TerrAvion Launches New Rangeland Imaging Solution

Kelly MarshallAerial Imagery, Agribusiness, Data

TerrAvionTerrAvion has announced their first aerial imaging solution for ranchers.  Their new service includes images and data that help spot early-warning signs for invasive species, plant/vegetation health issues, irrigation problems, and overgrazing.  With weekly, low-altitude flights, producers can spot emerging problems before they become big ones.

The subscription includes detailed, up-to-date satellite imagery and images uploaded to the cloud within hours.  Images can range from aerial photographs, NDVI images, thermal images custom color maps and histograms.

TomKat Ranch, an 1,800-acre cattle ranch in Pescadero, CA, is among the first to use the service. “TerrAvion’s imagery has made each of our team members more efficient and effective at their job. At a glance, the data give our team valuable insights into what’s happening across the entire ranch right now and can also be easily focused on a given area to see how fields are performing before and after they are grazed,” said Kevin Watt, Integrated Land & Livestock Manager at TomKat Ranch. “TerrAvion’s affordable and accurate imagery has also helped our team identify and address issues so much faster than before. It’s saving us a lot of time, and we expect it will save us a lot of money as well by helping us grow the health and productivity of our land and herds.”

Cofounder and CEO of TerrAvion, Robert Morris, said the new program comes at the request of their customers. “We’ve had great success helping growers improve crop yield through aerial imagery and data, and were approached by ranchers wanting something similar for rangeland,” said Morris. “Plant quality has a huge impact on the health and yield of cattle – an early warning system like TerrAvion can provide tremendous competitive advantage for ranchers.”

International Drone Expo to Host Drone Race in LA

Jamie JohansenAerial Imagery, Agribusiness, Aviation, drone, UAS, UAV

PrintInternational Drone Expo (IDE), the largest gathering of the most innovative and leading members of the UAV community from around the globe, will hold its first annual Drone Race inside the Los Angeles Convention Center this December. MultiGP, the sanctioning body and leading drone racing league for first-person view (FPV) radio-controlled aircraft in the United States, will custom design the indoor race course for first use at the show.

The IDE Drone Race event is a two-part series. MultiGP will hand select perennial talent to compete in the SoCal Maker Convention qualification rounds at the Los Angeles Fairplex in Pomona, CA on November 5, 2016. Finalists of the SoCal Maker Convention will advance to the IDE Drone Race Cup championship at the Los Angeles Convention Center and compete on a custom designed indoor race course. The specially designed drone race course will be larger than other indoor courses with more advanced obstacles, and complete with a massive spectating area for expo attendees.

“The first Drone Racing Cup presents a great opportunity to advance the sport of drone racing in terms of technicality and popularity,” said Ned Krause of IDE. “The sport’s top talent will face a course testing all of their capabilities as they navigate some of the most challenging and creative obstacles. Plus, spectators will have unprecedented up close access to the course making for an adrenaline-pumping event.”

Drone racing is one of the many activations that will be held at the International Drone Expo. Building off of the drone race, a separate drone race mini expo will be set up to also feature the best in the industry. Also incorporated into the show is a pitchfest competition in which entrepreneurs will seek investments and opportunities for their drone concepts and products from a panel of venture capitalists. Additionally, IDE show goers are encouraged to submit their most captivating drone footage for a chance to be displayed in the main hall during the expo.

Congress Ratifies Plant Genetics Treaty

Cindy ZimmermanASTA, Government, International, seed

Congress this week finally passing a broadly-supported international treaty to strengthen American agriculture and enhance global food security, an action endorsed by the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA).

First signed by President George W. Bush, and pending for nearly 15 years, the now ratified International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (“The Treaty”) will ensure U.S. public and private sector plant breeders have secure access to global plant materials as they work to develop the next generation of plant varieties to meet the needs of a growing population.

asta-logo“The Treaty is a win for the American seed industry and for agriculture innovation around the world,” said ASTA President & CEO Andrew W. LaVigne. “Ratification of the Treaty has been one of ASTA’s top legislative priorities for the past decade and has been supported by a wide range of agriculture and scientific organizations and universities. The Treaty will ensure U.S. public and private plant breeders have secure access to the materials they need to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges – from evolving plant pests and diseases, to changing climates, and feeding a growing population.”

The technical, international agreement facilitates the access and exchange of materials used to improve germplasm (seeds)–the backbone of agricultural innovation. Under the Treaty, a Standard Material Transfer Agreement ensures that the terms for access to germplasm are uniform and transparent for all contracting parties.

LaVigne added that important meetings related to the Treaty are taking place early next year, and this action by Congress the U.S. will allow the U.S. to finally have a seat at the table to protect its interests and lend its expertise.

EPA Atrazine Deadline Looms Large

Kelly MarshallAg Group, ARA, EPA, Herbicides, NCGA

NCGA-Logo-3The deadline for the EPA Atrazine comment period is fast approaching.  For growers who haven’t done it yet, groups like the National Corn Grower Association and the Agriculture Retailers Association are encouraging farmers to express support for atrazine before October 5, 2016.  To make the process easy, both the NCGA website and the ARA website offer help sending an e-mail.

