Tis the Season to be Thankful!

Talia GoesZimmPoll

zp-nhOur latest ZimmPoll asked the question, ”What is your opinion on the EPA lowering biofuels requirements?”

Our poll results:
· Bad for the country – 26%
· Guts the RFS and hurts ag – 26%
· Windfall for oil industry – 19%
· Other – 13%
· Industry can overcome – 7%
· Doesn’t go far enough – 5%
· Better for livestock producer – 4%

Looks like it’s a strong majority that feels the new requirements are bad all around – for the country and for the farmers – unless you’re in the oil industry. Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “What are you thankful for?” ‘Tis the season to be thankful for so many things – we want to know what tops your list! Let us know.

Fall Insights Magazine Now Available

Melissa SandfortAg Leader, Insights Weekly

Insights Weekly

Ag Leader Technology is pleased to announce the Fall 2013 issue of Insights magazine. The quarterly magazine helps growers and precision farming industry professionals get more out of their precision farming tools and to learn about the latest technologies.

This issue highlights articles about SMS software, vegetable production, drainage tile, a Michigan grower highlight and reports from the field.

Those interested in signing up for a free subscription to Insights magazine are encouraged to visit: www.agleader.com/subscription.

Head’s up for the holidays! The Tech Support call center will be closed Nov. 28-29 for Thanksgiving. They will be back to normal operating hours on Dec. 2 from 7a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Friday until Christmas Eve.

From everyone at Ag Leader, we wish you a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

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.

Fed Conservation Programs Topic for Forum

John DavisConservation, Farm Bill, Government

farmfoundationlogo3The Farm Bill is still up in the air on Capitol Hill, and that’s why the folks at Farm Foundation have set up another of their free forums not too far from where Congress will be discussing the legislation’s future. In this next forum on Wednesday, Dec. 4, at the National Press Club in downtown Washington, D.C., the group has invited a host of experts to talk about the future of federal conservation programs and what those programs mean to land owners and conservation work on the land.

Moderating the panel will be former Texas Congressman Charlie Stenholm. Five panelists will present perspectives on the legislation:

Bruce Knight of Strategic Conservation Solutions and former Chief of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, will provide an overview of federal conservation policies and the role of federal programs in conservation work.
Eric Lindstrom, who works on wetlands and water conservation at Ducks Unlimited, will discuss that organizations’ migratory bird program, including the federal duck stamp program.
North Dakota farmer Don Bauman will explain the role of conservation in his farming operation.
Marcus Maier of the Indian Creek Watershed Project, will discuss the role of federal programs in this farmer-led project.

To sign up, click here. Also, if you can’t make it to the event, the audio will be archived on the Farm Foundation website.

Looking Ahead to ASFMRA Agronomics Vision 2015

Cindy ZimmermanAerial Application, Aerial Imagery, farm land, Video

With the conclusion of the recent Agronomics Vision 2014 conference and American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers annual meeting in Reno, the group was already looking forward to next year. In the video below, President-Elect Fred Hepler of Cottonwood Management in Oklahoma talks about plans for next year’s conference in Tucson, AZ, October 27 – November 1, 2014.

Hepler says new technology will be a bigger part of next year’s program with an expanded look at unmanned aerial vehicles and their use as a tool for managers, consultants and appraisers.

You can listen to my interview with Fred here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/asfmra/agronomics-13-fred-hepler.mp3″ text=”Interview with Fred Hepler”]

Agronomics Vision 2014 Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the ASFMRA Agronomics Conference is sponsored by Halderman Farm Management.

Hick Chick Chat for Thanksgiving

Leah GuffeyAudio, Hick Chick Chat, NAFB, NCGA, technology, yields

IMG_3503Welcome to the second installment of the Hick Chick Chat for the week of Thanksgiving, that glorious time of year we give #FoodThanks for another bountiful harvest.

