Weeds were a big topic of concern for farmers who visited the BASF Crop Protection exhibit at Commodity Classic this year and with planting season now upon us and commodity prices looking good, growers are really looking to control those yield-robbers. In soybeans, early-season weed competition poses a potential 6 to 10 percent yield loss. In corn, weeds allowed to …
Hog Producers Adjusting to Higher Feed Costs
Hog producers are now able to compete with ethanol producers for corn, according to Purdue agricultural economist Dr. Chris Hurt. Dr. Hurt spoke to swine veterinarians on the topic of “Global Feed Economics in a Biofuel World” during the Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica (BIVI) Swine Health Seminar in Denver on Friday. “This is an amazing difference from just five years ago,” …
Partnerships at Commodity Classic Important to BASF
BASF Crop Protection is one of the biggest sponsors of Commodity Classic, encompassing everything from the hotel shuttle buses to scholarships and other awards programs to the final banquets. BASF participated in both the American Soybean Association (ASA) and National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) banquets during the 2012 Commodity Classic and was honored to have company executives speak during those …
NCGA Has Missouri Corn Membership Machine
Missouri Corn Growers president Billy Thiel is a membership machine for the National Corn Growers Association. During the NCGA Awards banquet at the 2012 Commodity Classic, Billy became the 17th member of the Walter Goeppinger Recruiter Hall of Fame, an honor which comes with a classy new blazer. Billy led the way in recruiting new members for the NCGA in …
BASF Presents Research on New Fungicides
Last year at Commodity Classic, the buzz from BASF Crop Protection was the new fungicide chemistry Xemium. This year it’s new products incorporating that chemistry. With the results of field trials from the 2011 season now available, three years of research show Priaxor™ fungicide and Merivon® fungicide provided effective disease control and consistent yield increases in a wide range of …
BASF Supports Scholars with ASA, NCGA and Now NAWG
BASF Crop Protection is expanding its support of young people pursuing careers in agriculture by joining with the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) Foundation to establish a memorial scholarship to honor longtime wheat industry friend and BASF employee Jerry Minore. As a BASF Senior Market Manager, Minore was a liaison to the wheat industry, including NAWG and the Foundation, …
Commodity Classic Preview From NCGA President
Getting to the Commodity Classic in Nashville a day early to attend the Bayer CropScience Ag Issues Forum, I was happy to find National Corn Growers Association President Garry Niemeyer of Illinois available to do some pre-convention interviews. Garry is looking forward to a great, big Classic this year – with registration already at a record level. “We have 5,400 …
First USDA Planting Guess
Our ZimmPoll question this week is about what you think will be planted this year (just for corn and soybeans, with our apologies to the wheat and cotton growers), and USDA’s Chief Economist gave his answer at the 2012 Agricultural Outlook Forum last week. “We’re estimating corn plantings at about 94 million acres, the largest plantings since 1944,” said Joe …
Pioneer Turning Insight Into Action
With a little help from Chet Hollingshead, we have some interviews to share from the Pioneer Media Event, “Turning Insight Into Action.” The event took place in the Carver Center on the Pioneer campus. First up is Josh St. Peters, Marketing Manager, Corn. He spoke to the topic of “Leading the Market in Refuge Management Optimum® AcreMax® Insect Protection Technology …
FMC Captures Patent for Capture® LFR® Insecticide
Just in time for the National Farm Machinery Show this week, FMC Corporation received a U.S. Patent for its Capture® LFR® insecticide formulation. The patent is called “Insecticidal Compositions Suitable for Use in Preparation of Insecticidal Liquid Fertilizers” and refers to Capture LFR insecticide formulated to directly mix with liquid fertilizers and water, providing optimum compatibility. The “LFR” part stands …