Friday August 3 Ag News

Orange Gall Midge in Soybeans
Justin McMechan - NE Extension Crop Protection and Cropping Systems Specialist
Thomas Hunt - NE Extension Entomologist
Aaron Nygren - NE Extension Educator, Colfax County

In late June we began receiving reports from a number of consultants, growers, and extension educators who were observing dying soybean plants in fields across eastern Nebraska. These soybean plants typically have dark discolorations near the soil surface that can extend up to the unifoliate node. The symptomatic plants easily snap off near the soil surface and orange to white maggots are often found feeding within the darkened area of the plant.

Orange gall midge is not a new insect to soybeans in Nebraska. Tom Hunt, Keith Jarvi and Bob Wright reported on the orange gall midge in a CropWatch article from August 2011 with some small isolated cases mostly associated with soybean plants that had some type of mechanical damage earlier in the season. Sporadic and isolated cases of orange gall midge have occurred over the last few years, but in all cases it appeared to be associated with a pathogen or damage and wasn’t considered a primary pest of soybeans.

This year we’re tracking a number of soybean fields where orange gall midge was reported in late June through early July. These infestations are much earlier than had been reported historically, raising concerns about yield losses in soybean fields. In late June infested soybean plants were already showing signs of necrosis and wilting with the greatest frequency of damaged plants occurring at the field edge. Randomly selected symptomatic plants from the field edge had an average of seven maggots per plant with the number of maggots and frequency of infested plants declining rapidly with distance from the field edge. Field samples found infested plants were still present over 100 feet into the field. Soybean fields exhibiting these symptoms have also been reported in northeast Nebraska, eastern South Dakota, and Iowa.

Little is known about the orange gall midge. Nebraska, South Dakota and Iowa researchers are currently attempting to rear adults from the maggots for species identification. In Nebraska, we’ve repotted infested plants from the field and placed them in a greenhouse with cages to capture the adults. In addition, we’ve also placed cages on infested plants in the field. Some adult midges have recently emerged from the repotted soybean plants in the greenhouse and we’ve transferred them to healthy and mechanically damaged soybean plants to see if we can recreate the symptoms. It is still not known if these midges are associated with orange gall midge. If emergence and adult numbers continue to increase, we will submit these specimens for identification.

Management
Many growers and consultants are asking us how to manage this pest. As of now, we don’t recommend applying any pesticides to fields due to the following factors. First, it’s unclear whether orange gall midge is responsible for the damage observed in soybean plants or if it’s a secondary pest. Mounting evidence is suggesting that orange gall midge may have a role in the damage. Second, pesticides are not likely to control the maggots that are feeding inside the stem. Lastly, it’s not known when adult orange gall midges emerge or the duration of emergence in soybean fields. Such factors are critical for determining if any economic returns will occur from a pesticide application.

If you suspect orange gall midge damage in your field, please report it to us via email to justin.mcmechan@unl.edu to help us catalogue the distribution of this potential pest.



GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ENCOURAGED TO REGISTER FOR CLIMATE, WATER WORKSHOP

Nebraska Extension, the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the university’s School of Natural Resources are partnering to deliver a workshop focused on climate and water issues for government officials and other key community leaders.

The Climate and Water Institute of Excellence will be held from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sept. 7 at the Lancaster Co. extension office, 444 Cherrycreek Rd. in Lincoln.

Water and a changing climate can greatly impact communities economically, through lost tax revenue; physically, when infrastructure is damaged; and socially, with decreased visitors and population. Organizers are encouraging anyone working with these complex issues in government, economic/community development, tourism, recreation, transportation, public works or other interested stakeholders to the day-long workshop.

During the event experts will highlight the science and impacts of Nebraska’s climate and water, and how these intersect with city and county planning and decision-making. Another session will cover policy so that changes in the state’s climate and water can be factored into business and government discussions. Additionally, a panel of presenters will discuss preparing for future climate conditions.

The cost of the workshop is $60. Registration is required by Aug. 31. To view the agenda and register, visit http://communityvitality.unl.edu/nacoie.

For more information, contact Jessica Jones at 402-335-3669 or jessica.jones.@unl.edu; or Carroll Welte at 402-374-2929 or cwelte1@unl.edu.



