“I’ve had great success with Plenish high oleic soybeans,” said John Motter, director, United Soybean Board and chair of the Ohio Soybean Council. “During this year’s harvest my Plenish soybeans yielded higher than my overall farm average at 55 bushels an acre, and agronomic performance was outstanding.”

Pioneer launched the high oleic soybean trait in its industry-leading lineup of Pioneer® brand Y Series soybean varieties, with key defensive and agronomic traits such as soybean cyst nematode resistance, phytophthora and sudden death syndrome tolerance, and excellent field emergence and harvest standability.

Pioneer will continue to work closely with growers who are trained in growing specialty crops under identity preserved conditions in targeted geographies based on processor collaboration to produce Plenish high oleic soybeans for continued product testing. Pioneer currently is collaborating with ADM in central Indiana, Bunge in northwest Ohio and Zeeland Farm Services in Michigan on contract production programs to produce Plenish high oleic soybeans in 2012.

Pioneer Hi-Bred used to bring along more than 50 different product brochures to trade shows. Now they bring an iPad with a company-branded app. Pioneer, along with GROWMARK, worked with Float Mobile on these projects. Here’s what they did with GROWMARK.

At the 2011 Farm Progress Show, GROWMARK used an interactive “Yield Maximizer” game to draw attendees to their booth and keep them there longer. It’s part of a larger trend that’s going on in agribusiness – using innovative mobile technology to showcase products and services in unique ways.

“The FS/GROWMARK System upped its technology ante at the 2011 Farm Progress Show. Our goal at the show is always to engage and share valuable information with the farmers and other interested parties who attend. Making use of iPad-powered games that attracted attention, entertained show-goers, and conveyed information about our strong and diverse product lines was very effective,” said Ann Kafer, GROWMARK’s director of communications and marketing services. “We also debuted cropNAtion.com at the show and signed up those wanting to participate in the new social media platform for information about crop production across the country — farmer to farmer.”

The southwest Missouri soybean rock star took first place in the irrigated category for this year’s Missouri Soybean Association yield contest, while Steve Riegel of Washington won the conventional category with a yield of 86.3 bushels per acre. Both used Pioneer® brand Y Series soybean varieties, as did Steve Turner of Hopkins who was the runner up in the conventional category with a yield of 83.3 bushels per acre.

Kip set the world soybean yield record in 2006 with 139 bushels per acre, then beat that the following year with a yield of 154.57 bushels per acre. When another grower achieved a yield of more than 100 bushels per acre in 2008, the 100 Bushel Club was formed and Kip was inducted. Last year he broke his record again with 160.6 bushels per acre. So, while Kip is likely pretty disappointed with his 2011 beans, it’s still a winning yield and pretty stunning considering the weather conditions this year. Congrats, champ!

I visited with her about the Master Class program. She says that Pioneer is proud to sponsor the program because they fully understand the importance of agricultural journalists especially in countries where there may not be freedom of the press. Like me, Lonetta saw strong enthusiasm, energy and appreciation from the class participants. She hopes to have continued interaction with them after the Congress. Lonetta gave them some real world experience during the program by conducting a “press conference.” She says that feedback from this year’s participants will be used to plan for the next program.

You can listen to Lonetta here: Interview with Lonetta Ragland

2011 IFAJ Congress Photo Album

“The focus is really local,” says Curt Clausen, Pioneer agronomy sciences director. “It’s really about local crop management, innovation and knowledge.”

Pioneer is doubling the number of ATMs currently in the field to over 40 in the next three years. “This is the next level of service to our customers,” Curt said during the Pioneer press conference at FPS.

Listen to Curt’s press comments, introduced by Pioneer’s Jerry Harrington, here. Curt Clausen of Pioneer

One of the real live Pioneer ATMs out in the field is Jake Vossenkemper from the Decatur area, who says growers have hundreds of agronomy questions that they want answered. “They want to do the best job they can just like everyone else and our job is to step in and help them answer those questions,” Jake says.

