Checking in with the AgFanatics

Cindy Zimmerman

The AgriVisor AgFanatics podcast has logged 40 episodes since its debut in December 2012, and quite a few since we last talked to them in March, so we decided it was time to check in for an update on how these two wild and crazy ag guys are doing. “It’s going great, we’re continuing to gain listeners and we’re continuing …

Audio, GROWMARK, Podcasts

Awards for Precision Agriculture

Chuck Zimmerman

During the InfoAg Conference the 2013 PrecisionAg Awards of Excellence were presented, sponsored by the PrecisionAg Institute. Announcing the awards was Paul Schrimpf, Group Editor, Croplife Media Group and posing with each of the winners is K. Elliott Nowels, Meister Media Group. First up: Crop Adviser/Entrepreneur Award Laserplane Arkansas, Inc. The next award: Educator/Researcher Award Dr. John Fulton, Auburn University …

Ag Groups, Audio, Precision Agriculture

BASF at Peanut Growers Conference

Cindy Zimmerman

BASF has always been a big supporter of the Southern Peanut Growers Conference and so has Becker Underwood – but this year the two were a single team together. “With the acquisition of Becker Underwood, VAULT as a peanut inoculant is a very important product we’re looking forward to launching from the BASF platform,” said southeast BASF rep Chris Maurer …

Agribusiness, Audio, BASF, Peanuts, SPGC

History & Future of World Trade Organization

Chuck Zimmerman

Here’s some light reading for you. How about the History and Future of the World Trade Organization. It is “a comprehensive account of the economic, political and legal issues surrounding the creation of the WTO and its evolution. Fully illustrated with colour and black-and-white photos dating back to the early days of trade negotiations, the publication reviews the WTO’s achievements …

Audio, International

GEOSYS Announces Field Profit Planner

Chuck Zimmerman

I learned all about GEOSYS during the 2013 InfoAg Conference by visiting with Dave West. The company just announced their Field Profit Planner, a comprehensive tool for farmers and their advisors who pursue high efficiency farming. The new cloud-based GEOSYS Field Profit Planner service gives growers quick analyses of their individual fields while also providing insight into productivity across the …

Agribusiness, Audio, Precision Agriculture

Vilsack Questions House Farm Bill

Cindy Zimmerman

At the Iowa Farm Bureau 2013 Economic Summit on Monday, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack expressed some skepticism about the farm-only farm bill passed by the House. “I’m not sure that what they’ve done up to this point is real or for show,” Vilsack told reporters after addressing the summit. He also wonders why the House leadership is delaying work on …

Audio, Farm Bill, USDA

What China Approval of Monsanto Trait Means

Cindy Zimmerman

Monsanto officials are pleased with the recent import approval from China for the drought tolerance trait in Monsanto’s Genuity® DroughtGard® hybrids. According to Monsanto row crop launch lead, Sarah Pierce, the approval granted last month gives farmers who had purchased DroughtGard hybrids in 2013 more options. “(They) signed a stewardship agreement saying they would keep the grain domestic until we …

Agribusiness, Audio, Farming

Apps for Agriculture

Chuck Zimmerman

Hello and welcome to the ZimmCast. In this week’s program I’m sharing a conversation with Brian Arnall, Oklahoma State University. Brian was one of the presenters at the 2013 InfoAg Conference on precision agriculture. Brian’s presentation topic was “Ag Apps for Smart Phones and Tablets.” That certainly got my attention. Brian is keeping a list of apps he finds that …

Ag Groups, Apps, Audio, Farming, Precision Agriculture, Technology, ZimmCast

Monsanto Part of CTIC Conservation Efforts

John Davis

Monsanto was one of the sponsors on the recent Conservation Technology Information Center tour in Livingston County, Ill., and Chuck caught up with the company’s Emilio Oyarzabal, who said the CTIC’s work is very important to Monsanto and its customers. “We need agriculture more than ever,” Emilio said, but he added that farmers are being accused of doing environmental damage. …

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Audio, Conservation, CTIC, Environment

Texas Congressman at Peanut Conference

Cindy Zimmerman

Congressman Mike Conaway (R-TX) provided an update on the farm bill at the 2013 Southern Peanut Growers Conference on Saturday. Rep. Conaway, a member of the House Agriculture Committee, says the House still intends to get a nutrition bill passed. “We’ll have a nutrition title and it will have reforms in it…probably stronger reforms than what we had in the …

Ag Groups, Audio, Farm Bill, Peanuts, SPGC, Video