Top Headlines

After an extensive search, The Andersons, Inc. announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Pat Bowe, formerly Corporate Vice President of Cargill, Inc., to succeed Mike Anderson as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective Nov. 2, 2015. Anderson will remain as the Company’s Chairman of the Board. Bowe will also be appointed to The Andersons Board of Directors.

Mr. Bowe said, “I am excited to have the opportunity to lead such an outstanding organization.  I have long admired The Andersons and I look forward to capitalizing on the unique opportunities that lie ahead for the Company.”

Bowe has more than 35 years of experience in the agricultural sector. In his most recent role as Corporate Vice President for Cargill’s Food Ingredient and Systems Platform he was responsible for strategy, capital allocation decisions, customer relationship management, as well as leading key sourcing and business excellence initiatives.  During his time at Cargill, Bowe held a variety of leadership positions at the company, both domestically and abroad, including oversight of the company’s Corn Wet Milling operation. … Continue reading

National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) supporting proposed improvements to the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and noting the importance of the program for both the environment and domestic and global food security.

“NFU appreciates USDA’s work to improve the efficacy of CRP and stands ready to provide any support or assistance that would be helpful to the program,” Johnson said. “The CRP program not only benefits the environment, but it also adds substantially to U.S. and international food security by safeguarding land that can be used in emergency circumstances.”

Johnson highlighted changes that USDA has proposed to improve the program, including the inclusion of an “infeasible to farm” provision and the allowance of farmers to transfer land from CRP to the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) without penalty.

“The inclusion of an “infeasible to farm” provision will allow farmers to enroll an entire field as long as at least 75 percent of the field qualifies,” Johnson said.… Continue reading

With harvest underway in some areas and soon to begin in others, the National Corn Growers Association announces that online harvest forms for the 2015 National Corn Yield Contest are now available. While the harvest information form deadline may seem distant, entrants are asked to report within seven business days of their final yield check or by Nov. 20, whichever comes first.

“While harvest has only begun in a few areas, we ask contest applicants to submit harvest forms within one week of their final yield check to allow NCGA staff adequate time to thoroughly review each form,” said Production and Stewardship Action Team Chair Don Glenn, a farmer from Alabama. “The National Corn Yield Contest plays a significant role in recognizing excellence and finding new, more productive techniques. We hope that growers continue to support the contest by seeing their entry through and submitting their completed harvest data forms.”

The National Corn Yield Contest is now in its 51st year and remains NCGA’s most popular program for members.… Continue reading

Half of all workers on U.S. dairy farms are immigrants, and the damage from losing those workers would extend far beyond the farms, nearly doubling retail milk prices and costing the total U.S. economy more than $32 billion, according to a new report commissioned by the National Milk Producers Federation.

The report, which includes the results of a nationwide survey of farms, found that one-third of all U.S. dairy farms employ foreign-born workers, and that those farms produce nearly 80% of the nation’s milk.

It concluded that a complete loss of immigrant labor could cause the loss of one-in-six dairy farms and cut U.S. economic output by $32.1 billion, resulting in 208,000 fewer jobs nationwide. Some 77,000 of the lost jobs would be on dairy farms.

Retail milk prices, the report said, would increase 90% if all immigrant labor was lost. That would drive the supermarket price of a gallon of milk, which averaged $3.37 in June, to approximately $6.40.… Continue reading

After this year’s record rainfall and flooding across parts of the Midwest, farmers should scout their fields carefully and be aware of any conditions that could damage crops during harvest, a Purdue Extension grain storage expert advises.

“As we approach harvest, it will be important to prepare adequately so that we prevent deterioration of the portions of crops we are able to harvest,” said Klein Ileleji, associate professor of agricultural and biological engineering.

Crop development has been delayed in some flooded areas. It could be necessary to adjust the speed of the combine and height of the cutter bar to account for differences in plant growth, Ileleji said.

Before harvesting, farmers should look for differences in cob size and the number of kernels per cob, as well as variability in the maturity of bean plants, he said.

