Getting to Know Ag Leader

Melissa SandfortAg Leader, Insights Weekly

Insights WeeklyHere is the next in our series as we introduce you to a few of dedicated precision ag equipment dealers in a series called “Getting to Know Ag Leader”.

We caught up with Ben Martin of Akron Services, Inc. in Illinois.

1) From an agronomy standpoint, what do you consider to be the biggest issues facing growers today?
Today’s investment in seed requires a much higher level of management than many producers have done in the past. Paying attention to hybrids, nutrients, soils and other inputs at different timings and places throughout the field will be key to maximizing productivity and profitability for growers.

2013-02-25 16.05.182) Tell us about how growers in your area are using precision agriculture.
Producers in our area have found value in VRT fertilizer and lime. Of course, using precision to simplify their life is popular too, such as autosteer, and automatic shut-off on sprayers and planters. However, more and more customers are using precision technology to increase management of nitrogen and seeding rates via harvest data and agronomy knowledge and recording data on every operation.

3) What benefits are growers seeing by using precision ag on their farms? Give us some examples.
Our customers using strip-till systems have seen huge benefits using autosteer to efficiently plant their seed in the optimal condition created by the strip-till operation. Before, when steering by hand, seeds planted off of the seedbed would emerge slower and be at a disadvantage the entire year. Also, growers are seeing benefits in fertilizer usage by using harvest data combined with soil tests to correctly fertilizer the areas that are in need of it the most.
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Being a Good Steward of Treated Seeds

Chuck ZimmermanAgribusiness, ASTA, Audio, Commodity Classic, Planting, seed

ASTA Seed Treatment GuideA guide to seed treatment stewardship is a new project by the American Seed Trade Association along with a collaboration of seed companies, researchers and organizations like CropLife America, National Corn Growers Association and Farm Bureau. Growers will soon find “The Guide to Seed Treatment Stewardship” online.

I spoke with Andy Lavigne, ASTA President/CEO, during Commodity Classic about this project which is very timely since growers are getting ready to get back out in the field. The guide will answer questions like, “How can I protect my treated seeds; What environmental factors should I consider when planting treated seeds; Am I following state and federal regulations for treated seed and What should I do with unused treated seed?”

Right now growers have an incentive to visit and sign up for notifications at www.seed-treatment-guide.com. Two lucky people will win a $500 cash prize!

Listen to my interview with Andy here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/commodity-classic/classic-13-asta-lavigne.mp3″ text=”Interview with Andy Lavigne”]

2013 Commodity Classic Photo Album



Impact of the Sequester Monster

Talia GoesNew Holland, ZimmPoll

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What are your spring planting intentions for corn?”

Our poll results: Forty-four percent said More Than 50% and twenty-five percent said 50% Corn. Tying for 3rd, thirteen percent said less than 25% and Other. Six percent said 25% Corn. Even with the extreme drought conditions our poll shows that the majority of you are going to continue planting a lot of corn!

chart

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “Will the sequester monster impact you personally?” U.S. sequestration ordered by President Obama officially began Friday March 1st. Will sequestration impact you? Let us know.

ZimmPoll is sponsored by New Holland Agriculture.

Propane Pays on the Farm

Cindy ZimmermanAudio, Commodity Classic, Equipment

classic-13-jamie-160-editedThe Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) booth at last week’s Commodity Classic was the hot place for growers to learn more about how propane pays on the farm.

One way to make it pay is through PERC’s Propane Farm Incentive Program. “A farmer can actually get a rebate from us,” explained Mark Leitman, Director of Business Development and Marketing. “We just ask for some information to be submitted back to us after one growing season to tell us about the technology and ways that we might improve it in the future.”

Leitman says there is a lot of enthusiasm about propane now because of its lower price compared to diesel. “We got a lot of opportunities fro farmers to learn more about propane and ways they can use new technology on the farm and take advantage of propane’s low costs and environmental attributes and lower their costs of operation,” he said.

