USDA Prospective Plantings Commentary

Melissa SandfortAgribusiness, Corn, Cotton, Soybeans, USDA, wheat

USDA-LogoA little more corn, a little less soybeans, more wheat and a lot less cotton – that summarizes the USDA 2013 Prospective Plantings report out today.

Corn growers intend to plant 97.3 million acres of corn for all purposes in 2013, up slightly from last year and 6 percent higher than in 2011. If realized, this will represent the highest planted acreage in the United States since 1936 when an estimated 102 million acres were planted.

Soybean acres are estimated at 77.1 million acres, down slightly from last year but the fourth highest on record. All wheat acreage is forecast at 56.4 million, up one percent, and cotton is expected to total 10 million acres, down 19 percent from last year.

The Minneapolis Grain Exchange held its usual crop conference call with reporters when the report was released today, with commentary by Brian Basting of Advance Trading.

Listen to the MGEX call here: [wpaudio url=”http://www.mgex.com/audio/mgex-3-28-13.mp3″ text=”MGEX Prospective Plantings call”]

Drought Conditions after Winter Weather

Talia GoesNew Holland, ZimmPoll

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “Do you support continuing the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS)?”

Our poll results: Fifty-seven percent say Yes, It’s Working, Twenty-nine percent say No, It’s Not Working, twelve percent ask What is the RFS?, and a small portion at two percent say Other. Over half of you support the continuation of the Renewable Fuel Standard. For those who ask what is the RFS? The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program regulations were developed by EPA in collaboration with refiners, renewable fuel producers, and many other stakeholders. The RFS program requires 36 billion gallons of renewable- fuel to be blended into gasoline by 2022.

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Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “Has winter weather affected drought conditions in your area?” Drought conditions coupled with below average snowfall is resulting in low topsoil moisture. Do you think this will impact the 2013 growing season? Let us know.

ZimmPoll is sponsored by New Holland Agriculture.

DriftWatch Adopted by FieldWatch, Inc

Talia GoesAgribusiness, Data Collection

Banner875DriftWatch, a voluntary online registry program created by Purdue University Agriculture and Biological Engineering has been given a new home with a new company called FieldWatch, Inc which will lead to a nationwide online crop registry for high-value pesticide sensitive crops.

The university’s successful web based program, launched in Indiana in 2008, has been effective in allowing both farmers and applicators to identify, map and communicate where high-value pesticide-sensitive crops are being grown as part of ongoing stewardship activities. Driftwatch has quickly caught the attention of other state departments of agriculture and has currently been adopted by nine states, primarily in the Midwest, plus Colorado and Montana.

With DriftWatch, producers of high-value specialty crops, such as tomatoes, fruit trees, grapes and vegetables, register their sites on-line and provide contact information about their operation. Likewise, pesticide applicators utilize the site to help determine the scope and location of specialty crops in their trade areas. DriftWatch provides the platform to facilitate better awareness, communication and interaction between all parties as one part of ongoing stewardship activities.

Valley Introduces New QuickStart Prescription

Talia GoesAgribusiness, Equipment, Irrigation

VRIValley Irrigation, the leader in precision irrigation, introduces the addition of QuickStart (QS) prescription writing to its Variable Rate Irrigation (VRI) product, allowing growers to customize their water application throughout their field.

The Valley VRI Agronomy Team develops the one-time, custom QS prescription based on soil maps, aerial imagery, yield data and other relevant information about the field provided by the grower. When this information is provided with new orders, the QS prescription is preloaded in new Valley Select2 and Pro2 control panels. QS prescriptions are also available to growers with existing center pivots wanting to utilize Variable Rate Irrigation through panel upgrades and by using TrackNET and BaseStation2™ products.

Along with their field-specific, custom prescription, growers will also receive a copy of the Valley VRI Prescription Software. With this program, growers have the ability to modify and generate their own prescriptions as field conditions and crop requirements change. In addition, they can work with other precision ag companies to further enhance their VRI Prescriptions.

The ROI of Smart Machine Technology

Chuck ZimmermanAgribusiness, Audio, Commodity Classic, Equipment, John Deere, technology

Dr. Terry KastensDr. Terry Kastens is an Emeritus Professor from Kansas State University. He’s back to farming now and spoke during a Learning Center Session at Commodity Classic sponsored by John Deere. The session topic was “Better Data, Better Decisions: the ROI of Smart Machine Technology.

One of the first points Dr. Karstens makes is that every new technology requires an investment. That provides an opportunity for larger farms who can spread their investment out over more acres, or units of production. This is why you would expect larger farms to adopt new technology quicker than smaller farms. He says that we can expect to see more consolidation in row crop farms analogous to what we’ve seen in the livestock industry.

Another point made in the presentation was that some technologies are adopted at a rapid rate and others at a much slower rate. In the precision ag sector an example of quick adoption is the use of yield monitors. But he says that making sense out of yield monitor data and actually varying rates of fertilizer as one example are being adopted much slower.

