Celebrate National Ag Day

Jamie JohansenAg Day, Ag Group

AgDay Logo365 sunrises and 7 billion mouths to feed!

National Ag Day Activities are just around the corner starting next Monday in Washington, DC. Cindy and I will be in town for them. Actually, I’ll be covering Ag Day activities while she’s covering the American Coalition for Ethanol’s annual DC Fly-in. I’ll be starting out on Monday with Agri-Pulse and their Farm-to-Fork Politics session and reception. Then it’s a full day on Tuesday. You can find some good stories on the Ag Day Blog btw.

So how are you planning to celebrate the day? Take our latest ZimmPoll to let us know.

The Ag Council of America has some digital resources you can use to help promote Ag Day in their media kit. Here are a couple of examples.

You can listen to one of the radio spots here: [wpaudio url=”http://www.agday.org/media/AgDay2014Radio-30.mp3″ text=”AgDay Radio Spot”]

Agri-Women Launch ‘Call to Power’ Campaign

Jamie JohansenAg Day, Ag Group

Rosie Poster 2014aAmerican Agri-Women (AAW) will kick off its membership campaign, “Call to Power,” on National Agriculture Day, March 25. The campaign theme urges women to join the nation’s largest coalition of farm, ranch and agribusiness women, which includes more than 50 state, commodity and agribusiness affiliates.

“Since 1974, women across the country have banded together to network with each other, educate consumers and policy makers about agriculture and participate in leadership development opportunities. Our combined power has made a difference and we invite others to join us,” says Sue McCrum, AAW president.

The campaign runs through May 31 and includes these benefits:
– Three new members will be selected to receive free second-year memberships.
– The affiliate that signs up the most new members will receive an award to go toward their own advocacy efforts.

Go here to learn more: www.americanagriwomen.org. Members of all segments of agriculture, agri-business and consumers interested in food production are encouraged to join their state or commodity affiliate as well as the national association. Dues for the national association are just $30 and affiliates also have affordable memberships.

The “Call to Power” theme is based on a paper developed by Sr. Thomas More Bertels (1918-2000). Sr. Bertels was a long-time advocate for women in agriculture. Sr. Bertels wrote, “The most important task facing farm entrepreneurs today is capturing a significant degree of influence over the policy-making function as it relates to food, feed, fiber, forest products and flora.”

Using SMS Software on Your Tablet

Melissa SandfortAg Leader, Insights Weekly

Insights WeeklyThis week we caught up with Kaleb Lindquist, Ag Leader software sales specialist, who gives us an update on how growers can now utilize SMS mobile software from any tablet device they currently have.

Kaleb says SMS mobile can be used on any laptop with a Windows Operating System or tablet with the full version of Windows.

[wpaudio url=”http://precision.agwired.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2014/03/Kaleb1.mp3″ text=”Listen to Lindquist explain”]

Kaleb also says you can take your tablet out to the field, attach a GPS receiver to it and that will enable you to do soil sampling, scouting or general coverage logging.

[wpaudio url=”http://precision.agwired.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2014/03/Kaleb2.mp3″ text=”Listen to Lindquist explain”]

Ag Leader will begin holding SMS trainings this summer, but if you have questions prior to the spring planting season, be sure to ask your dealer or call Ag Leader customer service.

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.

Most Say Open Ag Data Alliance is Good Idea

Jamie JohansenZimmPoll

New Holland ZimmPollOur latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What do you think of the Open Ag Data Alliance?”

Over half of those who participated in this week’s poll thought the Open Ag Data Alliance (OADA) was a great idea. Even though many are for this new software project, there are many who are questioning it’s benefits and believe it is confusing. If the learning curve was easy, would more be for it?

Our poll results:

  • Great idea – 54%
  • Terrible idea – 16%
  • No idea what it is – 22%
  • Other – 8%

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “How will you celebrate Ag Day?”

National Ag Day is Tuesday, March 25. The agriculture community will be taking part in festivities across the country to celebrate the abundance provided by agriculture. Chuck and Cindy will be in Washington D.C. Chuck is covering the National Ag Day Activities and Cindy the American Coalition for Ethanol Biofuels Beltway March. Whether big or small, we can all do something to recognize the contributions of farmers and ranchers to our nation. What will you do?

