ASTA Outlines Seed Industry Priorities for Farm Bill

AgWired Precision, ASTA, Audio, Farm Bill, seed

The 2018 Farm Bill Conference Committee is holding its first public meeting today in Washington and the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) has notified committee members of key provisions important to the seed industry within the legislation. In a recent letter to Conferees, ASTA highlighted priorities within the Conservation, Trade, Research, Horticulture and Crop Insurance titles.

ASTA CEO Andy LaVigne says among priorities in the Conservation title is concern about a provision in the House version that would limit the cost share for seed in the Conservation Reserve Program to 25-percent. “In order to promote transparency in conservation seed mix formulations, ASTA suggests conference report language directing states to form standing Seed Subcommittees under the State Technical Committees,” says LaVigne.

In addition, related to conservation but under the Crop Insurance title, ASTA supports language in the Senate bill which amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to clarify conditions for voluntary conservation practices, including cover crops.

In the Trade title, ASTA supports language in both versions that would merge the Market Access Program (MAP), the Foreign Market Development Program (FMD), the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops Program (TASC), and the Emerging Markets Program (EMP) and provide funding for the merged programs at or above current levels.

LaVigne says ASTA is also supporting new authorization of $200 million in mandatory funds for research, which is included in the Senate bill but not the House, and specific language in the Horticulture title to amend the Plant Variety Protection Act to include asexually propagated materials such as flowers. as well as language in the House Farm Bill which creates a definition for biostimulants.

LaVigne talks about ASTA priorities and his thoughts on when a final bill will be completed in this interview:
Interview with ASTA CEO Andy LaVigne on Farm Bill priorities

Deere Introduces High-Capacity Self-Propelled Forage Harvesters

AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Audio, Equipment, Farm Progress Show, Forage, Harvest, John Deere

John Deere showcased the all-new 9000 Series Self-Propelled Forage Harvesters (SPFH) at last week’s Farm Progress Show, drawing a lot of interest from attendees.

The four new models, which range from 616 hp to 957 hp, are able to provide up to 400 tons of throughput per hour, along with optimum corn silage processing independent of the length of cut, according to Shaun Fritchey, senior marketing rep, forage harvesters. “Compared to its predecessor, the 9000 Series is 10 percent more productive per horsepower and offers a 10 percent improvement in kernel processing.”

Fritchey says the improved performance and capabilities of the 9000 Series enable producers and custom harvesters to obtain the highest possible return on investment under narrow harvesting windows where high-capacity and high-quality feed are the goal.

Learn more in this press release and this interview from Farm Progress Show –FPS18 Deere interview with Shaun Fritchey

John Deere at the 2018 Farm Progress Show

Content Creation at the Farm Progress Show brought to you by Farm Progress Show content creation courtesy of John DeereCoverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by GrowmarkCoverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Bayer CropScience

Precision Ag Bytes 9/5

AgWired Precision, Corteva Agriscience, Precision Ag Bytes, Syngenta

  • Kansas State University and Topcon Agriculture are collaborating to develop tools and systems to advance precision agriculture and support farmers.
  • Legion Bio Chem is the newest player in the soil enhancement market. Four product families currently comprise the GroWell offering to maximize growth potential: FasGro, ZenaGro, FortiGro and EnduraGro. Each product category delivers on the Legion Bio Chem promise: Start Well, Grow Well.
  • Kubota Tractor Corporation announced a new partnership with Tavant Technologies, a leading provider of aftermarket solutions. Going into effect in early 2019, Kubota will deploy the Tavant Warranty On-Demand (TWOD) platform as its sole application for handling warranty claims and related aftermarket business processes.
  • Golden Harvest® announced the rollout of E-Luminate®, an exclusive digital offering that draws upon extensive agronomic data to help farmers make more informed seed selection decisions.
  • Vermeer is building the first five ZR5-1200 self-propelled balers to make available at a limited number of Iowa and Nebraska Vermeer dealerships. These dealerships are in key cornstalk baling areas where the machines can put up a large number of bales during this fall season. The select dealerships have participated in specialized training to help support the ZR5.
  • One year after announcing a comprehensive long-term commitment to the NK® seed brand, Syngenta is reporting significant growth across the NK organization. The combined NK sales and agronomy team is tripling in size, the number of U.S. plant breeders is increasing by 50 percent and product trials by 30 percent, and the number of new corn chassis is going up by 58 percent, from 19 per year to 30 per year.
  • As Corteva Agriscience™, Agriculture Division of DowDuPont, continues to prepare the market for the large-scale commercialization of Enlist E3™ soybeans, growing knowledge about this technology remains essential. Enlist E3 soybeans will be broadly licensed to the industry, and the Corteva Agriscience team is engaged with seed companies across the country that are preparing to incorporate Enlist E3 soybeans into their product lineup.
  • Ag Leader announced new fall features added to its full-farm connectivity platform, AgFiniti®, bringing an even higher level of in-season visibility to growers and trusted advisors.
  • The American Seed Research Foundation and the National Council of Commercial Plant Breeders voted at their joint 2018 Annual Meeting to combine their efforts and resources into a new not-for-profit foundation named the Seed Science Foundation. Its central mission is to address seed and plant science challenges and to encourage plant breeding education and seed research in support of the ever-changing needs of the global seed industry.

