Precision | Page 129 | News and reviews from the precision agriculture industry

US Custom Harvesters Taking New Strides

Kelly MarshallNovember 18, 2016Ag Group, Audio, Harvesting, NAFB

Mark Anderson is a newly elected board member for the U.S. Custom Harvesters. He was part of the team representing the organziation at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting last week to talk about a few of their most important issues.

One of the most exciting is a partnership with Ag in the Classroom, Anderson told me. Leftover footage from their documentary Great American Harvest has been used to create a curriculum for schools. The materials are now available to help teachers bring real-life agriculture to students.

In addition to the curriculum, U.S. Customer Harvesters has also been revamping their own agenda.

“We’re released our Strategic Plan, which we’ve been working on for the past two years and released that this summer.” Anderson says. “We’re going to be moving forward with that and starting some grants to work on initiatives as we see fit.”

Learn more bout the organization in the full interview here: [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/nafb-16-anderson.mp3″ text=”Interview with Mark Anderson, US Custom Harvesters”]

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

Coverage of the NAFB convention is sponsored by

#NAFB16- Kubota Committed to Quality

Kelly MarshallNovember 17, 2016Agribusiness, Equipment, NAFB

Kubota was one of the many participants at the recent National Association of Farm Broadcasting Trade Talk event in Kansas City, Missouri last week. I had the opportunity to talk with Kent Brown, Senior Product Manager of tractors over 100 HP, and David Palmer, Senior Product Manager covering hay and forage implements, each with something new and exciting to talk about in their divisions.

A highly awaited addition to the large tractor division is the new M7 and it finally hit dealerships earlier this year. The company is hosting “Ride and Drive” events throughout the country to garner excitement for this new product and inviting customers out and putting them in the seat of the largest tractor built by Kubota is working, Brown told me.

“We’ve gotten a lot of excitement about. People who said, ‘I didn’t realize Kubota had a tractor this big’ and saying ‘We’re really going to look at this tractor’.”

Palmer spoke about new additions in his division as well- a new, 13 foot width roller conditioner and 5×6 variable chamber baler.

“We’re excited about these two new products we’re brining to the market place and it just continues to prove that Kubota is not only is leading the hay and forage industry, they’re continuing to expand into the marketplace each year.

Learn more about Kubota’s latest products in my full interview here: [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/nafb-16-brown-palmer.mp3″ text=”Interview with Kent Brown and David Palmer, Kubota”]

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

Coverage of the NAFB convention is sponsored by

BASF’s Nexicor Fungicide Receives EPA Registration

Kelly MarshallNovember 17, 2016Agribusiness, BASF, Fungicides

BASF’s Nexicor™ fungicide has been granted registration from the EPA. This fungicide is specifically for use in cereal crops and uses three modes of action to offer long lasting preventative and post-infection control of powdery mildew, tan spot, rusts and other diseases.

“In addition to controlling disease pressure, Nexicor fungicide helps to provide plant health benefits,” said Megan Andriankaja, Technical Marketing Manager, BASF. “Even in instances of low disease pressure, Nexicor fungicide can maximize key plant attributes leading to stronger roots and stems, healthier leaves and a cleaner flagleaf.”

For cereal growers, Nexicor fungicide is a convenient and flexible solution. It has a wide application window, from tillering to flag, and it also has multiple tank mix options. More options for tank mixing means fewer passes are needed, which can save growers time in the field.

Learn more at www.nexicorfungicide.com.

ScanTask Featured at World Agri-Tech Summit

Kelly MarshallNovember 17, 2016Agribusiness, Platform, Software

The World Agri-Tech Investment Summit was held in London earlier this month; one of the featured agronomic management systems at the event was Israeli startup ScanTask. This cloud-based platform is providing worldwide business intelligence and decision support for agriculture buyers, food conglomerates, agriculture financing and insurance companies.