“Atrazine is a safe and effective crop management tool, and EPA should base their decisions on sound science,” said National Corn Growers Production and Stewardship Action Team Chairman Brent Hostetler, a farmer from Plain City, Ohio. “That’s why I’m urging farmers to contact the EPA and make their voices heard.”

Farming without atrazine could cost farmers up to $59 per acre, according to a 2012 analysis by the University of Chicago. That could mean the difference between corn farmers making a profit or loss on their crop. Atrazine, a key ingredient in nearly 100 herbicide mixes farmers use, is one of the best tools on the market today for combatting resistant weeds that waste water and nutrients.

As part of the draft ecological risk assessment, EPA recommends reducing the aquatic life level of concern (LOC) from 10 parts per billion (ppb) on a 60-day average, to 3.4 ppb. Scientific evidence points to a safe aquatic life LOC at 25 ppb or greater. If this recommendation holds, it would result in a de facto ban on atrazine.

ARA

‘The future of some essential crop protection tools are at stake. It is important for our industry to weigh in with EPA to ensure they are following sound science and accurate data prior to making any final decisions. The agency needs to learn about the importance of these products to your customer’s crop production,” states the ARA.

DuPont Pioneer and CIMMYT Form Alliance

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, Corn, Dupont Pioneer, wheat

Dupont PioneerDuPont Pioneer and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) will be working together to advance the CRISPR-Cas technology.  A new Master Alliance Agreement details their cooperation in finding characteristics that address the needs of smallholder famers across the globe.

“Working together with CIMMYT will enable smallholder farmers to benefit from technology like CRISPR-Cas, helping them solve their challenges,” said DuPont Pioneer President Paul Schickler.

Pioneer and CIMMYT have a long history of working together on issues like food security and improving the livelihoods of farmers in developing nationals.

“In a world of rapid technology evolution, it’s essential that new approaches such as CRISPR-Cas are applied widely to benefit both poorer and wealthier farmers,” said CIMMYT Director General Martin Kropff. “This collaboration with DuPont Pioneer will allow us to provide climate and disease resilient varieties more quickly to smallholder farmers in the developing world.”

CRISPR-Cas is an efficient and targeted plant breeding method to develop healthy seeds by using the best native characteristics available within a crop. A range of potential product targets are under consideration by the newly formed Pioneer-CIMMYT Steering Committee. The first project will apply CRISPR-Cas to address maize lethal necrosis disease in Sub-Saharan Africa.

cimmytTwo out of three wheat varieties grown worldwide are either direct releases of CIMMYT lines or are derived from CIMMYT breeding materials by the national agricultural research programs. For maize, work in Sub-Saharan Africa since the mid-1990s by CIMMYT and partners, including local and global seed companies, has led to the development and release of more than 200 drought tolerant varieties that benefit over 5 million households on more than 2.5 million hectares each year.

CIMMYT leads the way in publicly funded research for developing wheat and maize and for wheat and maize based farming systems.

Soil Health Partnership Field Days Come to Close

Lizzy SchultzAg Group, Conservation, Education, Events, Soil, Soil Health Partnership

shp-fielddays The Soil Health Partnership (SHP) field days are coming to an end for this growing season after the series hosted 40 different events in eight states throughout the summer. The events were mainly hosted by farmers enrolled in the program and had regular cooperation from local groups, and were held with the intention of spreading the word about cover crops, reduced tillage and advanced nutrient management to more than 1,500 attendees this year.

“I’m so encouraged to see the interest from farmers taking time to attend these events and learn from their peers about advanced agriculture practices,” said SHP Director Nick Goeser. “Next year, we hope to add even more field days, while still keeping them informative and relevant for every level of interest.”

Subjects covered varied by event, but often included discussion on practical methods to improving soil, precision business management, cover crops-termination, early season vigor, herbicide interactions and what is working locally, strip-till demonstrations and equipment, and late-season nutrient management.

A soil pit was also used regularly to observe cover crop root growth and soil properties.

Goeser noted that winter and spring field days will occur occasionally in select locations, and that the dates for those events will be released on the SHP website, through social media and the newsletter.

Stewardship is Sustainability at BASF

Cindy ZimmermanAudio, BASF, Crop Protection, sustainability

Sustainability may have different meanings for different people, but stewardship is a much clearer concept and something that BASF is very cognizant of when it comes to developing new products for farmers. ‘

basf-media-gros-adam“We want to make this concept very tangible,” said Vincent Gros, BASF Head of Europe, Africa and Middle East, during an interview at the recent global press conference in Germany. “When it comes to sustainability, one size doesn’t fit all, and we have to address the local needs with products that are appropriate for local conditions.”

“In the end, there is no sustainable solution without innovation and without partnership,” added BASF Head of Global Sustainability and Product Stewardship Lena Adam. “But anything in the wrong dose or in the wrong application can also not have positive effects…so that’s why we stress the responsible use of our solutions for the highest benefit while minimizing any potential risk from a wrong application. It’s very close to our heart.”

Learn more in this interview: [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/basf-media-16-gros-adam-1.mp3″ text=”Vincent Gros and Lena Adam, BASF”]

You can find Markus’ remarks here.

