Looking for a big boy tractor for those large acre row crop applications? Take a look at this New Holland T9 Series tractor that was on display for ag media on La Belotta Sustainable Farm near Turin, Italy. Darragh Mullin, CNH Industrial, APAC Product Marketing Tractors gave us a walk around tour of the machine.
New T9 4WD tractors give you the power you need and the comfort you want. If the engine and hydraulic power doesn’t turn your head, the sleek design and the largest cab in the industry certainly will. Six new models are ready to fit your farming needs. For those who want a row-crop ready articulated tractor, take a look at one of the four standard 36-inch-wide frame models up to 507 engine horsepower. The slim T9 engine hood provides improved forward visibility and the inboard planetary drive axles allow for narrow wheel width settings. For broad acre work, check out the two higher-horsepower, wide-frame models in the line-up. Their top-level performance is packaged in a new, beautifully balanced chassis that delivers more power to the wheels for improved productivity. Brain and brawn. New Holland knows it takes both to get the job done right.
You’ll get a lot of information on the T9 from Darragh in the video:
New Holland Honors Heroes with True Blue Salute
New Holland has expanded the True Blue Salute program in honor of the bravery, service, and sacrifice of America and Canada’s military and first responders. This program provides equipment incentives to all current and retired United States and Canadian military and first responders.
“New Holland is honored to show our appreciation and support of our military and first responders through the True Blue Salute program. It’s our way of saying thanks to the heroes in North America who serve and protect us,” says Mark Hooper, Senior Director Marketing for New Holland in North America.
New Holland is extending a special equipment offer to active, reserve, retired military and honorably discharged veterans, and current or retired first responders, including police officers, fire fighters, and emergency medical technicians. New Holland will offer $500 off the purchase of select new New Holland tractors, light construction equipment, and hay and forage products purchased from an authorized New Holland dealer in the United States or Canada. A valid, government-issued military ID card or other proof of service is required. Information on eligible equipment is available from local, authorized New Holland dealers.
Valent Expands Partnership with National FFA Foundation
Crop protection company Valent has expanded its partnership with the National FFA Foundation. This company news release says it’s moved up to 5-star status with the FFA group that builds partnerships with industry, education, government, other foundations and individuals to secure financial resources that recognize FFA member achievements, develop student leaders and support the future of agricultural education.
As part of this expanded relationship, Valent will now serve as sponsor of two FFA Agriculture Proficiency Awards. Those awards include the “Grain Production – Entrepreneurship” award, which honors the student who has excelled in effectively and efficiently incorporating the best management practices to produce and market grain crops in their own operation, and the “Nursery Operations – Entrepreneurship/Placement” award, which honors the student who has excelled in their own business or business placement focused on turf, ornamental plants, shrubs and/or tree production for the purpose of transplanting or propagation.
Valent will also provide funding to support the creation of an agriculture stewardship and advocacy platform designed to educate FFA’s membership on science-based facts and agriculture’s global role. “Over the years, we’ve been impressed with the quality and enthusiasm of upcoming young talent in FFA and their dedication to agriculture,” said Matt Plitt, Valent executive vice president and COO. “Our expanded sponsorship around advocacy and education will encourage dialogue with students regarding the critical issues facing our industry today, such as the products and techniques used by growers and the role they play in producing the crops that feed and clothe our world.”
Valent will also donate 100 student jackets to the FFA’s “Give the Gift of Blue” to ensure that more students are able to have jackets that represent FFA.
“Valent’s commitment to the FFA vision of growing leaders, building communities and strengthening agriculture is evidenced by the generous investment made to The National FFA Foundation,” said Molly Ball, National FFA Foundation president. “Through our partnership, FFA members will be able to wear the Blue Jacket, participate in proficiency awards and focus on agricultural literacy and advocacy.”
Are You Ready for the InfoAg Conference
There is an AgNerd’s paradise of a conference coming up in July. It’s the 2015 InfoAg Conference, the premier event in precision agriculture. I will be there courtesy of John Deere and GROWMARK. We learn more about this year’s conference and program from Quentin Rund, Conference Secretary, PAQ Interactive.
InfoAg 2014 was a record-setting success. Over 1400 participants shared in presentations on a wide range of topics on technology applications and data management and interpretation. As with previous InfoAg Conferences, the networking among participants was again a highlight of the experience. New relationships formed at InfoAg will lead to greater benefits and opportunities for those involved. Ideas exchanged in the hallways and the exhibit hall will form the basis for the new deliverables at the next conference. Those who took advantage of the Pre-Conference Tour on Monday picked up some additional first-hand knowledge and interactions.
