Iteris Signs ClearAg Agreement with Minnesota Wheat

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, Data, Fungicides, Iteris, weather, wheat

IterisLogoIteris, Inc. has entered into an agreement with the Minnesota Wheat Research and Promotion Council (MWRPC) to provide wheat growers with custom weather and soil data to localize wheat disease models.  The delivery platform is Iteris’ precision data program, ClearAg.  MWRPC members will be able to view high-resolution data to make better decisions on fungicide applications using this app.

Specifically, Iteris plans to provide its unique modeling-as-a-service to wheat producers by hosting the publicly developed Fusarium Head Blight Forecasting model and the Wheat Leaf Disease Forecasting model through the ClearAg platform. This platform is expected to provide producers with instant access to these forecasting models through easily understood maps and graphics on their mobile devices. Minnesota wheat growers should also be able to access the Wheat Disease models at mawg.cropdisease.com.

ClearAg is a decision support application for precision farming built upon Iteris’ EMPower™ adaptive forecasting engine. As new information becomes available, the ClearAg system adapts to provide the most accurate, location-based information available on a worldwide basis. ClearAg’s patented technologies combine global, multi-sensor weather analyses, ensemble-based weather forecasting, customized soil modeling, and a staff of expert meteorologists to create what the firm believes to be the most accurate, science-based environmental information available. 

“We look forward to providing the MWRPC with next-generation agronomic and atmospheric modeling services through our ClearAg platform in order to assist wheat producers improve their crop management and crop quality,” said Tom Blair, senior vice president of Performance Analytics at Iteris. “We anticipate our ClearAg App will allow wheat growers to have comprehensive access to weather, water, soil, and crop growth information alongside their publicly developed wheat disease modeling information. Not only will the service provide real-time decision support analytics for farmers and agronomists, but it should also help growers leverage the models to define, defend, and clarify their wheat production operations. This relationship underscores Iteris’ commitment to agriculture and improved food quality in support of growing global consumption.”

Follow Iteris ClearAg on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube for up-to-date information.

Cheminova Products Add to FMC Portfolio

Cindy ZimmermanAg Media Summit, Audio, FMC, Fungicides, Insecticide

ams15-fmc-wheelerFMC Corporation just completed its acquisition of Cheminova earlier this year and at the Ag Media Summit we talked with FMC business solutions manager David Wheeler about what new crop protection solutions that adds to the FMC portfolio for growers.

“The Cheminova acquisition has really rounded out our portfolio,” said Wheeler. “For instance, we were lacking in fungicides in our portfolio, and Cheminova was very strong with fungicides.” In addition, Cheminova provided addition modes of action for insecticide products. “From a product standpoint it’s been great for us and helps make us a more well-rounded company,” Wheeler added.

In this interview, Wheeler also talks about the benefits of fungicide use. [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/ams15-fmc-wheeler-1.mp3″ text=”Interview with David Wheeler, FMC”]

2015 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

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Coverage of the Ag Media Summit is sponsored by FMC   Coverage of the Ag Media Summit is sponsored by New Holland   Coverage of the Ag Media Summit is sponsored by the National Biodiesel Board

USDA Gathering Conservation Data

John DavisConservation, USDA

usda-logoThe U.S. Department of Agriculture is gathering information on conservation practices. This news release from the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) says the agency is talking to farmers and ranchers through this month.

During the first phase of the National Resources Inventory (NRI) – Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP), NASS will contact approximately 24,000 farmers and ranchers nationwide to determine if their operations and properties meet eligibility criteria to participate in the survey. Farmers and ranchers deemed eligible may be contacted from October 2015 through February 2016 and asked to participate in the survey, part of a two-year project. The same survey process and schedule will be followed later in 2016 with a different set of producers.

“The survey gives farmers and ranchers the power to provide a more complete and accurate picture of the conservation practices they choose to use on their lands and in their operations,” said NASS Administrator Joseph T. Reilly. “If contacted, I urge farmers and ranchers to participate; their responses can help leaders focus on the conservation practices that most benefit both the farmer and the natural resources on which we all rely.”

CEAP’s purpose is to measure the environmental benefits associated with implementation and installation of conservation practices on cultivated and non-cultivated agricultural lands, according to USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the lead agency for the project. NASS conducts the survey for CEAP under a cooperative agreement with NRCS.

Data obtained from the project may help NRCS conservationists and partners determine the efficiency and effectiveness of current conservation techniques and help identify best practices. CEAP results may also help:
• Evaluate resources farmers and ranchers may need in the future to further protect soil, water, and habitat;
• Shed light on techniques farmers and ranchers use to conserve healthy agricultural systems and environments;
• Improve and strengthen technical and financial programs that help farmers and ranchers plan and install conservation measures on agricultural land; and
• Support conservation programs that can help farmers and ranchers’ profits while also protecting natural resources.

Safeguards will ensure the privacy of all respondents.

