Agronomic Design Shows How Case IH Listens

John Davis

nfms-13-case-robGiving the customers what they want is a hallmark of good business, and Case IH practices that with every piece of equipment they roll out.

“Before we lay down the product definition for any future design, we go out and visit with the customers at length,” explained Case IH’s Rob Zemenchik during an interview with Chuck at the National Farm Machinery Show. Rob calls their approach of taking an in-depth survey of their customers’ needs “agronomic design,” rather than assuming what the customers need. “With the investments our growers are making today in seed and fertilizer and land, we want to be sure our equipment is able to meet those needs and deliver on the best opportunities for high yield.”

He pointed to one example of Case IH’s application of this agronomic design principle with his company’s 500T Seed Drill, a product that features an industry-first parallel linkage in the row units. “That was identified by our customers.”

You can listen to Chuck’s interview with Rob here: Interview with Rob Zemenchik

2013 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Case IH, National Farm Machinery Show

Get Fields Clean Before Planting

Cindy Zimmerman

Monsanto Roundup Ready PlusWith spring planting just around the corner, Monsanto is encouraging growers to take planned, proactive steps to prevent and manage resistant and tough-to-control weeds.

Monsanto Roundup Ready Plus marketing manager Chris Reat says that means putting down residual herbicides. “Whatever the current status of your fields are, when we go to drop that plant in there we want to make sure that everything’s clean,” said Reat. “Then have that pro-active plan to use pre-emerge residuals down and multiple modes of action to allow that stand to get off to a good strong start and stay clean during that critical early period.”

Reat adds that using residual herbicides in combination with Roundup® agricultural herbicides provides multiple modes of action to help reduce the risk of resistant weeds developing and they encourage growers to apply full labeled rates of Roundup agricultural herbicides and all residual herbicides since lower rates can allow weed escapes, which may require a second trip to control, reduce crop yield and set seed for next season.

Listen to or download my interview with Chris here: Monsanto's Chris Reat
These and other weed management recommendations are part of Monsanto’s Roundup Ready PLUS Weed Management Solutions. Roundup Ready PLUS offers integrated and diverse management practices for weeds developed in conjunction with leading academics, agronomists and other industry partners for control of all your weeds, including tough-to-manage and glyphosate-resistant weeds. Roundup Ready PLUS also offers financial incentives to help farmers offset the cost of qualifying residual herbicides and other weed management resources.
For more information, please visit www.RoundupReadyPLUS.com.

Agribusiness, Audio, Farming, weed management

Renewed Energy at New Holland

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast 384During the National Farm Machinery Show, New Holland was once again a prime sponsor of ours. There was a lot of blue and yellow on their lot.

New Holland at National Farm Machinery ShowSo let’s learn about some of the changes going on in the marketing area at New Holland. I visited with Mark Hooper who has been named Director of Marketing for New Holland North America. Mark is very excited about the future since they’ve had a couple of great years with growth in different segments.

Just a week ago New Holland held it’s national sales and dealer meeting. Mark says it gave them an opportunity to focus on where New Holland is headed as a brand with new relationships like the one with the National Cattlemen’s Association and Growth Energy. He says, “We’re working with our dealers to improve their performance and their support of the products because it takes the whole package from products to the support end as well.”

At the same time New Holland is working on its brand within the agriculture industry it is also doing the same in the construction industry with both segments working together. In fact, there are products like skid steers and excavators that fit both segments and were on display at the show.

Learn more about what’s going on with New Holland in the marketing arena in this week’s ZimmCast here: New Holland Marketing

2013 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

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

The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired. Subscribe so you can listen when and where you want. Just go to our Subscribe page.


Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by FMC and New Holland Agriculture
Agribusiness, Audio, National Farm Machinery Show, New Holland, ZimmCast

Mighty Mississippi Rolling Along

Cindy Zimmerman

bargesAt the beginning of this year, closing the Mississippi River to barge traffic as a result of low water levels was a very real possibility, but that crisis has been averted thanks to some Army Corps of Engineers work.

“There was an emergency move by the Army Corps of Engineers to blast rocks out of the river floor at Thebes and Grant Tower, Illinois,” said Tracy Mack, director of bulk and packaged goods logistics for GROWMARK. “That added about two feet to the navigable channel between Memphis and St. Louis.”

gmk-mackThat project was complete by the beginning of February, sooner than expected, and some timely rains also helped. “Because of the recent rains and the forecast rain right now, we’re not in imminent danger of closure,” Tracy said. “It’s looking that we have enough water to get us through the month of March at least if drought continues.”

It was a different situation when Tracy was a guest on the AgFanatics podcast in early January so he is glad it has improved.

Listen to my interview with Tracy here: GROWMARK's Tracy Mack

Agribusiness, Audio, Farming, Fertilizer, GROWMARK

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

    Zimfo Bytes

  • The latest Agricultural Finance Monitor released by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis announced that abundant crop insurance shielded farmers’ income from much of the impact of this summer’s drought across the Midwest and Mid-South.
  • Tuskegee University is going to host one of the oldest professional farmers conferences in the nation.
  • Wheat Growers has been awarded first place honors in regional and national competition for its newsletter Wheat Growers News and its annual meeting video.
  • Bayer CropScience recently updated its Innovation Plus platform to provide program information, rebate and yield calculators, an education center and redemption catalog.
Zimfo Bytes

New Holland Shows Off T8.420 at NFMS

John Davis

nfms-13-nh-gary-wojcikOf course one of the big purposes of the National Farm Machinery Show was to display the latest in farm machinery. Our friends at New Holland were there and proudly showed their latest T8.420 tractor to enthusiastic crowds who couldn’t resist climbing up and seeing all the new bells and whistles inside. Gary Wojcik with New Holland went over some of the new features with Chuck.