“With annual losses of hundreds of billions of dollars, agriculture can easily earn the title ‘The Largest Unsupervised Production Factory,'” says ScanTask’s co-founder and CEO Israel Fraier. “The reason is not the lack of data or smart technologies, but the fact that agriculture managers will hardly use existing technologies, unless they become easily accessible, and save the need to deal with multiple technical systems.” Fraier added: “ScanTask’s participation at the London summit is a part of our mission to prove that using AgriTask world farmers can benefit right now from Precision Agronomy and advanced agriculture technologies, without the anxiety and high cost of managing multiple technological systems.”

The turn-key system answers the needs of diverse management and agronomic systems. Growers can use it without changing their work habits, while still addressing crop risks preemptively, increasing yield, and improving work efficiency.

NCGA Partners with Benson Hill Biosystems

Kelly MarshallNovember 17, 2016Ag Group, biotechnology, NCGA

The National Corn Growers Association has formed a partnership with agriculture technology company, Benson Hill Biosystems. The relationship will provide accelerated breeding and development of new corn hybrids with the CropOS system. This cognitive engine uses cloud biology to create a new generation of plant genomics, moving them quickly into the marketplace.

In an era of unprecedented agriculture industry consolidation, innovation in corn genetics is being further limited to a few large companies with budgets for significant R&D investment. Benson Hill’s CropOS platform empowers organizations of any size to innovate and provide growers choice, whether that be for disease, maturity or specific environmental requirements. With a handful of companies owning roughly 85 percent of the corn market, there is limited incentive to address more geographic-specific needs; Benson Hill’s CropOS opens up new research opportunities.

“The financial and broader support of NCGA underscores our opportunity to empower innovation and help level the playing field for those seeking to develop high performing varieties, even on a local or regional level,” said Benson Hill Co-Founder and CEO Matthew Crisp. “The more responsive and competitive the industry is, the better equipped growers will be to sustainably meet demand for increasingly diverse solutions that benefit farms, communities, consumers and our society.”

Invisible Organization Plays Important Role

Kelly MarshallNovember 17, 2016Ag Group, Audio, Exports, Grain, NAFB

National Grain and Feed Association is one of those invisible sectors of agriculture, says Randy Gordon. With 1,100 member companies surrounding the feed and grain industry, however, they play a critical role for growers. The ability to help farmers add value to their products through exports and animal agriculture is why we have markets for the grain grown in this nation, Gordon explains.

The organization focuses on anything to do with marketing, from rail transportation and freight regulation to new traits in foreign markets.

“We’re trying to change that dynamic with a low level tolerance policy,” Gordon said of trade disruptions, such as the one with China. “So if there is a good stewardship program around some of these unauthorized traits in foreign markets they’ll grant some kind of tolerance on a minimal level that might be present.”

Next year promises to be a busy one for the group, with work on the Farm Bill beginning and work for TTP facing challenges. Listen to my full interview with Gordon from the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Trade Talk event to learn more.
[wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/nafb-16-gordon.mp3″ text=”Interview with Randy Gordon, NGFA”]

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

Coverage of the NAFB convention is sponsored by

Election Is Over, Where Does Agriculture Stand

Jamie JohansenNovember 16, 2016ZimmPoll

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What will Trump presidency mean for ag?”

The election is over, however we are still discussing what a Trump Administration will not only mean for agriculture, but for our nation as a whole. NAFB hosted an agriculture “Reaction to Election” panel last week highlighting insights from key agricultural leader opinions. Remarks from those leaders fell into place with our recent poll results. An overwhelming majority feel a Trump presidency will equal positivity for ag.

Here are the poll results:

All good – 43%
All bad – 17%
Bad for exports – 9%
Nothing will change – 17%
I’m moving to Canada – 14%

Our new ZimmPoll is live and asks the question, What are you most thankful for this year?

As we come off the high from political discussion overload, this week we want to take it easy and think back over 2016. Thanksgiving is a time of reflection, a time to remember and give thanks. Share with us what tops your charts when it comes to thankfulness this year.

