Fungicide Use Differs Based on Geography

AgWired Precision, Audio, Farm & Gin Show, FMC, Fungicide

With another growing season approaching, growers all over the country will have to make decisions about using fungicides. And no two years are alike, with varying environmental conditions and stress factors that can lead to an increase in pathogens being present.

“The first line of defense is choosing a good hybrid or variety that is going to be tolerant to your key diseases in your area. And that can be different. It’s going to be different all the way from the Midwest to the South,” said Matt Wiggins, technical service manager with FMC.

Wiggins said timely scouting is also important as growers really have to be proactive or preventative rather than reactive. He recommended Preemptor for Midwest growers and Topguard EQ for those located in the South. Wiggins said FMC will launch a new fungicide in 2019.

Listen to Jamie’s interview with Matt here: Interview with Matt Wiggins, FMC Corporation

View and download photos from the event here: 2018 Farm & Gin Show Photo Album

Coverage of the Mid-South Farm & Gin Show is sponsored by
Coverage of the Mid-South Farm & Gin Show is sponsored by FMC

President Proclaims National Ag Day

Ag Day, AgWired Animal, AgWired Energy, AgWired Precision, Audio

This morning U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, along with Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, presented a proclamation signed by President Trump naming the first day of spring National Ag Day. Cindy was attending and will have more to add later today. The photo is courtesy of @SecretarySonny‘s Twitter account! Also pictured with the proclamation is Spencer Flood, Minnesota FFA.

This year marks the second year that the administration has publicly recognized the first day of spring as National Ag Day as a salute to the contributions of America’s farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses.

In his remarks, Vice President Pence highlighted the critically important role America’s farmers and ranchers play in helping to feed, clothe and fuel not only 326 million people in the United States, but millions of people around the world. He applauded the tremendous output and resourcefulness of today’s farmers and ranchers, noting that one farmer today producers enough to feed 165 people, and that American’s spend far less for food compared to other countries – just 10 percent of their disposable income.

Listen here: /Pence_Ag_Day_Speech_3-20-18.mp3′>Vice President Mike Pence Ag Day Remarks

2018 National Ag Day Photo Album

Watch USDA’s abbreviated video of the proceedings:

FMC Offers Precision Solutions

AgWired Precision, Audio, Commodity Classic, FMC

FMC is protecting the investment of the farmers who trust the company’s products with exciting precision products available for the 2018 growing season.

“FMC is really proud of the product offerings we have for our grower customers for controlling pests, but even more effectively is a way to put it on in a precise way that makes sure all of the grower’s invested dollars get put to work protecting this crop,” said Mike Harper, industry relations manager.

FMC offers a couple of ways to do that, including the 3RIVE 3D platform and PrecisionPac technology. Harper said the 3RIVE 3D system mounts on the planter and applies a precise amount of foam bead into the furrow so the grower is ensured of getting pest control in a low amount of product that is environmentally friendly. Growers can apply almost 490 acres with one fill up, so does not slow down planting process. PrecisionPac is a dry, granular herbicide application metering system that retailers can use. Growers get very precise measurements of product mixed together in a container that can be disposed of after the application.

Harper said both systems offer great customer support and can work within the FMC Freedom Pass program to offer rebates to customers.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Mike here: Interview with Mike Harper, FMC

FMC at 2018 Commodity Classic Photo Album

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AMVAC Takes Prescription Approach with SIMPAS

AgWired Precision, AMVAC, Commodity Classic, Video

AMVAC demonstrated the next generation of precision, prescriptive, in-furrow application equipment at the 2018 Commodity Classic in Anaheim. The system is called SIMPAS, which stands for Smart Integrated Multi-product Prescriptive Application System.

“It’s an application system that allows you to apply multiple products while planting,” said Jason Jimmerson, SIMPAS product manager. “It’s a prescription approach, so as you can see, a farmer can develop prescriptions for exactly what product is needed in every spot in the field that it’s needed, and not where it’s not.”

The system can be installed on any planter or row unit. Jimmerson added that RFID technology will allow farmers to return the unused portion of a product back to the retailer for a credit. Although the system is currently in the testing phase, the company is planning a limited commercial launch in 2020.

