Industry Ag News 3/18
Pivot Bio N-OVATOR™ Paying Off for Farmers
Pivot Bio and its sustainability program N-OVATOR™ generated a lot of interest at the recent Commodity Classic in Houston since they have paid over $6 million to growers for implementing better nitrogen management practices since launching in 2022.
This year, downstream companies participating in N-OVATOR™’s insetting partnerships made payments to reward Pivot Bio growers for their practice change following the 2023 harvest. “All of these downstream customers have sustainability goals they are trying to hit,” said Jim Kelly, Sustainability Programs Director for Pivot Bio, during an interview at Classic. “So what we do is take that data from the farmer cutting 30-40 pounds of nitrogen and replacing it with our microbe, document what that environmental benefit is, and we pass that down to the customer…they in turn incentivize and pay that farmer for that practice change.”
Kelly says their largest transaction to date was the sale of 100,000 nitrogen credits to a global food and beverage company. The credits from this transaction represent 100,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent that was avoided by over 450 farmers across 300,000 acres within the company’s supply shed. In total, the growers in this insetting partnership replaced over 10 million pounds of synthetic fertilizer.
Learn more in this interview –
Classic24 Jim Kelly, Pivot Bio 4:37
New EPA Ag Office Head Addresses Ethanol Issues
The head of EPA’s new Office of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Rod Snyder addressed the 13th American Coalition for Ethanol DC Fly-in last week and had a lot to talk about of interest to ethanol stakeholders, not the least of which was updates to the GREET model for implementation of Inflation Reduction Act tax credits.
“It’s better to do something right than do to something fast,” said Snyder. “We’re looking at ways we can integrate additional greenhouse gas reducing activities as part of that modeling so I think for everyone in the room who is interested in getting this right and providing as many pathways as possible for qualification of the tax credit, this extra time is I think good news.”
Snyder said they still expect to have that guidance, as Secretary Vilsack said at Commodity Classic, within “weeks, not months” but ultimately the decision will be made by the Treasury Department.
Regarding retail sales of E15 this summer, “It is too early for me to speculate on what we can or should do for 2024 but I want to reassure you we are already talking with the Department of Energy about market conditions and how they compare to prior years and what sort of case can be made for what needs to be done for summer of 2024.”
Listen to Snyder’s comments here:
ACE DC 24 remarks from Rod Snyder, EPA 31:24
In a brief interview, Snyder comments on the GREET model update release expectation and what EPA may do going forward about dicamba.
Interview with Rod Snyder, EPA 3:10
Denali Takes Action to Send Critical Aid to Texas Producers
Organic recycler Denali is taking action to get hay sent to a Texas A&M livestock supply point where it will be distributed to cattle producers in need.
Following devastating wildfires, ranchers in the Texas panhandle face dire conditions. The largest wildfire in state history destroyed more than 1 million acres of land and property, leaving surviving livestock without adequate forage. Recognizing the critical need, Denali is working with their farmers to provide support to Texas producers. More than 700 bales of hay – totaling more than 385 tons – are en route to the Texas Panhandle, where farmers and ranchers now face critical feed shortages.
Organic material repurposed by Denali as fertilizer delivers beneficial nutrients to farmland and improves farmer outcomes. The boost in plant nutrition increased forage yields enough to create a surplus. Farmers Jerry Evans of Fairview, Missouri, Jamie Marion of Alma, Arkansas, and Hunt Farms of Dardanelle, Arkansas, donated hay and Denali purchased additional hay from farmers to bolster the donation to Texas producers. JB Hunt also contributed transportation support.
For more information about Denali and their efforts to support farmers and ranchers for a more resilient food system, please visit DenaliCorp.com. Donations to Texas producers impacted by the wildfires can be made to Texas A&M Service here: AgrilifeExtension.tamu.edu/2024-panhandle-wildfires.
Precision Ag News 3/14
Big Names Confirmed for Agri-Pulse Summit
Agri-Pulse has confirmed that USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and Senate Agriculture Committee leaders are scheduled to appear at next week’s Agri-Pulse Ag & Food Policy Summit March 18 in Washington DC. With a farm bill yet to be passed, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Ranking Member John Boozman (R-AR) will be able to provide the latest insight into whether there will be a bill yet this year.
The Summit, which this year is titled “Revitalizing Rural Revenues,” will be held at the National Press Club and is also open to virtual attendees. Keynote speakers and panelists will cover a wide variety of ways that people who live and work in Rural America are developing innovative new products from the land and finding creative ways to start businesses. Registration options and additional information available at Agri-Pulse.com.
Animal Ag News 3/12
Truterra Outreach to Under-served Producers
In an effort to make sure all farmers have the opportunity to adopt climate smart practices and be rewarded for it, Truterra is reaching out to historically under-served producers with information about USDA’s Climate Smart Commodities Partnership project.
Truterra Outreach and Partnership Liaison John Porter says under-served producers include racial and ethnic minorities, veterans, beginning farmers, and limited resource farmers. “We also add in small farmers and women farmers for some of the programs,” said Porter. “Under-served means they’ve been left out of programs before, they’ve not had access to them before.”
Porter says they are working with organizations that represent these types of farmers to try and get information about the programs to them. “We’re providing resources so that all farmers can be on the journey together at the same time,” he said.
Learn more in this interview from Commodity Classic.
Classic24 John Porter, Truterra 6:58Radical Corn Value Chain Challenge Launched
Radicle Growth, a company-building platform investing in early-stage agriculture and food technologies, is delighted to announce, “The Radicle Corn Value Chain Challenge sponsored by U.S. Corn Farmers.”
“We review about 1,000 technologies from around the world every year and make two or three investments,” said Kirk Haney, managing partner of Radicle Growth. “In partnership with U.S. corn farmers, we’re excited to think about what new technologies can we identify anywhere in the world and bring them to the U.S. to help U.S. corn farmers not only find new uses of corn, but also improve the sustainability scores for corn growing.”
Iowa Corn Promotion Board President Stan Nelson welcomed the new opportunity.
“You are hearing from folks that understand our oversupply issues, and they understand and know what a 20 percent stocks to use ratio means,” Nelson said. “But I feel it. I feel the burdensome supply and my two daughters that are farming with their families, they feel the burdensome supply, and U.S. corn farmers feel the burdensome supply. That’s why we’re investing our checkoff dollars into the Radicle Corn Value Chain Challenge.”
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is one of several groups supporting the effort.
“Our growers are really excited to help support the Radicle Challenge and to really leverage both state and national resources to optimize the opportunity in this value chain,” said Sarah McKay, NCGA Director of Market Development.
Potential companies can apply now at https://radicle.vc/the-radicle-corn-value-chain-sponsored-by-us-corn-farmers/.
Radicle Growth Launches The Radical Corn Value Chain Challenge Sponsored by U.S. Corn Farmers – press conference
Classic24 Radical Corn Challenge press conference 6:35