Congress Moves Closer to a One-Year ELD Delay

Senator Deb Fischer secured an amendment to the U.S. Senate Minibus Appropriation bill that would extend the electronic logging device (ELD) waiver for livestock haulers by one year.

"Nebraska's livestock industry greatly appreciates Senator Fischer's help to delay the ELD mandate while our industry works on a long-term solution to existing hours of service laws.  One-size-fits-all regulations do not work when hauling live animals.  Senator Fischer is a rancher and she understands that these regulations, as currently written, will cause serious animal welfare concerns," said Galen Frenzen, Nebraska Cattlemen President.

The one-year extension still needs to pass the U.S. House before it can become law.  Similar language is already included in the FY 2019 Transportation, Housing & Urban Development spending bill.  Nebraska Cattlemen encourages our federal delegation and those representing livestock constituents to pass this legislation and help alleviate the tremendous regulatory burden facing livestock haulers.



Smith Announces Tax Reform Roundtables

Today, Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) announced a series of roundtables to provide an opportunity for small business owners, including farmers and ranchers, to share their opinions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and how to further improve the tax code. The House Committee on Ways and Means, of which Smith is a member, is expected to begin consideration of a second round of tax reform, dubbed “Tax Reform 2.0,” in the near future. 

Tax reform roundtables will be held at the following times and locations:

Monday, August 13
2:00-3:00 PM MDT
Weborg 21 Centre, Hospitality Room
2625 10th Street, Gering

Wednesday, August 15
12:30-1:30 PM CDT
Central Community College, Room 131
1215 30th Avenue, Kearney

Thursday, August 30
12:00-1:00 PM CDT
Nebraska State Fair
Nebraska Building, Second Floor Board Room
501 E Fonner Park Road, Grand Island



Iowa Corn Farmer-Leader Duane Aistrope Elected to U.S. Grains Council

Delegates of the U.S. Grains Council elected Duane Aistrope, a farmer from Randolph, Iowa as an At-Large Director during its  Annual Board of Delegates Meeting in Denver on Wednesday. Aistrope currently serves as Iowa Corn Promotion Board President.

“Being able to meet face-to-face with our international customers and form a friendship or a connection with them has been a highlight of my career as an Iowa Corn Promotion Board farmer-leader,” said Duane in his election speech. “After that first mission, I knew that I wanted to be more involved. I am passionate about creating new markets for our grain and that I have a dedication and drive to be a successful member of USGC board.”

Aistrope said he hopes to keep the Council a leader in global trade in developing markets, enabling trade and improving lives by ensuring they have the resources available to allow our International offices to promote our corn in all forms in the most efficient way. Iowa Corn checkoff funds are invested to support market development programs for USGC. The ultimate goal is to build more markets and increase corn consumption throughout the world.

Checkoff Sector Director, Craig Floss (the Iowa Corn CEO) has retired from the board after serving four and a half years. Deb Keller, Chair of the U.S. Grains Council will now serve as Past-Chair for the 2018-2019 year. She is a farmer from Clarion. She said during her address, “We gather at this meeting to discuss the dynamic and developing environment for global grains trade as well as demand opportunities for feed grains and their co-products around the world. Our goal is always to better understand agriculture’s role in world trade and how to maintain good working relationships with our international trading partners while we explore new export frontiers.”

In a global trade environment challenged by tariffs and tensions, emerging markets for grains and ethanol exports provided a bright spot for U.S. farmers, agribusinesses and industry officials attending the meeting. Navigating the new global trade landscape while maintaining and strengthening relationships with key partners, including Mexico and China, was the theme that took center stage during the meeting. Delegates heard from several speakers who talked about potential market opportunities. All agreed the long-term outlook for U.S. grains demand remains positive. U.S. Grain Council’s Chief Economist Mike Dwyer updated the delegates on the Council’s ethanol market development efforts. Dwyer told delegates, “Ethanol is the cheapest octane by far. No other grain-in-all-forms category comes close as a driver of growing corn demand.”



Webinar Explores Decomposition of Tea as Low-Cost, Scientifically-Robust Soil Health Indicator

Iowa Learning Farms will host a webinar exploring the decomposition of tea as a low-cost, scientifically-robust soil health indicator on Wednesday, Aug. 15 at 12 p.m.

