Soil Health Partnership Update at Classic

Posted on March 7, 2014 by Leah Guffey

Since the health of a farm depends largely on healthy soil, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), with support from the Walton Family Foundation and Monsanto, recently announced the formation a new Science Advisory Council and the Soil Health Partnership (SHP).

During a press conference at the Commodity Classic, members of the partnership discussed plans to help farmers enhance soil health and introduced the initiative’s first demonstration farmers – Bill and Tim Couser of Nevada, Iowa. NCGA vice president of production and utilization Paul Bertels, Monsanto sustainable business solutions lead Michael Doane, and Sean McMahon, North American agriculture program director for The Nature Conservancy, also took part in the discussion.

SHP’s ultimate goal is to measure and communicate the economic and environmental benefits of different soil management strategies; and provide a set of regionally specific, data-driven recommendations that farmers can use to improve the productivity and sustainability of their farms. Over the next five years, SHP will work to aggregate regional data to catalyze a platform for knowledge-sharing from farmer to farmer to create a set of best practices to improve soil health.

Listen to the full Soil Health Partnership press conference here: Soil Health Partnership Press Conference

Interview with Tim and Bill Couser: Bill and Tim Couser Interview

2014 Commodity Classic Photos

Facts on Ethanol’s Side in Fight with Big Oil

Posted on March 7, 2014 by John

It’s not always fact-based arguments proponents of ethanol are up against when battling Big Oil. But that’s why it’s all more important to make sure you have good facts on your side in the fight. Farmers who attended the recent Commodity Classic in San Antonio were able to sit in on a session titled, “Biofuels and the Renewable Fuels Standard, A Farmer’s Avenue to American Energy Independence,” to make sure they can talk about the success stories and silence ethanol’s critics.

Brian Jennings with the American Coalition for Ethanol was one of the panelists taking part. He said you’re not necessarily battling facts when it comes to taking on some of the myths put out by the petroleum industry.

“The message I was trying to relay to the corn growers is stay involved, remain engaged, get your neighbors and friends involved, and know that this isn’t a fact-based fight. When the fight is about facts, we always win,” Brian said, adding that ethanol doesn’t have to stoop to the lies and scare tactics of Big Oil.

Listen to Brian’s interview here: Brian Jennings, American Coalition for Ethanol

Another effective tool in the fight is showing the positive change ethanol has brought to Rural America, creating better markets for farmers’ corn, helping the country achieve energy independence, and building up communities, like the one that Northwest Iowa corn farmer James Doxtad comes from. He says while many folks back in his home state are aware of the good the renewable fuel has brought to the heartland, too many people in the country just don’t know.

“It’s amazing how many people out there are unaware of the advantages of ethanol. Ethanol is a good thing, we’re producing a good product, and we’re doing it for a good reason.” he said.

Check out James’ interview here: Iowa farmer James Doxtad

2014 Commodity Classic Photos

Seed Treatment Stewardship Promoted at Classic

Posted on March 7, 2014 by Cindy

We first heard about “The Guide to Seed Treatment Stewardship” last year at Commodity Classic.

The second phase roll out of the guide – produced by the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) in collaboration with organizations like the National Corn Growers Association, American Soybean Association and American Farm Bureau – began this year and we heard more about it from ASTA VP for Government and Regulatory Affairs Jane DeMarchi.

“The Guide to Seed Treatment Stewardship was created to touch all aspects of seed applied technology,” said Jane. “Our goal is to emphasize stewardship practices across crops and treatment segments and to minimize the risk of seed dust exposure to pollinators.”

Jane says they have developed videos about seed treatment stewardship and began taking them on the road this year to state and national corn, soybean and farm bureau meetings, and she says awareness of pollinator issues is growing among farmers across the country.

