John Deere Dealer Perspective

Chuck Zimmerman

Jeff BarnesJeff Barnes, Greenway Equipment, a John Deere dealership, is their manager of farm technology. He says yesterday’s announcements from John Deere of their new Developer.Deere.com portal and the MyJohnDeere Data API is a big step for the company. I talked with him to get his perspective on what the company is doing.

He says their dealership has been actively involved with John Deere as the new data transfer system has been developed. “Now it’s time when we really need these tools to come together to build out things so our customers can take that data and use it in their operations.” He says this is making precision ag easier and helping more growers make use of the data they create during the season.

You can listen to my interview with Jeff here: Interview with Jeff Barnes

John Deere API Integrators Conference Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, John Deere, Precision Agriculture

2013 IFAJ Congress Video

Chuck Zimmerman

The organizers of the 2013 International Federation of Agricultural Journalists Congress have just posted a video that gives you a great overview of the enjoyable time we had in Argentina last month. For those of us who went it brings back good recent memories. For those of you who could not attend or have wondered about what such a conference is like perhaps it will get you interested to attend the Congress in Scotland next year!

Video – Ifaj 2013 from Anicha on Vimeo.

2013 IFAJ Congress Photo Album

IFAJ, International, Video

BASF Helping to Fight Weed Resistance Globally

Cindy Zimmerman

basf-germany-jordiWeed resistance is an increasing problem on a global scale, but BASF vice president for global research herbicides Jordi Tormo says the problem in the United States really stands out.

“I would say it’s more spectacular because of the speed of the development of the resistance,” he said during an interview at the BASF global press conference in Germany. “It’s growing at a speed that we never expected.”

That is why BASF is working so hard to help farmers understand how they can fight or even prevent resistance. “Farmers should use more modes of action in a rotational way,” said Jordi, adding that application timing should include both pre- and post-emerge herbicides. Interview with Jordi Tormo, BASF Global Research Herbicides

2013 BASF Germany Photos

Agribusiness, Audio, BASF, weed management

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

    Zimfo Bytes

  • USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation have approved a total of $277,914 for five new research grants at five institutions.
  • Founder of Funk Seed, West Lafayette, IN, Bill Funk, is using a new business model to combat the mass confusion growers go through when purchasing seed corn.
  • Under a development agreement between the Ankeny, Iowa, City Council and John Deere Des Moines Works, the Moline, Illinois-based company, will construct a $15 million, 60,000 square-foot single story office building on the company’s existing Ankeny campus.
  • The Mosaic Company hosted its Analyst Day in New York City on Monday, October 7 at the New York Stock Exchange.
Zimfo Bytes

Animal Welfare & Animal Rights Not the Same

Talia Goes

zp-nhOur latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “Is there a difference between animal welfare and animal rights?” Per the dictionary definition, animal welfare is the physical and psychological well-being of animals; animal rights is the idea that some or all nonhuman animals are entitled to the possession of their own lives, and that their most basic interests – such as an interest in not suffering – should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings. Looks like the majority of you are aware of the difference between the two.

Our poll results:

· Yes, different definitions – 56%
· Similar but not same – 26%
· Other – 10%
· No, mean the same thing – 8%

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “Is shutdown affecting you?” We want to know if you can tell a difference in your daily work, those issues affecting you and your family, or if you really can’t tell a difference. Let us know!

ZimmPoll

MyJohnDeere.com Changing the Skyscape

Chuck Zimmerman

Chuck SchleusnerWe were welcomed to the John Deere API Integrator Conference today in the beautiful World Food Prize building which will be very busy next week for the annual WFP event. To get a preview of what John Deere is doing here by bringing in representatives from 50 companies from 8 countries and 3 continents I spoke with Chuck Schleusner.

Chuck basically set the stage for how MyJohnDeere.com is “changing the skyscape.” I visited with him before we started. He says, “We’re here today to bring together the best minds in ag technology to participate in a platform we call MyJohnDeere with the goal to help improve the productivity of the farmer, specifically those who use John Deere machines. To do that we believe we need to partner with those who can create the plans, the insights that lead to executable instructions back on our equipment . . . We believe by being open with our platform and working with these parties we can do the best for the farmer, the ag industry and ultimately our goal of feeding the world.”

