66th Annual Farm & Gin Show

Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, Audio, Farm & Gin Show, Farm Machinery, Farm Shows

The 66th Annual Mid-South Farm & Gin Show takes place in Memphis, Tennessee March 2-3, 2018. The farm show focuses on crops grown in this region with special interest and history centered around cotton. The Show Manager, Tim Price, said they have over 400 exhibitors. He also shared what sets this show apart and why attendees keep coming back year after year.

“We have a combination of educational seminars along with a great backdrop of the latest and greatest in agriculture. We range from conventional and traditional methods to cutting-edge. This event is meant for the professional decision maker involved in commercial ag production,” Price said.

Price also said it is the perfect time to come to the show. It’s too wet to plow, too muddy to fish, so come to the Gin Show. But added, “It’s another watershed year for our industry, we have so much change, so much uncertainty in the world with trade and farm programs. I think people know they need to pay more attention to the markets, how they can become more efficient; that is what we try to provide.”

Listen to our complete conversation here: Interview with Tim Price, Show Manager

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

Precision Ag Bytes 2/28

AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes

  • BRANDT has just completed the construction of a new 2,000 square foot formulations lab in its Pleasant Plains, IL production facility. The new lab will serve as a hub for new formulation development and testing, as well as quality control.
  • Golden Harvest seeds will be a major benefactor of Syngenta’s incremental $400 million investment over the next five years. This funding is in addition to the $1.3 billion the company already invests in research and development annually. Golden Harvest will double its seed breeding staff, increase trial testing by one-third and increase new corn chassis by 58 percent, giving farmers an even more differentiated portfolio of hybrids and varieties to choose from.
  • John Deere recently became the tenth company to certify their Operations Center’s ag-data collection portal for privacy, security and transparency for farmers using this technology. Completing the Ag Data Transparent certification process — based on a third-party administered, not-for-profit evaluation — allows companies that engage in, and collect, agricultural data to align to industry-wide principles to build trust with users of ag precision technology.
  • Advanced Biological Marketing is proud to announce and welcome Kade Haas as Regional Sales Manager for the Southeast United States. In his new position, Kade will be responsible for managing sales and accounts in his specified territory, with a high focus on building a strong network and relationship with current and potential clients.
  • HELM Agro US, Inc. has hired Michael Hoger as its new national Sales Manager. In his new role, Hoger will be responsible for the leadership, planning and execution of crop protection product sales and channel partner programs for HELM Agro US distributor, retailer and grower networks.
  • Helena Chemical Company has introduced four new products to their 2018 lineup, providing all agronomic solutions in one convenient service — the Helena Acre. The new product lineup includes Ele-Max® Sulfur LC, Sultrus™, N-Fixx® XLR and Antares® Prime.

FMC’s Precision Platform Provides Choices for Growers

AgWired Precision, Crop Protection, FMC, National Farm Machinery Show, Video

FMC is focusing on precision when it comes to crop protection. With current product 3RIVE 3D and newly acquired PrecisionPac from DuPont, the company is organizing itself around precision application technologies.

While traits are important, FMC’s Rick Ekins said they’re not the only answer. Other modes of action like precision crop protection products help to further protect the grower.

“The capability is certainly there to get very precise with the application rates, to be able to change rates on the fly, things of that nature. We’re trying to think ahead as far as we can and be compatible with the software that’s out there or the software that we can see coming and make sure that no matter what brand of planter a grower is using, they can still use our 3RIVE 3D application system,” said Ekins, who works on Precision Platforms for FMC.

Ekins said FMC is unique in agriculture because they are not constrained or tied to a seed brand, allowing growers the freedom to make decisions that are right for their crop. The new FMC Freedom Pass program is built around that concept. New products will soon expand FMC’s presence in the soybean, wheat and sunflower markets.

Learn more in the video below:

2018 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by
Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by FMCCoverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by John Deere

Restoring Consumer Trust

Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, Audio, Bayer, Video

Rob Schrick, strategic business lead, broad acre crops, Bayer CropScience, took the stage at the 2018 AgVocacy Forum with Global Head R&D, Adrian Percy, to have a candid conversation about restoring consumer trust. We spoke with Rob following the on-stage Q&A to hear about his excitement for future digitalization and how Bayer’s Forward Farm is connecting with consumers globally.

