Thursday September 18 Ag News

 Rural Mainstreet Index Sinks for September:  Farmland Prices and Ag Equipment Sales Plummet

The Rural Mainstreet Index moved to its lowest level in more than two years, according to the September survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of a 10-state region dependent on agriculture and/or energy.  The index has been trending lower since June 2013 when the reading stood at 60.5. 

Overall: The Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI), which ranges between 0 and 100, with 50.0 representing growth neutral, fell slightly to 48.2 from August’s 48.3.

“From this time last year, grain prices are down by an average of 29.4 percent according to government data.  This huge decline has had a significant negative influence on most of the factors from our surveys over the last several months,” said Ernie Goss, Ph.D., the Jack A. MacAllister Chair in Regional Economics at Creighton University’s Heider College of Business.

Jeff Bonnett, president of Havana National Bank in Havana, Ill., said “As our farm lenders have pointed out, if current grain prices do not rebound in 2015, cash flow monitoring for our farm operators will be our major challenge.”

Iowa: The September RMI for Iowa sank to 47.2 from August’s 50.6. The state’s farmland-price index for September slumped to 34.1 from 40.7 in August. Iowa’s new-hiring index for September slipped to 55.2 from August’s 55.5.

Nebraska: The Nebraska RMI for September fell to 44.3 from 47.8 in August. The state’s farmland-price index for September sank to 23.8 from 30.4 in August.  Nebraska’s new-hiring index decreased to 47.0 from August’s 47.3.  Lydell Woodbury, executive vice-president of First Nebraska Bank in Stanton, reported, “Our feeders are continuing to reduce debt and fund the higher cost of replacements.”

Farming and ranching: The farmland and ranchland-price index for September slumped to 33.7, its lowest level since March 2009 and down from 41.4 in August. “Much weaker crop prices are taking the air out of agriculture land prices.  This is the tenth straight month that the index has moved below growth neutral,” said Goss.

The September farm-equipment sales index slumped to a record low 17.6 from August’s 25.5, which was a record low. The index has been below growth neutral for 14 straight months. “This is lowest reading that we have recorded for the equipment index since we began the monthly survey in 2006. The rapid decline in agriculture commodity prices has pushed farmers to shrink their equipment purchases,” said Goss.

This month bankers were asked to project farm equipment sales for the next year. Approximately 94.4 percent expect farm-equipment sales to decline for the next year. Only 3.7 percent of the bank CEOs expect an increase in farm-equipment sales for the next year.  On average, bankers expect a 13.8 percent decline in farm-equipment sales for the next year.

According to bankers, one-fourth of recent farmland sales were for cash (not financed).  This is down from 29 percent reported last year at this time and lower than the 26 percent reported last month.  “The percent of farmland sales that is financed is growing, but at a very slow pace, according to our surveys.   Plummeting grain prices have yet to push farmers into boosting borrowing to support farmland purchases,” reported Goss.

Each month, community bank presidents and CEOs in nonurban, agriculturally and energy-dependent portions of a 10-state area are surveyed regarding current economic conditions in their communities and their projected economic outlooks six months down the road. Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming are included. The survey is supported by a grant from Security State Bank in Ansley, Neb.

This survey represents an early snapshot of the economy of rural, agriculturally and energy-dependent portions of the nation. The Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI) is a unique index covering 10 regional states, focusing on approximately 200 rural communities with an average population of 1,300. It gives the most current real-time analysis of the rural economy. Goss and Bill McQuillan, former chairman of the Independent Community Banks of America, created the monthly economic survey in 2005.



Nebraska Corn opens invitation for bus trip to Kansas Speedway for October 5 NASCAR race

NASCAR fans, start your engines and join Nebraska corn farmers as we head to the races! The Nebraska Corn Board and Nebraska Corn Growers have an open invitation to anyone interested in attending the Sunday, October 5, 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway.

This open invitation includes transportation to and from the race, ticket for the race, morning and evening meals, ticket into the hospitality tent with food and beverages before the race, and a gift certificate for Fan Vision – a device that allows you to watch the race on a small monitor and listen to the announcers or the conversation between the driver and his crew. Everything in this package is only $100 per person.

