Wednesday October 16 Crop Progress + Ag News

 NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending October 13, 2024, there were 6.9 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 38% very short, 48% short, 14% adequate, and 0% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 33% very short, 46% short, 21% adequate, and 0% surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn condition rated 4% very poor, 8% poor, 21% fair, 48% good, and 19% excellent. Corn mature was 94%, near 97% last year and 93% for the five-year average. Harvested was 45%, near 41% last year, and ahead of 35% average.

Soybeans harvested was 70%, ahead of 65% last year and 62% average.

Winter wheat planted was 96%, near 95% last year and 92% average. Emerged was 69%, behind 79% last year, but near 68% average.

Sorghum condition rated 1% very poor, 5% poor, 15% fair, 50% good, and 29% excellent. Sorghum mature was 94%, near 91% last year, and ahead of 88% average. Harvested was 38%, ahead of 30% both last year and average.

Dry edible beans dropping leaves was 96%, near 99% both last year and average. Harvested was 81%, ahead of 76% last year, but near 83% average.

Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 23% very poor, 21% poor, 29% fair, 25% good, and 2% excellent.



Iowa Weekly Crop Progress and Condition Report

Continued dry weather and above normal temperatures allowed Iowa farmers 6.8 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending October 13, 2024, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities included harvesting corn and soybeans, baling corn stalks, applying manure and fertilizers, and fall tillage. Fire danger in fields remains a threat.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 35 percent very short, 41 percent short, 24 percent adequate and 0 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 27 percent very short, 45 percent short, 28 percent adequate and 0 percent surplus.

Corn reached 97 percent mature or beyond. Corn harvested for grain reached 45 percent, 3 days ahead of last year and 6 days ahead of the five-year average. Corn moisture content fell 2 percentage points to 16 percent. Corn condition rated 76 percent good to excellent.

Soybeans dropping leaves or beyond reached 98 percent. Nearly one-quarter of the soybean crop was harvested during the week ending October 13 reaching 81 percent complete, 6 days ahead of last year and 10 days ahead of the average. Farmers in south central Iowa remain considerably behind farmers in the rest of the State with just 54 percent of their soybean crop harvested.

Pasture condition fell 8 percentage points to just 30 percent good to excellent this week. Livestock water resources continue to recede.



USDA Weekly Crop Progress Report

The U.S. corn and soybean harvests sped up and pulled further ahead of the five-year averages last week thanks to dry weather across most of the country, USDA NASS reported in its weekly Crop Progress report on Tuesday. The report, normally released on Mondays, was delayed this week due to the holiday. The dry conditions were detrimental to the winter wheat crop, though, with both planting and emergency running behind last year and the average pace, NASS reported.

CORN
-- Crop development: Corn mature was pegged at 94%, 1 point ahead of last year's 93% and 6 points ahead of the five-year average of 89%.
-- Harvest progress: Corn harvest jumped ahead 17 percentage points nationally to reach 47% complete as of Sunday. That was 5 points ahead of last year's 42% and 8 points ahead of the five-year average of 39%.
-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 64% of corn still in fields was in good-to-excellent condition, unchanged from the previous week but above last year's 53%. Twelve percent of the crop was rated very poor to poor, down 1 point from the previous week and below 18% last year.

SOYBEANS
-- Crop development: Soybeans dropping leaves were pegged at 95%, 1 point behind last year's 96% but 3 points ahead of the five-year average of 92%.
-- Harvest progress: The soybean harvest maintained a steady pace last week, moving ahead by 20 percentage points to reach 67% completion as of Sunday. That was 10 points ahead of last year's 57% and 16 points ahead of the five-year average of 51%.

WINTER WHEAT
-- Planting progress: Winter wheat planting moved ahead 13 points last week to reach 64% complete nationwide as of Sunday, 1 point behind last year and 2 points behind the five-year average of 66%.
-- Crop development: An estimated 35% of winter wheat had emerged as of Sunday, 1 point behind last year's 36% and 3 points behind the five-year average of 38%.



