A Toast to Anita

Chuck Zimmerman

Anita Vanderwert ToastThis is a toast to Anita Vanderwert. One of our very good friends who is leaving Learfield Communications and Brownfield Ag News for a new career opportunity. I’m sure we’ll still see Anita somewhere out there on the agriblogging highway though. This week Learfield had a farewell party which we couldn’t attend. But thanks to Joyce Steinman, we got pictures!

Learfield AnitaHere are some words from the invitation to Anita’s farewell party. It’s not too late to send a message in if you know Anita. See how below.

Anita Vanderwert has been doing this network thing for a long time, and after 18 years she has decided it’s time to make a change. Anita’s position at Brownfield has provided her with the opportunity to cross paths with many people. And you know, once you meet Anita, it’s very easy to soon become her friend.

While we will miss her greatly, we are excited for Anita and her new adventure and nothing is more fitting than to send her off with a fond and fun farewell toast.

If you are unable to attend, please send a note or email with a memory or two that we can share with Anita as we toast her new endeavor.

Send your cards or notes to:

Anita Farewell
c/o Myra Verslues
Brownfield Network
505 Hobbs Road
Jefferson City, MO 65109

Or email using the subject line: Anita Farewell to mverslues@learfield.com.

Media

Ag Leader’s Holiday Hours

Melissa Sandfort

Insights Weekly As 2012 comes to an end, we are so grateful to our loyal customers and hard-working dealers who have made this year so successful! We are excited to begin 2013, and are confident it will be even more bountiful than last year. 2013 Dealer Training is set to kick-off Jan. 7, and the Ag Leader Technical Support Staff is prepared to offer another excellent training season for our dealers and customers. If you are a dealer and have not been to the Ag Leader Academy to receive training, resolve to attend a few in 2013.

Technical Support will be closed from Monday, Dec. 24, 2012, through Jan. 2, 2013, during which time our phone system will not be accepting voicemails. We will resume our normal 8am-6pm, Monday–Friday working hours beginning on Jan. 2, 2013.

On behalf of Technical Support, we would like to wish a safe and happy holiday season to all of our customers and dealers! We look forward to another year of providing you with quality customer service!

You can reach Ag Leader Customer Support at 515-232-5363 or support@agleader.com.

Become a fan of Ag Leader on Facebook today, and get the latest precision ag videos on the YouTube channel. For more information about Ag Leader products and services, or to visit the blog site, go to www.agleader.com.

Ag Leader, Precision Agriculture

2012 National Corn Yield Contest Winners

Melissa Sandfort

ncyc-logo-color-350-127Advanced production techniques, informed growing practices and improved seed varieties helped corn growers achieve high yields in the National Corn Growers Association 2012 National Corn Yield Contest. Despite a severe drought that plagued most of the Corn Belt, entrants continued to far surpass the national average corn yield, even doubling it in some circumstances.

The National Corn Yield Contest is in its 48th year and remains NCGA’s most popular program for members. With 8,262 entries, the 2012 NCGA National Corn Yield Contest neared the participation record set last year of 8,425 entries. Notably, 2012 still marks a dramatic trend toward higher entry rates, far surpassing the previous entry record set in 2010 of 7,125 entries.

The 18 winners in six production categories had verified yields averaging more than 316.3222 bushels per acre, compared to the projected national average of 122.3 bushels per acre in 2012. Notably, while the national average declined significantly from a projection of 146.7 bushels per acre at this time in 2011, the contest average rose by more than three bushels per acre. While there is no overall contest winner, yields from first, second and third place farmers overall production categories topped out at 384.3609.

The national and state contest winners will be honored at the 2013 Commodity Classic in Kissimmee, Fla. Feb. 28 – March 2. Contest winners will also be featured in a special edition of Progressive Farmer magazine.

Click here for the complete list of National winners.

Agribusiness, Corn, NCGA

Slick Planting with Seed SLIK

Chuck Zimmerman

SeedSLIK GraphiteWinter is a time when farmers can look forward to spring planting, especially if stuck inside due to a winter blizzard! This next installment in our series of interviews about Superior Graphite agricultural products will get you looking ahead. In this post we’ll look at a product line called Seed SLIK. I spoke once again with Barry Lee, Product Manager, Coatings & Lubricants. We focused on Seed SLIK Graphite and Seed SLIK Talc. It is common practice to mix a seed lubricant with seeds for planting to make sure skips don’t happen where a seed does not get planted where it should. That can affect yield. Besides the seed benefit, these products are also beneficial to the machinery itself.