The purpose of the trip is to not only give fans a great opportunity but also to promote American Ethanol. American Ethanol began a partnership with NASCAR four seasons ago and is the premier fuel of NASCAR Nationwide, Sprint Cup, and Camping World Series racecars. NASCAR is proud to partner with American Ethanol to show Americans that ethanol is clean, green and homegrown. The Nebraska Corn Board is a supporter of American Ethanol through the National Corn Growers Association. Learn more at www.americanethanolracing.org.

“This partnership with American Ethanol was formed to promote ethanol, educate consumers about agriculture, and feature a homegrown, renewal energy that is used in one of the most popular sporting events,” said Kim Clark, director of biofuels development for the Nebraska Corn Board. “We are excited to offer a great package bus trip that allows anyone the opportunity to go to the Kansas Speedway, experience the race and learn how ethanol is used.”

The race begins at 1:00 pm. The bus will leave from downtown Lincoln at 6:00 am and return about 7:30 pm that evening.

This package deal is limited to the first 100 paid participants. Anyone wishing to go can get their seat on the bus, race ticket and package reserved with payment. No payments will be accepted the day of the race. For payment information to reserve your ticket, please contact Kim Clark at 402-471-2676.



USDA Rural Development Awards $193,621 to 17 Nebraska Recipients to Assist with Energy Needs

Seventeen Nebraska recipients have been selected to receive $193,621 in loans and grants for energy conservation.  Funds will be used to install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).  Of the total Nebraska funding, $168,921 is in grants and $24,700 is in loans.

"These energy dollars will help make needed energy conservation improvements and install new renewable energy systems,” said Nebraska State Director Maxine Moul, USDA Rural Development.  “Through these projects, energy consumption will be reduced, thereby making the recipients more profitable in rural Nebraska and assisting the state’s rural economy.”

The REAP program provides opportunities for farmers and rural small business owners to install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements, as well as explore the feasibility of implementing renewable energy projects. USDA remains focused on carrying out its mission and today’s announcement is one part of the Department's efforts to strengthen the rural economy.  Additional information on the Rural Energy for America Program may be found at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/NEBusinessPrograms_Rural_Energy_for_America_Program.htm. 

Detailed below are several of the energy projects selected from the Nebraska State Office allocation of funding. Funding is contingent upon the conditions of the grant and loan agreements being met by the recipient.

  - Nancy Heitshusen, in Dixon County, received a $9,243 grant combined with $27,728 from the recipient to replace two diesel irrigation engines with two electric motors.  The applicant will realize a 66 percent savings, or 580,092,127 BTU’s and an annual savings of $13,693.

  - Mike Wolf, in Boone County, received a $17,395 grant leveraged with $52,185 from the recipient to replace an existing inefficient grain dryer with a more efficient GSI grain drying system.  The applicant will realize a 43 percent savings, or 554,758,528 BTU’s and an annual savings of $9,022.

For more information, contact the Rural Development office nearest you.  You can locate an office by visiting: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/NE-Contact.html.   Visit www.rurdev.usda.gov/ne for information on all of Rural Development’s programs.



20 Iowans Selected for Iowa Corn Leadership Class

Recently, 20 individuals from across the state were selected for the Iowa Corn Leadership Enhancement and Development (I-LEAD) Class 7. The class consists of farmers, educators, agribusiness and governmental leaders from across the state.

"The number of highly qualified applicants was outstanding," said Lowell Appleton, an Iowa Corn director and chair of the committee that oversees the program. "This class represents future leaders in Iowa and I am looking forward to being a part of their two-year leadership adventure."

The I-LEAD program was developed and is sponsored by Iowa Corn in recognition that the future of Iowa agriculture depends on developing leaders who have a passion for agriculture. The goal of the two-year program is to provide Iowa's talented men and women with the tools they need to succeed as leaders and spokespeople. The first session includes leadership style learning and team building activities. Other sessions will include commodity information, a domestic agricultural mission and policy information.

Integral parts of the I-LEAD program include; gaining an understanding of agriculture, making decisions as a group and developing leadership skills. Many of the two-day meetings are spent discovering more about members' leadership style and building a foundation for working with different personalities and points of view. The class may choose to fundraise for an international mission to a location of their choice in the second year.