“That way the operator will know in advance where equipment adjustments will be necessary during cutting,” Ileleji said.… Continue reading

The Department of Animal Sciences at The Ohio State University is offering a new Master in Animal Sciences graduate degree. This program is different from a typical Master of Sciences (MS) in that research is not required and it is a non-thesis program. Acceptance into the program is similar to the other graduate programs in that an application must be submitted to the OSU Graduate School (http://gradsch.osu.edu/), and after its review, the application is forwarded to the Graduate Studies Committee in the Department of Animal Sciences for review. Requirements include a minimum of 3.0 GPA and a Graduate Records Examination score of at least 300. Admission decisions also are determined by availability of space in the program, availability of an advisor, and their area of interest.

Students accepted into the program must complete a minimum of 35 credit hours, complete a final exam in the form of either a comprehensive written exam, professional project, research proposal, or a culminating paper, and present an exit seminar.… Continue reading

• What is ahead for the markets?
• How much safety in the Margin Protection Program (MPP) safety net?
• MPP margin forecast for 2015-2016

As I write this, the market focus in squarely on the international markets.  Right at this moment, the turmoil in the U.S. equity market driven by concerns over the economic prospects for China is paramount.  Economic growth rate for China has slowed from double digits to around 7%.  While the rest of the developed countries would love a 7% growth rate, this is a much reduced level for China which needs a rate of economic growth in the range of 10 to 12% to manage its huge economy.  The equity market in China has declined by 35%.  Troubles with the China economy are certainly causing troubles for the rest of the world economies and only time will tell how this will all play out for the rest of us.… Continue reading

American Farmer and NACHURS are proud to announce today an episode featuring NACHURS Brand Liquid Fertilizer based in Marion, Ohio will be airing Tuesday, September 8, 2015 at 8:30 am ET on RFD-TV and a re-broadcast on Tuesday, September 29, 2015 at 8:30 am.

In this segment, American Farmer will feature Nachurs Alpine Solutions; a specialty chemical company that formulates, markets and distributes NACHURS and ALPINE brand liquid fertilizers throughout North America. Viewers will learn about new technologies being developed and incorporated into the liquid fertilizers sold by NACHURS and ALPINE.

“We at Nachurs Alpine Solutions are extremely proud to help North American farmers achieve their production goals with our high quality liquid fertilizers, professional sales, and agronomic support. We are excited and privileged to showcase our products and people on RFD-TV’s American Farmer Series”, said Jim Krebsbach, Vice President Agriculture Division.

American Farmer is a breakthrough program on a mission to showcase the latest advancements in agriculture and farming.… Continue reading

Several weather stations recorded temperatures in the nineties as high temperatures prevailed through the week, according to the USDA, NASS, Great Lakes Regional Office. There were 5.9 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending September 6th. Scattered showers throughout the week helped combat the hot temperatures causing stress on the crops. Crop condition ratings remained virtually unchanged. Most producers spent the week mowing hay, chopping corn for silage, and spraying for weeds.

View the full report here… Continue reading

Luckily, an Australian Merino sheep that had likely wandered from his flock five or six years ago and had never been shorn was spotted by a concerned hiker who raised the alarm by contacting the Australian Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

With hooves that were barely visible and eyes mostly covered, the animal was the size of a refrigerator and the color of dirty snow. It was a matter of life and death — this sheep needed a haircut. The gigantic sheep, named “Chris,” who was found outside Canberra, could barely walk. His wool had grown to four to five times the normal amount of wool for a merino sheep, resulting in some serious health problems. Besides being partially blinded by the wool flopping into his eyes, his hooves were damaged from carrying the weight of all that extra wool. He also had skin burns from urine trapped in his fleece.… Continue reading

The National Pork Board created the America’s Pig Farmer of the Year contest in order to recognize the best in pig farming. This prestigious honor is awarded annually to the pig farmer who demonstrates and lives by the We Care ethical principles. Lauren Schwab from Butler County is 

representing Ohio in this national effort.

