Even though it wasn’t gift wrapped and placed under a tree, U.S. seed companies and farmers alike were handed a gift last week when China officially announced it will approve imports of hybrids with the Agrisure Viptera® corn trait. This approval covers grain and corn processing byproducts, such as dried distillers grains (DDGs), for food and feed use.

China’s approval of Viptera is great news for several reasons. First of all, this approval has the potential to increase demand for U.S. corn. China was the third-largest market for U.S. corn in 2012, but corn trading between the two countries essentially shut down in November 2013 when Beijing began turning away cargoes containing the Syngenta AG strain.

Not only has China’s trade been unreliable in recent years, but its trait approval process has been unreliable. Syngenta originally submitted the import approval dossier in March 2010 to Chinese authorities and approval was just now granted. Hopefully, this signals a more consistent Chinese regulatory process that bodes well for future approvals of traits like Agrisure Duracade, Roundup Ready® Xtend Crop System, Enlist and Balance GT.

Approval of Viptera by China comes at a good time for those of us in the seed industry. At Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, we’re planning our 2015 seed production acres now. We expect to have our 2015 production plan complete in February. Then we’ll announce our new product lineup to our dealers mid-summer as our 2015 crop becomes Latham’s 2016 corn product lineup.

Only a limited amount of Agrisure Viptera 3111 trait stack had been in Latham’s corn product lineup since it wasn’t approved for import by China. It was, however, already approved for import by these countries: Australia/New Zealand, Belarus, the European Union, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Mexico, Philippines, Russia, South Africa, Taiwan and Vietnam.  Viptera, which offers broad-spectrum control of 14 yield- and quality-robbing insects, as well as tolerance to glyphosate and glufosinate herbicides .has been approved for cultivation since 2010 in these countries: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Paraguay, Uruguay and the USA.

Reposted with Permission
Click Here for the Original Source

By: Matthew Wilde

Journalist and author Nathanael Johnson was skeptical of genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) when he began a six-month investigative series about their use in food production. He opposed what they stood for, not necessarily that they were unsafe.

Twenty-six stories later, the food writer for Grist – an online environmental magazine based in Seattle, Grist.org – has a different view.

“What’s the fuss all about?” Johnson now says with conviction, throwing up his hands.

Johnson talked about his research and findings Monday during “An Evening with Nathanael Johnson,” hosted by the Iowa Food & Family Project. The event was held at the Iowa FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny.

“In the end I ended up figuring out that GMOs aren’t necessarily going to save the world but they aren’t a problem,” Johnson said. “It’s a useful tool.”

Grist editors tasked Johnson with thoroughly exploring all aspects of GMOs, which continue to be a polarizing topic worldwide and in Iowa. Most of the soybeans and corn raised in the state and fed to livestock are genetically altered to kill or resist pests, withstand herbicides, better tolerate drought and for other reasons.

Boisterous factions exist on both sides of the GMO issue. Detractors believe they are unsafe, hurt the environment and only benefit large agricultural corporations. Johnson, who was raised in California in a household that held natural, organic and local food in high regard, once opposed the technology because it was “part of an industrial complex that we dislike.”

GMO advocates and many researchers, on the other hand, say extensive testing proves the technology is safe. It will help farmers grow more food in an environmentally friendly, sustainable way.

About 150 people — farmers, foodies, students, agribusiness officials, etc. — attended the event, which featured Johnson talking about GMOs and his conclusions, a panel discussion with local farmers and a question and answer period.

Iowa Food & Family Project Executive Director Aaron Putze, also director of communications and external relations for the Iowa Soybean Association, said providing Johnson an opportunity to share his expertise fulfills the organization’s mission of nurturing dialogue about timely food topics and enhancing confidence in agriculture. Johnson also toured Iowa farms and visited with producers for other projects.

“Food purchasers are keenly interested in the subject of food and how food is grown, including improved plant genetics. Nathanael’s series of columns focusing on the subject of genetic modification provided a unique perspective from a respected author,” Putze said.

