Tuesday December 19 Ag News

THE TRIUMPH OF AG EXPO ANNOUNCES NEW DATES – NOVEMBER 20 - 21, 2024

One of the Area's premier indoor farm events, the TRIUMPH OF AG EXPO will be held November 20 - 21, 2024, at the CHI Health Center - Omaha, 10th and Capitol Avenue, just off I-480.  The 57th Annual Farm and Ranch Machinery Show will once again be filled with the latest agricultural innovations, equipment and supplies with more than 500 displays for farmers, ranchers, and their wives to meet experts all on one level of over 100,000 square feet in the state-of-the-art CHI Health Center - Omaha. Since 1967, the Triumph of Ag Expo has been regarded as one of the finest indoor farm shows. In discussions with several of the Show’s Council Members and exhibitors, the Annual Expo moved to late Fall following harvest, to help farmers making decisions before the end of the year and plans  for next year’s Spring, to save time and money, improve operations, yields, safety, efficiency, and find the latest solutions. In this challenging industry, the Annual Omaha Show is convenient for farmers to attend with Free Admission, which it has offered for over 50 years.

"The Triumph of Ag Expo is always packed with lots of new improvements and helpful information" says Brent Pohlman from Midwest Laboratories. At no other time this spring will area Farm Operators be able to see this much farm equipment and technology on display.  "It's an excellent opportunity to see all types of Short-Line farm equipment, new products, labor and time saving ideas all under one roof," says Mike Mancuso, the Show's Producer.  "The Triumph of Ag Expo is the best place for farmers to find answers for what they do control while taking advantage of the new technologies with hands-on experience”.

Ben Hellbusch, from Busch Equipment of Columbus, Nebraska said, "The Expo has something for every kind of farm operation," including tillage equipment, planters, monitor and control systems, soil testing equipment, mowers, cattle chutes, augers, fertilizers, various seed hybrids, feeders, tanks and pumps, hay moving and handling equipment, plows, combines, computers and software, tractors, and many more agricultural products and services for today's farmers and ranchers.               

If you are interested in agriculture and farming, this year’s Expo is the place to be on November 20-21, 2024. Exhibits are open 9 AM to 4 PM on Wednesday and 9 AM to 3 PM on Thursday.   In addition to all of the latest equipment, products, and services, see antique farm tractors and equipment, enjoy special programs.  

THE TRIUMPH OF AG EXPO FARM & RANCH MACHINERY SHOW is produced by Mid-America Expositions, Inc. and is sponsored by the Mid-America Farm & Ranch Machinery Council with members David Bracht – Kutak Rock / Omaha Chamber – Ag Council,  Doug Carr - University of NE Foundation / Nebraska Agri-Business, Clare Duda – Farmer, Erin Schoenberg – Center for Rural Affairs, John Hansen, NE Farmer’s Union, Brent Pohlman – Midwest Laboratories,  Carrie Duffy – Omaha Chamber – Ag Council, and Roger Wehrbein – former Nebraska State Senator – Farmer.



CVA's pledge makes a difference in the Heartland

Through Central Valley Ag’s partnership with the K-State Wildcats, Nebraska Huskers, and Iowa State Cyclones, CVA is sponsoring a 3-pointer initiative throughout the men’s and women’s 2023-2024 basketball season for each university. Every Wildcat, Husker and Cyclone basket made beyond the arc, CVA pledges a donation to the Kansas Food Bank and the Food Bank for the Heartland.

The pledge is part of the cooperative’s campaign “Our Planet is Hungry,” an initiative launched to promote the unique value of the cooperative’s four divisions – grain, agronomy, energy and feed – as CVA works alongside farmers to feed a hungry globe. And as CVA is a farmer-owned cooperative, there is room at the table.

With this added level of fun per game, CVA is thrilled to give back to statewide food banks so that they can continue their work in eliminating hunger in the Midwest by ensuring consistent access to healthy foods through community partnerships.




