ZimmCast 627 – Commercial UAV Expo Americas

Cindy ZimmermanUAV, ZimmCast

Drones, drones and more drones!

In this week’s program you will hear Jeremiah Karpowicz, Executive Editor of Commercial UAV News, talk about this year’s Commercial UAV Expo Americas. This trade show and conference focuses on commercial drone integration and operation in a variety of industries, including agriculture.

Here’s some more information about the conference.

Commercial UAV Expo AmericasIn the Conference Program, UAV industry experts share key insights into the issues asset owners face when implementing unmanned aerial systems, including systems selection and integration; developing enterprise workflows, guidelines and policies; data management and integration; and legal, safety and regulatory considerations. Plenary sessions and panels cover topics of interest to all end-users regardless of industry, while breakout sessions focus on UAV technology, applications and opportunities in the vertical markets listed above.

The International Exhibition includes drone airframe manufacturers, component and sensor manufacturers, software developers and service companies. Commercial UAV Expo Americas has more exhibitors than any other commercial drone show.

AgWired is a supporter of the conference again this year and I hope we’ll be able to bring you some news from the event even though I can’t attend. But if you would like to attend you can register here.

Listen to the ZimmCast here: [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcast/zimmcast627-10-15-19.mp3″ text=”ZimmCast 627 – Commercial UAV Expo Americas”]
Subscribe to the ZimmCast by clicking here.

BASF Launches Operation Weed Eradication

Cindy ZimmermanAudio, BASF

It’s time to change the conversation from weed control to on-farm eradication, according to a new strategy announced this week by BASF Agricultural Solutions.

BASF launched Operation Weed Eradication, which calls on growers and partners to take action against troublesome weeds in their fields, through cultural practices, chemical control and enhanced diligence.

“Our approach to on-farm eradication will uproot problem weeds and help secure a sustainable farming future that builds a successful legacy for seasons and generations to come,” said Scott Kay, Vice President U.S. Crop, BASF Agricultural Solutions. “Weed eradication will be a personalized, tailored journey for each grower with different start and end points. BASF will support growers with expertise and continuous innovation to support this journey.”

Operation Weed Eradication takes a balanced approach of utilizing cultural practices such as conventional tillage, chemical control such as rotating chemistries, and eradication diligence such as hand weeding to help growers eradicating troublesome on-farm weeds.

In the coming months, BASF will assemble a coalition of industry leaders, develop a specific eradication customer offering and launch an educational initiative to support its efforts with Operation Weed Eradication.

In this interview, Kay explains why they are taking this approach and how they plan to implement it.
[wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/basf-global-19-kay.mp3″ text=”Interview with Scott Kay, BASF Vice President U.S. Crop”]

Find more photos of Scott Kay and other BASF execs from the Agricultural Solutions Media Event this week in Research Triangle Park, NC in this photo album.
BASF Ag Solutions Media Event photos

Precision Ag Bytes 9/25

Cindy ZimmermanPrecision Agriculture

  • Farm Market iD’s updated, in-season data now includes this season’s “lost acres”. In total, 17.4 million crop production acres have been lost in key broad-acre states compared to 18 million acres reported by USDA in the same states. Lost acres include fields and acres that are normally planted and now have a failed crop, were never planted or contain a cover crop.
  • New and emerging mycotoxins can now be analyzed by the Alltech 37+® Laboratory. In total, five new mycotoxins have been added to the testing panel, bringing the total number of detectable mycotoxins to 54.
  • SVG Ventures and Forbes announced SwineTech, an Iowa-based startup, and BinSentry, a Canadian-based startup, are both winners of the THRIVE Midwest Challenge and recipients of the 2019 THRIVE-Forbes Innovation Icon Award at the Forbes AgTech Summit in Indianapolis.
  • Registration is now open for AgGateway‘s Annual Conference, November 4-6 at the Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans. More information is available on AgGateway’s 2019 Annual Conference webpage, found under “Events” at www.AgGateway.org.
  • BRANDT, a leading manufacturer of agriculture specialty products, helped Randy Dowdy break the world record for soybean yield at 190.23 bushels per acre using BRANDT’s proprietary nutritionals. This surpasses his previous record of 171 bushels per acre in 2016.
  • The Yield Lab Institute announced Brandon Day as the new Chief Operating Officer effective September 13th, 2019.

Enogen Feed Energizing Livestock Rations

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Beef and dairy producers are finding they can increase efficiency by feeding Enogen corn hybrids, which Syngenta originally developed for the ethanol industry.

