GROWMARK Launches AgValidity Platform

AgWired Precision, Audio, Growmark, Precision Agriculture

GROWMARK is partnering with startup technology companies with its AgValidity testing platform to bring new research and developments to its member companies and farmer customers.

“We kind of saw this opportunity where we potentially could be the conduit or the connecting point between these really smart, innovative people that had great ideas but maybe didn’t have farm experience or access to the farm gate to talk to a farmer or test their product with an actual farmer to see if it’s valuable,” said Lance Ruppert, director of agronomy marketing technology for GROWMARK.

Ruppert hopes the partnership will be a “win-win-win” as GROWMARK will help to identify cutting edge companies and help them to gain credibility with farmers and agricultural customers who will ultimately benefit from their products and services. Current projects include the areas of remote sensing, biologicals, and soil health.

Listen to Carrie’s interview with Lance here: Interview with Lance Ruppert, GROWMARK

GrainCoat App Streamlines Grain Marketing

AgWired Precision, Apps, Audio, Marketing, Precision Agriculture

Like many farmers, Sean Arians also has a job that sometimes takes him away from his agriculture operation. Arians needed an easier way to manage grain marketing activities, so he developed the GrainCoat application.

“Cloud spreadsheets and shared spreadsheets are sometimes tough to keep up to date and I really wanted an application that I could take with me on my phone, my iPad, or work with it from the desktop,” said Arians.

Arians said GrainCoat can project multiple years of crops based on data entry by the farmer. When a market move happens, the farmer has immediate access to how many bushels are available of each respective commodity, and can even make sales or offers to an elevator through the app. When that offer fills, the farmer will receive a text message with that notification, eliminating a step for the grain elevator, as well.

A delivery notification feature will be the next thing to launch, streamlining the delivery process and eliminating the need to track physical contracts to manage how many bushels to deliver to each elevator. Arians said the GrainCoat application is available at graincoat.com or for download on an iPad or iPhone. A free version is available with reduced features, or farmers can choose GrainCoat Advantage for $199/year.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Sean here: Interview with Sean Arians, GrainCoat

Precision Ag Bytes 5/15

AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes

  • The National Corn Growers Association welcomes Nicole Hasheider, who joins the organization as director of biotechnology and crop inputs in the St. Louis office.
  • U.S. sales numbers of ag tractors and combines were up in almost every category, according to the latest Association of Equipment Manufacturers sales data. Total 2-wheel-drive tractors experienced an 11.8 percent growth in sales from April of 2018. Specifically, under-40 HP tractor sales grew 16.6 percent, 100-plus-HP tractor sales grew 6.6 percent, and 40-100-HP tractors were the only tractor to see a decline in sales at a small 1.8 percent decrease. Additionally, 4-wheel-drive tractor sales saw a 32.2 percent growth from April of 2018. Between the increase of sales between total 2-wheel-drive tractors and 4-wheel-drive tractors, overall farm tractor sales experienced 12 percent growth. However, self-propelled combines did see a 4.2 percent drop in sales.
  • Premier Crop Systems helps farmers understand the importance of their field profitability by assisting growers in managing farm decisions at a finer scale. Understanding breakeven cost per bushel at a finer scale than the whole operation can change how growers manage those fields.

Bayer Reacts to Latest Glyphosate Trial Result

AgWired Precision, Bayer

A third case over the herbicide Roundup resulted in a jury awarding a California couple who developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma more than $2 billion in damages, the largest award so far. The jury found that Monsanto “acted with malice, oppression or fraud” for failing to warn about the risks of spraying Roundup, which became part of Bayer last year.

A press release from Bayer expressed disappointment with the decision and said the company will appeal the verdict in this case, “which conflicts directly with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s interim registration review decision released just last month, the consensus among leading health regulators worldwide that glyphosate-based products can be used safely and that glyphosate is not carcinogenic, and the 40 years of extensive scientific research on which their favorable conclusions are based.”

Bayer is also appealing the two previous court decisions against Roundup, which both resulted in awards of about $80 million.

Deere Offers Updated Bigger Sprayers for 2020

AgWired Precision, Equipment, John Deere

John Deere is introducing its biggest sprayer yet in 2020 – the 1,600-gallon (6057 liter) capacity R4060 Sprayer with the new CommandDrive™ powertrain. In addition, the existing R4045 Sprayer will come standard with CommandDrive beginning starting in 2020. Both sprayers are designed for large, broad-acre cropping systems and high-volume applications.

