Just thought I would post a reminder that the deadline for all comments on Roundup Ready® Alfalfa are to be received by USDA on February 16, 2010. If you have not given your comments about this product, now would be a great time to do it. There are only 8 days left to discuss this American farm technology. Please, take the time to comment and encourage your colleagues to do the same.
You can find additional information on how to participate here, or you can go directly to the USDA’s comment website to leave your thoughts. Remember, the world is run by those who show up, so speak out to leave your voice in this discussion.
As of February 3, 2010 over 1400 comments have been received and processed by the USDA, 700 of which are generally positive. A breakout of all comments by state follows.
Did you know? According to a Roundup Ready Alfalfa fact sheet, “Growers report producing up to .9 more tons of alfalfa forage per acre due to more effective weed control with greater crop safety. The result: an additional $85 per acre of profit potential and an increased food supply for all. Studies have shown that due to fewer weeds, relative feed values can be improved 20% or more with Roundup Ready alfalfa. Dairy farmers appreciate the consistency of the hay delivered by the Roundup Ready alfalfa system, and trials show estimated increases in milk production per acre of 14% more than dairy cows fed alfalfa treated with conventional weed control systems. Because a healthy stand of Roundup Ready alfalfa is highly competitive with weeds, growers do not need to treat with herbicides as often.”
Apple just announced its newest creation – the iPad. There is an agricultural slant to this story. What is it? The continuing development of information technology that’s changing the way we market and engage our audience.
I can see me using one of these to participate in AgChat for example. Or do just about anything else I want to do on the web. Will it replace my Mac? No. Do I want one? Yes. I’m on the notification list for when they become available
A large, high-resolution LED-backlit, IPS display. An incredibly responsive Multi-Touch screen. And an amazingly powerful, Apple-designed chip. All in a design that’s thin and light enough to take anywhere. iPad isn’t just the best device of its kind. It’s a whole new kind of device.
The high-resolution, 9.7 inch LED-backlit, IPS display on iPad is remarkably crisp and vivid. Which makes it perfect for web browsing, watching movies, or showing off photos. It’s also been designed to work in any orientation — portrait or landscape. And because it uses a display technology called IPS (in-plane switching), it has a wide, 178° viewing angle. So you can hold it almost any way you want, and still get a brilliant picture, with excellent color and contrast.
AgWired sponsor, Fluidigm Corporation has just announced a multi-year agreement with a new client, Bayer CropScience. Here’s some details.
Fluidigm Corporation today announced it has entered into a multi-year agreement with Bayer CropScience to supply integrated fluidic circuits (IFCs) and instrumentation to Bayer CropScience’s global operations. Bayer CropScience will be using Fluidigm technology to conduct marker-assisted breeding, genetic analysis in its molecular breeding program and quality control on its vegetable seeds.
“Fluidigm is delighted to be a global supplier to Bayer CropScience. Our technology is perfectly suited to help them develop and take-to-market the highest-quality seeds for field and vegetable crops,” said Gajus Worthington, president and chief executive officer of Fluidigm. “We are committed to helping Bayer CropScience meet the ever-increasing demands for high-quality food supplies throughout the world.”
While many seed producers are using molecular breeding techniques, the capacity of the available test systems has been limited. Fluidigm’s technology increases output more than ten-fold and reduces the cost-per-data point to a mere fraction obtainable with standard 384 well plates for “high-throughput” genotyping. “Until recently, breeders throughout the world could only dream of such a technique, yet now Fluidigm is making this a reality,” Worthington explained. (more…)
How many times have you gone to a conference and found yourself constantly having to pick up a new program because you lost the one you had?
Well, the International Poultry Expo has made things easy this year with an iPhone app. The IPE app is free and gives attendees access to all events and exhibitor information right on their iPhones. The app is available from Apple’s app store by searching for “IPE”. It’s a great way of using the latest technology in a very practical way and giving attendees a paper-free way to always know how to find exhibitors or where the next event is being held. Pretty cool! I expect we will be seeing that a lot more at conventions.
One of the exhibits I visited at AG CONNECT Expo is our primary Precision Pays.com sponsor, Ag Leader Technology. Mike Olson, Sales and Support Manager, was on the floor interacting with attendees when I stopped by.
The Ag Leader booth was one of the ones displaying the “New Product” banner. I asked Mike what was new. He says there have been several new products released recently by the company including their new INTEGRA display. The 12.1 inch screen combines the operation control options Ag Leader is known for, with a built-in full-featured steering and guidance system including an on-screen lightbar.