Enogen hybrids change the corn starch into sugar more quickly and efficiently, and research has shown that it is a similar process that takes place in ruminant animals. Streamlining that process helps the animals to convert that sugar into energy more quickly, making them more efficient producers of beef or milk. That has proven to reduce feed costs for livestock producers.

“In a typical feedlot setting, we’re going to see a gain of about $25 to $27 per head in a finishing cycle in a beef feedlot system, and we’re going to see about a dollar per head per day in a dairy situation,” said Duane Martin, who manages the Agrisure traits portfolio for Syngenta.

Martin said Enogen hybrids are easy to manage compared to other specialty hybrids on the market today.

“That’s really the beauty of Enogen feed corn. You don’t have to manage it differently than another elite corn hybrid. These are excellent corn hybrids. We’ve got a full lineup and can likely find an excellent hybrid with the right trait package to fit every farmer’s needs,” said Martin. “Secondly, you plant these, manage them, and harvest them just like you would any other corn hybrid. You do not have to harvest them for grain or silage. You can do either. And then once you feed that corn either as grain or silage, you’re likely to see that five percent efficiency gain.”

He said Syngenta continues to invest about $1.3 billion each year in extensive research to continue to bring new products and technologies that will add value to the marketplace.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Duane here: Interview with Duane Martin, Enogen

Syngenta at the 2019 Farm Progress Show photo album

Precision Ag Bytes 9/18

AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes

  • Precision Laboratories expands its offering of Irrigation Water Optimizers with the introduction of Stretta™. Stretta is the first plant-derived Irrigation Water Optimizer with fertilizer compatibility. It improves the availability and performance of irrigation water, nutrients, and other soil-applied products throughout the plant root zone, optimizing the growing environment.
  • ADAMA Ltd. and Taranis, announced their global partnership to develop a full service package solution to optimize farming practices and decrease costs through precision agriculture.
  • The Ecosystem Services Market Consortium has received $255,500 from the United Soybean Board to help develop an ecosystem service protocol for the Soy and Corn Belt. In addition to the partnership with USB, ESMC has added six new members to its Consortium. Nestle is joining as a Founding Circle Member, and the American Soybean Association; NativeEnergy; Newtrient, LLC; the Conservation Technology Information Center and World Wildlife Fund are joining as Legacy Partners.
  • AgLaunch will host the Future of Ag Field Day on Thursday, Sept. 19 in Memphis, Tenn. Register here.
  • NRCS is investing in four projects in eight states to protect, restore and enhance over 15,000 acres of wetlands in critical watersheds across the nation.
  • The Soil Health Institute and the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition released the Impact of 2018 Farm Bill Provisions on Soil Health, a comprehensive review of each new provision and its role in advancing soil health, the foundation for regenerative and sustainable agriculture. The report also compares funding for soil health in the 2014 and 2018 Farm Bills.
  • Featuring Charlie Arnot, CEO of The Center for Food Integrity, and Amy te Plate-Church with CFI’s Coalition for Responsible Gene Editing in Agriculture, “Trust in Gene Editing: Your Company’s Future Depends On It,” is scheduled for Wed., Sept. 25, from 1 to 2 p.m. CDT. Registration is free. To register, visit foodintegrity.org.
  • Marrone Bio Innovations Inc. announced the closing of the previously announced acquisition of Finland-based Pro Farm Technologies OY, adding proprietary nutrient and biostimulant technology and products for seed and foliar treatments to its portfolio. In addition, Pro Farm and Corteva Agriscience announced a strategic, long-term exclusive commercial agreement in Europe as part of Pro Farm’s expansion plans.
  • Integrated CBD, an institutional scale and quality supply chain leader for hemp-derived CBD, announced the installation completion of plant-based sensor technology, powered by ag-tech company Phytech, on their approximately 10,000 acre industrial hemp farm in Yuma County, Arizona.
  • SVG Ventures, a Silicon Valley-based venture and innovation firm, announced that Valley® Irrigation, a Valmont® Company, has become the latest Corporate Partner to join its THRIVE Venture & Innovation Platform.
  • The John Deere 6M Tractors, one of the company’s most versatile tractor series in the 110-195 hp range, is getting a significant makeover for 2020.
  • EOS Earth Observing System, the leading retailer for remote sensing satellite data has launched its digital agri platform – EOS Crop Monitoring – for the North American market.
  • Paine Schwartz Partners announced that it has made its first growth equity investment through its Paine Schwartz Food Chain Fund V in Advanced Agrilytics, an agronomics services business with advanced precision analytics capabilities. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Golden Harvest Announces 2020 Lineup

AgWired Precision, Audio, Farm Progress Show, Syngenta, Video

With full approval of its Agrisure Duracade trait, Syngenta continues to expand the number of choices available to its farmer customers. That’s going to be important for the 2020 growing season, according to Dave Young, head of marketing for the Golden Harvest brand.

