New @GROWMARK Program to Help Young Farmers

Cindy ZimmermanAudio, cooperatives, FS System, Growmark

fps-gmk-heatherAs a young farmer herself with her husband, Heather Thompson knows first-hand some of the challenges facing the new generation of agriculture.

“My husband and I are just getting back to our own family farm operation,” says Thompson, who is Young Producer Programs Manager for GROWMARK. Some of the challenges new young farmers face include farming with multiple generations, financial concerns, and dealing with legislative and regulatory issues.

As a result, GROWMARK is developing a new program to help young farmers face those challenges, and the first step is reaching out to them to determine their needs. “So we’ll be doing focus groups with young farmers, our member cooperatives, and current board members,” she said. “We’ll spend some time over the winter months developing a year-long program of leadership development.”

While the program will be generally aimed at “young” farmers, Thompson says they have no age limit in mind. “Farming’s changing and the face of farming is changing,” “So, a lot of people in my generation were encouraged to get jobs off the farm right out of school … so a young farmer might really be a beginning farmer.”

The program officially kicked off last month with the program development phase and GROWMARK hopes to have it in place by next summer.

Learn more in this interview from Farm Progress Show: [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/fps-gmk-heather.mp3″ text=”Interview with Heather Thompson, GROWMARK”]

2015 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Coverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Coverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by John DeereCoverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by GrowmarkCoverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Bayer CropScience

Loveland Launches Extract PBA for Residue Management

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, Nutrient Management, residue management, webinar

lavelandAnnouncing the launch of Extact Powered by Accomplish.  The new product for residue management and nutrient release from crop resides has been released by Loveland Products, a global provider of crop input solutions.

Extract PBA benefits growers by:

Accelerating crop residue decomposition
Maximizing nutrient release from residue breakdown
Easier plantability in the spring
More even crop emergence
Optimum yield potential for next season’s crop

“Extract PBA is an exciting new tool for residue management and nutrient release, allowing soybean, corn and other row crop growers to access the full nutrient potential of their crop residues,” said Eric Moon, Plant Nutrition Marketing Manager for Loveland Products. “By using Extract PBA to release valuable nutrients from crop residues and add them back into the soil profile, growers can re-utilize some of their previous fertilizer investments—those that were taken up by the plant and remain in the residue after harvest—for the benefit of next season’s crop. This creates a tremendous opportunity to sustainably increase return on investment.”

Extract PBA (6-0-0), which is labeled for residue management and pre-emerge applications, combines the powerful biochemistry of Accomplish® LM, one of Loveland’s signature products, with ammonium thiosulfate (ATS). When applied on crop residues, the Accomplish LM biochemistry in Extract PBA accelerates residue decomposition and speeds nutrient release. At the same time, the ATS in Extract PBA promotes an optimal carbon to nitrogen ratio to enhance soil microbial activity, further expediting nutrient return to the soil profile.

You can learn more on September 16, 2015 by accessing a complimentary webinar, hosted by Loveland Products at 8 am CT and 11 am CT.  The presentation is entitled “Accessing the Full Nutrient Value of Your Crop Reside.”

How Engenia™ Herbicide Works in Cotton

Cindy ZimmermanAudio, BASF, Cotton, Crop Protection, Herbicides, Weed control

basf-field-tn-chadBASF Crop Protection anticipates regulatory approval for Engenia™ herbicide yet later this year, which will provide growers with the most technologically advanced dicamba formulation for control of broadleaf weeds in dicamba-tolerant crops for both soybeans and cotton.

“Like all the other dicambas BASF has made in our 50 year history, (Engenia) is a highly effective post-emergent broadleaf weed control tool,” said Chad Brommer, BASF technical market manager for Engenia, during a recent media event in Tennessee. “The other great thing about Engenia is that is was designed with the BAPMA salt to be the most stable form of dicamba that we’ve ever produced.”

basf-tn-cottonDuring the Tennessee event, we saw some pretty impressive field trial with Engenia combined with other herbicides to fight resistant weeds. “Engenia is part of a weed control system, which means it does not exist on its own,” explained Brommer. That means starting clean with a good burndown and pre-emerge herbicide with residual, followed by an early post application with Engenia and a grass control component and a layered residual.