The term soil health recently has become popular due, in large part, to the increased awareness of the importance of soil biology. However, current biological soil health tests are expensive, highly variable and difficult to interpret. Marshall McDaniel, assistant professor in soil-plant interactions at Iowa State University, studies the relationship between soils and plants, and how this relationship is affected by management and the environment. The McDaniel Research Group’s ultimate goal is to understand what enhances soil-plant synergy, soil health and agroecosystem sustainability. One thrust of the research is using decomposition of tea bags as an inexpensive, yet scientifically-robust, indicator of soil health.

“Increasing soil health is not only good for the environment, but also for the bottom line through increased yields and decreased money spent on farm inputs,” commented McDaniel. “Citizen Science is a great way to educate and engage farmers in measuring their own soil health, and also help to inform professional scientists’ understanding of soil health.”

The Iowa Learning Farms webinar series takes place on the third Wednesday of the month. To watch, go to www.iowalearningfarms.org/page/webinars and click the link to join the webinar shortly before 12 p.m. on Aug. 15 to download the Zoom software and log in option. The webinar will be recorded and archived on the ILF website for watching at any time at https://www.iowalearningfarms.org/page/webinars.



$60 Billion in Tariffs: Iowa Soybean Farmer and FFT Spokesman Scott Henry Reacts to More Tariffs that Threaten the American Heartland

Today, Farmers for Free Trade spokesman and Iowa soybean farmer, Scott Henry issued the following statement after China announced further retaliation that would target $60 billion in American exports. The products listed by China include additional American ag exports, including additional soybean products.  Farmers for Free Trade last week announced a new, multi-million dollar campaign called Tariffs Hurt the Heartland that will highlight how tariffs are impacting farmers like Scott, along with others in rural America. For more on that campaign visit TariffsHurt.com.

“The tariffs announced today will cause more pain for American farmers and rural communities. At the top of the list of the over 5,000 American exports being targeted for new taxes are even more ag products, including more soy products. This latest escalation from China could threaten my livelihood and the livelihoods of other American farmers like me. Our patience is wearing thin.”

“What’s particularly concerning right now is that China is adjusting to a new normal that locks U.S. soybean farmers like me out of their market. While this trade war escalates, they are encouraging domestic planting, looking to alternative feed sources, and ramping up imports from Brazil, Canada, and Russia. The Chinese are leaving American farmers, who for years have reliably supplied their market, on the outside looking in, not just in the short-term, but potentially for decades to come. 

“The eyes of rural America are trained on Washington right now. As farmers head into a harvest and borrowing season that could make or break family farms, they want to know two things: when will this trade war end and when are we going to get back in the business of opening markets to Made-in-America exports?”



SHOOT HOOPS, LEARN ABOUT IOWA AGRICULTURE DURING THE IOWA STATE FAIR

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today encouraged visitors to the Iowa State Fair to shoot hoops and learn more about Iowa agriculture when visiting the “Ag Park” on the first floor of the Agriculture Building. Kids will also have the opportunity to experience “driving” through rural Iowa and see how all roads lead to agriculture with our simulated truck experience.

“The State Fair is a celebration of Iowa and a wonderful opportunity for fairgoers to have fun while seeing the many aspects of our state’s agriculture industry up-close. The Department is excited to again be able to interact with Iowans at our booths and work with ag organizations to help showcase how important agriculture is in our state,” Naig said. “I hope Iowans will stop by our booths to have some fun, but also take the opportunity to learn more about our state’s exciting and diverse agriculture industry.”

The Iowa Soybean Association, the Iowa Corn Growers Association, the Iowa Egg Council, Midwest Dairy Association, Iowa Turkey Federation, Iowa Pork Producers, and the Iowa Beef Industry Council will also be present in the “Ag Park” and have information available about Iowa agriculture.  The Iowa Egg Council will be offering eggs on a stick to fairgoers from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day of the fair.