CVA launches new product 'CVA ELITE Accelerate'

Central Valley Ag has launched CVA ELITE Accelerate, a plant growth regulator containing a unique blend of three plant growth hormones.

CVA ELITE Accelerate aids in faster plant growth by breaking seed dormancy, stimulating cell division, and developing longer cell walls, resulting in larger leaves and roots.

"We see faster emergence and stronger, healthier plants when we use CVA ELITE Accelerate - especially in cold soil. This product allows growers to plant a little sooner and have confidence in getting a good stand established."
- Cary Skibinski, Director of Specialty Products

CVA ELITE Accelerate has been proven to increase yield when used in-furrow and foliar applications. This product can bring a positive ROI for growers as it has shown a 7.2 bushel increase when used with CVA Begin in-furrow starter fertilizer.

CVA ELITE Accelerate is the latest addition to the CVA ELITE product line, developed in partnership with a proven supplier. This product replaces the Ascend family products with a single, reliable formulation. CVA ELITE Accelerate is labeled for in-furrow or foliar application on all major crops, making it a dependable solution for your agricultural needs.

The CVA ELITE product line is comprised of valuable products that you can have confidence in. Given the constantly evolving agriculture industry, it is crucial to have reliable products.



NEW Cooperative Conducts Hams for Hunger Event

During the week of December 11th, NEW Cooperative, Inc. held its annual Hams for Hunger Event, benefitting food pantries across Iowa.

Throughout the week over 23,000 pounds of ham, equating to 4,000 hams, were delivered to 44 local food pantries in 40 Iowa counties in NEW Cooperative’s trade territory. The area served is from the Highway 9 corridor in northwest Iowa, southwest to Fremont County and from the Cainesville, MO area north along the Interstate 35 corridor.

“Our Hams for Hunger event has been a central part of NEW Cooperative’s community giving program for many years,” stated Gary Moritz, NEW Cooperative’s Communications Director. “With rising food prices, the demand at food pantries continues to also rise. Our donation of hams to local pantries has never been more needed than it is today.”

Moritz went on to say that “The hams we donate are purchased from Webster City Custom Meats. Not only do our members feed the world, in this case the grain and livestock they raise are grown and processed locally, helping local agriculture and local food pantries come full circle to assist those in need during the holidays.”



Iowa Pork wins Best NIL Deal of 2023 award for Purchase Moore Hamann Bacon promotion
    
The Iowa Pork Producers Association’s viral “Purchase Moore Hamann Bacon” marketing initiative with Iowa State football players was named the Best NIL Deal of 2023 by Street and Smith’s Sports Business Journal (SBJ), a prominent and widely respected national weekly trade magazine.

Iowa Pork partnered with Iowa State Cyclones Myles Purchase, Tyler Moore, Tommy Hamann and Caleb Bacon to create the “Purchase Moore Hamann Bacon” promotion. The not-so-subtle message was to encourage people to purchase more pork products, specifically ham and bacon.

 Teammates Alec Cook and Zach Lovett were later added into the NIL (name, image, likeness) campaign.

The Iowa Pork Producers Association has donated a total of $10,000 worth of pork to food pantries selected by the six players. That equals more than 13,300 servings of pork to help fight food insecurity.

"SBJ considered numerous NIL deals throughout our internal voting process. In the end, the IPPA's work with the Iowa State football players combined fun, philanthropy and creativity in capitalizing on a viral moment. We felt the combination of these traits made this particular partnership more than deserving of Best NIL Deal of 2023,” said Ted Keith, assistant managing editor for the Sports Business Journal.

The initiative launched on Monday, September 25 and quickly went viral. Within three hours on X (formerly Twitter), IPPA’s post was viewed more than one million times and reached more than two million views in 12 hours. Iowa TV stations broadcast the picture and talked about the initiative on the evening news. By the next day, it was hitting television and radio stations all over the country, including WGN-TV in Chicago, WPIX-TV in San Francisco, and KUSA-TV in Denver.

