SMART Farmer Podcast with Chip Bowling

Jamie JohansenAg Group, Audio, Podcast, SMART Farmer, USFRA

Our new SMART Farmer podcast episode features Maryland grain farmer Chip Bowling, vice chairman of the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance who was recently in Panama with the U.S. Grains Council. He talks about his family farm, which is located almost in the shadow of the DC beltway, and how he uses the latest innovation and technology to be more sustainable so his operation will stay in his family.

Listen to the podcast here: [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/smartfarmer/smart-farmer-podcast-2-28-17.mp3″ text=”SMART Farmer Podcast with Chip Bowling”]

It’s a great set up for the Commodity Classic in San Antonio this week, which is where we will all be this week. USFRA will have an exhibit featuring the SMART Farm launch and USFRA’s new 360-degree video, which utilizes a virtual reality (VR)-style headset. USFRA will also sponsor a learning center session on Saturday morning, March 4 on how “GMOs and Sustainability – Go Hand ‘n Hand.” We will be visiting with a few of the SMART farmers at Classic and will feature them in upcoming podcasts.

Subscribe to the SMART Farmer podcast

Bayer #AgVocate Forum Gives Global Perspective

Kelly MarshallAdvocacy, Audio, Bayer CropScience

With a combination of colorful graphics and quirky tweet suggestions, author and academic lecturer Dr. Vikram Mansharamani set the tone for the Bayer AgVocacy Forum with a focus on the global economy.

Mansharamani discussed three main forces driving the global economy – China, technology, and a growing, aging population. Among his suggested tweets – “OMG! @Mansharamani could depress newlyweds on their honeymoon!” Among his most tweeted remarks – “More money, more meat.” Most tweeted slide in his presentation showed increase in populations of Nigeria and India per hour – 540 and 1800 respectively.

Listen to his remarks here: [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/bayer-forum-17-keynote.mp3″ text=”Dr. Vikram Mansharamani at Bayer Forum”]

2017 Bayer AgVocate Forum Photos

AirMap and senseFly Partner for Drone Safety

Kelly MarshallCompany Announcement, drone

AirMap, the world’s leading airspace management platform for drones, and senseFly, the world’s first choice producer of mapping drones, will be working together to bring AirMap’s airspace services to senseFly’s eBee fixed wing drones and albris quadcopter, offering critical information and tools for safe missions.

AirMap’s industry-leading situational awareness data include airspace rules and advisories, locations of critical infrastructure and real-time alerts about nearby manned air traffic flying in the surrounding airspace. senseFly drones will also begin leveraging AirMap’s flight planning tools and solutions for Unmanned Traffic Management, including technology that will allow senseFly drones to submit digital flight notices to more than 125 airports.

“senseFly is pushing the boundaries of drone innovation, demonstrating the tremendous potential of intelligent drones to help us do business and benefit our everyday lives,” said AirMap CEO Ben Marcus, who also serves as the industry co-chair for the FAA/industry Unmanned Aircraft Safety Team. “We’re excited to partner with senseFly to realize safe, efficient commercial drone operations.”

Trump Signs Executive Order Ditching WOTUS

Cindy ZimmermanAFBF, Audio, EPA, water

The president of the American Farm Bureau Federation had the privilege of being with the President of the United States Tuesday as he signed an executive order directing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to formally reconsider the controversial Waters of the United States, or WOTUS, rule under the Clean Water Act.

“President Trump’s executive order to ditch the Waters of the U.S. rule is a welcome relief to farmers and ranchers across the country,” said AFBF president Zippy Duvall. “Farmers and ranchers have been calling for a common-sense approach to regulatory reform, and today the Trump administration responded to that call.”

“(This) is one of the rules most strongly opposed by farmers, ranchers and agricultural workers all across our land…it’s been a disaster,” said President Trump during the White House signing ceremony. “It’s a horrible, horrible rule. Has sort of a nice name, but everything else is bad.” [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/trump-wotus.mp3″ text=”President Trump signs WOTUS order”]

Immediately after the signing, new EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt had the privilege of announcing the news to Farm Bureau members at the 2017 FB Advocacy Conference being held just outside of Washington DC.

Pruitt says he has already set the ball in motion with official action after the executive order was signed. “Relief is on the way with respect to withdrawing the Waters of the United States rule,” he said to applause.

“As EPA administrator, we’re going to focus on rule of law,” Pruitt continued. “No agency has power that Congress has not given them – that’s called rule of law.”

Listen to Pruitt’s comments here: [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/afbf-pruitt.mp3″ text=”EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt at FB Advocacy Conference”]

Since the executive order was signed, we have received press releases from virtually every agricultural organization to say they are pleased, as well as from environmental groups to say they are not pleased.

Encourage Infrastructure with #RebuildRural

Kelly MarshallAg Group, Infrastructure

Two hundred some #RebuildRural organizations representing U.S. agriculture, rural businesses, communities and families sent a letter to the President, asking him to make infrastructure in rural America a priority. The letter highlights the needs in rural communicates where a lack of population density creates challenges.

“American agriculture truly feeds the world and creates millions of jobs for U.S. workers. Our nation’s ability to produce food and fiber and transport it efficiently across the globe is a critical factor in U.S. competitiveness internationally. Infrastructure that supports rural communities and links them to global markets has helped make the U.S. the unquestioned leader in agricultural production. Our deteriorating infrastructure threatens that leadership position,” the letter states.