Quentin says that pre-registration has already assured a new record attendance at this year’s conference. I asked him what he thought were the most important improvements in precision agriculture he’s seen since the first InfoAg Conference 20 years ago. He says ease of use for precision ag software and hardware coupled with the ease of transferring and using large quantities of data have been big drivers to move the industry segment forward.
Listen to my conversation with Quentin in this week’s program: [wpaudio url=”http://www.zimmcomm.biz/zimmcast/zimmcast479-6-23-15.mp3″ text=”2015 InfoAg Conference”]
Climate Corp Reports Record Adoption of Digital Services
Growers have mapped more than 75 million acres, announces the Climate Corporation. This number represents nearly 45% of all corn and soybean acres planted in the US. The company’s digital agriculture platform includes Climate Basic™, Climate Pro™ and FieldView® from Precision Planting. Their premium web and mobile products have also grown considerably, from 1 million to 5 million in the last year.
The combination of tools provide one account with many offerings. A grower can log in on a tablet from his tractor, on a mobile phone from the fields, or on his desktop computer.
“The interest we’ve seen from farmers this year in our digital platform reinforces the impact these tools ultimately can have on our industry,” said Mike Stern, President and Chief Operating Officer for The Climate Corporation. “We want to be the digital platform of choice for farmers, and our growth this year is evidence that we’re well on that path,” said Stern.
A farmer from Minnesota has experienced the digital platform firsthand. “I have been using FieldView from Precision Planting on my farm for three years, and Climate Pro for two years, and I can’t even count the numerous insights these two products have brought to my operation,” said Tim Malterer. “We have had great success using the Nitrogen Advisor in Climate Pro so far and are excited to utilize it to better manage how much nitrogen we need on a field-by-field basis. I am very excited as we move forward to see what new insights this unique technology will bring to my farm, and to watch it adapt and grow as my operation grows.”
Backed by the most powerful data science engine and extensive field trial network in the agriculture industry, the Climate Technology Platform™ combines data science with field science to feed and validate the predictive models that power the tools offered through the company’s digital ag platform. This season, The Climate Corporation has field experiments on more than 25,000 acres in 17 states across the U.S., including four Climate Research Farms across key corn growing states.
“As we continue to expand the extensive data and field science engine that powers our digital tools, we see tremendous potential for this platform to grow, providing additional solutions for farmers that help them increase production and use resources more efficiently,” Stern added.
Do You Think EPA Will Change RFS Volume Proposal?
Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “How will a ban on antibiotics impact your livestock operation?”
Our poll results clearly state that producers are not sure how the change in federal antibiotic guidelines will impact their operations. The livestock industry is currently working with producers to help with his transition and working closely with your veterinarians to create a health plan designed for your operation will be key.
Here are the poll results:
- It won’t – don’t use them – 7%
- Positively with correct health plan – 27%
- Big financial impact – 13%
- Unsure – 53%
Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, Will EPA change RFS volume proposal?
The EPA recently released a new proposal for biofuels volume obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard – one that has made no one happy but particularly corn farmers and ethanol producers who note that the agency is not implementing the law as intended. EPA is holding a public hearing to get comments on the proposal but will it lead to a change?
ASTA Awards Presented
Distinguished Service and Lifetime Honorary Member awards were presented by the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) during the closing banquet on Friday night.
Honored for distinguished service to the seed industry were retired DuPont Pioneer quality supply technology manager Greg Lamka, and Betsy Peterson of the California Seed Association. Lamka, who was unable to attend to receive his award in person, retired after a 22 year career with Pioneer and still serves as a consultant in the seed industry. Peterson has been director of technical services with the California seed group for the past 13 years but will be retiring June 30 to pursue her first love – textiles design.
Jerry Monk of Warner Seeds received the lifetime honorary award in recognition for his service to ASTA and the seed industry. As a 44-year veteran of the industry, Monk is a past president of ASTA and current president of the Seed Association of the Americas. He began his career with Kelly Green Seeds in 1971, bought the company in 1984, acquired George Warner Seed Company in 1999 and Semillas WAC in 2001. He has since expanded the company into Central and South America.