When ESPN’s Sportscenter account posted the “Purchase Moore Hamann Bacon” picture on X, the viral nature of the campaign grew even more, with that post surpassing 3.4 million views. Altogether, the promotion has reached more than 20 million people just on social media.

The marketing initiative was also hailed on national cable news programs and by the announcers during Iowa State's game vs. Oklahoma on Fox Sports 1 and the Cyclones game against Brigham Young on ESPN.

“We are so fortunate at Iowa Pork to have great staff who envisioned this creative and positive campaign for pork,” said Trish Cook, president of the Iowa Pork Producers Association and a pig farmer from Winthrop. “When we saw the outpouring of support from media and social platforms, we knew we had a hit! We had dreamed that "Purchase Moore Hamann Bacon" would go viral, and it did - even bigger than we had hoped for. It was a great campaign for the players, their local food pantries, Iowa State University and pig farmers!”

The Iowa Pork Producers Association worked closely with We Will, the NIL collective of Iowa State University on this initiative.

“This partnership is a testament to the positive impact NIL can have on not only the student athletes, but also on causes in our area like food insecurity,” said Brent Blum, executive director of the We Will Collective. “It has been a blast letting the nation know about Iowa Pork and Iowa State football and all the good that come to our state as a result!”



National collaboration aims to catalyze cover crop adoption, Iowa takes center stage

Three Iowa ag partners are leading a statewide effort to increase the adoption of cover crops, an erosion-prevention and water quality practice, as part of a national program called Farmers for Soil Health.

The Iowa Soybean Association (ISA), the Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB), and the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance (IAWA) are collaborating to offer up to $50/acre split into payments over three years to farmers who enroll in the program and plant cover crops. The promotion in Iowa is possible through a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Fund.

“We’re grateful for the opportunity to share the benefits of cover crops with more Iowa farmers. We have a great team of Conservation Agronomists who are going to be meeting with farmers one-on-one to help them not only plant cover crops – but be successful at it,” said Roger Wolf, Director of Conservation for the Iowa Soybean Association, which is leading technical assistance.

In 2022, Iowa farmers planted nearly 3.8 million acres of cover crops, more than double the amount in 2017. The nationwide goal for this project is 30 million acres of cover crops by 2030.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to show the other 20 states in the initiative that Iowa is a leader in on-farm conservation. We’re making tremendous progress in water quality practices like cover crops. At the same time, we have a long way to go; working together, we can do it,” said Sean McMahon, Executive Director of IAWA, a nonprofit aimed at improving water quality through farmer-led efforts.

Cover crops can also improve soil structure, build organic matter, and reduce costs in other areas of a farming operation.

“We know farmers take their jobs as stewards of the land seriously. They also don’t want to lose valuable nutrients from the ground. We’re confident that more information about cover crop management is going to lead more farmers to plant them because the benefits to soil health are so impressive,” said Greg Wandrey, Director of Sustainability at Iowa Corn.

Cover crops have immense value long term, but some farmers worry about yield drags in the first year. Cost share offered by this project will help reduce any initial risk.

Key cost share details:
    Cost share is open for cover crop acres seeded this fall/winter. Sign-up is open through Feb. 29, 2024.
    Payment for new cover crop acres is up to $50 split over three years. There is a $2/acre incentive for continued cover crop acres.
    Cost share can stack with most programs except for USDA programs. ISA Conservation Agronomists can help you figure out how to maximize available incentives.

The national Farmers for Soil Health initiative is a partnership between the National Corn Growers Association, Soybean Checkoff, and Pork Checkoff. You can learn more about it here https://farmersforsoilhealth.com/.



Terrorism and National Security Expert to Speak on Middle East Conflicts at 2024 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit

How do the conflicts in the Middle East impact regional stability, world energy markets and U.S. security? Dr. Max Abrahms, a world leading expert on terrorism, will discuss these questions during wide ranging remarks on the Middle East at the 2024 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit. Attendance is free and open to the public.