There was a lot of conversation this year about the unfavorable growing conditions experienced in many areas and just a few months ago there were some pretty major concerns about whether the harvest would be very bountiful this year.  For the first time ever, there were no field demonstrations at the Farm Progress Show because the crops weren’t mature. Despite that adversity however, farmers have just about finished harvesting a record nearly 14 billion bushel corn crop – thanks in a very large part to the latest and greatest technology in equipment, seed and crop protection.  

IMG_3591I had a chance to catch up with some farmers at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Trade Talk earlier this month to “talk turkey” about this year’s crop and how technology is helping them overcome even the toughest weather challenges.

From all of us here at Precision.AgWired.com, we wish you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving. Thank you for all you do to continue to provide a bountiful harvest each and every year.

Follow me on Twitter @the_hickchick and join me on Facebook

Listen to the Hick Chick Chat here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/podcast/hickchickchat-13-thanksgiving.mp3″ text=”Hick Chick Chat Thanksgiving”]

2013 NAFB Convention Photo Album

Rabo AgriFinance Report From NAFB

Jamie JohansenAgribusiness, Audio, Corn, NAFB, Soybeans

nafb-13-40-editedRabo AgriFinance was present for the recent Trade Talk during the 2013 NAFB Convention. The company is the leading U.S. ag lender and specializes in protein to produce and inputs to oilseeds. Their expert team monitors and evaluates the global market that influences agriculture around the world.

I spoke with one of the team’s analysts at the event and he shed some insight into the upcoming 2014 futures and recapped how growers and producers faired in 2013. John Grettenburg is a Relationships Manager in Western and Southwest Iowa and specializes in the corn and soybean market.

John hit on on-farm storage of grains and how it can benefit growers.

“I think it gives the producer the opportunity to mange it from one tax year to the next from an income tax perspective. Historically we have had some increases and bumps in the market through the spring months and early summer. It allows farmers to increase the speed of their harvest if they have their own drying facility and by not have to wait in lines at local elevators. It gives them that flexibility to move that crop to market when the price dictates.”

Listen to my complete interview with John here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/nafb/nafb-13-rabo-grettenburg.mp3″ text=”Interview with John Grettenburg”]

Checkout photos from NAFB Convention: 2013 NAFB Convention Photo Album

ASFMRA Award Winner

Jamie JohansenAg Group, Audio, Video

The American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA) recognized Gary Thien, AFM, ARA, Thien Farm Management, Inc., with the 2013 D. Howard Doane Award during the 2013 ASFMRA Annual Meeting in Reno, NV.

The D. Howard Doane Award is held in great esteem in the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. It is given annually to a member or non-member who has demonstrated such qualities and outstanding contributions in the field of agriculture with emphasis on farm management and rural appraisal.

Gary Thien AFM, ARA, graduated from Iowa State University in 1974 and started managing farms in western Iowa for the Council Bluffs Savings Bank. That same year he attended an Iowa Chapter meeting of the ASFMRA and became a member shortly thereafter.

Learn a little bit more about Gary in this interview I did with him during the Agronomics Vision 2014 Conference.

You can listen to my interview with Gary here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/asfmra/agronomics-13-gary-thien.mp3″ text=”Interview with Gary Thien”]

Agronomics Vision 2014 Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the ASFMRA Agronomics Conference is sponsored by Halderman Farm Management.

Climate Corporation’s Growth by Tracking Weather

Jamie JohansenAgribusiness, Audio, Farmers, Monsanto, NAFB, weather

nafb-13-29-editedAnother ag based company who attended this year’s Trade Talk at the recent NAFB Convention was the Climate Corporation. They are focused on applying data science to production agriculture and take all the environmental data, weather, soil conditions and current and seasonal projections and apply it to the production agricultural decisions growers make on a daily basis.

Greg Smirin, CEO of The Climate Corporation, sat down with me during the event to talk about some new products they are offering growers and what changes customers might see with the Monsanto acquisition.

