GROWMARK Announces Ag Interns

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, Growmark, Intern

GROWMARKGROWMARK Inc. is announcing the names of participants of their Exploring Agriculture Intern program.  The 20 selected students come from two year community and/or technical colleges.  The purpose of the program is to bridge the gap between the programs of these colleges and the GROWMARK system retail companies.

“We are striving to provide students with hands-on agronomic experiences, allowing them to gain a strong understanding of the GROWMARK System and the agriculture industry, with the hopes of preparing them to fill full-time positions with an FS retail or member company,” said Amie Hasselbring, GROWMARK university relations recruiter.

Participants will spend 10 weeks exploring the agronomy operations of the retail business of the GROWMARK system.  At course completion each intern will meet with management staff to present a project summary and discuss their experiences.

Click here to see the names of selected participants.

 

USFRA Cab Conversations on Brownfield

Cindy ZimmermanFarmers, Planting, USFRA

usfra-cabThe U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) is sponsoring a second season of Cab Conversations with Brownfield Ag News.

Each week, three U.S. farmers meet on Google+ Hangout from the cab of their tractors to share insights, challenges and tips relating to the planting season with host Meghan Grebner, Anchor/Reporter for Brownfield Ag News.

“Brownfield’s Cab Conversations utilizes an innovative digital platform to bring farmers together,” said Cyndi Young Director of Brownfield and Ag Operations. Conversations range from drought challenges facing the Western farmers to different challenges faced by waterlogged Midwest farmers to planting and data technologies to the national dialogue around GMOs. Another unique element of the program is that Grebner checks back in with the farmers four-weeks later to see how things on the farm have changed, improved and even if new challenges have risen.

“USFRA is known for its success in engaging consumers in dialogue about food and farming. So a series that engages farmers and ranchers in the same type of dialogue is a great place for us to be,” said Nancy Kavazanjian, USFRA Chairwoman and a Wisconsin farmer herself.

To follow the conversation and engage with the farmers online, follow Brownfield (@Brownfield), Meghan Grebner (@BRNAgNews_MG and @mkg81) and USFRA (@USFRA) on Twitter and use #CabConversations and #FoodD.

USDA Invests in Ogallala Aquifer

Kelly MarshallConservation, Government, NRCS, USDA, Water Management

USDA_logo_svgFarmers and Ranchers in the Ogallala Aquifer can expect improved water quality and the conservation of billions of gallons with the assistance of the USDA‘s $6.5 million dollar investment.  Secretary Vilsack announced that funding will be directed towards seven target areas to support primary water sources and encourage rural economies.

“This funding assists conservationists and agricultural producers in planning and implementing conservation practices that conserve water and improve water quality,” said Vilsack. “This work not only expands the viability of the Ogallala Aquifer but also helps producers across the Great Plains strengthen their agricultural operations.”

The Ogallala Aquifer supports almost one-fifth of the wheat, corn, cotton, and cattle grown in the US. It encompasses eight Great Plains states and is the main water supply for the High Plains’ population of Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.  Currently the rate of use for the aquifer is unsustainable.

Through the Ogallala Aquifer Initiative (OAI), USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is directing funding in fiscal 2015 to support targeted, local efforts to improve the quality and availability of this vital water supply. This year’s work is planned in seven priority areas in five states and will continue for up to four years. It will conserve billions of gallons of water per year, extending the viability of the aquifer for multiple uses. This conservation investment builds on $66 million that NRCS has invested through OAI since 2011, which helped farmers and ranchers conserve water on more than 325,000 acres. The Secretary noted that much of the funding invested by USDA has been matched or supplemented by individual producers.

“Water is a precious resource, and the Ogallala Aquifer Initiative helps our farmers and ranchers use it wisely,” NRCS Chief Jason Weller. “This is especially important in a place like the Ogallala, where drought conditions have prevailed in recent years. We know we can’t change the weather, but we can help producers be ready for it.”

Auto Steer/GPS Attributed to #Plant15 Progress

Jamie JohansenZimmPoll

New Holland ZimmPollOur latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What technology is most responsible for rapid planting progress?”

#Plant15 is in full swing and many attribute the rapid progress to auto steering and GPS capabilities. Others commented saying larger equipment, lots of hard work and long hours come into play. I know all are true. Where would we be without technology?

Here are the poll results:

  • Automatic section control (ASC) – 5%
  • Variable-rate seeding – 6%
  • Precision seed metering – 21%
  • Auto steer/GPS – 31%
  • Faster planters – 16%
  • Other – 21%

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, What is your favorite type of craft beer?

The Alltech’s Rebelation is right around the corner and no Alltech event is complete without craft beer. This year Alltech will kick off the educational festivities with the 2nd Annual Craft Brews & Food Fest slated for Saturday, May 16. In honor of that, we want to know what craft beer tops your list. Do your taste buds lean towards an IPA, wheat, stout or do you love them all?