Abrahms, who is a professor of political science and public policy at Northeastern University, will break down what terrorism means and sort through the hysteria that accompanies it alongside what such conflicts mean for U.S. and world security.

“The Israel and Palestine conflict is front and center in global news at the moment,” said Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Marketing Director Lisa Coffelt. “But several other issues in the Middle East are boiling below and above the surface. We look forward to hearing Dr. Abrahms’ thoughts on the current situation, where it might go, and how it will impact everything from world oil supplies to U.S. terrorist attacks.”

In addition to his current position, Dr. Abrahms regularly consults for government agencies and multinational corporations about the international terrorism landscape and geopolitics. He has held fellowships and research affiliations at Stanford University, Dartmouth College, the Council on Foreign Relations, Johns Hopkins University, and Harvard University.

The 2024 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit will explore how to “Chart Our Course” for the future of biofuels. The summit will be held on January 11, 2024, at the Prairie Meadows Event Center in Altoona, Iowa. Attendance is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Register and find more information at IowaRenewableFuelsSummit.org.

 

Experienced Agronomist Adam Darrington Teams Up with Meristem Crop Performance

Iowa agronomic professional Adam Darrington has joined Meristem Crop Performance, one of the fastest-growing crop input suppliers in America. Darrington will apply his skills as an account manager and dealer coach for Meristem in Iowa.

“We continue to gain traction with our innovative products and see more and more farmers benefit from using them in every pass they make across the field,” said Mitch Eviston, Meristem founder and CEO in announcing the hire. “Adam is another great addition to our team of all-stars in Iowa and it will be exciting to see him carry our growing line of high-quality products to more farmers there.”

Darrington comes to Meristem from Wyffels Hybrids where he was an Iowa district manager, working directly with growers to optimize seed genetics and advanced traits. Prior to that, he worked as area sales manager with Eldon C. Stutsman Inc. He says he’s eager to apply his experience to Meristem’s mission and also learn more about the impact biologicals can have on soil health and yield.

“Meristem is bringing a lot of innovation to the crop input business right now and I’m really excited to be a part of this team,” says Darrington. “I have a lot of respect for Shane Brockhoff and I’m looking forward to working more closely with him.” He says he’s encountered the results of some of Meristem’s innovation at field-level in the season just past.

“One of my seed customers does a lot of split planter trials and ran one with REVLINE® HOPPER THROTTLE™,” he says. “I visited him not long after planting and one side was up out of the ground and the other was not. Same hybrid both sides. I asked him and he says, ‘well, that’s where that HOPPER THROTTLE was.’” Darrington says it was a key moment in better understanding the potential of biologicals.

“Keeping microbes alive all the way to their use in the field just makes sense,” he says. “I’ve been watching biologicals over the past several years and seeing the potential. With their patented BIO-CAPSULE™, I think Meristem is really onto something.”

A graduate of Iowa State University (ISU), Darrington is still closely involved in his family’s grain and livestock farm in Pottawattamie County with his parents Neil and Kathy and other family members. While earning his ag degree at ISU, Darrington was also on the ISU Livestock Judging Team, leading the team to first place at Iowa Beef Expo and earning the “Best Overall” individual award.

“Meristem is bringing new energy to serving farmers with products that can help them earn a better ROI (return on investment) and doing it while reducing waste and being more efficient. That fits well with my personal mission of working to serve family farmers everywhere.”



Growth Energy Statement on EPA's Latest Action on Midwestern Governors' E15 Request

Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor issued the following statement after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advanced to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a rule that would grant the request of several Midwestern governors and allow them to sell E15--a fuel blend made with 15% bioethanol that can be used in 96% of cars on the road today--all year long in their states.

