Thursday August 27 Ag News

 Annual land management workshop to focus on farmland trends and lease considerations for 2021

An upcoming Nebraska Extension webinar will focus on land management issues for landlords and tenants to consider in the coming year.

Farmland Trends and Lease Considerations for 2021 will be held on Sept. 10, from noon to 1:30 p.m. The virtual workshop will offer information and analysis on cash rental rates, flexible leasing, land/tenant communication, farm succession, and utilizing USDA programs.

It will be presented by Extension educators and agricultural economists Jim Jansen and Austin Duerfeldt, along with Allan Wyhnalek, an extension educator for farm and ranch succession.

The team will be presenting findings on current cash rental rates, innovative strategies for setting equitable lease, and strategic planning for uncertainty due to price volatility in the markets.

The discussion will also address programs and tools available from the USDA to help navigate the uncertainty faced by landowners and operators across the state.

"Austin, Allan and I have put together an excellent set of topics and have completely rewritten our land management curriculum to help landlords and. tenants better manage risk," Jansen said.

"We encourage landowners, operators, and agribusiness professionals to join in on the live session and hear about new land management strategies as we look forward to the upcoming production year."

The webinar is being held in lieu of the in-person land management meetings that are traditionally held across the state in the summer and fall. Supplemental video presentations will be available and in-person workshops on the topic are intended to resume in late 2020.

It is being presented online as part of an ongoing weekly series produced by the extension Farm and Ranch Management team in the Department of Agricultural Economics. It will be held live on Zoom for approximately 90 minutes, including time for questions from participants.

Registration is free and can be completed at farm.unl.edu/webinars.  




Engler experience looks toward future, honors founding roots
 
Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is built on the legendary, midwestern work ethic its students embody.  

Engler students recognize and appreciate hard work – including that of the construction workers renovating the C.Y. Thompson Library, the future home of the program. Engler students recently showed their appreciation by serving the C.Y. Thompson construction crew cookies, ice cream and heartfelt thanks.  

“This is an opportunity for us to demonstrate our culture and it’s also an opportunity to demonstrate to students that when you build a company, you value your people across the spectrum of your organization,” said Tom Field, Paul Engler Chair of Agribusiness Entrepreneurship and Director of the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program.  

“If you approach everything with a true sense of servant leadership and a true sense of purpose, you will in fact, create remarkable organizations.”

The Engler program’s unique culture begins with its founder, Paul Engler, Field said.  

“Paul Engler built the largest cattle feeding enterprise in the world in Cactus Feeders. Then it became an employee-owned company. That’s a big deal,” Field said.

Paul Engler appreciated innovation and old-fashioned hard work, and Field works to instill the value of both into students who participate in the program. Today, the Engler program encourages students to understand their skills and purpose as well as to be bold in whatever they pursue, which often includes entrepreneurship.

One of the many students who has been impacted by the Engler program is Kelli Mashino, a senior agricultural and environmental communications major, 2020 Engler executive member and host of Engler’s podcast, “The Engler Journey.”

“While I don’t own my own business, Engler has helped me own aspects of my life so that’s been phenomenal. I’ve loved my journey so far,” Mashino said.

Mashino was one of the students who served cookies and ice cream to the construction workers and had the opportunity to thank them for their talents in building the new space.  

“It’s really been awesome to look into their eyes and say, ‘thank you for building our home.’  I don’t think they realize the lives that are going to be changed out of that building and the enterprises that are going to be built and the people that are going to start owning who they are because of that building,” she said.  

Mashino joined Engler as a freshman in college because her older sisters had, but it wasn’t until her junior year that she felt like she called it her own.  

“I found who I was in Miller Hall, but I’m excited to see[EF1]  students grow in the new space. It’s like there’s just more opportunity to discover who you are in the new space,” Mashino said.  

Mashino said the construction workers are building the heart of Engler in the new space, but the depth and core of what and who Engler is will not change, but rather grow stronger as relationships between students and staff grow.

“They are building our values. That’s where our home is and where our culture is going to continue to thrive. We see it as more than just four walls being built over there and we want to honor that.”   

Engler students and staff hope to move into their new home on the 2nd floor of the Dinsdale Family Learning Commons, in early 2021.  

The Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program is a unique opportunity designed to empower enterprise builders. Students across the University of Nebraska Lincoln are pursuing development of their entrepreneurial skills and capacity in the program. The Engler program began in 2010 with a $20 million gift over 10 years ago from the Paul F. and Virginia J. Engler Foundation. The purpose of the program is to identify students with the entrepreneurial drive and then foster development of professional skills conducive to success in applying entrepreneurism in agriculture and agribusiness.

For more information visit engler.unl.edu or listen to podcasts at theenglerjourney.com.

 

Seaboard Triumph Foods donated 6,000 pounds of Prairie Fresh® pork to Operation BBQ Relief

6,000 pounds of Prairie Fresh® pork headed out to eastern Iowa Friday, August 21, to Operation BBQ Relief (OBR) as Gov. Kim Reynolds served their 8 millionth hot barbecue meal to those affected by the derecho in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Prairie Fresh® is the official pork supplier to OBR. OBR mobilizes barbecue cook teams into natural disaster areas to provide hot barbecue meals to those impacted and volunteers helping with the aftermath of the storms. As of Friday, August 21, OBR had served 45,800 meals and planned to serve another 9,400 meals that day. STF and its parent companies, Seaboard Foods and Triumph Foods, helped make that happen by donating Prairie Fresh® products prior to the deployment.

OBR is still currently deployed in eastern Iowa with a team of passionate volunteers committed to provide hope, compassion and friendship one hot barbecue meal at a time. However, the organization is still in need of monetary donations and more volunteers. Celebrities Ashton Kutcher and Kurt Warner from Cedar Rapids shared OBR’s GoFundMe campaign on their social media pages, but they still need your help. To donate, find feeding-cedar-rapids at gofundme.com. To volunteer, visit OBR.org.

“We continue to be amazed by the commitment and dedication of OBR and its volunteers, especially so during a pandemic,” says Tori O’Connell, Seaboard Triumph Foods communications specialist. “Being able to serve a record-breaking number of meals to families in Cedar Rapids is equally amazing, and we are honored to be a part of it. We continue to be in awe of Operation BBQ Relief’s work of providing compassion, hope, and friendship one hot barbecue meal at a time.”

About the Operation BBQ Relief
Operation BBQ Relief is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports communities following natural disasters with hot barbecue meals to those in need and on the front lines. After the devastating tornado in Joplin, Mo., in May 2011, competitive pit masters from eight different states answered the call to feed displaced families and first responders and served over 120,000 meals over 13 days. This experience was the catalyst that started what Operation BBQ Relief is today. With the help of more than 14,000 volunteers, Operation BBQ Relief has provided more than 8 million meals throughout the United States since its inception. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization has provided over 4 million meals to first responders, medical workers, veterans, families and organizations affected by the pandemic. In 2017, Stan Hays, CEO and Co-Founder was recognized as one of the “CNN Heroes” for his work with Operation BBQ Relief. For more information, visit www.obr.org or follow on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @opbbqrelief.



Pesticide Applicators Reminded to Complete Required Training, Testing Requirements

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship today reminded private pesticide applicators to complete their yearly private applicator training requirements by Sept. 30, 2020. The annual April 15 deadline was extended to Sept. 30 this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department is also adding in-person testing sites in September to help commercial and private pesticide applicators get certified.

“Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have offered additional flexibility, training and testing options to help meet the needs of pesticide applicators,” said Secretary Naig. “We appreciate our continued partnership with the agriculture community and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Together, we’re ensuring pesticide applicators have opportunities to complete their training and testing requirements so they can maintain business continuity during these challenging times.”

Private Pesticide Applicator Training Due Sept. 30
In-person private pesticide applicator training is offered by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach at many offices around the state. Pre-registration is required. For a list of upcoming training dates and locations, and more information about the site’s COVID-19 protocols, pesticide applicators should contact their local ISU Extension office or visit extension.iastate.edu/countyservices/.

In-Person Commercial and Private Pesticide Applicator Testing Available
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is resuming in-person testing sites to help commercial and private pesticide applicators obtain their certifications after COVID-19 caused the cancellation of several in-person testing sessions earlier this spring.

Beginning Sept. 4, in-person commercial and private pesticide applicator exams will be available at select Iowa State University County Extension offices. Individuals will take the tests in-person using social distancing guidelines to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Pre-registration is required to take the exam. Pesticide applicators can sign-up for in-person testing here... https://iowaagriculture.gov/pesticide-bureau/guidance-person-pesticide-exam-sites.  

