Voting Time

Chuck ZimmermanAgribusiness

I voted. Have you?

It really is a civic duty and I hope you’ll take the time today to get it done. I’m not writing this to encourage you to vote for a certain person or issue. Hopefully you will have become familiar with the issues in your state and know what to do. As far as the Presidential race, you’ve got a clear choice. I can’t see how anyone can be undecided.

So, let’s get out there and get it done. The results will have a major impact on how we run our businesses in this country and you farmers and everyone involved in the agribusiness industry will not be unaffected. If you want to know my vote I’ll be happy to tell you. If you know me well you already know!

I don’t know if you use FourSquare but if you check in from your voting location using the #IVoted hashtag you’ll show up on their voting map.

Your Data Becoming a Cash Crop

Chuck ZimmermanAgribusiness, Audio, International

The American Society of Farm Managers & Rural Appraisers just completed their annual meeting along with the AgroNomics Conference and Trade Show. One of the companies exhibiting was Farmers Edge. They want you to Grow. More. Precisely.

Wade Barnes, President/CEO and Co-Founder, was also on the program talking about “Data – the New Cash Crop.” He says that as we move forward data will become increasingly important since consumers want to know that the crops are grown sustainably, where they came from and what they are eating. That will put pressure on the food companies they are buying from and those companies will then pass that pressure along to the farmer. He says that as farmers become more sophisticated with their data it can be used to add value to their product and that’s how it becomes part of a cash crop.

In the Farmers Edge booth the company was displaying its technology platform called Precision Edge.

Precision Edge is a program designed to store and manage the data tied to a field using geospatial coordinates. Farmers Edge uses Precision Edge to execute variable rate crop inputs using remote sensing and our own algorithms designed to create accurate zone maps. It also contains the ability to keep crop records and application maps so all data from a field is located in one place.

Listen to my interview with Wade to learn more about the company here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/asfmra/asfmra-12-barnes.mp3″ text=”Interview with Wade Barnes”]

2012 Agronomics Photo Album

New Website Boosts AgGateway Strategic Plan

Melissa SandfortAgribusiness, Company Announcement

AgGateway has revised and re-launched its corporate website (www.AgGateway.org) to support its 2013-15 strategic plan. The new website is easier for members and prospective members to navigate, and contains additional information on how and why agricultural companies should engage in eBusiness efforts. The site also unveils AgGateway’s new tagline, “Collaboration for eConnectivity”.

The strategic plan, developed by AgGateway members, contains four main objectives: 1) Promote the value and benefits of eBusiness and membership in AgGateway; 2) Reduce implementation barriers for companies of all sizes; 3) Become a valued partner to other industry groups; and 4) Develop and maintain strong councils and committees.

More information on AgGateway’s strategic plan and current initiatives will be presented this week at the AgGateway Annual Conference (Nov. 6-8) in Albuquerque.

Water Management With SMS Tile Plan Editor

Melissa SandfortAg Leader, Insights Weekly

Insights Weekly

One of the new features that Ag Leader is excited to release in version 12.5 of SMS Advanced is the new Water Management Module for tiling. This new optional editor allows growers to design tile drainage systems in a field by utilizing RTK level GPS elevation data. Growers can utilize any reference layer such as soil survey data, harvest data, planting and imagery to assist in the design process. Using these layers allows growers to strategically place tile in the areas where it’s needed most.

The editor allows constraints to be set on how shallow, how deep, and the minimum grade to maintain adequate water flow. If growers have drawn lines or collected data that doesn’t have a flowable solution, they are provided a warning and details on how much interference exists. The constraints can then be changed or users can draw the line in a different location.

This editor allows for growers to make several designs to compare drainage plans for the amount of tile needed, and which plans allow the most grade. As time goes on, Ag Leader will continue to add features and tools for other Water Management plans in SMS. Contact Ag Leader today about this new module to see how this can benefit your operation.

Watch the SMS Water Management Module from Ag Leader here:

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.

GROWMARK supports Farm Safety 4 Just Kids

Melissa SandfortAgribusiness, Growmark

GROWMARK generously supports the non-profit organization Farm Safety 4 Just Kids in their effort to keep youth safe in rural areas. GROWMARK provides their customers with agricultural products as well as the means to deliver, market, and store those products. “GROWMARK’s sponsorship of Farm Safety 4 Just Kids demonstrates their commitment to their curstomers,” David Schweitz, executive director of Farm Safety 4 Just Kids. “And it will help us ensure the safety of the next generation of farmers.”

Farm Safety 4 Just Kids was created in 1987 by Marilyn Adams after the death of her 11-year-old son. The organization works to raise awareness about the health and safety hazards that are an inherent part of the rural environment in which children live, work, and play. Over 130 chapters in the United States and Canada conduct safety and health programs within their communities.

Thanks to the support of agri-business sponsors like GROWMARK, Farm Safety 4 Just Kids is able to provide their volunteers with up to date and pertinent safety education and demonstration resources.