Bayer Opens New Breeding Facility

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, Bayer CropScience, Research, Soybeans, wheat

bayer CropScienceBayer CropScience has celebrated the grand opening of its new $17 million, state-of-the-art, Beaver Crossing Breeding and Trait Development Station.  Bayer hopes the research and development activities of this center will deliver breakthrough wheat and soybean varieties.

The center will be focusing on parent discovery and hybrid wheat breeding, with plans to research new wheat varieties designed to help growers face key crop challenges.  Other innovations include breeding for yield enhancement, drought tolerance, efficient nitrogen use, and higher quality of wheat.  In addition there will be soybean activities to serve farmers in the area.

The Beaver Crossing Breeding and Trait Development Station, situated on 400 acres of farmland, is a cornerstone in Bayer’s commitment to invest more than $1 billion in wheat research and development over 10 years. The facility brings together approximately 25 of today’s brightest minds in agriculture and life sciences to develop wheat and soybean varieties to meet the specific needs of Midwestern growers and others worldwide. The facility, which began construction in September 2013 and was completed in November 2014, includes 53,000 square feet of new office space, research facilities, a greenhouse and an equipment building.

“In everything we do at Bayer CropScience, we seek to leave a better world by improving outcomes for our growers and using ‘Science For A Better Life’ in all the communities we serve,” said Jim Blome, President and CEO of Bayer CropScience LP. “Beaver Crossing will help us achieve this goal through improving wheat and soybean crops, advancing our agricultural thought leadership and helping to develop future generations of agricultural innovators.”

Biological Nematicide Market Growing

John DavisAgribusiness, biologicals, Corn, Soybeans

klineA new report says biological nematicides are the quickest growing control method over the last six years. This news release from consulting and research firm Kline says its Nematicide Market: Global Market Analysis and Opportunities report shows the market has grown nearly 20 percent, with most of the growth in field crops and biological products occurring in the United States.

The third edition of Kline’s Specialty Pesticides research reports that sales of nematicides total just over $1 billion in 2014 and are expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.7% in the next 10 years to reach $1.3 billion in 2024. Consuming over 70% of the global market, the three leading country markets are the United States, Brazil, and Japan. Specialty crops, field crops, and vegetables are the largest crop segments, each containing sales of over $250 million. Dow AgroSciences and the combination of Monsanto and Bayer marketing Bayer’s Votivo—a biological nematicide—are the two leading companies in the global nematicides market in 2014.

In terms of sales value, chemical nematicides continue to be the largest product type used in 2014; however, the use of chemicals has dramatically decreased since 2011. Fumigants dropped off as well to give way to increasingly popular biologicals.

Nematicide seed treatments are expected to continue to be used on a spectrum of field crops which ties in with the trend to protect higher value seeds that are engineered with new traits. In high value produce crops, the desire to analyze the need for insect, weed, and disease protection will result in innovative solutions. Biological nematicides have grown tenfold during recent years, driven by the robust performance of Bacillus firmus. This strain of bacteria is labeled for seed treatment of corn, cotton, soybeans, and sugarbeets, accounting for over 80% of the biological nematicide sales.

Kline officials say the relatively new nematicidal treatments of corn and soybeans have caused a fundamental change that has blended nematicides and seed treatment, formerly separate segments, and provided major growth and a new awareness of seed treatment as a standalone segment.

USDA Honey Bee Loss Survey

Cindy ZimmermanBayer CropScience, Bees, pollinators, USDA

beesUSDA’s annual honey bee survey offered some good news and some bad news about the important pollinators – winter losses were lower, but summer losses were higher than the previous year.

According to the survey, losses of managed honey bee colonies were 23.1 percent for the 2014-2015 winter but summer losses exceeded winter numbers for the first time, making annual losses for the year 42.1 percent. “The winter loss improvement was about 0.6 percentage points less than the losses reported for the 2013-2014 winter. This is the second year in a row that winter losses have been noticeably lower than the nine year average winter loss of 28.7 percent.”

“The winter loss numbers are more hopeful especially combined with the fact that we have not seen much sign of Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) for several years, but such high colony losses in the summer and year-round remain very troubling,” said Jeff Pettis, a survey co-author and a senior entomologist at USDA’s Agricultural Research Service Bee Research Laboratory in Beltsville, Maryland.

Richard (Dick) Rogers, Principal Scientist/Entomologist for the Bayer CropScience Bee Care Center, took the report as encouraging but pointing out the need for more work to protect pollinators. “The latest report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is good news for all who care about bee health,” said Rogers, adding that USDA recent annual Honey Report showed the number of U.S. honey bee colonies grew to 2.74 million in 2014, continuing a 10-year trend of steady growth.

bayer CropScience“Even with this good news about overwintering trends, we must continue to focus on the challenges facing bee health,” Rogers continued. “Bayer CropScience is developing new solutions to the problems caused by the invasive Varroa mite and is working to tackle another major issue facing pollinators today – lack of forage – through our Feed a Bee initiative.”

Rogers says since this is only the third year that the USDA has reported on summer losses, it is difficult to identify any potential trend but said Bayer has implemented a Healthy Hives 2020 research collaboration with honey bee experts to identify tangible actions to help improve the health of honey bee colonies over the next five years.