“We help protect the grower from things they cannot control with our total weather insurance, crop insurance and we are rolling out for the season Climate Basic and Climate Pro, which helps the farmer make decisions throughout the growing season to boost profitability.”

Climate Basic and Climate Pro will use data science to change agriculture. The basic program is a free web and mobil service and will provide hyper-local weather on each of the fields a grower has. A grower gets projected growth stages, soil moisture tracking, alerts along with scouting and notes. The pro version comes with a fee, but growers get everything the basic provides with an advisor for planting, nitrogen, pest and disease, harvest and in variable rates.

There is no doubt the company provides a service for growers that can increase profitability by over $100 per acre. Recently, the company was acquired by Monsanto. The two companies have found that they are doing the same science based research. The Climate Corporation will continue to operate independently with growers, but they are now able to leverage the research that has come out of Monsanto’s labs.

Listen to my complete interview with Greg here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/nafb/nafb-13-climate-corp-smirin.mp3″ text=”Interview with Greg Smirin”]

Checkout photos from NAFB Convention: 2013 NAFB Convention Photo Album

USFRA Update on Farmland Movie

Jamie JohansenAg Group, Audio, Farmers, NAFB, USFRA, Video

nafb13-usfra-lunzConsumers want to see a face of where their food comes from and that is one thing the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) has tried to provide. USFRA was on-hand during NAFB’s Trade Talk and Cindy spoke with them about their desire to continually start the conversations about food and farming across the country.

Lisa Lunz, USFRA Board Member, has been involved with all aspects of the organization’s endeavors. She is a corn and soybean producer from Northeast Nebraska. Her involvement on the Nebraska Soybean board is what lead her to USFRA. In the short time USFRA has been in existence, Lisa is truly proud of the dialogue they have been able to start and the wide-spread conversations people are having about the food they eat and produce. She describes USFRA as a movement not an organization, because change doesn’t happen over night. The success of the Food Dialogues is a testament to the need for these conversations to take place globally.

“We need to acknowledge consumers questions, answer those questions and give them an opportunity to understand what we do.”

The latest USFRA outreach activity was the release of trailer and website for the new film Farmland. The documentary is a work in progress. Director James Moll, has interviewed, conducted research and is now almost ready to announce the families featured in the film. This winter the film will be finalized and sent to film festivals. The coveted national debut will come in March 2014. The film is supported by USFRA, but not a USFRA production.

“Part of the reason why we thought this project was so important was because there are a lot of documentaries out there about a lot of different subjects, but there is not one about the next generation of farming. I think they have found a great director, that is a great listener and wanted to learn more too. As he went out and interviewed these famers and ranchers he has had an opportunity to learn also. He is an award winning director and so it has given us a great opportunity to create something that hopefully we can use as an educational tool and something that will spark conversations about food.”

Listen to Cindy’s complete interview with Lisa here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/nafb/nafb13-usfra-lunz.mp3″ text=”Interview with Lisa Lunz, USFRA Board Member”]

2013 NAFB Convention Photo Album

Great American Wheat Harvest Thanksgiving

Cindy ZimmermanAudio, Harvesting, NAFB, Video, wheat

conradThe Great American Wheat Harvest will debut in 2014, according to the director of the documentary who was at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting annual meeting talking about the project.

Conrad Weaver tells us the documentary will be seen first in March 2014. “We are premiering the film nationally on National Ag Day in Washington DC on March 25,” he said. Conrad logged more than 70,000 air- and 30,000 driving-miles this year alone, capturing the harvest from Texas to North Dakota to the Northwest and across the U.S. border into Canada. Listen to Leah Guffey’s interview with Conrad here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/nafb/nafb-13-customharvester-weaver.mp3″ text=”Interview with Conrad Weaver, Great American Wheat Harvest”]

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, the makers of the film wanted to let everyone know how grateful for all the help they have received in making this great American documentary.


2013 NAFB Convention Photo Album