Policy in Focus at #Classic15

Cindy Zimmerman

Corn, soybean, wheat and sorghum growers from all over the country are heading to Phoenix this week for the 20th annual Commodity Classic convention and trade show. “Commodity Classic gives us the opportunity not just to celebrate great work, meet with friends and learn about new products and services, it allows growers to get together in one place to shape …

Ag Groups, Commodity Classic, Corn, NCGA, sorghum, Soybean, Wheat

Former Iowa Congressman at #AIF2015

Cindy Zimmerman

Republican Tom Latham served as Congressman from Iowa for 20 years, stepping down in January. A speaker at the Bayer CropScience Ag Issues Forum this week prior to Commodity Classic in Phoenix, Latham talked about what’s on the horizon for agriculture. He thinks the 2014 farm bill was very positive but he wonders if it may be the last. “Going …

Audio, Bayer

John Deere Offers Machine Sync Enhancements

Cindy Zimmerman

Commodity Classic attendees this week will get to find out more about the latest John Deere Machine Sync enhancements which debuted at the 2015 National Farm Machinery Show. Deere announced expanded the functionality of its Machine Sync application this year, featuring coverage map and guidance line sharing that can be useful during seeding and spraying operations, as well as when …

Audio, Commodity Classic, data, John Deere, National Farm Machinery Show, NFMS, Precision Agriculture

Propane Incentives at Commodity Classic

Cindy Zimmerman

Farmers attending the Commodity Classic this week in Phoenix can learn about the latest developments in reliable and efficient propane-powered agricultural technologies – and earn up to $6,000 towards equipment purchases through the Propane Farm Incentive Program. The program, sponsored by the Propane Education & Research Council, already offers up to $5,000 for qualifying equipment purchases but during the Commodity …

Commodity Classic, Energy, Irrigation, PERC, Propane

NASCAR Starts 5th Year with American Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

Chuck took a last minute trip to the Daytona 500 this past weekend courtesy of New Holland, where American Ethanol celebrated the start of the fifth year of its partnership with NASCAR. “They’ve put over six million hard-earned miles at high RPMs on these race cars,” said Tom Buis of Growth Energy at the race on Sunday. “They got better …

Audio, Ethanol, NASCAR, New Holland

Former USTR Talks Trade at Ethanol Conference

Cindy Zimmerman

Former U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk was the keynote speaker at the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) National Ethanol Conference this week where the theme was “Going Global” with an emphasis on exports. “I want to thank you for your very strong and vocal support for a very smart trade policy for our country over the years,” said Kirk, who served …

Audio, Ethanol, Exports, Trade

20th National Ethanol Conference Kicks Off

Cindy Zimmerman

Football Hall of Fame member Kenny Houston helped Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO Bob Dinneen get the early activities for the 20th annual National Ethanol Conference underway on Ash Wednesday in Dallas. Houston is a former American football defensive back who played for the Houston Oilers and then the Washington Redskins between 1967 and 1980, but today he …

Audio, Ethanol, RFA

Agri-Pulse Open Mic with David Lynn

Cindy Zimmerman

Agri-Pulse Open Mic this week features David Lynn, Sr. VP Farm Credit Mid-America. Farmers are facing a cyclical turn in the industry with a period of lower crop prices, reduced net farm income and a likely increase in interest rates.This week’s guest on Open Mic is David Lynn, Senior Vice-President for Financial Services with Farm Credit Mid-America. Lynn believes the …

Agri-Pulse

Secy Vilsack to Keynote 6th Commodity Classic

Cindy Zimmerman

Not only has Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack set a record as the longest serving secretary in modern history, there’s no doubt he has appeared in more places and events more times than any of his predecessors. Vilsack will visit the Commodity Classic next week for the sixth year in a row to address the annual convention and trade show …

Commodity Classic, USDA

Update on FMC Marvel Herbicide

Cindy Zimmerman

Weed control was a big topic for FMC Corporation at the National Farm Machinery Show last week, and I talked with district manager Tyler Tuttle about how Marvel™ herbicide provides soybean growers with an aggressive tank-mix partner for maximum postemergence control of glyphosate-resistant weeds. “Marvel is a post emerge, broadleaf herbicide with a very broad spectrum,” said Tuttle. “Use it …

Audio, FMC, Herbicide, National Farm Machinery Show, NFMS, Soybean, weed management