Presidential Election – Is Immigration/Farm Labor Important?

Jamie JohansenZimmPoll

zp-nh1Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “Is agriculture still relevant at state fairs?”

I won’t disclose my age, but I will say I have never missed a Missouri State Fair. No, I am not a carney. I was there with my dad as he managed FFA shows and exhibits, I have exhibited my own cattle and more recently have attended as media. No matter the exact reason, they were all centered around agriculture. And luckily, our pollers agreed that agriculture does and should play a large role at state fairs across the county. I hope your memories of state fairs are as memorable as mine and you do your part to make sure agriculture isn’t lost at future fairs.

Here are the poll results:

  • Yes, plays a big role – 65%
  • Yes, but minor – 11%
  • No, should play larger role – 16%
  • No need for ag – 5%
  • Don’t know – 0%
  • Other – 3%

Our new ZimmPoll is live and asks the question, How important is immigration/farm labor to election?

One of the hot topics in this year’s presidential election has been immigration. Both sides of the line have mentioned it’s impact, but few can agree on a solution. Farmers and ranchers are in a constant struggle to find farm labor and immigration laws play a big part. Let us know how important immigration and farm labor are in our upcoming presidential election.

New & Upgraded Activations at 2016 International Drone Expo

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

PrintInternational Drone Expo (IDE) has new and upgraded show activations for 2016. IDE will host its first annual Drone Race Cup, a pitchfest competition and film showcase. The third annual IDE is set to take place December 9-10, 2016 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

The Championship IDE drone race cup is one of the few sanctioned in Los Angeles. The race will feature a challenging state-of-the-art course with demanding obstacles, time chip sensors and display monitors showing first person view for spectators.

The show will also seek the latest innovations through a pitchfest competition. A select panel of venture capitalists will award finalists and an overall winner as pitchers seek investments and growth opportunities for their innovative drone concepts and products. Applications will be open in September on the IDE website.

IDE exhibitors will have the opportunity submit their most compelling drone footage which will be showcased during the expo in the main hall.

“As the leading drone expo, we strive to showcase the cutting edge innovations and exceptional capabilities of unmanned aerial vehicles,” said Ned Krause of IDE. “The all-new and upgraded activations, coupled with keynotes, workshops and high level seminars led by industry experts, encompass the best of today’s UAVs and the innovation we can look forward to in the near future.”

Read More

Washington Tractor Celebrates Precision Farming

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, Video

Passion for PrecisionWashington Tractor Inc. has spent the last year promoting its brand philosophy, character and personality as an organization through video storytelling.  Now their latest video highlights precision farming and its worldwide impact.

The video, “Passion for Precision” explains why every plant matters.

“Washington Tractor is honored to tell the unique story of our relationship and history with Trout Lake Farm and Nutrilite and its positive impact on the world agriculture stage,” says Tyler Musson, Corporate Marketing Manager for Washington Tractor Inc. “Darwin, Phil, and the rest of the Trout Lake Farm and Nutrilite Agribusiness Operations are a great example of inspiration through perseverance.”

Darwin Hintz, Technology Manager for Trout Lake Farm and Nutrilite Global Agribusiness Operations, said precision mechanized equipment technology, along with their relationship with Washington Tractor, are critical components in having a global impact and influence.

“Trout Lake Farm and Nutrilite Global Agriculture Operations represent the ‘Best of Nature Best of Science’ in modern organic agribusiness,” Hintz said.

GEOSYS Knows Satellites

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, GEOSYS, InfoAg

GEOSYS GEOSYS has been in the satellite imagery business for nearly 30 years, so they know what they’re good at, says Emily Negrin, marketing and communications. Their satellites provide data from the field to all kinds of industry professionals.

“What makes us different from people entering the satellite space is that we have developed a proprietary processing system, so we work with a wide variety of satellites and are able to take in that data, put it through our processing system, which is almost fully automated, and are able to calibrate and really kind of standardize our data. So we are able to compare data from different satellites to one another regardless of time and location,” Negrin tells AgWired.

That data can then be used in a wide variety of ways and customized for each user.

GEOSYS also knows the value of partnerships. By dovetailing their strengths with other companies GEOSYS is better able to serve their customers, offering even greater insight into what is happening in the field.

