Hemisphere GPS Sells Non-Ag Operations

Talia Goes February 1, 2013

Hemisphere GPS Inc. signed and closed a definitive agreement to sell the business assets associated with its non-agricultural operations to the Canadian subsidiary of Beijing UniStrong Science & Technology Co. Ltd. (“UniStrong”) for cash of $14.96M. PI Financial Inc. acted as advisor on the transaction for Hemisphere GPS. The Company also announced that it plans to change its corporate name to “AgJunction Inc.” subject to shareholder approval at its 2012 annual shareholders meeting, planned for May 2013.

Hemisphere GPS’ non-agricultural operations include the Company’s Precision Products portfolio and related infrastructure. The Precision Products segment generated revenues of approximately $13.3 million in 2012 serving marine, land survey, construction, mapping, and OEM segments.

Included in the sale are the intellectual property rights associated with the non-agricultural operations necessary to support the continued growth of those operations globally, including trademarks associated with the “Hemisphere GPS” identity. UniStrong intends to name the acquired operations “Hemisphere GNSS Inc.”. The Hemisphere GPS brand was not part of the Company’s agriculture identity.

The Company’s existing agricultural business has not been interrupted during this process and the Company reports that ag-related revenues have increased year-to-date. The Company’s new Outback MAX product integrated with AgJunction has had a positive reception in the marketplace.

Agribusiness

Go Social with FarmTime Nework

Chuck Zimmerman February 1, 2013

I learned about a new social network for agriculture during the 2013 AG CONNECT Expo. It’s the FarmTime Network.

FarmTime Network was started by Angie Bergmeier. She and her husband operate Shield Agricultural Equipment in Hutchinson, KS. Here is some information about FarmTime Network.

While less time seems available for face-to-face farm talk, the new website offers a chance to keep the heritage of the discussion at the convenience of the busy farmer. As the site describes itself, it’s “The All Farm, All the Time Social Network”.

FarmTime was started by Angie Bergmeier. Living near Haven, Kansas, a farming community, and through involvement in an ag-related business, Angie has gathered information from farmers over the last 10-years as the internet has become a more valuable tool. What she had noticed over time was that farmers have started to use the internet, email, Facebook and Twitter, but do not have access to a good “clearinghouse” for information and advice. Farmers, overall, are a small subset of consumers. So there has been no reason to focus on their real needs for information- gathering, sharing advice and really learning how to use the electronic communication tools to their advantage. Angie brought together focus groups of farmers and asked them questions about what they want in a “clearinghouse” web site, and www.farmtime.com has been developed to not only accommodate those needs, but to change and update to provide an improved platform as the technology changes.

Designed by farmers for farmers, www.farmtime.com features discussion forums to foster communication and share ideas. The site organizes groups to narrow farming interests including Dry Land No-Till, Row Crop Convention Tillage, Cow/Calf Producers, to name a few.

A market to buy or sell farm essentials or advertize products can be utilized on FARMTIME as well as quick access to local weather and electronic trade markets. Resources available include FarmBlogs, FarmTips, and FarmFamily to include the entire spectrum of farming – family included.

Learn more about Farmtime Network in this week’s ZimmCast here: Going Social with FarmTime Network

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.

Audio, Social Networking, ZimmCast

Record Crowd at Iowa Power Farming Show

Cindy Zimmerman January 31, 2013

The first day of the Iowa Power Farming Show this week drew a record 11,185 visitors, and attendance was still strong Wednesday and Thursday despite blowing snow and frigid temperatures.

The great attendance is the main reason why Ag Leader Technology is a premier sponsor at the event, according to sales manager Mike Olsen. “It’s kind of in our back yard, kind of our home town show here,” Mike said. “But the biggest reason is the quality of people that attend the show.”

Mike says the farmers who attend are interested in learning about new products and one that Ag Leader had on display this year was the Intellislope™ tile installation system. “Ag Leader recently purchased Soil-Max and we integrated the Intellislope into our Integra display,” he said. “It’s a simple module to put on your plow and go in there and install your own tile.”

