During this week’s National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Kentucky, New Holland formally introduced the PLM RTK+ correction program, the first cellular-delivered RTK correction signal on the market, and several representatives were on-hand to discuss the diverse array of features and benefits this technology will offer producers across North America. “The big idea is that as our farmers and producers …
Preview of CIRB Annual Meeting
Leaders in the crop insurance business are gathered in California for the annual meeting of the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau. To get a preview before the activities started I spoke with Michael Torrey, Michael Torrey Associates. His company represents and manages CIRB. Before looking ahead Michael talks about the challenging last year for the industry when critics were trying …
Top Equipment Manufacturer Issues at #NFMS16
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) hosted an Ag Executive Outlook panel during the opening day of the 2016 National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, KY. AEM’s Senior Vice President for Government Affairs, Nick Yaksich, sat on the panel and hit on key policy issues impacting the ag equipment industry. Yaksich mention the Renewable Fuel Standard first and its role …
#NFMS16 is Big Show for FMC
Even though it’s called the National Farm Machinery Show and equipment is king, the people who provide the products for planters to plant and sprayers to spray also have a place at the show. FMC Corporation has carved out a nice niche for itself at NFMS, sponsoring the media room and exhibitor lanyards, and having a premium exhibit space right …
Florida Rep. Gwen Graham with Ag Retailers
One of the members of Congress who met with leaders of the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) last week in Washington DC was Rep. Gwen Graham (D-FL), the daughter of former Florida governor and senator Bob Graham. She is pictured here (left) with Mary Hartney, president of the Florida Fertilizer & Agrichemical Association. Rep. Graham recently completed her first North Florida …
Vilsack Discusses 2017 Budget for USDA
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack hosted a national media Tuesday call to discuss the Obama administration’s 2017 budget request for USDA programs. “Over the past seven years, USDA has made strides in improving the health of our nation’s children, enrolled a record number of privately-owned acres in conservation programs, bolstered the economies and infrastructure of small rural towns, and more,” said …
GROWMARK with Ag Retailers in DC
Joining the Agricultural Retailers Association last week in Washington DC was GROWMARK Executive Director for Corporate and Government Relations Chuck Spencer, who joined in legislative visits to discuss key issues for the cooperative and the industry. Spencer says top legislative priorities for GROWMARK include the labeling issue for genetically modified products. “We need to have a federal standard on genetically …
Alltech ONE Set To Inspire Industry
Last year, Alltech’s Rebelation symposium offered the industry an unprecedented opportunity for global collaboration by hosting programs, discussions, and information sessions with some of the worlds greatest innovators. This year’s symposium is called ONE, and it promises to be even more unforgettable. ONE is a forum, hosted by Alltech, for industry professionals to discuss world-changing ideas with other industry leaders …
Who Will FarmNext and How
Who will be farming next? What are their thoughts and concerns? These questions and more are dealt with in a new white paper published by YI Advisors. The paper was presented during last week’s FarmNext Summit in Washington, DC. I spoke with Tom Allison, Associate Director of Research for YI Advisors to learn more about the FarmNext Initiative and the …
Sustainability Expert Defends Big Business
Terms like local, organic, natural and sustainable dominate the marketplace, but what does it all mean? One of the most tangible examples of sustainability is the use of drastically fewer resources over time, something many areas of agriculture, especially the dairy industry, can say is true of their production methods. Regardless of this fact, many large-scale production operations face a …