No doubt that water use issues are among the biggest challenges facing agricultural producers nationwide, but particularly in states where water is at a premium. That’s why corn growers are getting more pro-active in states like Texas.
The Texas Corn Producers rolled out a new public information campaign just this week, with the message that water conservation goals can be achieved without severe restrictions on irrigation that would damage the economy of Texas High Plains.
“Agriculture brings billions of dollars into the economy of the Panhandle and South Plains every year and is the main driver of economic growth in the region,” said David Gibson, Executive Director of the Texas Corn Producers Board. “Through research and development of new technology, we are finding ways to grow more crops with less water. This means we can conserve water for future generations without sacrificing economic growth today.”
The campaign includes televised public service announcements, a 10 minute video and a new website, www.WaterGrowsJobs.org, with the slogan “Water grows our economy; let’s make it last.”
The New Holland Construction new Super Boom skid steer loaders drew a lot of attention at the National Farm Machinery Show today. These 200 Series machines have been years in the making. I spoke with Dave December, Marketing Manager, New Holland Construction and Jorge De Hoyos, Global Product Marketing Manager to learn all about these new products. They sell skid steer loaders throughout their dealer network that includes ag equipment dealers.
With the new 200 Series, New Holland maintains the best-in-class forward dump height and reach with the Super Boom® loader vertical lift design – and introduces breakthrough productivity improvements. The new skid steers culminate five years of customer research, design and engineering improvements.
“New Holland skid steers are built around our customers’ needs. Our engineers used input from hundreds of customers to design the new 200 Series line-up,” said Dave December, marketing manager at New Holland Construction. “The New Holland skid steer loaders have been engineered from the ground up. No matter what your line of work, agriculture, landscaping or construction, you’ll work faster, smarter and more profitably with our new skid steers.”
In our interview you can hear all about the New Holland Construction Super Boom Road Show which is an open house customer event held at New Holland dealerships across North America. The event includes a skid steer challenge featuring New Holland’s new 200 Series skid steer loaders.
The Super Boom Road Show will take place at 35 New Holland dealerships across the United States and Canada. Highlighting each event is a skid steer challenge where equipment operators compete for the best time on a special course. Prizes and cash are awarded to the top finishers. In addition, the operator who wins each local competition will be flown to Louisville, Ky., to compete in a final competition during GIE+EXPO 2011 (Oct. 27-29) to determine the North American champion. The grand prize winner will receive a new, fully-loaded New Holland 200 Series skid steer loader – valued at $35,000 – for their sponsoring company, plus $5,000 and New Holland gear for the operator.
AgWired coverage at the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by:
Farm Bureau families helped to feed even more hungry Americans in 2010.
American Farm Bureau reports that farm and ranch families of the organization raised more than $273,000 last year and donated more than 18 million pounds of food to hungry Americans as part of Farm Bureau’s “Harvest for All” program through Feeding America. That is the combined equivalent of more than 16 million meals!
The money raised, food donated and meal equivalents in 2010 all shattered program records. The Harvest for All Program was established in 2003.
In fact, the 18 million pounds of food donated by Farm Bureau families in 2010 was nearly three times as great as the 6.7 million pounds donated in 2008, the previous record. The $273,000 in funds donated in 2010 surpassed the 2009 level of $213,000, which was also a record. And the number of meal equivalents served at 16 million exceeded the previous high of 6.4 million, also set in 2008, by nearly 10 million meal equivalents.
We’ve got a good crowd out early at the National Farm Machinery Show. I did a walk around to take random photos while we were getting internet access fixed in the media room so there are a lot of new ones in there.
When it comes to smartphone platforms our audience is using a mix with iPhone/Android/Blackberry on top. According to our poll 32% say they use iPhone, 32% are using Android, 28 % are using Blackberry and way back we have 5% saying Other and only 3% saying Windows. Interesting and I think we’ll have to ask this question again later this year since there are going to be a lot of changes in mobile phone carrier systems and phones. So, does this surprise you? About what you expected?
