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Talia Goes

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  • Doane Advisory Services will bring together market leaders, national speakers, and recognized financial strategists from the agricultural economic community when it convenes its 28th annual agricultural conference October 21 and 22 in St. Louis.
  • Syngenta announced that it received import approval from Japanese regulatory authorities for the Agrisure Duracade™ 5122 and Agrisure Duracade 5222 trait stacks.
  • The Pro Farmer Midwest Crop Tour will cover 1,100 fields across seven Corn Belt states from Aug. 19-22.
  • C-ASTRAL Ltd., a provider of small unmanned integrated systems for surveying, remote sensing and ISR has launched a new integrated software/hardware solution for agriculture, forestry and land management in partnership with the GIS software solutions provider SINERGISE.
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PEDv Update for Swine Producers

Cindy Zimmerman

bivi-nc13-madsenPorcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED) virus became a brand new problem for the U.S. swine industry to deal with this past spring, and Dr. Darin Madson with Iowa State University gave an update on the situation to producers at the Boehringer-Ingelheim North Carolina Health Seminar on Friday.

“Basically what we determined is that this virus, previously not known to be here, somehow entered North America around April 15,” said Dr. Madson. “It’s now over 400 premises that are positive across multiple states.”

Dr. Madson notes that the disease was found in Europe in the 1970s but appeared to die out, while it came into Asia in the 1990s where it has been devastating. The question is what the outcome of this outbreak in the United States will be. “There’s two different scenarios of what can happen on a sow farm,” he said. “One is that once the virus hits, it runs it’s course and it’s done and is eliminated. The other course is that it become endemic, meaning the virus is always there, but you really don’t see the signs until after they wean. That’s the scary one.”

Dr. Madson says there are positives and negatives about the virus when it comes to control but his main message to producers to prevent PED on their operations boils down to one word – biosecurity. “You really don’t want it and you really need to be careful to understand that this virus is very infective,” he said.

Listen to my interview with Dr. Madson here: Interview with ISU swine pathologist Dr. Darin Madson
BIVI NC Swine Seminar Photo Album

Animal Health, Audio, Boehringer Ingelheim, Swine

New Guy With BIVI

Cindy Zimmerman

bivi-nc13-delMeet Del Birkhofer, the brand new executive director of the swine business for Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc (BIVI).

Del has 26 years of experience in the animal health industry, working with Merck and Merial, and he is happy to make this move to BIVI at this point in his career. “I was looking at my future and BI is one of those companies I always looked upon as an excellent place to be,” he said.

He says BIVI is a leader in the swine health industry by being innovative and solutions-minded. “It goes beyond selling products, we need to be working hand in hand with our customers on a daily basis,” said Del. And that is one of the main purposes of the BIVI North Carolina Health Seminar, where we are this week. It’s the 13th annual event for the company, bringing hog producers and their families in this important region for a couple of days on Wrightsville Beach to share information and fellowship.

Listen to my interview with Del here: Interview with Del Birkhofer, BIVI


BIVI NC Swine Seminar Photo Album

Animal Health, Audio, Boehringer Ingelheim, Swine

Getting To Know Ag Leader

Melissa Sandfort

Insights WeeklyHere is the next in our series as we introduce you to a few of dedicated precision ag equipment dealers in a series called “Getting to Know Ag Leader”.

We caught up with Kevin McIlravy of Precision Ag Results Maddock, ND:

1. From an agronomy standpoint, what do you consider to be the biggest issues facing growers today?
I think the biggest challenge from an agronomy stand point is accurately collecting data of what has been done and what the results are from those inputs. There are a ton of choices the growers make everyday and if they cannot go back at the end of the year and look at whether those choices were the right ones or not from the data then they go on guessing. Still every year is different and it is a risk but if you can way the goods from the don’t works so not to repeat then you can make better educated guesses. Managing the data in a way that is useful and not just numbers takes time.

image2. Tell us about how growers in your area are using precision agriculture.
Growers in our area are using precision agriculture all year long. They variable rate nitrogen based off yield data they have collected from several years and zone soil testing. They variable rate phosphorous and potassium based off grid soil tests and crop removal rates from the yield data. They use steering controls to be straight and minimize passes across a field. They are seeding with variable rate seed maps to maximize yield potential Swath control on planters, air seeders and sprayers to minimize overlap. They are also using crop sensors to vary nitrogen in crops. Yield monitors are used to collect data from what happened that year (you only have one opportunity to record what your crop yielded in each part of the field for that given year). The growers are also using precision agriculture in the water management side of things to tile or do surface drainage.

