MyAgCentral: Getting All Info in One Place

John Davis

infoag-13-steve-cubbageRecently, we told you about a new cloud-based precision data service called MyAgCentral.com. During the recent 2013 InfoAg Conference, Chuck was able to catch up with Steve Cubbage, the President of Prime Meridian, a company behind MyAgCentral.com and find out a little more.

“It’s a subscription-based service for growers, retailers and service providers that brings technology together,” Steve said. “There’s a lot of technology out there ,and it’s growing every day, and really to manage that, we felt there was a need to have one site for growers to go to to manage their modern farm.”

Some examples Steve cited was pulling together center pivots control and grain monitoring. He said so many different precision data services serve certain areas, so instead of having the farmer try to keep track of a dozen different websites where the information is stored and analyzed, they can go to one place, MyAgCentral.com and access everything.

“MyAgCentral consolidates that into a single web-based interface, and on top of that, it is also a repository that the grower controls for his own precision ag data that they can go to and disseminate out to their retailers or precision ag team.”

Steve said good collaboration between companies is helping make it easier. Right now, MyAgCentral.com is browser based, but there are ways to use apps to move data from a cloud account to the website through a mobile device. In addition, he points out that his site provides farmers with a place to store all that information as an extra backup, like a safe deposit box, as well as making it easier to share original data.

You can listen to Chuck’s interview with Steve here: Interview with Steve Cubbage, Prime Meridian and MyAgCentral.com

2013 InfoAg Conference Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Internet

Checking in with the AgFanatics

Cindy Zimmerman

agfanatics-2The AgriVisor AgFanatics podcast has logged 40 episodes since its debut in December 2012, and quite a few since we last talked to them in March, so we decided it was time to check in for an update on how these two wild and crazy ag guys are doing.

“It’s going great, we’re continuing to gain listeners and we’re continuing to talk,” says one-half of the AgFanatics duo, Cory Winstead, account manager with AgriVisor. They did decide to cut back from two episodes a week to one to avoid having some of the same conversations too often, but he and partner Nick Klump are still having fun with it.

“We’ve gotten some of our best feedback when we’ve spent the first five minutes talking about baseball and our lives and our kids,” Cory said. They have spent a lot of time this year focusing on the weather market for grain, the farm bill and other things that interest farmers, such as crop insurance.

The AgFanatics will be podcasting live from the Farm Progress show this year in Decatur, so be sure to stop by and meet them in person at the GROWMARK tent. You can find the AgFanatics podcast page from the link on the AgriVisor homepage.

Get an update on the AgFanatics in this interview with Cory. Interview with AgFanatic Cory Winstead

Audio, GROWMARK, Podcasts

American Ethanol Wins Ohio NASCAR Race

Cindy Zimmerman

dillon-winAmerican Ethanol was in the winner’s circle Wednesday night as Austin Dillon won the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series™ Mudsummer Classic.

This inaugural event was held at one of the world’s most iconic dirt tracks, Eldora Speedway in Ohio. The race, which was the first NASCAR-sanctioned national event held on a dirt track since 1970, brought American Ethanol to the forefront as Dillon finished in front in the No. 39 American Ethanol Chevrolet truck.

“There was a lot of excitement in the NASCAR community about this historic race,” said National Corn Growers Association NASCAR Committee Chair Jon Holzfaster. “Dillon’s win elevated the coverage of American Ethanol and provided an unprecedented opportunity to highlight how ethanol fuels champions on the track while providing consumers real savings at the pump.”

Dillon detailed his journey from Chicago to Ohio, and the role ethanol played, in a blog, providing a look at how flex fuel vehicles, E85 and E15 can help consumers save money as gas prices rise faster than the summer temperatures.

Dillon will race next in the NASCAR Nationwide Series™ race to be held in Indiana this Saturday followed by an appearance in the Sprint Cup Series™ race on Sunday. American Ethanol will be on site promoting the benefits of the biofuel all weekend. American Ethanol is a joint effort between NCGA, Growth Energy and other partners to promote the benefits of ethanol and E15.

Corn, Ethanol, NASCAR, NCGA

Awards for Precision Agriculture

Chuck Zimmerman

PrecisionAg AwardsDuring the InfoAg Conference the 2013 PrecisionAg Awards of Excellence were presented, sponsored by the PrecisionAg Institute. Announcing the awards was Paul Schrimpf, Group Editor, Croplife Media Group and posing with each of the winners is K. Elliott Nowels, Meister Media Group. First up:

Crop Adviser/Entrepreneur Award

Laserplane Arkansas, Inc.

PrecisionAg AwardsThe next award:

Educator/Researcher Award

Dr. John Fulton, Auburn University

You can listen to comments by Dr. Fulton here: Comments from Dr. John Fulton

The PrecisionAg Awards of Excellence shed light on some of the most important people and programs that have helped agriculture realize the full benefits of technology to improve agronomy, efficiency, and stewardship in crop production.

PrecisionAg AwardsThe next award presented during the awards luncheon was:

Farmer Award

Byron & Darrington Seward, Louise, MS

You can listen to comments from our winner here: Comments from Byron & Darrington Seward

PrecisionAg AwardsAnd the final award:

Legacy Award

Dr. William Raun, Oklahoma State University

You can listen to comments by Dr. Raun here: Comments from Dr. William Raun

2013 InfoAg Conference Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Precision Agriculture

The Little Things in Life

Melissa Sandfort

Nest1This week Aunt Jeanette writes:

Some time ago Melissa wrote a story about pivot stops. We have quite a few of these structures and they are wonderful for keeping pivots out of trees, ditches, roads, or the neighbor’s fields. We also found out they are good places for a bird to set up housekeeping – or should I say ‘nestkeeping’!

