that have that kind of return.”

Investments from the checkoff led to significant projects, including:
    Dredging the lower Mississippi River, which will allow barges to deliver an additional 500,000 bushels per ocean vessel, which creates potential to add $461 million in annual realized value for U.S. soybean farmers. More efficient shipping builds value in the supply chain and expands opportunities for our soybeans to reach our customers around the world.
    Port of Grays Harbor Terminal 4 Expansion and Redevelopment Project, which enables increased soybean meal exports from three to six million metric tons with expanded infrastructure. This investment is a vital piece of the puzzle because it has a direct route for going into Southeast Asia and other points in the Pacific Rim.
    On the St. Lawrence Seaway, the USB through a checkoff investment helped enable an agreement to reduce freight tolls by 50 percent to incentivize greater use by soybean exporters and to diversify the transportation system.

“The United Soybean Board’s mission has always been to create value for soybean farmers,” says Meagan Kaiser, USB chair and Missouri farmer. “I hope other organizations across the various commodities will take to heart that collaboration can stimulate significant improvements to our nation’s infrastructure and result in added value for our products across all crops.”



Increased investment awarded to expand soybean exports via the Great Lakes
Mike Steenhoek, Executive Director, Soy Transportation Coalition

On Friday, November 3rd, the U.S. Maritime Administration announced the 2023 recipients of their Port Infrastructure Grant Program (PIDG).  We were very pleased to see the DeLong Company’s Agriculture Maritime Export Facility’s Phase II project listed among the recipients – being awarded $9,276,352.  The Agriculture Maritime Export Facility is located at Port Milwaukee.  Phase I of the facility was opened on July 18th, 2023, and primarily has been used to export DDGs to international markets via the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway.  Phase II of the project will involve the construction of two grain storage silos, electrical service upgrades, and additional handling equipment.  Once Phase II is completed, DeLong estimates they will be exporting 120,000 additional metric tons of soybeans from the facility.  In addition, soybean meal exports are a potential area of growth in the future.  Pasted below is the link to the press release from the DeLong Company announcing the grant approval.

The Soy Transportation Coalition approved $200,000 to help underwrite engineering, permitting, project management, and construction support expenses associated with Phase II of the project.

There were three motivations for the Soy Transportation Coalition to provide funding for this important project: 1.) To provide meaningful investment to a project that will enhance U.S. soybean and soy product exports in the near future; 2.) To invest in the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway – a supply chain option that can and should be a more significant conduit to the global marketplace; and 3.) For the DeLong Company and Port Milwaukee to be able to highlight the funding commitment from a farmer organization, which would enhance the viability and competitiveness of their grant application.  Soybean farmers have a long history of seeing their funding leveraged – thereby helping accelerate project completion and increasing its scale and scope.  The investment by soybean farmers for DeLong’s Agriculture Maritime Export Facility is another tangible example of this.   

During this time in which U.S. agriculture has a number of supply chain challenges (low water on the Mississippi River, drought conditions at the Panama Canal, for example), it is imperative to have other supply chain options be available for farmers.  While the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway accommodates a modest share of U.S. soybean exports compared to other regions of the country, it has the potential to play a more significant role in connecting soybean farmers with the rest of the world.  The investment in the Agriculture Maritime Export Facility will certainly facilitate this.

Soybean farmers greatly appreciate DeLong and Port Milwaukee for the significant investment they are making to expand U.S. soybean and soy product exports.  They are ultimately the ones making this investment happen.  It’s been a pleasure to collaborate with them on this important project.   



FMC Launches New Combination At-Plant Product – Ethos® Elite LFR® Insecticide/Biofungicide

FMC has launched a new insecticide/biofungicide premix crop protection product, Ethos® Elite LFR® insecticide/biofungicide, for the U.S. market in 2024. This solution combines a study-demonstrated and trusted pyrethroid insecticide, bifenthrin, with two FMC-proprietary biological strains, Bacillus velezensis strain RTI301 and Bacillus subtilis strain RTI477, for a broad spectrum of control against early-season diseases and soilborne pests.

     Ethos Elite LFR insecticide/biofungicide has a robust label for use in corn, soybeans, cotton, peanuts, tomatoes, canola and more. It provides protection against key pests including corn rootworm, cutworm, grubs, seedcorn maggot and wireworms. The two novel biofungicide strains aid in suppressing seedling diseases like Fusarium, Phytophthora, Pythium and Rhizoctonia.

