Koch Agronomic Services Looking Ahead

Leah GuffeyAGROTAIN, Audio, Koch, NAFB, Nutrient Management

At the 70th Annual Convention of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting and on the Trade Talk floor I stopped in to see our friends from Koch Agronomic Services to find out what’s new in their world.

_DSC2639Vice President for North American Sales Ron Rustom tells me about the acquisition of new companies and how Koch looks to become the global leader in agriculture. While this new company is fairly young, they have a vision to take them further than ever before. “Our vision is to be the global leader in making nutrients more efficient,” Rustom says, noting that their acquisitions of Georgia Pacific and Agrotain International have really helped them toward that goal.

Listent to my interview with Ron here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/nafb/nafb-13-koch-rustom.mp3″ text=”Ron Rustom, Koch Agronomic Services”]

_DSC2638Greg Scwaab, director of agronomy for Koch, says they are looking ahead now to nutrient applications in 2014. He says that higher than expected harvest has been great, but they are encouraging growers to take a look at their application process as no one wants to wait for the last minute and now is a great time to be planning ahead. Greg says, “farmers learned they have to be prepared for loss of fertilizer, nitrogen especially.” He recommends their products to be safe and help prevent nitrogen loss in the field.

Listen to my interview with Greg here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/nafb/nafb-13-koch-schwab.mp3″ text=”Greg Schwaab, Koch Agronomic Services”]

Checkout photos from NAFB Convention: 2013 NAFB Convention Photo Album

‘Farm Portfolio’ Approach to Simplify Conservation

Talia GoesAgribusiness, Conservation, USDA

NRCSCity dwellers as well as farmers need bottom-line returns from over $4 billion invested in federal conservation programs every year. A new “Farm Portfolio” approach shows that the U.S. economy, human health and the environment can benefit in measurable ways from coordinating conservation at all levels.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) highlighted the new six-step approach to focusing conservation programs in a first-of-its-kind Farm Portfolio webinar on Conservation Practices: Farm Fix-it to Farm Portfolio.

Since the 1930s, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has relied on the 9-step conservation plan and its local and state partners to meet with landowners and install conservation practices like field terraces and streambank filter strips. While farm bill conservation programs remain an important component of the new farm portfolio approach, the priority shifts to national-scale environmental outcomes and using resource-driven, data-based professional expertise.

CPS Applications Due Jan. 17

Talia GoesAgribusiness, Conservation, USDA

usda-logoThe U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is opening the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) for new enrollments for federal fiscal year 2014. Starting now through Jan. 17, 2014, producers interested in participating in the program can submit applications to NRCS.

Eligible landowners and operators in all states and territories can enroll in CSP through January 17th to be eligible during the 2014 federal fiscal year. While local NRCS offices accept CSP applications year round, NRCS evaluates applications during announced ranking periods.To be eligible for this year’s enrollment, producers must have their applications submitted to NRCS by the closing date.

Capture LFR Promotion Equipment Voucher

Talia GoesAgribusiness, FMC, Insect Control

LFRBecause in-the-bag seed protection only works when pests take a bite, season-long damage is done before target insects are controlled. This season, corn growers can take a proactive approach to maximizing germination and save $5,000 on startup costs when they create a zone of protection with Capture® LFR® insecticide by FMC Agricultural Solutions.

Growers can sign up at www.zoneofprotection.com to participate in the Capture LFR Equipment Voucher Giveaway. The first 50 eligible growers to sign up and submit proof of purchase for 40 gallons or more of Capture LFR insecticide will receive a $5,000 voucher toward a new in-furrow liquid application system. Vouchers can be redeemed with participating equipment suppliers: SureFire Ag Systems; Ohio Valley Ag; AgXcel; Sprayer Specialties, Inc.; or C&R Supply.

Growers who have previously participated in the Capture LFR Equipment Partner Bonus Program are not eligible to receive a voucher. To verify eligibility, growers must submit contact information, agree to the giveaway rules and regulations, and answer five basic questions about their use of at-plant fertilizer and crop protection products.

BASF Advanced Plant Health and Grower Engagement

Jamie JohansenAgribusiness, Audio, BASF, NAFB

Advanced plant health and grower engagement were two topics that BASF Crop Protection representatives discussed with reporters at the recent National Association of Farm Broadcasting Trade Talk.

nafb13-basf-reevesDr. Brianne Reeves is a member of the BASF Plant Health Technical Market team and in that role supports field research efforts and manages technical training for Priaxor® fungicide. Brianne is a DPM – Doctor of Plant Medicine – so she knows quite a bit about plant health and how Xemium® fungicide, the active ingredient in Priaxor fungicide, brings advanced plant health benefits to the table.

“The advanced plant health benefits are advanced growth efficiency, advanced disease control and advanced stress tolerance,” she says, noting that BASF has done hundreds of research projects to show those benefits, such as the “root and shoot” advantages. “Better roots, better shoots, more leaves, greener leaves, more photosynthesis, better yields.” [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/nafb/nafb13-basf-reeves.mp3″ text=”Interview with Dr. Brianne Reeves, BASF”]

In addition to advancements in plant health, BASF has made a commitment to advancing its partnership with farmers in the field by introducing Innovation Specialists like Kaleb Hellwig to engage with growers and help them manage their operations more effectively.

nafb13-basf-kaleb“It’s not about selling them a product, I make recommendations for competitive products, I make recommendations in the fertility area,” Kaleb says. “So that when they make an application of Priaxor in soybeans or Headline AMP in corn or Twinline in wheat that they get the very highest return.”