That’s why Tara Ely of Grimes attended the 1 1/2–hour event. With Johnson’s book, “All Natural: A Skeptic’s Quest to Discover If the Natural Approach to Diet, Childbirth, Healing, and the Environment Really Keeps Us Healthier and Happier,” in hand for him to sign, Ely also wanted to get his views on GMOs.

Like Johnson, Ely said she was leery of genetically modified food. But after listening to Johnson and local farmers, she doesn’t have a problem eating them. She especially found Greg Rinehart’s views on growing GMO sweetcorn interesting. The Boone farmer said he uses less insecticide to keep pests, like worms, from ears he sells at the Downtown Farmers’ Market in Des Moines.

“I wanted to come because I have a passion for natural food and learning all I can about what I’m putting in my body,” Ely said.

A cautious and questioning person by nature, Johnson said at some point society has to move on and trust science. He explored health, environmental, social, scientific, agronomic and numerous other aspects of GMOs.

Exhaustive research, countless interviews with scientists and government officials and talking with people on both sides of the issue all led to the same conclusion.

“If I want to be on the side of science, I had to accept (GMOs) are as safe as science can suggest. I don’t know if it’s worth the passion that gets poured into it,” Johnson said.

Ultimately, he said a lot of fact-finding didn’t matter because much of the skepticism and fear of GMOs comes from the great disconnect between “eaters,” as Johnson likes to call consumers, and production agriculture. The vast majority of Americans, including people in the Heartland, are several generations removed from the farm.

“(People) are fundamentally alienated from their food supply. They want their food dollar to make the world a better place, and they are not convinced (GMOs) will,” Johnson said.

Farmers and commodity organizations need to continue to tell the story of agriculture and relay how food is grown, said ISA Board member Cliff Mulder. The soybean and corn grower from Pella said it’s a slow process, but a critical one.

Mulder said he was impressed with Johnson. He had limited knowledge of agriculture, but was willing to take the time to understand the topic.

“He came into it thinking GMOs were bad but was open minded enough to be convinced by science that they were not,” Mulder said. “I would hope we, as a board and producers, will continue to work to convince others that the food we grow is safe.”

Amanda Rinehart, a communications specialist with DuPont Pioneer in Johnston, said Johnson provided insight into “real” questions consumers have about their food and how and who produces it.

“It’s refreshing to hear from a consumer who truly wants to better understand the food and ag system and take others along on his journey,” Rinehart said. “I hope everyone in attendance walked away with motivation to tell their own food and ag story.”

Ely said she will.

“I will go back and talk to co-workers,” she said. “(Nathanael) provided a lot of things to think about.”

Follow this link for another story related to Johnson’s visit to Iowa: http://www.iasoybeans.com/TheBeanBlog/?p=1033

Genuity VT3 PRO has been a top-selling trait for us, and with the approval of Genuity® VT Triple PRO® RIB Complete®, our VT3 PRO RIB products have become even more popular.  Latham makes meeting refuge requirements simple with its one-bag system.

Consider the following Latham® RIB corn hybrids to your 2014 portfolio.  Remember, one of the best ways to manage risk is by planting a diversified portfolio of seed products that includes minimum of three or four different hybrid numbers in varying maturities.

Check out these top VT3 PRO from Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds:

• LH 5186 VT3 PRO – this hybrid showed excellent root strength and late-season intactness in 2013. The data also is great on this hybrid the VT2 PRO version called LH 5185 VT2PRO.
• LH 5877 VT3 PRO – This is one of the most adaptable hybrids in Latham’s lineup.  It can be planted in multiple situations and is very good against Goss’s Wilt.
• LH 5898 VT3 PRO – This is the VT3Pro version of our popular LH 5896 and topped our own plots in Alexander, Iowa.  Place this hybrid in your best soils for optimal performance, and feed it with extra nutrients.  It’s also very good against Goss’s Wilt.

