Getting to Know Raven Industries

Cindy Zimmerman

The Raven Innovation Summit this week was a great chance to get to learn more about this dynamic and diverse company that manufacturers precision agriculture solutions.

This year was the 10th Innovation Summit and the first time that the company invited media to attend the event that brings Raven partners from around the world to company headquarters in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, according to Paul Welbig, Director of Marketing, Product Management and Slingshot Operations for Raven. “The reason why we did that is we have a big story to tell,” Paul said. “We decided to broaden the audience and help the ag media understand what Raven can offer and help communicate that message back out to the growers and others in the agribusiness community that helps to feed the world.”

The summit highlighted all of the Raven precision products and what is new, including a new smartphone app to see them all in the palm of your hand. “It’s basically a mobile product guide of Raven technology that’s very interactive,” said Paul. The app is available on both iPhone and Android platforms – just search for Raven Product Guide in your store. I should note that Raven has been the primary sponsor of our Agwired app since we launched it two years ago, which just proves how they embrace and support new technology!

This was a great event and I have to especially commend Jessica DeJong, Marketing Communications Coordinator, who for some reason I never got a photo of at the event. Which is sad because she looked fabulous every day even though she was fighting laryngitis that kept her from speaking above a whisper. By the third day she was in much better voice and through it all she was smiling and a great pleasure to work with.

Listen or download to my interview with Paul where he talks about the summit, what’s new, the new app, Raven’s global presence and more:
Interview with Paul Welbig, Raven

Check out photos from the summit – except any of Jessica! – at the link below:

2012 Raven Innovation Summit Photos

Audio, Precision Agriculture

Beef Board Approves Committee Restructuring Plan

Chuck Zimmerman

The Chairman of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board is Wesley Grau, Cow/calf and seedstock producer from Grady, N.M. He joined NCBA President J.D. Alexander on stage at the first general session to welcome about 700 cattle farmers from around the country to the Cattle Industry Summer Conference.

After the general session most attendees moved to the Joint CBB Business Session & NCBA Federation Forum where the main topic of discussion was a proposed restructuring of the Beef Checkoff joint committees which is part of the beef industry long range plan. I spoke with Wesley just before that meeting started.

Wesley says the summer meeting is an opportunity to talk about the proposed contracts being put in front of the operating committee and talk about the direction the Beef Checkoff needs to go. He says attendance here is great. When it comes to the committee restructuring proposal he says they “are very exciting. They tend to lend us efficiencies and adaptable maneuvers we’ve not had in the past.”

During the following CBB Business Session the Beef Board voted unanimously to approve the committee restructuring proposal. Now we’ll wait to see what the Federation does at its business meeting tomorrow.

The four core committees under the proposal are: Domestic Consumer Preference, Global Growth, Beef’s Image and Freedom to Operate. It’s a major restructuring that if fully approved will take some time to implement.

Listen to my interview with Wesley here: Interview with Wesley Grau

2012 Cattle Industry Summer Conference Photo Album

Uncategorized

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • CropLife America is proud to announce that submissions are now open for the second year of CLA’s Information Technology Innovation Award.
  • AGCO Application Equipment is seeking nominations for the 2012 Operator of the Year.
  • FMC Corporation announces the voting phase of its “Stand & Be Heard Anthem Singing Contest.”
  • ImmuCell launches the Immediate Immunity YouTube channel to help educate dairy and beef producers, veterinarians and the agricultural industry about newborn calf immunity.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Precision Ag More than Just Tools and Technology

    John Davis

    With the introduction of conservation and horticulture, precision ag is branching out. “This is an indication that precision agriculture goes beyond just tools and technology. It’s really a mindset,” said Steve Phillips with the International Plant Nutrition Institute and moderator of a session entitled, Precision A to Z for Practitioners III, at the recent International Conference on Precision Agriculture in Indianapolis, IN. During an interview with Chuck, Phillips said that a more holistic view is being taken of the entire cropping system, looking at environmental, economical and social sustainability. He added that his institute recognizes the value precision agriculture can have for implementing the 4Rs in crop inputs: the right source, at the right rate, in the right place at the right time. “[It] protects our waterways, protects grass buffers… any type of conservation structure we have in place.”

    And with precision horticulture, Phillips sees the value in using some of the techniques from large-scale crops on the smaller, high-value specialty crops, such as wine grapes, that will gain a larger international acceptance of these ideas.

    Phillips said they will look at the well-attended sessions from this conference and use that as a guide for next summer’s InfoAg Conference, July 16-18, 2013 in Springfield, Illinois. “We really hope to build on the momentum from last year, with 700 attendees and over 60 exhibitors. We’re really hoping to grow on that.”

    Listen to Chuck’s interview with Steve here: Interview with Steve Phillips with the International Plant Nutrition Institute

    11th International Conference on Precision Agriculture Photo Album

    AgWired coverage of the International Conference on Precision Agriculture is sponsored by John Deere
    Ag Groups, Audio, Conservation, Precision Agriculture

    2012 Cattle Industry Summer Conference

    Chuck Zimmerman

    The 2012 Cattle Industry Summer Conference is underway in Denver, CO. The opening general session is going on right now.

    I’ll be Beef Board Blogging once again for the Cattlemen’s Beef Board and will have stories to share here on AgWired soon. We’ve got a Beef Board Update session coming up where I’m sure I’ll get some interviews to share.

    Photos are being uploaded here: 2012 Cattle Industry Summer Conference Photo Album

    Beef, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA

    Raven Offers Solutions for Farmers Worldwide

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Raven Industries is helping farmers all over the world be more productive and efficient with precision agriculture solutions.

