Corn Growers Offer Free Webinar on Risk Coverage

John DavisAg Group, Agribusiness, Corn, NCGA, Risk Management

NCGA-Logo-3Farmers trying to pick the right risk coverage under the new Farm Bill can be a daunting task. But the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is offering some help. The group is co-sponsoring a free webinar on March 12 from 10-11 am CDT that will help producers pick which coverage package is right for them.

Farmers and ranchers will have to decide soon which risk coverage package is right for them of three options: Price Loss Coverage (PLC), or one of two Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) packages (county or farm level). It is important for growers to be educated on this topic because the one-time choice they make will have an impact on their operations for years to come.

DTN’s webinar, titled “ARC or PLC: Which Safety Net Fits You?”, hosted by DTN Executive Editor Marcia Taylor, will include presentations from University of Illinois Economist Gary Schnitkey; University of Illinois Assistant Professor of Law and Policy and former FSA administrator Jonathan Coppess; and Mississippi State Economist and former advisor to the U.S. Senate Agricultural Committee Keith Coble.

“This is the first time farmers have a choice on risk management programs, and it’s a big decision that will affect their operations for years to come,” said Jim Reed, an Illinois corn grower and chairman of NCGA’s Public Policy Action Team. “The webinar is a great opportunity to hear from a few of the most knowledgeable ag economists on the programs. The ARC program especially is a smart, market-based approach to managing risk, and NCGA is proud of the role we can play in educating growers about their choices through programs like this.”

More information and registration is available here.

ANBO Manufacturing’s New Line of Grapples & Blades

Jamie JohansenAgribusiness, Equipment

grappleANBO manufacturing has announced a new product line of grapples and blades for Wheel Loaders, Large Tractors and Skid Steers with horsepower rating ranges from 100 HP to 300 HP.

The grapple line-up includes a series of rugged and reliable rakes and rakes with upper grapples that have exceptional quality and high capacity material handling capability.

“Products in this new line-up are for the person who is making a living using large machines and needs a reliable product in order to to do lot of work fast”, says Chris Newman, President of ANBO Manufacturing. “We have brought out a line of professional grade products that will do more faster and more reliably than any other product line out there”.

ANBO manufacturing has a long history of manufacturing quality, rugged attachments, but the core difference in the new ANBO attachment line is the high quality, “bullet-proof” rated steel used in the attachments. This gives the grapple or blade the ability to withstand years of rugged use and still provide the customer with a reliable, efficient working tool, day after day, year after year.

The new ANBO grapples also features a set of options to enable the customer to specify various elements such as tine spacing, style and width that will insure optimal performance in the customer’s exact use environment.

There are 6 different grapple models included in the new line-up with widths ranging from 6’– 10’. Tine spacing can vary on the models with options for 6”, 8” and 12” spacing. These grapples also have capacity options from 1.64 Cubic yards to 11.21 Cubic yards. There are models for rugged digging and tilling as well as a version designed specifically for rapid, bulk material moving in scrap yards, wrecking yards and timber operations.

Models with openings from 65” up to 118” are available, along with options for serrated upper tines to insure aggressive gripping of the load. No matter what bulk material you are handling, whether it is working on rocks, digging roots or carrying car bodies, you’ll have the capacity and the solid grip to get the job done.

#Propane Interest High at #Classic15

Cindy ZimmermanAudio, Commodity Classic, Energy, Irrigation, PERC, propane

classic15-perc-cinchFarmers were showing quite a bit of interest in propane power at the 2015 Commodity Classic – everything from irrigation engines and grain dryers, to greenhouse heat and lawn mowers.

“There’s new propane equipment on the market that’s very efficient,” says Cinch Munson with the Propane Education and Research Council (PERC), who adds that the benefits are numerous.

“Propane engines cost less than a Tier 4 diesel upfront – 30-40 percent less,” said Munson. “Guys are saving 75 percent in some cases on operating those engines.” A new propane grain dryer can result in 50% efficiency savings.

In addition, Cinch says there are incentives that make switching to propane even more attractive.