Wrap up your 2014 seed order during Latham’s 12 Days of Christmas promotion, and take advantage of great discounts through January 6!  Click on the related posts below to learn more:

• Day 1
• Day 5

While most rural residents enjoy the solitude that comes with living the country life, Eric and Laura Morine found their eastern Iowa farm a little too quiet after their two daughters graduated from high school.  The couple met when they were both majoring in Agriculture at Iowa State University.  While raising crops, livestock and a family, plus managing a seed dealership, there was always something to do or someplace to go.

Eric’s dad became a Latham® soybean dealer in 1982 and remained one until his full retirement in 2005.  “The main reason we started planting Latham soybeans is because the company had a reputation for offering high-quality soybeans,” says Eric.  “At that time, we were interested in only public varieties.  Many farmers blamed their crop seed for weed pressure, even sunflower, but we never found foreign matter in a bag of Latham.  Thirty-four years later, we’re still planting Latham for its quality.”

Until he retired from farming in 2001, Eric’s father helped manage the crop and livestock operation that included farrowing hogs and feeding cattle.  Laura, who earned her degree in Ag Business, held an off-farm job but also was interested in livestock.  Both of their daughters showed horses and hogs through 4-H, FFA and saddle club associations.  The horse and purebred hog production went down the road when the girls went to college, leaving only one show horse on the homeplace.

It was unusual for the Morines to be without livestock.  Pork had been produced on the farm from the time Eric’s father moved there in 1966 until 2012.  When Eric saw Laura and their youngest daughter, Sara, eyeing llamas at the 2012 Iowa State Fair, he knew it was time to start looking for livestock.  They walked past miniature Hereford cattle, which were being prepped for exhibition, and the entire family was intrigued.  It wasn’t long before they brought home four heifers to start their own herd.

“Miniature Herefords are the perfect fit for us,” explains Eric.  “Since they have never been crossed with modern European species, an adult female is naturally full grown at 600 pounds.  Their size is just perfect for our existing farrow-to-finish buildings.  We didn’t have to retrofit any gates or pens.  Everything was ‘move in’ ready.”

The family’s Hereford herd continues to grow, which makes good use of the hay and grass they were already baling.  Heifer calves are kept and bred while the bull calves are sold to petting zoos, if they are small enough, or grass finished for beef consumers.

Miniature cattle are becoming more popular since the smaller size results in a carcass that can fit into a family’s freezer; cuts are optimal portion size; and acreage owners can feed their own beef.  Miniature Herefords are a very docile breed, express a lot of character, and the calves have a “tail up” attitude when they play.

Entering the cattle business has been a great way for the Morines to reconnect with friends in the agriculture community, as well as make new acquaintances.  “We always told our daughters that the friends they made through 4-H, FFA, and POAC would help open doors in the future, and that continues to be true.”

While serving as camp director, she was assigned to train counselors through the Camp USA program.  She became good friends with one of those counselors, an English chap named Darren Crocker.  The two wanted to remain in contact during her senior year, so Samantha applied to the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester, England.  After receiving her bachelor’s degree, she entered a master’s program at the University of Gloucestershire.  Samantha earned a master’s degree in International Human Relations; she and Darren were married in May 2012.  They live in Cheltenham in the South West region of England, where Darren works in marketing for the local university and Samantha helps unprivileged families with nutrition.

Sara, 22, became interested in animal nutrition as a teenager when she bought a horse from an animal nutritionist, who became one of her mentors in the show circle.  She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from ISU and is now working toward her master’s degree in Animal Nutrition.  She has applied to the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine and also is considering working on a doctorate degree in Animal Nutrition.  Her future endeavors will depend on the opportunities available next spring or fall.

Just as farming and 4-H have been family traditions so has Oatmeal Cake.  Laura’s mom was known to bake this homemade family favorite for special occasions like holidays and birthdays.  That’s why It seemed only fitting to include their mother’s recipe in the Benton County 4-H Cookbook, and today she’s sharing it with us on TheFieldPosition.  Bake someone happy this holiday!