Mike says most of the growers he spoke with know they need to implement precision technology but are asking questions about how they can use it in their operation.
You can watch or listen to my interview with Mike below:
Precision agriculture technology is on display all over the AG CONNECT Expo show floor. I don’t think I’ve seen quite so many exhibits outside of a show dedicated to this growing technology application. Raven Industries is one of the companies exhibiting something new here at the show.
I spoke with Marketing Manager, Ryan Molitor, this afternoon about Slingshot. He says Slingshot represents a breakthrough in connectivity, online services and hardware. It can deliver advanced RTK correction signal technology and high speed internet using wireless in the cab.
One of the co-located events taking place with AG CONNECT EXPO is Agrievolution. Opening up the program this morning is Doug DeVries, Senior Vice President, Global Marketing Services – Agriculture and Turf Division, John Deere. I spoke with him just prior to the start of the program. Doug is pictured on the right with Rusty Fowler, Krone NA and Martin Richenhagen, AGCO.
Doug says that over the years ag equipment companies have seen an opportunity to work more closely together so two years ago there was a first meeting of a broad range of equipment manufacturing groups from around the world who met in Rome to seek ways to work together for the benefit of the industry. He says it’s no coincidence that this second meeting in taking place in conjunction with AG CONNECT Expo. The show is a global showcase for agricultural technology and it made sense to co-locate Agrievolution. Participants are here from all over the world representing a high percentage of the industry. They’ll talk about the state of the industry today and then tomorrow meet in groups to determine areas of opportunity to come together as a broader set of organizations. And that leads them right into AG CONNECT Expo.
It looks like AgWired sponsor, Fluidigm Corporation, is making some new inroads into the agricultural sector with their announcement that “USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) has purchased a Fluidigm microfluidic-based EP1™ System to help develop and validate focused 96- and 384-SNP (single-nucleotide polymorphism) panels for testing America’s dairy and beef cattle. To ensure healthy cows and top quality product.”
ARS scientists are collaborating with leading members of the U.S. biotechnology industry to develop low-cost, high-throughput SNP panels that can genetically indicate cattle growth rates, disease resistance, milk productivity, health and longevity. To date ARS has studied over 100 of the more than 50,000 previously discovered genetic markers for cattle. The project’s goal is to turn out healthier cows that produce higher-quality milk and meat for consumers while also preserving the viability of the country’s thousands of cattle ranchers and dairy farmers. Validated SNP panels are expected to be utilized routinely in livestock breeding management. There are approximately nine million dairy cows and 35 million beef cattle in the United States (more…)
Gary Truitt with Hoosier Ag Today recently published an article titled, “New Fuel Saving Technology from Case,” that describes new says Case IH is improving their red tractors to save fuel and innovate the agriculture industry. Check it out!
Over the next few weeks, some of the biggest farm equipment trade shows will be taking place including the Ft. Wayne show next week and the National Farm Machinery show next month. The latest technology and tractor innovations will be on display. Not only are the size and the power of the new tractor lines impressive, but so is the sophistication of the technology used to operate the machines.
Tom Dean with Case IH says the new Red tractors will feature technology designed to save fuel, “Our diesel saver technology operates on the old adage ‘shift up and throttle back.’ It automatically does this continuously across a field taking every opportunity to lower engine RPMs.” “Case IH CVT technology automatically adjusts to deliver the best possible balance of power and fuel efficiency,” says John Bohnker, Case IH marketing manager for Magnum and Steiger® tractors. “It definitely hits the sweet spot between power, efficiency and simplicity.”
The 18th International Plant and Animal Genome Conference is about to take place January 9-13 at the Town & Country Convention Center in San Diego, California and AgWired sponsor Fluidigm will be there. In fact they will be conducting one of the workshops titled, “Enabling High Sample Throughput SNP Genotyping for Plant and Animal Studies.”
It will be held on Tuesday, January 12, from 1:30 – 3:50 PM in the Town & Country Royal Palm Salon 1, 2, 3 rooms. Speakers include Curt Van Tassell, USDA-ARS, Bovine Testing; Jim Seeb, University of Washington, Salmon Conservation and Nanne Faber, Enza Zaden, Seed Quality Control.
You can find Fluidigm in booth 126, featuring the Fluidigm EP1™ system for high throughput SNP genotyping and digital PCR. If you’ve been following our interviews with Fluidigm, you’ll know what all this means by now! You can find stories about how Fluidigm is assisting in ag biotech by clicking here and here.