To learn more, listen to my interview with Negrin: [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/InfoAg16-GEOSYS-Negrin.mp3″ text=”Interview with Emily Negrin, GEOSYS”]

2016 ICPA/InfoAg Photo Album

Coverage of the InfoAg Conference is sponsored by
Coverage of the InfoAg Conference is sponsored by John Deere Coverage of the InfoAg Conference is sponsored by CropTrak

New Forms and Rules Filings for Drone Insurance

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, drone, UAV

droneConsumers are asking for insurance coverage of drones, which is why the American Association of Insurance Services (AAIS) has announced new forms and rules in the Agriculture General Liability Program (AgGL). The organization has also filed a new Personal & Advertising Injury Liability Aircraft Exclusion to address this new liability exposure.

To date the AgGL endorsements have been approved in 34 states.

AAIS’ new endorsements were created in anticipation of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) long-awaited Final sUAS Regulations for small commercial UAS (under 55 pounds). The new regulations were published June 21, 2016 and will become effective August 29, 2016. The economic impact of this ruling is expected to be first felt in farm and agribusiness as it is the fastest growing commercial sector using drones.

AAIS leads the national Property & Casualty insurance advisory industry in providing two specialized Agricultural General Liability (AgGL) products: one to meet the needs of large farms and one for commercial agricultural exposures. The AgGL program includes coverage of more than 300 expert classes, thus writing a separate commercial general liability policy is not necessary with the AAIS coverage forms.

With UAVs poised to change the field of agriculture, along with the expected FFA regulations allowing farm operations to monitor from 400 feet, the AAIS will soon be releasing even more additional forms and rules for drones.

“As an industry leader in the farming and agriculture sector, we anticipated the need our members would have and their demand has been great,” said Leslie Rippley, AAIS vice president of commercial lines, farm & agribusiness. “Thus, our first filing for Agricultural General Liability Unmanned Aircraft coverage offers large commercial farm and agricultural operations a solution tailored to their more complex exposures.”

Syngenta, ChemChina Gain Transaction Clearance

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, Syngenta

syngenta-logoChina National Chemical Corporation (ChemChina) and Syngenta are announcing they have received clearance from the Committee of Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS) to proceed with their proposed transaction.

The closing of the transaction will also be reviewed by numerous global regulators and other customary closing conditions.  Both Syngenta and ChemChina are working with the regulatory agencies to keep discussions constructive.

They expect to finalize the closing by the end of 2016.

Veris Technologies and The Climate Corporation Collaborate

Cindy ZimmermanNitrogen, Nutrient Management, Soil

Veris-logoVeris Technologies and The Climate Corporation, a subsidiary of Monsanto Company, have announced a collaboration to make high resolution soil maps from Veris on-the-go soil sensors available as a key data layer for the agronomic models in The Climate Corporation’s Climate FieldView™ platform.

Both companies are excited about the partnership to enhance farmer access to precise soil mapping technology and enable them to experience the value of Climate’s customized data science insights.

“This is not just about data connectivity, it’s about the combination of soil, weather and scientific insights to better predict nitrogen needs,” says Eric Lund, President of Veris Technologies. “Not only will this collaboration allow farmers to efficiently view Veris maps in the Climate FieldView platform, but most importantly, the high resolution soil maps generated by Veris soil sensors will be used to help manage one of farmers most expensive and sensitive inputs.”

Veris on-the-go soil sensors produce precise maps of soil texture, organic matter, and pH. These properties have a significant impact on productive potential and are closely tied to nitrogen use, loss, and mineralization. A proper prediction of a crop’s nitrogen needs requires an accurate understanding of the soil and how it varies within individual farm fields.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Veris, as part of Climate’s extension of the Climate FieldView platform to other ag innovators who are developing unique technologies for farmers,” said Mike Stern, chief executive officer for The Climate Corporation. “Veris produces best-in-class soil maps, and we expect these maps to be a foundational data layer in the Climate FieldView platform, enabling our agronomic models to provide even more customized insights for farmers on a meter by meter level.”

Veris sensor platforms use patented and proven electrical, infrared and electro-chemical sensors to collect data on key soil characteristics that help growers make site-specific management decisions about seed, fertilizer, soil amendments, herbicides, irrigation, and drainage.

For more information about Veris soil sensors visit www.veristech.com.

WinField’s R7 Tool Takes Retailers to Next Level

Kelly MarshallAerial Imagery, Agribusiness, InfoAg

WinfieldAdam Garrestson fully believes that if you are a retailer, WinField‘s R7 tool is the most efficient way to support placing hybrids for growers.  At #InfoAg16 he told me how the product has been one of the best tools in the past, and how it’s getting better in the future.

