USDA Announces SURE Sign up for 2011 Crop Losses

Cindy ZimmermanGeneral, USDA, weather

USDA’s Farm Service Agency has announced the sign-up period for the 2011 crop year Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) program will open Oct. 22, 2012.

The SURE program is part of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Farm Bill). Under the 2008 Farm Bill, SURE authorizes assistance to farmers and ranchers who suffered crop losses caused by natural disasters occurring through Sept. 30, 2011.

“Any eligible producer who suffered losses during the 2011 crop year is encouraged to visit a local FSA office to learn more about the SURE program and how to apply,” said FSA Administrator Juan Garcia.

As of Sept. 30, 2011, the Department’s authority to operate the SURE program expired along with four other, important disaster assistance programs: the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP); the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP); the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP); and the Tree Assistance Program (TAP). Production losses due to disasters occurring after Sept. 30, 2011, are not eligible for disaster program coverage.

More information can be found on the FSA website.

Act Now to Manage Nutrients for 2013

Melissa SandfortAgribusiness, Fertilizer, Soil Sampling

As winter approaches, it’s the best time to determine if crops hit by the 2012 drought left any residual nitrogen (N) or other nutrients in your soil profile.

Residual soil nitrates can be higher after a drought where N was applied. This happens because of decreased downward soil water movement and reduced N uptake by drought-stressed plants. The effect of the 2012 drought on phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) is largely dependent on how the crop was managed. While less P and K may be removed at harvest as an outcome of lower grain yields, P and K removal could be greater than planned if the plant was cut for silage instead of harvested for grain.

With regard to N, farmers should be incorporating the 4R Nutrient Stewardship program and consider the following:
– How much applied N is left in the soil profile?
– How much of that N will remain in the soil until next spring?
– What can be done to prevent its loss?
– What adjustments need to be made to fertilizer rates for the next crop?

Sampling is key, especially after a drought, because drought reduces crop uptake and removal of nutrients. Whether or not residual N will be available for next season’s crop depends greatly on the precipitation that occurs after harvest. In the Midwest, nitrate losses are associated with wet periods during fall, winter and early spring when roots are not actively taking up N. Soil testing and plant analysis remain the best tools for quantifying the drought’s impact and adjusting nutrient management.

More information about the 4R Nutrient Stewardship Program is available here.

Managing Soil Copper Buildup

Melissa SandfortAgribusiness, Research, USDA

Many of Idaho’s dairy cows wade through copper sulfate baths like this to help prevent foot infections. Photo by Ernest Hovingh, Penn State University.

Getting a head start on stopping soil copper buildup will now be a bit easier, thanks to studies by USDA scientists. This research could help Pacific Northwest farmers develop long-term irrigation management strategies to protect crops from potentially dangerous soil copper levels.

Scientists with USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) conducted a laboratory investigation to assess how copper levels in wastewater used for irrigation affected crop performance and soil microbial activities.

Copper sulfate baths are used to prevent foot infections in dairy cattle, and the discarded foot bath is often recycled to irrigate corn and alfalfa crops. The scientists surveyed alfalfa growth and development in soils containing different levels of total copper. Copper sulfate at soil levels of up to 250 parts per million (ppm) had no effect on alfalfa growth, but alfalfa growth stopped when soil copper sulfate levels exceeded 500 ppm.

The team also discovered that beneficial soil bacterial activity declined when test soils accumulated available soil copper levels above 50 ppm. Further analysis indicated that soil levels above 63 ppm of plant-available copper resulted in alfalfa copper concentrations that could potentially harm grazing livestock

Read more about this research here.

Precision.AgWired.com Podcast: Questions you need to answer

Meghan GrebnerAg Leader, Audio, Nutrient Management, Precision Pays Podcast

As farmers get into the full swing of harvest there is plenty of information to review ahead of next year.  In fact some – there are some questions that they should be asking themselves. 

What do I need to do on my farm to prepare for next year?
Should I be concerned about herbicide carryover?
What do I need to do to prepare the ground for a good start next spring?
Were all of the nutrients I applied this year utilized by the crop?

In this Precision.AgWired.com Podcast, sponsored by Ag Leader Technology, Brent Wilson, Pioneer Technical Service Manager answers the tough questions farmers should ask themselves when they want to maximize their productivity going in to 2013.

[wpaudio url=”http://precision.agwired.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2012/09/PPP-09-12.mp3″ text=”Precision.AgWired.com Podcast”]

You can subscribe to the Precision.AgWired.com Podcast here. The Precision.AgWired.com Podcast is sponsored by Ag Leader Technology.

 

Ag Leader Addresses European Market Expansion

Chuck ZimmermanAg Leader, Audio, Insights Weekly

Insights Weekly

The adoption rate of precision agriculture in Europe has been modest to date. Higher prices for grain and farm inputs have triggered an increasing interest in precision ag and its wider adoption. And while most precision ag has been focused on classic uses such as yield monitors, the interest in GPS guidance is growing. For example, in 2006, about 9 percent of German farmers interviewed at a farm show used GPS guidance (Reichhardt & Jurgens, 2008); and in 2007, about 6 percent of Ditch farms used GPS auto-guidance (Werner, 2008).

Nitrogen surplus is an issue all across Europe and increasing the efficiency of nitrogen use and other farm inputs is a necessity and a major driving force for precision ag. But, precision ag looks to become an important component of successful European agriculture, rather than something new to farmers.

