Wet Planting Season Doesn’t Mean Lost Yields

Melissa SandfortAg Leader, Insights Weekly

Insights WeeklyThe planting of the U.S. corn crop was 91% complete as of Sunday, June 2, below the five-year average of 95% for that time of year, according to a recent report by the USDA. The soybean crop was 57% planted, behind the average of 74% for that time of year. And there were 8.55 million acres of corn still unplanted.

So what does that mean for farmers across the Midwest? Either plant in soggy ground, replant in muddy fields or collect crop insurance.

Ag Leader’s Mike Olson, sales manager, says in tough seasons like this, using precision ag technology can really be a benefit.

[wpaudio url=”http://agwired.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/AgLeaderOlson1.mp3″ text=”Listen to Olson explain”]

Olson also notes that because of the rainy season, there is de-nitrification in the ground. That’s when OptRX crop sensors can help read the crop vigor to help growers apply Nitrogen when they side-dress. And, the Hydraulic Down Force system was invaluable this season to maintain proper planting depth.

[wpaudio url=”http://agwired.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/AgLeaderOlson2.mp3″ text=”Listen to Olson explain”]

Growers can still implement crop sensor technology during the 2013 growing season, save their crop and benefit from the technology when it comes to increased yields. Olson says trials have shown a $25 per acre increase in profit by using more Nitrogen.

[wpaudio url=”http://agwired.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/AgLeaderOlson3.mp3″ text=”Listen to Olson explain”]

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.

How’s Your Hay Crop

Talia GoesZimmPoll

Before we get to our new Zimmpoll let’s look at the results of our latest one which asked the question, “What is MOST important when buying a tractor?” It looks like price, horsepower, and versatility win this battle.

Our poll results: Twenty-two percent said Price and Horsepower, seventeen percent said versatility, fifteen percent said Customer Service, nine percent said Accessories, six percent said Warranty and Comfort, four percent said Color, and two percent said Size. The bells and whistles don’t seem to be a huge impact on purchasing decisions.

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Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “How good was your first cutting of hay?” Weather hasn’t exactly been predictable this spring. With a cold and wet spring season across much of the country how did it affect your hay crop? Has it bounced back from last year’s drought? Let us know.
ZimmPoll is sponsored by New Holland Agriculture.

Raven Makes Big Announcements at RIS

Jamie JohansenAudio, Dealers, Raven, technology

ris-13-021_edited-1The 2013 Raven Innovation Summit wrapped up last night with an awards banquet honoring Raven Industries dealers from across the world. The two-day event consisted of the announcement of brand new innovative technologies, a trade show and educational break-out sessions where dealers got all their questions answered about the new product launches.

During the opening session general manager and vice president of Raven Industries, Matt Burkhart, had the privilege to finally make the hard work and years of research public. Raven is recognized as a leader in precision agriculture and has been introducing leading edge technology since 1978. Maybe the most coveted new product is the Viper 4, a fourth generation Viper loaded with simplicity, power and connection.

ris-13-013-editedListen to Matt’s complete product launch presentation here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/raven/ris-13-product-announcement.mp3″ text=”Product Launch Announcement”]

I also got to sit down with Matt and he shared how the passion for Raven’s Applied Technology Division is helping farmers feed the world. Their mission to do this is surrounded by growing their core, expanding internationally and focusing on information management.

Listen to my interview with Matt here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/raven/ris-13-burkhart.mp3″ text=”Interview with Matt Burkhart”]

Check out photos from the event here: Raven Innovation Summit Photo Album

New Holland Launches the Genesis T8 Series Tractors

Chuck ZimmermanAgribusiness, Audio, New Holland, Tractor

New Holland Genesis T8 SeriesA legacy name is making a comeback at New Holland. It’s the Genesis T8 Series of tractors! Here’s one of the newest tractor from New Holland out in the field at New Holland headquarters in Pennsylvania.

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the industry-changing GENESIS™ tractor, New Holland has built a machine to honor its legacy—the GENESIS™ T8 Series tractor. No matter what your agricultural demands include, you can rely upon the new GENESIS™ T8 series tractor to get things done—just as the original tractor did!

I got out in the field with this bad boy and visited with Gary Wojcik, Segment Marketing Manager for large horsepower tractors, to find out all about this new tractor. I’ll have video to share with you as soon as I get a chance to edit it together.

Listen to my interview with Gary here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/new-holland/new-holland-genesis-wojcik.mp3″ text=”Interview with Gary Wojcik”]

You can find a lot more photos of the new Genesis here: New Holland Genesis T8 Series Tractor Photo Album

MicroEssentials.com Goes Mobile

Talia GoesAgribusiness, Apps, Fertilizer, Nutrient Management

micro_essentials_logoThe Mosaic Company has released another digital tool for farmers to gather important information that can help increase efficiency and generate higher yields.

Recognizing the fact that farmers are increasingly using tablets and smartphones to increase production, The Mosaic Company responded by recently unveiling a mobile site for its premium fertilizer, MicroEssentials.

The new mobile site for MicroEssentials will provide its customers with a more efficient and convenient user experience, particularly as retailers strive to better serve growers in their own fields and offices.

MicroEssentials.com site analytics confirm increasing use of mobile platforms. In certain months, mobile visits consist of more than 40 percent of the website traffic, and the average number of mobile visits year-round is increasing consistently.