How Grazing Corn Residue Affects the Soil
Bethany Johnston – NE Extension Educator

One of the most common concerns about grazing corn residue is that cattle will cause soil compaction. A long term grazing data (16 years) conducted at the University of Nebraska has shown no compaction when grazing in the fall or the early spring. In this long-term study, grazing did not impact soil nutrient content. Which fits well with expected impacts given that cows in mid-pregnancy retain very little nitrogen, phosphorus or potassium. Thus, they excrete in manure and urine most of what they consume resulting in very little nutrients being removed from the land. With long term grazing there was an improvement in subsequent soybean and corn yields. This could have been due to the nutrient cycling being sped up as there is an increase in microbial biomass in the soil in the grazed areas.

More recently, a study was designed to test an extreme scenario for spring grazing. The thought was that if grazing was to cause compaction, it was most likely to happen when the soil is wet and thawed and when a high stocking density was used. The field was grazed at the recommended rate by starting in mid-February with 3 hd/ac for 45 days (normal stocking) or starting in early March with 9 hd/ac for 15 days (high stocking). Turn out of the higher stocking density groups was delayed until it rained to have the worst-case scenario. All groups were removed mid-March. There were some minor increases in bulk density (measure of compaction).

The penetration resistance was also higher, and thus more down pressure had to be applied to get the soybeans planted. Down pressure applied at planting was 265 lbs in the non-grazed and 290 lbs in the grazed treatments. Much of the increase in penetration resistance is due to the soil having less cover and thus less surface soil moisture. The planting speed was also reduced due to the surface roughness. However, the subsequent soybean yields were still improved by grazing. While it is not recommended to graze late into the spring as this does have some downsides when it comes to planting, if cattle happen to be left out when a warm-wet spell occurs, there is no long-term damage to the land.

Corn residue remaining on surface post spring grazing at high stocking density for 15 days (left), normal stocking density for 45 days (middle), or not grazed (right).

Overall, when managed correctly, grazing corn residue can be a win-win for both the crop and cattle producer.



Rob-See-Co Announces 2024 Rob-See-Co Rural Library Grantees

Rob-See-Co, an independent seed company located in Elkhorn, Neb. is proud to announce the recipients of the 2024 Rob-See-Co Rural Library Grant program.  Established in 2023 to mark the company’s 10th anniversary and honor Agnes Robinson’s dedication to the rural library in Waterloo, NE, this grant program celebrates her legacy.  Agnes was the great grandmother of the current CTO, Jim Robinson.  Due to the enthusiastic response in its inaugural year, the company has continued to offer these grants

“We are excited to once again provide these rural library grants in 2024,” said JIm Robinson, Chief Executive Officer of Rob-See-Co. “Last year, we gained a deeper understanding of the financial needs facing rural libraries and saw firsthand the positive impact a single grant can have on community programming. These grants reflect our commitment to supporting our dealers, growers, and the communities we serve, while also paying tribute to my family and the history of Rob-See-Co.”

This year, over 175 rural libraries across Rob-See-Co’s market area applied, requesting funding for projects such as expanding book collections, upgrading technology, and developing after-school programs and community gardens. A total of $5,000 has been awarded to 11 libraries in Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.  Checks will be delivered by Rob-See-Co representatives in November and December.

“We are so excited and thankful to be a recipient of the Rob-See-Co Rural Library Grant,” said Monica Mader, Director, Burlington Branch Coffey County Library.  “Our STEAM program both in the library and in the school has been very successful.  We are looking forward to being able to expand our STEAM kits to include balance activities and to purchase supplies to increase the number of STEAM stations we provide during our programs.  We have been trying for a couple of years to get funding so we can add new activities for our kids.  This grant has given us the means to provide new learning opportunities and fun to the youth in our community.  Thank you!”