The letter also highlights the “critical needs” that “exist in providing clean water for rural families, expanding broadband to connect rural communities to the outside world, and enhancing the ability to supply affordable, reliable and secure power for the rural economy.”

Veris Unveils On-the-Go Sensors at #NFMS17

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, Audio, National Farm Machinery Show, Sensors, Soil, Variable rate

Corn prices are not going up and land prices aren’t going down, so farmers need to be more efficient with what they have, said Tyler Lund of Veris Technologies. Farmers drive through the field during harvest and watch yields go up and down where the soil changes, but it takes software to better understand and make the most of those soil types.

That’s where the newly launched on-the-go sensors come into play. “They can be attached to a planter or tillage tool,” Lund explains. “So you mount this to a toolbar and it measures the electrical conductivity or the soil type, and organic matter, so as you’re going across the field you’re getting a real-time measurement of what the soil conditions are like. You can use that data to change the amount of seed, […] and it helps you better manage your nitrogen and with fertility too. So it’s a good tool to help guys collect that data while doing another operation across the field.”

In addition to collecting soil properties, the sensors also record elevation and it builds a map the user can see as they drive through the field. Once the information is loaded to the cloud, Veris checks for data integrity before growers use the information to get prescriptions for nutrients. Online software can even fuse data layers to better understand the needs of different nutrients.

Listen to Chuck’s full interview with Lund to learn more: [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/nfms17-veris-tyler.mp3″ text=”Interview with Tyler Lund, Veris Technologies”]

2017 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by
Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by FMC

Announcing SMART Farmer Podcast

Kelly MarshallAudio, Podcast, SMART Farmer, USFRA

We are pleased to introduce the very first SMART Farmer podcast which features interviews with the people who use data and technology to be more sustainable and to help build a smarter version of the American farm and ranch.

In this first episode, U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance CEO Randy Krotz talks about how people can relate to the SMART Farm concept – just like a smart phone or a smart home. Then we visit with Katie Brenny from the recent Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show to find out how she and her husband use the latest technology to produce beef more sustainably on their operation in Minnesota.

Listen to the first podcast:
[wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/smartfarmer/smart-farmer-podcast-2-20-17.mp3″ text=”SMART Farmer Podcast with Katie Brenny”]

Subscribe to the SMART Farmer podcast

Topcon Agriculture Presents New X35 Console

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, technology

The next generation of X-Family touchscreen displays is now available from Topcon Agriculture. The 12.1 inch console is easy to use with simple upgrades designed for the operator’s needs. It’s an all-in-one system which provides variable rate control of up to 200 sections for as many as eight products, all managed through cloud-based technology.

“The X35 console adds to the Topcon premium range of agriculture solutions, including the user-friendly functionalities that made the X30 a reputable solution in the industry, and offering additional benefits for farmers,” said Markus Kalin, product manager.

“The new feature, Horizon XTEND™, allows users to manage control applications via mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones,” said Kalin. “Additionally, the Remote Assistance Tool allows technicians to remotely diagnose and fix issues, as well as agronomic consultants to advise and configure remotely.”

Classic to Hear from Chair of House Committee on Ag

Kelly MarshallAg Group, Commodity Classic

U.S. Congressman Mike Conaway, chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, will give an address at Commodity Classic on Friday, March 3 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Conaway represents 29 counties in the 11th congressional district of Texas– his native state. He also serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the Premanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

“We are very pleased that Congressman Conaway has agreed to address Commodity Classic attendees,” said Ed Erickson, Jr., a North Dakota soybean farmer and co-chair of the 2017 Commodity Classic. “With the change in administration in Washington, DC, the next Farm Bill due for debate, and discussions on international trade policy, the farmers attending Commodity Classic will be very interested to hear from one of the nation’s ag policy leaders on a wide range of issues.”

Other notable speakers include John O’Leary, a motivation speaker who suffered sever childhood burns and amputations and now encourages other to live boldly, and the leadership of the four presenting commodity associations.

Case IH Highlights Drones, AccuTurn at #NFMS17

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, Audio, Case IH, drone, GPS

A new partnership between Case IH and DroneDeploy is bringing customers the complete package in UAV technology, say Ryan Blasiak of Case IH and Brandon O’Sullivan from DroneDeploy at the National Farm Machinery Show.

“Case IH and DroneDeploy are going to market together with the complete UAV solution of both hardware and software to provide data management for growers and farmers across the US and North America,” O’Sullivan says. “The software itself helps to automate the capture of images- to be able to fly your fields, process the maps and do plant health on those maps once those maps have been created.”

They’re accomplishing that with a package deal, Blasiak explains. For about $3,000 a grower can purchase the drone, a case and extra battery, but most importantly, the software and support- from the moment the drone is taken out of the box to advanced data collection. In an economic environment where farmers might be putting the brakes on a new tractor, it’s a more affordable way to grow your operation and not hard to see a return on investment by preventing a few thousand dollars in crop damage in a single year.

Case IH also debuted their AFS AccuTurn guidance system at the show; a hands free guidance system that automatically turns at the end of a row, allowing the operator to focus on the implement. AccuTurn uses the logic and algorithms used in the Autonomous vehicle, thinking like an operator, and lining up square every time it approaches the field Balsiack explains.

To learn more about the news at Case IH, listen to Chuck’s full interview with Blasiak and O’Sullivan here: [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/nfms17-case-drone.mp3″ text=”Interview with Ryan Blaksiack, Case IH and Brandon O’Sullivan, DroneDeploy”]

2017 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by
Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by FMC