3. What benefits are growers seeing by using precision ag on their farms? Give us some examples.
They are able to put inputs in the correct spots to maximize the yield. It doesn’t always work but you can hit the 80% of the time rule. We have some growers that have done basic yield monitoring for about 15 years and with our rotations here it can take up to 10 years to get enough data to do good yield consistency and maximum yield maps. They now are able to look at those maps and make better as well as quicker decision on how to deal with those fields and crops.

4. What do you believe is on the horizon when it comes to technology and agriculture?
I think there is a lot room for improvement in the quality and reliability side of things for technology. It has to remain cost effective, work well and be simple. There are not a lot of people that are out here servicing things so the ones that are work hard and long hours to keep up. Remote service and trouble shooting are on the near horizon. Wireless communication that is cost effective and efficient is needed. It is here but there is room for improvement. I also don’t see the removal of the human in the tractor (aka autonomous) factor as near as it sometimes is broadcast. I don’t think the reliability of the electronics and the amount of electronics that required to monitor all the things a human does it practical yet.

5. What’s your best piece of advice to a grower who might be looking at using precision ag products?
Find a dealer that will take care of you and look at your whole operation not just one part of it. Together lay out a plan and ease into it at a pace that you as a grower can handle, not the dealer. I would recommend starting with a yield monitor. It is the best information you can use to make decisions. Second would be swath control on a sprayer or planter. That saves money on inputs and damage to your crop. The payback there is short. Steering controls are nice but they are really just “icing on the cake.” Service, support and a company that stands behind their products are important.

Check back next month to “Get to Know” another Ag Leader dealer!

Become a fan of Ag Leader on Facebook today, and get the latest precision ag videos on the YouTube channel. For more information about Ag Leader products and services, or to visit the blog site, go to www.agleader.com.

Ag Leader, Agribusiness

World Ploughing Champ Tire Goes to Mitas

Melissa Sandfort

Barbara Klaus tractorBarbara Klaus, an Austrian driving a New Holland tractor mounted with Mitas tires, took first place in the conventional ploughing world championship held in Olds, Alberta (Canada). Her teammate Margareta Heigl won the silver in reversible ploughing driving a Steyr tractor. John Whelan of Ireland won the reversible ploughing category.

Apart from their success in the overall championship’s results, Barbara and Margareta won gold medals in the grassland ploughing category and came in fourth place in the stubble field category.

Barbara Klaus has mounted her New Holland tractor with Mitas 340/85R38 AC85 (rear) and Mitas 280/85R28 RD01 (front) tires. Margareta Heigl used Mitas 340/85R36 RD 01 (rear) and Mitas 320/70R24 RD70 (front) tires.

In ploughing competitions, the competitor is expected to perfectly plough stubble and grassland areas.

Agribusiness, New Holland, Tractor

Agri-Pulse Open Mic with Bill Wykes

Cindy Zimmerman

New on Agri-Pulse this week:

open-micBill Wykes is a soybean farmer and the past chair of the Illinois Soybean Association. He is a strong advocate of biotechnology and utilization of science and innovation in agriculture. Wykes is concerned about regulatory and trade issues facing biotechnology and has encouraged the ISA to host a symposium on the dynamics of international biotechnology./em>

Listen to the Agri-Pulse Open Mic interview with Bill Wykes here.

Agri-Pulse

Professional Development Awards of Excellence

Melissa Sandfort

The National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) will honor four recipients of the 2013 Professional Development Awards of Excellence on Wed., Sept. 18 at the NAMA Fall Conference in St. Louis. These awards honor NAMA members based on outstanding achievement in the professional development areas. This year, Awards of Excellence will be presented in the areas of marketing communications, public relations, product/species management and sales. Click here for more information on the Fall Conference.

Marketing Communications – Gary Sakin, Monsanto
Gary joined Monsanto in November of 2006, and has made impactful changes to how Monsanto approaches branding, measures marcom impact, and engages with its audiences.

Public Relations – Linda Romander, Broadhead
A senior public relations manager at leading agribusiness marketing agency broadhead., Linda has achieved a great deal since her arrival in 2005. Since day one, she has fast become the go to resource for clients seeking sound PR strategy and vision, as well as a mentor for our firm’s younger staff and teams.

