Nitrogen Management Solutions from Agrium

Kelly MarshallASTA, Audio, Nitrogen, Nutrient Management

Temperatures across the U.S. have discovered winter, prompting growers to start thinking about next year, particularly when it comes to applying nitrogen. That’s where Scott Russell and Doug Akromas come in. They represented Agrium at the Trade Talk event at NAFB, a company that produces, markets and sells fertilizers.

Nitrogen management is a big deal for a lot of reasons, and Agrium offers a great solution. Their ESN product is a polymer coated urea that prevents nitrogen from being released too quickly or from evaporating. Instead urea sits in the coating until conditions are right, then moisture causes it to change to a liquid that slowly seeps out of the coating over time.

To make the most of this product and others, Agrium has opened a new technical center in Colorado to find innovative ways to maximize the benefits of the polymer coating. They’re looking for new methods of coating nitrogen, as well as ways to make the technique work for other nutrients. In addition, a new generation of ESN is coming soon.

“We’re hoping to have new products coming out in the next six to twelve months,” Doug Akromas told me. “We want to continue to have new products coming out so we can stay on top of our game here in the competitive market of fertilizers. It’s just an exciting time for us.”

Learn more about Agrium in the full interview here: [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/nafb-16-akromas-russell.mp3″ text=”Interview with Scott Russell and Doug Akromas, Agrium”]

View and download photos from the event here: NAFB Convention Photo Album

BASF’s Future #Seed Giant at #ASTACSS

Cindy ZimmermanASTA, Audio, BASF, seed

Justin Clark is a Technical Marketing Manager for BASF Ag Products who was named Future Giant of the Seed Industry by Seed World this year. At the ASTA CSS and Seed Expo, we talked with Clark about BASF’s recent agreement with FMC for in-furrow seed protection.

“We think it’s a unique technology that addresses a grower need,” said Clark. “As growers start to plant earlier they really need that extra layer of protection to combat those early season seedling diseases that are out there.”

Clark started working with BASF four years ago with the company’s acquisition of Becker Underwood, which moved BASF strongly into the seed treatment industry with products such as the Flo Rite Plantability Seed Coating that he talked about at the 2014 ASTA CSS event. “There’s a lot of concern out there about keeping active ingredients on the seed and our Flo-Rit Plantability polymer technology really addresses that,” he said, noting that it also helps a grower realize optimum seed spacing.

Learn more about BASF seed solutions in this interview: [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/astacss-16-basf-justin2.mp3″ text=”Interview with Justin Clark, BASF”]

ASTA CSS 2016 Photo Album

Coverage of ASTA CSS and Seed Expo brought to you by
Coverage of ASTA CSS and Seed Expo brought to you by the American Seed Trade Association and Coverage of ASTA CSS and Seed Expo brought to you by BASF Ag Products

AEM Offers Tips to Protect Tier 4 Engines

Kelly MarshallAEM

Tier 4 engines are helping make farms more fuel efficient, but the fuel used in those engines is critical.   That’s why the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has created a free, downloadable infographic offering 5 tips to help owners keep their machines working optimally.

The AEM “Get CLEAN on Fuel” infographic outlines five key actions that help protect Tier 4 engines “because while the new engines reduce diesel emissions and protect our health and the environment, the fact is they are rather finicky about fuel,” said William “Bernie” Bernhard, AEM technical and safety services manager.

The infographic uses the antonym CLEAN to help equipment owners remember the guidelines.

C – Commit to understanding your T4 engine
L – Learn the facts about today’s fuel
E – Evaluate your fuel source and fuel handling
A – Always follow manufacturer guidelines
N – Never take your role for granted

USDA Seeks Census Information

Kelly MarshallUSDA

The U. S. Department of Agriculture is seeking assistance to find all active farms and ranches in the United States.  To do this they are sending nearly one million potential farmers and ranchers a National Agricultural Classification Survey (NACS) during the month of December to find any place that produces and sells or could sell $1,000 or more of agriculture products in a calendar year.  The results of this survey will determine who is sent a census questionnaire next year.

The census of agriculture, conducted every five years by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), is the only source of uniform, comprehensive and impartial agricultural data for every county in the nation. Through the census of agriculture, producers are able to demonstrate the value and importance of agriculture, and influence decisions that will shape the future of the industry in this country.

“NACS plays an integral role in getting a complete count of U.S. agriculture,” said NASS Census and Survey Division Director Barbara Rater. “We ask everyone who receives the survey to please respond by January 30, so that we can maintain an accurate and comprehensive census of agriculture mailing list. This is an important opportunity. The census of agriculture is the leading source of facts about American agriculture. Farm organizations, businesses, government decision-makers, commodity market analysts, news media, researchers and so many others use census of agriculture data. We are ensuring that every farm and ranch has a voice.”