The libraries receiving funding are:
·       Arcanum Public Library, Arcanum, OH
·       Brown City District Library, Brown City, MI
·       Casselton Public Library, Casselton, ND
·       Coffey County Library Burlington Branch, Burlington, KS
·       Coffeyville Public Library, Coffeyville, KS
·       Galva Public Library, Galva, IA
·       LaValle Public Library, LaValle, WI
·       Maltman Memorial Library, Wood River, NE
·       North Bend Public Library, North Bend, NE
·       St. Edward Public Library, St. Edward, NE
·       Tripp Count Library Grossenburg Memorial, Winner, SD

To learn more about Rob-See-Co, visit www.robseeco.com.



Greeneye Technology Customers Achieve 87% Average Reduction in Non-Residual Herbicide Use in 2024
     
End-of-season data released today by precision spraying pioneer Greeneye Technology reveals its customers achieved an 87% average reduction in non-residual herbicide use in 2024, translating to typical cost savings of $25 to $35 per acre.

Herbicide reduction increased to 92% in pre-emergence applications, while corn and soybean farmers achieved an 84% and 82% average reduction, respectively, according to the figures.

“The issue we are having is that traditional methods of spraying are not killing all the weeds,” comments Brad Janzen, a corn and soybean farmer in Nebraska. “We needed to be able to spray at a higher rate or use a different combination of herbicides to be able to kill those weeds. And with the Greeneye system, we can do that and save money.”

Greeneye’s end-of-season results are derived from systems deployed across eight U.S. states (Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Illinois, Texas, Kansas, Minnesota, and Iowa) and showcase the technology’s ability to optimize weed management in different terrains, weather conditions, and in till, reduced-till, and no-till fields.

Based in the Oklahoma Panhandle, Arthaud Family Farms grows wheat, corn, grain sorghum, and sunflowers. “We often face extended droughts in our area, and weed control is paramount to moisture preservation and yield success,” explains owner Scott Arthaud. “With the Greeneye system, we can spray pre-emergence at the same time we spot spray for the weeds. We spend less money on chemicals—depending on weed pressure, we see between 50-95% savings. In post-emergent applications, the yield drag is drastically reduced, which translates into real money. Plus, we can use stronger chemicals that really target the herbicide-resistant weeds.”

These results come at the end of Greeneye’s second fully-commercial season in the U.S. The system’s aftermarket design enables farmers to seamlessly transition from broadcast to precision spraying of herbicides and other inputs using their existing machine, overcoming a major cost-of-entry barrier for many farmers.

Today, Greeneye is the only company to offer a dual-line system for the aftermarket segment without subscription fees—three elements considered critical to ensure farmers achieve the fastest possible return on their investment while adhering to agronomic best practice. Earlier this year, the company introduced “Canopy Mode”, broadening the system’s precision application capabilities to inputs such as fungicides and micronutrients.

Nadav Bocher, CEO at Greeneye Technology, says: “We are extremely pleased to announce the results of the 2024 commercial season in the U.S. Behind these figures are real farmers who now have the tools they need to significantly reduce chemical use and costs, tackle resistance and drift, improve weed control efficacy, and increase crop health and yields, all while improving the sustainability of their operations.”

The 2024 end-of-season data mirrors the successful results from ongoing field trials at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), which shows the Greeneye system achieved a significant 70-95% reduction in the use of non-residual herbicides. Professor Amit Jhala, Extension Weed Specialist at UNL, comments: “I was extremely impressed with the results we have seen. Even in field conditions when the sprayer is moving at between 12 and 15 mph, it has an excellent ability to detect weeds as small as one centimeter.”

The growing adoption of the Greeneye system also extends to other stakeholders within the ag ecosystem, including retailers, co-operatives, and dealers. In May, Greeneye partnered with Nebraska-based retailer and precision farming equipment dealer, Boeck Seed Services, to open the first in a planned nationwide network of Greeneye dealerships to provide local sales, installation, and support.