“I want to share my experience as a farmer with consumers and further their understanding of how farmers produce food,” Schwab said. “It’s important to actively engage with consumers on a large scale and tell our story.”

Lauren Schwab proudly works as a second-generation farmer on the 230-acre farm founded in 1977 by her father, Jeff. The farrow-to-wean farm is home to 12 independent barns that house 1,100 sows. The modern barns provide the proper environment for the sows, which are individually cared for and observed daily to assess their needs. The sows produce about 30,000 piglets a year, which are then sold to other farmers for finishing.… Continue reading

While scouting fields this time of year it is common to find a few strange looking ears. Corn is a monecious plant, which means it has separate male (the tassel) and female (the ear) flowers. In some cases, both male and female structures form as a combination in the same plant structure.

“Tassel-ears” often form on the tillers or “suckers” of a corn plant. Corn experts and agronomists believe that tassel ears are the result of some kind of environmental occurrence, however, the exact event that causes their development is unknown. The number of kernels that form on the tassel ear are limited. Without a husk to protect them, these kernels are exposed to environmental conditions and are usually damaged by the time harvest occurs.

According to Bob Nielsen from Purdue University, “The male and female reproductive organs of a corn plant are contained in physically separate unisexual flowers (a flowering habit called “monoecious” for you trivia fans.)… Continue reading

The American Farm Bureau Federation released still more maps that show how the Environmental Protection Agency intends to radically expand its jurisdiction over land use via the newly issued Waters of the United States rule. Implementation of the rule in at least 13 states was recently halted by a court in North Dakota pending further hearings.

The maps prepared by Geosyntec Consulting show the dramatic expansion of EPA’s regulatory reach across wide swaths of land in Missouri, Oklahoma, New York and Wisconsin.

Nearly all of the states’ total acreage would fall under EPA scrutiny. Landowners have no reliable way to know which of the water and land within that area will be regulated, yet they must still conform their activities to the new law.

“The EPA’s new rule places farmers in the agency’s crosshairs for using the same safe, scientifically sound and federally approved crop protection tools they’ve used for years,” AFBF President Bob Stallman said.… Continue reading

Cattlemen from across the state gathered in Mercer County August 28 and 29 to attend the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association Roundup.

The event started off Friday evening at Romer’s Catering and Event Facility in Celina, Ohio. There were over 25 exhibits featuring Allied Industry Council members and Roundup sponsors. Keith Faber, President of the Ohio Senate; Representative Brian Hill, Chair of the Ohio House Agriculture and Rural Development Committee; and Representative Tony Burkley of the Ohio House 82nd District were all in attendance.

Colin Woodall, Vice President of Government Affairs for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), was the featured speaker for the evening. He touched on many of the issues that NCBA is currently working on in Washington D.C., including Waters of the United States (WOTUS), trade and Country of Origin Labeling.

The evening concluded with a PAC auction to benefit NCBA. Several great items were auctioned, including an OSU Basketball game suite, OSU vs.… Continue reading

A lot of corn was chopped for corn silage last week and harvest continues this week. We are about a month ahead of last year’s corn silage harvest and this year’s earlier harvest provides an opportunity to get cover crops established on those acres. Earlier planting of cover crops is good. The touted benefits of cover crops are dependent upon the crop producing forage mass above ground and developing a root system below ground.

More growth is generally equal to more benefits. In addition to protecting the soil against erosion, cover crops can improve soil quality, provide supplemental forage for grazing or mechanical harvest, can use excess nutrients in the soil, and can provide an option for manure application during late fall and winter periods. The expectation here is that we get some rain so that the cover crop can germinate and grow to take advantage of an earlier planting date.… Continue reading

Ag Leader Technology, Inc. is pleased to announce a new collaboration with GVM, Inc. as the supplier of the ISOBUS-compatible application control technology for their latest high clearance sprayer, the MAKO 400HC.