Find out more at propane.com and in this interview with Cinch: [wpaudio url=”http://www.zimmcomm.biz/commodity-classic/classic-perc-cinch.MP3″ text=”Interview with Cinch Munson, PERC”]

2015 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Coverage of Commodity Classic is sponsored by
Coverage of Commodity Classic sponsored by John Deere Coverage of Commodity Classic sponsored by Propane Education and Research Council

Do You Agree With Government Controlled Internet?

Jamie JohansenZimmPoll

New Holland ZimmPollOur latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What do you think of proposed government control over the internet?”

It has been called net neutrality or open internet but now it should be called government controlled internet. In a vote along partisan lines the FCC last Thursday passed sweeping changes in how it will be regulating the internet. Basically, they are treating it like the telephone system using some very out of date laws. The goal is to provide more “equality” for users. How this plays out is anyone’s guess. Estimates have been made that the cost of the new regulations will include losing 500,000 jobs and $62 billion over the next five years. Wonder who will pay that and what they will allow. This 317 page move pushed by the Obama Administration has already caused uncertainty for investors in new technology.

It will be interesting to see what impact this has on American agribusiness in coming years.

Here are the poll results:

  • Agree – 25%
  • Disagree – 73%
  • Don’t know – 2%

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, Should Congress grant TPA?

Congress is considering granting Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), formally known as Fast Track, to move forward on trade agreements being negotiated in Europe and Asia. Every president since Franklin Roosevelt has been given this authority to negotiate agreements that can just be voted up or down by Congress, but there is opposition even in agricultural circles to granting TPA or even pursuing new free trade agreements. What do you think?

Seed Hawk Wins AE50 Award For Innovations in Ag

Jamie JohansenAgribusiness, Award, seed, technology

medals5Growers have a new ally in the pursuit of higher yields, controlled inputs and overall increased efficiency with Seed Hawk’s award-winning new Precision Meter and iCon™ Wireless Control System. The new technologies – which won the prestigious AE50 2015 Award for innovative new products produced in 2014 – take precision seeding to a whole new level.

“We’re extremely proud of this award because it goes to the very heart of what Seed Hawk is about. We are passionate about the continual improvement of technology and design that give growers more control over their inputs and applications,” said Seed Hawk CEO Peter Clarke. “We work with and listen to our customers every day, and this evolution in our seeding technology reflects that two-way dialog. In fact, our success as a company can be attributed directly to the innovative spirit of farmers all over the world who have invested in our technology.”

Seed Hawk seeding systems are designed with tanks and toolbars that work together to provide even application. With the new Precision Meter design, each Seed Hawk tank has up to eight modular, electrically-driven meters (one per 10-foot section of the seeding tool) that can be routed to either the seed or fertilizer boot. Anti-static polymer construction provides for more consistent product flow which is especially important for small seed and fertilizer. Growers can eliminate under application and control product flow with the independent electric drive and computer adjustment. Each meter has a set of three rollers, to match ideal product and application rates.

In-FieldCal_iPad_2The iPad was a natural addition to Seed Hawk seeding systems. The iCon Wireless Control System is intuitive and easy to use, just like the machine it controls. Seeding is made easier with a simple user interface, more automation on the home screen and operator advancements like the Acres to Empty™ feature. With this new feature growers know instantly how many acres remain until the next fill. Another advancement is the calibrate on-the-go feature. It applies the weight in the tank to the number of acres of input, then quickly calculates how much seed is needed.

The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) is proud to sponsor the AE50, the only awards program of its kind, celebrating product innovations in the areas of agricultural, food, and biological systems. From the many entries submitted each year, an expert panel of engineers selects up to 50 products for recognition. The award-winning products are those ranked highest in innovation, significant engineering advancement, and impact on the market served. Formal presentation of the AE50 Awards occurs at ASABE’s annual Agricultural Equipment Technology Conference (AETC).

Seed Hawk Inc. was recently purchased by global farm equipment manufacturer, Väderstad. Seed Hawk and Väderstad are partners sharing a common goal to evolve farming further through the creation of ingenious seeding, planting and tillage equipment worldwide.