Cody Boeck, Operations Director at Boeck Seeds, says: “Weed control is without a doubt the biggest challenge facing our customers—and, at the moment, it is a challenge they are losing. I think over the next five to ten years, you're going to see a huge chasm between farms that adopt [precision spraying] technology and those that don't. The ROI is too obvious, and the environmental benefits are undeniable. There’s a ton of benefits that we’re going to unlock, and [Greeneye’s] technology is going to be a major reason for that.”



Most Retail Fertilizer Prices Continue Lower

Retail fertilizer sellers surveyed by DTN for the first week of October 2024 continued to show average prices for nutrients were lower than last month.

Prices for seven of the eight major fertilizers were lower compared to last month, a trend for several weeks now. No fertilizer had a significant price increase or decline. DTN designates a significant move as anything 5% or more. DAP had an average price of $735 per ton, MAP $805/ton, potash $448/ton, urea $485/ton, 10-34-0 $590/ton, UAN28 $316/ton and UAN32 $350/ton.

One fertilizer was slightly more expensive than a month ago. Anhydrous had an average price of $688/ton. Last month it was $684.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was $0.53/lb.N, anhydrous $0.42/lb.N, UAN28 $0.56/lb.N and UAN32 $0.55/lb.N.

Prices for all but two fertilizers are lower compared to one year ago. MAP is 1% higher, while DAP is 3% more expensive looking back to last year. The remaining six fertilizers are lower. 10-34-0 is 4% lower, UAN28 is 11% less expensive, potash is 12% lower, anhydrous is 15% less expensive and both urea and UAN32 are 16% lower compared to last year.



Harvest Revenue Insurance Prices, so far

October is important for growers in the key Corn Belt states who purchase revenue-based crop insurance policies. It's when the harvest prices for those policies are set. As of Oct. 15, the running average is $4.21 per bushel for corn and $10.25 per bushel for soybeans.

For the vast majority of spring-planted crops, planting price guarantees calculated in February were corn $4.66 and soybeans $11.55.  The October 2023 average was $4.88 for corn and $12.84 for soybeans.  

Revenue policies with harvest-price protection cover losses caused by a difference in the harvest price (determined in October) from the projected price (determined in February). They also cover revenue losses in the event prices tumble between planting and harvest, as they did for corn in 2008.



Analysis Shows Tariff-Induced Trade War Would Hurt U.S. Farmers

A new economic study paints a troubling picture of the potential results a renewed U.S.-China trade war could have on hundreds of thousands of farmers and rural communities, showing American-imposed tariffs would come at a steep cost to U.S. producers while benefiting Brazil and Argentina.

The study, commissioned by the American Soybean Association and the National Corn Growers Association and conducted by the World Agricultural Economic and Environmental Services, shows a new trade war would result in an immediate drop in corn and soy exports to the tune of hundreds of millions of tons. As a result, Brazil and Argentina would claim the lost market share, which would be extremely difficult for American growers to reclaim in the future.

ASA and NCGA both have cautioned against a trade war:

ASA Chief Economist Scott Gerlt said, “The U.S. agriculture sector is going through a significant economic downturn. This work shows that a trade war would easily compound the adverse conditions that are placing financial stress on farmers. Even when a trade war officially ends, the loss of market share can be permanent.”

“The study highlights the dangers that come with broad tariffs on imports,” said NCGA Lead Economist Krista Swanson. “While launching widespread tariffs may seem like an effective tool, they can boomerang and cause unintended consequences. Our first goal should be to avoid unnecessary harm.”

The third-party study comes as U.S. lawmakers and officials from both political parties are increasingly looking at tariff-forward approaches as they work to address troubling Chinese trade practices.

Researchers modeled several scenarios that could play out in a new U.S.-China trade war and found a consistent outcome:

• Severe drop in U.S. exports to China. If China cancels its current waiver (from the 2020 Phase I agreement) and reverts to tariffs already on the books, U.S. soybean exports to China would, according to the study, fall 14 to 16 million metric tons annually, an average decline of 51.8% from baseline levels expected for those years. U.S. corn exports to China would fall about 2.2 million metric tons annually, an average decline of 84.3% from the baseline expectation.