Our next ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “What biofuel feedstock do you think has best future?” Let us know what you think and thank you for participating.
ZimmPoll is sponsored by Rhea+Kaiser, a full-service advertising/public relations agency.
Thanks in part to a partnership with the Beef Checkoff Program, the American Heart Association has listed three beef cuts as part of its Food Certification Program. This program places the association’s heart-check mark on food packages to helps healthy consumers over age 2 identify foods that meet criteria for saturated fat and cholesterol.
The three beef cuts that met the American Heart Association’s criteria for extra lean and now are certified to display the heart-check mark include:
– Boneless Top Sirloin Petite Roast (select grade)
– Top Sirloin Filet (select grade)
– Top Sirloin Kabob (select grade)
The American Heart Association’s heart-check mark is the one of the most trusted icons on food packaging today – and it continues to resonate with health-conscious shoppers, even in a challenging economy. In fact, more than 83 percent of consumers have an aided awareness of the heart-check mark, and nearly 75 percent of primary grocery shoppers say the heart-check mark improves the likelihood that they’ll buy a product.
This certification allows retailers to display the heart-check mark on fresh case beef packages, promoting the health benefits of a serving of these particular beef cuts to their customers.
To learn more about receiving the American Heart Association’s certification, please visit www.BeefRetail.org.
Syngenta announced it has received full deregulation for its corn amylase trait from the USDA. Syngenta will sell corn seed with the amylase trait as Enogen corn seed.
John Deere is hosting Driver Green events at dealerships across the country, from February through July, for consumers to see and test drive the latest utility tractors and other equipment available from John Deere.
The next president of the National Chicken Council will be Mike Brown, currently senior vice president for legislative affairs of the American Meat Institute.
Keith Baioni, business manager of crop protection products for Jimmy Sanders, Cleveland, Miss., and Steve Muhlenbruch, agronomist for Farmer’s Cooperative Company, Dows, Iowa, were selected as Resistance Fighters of the Year for their leadership and advocacy efforts to manage glyphosate-resistant weeds in 2010.
Here’s a last announcement about the May 9-10, World Agriculture Investment Conference. Leading investment groups from across the globe will be at the conference to discuss the opportunities and risks in agricultural markets.
The meeting’s foremost speaker panel – addressing a delegation of institutional and private investors – has recently been strengthened by leading investment manager Ejnar Knudsen of Passport Capital.
Mr. Knudsen has a wealth of experience in the field of agriculture investment and is currently responsible for Passport Capital’s investment management and research process for food, agriculture and commodity investments.
Among the timely discussion in Chicago, Mr. Knudsen will share his thoughts on agricultural markets and where to hedge your bets, offering truly unique insight into a complex and often misunderstood market.
What’s more, in build-up to this meeting you can now get free access a keynote presentation from our recent London event – BlackRock’s Richard Davis looks at equities versus commodities and key investment themes in the Agriculture space – please click here for the presentation.
The World Agriculture Investment Conference USA is a unique forum designed specifically to network with key investors, hedge funds and Ag managers, and to effortlessly discover how best to develop the ideal Ag portfolio.
Discounted tickets for Chicago are available until February 25th
For additional information, registration assistance or questions, please contact George Kiley, Investment Director – World Agriculture Investment Series by email on gkiley@aginvestconference.com, or call on +44(0)207 3757 54
Nufarm Americas is forming a strategic alliance in Mexico with Sumitomo Chemical Company’s affiliate Valent de Mexico (VdM) to distribute crop protection products.
According to Nufarm officials, the company will provide selected products from its line of herbicides, insecticides and fungicides to VdM, which will offer those products through its well-established existing distribution channel.
“Nufarm and SCC are working together in many regions of the world to explore alliances that can capitalize on each of our strengths and we are pleased to find this opportunity in Mexico,” says Robert Renes, Nufarm vice president for Latin America North. “The combination of our broad product line and VdM’s distribution channel relationships will benefit both companies and our customers.”