Senate Committee Stops EPA Pesticide Rule

John DavisAgribusiness, environment, Government, Pesticides

uscapitolA U.S. Senate committee has stopped what many see as an overreach by the federal government on pesticide use. The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works today passed S. 1500, the Sensible Environmental Protection Act of 2015, a bipartisan measure that amends the Clean Water Act and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) to clarify Congressional intent regarding the regulation of the use of pesticides in or near navigable waters. The bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to consult with the Secretary of Agriculture and report to Congress on streamlining data collection and use regarding water quality due to the registration and use of pesticides.

The news was welcomed by U.S. Senator Pat Roberts of Kansas, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry.

“This duplicative pesticide permitting requirement provides no environmental protections or benefits and is only a nuisance to hard-working farmers and other pesticide applicators,” Roberts said. “I continually hear about this issue from farm country, and I hope we can finally put it to bed once and for all.”

The National Council of Farmer Cooperatives says the measure resolves the regulatory morass created by a misguided and poorly reasoned court decision forced on the EPA.

“It is far past time for this issue to be dealt with once and for all. The intent of Congress has long been clear—FIFRA was always intended to regulate the registration and use of crop protectants and the EPA plays an important role in the process by ensuring that pesticides do not harm human health or the environment,” said Chuck Conner, president and CEO of NCFC. “Quite simply, under FIFRA, the label is the law. Those who do not follow a product’s label are violating the law even without a clean water permit.”

Companion legislation has also passed the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Developing with John Deere

Chuck ZimmermanAgribusiness, Audio, InfoAg, John Deere

John Deere InfoAgLast year we were talking about how John Deere has really opened up their API’s to allow for quicker collaboration and cooperation with other companies. That has been a big success for the company according to John Deere’s Randy Kasperbauer. I visited with Randy next to this very white genius bar looking display at the InfoAg Conference to learn more. Developers can find lots of good information on a special John Deere website.

John Deere APIs enable your software to:

  • Retrieve files that contain yield data, send prescription files, and exchange a wide range of business data with MyJohnDeere.
  • Retrieve machine data such as Location, Fuel Usage, Engine Hours, and Distance Traveled using the AEMP industry standard base web services.
  • Integrate your Work Order Management System with Deere’s AgLogic™ logistics planning system.

Learn more about developing with Deere in my interview with Randy here: [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/infoag-15-jd-randy.mp3″ text=”Randy Kasperbauer, John Deere”]

Read about how to get started here.

2015 InfoAg Conference 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 Growmark

Environmental Legal Issues in Precision Ag Tech

Jamie JohansenAg Group, environment, InfoAg

infoag15-96-editedEmerging legal issues impacting precision agriculture was the topic of one of the breakout sessions during the 2015 InfoAg Conference. Bob Wilkinson, environmental attorney for Husch Blackwell’s food and agribusiness business unit in St. Louis, sat down with me to share more about his work. This unit has about 70 lawyers who focus on this industry and recently they have spent a lot of time working in precision technology and UAV’s use in agriculture.

At InfoAg, Bob talked on the collection of data through the use of UAV’s that might be used in an environmental compliance context. The developments of precision technology in agriculture is very exciting. “The concern of owners and operators of facilities using these technologies is some of their information can be used in the environmental compliance context for identifying things like emissions in the air from fuel tanks, grain bins, processing operations, discharges from surface water, lagoons, etc.”

Bob pointed out that the environmental agencies have very broad information gathering authorities. “If data collected like this can be used to find issues with compliance with the main environmental laws, the federal government and nearly every state have the authority to request that information and require that people who have that data turn it over to them.”

Bob said they advise their clients to really think if they need information in order to make good business decisions. If so, then by all means collect it. But if you get a request from an agency, you will have to turn it over. If you are gathering information with no plan to use it, then you might consider whether or not you want to continue generating the information.

Learn more about this particular legal issue in precision agriculture in my complete interview with Bob here: [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/infoag-15-wilkinson.mp3″ text=”Interview with Bob Wilkinson, Husch Blackwell”]

View and download photos from the event here: 2015 InfoAg Conference 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 Growmark

Biotech Crops Alliance Talks Commercial Possibilities

John DavisAg Group, Agribusiness, biotechnology, NCGA

NCGA-Logo-3A group working for a better understanding of biotechnology is talking about how to address any worldwide asynchrony regulatory risks associated with the commercial possibilities for biotechnology. This news release from the National Corn Growers Association, one of the U.S. Biotech Crops Alliance’s (USBCA) founding organizations, says USBCA recently held a technology meeting in Montreal, bringing together representatives from all parts of the value chain to create an understanding of both the biotechnology derived products which have or may gain U.S. regulatory approval, their international approval status and possible market risks in an attempt to help farmers understand the status of new products in world markets before they plant these varieties.

Held in conjunction with the U.S. Grains Council’s Annual Board of Delegates Meeting, USBCA laid the groundwork for ongoing discussions on how to move forward as an industry that simultaneously values farmer access to valuable biotechnology-based tools and export markets for their end product. The discussions will continue this December during regularly scheduled meetings.

