Next week I’ll be covering the International Conference on Enhanced-Efficiency Fertilizers courtesy of AGROTAIN. The event is produced by IFA-New Ag International. We’ll be kicking things off on Tuesday morning. While at Commodity Classic I spoke with Andrew Semple, VP, International Sales for AGROTAIN. He says this category of fertilizers was created only recently. It was meant to encompass types …
John Deere Security Tight For Foose 4020
There’s a new sheriff in town. Sheriff Barry Nelson, John Deere. He wants you to love his Chip Foose 4020 and that’s an order son. It’s a 1970 John Deere 4020. The tractor will be given away to one winner as part of the John Deere Big Buck Promotion. You may find rules to enter on the John Deere website. …
Sorghum Growers See Good Growth Potential
Commodity Classic is a gathering of farmers who grow many crops, including sorghum. I wanted to learn more about the organization that assists sorghum growers, the National Sorghum Producers, so I spent a little time with their Chairman, Gerald Simonsen. Simonsen began by telling me about a great victory that had recently for sorghum growers. The organization has some issues …
Taking the SOY Challenge
Each year, soybean growers around the country take the American Soybean Association (ASA) and BASF up on their challenge to reduce weed competition, increase plant health and protect yields – but only three are chosen. We already met first place winners David and Sue Roehm in an earlier post. Today we meet Dave and Mary Jonas of Pinnconning, Michigan, one …
Growers Give Stoller a “Green” Thumb of Approval
There was a lot to see and hear about at Commodity Classic but maybe the best testimonials for a product are the growers themselves. I spent a little time with two growers who gave several Stoller USA products their stamp of approval. Why? Because they have seen significant increase to their yields. Ken Miller, both a grower and ag retailer …
Headline News from Commodity Classic
BASF Headline fungicide continues to make headlines, even after years on the market. The more research they do with growers using this product, the better it gets. During a press conference at Commodity Classic, BASF Regional Sales Manager Gary Schmitz and Technical market Manager Nick Fassley talked about the more than 6,000 on-farm trials that have been held just in …
State Soybean Checkoffs Team Up for Research
Taking a team approach to problem solving often saves both time and money and that has been the goal of the North Central Soybean Research Program (NCSRP) in using soybean checkoff dollars more efficiently for the benefit of growers. During the Commodity Classic I talked with NCSRP executive director David Wright, seen here with South Dakota farm broadcaster Michelle Rook, …
World Soy Foundation Helping the Malnourished Through Soy Protein
The world’s population is growing and simultaneously, malnutrition is growing. The World Soy Foundation (WSF) is a nonprofit organization that is helping to eradicate malnutrition around the world through soy protein. I had the chance to spend a few minutes with Nathan Ruby, Executive Director of the World Soy Foundation to learn more about what they do. Ruby explained that …
Case IH CVT Hits the Sweet Spot
CVT stands for Continuously Variable Transmission and Case IH was spotlighting its benefits over power shift during Commodity Classic, both at their exhibit and during a WIN session. “The advantage of having a completely variable transmission is that you can allow the computer to operate both the engine and the transmission to dial in the ‘sweet spot’ for power and …
ASA Vice President Works for Agriculture
His wife calls him a “PMG” – Professional Meeting Goer – because Alan Kemper has been serving on the boards of state and national agricultural organizations for over two decades now. As First Vice President for the American Soybean Association, Alan will soon be the first person to have served as president for both ASA and the National Corn Growers …