Renes adds that VdM and Nufarm offerings are complementary; in Mexico, VdM has focused on specialty crops and branded products, while Nufarm is one of the world’s largest suppliers of herbicides for broad-acre crops as well as a wide array of fungicides and insecticides.
VdM will have exclusive rights to sell certain Nufarm products to its distributors under private branded labels. Nufarm will continue its model of selling product to industrial customers. The final agreement is expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter.
Somebody ordered some beautiful weather for this year’s National Farm Machinery Show. Sunshine and “warm” is the way I like it. I got on site early and got in some exercise just wandering around and seeing the show in set up mode.
I checked in at the Kentucky Exposition Center and met Corinne Fetter, Director of Expositions, Kentucky State Fair Board. She says the good weather should “bring people out of the woodwork.” The exhibit space is sold out so there’s 1.2 million square feet to walk through. She says the “Superbowl of Tractor Pulls” will have five sessions over the next several days and there are only a limited number of tickets left.
Last week we heard how one of the major ag groups is using social media. This week we’ll hear how one agribusiness “leader” is doing so. I spoke with Katie Beeler, Ag Leader Technology, about how the company is incorporating social media into the marketing mix. Ag Leader Technology is a long time sponsor of our Precision Pays website!
In our conversation Katie describes how they measure effectiveness, ways they incorporate a blog (Precision Point), Twitter, Facebook and YouTube into their overall marketing plan. She also provides some tips for those just getting started.
The challenge to American agriculture to produce more food, fuel, and fiber on decreasing acreage continues to be challenged by governmental regulation, according to Gary Baise, agricultural lawyer with Olsson, Frank, Weeda, Terman, Bode, and Matz law firm in Washington, D.C.
“Don’t think they (the EPA) can’t shut you down,” he said at the recent GROWMARK FS Green Plan Solutions “In Pursuit of Maximum Yields” conference in East Peoria. “There are policies in place and in the works that will restrict food production in the United States.”
“EPA can absolutely shut you down, or make it so expensive in terms of coming into compliance that you have to go out of business,” Gary told me in an interview after his address. He specifically talked about water issues, and the Chesapeake Bay Initiative in particular. “According to one study, 48 percent of the land in the six states around the Chesapeake Bay, that’s in corn, soybeans, grain sorghum, would have to come out of production and go into pasture land and timber in order to reduce the amount of phosphorus and nitrogen running into the bay. I think that’s very serious,” he said.
While Baise says EPA has taken many beneficial actions for the environment since its inception during the Nixon administration, he would say “at this point, it’s misguided, misdirected and ill-informed.” He believes the agency now refuses to take into account all the improvements and successes that agriculture has achieved through the use of new technology and advancements. “I don’t think that they think that we want to save money. We do not want to waste any of these expensive inputs. I don’t EPA takes that kind of commonsense into account.”
Hard to believe that Commodity Classic is just around the corner now, but it is – and, thankfully, so is spring!
As spring approaches, growers must again consider refuge requirement compliance. The National Corn Growers Association, along with agribusiness partners, offers the Insect Resistance Management Refuge Calculator as a tool to help farmers determine how to comply with varying and often complex regulations. The calculator is both easy to use and represents the latest products available.
“The calculator is a great jump forward for helping growers stay compliant,” said NCGA president Bart Schott. “We have been working on this tool for several years and are glad that we can share this type of tool with our growers.”
Listen to an “Off the Cob” interview with Bart, and Director of Biotechnology and Economic Analysis Nathan Fields, discussing the importance of this tool for growers. Off the Cob Feature on IRM Calculator
NCGA staff will be demonstrating the calculator at the organization’s Commodity Classic booth this year, along with information about other programs including the American Ethanol- NASCAR partnership, CommonGround and potential legislation for 2011. If you have not registered for Classic yet – hurry up! The deadline is Friday for on-line registration. Hope to see you there!
