Forum for Sustainable Water Management

Jamie JohansenAg Group, Food, sustainability, water, Water Management

food integrityOn Wednesday, Aug. 20 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., The Center for Food Integrity, in cooperation with the Water for Food Institute at the University of Nebraska, will host the Forum for Sustainable Water Management in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Agriculture today consumes more than 70 percent of the world’s freshwater resources, the vast majority of which is used for irrigating crops. As the world’s population continues to grow and diets improve around the world, intense pressure on the world’s water resources is increasingly becoming a constraint on the ability to produce food for millions of people. Discussing these issues and finding potential solutions will be key to producing the food needed to feed future populations.

Those interested in raising their awareness of water sustainability issues as it pertains to agriculture and understanding potential solutions to assuring a sustainable water supply are invited to attend. To RSVP, please contact Abby Strawder, abby.strawder@foodintegrity.org

Speakers and topics include:
• Terry Fleck, The Center for Food Integrity – “Sustainability and Building Trust”
• Dr. James Specht, emeritus Professor of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln – “Soybean Genomics and How They Relate to Water Conservation”
• Dr. Derek Heeren, Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Institute at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Assistant Professor – “The Tools for Most Effective Irrigation”
• Dr. Trenton E. Franz, Hydrogeophysicist, University of Nebraska-Lincoln – “Advances in Soil Water Monitoring”
• Dr. Nicholas Brozovic, Director of Policy at the University of Nebraska’s Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Institute – “Policy and Economic Challenges to Water Sustainability in Agriculture”
• Dr. Martha Shulski, Assistant Professor of Applied Climate Science in the School of Natural Resources and the Director of the High Plains Regional Climate Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln – “Delivering Useful Climate Change Information – Message Makes a Difference”
• Dr. Francisco Munoz-Arriola, Assistant Professor of Biological Systems Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln – “Hydroinformatics”
• Expert Panel – “Linking Water and Food Insecurity”

AgStudio and Variable Rate Management

Cindy ZimmermanAgStudio, Audio, MapShots, Software, technology

mapshots-14-shauna-2We already heard from Clint Ingram with MapShots, who talked about the AgStudio Expo event, now we hear from his lovely wife Shauna who is also part of the MapShots family in the documentation and testing area.

Shauna talked about how AgStudio works for Variable Rate Management. “It allows you to do as much detail as you want as far as getting out that variable rate prescription,” she said. “If you have a very simple formula that works for you, we have a way to do that. If you have a very complex calculation that takes you from a set of variables to an actual product or seeding rate, then we can do that.”

Shauna says AgStudio has what she calls a “Script Wizard” for nutrient, product and seeding recommendations. “The great thing about the wizard is you don’t have to use every piece, it walks you through and allows you to pick the pieces you need to come up with the unique recommendations that work for your ground.”

[wpaudio url=”http://www.zimmcomm.biz/mapshots/mapshots-14-shauna.mp3″ text=”Interview with Shauna Ingram, MapShots AgStudio”]


AgStudio Expo Photo Album

AgStudio Updates and Future Expansion

Cindy ZimmermanAgStudio, Audio, Data, Farmers, MapShots, Software, technology

mapshots-14-macyMapShots AgStudio is a constantly evolving product and development manager Ted Macy today gave an overview of the AgStudio of today with current updates and future expansions.

One of the most interesting components that really caught the attention of MapShots customers at the AgStudio expo was AgStudio Select. “That’s the web version of our AgStudio desktop,” said Macy, who noted that their developers have quietly been adding the functionality of the desktop product to the web version, “so we felt like it was really time to let the world know that application was out there.” Macy said that as soon as he told attendees about AgStudio Select they started checking it out on their computers and tablets.

Macy also talked about privacy, the unique features of the AgStudio cloud, mobile applications, AgDirector developments, how they work with other companies like John Deere, and what’s coming next. Whether you are a current customer or interested in learning more about how AgStudio might benefit your operation, listen to the interview and learn more on the MapShots website.

[wpaudio url=”http://www.zimmcomm.biz/mapshots/mapshots-14-macy.mp3″ text=”Interview with Ted Macy, MapShots AgStudio”]


AgStudio Expo Photo Album

MapShots AgStudio Expo Underway

Cindy ZimmermanAgribusiness, Audio, Data, MapShots, Software, technology

mapshots-clintThe 2014 InfoAg Expo kicks off tomorrow at St. Louis Union Station, but prior to that event, MapShots has brought in about 140 farmers and crop consultants for an AgStudio Expo today.