Always Something New at Verdesian

Kelly MarshallAudio, NAFB, Nutrient Management

As Technical Development Manager at Verdesian Life Sciences, Todd Carpenter is responsible for phosphorous and potassium products, which is an exciting place to be, he says. “There’s new coming everyday!”

Verdesian focuses on improving plant nutrition. “We do that through seed treatment inoculant products, through products that enhance nutrient usage efficiency in nitrogen and phosphorus and we’re working on potassium as well, and also through foliar nutritionals and dry micros, so all of those spaces, including some biological work,” Carpenter explains.

Take Off technology is something he’s especially enthusiastic about. The original license was purchased from Los Alamos Laboratory and really is “rocket science” Carpenter says. The technology works from the inside of the plant, creating a hunger pain for nitrogen and carbon, enhancing early germination and grain fill. Currently Take Off is offered in seed products and foliar, but new research may lead to its use in starter fertilizers or other places that would allow it to help the plant through critical stages.

The product preformed well in 2016, with a minimum ROI of 3 to 1. Using it with other products can send ROI skyrocketing to as high as 15 or 20 to one.

I also asked Carpenter about new products in the works; listen here for information about what’s coming in the next two to three years [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/nafb-16-carpenter.mp3″ text=”Interview with Todd Carpenter, Verdesian”]

View and download photos from the event here: NAFB Convention Photo Album

John Deere Receives SIMA Award for Prototype Electric Tractor

Chuck ZimmermanEquipment, International, John Deere, Tractor

In advance of the Paris International Farm Show (SIMA) in France John Deere has unveiled what it says is the “First fully battery-electric high-hp tractor.” This photo is from the SIMA new products website page. Here is information from the company news release about the SIMA award winning product.

Citation Award:
SESAM: the first all-electric tractor

With its SESAM Tractor (Sustainable Energy Supply for Agricultural Machinery), John Deere presents industry’s first fully battery-powered tractor providing all functionalities and features of a standard tractor while offering all benefits resulting from electrification at the same time. The SESAM tractor is an elementary component John Deere’s vision of future energy autonomous farms.

Besides an overall outstanding efficiency, benefits from the SESAM tractor are potential use of on farm produced renewable energy and enabling new business models for farms through grid-plug-in and bi-directional charging technology. This enables farms for future services for electric power grids in rural areas.

This prototype machine produces 130kW continuous power and is based on chassis from Mannheim’s 6R series tractors. Two maintenance free electric motors operate the slightly adapted DirectDrive transmission. In standard mode one motor is used fort the drive train and the other for PTO and auxiliaries. If necessary, both motors can be linked together in order to supply full power either for driving or for PTO and hydraulic work. The speed range reaches from 3 to 50kph at full power. Addtionally, unique driver experience is provide through stepless transmission control, high torque at low speeds and highest peak power at about 400 hp.

During stand still times there are no energy losses at all. The SESAM tractor system is emission free and runs at lowest noise level what is a particular advantage when operating close to residential areas or when working at night.

Currently, one battery charge lasts for up to four operating hours in typical mixed mode operations or about 55 km of transport, while charging time is about three hours. The life time of the battery is designed for 3100 charging cycles.

FMC & ARA Hosting Safety Planning Workshop

Lizzy SchultzARA, Audio, FMC, Safety

FMC Corporation has shown tremendous continued support for the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) through the company’s sponsorship of the ARA Conference & Expo. In the new year, FMC will also sponsor a workshop with ARA that will focus on preparing, responding, and sustaining a crisis plan.

This new workshop stems from a crisis communications workshop that FMC has held for the past five years with ARA. The communications workshop has been well-received by participants, with many expressing interest in a workshop that discusses ways to build safety plans for their retail outlets.

“A lot of retailers do have existing safety plans in place, so this course would serve as an excellent refresher course to teach retailers how to work with local law enforcement and fire departments ahead of time so that they aren’t caught flat-footed when an emergency does arise,” said Rick Kesler, Business Services Manager at FMC Corporation, in an interview during the 2016 ARA Conference & Expo.

The intimate workshop will be held February 27 – March 1, 2017 at the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, capping attendance at a maximum of 16 participants. Interested participants can register online for the event here.

Learn more in Chuck’s full interview with Rick:
[wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/ara-16-fmc-kessler.mp3″ text=”Interview with Rick Kesler, FMC”]

View and download photos from the event here: 2016 ARA Conference Photo Album

Coverage of the ARA Conference and Expo is sponsored by Coverage of the ARA Conference and Expo is sponsored by FMCCoverage of the ARA Conference and Expo is sponsored by Ag Retailers Association

AgCompass for Agribusiness

Cindy ZimmermanAgribusiness, Audio, Data, Software

logo_agcompass_green-brown-blackThe technology for cloud computing or hosted software solutions has been around for years now but there is still some confusion about what it really is and who can benefit from it most.