In the Varied Industries building the Department will also have a display to educate Iowans about the activities of the Department and continue the tradition of weighing fairgoers on a scale certified by the Weights and Measures Bureau.  The Department will also be handing out tech cleaning cloths with www.CleanWaterIowa.org on them, a website that was created for all Iowans learn about what they can do to help protect water quality. The cloths can be used to clean phone screens or glasses.

The Iowa Century Farm and Heritage Farm Awards will be presented on Thursday, Aug. 16 starting at 8:30 a.m. at the Livestock Pavilion.  Everyone is invited to attend and help recognize the families receiving the awards.  Century Farm awards recognize farms that have been in the same family for 100 years and Heritage Farms awards recognize farms that have been owned by the same family for 150 years.

There are 361 Century Farm winners and 148 Heritage Farm winners that will be recognized this year.  The awards are sponsored by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the Iowa Farm Bureau.  The lists of the 2018 Century and Heritage Farm Award winners are available on www.IowaCenturyFarms.com.  The site also includes a full, searchable list of Century Farm recipients from past years.

On Wednesday, Aug. 15 starting at 10:00 a.m. Gov. Kim Reynolds, Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg, Naig and Iowa DNR Acting Director Bruce Trautman will recognize 66 Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award winners.  The awards will be presented at the Penningroth Center inside the Cattle Barn and recognize the efforts of Iowa’s farmers as environmental leaders committed to healthy soils and improved water quality.

The awards recognize the exemplary actions of farmers that improve and protect the environment and natural resources of our state while also encouraging other farmers to follow in their footsteps by building success upon success.  Hagie Manufacturing sponsors a luncheon for award winners following the ceremony at the Farm Bureau shelter that Naig will also attend.  A full list of award recipients is available here.

At 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 14 the Department will be recognizing the winners of the 2018-2019 From the Farm to You Calendar drawing contest in the Agriculture Building.  Kids from across the state submitted pictures for the calendar.  Copies of the calendar are available to fairgoers at the Department’s booths in the Ag Building and the Varied Industries Building.

Naig will also participate in the 2018 Governor's Charity Steer Show on Saturday, Aug. 11, at 4:00 p.m., in the Pioneer Livestock Pavilion at the Iowa State Fair.  Naig will be showing a steer owned by Alec Staudt from Floyd County.  Immediately following the competition the steers will be sold at auction with proceeds going to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa.

The Iowa State Fair runs from Aug. 9 to 19 at the state fairgrounds in Des Moines.



USDA: Winter Wheat Production Down Less Than 1 Percent from June

Winter wheat production is forecast at 1.19 billion bushels, down less than 1 percent from the June 1 forecast and down 6 percent from 2017. As of July 1, the United States yield is forecast at 48.0 bushels per acre, down 0.4 bushel from last month and down 2.2 bushels from last year's average yield of 50.2 bushels per acre. The area expected to be harvested for grain totals 24.8 million acres, unchanged from the Acreage report released on June 29, 2018, but down 2 percent from last year.

Hard Red Winter production, at 657 million bushels, is up 1 percent from last month. Soft Red Winter, at 303 million bushels, is down 4 percent from the June forecast. White Winter, at 232 million bushels, is up less than 1 percent from last month. Of the White Winter production, 21.1 million bushels are Hard White and 211 million bushels are Soft White.

Durum wheat production is forecast at 74.9 million bushels, up 36 percent from 2017. The United States yield is forecast at 40.7 bushels per acre, up 15.0 bushels from last year. Area expected to be harvested for grain or seed totals 1.84 million acres, unchanged from the Acreage report released on June 29, 2018, but 14 percent below 2017.

Other spring wheat production is forecast at 614 million bushels, up 48 percent from last year. Area harvested for grain or seed is expected to total 12.9 million acres, unchanged from the Acreage report released on June 29, 2018, but 27 percent above 2017. The United States yield is forecast at a record high 47.6 bushels per acre, up 6.6 bushels from last year. Of the total production, 584 million bushels are Hard Red Spring wheat, up 52 percent from last year.



NPPC SUPPORTS CFTC COMMISSIONER NOMINEES

The National Pork Producers Council was one of nearly two dozen agricultural organizations on a letter addressed to U.S. Senate leadership this week in support of the nominations of Dawn DeBerry Stump and Dan Berkovitz as commissioners for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The nominees, both approved by the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, will now be considered by the full Senate.