“Little day session that goes through some of the aspects of AgStudio and that line of products from the farm version to the pro version,” said Clint Ingram of MapShots. [wpaudio url=”http://www.zimmcomm.biz/mapshots/mapshots-14-clint.mp3″ text=”Interview with Clint Ingram, MapShots”]

This event is all about Big Data management and we will be learning about variable rate management, agronomic data management, and tools to simplify the complex business of managing a farming operation. Stay tuned here for full coverage of today’s event, as well as continuing coverage of InfoAg Expo this week.

AgStudio Expo Photo Album

Weyerhaeuser & DuPont Enter Technology License Agreement

Jamie JohansenAgribusiness, Company Announcement, Dupont Pioneer

Dupont PioneerWeyerhaeuser Company announced a technology license agreement with DuPont Pioneer that will advance seed technologies to help meet growing global demands for food, feed and fiber.

The agreement brings together agricultural and forestry know-how to sustainably improve crop productivity for corn growers around the world. Based on scientific research behind years of Weyerhaeuser NR sustainable forestry, the manufactured seed technology allows for the storage, nourishment, planting and germination of cells capable of growing into a plant. This technology provides a means to cost-effectively regenerate valuable, limited or fragile plant material.

“DuPont Pioneer is pleased to work with Weyerhaeuser to build upon our robust pipeline of enabling technologies,” said John Arbuckle, vice president, Crop Genetics Research and Development for DuPont Pioneer. “We are committed to helping growers be more productive and profitable on every acre. This new agreement provides access to cutting edge technology to support that objective.”

Monitoring Weather Risks Using Predictive Models

Jamie JohansenAgribusiness, climate, ICPA, Monsanto, technology, weather

the_climate_corporation_logoMoorea Brega, Climate Corporation, spoke during the Sponsor Showcase at the recent International Conference for Precision Agriculture. She shared how the company quickly changed their focus of looking at weather risks for all industries and fine tuned their resources keeping the farmer at their focal point.

“The way that we did that was by using predictive modeling. Once you build these predictive models that tell you what you think your yield is given various weather events throughout the season it’s a very obvious step from their to move into making recommendations.”

She goes on to discuss these decision support tools and specifically nitrogen management.

“My goal today was to try and convince you that fertilizer practices are really really good use of precision agriculture and one of the best way to approach this is using predictive modeling. But predictive models need high quality nutrients if you want to make them as accurate as possible.”

Listen to Moorea complete talk here: [wpaudio url=”http://www.zimmcomm.biz/icpa/moorea_brega_climate_corp.mp3″ text=”Address from Moorea Brega, Climate Corporation”]

Coverage of the International Conference on Precision Agriculture is sponsored by
International Conference on Precision Agriculture is sponsored by SST Software

Ag Leader at InfoAg Conference

Melissa SandfortAg Leader, Insights Weekly

Insights WeeklyJuly 29-31, growers, crop consultants and other industry representatives will be able to find Ag Leader experts at the InfoAg Conference at Union Station in St. Louis, Mo. On Thursday at 10 a.m., Luke James, Ag Leader Software Sales Manager, will be presenting a session on AgFiniti, Ag Leader’s new cloud-based platform. The event is free to all attendees.

Listen to James as he gives an overview of the learning session.

[wpaudio url=”http://precision.agwired.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2014/07/LJamesSeminarPreview.mp3″ text=”Listen to James explain”]

Become a fan of Ag Leader on Facebook today, and get the latest precision ag videos on the YouTube channel. For more information about Ag Leader products and services, or to visit the blog site, go to www.agleader.com.

Professor Discusses Precision Weed Control at ICPA

Jamie JohansenAgribusiness, ICPA, technology, Weed control

slaughter-podiumDr. David Slaughter is a Professor of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at UC Davis and spoke on using precision technology in weed control at the International Conference on Precision Agriculture.

“The big challenge and why we don’t see commercial products in precision imaging is because a natural environment is a complicated one. When we see the weeds and the crop plants they are often intermingled. A traditional shape-based machine often fails. What we have been using is a point-based technique to get additional information.”

