Give Precision-Fed Heifers Adequate Bunk Space

Talia GoesAgribusiness, Dairy

DCHAAdequate feed bunk space for heifers is important in any group-housed heifer facility, and even more so when managing heifers in a precision-feeding system.

Jud Heinrichs, dairy science professor at Penn State University, recommends heifers in a precision-feeding program be given 14 to 24 inches of bunk space as they progress from 4 months of age to pre-calving or 22 months of age.

However, there are situations when feed bunk space can become an issue in a precision-feeding program, such as when heifers are fed 30 to 40 percent concentrate diets and feed access is limited to 6 to 8 hours per day.

He says there are two strategies that can be used when feed bunk space is limited. The first is to simply group animals with peers of similar body weight. The second strategy is to limit heifers from moving about freely at the feed bunk. Headlocks or closely placed divider posts can help with this.

Feeding twice daily is not recommended in a precision-feeding program as this can increase heifer competition and weight gain variability within a pen.

AgGateway Publishes Ag eStandards Release 5.3

Talia GoesAgribusiness, Research, Resources

AgGateway_LogoAgGateway announced the publication of the Ag eStandards Release 5.3. The release includes new messages to support fertilizer tonnage reporting, feed tonnage reporting and seed booking processes. The new messages will enable eConnectivity among agribusiness companies, increasing accuracy and efficiency in their businesses.

“This is one of the biggest standard releases in years for agribusiness,” said AgGateway Standards Director Jim Wilson. “The breadth of input across the agriculture industry for this release is unprecedented – It required extensive work and collaboration from AgGateway member companies.”

Wilson cited in particular the work of the AgGateway Seed Council, Crop Nutrition Council, Standards & Guidelines Committee and the Open Applications Group (OAGi).

“This release represents significant progress toward achieving AgGateway’s mission to promote, enable and expand eBusiness in agriculture,” he added. “From standardizing and automating previously state-specific and manual fertilizer reporting, to streamlining increasingly complex seed purchase planning, licensing and logistics – this release offers a lot.”

DuPont Awarded Best Crop Protection R&D Pipeline

Talia GoesAgribusiness, Dupont Crop Protection

DuPont_oval_redDuPont recently received two prestigious Agrow Awards in recognition of innovation and excellence in its R&D pipeline and packaging innovation efforts. Agrow is a leading provider of news, analysis and data to the global agriculture industry.

“DuPont is honored to receive these prestigious awards as they further acknowledge the work that we are doing to develop remarkable innovations to advance agriculture and help create a sustainable global food supply,” said Rik Miller, president, DuPont Crop Protection. “We are proud of our award-winning and robust R&D pipeline and these Agrow Awards are a testament to our on-going global commitment in sustainable food production through innovation and science.

DuPont Crop Protection and its scientists have now received 16 Agrow Awards and this is the sixth year in a row that the company has been recognized. DuPont Crop Protection received awards in the following categories:

  • Best R&D Pipeline
  • Best Packaging Innovation
  • Best Off-Patent Pesticide Strategy

Learn How To Protect Corn From Nematodes

Talia GoesAgribusiness, Guidance, Internet, Syngenta

avicta_logoSyngenta Seedcare launched an updated online training module that educates audiences about corn nematodes and how to protect corn plants from these invisible but costly pests with Avicta Complete Corn seed treatment. The module first launched in 2009.

Through a series of short, informative sections, participants learn about corn nematodes, including how to identify them and prevent yield loss with Avicta Complete Corn seed treatment.

The module underscores the commitment of Syngenta to provide farmers with technologies that will help them grow more corn.

Plant-parasitic corn nematodes are microscopic, threadlike worms that infect corn plants and cause symptoms including overall stunting or wilting, yellow leaves, and damaged or swollen roots with lesions. There is no rescue treatment for corn nematodes—plant health cannot be restored after corn nematodes have infected and damaged the corn plant. Yield loss is irreversible as well.

Hand-Held Grain Moisture Tester

Talia GoesAgribusiness, John Deere, technology

GT 30300 Box_Case_UnitTo help producers more accurately monitor the condition of their grain during harvest and in storage, John Deere introduces the GT-30300 Grain Moisture Tester. This new hand-held device provides direct readout of moisture and test weight for 20 different grains in seconds, without pre-weighing the samples, at the touch of a button.

According to Barry Deiters, product manager with John Deere Merchandise, the new GT-30300 Grain Moisture Tester is the most accurate and advanced hand-held tester available. “The tester measures the moisture of harvested or stored grain from 5 percent to 45 percent with repeatable accuracy to plus or minus 0.2 percent and test weights with repeatable accuracy of 0.5 lb. per bushel, without having to pre-weigh the samples.”

The tester also measures the temperature of stored grains from 40 to 120 degrees F with repeatable accuracy to within 1.0 degree. Other features include a backlit LCD display for easy viewing of data, automatic temperature compensation and USB port and cord to make software updates and downloading data easy and convenient. Each unit comes with an attached swiper for grain leveling and heavy-duty carrying case.

Case IH Expands Precision Disk 500 Air Drill Line

Talia GoesAgribusiness, Case IH, Planting

2013-11-5-Case_IH_Expands_Precision_Disk_Line_Low_ResCase IH introduces the availability of two new air drills in 50- and 60-foot working widths. These larger-sized Precision Disk 500 air drills help growers cover more acres in short planting windows.