Learn more here: Press conference with Jane DeMarchi, ASTA

2014 Commodity Classic Photos

Bayer Panel Buzzes About Bees

Posted on March 7, 2014 by Kristin Liska

One of the most important topics discussed at the Ag Issues Forum was the buzz about bee health and what is being done to address declining bee colonies. One of the panelists was Laurie Adams, executive director of the Pollinator Partnership. Laurie stressed that collaboration between all parties is needed to protect all pollinators, including bees. Listen to my interview with Laurie here: Interview with Laurie Adams, Pollinator Partnership

Also on the panel was Don Parker who deals with integrated pest management for the National Cotton Council. He discussed the importance of farmers working closely with beekeepers who use their land for hives. Parker believes that the varroa mite is the biggest threat to bee colonies right now and he stressed the need for science to lead the discussion when it comes to pollinator health, not politics or personal opinion. Interview with Don Parker, National Cotton Council

In an effort to further education and collaboration around pollinator health, Bayer CropScience is holding its second annual Bee Care Tour this year, traveling coast-to-coast to create awareness of the vital role of honey bees in sustainable agriculture by establishing a dialogue with growers, beekeepers, researchers and students to discuss the multiple factors affecting honey bee health. They will also be opening a new North American Bee Care Center next month at Bayer’s Research Triangle Park, N.C. headquarters.

2014 Bayer CropScience Ag Issues Forum Photos

Preserving Our Nations Cotton History

Posted on March 6, 2014 by Jamie

Executive Director of The Cotton Museum, Anna Mullins, was present at the 3rd Annual Season Starter Party during the Mid-South Farm & Gin Show and sat down with Chuck to share what the museum offers to visitors.

Anna has a strong history in agriculture specifically centered in the south. She grew up around cotton and started her career in ag media working for Cotton International Magazine. There she met a number of cotton traders who were intimately involved in creating the museum and continuing to support it.

“Our museum endeavors to cover the entirety of cotton history. But we focus on the history of the U.S. cotton industry and more specifically on how Memphis was founded as a cotton port and how the cotton industry shaped this city. It covers everything from slavery and share-cropping to modern day cotton growing.”

The museum hosts a party every year during the Gin Show and they consider it a fun way to kick off the growing season. It also it a great opportunity for growers across the south and ag industry reps to take in the lush history cotton has on the U.S.

The Cotton Museum operates on memberships and corporate sponsorships. If you are interested in helping to support their efforts in preserving our nations history checkout their website at MemphisCottonMuseum.org

You can listen to my interview with Anna here: Interview with Anna Mullins

2014 Mid-South Farm & Gin Show Photo Album

2014 Bayer Sustainability Award

Posted on March 6, 2014 by Kristin Liska

bayer-aif14-award During the ninth annual Ag Issues Forum last week, Bryan Boll of Minnesota was the recipient of the 2014 Bayer Young Farmer Sustainability Award. Bryan believes the key to sustainability is to look at your operation individually and see areas in which you can improve.

I interviewed Bryan about the award and what sustainability means to him. Interview with Bryan Boll, Bayer 2014 sustainability award winner

Bryan is the fourth recipient of this award. Pictured with him here are 2013 winner Jeremy Jack of Mississippi on the left, and the CEO and president of Bayer CropScience LP, Jim Blome.

Jeremy also participated on a panel during the Ag Issues Forum on how today’s farmer CEO are re-shaping modern agriculture. He believes “sustainability has got to be the action plan” for every farmer in the future. Interview with Jeremy Jack, Bayer 2013 sustainability award winner

Below is a video that introduces Bryan and what he does on his operation.

2014 Bayer CropScience Ag Issues Forum Photos

Bayer Session on Year of Food and Farmers

Posted on March 5, 2014 by Leah Guffey

One session at the Bayer Crop Science Ag Issues Forum last week called 2014 the “Year of Food and Farmers” talked about an upcoming National Geographic series and a documentary movie – both featuring agriculture.

Dennis Dimick, Executive editor, Environment for National Geographic, shared their exciting plans for the eight-month series focused on food and agriculture, beginning in May. Dimick spoke about our growing population and how our need for food is the single biggest threat to the environment that we face today. “There is a growing need to recreate the connection to the production side of where food comes from,” he said. Dimick says the series will include topics such as farming the sea, malnutrition, genetics and how diets have changed over the course of time.

You can listen to my interview with Dennis here: Interview with Dennis Dimick, National Geographic

Joining the discussion with Dennis was Randy Krotz, executive director of U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance, who talked about Farmland: The Movie and showed a couple of clips. The documentary offers first-hand glimpse into the lives of young farmers and ranchers, connecting the audience to real farmers’ stories of their high-risk/high-reward lifestyles. Randy says the movie is scheduled to be released this spring.

