All About the Shoes

Melissa SandfortAgricultural Anthropology

I have a number of idiosyncrasies. One is cleaning up while I cook. When mom and I were in the kitchen together, she’d turn to me and ask, “Where is that spoon I was using?”, and the answer was always, “In the dishwasher.” (Where else would it be – it was dirty!)

Another might be hanging up shirts in the closet a certain direction. That one I get from my husband.

Another habit of mine is keeping shoes long past their expiration date. When we moved to a new house in Denver, I counted pairs of shoes as I stashed them in trash bags and it was somewhere around 76, not counting flip flops (those aren’t really shoes in my book). Some of them had loose soles or were worn down so low if I would’ve stepped on a nail I would’ve been making a trip to the doc for another tetanus shot.

I resigned myself to the fact that they weren’t even donation material and threw them out. It was heart-breaking.

I quickly recovered with a few sessions on Zappos.

This is an antique cast iron shoe last, used by cobblers for fixing and re-soling shoes. Hey, if I would’ve had this, maybe I could’ve gotten another two years out of those shoes!

Until our next history lesson …

Leica mojoXact Introduced

Melissa SandfortLeica Geosystems, RTK

Leica Geosystems announces a new high accuracy upgrade option for the Leica mojo3D guidance display, the Leica mojoXact. The new product provides RTK positioning with the Leica Geosystems patented terrain compensation and various options for a wide range of steer kits to provide greater accuracy.

With the Leica mojoXact, Leica Geosystems introduces another user friendly product for a variety of applications to the farming community. Flexible mounting options allow users to install the product in any orientation inside the tractor cab and via a port expansion cable, it’s integrated to the mojo3D within a few minutes. The robust product comes with class leading GNSS and Inertial positioning technology for continuous precision and offers additional steering solutions like SteerDirect CAN, SRK and Hydraulic for further improve accuracy.

Software for the mojoXact can be updated directly via USB Flash Drive or remotely via Virtual Wrench, by the use of the mojo3D. Virtual Wrench is the integrated web-based support and diagnostic tool to provide superior support remotely at the push of a button.

For more information about Leica Geosystems agriculture products visit www.AgGuidance.com.

Precision Ag Training is Key

Melissa SandfortAg Leader, Audio, Insights Weekly

Insights WeeklyAg Leader Technology is continuously helping growers leap over the hurdles when it comes to apprehension about adopting precision ag technology. We’ve covered the cost of the new equipment and tools and whether or not it’s user-friendly, so today, we’re talking with MAPS Manager Terry Panbecker with NEW Cooperative in Fort Dodge, Iowa, about:

Obstacle #3: Training & Troubleshooting
We admit it – it’s hard to keep up with rapidly changing technology. And, you may believe it’s a big draw on your pocketbook to bring hired hands or aging farm owners up to speed on the equipment. But, given the payoff at the end of the season, training is essential to using precision ag technologies to their fullest extent.

Panbecker tells us what his team does to help growers prior to the busy planting and harvest seasons.

And when it comes to troubleshooting, even this harvest season when you’re in the cab in the middle of the field, Ag Leader can troubleshoot your equipment: there are software and hardware support specialists on hand to help guide you through the process. Panbecker tells us more.

NEW Cooperative has a Blue Delta Dealer designation, which means their staff achieves the highest level of training Ag Leader offers. That’s what prepares the Blue Delta dealers to pass the training along at local training sessions and provide troubleshooting to growers in the cab during planting and harvest when it’s imperative to keep them moving along at full-speed. Panbecker says this is an advantage to growers and gives them peace-of-mind knowing that these trained experts are just a phone call away.

So, talk with a trusted Ag Leader dealer and consider all the possible benefits. Tune in again next week when we discuss side-by-side comparisons of precision ag technologies.

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.

NASCAR Driver Impressed With FPS

Cindy ZimmermanFarm Progress Show

farm progress show 2011There were quite a few race cars mixed in with the tractors and combines this year at the 2011 Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Illinois.

In addition to the American Ethanol NASCAR Sprint Series car at the Growth Energy exhibit, over at the Illinois Corn Growers exhibit, the Illinois Family Farmers NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Kenny Wallace was signing autographs and doing interviews. Kenny said he was “blown away” by the Farm Progress Show. “This is like our Daytona 500! I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said in an interview with Chuck Zimmerman.

Kenny visited with lots of farmers during the three day show who made him feel very happy to be the Family Farmer American Ethanol spokesperson. “Farmers make me feel good,” he said. “They say thank you so much for putting up for us and that really humbles me,” he added.

Listen to Kenny’s interview here. [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/farm-progress/fps11-wallace.mp3″ text=”NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace”]

2011 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Precision.AgWired.com Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by John Deere FS GreenPlan Solutions AgLeader

Calibrating Corn Production in Potato Country

Cindy ZimmermanConservation, Corn, Fertilizer, Tillage

Idaho is synonymous with potatoes, but there is more corn in the ground there these days to support a growing dairy industry.

USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists have found that some Pacific Northwest farmers can increase corn yields by using strip tillage and banding fertilizer instead of conventional tilling. Strip tillage and banding involves excavating a single row for planting about 6 to 12 inches wide and 6 to 8 inches deep with a knife-like shank that can also inject fertilizer directly below the seed.

The scientists found that using these practices increased corn grain yields on severely eroded soils st higher elevations by 12 percent the first year and 26 percent the second year. This translated into yield increases between 11 and 26 bushels per acre.

Read more from ARS here.

Photo courtesy of David Tarkalson, ARS.

