Projected Growth in Precision Ag Market

Chuck Zimmerman

MarketsandMarketsLooks like precision agriculture has a bright future according to a new report by Markets and Markets that says that the market will be worth $3,721.27 Million by 2018. The title of the report is, “Precision Farming Market by Technology (GPS/GNSS, GIS, Remote Sensing & VRT), Components (Automation & Control, Sensors, FMS), Applications (Yield Monitoring, VRA, Mapping, Soil Monitoring, Scouting) – Global Forecast & Analysis (2013 – 2018).” You can request a sample of the report, purchase the full report or even purchase a customized version of the report. Here’s an excerpt from the report description.

The global population is expected to rise up to, nearly, 7.5 billion by the year 2020, and the ability to manage and tackle the ever increasing demand for food would, in all likelihood, continue to plague the world. Global warming continues to be an influential deciding factor in determining agriculture productivity, as well as the soil properties, and sustainability of natural resources. The effect of climate change on agriculture is related to variability in local climates rather than the global climate patterns.

All these concerns marked the way for the entry of the new world of agriculture management practices. Precision farming can significantly reduce the amount of nutrient and other crop inputs used while boosting yields. Farmers, thus, obtain a return on their investment by saving on phytosanitory and fertilizer costs. The second large- scale benefit of targeting inputs in spatial, temporal and qualitative terms reduce concerns of environmental impacts. Read More

Agribusiness, Precision Agriculture

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 Ronnie Sherrod of Hale Center Coop Supply Hale Center, TX:

1. From an agronomy standpoint, what do you consider to be the biggest issues facing growers today?

  • Weed Resistance
  • Companies breeding new varieties and coming to market at a faster pace
  • The tremendous amount of information that is available for them to consider

Weed resistance is a real problem in our area and will continue until the farmer takes steps to start using different chemistry on their crops.

Companies are coming to the market with newer varieties so quickly that it requires me as a dealer to really keep up with the changes so that recommendations can be made to fit the customer’s needs.

The information pipeline is so full that it is sometimes hard for the farmer to make a decision on what he needs. That is where we have to spend more and more of our time to keep up with the technology so that we can make the right recommendation for the farmer to be profitable.

WayPoint Pictures 003
2. Tell us about how growers in your area are using precision agriculture.
Our growers are basically using precision agriculture for steering. We are starting to see more strip-til application being done. This is helping us as a dealer show them how they can use the equipment they already have to monitor their applications and remove clutter in the cab.

3. What benefits are growers seeing by using precision ag on their farms? Give us some examples.
One of the best examples we have here is the farmers that are using strip-til are using smaller applicators than their planters. Ag Leader has the accuracy to strip-til 12-30 inch rows and come back with their 16 row planter and be right where they need to plant.Read More

Ag Leader, Agribusiness

How Farmers Feed & Fuel America

Chuck Zimmerman

This is a great video by Fuels America that explains how our farmers are feeding and fueling America. Agriculture in the U.S. is more sustainable than ever. We may be producing more food per acre but we’re doing it with less energy, less water and fewer resources than ever and “we’re just getting started.” So who wouldn’t want a cleaner and oil-independent America powered by farmers?

Sounds good to me.

Ag Groups, Biofuels, Video

USDA September Crop Forecast

Cindy Zimmerman

USDA-LogoDespite a slowly maturing corn crop impacted by late summer heat, USDA upped its production forecast for the crop this year by a little bit instead of lowering it.

Corn production is forecast at 13.8 billion bushels, up less than 1 percent from the August forecast and up 28 percent from 2012. If realized, this will be a new record production for the United States. Based on conditions as of September 1, yields are expected to average 155.3 bushels per acre, up 0.9 bushels from the August forecast and 31.9 bushels above the 2012 average. If realized, this will be the highest average yield since 2009.

USDA did lower the soybean forecast by three percent to 3.15 billion bushels, still four percent above last year and expected to be the fourth largest on record. The cotton crop was lowered by another one percent to 12.9 million 480-pound bales, down 26 percent from last year.

During the Minneapolis Grain Exchange conference call on the report, Louise Gartner of Spectrum Commodities, commented on both the new production forecast and the new WASDE report.MGEX September USDA Report call

Audio, Corn, Soybean, USDA

iCropTrak Puts Food Safety On The Map

Talia Goes

icropIf you have driven on a California highway recently you may have noticed an occasional tomato heap, scattered bell peppers or bunch of celery on the roadside. Harvest crews are busy bringing in crops throughout the state and truck traffic is backed up at weigh scales and processing facilities.

To ease the paperwork burden, Cogent3D, Inc. has announced the availability of a pre-configured Food Safety module for the iCropTrak iPad and iPhone software. iCropTrak subscribers can now document Food Safety inspections at the farm field using the Primus Labs Pre-Harvest Block Inspection and other protocols. The inspection data is automatically tagged with the inspector credentials and the precise GPS coordinates for the location of the inspection. “iCropTrak disqualifies any doubt that an inspection was filled out from a shady parking lot rather than at the farm field”, explained Rob Wood of Cogent3D, Inc. iCropTrak provides users with instant visual feedback through its map based interface and managers can track inspection activities remotely and see exactly where inspectors are working and what fields have been inspected. The Food Safety module is being offered at no charge to new subscribers who sign up for iCropTrak before September 30th, 2013.