Notably, the group discussed the robust trait pipelines for both corn and soybeans in the coming years with several corn as many as four soy products which have full U.S. approval for market-ready varieties as early as planting season in 2016. Given the incredible array of options that could benefit America’s farmers, these talks helped the industry, as a whole, as it works to optimize the potential for biotechnology and exports across the value chain.

Established in 2012, USBCA already has developed, and is working to implement, consensus positions on key policy issues designed to improve the introduction, stewardship, domestic and international regulatory policy, and distribution in U.S. and export markets of commodities and processed products containing or derived from modern biotechnology.

Next Generation Corn from Dupont Pioneer

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, Corn, Dupont Pioneer, Insect Control

Dupont PioneerA new line of corn is being released by DuPont Pioneer.  The newly branded, Pioneer brand Qrome will be available to stewarded on-farm trials for 2016.  DP 4114 is equipped with proven insect protection, strong agronomics, and high-yeilding capabilities. It includes Bt proteins from Herculex 1 and Herculex RW traits and is compatible with Pioneer brand corn germplasm from many hybrid platforms.

“The new line-up of Pioneer® brand Qrome™ corn products help deliver improved yields and the strength of pyramided insect protection to a wider array of hybrid platforms,” said Steve Reno, DuPont Pioneer vice president and regional business director for the United States and Canada. “By advancing Qrome™ products from the research test phase to on-farm trials, we will be able to demonstrate to growers the value that these products will bring to every acre of their own fields.”

“As part of our commitment to delivering the right product on the right acre, Pioneer deploys extensive local testing of its products before bringing them to market,” said Reno. “Qrome™ products are being tested in small plot research and IMPACT™ trials in 2015 across the Corn Belt this year under a variety of conditions and environments to ensure consistent, leading performance before commercial launch.”

In multi-year testing, Pioneer® brand hybrids containing Qrome™ product technology had insect efficacy on-par with hybrids containing the original Herculex® XTRA technology (Events TC1507 and DAS59122), but offered improved yield performance due to the technology’s compatibility with the corn germplasm.

Qrome™ product stacks have received cultivation approval in the United States and Canada and import approval in a number of key export markets. The on-farm trials will be managed under strict stewardship requirements.

Ag Retailers Oppose EPA Proposal on Insecticides & Bees

John DavisAg Group, Agribusiness, ARA, Bees, pollinators

ARAWhile they work to keep pollinators healthy, the folks who sell products to ag producers are concerned about a new government proposal that would restrict crop protection measures. The Agricultural Retailers Association says the EPA’s “Proposal to Mitigate Exposure to Bees from Acutely Toxic Pesticide Products” is not based in science and would absolutely prohibit the use of most of the effective insecticides on crops in bloom when contracted bees are on-site.

EPA is specifically requesting comments on three areas; the Proposal affects ALL growers as it:

Would prohibit applications of most insecticides and a few herbicides (76 active ingredients) which are acutely toxic to bees, during bloom when bee hives are present for contracted pollination services.

Encourages efforts to reduce pesticide exposures through development of state/locally-based measures, referred to as ‘Managed Pollinator Protection Plans’ (MP3s).

Identifies other areas of alleged “uncertainties” and solicits comments regarding very important crop protection tools ― insect growth regulators, fungicides, tank mixes, seed treatments and soil uses.

ARA has outlined its concerns and wants producers to provide comments in certain areas to be filed with EPA before the deadline of August 28, 2015.

Questions that would be helpful to address in any comments include:

– If you use any of these products, have you experienced any issue with bees or beekeepers?
– How do you use any of these products, and how important are they for your production system?
– Has the availability of these products increased your production compared to previous pest control products?
– If these products are restricted or otherwise made unavailable, are there alternative pest control strategies you would use?
– If you were forced to use alternatives, what will be the economic impact on your farming operation?

FarmLink’s Focus on Precision Data

Jamie JohansenAgribusiness, Data, FarmLink, InfoAg

infoag15-88-editedFarmLink’s managing director, Randy Barker, joined his team at the 2015 InfoAg Conference in St. Louis to share their latest advances when it comes to precision data technology. I caught up with him to hear the FarmLink update.

“Farmers are facing a lot of challenges. It might be weather or commodity prices. What we provide them is a measurement tool so they can understand if their production is reaching it’s potential and optimizing their invest in the crop through benchmarking.”

As attendees walked through the FarmLink booth, Randy said their key messaging was focused on precision data. “Precision data needs to be actionable. As a company we have been focused on ensuring that we have high quality data so that when we move down to a zone level or a sub-zone level with a farmer that data is high resolution and they can make actionable decisions.”

FarmLink has just updated their latest version of TrueHarvest and it continues to be a great benchmarking tool for growers across the country. They have taken feedback from farmers and used them to improve the interface and utility of the tool.

Listen to my complete interview with Randy to learn about where FarmLink is headed in the future and their commitment to quality data. [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/infoag-farmlink-barker.mp3″ text=”Interview with Randy Barker, FarmLink”]

View and download photos from the event here: 2015 InfoAg Conference 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 Growmark