Brommer says they believe Engenia will be especially important in the south where pressure from resistant palmer amaranth is especially heavy. “In cotton, we’re often going to have to come back maybe three times to control weeds – pre-emergent, first post, and oftentimes and second post or layby application,” said Brommer. “BASF is in a unique position because we’ve got Prowl® H20 plus Cotoran that can be used pre-emerge, we can come back in dicamba-tolerant cotton with Engenia plus glyphosate plus Outlook herbicide, and then layby you can even come back with glufosinate or Liberty plus Zidua…now we’ve got a whole series of different effective sites of action.”

Learn more in this interview: [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/basf-tn-chad.mp3″ text=”Interview with Chad Brommer, BASF”]

BASF Southern Media Event in Tennessee

Introducing Single-Component Soybean Inoculate

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, seed, Soybeans, technology

signumPrecision Laboratiories and Rizobacter S.A. are working together to feed the earth’s ever growing populations.  Together the two companies have created new technologies that make the most of the biological capabilities of soybeans.  Their new product, Signum, is the first premium, single-component soybean seed inoculant.

“Signum sets a new standard for premium, retailer-applied soybean inoculants because its unique formulation has only one component,” said Terry Culp, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Precision Laboratories. “This means easier handing and fewer issues with product mixing for the applicator, while increasing yield for the grower.”

Traditional premium soybean inoculants require mixing two or more components at the time of application. Signum delivers convenience by eliminating the need to mix additional parts.

Trials, conducted in 2014, indicate Signum enhances soybean yield by 4.2 bushels per acre over untreated seed and 2.7 bushels over a competitive premium inoculant. The combination of seed-applied fungicides and insecticides with Signum produced an additional 2.5 bushels per acre over the fungicide and insecticide.

“We’ve developed these technologies to ultimately deliver increased plant health and yield for the grower,” said Culp. “With Signum, the indicators of increased yield are evident right from the start with enhanced stand, vigor and root nodulation.”

Precision Laboratories creates innovative, simple and effective products.  Rizobacter S.A. is the leader in biological products.  Signum is the result of their 10 year partnership.

 

Roundup Ready 2 Xtend Set for 2016 Launch

Lizzy Schultzbiotechnology, Farm Progress Show, GMO, Monsanto, Soybeans, Uncategorized

Monsanto Company‘s Roundup Ready 2 Xtend Soybeans are still on target for a 2016 release.

DSC_0554

Ben Kampelman, US Dicamba Marketing Manager for Monsanto, sat down with AgWired at the 2015 Farm Progress Show to discuss the company’s new product. His takeaway focused on the three important benefits Roundup Read 2 Xtend soybeans will offer farmers: flexibility, weed control, and the same yield potential that comes with Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans.

“Farmers will be able to spray Dicamba over a wide window of application,” he explained, “They will have the flexibility to spray Roundup, or Dicamba, or both over the top. If a farmer wants to spray both of those products they’ve certainly got that ability.”

In terms of weed control, Xtend soybeans offer farmers multiple modes of action to ensure successful weed management: “We’re hearing that farmers are really dealing with Palmer Ameranth, Mare’s Tail, Water Hemp, really tough to control weeds,” said Kampelman, “The flexibility to spray Dicamba over the top, pending regulatory approval, will help control those tougher weeds. Together with a true residual, it will offer great weed control.”

Listen to my interview with Kampelman here: [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/fps-15-monsanto-kampelman.mp3″ text=”Interview with Ben Kampelman, Monsanto Company”]

What’s New in SeedGrowth at Bayer CropScience

Jamie JohansenAgribusiness, agronomy, Audio, Bayer CropScience, Farm Progress Show, seed

DSC_0289Kevin Adam is the business lead for Bayer CropScience SeedGrowth division and gave an update on all the new growth happening this year during the recent Farm Progress Show held in Decatur, IL.