Industry Disputes Another UN Pesticide Classification
The International Agency for Research on Cancer this week issued a report classifying the herbicide 2,4-D as “possibly carcinogenic to humans,” the second time this year the United Nations World Health Organization agency has made such a classification of a widely used crop protection chemical. In March, IARC applied the same designation to glyphosate.
“Farmers use these proven tools to protect crops from weeds,” said Daren Coppock, President and CEO of the Agricultural Retailers Association. “They have passed through intense regulatory analysis and have been in use, in the case of 2,4-D, for more than 70 years.”
ARA notes that glyphosate, 2,4-D and others under review have been the subject of hundreds of scientific studies and regulatory reviews and that government regulatory agencies in over 100 countries have evaluated the science and concluded that 2,4-D and glyphosate do not increase health risks when used as directed.
“Ag retailers understand consumers have questions about how their food is produced; unfortunately, IARC’s report only serves to cause confusion,” Coppock said. “IARC analysis does not actually identify whether a compound is a carcinogen. It should not be the basis to ban useful crop protection tools.”
MF Tractor Awarded to Honor South Pole Expedition
Massey Ferguson has awarded the use of MF 5610 tractor for a season to Nancie Clanachan from Scotland. The award came from a competition run on the Antarctica2 Expedition website in December 2014. The site followed the adventures of a team that drove an MF 5610 tractor to the Geographic South Pole and back. The feat has given the MF 5610 a place in history as the first standard farm tractor to accomplish this mission.
“It was an amazing feat for the Massey Ferguson tractor to get to the South Pole,” says Nancie Clanachan whose family operates a beef and sheep operation. “We’re absolutely delighted to win the prize – it was a lovely surprise. My sons, who now run the farm, and my grandsons are all very excited about the arrival of the new tractor!”
The MF 5610 Antarctica2 Special Edition tractor has been recently launched in honor of the South Pole expedition. The Special Edition features a package of unique features and exclusive designs created to reflect the challenges of the battle with the cold and ice, such as a superdeluxe air-suspended seat, mechanical cab suspension, six LED lights, 540/540E/1000 rpm PTO, and high-spec audio system.
The Antarctica2 expedition was a huge challenge of strength and endurance for man and machine, and captured the imagination of a worldwide audience. The 28-day trek across the ice with the Antarctica2 team spearheaded by Lead Driver, Manon Ossevoort, was followed on social media alone by more than 27 million people.
Campbell Scott, Massey Ferguson Director Marketing Services presented the Clanachan family with the keys to the prize MF 5610 at the Royal Highland Show on 19 June. “Congratulations to the Clanachans, we hope they enjoy using the MF 5610,” he said. “Even in the depths of a Scottish winter, we know that the tractor will rise to the challenges on their farm just as it did in the extreme and hostile conditions of the Antarctic.”
New Sustainability Solutions from Agren
A three-tired Sustainability Solution has been unveiled by Agren, Inc., the leading provider of sustainability technology. The program provides agribusiness a way to add sustainability to their current precision setup. The platform assists growers with a multi-tired path from lead generation to full service conservation planning. The value it provides makes Agren unique. Solutions are practical, transparent to consumers, and science-based.
It’s purpose is to provide farm-specific solutions to assist with the demand for sustainably produced food.
- Intuitive, color-coded map layers in Tier 1 target areas of greatest concern and help advisors initiate a conversation with growers about specific resource concerns like soil erosion and nutrient loss that may be limiting productivity.
- Graphs and maps in Tier 2 allow advisors to rapidly analyze and understand the impact of management practices on soil and nitrogen loss.
- With Tier 3, ag advisors are able to deliver a full-suite of custom soil and water management services to growers, including site-specific recommendations for practices like reduced tillage, cover crops, and grassed waterways.
“Sustainability isn’t a fad,” says Agren CEO Tom Buman. “Sustainability is the crop input of tomorrow.” Spurred by population growth, news of hypoxia and climate change, looming regulation, and pressure from consumers, agribusiness is becoming acutely aware of the need to create viable sustainability programs. With Agren’s Sustainability Solution, agronomists are able to provide powerful conservation recommendations that easily integrate with their precision ag platform.
“The path to meaningful change is to provide real value to growers. Precision ag provides the platform to deliver that value,” says Buman. “By implementing Agren’s Sustainability Solution, ag retailers can differentiate themselves and address both short-term and long-term environmental challenges.”