During irrigating season, farmers have to find little things to keep them happy. Although we are fortunate to be able to irrigate our crops, being out in a cornfield when the temperature is 98 degrees, the heat index is 105 degrees, the humidity is 90 percent, and there is not a breath of air, just isn’t their idea of a good time.

Nest2My husband, Dan, saw this robin’s nest on one of his pivot stops. He didn’t think the nest would survive, but he was able to watch the whole progression of a family of robins from three eggs to three baby robins. The robins have left the nest now, but the empty nest still sits on the pivot stop.

I think it gave him a little something to look forward to when he was irrigating on those miserably hot days.

And I know he smiled every time he saw it. He is just like that.

Until we walk again …

Uncategorized

Farm Foundation Publishes Farm Bill Perspectives

John Davis

farmfoundationlogo3You need information, especially when it comes to one of the most important pieces of legislation this Congress will consider: the Farm Bill. That’s why our friends at Farm Foundation, NFP and the National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy (NCFAP), have put together a series of essays by thought leaders in ag and rural America called Perspectives on the 2013 Farm Bill.

“Our intent is to enrich the public debate about the future of food and agricultural policy by providing ideas and perspectives from a diverse range of thought leaders,” according to Neil Conklin, President of Farm Foundation, NFP.

While Congress may finalize new farm bill legislation over the next few weeks, the debate will likely continue. “The role of the federal government in food, agriculture and rural communities will continue to be discussed and debated well into the future,” says Stan Johnson, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of NCFAP. “It is our goal to stimulate a continuing, dynamic conversation on the role and structure of food, agricultural and rural policies.”

And to give you more context, Farm Foundation has a 2013 Farm Bill Reading Room that gives stakeholders some varied viewpoints and options under discussion as Congress continues work on a successor to the 2008 farm bill. Articles are being put in three categories: reports on the politics shaping policies; organizational advocacy or viewpoints; and policy reference and analysis.

Ag Groups, Farm Bill, Farm Foundation

How Many Farm Apps Do You Use?

Talia Goes

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What use would you have for an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle?”

Our poll results:

· Crop analysis 25%
· Improve nutrient & crop protection efficiency 18%
· Just for fun! 18%
· Maximize yields 15%
· More efficient water use 7%
· Monitor livestock 8%
· Other 8%

So what do you think from the looks of the results? Are UAVs the next big technology “trend” for farmers who need to scout fields?

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, ” How many ag-related apps do you have?” According to a recent Successful Farming survey, 28% of farmers polled “normally use apps to obtain information on agricultural products and/or services.” Are you one of the 28% and if so, how many different apps to you use? Let us know what you think.

ZimmPoll is sponsored by New Holland Agriculture.

ZimmPoll

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

    Zimfo Bytes

  • The nation’s top experts in agricultural lending will gather in Minneapolis for the American Bankers Association National Agricultural Bankers Conference Nov. 10-13.
  • The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) awards Link Welborn, DVM, DABVP, a graduate of University of Florida, the 2013 AVMA President’s Award.
  • According to a recent poll conducted by Ipsos Reid on behalf of BASF Canada Inc., nearly 100 per cent of Canadian farmers agree an environmentally-sustainable operation is important to them.
  • CNH Global N.V. announced that the shareholders of CNH Global N.V. met at an Extraordinary General Meeting and approved the merger between Fiat Industrial S.p.A. and CNH Global N.V. with and into a newly established company to be named CNH Industrial N.V.
Zimfo Bytes

BASF at Peanut Growers Conference

Cindy Zimmerman

spgc13-basf-teamBASF has always been a big supporter of the Southern Peanut Growers Conference and so has Becker Underwood – but this year the two were a single team together.

“With the acquisition of Becker Underwood, VAULT as a peanut inoculant is a very important product we’re looking forward to launching from the BASF platform,” said southeast BASF rep Chris Maurer (left). “We have some really exciting seed treatments but now also having the inoculants gives us another avenue on to the farm to help growers get the most out of every acre.”

Of course, BASF products like Headline and Cadre remain important products for peanut growers, but BASF is always looking ahead to new and innovative products in the pipeline.

“Innovation has always been a key part of BASF as a company,” Chris said. “We believe innovation is what keeps the company sustainable” and the farmers too! Interview with Chris Maurer, BASF

2013 SPGC Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, BASF, Peanuts, SPGC

Panera Portraying Farmers as Lazy?

Chuck Zimmerman

Panera EZChickenI’m echoing Dairy Carrie’s comment that Panera Bread has lost another customer. She explains things much better than I can.

This is the story of another company thinking they must portray their product as healthy while at the same time insinuating that other products are not. I have no doubt that there are Panera customers who want products like antibiotic free chicken. But they’re claiming it tastes better. Yeah. Right. But the kicker is the Panera EZChicken. It looks like a drug capsule in white and red to me. The images you’ll find like the one here seem to suggest that farmers that use antibiotics to raise chickens are lazy. I wonder how many of their customers will buy that. Probably a lot who are not well informed.

Give Dairy Carrie’s post a read and let me know what you think.

Farming, Food, Wackos