Listen to my interview with Dr. Kastens to hear more of his comments on this: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/commodity-classic/classic-13-john-deere-kastens.mp3″ text=”Interview with Dr. Terry Kastens”]

Students Create Products From Corn and Soybeans

Talia GoesAgribusiness, Corn, General, Soybeans

Teams of Purdue University students who created fiber insulation from soybeans and a fireworks casing from corn won the top prizes in the annual Student Soybean and Corn Innovation Contests. The awards were announced at a reception March 20th, 2013 in Indianapolis.

1The competitions, sponsored by the Indiana Soybean Alliance and Indiana Corn Marketing Council, teach students how to be innovative entrepreneurs with soybeans and corn. Both teams received a $20,000 prize for their work.

The winning soybean team produced Nature Loft, a soy protein fiber insulation that can be used in bedding, including sleeping bags; apparel such as hats, gloves and footwear; and other products such as headphones.

The winning corn team created Sky Maize, a biodegradable fireworks casing that is lighter and less expensive than what is now commercially available.2

Winning $10,000 the second-place soybean team developed water-soluble Double Eyelid Glue.

The second-place corn team also winning $10,000 created Fog-Away, an anti-fog glass and mirror cleansing solution.

Ignore Agriculture at Your Peril

Cindy ZimmermanAg Day, Audio, Government

lucasThe chairman of the House Agriculture Committee spoke to farmer and rancher representatives in Washington DC at National Ag Day activities on Tuesday, praising those who work in the agriculture industry.

“The fact of the matter is we’re a critical part of the national economy and the food safety net for the country and the planet,” Congressman Frank Lucas (R-OK) said in an interview after his address to National Ag Day attendees. “We’ve been so successful in agriculture that there’s a tendency to ignore us – and people will ignore us at the peril of their future.”

Lucas explained where Congress is right now on a new farm bill and when he hopes to have it finished. “We are finishing up the budget process in the United States House and the Senate is doing that too,” he said. “Before the end of September, before the one year extension of the ’08 farm bill expires, we’ll have a new one signed into law and on the books. That’s my goal.”

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Congressman Lucas here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/agday/agday-13-lucas.mp3″ text=”Interview with Congressman Frank Lucas”]

2013 National Ag Day Activities Photo Album

Dupont PrecisionPac Herbicide Solutions

Chuck ZimmermanAgribusiness, Dupont Crop Protection, Video, Weed control

Dupont Crop Protection PrecisionPac HerbicidesDuring Commodity Classic this year Dupont Crop Protection surveyed grower attendees and found that more than half of U.S. corn, soybean and wheat growers have changed their herbicide tank-mix strategies within the last three years. Changes include using new, different or more herbicides in the same spray tank. Nearly 67 percent of growers surveyed said they or a farm employee handle all herbicide tank mixing on their farm. The rest said they rely on custom applicators to do some or all of the job. The number one reason given for changing tank mixes was dealing with or preventing herbicide-resistant weeds. Ranking close behind was the desire to improve crop yield by reducing weed competition.

To help growers find a solution Dupont has created PrecisionPac custom blended herbicides. I got a tour of PrecisionPac from Davide Schuur, Cereal Portfolio Manager at DuPont. As he’ll demonstrate in the video below PrecisionPac creates custom dry soluble formulations for customers.

Final Chance to Submit Census of Agriculture Form

Talia GoesAgribusiness, USDA

USDA-LogoWith spring and planting season on the horizon, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is alerting farmers and ranchers of their final chance to sow a seed for their future by being counted in the 2012 Census of Agriculture.

The 2012 Census will provide a vital snapshot of agriculture today that will be used to shape the future of the agriculture industry, rural America, and the lives of those USDA serves for years to come. This week, USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will begin mailing a final copy of the 2012 Census of Agriculture to producers who have not yet responded. NASS is committed to ensuring that every farm and ranch operation in the United States is counted. Therefore, NASS representatives will make follow up telephone calls and personal visits throughout the spring to those who have not responded.

Farmers and ranchers can return their forms by mail or online by visiting a secure website, www.agcensus.usda.gov. Federal law requires a response from everyone who receives the Census form and requires NASS to keep all individual information confidential.

Organizational changes in GROWMARK Agronomy

Talia GoesAgribusiness, Growmark

Growmark_logoJim Spradlin, GROWMARK Vice President, Agronomy, announced organizational changes in the Agronomy Division, effective March 16, 2013:

Ron Milby is named Executive Director, Agronomy Marketing. He is responsible for developing and executing comprehensive agronomy marketing strategies. Milby served as Seed Division manager since 2000. He joined the System in 1987 in Systems and Programming, led the System’s precision farming efforts, and served as lead in agronomy marketing and agronomy services.

Lance Ruppert is named Agronomy Marketing and Implementation Manager. Ruppert has served as Seed District Sales Manager, Crop Protection Marketing Manager and, most recently, Seed Sales and Marketing Manager.

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