Kaleb says BASF has gotten such positive feedback with Innovation Specialists in the field that they will be expanding the program next year. [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/nafb/nafb13-basf-kaleb.mp3″ text=”Interview with Kaleb Hellwig, BASF”]
2013 NAFB Convention Photo Album

The Chicago Farmers Rebrands Farmland Fair

Jamie JohansenAg Group, Audio, Events, Farmers, Video

chi-farmThe Chicago Farmers annual Farmland Investment Fair has been rebranded for 2014 as simply “The Farmland Fair” with a continued focus on the connection of social media and farmland investment.

The Chicago Farmers 2014 Farmland Fair – “Where People Come To Learn, Connect and Understand Farmland” – will be held on February 1, 2014 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Joliet Junior College’s Weitendorf Ag Facility. The Fair will feature social media expert Jeff Korhan, author of “Built-In Social: Essential Social Marketing Practices for Every Small Business,” which delivers proven methods for converting social marketing best practices into profitable outcomes. Korhan is a small business marketing specialist who helps businesses use social media and internet marketing to create exceptional customer experiences that accelerate business growth.

Farmland Fair co-chairman Jeff Martin notes that The Chicago Farmers organization has been helping people with an interest in farmland connect face-to-face with each other since 1935. “This year we’re going to teach people how to connect and learn about farmland on-line and further increase their business opportunities on the farm,” said Martin, who is a past president of The Chicago Farmers, a farmer from Mount Pulaski, Illinois and nationally-recognized expert on conservation practices. [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/chicago-farmers/chicago-farmers-martin.mp3″ text=”Interview with Jeff Martin, The Chicago Farmers”]

Read more here and watch one of Jeff’s videos from The Chicago Farmers website below where he talks about the fair.

Help Bayer CropScience be Thankful4Ag

Jamie JohansenAgribusiness, Bayer CropScience

Bayer Be Thankful for AgBayer CropScience is giving thanks to people in agriculture who help feed us this holiday season. You can help them with their big goal.

Bayer CropScience is donating 20,000 meals to World Food Program USA to help feed hungry Americans. Help us reach our goal of donating 40,000 meals by December 20th by sharing educational facts with your friends and family. We’ll donate $1 for each item you share on Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook and $1=4 donated meals. Join the conversation on Twitter with #Thankful4Ag and @Bayer4CropsUS.

Ram Truck Farmer Photography Book Available

Jamie JohansenAgribusiness, Equipment, NAFB

Ram Truck Farmer BookYou loved the commercial, you’ll love the book. It’s a new photography book launched by Ram Trucks with National Geographic titled, “The Farmer in All of Us: An American Portrait.” The book is available for purchase now for $45 at www.ramtrucks.com/outfitter and will be in retail stores beginning late spring 2014.

The 300-page coffee table book is a beautiful and comprehensive collection of original agriculture and farming photography, including many of the images commissioned by the Ram Truck brand for its “Farmer” Super Bowl commercial inspired by Paul Harvey’s “So God Made a Farmer” essay. Every book purchase backs a minimum contribution of $25,000 by the Ram Truck brand to the National FFA Organization’s “Give the Gift of Blue” program, which donates traditional FFA blue corduroy jackets to members who would not otherwise be able to own one.

“Supporting farmers isn’t just about those who till the soil, it’s about reminding America who we are and where our greatness comes from,” said Olivier Francois, Chief Marketing Officer, Chrysler Group, LLC. “This book truly brings the ‘Farmer’ story to life, and continues to give back in support of the amazing students of the FFA who embody this spirit every day.”

nafb-13-45-editedTo create the book, ten world-class photographers were tasked with traveling throughout America’s heartland over the course of three weeks to capture the essence of the farmer. Paul Harvey’s “So God Made a Farmer” speech served as their inspiration. The photographers’ original goal was to create the visual backdrop for a television commercial celebrating the “Year of the Farmer.” The two-minute tribute aired during Super Bowl XLVII, stopping the nation in its tracks.

The Ram Truck crew was present during the recent NAFB Convention and Jamie caught an interview with David Sowers, who is head of Ram’s marketing team. He discusses the book along with what’s new for Ram Truck. [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/nafb/nafb-13-ram-sowers.mp3″ text=”Interview with David Sowers, Ram Truck”]

2013 NAFB Convention Photo Album

Precision.AgWired.com Podcast: A new driver for demand

Meghan GrebnerPrecision Pays Podcast, Research, Scouting, sustainability, technology, yields

pp-podcastFor the first time in history – income will have a greater influence on food security than population.  During the Taming Agricultural Risks meeting at the Chicago Federal Reserve, Purdue Extension agricultural economist Dr. Mike Boehlje said growth in terms of incomes is critical to the long-term growth of agriculture.

In this Precision.AgWired.com Podcast, sponsored by Ag Leader Technology, we’ll take a look at why income growth is important to agriculture, and ultimately the technology that’s used to make farmer produce more efficiently.

[wpaudio url=”http://precision.agwired.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2013/11/PPP-1113.mp3″ text=”Precision.AgWired.com Podcast”]

The Precision.AgWired.com Podcast is sponsored by Ag Leader Technology.