“Grain drying and building heating continues to be some of the bigger uses, but we are seeing a huge growth in the amount of engines being powered by propane. In the ag sector, irrigation engines, is a low hanging fruit for us. It’s easy to place the engines, easy to place the tanks and it’s easy for the propane marketers to deliver. So, we are really promoting propane as an engine fuel in that application. Plus there’s opportunities for trunks, lawn mowers and advance deficiency grain dryers. Just lots and lots of ways propane can be used on the farm.”

Listen to an interview with Leitman here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/commodity-classic/classic-13-perc-mark-leitman.mp3″ text=”Interview with Mark Leitman”]

2013 Commodity Classic Photo Album



Six Secrets of Soybean Success

Cindy ZimmermanAudio, BASF, Commodity Classic, Farmers, Soybeans

classic13-secretsUniversity of Illinois Crop Physiologist Dr. Fred Below of Seven Wonders of the Corn Yield World fame revealed his Six Secrets of Soybean Success to growers for the first time last week at the 2013 Commodity Classic, thanks to BASF Crop Protection products.

Dr. Below was joined by BASF Technical Crop Production Specialist AJ Woodyard for the educational session that drew a record-breaking number of attendees, sharing new data that shows farmers how they can nearly double their yields with a comprehensive pest management plan. Even though they conducted research separately, their results both indicated that growers can maximize yields by using agronomic management program featuring a combination of herbicides, fungicides and insecticides.

According to Below, the current average soybean yield in the U.S. is roughly 42 bu/A, and has been hovering around that figure for the past few years. “While it may seem daunting, the quest for 85.0 bu/A isn’t a stretch. Yields of this nature are produced each year in state contests, so we know it can be done,” Below said. “The trick is figuring out how to consistently produce these yield levels, and our research has identified six strategies to help accomplish this task.”

The Six Secrets to Soybean Success are:

  1. Weather
  2. Improve soil fertility
  3. Maximize genetic yield potential
  4. Protect yield potential and maximize seed size
  5. Enhance seed emergence and vigor
  6. Utilize narrow row spacing

Listen to Dr. Below explain here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/commodity-classic/classic-13-fred-below.mp3″ text=”Dr. Fred Below”]

2013 Commodity Classic Photo Album


Commodity Group Presidents Talk Sustainability

Cindy ZimmermanAudio, Commodity Classic, Corn, Soybeans, sustainability, wheat

Commodity Classic PresidentsA highlight of the general session of Commodity Classic is moderator Mark Mayfield’s “visit with the Presidents.” Left to right are Mayfield, Terry Swanson, National Sorghum Producers; Erik Younggren, National Association of Wheat Growers; Pam Johnson, National Corn Growers Association and Danny Murphy, American Soybean Association.

Mayfield kicked off the session by asking each of the presidents what “sustainability” means to them.

Listen to Danny Murphy’s comments here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/commodity-classic/classic-13-asa-murphy.mp3″ text=”ASA Danny Murphy”]

Listen to Pam Johnson’s comments here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/commodity-classic/classic-13-ncga-johnson.mp3″ text=”NCGA Pam Johnson”]

Listen to Erik Younggren’s comments here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/commodity-classic/classic-13-nawg-younggren.mp3″ text=”NAWG Eric Younggren”]

Listen to Terry Swanson’s comments here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/commodity-classic/classic-13-nsp-swanson.mp3″ text=”NSP Terry Swanson”]

2013 Commodity Classic Photo Album



Vilsack Talks Sequester at Commodity Classic

Cindy ZimmermanAudio, Commodity Classic, Government, USDA

Sec. of Ag Vilsack at Commodity ClassicU.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack gave a sequester day speech at the 2013 Commodity Classic in Orlando on Friday.

“On this day in particular, it’s great to be outside of Washington,” Vilsack said. “Frankly, I have to apologize to all of you. This is crazy what is happening. In a functioning democracy this shouldn’t happen.”

Vilsack told corn, soybean, wheat and sorghum farmers that USDA furlough notices will be sent out next week and there will be some offices where people “simply aren’t there.”