Listen to or download the discussion with Randy and Dennis here: Bayer Ag Issues Forum, National Geographic and USFRA

2014 Bayer CropScience Ag Issues Forum Photos

Classic Farmland Movie Stars

Posted on March 5, 2014 by Cindy

Commodity Classic went to the movies last week with a sneak preview of the feature length documentary “Farmland” which will debut later this month.

The media was allowed to watch, but not report on, the movie – but we are able to meet and talk with some of the stars who took part in a press conference at Classic with the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA). The guy in the middle here is not one of the stars, that’s USFRA Executive Director Randy Krotz – he just wishes he were as talented and good-looking as the farmers in the film!

The four pictured here, from left to right around Randy, are David Loberg of Nebraska, Ryan Veldhuizen of Minnesota, Leighton Cooley from Georgia, and Brad Bellah of Texas. Listen to them talk about themselves and their experiences with film director James Moll in the making of “Farmland.” – Farmland Movie Press Conference

2014 Commodity Classic Photos

Bayer Develops Seed Treatment for SDS

Posted on March 5, 2014 by Cindy

During the Bayer CropScience Ag Issues Forum and Commodity Classic last week, Bayer was pleased to announced they have applied for EPA registration of ILeVO, the first seed treatment developed to address Soybean Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS).

“We’re anticipating federal registration fourth quarter of 2014 for planting in 2015,” said Seed Treatments Product Manager Dave Byrum.

Jennifer Riggs, Bayer SeedGrowth product development manager, says people think of SDS as a late season disease, but they have found that is not true. “The infection of the fungus into the plant happens at the seedling stage,” she explains. “So ILeVO does a very good job of protecting that very critical zone from the fungus.”

Dave and Jennifer talked about this exciting new development during a press conference, and Chuck interviewed both of them during the Ag Issues Forum. Take your pick – or take them both!

Interview with Dave Byrum and Jennifer Riggs, Bayer CropScience Bayer CropScience ILeVO press conference

2014 Bayer CropScience Ag Issues Forum Photos

FMC’s Solutions for Southern Rice Growers

Posted on March 5, 2014 by Jamie

Don Johnson is FMC’s Tech Service Sales Manager for the Southern Region. Chuck met up with him during the Mid-South Farm & Gin Show in Memphis last week and talked about what FMC has available for rice farmers. Don also reminded attendees as they walked through their booth that FMC has a wide product portfolio that includes something for all crops.

Obey was launched in 2013 and has dual modes of action. Obey provides effective weed management for Southern rice growers fighting barnyardgrass and hemp sesbania. It also offers the flexibility to be used in a sequential (split) application program with Command® 3ME herbicide.

“Our universities have been supporting FMC the last three or four years trying to get that window expanded in order to manage resistant barnyardgrass in rice fields and now we are happy to announce this year that we finally got that expanded for the growers.”

As growers know barnyardgrass is the number one yield robber in rice fields. Fighting resistance has been an uphill problem for years, but with the use of these two FMC products growers have a solution.

“This show is more than just a cotton show. It is a gin show as well. It has been expanded to cover all crops. FMC also is diversified in the crops we cover whether it’s soybeans, corn, rice or cotton. We have products that cover each crop.”

You can listen to my interview with Don here: Interview with Don Johnson

2014 Mid-South Farm & Gin Show Photo Album

GROWMARK, John Deere Data Collaboration

Posted on March 5, 2014 by Cindy

GROWMARK and John Deere are collaborating to make life easier and improve decision-making for producers and agronomists.

The two are collaborating to deliver near real-time field level data to producers and FS Crop Specialists by linking FS Advanced Information Services (FS AIS), a suite of precision agronomy software, with John Deere Wireless Data Transfer, JDLink™ and MyJohnDeere.

GROWMARK Agronomy Marketing executive director Ron Milby says they are among the first agricultural retailers to leverage the Wireless Data Transfer Application Programming Interface (API) for its precision agronomy decision support software, making data exchange faster and more useful for growers and its FS company staff. “The open platform John Deere provides enables farmers and FS company staff to use the FS AIS software to make decisions in near real time – that’s a win-win,” Milby said.

