BASF and the Southern Acre

Cindy Zimmerman

basf-ulfTo paraphrase Spiderman, with great research dollars comes great responsibility – something that the Crop Protection division of BASF, The Chemical Company, takes very seriously.

“Our division is one of many divisions of BASF and one of the smaller divisions, but we have continuously gotten the highest amount of R&D dollars for our work,” says Ulf Groeger, BASF Crop Protection North America R&D Director. “That means there is a responsibility on our side to have it pay off for the company.”

basf-rtp-groupUlf told the Southern Ag Media Symposium last week at BASF headquarters in North Carolina that it takes nearly $300 million and 7-10 years to bring a new product to market, and while corn and soybeans are a major market for them, southern crops are important as well. “In the area of herbicides, we are looking at Engenia, a new generation dicamba formulation for use post emergence on broadleaf weeds in dicamba-tolerant crops,” he said. “We are also working a herbicide-tolerant rice system with a broad activity on grasses, including ALS-resistant grasses and red rice.”

BASF has recently launched the new fungicide innovation Xemium for southern growers joining Priaxor and Merivon on the market, and they soon expect full registration for Sercadis for rice.

Listen to or download my interview with Ulf here: Interview with Ulf Groeger, BASF

BASF Southern Media Symposium and SWSS Contest photo album

Agribusiness, Audio, BASF, Farming

John Deere Gearing up for Product Launch

Cindy Zimmerman

ams13-deereAt the Ag Media Summit last week, our friends with John Deere were talking about the upcoming 2014 product launch in Columbus, Ohio.

“We’re launching a lot of our new products for 2014 at the Columbus Convention Center,” said Barry Nelson. “We’re bringing in about 45 of the ag media … and the final wave of all the dealers that come in to learn about the new machines that they’re going to be able to sell.”

The theme is “Delivering Distinctive Value” and Barry says it’s not just about the machinery itself, but the technology that goes with it. “A lot of the new technology we’ll be rolling out – new wireless systems, advancements in precision technology,” Barry added.

We are looking forward to being there next week in Columbus, Ohio, Aug. 21-22, for the 2014 John Deere product launch event. It will be me there this time, since Chuck will be at the AgVocacy 2.0 Conference in Charlotte, NC. Can’t wait!

Listen to my interview with Barry from AMS here: Interview with Barry Nelson
2013 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

Ag Media Summit, Agribusiness, Audio, Equipment, John Deere

DPP Graindesk Mobile App

Talia Goes

dpp_bannerWith more growers relying on mobile technology for their daily farming operations, Farms Technology, L.L.C., a wholly owned subsidiary of DuPont Pioneer, has upgraded its Dynamic Pricing PlatformSM (DPPSM) Graindesk mobile app to reflect sellers’ changing needs for updated grain-market information.

The free DPP mobile app puts your preferred buyers’ bids at your fingertips, enabling you to make, monitor and manage offers to sell corn, soybeans and wheat 24 hours a day.

The DPP Graindesk mobile app also delivers updated market information with the ability to create and manage futures-only and cash offers. Through mobile messaging, buyers can communicate with sellers directly through the mobile platform.

DPP Graindesk offers are monitored with every tick of the futures market from 8:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 7:45 a.m. Utilizing the CME Group electronic markets, the DPP Graindesk facilitates an automatic connection between grower-approved offers and buyers’ hedge orders. With patented e-Pit®services, DPP Graindesk can place a hedge order, receive confirmation of the fill, execute the cash purchase, and notify both buyer and seller in seconds. Before the DPP Graindesk and the upgraded DPP Graindesk mobile app, growers interested in selling grain contacted merchandisers to get a price or waited for a price notification via a scheduled text message.

The DPP Graindesk mobile app is compatible with both Android and iPhone devices. Download the free mobile app at the App Store or Google Play store.

Agribusiness, Apps, Pioneer

BASF Hosts SWSS Weed Contest

Cindy Zimmerman

basf-rtp-farmBASF had the honor of hosting the 34th annual Southern Weed Science Society Weed Contest this year at headquarters in North Carolina.

“It’s where new and prospective weed scientists working on their Masters or PhDs with various universities are here for a contest,” said BASF’s Dr. Dan Westberg. That contest included everything from weed and herbicide identification, to problem solving and calibration.