Jake says Pioneer has been performing some specific experiments in certain regions, like an intensive soybean management experiment to look at factors that have been shown to consistently increase soybean yields. “Some of those factors include seed treatments, foliar applied pesticides and fungicides, as well as planting date,” he said.

Listen to Jake’s comments here. Pioneer ATM Jake Vossenkemper

2011 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

I talked with Emily Gray with the University of Tennessee College of Ag Sciences and Natural Resources who has attended every one of the nine roundtables. “This is a very valuable event,” she told me. “It gives us as career service professionals from the universities a great opportunity to network with companies who hire our students. We’re always impressed year after year with the variety of companies who attend, the interest they have in our students and the number of companies we’re able to network with.”

Listen to my interview with Emily here: Emily Gray, University of Tennessee

There were 90 companies in attendance at the event this year, the most ever by far according to AgCareers.com, with a wide variety ranging from precision agriculture, to seed companies, biotechnology, and even artificial insemination.

Pioneer is one company that has supported the Roundtable from the beginning, hosting three of the nine events at company headquarters in Iowa, including the very first one. I didn’t get a chance to interview them – but here is a photo of a few of their representatives – Alan Roberts, Tom Drake who conducted one of the breakout sessions, and Human Resources Manager Cindy Heser.

Finally, I interviewed the sole international participant at the Roundtable, Mick Hay of the Australia-based Rimfire Resources – but I somehow didn’t get a photo of him. No matter, you’ll enjoy his Aussie accent in the interview!

Mick says Rimfire is a recruitment and consulting business specializing in agribusiness – kind of like a down under AgCareers. “Not as much an on-line model as AgCareers, but we’ve got a relationship where we took the AgCareers site and launched that in Australia,” Mick says. He was glad to be able to attend the Roundtable and get some new ideas to implement back home.

Listen to my interview with Mick here: Mick Hay, Rimfire Resources

2011 AgCareers Ag HR Roundtable photo album.

The dream day race package includes access to the DuPont-Pioneer hospitality tent, a pit tour, and a visit with racing legend Jeff Gordon. To enter, just visit www.ncga.com/racing and sign up for NASCAR-NCGA’s Fuel for Members Program before 12 pm central time this Friday, Aug. 5. The winner will be randomly selected from those NCGA members who have signed up for the Fuel for Members program.

Fuel for Members is one of the benefits of belonging to NCGA and state corn grower associations, providing exclusive access to discounted NASCAR tickets and merchandise and insider access to America’s most popular sport. Plus, members receive discounts on goods and services from a wide range of NASCAR partners including: UPS, DirecTV, Office Depot and MGM Resorts.

NCGA is part of the American Ethanol partnership with NASCAR, which began racing on 15% ethanol this season.

Don’t delay – sign up today!

I asked him to comment on the relationship with Pioneer and the Iowa Corn Growers. He said, “The fact that we’ve got a great title sponsor here with Iowa Corn Growers and that we run ethanol . . . this is the type of sponsor that we love to be working with because ethanol is a very important part of our business and next year we’re going to E85 to show pump relevancy.”

You can listen to my interview with Randy here: Randy Bernard Interview

2011 Iowa Corn Indy 250 Photo Album

Todd says the relationship with the Iowa Corn Growers in sponsoring the Iowa Corn Indy 250 has been very beneficial. As he puts it, “It’s a great event for the state of Iowa. It’s great for agriculture.” All of the cars racing this evening will be running on 100% corn ethanol showing how well the fuel performs in an engine. Pioneer brings in a lot of their customers for the event. In fact, I’ve heard that there will be approximately 2,500 farmers at the race track today. I’ll be out on location this afternoon in advance of tonight’s race. Let’s hope the weather improves. Todd Frazier Interview

2011 Iowa Corn Indy 250 Photo Album

You can listen to my interview with Todd here: Interview with Todd Frazier

Through this partnership, Pioneer will fund subscriptions to the NBC Learn Science Collections for 40 schools in Iowa and Illinois for the 2011-2012 school year. The partnership was announced at Commodity Classic in Tampa, Fla.