Hans Stiekema, Ag Leader Regional Manager – EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa), talks about European market expansion.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Hans here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/farm-progress/fps-12-stiekema.mp3″ text=”Interview with Hans Stiekema”]

2012 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Become a fan of Ag Leader on Facebook today, and get the latest precision ag videos on the YouTube channel. For more information about Ag Leader products and services, or to visit the blog site, go to www.agleader.com.

2012 ARA/AgGateway Technology Contest

Melissa SandfortAgribusiness, General, Retailers

About:

The following products were nominated by the ag retail community via the ARA website to be presented during the ARA Annual Conference & Expo held November 27th – 29th in San Diego, CA. The product with the most votes by Friday, October 19th will receive 30 minutes to demonstrate their product during the Technology Breakout Session, a complimentary conference registration, and technology award sponsor AgGateway will travel to the winning company’s home office to present a plaque and $1,000 check to charity of award winner’s choice.

Instructions:

1. After reading each product description, select ‘Click to Vote.’ You will then be taken to a confirmation page.

2. Select ‘Recommend’ on the confirmation page to confirm your vote.

VOTING ENDS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18TH.

AgVantage and InVISION at FPS 12

Cindy ZimmermanAudio, Farm Progress Show, FS Green Plan Solution, Growmark

The 2012 Farm Progress Show was a chance for AgVantage FS to put the spotlight on a fresh new look for FS Seed products HiSOY and InVISION corn.

FS seed marketing and development specialist Amanda Weigel told us during FPS that AgVantage FS just expanded into the Boone county area this year. “So I’m doing some marketing to get our name out here in the Boone county area … letting people in the area know what’s going on with FS and GROWMARK.” AgVantage FS is a full-service agriculture and energy supplier headquartered in Waverly with locations in 30 surrounding Iowa counties.

Amanda says they were highlighting the FS HiSOY® brand of soybeans and the new FS InVISION brand of seed corn. “Growers need to know that HiSOY and InVISION are brands that are locally grown, you get local recommendations, and the trials are done locally,” she said. A focus on local results led to a selection of hybrids best suited for wherever a farmer may choose to plant.

Amanda suggests that growers contact their local FS representative to find out more – and check out and like them on the FS Facebook page!

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Amanda from FPS here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/farm-progress/fps12-fs-amanda.mp3″ text=”Amanda Weigel with FS AgVantage”]

2012 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Precision.AgWired.com coverage of the 2012 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by John Deere and AgLeader

Combine Settings in Drought Conditions

Cindy ZimmermanAudio, Farm Progress Show, Harvesting, John Deere

About 40% of corn and nearly a quarter of the soybean crop have already been harvested nationwide which is well ahead of normal for this time of year and record setting in some areas. The five year average for corn harvest by this date is less than 15%, soybeans less than 10%.

The reason for the advanced progress is the hot, dry summer which led to rapid development of crops, much of which ended in mostly poor condition across a wide section of the corn belt. The early harvest was just getting underway at Farm Progress Show this year, first time that has happened since the show moved up to the end of August dates from the previous end of September. Kim Cramer with John Deere Harvester Works in East Moline, Illinois was talking with farmers at the show about adjusting combine settings to deal with some of the variability caused by the usually harsh weather this summer.

“Typically in these type of conditions, the combine needs to stay full as possible,” said Cramer. “Specifically, you try to minimize the amount of trash coming in so you need to be aware of adjustments on the corn head – speed, deck plate spacings – obviously need to have parts in good working order.”

Cramer recommends paying more attention to tailings and make appropriate adjustments. “In a year like this, you’re probably going to have to run a little bit faster in rotor or cylinder, maybe a little bit tighter with concave, those would be adjustments you would want to make,” he said.

Listen to Kim’s suggestions here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/farm-progress/fps12-jd-kim.MP3″ text=”John Deere’s Kim Cramer”]

2012 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Precision.AgWired.com coverage of the 2012 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by John Deere and AgLeader

Fuel Prices Are Impacting Farms and Businesses

Melissa SandfortUSDA, ZimmPoll

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “Have high fuel prices had an impact on your farm/business?”

Our poll results: Sixty-four percent said Yes, big impact on our budget; fourteen percent said Yes, minimal impact on our budget; twelve percent said No, not yet; and ten percent said No, don’t expect any.

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “What grade would you give the new student lunch program? Tell us why with a comment.” New government nutrition standards, which went into effect this year in a bid to combat childhood obesity, require schools to serve more variety and larger portions of fruits and vegetables. What do you think – are these new lunches a good thing or will students just toss more food in the trash can?

ZimmPoll is sponsored by Rhea+Kaiser, a full-service advertising/public relations agency.

New Larger Display from Raven Industries

Chuck ZimmermanAgribusiness, Apps, Audio, Displays, Farm Progress Show, Raven

The Envizio Pro XL is what was new with Raven at the Farm Progress Show. In the tent to show it off was Ryan Molitor, Marketing Manager. Ryan says the new display is larger and easier to use according to customers. The product can be used for all seasons of field work.

The Envizio Pro XL will enhance a user’s experience through its brilliant, extra-large 10.4” color touchscreen display. It operates on the proven and reliable Envizio™ operating system which features language support for customers in the many global markets Raven serves, and growers will benefit from the simple-to-use interface, multi-product control and VRA capabilities. The Envizio Pro XL field computer is the perfect controller for Raven’s advanced product lineup such as Slingshot®, SmartYield™, SmarTrax™, OmniRow® or OmniSeed™.

Listen to my interview with Ryan here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/farm-progress/fps-12-molitor.mp3″ text=”Interview with Ryan Molitor”]

Don’t forget that you can get the Raven Product Guide App for you iPhone/iPad or Android device.

2012 Farm Progress Show Photo Album