BASF will continue support of Operation S.A.F.E. (Self-Regulating Application and Flight Efficiency) fly-ins in 2011 through its collaboration with the National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA). Through the partnership, BASF provides financial support for participating aerial applicators, which can be used towards membership in NAAA or for new spray equipment.
“More than 800 aerial applicators participated in 99 Operation S.A.F.E. fly-ins over the last two years,” said Tony Goede, BASF Plant Health Coordinator. “This important program helps ensure efficiency for the entire aerial application industry.”
In order to take advantage of the BASF Equipment and NAAA Membership Rebate Program, an operator or pilot must be an NAAA member. Although it is not necessary to be a member to participate in an Operation S.A.F.E. fly-in, that person must become an NAAA member before applying for and being granted approval for the rebate application. Then the operator or pilot can apply to be reimbursed for some or all of their 2011 membership dues or submit receipts to receive a rebate for nozzles and/or tips purshased for the aircraft.
“This program is proven to enhance professionalism in the aerial application industry by directing aerial applicators to join NAAA, where they have access to the library of education and communication stewardship services offered by the association,” said Andrew Moore, Executive Director of NAAA. “The program also allows applicators to equip their aircraft with new equipment to ensure precise applications. We appreciate BASF’s commitment to the industry, and thank them for making this incentive program available.”
Find out more at plant-health-pilots.com for the variety of resources BASF provides aerial applicators, including an “Ask the Expert” section for your toughest aerial application questions and true flight stories from aerial applicators across the country.
The South Dakota Beef Industry Council names Ron Frederick as its new Executive Director effective Feb. 21, 2011.
Frederick has a long history with the beef industry, working in animal health for twenty years as a sales representative and regional sales manager with Fort Dodge Animal Health/Syntex. Prior to his sales career, Frederick worked in agricultural extension for South Dakota State University as an educator in Hyde, Faulk and Potter counties. Most recently, Frederick has been focusing attention on his cow/calf operation, the Forty 5 Cattle Company, near Mission, S.D.
Frederick comes to the SDBIC with years of experience in working with cattle producers across the region. “I enjoy the people side of the business and I look forward to meeting with producers to spread the message of the effectiveness of the Beef Checkoff Program.” Frederick points to a recent University of Florida study which found a $5.55 return for every dollar invested in the program.
Frederick believes the beef industry faces many challenges today with rising input costs and the current consumer economy. Frederick, along with the SDBIC Board of Directors, will administrate the Beef Checkoff in the state in an open and transparent manner, welcoming input from all producers.
I’m still learning about the new things going on at Novus International, especially when it comes to poultry. At the recent International Poultry Expo I spoke with Bruce King, Biologicals Director, about a product called ADVENT.
Bruce says ADVENT is a vaccine for coccidiosis control in broilers. He says that other products are seeing some resistance to the disease and the industry is becoming more open to vaccines. He says they’ve learned that they can use the product in small birds. Coccidiosis is estimated to be the number one disease in broilers in the world.
Need a camera on your combine, tractor, grain bin or just about anywhere else on the farm? Try AgCam by Dakota Micro. The photo shows just one of the many places (pdf) you can put these cameras.
Dakota Micro, Inc., manufacturers of the AgCam camera system, is proud to announce the arrival of our newest product line. The OverView camera system (pdf) is the final component that allows us to offer our customers a complete camera lineup.
The AgCam was designed as the top of the line, quality product to survive rugged, wet and just plain gruesome environments. The OverView fills the gap, offering customers a well built camera system at a lower cost. The addition of this system allows Dakota Micro to fill the needs of both quality and price point.
Starting at an MSRP of just $322, the OverView will boast a high color contrast ratio monitor with bright LED backlighting, watertight cameras, forward/mirror image selection, high intensity night vision, choice of standard or quad display, and an 18 month warranty. Customers will be able to upgrade their systems easily to wireless without having to buy their equipment all over again. The OverView will also feature the same connectors as the currently available low cost systems.
