Farmers Field Test Monsanto FieldScripts

Cindy ZimmermanMonsanto, Planting, Software, technology

We first told you about Monsanto’s FieldScripts last fall at Farm Progress Show. Now we will be hearing much more from farmers using it on a trial basis in the field. This planting season, more than 150 farmers in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Minnesota are trialing the first offering from Monsanto’s Integrated Farming SystemsSM (IFS) research platform – FieldScriptsSM. With … Read More

FarmLogs Goes Mobile

Talia GoesAgribusiness, Apps, Planting

FarmLogs, the leading agricultural tech startup that helps farmers plan, manage and analyze their farm’s operations, announced the launch of its all-new mobile apps for Android and iOS devices. The apps make it incredibly easy to keep track of everything that happens in the field in real time. The FarmLogs apps are now available for free download in iTunes and … Read More

Snow Woes Slow Planting

Cindy ZimmermanPlanting, USDA

Nothing like a little snow in May to really slow down a planter! This photo from Minnesota was posted last week on the Case IH Facebook page. Despite the snow, Minnesota farmers did manage to get two percent of their corn crop in the ground last week, but they should have over half of it planted by now. Nearly 50% … Read More

Getting Precise with Seed Treatments

John DavisAgribusiness, Audio, BASF, Corn, Planting, seed, Soybeans

You’ve spent some good money to treat those seeds before you plant them in the ground. But the dust that forms when the treated seeds rub together and rub off those expensive treatments is more than a loss of protection and an irritant for workers – it’s like money blowing away in the wind. Charlie Hale, marketing strategy and support … Read More

More R&D from BASF Acquiring Becker Underwood

Cindy ZimmermanAudio, BASF, Planting, Research, seed

The recent acquisition of Becker Underwood by BASF is more than just putting the two companies together. It means more research and development as each is able to look at the other’s advancements and see how they might be able to combine products for maximum efficiency “Both companies are bringing together a lot of existing technology that we’re starting to … Read More

Weather Continues to Put Damper on Planting

Cindy ZimmermanCorn, Planting, USDA

Planting progress continues to be slowed by wet and cold weather in most of the major corn producing states. According to USDA, just 5% of the U.S. corn crop was planted as of Sunday, only a percentage point of difference compared to the previous week. Last year at this time, nearly half the crop was in the ground and normally … Read More

Nutrient Management with Late Planting

Cindy ZimmermanAudio, Corn, Fertilizer, FS Green Plan Solution, Growmark, Nutrient Management, Planting

Planting is definitely running behind normal in the Corn Belt, but it’s nothing to worry about just yet. “Just stick to the original plan” when it comes to nutrient management,” says John Grandin, Senior Field Sales Agronomist at GROWMARK, Inc. “If the original plan calls for spring-applied anhydrous ammonia, then stick with spring-applied anhydrous ammonia.” However, Grandin points out the … Read More

FieldView Plus Tells Growers of Planting Problems

Talia GoesAgribusiness, Planting

Earlier this year, Precision Planting introduced FieldView Plus, giving growers the ability to sync planting data across multiple pieces of field equipment and multiple electronic devices. Now, automatic planter performance text alerts have been added to this cloud-based system. Doug Sauder, Product Manager, notes that the metrics and alert thresholds can be set and changed through the FieldView website at … Read More

The 4Rs are All Right

Cindy ZimmermanAudio, Growmark, Nutrient Management, Planting

Everything is right about the 4Rs of nutrient management – the right source, the right rate, the right time, and the right place for applying nutrients in the field. “It actually drives a farmer to look more at a systems approach to nutrient management rather than just making an application and moving to the next step,” said Dr. Howard Brown, … Read More

Being a Good Steward of Treated Seeds

Chuck ZimmermanAgribusiness, ASTA, Audio, Commodity Classic, Planting, seed

A guide to seed treatment stewardship is a new project by the American Seed Trade Association along with a collaboration of seed companies, researchers and organizations like CropLife America, National Corn Growers Association and Farm Bureau. Growers will soon find “The Guide to Seed Treatment Stewardship” online. I spoke with Andy Lavigne, ASTA President/CEO, during Commodity Classic about this project … Read More