Agribusiness, Food, Safety

Names for REAL Seal Cartoon Character

Talia Goes

RealAs part of the ongoing effort to revitalize and build awareness of the dairy industry’s iconic REAL Seal, the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) is inviting the public to help choose the name that will be given to a cartoon character modeled after the logo. The character greets those who go to www.realseal.com and will be used in other applications in the future.

Throughout the summer, NMPF used the REAL Seal website and Facebook page to gather submissions for the naming contest. More than 110 individual suggestions were entered. After a review process, the three most fitting candidates were selected. They are:
· Dairyus – Submitted by Kathryn in Clermont, IA (honorable mentions to Ed in Tipton, IA, and Joe in Washington, DC, for alternate spellings).
· Milkdrop – Submitted separately by Roger in Franklin, KY, and Cecelia in Amelia, VA.
· Roscow – submitted by Gavin in Fairfax, VA (honorable mention to Sara in East Syracuse, NY, for an alternate spelling).

To choose among these three finalists, voters can visit www.realseal.com to select a favorite. The campaign is also being promoted at the Seal’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/REALSealDairy. The online voting link will be open through Tuesday, Nov. 5th, which is Election Day 2013. Only one vote per computer will be allowed. The result will be announced November 13th at the NMPF annual meeting in Phoenix.

Advertising, Agribusiness, Dairy

Help Make NAMA Fall Conference a Record

Chuck Zimmerman

2013 NAMA Fall ConferenceOkay. Here’s the deal agrimarketers. You can still attend the National Agri-Marketing Association Fall Conference in St. Louis next week. Let’s make this a record breaker. We’re very close to our attendance goal now so all you have to do is call the office and let ’em know you’re coming.

We’ve got a great program that covers some breakouts on topics of importance to the industry that you have not seen before like climate change and the outlook for agriculture. You’ll enjoy our keynoter, Brian Billick, talk about The Essentials for Success. And of course there will plenty of world renowned NAMA Networking!

I hope to see you in St. Louis next week.

Ag Groups, NAMA

Seafood Videos for Consumers

Chuck Zimmerman

Seafood Industry Research FundWe’ve heard a lot about consumer attitudes about and consumption of meats like beef and pork but how about seafood? Well the Seafood Industry Research Fund sponsored a research study to do just that. Working with Virginia Tech’s Department of Food Science and Technology the research was used in the development of educational videos that address gaps in consumer knowledge and barriers to purchasing seafood.


“There are many seafood lovers out there who don’t even know it yet,” said SIRF Chairman Russ Mentzer. “For some, seafood can seem challenging. This research helps identify exact consumer concerns, letting us know where the industry needs to focus our educational efforts and how to reach new customers.”

The research finds many consumers simply don’t know how to buy and prepare seafood at home. Further complicating things many are also confused about the health benefits.

Here is one of those videos:

You can find the other one here.

Ag Groups, Aquaculture, Food

IFAJ VP Reports and Rocks

Cindy Zimmerman

ifaj13-owen2International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) Vice President Owen Roberts, Director for Research Communications at the University of Guelph, had some great news to share about the organization’s outreach efforts during the IFAJ 2013 Congress.

IFAJ has 33 member country guilds, but Owen says they have been working on expanding that to become even more global. “That has started a bunch of programs such as the Master Class which brings in journalists from, this year Latin American countries,” he said. “A program called Exposure for Development, which takes journalists to countries such as Uganda and Kenya.” In addition, the IFAJ newsletter is now offered in French to reach out to West African countries.

Owen also talked about the formation at the Congress of a Latin American ag journalists network, which included 15 countries, and outreach to the United Nations FAO to see how they can work together to achieve similar goals. Interview with IFAJ VP Owen Roberts

Besides being a great proponent of agricultural journalism, Owen also plays a mean guitar and it has been a tradition for many years at IFAJ for him and fellow members like bass player Mike Wilson to entertain the Congress. They get better every year!


2013 IFAJ Congress Photo Album

Coverage of the 2013 IFAJ Congress is sponsored by Novus International and Dupont Pioneer
Audio, IFAJ

New Holland Attention Getting Combines

Chuck Zimmerman

New Holland CombineIf you visit a New Holland exhibit at the farm shows this season you can not miss the big yellow CR9000 Combines and corn heads. This one was on display at the Farm Progress Show and showing it off to the ag media was New Holland’s Nigel McKenzie.

These bad boys continue the more than 35-year pure “Twin Rotor® bloodline” which offers superior multi-pass threshing and best-in-class grain and straw quality. You will also find industry leading stone protection thanks to the new, Dynamic Stone ProtectionTM system and superior residue management flexibility with features like the new Opti-Spread™ system. They also have new Tier 4A engines which decrease emissions and decrease your fuel costs. They feature New Holland’s ECOBlue™ SCR technology that turns cool, clean air into more power while using less fuel for up to 10% fuel savings.

You can listen to my interview with Nigel here: Interview with Nigel McKenzie

You can also watch his presentation in the video below.

2013 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Coverage of the 2013 Farm Progress show is sponsored by Bayer CropScience, Growmark and New Holland
Agribusiness, Audio, Farm Progress Show, Harvest, New Holland, Video