New Holland’s Flexi-Coil® P Series Air Carts

Jamie JohansenAgribusiness, Audio, Commodity Classic, New Holland, Planting, seed

classic-15-trevor-rempelOn display at the 2015 Commodity Classic was New Holland’s Flexi-Coil® P Series Air Carts. The redesigned carts have an unprecedented number of patent-pending features for all operations. Chuck met up with New Holland’s Trevor Rempel, Global Product Marketing Manager, on the trade show floor to learn more about the rather large piece of equipment.

“We started with a completely clean sheet of paper on this and completely redesigned the entire air cart line. What we wanted to do is touch back to that Flexi-Coil heritage. You will notice that the Flex-Coil logo and name is more prominent with this air cart now, both in our marketing materials and on the cart. The reason is we want to build on the legacy that made Flexi-Coil one of the leading air-seeding companies in the world. And that is simplicity, innovation and durability.”

New Holland’s Flexi-Coil® P Series Air Carts include:
– Seven models, multiple configurations, huge grain tanks up to 950 bushels
– Industry-leading distribution system for unmatched accuracy
– Blending flexibility: distribute or combine any tank to any run
– IntelliView™ IV plug and play: takes the guesswork out of rate setting
– Accurate section control option: eliminates double applications of seed and fertilizer
– EZ Flow headers: gentle seed handling can increase yields

Listen to Chuck’s complete interview with Trevor to learn more about what Flexi-Coil can offer your operation. [wpaudio url=”http://www.zimmcomm.biz/commodity-classic/classic-15-nh-rempel.mp3″ text=”Interview with Trevor Rempel, New Holland”]

Photos from the event can be found here: 2015 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Deere Highlights Machine Sync Upgrades at #Classic15

Cindy ZimmermanAudio, Commodity Classic, Equipment, John Deere, Machinery, technology

classic15-deere-funkeJohn Deere was pleased to showcase new enhancements to Machine Sync at the Commodity Classic last week. J.C. Funke, John Deere Intelligent Solutions Group, spoke with Taylor Truckey during the event to learn more about Machine Sync’s expansions.

“We’ve taken John Deere Machine Sync to the next level in multi-machine automation and operational logistics,” said J.C. “We’ve expanded the original combine harvest automation and logistics functions that facilitate on-the-go harvesting and combine-grain cart synchronization to make the application useful for other field operations.”

J.C. said it doesn’t matter which aspect of the cropping cycle farmers are currently focused on, they will easily find a way to utilize these new enhancements. Also Machine Sync with coverage map sharing, data can be sent wirelessly to MyJohnDeere.com where you can see your machines data, as well as your other machines at any given time in a field.

Learn more about the opportunities with John Deere’s Machine Sync in Taylor’s complete interview with J.C. here: [wpaudio url=”http://www.zimmcomm.biz/commodity-classic/classic15-deere-funke.mp3″ text=”Interview with J.C. Funke, John Deere”]

2015 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Coverage of Commodity Classic is sponsored by
Coverage of Commodity Classic sponsored by John Deere Coverage of Commodity Classic sponsored by Propane Education and Research Council

Superior Manufacturing Now Offering Heavy Bins

John DavisAgribusiness, Grain

Superior_Bin1Superior Manufacturing is now offering heavy bins in its lineup of grain storage, handling and conditioning systems. The North Dakota-based company says the new bins have the same roofs, floors and unload systems as Superior farm bins, but the heavy bins’ sidewalls are formed with thicker steel for added strength and range from 15 to 48 feet in diameter with heights reaching 4 to 7 rings tall.

The thicker steel sidewalls on Superior heavy bins provide the extra strength needed to withstand the added stress of use as working bins, which are generally loaded and unloaded at least 10 times per year.

Superior also designed its heavy bins for use as wet holding bins. Thanks to the thicker sidewalls, the new bins easily accommodate the extra weight of grain-stirring devices, and withstand the strong push and pull forces on the bin sidewall as the auger pulls wet grains up for faster drying.

Superior roofs also contribute to the overall strength of the heavy bins. The roofs can handle 8,000 pounds, including ground snow loads of 40 pounds per square foot. They also withstand wind gusts as high as 90 miles per hour. And Superior backs all of its roofs with the industry’s only lifetime bin roof warranty.