Website Spotlights Caring Florida Farmers

Jamie JohansenAg Group, Farmers

this farm caresThe Florida Farm Bureau Federation (FFBF) is launching a newly designed website, thisfarmcares.org, to recognize farmers throughout Florida who practice environmental stewardship and educate the public on agriculture’s role in protecting Florida’s natural resources.

The website recognizes more than 600 farmers who have taken voluntary steps to protect the land and water quality by implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs) on their farms. A photo gallery along with a calendar of statewide County Alliance for Responsible Environmental Stewardship (CARES) recognition events will also be featured. Profiles and events will be updated weekly.

The website will boast a modern, sleek, easy-to-navigate design. Other features include a News Blog, eligibility requirements for the CARES program, frequently asked questions and direct links to This Farm Cares social media pages on Facebook and Twitter.

“We are extremely excited to launch the CARES website,” said Scot Eubanks, CARES coordinator for FFBF. “Through this website we are able to give farmers and ranchers public recognition and bring awareness to their advanced farming practices nationwide.”

The CARES program was established by Florida Farm Bureau and the Suwannee River Partnership in 2001 to recognize superior natural resource conservation by agricultural producers. Since its inception, more than 600 agriculturists statewide have received the CARES award.

Corn Growers Recognize Good Steward

Cindy ZimmermanCommodity Classic, Conservation, Corn, NCGA

The National Corn Growers Association recognized good stewardship during the recent 2014 Commodity Classic.

Tim Smith from Eagle Grove, Iowa was honored as the inaugural honoree in NCGA’s Good Steward Recognition Program. The program and award funding was provided by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation as part of their Harvesting the Potential campaign to raise awareness among U.S. farmers of the importance of conservation agriculture.

Smith grows 820 acres of corn and soybeans in Wright County, located in north central Iowa. Within the past few years, he has adopted strip tillage, nutrient management, cover crops and a bio-reactor on his farm. In addition to developing an NRCS Nutrient Management Plan, Smith participated in a nutrient strip trial to get a better understanding of the impact of reduced nitrogen application on corn yield. He also monitors the water quality benefits of his bio-reactor along with monitoring his tile water to get a better understanding of how his implemented best management practices are impacting water quality. And Smith has conducted soil quality sampling to gather baseline data regarding soil health – to assist with identifying changes/improvements over time as a result of adoption of conservation practices such as strip tillage and cover crops.


2014 Commodity Classic Photos

Coverage is sponsored by John Deere

Bayer Buzzing About Bees

Cindy ZimmermanAgribusiness, Audio, Bayer CropScience, pollinators

bayer-laurieOne of the most important topics discussed at the recent Bayer CropScience Ag Issues Forum was the buzz about bee health and what is being done to address declining bee colonies. One of the panelists was Laurie Adams, executive director of the Pollinator Partnership. Laurie stressed that collaboration between all parties is needed to protect all pollinators, including bees. Listen to my interview with Laurie here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/bayer/bayer-aif14-adams.mp3″ text=”Interview with Laurie Adams, Pollinator Partnership”]

bayer-parkerAlso on the panel was Don Parker who deals with integrated pest management for the National Cotton Council. He discussed the importance of farmers working closely with beekeepers who use their land for hives. Parker believes that the varroa mite is the biggest threat to bee colonies right now and he stressed the need for science to lead the discussion when it comes to pollinator health, not politics or personal opinion. [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/bayer/bayer-aif14-parker.mp3″ text=”Interview with Don Parker, National Cotton Council”]

Dr. Troy Anderson, Virginia Tech entomologist, was also on the panel. All three panelists agreed that stressers on honey bee population trace back to a variety of sources that include parasites, bacterial diseases, poor nutrition, genetics and pesticides.

