Second Release of Newly Converted Sorghum Lines

Talia GoesAgribusiness, seed

sorghum-checkoffThe Sorghum Checkoff in collaboration with MMR Genetics (NuSeeds America) and USDA-Agricultural Research Service have released 50 new sources of sorghum germplasm through the reinstated Sorghum Conversion Program.

This is the program’s second of three scheduled releases of sorghum germplasm. In June 2012, the program released 44 converted lines that were distributed to 12 public and private entities engaged in sorghum breeding for the development of new and better hybrid lines of sorghum.

The reinstated sorghum conversion program releases make more of the world’s inventory of sorghum genetics available to public and private breeding programs. The material released provides a brand new source of germplasm with potential yield-improving benefits among other desirable genetic traits. Breeding companies can capture potential traits from this new release of germplasm to incorporate into their current sorghum lines to improve the crop’s productivity.

USDA Rural Development Celebrates Earth Day

Talia GoesAgribusiness, USDA

usda-logoAs part of USDA’s Earth Day celebration, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced support for projects that will improve water and wastewater services for rural Americans and benefit the environment across the country. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) remains focused on carrying out its mission, despite a time of significant budget uncertainty. Today’s announcement is one part of the Department’s efforts to strengthen the rural economy.

As part of the announcement, USDA Rural Development is providing more than $145.2 million to improve water quality and provide a safe and healthy environment for rural Americans.

Data Management Challenge

Talia GoesAgribusiness, Data Collection, University

AlabamaExt.Paul Mask, an Alabama Cooperative Extension System assistant director for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources and an Auburn University professor of agronomy and soils, says the promise of precision farming is using technology to gain a clear and comprehensive picture of one’s farming operations to secure the highest measure of farm efficiency and profitability by reducing input usage, insulating against risk and enhancing sustainable farming practices.

“That’s always been the challenge,” Mask says. “To me, it’s never been about adopting individual pieces of technology — rather, it’s about how the adoption of this technology leads to a change in mindset.”

John Fulton, an Alabama Extension precision farming specialist and Auburn University associate professor of biosystems engineering who filled Mask’s shoes a decade ago after he assumed his current administrative position, sees the next challenge as helping producers become firmly anchored to this guiding principle.

“In the last decade we’ve made strides showing farmers how to use precision farming technologies to avoid over-application and increase efficiency,” Fulton says.

The next big challenge is helping producers acquire a comprehensive understanding of this technology and its wider uses.

New feature for Optimizer 2.0

Talia GoesAgribusiness, agronomy, weather

optimizer2An agronomy firm whose smartphone application projects corn yields on a daily basis will launch a new function on the app to increase accuracy and reduce data entry.

The new function from Advanced Ag Solutions LLC, models anticipated irrigation to reduce data entry for farmers and their crop advisors. It is part of the company’s Optimizer 2.0 app, which recently unveiled the ability to download variable rate files to control seed and nitrogen rates within the field.

The app utilizes weather forecasts and soil moisture levels along with crop needs and common practices of area farmers to estimate when the farmer may have turned on or off his irrigation pivot. The software then allows the user to easily edit irrigated rates and timing in cases where estimates of irrigation might be off. Because water is a major component of crop yield the result is a much greater accuracy with very little effort from the user.

We Understand Precision

Melissa SandfortAg Leader, Insights Weekly

Insights WeeklyAt Ag Leader Technology, there’s a philosophy that there is a direct correlation between precision agriculture and precision manufacturing. The key ideas behind precision agriculture are optimizing inputs and maximizing yields, accurate control of planting, application and harvest operations and then collecting and analyzing data to manage processes to drive improvements.

Stop for a moment and think about manufacturing precision ag equipment. Don’t the same ideas hold true for both? Ag Leader believes that on the manufacturing side, it’s all about optimizing inputs and maximizing yields, accurate control of processes to reduce variability and ensure high quality, and collecting and analyzing data to drive improvements whether that be quality, cost or productivity improvements.

Tim Gaul, Ag Leader quality and continuous improvement manager, says, “Some of our improvements are ‘break-through’ improvements and others we improve on every day. But as we monitor each cell in terms of quality, on a weekly basis we analyze the reasons for defects, attack the issue, dig into the root cause, investigate the problem, and come up with corrective measures.”

[wpaudio url=”http://precision.agwired.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2013/04/Gaul1.mp3″ text=”Listen to Gaul explain”]

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Gaul says, “To get the most out of every acre, out of every input, you have to be precise in what you’re doing and look at every single opportunity to eliminate waste and create value.” That’s why Ag Leader employs LEAN manufacturing, meaning as a company, they understand the process first and then design manufacturing workstations and layout to best fit that process. Ag Leader products aren’t made in big batches – they focus on making high quality, once piece at a time.

