RFA Ethanol Podcast

Biking to Canadian Hazelnut

Chuck Zimmerman

The farm bikers at the 2013 Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation Conference went off road through a hazelnut orchard before arriving at the largest organic hazelnut farm in Canada – Canadian Hazelnut. We were met by Shelley Krahn who talked to us about the farm and answered questions. You can watch in the video below. There are eight thousand trees on …

Farming, International, Video

BASF Engages Growers

Cindy Zimmerman

Grower engagement on both the people and services level is important for BASF Crop Protection to ensure they are doing all they can to help farmers grow smarter, market smarter and live smarter. During one of the breakout sessions at the BASF Global Press conference in Germany this week, we heard from (left to right) Hannes Lutz – vice president …

Agribusiness, Audio, BASF, Farming, Technology

BASF Raises Sales Target for Crop Protection

Cindy Zimmerman

At a global press conference in Limburgerhof, Germany Wednesday, BASF announced an increase in the long-term sales target for its Crop Protection division. The Chemical Company’s important agricultural division is now forecast to achieve sales of more than $8 billion by 2015 and $10.8 billion by 2020 – that’s up about $2 billion from previous estimates. Markus Heldt, President of …

Agribusiness, Audio, BASF, Farming

The Food Dialogues Come to Missouri

Jamie Johansen

There is no question that Americans have questions about how their food is grown and raised. U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) has responded to this need and produced Food Dialogues. The events have taken place all over the United States and sparked educated conversations about our nation’s food. Tomorrow Food Dialogues come to Missouri. USFRA along with Missouri Farmers …

Education, Farming, Food, USFRA

Argentina’s Export Tariffs

Cindy Zimmerman

During the IFAJ Congress, I was very surprised to learn that Argentina has export tariffs on a number of agricultural commodities, including corn and soybeans. I understand import tariffs, but export tariffs would seem to do nothing but hurt a country’s agricultural industry. “Argentina has export taxes on almost every product that we export, but in the case of grain …

Audio, Farming, IFAJ, International, Markets, Trade

Monsanto “Follow-A-Field” Initiative

Cindy Zimmerman

Monsanto is encouraging farmers to “Follow-A-Field” in order to learn more about the next innovation in soybean and cotton weed control. The Follow-A-Field initiative from Monsanto is an interactive experience featured on XtendFollowAField.com that follows three farmers as they take their Roundup Ready 2 Xtend™ soybean fields from burndown through harvest as part of the Monsanto Ground Breakers® Field Trials …

Agribusiness, Audio, BASF, Farming, weed management

Reinventing the Shovel

Melissa Sandfort

A problem exists today – individuals finish a day of work with sore backs, wrists, and arms from twisting and tweaking in unnatural positions. This results in lost labor, time, and capital. Luckily, a 24-year old entrepreneur combined his business degree with an epiphany, and as a result, Stephen Walden has reinvented the shovel. He says, “Our shovels provide an …

Farming, Technology

The Next Generation of Farmers

Jamie Johansen

Bayer CropScience talked the next generation of farmers during their ag media luncheon at the recent Farm Progress Show. Bayer is looking at the future face of agriculture from the industry, employee and farmer prospective. Vice President of Commercial Operations for Bayer CropScience, Inci Dannenberg, addressed the crowd and later spoke with Chuck about the importance of the next talent …

Audio, Bayer, Farm Progress Show, Farming

Argentinian Citrus Grove

Cindy Zimmerman

We told you earlier about our visit to La Campiña, owned by Cesar and Mónica Cahen D’Anvers, near Rosario, Argentina. The main crop grown on this farm is oranges – both a local variety and navels – and they are cultivated for export to mostly European markets as well as in the making of various juices, jams, jellies and candies …

Citrus, Farming, IFAJ, International, Video