“Forward Farm is simple in nature. It’s highlighting growers who are utilizing technology to grow a crop sustainability and more efficiently. We are partnering with them in areas like Washington D.C., Brussels, Belgium and Paris. We bring in legislators, regulators and consumers to visit these farms and see how growers use technology, how they grow the crops, what goes into growing the food supply we all enjoy,” Schrick said,

Listen to my complete chat with Rob here: Interview with Rob Schrick, Business Lead, Broad Acre Crops, Bayer CropScience

Listen to the complete on-stage discussion with Rob and Adrian here: Q&A with Adrian & Rob, Bayer CropScience

View and download photos here: 2018 Bayer AgVocacy Forum Photo Album

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

Water Management a Focus for Deere Award Winner

AgWired Precision, Audio, John Deere, Precision Agriculture

John Deere presented an Australian company with the inaugural Outstanding Utilization of APIs Award at the 2018 Develop with Deere Conference in Kansas City.

Stu Pocknee with Precision Terrain Solutions said he believes his company is doing things that are innovative and different and interesting. Terrain-based water management is the focus of the applications, from building levies to terraces to better drainage.

“We all know that water is the major vector for pollutants traveling off the farm, and the better job we do of managing water, using more efficiently, limiting leaching, limiting runoff, it’s good for the environment, it’s good for the sustainability of farms,” said Pocknee. “There’s no rocket science involved. It’s purely doing a better job with water management, and that has so many positive implications down the track for the profitability of farmers, for the sustainability of their operations, and the water community. It’s hard to see who can lose out of that. It’s a good situation.”

Pocknee described the future of the API as a “big, blue sky ahead of us.”

Listen to Chuck’s interview here: Interview with Stu Pocknee, Precision Terrain Solutions

You can find conference photos here: 2018 Develop with Deere Conference Photo Album

Eco Agro Introduces Nitrogen Conservation Input System

AgWired Precision, Nitrogen, Soil

Eco Agro and Eco Agro International LLC are proud to introduce the Nitrogen Conservation Input System (NCIS) for use in the Urea Production Process.

“Our latest innovation, “Nitrogen Conservation Input Systems” (NCIS), enables Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizers (EEFs) to be affordable and effective at a lower cost for today’s grower. We see NCIS as being a tool that overcomes a significant hurdle toward increased utilization of EEF’s worldwide in efforts to improve crop production and yields.” said David McKnight, whose team headed the development of NCIS.

NCIS Technology allows for introduction of proven Nitrogen Efficiency additives to optimize the conditions for Enhanced Urea Production and performance. “The options in these innovative discoveries are significant and the delivery system and molecular synergies created can be modified and taken down stream and applied onto Urea also,” said Ray Perkins President of Eco Agro.

Andrew Semple of EAI stated, “These proven Enhanced Efficiency Technologies coupled with an unparalleled low costs of treatment are a major leap toward mass adoption but there are more innovations on the horizon that are game changing and equally as exciting.”

To learn more about the Eco Agro Nitrogen Conservation Input System contact Greg Stake at gstake@ecoagro.com for domestic inquiries and Asemple@ecoagroint.com for International Inquiries.

Precision Ag Bytes 2/21

AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes

               

  • Valent U.S.A. has announced the launch of MycoApply® EndoPrime™ for corn. MycoApply EndoPrime is applied in-furrow and uses four unique species of mycorrhizal fungi to help improve nutrient efficiency, drought tolerance and yield potential.
  • Agnition announces that multiple recent university research trials demonstrate that Commence® for Soybeans, a seed treatment, increases yield for greater profits. The trials were conducted by the University of Nebraska – Lincoln and Iowa State University. Results were highlighted by the Iowa State Reseach where replicated trials in Ames and Boone Iowa resulted in an average gain of 4.0 bushels an acre over an untreated check.
  • A new video released by National Crop Insurance Services explains that some farm policy opponents are lobbying to exclude people from crop insurance which would harm farmers and taxpayers alike. The video is the second video in its “Risk Management Minute” series.
  • Syngenta has acquired FarmShots, Inc., a North Carolina-based innovator of high-resolution satellite imagery that detects plant health by analyzing absorbed light from field images. This service was developed to help farmers, agronomists and retailers quickly and accurately spot field issues caused by planter skips, emergence, insect feeding, poor plant nutrition, crop diseases, weeds, other pests and environmental damage. With this capability, FarmShots enables growers and their trusted advisers to reduce field scouting by as much as 90 percent and helps them focus on areas of need.
  • DTN announced a partnership with Agronomic Technology Corp., a leader in nitrogen modeling. Through the partnership, DTN, an independent source of insight and analysis, and decision-support solutions to customers worldwide in agriculture, energy, commodities and financial analytics, is providing access to ATC’s N-Insight nitrogen diagnostic tool and Adapt-N nitrogen recommendation tool. ATC is incorporating DTN’s localized weather station network into its industry-leading modeling platform.
  • A group of agricultural and conservation stakeholders has announced the launch of 4R Plus, a nutrient management and conservation program that equips Iowa farmers with the tools and resources to protect and enhance Iowa soils. Support of this program has expanded to 30 organizations, including state commodity groups, agribusinesses, conservation organizations, government agencies, universities and others.

