3RIVE 3D Means Farming Faster

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, Audio, Commodity Classic, Corn, FMC, Planting, Video

Rick Ekins from FMC, and Chuck have talked about their 3RIVE 3D platform several times since it was introduced and Commodity Classic provided another opportunity.  With spring planting upon us, here’s a quick summation of what 3RIVE 3D can provide:

  • 3RIVE 3D is a new way to deliver crop protection products for seedling defense and yield enhancement
  • Easily mounts to all major planter brands
  • Includes a 130-gallon water tank, 30-gallon product tank and all other necessary components for application
  • Mixes the right amount of product and water, minimizing the need for measuring and eliminating the need for mixing and tank agitation
  • Delivers a three dimensional, continuous Zone of Protection directly into the furrow
  • Uses low volume of water, reducing weight and refills, and speeds the progress of planting
  • Plant up to 500 acres between refills
  • Provides future opportunities for combining multiple active ingredients including insecticides, fungicides and biostimulants

You can listen to Chuck’s interview with Rick here to learn more:
[wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/classic-17-fmc-rick-ekins.mp3″ text=”Interview with Rick Ekins, FMC”]


2017 Commodity Classic Photo Album

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Commodity Classic coverage made possible by FMCCommodity Classic coverage made possible by John Deere

#FarmBillSummit Addresses Crop Insurance

Kelly MarshallAudio, Crop Insurance, Farm Bill, Uncategorized

Tom Zacharias, president of National Crop Insurance Services (NCIS), was among the speakers invited to address this week’s Agri-Pulse Farm Bill Summit in Washington, D.C.

Zacharias stressed the role crop insurance plays in ensuring a strong and vibrant agricultural sector, which is critical to the well-being of our economy and society as a whole.

“The role of both state and federally regulated crop insurance is to help provide financial stability to the agricultural sector in combination with other farm-level risk management strategies such sound marketing and good financial planning, as well as other USDA programs designed to support American agriculture,” Zacharias said.

Zacharias noted that crop insurance is the “cornerstone” of the farm safety net, and highlighted a few of the program’s key components that have contributed to its success. These characteristics include the fact that crop insurance is contractually based, that farmers have “skin in the game” and that they only receive a crop insurance payment in the event of an insured loss.

Listen to his remarks here: [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/agripulse-farmbill-17-ncis-zacharias.mp3″ text=”Remarks from Tom Zacharias, President, National Crop Insurance Services”]

Photos can be found on the Agri-Pulse website.
Agri-Pulse Farm Bill Summit photos

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GROWMARK Supports National Ag Day

Kelly MarshallAg Day, Audio, Growmark

Beverly Flores of John Deere with Amy Bradford of GROWMARK at 2017 Ag Day

GROWMARK and its FS member companies are proud to be one of the major sponsors of National Ag Day every year, according to corporate relations manager Amy Bradford who attended this year’s event.

“This is one of the events that we support in a big way financially,” said Bradford. “It’s just important for us to support the farmers who are doing the work every day.”

Bradford was pleased to hear the presidential proclamation for Ag Day, the first in 16 years. “We believe that agriculture is definitely on the radar screen in the new administration,” she said, noting the interest in improving rural infrastructure. “We definitely have some ideas of what that means beyond roads and bridges to include rural broadband.”

In this interview, Bradford also talks about GROWMARK farm bill priorities and more: [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/agday-amy.mp3″ text=”Interview with Amy Bradford, GROWMARK”]

National Ag Day Photo Album

Benson Hill, CTC Achieve Partnership Milestone

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, Company Announcement

Benson Hill Biosystems, an ag tech company using data analysis to unlock genetic potential in plants, is working with Centro de Tecnologia Canavieira (CTC), a leader in Brazilian sugar cane, to find commercial traits that will increase crop yields. The two companies have been working together since 2014; the most recent partnership announcement concerns the end of phase one in successfully using the Benson Hill platform for the crop.

“The rigor of Benson Hill’s CropOS system and ability to evaluate selected genes in the model crop Setaria viridisincreases the probability of success in sugarcane since the photosynthetic systems of the two plants are very similar,” said William Burnquist, director of R&D at CTC. “We are pleased to have achieved this milestone in our partnership and will soon move forward to the next phase of validating the genes’ efficacy in sugarcane.”

“With CTC’s support, our team and technology have identified leads that demonstrate significant biomass improvement in a relevant crop model and that have the potential to increase the yield and sustainability of the sugarcane crop,” said Mohammed Oufattole, vice president of R&D at Benson Hill Biosystems. “Now, CTC will focus on validating these leads in sugarcane in order to mobilize this technology for the benefit of its growers. Through cloud biology, even the most complex targets such as photosynthesis can be advanced with greater speed and efficiency and for a fraction of historical costs, enabling players of any size in any market to innovate.”

Agri-Pulse #FarmBillSummit Hears From Duvall

Kelly MarshallAFBF, Ag Day, Ag Group, Audio

President of the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Zippy Duvall addressed the participants of the Agri-Pulse Farm Bill Summit earlier this week. Using his best southern charm, Duvall addressed the issue of the upcoming farm bill, pointing out the different circumstances farmers and ranchers are in as the last bill was being written and the economic climate now.

“The biggest problem with this farm bill and writing the next farm bill will be resources,” Duvall emphasizes. “The baseline that the CBO has is not enough to have a good safety net for the food security of our country and that’s why at American Farm Bureau we’re asking for increases in that baseline so we can build a true farm bill that helps us through the next four years.”