“This is the new two-wheel drive, high horsepower with front wheel assist tractor,” adding that it has the highest horsepower in the industry, also featuring an AutoCommand CVT transmission. Gary said it also has the longest wheelbase in the industry that provides a smooth ride but still turns as sharp as any tractor out there.

Under the hood, Gary said they have a very efficient engine. They’ve taken the 9-liter Cursor engine and switched it to a common rail, which helps more finely control the injectors. “We’re going to produce more power with less fuel.”

Finally, crawling into the cab, operators will be impressed with how they can make the steering wheel, console and touch-screen monitor fit them to be the most comfortable.

Look for delivery of this beauty to dealers sometime this fall.

You can listen to Chuck’s interview with Gary here: Interview with Gary Wojcik

2013 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album


Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by FMC and New Holland Agriculture
Agribusiness, Audio, FMC, National Farm Machinery Show, New Holland

Biggest and Best NFMS Looks to Get Bigger & Better

John Davis

nfms-13-rippetoeThe recent National Farm Machinery Show is touted as one of the biggest and best agricultural expos of the entire year, and it seems to live up to it billing, in no small part, due to the efforts of Rip Rippetoe (pictured during a TV interview), the new President/CEO of Kentucky Fair Board and his talented staff.

“People from all over the United States and the world come here because they know this is the place where you’re going to learn the latest trends, the best technology, and be able to meet and talk to people who are in the industry from all across the world and find out what it means to be in the ag industry,” Rip said.

With more than 860 exhibitors in a 1.2 million square foot indoor facility, attracting more than 300,000 visitors and pumping $22 million into the economy, Rip said it’s tough to see everything in just one day. He added that despite the facility being home to other noteworthy ag events, such as the North American Livestock Expo, the Kentucky State Fair, and beef and horse shows, they hope to do more and be even bigger in the future.

“I think there’s always opportunity. The question is: ‘How do we do it?’ People said we were maxed out on space last year, and our staff got creative and found ways to get more efficient and added booths [this year],” adding that they still sold out four weeks before the show, and they want to find a way to get those who have been on waiting lists to be part of the show.

You can listen to Chuck’s interview with Rip here: Interview with Rip Rippetoe

2013 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album


Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by FMC and New Holland Agriculture
Agribusiness, Audio, FMC, National Farm Machinery Show, New Holland

Tractor Pullers See NFMS as Highlight of the Winter

John Davis

nfms-13-tractor-pull-driversA big favorite at the National Farm Machinery Show is always the Championship Tractor Pull done in conjunction with the show … for the fans and the competitors alike.

“This is what we look forward to every winter,” Doug Theobald from Shelbyville, Ind., who took 3rd place in the 6,200-lb. two-wheel drive Super Modified Trucks class on one of the nights of the show, told Chuck. “The crowd is amazing. Syngenta backing the event and the pull means a lot to the competitors. It’s what we strive for all year, to get qualified to come here.

John Strickland from Clinton, NC, who on the same evening won third place in the 8,000-lb. Super Stock Alcohol Tractors division, echoed Doug’s sentiments, adding that he’s very impressed with the farm show as well. “Even if you’re not in the farm or agriculture trade it’s still really amazing to walk around and see what there is here and what’s offered and the technology to make feeding the country possible.”

You can listen to Chuck’s interview with Doug and John here: Interview with Doug Theobald & John Strickland

2013 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

Audio, National Farm Machinery Show, Syngenta

Animal Nutritional Solutions at Alltech

Jamie Johansen

cic-13-185-editedThe 2013 NCBA Trade Show brought industry leaders together to share their latest in agriculture research and technology during the Cattle Industry Convention.

Like always, Alltech had a constant crowd gathered to here their newest techniques in agriculture nutrition and technology. I spoke with Jim Bannerman, National Accounts Manager with Alltech, and he shared their focus for 2013.

“We always have a lot of things coming down the pipeline, but probably the main thing that has been coming down the pipeline for quite awhile is our nutrigenomics and how we are starting to apply that more practically to animal nutritional solutions. Nutrigenomics is basically how nutrients or diets affect gene up and down regulation within the animal. And so, basically what we are understanding is we can feed for different things such as meat quality, health and what to feed them at different ages.”

Listen to my complete interview with the Jim: Interview with Jim Bannerman

You can find photos from the event here:Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show Photo Album

Alltech, Audio, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA

AgFanatics Dish on USDA Report

Cindy Zimmerman

agfanatics-2The AgFanatics were in their element last week talking about the USDA Supply & Demand report. Episode #11 on Tuesday last week caught them in pre-report speculation mode, and Episode #12 was recap and reaction to the report for the market.

The AgriVisor AgFanatics podcast is updated twice weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays. AgFanatics can be found on Itunes or right from the front page at www.agrivisor.com.

Agribusiness, Farming, GROWMARK, USDA