Hosting the Field Demos at FPS

Cindy ZimmermanAudio, Farm Progress Show, Growmark

farm progress show 2011Even though the Farm Progress Show now has permanent sites in both Iowa and Illinois, they still have host farm families who actually own and take care of the land, especially the field demonstration plots.

Dawn and David Brix are the folks who handle the field demo plots in Decatur, Illinois on the odd years when FPS is held there. “We take care of about 225 acres that we use for combine and tillage tune up and then Tuesday and Wednesday during the shows we have demos out there,” David says.

They partner with GROWMARK FS on the field plots. “They keep an eye on it all year, whether it’s crop scouting, fungicide treatments, genetics,” David said. “They take the worry out of our hands, we’re doing the labor but they’re doing all the stuff to make sure it’s the best crop it can be.”

David says it has been a challenging year for the corn crop. “We didn’t plant until maybe the 10th, then it got flooded out and then we didn’t have another drop of rain after that,” he said. “All things considered, to still have 110-115 bushels yields, that’s pretty good.”

What do they do on the off years? “Rest, relax, just do normal farming – not all the craziness,” David said. “That’s the only good thing about not having it every year is that you get a rest year before it comes back.”

Listen to or download my interview with David here. [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/farm-progress/fps11-brix.mp3″ text=”FPS Field Demo Host Farmer David Brix”]

2011 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Precision.AgWired.com Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by John Deere FS GreenPlan Solutions AgLeader

Will Cellulosic Ethanol Catch Up To Corn

Chuck ZimmermanZimmPoll

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “How many years before cellulosic ethanol matches corn ethanol production?” So what did you say? 42% said More than ten years; 23% said Five to ten years; 18% said Five years; 14% said Never and 3% said Next year. We’ve seen huge strides in the efficiency of corn ethanol production and research on the use of new feedstocks but we’re not quite there for mass quantity cellulosic production. Will we be? What do you think? Feel free to add your comments here.

Our new ZimmPoll is now live. We’re asking the question, “Which is more important to rural America: GPS Service or Broadband Internet?” We thought it would be interesting you get your thoughts on this in light of the Lightsquared rural broadband service that seems to pose some serious problems for GPS service. Your input and thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

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

Illinois KIC Program Kicks off at FPS

Cindy ZimmermanConservation, Farm Progress Show, Nutrient Management

farm progress show 2011The Illinois Corn Growers helped to kicked off a new program at the 2011 Farm Progress Show called KIC, short for “Keep it for the Crop by 2025” program.

The new program is designed to promote, implement and track the rate of adoption of enhanced nutrient stewardship practices by Illinois agricultural producers, focusing on the 4R’s of Nutrient Stewardship: Right Source, Right Rate, Right Time, Right Place.

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) has identified six priority watersheds for nutrient reductions including Lake Bloomington, Lake Vermilion, Lake Decatur, Vermilion River (Illinois Basin), Salt Fork Vermilion River (Wabash Basin) and Lake Mauvaisse Terra. Marcia Wilhite, IEPA’s Bureau of Water Chief, said “The lakes and rivers in these watersheds have water quality problems due to too much nitrogen or phosphorus, or both. Illinois EPA strongly endorses efforts to promote voluntary action by producers to adopt nutrient stewardship practices in their watersheds.

Start-up funding for the program is being provided by the Illinois Corn Marketing Board, the Illinois Soybean Association and IFCA fertilizer manufacturer members Agrium, CF Industries, Koch Fertilizer, The Mosaic Company and Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan.

Listen to or download the press conference at FPS here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/farm-progress/fps-11-kic.mp3″ text=”Illinois KIC Press Conference”]

2011 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Precision.AgWired.com Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by John Deere FS GreenPlan Solutions AgLeader

PrecisionEarth Now Available For Your iPad

Chuck ZimmermanApps, Soil Sampling

During InfoAg I visited with PrecisionEarth which was just being introduced. Well it’s now available for your iPad (or other iOS device)! Watch an overview in the video below.

PrecisionEarth makes Soil Sampling Simple, Faster, with less mistakes, and with less paper. Build up the Grower, Farmer, Field information as well as collect new boundaries, grids, and samples all inside PrecisionEarth, even when 3G/WiFi is not available. When complete export your sample results as vectors for use in other applications and backup your information to the included WebConnect Cloud Storage Account.

Already Have Source Data?

PrecisionEarth comes with Localconnect to automatically re-project and format vector and raster/imagery information. These can be vectors for boundaries and directed sampling locations, and images/rasters of your fields.

All of this comes for a one time fee of $250 USD in the Apple App Store.

Just in Case

Melissa SandfortAgricultural Anthropology

Living out in the country, I don’t have the luxury of just running to the grocery store around the corner if I find myself in the middle of a recipe, missing ingredients. The closest grocery store is 10 miles away and it’s no bigger than my kitchen. The next store of any size is 25 miles away and it’s still a drop in the bucket as compared to bigger cities. So our pantry is quite large and I keep multiples of everything on hand.

Did I mention we have three freezers, too? Is that overkill?

Last week though, I ran out of eggs. I had to make a cake for a funeral and that used up the last of my supply. So the next night when we were making French toast and bacon for supper (yes, it’s called supper around here), I sure was missing the side dish of scrambled eggs.

If I had one of these egg cases around – and a few chickens – maybe I wouldn’t have been in that situation. This is a Quality Egg case from Dannen Feeds and it held 12-dozen eggs and had flats and fillers to keep the eggs from cracking.

That’s a lot of busy chickens. And, there was a super-size version of this egg case that held 30-dozen eggs!

Now if only I could convince the grocery store to put in a drive-through window for bread, milk and eggs, we’d be all set.

Until our next history lesson …