Three Patents Granted to Eco Agro Resources

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, Fertilizer, Nitrogen, Nutrient Management

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has granted Eco Agro Resources three patents for N-YIELD®, N-BOUND® and the NEON™ family of nitrogen stabilizers. These three are the first of 15 patents currently undergoing the patent process that will protect hundreds of possible combinations of active ingredients like NBPT, DMPP, DCD, Nitrapyrin, and multiple solvent options.

“These technologies offer new capabilities and great opportunities to the efficiency fertilizer market. Now a combination of widely proven urease inhibitors combined with the most used nitrification inhibitors can be applied directly onto fertilizers,” said Eco Agro International President Andrew Semple. “This significant breakthrough advances fertilizer efficiency worldwide. With our NEON™ products, fertilizer can now be protected from both above ground losses and below ground losses with one product at a local fertilizer dealer. In the past, customized inhibitor combinations of this magnitude were required to be incorporated into fertilizer during manufacture at the nitrogen plant.”

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AeroVironment Brings Quantix Drone

Kelly MarshallAudio, drone, UAV, ZimmCast

ZimmCast 542 AeroVironment has been building drones for the Defense Department for 25 years, so when they turned their sights to agriculture, the process was taken seriously.  They studied the industry needs for two years, Matt Strein said in our latest ZimmCast, learning exactly what growers wanted.

The Quantix Drone offers three key points, Strein says.  First, it offers a simple user experience.  Second, they focused on the ecosystem, putting in the best from hardware to software.  Third the Quantix offers actionable intelligence, not just pretty pictures, so growers can make better decisions.

The final product is the first hybrid drone to be offered for agriculture.  It combines the aerodynamics of a fixed-wind drone and the flexibility and safety of a multi-rotor option. Quantix collects RGB and NDVI multispectral images that can be viewed on-site immediately after each flight and then are uploaded, processed and stored securely in the cloud for growers to view either on their mobile device or a desktop computer. The AV DSS will feature a mobile app component allowing producers to collect and record infield observations. The platform is equipped with an alert system that instantly notifies farmers of anomalies in the field so that immediate action can be taken to address stressors.

AgNerds can view several videos on the AeroVironment website, and make sure and listen to the ZimmCast with Matt Strein here: [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcast/zimmcast542-4-7-17.mp3″ text=”ZimmCast with Matt Strein, AeroVironment”]

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Trimble Introduces VRI Pressure Tech for Center Pivots

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, Irrigation, Variable rate

Trimble has announced an industry-first technology that gets the right amount of water to the right places. Their new Irrigate-IQ optimal flow variable rate irrigation (VRI) solution allows farmers to use VRI on center pivot systems with a standard pumping system or limited well capacity. In the past a grower couldn’t use VRI on a center pivot without risking damage to their equipment but now Irrigate-IQ allows farmers to regulate pressure across the pivot, so they can properly optimize water applications.

“We are excited to offer the new pressure regulating technology to farmers who were previously unable to vary water application across their fields. With Irrigate-IQ optimal flow VRI, farmers can optimize water use while enjoying peace of mind that their equipment is operating in safe pressure ranges,” said Neil Douglas, Irrigate-IQ market manager for Trimble’s Agriculture Division. “And now, with our recently-announced distribution agreement with Valley Irrigation, more farmers worldwide will have access to Trimble’s VRI solution.”

Irrigate-IQ optimal flow VRI is now available through Trimble’s Vantage reseller network and the Valley Irrigation global dealer network. Farmers currently using optimal flow solutions can upgrade to optimal flow VRI at no additional costs.

Galen Lee is This Week’s SMART Farmer

Kelly MarshallPodcast, SMART Farmer

Galen Lee’s family has been farming the same piece of ground since the turn of the last century and it’s SMART farming and technology that will allow his family to continue working on that same piece of land in the future, he explains in this week’s edition of the SMART Farmer Podcast.

Galen raises sugar beets, asparagus, and peppermint along with dairy and beef cattle on his farm in southwest Idaho.   You can hear him discuss the process of raising sugarbeets and making sugar and how biotech varieties have made that process more sustainable and how he raises peppermint for the oil that is used in things like gum, candy and toothpaste! Galen is president of the American Sugarbeet Growers Association and a board member of the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance.

Listen to the podcast here: [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/smartfarmer/smart-farmer-podcast-4-10-17.mp3″ text=”SMART Farmer Podcast with Galen Lee”]

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Rural & Ag Groups Oppose Privatization of Air Traffic Control

Kelly MarshallAg Group

The Agriculture Retailers Association, Alliance for Aviation Across America, Crop Life America, League of Rural Voters , National Agricultural Aviation Association, National Council of Agricultural Employers, National Farmers Union, National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry, National Women in Agriculture Association, and USA Rice Federation have joined together as the Alliance for Aviation Across America to ask Congress to oppose privatization of the nation’s air traffic control system.