BASF also hosted a southern ag media symposium at the same time as the weed contest, so we could learn more about the SWSS and what BASF has to offer southern growers. “We’re considering developing Zidua (herbicide) in peanuts, particularly for season long grass and broadleaf weed control,” Dr. Dan explained. Interview with Dr. Dan Westberg, BASF

Glenn Oliver is responsible for managing the BASF Research Farm where the weed contest was held and he says quite a bit of planning and work went into the event. “It starts in January when we try to figure out the herbicide symptomology plots…go over grower problems,” Glenn said. “Then you start out in the spring and start planting and hoping it will be ready to go the first week of August.” They did have some problems with a wet spring, but Glenn says it all worked out and culminated in beautiful weather last week for the contest. Interview with Glenn Oliver, BASF

basf-rtp-swssContest coordinator Tom Eubank with Mississippi State says 54 students from eight southern universities participated in the the weed contest. He says it is a very “intellectually challenging contest” for the students, particularly the farmer problem segment of the competition where “they’re tasked with figuring out the problem and then giving a proper response to address the issue and preventing it from happening again in the future.”

Eubank says there has been a resurgence of interest in weed science as a profession because of resistance issues. Interview with Tom Eubank, Mississippi State weed scientist

All of the individual and team winners were recognized during a great dinner at the Angus Barn in Raleigh on Wednesday night. The top team winner was long-time champion and Dr. Dan’s alma mater University of Arkansas. Coming in second and third were Virginia Tech and Mississippi State. Check out the photo album for all the winners!

BASF Southern Media Symposium and SWSS Contest photo album

Agribusiness, Audio, BASF, weed management

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Swanson Russell announces the promotion of ten employees in its Lincoln office: Andrew Clabaugh, Jeralee Hahn, Rachel Hrabik, Aaron Jarzynka, Katie Sands, Justin Schnick, Kaila Shirey, Jessica Simpson, Charlie Stephan and Amber Wolff.
  • The Illinois Soybean Association and its farmer-leaders, along with leading U.S. agricultural organizations and biotechnology providers, would like to invite you to the International Biotechnology Symposium on August 26, 2013, in Champaign, Ill., the day prior to the 2013 Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Ill.
  • AgGateway is now receiving nominations for its annual Ron Storms Memorial Award, which recognizes distinguished individual efforts in the promotion of electronic standards and protocols in agri-business.
  • Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. (BIVI) has contributed $75,000 annually through its Advancement in PRRS Research Award to fund three selected research studies.
Zimfo Bytes

Corn Crop Lowered but Record Still Expected

Cindy Zimmerman

corn-fieldDespite a wet spring causing a challenging start to the season, the 2013 corn crop is still looking to break new ground this year, according to the latest USDA production estimate out today.

Corn production is forecast at 13.8 billion bushels, up 28 percent from 2012. If realized, this will be a new record production for the United States. Based on conditions as of August 1, yields are expected to average 154.4 bushels per acre, up 31.0 bushels from 2012. If realized, this will be the highest average yield since 2009. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 89.1 million acres, unchanged from the June forecast but up 2 percent from 2012.

Soybean production is forecast at 3.26 billion bushels, up 8 percent from last year and could be the third largest on record. This report reflected a re-survey from the June acreage report which had a large amount of unplanted acres in 14 major producing states. The re-survey resulted in a downward revision of less than one percent from the June report at 77.2 million acres.

Brian Hoops of Midwest Market Solutions analyzed both the Crop Production report and the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimate report on the Minneapolis Grain Exchange crop call immediately after today’s release. MGEX Crop Call with Brian Hoops

Audio, USDA

Answering Consumer Questions about GMOs

Cindy Zimmerman

site_logoThe agricultural biotechnology companies that develop genetically modified seeds (GMO) have united to launch a broad, new initiative to provide accurate information and answer the toughest questions about GMOs and how our food is grown. GMO Answers is produced by the members of The Council for Biotechnology Information, which includes BASF, Bayer CropScience, Dow AgroSciences LLC, DuPont, Monsanto Company and Syngenta.

ZimmCast 405This week’s ZimmCast features an interview with Fran Castle Rowland, senior manager of global brand management and media relations for BASF, about the purpose of GMOAnswers, the questions they have received so far, and just how they hope being more transparent will help educate the public about the importance of biotechnology in food production.