Members of I-LEAD Class 7 include: Randy Bruck (Neola), Constance Casson (Underwood), Matthew Eddy (Pleasant Hill), Alex Edgington (St. Ansgar), Michael Fritch (Mitchellville), Drew Gieselman (Marion), Katie Hall-Despins (Clive), Laura Holoubek (Ankeny), James Jordan (Roland), Bonnie Kroneman (Osage), Brandon Maier (Eagle Grove), Christopher Mehrens (Story City), Marc Mummelthei (Waverly), Maury Noonan (Mason City), Gretchen Paluch (Des Moines), Sara Ross (Minden), Jason Schwenneker (Ankeny), Marcie Stevenson (Ames), Adam Theis (Omaha, NE), and Charles White (Grinnell). I-LEAD Class 7 will start their journey in November. For more information, visit iowacorn.org/ilead.

More than 120 leaders have graduated from the I-LEAD program and many have gone onto leadership roles within the Iowa Corn Growers Association, the Iowa Corn Promotion Board or other community or commodity organizations.



Statement From NPPC President Howard Hill On White House Executive Order On Antibiotic Resistance

"In its executive order on combating antibiotic resistant bacteria, the White House acknowledged something that the National Pork Producers Council has been saying for years: More epidemiological research is needed to understand the key drivers of increased antibiotic resistance. 

"America’s pork producers, who abide by a strict antimicrobial stewardship program outlined in the industry’s Pork Quality Assurance Plus (PQA Plus ®) certification program, are committed to protecting public health and producing safe food. They work hand-in-hand with veterinarians to minimize the need for and use of antibiotics, particularly antibiotics important in human medicine. And all antibiotics used in pork production are approved by FDA.

"NPPC is pleased that the administration agrees that more research is needed and looks forward to working further with FDA and USDA on determining the most informed and appropriate solutions for combating antibiotic resistant bacteria."



Beef Checkoff Sets FY2015 Plan of Work

The Cattlemen’s Beef Board will invest about $39 million into programs of beef promotion, research, consumer information, industry information, foreign marketing and producer communications in fiscal year 2015, if this week's recommendation of the Beef Promotion Operating Committee is approved by USDA, following review by the full Beef Board.

In action concluding its Sept. 16-17 meeting in Denver, the Operating Committee — including 10 members of the Beef Board and 10 members of the Federation of State Beef Councils — approved checkoff funding for a total of 18 “Authorization Requests,” or proposals for checkoff funding, in the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2014. The committee also recommended full Beef Board approval of a budget amendment to reflect the split of funding between budget categories affected by their decisions.

"As both a producer and a checkoff leader, it’s rewarding to see the tremendous efforts that go into responsible investment of producers’ and importers’ hard-earned dollars into solid checkoff programs that produce results,” said Beef Board and Operating Committee Chairman Kim Brackett (pictured), a cattle producer from Idaho. “I am truly excited about the opportunities that we have before us as an industry and so pleased that we have our checkoff to take those on.”

In the end, the Operating Committee approved proposals from eight national beef organizations for funding through the FY15 Cattlemen’s Beef Board budget, as follows:
-   National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (nine proposals for $27.8 million)
-   U.S. Meat Export Federation (one proposal for $7.7 million)
-   Cattlemen’s Beef Board (one proposal for $1.5 million)
-   North American Meat Association (three proposals for $1.1 million)
-   American National CattleWomen (one proposal for $371,000)
-   Meat Import Council of America (one proposal for $350,800)
-   American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture (one proposal for $222,500)
-   National Livestock Producers Association (one proposal for $45,000)

