AFBF Wants Your Summer Pics

Kelly MarshallAFBF, Ag Group, Contest

AFBF-Photo ContestDon’t forget!  AFBF  is reminding you of the opportunity to take summer photographs in preparation for the 2015 Farm Bureau Photo Contest.  Any Farm Bureau member 18 years and older at the time of entry is eligible to submit pics, including state/county staff and professional photographers.

“Now is a great time to get pictures of farmers and ranchers working safely during harvest, working in the garden or even selling their goods at farmers’ markets,” said Kim Baker, AFBF’s assistant director, creative services. “The summer months offer endless opportunities to shoot diverse photos of American agriculture.”

Photo submissions will be used to accurately portray today’s agriculture and the safe practices of farmers and ranchers. Additionally, submissions will also be used for future publications, promotions and social media by AFBF and related companies. All photos submitted must exemplify safe practices on the farm or ranch.

The contest is open for submissions until March 31, 2016. Photos may be entered in four categories: Farm Families, Farm Labor, Technology and Consumer Outreach. Monetary prizes will be awarded to the top three placing photos from each category. First place winners will be awarded $150, second place $100 and third place $75.

Keep an eye on Farm Bureau’s social media and website to see the winners announced on April 15, 2016.

AgNerd Giveaway Winner Announced

Chuck ZimmermanAgNerd, Contest, ZimmComm

Contest-Banner-2I guess Ray Bowman is an AgNerd. Now he’s an AgNerd with a new tool – Galaxy Tab S Android Tablet. That’s because Ray has won the drawing in the ZimmComm AgNerd Giveaway! Ray is the owner of Jerusalem Ridge Farms and President/CEO, Farmstead Media Group.

We had entries from 26 states and in a fair random drawing Cindy reached her hand in and picked out the ticket with Ray’s name on it. So here’s what he’s getting:

Samsung Galaxy S Tab Specs:

  • Super AMOLED® display (1600 x 2560)
  • Our thinnest (0.26″) and lightest (1.02 lbs.) yet
  • Unique innovations like Fingerprint Scanner, Multi-window™, and more
  • Get up to 9 hours of battery life, and even more with Ultra Power Saving Mode

Thanks to everyone who participated in our little contest. It’s a mobile world and AgWired wants to help you adapt! I’m going back to the ZimmComm gadget stash to see what we can come up with for our next AgNerd Giveaway.

Federal Judge Strikes Down Maui Anti-GMO Law

John DavisAgribusiness, biotechnology, Dow AgroSciences, GMO, Monsanto

A federal judge has struck down a Hawaii county’s ordinance against genetically engineered crops. This article from Civil Beat said the decision by Judge Susan Mollway found the ordinance “invalid and unenforceable” because it is preempted by state and federal law.

Mollway emphasized that the ruling is not a statement on whether genetically modified organisms are beneficial or detrimental.

“The court recognizes the importance of questions about whether GE activities and GMOs pose risks to human health, the environment, and the economy, and about how citizens may participate in democratic processes,” she said. “But any court is a reactive body that addresses matters before it rather than reaching out to grab hold of whatever matters may catch a judge’s fancy because the matters are interesting, important, or of great concern to many people.”

monsanto1John Purcell, vice president at Monsanto Hawaii, said in a statement that the company is proud to be part of Hawaii’s agricultural community and looks forward to continuing its operations.

“We’re listening and we’ve heard the concerns some people have about GMOs and today’s farming practices,” he said. “Our commitment to ongoing dialogue with our neighbors doesn’t stop today. We understand the responsibility we have to farm sustainably and to work collaboratively, and we welcome the opportunity to continue having conversations with members of the community.”

Dow AgroSciences, a partner in the suit to stop the measure, was also pleased with the court’s ruling.

We believe the court’s ruling is well reasoned and legally sound. Dow AgroSciences continues to focus on being a strong contributor to the community and the agricultural industry in Hawaii.

Harvest After Rain Enhances Food Safety

John DavisAgribusiness, Fruit, Vegetables

cornellNew research shows that waiting to harvest after a rain enhances food safety. This news release from Cornell University says rain or irrigation creates soil conditions that are more hospitable to Listeria monocytogenes, which when ingested may cause the human illness Listeriosis. Waiting to harvest crops reduces the risk of exposure to the pathogen, which could land on fresh produce.