AgNerd Cloud – Apple Watch App from Agworld

Chuck ZimmermanAgNerd, Apps, Audio, Gadgets

ZimmCast 474AgNerd’s everywhere, rejoice! You will soon have an app to use when you get your new Apple Watch thanks to AgWorld.

Agworld, a leading global information management and cloud collaboration software for growers and consultants, announced that it is developing an app for the Apple Watch in response to the growing demand for a new breed of field-ready, connected apps. I spoke with Zach Sheely, Agworld, about their plans for this new wearable technology in a special ZimmCast edition of the AgNerd Cloud.

Agworld WatchAgworld’s centralized software platform, available as web, iPad and iPhone apps, allows for real-time collaboration and management of critical information, activities and recommendations throughout the crop production cycle – in field, where it matters most.

Agworld’s Apple watch app will be an extension of the platform’s key functionality in order to deliver contextual information at a glance. This includes:

Field data
· Agronomic snapshot and crop history of the current field you’re standing in
· Financial snapshot for users who have permission to view farm financials
Project Management
· Notifications when your agronomist has sent you a new field recommendation or when your applicator has just completed a job
Safety and compliance
· Know whether your field is safe to enter and clear for harvest

Agworld“Since launching the industry’s first iPad ag app in 2011, we’ve been focused on delivering the mobile technology farmers need infield.” said Zachary Sheely, VP Sales and Operations Agworld. “The Apple Watch app, like all of our products, is grounded on an understanding that farming happens in the field, not in the office, where critical data is needed to underpin smarter, infield decisions.”

You can sign up for early access to Agworld’s Apple Watch App here.

Learn more about Agworld and their pending Apple Watch App in this week’s program: [wpaudio url=”http://www.zimmcomm.biz/zimmcast/zimmcast474-5-12-15.mp3″ text=”Agworld Apple Watch App”]

Subscribe to the ZimmCast podcast here.

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Agren Announces SoilCalculator App Update

Chuck ZimmermanAudio, Nutrient Management, Soil

AgrenFarmers looking to maximize soil conservation and economic return need only look to Agren. The company has just announced a new version of its SoilCalculator application to estimate erosion and its associated economic cost.

I spoke with Agren CEO Tom Buman about his company and this new application. He says, “SoilCalculator is the first software of its kind to estimate soil erosion and allow growers to see the economic impact of changes in management. Growers can easily evaluate alternatives side by side to maximize profits, conserve soil, preserve yields, and reduce nutrient inputs. That’s real value!”

SoilCalculator’s updated web interface provides quicker results than in the past. And, report outputs quantify the economics of lost production due to erosion under different management alternatives. The enhanced reporting also helps growers and their advisors better understand the impact of management on the health of their soil and address specific problem sites. Efforts can then be targeted to apply conservation practices in the right place, at the right time, and at the right scale to achieve both environmental and economic benefits.

Originally released in 2013, Agren® SoilCalculator allows service providers to input various crop rotations, tillage systems, and conservation practices and view the resulting erosion predictions for up to three scenarios. Color-coded maps, similar to a GIS yield map, pinpoint areas of high erosion.

Listen to my interview with Tom to learn more: [wpaudio url=”http://www.zimmcomm.biz/agren/agren-soilcalculator-5-12-15.mp3″ text=”Interview with Tom Buman, Agren”]

Farmers to Vote for New Cooperative

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, Grain

growingTogetherThe Boards of Directors for North Central Farmers Elevator (NCFE) and Wheat Growers (WG) have come together in an agreement to unify the two cooperatives.  In June the members of these groups will vote to ratify the decision to become  member-owned, locally governed CentraGro Cooperative.

“The vote on the Unification Agreement taken by our Board members reflects the overall support we’ve heard from our membership over the past several weeks,” said NCFE Board President Richard Osterday. “More and more, people understand that our main objective in moving forward with the proposed unification is to build on our past successes to create an even stronger, more competitive future for our members.”

After announcing the initial Letter of Intent in March, leaders from NCFE and WG have focused on the due diligence steps required during a unification process. That work culminated in a final Agreement proposal for consideration by the Board members this week.

“With the thorough due diligence that we’ve conducted, we have even more confidence in the benefits that our patrons will experience as a result of a unification,” said WG Board President Hal Clemensen. “These benefits will translate into increased patronage, a stronger balance sheet, and more investment in products, services and facilities to better serve our member-owners.”

Added WG CEO Dale Locken, “Now that the Board members have approved the Unification Agreement, including CentraGro as the new name, we want to focus on sharing the details with our member-owners. We look forward to meeting with them in the coming weeks to make sure they have the information they need before the vote.”

For a schedule of upcoming NCFE/WG member meetings, the voting process, and other information regarding the proposed unification, visit www.growingtogether.coop. Questions can be submitted on the website or by calling 1-888-429-4902 (WG) or 1-800-658-3353 (NCFE).