USDA and EPA Launch U.S. Food Waste Challenge

Talia GoesAgribusiness, USDA

FoodRpng_400pxwThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched the U.S. Food Waste Challenge, calling on others across the food chain—including producer groups, processors, manufacturers, retailers, communities, and other government agencies − to join the effort to reduce, recover, and recycle food waste. Secretary Tom Vilsack and EPA Acting Administrator Bob Perciasepe were joined at the event by representatives from private-sector partners and supporters including Rio Farms, Unilever, General Mills, the Food Waste Reduction Alliance, Feeding America, and Rock and Wrap It Up!.

The goal of the U.S. Food Waste Challenge is to lead a fundamental shift in how we think about and manage food and food waste in this country. The Challenge includes a goal to have 400 partner organizations by 2015 and 1,000 by 2020.

As part of its contribution to the U.S. Food Waste Challenge, USDA is initiating a wide range of activities including activities to reduce waste in the school meals program, educate consumers about food waste and food storage, and develop new technologies to reduce food waste. USDA will also work with industry to increase donations from imported produce that does not meet quality standards, streamline procedures for donating wholesome misbranded meat and poultry products, update U.S. food loss estimates at the retail level, and pilot-test a meat-composting program to reduce the amount of meat being sent to landfills from food safety inspection labs.

2012 Corn Crop Still Needs to Be Monitored

Talia GoesAgribusiness, Corn, Research

37 time vs toxinsThe 2012 corn crop delivered many of the problems that were foreseen throughout last year’s growing season. Decreased yields, variable quality and mycotoxins have affected livestock production throughout North America. However, this crop may still be causing trouble as we dig deeper into the storage bins.

Alltech’s 37+ Program surveyed 329 samples from July 1 through Dec. 31, 2012. Only one percent of the samples analyzed were free of mycotoxin contamination; 94 percent were contaminated with two to 10 mycotoxins. In corn grain samples, 95 percent contained Fumonisin and 48 percent contained DON. In corn silage, 90 percent contained Fumonisin and 84 percent contained DON. The DDG samples contained 100 percent of both Fumonisin and DON. In all samples tested, aflatoxin was present in 18 percent.

At harvest time, it was recommended for mycotoxin contaminated grain to be dried to 14 percent moisture within 24 to 48 hours to stabilize mold growth and ensure adequate grain storage. By limiting mold growth, mycotoxin production can be stabilized, but any mycotoxins already present would remain.

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Applicants for 2014 Young Leader Program

Talia GoesAgribusiness, Dupont Pioneer, Education, Soybeans

DYLcover14The American Soybean Association (ASA) and DuPont Pioneer are seeking applicants for the 2014 Young Leader Program. Now in its historic 30th year, the ASA DuPont Young Leader program is recognized throughout agriculture for its tradition of identifying and cultivating farmer leaders who are shaping not only the U.S. soybean industry but all of agriculture.

A challenging and educational two-part training program, the 2014 class of ASA/DuPont Young Leaders will meet for the first time at Pioneer’s headquarters in Johnston, Iowa, Nov. 19-22, 2013. The program will continue Feb. 25-March 1, 2014 in San Antonio, with training held in conjunction with the annual Commodity Classic Convention and Trade Show.

The ASA/DuPont Young Leader program offers the opportunity for participants to strengthen and build upon their natural leadership skills, meet and learn from other young leaders from around the country and expand their agricultural knowledge.

Applications will be accepted online beginning June 3. Interested applicants should go to www.SoyGrowers.com/dyl.

Corn Farmers Return to Nation’s Capital

Talia GoesAgribusiness, Corn, NCGA

Pillar_4For the fifth year in a row, policymakers in our nation’s capital are learning about the U.S. family farmers who produce corn, our nation’s top crop, as part of the Corn Farmers Coalition program. Once again, the program, which is sponsored by the National Corn Growers Association and its state affiliates, showcases how innovative and high-tech corn farmers have become by introducing a foundation of facts about farmers and farming.

“This has always been a crucial time of year in Washington to make sure our lawmakers and those who influence them remember the importance of corn farming to our nation and our economy,” said Pam Johnson, NCGA president and a corn grower in Iowa. “Our state corn checkoff programs have seen the importance of this program each year for educating a very important audience about this essential crop and its high value.”

The Corn Farmers Coalition program launched June 1 with a major advertising presence in Washington that puts prominent facts about family farmers in front of thousands on Capitol Hill, starting with “station domination” at Union Station through the month of June. The large-format ads will travel to the Capitol South Metro station for July. In addition, online advertising will appear in publications such as Politico, Washington Post, the New York Times, Roll Call, National Journal, and Congressional Quarterly.

Your CHS Connection

Talia GoesAgribusiness, technology

CMagazineIconToday’s farmers and ranchers rely on high-tech expensive equipment for some grueling work, often asking one engine to accomplish what three used to do. Six Midwest producers tell how they get top equipment performance in the lead story of C – Your CHS Connection, the magazine published by CHS Inc. for its grower-owners and other stakeholders.

Cassie Lapaseotes, Lapaseotes Ltd., Bridgeport, Neb., one of the producers recounting how testing new premium diesel fuels from Cenex made an impressionable difference in engine performance. Lapaseotes appeared in a short video with other producers to talk about the value of premium diesel fuels from Cenex.

The article, Fueling High-Tech Engines, recounts how CHS, the largest U.S. producer of premium diesel fuel, has been collaborating with additive suppliers, equipment manufacturers, retailers and equipment owners to address changing equipment specifications.