“We’re looking at the science that helps governmental entities, such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and private entities create policies that keep our food supply safe,” said Daniel Weller, a doctoral student in the field of food science and the lead author of the new work, “Spatial and Temporal Factors Associated With an Increased Prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes in New York State Spinach Fields.” The other authors are Martin Wiedmann, Cornell’s Gellert Family Professor in Food Safety, and Laura Strawn, assistant professor at Virginia Tech.

Factors such as proximity of a field location to water and other landscape features also play important roles in the presence of Listeria. The researchers tested fields in a variety of locations throughout New York and found that after rains or irrigation, the chances of finding Listeria were 25 times greater. But, after the fields dried at least 24 hours, the chances of detecting Listeria dropped dramatically, to levels similar to baseline.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is proposing rules allowing farmers to apply “wait periods” after application of irrigation water.

Iowa Gov Signs $9.6 Mil Support for Water Quality

John DavisAgribusiness, Conservation, Government, Soil, water

cleanWaterIowaIowa’s Gov. Terry Branstad has signed into law $9.6 million in support for water quality. The Iowa Department of Agriculture says the measure to support the Iowa Water Quality Initiative also officially adds “Water Quality” to the Department’s Division of Soil Conservation.

“Iowans in both rural and urban areas continue to be engaged in efforts to improve water quality. These funds will help as we work to continue to build and expand practices shown to protect water quality and monitor progress. Iowa is a model nationally for the progress that can be made on this important issue,” [Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill] Northey said.

The Legislature provided $4.4 million for water quality in the Agriculture and Natural Resources appropriation bill (SF 494), which was signed into law on June 18. In addition, $5.2 million was included in the in Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund (RIIF budget, HF 650), which was signed into law on July 2.

SF 494 also added “Water Quality” to the name of the Department’s Division of Soil Conservation and Water Quality to formalize the increased focus on the issue by the Department over the last several years.

The department says the money funds will allow it to offer cost share statewide to farmers trying new water quality practices, continue work in targeted watersheds to achieve measurable water quality improvements, expand urban conservation efforts, and develop new programs to help engage all Iowans in improving water quality.

Michigan State Wins IFAMA Global Student Case Competition

John DavisAg Group, Agribusiness, University

IFAMA1Students at Michigan State University have taken first place in a competition to demonstrate analytical and problem solving skills. This article from the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA), a nonprofit of industry, students, academics, government leaders and other key stakeholders across the value chain of food production and consumption, says the school’s Tatevik Avetisyan, Kendra Levine, Andrea Leschewski, and Leonard Polzin were among 20 teams taking place in the 10th annual international Student Case Competition.

“The student case competition is the most difficult challenge I’ve faced while in graduate school!” says, Andrea Leschewski, from Michigan State. “Attempting to solve a real-world business problem and convince others that our solution is pragmatic in four hours is not easy.”

Students were asked to develop a plan as to how Monsanto and The Climate Corporation could leverage new acquisitions to help farmers maximize their net return per acre while better utilizing scarce land and water resources in order to feed a growing world population.

“It took countless hours of practice for our team to develop the intuition, organizational structure, teamwork, and presentation skills to successfully participate in the competition,” said Leschewski. “Through preparing for the case competition, I feel my teammates and I gained invaluable insight into our individual strengths in strategic problem solving that will prove valuable as we enter our professional careers.”

“Investing in the next generation of agriculturists is the primary focus of CHS Corporate Citizenship and the CHS Foundation,” said William Nelson, president, CHS Foundation and primary sponsor for the Student Case Competition. “Partnering with the colleges and universities participating in the IFAMA World Forum is an exceptional example of how CHS works on behalf of its farmer and rancher owners. Talent is a key to unlocking the potential of agribusiness globally.”

The conference took place last month in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

New Report on Cover Crops, Soil Health Out Soon

John DavisAg Group, Cover Crops, Soil, USDA

grasslandoregonA new report outlining recommendations for cover crop and soil health reform is due out soon. Seed breeder and producer Grassland Oregon gives a preview of what will be in the report that will come from the National Working Group on Cover Crops and Soil Health, in particular, the call for public-private partnerships for cover crop research and reform.

When asked about the public-private partnerships mentioned in the report Risa DeMasi, Chair of ASTA and partner at Grassland Oregon, stated, “Public-private partnerships will keep us from being redundant with our resources such as trials and research. We can bring consumers solutions faster by walking down the path together rather than working separately.” As ASTA seeks public-private partnerships, companies like Grassland Oregon also hope to foster a partnership with the National Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) and the USDA.

