National Biodiesel Board Elects Governing Board

Melissa Sandfort

National Biodiesel Board members selected their trade association leadership, electing three returning governing board members and four new members to serve on the leadership committee to lead America’s advanced biofuel.

Officers elected to lead the board are:
• Gary Haer chairman, Renewable Energy Group, Inc.
• Ed Ulch, vice chair, Iowa Soybean Association
• Ron Marr, secretary, Minnesota Soybean Processors
• Steven Levy, treasurer, Sprague Operating Resources

Biodiesel board members also voted to fill seven board member spots. Board members elected to the Governing Board included treasurer Steven Levy and:
• Greg Anderson, Nebraska Soybean Board
• Jennifer Case, New Leaf Biofuels
• Mike Cunningham, ASA
• Brandon Foley, Sanimax
• Tim Keaveney, HERO BX
• John Wright, Owensboro Grain Company

Bob Metz, Robert Stobaugh, Kris Kappenman, Ed Hegland, and Jim Conway also continue to serve on the Governing Board.

Agribusiness, Biodiesel

Cleaner Soybean Fields, Higher Yields

Melissa Sandfort

Faced with the challenge of glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth pigweed, many Southern farmers have looked to the LibertyLink® soybean system as a possible solution, even if that means giving up yield potential.

However, a soybean systems trial program conducted by Monsanto in the Delta this season has demonstrated that farmers who plant Genuity® Roundup Ready 2 Yield® soybeans – and utilize Monsanto’s Roundup Ready PLUS™ Weed Management Solutions – can have just as clean, or even cleaner, fields than the LibertyLink soybean/herbicide system and higher yield potential.

The Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybean system had an average yield advantage of 6 bushels per acre compared with the LibertyLink system in the trial program. Results were based on 20 farmer side-by-side plot locations in Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Kentucky and the Missouri Bootheel during 2012. At current soybean prices of about $15 per bushel, that 6-bushel-per-acre yield advantage equals additional revenue of $90 per acre for the Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Yield system versus the LibertyLink system.

For 2013, the side-by-side trial program will be expanded to the central Midwest, where many farmers are facing challenges with waterhemp and marestail. Trial plots are planned in eastern Kansas, central Missouri, southern Illinois, southern Indiana and Ohio.

Agribusiness, Soybean

Important Cattlemen Issues For 2013

Jamie Johansen

From the farm bill to educating consumers, the beef cattle industry shares many of the same concerns facing agriculture as a whole. I talked with a couple of producer representatives at last week’s National Association of Farm Broadcasting Trade Talk about hot topics for cattlemen going into 2013.

Don Pemberton, Chairman of the NCBA Policy Division is also a beef farmer from central Missouri. He truly understands the ups and downs of the beef industry and brings a personal passion to his role at NCBA. Don discussed not only his outlook for the cattle markets and the Farm Bill, but how the recent drought affected him and his neighbors.

“We are doing what we can do from the Washington D.C. office. We need this Farm Bill passed, we are working with all of our counterparts to get congress to pass the Farm Bill. The version that passed the Senate, we are fine with. The version that passed the House Ag Committee, we are fine with. So, now that the election is over with I hope they can put politics aside and come together and get the Farm Bill passed before 2013.”

Listen to my complete interview with Don here: Don Pemberton - NCBA

Craig Uden, Chairman of NCBA’s Federation Division, works with all 45 beef councils across the country. He shared how Beef Checkoff dollars are going to educate influencer groups. These people consist of those vocal in social media, nutritionists, dietitians and others who really need to understand the difference between what beef is today and what they learned as a child.

“One thing we have seen with less numbers is less dollars. We have had to become very efficient. We have had very good organizational meetings to dive down and see where we need to be. One thing is we always want to get the money where the people are. How do we do that? We are working with a lot of influencer groups out there. The money comes in will be appropriated by the Beef Operations Committee and a lot of that will be directed to the state beef councils who are part of the federation to host influencers for tours. That has been very successful because a lot of people are removed from beef production and don’t understand how the cattle are raised and processed.”

Listen to my complete interview with Craig here: Craig Uden - NCBA Read More

Audio, BASF, Beef, Education, Livestock, NAFB, NCBA

What food are you thankful for?

Melissa Sandfort

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “How do the election results make you feel?”

Our poll results: Thirty-two percent said disgusted; twenty-six percent said happy; fifteen percent said afraid; nine percent said sad; seven percent said mad; five percent said depressed/suicidal and four percent said apathetic. So, it looks like there were a wide range of emotions as the votes were being tallied but an almost 50/50 were disgusted while the others were happy. Pretty even with how the election turned out!

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, ” What’s your favorite Thanksgiving food?” Turkey will most likely bless the tables of many, but does your family have a special Thanksgiving food that just makes your taste buds dance? Let us know!

ZimmPoll is sponsored by Rhea+Kaiser, a full-service advertising/public relations agency.

ZimmPoll

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • AgGateway’s seventh annual conference drew a record 230 professionals from more than 75 agricultural companies to discuss ongoing successes in implementing eBusiness within the agriculture industry.
  • The Association of Equipment Manufacturers announces the 2012 inductees into the AEM Hall of Fame.
  • Honor a Loved One This Holiday Season with recognition at the Farmer’s Walk of Fame at The National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame.
  • The National Grange is set to kick off its 146th Annual Convention Nov. 13-17 in Boise, Idaho.
Zimfo Bytes

BASF Launches Advanced Weed Control Website

Cindy Zimmerman

Coinciding with the National Association of Farm Broadcasting annual meeting last week, BASF launched a new resource to help farmers develop effective weed control programs – the Advanced Weed Control website (advancedweedcontrol.basf.us).