As a small token of our appreciation of our American Service Men and Women who defend our freedom to be the best we can be every day of our lives, we have decided to donate a portion of profits from the OverView camera system to a program called AnySoldier. Please check out their website to see what it’s all about: www.anysoldier.com.
To see how tough these cameras are watch the video:
AgWired will be at the Western Farm Show and with this map you can easily find us. The show runs February 25-27 in Kansas City, MO and we’re a media partner for the first time.
I’ll be conducting social media seminars on Friday and Saturday and providing general show coverage right here. If you stop by the booth you’ll be able to enter a drawing for an iPod Touch courtesy of ZimmComm and our sponsor Raven Industries.
If you can see the logo then you know where I’ll be this week. That’s right. Time to get back on the agriblogging highway and head to Louisville for the National Farm Machinery Show.
This will be the 46th show and once again it will be combined with the annual Championship Tractor Pull now in its 43rd year. Last year’s combined attendance was 299,137. This year you can expect eight interconnected exhibit halls totaling more than 1.2 million square feet of indoor exhibit space and containing more than 850 agricultural displays.
Here’s hoping for that warm weather trend to continue. I’ll have coverage starting on Wednesday.
Okay, so you probably can’t back-up your files in a safe deposit box unless you make photocopies of them and put them in … you guessed it … another safe deposit box. This is an old-timer version of a PDA, or an iPad, or whatever hand-held device is small enough to fit in your plaid shirt pocket and hold all the data you can dream of and more.
But back in the late 1800s, this was where all farm records were kept. This was from my great-great grandfather John Henry (a good, strong farmer’s name) who passed away in 1936. On the top is engraved what appears to be a social security number, but after doing a little research, it must have been his son’s SSN because they didn’t start issuing them until 1936. John Henry died before he even “became a number”. All of the numbers that mattered to him and to his farm were kept in this steel safe deposit box.
From the safe deposit box, we’ve grown to notepads and pencils to electronic ear tags for livestock and computer farm management software.
Recently, I bought myself a portable external hard drive for backing up my computer files. But I looked down and realized it’s plastic. (Right? It’s made of plastic and a little metal.) So if our house goes up in flames, it does me no good unless it’s where? That’s right. In my fireproof safe deposit box! Maybe we haven’t come as far as I thought.
In this week's program Chuck talks with David Armano, Global Innovation and Integration.
David conducted a presentation on delivering expert opinion via social media to an audience at the start of International Poultry Expo week. He's got some great information about who consumers trust and how you can use today's consumer behavior to help communicate your message.
The Texas Corn Producers rolled out a new public information campaign just this week, with the message that water conservation goals can be achieved without severe restrictions on irrigation that would damage the economy of Texas High Plains. 
The New Holland Construction new 
In our interview you can hear all about the 
Somebody ordered some beautiful weather for this year’s 
Last week we heard how one of the major ag groups is using social media. This week we’ll hear how one agribusiness “leader” is doing so. I spoke with Katie Beeler, Ag Leader Technology, about how the company is incorporating social media into the marketing mix. 
“Don’t think they (the EPA) can’t shut you down,” he said at the recent GROWMARK 
As spring approaches, growers must again consider refuge requirement compliance. The 
In order to take advantage of the BASF Equipment and NAAA Membership Rebate Program, an operator or pilot must be an NAAA member. Although it is not necessary to be a member to participate in an Operation S.A.F.E. fly-in, that person must become an NAAA member before applying for and being granted approval for the rebate application. Then the operator or pilot can apply to be reimbursed for some or all of their 2011 membership dues or submit receipts to receive a rebate for nozzles and/or tips purshased for the aircraft. 
I’m still learning about the new things going on at Novus International, especially when it comes to poultry. At the recent International Poultry Expo I spoke with Bruce King, Biologicals Director, about a product called 
In this week's program Chuck talks with David Armano, Global Innovation and Integration.