“This is a welcome step forward for farmers and drivers across the Midwest. We’re grateful to the governors of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin for pressing for uninterrupted access to low-cost, low-carbon E15, and we’ll continue to call on EPA and the White House to grant year-round E15 nationwide. Biofuels like E15 are a critical part of reaching our climate goals, and we urge President Biden to swiftly approve the expanded sale of E15.”  



Growers Commend Chlorpyrifos Restoration, EPA Commitment to Science-based Process

In response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s latest announcement that it will restore uses of chlorpyrifos and commit to a science-based review of the pesticide, Alan Meadows, American Soybean Association director and soybean grower from Halls, Tennessee, commented on behalf of the soy industry and echoed sentiments felt by other grower groups pleased by the decision.

“U.S. soybean growers welcome the announcement that chlorpyrifos tolerances and uses will be restored and EPA will commit to a science-based review of the pesticide in the days ahead, as ordered by the Eighth Circuit Court. EPA’s own science has repeatedly found there are at least 11 high-benefit, safe uses of chlorpyrifos, including for soybeans—a fact of which we will continue to remind the agency throughout this process,” said Meadows.

EPA’s announcement is consistent with the Nov. 2, 2023, ruling from the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in which the court found EPA disregarded its own scientists’ findings by ending numerous uses of chlorpyrifos they determined were safe. The court vacated the EPA rule and restored agricultural uses of the tool.

Farmers rely on access to pesticides like chlorpyrifos to protect crops from destructive pests and maintain important conservation practices. Congress has established clear science and evidence-based processes to ensure these tools can be used safely and that they will not result in harm to people or the environment.

Grower groups in addition to ASA have voiced their concerns over blanket bans on chlorpyrifos and shared the detrimental consequences to their crops and farmers’ livelihoods when agencies disregard the intended approval process.

Nate Hultgren, president of the American Sugarbeet Growers Association and grower from Raymond, Minnesota, said, “Sugarbeet growers welcome the return of chlorpyrifos for the upcoming growing season. While we appreciate that EPA has taken the necessary steps to ensure access for the upcoming growing season, it can’t undo the economic harm that resulted from its previous revocation activity. Growers need tools like this to reduce economic harm stemming from pest and disease. We are committed to strong stewardship and safety principles and as such look forward to engaging with EPA in future rulemaking around chlorpyrifos to ensure robust grower input and science-based decision-making rule the day."

Meadows concluded by saying, “This announcement is not only about restoring uses of chlorpyrifos, but also protecting these essential, congressionally directed procedures that ensure fair, appropriate, science-driven review of pesticides. ASA likewise looks forward to working with EPA in the months ahead to ensure further review of chlorpyrifos meets these important standards and that safe uses supported by the agency’s own career scientists are retained.”



Seven Federal Agencies to Implement the American Climate Corps

Today, the Biden-Harris Administration is taking critical steps to advance the American Climate Corps, a landmark initiative announced by President Biden earlier this year to train the next generation of clean energy, conservation, and climate resilience workers, while putting them on a path to good-paying union jobs. As part of this commitment, today seven federal agencies – the Departments of Commerce, the Interior, Agriculture, Labor and Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, and AmeriCorps – are formally entering into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will serve as a blueprint for the multiagency program. The MOU lays out the mission, goals, priorities, and next steps for implementing President Biden’s American Climate Corps.

In addition, beginning in January, senior Administration officials will also convene a series of virtual listening sessions to hear directly from prospective American Climate Corps applicants and implementing partners, including labor unions, educational institutions, employer partners, and state, local, and Tribal governments about their priorities for the American Climate Corps. The convenings announced today will inform the implementation of this historic new initiative. More information about the virtual listening sessions can be found on the American Climate Corps page.

Earlier this month, the USDA Forest Service and AmeriCorps signed a five-year, $15 million interagency agreement to establish the Forest Corps. Forest Corps aims to connect people from diverse backgrounds with opportunities to reduce wildfire risk, support reforestation and make national forests and grasslands healthier and more resilient to threats like climate change. The first cohort of 80 members is set to start work next summer.