Graphite seed flow lubricants, are made from high quality powdered graphite powders from environmentally safe, natural mineral, and will not hurt seeds, or plantings as they grow. Small seeds benefit from the addition of graphite, allowing them to slide easily off the planter plates.

SeedSLIK TalcSeed SLIK Talc provides similar benefits and features as the Graphite product but has an added benefit of not affecting optical sensors, although it is susceptible to moisture. Barry says the best of both worlds is a blended Seed SLIK product which contains both graphite and talc.

Seed SLIK™ has the highest quality powdered seed flow lubricants available on the market. Talc powder is an environmentally safe, natural mineral, that will not hurt seeds or plantings as they grow. Talc seed flow lubricants are used in mechanical plate and vacuum planters for increased lubricity and wear protection. Talc is a good alternative to graphite for planters with new electronic seed meters that sometimes give false readings with graphite. Small seeds benefit from the addition of talc allowing them to slide easily off the planter plates.

You can get more information on these products on the Slip Plate website or connect with the company on Facebook or LinkedIn.

Listen to my interview with Barry here: Interview with Barry Lee

Agribusiness, Audio, Farming, Precision Agriculture, Seed

GROWMARK System Makes Aquisitions

Melissa Sandfort

growmarkGROWMARK, Inc., Bloomington, Ill., announced an agreement has been reached to acquire Meier Oil Products., Inc., and Manito Transit. Meier Oil Products, Inc. and Manito Transit have been a family owned business since 1936 and their business has consisted of a trucking company, a fuel terminal facility in Ashkum and bulk fuel facilities at Kankakee, Pontiac, Sheldon and Champaign, all in Illinois.

The acquisition strengthens the GROWMARK System through collaboration between Evergreen FS, Heritage FS and Illini FS and GROWMARK Energy.

Agribusiness, GROWMARK

The View From Inside

Melissa Sandfort

SnowLast night we had our first snow of the season, if you can call it a snow. It was more like hurricane winds blowing around a few specks of white stuff. The roads aren’t bad but I don’t dare take my little car out for fear of getting blown off the road!

Our horse decided that cold triumphed over food and is standing in the barn out of the wind. And the two male cats that typically uphold their battle lines have decided to huddle together on a bale of hay.

I’ve already been asked three times by our son, “Do you want to farm with me?” Maybe I will have to take the afternoon off to do that because after all, “real” farmers don’t have the day off so why should pretend farmers?

And as much as I dislike snow, we need the moisture. I’m afraid the sled might not make it out of storage again this year.

Until we walk again …

ASTA

Is your tree real or artificial?

Melissa Sandfort

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, ”How do you plan to travel this holiday?”

Our poll results: Fifty-seven percent said car; twenty percent said people are coming to my house; nine percent said I’m boycotting the holidays; six percent said other; three percent said plane, bus and walk; and no one is taking the train. Looks like the roads will be full of travelers this holiday season so be safe as they’re talking about the possibility of a white Christmas!

12.19.12graph1

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “What kind of Christmas tree do you have?” If you have family at your house that are similar to mine, they’re allergic to real trees so ours is, and has to be, artificial. Let us know!

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

ZimmPoll

Season’s Greetings from Alltech

Chuck Zimmerman

Alltech HolidayIt’s time now for a holiday message from our friends at Alltech. Enjoy some world class music!

Season’s Greetings from Alltech

In the spirit of the season we hope you enjoy this sample of performances from the Alltech Holiday Celebration of Song with the UK Opera Theatre.

Alltech believes in community involvement. The Alltech Vocal Scholarship Competition is the largest competition of its kind in the world. Held each spring at the University of Kentucky in the United States, talented young singers from across the world compete for more than half a million dollars in prizes and music scholarships. During the holiday season Alltech along with UK Opera Theatre, led by Professor of voice Everett McCorvey, puts on a community concert – the Alltech Holiday Celebration of Song which features these talented young artists.

Agribusiness, Alltech, Video