NPPC, along with the other organizations, urged the Senate to confirm Stump and Berkovitz in a timely manner, noting that farmers rely on well-functioning agriculture and energy derivative markets to hedge risks. The CFTC oversees those markets.



Smithfield Ordered to Pay $473.5M

(AP) -- A federal jury decided Friday that the world's largest pork producer should pay $473.5 million to neighbors of three North Carolina industrial-scale hog farms for unreasonable nuisances they suffered from odors, flies and rumbling trucks.

The jury found that Smithfield Foods owes compensation to 16 neighbors who complained in their lawsuit that the company failed to stop "the obnoxious, recurrent odors and other causes of nuisance" resulting from closely packed hogs, which "generate many times more sewage than entire towns."

The jury awarded $23.5 million in compensatory damages and $450 million in punitive damages, which will be reduced under a state law that limits punitive damages.

The case comes after two previous, related lawsuits rocked agribusiness in the country's No. 2 pork-producing state. Juries in those two cases awarded damages of about $75 million intended to punish Smithfield, though those amounts also were required to be cut.

North Carolina legislators reacted by adopting new barriers against nuisance lawsuits that all but eliminate the right of neighbors to sue Smithfield Foods or any other agribusiness. Critics billed the legislation as an attack on private property rights in order to protect a well-heeled industry.

U.S. Sen Thom Tillis and U.S. Rep. David Rouzer suggested they might seek national legislation after hearing Friday from agribusiness executives and agriculture officials from North Carolina, Georgia, Delaware and Texas in Raleigh.

"Today's nuisance lawsuits that are destroying livelihoods and communities in North Carolina are the tip of the iceberg for what is to come absent a well-informed public and good public policy," Rouzer said in a prepared statement Thursday. "This is a very slippery slope that threatens the very existence of every form of agriculture nationwide."

The Pender County, North Carolina, farms held thousands of hogs owned by a Smithfield Foods subsidiary. Smithfield was sued because plaintiffs' lawyers said the company used strict contracts to dictate how farmers raised Smithfield's animals.

One neighbor who was not part of the lawsuit compared the waste stench to long-dead corpses he found during his career as a police officer and firefighter, news outlets reported. Wesley Sewell testified that he bought his house out of foreclosure without realizing the hog operations were nearby and sometimes fled to another home when the smells were too strong.

Lawyers for the neighbors said Smithfield hasn't taken measures that would minimize the nuisances, for example by sending trucks along a back road to pick up hogs for slaughter in the middle of the night instead of rumbling past sleeping homes. Nor has the company covered the waste pits or otherwise tried to capture the smell and bacteria resulting from pooling liquefied waste, lawyers for the neighbors said. The company has done that in Missouri and Colorado, attorneys said.

The predominant method of handling hog waste in North Carolina is collecting it in open-air pits that are emptied by spraying liquid excrement on farm fields. The method was banned at new livestock operations in 1997, when industrial-scale hog operations began to be planned near the Pinehurst golf resort two years before it would host the U.S. Open tournament.

Smithfield has continued using the low-cost method because it helps the company produce pork for less than in China, lawyers for the neighbors said. Smithfield is owned by Hong Kong-headquartered WH Group, which posted profits of about $1 billion last year.

The neighbors' attorney, Michael Kaeske, asked the president of Smithfield's hog production division last week why the company couldn't afford to finance technology improvements on the farms that grow the company's hogs under contracts.

Smithfield's Gregg Schmidt testified even if the company shelled out the money, there was a risk farm owners couldn't afford to maintain it for the prices Smithfield would pay.

"The farm would not be sustainable, and in a short period of time it would be out of business," Schmidt said.



THIRD VERDICT AGAINST N.C. HOG FARM; PORK PRODUCERS TELL OFFICIALS ‘MADNESS’ MUST STOP

Another verdict against a North Carolina hog farm came the same day outraged farmers and National Pork Producers Council Past President Dr. Howard Hill gathered for a discussion of the suits’ threat to the state’s pork industry. North Carolina congressional lawmakers Sen. Thom Tillis and Rep. David Rouzer joined U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway, R-Texas, USDA Farm and Foreign Agricultural Service Under Secretary Bill Northey, North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler and agriculture officials from several other states for the National Agriculture Leaders Roundtable in Raleigh today to hear from hog farmers about nuisance lawsuits brought against 26 pork operations over noise and odors. Three of the cases have been decided over the past three months.

