Talking Corn and Soybeans with BASF

Cindy Zimmerman

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 …

Audio, BASF, Commodity Classic, Corn, Soybean

Sending Animal Agriculture Offshore Would Increase Food Costs

Chuck Zimmerman

Leading off a press conference during Commodity Classic for the United Soybean Board was Vanessa Kummer, Chair. The topic was Consumer and Food Safety Costs of Offshoring Animal Agriculture (pdf). This is a Soybean Checkoff funded study. Also pictured on stage are Lewis Bainbridge, USB Director (seated) and André Williamson, Agralytica, (standing) the company that conducted the study. Paying more …

Ag Groups, Audio, Commodity Classic, Food, Soybean, USB

Partnerships at Commodity Classic Important to BASF

Cindy Zimmerman

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 …

ASA, Audio, BASF, Commodity Classic, Corn, NCGA, Soybean

BASF Presents Research on New Fungicides

Cindy Zimmerman

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 …

Audio, BASF, Commodity Classic, Corn, Soybean, specialty crops

First USDA Planting Guess

Cindy Zimmerman

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 …

Corn, Cotton, Soybean, USDA, Wheat, ZimmPoll

FMC Offers Soybean Practices & Weed Management Training

Cindy Zimmerman

FMC Corporation is helping to educate growers, retailers and crop consultants on soybean best production practices and weed management strategies through its CropPro University: Authority® Herbicide Training Module. The set of three online training modules available through March 16, giving participants the chance to receive one continuing education unit (CEU) credit upon completion. “CropPro University is actually an on-line training …

Audio, Crop Protection, FMC, National Farm Machinery Show, Soybean

Commodity Classic to Feature Night at the Opry

Cindy Zimmerman

Some of Nashville’s top talent will take the stage at the Grand Ole Opry for the 2012 Commodity Classic Evening of Entertainment on March 3, sponsored by Monsanto. Entertainers in the lineup for the evening include Darryl Worley, John Conlee, Sarah Darling, Mike Snider, and Joey+Rory. (We just saw Joey+Rory, best known for their hit “Cheater, Cheater, last week in …

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

Pioneer Sees Strong 2011 Results for Plenish Soybeans

Cindy Zimmerman

Dupont’s Pioneer Hi-Bred is reporting strong seed performance for Plenish high oleic soybean varieties despite challenging growing conditions in 2011. “I’ve had great success with Plenish high oleic soybeans,” said John Motter, director, United Soybean Board and chair of the Ohio Soybean Council. “During this year’s harvest my Plenish soybeans yielded higher than my overall farm average at 55 bushels …

Pioneer, Soybean

Reliv Launches LunaRich Soy Powder

Chuck Zimmerman

Government working with private industry can make things happen. The Missouri Plant Science Center would be a good example. Reliv International, Inc. (NASDAQ:RELV), and Soy Labs LLC today announced the creation of LunaRich™, an exclusive soy powder developed at the Missouri Plant Science Center (MPSC). Reliv is adding LunaRich to one of its nutritional supplements and will reveal that product …

Agribusiness, Soybean

Kip Cullers Tops 100 Bushel Soybeans Again

Cindy Zimmerman

It may not be another world record, but Kip Culler’s soybean yield of of 108.8 bushels per acre this year was enough to win him another place in Missouri’s 100 Bushel Club. The southwest Missouri soybean rock star took first place in the irrigated category for this year’s Missouri Soybean Association yield contest, while Steve Riegel of Washington won the …

Pioneer, Soybean