BASF Technical Market Manager Dr. Dan Westberg says the website was created with input from farmers to provide them with the latest information, recommendations and insights on effective weed control based on geography. “It has expert advice and information including videos from various weed scientists talking about how to develop a comprehensive weed management plan,” he explained. “With maps and a series of simple clicks, growers can drill down very easily to see what’s available on a local basis for their crop, their weeds and specifics about our products, both pre-emergence and post-emergence.”

This past season was a tough one when it came to getting effective pre-emergence control due to the drought and some new weed problems sprouted up. “Of real note was the discovery of palmer ameranth in Ohio and Indiana and also in Michigan that apparently has been introduced via cottonseed hulls that went into the dairy industry and then they spread the manure,” Dan said. “So it’s really critical that growers throughout the Midwest develop comprehensive weed management systems that encompass multiple sites of action, using a residual herbicide so they have a strong foundation of weed control up front, and developing a long term plan throughout the year.”

BASF is expanding its herbicide portfolio with the pending registration of Engenia, with the commercial launch anticipated for 2014, in time for the launch of dicamba-tolerant soybeans. Westberg says that in results from more than 300 soybean field trials conducted in 2011 and 2012, Engenia demonstrated effective control of key broadleaf weeds including glyphosate resistant Palmer amaranth, waterhemp, marestail, and common and giant ragweed.

Listen to my interview with Dr. Dan here: Dr. Dan Westberg with BASF

2012 NAFB Convention Photo Album

Audio, BASF, Soybean, weed management

Summer School for Appraisers & Farm Managers

John Davis

Growing up, no one liked to talk about the possibility of going to summer school. But the folks who attended the recent 83rd Annual Meeting and Trade Show of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers and AgroNomics Conference & Trade Show welcome the opportunity to take part in their organization’s Summer Education Week.

“It’s an intensified week, [and it’s open] to any member,” from newbies to experienced professionals, according to Paul Joerger, ASFMRA President. He added that the wide range of experience levels means ASFMRA needs to come up with topics that apply to everyone and their businesses. “One that comes to mind real quick is a negotiating class, [because] everybody’s negotiating something at sometime.”

And, echoing a common theme at the conference, Joerger said the networking members are able to do at this education week are invaluable. “That’s where you can find out about other ideas, you can bounce ideas, and that is as much as benefit as listening to experienced people speak in the classroom.”

He said the class is usually held in mid-July with signups held in mid-May.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Paul here: Interview with Paul Joerger, ASFMRA President

2012 Agronomics Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the ASFMRA Agronomics Conference is sponsored by Halderman Farm Management.

Agribusiness, Audio

Corn Farmers Have Anthem Option

Cindy Zimmerman

After years of planning, research and development, FMC has finally received EPA registration on the new herbicide, Anthem for broad spectrum weed control.

“What we’re really excited about is that it brings excellent control to the table of resistant weeds, whether it be trazine or glyphosate resistant,” said Roger Webster with FMC Corporation. “We’re seeing longer lasting control with this product, particularly on those small seeded broadleafs.” That includes waterhemp, lambsquarter, pig weed, palmer ameranth, and velvet leaf.

Roger says they plan to introduce Anthem for corn growers in next year and for soybean growers in 2014. “It brings a new mode of action to the marketplace that the grower is interested in,” said Roger.

Listen to an interview with Roger about Anthem here: Interview with Roger Webster

Audio, Corn, FMC, weed management

Advocating for ASFMRA

John Davis

One of the things talked about at the recent 83rd Annual Meeting and Trade Show of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers and AgroNomics Conference & Trade Show was how those with the Accredited Farm Manager (AFM) or Accredited Rural Appraiser (ARA) designations can come in handy, even down the road. Take Mark Williams, ARA from Michigan for example. He spent several years as a member but really inactive in ASFMRA. But he stayed active enough to take classes and get his accreditation.

“Several years ago, I started getting [more active] in the organization, and I then began to realize the value of networking with other appraisers,” he told Chuck during an interview. And now, Williams said he wouldn’t miss an ASFMRA conference, and he pushed others to follow his path of getting that accreditation and becoming more active. “Get on board. Get your education. Get your accreditation.”

Williams said the networking has really opened up some opportunities, and he encouraged others, especially young people with a passion for agriculture, to let it help their careers, too. “Come on aboard, and grab a-hold of somebody, and let them pull you up the ladder they way people pulled me up the ladder.”

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Mark here: Interview with Mark Williams, ARA

2012 Agronomics Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the ASFMRA Agronomics Conference is sponsored by Halderman Farm Management.

Agribusiness, Audio

Penton Media Buys Farm Progress

Melissa Sandfort

Penton Media acquired Farm Progress from Fairfax Media Limited of Sydney, Australia, significantly expanding its agriculture sector footprint to become the largest and most diversified agriculture information business in North America, offering live events, digital products, data, marketing services and publications. This acquisition directly supports a key Penton strategy of increasing investment in existing sectors that offer strong long-term growth potential, and it more than doubles Penton’s position in agriculture, which becomes the company’s largest sector group. The purchase price was $79.9 million before certain adjustments.

The acquisition boosts Penton’s US agriculture market coverage, connecting it to nearly 75% of the 2.2 million farms and ranches in the US and an estimated 85% of the nation’s annual agricultural gross domestic product.

The business case for combining Penton Agriculture and Farm Progress is compelling: the two companies have deep market and content expertise, but the agriculture sub-industries and geographies they serve have minimal overlap. Together, they represent a uniquely powerful strategic reach advantage for any agriculture marketer looking to maximize their business results.

Farm Progress will become part of the Penton Agricultural Group reporting to Penton Senior Vice President, Dan Bagan. Jeff Lapin, president of Farm Progress, will leave the company at the end of the year.

Farm Progress will remain headquartered in St. Charles, IL.

Agribusiness, Media