In testimony to the officials, Hill noted that the judge in all three cases believes people who have moved to North Carolina’s rural communities can sue farmers for millions of dollars “for doing nothing more than simply farming. Enough is enough,” said Hill. “It’s time for our elected leaders to step up and stop this madness.” So far, the “madness” has resulted in three verdicts of nearly $100 million against family hog farmers who’ve operated in eastern North Carolina for decades.

The North Carolina Legislature in June approved the Farm Act of 2018 to address nuisance lawsuits against agricultural operations. The new law sets a deadline for bringing such suits of one year from an operation’s start and allows punitive damages only against a farm that had a criminal charge or code violation. (In late June state lawmakers overrode Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of the measure.) Tillis and Rouzer indicated they may introduced federal legislation to check such lawsuits.



National Roundtable on Lawsuit Abuse 

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall today joined a special national agriculture roundtable highlighting a recent wave of nuisance lawsuits targeting North Carolina hog farms. The event, which was held in Raleigh, North Carolina, brought together legislators and agriculture leaders to discuss the growing threat to farmers and exposed how out-of-state trial lawyers are using nuisance lawsuits to circumvent state right-to-farm laws.

The discussion centered on the economic impact of nuisance lawsuits on America’s farmers and rural communities.

“This is pitting neighbor against neighbor and community against community,” said Duvall. “The regulations need to be on the trial lawyers. We need to let our farmers and ranchers do what they do best, and that is feeding the world. They will not be a nuisance. They deserve a fair shot. They deserve to grow and succeed,” he said.

North Carolina Farm Bureau President Larry Wooten also addressed the panel. “What concerns me are the scars that could be left in rural North Carolina and in our rural communities due to these types of lawsuits,” he said.

Attendees also heard about the looming threat to all aspects of U.S. agriculture nationwide.

“This is something that not only affects our animal agriculture, it affects our crop agriculture. If we don’t do something about it now, there is not a farm in the country that won’t be affected,” said North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler.



ASA is Now Accepting Applications for the Conservation Legacy Awards

Share the story of how conservation is part of your farm operation and you could be recognized with a Conservation Legacy Award. The awards recognize farm management practices of U.S. soybean farmers that are both environmentally friendly and profitable.

Are you using a reduced tillage practice on your farm? Do you grow cover crops? Have you taken steps to improve energy efficiency or water quality? These are just a few conservation practices used on some farms today that can help produce sustainable U.S. soybeans. Different regions of the country have their own unique challenges and ways to approach conservation and sustainability. We want to hear your farm’s conservation story!

All U.S. soybean farmers are eligible to enter to win a Conservation Legacy Award. Entries are judged on soil management, water management, input management, conservation, environmental management and sustainability.

A new region has been added to this year’s program in order to recognize the conservation accomplishments of more U.S. soybean farmers. The four regions are now the Midwest, Upper Midwest, the Northeast and the South. One farmer from each of these regions will be recognized at the 2019 Commodity Classic in Orlando, Florida, and one of these farmers will be named the National Conservation Legacy Award recipient.

Award Winners Receive:
-    An expense paid trip for two to Commodity Classic, Feb. 28 – March 2, 2019, in Orlando, Florida.
-    Recognition at the ASA Awards Banquet at Commodity Classic.
-    A feature story in Corn & Soybean Digest and a video featuring the award winner’s farm and conservation practices.
-    Potential opportunity for the national winner to join other farmer-leaders on an international trip to visit U.S. soy customers overseas.

The Conservation Legacy Awards are sponsored by the American Soybean Association (ASA), BASF, Corn & Soybean Digest, Monsanto, the United Soybean Board/soybean checkoff and Valent U.S.A.

More information on past winners of the award and how to submit your application is available in the “Awards” section of the ASA website www.soygrowers.com. All applications must be submitted by Friday, Sept. 7, 2018.