Listen to this week’s ZimmCast here: Providing Answers to GMO Questions

Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsors, GROWMARK, locally owned, globally strong and Monsanto, Roundup Ready Plus, for their support.

Audio, BASF, Bayer, Syngenta, ZimmCast

Why Are You Here Cattlemen?

Chuck Zimmerman

Polly RuhlandDuring the Cattlemen’s Beef Board meeting at the end of the Cattle Industry Summer Conference we heard a great speech in the form of the report given by CEO Polly Ruhland. She had a very heartfelt and powerful message which I believe shows you the quality of the people representing cattle producers on the staff of the Beef Checkoff. You will be asked a question, “Why are you here?”

Listen to Polly’s report here: Polly Ruhland Management Report
2013 Cattle Industry Summer Conference Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Cattle Industry Conference

Learning About FMC Products at AMS

Cindy Zimmerman

And now a few parting words from our AMS sponsor, FMC Corporation.

ams13-fms-daviesDavid Davies is product manager for some of FMC’s products for fruits, vegetables, and sunflowers. One of those products is BroadAxe. “BroadAxe is a pre-emergence herbicide aimed at the sunflower market,” said David. “It basically will give you really good control of kochia and broadleaf weeds, but in addition it will give you grasses as well, like foxtail.”

Another pre-emergence herbicide FMC is looking at launching in California for tree nuts is Zeus™ herbicide. “What it brings to the table is nutsedge control,” David explains. “In the tree nuts and grapes we will do a multi-year program in order to keep the nutsedge under control.” Zeus is already approved on asparagus, transplanted cabbage, sunflower, mint, horseradish and sugarcane with approvals on alfalfa, citrus, grapes, melon, pecan, pistachio, walnut, tomato and strawberry expected soon.

Listen to my interview with David from AMS here: Interview with David Davies, FMC Corporation

ams13-fmc-timTim Thompson talked about Cadet® herbicide/glyphosate tank mix from FMC. “Cadet’s going to give you extra kick in that tank mix when you’re applying post on corn and soybeans when you’re using Roundup,” he said. “It’s going to give extra help on lambsquarters and small-seeded broadleafs.”

Cadet has been on the market for three years and FMC has seen phenomenal growth in use for both corn and soybeans. “We do expect to see additional crops coming shortly – cereals, dry beans and sunflowers,” said Tim.

Listen to my interview with Tim from AMS here: Interview with Tim Thompson, FMC Corporation
2013 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

Ag Media Summit, Agribusiness, Audio, FMC, weed management

Genscape Believes UDSA Corn Predictions Too High

Joanna Schroeder

On August 6, the Genscape LandViewer team released its corn supply predictions to clients, estimating the corn supply to around least 12.6 billion bushels. Other crop advisory groups as well as USDA is predicting the corn crop to be closer to 14 billion bushels, a number that Genscape believes is too high. The USDA is releasing its latest crop report on Monday, August 12, 2013 at noon EST.

LandViewer - Yield Change Aug 2013“For the supply to meet the high predictions from groups like the USDA, contributions from historically highly productive county-clusters would be necessary, and that doesn’t seem likely,” said Dr. Steffen Mueller, senior director of Genscape’s LandViewer group.

According to Genscape, traditionally highly productive county-clusters, such as many counties in northern Iowa and southern Minnesota, show severe problems this year. In addition to modeling analysis, the LandViewer team has conducted multiple ground verification trips and has surmised that these problem areas will not likely recover to the level necessary to help the country meet the USDA’s total supply estimate. In addition, the national corn crop is an average of three weeks behind, and it will have much higher risk for frost exposure.

LandViewer’s prediction is based on a high resolution geospatial data model combined with extensive ground truthing. Using satellite technology, LandViewer has developed a spatial-based algorithm to predict corn supply on a parcel-by-parcel basis. Corn yield and supply predictions for each of the monitored 1,100 counties were shared with clients on August 6, a week in advance of the USDA reports. The information is useful for grain buyers to master local supply shortages or surpluses. For national grain investors, the LandViewer parcel-by-parcel platform has also proven to be a useful tool to identify risk associated with isolated county clusters.

Agribusiness, Corn, Precision Agriculture