The company also says the heavy bin unloads feature a 9-inch under-bin auger inside an 11-inch U-Trough. In addition, a 7-inch power sweep equipped with a 16-to-1 gear reduction wheel pushes grain into the sumps, while the U-Trough design allows the grain to free flow over the auger, speeding unloading rates to as fast as 6,000 bushels per hour without damaging grain.

Analyst Talks Risk at BASF #ScienceBehind15

John DavisAudio, BASF, Commodity Classic, Markets

basf-science15-arlenAs it does every year, the weather will play a major role in the price for corn and soybeans in the future. Market analyst Arlan Suderman of Water Street Solutions gave some of his thoughts on price points for the grains in the coming year during the BASF Science Behind media event last week in Phoenix.

His models show favorable, above normal temperatures for this season, which would most likely push up the yields for corn and soybeans and push down their prices.

“If we get the weather and acreage I expect for corn, we’ll see corn prices in the mid-$3 range,” with the low possibility of above-trend yields possibly pushing corn to the low $3 range. Arlen said soybeans are expected to yield about the same, and could see prices in the low $9 range, with the risk of big stocks pushing those prices all the way down to $6 beans–devastating for a lot of operations.

As far as managing the risks corn and soybean farmers face in these market fluctuations, Arlen applauded what BASF is doing to help producers.

“I’m glad to see them recognize the situations farmers are in,” he said. “To help share the risk is a win-win for both sides. [Farmers] need to have a smart plan of risk management, and that comes down to your marketing and partnering, and what BASF is offering allows farmers [to better manage the risks and market their crops to their best advantage].”

[wpaudio url=”http://www.zimmcomm.biz/basf/basf-science15-arlan.MP3″ text=”Interview with Arlan Suderman, Water Street Solutions”]

2015 Commodity Classic Photo Album

2015 BASF Science Behind Photos

PrecisionHawk & Agri-Trend Provide UAV Services

Jamie JohansenAerial Application, Aerial Imagery, Agribusiness, Data, drone, UAS, UAV

precision-hawkPrecisionHawk and Agri-Trend announced a partnership to offer PrecisionHawk’s leading UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) data collection, Sensing and Analysis tools to farmers across the US and Canada through the Agri-Trend SkyScout™ Program. This year, the partnership will offer UAV services throughout regions of Canada using trained individuals with the objective to roll out a full commercialization service model in 2016.

Chuck spoke with Lia Reich, Senior Communications Director, PrecisionHawk to learn more about the services this partnership will provide their customers.

Lia said, “Agri-Trend will have about 15-20 of their agri-coaches trained on the PrecisionHawk Lancaster platform. They will be going out and offering everything from flights to beta analysis and providing Agri-Trend clients across Canada with these services to see how it all works.” This will all take place throughout 2015 with hopes of moving into full integration in the United States in 2016.

agri-trendListen to Chuck’s complete interview with Lia to learn more about the partnership and read their complete news release below. [wpaudio url=”http://www.zimmcomm.biz/precision/precision-hawk-reich.mp3″ text=”Interview with Lia Reich, PrecisionHawk”]

“Scaling comes from things being seamless and simple. It is our belief that to reach true field level value, these products need to be captured and delivered cost effectively through automated processes, on-board UAV intelligence, and by many different individuals, including both Coaches and Farmers,” said Rob Saik, Agri-Trend Founder and CEO. “We see PrecisionHawk as the clear leader in this rapidly evolving space, and together we believe we can bring unmanned remote sensing products to the millions of acres owned by Agri-Trend clients.”

The integration of DataMapper into the Agri-Data Solution Platform will be optimized in the first phase. This DataMapper/Agri-Data integration will allow farmers to aggregate and analyze data coming from a multitude of sources in order to make better decisions more quickly and efficiently. The expectation is to provide growers with full integration of orders, delivery and processing from a range of UAV platforms in 2016.

“So often we hear, how can drone technology actually improve agriculture?” Said PrecisionHawk CEO Christopher Dean. “This relationship combines the best aerial and software data technology to provide Agri-Trend farmers with next-generation data products that extend far beyond a traditional NDVI.”

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