So what does that mean to you, the Ag Leader customer?

[wpaudio url=”http://precision.agwired.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2013/04/Gaul2.mp3″ text=”Listen to Gaul explain”]

Gaul says everyone at Ag Leader understands that they’re a part of feeding the world, and the way they do that is by participating in their processes of precision manufacturing. At Ag Leader, they understand precision.

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.

EPA Advisor Aims to Build Trust with Ag

Talia GoesAgribusiness, Audio, Government, USDA

bittlemanThe new senior Agricultural Counselor to the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator held a conference call Tuesday to discuss her background and her role as an advisor at EPA on ways environmental policy may impact growers and the greater agriculture community. Sarah Bittleman accepted the new position with EPA in February after serving Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack as USDA Senior Advisor on energy policy.

“The position of ag counselor helps ensure that the EPA administrator and senior agency staff are advised on ways in which complex environmental issues impact growers and the greater agricultural community,” she said.

Bittleman admits that there is a problem of trust when it comes to farmers and ranchers and the EPA. “My job is to restore some of that trust,” she said, noting that it might be improved by working more closely with USDA, conservation districts and state departments of agriculture that have a better relationship with producers. “By partnering with these other folks who work so closely with agriculture, we can little by little grow a base of increased and better trust relationships.”

Bittleman says her goal as EPA advisor is to serve rural America.

Listen to or download call here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/government/epa-bittleman.mp3″ text=”Sarah Bittleman, EPA Ag Counselor”]

ZimmComm Agri-Blogging Opportunities

Talia GoesAgribusiness

zimmcomZimmComm New Media is now taking applications for students in the agricultural communications field to attend and learn how to “agri-blog” some of the most important industry events held every year.

The opportunities will include all-expense paid trips to one or more industry events where students will assist in the compiling of photos, audio and video and posting of activities on pertinent websites. Interns will learn and develop the use of tools, techniques and technology to gather and distribute information through various social media channels. Per-diem and college credits may also be available.

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ZimmComm Expands AgNewsWire.AgWired.com Content

Melissa SandfortAgribusiness, Audio, Events

zimmcomZimmComm New Media, LLC has expanded its AgNewsWire.AgWired.com website to serve as a new agricultural media content service for reporters, companies, organizations and individuals seeking high quality photos and audio from industry events and concerning current issues.

“We generate so much content on our agricultural and renewable energy websites that we decided to create one place for all of it to make it easier for people in the industry to locate and utilize,” said ZimmComm New Media president Chuck Zimmerman. “Last year we covered nearly 70 different industry events, posted more than 1200 audio files and placed nearly 20,000 high resolution photos in Flickr albums. All of that content is available for anyone to download and use free of charge.”

AgNewsWire.AgWired.com will now have links to all the audio, photos and video that ZimmComm compiles at events, for podcasts, news conferences and more. In addition, AgNewsWire will also continue to be an agricultural news release distribution service as it has been since it was introduced in 2006.

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Grocery Store Must See

Talia GoesNew Holland, ZimmPoll

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “Have you started spring planting”

Our poll results: Sixty-two percent said No, I’ve Been Delayed More Than One Week, twenty-three percent said Yes, I’m In the Field Right Now, and fifteen percent said No, I’ve Been Delayed by One Week. The late winter storms and heavy rain showers seem to have put a damper on the majority of farmer’s spring planting plans.

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Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “What is the #1 thing you look for on a food label?” Reading food labels has become more popular with media attention about health risks. What are some of the things you look for in the grocery store? Let us know.

ZimmPoll is sponsored by New Holland Agriculture.

Registration Open for AgGateway

Talia GoesAgribusiness, Events

agGatewayRegistration is now open for AgGateway’s 2013 Mid-Year Meeting, to be held June 17-20 at the John Deere Financial Facility in Johnston, Iowa. At the meeting, AgGateway councils, committees and working groups will move forward on valuable efforts to promote, enable and expand eBusiness in agriculture. These efforts are helping companies to implement supply chain efficiencies in such sectors as precision agriculture, seed, grain, feed, crop nutrition and crop protection, as well as for ag retail companies.

There is no registration fee for the Mid-Year Meeting, which makes it a great opportunity for those who have been curious about eBusiness and the organization to see AgGateway in action, and to join in networking events and educational sessions.

AgGateway has seen significant growth due to the success of member collaborations on eConnectivity projects. Membership has grown from 141 to 170 member companies in the past year alone.