Ken Wedig, who was retired from John Deere after 30 years, partnered with Everett Chambers in 2003 to create AgCompass, one of the pioneers in the technology which supports businesses by hosting their software on a remote server so they can access their data from multiple locations.

“A farmer may have a farm in Wisconsin, another one in Illinois, another one in Iowa, with people distributed throughout, and once they are on the server they can all access the same set of data and keep it updated and simultaneously maintained,” explains Wedig, who holds a degree in Mathematics from the University of Wisconsin and lives in Iowa. Basically, AgCompass can help if you have to share data, but require secure access to your windows-based software and value data independence.

AgCompass can host nearly any windows-based software and specializes in hosting accounting software such as FBS Systems, Red Wing and Quickbooks, as well as mill software from Vertical, trucking software such as ProMiles and more. “If its a multi-user product, doing that on a local desktop is very difficult, but when we put it on our server, if you’ve got 15 users all 15 can log in and use it,” Wedig said. Click here to learn more about how it works.

As self-described “technophiles with deep roots in agriculture,” Wedig says the AgCompass team is dedicated to personal service. “We’re a small company but what we do well is the support of applications and access to data from anywhere.” He encourages any company, ag or otherwise, to contact AgCompass for a free 30-day demo.

Learn more in this interview: [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/agcompass-wedig.mp3″ text=”Interview with Ken Wedig, AgCompass”]

Click here for more information and to get the free guide – 5 Easy Steps to Electronic File Organization

Another Successful #ASTACSS

Kelly MarshallAg Group, ASTA, Audio

President and CEO of ASTA, Andy LaVigne, breathed a big sigh of relief at the success of this year’s conference. After planning and scheduling the largest seed conference of it’s kind in the world, all you can do is hope people show up– and show up they did. “We had to bring in tables and chairs,” LaVigne told Cindy Zimmerman.

The conference boasted the sessions and events that have made it so popular while adding new aspects. The addition of a living room setting in Columbus Hall turned out nicely, with screens to watch events, spaces for collaborating, and a chance to catch up over great food.

A new video campaign was also launched at this year’s event, featuring seed breeder and mother, Jessie Alt, showing her life as a mom and backyard gardener to help the general public relate to the job of plant breeder. Plant breeding is foreign to most people, LaVigne says, but they do such an amazing job of improving seed characteristics every year.

For those less in the know than plant breeders, the conference also held the opportunity to learn about the newest gene editing technique. Technology and innovation have made it possible to maximize characteristics already in plants to make them stronger or more resistant to problems in a much faster way, making sure farmers and, ultimately, consumers, have the nutritious, sustainable food they want.

Cindy’s interview covered politics for 2017, Trump’s EPA pick, and trade, in addition to some exciting tidbits about the upcoming Flower and Vegetable Seed Conference.  Listen here to learn more about it: [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/astacss-16-andy.mp3″ text=”Interview with Andy LaVigne, ASTA”]

ASTA CSS 2016 Photo Album

Coverage of ASTA CSS and Seed Expo brought to you by
Coverage of ASTA CSS and Seed Expo brought to you by the American Seed Trade Association and Coverage of ASTA CSS and Seed Expo brought to you by BASF Ag Products

BASF Supports #FFA at #ASTACSS

Cindy ZimmermanASTA, Audio, BASF, FFA

BASF Ag Products has been a proud sponsor of the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) for many years now, particularly the annual CSS and Seed Expo.

This year at BASF used its presence at the event to raise money for the FFA, a cause which corn and bean communications specialist Colby Mower is very passionate about. “We’re committed to the future of the industry,” said Mower. “We’re big supporters, both as a company and me personally, so we felt like it was a good chance to give back.” The FFA “Wheel of Fortune” ended up raising over $5800, which will be donated to the FFA chapters chosen by the ASTA CSS participants who spun the wheel.

Mower says they are also proud to support the media at ASTA CSS by sponsoring a comfortable space for us to work, something they do at many industry events. “We have also felt that the ag media provide a great service to the industry,” he said. “So we’ve always been a big supporter to make sure our media partners have the best accommodations to do their jobs.”

Listen to my interview with Colby here: [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/astacss-16-basf-colby.mp3″ text=”Interview with Colby Mower, BASF”]

ASTA CSS 2016 Photo Album

Coverage of ASTA CSS and Seed Expo brought to you by
Coverage of ASTA CSS and Seed Expo brought to you by the American Seed Trade Association and Coverage of ASTA CSS and Seed Expo brought to you by BASF Ag Products