CommandDrive is an intelligent powertrain that uses a single hydrostatic pump to power all four variable-displacement wheel motors. If one or more wheels lose traction, the system adjusts to slow the slipping wheels and directs more flow to the other wheels with traction in order to power the sprayer over the terrain. The powertrain helps the sprayer more easily handle hills, soft soil, and other conditions where additional traction is needed.

In addition, CommandDrive works in tandem with the engine and entire sprayer system to automatically increase RPMs when more power is needed and to maintain proper spraying. With the powertrain’s Auto Mode setting, operators can maintain selected ground speed and application rate at lower engine RPMs, while the Auto Idle setting reduces the engine’s RPM to 900 when the machine is stopped. Both functions help reduce fuel/DEF consumption and provide a quieter cab for the operator.

Learn more from John Deere.

Precision Ag Bytes 5/8

AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes

  • AgGateway has published five new case studies that demonstrate specific company examples of how implementation of AgGateway resources has led to direct return on investment for agribusinesses. These brief, 2-page flyers can be found on AgGateway’s website, along with six other studies that were published last year.
  • The Conservation Technology Information Center launched online registrations for its 12th annual Conservation in Action Tour, which will explore conservation systems in central Iowa. Online registration for the tour is available at https://www.ctic.org/cia_tour/registration.
  • NRCS is expanding the technical input in program development and technical services in program delivery. NRCS posted an interim final rule in the Federal Register to make the existing regulations consistent with the changes made by the 2018 Farm Bill.
  • Meister Media Worldwide and its Global Precision Initiative announce the expansion of the long-standing website PrecisionAg.com – among the first media sites in the world devoted exclusively to agricultural technology – as a global digital source of expert commentary, longer-range trends and insights, and headlines from key precision regions.
  • Farmers have from May 6 through July 31, 2019, to enter the National Corn Growers Association’s National Corn Yield Contest. This year marks the 55th year for the contest that began with 20 entries from four states. Last year 7,258 entries from 46 states made NCYC the premier event of its kind in the nation. You can find both entry and harvest rules on the Corn Yield Contest website.
  • Conservis announces the deployment of Zone Economics, which delivers actionable insights to farmers.

ZimmCast 615 – Interviews From #Water4Food

AgWired Precision, Audio, Farming, water, Water for Food, ZimmCast

My first Water for Food Global Conference was a learning experience which included meeting some interesting people from around the world. This is the third time we’ve worked with The Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska to create a virtual newsroom on AgNewsWire.

This episode of the ZimmCast features interviews from the conference that provide a good overview of the Institute and the purpose of the conference. Here’s the list of who you’ll hear.

  • Overview interview of the conference with Peter McCornick, Executive Director, Water for Food Institute
  • Interview with Mark Edge, Director of Collaborations for Developing Countries, Bayer
  • Interview with the Irrigation Association: Deborah Hamlin, CEO, Irrigation Association; Brent Mecham, Industry Development Director, Irrigation Association; Aric Olson, President, Jain Irrigation
  • Interview with Conference attendee Grace Mukarusagara, Rwanda
  • Interview with Conference attendee Elisa Zancanaro Zanella, Brazil

I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.

Listen to the ZimmCast here: ZimmCast – Interviews from #Water4Food

2019 Water for Food Global Conference Photo Album

Stay Strong Nebraska Helping Farmers and Ranchers Rebuild

AgWired Animal, AgWired Energy, AgWired Precision, Audio, weather

The flood waters may be receding, but the damage from them still remains and Nebraska farmers and ranchers will need help for some time yet to rebuild. “Stay Strong Nebraska” is an initiative created to do just that, providing easy access to the Nebraska Farm Bureau Disaster Relief Fund and Nebraska Cattlemen Disaster Relief Fund with all donations remaining in the state.

Federal officials estimate the bomb cyclone weather phenomenon and subsequent flooding caused $1.4 billion in damages in the state of Nebraska. The damage assessment accounts for livestock, crop loss and infrastructure damage, but does not reflect personal property losses such as homes and farm buildings. Steve Nelson, president of Nebraska Farm Bureau, has met with dozens of families in many of the agricultural communities impacted by the recent storms. Listen to the update he gave on the situation at last week’s Water for Food Conference in Lincoln.

