Isagro USA Focuses on Bio-Solutions

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, Crop Protection, Organic

Isagro USA, Inc. is taking this year to focusing on a bio-solutions portfolio for growers looking for bio-based and organic food production solutions. In 2006 the company purchased select products, and then followed a distribution agreement in 2013 for select tetraconazole and copper-based products. Now they’re building on this success by bringing products to the bio-friendly crop protection and nutrition products.

“Building a dynamic portfolio of bio-based and organic crop protection and plant beneficial nutrient products has been our priority for several years in the United States,” according to Paul Du Pré, Executive Chairman, North America. “This expanding portfolio of products will serve growers with an ever-widening range of bio-based solutions in 2017 and beyond,” said Mike Allan, President Isagro USA.

MZB Releases New Grid Tool

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, Data, Software

MZB offers a turn-key precision farming platform for ag retailers that is now offering even more.  MZB Technologies will now provide grid mapping capabilities to customers who want to use traditional grids or a hybrid of zone and grid data together. The new software package assists agronomists by allowing them to work closely with their growers and manage field data and provide variable rate fertility prescriptions and multi-hybrid or variable rate seed prescriptions.

“With the addition of our new grid tool, retailers will be able to further customize the way they use field data to help their growers make the best decisions on their farm,” said Jordan Tackett, MZB Regional Sales Manager. “Our system is all about boosting productivity while leveraging years of field and soil sample data. MZB is accomplishing this by utilizing the power of our web-based MZB software package.”

NACD Applauds Appropriations Bill for Conservation

Kelly MarshallAg Group, Conservation

A bill in front of Congress this week would provide support for voluntary conservation programs for landowners to protect and improve soil quality, soil health, and wildlife habitat.

“NACD (National Association of Conservation Districts) is very pleased that House and Senate appropriators have finally reached an agreement that will support funding for critical conservation programs,” NACD President Brent Van Dyke said. “The investments Congress makes now in voluntary, incentive-based conservation will yield natural resource and economic benefits for many generations of Americans to come.”

The funding bill includes a $13.6 million increase to the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Conservation Operations account, which supports the vitally important Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA) program. Congress also allocated a $6 million increase in funding to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Section 319 non-point source grant program, $28.6 million for the Emergency Conservation program, $21 million for the Watershed Rehabilitation program, and for the first time since Fiscal Year (FY) 2010, funded the Watershed Operations (PL-566) program at $150 million.

Groundswell Podcast Focuses on Sustainability

Kelly MarshallConservation, Podcast, sustainability

When you do what you’ve always done, you get what you’ve always gotten. That’s why those in the agriculture industry know they’ve got to do something different when it comes to sustainability. Now, thanks to GroundWork, there’s a new podcast series designed to offer a new look at tools, technologies, and practices that improve soil health and water quality. Listeners can download Groundswell to listen and learn from interviews with leaders from organizations like the Soil Health Partnership and The Fertilizer Institute.

“Farmers should feel encouraged by what our partners in the field are sharing,” says Kenny Avery, CEO of Verdesian Life Sciences and co-host of the Groundswell podcast. “Their research and experiences prove how sustainability and profitability are achievable together.”

IoT Companies Partner for Ag Solutions

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, IOT

If internet on your phone is good and internet on your refrigerator is even better then the unending number of things internet will soon be part of can be awe inspiring. Two companies that lead the way in the Internet of Things (IoT) are partnering to bring this kind of technology to agriculture. Infiswift‘s IoT platform and Libelium‘s IoT hardware have come together to provide solutions that allow connectivity based on individual needs, with out-of-the-box usability. Already the company has provided precision solutions to agriculture, allowing growers remote visibility throughout the entire growing season with real-time soil and weather data.

“No other hardware vendor has this breadth of offering that is robust enough for deployment,” said Arup Barat, CEO of infiswift. “This full-service offering will get data flowing to customers within a day of receiving the hardware. Because the hardware is compatible with the full global spectrum, it can be used anywhere in the world – so we’re elated that customers worldwide will have access to data in the infiswift IoT platform to improve business efficiency and performance.”

CTIC Annual Tour Comes Full Circle

Kelly MarshallConservation, CTIC, Events

The 10th anniversary of the Conservation in Action Tour comes full circle this year by bringing the event right back where it all began– in Indiana.  The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) will be showcasing how far conservation has come in the last decade and the role they’ve played in doing so.