Find out more in this interview with Mike: Interview with Mike Olsen

2013 Iowa Power Farming Show Photo Album

Ag Leader, Agribusiness, Audio, Iowa Power Show

Wrapping up AG CONNECT Expo

Chuck Zimmerman January 31, 2013

The 2013 AG CONNECT Expo has come to a close and I think my battery is running low! I’ve got at least 20 more interviews to share in coming days so keep your eye on AgWired!

To wrap things up for now I spoke with Sara Truesdale Mooney, Show Director. Here are a few of the statistics from the show this year.

The high quality of the attendees was evident in the average acreage of 7,700 for the producers. One company executive said, “The caliber of producer that comes here – this is the best of the best … the business producers that will be the growers of the future. You can see that in the show today.”

The show set records for exhibit space and number of exhibitors, scope of education programs and education session tickets reserved, and number of co-located industry conventions, meetings and events.

AG CONNECT Expo & Summit had nearly 400 exhibitors and more than 220,000 net square feet of exhibit space. More than 30 co-located events were held at the show, including 10 association conferences, eight educational conferences/seminars and more than 13 exhibitor events.

Show management reports that attendance at AG CONNECT nearly doubled in 2013.

Eleven percent of the attendees came from outside the U.S., with more than 50 countries represented. Eight Canadian provinces were represented at the show, along with all the states except Hawaii.

You can listen to my interview with Sara here: Interview with Sara Truesdale Mooney

2013 AG CONNECT Expo Photo Album

Audio, Equipment

John Deere High Tech at AG CONNECT Expo

Chuck Zimmerman January 31, 2013

As AG CONNECT Expo winds to a close I want to thank John Deere for being a sponsor of our coverage of the show. I visited with Barry Nelson to find out his thoughts of how the show has gone.

Barry says that besides having some new equipment on display around the outside of their exhibit they’ve created a new design on the interior as you can see from the photo. In fact, you can find quite a few more photos in my Expo photo album. The newly designed exhibit area features a lot of open space for people to move around in comfortably including new equipment monitors and technology like Machine Sync, JD Link and Field Connect. I’ll have interviews on those products coming up soon. This new booth design allows for more interaction between customers and product representatives.

John Deere brought in a number of customers and dealers who attended the show and also participated in dinners and private sessions. He says John Deere is very happy with how the Expo has developed and continues to grow.

You can listen to my interview with Barry here: Interview with Barry Nelson

2013 AG CONNECT Expo Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, John Deere

BASF Expands Corn Fungal Resistance Research

Cindy Zimmerman January 31, 2013

BASF Plant Science has announced an expansion of its fungal resistance research platform by adding corn as a target crop with a main focus on yield and stress.

BASF will continue to focus on the development of crops that deliver higher yields and improved resistance to stress conditions. A key component of these activities in plant biotechnology is an industry leading collaboration with Monsanto for key row crops such as soybeans and corn. Both companies have jointly developed the first genetically modified drought tolerant corn, Genuity® DroughtGard™ Hybrids, which received approval for cultivation in the U.S. at the end of 2011 and was in Monsanto’s Ground BreakersSM trials in 2012. The full commercialization is expected in 2013/14.

“Corn production suffers from severe yield losses triggered by fungal diseases, which have not been successfully addressed by conventional breeding approaches,” said Peter Eckes, President of BASF Plant Science. “Both modern chemical crop protection and plant biotechnology can offer solutions to secure yields.”

At the same time, Eckes says that as part of a continuous review of the project portfolio for strategic fit and attainment of project milestones, BASF Plant Science will no longer pursue research and development activities into Nutritionally Enhanced Corn in the United States.

Agribusiness, BASF, Corn

Soy Booster Plot Program Announced

Talia Goes January 31, 2013

The American Soybean Association announces a new partnership with FMC Corporation and NACHURS — the 2013 Soy Booster Plot Program. ASA is seeking 125 growers across the soybean-growing region to enroll by the March 2 deadline and conduct a Soy Booster field trial on their farm during the 2013 production season.