“NBC Learn is proud to partner with Pioneer and DuPont to make compelling real-life stories of agricultural science available to students and teachers. Through this effort, NBC Learn hopes to inspire a new generation of students devoted to innovation in agriscience,” said Soraya Gage, executive producer – NBC Learn.

I joined the press conference late but you can listen in here (includes Q&A): Pioneer Press Conference

2011 Commodity Classic Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2011 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: and

Angela says that MyAmericanFarm.org is a free online resource that now has 12 games covering different topics on agriculture. They all meet core content standards for elementary teachers grades 3-5. Of course the games are fun for students of all ages. Besides adding games there is also updated ag information content. The resource is available to any school anywhere.

You can listen to my interview with Angela here: Angela Mayfield Interview

2011 AFBF Annual Meeting Photo Album

These hybrids, introduced for planting in 2011, contain a collection of native corn traits that improve water access and utilization and deliver greater yields in water-limited conditions. The initial class of Optimum AQUAmax innovations will include five hybrid platforms across a range of maturities and technology packages. While the 2011 launch size is limited and primarily targeted in the western Corn Belt, the technology advancement is an important milestone toward the longer-term objective of bringing breeding and biotechnology solutions to drought-prone environments.

Full Release here.

You can listen in on the press conference here: Pioneer AQUAmax Press Conference

In addition to covering the mechanics of utilizing social media, webinar curriculum will include strategies for goal-based outreach, developing content for conversations and becoming an online ambassador of the corn industry. The goal of the program is to grow the enthusiasm and activity of corn farmers who will use social networking as a useful tool to connect and educate policy makers, regulators and the general public.

Can’t show you a photo of the cookies because daughter Chelsea and I gobbled them up. We didn’t even save any for Chuck, they were just so AMAZING! Chocolate chip and cranberry and I presume made with Plenish(TM) high oleic soybean oil. They tasted like they were just baked! Thanks to the Plenish team at Pioneer Hi-Bred for the treat.

We’ve been hearing about Plenish for some time now and have even had a taste of the soybean oil used in cooking and in salad dressings at events like Commodity Classic. Pioneer VP for Crop Genetics R&D John Soper talked about the Plenish soybean trait during an interview at NAFB Trade Talk last month and said it is coming for growers in 2012. “It’s a great new product, the first really biotech trait for end use,” he told me. “It provides an oil much more like olive oil, very stable, very heart-healthy, doesn’t require hydrogenation so no trans fatty acid issues. Really a wonderful product for end users and the food industry.”

John also talked about some other new products in the pipeline, like improved drought-tolerant corn. Listen to my interview with John here: Pioneer's John Soper

Plenish was also one of the topics addressed by Pioneer senior marketing manager for soybeans Don Schafer during Trade Talk. He explained that they still need to get regulatory approval for the new soybean trait before it can go on the market. “That is one of the things we have to do in the industry is make sure that we have this product completely registered worldwide so that the grower doesn’t have any concern about being able to utilize the crop in the marketplace,” Don said.

Don also discussed the 29 new Y-series soybeans from Pioneer coming out in 2011, which will bring the total for the Y-series up to about 80. Listen to Don’s interview here: Pioneer's Don Schafer

Drew says the biggest news is Optimum AcreMax 1, “the industry’s first
in-the-bag solution for corn rootworm refuge.” He says it helps place the right product on the right acre. In the future they will “continue to focus on additional reduced refuge technologies to bring even that next level of simplicity to the Optimum AcreMax platform.” They’re also very excited to be showcasing the Y Series soybean lineup using accelerated yield technology.

You can listen to my interview with Drew here: Drew Porter Interview

There are currently more soybean acres cultivated in North America than any other oilseed crop, making Plenish™ high oleic soybean oil a cost-effective and sustainable trans fat solution.