• Brazil and Argentina would benefit. Brazil and Argentina would increase exports and thus gain valuable global market share. Chinese tariffs on soybeans and corn from the U.S.—but not Brazil—would provide incentive for Brazilian farmers to expand production area even more rapidly than baseline growth.

• No place to turn. While it is possible to divert exports to other nations, the study found there is insufficient demand from the rest of the world to offset the major loss of soybean exports to China to support the farmgate value.

The study found a new trade war would lead to a steep drop in soy and corn prices, resulting in a ripple impact across the U.S., particularly in rural economies where farmers live, purchase inputs, use farm and personal services, and purchase household goods.

Leaders at NCGA and ASA believe it is in America’s economic interests to maintain a trading relationship with China, even as both governments work through trade and other concerns. They also noted they support thoughtful consideration of the impacts tariffs and tariff retaliation could have on U.S. farms and rural communities.




Duvall Leads White House Meeting to Urge Prioritization of U.S. Crops for Renewable Fuel Tax

American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall today urged the administration to prioritize American-grown crops in the production of sustainable fuels during a meeting at the White House organized by the AFBF. Duvall was joined by leaders from the National Corn Growers Association and American Soybean Association to urge Senior Advisor to the President for Clean Energy Innovation John Podesta to take action.

President Duvall said, “We appreciate John Podesta’s willingness to hear our concerns about the Clean Fuel Production Credit and the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Credit. Both have the potential to be valuable incentives to produce homegrown biofuels that will help lower the nation’s carbon emissions and keep America’s farmers economically sustainable, but improvements are needed. These are tax credits that should benefit Americans, not foreign companies.”

Crops used for clean, renewable fuels are grown in the United States with a smaller environmental footprint than anywhere else in the world. Yet current guidance to produce sustainable aviation fuel does not require the use of domestically grown feedstocks. This has resulted in interests from outside of the U.S. taking advantage of the credits at the expense of rural America. Cumbersome and unnecessary reporting demands also put the monetary benefit of participating in the market out of reach for many U.S. farmers.

Duvall and the other agriculture leaders called for the administration to move quickly in adopting workable regulations for the tax credits, saying, “Time is of the essence. The Clean Fuels Production Credit is scheduled to go into effect next year, and farmers must soon decide whether they are willing and able to participate in the program. We urge Mr. Podesta and the administration to prioritize America’s farmers by establishing a domestic feedstock requirement for clean fuel production credits, and revise guidelines to make the goal of producing efficient biofuels more attainable.”



ACE: Climate-Smart Agriculture Practices Create Important Opportunities for Farmers, Biofuel Producers

In virtual comments today, American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings emphasized the organization’s key priorities in response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) request for information on the production of biofuel feedstocks using climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices. Jennings also encouraged USDA to continue engaging with Treasury and leverage ACE’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) projects to help inform more accurate and updated GHG credit values for CSA practices as the Treasury Department implements the 45Z Clean Fuel Production tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
 
“ACE is proud to partner with USDA on two Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) projects to improve upon model-generated credit values for biofuel feedstocks produced with climate-smart ag (CSA) practices,” said Jennings during his comments.

Priorities highlighted in Jennings’ comments are summarized below.
    Models and credit values for CSA practices should be routinely updated, incorporating data collected through ACE’s RCPP projects. Ultimately, our projects are designed to improve the accuracy of GREET and address perceived “information gaps” currently preventing farmers and ethanol producers from monetizing CSA practices in regulated markets.
    45Z should allow individual CSA practices and stacking of agricultural practices. Do not require the all-or-none “bundled” approach from 40B or arbitrarily cap agriculture practice GHG credit values.
    USDA has a long track record of stewarding federal taxpayer funds for commodity and conservation programs, ensuring that participating farmers meet necessary requirements to receive federal funds. If existing USDA protocols are sufficient for verifying the distribution of billions of taxpayer dollars for commodity and conservation programs, USDA protocols are equally sufficient for verifying the same practices for federal tax incentives such as 45Z. The Treasury Department should rely on existing USDA assets in the reporting and verification for the 45Z tax credit, and we encourage USDA to directly engage Treasury with respect to its expertise and experience in this area.