“It’s going to be an awful tough economic environment. We all know that and understand it in the seed business,” said Young. “As you’re making your cropping plans for next year, make sure you’re taking a look at what you really need out there. Don’t under trait yourself in the interest of just trying to save some money. Make sure you’re truly giving yourself the protection, as well as the top end yield potential that you really need.”

Young encouraged farmers to reach out to a Golden Harvest seed advisor for help with decisions about the 2020 growing season.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Dave here: Interview with Dave Young, Golden Harvest

Syngenta at 2019 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

GROWMARK Urges Congress to Ratify USMCA

AgWired Energy, AgWired Precision, Audio, FS System, Government, Growmark, trade

Because GROWMARK is a farmer-owned cooperative, its priorities reflect the interests of its farmer members, and right now that number one priority is trade in general and the U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA) in particular.

“Having the assurance of the United States Mexico Canada trade agreement passed will be an ultimate priority, hopefully it won’t go much past October,” said Chuck Spencer, GROWMARK/FS Executive Director of Government Relations. “We obviously need to make sure that we do whatever we can to keep the farm economy moving in a very positive direction.”

Spencer says it’s been a rough year for agriculture and getting USMCA passed sooner rather than later will help. He also says that it is more important to work on USMCA than China right now because it is most achievable.

In this interview, Spencer talks about other key issues for agriculture in Congress, including rural broadband internet access and renewing the biodiesel tax incentive.

Interview with Chuck Spencer, GROWMARK government relations

Extending the Xtend Soybean Platform

AgWired Precision, Audio, Bayer, Farm Progress Show, Soybean

Farmers can look forward to the next generation of the Roundup Ready Xtend Crop System, with approval of Roundup Ready Xtend Flex Soybeans expected in 2020. The current system has helped growers maintain clean fields even in a challenging year, according to Ryan Rubischko, Soybean Portfolio Lead for Bayer Crop Science.

“We know across the Midwest many farmers have had some challenges,” said Rubischko, who was at the 2019 Farm Progress Show. “Planting got delayed because of the wet conditions, and then as planting got delayed, weeds became more of a challenge to deal with. And I think what farmers have really seen is what the value that Roundup Ready Xtend Crop System can provide them in terms of weed control.”

Rubischko said farmers can anticipate wider availability of the next generation system for the 2021 growing season.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Ryan here: Interview with Ryan Rubischko, Bayer

Bayer at 2019 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Farmers for Free Trade Rally for USMCA

AFBF, Ag Group, AgWired Animal, AgWired Energy, AgWired Precision, Audio, trade

Farmers for Free Trade brought its #MotorcadeForTrade to Washington D.C. Thursday to highlight the importance of ag trade with Canada and Mexico and the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) that Congress will consider to upgrade NAFTA.

Members of Congress and farm leaders discussed how USMCA provides farmers with new market access while maintaining a zero-tariff platform, and stressed the need for Congressional leaders move forward with consideration of the agreement without further delay.

Among those who spoke were House Agriculture Committee Chair Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN) and Ranking member Rep. Mike Conaway (R-TX); U.S. Dairy Export Council CEO Tom Vilsack, AFBF president Zippy Duvall, and National Association of Wheat Growers president Ben Scholz.

Listen to Rep. Peterson kick off the rally here:
Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN) at USMCA Rally

EPA Officially Ditches the #WOTUS Rule

AFBF, Ag Group, AgWired Animal, AgWired Energy, AgWired Precision, Audio, EPA

Agricultural organizations are celebrating the official repeal of a rule that they have been fighting since 2015 – Waters of the United States, better known as WOTUS.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler and Department of the Army Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works R.D. James announced that the agencies are repealing the rule and “recodifying the longstanding and familiar regulatory text that existed prior to the 2015 Rule—ending a regulatory patchwork that required implementing two competing Clean Water Act regulations, which has created regulatory uncertainty across the United States.”

“Today’s Step 1 action fulfills a key promise of President Trump and sets the stage for Step 2 – a new WOTUS definition that will provide greater regulatory certainty for farmers, landowners, home builders, and developers nationwide,” said Administrator Wheeler.

Listen to Wheeler’s announcement:
EPA Administrator announces WOTUS repeal

Happy to be on hand for the announcement was American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall who said the WOTUS issue and AFBF’s “Ditch the Rule” campaign generated more interest among member than any ever before.

Listen to Duvall’s comments:
AFBF president Zippy Duvall comments on WOTUS repeal