Listen to Sec. Vilsack’s speech here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/commodity-classic/classic-13-vilsack-speech.mp3″ text=”Sec. Vilsack Speech”]

Listen to Sec. Vilsack’s press conference here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/commodity-classic/classic-13-vilsack-presser.mp3″ text=”Sec. Vilsack Press Conference”]

2013 Commodity Classic Photo Album



John Deere Announcement at Commodity Classic

Chuck ZimmermanAgribusiness, Audio, Commodity Classic, John Deere, Video

John Deere Press ConferenceThe 2013 Commodity Classic is taking place in Kissimmee, FL. We’re on the scene and will be sharing some stories and interviews with you starting with our coverage sponsor John Deere. John Deere held a press conference this morning. Patrick Sikora updated ag media on what is going on with the John Deere FarmSight system that was announced at Commodity Classic two years ago. All of the many components of FarmSight will be tied into a farmers MyJohnDeere.com account. Those include: JDLink™; John Deere Financial; My Equipment; Field Connect; JDParts; AgLogic™; and StellarSupport™.

Listen to the full John Deere press conference here or watch the video below: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/commodity-classic/classic-13-jd-press.mp3″ text=”John Deere Press Conference”]

John Deere In-Cab MountsIn addition to updates on FarmSight John Deere has also announced new in-cab mounts for mobile devices.

The proliferation of smart phones, tablets and other mobile devices has made them popular and essential communications and information resources for today’s farmers and ranchers. As a result, John Deere is introducing mounting brackets and attachments to make it easier and more convenient for producers to have hands-free access and improved viewing of their mobile devices while operating equipment.

These new brackets include a cell phone mount bracket kit, a tablet mount kit, and accessory mounting bracket kit. They are all cross-compatible with current John Deere monitor kits and are customizable to fit each operator’s specific requirements in the cab.

Deere also announced an expansion of their Field Connect soil moisture monitoring system. Thes new environmental sensors include: Weather Station; Rain Gauge; Temperature Sensor; Pyranometer and Leaf Wetness Sensor.

In addition to the soil moisture data provided by the Field Connect system, the new sensors provide data on temperature, wind speed, wind direction, humidity, solar radiation, leaf wetness and rainfall. The sensors are installed in customer fields as part of the Field Connect Gateway.

2013 Commodity Classic Photo Album



Intellislope Helps Growers Install Field Drainage Tile

Melissa SandfortAg Leader, Insights Weekly, Video

Insights Weekly

We recently caught up with Russ Mormon, Ag Leader sales representative, at the National Farm Machinery Show who told us a little more about Ag Leader’s Intellislope tile plow control through the Integra display.

Installing field drainage tile improves soil tilth for better root development, lengthening planting windows and providing better nutrient access for crops by removing excess moisture from the soil profile. Intellislope eliminates manual grade calculations, laser tripod setup and repositioning hassles which removes many of the challenges growers have faced in the past, allowing them to tile their fields on their own time, and more economically than hiring contractors.

Watch Mormon in this video as he gives a brief demonstration of Intellislope.

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.

Precision.AgWired.com Podcast: The Great American Wheat Harvest

Meghan GrebnerHarvesting, Precision Pays Podcast, wheat

pp-podcastCustom harvesters are big users of precision technologies.  An upcoming documentary is now in production that will follow custom harvesters and show how wheat goes from the field to the bread on your dinner table. 

In this Precision.AgWired.com Podcast, sponsored by Ag Leader Technology, we’ll take a closer look at the new documentary by Conrad Weaver, The Great American Wheat Harvest. 

[wpaudio url=http://precision.agwired.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2013/02/PPP-0213.mp3 text=”Precision.AgWired.com Podcast”]

Our sister website, AgWired.com, has come on board as a Silver Sponsor of this great project.

You can subscribe to the Precision.AgWired.com Podcast here.

The Precision.AgWired.com Podcast is sponsored by Ag Leader Technology.

AgWired announced this month that they have come on board as a Silver Sponsor.