Growth Energy Calls for Flexibility for Farmers and Renewable Fuel Producers in USDA Testimony

Growth Energy, the nation's largest biofuel trade association, provided testimony to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today about the importance of giving farmers flexibility when it comes to implementing and incentivizing practices that lower the carbon intensity (CI) of renewable fuel production, including climate smart agriculture (CSA) practices.

Speaking at USDA's Public Consultation on Climate-Smart Agriculture Biofuel Feedstocks, Growth Energy General Counsel Joe Kakesh called on USDA, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to give farmers and renewable fuel producers credit for every CI-reducing technology they implement at the plant and on the farm, specifically when administering the Section 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit.

"Robust decarbonization cannot be achieved unless the full range of CI-reduction technologies – both on-farm and at the plant – is recognized, and unless farmers and biofuel producers are provided the flexibility to implement CI-reduction technologies that reflect current practices and spur future innovation," Kakesh said. "45Z provides an opportunity to do this. We urge USDA, Treasury, EPA, and other agencies working on Section 45Z guidance to expand options to realize the full CI-reduction potential of biofuels under Section 45Z, and to provide guidance before January 1, 2025, to allow stakeholders to take full advantage of the credit from day one."

Kakesh noted that agriculture represents more than 50 percent of bioethanol’s CI score, and that CSA is integral to reducing the carbon footprint of all crop-based biofuels. He highlighted recent research by the Energy Futures Initiative (EFI) Foundation that showed that on-farm practices can reduce the CI of bioethanol by up to 56 percent. In conjunction with at-plant CI reduction technologies, CSA can play a powerful role in the decarbonization of the entire transportation fuel sector.  



Growth Energy to IRS: 45Z Tax Credit Guidance Must Be Scientific, Flexible, and Timely

Growth Energy, the nation’s leading biofuel trade association, continued to urge the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) today to follow the best available science when crafting its long-awaited guidance on the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit. Specifically, Growth Energy called on the U.S. Treasury Department to quickly issue guidance, preferably in a rulemaking, that accurately rewards the full spectrum of tools available to reduce bioethanol emissions at the plant and on the farm, including carbon capture and storage, process heat and energy, and climate-smart agriculture (CSA).

Growth Energy called on the IRS to provide flexibility for biofuel producers to integrate climate-smart technologies.

“For the 45Z credit to function properly, the IRS should reward renewable fuel producers that maximize their GHG reductions through the full scope of lower-carbon production processes,” wrote Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “Fortunately the GREET model includes a broad range of at-the-plant technologies that should be incorporated into any 45Z model used in the SAF context and the emissions rate table used for 45Z on-road eligibility. At a minimum, any model or emissions rate table designed to estimate carbon intensity using best available practices must include adjustments for biomass power or heat, corn stover to process heat, combined heat and power, wet distiller’s grains, membrane dehydration, vapor recompression, advanced yeasts and enzymes, energy storage, and zero-CI electricity from solar, nuclear, geothermal, hydropower, and biomass facilities.”

With regard to climate-smart farming practices, “there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to CSA,” wrote Skor. “Farmers should be encouraged to adopt as many CSA practices as possible, with the flexibility to choose the CSA practices that work best for the specific circumstances at their farms. Farmers across the country face distinct challenges and advantages based on the location of their farm, types of crops grown, soil health, weather patterns, local equipment costs, and individual risk tolerance, among many other factors.”