Farmers and ranchers must remain aware of what it happening in the political area, Duvall asserts, sharing the story of two mules he once purchased to give rides to his kids. Turning his back on the animals, “Bill” and “Hillary,” ended in a wrecked wagon; disengaging in today’s political world will result in its own kind of disaster.

Listen to Zippy Duvall’s full remarks here: [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/agripulse-farmbill-17-fb-duvall.mp3″ text=”Zippy Duvall, AFBF”]

Photos can be found on the Agri-Pulse website.
Agri-Pulse Farm Bill Summit photos

Muddy Boots Signs Subscription Agreement with Iteris

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, Data, weather

Muddy Boots Software has purchased a multi-year global subscription to Iteris, Inc.’s ClearAg weather information. Muddy Boots plans to integrate the weather information into their Greenlight Grower Management System to offer real-time field and crop data, optimize decision making based on current and forecasted weather conditions, reduced risk and better understanding of application timing for crop protection products.

“By being able to accurately predict near-term weather and soil conditions, growers can make more informed crop management decisions,” said John Lord, Manager for EMEA at Iteris. “The integration of ClearAg environmental insights will allow Muddy Boots customers to realize the full value of the Greenlight Grower Management software. With ClearAg, users will be able to better understand and anticipate the impacts of weather on crop production operations such as when to plant, when or where to apply chemical and fertilizer products, and how to best optimize labor and machinery resources.”

International Ag Purchased by ProAg Insurance Group

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, Crop Insurance

Producers Ag Insurance Group, Inc. (ProAg), announced a purchase agreement had been signed to acquire crop managing general agent (MGA) International Ag Insurance Solutions, LLC (International Ag). The transaction, which is subject to a number of closing conditions including final approvals by certain International Ag members and regulatory authorities, is expected to close by April 3, 2017.

“ProAg believes International Ag provides a complementary platform to add business from a strong group of independent agents, while improving our profitability and enhancing our diversified portfolio. This acquisition shows TMHCC’s continued commitment to the U.S. crop insurance space. We are pleased to welcome International Ag’s management team, employees and independent agents to ProAg,” said Michael Connealy, ProAg’s President and Chief Executive Officer.

“International Ag is excited about the opportunity to join the financially strong and geographically diverse agricultural risk management program of ProAg. Under the guidance and support of ProAg, we will be able to expand our product offerings and elevate the superior service our customers have come to expect,” said Rob Boysen, International Ag’s Chief Executive Officer.
“Together with International Ag, we will work through the details to provide a seamless transition for policyholders, agents and employees over the coming months,” said Kendall Jones, ProAg’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

Valley Irrigation to Distribute Trimble Irrigation Solution

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, Irrigation, Trimble

Trimble has announced that Valley Irrigation will become with sole OEM distributor of their Irrigate-IQ precision irrigation solution. Trimble’ solution will be available in the Valley Corner Sprinkler Sequencing and Variable Rate Irrigation systems from Valley dealers. The collaboration will bring growers advance control, GPS-guided, individual nozzle irrigation solutions.

“Valley is excited to work with Trimble and believes that this relationship strengthens our position as the technology leader in the global irrigation market. Trimble’s experience, focus on technology and global reach make it an outstanding technology partner,” said Len Adams, president Valley Irrigation. “By distributing Trimble’s Irrigate-IQ solution on Valley products, our customers can benefit from enhanced solutions for precision water application.”

The Climate Corp and Koch Provider Deeper Insights

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, Data, Koch, Nitrogen

Koch Agronomic Services, which provides plant performance technologies, will be working with The Climate Corporation to create data science models for the Climate FieldView platform, specifically models for nitrogen monitoring. Users will be able to find Koch products in the Climate FieldView account, making the insights offered by the software even more personalized. This expansion is part of the August 2016 announcement that The Climate Corporation would be opening its platform to other innovators.

“Our goal is to help farmers achieve their production, profitability and environmental goals, and we believe this data sharing agreement provides an additional tool to increase efficiency in agricultural practices,” said Chase Koch, president of Koch Agronomic Services. “We know each field has different nitrogen needs, and we believe adding data on our scientifically-proven enhanced efficiency fertilizer products into the Climate FieldView platform will deliver deeper insights to farmers to help them manage crop fertility.”

BASF Invests in R&D

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, BASF, Herbicides, Weed control

The $270 million in capital improvements over the last three years make BASF‘s faculty in Beaumont, Texas their largest product facility in the company’s history– and the only plant in the U.S. manufacturing dicamba. BASF has also invested $290 million in eight of its other locations to provide solutions for growers, like the latest innovation, Engenia herbicide. The new herbicide is specifically designed for dicamba-tolerant soybeans and cotton with a heavier weight and stronger bond relative to DGA and DMA formulations. These advancements offer reduced volatility and off-target movement of the dicamba molecule.

“Our commitment to North America is clear. The agricultural market is changing, and growers are demanding the newest and most effective technologies to increase profitability,” said Paul Rea, Senior Vice President, Crop Protection, BASF North America. “BASF responded to growers’ needs by making significant investments in production to deliver effective solutions to help farmers manage weed resistance and produce higher yields. We could not have done this without our skilled workforce in Beaumont and across North America who not only help growers, but also help drive our economy.”

As part of the Engenia herbicide launch, BASF is also offering in-person and online training through the On Target Application Academy (OTAA). This one-of-a-kind educational opportunity provides extensive training that promotes correct and effective herbicide application.