Getting Planters Ready For Action

AgWired Precision, Audio, John Deere, National Farm Machinery Show, Precision Agriculture

Farmers who are preparing for the upcoming planting season might be interested in John Deere‘s Mobile Row Unit Run Off with the PlanterPlus App, a quick and efficient way to dial in their rows and conduct a meter performance test to assure accuracy in ExactEmerge or MaxEmerge 5e planters.

The system connects the display in the tractor to a farmer’s mobile device, giving them the same capability they used to have only when at the equipment dealership.

“They can stand at the back of the planter, select the row unit they want to look at, and engage the planter with their seed and look at the singulation percentages, the skips, the multiples, and adjust the vacuum pressure so that it matches the seed that they’re wanting to plant with, but all while they’re on their own place,” said Kevin Ripple, product line manager for planters with John Deere.

Ripple said the product was released within the last two years for model 2018 planters. In addition, he said opportunities for retro fit kits have been expanded to go back to the year 2005 on a number of models.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Kevin here: Kevin Ripple, John Deere

2018 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by
Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by FMCCoverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by John Deere

AEM Launches Equipment Industry Podcast

AEM, AgWired Precision, Audio, Equipment, Podcasts

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has launched a new podcast to help keep members informed about “potentially disruptive trends in the construction and agriculture equipment industry.”

Three episodes of the AEM Thinking Forward Podcast are available now and new editions will be available on a monthly basis featuring topics such as 3D printing, automation, precision agriculture, Internet of Things, big data analysis, drones, future technology, and more.
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Here is episode 3, which features AGCO’s Eric Lescourret and AEM’s Curt Blades discussing precision agriculture solutions, the need for broadband infrastructure and how AEM is engaging its members on the topic. AEM Thinking Forward Podcast #3

The AEM Thinking Forward Podcast is now available for listeners and subscribers on many of the most popular podcasting apps, including iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, TuneIn and others. Episodes will also be posted on the AEM Website at aem.org/think, and links to new episodes will be included in the Industry Advisor e-newsletter.

Industry News Briefs

Agri-Pulse, AgWired Precision, Brownfield, Corn, John Deere, NCGA, Soil, Soil Health Partnership, sustainability

It’s been a busy couple of weeks here and we have gotten behind on some industry news stories that we have wanted to post – so here are a few!

Cyndee Smiley, formerly division marketing manager for Region 4 combines and front-end equipment, has been named media relations and communications manager for John Deere Ag & Turf Division for the U.S. and Canada. Smiley replaces Beverly Flores, who recently was named training and events manager for the U.S. and Canada for John Deere. Listen to her on this week’s ZimmCast from NFMS.

Brownfield Ag News announced the addition of KFRM as an affiliate of the Kansas Ag Network, which now reaches more than 82% of corn and wheat acres and nearly 89% of soybean acres in the state, as well as 80% of the cattle. The affiliation expands Brownfield’s marketing reach to more than 700 affiliate radio stations in a 14-state region.

Corryn La Rue will join the Agri-Pulse editorial team in Washington, D.C. in May, where she will cover hearings and events, writing for the company’s subscription-only newsletter and web site. La Rue is a junior at Utah State University, where she is pursuing a double major in Agriculture Communications and Journalism and a minor in Animal Science.

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) proudly announces the promotion of Dr. Nick Goeser, currently NCGA’s Director of Soil Health, to the position of Vice President of Production and Sustainability. Since joining NCGA in April of 2014, Goeser has done an outstanding job developing and building NCGA’s Soil Health Partnership.