I spoke with Fluidigm’s Product Manager, Yong Yi, about the PAG Conference and the company’s involvement with it since its inception. He says the PAG is an opportunity for people doing plant and animal research to get together and share information. Genetic research is one of the top areas of focus and that’s where the Fluidigm System really has an application. Yong says their exhibit will help demonstrate their technology and their workshop will feature three of their customers who will discuss real world examples of how they use it.
Although many old school environmentalists are now embracing genetically engineered crops, GMO’s continue to be a hot topic and one that impacts agribusiness, especially in the area of international trade. In this installment of our interviews with Fluidigm Corporation you’ll hear how their system can play a key role in assisting companies involved in biotechnology and therefore today’s farmers.
To learn about using the Fluidigm System for GMO detection I spoke with Ramesh Ramakrishna, Director of Molecular Biology. He makes a point that modifying plants and animals genetically is not something new. It has in fact been going on for centuries. However, today’s biotech processes speed things up significantly and it is very important to have measurement tools that provide quick, reliable results. That’s where tools like the Fluidigm System can have a very positive benefit since the system allows for faster measurements and at a significant reduction in cost.
You can watch or listen to my interview with Ramesh below:
Head into a grocery store these days and consumers are offered aisles upon aisles of food choices. It’s been said that annually, food producers raise enough food to feed 144 people. With this efficiency, consumers can enjoy their favorite foods in abundance. As a result of our food surplus, new food options have become available, and as a result, conventional agriculture is under attack in favor of natural, organic and locally grown options. While I think it’s great and noble that consumers are trying to do better for themselves and the environment, I believe sometimes these food claims can be misleading. Apparently, others agree with me, as well.
In a recent meeting, Jude Capper, Ph.D., assistant professor of dairy sciences at Washington State University, told his audience of animal nutrition specialists that, “as a food industry, we must use a whole-system approach and assess environmental impact per gallon of milk, pound of beef or dozen eggs, not per farm or per acre.” Read on to learn more about his views on 1940’s agriculture verses today’s advanced food production.
As consumers increasingly aim to make environmentally responsible food purchases, they need to base their decision on sound science. However, according to a presenter at the 71st Cornell Nutrition Conference held in Syracuse, N.Y., the ‘intuitively correct’ food choice is often the least environmentally friendly option.
“Consumer demand for milk, meat and eggs is going to increase as the population continues to grow,” Capper says. “Therefore, the vital role of improved productivity and efficiency in reducing environmental impact must be conveyed to government, food retailers and consumers.”
AGCO is one of the companies working on a prototype biomass harvest/transport system. At POET’s Project LIBERTY Field Day they demonstrated a pulled behind baler system to harvest corn cobs and stover.
Dean Morrell, Product Marketing Manager for Hay and Forage Harvesting, was on site and talked with me about their system. He says it’s a one pass system which utilizes combine technology and durable large square baler technology. He says the material doesn’t touch the ground and makes for a very clean bale product. They had to do some major customization on the equipment and they have two units out working in the field as part of the development process.
When it comes to research and development at Fluidigm Corporation, one of the key people involved is Andy May. In my interview with him he puts the high level technology Fluidigm develops into easy to understand terms. You’ll find out why this is necessary when we get into the whole DNA sequencing issue and how Fluidigm has pioneered some of the latest mechanisms to work with it. Forward a link to the interview to your favorite R&D’er!
Andy says there are two main products they’ve been developing. One of them is called Slingshot which he says is a very accurate method of measuring concentrations of DNA samples. The other product, which his group is focused on, is called AccessArray which streamlines the preparation of small regions of DNA for sequencing using the current generation of sequencing platforms. He says there has been a huge change in the technology used for DNA sequencing in recent years and people are looking for new ways and improved methods for introducing samples into those instruments. Like the whole Fluidigm System, these products help streamline the work flow and in fact are more production devices than just measurement devices.
The new Fluidigm products have been developed in conjunction with early access clients and several systems have been sold and are now available via general release.
You can watch or listen to my interview with Andy below:
Precision farming took a step forward this week as Ag Leader Technology of Ames, Iowa and AutoFarm of Fremont, California joined forces to provide auto steering and assisted steering solutions to the marketplace.
“We think the combination of the two companies’ products is going to provide some great efficiencies to the end user,” says Dave King, Ag Leader Marketing Communications Manager. “So, it’s a one stop shop for all their products and one stop for customer support as well.”
That’s just one of the announcements made this week by Ag Leader, in addition to a number of new products, which will all be showcased during a media event December 7-8 in Ames. “We’re going to have both Ag Leader and AutoFarm personnel on hand,” Dave said. “We’re going to cover all the new products and give editors a chance to see the products in action.”