Online Private Applicator Exam Available
Private pesticide applicators who want to obtain or renew their certifications can register to take the private certification exam online. To register for the online exam, visit stateofiowa.seamlessdocs.com/f/PrivatePesticideExamRegistration.

Once applicants pass the online exam, they will use their certification number to log-in to the self-service portal and submit their application, test results and payment. Once the application, payment, training and testing information are received and processed by the Pesticide Bureau, the licenses and certifications will be sent directly to the applicants.

Applicants can also mail their test results, training and application forms, and payments to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s Pesticide Bureau to obtain the private applicator certificate.

Register for the Self-Service Pesticide Portal
In April, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship launched an online, self-service portal. The portal uses each pesticide applicator’s unique certification number to match their application and payment to their training and testing history.

By moving the process online, individual pesticide applicators can access their records anytime by logging into the self-service portal. The system also has a public search function that empowers customers and employers to verify that their pesticide applicators are licensed to work in the state of Iowa. To register for the self-service portal, visit iowaagriculture.force.com/pesticideapplicator/s/login/SelfRegister.

Additional Information
For additional information about COVID-19-related pesticide applicator training and testing options, visit iowaagriculture.gov/covid-19.

For information regarding pesticide applicator licensing and certification, call the Pesticide Bureau at 515-281-8591 or email pesticides@iowaagriculture.gov.



Leading Cooperatives Partner to Support Midwest Disaster Relief Efforts

Four of the nation’s leading cooperatives serving agriculture and communities across rural America today announced they are partnering to support the American Red Cross in the wake of the derecho that ravaged Iowa, Illinois and other Midwestern states in early August. CHS, CoBank, Farm Credit Services of America, and Land O’Lakes, Inc. will together donate $200,000 to aid relief efforts in the impacted region.

The derecho, a rare and severe inland storm, hit the Midwest August 10 with winds equivalent to a category 4 hurricane. The 14-hour storm damaged property and crops across 800 miles: from North and South Dakota to Ohio. Though the damage was widespread, Iowa saw the most significant effects, including wide-scale utility disruptions, destruction of residential and commercial property, and severe damage to more than 10 million acres of crops. Damage to trailers, silos and other equipment used for grain transportation and storage has added concerns about handling the 2020 harvest from remaining crops.

The American Red Cross has been providing food, water, shelter and other relief services since the storm hit. In Iowa and Illinois, the organization has provided more than 50,000 meals, distributed nearly 20,000 relief items and provided more than 1,900 overnight stays in hotels or congregate shelters. Red Cross volunteers and disaster workers continue to provide aid and comfort to those unable to return to their homes due to damage and ongoing power outages.

“The devastation in Iowa following the derecho is tragic and unprecedented. After the storm hit, Red Cross volunteers were on the ground to assist those who were affected. We couldn’t do what we do to help communities recover without the support we receive from organizations such as CHS, Land O’Lakes, Farm Services of America, and CoBank. The recovery process in so many communities is going to be extensive. This generous gift allows us to deliver help and hope to families and individuals who are picking up the pieces and determining how to move forward,” said Jill S. Orton, regional chief executive officer, Nebraska Iowa Region, American Red Cross.

“The impact of this devastating storm on local cooperatives, farmers and rural America in an already challenging year won’t be fully known for a while, but we know it will be significant,” said Jay Debertin, president and CEO of CHS. “Farmers and communities in rural America are resilient. The cooperative spirit living in these communities will help as they rebuild their businesses, their homes and their lives.”

“Rural communities across the nation have been affected by unprecedented challenges this year due to the effects of Covid-19,” said Thomas Halverson, CoBank’s president and CEO. “Now, America’s heartland has been hit with a significant natural disaster that could not have come at a more difficult time. Our hearts go out to those whose lives and livelihoods have been impacted. Our organizations hope that this joint contribution will help to ease the most immediate suffering and assist our customers, members, partners and their communities as they begin the journey to recovery.”

“The derecho has been devastating not only for ag producers, but also for the families, friends and neighbors in their communities. We continue to work with producers to address the financial needs of their agricultural operations, said Mark Jensen, president and CEO, Farm Credit Services of America. “By joining with other cooperatives to support the important work of the American Red Cross, Farm Credit Services of America hopes to broaden our reach to address the needs of entire communities in these challenging times.”