Broken out by budget component, the Fiscal Year 2015 Plan of Work for the Cattlemen’s Beef Board budget includes:
-   $8 million for promotion programs, including continuation of the checkoff’s consumer digital advertising program, as well as veal promotion.
-   $9.7 million for research programs, focusing on a variety of critical issues, including pre- and post-harvest beef safety research, product quality research, human nutrition research and scientific affairs, market research, and beef and culinary innovations.
-   $10.4 million for consumer information programs, including a Northeast public relations initiative, national consumer public relations, including a “Moms, Millennials and More” consumer information program, nutrition-influencer relations, and creation of a digital application and beef game for youth.
-   $1.7 million for industry information programs, comprising dissemination of accurate information about the beef industry to counter misinformation from anti-beef groups and others, as well as funding for checkoff participation in a fourth annual national industry-wide symposium focused on discussion and dissemination of information about antibiotic use.
-   $7.7 million for foreign marketing and education in some 80 countries in the following: ASEAN region; Caribbean; Central America/Dominican Republic; China/Hong Kong; Europe; Japan; Korea; Mexico; Middle East; Russia/Greater Russian Region; South America; and Taiwan.
-   $1.5 million for producer communications, which includes producer outreach using national communications and direct communications to producers about checkoff results; as well as development and utilization of information conduits, such as auction markets; maintenance of a seamless partnership with state beef council producer-communication efforts; and producer attitude research to determine producer attitudes and desires of their checkoff program.

Other expenses funded through the $41.3 million 2015 CBB budget include $221,000 for evaluation, $305,000 for program development, $325,000 for USDA oversight; and about $1.9 million for administration, which includes costs for Board meetings, legal fees, travel costs, office rental, supplies, equipment, and administrative staff compensation. Fiscal Year 2015 begins Oct. 1, 2014.

“These meetings are both a bit of the best of things, and a bit of the worst of things, because we have so many terrific proposals from beef organizations but we cannot fund all of them,” Brackett said. “With our task before us, though, we had two days of active discussion about how to do what’s best for all producers and importers who pay their hard-earned dollars into this checkoff program. I am proud of the plan we were able to put together toward enhancing consumer preference for beef over other proteins in the coming year.”

For details about individual proposals considered by the Operating Committee this week, visit MyBeefCheckoffMeeting.com.



Elanco Animal Health, Dow AgroSciences Announce Strategic R&D Agreement

Eanco, the animal health division of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY), and Dow AgroSciences LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW), are announcing a strategic research and development (R&D) agreement that will focus on developing integrated solutions to enable livestock producers to increase meat and milk production to meet the demands of the growing global population.

According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), demand for meat, milk, and eggs will increase by more than 60 percent in the next few decades. The agreement leverages the strengths of Elanco’s animal health business with the proprietary germplasm and feed technologies of Dow AgroSciences to develop innovative solutions that can increase the efficiency, quality, and productivity of livestock for ranchers and producers worldwide.

“Dow AgroSciences is proud to work closely with another Indiana agricultural company to develop future product solutions for beef and dairy producers,” says Tim Hassinger, President and CEO, Dow AgroSciences. “Collaborating with Elanco is exciting because it unites the strength of their animal health expertise with our feed and forage expertise. Together, we will be looking for ways to develop total solutions that involve improving both the carrying capacity of the land and the health and productivity of production animals to help our customers meet the needs of the growing world.”

“Delivering enough of the high quality meat, milk and eggs we’ll need to feed our growing population is one of the greatest challenges of our time,” said Jeff Simmons, President of Elanco. “And we’ll have to produce more with less because we are already over using our resources, equivalent to 1.5 earths each year. Ultimately, these issues will be solved with innovative solutions, which is at the foundation of this agreement. We are very excited about the opportunities this effort will bring.”



ASA Welcomes USDA Deregulation of Enlist Duo 2,4-D-Resistant Soybeans

In response to yesterday’s decision by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to deregulate Dow’s 2,4-D-resistant Enlist Duo soybeans, the American Soybean Association issued a statement cheering the move and calling on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to now quickly finalize the label for the new low-volatility Enlist Duo herbicide that can be utilized with these soybeans to control resistant and difficult to manage weeds. ASA also called upon foreign markets where U.S. soybeans are exported to quickly review and approve these new biotech events so that they can be commercialized here in the United States without jeopardizing export markets and U.S. farmers can realize their benefit.

“America’s soybean farmers welcome today’s decision by USDA to deregulate Enlist Duo. As the problem of weed resistance spreads across the soybean growing regions of the U.S., this solution presents another integral mode of action with which farmers can fight yield-robbing weeds,” said ASA President and Iowa farmer Ray Gaesser. “USDA deserves a great deal of credit for recognizing delays in the biotech approvals process and working to address them. Our attention now shifts to final EPA registration of the Enlist Duo herbicide, and to approvals in key soybean export markets. For new tools like Enlist Duo to be implemented and realized, we need to have approvals in key U.S. soy export markets since approximately 60% of the U.S. soy crop is exported.”