     “Getting a crop off to a strong start in the spring is critical to help maximize yield potential,” says Matthew Pye, biological subject matter expert for FMC U.S. “Ethos Elite LFR insecticide/biofungicide provides early protection to create an environment where seedlings can emerge more uniformly and with improved plant vigor. This At-Plant tool can help growers enhance plant and operational performance.”  

New formulation offers compatibility in conventional systems
     Formulated with FMC-patented Liquid Fertilizer Ready (LFR) technology, Ethos Elite LFR insecticide/biofungicide is designed for superior mixing and stability. The LFR technology ensures the solution has uniform suspension in fertilizer for consistent delivery across the acre. Ethos Elite LFR insecticide/biofungicide is an excellent tank-mixing partner with pop-up fertilizers, liquid starters and water, and is highly compatible with conventional crop protection products, allowing for convenient ease of application in one pass.  

     Ethos Elite LFR insecticide/biofungicide is applied at planting in the furrow with the seed or as a 5- to 7-inch band (T-band) over an open furrow. The labeled use rates range from 3.5-17.1 fl. oz./A. and are dependent on several factors: row spacing and target pest and disease. For more detail on labeled use rates, view the Ethos Elite LFR insecticide/biofungicide label here.

Unique biofungicides deliver plant physiological benefits
     Root feeding from corn rootworm and other soilborne insects can leave seedlings open to disease. With the proprietary biological strains included in this product, growers can implement preventative protection against diseases if insect damage occurs. Additionally, growers can experience crop physiology benefits like healthier root systems, improved plant stands and decreased lodging, all of which can contribute to increased yields.

     “Growers using a synthetic-only option for corn rootworm control can see the benefits from the addition of the biological strains that Ethos Elite LFR insecticide/biofungicide contains, both in terms of soil disease suppression and increased plant vigor,” Pye says. “It is a great way to enhance protection and plant physiology development to set crops up for a successful season.”   

     Two FMC-proprietary biological strains, Bacillus velezensis strain RTI301and Bacillus subtilis strain RTI477, are the foundation of Ethos Elite LFR insecticide/biofungicide, providing both biofungicidal and biostimulant activity in crops. Used At-Plant, Ethos Elite LFR insecticide/biofungicide complements seed treatments by extending protection beyond the critical time when most problematic soil pests and soil pathogens threaten yields.

     Unlike synthetic chemistries, the activity of the biofungicides in Ethos Elite LFR insecticide/biofungicide builds over time as spores germinate and colonize roots and root hairs to create a defensive barrier to prevent infection from pathogens. This results in an enhanced root system, contributing to the development of healthier crops that can better withstand stressful conditions.   

    “At FMC, we are committed to developing new solutions designed to help growers address their evolving pest and disease challenges and protect their yield potential,” Pye says. “Ethos Elite LFR insecticide/biofungicide is the next tool that provides growers with the control and convenience they need to optimize yields and find success.”   

     Ethos Elite LFR insecticide/biofungicide will be available on a limited commercial basis for the 2024 crop season with a complete launch in 2025.



GS Vortex Systems Launches Vortex Flow Amplifier, The New Standard in Pipe Flow Technology

GS Vortex Systems, the new standard for cost reduction and flow assurance in piping systems, announced today the launch of their flagship product, the Vortex Flow Amplifier. Based on their breakthrough advances in flow control, GS Vortex Systems has solved fluid transportation cost and reliability challenges for agricultural irrigation systems and multiple flow-critical industries. The company will be showcasing its products at the 2023 Irrigation Show (November 28th - December 1st) in San Antonio, TX.

The Vortex Flow Amplifier transforms fluid flow dynamics and efficiency using advanced duration flow rotation. This creates compelling advantages for simultaneous, multi-dimensional efficiency gains across operational areas, which are leading to rapid adoption in the irrigation industry and creating growing excitement in many other flow-reliant businesses.