Throughout his talk Dr. Slaughter discusses using x-ray with crop sensing verse using a laser. Along with automated in-row hoeing in GPS planting and the challenges it brings to the table.

Listen to an interview with David by AgNet West reporter Sabrina Hill here: [wpaudio url=”http://www.zimmcomm.biz/icpa/david_slaughter_interview.mp3″ text=”Interview with Dr. David Slaughter”]

Listen to David’s complete keynote address here: [wpaudio url=”http://www.zimmcomm.biz/icpa/dr_david_slaughter.mp3″ text=”Dr. David Slaughter’s Keynote Address”]

Coverage of the International Conference on Precision Agriculture is sponsored by
International Conference on Precision Agriculture is sponsored by SST Software

New NK® Soybean Varieties for 2015

Jamie JohansenAgribusiness, seed, Soybeans, Syngenta

Screen Shot 2014-07-24 at 3.55.39 PMGrowing conditions and pest pressures constantly evolve. But NK® soybeans keep pace with growers’ needs by offering 21 new varieties to help their crop start strong for the 2015 season. The seeds of change are here, and Syngenta has them. These varieties address various growing conditions across the country and were developed using the Syngenta Yield Engineering System (Y.E.S.).

“We know that no two fields are alike,” said Doug Tigges, soybeans genetics product manager at Syngenta. “Our new varieties feature the latest herbicide technology traits and address a wide range of needs, including maturity, standability, stress tolerance, and disease and pest resistance. Whether you have poorly drained soils, high pH levels or escalating problems with soybean cyst nematode, NK soybean varieties offer the needed built-in defensive traits with higher yield potential.”

NK soybeans are backed by 45 years of soybean breeding expertise. The launch of NK brand soybeans in the early ‘70s paved the way to the current broad portfolio of varieties. NK soybeans continue their long track record of employing the most innovative breeding technologies through Y.E.S.

Y.E.S. brings an efficient, proactive approach to delivering better genetics, agronomic traits and higher-yielding varieties to the field. This system combines a large, advanced germplasm pool from Syngenta using its proprietary technology and processes. It enables a faster breeding cycle for genetic gain. The lineup of high-performing NK varieties is tailored to specific growing environments.

The 21 new NK soybean varieties offer a wide range of agronomic benefits, such as strong emergence, standability, stress tolerance and resistance to numerous yield-limiting diseases and pests. These resistances include soybean cyst nematode, sudden death syndrome, white mold, iron deficiency chlorosis, root knot nematode and Phytophthora root rot. In addition to providing industry-leading traits, these new 2015 offerings are available for soybean growers in a wide range of choices, from maturity groups 00 through V.

As farming operations continue to become more efficient and profitable, so do the genetics and technology found in NK soybeans. Growers can speak with their local NK retailer or Syngenta Seed Advisor to learn which of the 21 new NK varieties is best suited for their fields so they can grow more soybeans in 2015.

GROWMARK Picks AgIntegrated for Info Platform

Cindy ZimmermanAudio, Data, Growmark, technology

agintegratedGROWMARK has teamed up with AgIntegrated (AGI) for the development of FS Advanced Information Services (FS AIS), a suite of tools to “connect data, analysis, insight, and application into one complete user experience for advanced field optimization.”

AgIntegrated is an independent provider of ag information management consulting and technologies based in Pennsylvania and President Duane Reese says they are excited to be working with GROWMARK.

“GROWMARK shares our vision of a modern, connected system that enables the best of today’s technologies from across the industry, while maintaining a close eye on usability and future information needs,” said Reese. “I am particularly thrilled that FS AIS will be using a majority of our Onsite platform for their data movement, processing, and storage needs”

growmarklogoGROWMARK manager of Agronomy Information Services Sid Parks explains their goals for FS AIS. “The basic product is to provide a tool to our members that allows them the ability to have field boundaries to store data like soil tests, as-applied maps, yield maps, all sorts of data being collected,” said Parks, noting that precision farming really started for GROWMARK some 20 years ago. “We wanted something that could provide a suite of tools in one place that allows access to multiple types of data … and further have that spatial data be able to talk to our accounting systems so we can have an integrated solution there.”

Parks says they already have beta versions of the software being tested and they hope to have it finished by the fall. [wpaudio url=”http://www.zimmcomm.biz/growmark/parks-fs-ais.mp3″ text=”Interview with Sid Parks, GROWMARK”]