“Case IH engineers have taken the best-in-class Precision Disk 500 design and made it even more productive with larger working widths and a five-section design,” says Dale Simpson, Case IH Seeding Marketing Manager. “Known for its accurate seed placement and ability to seed in diverse conditions – from no-till to reduced till to conventional till – the new Precision Disk 500 air drills are designed based on customer requests for wider operating widths to give them greater productivity.”

Growers can take advantage of faster fill times by pairing these larger drills with Precision Air carts. These carts are available in sizes from 280 to 430 bushels in a tow-between or tow-behind configuration or 580 bushels in a tow-behind configuration.

Like other members of the Precision Disk family, these larger drills feature a parallel-link row unit for unmatched seed placement accuracy. The drills are available in either 7.5- or 10-inch row spacings. Newly designed double-edged closing wheels, with three easy-to-adjust pressure settings, eliminate air pockets and ensure good seed-to-soil contact. Hydraulic down pressure across the full width of the disk drill can be adjusted either manually or via an in-cab display option.

Conservation Compliance Support in Farm Bill Conference

Cindy ZimmermanAudio, Conservation, Farm Bill

One area where there seemed to be general agreement in the first meeting of the farm bill conference committee last week was the need for a strong conservation program – and most committee members who mentioned it during last week’s meeting are in favor of tying conservation compliance to crop insurance, which is part of the Senate bill.

fb-conf“As we make this shift to risk management policies, it’s very important that farmers and ranchers continue to do the things that make them the best stewards of our land and water resources,” said Senate Agriculture Committee chair Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). “By reconnecting conservation compliance to our now-strengthened crop insurance program, we protect the future of agriculture for our children and grandchildren.”

Rep. Steve King (R-IA) agreed. “With direct payments eliminated, it’s important that we provide incentives for farmers to continue to be good stewards of the land,” he said.

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) noted that the vast majority of producers are already doing what is required. “Are we going to say to the few that might be bad actors that you can still get your insurance and not do what the vast majority are doing on their own?”

Only Senator John Hoeven (R-ND) spoke against linking conservation and crop insurance. “In the House version you do not tie the conservation compliance to crop insurance,” he said. “I think that is the right approach.”

The committee met for the first time on October 30. No word yet on when it will meet again but some members have said they are hoping to get the bill out of committee by Thanksgiving.

See How Cover Crops Pay at CTIC Event

Talia GoesAgribusiness, Conservation

Early oct 2010 048Producers and ag advisers interested in learning the finer points of using cover crops in a farming operation can see them used first hand during the Conservation Technology Information Center’s (CTIC) Cover Crop Summit Nov. 20-21 in the Fort Wayne, Ind., area.

Summit discussion topics will include practical ways to incorporate cover crops into an operation, cover crop planting methods and more. Tour stops will feature grain farmers and animal producers who have successfully incorporated cover crops into their unique systems through innovation. Travel scholarships to attend the event are available.

At each operation, producers will share details on their experiences with cover crops, including how they began, their current management techniques and benefits they have found on their farms. Other experts on cover crops, such as university researchers, also will be available to answer questions.

A room block under group code 1120 is available at Don Hall’s Guesthouse, 1313 W. Washington Center Rd., Fort Wayne. Participants should make their own room reservations, even if applying for a travel scholarship.

A sneak preview, the summit schedule, registration, hotel information and travel scholarship information can be found at www.ctic.org/CoverCropSummit. For more information, contact Chad Watts at 574-242-0147 or watts@ctic.org.

Sustainability Matters More than Farm Size

Talia GoesZimmPoll

zp-nhOur latest ZimmPoll asked the question, ”Does farm size matter?” On Food Day, Oct. 24, 2013, the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance hosted a panel, “Farm Size: Does It Really Matter?” at the State Room in Boston to discuss the differences and similarities between large and small farms, and how farm size and ownership affect consumers’ food-purchasing decisions. You can watch the full video here to see if the panelists agreed with what most of you thought: size doesn’t matter as long as it’s sustainable.

Our poll results:
· No, as long as sustainable – 38%
· No, all are needed – 35%
· Yes, it’s big vs. small – 15%
· Yes, bigger needed to feed growing population – 10%
· Other – 3%

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “What’s the biggest threat to getting the farm bill done?” Is nutrition the hang-up, or is it agriculture? Let us know!

Soil Sampling This Fall

Melissa SandfortAg Leader, Insights Weekly

Insights WeeklyAs we move deeper into the fall and harvest wraps up in some areas, growers and ag-professionals shift their focus towards other fall activities, like soil sampling. Ag Leader’s SMS Desktop and Mobile Software can assist with this activity helping you setup soil sampling sites and navigate to those while in the field. After you have collected these samples and acquired the results from the lab, many of us use this data to create site specific fertilizing prescriptions either based on our own formulas or those of a state university like…Iowa State, Kansas State, Purdue, Mississippi State, Ohio State and many other Universities publish.

Luke James, Ag Leader Software Sales Manager, gives us an overview of how the software works when it comes to soil sampling to create variable rate fertilizer prescriptions.

[wpaudio url=”http://precision.agwired.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2013/10/LukeSoilSampling1.mp3″ text=”Listen to James explain”]

The SMS Software can also help you create these types of prescriptions by utilizing SMS Basic’s Prescription Editor or the SMS Advanced Equation Writer.

James says it’s all an effort to help farmers be more efficient and precise.

[wpaudio url=”http://precision.agwired.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2013/10/LukeSoilSampling2.mp3″ text=”Listen to James explain”]

Please contact our software support team if you have any questions at 515-232-5363 or SMSsupport@agleader.com. Have a great fall!

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