Grassland Oregon hopes the recommendations will be seriously considered and deemed a priority by government regulatory bodies.

Happy Independence Day!

Cindy ZimmermanGeneral

july-4th-2015When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Wishing you a safe and blessed Independence Day!

New Air Carts and Tillage Models from Salford Group

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, Planting, Soil, sustainability, Tillage

salford-logoSalford Group, a global ag equipment manufacturer, is introducing several new products this summer.  Newly launched is a giant air cart, the AC4000L dry/liquid hybrid quad tank, and two new additions to its Independent Series line of tillage equipment, the vertical tillage I-2200 and a hybrid tillage specialist, the I-4200.

The AC4000 is the company’s largest implement to date in the large-scale air cart class. The new four-tank offering is available in an all-dry 945 bushel configuration, as well as a hybrid dry/liquid configuration to match the real needs of large acreage operations. Known as the AC4000L, the dry/liquid hybrid features 550 bushels of dry capacity across three tanks, along with a massive 4000 gallon liquid tank.

“We’ve had a lot of requests from customers to incorporate liquid fertilizer into our carts. Larger acreages really tighten the seeding window. This leads to producers towing three implements at once, one for seeding, a second for dry product and a third for liquid. These trains can reach over 130 feet long,” said Brad Baker, Product Manager for Salford’s Seeding and Independent Series equipment lines. “The combined machines are high capacity, but cumbersome to operate and potentially dangerous to transport and maneuver. We took producer feedback and engineered the AC4000L to carry liquid and dry product for a safer machine that is simpler to operate.”

Also new this summer are two new offerings in the tillage lineup, the I-2200 and I-4200.   Each carry Salford’s latest blade mounts on 5-inch spacing that creates more aggressive operation while maintaining the benefits of Salford’s true vertical tillage design.

The I-2200 is one of Salford’s more aggressive true vertical tillage designs, making it a highly formidable and productive piece of machinery. It combines the Coil-Tech Coulter II 1 5/8” independent blade mounting system of the I-2100 with the five-inch spacing of the I-1200. This unique combination allows for excellent seed bed preparation, thorough residue sizing, and effective mechanical weed control. It also features 60 percent more down pressure than the Salford Coil Tech I and deeper penetration into tough ground conditions.

The I-4200 is more aggressive yet, combining concave blades and wavy coulters to achieve the residue mixing capabilities of the I-4100 with the field finish characteristics of an I-1200 or I-2200 (five-inch spaced models). The front two rows of the machine utilize the same rubber cushion concave blade coulters and spacing found on the I-4100. The I-4200 is compatible with all Salford seeding and fertilizer application attachments, including Switchblade™ hydraulic shanks. This allows multiple operations to be combined into one pass, therefore multiplying the productivity factor of the machine.

These two new pieces speak to Salford’s commitment of building equipment for soil health.  The company desires better yields, but also focuses on the long-term goal or preserving the soil for a greater return in the future and for the use of the next generation.

Soybean Growers Want to Hear Your Conservation Story

John DavisAg Group, Agribusiness, ASA, Conservation, Soybeans

Conservation-Legacy-Awards1The American Soybean Association wants to hear your conservation story. This news release from the group says those chosen could win a Conservation Legacy Award, recognizing U.S. soybean farmers who distinguish themselves through outstanding environmental and conservation practices, while remaining profitable.

Are you using a reduced tillage practice on your farm such as conservation tillage, strip-till or no-till? Do you grow cover crops? Have you taken steps to reduce soil loss or improve water quality? These are just a few conservation practices used on some farms today that help to produce sustainable U.S. soybeans. If you are using one of these practices or perhaps others, we want to hear about your accomplishments and you could win a Conservation Legacy Award.

Award Winners Receive:

An expense paid trip for two to Commodity Classic, March 3-5, 2016, in New Orleans, La.
Recognition at the ASA Awards Banquet at Commodity Classic.
A feature on your farm and conservation practices in Corn & Soybean Digest and a special online video.
New – Potential opportunity to join other farmer-leaders on a trip to visit international customers of U.S. soybeans.

The awards are sponsored by the American Soybean Association, BASF, Corn & Soybean Digest, Monsanto and the United Soybean Board/soybean checkoff. More information is available here. All applications must be submitted by Sept. 1, 2015.