AMVAC at 2018 Commodity Classic Photo Album

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Seed Treatment Can Harness Soil Microbes

AgWired Precision, Audio, Bayer, Commodity Classic, Corn, seed

A new and improved seed treatment will soon be available for corn growers that promises to help them “be dirt rich” to reach higher yield potential.

The Poncho®/VOTiVO® 2.0 system is the next generation of the top selling seed treatment, Poncho/VOTiVO, which combines a fast-acting systemic insecticide with a biological seed treatment that provides protection against nematodes. The 2.0 is what positively impacts the soil environment around the root to increase nutrient uptake by the plant.

“Growers understand it’s not all about the seed they planted, but it’s also about the environment in which they plant that seed,” said Greg Ginisty, Bayer product manager, corn seed treatments. “One of the things we forget is that the soil is alive, and those soil microbes can move nutrients from the soil organic matter into usable forms that our plants can ingest.”

Greg and Bayer Product Development Manager Dr. Jennifer Riggs both attended Commodity Classic to share their excitement about Poncho/VOTiVO 2.0, which will be available in seed company and Bayer demo plots this year. Listen to their interviews below and watch as Jennifer explains the science behind PV 2.0 in the video.

Poncho/VOTiVO 2.0 and Soil Health: Interview with Jennifer Riggs, Bayer

Greater Nutrient Uptake with Poncho Votivo 2.0: Interview with Greg Ginisty, Bayer

Bayer at 2018 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Fighting Corn Rootworm with Steward EC

AgWired Precision, Audio, Commodity Classic, FMC, Insecticides

Steward EC insecticide from FMC is a new tool for farmers fighting corn rootworm, especially in areas with highly irrigated acres where continuous corn is prevalent.

Brent Neuberger, senior technical service manager for FMC, said offering a different mode of action is vital to growers with high corn rootworm pressure.

“Again, it goes back to being varied in how we manage this pest,” said Neuberger. “We can’t just do it with Bt traits, we can’t just do it with applied insecticides. We have to vary, and by controlling the adults, we reduce the eggs that are laid and the subsequent pressure the next year.”

Neuberger said Steward EC is user friendly with minimal impact on beneficial insects. He said it also offers some control of western bean cutworm, corn earworm and European corn borer, as well as other late season pests. Steward EC is available for the 2018 growing season and is included in the FMC Freedom Pass program.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Brent here: Interview with Brent Neuberger, Steward EC, FMC

FMC at 2018 Commodity Classic Photo Album

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Biological Products Coming Up Big for Agriculture

AgWired Precision, Audio, Commodity Classic, Crop Protection

The biological segment of agriculture is really beginning to take off, and that was evident at the 2018 Commodity Classic in Anaheim.

“When I look at ag in general and I look at the nutrient requirements as we kind of expand our knowledge on how we feed these crops, it’s going to be vitally important for us to look at these new technologies in the biological industry to advance yields and quality while kind of keeping that eye on the environmental aspects of nutrients, and so how efficient we can be with nutrients is going to play big in how these things interact in our cropping situations,” said Jordan Martin, Pennsylvania regional sales manager with Timac Agro.

Timac Agro offers a broad range of products including granular fertilizer with marine sea calcium, homogenized fertilizer granular, liquid water-soluble fertilizer, foliar water-soluble fertilizer, and two main classes of biostimulants (ground and foliar). The company’s newest product, Fertiactyl ST, is a seed treatment using an active ingredient that is a root and plant biostimulant to reduce stress in adverse growing conditions. Available for the 2018 growing season, the product targets corn, soybean and small grains growers.

2018 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Listen to Chuck’s interview here: Interview with Timac Agro