Because of the importance of export markets to U.S. soybean farmers, ASA has had long-standing policy requiring technology providers to seek and obtain approvals in key U.S. soy export markets that have import approval processes before new biotech soybean traits are openly commercialized. ASA works closely with technology companies, other members of the U.S. soy family and value chain, and the U.S. Government to facilitate timely, science-based reviews of new biotech soybean traits both domestically and abroad.



Japan’s Amari, USTR Froman arranging TPP talks next week

Japanese Economy Minister Akira Amari and U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman are due to meet next week in Washington for talks on a bilateral deal that is crucial to clinching a broader multilateral Pacific rim trade pact.

U.S. President Barack Obama has said participants in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations hoped to have a free trade agreement ready in time for his trip to Asia in mid-November. But with time running out, the outlook is murky.

"We are in the final stages of preparing for a visit by Minister Amari next week to Washington," a spokesman for Froman's office said in an email.

"Minister Amari will meet with Ambassador Froman and address remaining issues in our bilateral TPP negotiations."

The White House had hoped to complete the TPP, part of Obama's strategic shift toward Asia, last year, but talks stalled in part over Japanese tariffs on agricultural imports.

Japan wants to shield rice, wheat, dairy, sugar and beef and pork products, while the United States seeks to protect U.S. carmakers from increased Japanese competition.

The United States holds mid-term elections on Nov. 4, and many trade experts had despaired of finalizing the TPP this year because of the risk that it could cost Obama's Democrats votes, given the party's links to trade unions worried about the impact of trade agreements on jobs.



2015 Should Be Profitable for Hog Producers

2015 could be a very good year for hog producers, North Dakota State University Extension Service swine specialist David Newman says.

He is optimistic for several reasons:
-- The projected corn crop of nearly 14.4 billion bushels will be a record, and the U.S. soybean crop is expected to total 3.9 million bushels, which means a good supply of low-cost feed will be available for hogs.
-- Recent corn and soybean meal futures prices put average farrow-to-finish costs below $68 per hundredweight. That would be the lowest annual average cost since 2007, when it was $62.72.
-- The August rally in lean hog futures, combined with the low grain prices, raises the estimate of average farrow-to-finish profits back above $40 per head for 2015. The October, November and December 2014 margins are at $54, $42 and $44 per head, respectively.
-- The number of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv) cases fell significantly this summer as expected, but total losses of hogs since PEDv was discovered in the U.S. are in the millions. Plus, cases of PEDv likely will increase this fall and winter, which could lower the supply of hogs in 2015 and keep hog prices at profitable margins.

The virus has killed as many as 7 million U.S. pigs since it was discovered in the country in May 2013. The mortality rate in piglets from herds not previously exposed to the PEDv is nearly 100 percent.  "Although we will most likely see an increase in PEDv outbreaks this winter, it is doubtful that we will see the number of losses incurred in 2013-2014 to date," Newman says.

The key to preventing the disease from spreading is good biosecurity, according to animal health experts. That involves making sure the swine barn is clean and virus-free, and establishing a line of separation between the clean area (the barn) and the dirty area (anywhere outside the barn). It also includes washing boots and clothing before and after being around swine, and cleaning and disinfecting vehicles used to transport pigs.

"Producers who are able to maintain herd health and practice good financial management most likely will have a good year in front of them," Newman says.



Do YOU Have a Plan for Your Livestock Should Disaster Strike?
Tanika C. Whittington, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Last year brought some interesting weather to our country. A multi-day severe weather event included an EF3 tornado that carved a 68-mile path from Mississippi to Alabama. Parts of Colorado had flooding so severe it destroyed thousands of homes, and wiped out 200 miles of state roads and 50 state bridges. Winter Storm Nemo dropped a record snowfall of 31.9 inches in Portland, Maine. And, California recorded its driest year ever--fueling wildfires that burned some 8,000 acres in Southern California.