Nelson Leaving GROWMARK Board After 28 Years

AgWired Precision, Audio, cooperatives, Growmark

Over the course of his 28 years of service on the GROWMARK Board of Directors, Illinois farmer Rick Nelson has seen a lot of change in the organization.

When he was elected to the board in 1990, the cooperative operated exclusively in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. Nearly 30 years later, GROWMARK has a presence in at least 40 states, as well as Ontario, Canada. While tremendous growth is the biggest change Nelson has seen, there were plenty of challenges and difficult decisions faced over the years. He said he was fortunate to farm with his father in the early years and more recently with his son, as serving on a board like this one does take time away from the farming operation.

“Serving on a co-op board at whatever level you do that is a time commitment,” said Nelson, who farms near Paxton, Ill. “It’s a passionate commitment. You need to be dedicated to doing that because it will draw you away from your own personal activities or farming activities at times that are inconvenient. But that’s what the job involves, so you accept that commitment when you come on and live by that.”

Nelson named the decision to purchase assets of companies in the eastern part of the country as major decisions he’ll remember from his time on the board. He also called his Cooperator of the Year award for Illinois in 2017 a personal highlight. Nelson is retiring from the GROWMARK Board, but will continue farming and will also continue as president of his local cooperative elevator board.

Listen to this interview from the GROWMARK annual meeting: Interview with Rick Nelson, Vice Chairman of GROWMARK Board of Directors

Farm Bill Conference Committee Meets This Week

AFBF, AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Farm Bill, Government, NFU

The 2018 Farm Bill Conference Committee will hold its first public meeting this week on Wednesday, September 5 at 9:30 am Eastern.

Agriculture Committee Chairmen Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Rep. K. Michael Conaway, R-Texas, and Ranking Members Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., announced the meeting last month, saying that they are “committed to working together on a Farm Bill that delivers certainty and predictability to our farmers and families as quickly as possible.”

The Farm Bill Conference Committee is composed of 56 members, including nine Senators and 47 Representatives.

Faced with the lowest farm income in 12 years, the presidents of the American Farm Bureau Federation and National Farmers Union are asking Senate and House conferees to move quickly.

AFBF and NFU, together with more than 150 other organizations, also sent a letter to the Senate and House Agriculture committees asking the farm bill conference committee to pass an on time, five-year farm bill before the September 30 expiration of the 2014 farm bill.

The hearing will be webcast live on ag.senate.gov.

GROWMARK Embraces Change in Agriculture

AgWired Energy, AgWired Precision, Audio, cooperatives, Growmark

GROWMARK CEO Jim Spradlin (left) and Chairman of the Board John Reifsteck (right) address those gathered for the company’s annual meeting in Chicago.

GROWMARK CEO Jim Spradlin said the company’s new strategy – based on the acronym ‘GROW’ – is not just focused on getting bigger. It’s focused on getting better.

During a shared address at the company’s annual meeting in Chicago, Spradlin and Board Chairman John Reifsteck reflected back on the past 30 years or more in agriculture, sharing both personal experiences as well as changes that have come to the GROWMARK system.

“We thrive on change,” said Spradlin. “We thrive on it primarily because where we can get better and we can utilize the skills of our people to lend advice and support and help to our customers, and help them be more successful, we think that’s our spot in this world.”

Spradlin recognized farmer members are dealing with a very difficult agriculture economy right now, with trade issues only adding to the seriousness of the situation. But he believes farmers are resilient and will continue to adjust. He said great attitudes prevail across the organization at the farm level, even though it is more challenging than it has been in recent years.

GROWMARK began a new fiscal year on Sept. 1, and Spradlin shared that this was a solid year fiscally for the cooperative, especially in the agronomy and grain divisions.

Listen to Carrie’s interview with Jim here: Interview with Jim Spradlin, GROWMARK CEO

BASF launches Credenz with LibertyLink GT27

AgWired Precision, Audio, BASF, Farm Progress Show, weed management

At the 2018 Farm Progress Show, BASF launched Credenz® soybean with LibertyLink® GT27™, the first soybean seed technology with herbicide-tolerant stacked traits that allows growers to apply both Liberty® herbicide and glyphosate over the top of soybeans for post-emergence control of broadleaf and grass weeds.

“It’s very exciting for the Credenz brand,” said Marc Hoobler, BASF Soybean Agronomy Lead. “We’re only a four year old brand, but last year we were the 10th most planted soybean seed brand in the U.S.”

Recent BASF field trials have demonstrated that Credenz LibertyLink GT27 varieties can have as much as two to four bushels per acre average yield advantage over leading commercial soybean trait systems.

“We believe that growers need to have choices in their weed management programs,” said Hoobler. “We know resistance is increasing across the U.S. and we want to make sure growers steward their products and at the same time have the highest producing soybean acres that they possibly can.”