“Some of the new innovations coming online this year is Ilevo. Ilevo is a sudden death syndrome and nematode control product that we have on the market and growers are seeing tremendous results right now. We have also launched and opened a brand new SeedGrowth technology center in Minnesota.”

Kevin said the facility was a $12 million investment with 135,000 square foot focused on equipment production and training.

Bayer CropScience has also gone into a research collaboration with Elemental Enzymes. “They are a life sciences company that is focused on soil microbes for the enhancement of soil and crop production.” Kevin said it is an exciting opportunity with a lot of possibilities, but too early to talk details.

Listen to my complete interview with Kevin here: [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/fps-15-bayer-adam.mp3″ text=”Interview with Kevin Adam, Bayer CropScience”]

2015 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Coverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Coverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by John DeereCoverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by GrowmarkCoverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Bayer CropScience

Real-Time Data Becoming Crucial for On-Farm Success

Kelly MarshallAerial Imagery, InfoAg, Satellite, weather

Croptical5In a GEOSYS sponsored a survey of the 2015 InfoAg attendees, 47% reported they plan to use remote imagery services to increase their investments.  Farmers said real-time data and higher yields were their primary reasons for adopting the technology.

The data was collected form precision ag specialists, marketing and sales associates, senior managers, IT professionals and agronomists.

The greatest challenge for farmers to begin using these tools cost, followed by complexity.  And nearly everyone surveyed– 98%, said customer support was an essential component.

“Adopting new technologies has proven to be a daunting endeavor for many of those in agriculture,” said Matthieu Hyrien, global sales and marketing lead, GEOSYS. “Effective, reliable customer service not only guides current customers, it also reassures those looking to potentially adopt or expand their remote imagery services.”

In order to make effective decisions, agronomists and growers need timely and insightful data. The survey found the greatest benefit that remote imagery provides to farmers is real-time data. More than two-thirds (67 percent) of the respondents pointed to it as a primary reason why their customers have adopted remote imagery services. This was followed closely by higher yields (64 percent).

Among those surveyed, nearly all identified the quick turnaround of remote imagery data (95 percent) and the delivery of actionable data (92 percent) as necessary features for their customers. Nearly the same number (95 percent) said manufacturers’ data deployment speed played a crucial role in the success of their businesses.

“When facing constantly changing field conditions, farmers need to act quickly,” Hyrien noted. “There’s no time to wait for data that doesn’t accurately reflect current crop or weather conditions.”

GEOSYS offers Croptical Monitoring Application to benefit a farmer’s decision making.  This innovative technology uses twice-daily satellite imagery and daily weather updates so growers can evaluate and compare field health.

For more information about GEOSYS Croptical™ Monitoring Application, visit http://www.croptical.geosys.com.

Grain Tracker App Available for #Harvest15

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, Apps, Website

409716ERM-WIFI_medFall harvest is upon us and Digi-Star is ready with a new Grain Tracker app and Grain Tracker Online.

The app is for iOS and Android devices, while the online program can make harvest data avaliable anywhere you have internet.  For growers using Digi-Star’s GT 460 Scale Indicator and ERM wi-fi module will be able to take advantage of the Grain Tracker app and Grain Tracker Online this season.

“These tools will provide added flexibility and precision for producers,” Digi-Star General Manager Kevin Klubertanz says. “The App lets them easily view and control their GT 460 scale indicators from their phones or tablets. Grain Tracker Online enables them to store and access harvest data from any device with internet access.”

The Grain Tracker App interfaces with the Digi-Star web server, allowing users to sync records in the Grain Tracker PC software program or the new Grain Tracker Online. The Grain Tracker App can be downloaded from any online app store. It is free of charge with the purchase of Digi-Star’s External Radio Modem (ERM) Wi-Fi module.