Any disaster, whether it's a flood, tornado or earthquake, can catch you off guard and leave you in danger. It's important to have an emergency plan in place for your family. And if you raise livestock, an emergency plan is important as well. Using the American Veterinary Medical Association's (AVMA) procedures to prepare now, you can quickly and easily safeguard your livestock when disaster strikes.

Prepare -- Get a Livestock Evacuation Kit
-- Include feed, water, supplements, supplies (medications, rope/lariat, halters/leads, cleaning supplies, knives, etc.), and papers (veterinary records and proof of ownership).
-- Review your kit regularly to ensure contents, especially feed and medicines, are fresh.

Plan -- What You Will Do in an Emergency
-- Determine if you are able to evacuate (This should be based on the type of disaster and the safety and stability of the shelter).
-- Determine where you will go if you have to leave (Identify friends or relatives who could house livestock during the disaster, including fairgrounds or other livestock evacuation locations).
-- Determine how you will evacuate (Decide how livestock will be transported/housed and prearrange an evacuation site).

In case you are not home:
-- Designate a neighbor to tend to your livestock (This person should be familiar with your livestock, know your evacuation procedures, know where your evacuation kit is kept, and have your emergency contact information).
-- Make sure livestock has some form of identification (microchip, ear/leg tag, leg band, tattoo etc.).

Stay Informed--Know About Types of Emergencies
-- It's always a good idea to find out what types of emergencies could happen where you live and whether you need to make any specific preparations because of them. (A good basic emergency plan is to keep your livestock with you; what's best for you is typically what's best for your livestock. Plan to stay if it's safe to do so, or leave if ordered to evacuate.)
-- When disaster strikes, follow instructions of local emergency management to safeguard you, your family, and your livestock.

For more information about safeguarding your livestock family before a disaster occurs, check out the following links:
-- AVMA "Saving the Whole Family" (available in English and Spanish) atwork.avma.org/2014/08/28/be-disaster-aware-take-action-to-prepare/
-- FEMA Ready.gov -- www.ready.gov/caring-animals

Preparedness begins at home, and your livestock depend on you to keep you and them safe. Be disaster aware, take action to prepare now!



Traders Drop Grain Rules Case Against CME

A group of Chicago traders have agreed to drop a lawsuit against CME Group Inc. that sought to reverse a decision to include electronic transactions to determine end-of-day grain prices, the company said on Tuesday.

According to the Chicago Tribune, the traders, who work on the Chicago Board of Trade's agricultural trading floor, will abandon all their claims against the exchange operator without receiving any payment.

The group sued CME Group, owner of the CBOT, in June 2012, claiming the decision to factor in electronic trades would put them out of business and was implemented without proper approval from exchange members. Prior to the change, the CBOT had a century-old tradition of settling futures prices for crops like corn and soybeans based on transactions executed in open-outcry pits.

An Illinois judge in March rejected a request from the traders to suspend the implementation of the rule.



Argentina Farmers Start Planting Corn

Rains have been ample across many parts of the Argentine grain belt over the last few weeks, allowing farmers to start planting corn in central and southern Santa Fe province, according to the Rosaria Cereals Exchange.

The precipitation has caused flooding in some areas but has created perfect conditions for corn planting in many other parts of Buenos Aires and Santa Fe provinces.

Don't expect planting percentages to explode over the next few weeks though. That's because Argentine farmers are planting more and more of their crop late, in November and December, so that the corn isn't in the reproducing stages when the notorious January dry spells hit. This strategy saved Argentina from potential disaster last year.

Last week, the Buenos Aires Cereals Exchange forecast that corn output would drop 23% this season.



New Chem-Blade Farming Innovation Protects Farmers/Operators While Saving Time, Money & The Environment

It is a product that combines the best of all worlds when it comes to chemical management for farmers. Inventor Ethan Eck with the help of farm product innovators Ralph Lagergren & Mark Underwood are bringing to market the patented Chem-Blade and Chem-Blade ES (enclosed system).  These are impressive  systems designed to open and empty a chemical jug in a half second, and then rinse that jug and prepare it for recycling by shredding, all in less than a minute.