The tour will also cover new market opportunities that come from incorporating conservation, watershed projects in cooperation with ag retailers and agribusiness, how Indiana’s agencies and farm organizations work together, and thoughts for the future.

Book your seat now or click to learn about sponsorship opportunities.

DOC Announces Action Over Mexican Sugar

Kelly MarshallAg Group, Government, trade

The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) has announced they will end the current antidumping and countervailing duty suspension agreements with Mexico and impose duties on imported sugar unless the two countries reach an agreement to end Mexico’s unfair trade practices by June 5. Previously the DOC and Mexico had negotiated agreements, but after two years the DOC recognizes the agreements are not working.

The American Sugar Alliance is grateful for the DOC’s decision to move forward. Phillip Hayes, a spokesman for the American Sugar Alliance, said, “For far too long, the unfair trade practices of Mexico’s inefficient, subsidized industry have punished efficient American sugar farmers and workers. We’ve lost more than $4 billion in revenue since their dumping began. Hawaii ceased sugar production in December after more than a century in the business, and more U.S. farms and factories are facing the same fate.”

Iron Solutions Goes Digital

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, Equipment, Website

The Agricultural Equipment Official Guide has been in print for 80 years but, beginning January of 2018, Iron Solutions has announced the publication will become a one hundred percent digital service. Print subscribers will receive a free trail of the online product at www.ironguides.com along side their printed copies for the remainder of this year and then subscriptions will transfer to the digital platform in January.

“Digital delivery of valuation data best meets the market’s need for the most up-to-date information,” said Dallas Blome, Editor of the Official Guide. “Continuing to deliver a quarterly print publication, which cannot reflect all option values and usage adjustments, results in multiple valuations in the marketplace for the same piece of equipment,”

Subscribers should contact Iron Solutions at 877-266-4766 or via email at sales@ironsolutions.com for more information.

The Outdoor Power Equipment Guide and the Iron Search Buyers Guide will continue to be available in a print format.

Precision Laboratories Partners with Monsanto

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, Herbicides, Monsanto, Spraying

Precision Laboratories is working with to add Intact™ drift reduction agent to Roundup Ready PLUS® Crop Management Solutions for a more precise application.  The optimized formulation ensures more droplets are retained on the target leaf surface- increasing coverage, uptake potential, and herbicide performance.

“This partnership is a benefit to growers who want to take the next step toward the most effective use of new technologies available to them,” said Rick Wohlner, President of Precision Laboratories. “Monsanto’s proven unique competencies in plant development and commitment to grower success align well with Precisions’ dedication to exceptional adjuvant technology and agricultural stewardship.”

The Roundup Ready PLUS® incentive offer will increase access to Intact for soybean and cotton growers. In addition, growers participating in Roundup Ready PLUS® Crop Management Solutions are eligible to receive an additional $0.50 per acre cash back incentive when they use Intact.

New Seed Mixture Offers Pollinator Benefits

Kelly MarshallAudio, Bees, Cover Crops, pollinators

Native bees contribute more than $9 billion to the U.S. economy by pollinating crops while managed hives contribute over $15 billion, so their decline has resulted in a major concern for the agriculture industry.  Grassland Oregon is working to solve that problem with their new Pasture for Pollinators forage seed mixture.  The seed is not only pollinator friendly, proceeds from sales will also be donated to further sustainable agriculture research programs.

“Pasture for Pollinators was a brain child we came up with when we started realizing how much we were loosing of the pollinator population, which is incredibly important for agriculture because in contributes over $15 billion dollars overall, but most of our crops need those pollinators to be successful, said Risa DeMasi, co-founder of Grassland Oregon and immediate past chairman of the American Seed Trade Association.  Pasture for Pollinators is good for pollinators, offers a perfect nutritional balance for cattle, and contributes to the quality of the soil as well, DeMasi adds.

Pastures for Pollinators seed mixture is available now and orders or donations can be made at www.pasturesforpollinators.com.  Learn more about Pastures for Pollinators in this interview: [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/pastures-pollinators.mp3″ text=”Interview with Risa DeMasi, Grassland Oregon, on Pastures for Pollinators”]