Farm Foundation Looks to Give Clarity to Policies After Election

John DavisGovernment

While all elections are important, this year’s promises to have some real implications for rural America. That’s why Farm Foundation is holding a forum about a week after the polls close, and we know WHO is in office to explain WHAT they might do as as far as agriculture, food and rural policy. The forum will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. EST at the National Press Club, 529 14th St. NW, Washington D.C.

And for the first time a free live, webcast of the forum will be offered. You can see the webcast by registering here. Email julie@farmfoundation.org by Nov. 12th if you plan to attend in person.

“By their votes on Nov. 6, citizens will set the stage for the next four years of the nation’s policy development at both the state and federal level,” says Foundation President Neil Conklin. “This Forum is an opportunity to examine how those elections may specifically impact agriculture, food and rural policies in the months ahead.”

Calculator Helps Determine Costs, Benefits of Energy Crops

Melissa SandfortAgribusiness, technology

Agricultural economists at the University of Illinois have been calculating the costs for farmers to produce biomass energy crops as renewable alternatives to fossil fuels. In fact, they have created a feedstock cost and profitability calculator for farmers to make their own assessment using their parameters. Illinois Ag Economist Madhu Khanna says farmers can customize the costs based on their current farming operation, current returns on the land they are thinking of converting and determine what it would cost to grow an energy crop on it instead. From there – Khanna says they can decide the minimum price they would need to make it worthwhile.

Khanna recommends farmers gather information about their current operating expenditures before using the calculator – such as the discount rate. She says if farmers are thinking of growing energy crops purely as an investment decision – then they should be interested in getting the same return from their investment in an energy crop over time as they would get if they put the money in the bank. That is the discount rate they should use, she says, so if the bank would give them four-percent, they should at least get a four-percent return on growing an energy crop instead. Khanna welcomes feedback on the calculator and any questions users may have. Click here to use the calculator.

Do We Need GMO-Labeled Food?

Melissa SandfortZimmPoll

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “How important will rural vote be in election?”

Our poll results: Sixty-five percent say very important and thirty-five percent said not important. It appears as though the majority of folks believe farmers and ranchers need to cast their vote. So remember, Election Day is Tuesday, November 6, 2012. Less than a week away!

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “Should foods containing GMO crops be labeled?” A great example of this is Prop 37 in California. It is estimated that 70 percent of our food contains GMOs. And with already rising food costs, will this added labeling requirement just increase what consumers pay for food? What do you think? Would it make a difference in the food you purchase?

ZimmPoll is sponsored by Rhea+Kaiser, a full-service advertising/public relations agency.

Commodity Classic Caps Off with Classic Rock

Melissa SandfortAgribusiness, Commodity Classic, NCGA, Soybeans, wheat

What’s a better way to conclude Commodity Classic than with some classic rock? The Monsanto Evening of Entertainment at the 2013 Commodity Classic will feature World Classic Rockers, a group of standout performers from legendary rock bands. Commodity Classic is the nation’s largest farmer-led, farmer-focused conference and trade show, presented annually by the National Corn Growers Association, American Soybean Association, National Association of Wheat Growers and National Sorghum Producers.

World Classic Rockers bring together some great names in Rock music from the ‘70s and ‘80s. Nick St. Nicholas started on the road to rock and roll history when he drove his band The Sparrow from Toronto to the Sunset Strip in search of a record deal. Once in Hollywood, the Sparrow changed their name to Steppenwolf and recorded the biker anthem “Born To Be Wild” for the film Easy Rider. Decades later, Nick set out to form the ultimate classic rock band. The result is the World Classic Rockers.

Former Steppenwolf lead guitarist Michael Monarch brings WCR the same driving guitar licks that he performed for Steppenwolf hits such as “Magic Carpet Ride.” Randall Hall toured seven years with Lynyrd Skynyrd’s comeback band and now furnishes the band with guitar and vocals. Drums are manned by Aynsley Dunbar, whose beats were recorded on mega-hits “Wheel in the Sky” by Journey, “Jane” by Jefferson Starship and “Is This Love” by Whitesnake. Songwriter and vocalist Greg Walker provides a soulful sound that he perfected with the band Santana and is heard on their recordings of “She’s Not There” and “Stormy.” WCR’s vocals are rounded out by Boston’s former lead singer Fran Cosmo who recorded band hits “I Need Your Love” and “Higher Power.” Rounding out the band’s roster of musicians is lead guitarist David Coyle and Mark Hoyt on keyboards.

Precision.AgWired.com Podcast: Using apps to forecast yield

Meghan GrebnerAg Leader, Fertilizer, Precision Pays Podcast, Scouting, Soil Sampling, technology, yields

What is your favorite app on your phone?  How does it make your life easier? 

Advanced Ag Solutions, LLC is trying to make it easier for farmers with their recently launched Optimizer 2.0 app.  It allows users to upload GPS soil sampling data and then use that information to leverage the information they already have (and use) even further. 

In this Precision.AgWired.com Podcast, sponsored by Ag Leader Technology, Advanced Ag Solutions president Daryl Starr explains Optimizer 2.0 and how farmers can benefit – no matter the size of their operations.

[wpaudio url=”http://precision.agwired.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2012/10/PPP-10-12.mp3″ text=”Precision.AgWired.com Podcast”]

 

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

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