You can listen to the entire discussion here. [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/bayer/bayer-aif14-bees.mp3″ text=”Bayer Ag Issues Pollinator Update Panel”]

In an effort to further education and collaboration around pollinator health, Bayer CropScience is holding its second annual Bee Care Tour this year, traveling coast-to-coast to create awareness of the vital role of honey bees in sustainable agriculture by establishing a dialogue with growers, beekeepers, researchers and students to discuss the multiple factors affecting honey bee health. They will also be opening a new North American Bee Care Center next month at Bayer’s Research Triangle Park, N.C. headquarters.

bayer-issues-button2014 Bayer CropScience Ag Issues Forum Photos

BASF Helps Fight Resistant Tumbleweeds

Cindy ZimmermanAudio, BASF, Crop Protection, Weed control

Some folks may think of tumbleweeds as just ghostly balls of fluff that float innocently across the prairie like overgrown dust bunnies. In reality, they are rolling bombs of resistant weeds that can scatter their seeds for miles.

12807927604_8316ec035c_qBob Leisy is a business representative with BASF based in Colorado who talked about the effort to control resistant tumbleweeds at the recent BASF “Science Behind the Advanced Acre” media event before Commodity Classic.

“A lot of our kochia turns to tumbleweeds,” he said. “In the fall, once the plant dies off, the wind breaks it off and then that plant distributes seed as it rolls across the field.” Those tumbleweeds can spread about 100,000 seeds of glyphosate-resistant kochia as they roll, so Bob says they are working with growers to spray for kochia earlier than ever before to try and control it. “We’re looking at using 12-16 ounces of Clarity, a dicamba product from BASF, to put some residual in the ground that will kill the kochia as it begins to sprout.”

Listen to an interview with Bob here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/basf/classic-14-basf-bob-leisy.mp3″ text=”Interview with Bob Leisy, BASF Business Representative”]
BASF at the 2014 Commodity Classic Photos

USDA Helps Landowners in Conservation Practices

Jamie JohansenConservation, NRCS, USDA, water

nrcsUSDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will provide $3.6 million in financial assistance for Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota farmers and ranchers to help conserve wetlands and improve habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife, control flooding and strengthen rural economies. The finding is available through the Water Bank Program (WBP). NRCS will accept applications from now until April 18, 2014.

“The Water Bank Program provides a unique opportunity to keep water on the land for the benefit of wildlife, such as waterfowl, while also contributing to flood control, water quality and rural economies,” said NRCS Chief Jason Weller.

Through WBP, landowners receive annual payments through a 10-year rental agreement for conserving and protecting wetlands and adjacent lands that may otherwise be used for annual crop production or other activities that require drainage. The program also helps restore upland habitat for more
than 300 species of migratory birds that rely on the Prairie Pothole region for breeding, nesting and resting.

Severe flooding of agriculture land has been a problem in this region and has affected hundreds of farmers. In 2012, landowners enrolled more than 15,000 acres into the Water Bank Program. Eligible land for this year’s WBP included flooded agricultural land, flooded hay, pasture or rangeland and
flooded private forestland.

Find out more here.

New Holland Precision Land Management

Chuck ZimmermanAgribusiness, New Holland, Video

Chris Carrier New HollandIf you are not familiar with New Holland’s approach to this thing we call precision agriculture then Chris Carrier wants to bring you up to date. Chris manned the New Holland Precision Land Management (PLM) tent during the recent Operation Blue Force event I attended.

Precision technologies are revolutionizing agriculture, and producers are using them more and more to reduce input cost, improve yields, and increase efficiencies. New Holland Precision Land Management (PLM™) continues to offer leading-edge solutions for managing all of your crop production needs. You can:

• Steer your equipment with industry-leading accuracy using PLM guidance solutions
• Control rate and flow applications of mixed fleets of implements
• Optimize water usage with PLM water management
• Use PLM Connect Telematics to stay connected with your machines
• Streamline field data into informed decisions using PLM software.

Chris gives an overview of what New Holland is offering now including their PLM Cost Saving Calculator and apps like their FarmGenius, iBrochure and NH Weather.

You can listen to Chris’s lesson here or watch it below: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/new-holland/nh-blue-force-14-carrier.mp3″ text=”Chris Carrier PLM Lesson”]

New Holland Operation Blue Force Photo Album