Product/Species Management – Zach Hetterick, Case IH
Zach has distinguished himself in the past two years, leading the charge at Case IH for the Livestock/Hay/Forage business as Livestock Marketing Manager. While in this role, he has successfully spearheaded several new product launches, including the Case IH LB4 large square baler, and current launches for the WD3 series windrower, DC3 series disc mower conditioner, and RB565 round baler.

Sales – Jay Carlson, Penton Media – BEEF Magazine
As regional sales manager for BEEF magazine and its digital communications properties, Jay is arguably the nation’s top marketer on a volume basis of print and online livestock advertising. He has been a key innovator in U.S. livestock publishing, developing a number of key instruments and programs that continue to meet the needs of both U.S. livestock producers and U.S. product marketers.

Agribusiness, NAMA

America’s Farmers Food Drive

Talia Goes

AmericasFarmersLogo2013Nearly 15 percent of households in Illinois face food insecurity, which amounts to an estimated two million people, according to Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger relief organization. In Macon County alone, more than 16,500 people struggle to find food. Families in these farming communities are often busy helping to feed the world, but do not have access to enough food to sustain a healthy lifestyle for themselves. Thanks to the upcoming America’s Farmers Food Drive, rural households across the state of Illinois will soon see food on their own tables.

The fifth annual America’s Farmers Food Drive, sponsored by Monsanto in conjunction with Farm Progress and the Howard G. Buffett Foundation (HGBF), will take place at the Farm Progress Show, Aug. 27-29 in Decatur, Ill.

All FFA chapters and 4-H clubs in Illinois are invited to participate in the America’s Farmers Food Drive. Food collected will benefit the communities of those who donate. Students who donate food at collection centers located at entrance gates one, seven and nine will receive free entry to the Farm Progress Show. The top three FFA chapters and top three 4-H clubs that donate the highest amount of food, in pounds, will be awarded $250.

Additionally, for every pound of food collected, Monsanto will donate $1 (up to $10,000) to United Way of Decatur and Mid- Illinois, and the HGBF will donate $1 (up to $10,000) to Feeding America.

Agribusiness, Food

BASF DPM is a Gator

Cindy Zimmerman

basf-rtp-brianneDr. Brianne Reeves with BASF Crop Protection has a DPM from the University of Florida – that would be a plant doctor, not a foot doctor.

We interviewed the lovely and talented Dr. Reeves a couple of times this year but I never knew she was a fellow Gator until last week when she talked to the Southern Media Symposium about her background. Even though her dad and grandfather were both in agriculture, Brianne says she’s actually “not a farm girl.” She was born in Nebraska but grew up in South Florida where her father was in the citrus business.

uf-pmdBrianne got her Bachelor’s degree in agronomy from UF and then went on into the Doctor of Plant Medicine program. “It was right up my alley,” she said. “Very multi-disciplinary graduate program that really covers anything that would affect a plant’s growth … so it really set me up for success in a career in agriculture.”

Brianne says her education continues with BASF. “Specifically within the Professional Development Program (PDP) which is how I came into BASF,” she said. Brianne encourages other young people who think about a career in agriculture. “You don’t have to be a farm girl or a farm boy to want to do agriculture,” she said. “Do what your heart tells you.”

Listen to my interview with Brianne here: Interview with Dr. Brianne Reeves, BASF

BASF Southern Media Symposium and SWSS Contest photo album

Agribusiness, Audio, BASF, Education

Cost of Raising Children Born in 2012

Melissa Sandfort

childrenThe USDA released its annual report, Expenditures on Children by Families, also known as the Cost of Raising a Child. The report shows that a middle-income family with a child born in 2012 can expect to spend about $241,080 ($301,970 adjusted for projected inflation*) for food, shelter, and other necessities associated with child-rearing expenses over the next 17 years. This represents a 2.6 percent increase from 2011. Expenses for child care, education, health care, and clothing saw the largest percentage increases related to child rearing from 2011. However, there were smaller increases in housing, food, transportation, and miscellaneous expenses during the same period. The 2.6 percent increase from 2011 to 2012 is also lower than the average annual increase of 4.4 percent since 1960.

The report, issued annually, is based on data from the Federal government’s Consumer Expenditure Survey, the most comprehensive source of information available on household expenditures. For the year 2012, annual child-rearing expenses per child for a middle-income, two-parent family ranged from $12,600 to $14,700, depending on the age of the child.

Read more report results here.

Agribusiness, Food, USDA