BASF Global Press Conference Photo Album

Bayer-Monsanto Merger, Some Say Bad News

Jamie JohansenZimmPoll

zp-nh1Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What’s your opinion of the Bayer-Monsanto deal?”

The mega merger is still in the news and a small majority of pollers seem to believe the Bayer-Monsanto deal is bad news for the industry. As the companies work out the kinks farmers will soon see what the future holds and how this consolidation will impact their bottom line.

Here are the poll results:

  • Better solutions for farmers – 26%
  • Bad news – 37%
  • Consolidation is inevitable – 22%
  • Don’t know- 10%
  • Don’t care – 5%

Our new ZimmPoll is live and asks the question, How should U.S. normalize relations with Cuba?

The U.S. Ag Coalition for Cuba represents about 120 national groups each working collectively on individual interests with the common goal of improving trade relations with Cuba. Cubans seek to normalize relations with the U.S. which would include the U.S. lifting the embargo, extending credit to Cuba ensuring future trade deals and opening borders allowing U.S. citizens to travel as tourists to Cuba. Trade would open doors for U.S. agriculture and tourism would seal the deal on demand for U.S. goods. However, many believe any business with Cuba is bad business because of it’s history. Tell us how you feel…end the embargo, open-up tourism for U.S., neither or both?

AFBF Selects Teachers to Pilot Classroom Resource

Kelly MarshallAFBF, Ag Group, Education, technology

american-farm-bureau-foundation-for-agricultureFour teachers will have the opportunity to pilot the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture and the International Food Information Council Foundation‘s new educational resources.  “Bringing Biotechnology to Life” is a set of free lessons that teach students about agriculture biotechnology and how it affects food production.

The four educators are: Amy Dawson of Paragould, Arkansas; Ginger Reimer of Claremore, Oklahoma; Christy Reynolds of Camden, Arkansas; and Melissa Smith of Alpena, Michigan.  In addition, each teacher will also receive a $100 credit for the Foundation’s resource store, www.agfoundation.org.

“Our goal is to help consumers understand the impact biotechnology makes on agriculture and our lives through this fact- and research-based resource that has been reviewed by an array of scientists,” said Julie Tesch, executive director of the Foundation. “This science-based classroom resource includes applicable lessons to provide students with the tools they need to make informed decisions about the practical uses of biotechnology.”

Topics covered in the material include: DNA, selective breeding, biotechnology, and GMOs.  A public presentation module is also included, encouraging students to research and then present what they’ve learned to an audience outside the classroom.

“Bringing Biotechnology to Life guides learners through the process of understanding DNA, selective breeding, biotechnology and GMOs,” Tesch said. “In addition, students are presented with tools to evaluate the reliability of information they see and hear.”

The Bringing Biotechnology to Life Version 1.0 learning kit is available for download at no cost at http://www.foodinsight.org/biotech-curricula or http://www.agfoundation.org/images/uploads/EG_Biotech_Final.pdf.  Version 2.0 is schedule to arrive early next year.

Soil Microbiology is the Key to Yield

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, Soil, Water Management

brookside-agra-logoFormerly growers have focused on chemicals for crop health, production and yield.  Then focus shifted to mechanical technology and then biological considerations.  Ben Elliot of Brookside Agra says the trend is set to shift again, this time focusing on understanding soil biology and structure.

“We are learning about a whole new dynamic to agronomy today in growing crops and it is very exciting,” said Elliott, Vice President of the organization. “From my time in the industry, I have seen people absolutely push back on what we talk about, and now we have evidence that microbiology is viable. In reality, biology has more to do with the health, production and yield in your crop than does mechanical or chemical aspects of it.”

Just like the human microbiome contains populations of microorganisms that colonize the gut, mouth, skin and other areas of the body, populations of microorganisms colonize the soil and all things growing within the soil, said Elliott. There are populations of microbial species that exist on and around the plant, but an overwhelming majority of them exist below the soil line.

“We share some of the same relationships in our own bodies with microbes that we need doing work for us in the soil where we grow crops. Those microbial species in the soil are responsible for ensuring that the functioning systems work efficiently and keep it thriving and healthy. Think of the soil as the ‘gut’ of farming.”

Microbes are beneficial to soil health, and thus benefit plants growing in that soil.  “The diseases that occur in your crops are a direct result of the balance of the microbes that are in your soil,” said Elliott. “If we pay attention to the biological structure of our soil, we set ourselves up with a soil environment that can hold more water and nutrients and create a symbiotic exchange of water and nutrients between the plant and the soil.”

The company has developed an all-natural water conservation agent they call H2OExcel.  It works to increase biological activity in the soil and prevent dehydration.  Studies have shown it decreases water usage by 30-50 percent, meaning lower costs to maintain vegetation. Results also point to increased plant strength, reduced crop failure and increased root mass.

“H2OExcel is highly efficient and works to naturally change the polarity of water and soil to keep water available deeper in the soil profile. This results in supercharged biological activity within the soil that paves the way for vital nutrients to reach a growing plant and its root zone,” said Elliott.

For more information about Brookside Agra or H2OExcel, visit www.brookside-agra.com.