Alta Seeds Bringing Sorghum Innovation at #NAFB16

Kelly MarshallNovember 16, 2016Agribusiness, NAFB, Research, Sorghum, Traits

It’s Travis Kidd’s responsibility to bring commercial hybrids from the research stage into the marketplace for Alta Seeds. Considering they’re the largest provider of genetics in forage and grain sorghum in the country, he’s the guy you want to talk to when it comes to what’s new in Sorghum.

Alta is excited about two new traits that will make life easier for growers. The first is sugar cane aphid tolerance. It’s a new pest in the industry, Kidd told me at the recent National Association of Farm Broadcasting Trade Talk event. Early on many growers were unaware of the issue, resulting in crop failure, but now a new line for sugar cane aphid tolerance has been isolated.

Herbicide tolerance is another big issue at Alta Seeds. “Its been a struggle for grass control in a grass crop. […] It’s yield robbing. So now, for the first time, Alta seeds is the first to market with postemergence grass control in a grass crop,” Kidd says.

The company is also moving their research station to College Station, Texas- a move that will open doors in terms of biotechnology advances and hopefully lead to better solutions for growers.

Learn more about herbicide tolerance and the College Station move in my full interview with Kidd: [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/nafb-16-kidd.mp3″ text=”Interview with Travis Kidd, Alta Seeds”]

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

Coverage of the NAFB convention is sponsored by

Valent Expands Grower Programs for 2017

Kelly MarshallNovember 16, 2016Agribusiness, Audio, Financing, Herbicides, John Deere, NAFB

Valent U.S.A. is expanding its grower incentive and financing programs for 2017.

Growers are now able to purchase 2017 crop solutions using the Multi-Use Account from John Deere Financial with no payments and no interest through March 31, 2017. The expansion adds seven products to the program, including Valent’s portfolio of preemergence and postemergence herbicides.

At the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Trade Talk last week, Valent USA field market development specialist Dawn Refsell said new grower incentives also include participation in the Roundup Ready Xtend program with Valor® EZ, and the Innovation Plus Acre. “So now we are partnering with Bayer also to help provide the best pre-emergence herbicides ahead of any trait platforms you are going to use on your farm,” said Refsell. “Now you can apply Fierce (XLT Soybean Herbicide) ahead of Liberty Link acres and you will have a grower incentive to make that application.”

Learn more in this interview: [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/nafb-16-valent-refsell.mp3″ text=”Interview with Dawn Refsell, Valent USA”]

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

Coverage of the NAFB convention is sponsored by

IntelinAir: An MRI For Your Farm Field

Lizzy SchultzNovember 16, 2016Agribusiness, Audio, Data, drone, John Deere, UAV

Another company that made a presence during the 2016 Develop with Deere Conference was IntelinAir, an aerial imagery analytics company that is working with farmers to turn aerial imagery into actionable insights. IntelinAir recently integrated with John Deere’s API, offering customers the ability to utilize this incredible technology even easier through MyJohnDeere.

Al Eisaian, CEO & Co-Founder of IntelinAir, sat down with Chuck during this year’s events to discuss how the company works and the value it provides to farmers.

IntelinAir’s technology works like an MRI for a farm field. The company obtains aerial imagery by flying over farmers’ lands over 8 to 12 times per growing season and then analyzes those images using algorithms that process the imagery to find where any problems are.

“The main value of the company is that we provide holistic control over all of the farmers’ fields in one view, we deliver early warnings via messages to their mobile devices if we ever see problems, and we give farmers the ability to make in-season decisions at their fingertips,” said Eisaian.

Learn more in Chuck’s full interview with Al here:
[wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/jd-develop-16-eisaian.mp3″ text=”Interview with Al Eisaian, IntelinAir”]

View and download photos from the event here: 2016 Develop With Deere Conference Photo Album.

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