Ron says they chose to work with Deere because they believe they are a leader in this field. “I think they’re going to be a viable leader in the future,” he said. “We were headed to this base, they were headed to this base, and we were able to work with them.

Producers will utilize an efficient and secure interface between FS AIS and MyJohnDeere, taking advantage of both companies’ commitment to supporting better decisions through improved data integration at the field level. This includes the ability to easily transfer work instructions, prescriptions, and product lists to the GreenStar™ 3 2630 display. Yield data, as-applied maps and work records can be transferred back to the FS AIS software.

Find out more in this interview with Ron: Interview with Ron Milby, GROWMARK

BASF Helps Farmers Increase Production

Posted on March 5, 2014 by Leah Guffey

At the BASF Crop Protection Science Behind the Advanced Acre media event last week farmers from different states talked about how BASF Innovation Specialists help them get the most out of their operations.

Matt Miles is a 4th generation row crop farmer from southeastern Arkansas who grows corn, soybeans and cotton on a 6300 acre family operation with his wife and son-in-law.

Irrigation is key to Matt’s operation. “Without irrigation our soybean yields would be 20% of what we make now,” he said. Also important to increased yields for Matt is precision agriculture and his BASF Innovation Specialist Brad Koen, a friend since high school who provides him with important agronomic information.

Listen to my interview with Matt here: Interview with Matt Miles, Arkansas Farmer

Alex Rock and his family have Illinois roots and have moved their operation to Colorado where they also have a heifer replacement program from his mother’s side of the family. “Mom said we aren’t milking cows again,” said Alex. “But this gives us an opportunity to remain involved in the dairy industry.”

The Rock family wheat crop is currently in the field, but as a dry land farmer they are reliant on the snow melt from mountains. They have to deal with real life tumbleweeds as some of the weeds that have become resistant are continuing to reek havoc. He relies on his BASF representative Bob Leisy to help him make informed and smart decisions with local growers about Advanced Weed Control and Plant Health.

Listen to my conversation with Alex here: Interview with Alex Rock, Colorado Farmer

BASF at the 2014 Commodity Classic Photos

Soybean Growers Glad for Farm Bill, Upset Over EPA

Posted on March 5, 2014 by John

Soybean growers have had a mixed bag of emotions the last couple of months: happy over the passage of the much-anticipated Farm Bill … but not so happy over the government’s proposed cut to the amount of biodiesel, which is mostly made from soybeans, to be blended into the Nation’s fuel supply.

At a news conference at the recent Commodity Classic in San Antonio, American Soybean Association (ASA) president Ray Gaesser, a farmer from Iowa, said after three long years of debate, it was great to see the Farm Bill become law.

“It was a compromise bill, and the final product strengthens risk management, streamlines conservation programs, reinforces the safety net, and invests in key programs in the areas of trade promotion, research and renewables,” he said, adding a big win for ASA in the new law is that planting decisions remain separated and decoupled from income safety net programs. “This helps to ensure that farmers plant for the market and not for government programs.” ASA News Conference at Commodity Classic

Meanwhile, ASA Chairman Danny Murphy, a grower from Mississippi, said their first priority is to get the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reverse its biodiesel proposal.

“These proposed regulations would reduce the production over the next year or two and really stifle the growth in a really valuable market for soybean farmers,” he said.

The hundreds of comments his members sent into the EPA might be having an effect as he told Cindy in a separate interview that EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy might be having second thoughts about her agency’s proposal. “So we hope that means they’ll make some changes and allow this biodiesel industry to grow.”

During that interview, Danny also talked about trade agreements, biotechnology, and how good demand and good prices are really helping soybean farmers do well.

“It’s an exciting time to be a soybean farmer,” Danny said.

Listen to all of Cindy’s interview with Danny here: ASA Chairman Danny Murphy

2014 Commodity Classic Photos

FMC Tackles Weeds in the South

Posted on March 4, 2014 by Jamie

FMC representatives were eager to visit with attendees of the recent Mid-South Farm & Gin Show in Memphis, TN. Chuck spoke with Rusty Mitchell during the event about some of their products corn and soybean growers across the South can and should take advantage of.

