“Dirt” Author to Open Global Ag Conference

Jamie JohansenAg Group, Conservation, Events

World_Congress_Conservation_AgA well-known expert on soil health headlines the opening keynote session at the 6th World Congress on Conservation Agriculture (WCCA) on June 23.

In his address titled, “A Case for Global Soil Restoration,” David Montgomery will speak on the need to reverse the trend of soil degradation, one of the most overlooked environmental crises that the world faces. He also will offer an overview of how humanity has treated soils from the dawn of agriculture to the modern era, and what that means for producers worldwide.

Attendees will gain a better understanding of how soil restoration can address climate change and feeding the world’s growing population.

Montgomery is best known for his book, Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations, which has been a major work for conservation agriculture. This book presents a history of the world’s fertile soil and how its preservation or abuse has determined the prosperity or downfall of many civilizations. In the book, he shows that agricultural conservation practices can provide solutions to many of the environmental challenges faced today. Montgomery also is a professor at University of Washington and a leading expert in soil’s impact on society.

WCCA is a global congress focused on practical conservation applications and techniques that will help conserve soil, water and other natural resources, as well as provide economic returns. The conference will be held June 22-25, 2014, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Register before May 22 for a 10 percent discount on registration fees.

The conference is hosted by the Conservation Agriculture Systems Alliance, a network of conservation agriculture organizations across North America, with the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) and Soil Conservation Council of Canada (SCCC) taking the lead for WCCA.

NRCS Chief Reviews Conservation Programs

Cindy ZimmermanAudio, NAFB, NRCS, Soil, USDA

nafb-wellerThe chief of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) reviewed the conservation programs included in the new farm bill with members of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting meeting in Washington DC this week.

“We are very excited to finally have a new farm bill and Congress has provided a very significant investment in natural resources conservation,” said NRCS Chief Jason Weller. “Over the next five years, Congress has invested upwards of $28 billion in resources through our programs to provide technical and financial assistance to producers around the country.”

Weller says the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) is funded at $8 billion and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), which was new in the previous farm bill, is also back. “It’s not really the new kid on the block anymore, but the kid has grown up, come home, and he’s big,” said Weller. “Today we have over 60 million acres enrolled in the Conservation Stewardship Program.”

The “new kid on the block” of conservation programs is the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). “This is an exciting program in that it combines all of the tools we have in our tool chest, all of our conservation communications programs, under one umbrella,” said Weller, noting that the program puts the partners in the driver’s seat.

Learn more in these comments from Weller: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/usda/weller-nafb.mp3″ text=”NRCS chief comments to farm broadcasters”]

Farm Bill Help from Farm Bureau

Cindy ZimmermanAFBF, Farm Bill

If you have questions about how the new farm bill works, American Farm Bureau has answers.

afbf-resourcesThe American Farm Bureau Federation has produced a new series of videos and launched a website to help farmers, landowners and other stakeholders better understand the provisions of the 2014 farm bill.

“We have distilled down a massive and complex piece of legislation – the 2014 farm bill – into several ‘bite-size’ pieces, with the goal of helping farmers and managers understand how it will affect their farms,” said John Anderson, deputy chief economist with AFBF.

The videos include a farm bill overview describing the basic provisions of the commodity title, including a description of the decisions related to program participation that will need to be made by farmers and landowners. Four other videos go in-depth on the Price Loss Coverage and Supplemental Coverage Option, the Agricultural Risk Coverage Program, the Stacked Income Protection Program for Cotton and the Dairy Margin Protection Program.

Check it out here.

White House Releases Climate Change Report

Cindy ZimmermanAudio, climate, Government, NAFB

epa-mccarthyThe administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency discussed the new White House climate change report out yesterday with members of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting meeting in Washington DC this week.

“It’s a really good document in terms of focusing on the United States,” she said. “In particular, it looks at the agriculture sector. It talks about the droughts and floods that we’re seeing that have created challenges for our farmers and ranchers and to take a look at some of the ways the president’s climate action plan can work collaboratively with agriculture to try and address those challenges more effectively.”

McCarthy says when she talks with farmers and ranchers about climate change, it’s not a debate. “We’re talking about what we can do together to recognize the challenges and to provide the farmers the adaptive management techniques that will allow them to be successful… and allow them to address these challenges,” she concludes.

[wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/government/mccarthy-climate.mp3″ text=”McCarthy climate change report comments”]

Wireless Delivery of Real-Time Info to Growers

Jamie JohansenAgribusiness, Dupont Pioneer, Farm Management

Dupont PioneerDuPont Pioneer and AGCO Corporation have announced a global collaboration to bring wireless data transfer technology solutions to farmers in leading agricultural markets, including the United States, Canada, Brazil and key European countries. The agreement will allow seamless interface of data and farm management information between AGCO equipment and EncircaSM services, the new whole-farm decision solutions offering from Pioneer that is designed to help growers improve their productivity and profitability.

Seamless data transfer is an important technology enabler for EncircaSM services, which are currently being rolled out in North America to corn and soybean farmers and can be offered globally over time to support a wide range of crops and markets.

As part of the AGCO Fuse™ Technologies platform, as well as the commitment by Pioneer to offer brand neutral decision agriculture services, growers can choose to have data collected through AGCO’s VarioDoc, TaskDoc™ and AgCommand® systems wirelessly transferred to Pioneer EncircaSM services. AGCO’s VarioDoc and TaskDoc™ are task file management systems that allow growers to conveniently and securely transfer task files between their farm machines and office without the need for a data card, portable memory drive or the physical transfer of devices. AgCommand® is AGCO’s fleet and asset management system that provides growers, contractors and managers with instant access to a wide range of information about equipment working in the fields or traveling on the road.

“We are excited about the new addition of Pioneer Encirca services to the list of decision agriculture platforms compatible with VarioDoc, TaskDoc™ and AgCommand®, helping growers become more efficient in farm data and fleet management,” said Matt Rushing, vice president, Product Line, Advanced Technology Solutions (ATS). “Fuse Technology’s open approach enables growers to integrate their AGCO equipment and decision agriculture technology with the trusted service providers and software partners they choose.”

“Pioneer is a leader in decision agriculture solutions that put growers’ needs for flexibility and convenience first,” said Alejandro Munoz, DuPont Pioneer vice president, Global Commercial Business. “This collaboration with AGCO is another significant milestone toward our whole-farm services strategy, enabled by industry-leading collaborations and advanced technologies, which works with growers to analyze and use their data to positively improve their bottom lines.”

VarioDoc is available as optional equipment on most Fendt® tractors, forage harvesters and combines; TaskDoc™ is now available on select Massey Ferguson® combines with more AGCO products planned in the future. AgCommand® is a standard feature on many Challenger®, Fendt®, Massey Ferguson® and Valtra® machines.

Grow it, Kill it, Melt it with Conserv FS

Cindy ZimmermanAudio, Growmark

conserv-fs-turfThe GROWMARK FS System is well known in the Midwest agricultural world for grain, energy and agronomy services, but maybe not so well known is its turf products and services.

“If you want to grow it, kill it, or melt it, the turf division would be who you would talk to,” says Jim Coens, Turf Department Manager for Conserv FS in Woodstock, Illinois. “If it’s a non-edible crop, we have sales people that sell into it – from golf courses, municipalities, park districts, school districts. If you play on it on the outside, we can help you with it.”

Conserv FS and at least eight other FS member companies in the GROWMARK system have turf programs with certified turf specialists like Don Michaels. “We don’t sell just ourselves as a person, we sell the concept of a team effort,” said Michaels, who stresses the importance of customer service in their business.

Conserv FS has turf accounts with some big names, like the Chicago Cubs and Bears and the Milwaukee Brewers, who have big needs. “Their fields are on show every day,” said Michaels. “So they cannot afford to have a slip up. That field always has to play safely and look pristine.”

“In GROWMARK, corn and beans rule the world, but in our world it’s playability and aesthetics,” said Coens, who says they really got into the business about 15 years ago when they noticed how much agricultural acreage was being lost to urban sprawl. “So we looked at alternatives and other markets we could get into … and we took all the wonderful things we knew in the agricultural world and brought them to people growing turf.”

The wide variety of products and services offered by the turf division include aeration and aquatics, bulk salt and ice melters, seeds, herbicides, fungicides and even fencing supplies.

Find out more in this interview with Jim and Don. [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/growmark/growmark-fs-turf.mp3″ text=”Conserv FS Turf Division interview”]

Precision Lab Introduces New Spray System Cleaner

Jamie JohansenAgribusiness, Turf

precisionlaboratoriesTo help professional turf managers tackle the issues associated with cleaning out today’s complex spray systems, Precision Laboratories, a leading provider of specialized chemistries for turf and ornamental plants, seeds, soil and water, introduces Eraser™ Spray System Cleaner.