The R7 tool offers two components from WinField, an aggregate of Answer Plot data and satellite images.   The Answer Plot contains results from more than 200 test plots where hybrids are placed in a variety of growing scenarios, environments and soil conditions.  The combined data allows retailers to help farmers pick just the right hybrid for their fields.

The satellite images come from WinField’s partner, GEOSYS.  The specially mapped fields correlate yield data from the combine to offer variable rate prescriptions for seeding and fertilizer.

In October of this year users of the R7 platform will see getting even better.  While the current version works only with iOS, the new product will be available for Android.  Other changes will make it possible to use the entire system from any device, rather than needing a laptop.

“If you are a listener who happens to work in the retail ag space I highly recommend that you checkout WinField and check out our Answer Plot system and our R7 tool because I believe it is one of the most robust platforms to help retail salesmen have an educated discussion and be that trusted advisor for a grower on his farm,” asserts Garrestson.  “This is the tool that takes him to the next level.”

For more information, listen to my full interview here: [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/InfoAg16-WinField-Garrestson.mp3″ text=”Interview with Adam Garrestson, WinField”]

2016 ICPA/InfoAg Photo Album

Coverage of the InfoAg Conference is sponsored by
Coverage of the InfoAg Conference is sponsored by John Deere Coverage of the InfoAg Conference is sponsored by CropTrak

Online Forms for NCGA Yield Contest Available

Kelly MarshallAg Group, Contest, Corn, NCGA

NCYCWith harvest already beginning in some areas of the U.S., the National Corn Growers Association is ready for the 2016 Yield Contest.  Online harvest forms are now available, and the deadline, which seems distant now, is seven business days of the final yield check or November 21, whichever comes first.

“While harvest has only begun in a few areas, we ask contest applicants to submit harvest forms within one week of their final yield check to allow NCGA staff adequate time to thoroughly review each form,” said Production and Stewardship Action Team Chair Brent Hostetler. “The National Corn Yield Contest plays a significant role in recognizing excellence and finding new, more productive techniques. We hope that growers continue to support the contest by seeing their entry through and submitting their completed harvest data forms.”

The harvest form uses the same login as the initial entry form and does require a farmer or seed representative’s NCGA membership number.

NCGA moved to a solely online entry platform last year. This year, harvest entry documentation must also be submitted online. To complete the form, entrants will upload weight tickets and a form documenting row lengths. Prior to upload, both documents must be signed by the contest supervisor.

For half of a century, NCGA’s National Corn Yield Contest has provided corn growers the opportunity to compete with their colleagues to grow the most corn per acre, helping feed and fuel the world. This has given participants not only the recognition they deserved, but the opportunity to learn from their peers.

Winners will be published in the NCYC Corn Yield Guide and other cash trips and awards from sponsoring seed, chemical and crop protection companies.  Winners are announced at Commodity Classic 2017 in San Antonio, Texas.

See full rules and regulations here.

Farmers Edge Named Technology Pioneer

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, Award, technology

farmersedgeFarmers Edge, a global leader in precision agriculture and independent data management solutions, has been named one of the world’s most innovative companies.  They have been selected as one of the World Economic Forum’s Technology Pioneers.

The honor recognizes their Precision Solutions packages which offers variable rate tech, soils sampling and analysis, field-centric weather, in-field telematics and data transfer, high-resloutions satellite imagery, field-cenetric data analytics, access to their integrated farm management platform- FarmCommand, and the Farmers Edge team of advisors for decision making.

Farmers Edge is one of 30 companies to receive this recognition out of hundreds.  Their selection will open new doors world-wide.

“We welcome Farmers Edge in this group of extraordinary pioneers,” said Fulvia Montresor, Head of Technology Pioneers at the World Economic Forum. “Farmers Edge is among those companies that is shaping the Fourth Industrial Revolution, a technological revolution that will fundamentally alter the way we live, work and relate to one another. Through the platform of the World Economic Forum, it will be able to scale and share its technology and achieve a larger impact.”

“We’re proud to be recognized by the World Economic Forum for our leadership in the next generation of precision agriculture innovation,” said Wade Barnes, President and CEO of Farmers Edge. “Our data-driven approach to sustainable agriculture will continue to be a key tool for growers needing to improve productivity without deteriorating environmental conditions. Ultimately, as these conditions change and the population grows, our approach to farming represents a replicable, scalable model for the world’s largest and most important agricultural regions. We’re honored to be a part of the global food security solution.”