ASA, FMC and NACHURS will work with the participating growers to conduct field trials utilizing FMC’s Capture LFR (Liquid Fertilizer Ready) insecticide and NACHURS HKW6 liquid starter fertilizer on soybeans. These trials will give individual soybean farmers the opportunity to observe and measure for themselves how the application of Capture LFR insecticide with HKW6 starter fertilizer will enhance profitable production on their farm.

Growers will need to devote 20 acres treated with Capture LFR and NACHURS HKW6 liquid starter fertilizer and 20 acres untreated. Products for treatment will be provided free of charge and participants must be able to apply the starter fertilizer and liquid insecticide in-furrow to all row units as they seed soybeans. Growers who complete the Soy Booster plot program will receive a free 7” Kindle Fire HD, 16 GB with WiFi.

ASA, FMC, Soybean

General Wesley Clark Addresses Custom Harvesters

Chuck Zimmerman January 31, 2013

At today’s U.S. Custom Harvesters luncheon, sponsored by New Holland, retired General Wesley Clark took the stage. Gen. Clark says his passion was the military and now his passion is national energy security and the move away from dependence on foreign oil. I have recorded his remarks for you to listen to or share below. Gen. Clark is the co-chairman of Growth Energy.

The U.S Custom Harvesters conference is taking place co-located with the 2013 AG CONNECT Expo in Kansas City, MO.

You can listen to or download General Clark’s remarks here: General Wesley Clark Remarks

2013 AG CONNECT Expo Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Biofuels, Corn, Ethanol, New Holland

AG CONNECT Expo Right on Track for Growth

Chuck Zimmerman January 31, 2013

Association of Equipment Manufacturers Board Member Rob Kolb, GEA Farm Technologies, is not only one of the folks working on AG CONNECT Expo but is also an exhibitor. He says that moving the location to the midwest is a good idea and the show is gaining momentum as they build the brand.

He says he would like to see more livestock industry involvement in the show since AG CONNECT Expo is all inclusive and not confined just to equipment like tractors and combines. Rob is seen here being interviewed by Brownfield’s Julie Harker.

You can listen to my interview with Rob here: Interview with Rob Kolb

Also on hand to meet with the ag press is Charlie O’Brien, Senior Vice President, AEM. Charlie says that the exhibitors have stepped it up another notch for this show. He says that the exhibits are built to enhance personal interaction and companies have made sure they have product leadership staff on hand to talk to attendees.

Charlie says that AG CONNECT Expo is an every other year show to be slotted in to the schedule of global shows like Agri Technica in Europe.

You can listen to my interview with Charlie here: Interview with Charlie O'Brien

2013 AG CONNECT Expo Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio

Funny Headlines

Melissa Sandfort January 31, 2013

I’m sure you’ve seen the emails that circulate with pictures of funny billboards or restaurant signs with misspelled words or missing punctuation that make for a good laugh. And to the poor person standing on a ladder with the extension rod replacing “today’s special” and they happen to abbreviate because it’s -10 degrees and snowing, I don’t blame them!

Our small town of 120 people has a hometown newspaper. Delivering the “Bugle” was my very first job and I think I got paid $10 a week…but to a 10-year-old, that was better than dusting and vacuuming for the same pay!

A couple weeks ago as I was driving to town to drop off my kids at daycare, I saw the Main Street kiosk and laughed out loud. I didn’t have my camera with me and by the time I went back at the end of the day, the sign was down. Photo opp missed.

Stick with me here, the story will come together.

So every Tuesday when the Bugle comes in the mail, I faithfully read it cover to cover. Low and behold, this week I came across this article (read the headline). That’s what had been on the kiosk in town: Toenail Clinic. Not only does the headline make me chuckle, the fact that it happens once a month just gets me!

Maybe I should check out the next session and see what they really do at a toenail clinic. After all, isn’t that just what an “AgWalker” needs?

Until we walk again …

Uncategorized

Page 1,137 of 2,376
←
1
...
1,136
1,137
1,138
...
2376
→