I learned more about it from Russ Sanders, Marketing Director. He says Plenish represents a significant re-making of soybean oil. They’re making it “like olive oil” from the standpoint of taste and health benefits. It will begin appearing in fast food and snack food products in coming years. It will allow labels to carry the no trans fats label. For farmers, Plenish, will come in Pioneer Y Series genetics.

You can listen to my interview with Russ here: Interview With Russ Sanders

Farm Progress Photo Album

To find out just what Pioneer is using it for I spoke with Scott Nelson, Agronomy Research Manager. He says it was developed to screen all their hybrids for tolerance to brittle snap, early root lodging and late stand ability. Every hybrid gets screened by the machine. The machine has 85 hp. fans that can drive a wind up to 100 mph. Scott says waiting for natural winds was too unreliable so this machine has increased their ability to test more frequently. There are four of these machines in use. He says this program has improved their product stand ability tremendously.

You can listen to my interview with Scott here: Interview With Scott Nelson

Farm Progress Photo Album

The IMPACT program also marks a unique cooperative effort between Pioneer’s research efforts and its sales organization, linking product development and advancement with the company’s “Right Product, Right Acre” strategy to help producers get the best results from each acre.

Full Release

You can listen to my interview with Brent Wilson here: Interview With Brent Wilson

Farm Progress Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2010 Farm Progress Show
is sponsored by: and

The Bunge M.O.E. is competing in the Great Food Truck Race on the Food Network. Please go vote for them now online: Vote For Bunge M.O.E. or text FT98 to 66789.

Farm Progress Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2010 Farm Progress Show
is sponsored by: and

I spoke with him after our photo opp. He lives in Boone County right near the show. He says agriculture is one of the bright spots in the economy. Without the permanent location of the show he says conditions would have been very different today. However, even with all the rain he’s expecting a great show day. He remembers the wet weather during his term as Governor in 1993 but this year may go down as wetter than that.

You can listen to my interview with former Governor, running for Governor, Terry Branstad here: Interview With Terry Branstad

Farm Progress Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2010 Farm Progress Show
is sponsored by: and

I spoke with two of the farmers in attendance. One was Paul Tracy from Denver, MO. Paul was there to see and learn more about new Pioneer corn and soybean varieties. He likes to try them on his farm to see if they hold up to his farming practices. His corn was planted early as well as his soybeans and he says it’s all looking good right now except some spots that had too much water. You can listen to my interview with Paul here: Paul Tracy Interview

I also spoke with Curtis Swearingin, Carrollton, MO. He wanted to learn more about new technologies and chemical programs due to weed pressure. He says his corn is not doing good do to a cold and wet May. He has started shelling corn and moisture is drier than he expected. You can listen to my interview with Curtis here: Curtis Swearingin Interview

2010 Pioneer Hi-Bred Crop Technology Field Day Photo Album

2010 Pioneer Hi-Bred Crop Technology Field Day Photo Album

He asked farmers what they thought would cause this type of problem and had one farmer suggest the correct one, at least according to his findings. It happened to be surfactant application. Listen to Scott explain this during his presentation here: Scott Dickey Presentation

2010 Pioneer Hi-Bred Crop Technology Field Day Photo Album

Bill had some great charts at his field classroom stop to show current refuge planting strategies compared to using the new Optimum AcreMax 1 insect protection which received EPA approval earlier this year. It is an in-the-bag solution that reduces the traditional 20 percent corn rootworm refuge in half. It’s makes it easier and increases flexibility for the planting of corn borer refuge.

You can listen to my interview with Bill here: Bill Belzer Interview

2010 Pioneer Hi-Bred Crop Technology Field Day Photo Album

I recorded their presentation to a group of ag media representatives which also included some farmers who wandered in. The pair gave an overview of Pioneer’s strategy and what it means to farmers. Alejandro says you can summarize it all up in “Right Product, Right Acre.” This means they want to bring the company to the farm along with all their services and resources so the best products are used since no two farms are identical.