“As a nearly 100-year-old, farmer-owned cooperative, we know that we do better when we look after our neighbors and work together to help when things like the Midwest derecho storm hit.  We’re proud to join other national cooperatives to do our part in supporting the vibrant, rural communities that continue to feed our country,” says Beth Ford, President and CEO of Land O’Lakes, Inc.



RFA Helps Retailers Across 21 States Apply for Grants for Infrastructure Projects Totaling Over $52 Million

The Renewable Fuels Association was pleased to help many retailers take advantage of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP), which will make $86 million available to transportation fueling facilities to expand the availability and sale of higher blends of ethanol like E15 and E85/Flex Fuel. Now, USDA is reviewing the applications and expects to announce grant awards next month.

“We’re proud to see so many retailers take part in this program, and to have been able to help so many of them work through the complications of the federal grant application process,” said RFA Director of Market Development Cassie Mullen. “Clearly, with so many retailers seeing value in this program, we can expect to see more fuel locations with higher ethanol blends in the near future, supporting rural America’s farmers and ethanol producers. We also want to thank USDA again for launching the HBIIP program and understanding the fundamental link between renewable fuels and the farm economy.”

With support from the National Corn Growers Association, RFA worked with Christianson PLLP and others to assist three dozen retailer companies in the grant process prior to the Aug. 13 application deadline. Submitted applications assisted by RFA cover more than 1,100 fuel dispensers and 128 storage tanks at 222 locations across 21 states. Combined, these locations sell more than 250 million gallons of gasoline annually. RFA provided services and assistance for $21 million in grant requests, which would be matched with another $31 million in private funding for a total investment in higher blends infrastructure of more than $52 million.

“We sincerely appreciate all the assistance RFA and the team at Christianson provided in order to get our HBIIP grant processed in a timely fashion,” said Jill Curtorillo, Corporate Controller at Snappy’s convenience stores in Pennsylvania. “Thank you for including us in your mission to support retailers with this grant program.”

“When we heard about HBIIP we were a bit apprehensive being a smaller retailer (23 stores) and not having previous grant writer experience,” said Christian Whitehead, owner of Whitehead Oil Company/U-Stop Convenience Stores in Nebraska. “As we ventured into the process, we discovered it was more than we expected.” Whitehead said RFA and Mullen “provided great guidance, reassurance, technical support and patience when the process proved to be a challenge. I look forward to working with Cassie and RFA in the future as we continue to explore additional opportunities in ethanol.”

RFA’s work included outreach to retailers via paid and earned media and educating hundreds of them in a series of webinars. The association also created a password-protected website for sharing documents and other digital tools for them to use in the grant application process. Technical reports were prepared for each company, each covering 35 to 50 pages in length, and site-specific environmental reports were submitted covering more than 2,200 pages.



Penn State publishes research showing increased feed efficiency with unique corn silage

Dairy producers seeking an increase in feed efficiency may find it in Enogen® Feed corn, according to recently published research from Penn State University. An in-seed innovation available from Syngenta Seeds, Enogen corn enzyme technology converts starch to usable sugars more quickly than other corn.

The research, which compared Enogen Feed corn silage to non-Enogen corn silage, found a 4% increase in ECM feed efficiency (6% increase uncorrected) with the Enogen Feed corn silage – with no negative effect on rumen fermentation.1 These results directly point to the impact of the in-seed alpha amylase technology of Enogen corn in increasing starch utilization and feed efficiency in dairy cattle," said Duane Martin, Ph.D., head of marketing for Enogen, Syngenta.

"Because dairy producers operate on such tight margins, they are always looking for ways to increase those boundaries and gain a competitive advantage. For these producers, a 4-6% increase in feed efficiency is highly significant," said Martin. "That's why we're so excited about the results from this study. The efficiency gain reported in the trial shows just how valuable Enogen Feed can be for maximizing profit potential."