Those who are lucky enough to be attending Agritechnica in Hanover, Germany next week will be getting the first chance to see and hear about the new products and the new alliance since Ag Leader will be there. “Ag Leader has distribution throughout the world, Europe being a primary export market for us,” said Dave. “Agritechnica is such a great show to introduce new products and a great opportunity to meet people in the European marketplace.”
The Fluidigm System starts with their Integrated Fluidic Circuits. The Product Manager who is intimately familiar with the IFC’s is Yong Yi. I spoke with him about this system and he helps explain what the IFC’s do and can do for a client company. In the picture he’s holding one of their chips containing an IFC.
It’s all about miniaturization and therefore efficiency which is particularly important in ag bio since you’re dealing with a tremendous number of samples and wide variety of species and applications. The company manufacturers the chips or IFC’s for their clients. The chips are built on semiconducter technology which uses silicon chips that allow them to be very precise. Yong says they work with a wide variety of clients including seed companies who want to use it for quality control to make sure their farmer customer is getting exactly what is ordered.
The IFC’s have become increasingly complex since they first started production and Yong says that will continue. So the chips will be able to handle increasingly complex functions as time goes on.
You can watch or listen to my interview with Yong below:
The President/CEO and co-Founder of Fluidigm (AgWired Sponsor) is Gajus Worthington. Let’s meet him and learn about the company and how its technology can benefit agribusiness.
I met with Gajus at the company headquarters in South San Francisco and asked him a number of questions to help us better understand their core technology. Before getting to the technology, he explains how he decided to start the company one day while walking down the street and “in an instant, like being hit by a bolt of lightning” he knew his future was defined and that “what I was supposed to do was build a company that could contribute in a variety of different ways to a variety of different industries.”
The core technology produced by Fluidigm is the production of integrated fluidic circuits (IFC’s). Gajus uses the analogy of electronics where large computers using vacuum tubes were made very small by the use of a chip. That made electronics much more high performance and affordable. That innovation has impacted ag through the use of GPS in precision applications for example. He says Fluidigm does a similar thing for biology. Biology research today uses machines much like those old vacuum tube computers except they use arrays of test tubes and hoses. Fluidigm takes all that “plumbing” and puts it on a chip. For example, a single chip (IFC) can have as much plumbing as in a 1,000 room hotel! This allows for very high throughput biological research much more cost effectively and easily. This has major implications for genetics, conservation, seed selection and quality control.
Because the technology is so small it allows this type of work to move to the field in places where it couldn’t be done before, like feedlots for example. One example is a Fluidigm client, the Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game, which uses their technology in the field to manage salmon fisheries. He says seeing the use of their technology in industries like agribusiness and the management of wildlife is extremely gratifying because it’s contributing to people’s livelihoods and helping the environment.
We’re going to learn more about Fluidigm systems and technology in upcoming stories that include interviews with key company representatives. Gajus provides a very good overview of what you can expect from Fluidigm now and in the future.
You can watch or listen to my interview with Gajus below:
I spent last night as the watchman, I mean watchwoman, over the county fair grounds during the Davison County 4-H Achievement Days being held this week in Mitchell, S.D. This job meant I had to keep the cattle, pigs, sheep and goats in their proper place, which is sometimes no easy task. Over the night, I tied up 15 calves, and I’m going to be sure to show a few unknowing 4-H members how to tie a rope halter today!
Anyway, in my overnight duties of watching over the 4-H livestock, I spent a lot of time doing several things: drinking coffee and catching up on blogging (two thumbs up for internet access in the barn!) It must have been the caffeine overdose, or the fact that it stormed, or that I was all alone in the dark, but I had a lot of time to reflect on life and write out some goals for the future.
Now, this may not be the direction you thought my ramblings were going to go, but I have some thoughts I wanted to run by you this morning. I need a website asap. Why? Because I want to promote my work as an agriculture speaker. I’m getting new jobs all the time, but I’m hoping to do more than word-of-mouth advertising. I would like a place to showcase my speech topics, workshops and writing highlights to help launch my speaking career.
So, this is where you come in. What makes a good website? What features keep visitors coming back for more? How extensive does a promotional website need to be? Should it tie in with my current blogging somehow? What should the website be called? How often does it need to be updated? Should it include a newsletter? It’s your turn to weigh in; I can’t wait to hear your thoughts! In the meantime, I’m off to catch a catnap between shows. I’ve still got another dose of night duty tomorrow, and I NEED to catch some shuteye!