Rabobank financial sustainability expert and ruminant nutritionist from Rothamsted Research to speak at Global Conference on Sustainable Beef in Ireland

The Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB) is proud to announce two key global industry leaders who will join the important conversations surrounding global beef sustainability at the Global Conference on Sustainable Beef (GCSB) to be held in Kilkenny, Ireland at the Lyrath Estate, October 9-12, 2018.

The opening keynote will explore the Economic Impacts of Sustainability Today and Forecasts for Tomorrow with Rabobank. From its cooperative and agricultural roots, Rabobank has grown to become the world's leading financial services provider for the food and agribusiness sector.

Rabobank brings its extensive knowledge of food chain links, as generated, enhanced and distributed by the RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness department. The Bank has over 80 food and agribusiness research analysts around the world collecting information and spotting opportunities using local knowledge and global reach across all food and agricultural sectors.

Justin Sherrad, Global Animal Protein Strategist at Rabobank stated, “Participating in the Global Conference on Sustainable Beef is in line with our mission of Growing a Better World Together. The partnership with leading international organizations like GRSB, helps us in our drive to make a serious contribution to addressing and creating sustainable approaches to food and agribusiness around the world.”

The Capstone for the conference will be Professor Michael Lee, of Rothamsted Research, the oldest agricultural research institute in the world. Professor Lee is Head of Sustainable Agriculture Sciences at North Wyke and professor of Sustainable Livestock Systems at the University of Bristol. As a ruminant nutritionist, Lee is leading key conversations around how to maximize livestock production efficiency through feeding systems and animal genetics at a global scale.

Lee stated, “Ruminants make an important contribution to global food security as they can convert feed that is unsuitable for human consumption to high value protein, demand for which is currently increasing at an unprecedented rate.”

The conference, co-hosted by the European Roundtable for Beef Sustainability (ERBS) and Bord Bia, will highlight sustainability in action: impacts on the ground, and more than 200 beef sustainability stakeholders from over 20 countries are expected to attend.

Registration details and a full conference agenda can be found at https://grsbeef.org/2018-Global-Conference.



AGCO will Debut New TerraGator C Series from Challenger at MAGIE 2018

AGCO Corporation (NYSE:AGCO), a worldwide manufacturer and distributor of agricultural equipment, will debut the new TerraGator® C Series high-flotation nutrient applicator and redesigned spray system at the Midwest Ag Industries Expo (MAGIE) in Bloomington, Ill., August 22 – 23. Show attendees will see the latest TerraGator 4-wheel and 3-wheel floaters from Challenger® at the AGCO Lot, #806. There also will be a sneak peek of the RoGator® AirMax Precision™ dry application system that will be introduced in 2019 for precision application in and out of the growing season.

Since their introduction, TerraGator high flotation applicators have led the industry in accurately applying more products in a single pass through the field. Today, TerraGator C Series applicators by Challenger® continue this legacy, providing nearly endless choices in single-pass fall or spring preemergence nutrient application, bringing even more accuracy and versatility to variable-rate crop input application to help optimize yields. 

“We continuously look for ways to further improve the precision, power and versatility of our application equipment,” says Mark Mohr, tactical marketing manager for AGCO’s application division. “The TerraGator C Series floaters deliver unmatched productivity because we understand timeliness drives our retail customers’ business and producers’ agronomic needs.  These applicators are built to get the job done quickly and efficiently no matter the crop or the conditions.”

For operator convenience, the TerraGator C Series features the same application-focused operator environment, intuitive command center and touchscreen AccuTerminal found in the RoGator C Series row crop applicators. Enhanced cab suspension provides a comfortable ride that helps operators be just as productive at the end of a long day as they are at the start. Improved visibility and transmission upgrades that put more power to the ground are other new features of the TerraGator C Series high flotation applicators.

When it comes specifically to liquid application, the TerraGator C Series delivers major on-target, efficiency and uptime benefits. The re-designed spray system has robust, full-featured booms and a new reload station that delivers greater control, exceptional accuracy and added convenience when applying liquid products.

“During MAGIE, operators will want to check out the new TerraGators, the new boom features, sprayer reload station, and other updates that help save time and increase productivity,” says Mohr.