The Penn State research builds on past university studies that have found that Enogen Feed corn fed as grain or silage can potentially increase feed efficiency by about 5% compared to corn without the Enogen trait.2 Enogen Feed corn hybrids also stand and yield with the best elite corn hybrids, helping dairy producers gain efficiencies in the field as well as in dairy operations.3

"Our goal is to help dairy producers who grow silage maximize their return on investment potential," said Martin. "Enogen Feed corn has been shown to provide excellent yield potential, performing equal to or better than non-Enogen hybrids. Combine that with the increased feed efficiency, and dairy farmers have an excellent opportunity to lower feed costs and gain an advantage in the market."4

The Penn State research was conducted by Dr. Alex Hristov of the university's Department of Animal Science alongside graduate research assistant Sergio Welchez. Results were initially shared at the 2019 American Dairy Science Association Northeast Branch meeting.

Enogen Feed corn hybrids are available from local, independent Golden Harvest® Seed Advisors and NK® retailers in select geographies.5

The development of Enogen Feed corn stems from a Syngenta commitment to accelerate innovation and address the increasing challenges for farmers and the changing views of society. Syngenta is continuously investing and innovating for even more sustainable agriculture.



NGFA launches its second annual Harvest Safety Week    

The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) is launching its second-annual Harvest Safety Week on Aug. 31-Sept. 4. During this virtual event, NGFA provides safety resources particularly useful during the fall harvest to NGFA members’ inboxes each day.

“Harvest is a hectic time for our industry, with lines building up at truck dump pits, new seasonal workers added to handle the inbound crop, long hours spent serving farmer-customers and getting that crop stored, marketed and shipped, and this year, it’s compounded by the impacts of a devastating Midwest derecho and a pandemic,” said NGFA President and CEO Randy Gordon. “We are encouraging our members to use this week as an opportunity to reinforce and exemplify their commitment to their employees’ safety by using NGFA’s safety materials and sharing them as far and wide as possible.”

Participants can share safety materials, safety stories and best practices by using #Harvest20 and #HarvestSafetyWeek with @ngfa on social media.

This year, NGFA is introducing two new safety products – a video on combustible dust and a Safety Tips Sheet for protecting against entanglements inside grain bins. The tip sheet adds to NGFA’s robust suite of safety materials for protecting employees from grain bin accidents.  

In addition, NGFA members are encouraged to share these materials with their farmer-customers. Historically, 70 percent of grain bin entrapments occur on the farm. NGFA has many videos, Safety Tips Sheets, webinars and other materials applicable to both commercial and farm facilities – all found at ngfa.org/safety.

“This industry fulfills a noble and indispensable role in transforming the bounty of America’s producers into safe, nutritious and affordable human and animal food,” Gordon said. "But we can’t do that without providing a safe workplace to employees working in this great industry.”  

Go to ngfa.org/safety for safety training resources.

Safety always has been an essential value of the NGFA, a commitment that it magnifies through its cooperative Alliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in which they collaborate to broadly communicate safety information to protect employees.

The NGFA’s extensive efforts to enhance safety include unprecedented research and education efforts launched in the late 1970s that helped lead to a dramatic reduction in the number of fire and explosion incidents in commercial grain-handling facilities. NGFA and its charitable foundation, the National Grain and Feed Foundation, have continued this safety focus by increasing a robust suite of safety resource materials and partnering with state and regional affiliates, member companies and OSHA to spread awareness of safety best practices and the availability of training resources. And this year, NGFA is partnering with its member companies to get safety messages communicated directly to farmers.



California Ethanol + Power Completes 15-Year Agreement With CHS to Sell Ethanol Produced at Sugar Valley Energy Campus

Today, California Ethanol + Power announced its intention to enter into a 15-year marketing arrangement with global agribusiness leader CHS Inc. A letter of intent between the companies reflects their intent for CHS to be the exclusive marketer and distributor of ethanol to be produced at Sugar Valley Energy, a new energy campus to be constructed in Imperial County, California.

The parties are negotiating the terms of a relationship in which CHS would sell Sugar Valley Energy’s annual production of 68 million gallons of low-carbon fuel-grade sugarcane ethanol.

Located on a 160-acre site north of Brawley, Sugar Valley Energy will be a multi-plant campus consisting of sugarcane-to-ethanol, sugarcane to low-carbon power plus biomethane and wastewater treatment plants. Sugar Valley Energy is expected to complete financing this fall and break ground before the end of 2020 with ethanol production set to begin in 2023.