“We’ve got a couple of new products that we have available for both corn and soybean. Of course we have our Authority brand, our pre-herbicide. We have a couple new Authority products that we introduced last summer. One was Authority Elite. It has done really well this past year. We also are introducing this year, Authority Maxx, which has mulitple modes of action all pointed towards control on Palmer Amaranth.”

Rusty also talks about their product Anthem that was originally slated for corn, but recently has been approved for use on soybeans. They both have a very flexible application window and it controls a broad spectrum of broadleaves.

On the topic of Anthem, FMC is investing in farming’s future by hosting their 3rd Annual Stand & Be Heard Anthem Singing Contest. It is officially underway and youth can submit their entires here.

“Always remember regardless of what crop you are producing from the standpoint of weed control is to start clean, utilize a good burn down program, utilize a residual pre and then come back in with a follow up application of some kind of overlapping residual.”

You can listen to my interview with Rusty here: Interview with Rusty Mitchell

2014 Mid-South Farm & Gin Show Photo Album

BIVI Launches Two PED Initiatives

Posted on March 4, 2014 by Joanna

In an effort to help swine veterinarians and producers find effective measures for managing porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED), Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. (BIVI) launched two PED-focused initiatives during their Swine Health Seminar in Dallas, Texas on February 28, 2014 which coincided with the American Association of Swine Veterinarians Annual Meeting.

The first initiative, according to Greg Cline, DVM, technical manager of swine enteric disease at BIVI, is a PED applied research commitment of up to $50,000 in research funds supporting the development of knowledge and tools targeting the practical management of PED.

“We will be focused on helping the industry to find answers to some of the most critical questions regarding PED,” noted Cline in an interview. “From our long research history with PRRS, Lawsonia intracellularis, PCV2 and other diseases, we continue our commitment to finding solutions through applicable research targeted toward the tough problems that plague the swine industry.”

The second initiative is the “PED News” service that BIVI is sponsoring in partnership with the University of Californi, Davis’ Center of Animal Disease Modeling and Surveillance (CADMS) department. Cline said the program is similar to CADMS’ “FMD News” service where subscribers can receive news clips daily or weekly from around the world that highlights all the news and research related to PED.

“We saw a need for this type of information-sharing service to help the North American swine industry stay as current as possible with the all the PED-related information,” said Cline who noted that the disease was first identified in the U.S. in April of 2013 and to date, there is no vaccine or antibiotic available to fight the disease. He said that these two initiatives were designed to help discover, coordinate and share information related to PED that may be useful in helping vets and producers better prevent, manage and control this disease.

“Because this highly contagious disease is relatively new to the U.S. and its impact on producers can be so devastating, it’s critical that everyone work together to find effective solutions and share information,” Cline said. “These two initiatives should help us to better understand this highly contagious disease and how to more effectively manage PED.”

Click here to sign up for the PED News.

Listen my my interview with Greg Cline here: BIVI Launches Two PED Initiatives

Check out the BIVI guest adventures in the BIVI Big D Swine Health Seminar photo album.

Bayer Panel Addresses Water Security

Posted on March 4, 2014 by Cindy

What the world needs most is water – but beer is pretty important too! So water security was one of the issues addressed during a panel at the Bayer CropScience Ag Issues forum last week in San Antonio, and beer was a big part of the discussion.

The panelists included (left to right) Dr. Marco Ugarte with MillerCoors, Gary Beck of Hillside Ranch and Mitchell Baalman of FDK Partnership. They explained that 90 percent of the water needed to make beer is used in crop irrigation and how MillerCoors, The Nature Conservancy and barley farm Hillside Ranch have collaborated to reduce the amount of water used for barley production, resulting in cost savings to the farm and an increase in yield.

Dr. Ugarte and his fellow panelists talked about the need to work with farmers to implement new technology, yield data, planting data and spraying maps to reduce water use. Baalman shared his story of collaborative and voluntary efforts among farmers in his hometown of Hoxie, Kansas. Situated above the High Plains aquifer, which is being depleted six times faster than it is being replenished, the Hoxie-area farmers committed to taking 20 percent less water out of the ground over a five-year period that began last year.