“Preparing our national forests and grasslands from the historic threats they face means training the next generation of forest managers and leaders to take up the mission of caring for these treasured landscapes,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Thanks to the long-term vision of the Biden-Harris Administration, Forest Corps is set to take on today’s conservation challenges while investing in the workforce we need for the future.”

Under the MOU, agencies are agreeing to the following principles:
    The American Climate Corps will reflect a comprehensive approach to tackling climate change;
    The American Climate Corps will build upon and expand existing partnerships, while also initiating new partnerships in communities across the country;
    American Climate Corps programs will compensate members to ensure the initiative is accessible to all;
    American Climate Corps programs will provide a pathway to high-quality employment;
    The American Climate Corps will expand workforce pathways in and led by disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution; and
    The American Climate Corps will serve all of America’s communities by improving climate resilience, reducing climate pollution, and by creating economic opportunity in our urban, rural, suburban, and wilderness remote areas.

The MOU also establishes an Executive Committee – comprised of the Assistant to the President and National Climate Advisor, CEO of AmeriCorps, Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of the Interior, Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of Labor, Secretary of Energy, and Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency – that will provide leadership across the federal government for the American Climate Corps, as well as a Working Group to formally carry out and implement the initiative.

Within the first three weeks of launching the American Climate Corps, more than 40,000 people, about two-thirds of whom are ages 18-35, expressed interest in joining the initiative. The American Climate Corps is on track to establish the first cohort of members in the summer of 2024.



Organic Valley Flips the Script in 2023 by Welcoming Dozens of Family Farms into the Cooperative Amidst Farm Crisis

In a year marked by significant challenges for small family farms and rural communities, Organic Valley, the largest cooperative of organic farmers in the nation, is not just seeking more milk but actively welcoming more farmers. The cooperative has brought 84 family farms into its fold in 2023, demonstrating a robust response to the trend of farm loss and agricultural consolidation.

This expansion is not just about numbers; it's about a growing movement. With plans to welcome more farms in 2024, Organic Valley is set to redefine the landscape of organic farming in America, demonstrating its steadfast commitment to nurturing organic farmers, protecting the environment and feeding communities with wholesome, organic products.

“This is who we are,” said Shawna Nelson, Organic Valley executive vice president of membership. “Last year, we brought in farms that were abruptly dropped by their milk buyers, and this year, we've welcomed 84 more into our organic dairy community. Our commitment to organic family farmers is unwavering, and we aim to be the go-to option for those seeking a stable future in farming.”

The cooperative welcomed 26 organic family farms from Pennsylvania, a dozen more from Wisconsin, 22 in New York, six from Ohio, and several others from Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota and Vermont. By doing so, Organic Valley continues to strengthen its supply chain across multiple regions, bringing an organic market and sense of community to farms nationwide.

“We can’t do this alone,” said Jaclyn Cardin, Organic Valley chief brand officer. “If you care about how your food is produced and who is producing it, we think we offer a lot. We want consumers to buy with both heart and head, knowing that Organic Valley products come from a place of integrity. Because we're a farmer-owned cooperative, when you purchase our products, the farmers who dedicate themselves to caring for the land, the animals and their communities receive stable and farmer-determined compensation. We believe good food comes from good, small family farms.”

The addition of these 84 farms sets the stage for more significant growth. Looking ahead to 2024, Organic Valley will continue supporting small organic family farms, further solidifying its role as a leader in sustainable organic farming. This growth is a testament to Organic Valley's commitment to protecting organic farmland in the U.S. — more than 460,000 acres of organic farmland — and growing.

In 2023, Organic Valley built a stable market for another 84 organic family farms and continued a movement that values the role of small family farms in America. This year's expansion is a clear indicator of Organic Valley's dedication to a future where family farms can thrive.