You can listen to their presentation here or watch it below: Pioneer Senior Leadership Presentation

2010 Pioneer Hi-Bred Crop Technology Field Day Photo Album

Let’s start with a link to the photo album from the event: 2010 Pioneer Hi-Bred Crop Technology Field Day Photo Album

The innovation breadth and depth of Pioneer research and development will strengthen the already robust businesses and customer relationships of AgVenture, Hoegemeyer Hybrids and NuTech Seed. The companies have exciting growth opportunities reachable by expanding product choices for growers in geographies where they operate.

The PROaccess strategy continues to be part of the ongoing commitment to expand the availability of Pioneer’s unique, elite seed genetics using Pioneer-owned brands distributed through alternative routes to market. Ultimately, this will result in growers having more choices for high-performing products to increase their yields and income.

The three seed companies will continue to sell products under the Pioneer-owned trademarks following closing:
- AgVenture – VPMaxx® brand corn hybrids and soybean varieties.
- Hoegemeyer Hybrids – HPT® brand corn hybrids and soybean varieties.
- NuTech Seed – G2® brand corn hybrids and soybean varieties.

“Missouri’s economic recovery continues to strengthen; and to maintain that momentum, it is vitally important that high-tech, 21st-century companies such as Pioneer Hi-Bred invest in Missouri and create new jobs for our work force,” said Nixon. “Pioneer’s investment in New Madrid County through its new soybean production facility further demonstrates how the strategic use of state tax incentive programs can serve as a powerful tool to help draw quality companies to Missouri, creating solid, high-paying jobs, and moving our economy forward.”

As the first Pioneer seed production facility in Missouri, the new plant will primarily serve soybean growers in more southern geographies in the United States. Pioneer also has a research facility in Miami, Mo., selling corn, soybean, sorghum and wheat seed in the state.

Pictured from left to right are: New Madrid commissioner Clyde Hawes, Pioneer President Paul E. Schickler, Governor Nixon, Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, and Alejandro Munoz, Pioneer vice president and regional director, North America. See more photos here.

Read more from Pioneer here.

To help deter corn pests from developing resistance to biotech traits, the U.S. EPA requires growers to plant some corn without a specific insect protection trait to serve as a “refuge.” The process of planning and planting a traditional separate insect refuge is time consuming, and refuge corn is at risk for damage and yield loss. Optimum® AcreMax™ 1 insect protection reduces the traditional 20 percent corn rootworm refuge by half and puts it in the seed bag, eliminating the need for separate rootworm refuge while increasing the ease and flexibility of planting the corn borer refuge.

Agwired’s Joanna Schroeder interviewed Pioneer’s Bill Belzer about the product last year as they were awaiting approval. “What this technology does is allow growers to be able to plant more in-plant traits in more acres leading to higher yields,” he says, which is a win-win situation.

Find out more here.

When we started it in July of 2006, it was the very first dairy nutrition podcast for livestock producers. We’ve done over 70 podcasts since that time. Each one features news and information important to dairy professionals working for successful animal nutrition. Among the topics highlighted this year are alfalfa variety development, feed safety of Bt corn, mold management, choosing an inoculant and more. The most recent podcast features David Miller, Pioneer director of alfalfa research, discussing how alfalfa is different than other major crops growers plant. Listen to or download that one in the player below.

“This season is probably one of the most intriguing since the podcast origination,” says Robin Newell, Pioneer senior marketing manager. “Management is key in the dairy industry, specifically during tough economic times, and this audio segment will touch on tough management decisions.”

The podcasts are approximately five minutes long and are updated about twice a month. The audio files can be accessed at www.pioneer.com/forages and at www.worlddairydiary.com are all previous segments are archived, covering subjects that pertain to silage harvesting and processing, crop value, as well as analysis and planning.

These interview-style reports are a great source of information for reporters who cover the livestock and dairy industry, so please feel free to take a listen or download to use in programming or stories – free of charge, of course! You can also subscribe to Forage Forum here. Our friend Jerry Harrington at Pioneer says there are also transcripts available if you are interested.