So during the day we’ve got breakout sessions on both technical and business tracks to learn in more detail how the MyJohnDeere system works and how companies can create a developer account where they can “play in the sandbox” to test new applications that integrate with the system and John Deere data.

John Deere announced today a new web portal for developers – Developer.Deere.com – where you can create an account and see their public API’s. They also announced MyJohnDeere Data API. More on these later.

You can listen to my interview with Chuck here: Interview with Chuck Schleusner

John Deere API Integrators Conference Photo Album

Agribusiness, Apps, Audio, John Deere

Opening up at MyJohnDeere.com

Chuck Zimmerman

John DeereHello from Des Moines and the John Deere API Integrators Conference. Doesn’t that sound exciting? Well, to an agnerd it is. Today I’ll be learning about how John Deere is working with software and app developers as they continue to develop their MyJohnDeere.com system that includes allowing companies to integrate their applications with the system.

So, during the day I’ll be visiting with both Deere representatives and some of the developers attending the conference and sharing with you when I can. This agnerd is looking forward to it!

Of course you can find photos from the event: John Deere API Integrators Conference Photo Album

Agribusiness, Apps, John Deere

Sampling Farm House Natural Cheeses

Chuck Zimmerman

CFWF Bike Tour StopGeorge Boyes and Debra Amrein-Boyes, owners of The Farm House Natural Cheeses hosted the farm bikers during our Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation tour. Debra welcomed us with a presentation about the farm their milk and delicious cheeses. We sampled a couple of those cheeses. None was left on the plate or in the bowl!

The Farm House Natural Cheeses is a good example of how farmers adapt to circumstances since they’ve diversified their farm to focus on their love for dairy and producing high quality cow and goat cheeses. My favorite sample was a Chevre on crackers topped with honey.

You can listen to presentation here: Debra Amrein-Boyes Presentation
The Farm House Natural Cheeses produces handmade artisan cheeses and specialties from the rich,fresh milk of the farm’s own dairy cows and goats. Everything is made right on our family farm in British Columbia’s beautiful Fraser Valley. In our on-farm cheese shop you can sample and purchase all of the different varieties of cheeses that we make plus seasonal specialties. The milk is delivered directly from the dairy to the cheese room, where you can look in on the cheese-making process. Treat yourself to an Italian-style gelati ice cream and go for a self-guided tour to visit our farm animals.

2013 Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation Photo Album

Audio, Farming, International

BASF is Big on Farming

Cindy Zimmerman

basf-farming“Farming, the Biggest Job on Earth” is the tag line of a campaign for agriculture by BASF Corporation which is hitting the United States now on Facebook and YouTube with the new video “Growing Today for Tomorrow.” The Facebook campaign urges people to watch the three minute video to learn more about how farmers are growing more with less land – and enter to win a $250 gift card!

basf-germany-markus“We feel that farmers are doing a great job,” said BASF Crop Protection President Markus Heldt in an interview at last week’s BASF Global Press Conference in Germany. “But we as society have not recognized that contribution. So we decided to launch a global campaign as part of our long term strategy to make sure we raise our voice and talk about the importance of farming.”

“We are passionate about farming and we believe there is a very bright and exciting future in farming,” Markus said. “We just have to make sure that some of our critics better understand why we’re here.”

Markus is pictured here during this interview with me and Cyndi Young-Puyear of Brownfield. Interview with BASF Crop Protection president Markus Heldt

2013 BASF Germany Photos

Agribusiness, Audio, BASF, Farming, Video

Biking to Canadian Hazelnut

Chuck Zimmerman

CFWF Bike TourThe 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 the farm and apparently they’re dying from a disease and will all have to be cut down and replaced. Fortunately the wood is excellent for firewood and smoking chips for the grill! The only other pest problem they’ve had until this tree disease is a bear that loves hazelnuts.

2013 Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation Photo Album

Farming, International, Video