Thanks to some much appreciated financial support from graduation monies, I have purchased some new gadgets to help me get my start. I bought a new MacBook and a Zoom H4 Recorder. Now the trick is getting accustomed to these new gadgets, and fast! A busy writer doesn’t have much time for reading instruction manuals, right?
And, now I have some questions. If you are a Mac user, what do you like best about them? What are your favorite tools on a Mac? Next, which editing software do you prefer for podcasts? Which ones are most user friendly?
Thanks for all of your support and advice! It means a lot to me!
I caught The Today Show this morning, and I was excited to see an entire segment dedicated to the Twitter phenomenon! Some people love it; some people hate it. However, there is no denying that this social network is here to stay! The Today Show segment explains it as a cross between text and blogging with 140 characters. It goes to the masses, and it’s a great way to spread the word. It’s like an amped up word-of-mouth service, and it’s free!
Once apprehensive about it, I’m totally hooked! Do you Twitter? Who do you follow on Twitter? How do you decide who is worth listening to? Why do we care what’s going on in the lives of others? I’m a curious tweeter that wants to know! Watch this video here for tweeting vocab, tips and an explanation of this craze that’s hard not to love! Oh, and you can follow my tweets at http://twitter.com/AmandaNolz. Let’s be online social networking friends!
The National Biodiesel Conference is taking place in Grapevine, TX. Chuck is on the scene and adding to the ZimmComm photo collection.
New NAFB Executive Director
If you don't know Mark Vail then meet him in this week's program.
Mark will officially start as the Executive Director for the National Association of Farm Broadcasting on March 1. We chatted via Skype and talked about what he sees as the priorities and challenges of the organization.
Just thought I would post a reminder that the deadline for all comments on Roundup Ready® Alfalfa are to be received by USDA on February 16, 2010. If you have not given your comments about this product, now would be a great time to do it. There are only 8 days left to discuss this American farm technology. Please, take the time to comment and encourage your colleagues to do the same.
Apple just announced its newest creation – 
AgWired sponsor, 
Well, the International Poultry Expo has made things easy this year with an iPhone app. The IPE app is free and gives attendees access to all events and exhibitor information right on their iPhones. The app is available from Apple’s app store by searching for “IPE”. It’s a great way of using the latest technology in a very practical way and giving attendees a paper-free way to always know how to find exhibitors or where the next event is being held. Pretty cool! I expect we will be seeing that a lot more at conventions.
One of the exhibits I visited at AG CONNECT Expo is our primary 
Precision agriculture technology is on display all over the AG CONNECT Expo show floor. I don’t think I’ve seen quite so many exhibits outside of a show dedicated to this growing technology application. Raven Industries is one of the companies exhibiting something new here at the show.
One of the co-located events taking place with AG CONNECT EXPO is Agrievolution. Opening up the program this morning is Doug DeVries, Senior Vice President, Global Marketing Services – Agriculture and Turf Division, John Deere. I spoke with him just prior to the start of the program. Doug is pictured on the right with Rusty Fowler, Krone NA and Martin Richenhagen, AGCO.
Gary Truitt with Hoosier Ag Today recently published an article titled, 
The 
Head into a grocery store these days and consumers are offered aisles upon aisles of food choices. It’s been said that annually, food producers raise enough food to feed 144 people. With this efficiency, consumers can enjoy their favorite foods in abundance. As a result of our food surplus, new food options have become available, and as a result, conventional agriculture is under attack in favor of natural, organic and locally grown options. While I think it’s great and noble that consumers are trying to do better for themselves and the environment, I believe sometimes these food claims can be misleading. Apparently, others agree with me, as well.
AGCO is one of the companies working on a 
When it comes to research and development at 
Precision farming took a step forward this week as 
“We think the combination of the two companies’ products is going to provide some great efficiencies to the end user,” says Dave King, Ag Leader Marketing Communications Manager. “So, it’s a one stop shop for all their products and one stop for customer support as well.”
The 
The President/CEO and co-Founder of 
Thanks to some much appreciated financial support from graduation monies, I have purchased some new gadgets to help me get my start. I bought a new MacBook and a Zoom H4 Recorder. Now the trick is getting accustomed to these new gadgets, and fast! A busy writer doesn’t have much time for reading instruction manuals, right?
And, now I have some questions. If you are a Mac user, what do you like best about them? What are your favorite tools on a Mac? Next, which editing software do you prefer for podcasts? Which ones are most user friendly?
If you don't know Mark Vail then meet him in this week's program.