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Precision Ag Bytes 3/14

AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes

  • Albaugh, LLC, Colorado Wheat Research Foundation, Inc. and Limagrain Cereal Seeds, LLC have announced the EPA registration of Aggressor herbicide, the exclusive-use herbicide for CoAXium Wheat Production System. Aggressor herbicide will provide growers with a new mode of action to address tough-to- control winter annual grassy weeds, including feral rye, Group 2 or ALS resistant biotypes of downy brome grass and jointed goatgrass.
  • The updated Iowa Monarch Conservation Strategy seeks to establish approximately 480,000 to 830,000 acres of monarch habitat by 2038. The strategy — developed by the Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium — guides the implementation and documentation of a voluntary, statewide conservation effort based on the best available science. The consortium is a group of 40 organizations, including agricultural and conservation associations, agribusiness and utility companies, universities and county, state and federal agencies.
  • The Soil Health Partnership preparing for another round of soil sampling, a critical part of identifying, testing and measuring farm management practices that improve sustainability through soil health. An initiative of the National Corn Growers Association, the program’s goal is to quantify the benefits of these practices–like growing cover crops in the off-season and reducing tillage—from an economic standpoint, showing farmers how healthy soil benefits their bottom line.
  • The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture has announced participants selected for On the Farm STEM professional development events in Fort Worth, Texas; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Portland, Oregon. The training is designed to bring science to life for participants with the help of American beef cattle ranchers, researchers, nutritionists and veterinarians.
  • The Agricultural Drainage Management Coalition Member Companies and Dr. Dan Jaynes with the National Laboratory for Agricultural & The Environment collaborated to quantify the effectiveness of installing saturated buffers on buffers enrolled in the conservation reserve program to reduce nutrient loading from tile drainage waters. To view the full research report and find additional information and videos pertaining to saturated buffer systems, visit www.saturatedbufferstrips.com.
  • IoF2020 project stakeholders have demonstrated a proof of concept focusing on interoperability and compatibility between farm machines, sensors and software. The IoF2020 group uses the ADAPT Framework focusing on interoperability and compatibility between farm machines, sensors and software. ADAPT is an open source software toolkit from AgGateway, based on a universal data compatibility model that uses plug-ins to enable translation between different proprietary data formats.

John Deere ExactApply™ Retrofit Kits Now Available

AgWired Precision, Audio, Commodity Classic, Equipment, John Deere

John Deere is giving farmers the opportunity to bring existing sprayers up to speed with ExactApply technology through retrofit kits now available from local dealers. Application quality is vital to a grower’s success, according to Doug Felter, product marketing manager for application equipment with John Deere.

“Being able to change nozzles on the go is something that is exclusive to John Deere,” said Felter. “Being able to use the front nozzle, eventually switch to maybe a larger nozzle as we go faster, or even use both of those nozzles in tandem, opening up a lot wider range of application.”

Felter said John Deere also offers nozzles that pulse up to three times faster than the industry standard. ExactApply retrofit kits are available for all R4030, R4038 and R4045 Sprayers manufactured since these models were introduced and that are equipped with stainless-steel plumbing and steel booms, no matter the boom size. Kits include new ExactApply nozzle bodies, new electrical boom harnessing to power and control the nozzles, and a higher capacity alternator for the machine to provide for the added electrical power demands.

Listen to Jamie’s interview with Doug here: Interview with Doug Felter, John Deere

2018 Commodity Classic Photo Album

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Bayer Fighting SCN, SDS with ILeVO

AgWired Precision, Audio, Bayer, Commodity Classic, Soybean

As soybean cyst nematode (SCN) continues to evolve, growers need new tools to fight against yield loss in their fields.

“Nearly all of the SCN-resistant varieties out there have the same source of resistance. And over time, the SCN is actually adapting to that source of resistance, so it’s no longer quite as effective as it used to be,” said Melissa Chu, product manager with Bayer. “So active management of SCN is a really critical recommendation to maximize yield potential for growers, and one of the ways to do that can be a seed treatment such as ILeVO.”

Early season protection is key when dealing with SCN, as well as sudden death syndrome (SDS), another primary yield robber in soybeans fields.

“ILeVO is a great solution and protects from those early season damages that can occur from SCN as well as other nematodes, and SDS,” said Jeremiah Mullock, product development manager with Bayer. “SDS is a root rot pathogen, so ILeVO protects that root rot from occurring early in the season, providing that yield potential. Later in the season, SDS symptoms can occur, but because we’re protecting from that root rot, that yield protection is still there.”

Trials of ILeVO have shown an average yield boost of 4.5 bushels per acre in affected soybean fields.

Listen to Jamie’s interview with Melissa Chu here: Interview with Melissa Chu, Bayer CropScience

Listen to Jamie’s interview with Jeremiah Mullock here: Interview with Jeremiah Mullock, Bayer

Photos, video, and audio interviews from Bayer at Commodity Classic Bayer sponsor logo