Privatization of air traffic control would remove it from Congressional oversight and place it in the hands of a private board of mostly commercial interests, the organizations state in their letter to Congress. The board would be in control of issues from taxes and fees to investment and access.

“Rural communities, agriculture and small businesses stand to lose the most under a privatized system, where there would be no Congressional oversight to ensure that all stakeholders and communities have access to air transportation,” the letter says. “Under a privatized system, a private board dominated by the largest commercial operators would undoubtedly direct resources and investments to the largest hub airports and urban areas where these investments would be most likely to benefit their bottom line.”

ChemChina Acquisition of Syngenta Approved by US and EU

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, Syngenta

Both the European Union and the United States approved the acquisition of Syngenta by ChemChina last week, and today it was announced that Mexico has also approved the deal.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) granted approval for the deal pending the divestment of three types of pesticides from ChemChina’s subsidiary, ADAMA, because Syngenta is a supplier of the same products. ChemChina has agreed to sell all rights and assets of ADAMA’s U.S. paraquat, abamectin and chlorothalonil crop protection businesses to AMVAC of California.

The approvals mark major milestones in the process of closing the transition which is expected now to take place in the second quarter of 2017.

Why FMC Loves @ComClassic

Cindy ZimmermanAgribusiness, Audio, Commodity Classic, FMC

Commodity Classic may have been a month ago at this point, but the glow of that one show can last all year for companies like FMC Corporation.

FMC Business Services Manager Rick Kesler says Classic is one show where they can reach a lot of different farmers. “A big part of FMC’s business is in corn and soybeans and when you can bring those two groups together and then put wheat and sorghum in along with that, it’s very worthwhile for us to be here,” said Kesler, who says the growers who attend the show are the best in the country.

Kesler was recently honored by by National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants for his service to agriculture. Listen to Chuck’s interview with him here:[wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/classic-17-fmc-kesler.mp3″ text=”Interview with Rick Kesler, FMC”]

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ASTA Commends New Seed Standard

Kelly MarshallAg Group, ASTA, seed, trade

The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) passed a final International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) for seed last week. This is a long awaited decision, says the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), one that has become necessary as import requirements for seed have become more restrictive and less science based.

“The seed industry is truly global,” said ASTA President & CEO Andrew LaVigne. “While seed companies strive to comply with various international phytosanitary requirements, it becomes burdensome and confusing when different countries have different requirements for the same pest. The international seed standard will bolster U.S. trade by helping to ensure global phytosanitary requirements, with respect to seed, are more consistent and science-based.”

“Adoption of the international seed standard is a major step forward for the global seed industry,” said LaVigne. “We look forward to working with our national seed industry counterparts to define mutual priorities and to ensure the wide adoption of the standard at the international level.”

Haagen-Dazs Brand Helps Bees Thrive

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, Bees, Honeybees, pollinators

The Häagen-Dazs Brand® is helping to support bee populations by working together with their farmer suppliers. The ice cream brand has planted one of the largest, privately-funded pollinator habitats on a almond farmer’s land in Chowchilla, California. The “Häagen-Dazs Loves Honey Bees” program was originally launched in 2008 and began with research and educational funding. This new six and a half miles of hedgerow and 11,000 native shrubs and plants on 840 acres of farmland mark a significant expansion of that program. They hope to continue this growth with future habitats for more of their ingredient suppliers.

“Bees are critical to the environment, supporting one-third of the world’s crops, including ingredients that are used in more than one-third of Häagen-Dazs ice cream flavors,” says Alex Placzek, Director of the Häagen-Dazs brand. “Consumers want to know that they will be able to enjoy their favorite foods for years to come and that the ingredients used are grown in a responsible way. By proactively getting involved on the farms of our suppliers, we are staying true to our journey that began nearly 10 years ago to ensure that bees can continue to thrive and enrich the planet.”

Haagen-Dazs plans to release a 360 virtual reality experience this summer which will allow viewers to see the world from a bee’s perspective and gain a better understanding of how they can help save bees.

ASTA Offers Stewardship Steps for Treated Seed

Kelly MarshallASTA, seed

The American Seed Trade Association(ASTA) is reminding farmers to follow five basic steps to practice good stewardship of treated seed.

  • Follow Directions: Follow directions on treated seed container labels for handling, storage, planting and disposal practices.
  • Eliminate Flowering Weeds: Eliminate flowering plants and weeds in and around the field prior to planting.
  • Minimize Dust: Use advanced seed flow lubricants that minimize dust.
  • BeeAware: At planting, be aware of honey bees and hives located near the field, and communicate with beekeeper when possible.
  • Clean and Remove: Completely clean and remove all treated seed left in containers and equipment used to handle harvested grain, and dispose of it properly. Keep all treated seed out of the commodity grain channels.

ASTA also partners with the Agricultural Retailers Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, American Soybean Association, CropLife America, National Corn Growers Association, and National Cotton Council to bring you the Guide to Seed Treatment Stewardship.