The ERM module is designed to transmit data to a growing portfolio of Digi-Star smartphone and tablet applications and hardware systems. Grain Tracker Online will be free to use for one year and will be available for a nominal annual fee after that.

“Combine operators can have remote control of the scale during loading to calibrate the combine yield monitor, edit field locations, change trucks and more,” Klubertanz says. “Truck drivers can easily see the weight of grain being loaded to help them maintain safe and legal road weights. We designed these products to help producers make informed decisions and eliminate guesswork for improved land management, efficiency and profitability.”

You can see the system at the World Dairy Expo, Sept. 29- Oct. 3, or call 920-563-1400 or email sales@digi-star.com.

Rep. @RodneyDavis Visits #FarmProgressShow

Cindy ZimmermanAudio, Farm Progress Show, Government

fps-davisFarm Progress Show is in the Congressional district of Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL) and he stopped by the media tent to chat when he visited the show last week.

“I’m blessed enough to represent Decatur and host this event every two years,” said Davis. “You got billions of dollars of equipment sitting out here. It really shows what agribusiness and agriculture means, not only to Illinois and Iowa, but the entire Midwest and our entire national economy.”

Rep. Davis talked about some of the important issues for agriculture that the House is waiting for the Senate to move on, including GMO labeling. “We passed a bill in the House that creates a GMO labeling program that’s similar to organic,” said Davis, who is chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Biotechnology. “Right now, it’s a free for all, you don’t really know what standards need to be met when you see a GMO-free label now.”

Davis hopes the Senate will take up this legislation and others that the House has already passed. “I hope that Leader McConnell begins to think about implementing a process that’s going to move good legislation that we’ve already passed and get it to the president’s desk,” Davis said.

Listen to my interview with Rep. Davis at Farm Progress Show – [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/fps-davis.mp3″ text=”Interview with Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL)”]

2015 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Coverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Coverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by John DeereCoverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by GrowmarkCoverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Bayer CropScience

NFU Pleased with the Future of Drones

Kelly Marshalldrone, NFU, UAV

national-farmers-union-logoRoger Johnson, president of the National Farmers Union (NFU) has praised the FAA for the work it has done to address the challenges and future of UAVs.  Recently two individuals at the administration have been selected to spear head the integration of UAVs into U.S. airspace.

“UAVs have significant potential to benefit America’s family farmers and ranchers,” said Johnson. “NFU appreciates these appointments as well as the FAA’s past work soliciting public comments on how to fully realize the potential, and recognize the problems, that could accompany widespread drone use.”

The FAA selected Marke “Hoot” Gibson and Earl Lawrence today to help guide the agency as it integrates Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) into the National Airspace System (NAS). The two will be tasked with external outreach and education, and drone safety, respectively.

Johnson reiterated points laid out in NFU’s comments submitted to the FAA in April 2015. “Initial assessments contend that the technology could be used for surveying and detailed scouting of cattle, insect infestation, insufficient nutrients, and weed presence,” said Johnson. “And as the technology matures and adoption becomes more significant, the uses can evolve to a much wider application. Agriculture is excited and stands by with high expectations.”

Johnson also underscored the potential pitfalls of this widespread UAV use, including privacy concerns and safety hazards for air traffic. Drones have been used with increased frequency to monitor private agricultural operations creating concerns over landowner rights. Airplane pilots have also reported 700 close call incidents with drones this year, triple the number recorded for all of 2014.

“While we recognize the potential benefits that could stem from UAV use in agriculture, we must be aware of the issues that arise with proliferation of this technology,” said Johnson. “In order to achieve meaningful utilization, it is critical that our nation has a standardized and uniform framework for use, safeguards to personal privacy and adequate safety standards.”

“NFU appreciates FAA’s efforts and will continue to engage with the agency over the issues that arise from drone use,” he concluded.