Finally, Growth Energy reminded Treasury officials that time is of the essence and called on IRS to work quickly before October ends to take the critical first step of proposing a rulemaking with guidance for 45Z.

“At a minimum, the IRS should issue a proposed rule no later than November 1, 2024, including any proposed new models or model upgrades,” wrote Skor.



Syngenta Crop Protection and Taranis Partner to Drive AI-Powered Agronomy Solutions and Business Opportunities for Retailers

Syngenta Crop Protection, LLC, a global leader in crop protection, is proud to announce that Syngenta and Taranis, the world’s leading AI-powered crop intelligence platform, have entered into a multi-year collaboration to bring Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven agronomic productivity and conservation-focused innovation to agricultural retail partners in the US.

Starting in 2024/2025 and over a three-year period, the collaboration will involve a significant investment aimed at supporting ag retailers in the adoption of Taranis’ AI-powered agronomic platforms so retail partners can benefit from AI-derived leaf-level remote scouting insights and generative AI (GenAI) agronomic recommendations. This collaboration is designed to revolutionize ag retailer workflows while optimizing farm decision making, facilitating grower adoption of conservation practices, and increasing farm profitability.

“We believe this collaboration with Taranis will help retailers tap into the full potential of AI and digital agronomy, unlocking new levels of operational efficiencies,” said Paul Backman, head of North America Crop Protection digital agriculture & sustainable solutions. “By combining Syngenta’s industry-leading portfolio with Taranis’ AI-driven insights, we empower retailers to deliver better, faster and more precise service to their grower-customers.”

Ongoing development between Syngenta and Taranis will support the continued advancement of AI-powered agronomic platforms. The collaboration will include technology and features from Syngenta’s Cropwise platform with Taranis’ leading crop intelligence solution and will target innovation in areas including conservation agronomy, agricultural productivity, and AI-enabled agronomic solutions.

Leaf-Level AI-Driven Agronomic Recommendations
Syngenta will extend a unique offer focused in the Midwest to support targeted retailers' adoption of Taranis’ AI-driven intelligence platform providing leaf-level 0.3mm/pixel resolution threat detection of weed species, insects, diseases and nutrient deficiencies. The service will enable retailers to remotely scout more acres, more comprehensively, from anywhere they access the platform, and to easily prioritize the fields that require the most immediate attention. Paired with Ag Assistant™, the Taranis GenAI agronomy engine, retail advisors can generate data-driven expert agronomic recommendations that save time and allow them to act decisively to help their grower-customers protect their crops using Syngenta’s market-leading crop protection portfolio, resulting in yield-enhancing crop management practices that improve retailer and grower productivity and profitability.

“Having an instantaneous understanding of the issues and the optimal solution creates efficiencies and opportunities the industry has never seen before,” said Opher Flohr, CEO of Taranis. “This collaboration with Syngenta is a significant step forward in driving the AI revolution for production agriculture.”

Future collaboration between Syngenta and Taranis will seek to integrate Syngenta’s Cropwise platform with Taranis’ Intelligence Service to further enhance digital agronomy solutions available to Retail partners.

Hassle-Free Conservation Services
This collaboration on conservation services will enable retail partners to offer their grower-customers access to Taranis’ conservation platform through a success-based model. The platform helps growers access funding for adoption of conservation practices, and when coupled with Taranis support has shown increased conservation funding success rates. Validation of sustainable practices is streamlined through an automated process that seamlessly fulfills conservation reporting requirements.    

“Our collaboration with Taranis underscores Syngenta’s commitment to sustainability,” said Paul. “By offering easy access to conservation tools and funding, we are making it simpler for growers to adopt sustainable practices that further preserve their legacy."

Future collaboration between Syngenta and Taranis will bring additional sustainability-focused benefits including integration of Syngenta’s Cropwise Sustainability platform with Taranis’ Conservation Service to access emerging market opportunities for retailers and growers created through digitally enabled conservation agronomy practices.