Listen to the panel here: Bayer Ag Issues Water Security Panel

Chuck also interviewed Dr. Ugarte: Interview with Dr. Marco Ugarte, MillerCoors

2014 Bayer CropScience Ag Issues Forum Photos

Ag Leader AgFiniti Now Available

Posted on March 3, 2014 by Cindy

Ag Leader Technology’s new cloud-based platform AgFiniti® was a hit at last week’s Commodity Classic where growers were happy to learn that it is now available for them.

“AgFiniti is an affordable and reliable solution for wireless connectivity in the field because it allows users the flexibility to choose the best wireless service carrier in their local area and hotspot device,” said Luke James, Software Sales Manager. He adds that what really makes AgFiniti stand out from other solutions on the market is data privacy. “We know growers value their privacy and that’s why with AgFiniti the data is 100% theirs,” he said. “We’re independent, just like the grower’s independent. We value that.”

Learn more in this interview with Luke from Commodity Classic: Interview with Luke James, Ag Leader

2014 Commodity Classic Photos

FMC Shares Cotton Products to Growers

Posted on March 3, 2014 by Chuck

While in the FMC exhibit at the recent Mid-South Farm & Gin Show, Chuck spoke with Don Johnson and Rusty Mitchell about some new products cotton growers can take advantage of.

Rusty shared how proud they are of their newest cotton harvest aid for cotton growers.

“We have Display, our cotton defoliation product, that we launched year. We had very good success with it.” “Very low-rate. Less warehouse space for our customers to stock product compared to competitive products out there in the marketplace.”

FMC is also offering an online web series call The Minute and hosted by Jake Turner. The series will cover growing topics, crops and other agricultural issues. They are also incorporating a Watch and Win Sweepstakes. Account holders who view the online episodes will automatically be entered to win the grand prize – a dream vacation of their choice from one of six destinations. Five first-place winners will receive $500 airfare vouchers and 20 additional winners will receive digital cameras. The sweepstakes entry period ends May 30, 2014. Winners are selected at random and will be notified in June. Sweepstakes rules and regulations are posted online at www.news.FMCMinute.com.

“It gives producers the opportunity to learn about the products we have available now. Help them with their production practices and at the same time a great opportunity to register and win some great prizes.”

Don added the importance of FMC’s presence at the event and how much they enjoy getting the chance to meet and greet their customers.

“This show gives us the opportunity for the growers, dealers, customers and distributors to come in and see what’s new and what our company brings to the market. We always say that a bad show is when the weather is great and they are out there in the field. We always hope for a little rain so it drives them to the show and we can stand here all day and visit with our customers when they come through.”

You can listen to my interview with Rusty & Don here: Interview with Rusty Mitchell & Don Johnson

2014 Mid-South Farm & Gin Show Photo Album

BASF Agronomist and Central Illinois Farming

Posted on March 3, 2014 by Leah Guffey

Ahead of Commodity Classic in San Antonio last week, BASF Crop Protection held the eighth in its Science Behind media event series with the theme of The Advanced Acre.

Jeremy Hogan, Innovation Specialist and Agronomist with BASF in Central Illinois, works with farmers to deliver agronomic and product solutions to their operations. Jeremy and I discussed last year’s crazy growing season weather that ended up producing a record crop. BASF is already helping growers prepare for a successful 2014 growing season by planning for all the possible scenarios that could cause problems, such as glyphosate-resistant weeds. Listen to my interview with Jeremy here: Interview with Jeremy Hogan, BASF

T.J. Shambaugh is a 7th generation central Illinois farmer. After graduating from Purdue he came back to the family farm. He works closely with Jeremy and BASF to make his family farming operation be the most profitable for them. TJ and his father have a unique approach to their operation, with TJ handling the front end from seed selection, planting and and how they will plant each seed. His dad works the back end of the operation, from running the combine at harvest to marketing the sale of the finished product. Listen to my interview with TJ here: Interview with TJ Shambaugh, Central IL Farmer

BASF at the 2014 Commodity Classic Photos