Learn more in this interview from Farm Progress Show – #FPS18 BASF Interview with Marc Hoobler, Soybean Agronomy Lead

BASF at the 2018 Farm Progress Show virtual newsroom

Smart Ag Driverless Tractor Demo at #FPS18

AgWired Precision, Audio, Equipment, Farm Progress Show, technology, Tractor, Video

A driverless tractor demonstration stole the spotlight at the 2018 Farm Progress Show, especially since it was able to get out and in the field Tuesday before demos were cancelled for a day and a half due to weather.

Ames, Iowa-based technology company Smart Ag introduced a full-stack software platform and aftermarket kit for driverless tractors. This revolutionary development in agriculture automation was displayed with field demonstrations of AutoCart® – a software application that fully automates a grain cart tractor and provides farmers much needed labor assistance during harvest.

Smart Ag Founder and CEO, Colin Hurd, said AutoCart will address the issues of labor, profitability and productivity for today’s farmer. “At Smart Ag, we strongly believe the best way for producers to increase the capacities of their farms is to allow them to perfect the operation of their machinery – and that can be accomplished by using Smart Ag’s automation and driverless tractor technologies,” Hurd said.

Hurd was joined at the show by Chief Technology Officer Mark Barglof and Chief Marketing Officer Justin Heath for a press conference and field demo which generated quite a bit of interest. The cost of the system is $35,000 to $40,000 and is comparable to retrofitting a sprayer or planter with precision technology. Orders for AutoCart have been filled for 2018, and the Smart Ag development team will be delivering and installing 15 to 20 systems throughout the Midwest, MidSouth and Manitoba, Canada for use in this fall’s harvest and for post-harvest dealer demonstrations.

Listen to the Smart Ag team explain the system here: FPS18 Smart Ag press conference

Watch a video Iowa Farm Bureau shot at FPS:

You can also find lots of photo from the presser and demo here:
2018 Farm Progress Show

Content Creation at the Farm Progress Show brought to you by Farm Progress Show content creation courtesy of John DeereCoverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by GrowmarkCoverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Bayer CropScience

Farm Progress Show News Briefs

AGCO, AgWired Precision, Case IH, Equipment, Farm Progress Show, New Holland

As always, there was lots of new equipment announcements at the 2018 Farm Progress Show. Here are some of them:

AGCO Corporation
Fendt IDEAL Combine Takes Center Stage at 2018 Farm Progress Show
Massey Ferguson Debuts the 1700M Series Compact Tractor at Farm Progress Show 2018
Massey Ferguson Introduces the RB Series Silage Baler at Farm Progress Show 2018

Case IH
Case IH Adds to Farmall Tractor Lineup
Seed More Acres With the Precision Disk 500DS Air Drill From Case IH
New Disc Mower Conditioner Features From Case IH Maximize Haying Window
Case IH Rolls Out AFS Soil Command Agronomic Control Technology for Tillage Lineup

CLAAS of America
CLAAS Launches FIRST CLAAS USED Program
CLAAS Launches New CONVIO Header Line for LEXION Combine
CLAAS of America Announces Numerous Launches and Updates Across Long-Line Product Range

New Holland
New Holland Equipment for Cattlemen Focused on Efficiency Debuts at 2018 Farm Progress Show
New Holland Pushes Operational Performance to a New Level at 2018 Farm Progress Show
New Holland Equipment Showcased at 2018 Farm Progress Show Boosts Quality Forage Production
New Holland Enhances CR Revelation Combines and Takes Productivity to a New Level

AMVAC Launches Force® 10G HL Insecticide

AgWired Precision, AMVAC, Audio, Corn, Farm Progress Show, Insecticides

At the 2018 Farm Progress Show this week, AMVAC® Chemical Corporation announced the launch of Force 10G HL Insecticide for field corn, seed corn, sweet corn and popcorn.

Force 10G HL has a reliable pyrethroid mode of action for proven control of corn rootworms and seed-attacking pests, including Mexican corn rootworms, northern corn rootworms, southern corn rootworms, western corn rootworms, cutworms, lesser cornstalk borers, white grubs, wireworms, seedcorn maggots and seedcorn beetles. With three times the amount of active ingredient than in Force 3G Insecticide, growers get the performance they expect with the convenience of fewer SmartBox® containers, refills, pallets to store and boxes to unload, leaving more time to plant.

“AMVAC’s new high load granular insecticide allows growers to plant more acres with fewer refills,” said Jim Lappin, AMVAC crop marketing manager, corn and soybeans. “AMVAC’s SmartBox closed system protects the applicator and Force 10G HL protects corn roots for healthier, stronger stands and better returns from the fields.”

AMVAC is offering a grower rebate of $3/per acre with the purchase of Force 10G HL and either Impact® or ImpactZ® Herbicide in the same growing season.

Audio – FPS 18 AMVAC Jim Lappin on new Force 10G HL and Buy 2 Get 3

AMVAC photo album at the 2018 Farm Progress Show