“The potential for an arrangement with global leader CHS is a significant step forward for Sugar Valley Energy, confirming the market potential for sugarcane ethanol. Highly respected, CHS has the expertise to bring our low-carbon ethanol to the markets where it will have the most positive impact,” said Dave Rubenstein, president and CEO of California Ethanol + Power.

CHS, the nation’s leading agribusiness cooperative owned by farmers, ranchers and cooperatives, produces 260 million gallons of fuel-grade ethanol and markets 900 million gallons of ethanol each year, making CHS one of the nation’s largest suppliers of ethanol-enhanced gasoline and the largest U.S. retailer of E85 ethanol.

“As an energy provider for rural America, CHS continues to identify new technologies and new partners to help enhance reliable energy supply for our owners from diverse sources, while minimizing environmental impact,” said Brian Schouvieller, senior vice president, CHS Global Grain Marketing. “We look forward to collaborating with California Ethanol + Power and Imperial Valley sugarcane growers on this initiative.”

“This deal with CHS is more than a win for California Ethanol + Power, it’s a long-term win for the community, environment and the future of low-carbon fuels. CE+P is continuing to make positive strides in moving this valuable project forward,” said Ian Parker, managing director, Royal Bank of Canada, which is leading the project financing for California Ethanol + Power’s Sugar Valley Energy.

Sugar Valley Energy will provide a long-term economically sustainable market for about 50,000 acres of sugarcane crop, which is highly suited for growth in the Imperial Valley climate. Sugarcane has a water demand similar to alfalfa, one of the region’s dominant crops. To grow the sugarcane needed, Sugar Valley Energy will seek long-term agreements with dozens of area farmers, providing a stable employment and income base for the community.

California currently imports more than 1.2 billion gallons of ethanol each year, and Sugar Valley Energy’s production will help the state be more ethanol independent.



IGC Ups 2020-21 Grain Production Forecast on Soybean, Corn Harvests

Wheat, corn and soybean harvests next year will be slightly higher than previously expected, the International Grains Council said Thursday, as it increased its forecast for total grains production.

The IGC in its monthly report said the 2020-21 grains harvest is estimated to yield 2.23 billion metric tons, 6 million tons more than the intergovernmental body expected last month.

The revision is driven by larger-than-expected corn and soybean harvests, the IGC said. It said global corn harvests would produce 1.166 billion tons, two million tons more than its previous estimate, and soybean harvests would produce 373 million tons, eight million tons more than previous estimates.

The IGC also upped its wheat production forecast by 1 million tons from its July forecast.

The council expects next year's harvest to be the largest on record and 49 million tons larger than this year's. The change means the IGC now expects carryover stocks to be 630 million tons next year, 5 million tons more than previous forecasts and the largest since the 2017-18 season.

The IGC raised its forecast for consumption by 4 million tons and increased its trade estimate by the same amount.



Syngenta Group records strong first half year performance

Syngenta Group Co., Ltd. today announced the Group’s first half year results after its formation on June 18, 2020. The Group increased sales by 2 percent to more than $12 billion compared to the same period last year. This corresponds to growth of 5 percent on an underlying basis adjusted for one-off change of control royalty income in Seeds and the impact of mandatory ADAMA and Sinofert production site relocations in China. All four business units, Syngenta Crop Protection, ADAMA, Syngenta Seeds and Syngenta Group China, increased their underlying sales in comparison to the previous year. Syngenta Group managed the impacts of COVID-19 well in the first half of 2020, maintaining supply throughout despite the challenging market environment and the need for innovative solutions to overcome logistical difficulties.

Erik Fyrwald, Syngenta Group CEO: “The last few months have been a very challenging time for everybody on this planet. I am pleased that our team delivered strong performance across all of Syngenta Group’s business units despite the COVID-19 pandemic, low grain prices and significant currency headwind. This demonstrates that our strategy to deliver the broadest range of sustainable, innovative, and competitive products and services to farmers worldwide is robust, even in these extraordinary times. Our goal is to be a supplier that our customers can always rely on despite any challenges.”

Chen Lichtenstein, Syngenta Group CFO: “We achieved a robust first half with strong sales performance supported by cost discipline. For the second half of the year, we will continue to build on our positive momentum.”

The sector full year outlook remains challenging, with low grain prices and currency headwinds in developing markets. Further impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic add to second half uncertainty. The Syngenta Group remains committed to achieving underlying growth and leadership in sustainable agricultural innovation.