WFF19 Presentation by Steve Nelson, Nebraska Farm Bureau

Nebraska Cattlemen is also taking action to help ranchers and cattlemen. Pete McClymont, executive vice president of Nebraska Cattlemen, said the response from the community has been generous and heart-warming. “Gifts received by Nebraska Cattlemen Disaster Relief Fund will be disbursed to cattle producers in need, regardless of membership in Nebraska Cattlemen,” said McClymont. “This entire process has been very humbling knowing some cattlemen and women that were heavily impacted have already turned away assistance. We want every rancher, farmer, producer that has been impacted to know there are monies for qualified applicants. Every dollar given to a fund was donated with those impacted in mind.”

Nebraska-based agency Swanson Russell is helping with the effort and has created some media materials for use, including radio and TV spots, and are encouraging people to use them and spread the word that donations are still needed.

Stay Strong Nebraska 30 second radio spot

Stay Strong Nebraska Media Kit

Irrigation Innovation Critical to Water for Food

AgWired Precision, Audio, Irrigation, water, Water for Food

LtoR: Aric Olson, Jain; Deborah Hamlin and Brent Mecham, Irrigation Association

Innovation in irrigation is critical for the future of water for a hungry world and the irrigation industry was happy to play a role in the 2019 Water for Food Global Conference this week in Lincoln, Nebraska.

“This one conference brings all the top agriculture folks together,” said Irrigation Association CEO Deborah Hamlin. “This whole conference and Daugherty Institute was formed with the funding of a center pivot company originally.” Hamlin was one of the first presenters of the conference on “How the Irrigation Industry is Driving the Future through Efficient Technologies.”

Aric Olson is president of Jain Irrigation, a multi-national drip irrigation company actively involved in the newly formed Irrigation Innovation Consortium which met during the conference. “You could really see the group coming together, talking about the new technologies and making sure all the stakeholders are focused on getting more crop per crop,” he said.

Brent Mecham, Industry Development Director with the Irrigation Association, says precision is key to getting more crop per drop. “Putting the water only where it is absolutely needed takes a lot of expertise, so timing becomes really critical,” said Mecham, who adds that healthy soil plays a major role as well.

Listen to an interview with these three irrigation experts, as well as Hamllin’s presentation, below.

Interview with irrigation industry representatives

Presentation by Deborah Hamlin, Irrigation Association

More photos and audio from the conference can be found on AgNewsWire
2019 Water for Food Global Conference virtual newsroom

Precision Ag Bytes 5/1

AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes

  • Register now for the Soil Health Institute’s 4th Annual Meeting scheduled for July 16-18 in Sacramento, California.
  • The Conservation Technology Information Center welcomes its new Executive Director, Mike Komp.
  • Ceres Imaging announced an expanded platform partnership agreement with The Climate Corporation, a subsidiary of Bayer, to further integrate the Ceres aerial imaging solution with the Climate FieldView™ platform, the industry’s leading digital agriculture platform.
  • Syngenta and The Nature Conservancy announced a new Innovation for Nature collaboration to promote soil health, resource efficiency and habitat protection in major agricultural regions worldwide.
  • The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture and the International Food Information Council Foundation have launched an updated version of “Bringing Biotechnology to Life.” This free educational resource for educators follows the principles of project-based learning to teach about plant biotechnology and its role in food production through eight sequential lessons and a culminating research and public presentation module.
  • PlantResponse™ Biotech, Inc. announces the recent hiring of Dr. Patrick Doyle to its growing North American team. Doyle will lead as the Product Development Director and will work from the PlantResponse Biotech U.S. headquarters in Research Triangle Park.
  • FMC has issued a 2(ee) label for tar spot control in corn (field, seed and popcorn) for its new Lucento™ fungicide. Per the 2(ee) label, Lucento fungicide can be applied at the onset of the disease up through the R4 growth stage with a maximum of two applications per year.
  • PrecisionHawk, Inc. announced PrecisionAnalytics Agriculture, an aerial mapping, modeling, and agronomy platform purpose-built for precision agriculture.