Erase is a powerful spray system cleaner that exceeds the capabilities of ordinary tank cleaners. Erase emulsifies oily residues in sprayer lines and hoses while elevating rinsate pH to degrade vulnerable plant protection products. When used in conjunction with proper sprayer cleaning technique, Erase ensure more thorough clean-outs and virtually eliminates the risk of cross-contamination that leads to phytotoxicity in turf and plants.

Over the last twenty years, the introduction of new active ingredients and acceptance of unique product formulations represent a flurry of innovation in the turf and ornamental industry. While all of this innovation was necessary for providing better solutions in the fight against weeds, diseases and insects, it has created equipment cleanout problems for applicators.

Preventing incompatibility problems through proper mixing technique, the use of compatibility agents and good clean-out procedures are essential to reducing the risk of phytotoxicity. Erase, the best spray system cleaner technology available today, enhances the results of following tank clean out procedures.

“Ordinary tank cleaners were designed over twenty years ago and are not capable of removing the residues left behind from the product formulations and tank mixes used in our industry today,” says Don Spier, vice president of turf and ornamentals at Precision Laboratories. “The unique technology in Erase allows professional turf managers to reduce the risk of plant injury by removing product residues left behind in tanks, lines and booms.”

AgGateway Tests Precision Ag Conversion Toolbox

Jamie JohansenAgribusiness, Data

AgGateway_LogoAgGateway will begin initial testing next week of its Standardized Precision Ag Data Exchange (SPADE) Conversion Toolbox. The test will take place in Lincoln, Neb., at PlugFest, an agricultural machinery compatibility testing event organized by the Agricultural Electronics Manufacturers Foundation (AEF) and hosted by the National Tractor Testing Lab. The SPADE team expects to release the completed toolbox by late summer.

The SPADE Conversion Toolbox addresses a pressing need in agriculture: interoperability, or the ability of farm systems to “talk” to each other. It is a set of software tools designed to simplify field operations data exchange by farm management software companies, farm equipment manufacturers and other stakeholders.

Farm equipment now collects vast amounts of data to capture such information as how much product was applied or crop harvested, where it was applied, and when. That information can be used to farm more accurately and efficiently.

“The problem is that it’s often very hard for growers and their partners to get to that data, so most of it goes unused,” said Andres Ferreyra, Ph.D., Manager of Special Projects in Ag Connections, Inc., and the SPADE Management Team Lead. “Stakeholders in agriculture spend a lot of time and effort converting between multiple proprietary data formats in order to get anything done. The SPADE Conversion Toolbox will make a huge difference in breaking that data format logjam.”

“When all the equipment and software are speaking the same language, communication across the industry finally becomes possible,” said Joe Tevis, Ph.D., Director of Agronomic Products and Services for Topcon Precision Agriculture, and SPADE Project Chair.

All of the standards and formats created by AgGateway are open standards for all to access and use, and they can be used globally. There is no fee to access or use AgGateway standards; the industry as a whole can benefit.

The value of AgGateway’s standards-driven effort was echoed by Dennis Daggett, Senior Vice President for Strategic Initiatives at ProAg, and current Chair of AgGateway’s Precision Ag Council.

“A comprehensive standard for data exchange will be huge for agriculture,” he said. “There’s often a clear before-and-after when standards emerge in agriculture – think of ‘3-point-hitch’ or ‘quick hydraulic couplers’… Standardization in these areas made life a lot easier for everyone involved.”

AgGateway’s effort is comprehensive, and ranges from implementation of standards in multiple segments of the industry to laying a firm foundation through a comprehensive glossary of agricultural terms and definitions.

“A glossary clearly defines the data being collected and transmitted. The AgGateway glossary is being developed in conjunction with other standards organizations and regulatory groups. This takes a little more time, but develops accuracy and credibility for what we are doing,” added Daggett.

Farm Journal Corn College Announces Drone Fly-In

Jamie JohansenAerial Application, Aerial Imagery, Agribusiness, Corn, Events, UAV

CornCollege-VideoWith the emerging potential for small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), Farm Journal announces its first-ever Corn College event focused on practical application of drones for farmers. The Farm Journal Corn College Drone Fly-In will be held July 17. Producers will learn about the future of farming with drones, from highly efficient scouting to data collection and more.

“Forward-thinking farmers and ranchers are curious about the technology surrounding drones and how they can be used on their operations,” said Charlene Finck, Senior Vice President, Editorial Content. “The list of possibilities is endless, and Farm Journal is committed to bringing farmers the best knowledge on how to embrace the technology.”

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