“Though everyone has flow challenges,” said Avi Ghosh, co-founder and CEO of GS Vortex Systems, “no two systems or problems are quite alike. We designed Vortex devices to flexibly support customers by removing the widest range of pain points and delivering clear operating gains. We also made these easy to install and fully compatible with diverse irrigation systems and sizes, from drip lines to wheel lines (side-roll) and pivots. We want to surprise and delight customers with the lowest cost, highest reliability irrigation performance they’ve ever seen. This is desperately needed today. Once their most costly and time-consuming pain areas are permanently eliminated with Vortex and farmers can trust their irrigation again, they have the opportunity to use our technology for further system-wide cost reduction, productivity gains, yield security, and growth. All without the unnecessary expense of larger pumps and pipes. Farmers using Vortex flow better for less and never look back.”

The agriculture industry, in particular, needs cost-efficient fluid flow for sustainable operations. Unlike conventional solutions that resort to increased pumping energy or larger pipes to overcome flow drag, GS Vortex Systems re-analyzed pipe flow dynamics at their core to eliminate flow resistance. This advance offers unmatched levels of operational reliability and productivity enhancement for all systems. The Vortex Flow Amplifier is an outstanding and truly radical flow innovation.

The GS Vortex Flow Amplifier offers compelling farming benefits including:
●     Lower Pumping Costs: Pump energy spent overcoming flowing friction results in much higher operating costs than necessary. Vortex permanently eliminates that problem. Energy savings of over 30% have been demonstrated in the laboratory and field. With the Vortex Flow Amplifier, customers can also rest easy, knowing that their critical operations will run smoothly at ideal and assured flow rates. Larger pumps and pipes only increase operational costs, while Vortex reduces them, for good.

●     Outstanding Flow Delivery: Friction loss is constantly reducing your line pressure and terminal flow delivery too. That is why Vortex friction elimination is so effective in maintaining flow to the very ends of all pipes, lines and pivot arms. The centralized flow pattern causes particle suspension, eliminating downtime from blockages. Up to 50% higher flow is possible in existing pipes, delivering flow assurance farmers have never experienced before.

●     Unlock Untapped Productivity: Vortex units compound pumping efficiency over terrain and distance. This often allows the parallel operation of additional irrigation units, so raising yields. With higher reliability and fewer downtime crises, more resources are available for raising operating productivity.

●     Reliable, Sustainable Operations: GS Vortex Systems fully appreciates the value of existing investments in irrigation systems and is committed to improving their performance. With the Vortex Flow Amplifier, customers do not need to replace their entire systems to capture valuable benefits. Even selective retrofitting, targeting critical pain points, quickly yields strong improvements and rapid returns. For Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), Vortex presents an opportunity to develop premium systems or offer retrofit solutions to customers.

"The Vortex Flow Amplifier represents the most significant leap forward in drag reduction technology and flow assurance since copper pipes were first produced 3,000 years ago,” Ghosh continued. “We’ve achieved an extraordinary step-change in pipe flow performance and are excited to see customers benefiting from an inexpensive solution that provides them with a permanent improvement in reliability, productivity, and sustainability. On a macro scale, Vortex technology’s compound efficiency advantages over distances and complex terrain can help eliminate major capital infrastructure, like pump stations, to ensure that efficient flow is delivered at the lowest capital and operating expense for national water resources and their distribution. Vortex flow technology will rapidly be adopted as the new standard and pre-eminent solution for ensuring sustainable, yet cost-effective, future operations for both existing and green-field projects. For both Brownfield and Greenfield projects, there will be no looking back.”

About GS Vortex Systems
GS Vortex Systems is the new standard for cost reduction and flow assurance in piping systems. We deliver unmatched flow efficiency and system productivity.

Our technology is designed to address flow problems at their core. Other irrigation and flow engineers long ago gave up on reducing flow drag, and have worked to overcome the problem with increased pumping energy, larger pipes, or both. Vortex’s best-in-class products overcome flow drag to address some of the most challenging pipe system problems.

Whether it’s water for irrigation or high density abrasive mining slurries, we optimize flow systems to deliver higher, assured flow rates for the same pump energy. From drip systems to pivot irrigation, our products have no moving parts, consume no energy, need no maintenance and install easily to all pipes. The result is reduced pumping costs, increased yields, and decarbonized operations.

Fit, forget, and finally achieve reliable operations without constant interruptions or supervision.

GS Vortex Systems is based in Austin, TX, and was founded by a team of inspired engineers dedicated to fundamentally reimagining how fluid should flow for optimal system efficiency and performance.