As all farmers know, jugs of farm chemicals are supposed to be properly rinsed with water and then destroyed after use.  After conducting surveys with farmers, Lagergren and Eck found that up to 95% of farmers simply don’t have time to rinse or recycle.  Chem-Blade was developed to address that industry wide problem in an efficient and effective manner.

The newest Chem-Blade ES provides sharp blades in a sealed enclosure that cut open and empty a chemical jug in about a half-second, followed by an effective complete rinse of the jug inside and out with the uniquely designed built-in spray nozzles. The whole Chem-Blade cycle takes less than a minute compared to several minutes it takes to do the exact process manually. Th e time saved eliminates the current bottleneck in chemical loading and will allow an operator to spray approximately 25 to 45 additional acres per day depending on the amount of jugs used. The Chem-Blade ES system can be used as an eductor on sprayers, as an inductor at supply stations, or integrated into an existing  loading system.

See the new ES (enclosed system) unit in action here: http://youtu.be/JIdm9yqFF4E.

From a safety perspective, because the Chem-Blade ES system is fully sealed and enclosed, the operator is protected from chemical fumes and splash.  The product has been developed and is currently in the process of being licensed to large manufacturers at an opportune time as the EPA looks at strengthening 20-year-old standards for chemical handling aimed at protecting farm workers.

For more information on the Chem-Blade go to: www.chemblade.com.  



Syngenta announces 52 new corn hybrids for 2015 planting season

Building off of a year in which Syngenta corn hybrids out-yielded major competitors on farms across the country, the company has announced 52 new Golden Harvest® and NK® corn hybrids for the 2015 growing season in the U.S.

The hybrids are the result of new combinations, a broader genetic pool and an innovative digital breeding process that has allowed Syngenta genetics to achieve the fastest rate of genetic gain over the past seven years. The 2015 class incorporates many new sets of genetics that offer a range of maturities and include hybrids with key agronomic characteristics such as standability, disease tolerance and adaptability to many different soil types – offering an expanding series of options for all corn-growing areas.

“Growers seek consistency, top performance and high yields, all of which this new class of corn hybrids from Syngenta is designed to provide,” said Eric Boersma, head of corn seed product management at Syngenta. “It is the next step in adding to an already successful portfolio that collectively out-yielded major competitors in a majority of nearly 15,000 national yield comparisons in 20131.”

The 2015 class includes new-to-market genetics, as well as proven traits and technologies that offer protection against a range of yield-robbing pests and crop stresses.

·         Thirteen hybrids feature Agrisure Artesian® genetics – with scientifically selected genes that provide multiple modes of action for season-long drought protection. Artesian™ corn hybrids convert water to grain more effectively than other hybrids, maximizing yield when it rains and increasing yield when it doesn’t. Available in combination with best-in-class insect control and herbicide-tolerance traits, Artesian corn hybrids fit almost any production environment and help growers achieve more consistent yields. Artesian corn hybrids are designated by an “A” at the end of the hybrid number.

·         The Agrisure Duracade™ trait is featured in 18 of the new hybrids. Agrisure Duracade is Syngenta’s next-generation corn rootworm trait, offering the latest corn rootworm technology in the industry in two trait stack options for above- and below-ground insect control. Agrisure Duracade technology features the industry’s first hybrid Bt protein and is only available stacked with a second corn rootworm mode of action for technology preservation.

·         The Agrisure Viptera® trait, incorporated in 23 of the new hybrids, provides unsurpassed control of the multi-pest complex including corn earworm and black cutworm. Trait stacks with Agrisure Viptera also have been shown to protect corn crops against the development of mycotoxins for maximum grain quality.

·         The 2015 class also will feature six new Enogen® corn hybrids. Enogen corn technology, available only from Syngenta, is the industry’s only corn trait bioengineered specifically to enhance ethanol production. It enables ethanol plants to purchase alpha amylase enzyme in the form of high quality grain directly from local farmers, increase ethanol yield and throughput, and decrease costs associated with natural gas, electricity, water and chemical usage. Enogen corn hybrids are sold by select Syngenta Seed Advisors and NK retailers and available to growers under contract, which requires specific grain segregation and stewardship.

“Thanks to this combination of breakout genetics and breakthrough traits and technologies, the Syngenta portfolio offers something to help all farmers grow more corn in 2015,” Boersma said.