    At this week’s Raven Innovation Summit, I talked with Karl Erichsen of Effective Farming Solutions in Middleburg, South Africa who has been a distributor for 12 years.

    Karl says precision farming is very important in South Africa because of the wide variety in soil depth and classification. “That’s where precision farming technology is working in South Africa,” he said. “We’re bringing a whole new dimension to farming in South Africa.”

    Like anywhere else, Karl says guidance systems are in most demand. “We use unskilled operators to run the tractors,” he said. After guidance, variable rate application is most popular in South Africa.

    Karl says cellular connectivity provided by Slingshot has really taken off in his country. “Slingshot is a game changer in South Africa,” he said. Slingshot allows them to not only provide RTK corrections to tractors, but also remote support. “The farmer is far from the office, it’s 5-6 hours drive, now we can remotely lock in to the unit and help him to solve the problem,” said Karl.

    Listen to my interview with Karl here: Karl Erichsen, Raven Dealer, South Africa


    2012 Raven Innovation Summit Photos

    Audio, International, Precision Agriculture, Technology

    My First Shot

    Melissa Sandfort

    One jar – that’s all I got – and it wasn’t even a full jar but it made me proud. This was my first attempt at stewed tomatoes from the fresh ones I harvested from my garden. And I’ve got about 20 more tomatoes ripening in the window by the washer and dryer. It’s been so hot outside that I pick them once they show the least bit of pink and bring them inside to finish ripening.

    Instead of pressure-cooking the jar to seal the lid, I’m freezing it. My husband makes fun of me because I freeze everything, but I’ve never heard him complain about my cooking! I already have plans for these tomatoes, and if the winter is as cold and snowy as they’re predicting, homemade chili will hit the spot.

    It’s amazing what memories certain smells will evoke. As I was peeling the tomatoes it reminded me of being at my grandma’s house growing up. She was always cooking and freezing corn, stewing tomatoes, making applesauce or doing something else to preserve food. I appreciate her efforts more now because the freshness of summer lasts a little bit longer, and I see that by doing this, my recipe box has a little more variety during the cold winter months.

    Until we walk again …

    Uncategorized

    MAPPing… Mobile App’ing… MapShots’ Software

    John Davis

    Conferences are always great for seeing the latest and greatest in equipment and software, and the International Conference on Precision Agriculture in Indianapolis, IN was certainly no exception. Making the rounds through the vendors’ displays, Chuck caught up with Tim Taylor from MapShots, who told him about the latest apps his company has to work with their precision agronomy software AgStudio, designed to capture various types of precision ag data.

    “We’re releasing a web-based version of AgStudio, which provides access via the Internet to customers’ data, and then we have a mobile application platform announcement, which is primarily for field mapping and soil sampling applications and that allows for wireless work order and data exchange between the field and the AgStudio office application,” Taylor said, adding that they hope to have it out by the end of August.

    He said they want these new applications to lessen the need for the manual transfer of data from a data device, such as a USB drive, to the hardware back in the office by providing that wireless, automatic transfer, saving a step or two for the producer. “It’s just a matter of time before we no longer have to deal with the data cards.”

    The AgStudio mobile app right now is just for Apple products, but Taylor said they’re looking at expanding it into the Android market as well.

    Listen to Chuck’s interview with Tim here: Interview with Tim Taylor from MapShots

    11th International Conference on Precision Agriculture Photo Album

    AgWired coverage of the International Conference on Precision Agriculture is sponsored by John Deere
    Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Apps, Audio, International, Precision Agriculture

    USDA Apologizes for Meatless Mondays Gaffe

    Cindy Zimmerman

    After an internal USDA newsletter promoting “Meatless Mondays” was made public Wednesday, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack personally apologized to the president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and said the document was not only pulled from the website, it was edited and re-sent to USDA employees without suggestions that meat production was bad for the environment and human health.

    “We appreciate USDA’s swift action in pulling this disparaging statement off its website,” said NCBA president J.D. Alexander. “We appreciate USDA making this right. The agency is important to all cattlemen and women, especially as we face unprecedented challenges, including drought and animal rights extremist groups spreading fiction to consumers who need to know the importance of beef in a healthy diet.”

    “USDA did right by scrapping this statement and acknowledging the important role of America’s farm and ranch families in providing food for the world. USDA denouncing support of the Meatless Monday campaign is an important step in correcting misinformation about the safety and sustainability of U.S. beef production.”

    Thanks to Secretary Vilsack and other USDA representatives for responding so quickly. Let’s hope they find a new editor for the “Greening Update” newsletter!

    NCBA, USDA

    Ag Day Poster Art Contest Begins Aug. 1

    Melissa Sandfort

    The Agriculture Council of America and Successful Farming are encouraging young artists to celebrate modern agriculture through the first ever National Ag Day Poster Art Contest. A winning original piece of art will be chosen as the Official National Ag Day poster.

    The contest begins August 1 and is open to amateur artists enrolled in high school or college. The contest theme is Generations Nourishing Generations. Entries will be screened by a nine member jury. Finalists will then be judged through online voting to determine one winner.

    In addition, the artwork and a profile of the artist will be prominently featured in Successful Farming magazine and Ag Day correspondence. The winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship from Successful Farming. The artist will receive a portion of the proceeds from limited edition prints and the original artwork will be on display in a public location.

    The deadline for submitting entries is Midnight (CST), Oct. 31, 2012. For rules on the National Ag Day Poster Art Contest visit www.agday.org.

    Ag Day, Agribusiness