“Early in the development of the MAKO, we recognized prospective owners likely already have a functional display in their tractor or combine,” stated Mark Anderson, President of GVM. “It was very important for us to offer a grower-focused machine with ISOBUS application control technology for end-user flexibility. Ag Leader’s superior quality and advanced pressure and flow-based controls made them a great partner for us with this new machine.”

GVM has selected Ag Leader’s most advanced generation of DirectCommand™ application control products to integrate into the MAKO. Taking advantage of the industry standard ISOBUS interface, the system easily connects to Ag Leader and other manufacturers displays. Features of the system include:

• Easy system calibration: Easily calibrate the flow, pressure and ground speed sensors critical to accurate system performance.

The 2015 Ohio State Fair Commercial Cattle Show participants exhibited 17 pens of three for a total of 51 head of commercial steers and heifers on August 2, 2015 during the fair. Judging the event were John Adams, Feed Sales Director with Trupointe Cooperative, and Tony Reed, cattle buyer for JBS. The show was managed by United Producers, Inc. and the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association served as a sponsor.

Fred Voge of West Alexandria, Ohio, exhibited the Overall Grand Champion Lot of 3, which was also named the Champion Lot of 3 Steers, along with the Overall Reserve Grand Champion Lot of 3 which was also named the Champion Lot of 3 Heifers. The Reserve Champion Lot of 3 Heifers also went to Fred Voge.

Winning the Reserve Champion Lot of 3 Steers was Phelps/O’Connor Farms Limousin of Belle Center, Ohio.

Winners of the live show received premiums of more than $5,000 from the Ohio State Fair.… Continue reading

The Ohio Soybean Council (OSC) and researchers at Battelle have developed a soy-based, BPA-free coating for use in the lining of metal food and beverage cans and other coating applications. This breakthrough will help food producers develop packaging solutions that meet increasing consumer health and safety demands while providing excellent performance and food safety.

The technology was recognized as one of the top 10 innovative coating technologies at the 2015 European Coatings Innovation event. Following its successful pilot scale demonstration, the new coating is now available for sampling and licensing through OSC and Redwood Innovations.

Dr. Bhima Vijayendran, a partner at Redwood Innovation Partners who collaborated on the development of the coating, sees great promise for applications in food and beverage packaging.

“By offering a soy-based, BPA-free alternative coating for cans, this technology offers a natural alternative to improve imperishable food distribution and eliminates consumer concern of harmful chemicals leaching into food and beverages.”… Continue reading

Growers are interested in wide-row wheat production due to reductions in equipment inventory (i.e., lack of grain drill) and to allow intercropping of soybean into wheat. With funding from the Ohio Small Grains Marketing Program and the Michigan Wheat Program, we’ve conducted row width trials to examine variety selection and seeding rate. Here are some considerations if you plan on growing wheat in wide rows this fall:

1. Variety selection

Variety selection is very important when growing wheat in 15-inch row spacing as yield is influenced by wheat variety. Each year, we conduct a 15-inch wheat variety trial in Wayne and Crawford County. Varieties selected for evaluation in 2015 were the top 25 yielding varieties in the 2014 Ohio Wheat Performance Test. In 2015, varieties averaged 81.2 bushels per acre with a range of 72.0 to 85.1 bushels per acre across both locations. Seeding rate was 25 seeds per foot of row (871,200 seeds per acre) for all varieties.… Continue reading

The harvest season for ginseng opened Sept. 1 and continues through the end of December on private land, and it’s important to note that the collecting of ginseng on any public land is prohibited. Harvested ginseng must be certified by the Ohio Division of Wildlife (ODOW) prior to export from the state to verify its weight and legal origin. Federal law requires that all state lots of ginseng be separated and totaled by the year. Because of this necessity, all uncertified ginseng must be weighed and accounted for each year.

The export of American ginseng from the state of Ohio is regulated under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and ODNR. Ginseng is a slow-growing perennial herb that is highly valued in the United States and worldwide for its alleged medicinal traits. Due to its value and significant harvest pressure, regulation on both harvest and export are necessary to ensure survival of the species.… Continue reading