Other New Products Promoted During Anthem Tour

John Davis

While the focus of the recent Anthem Field Plot Tour in Ames, Iowa, has been on FMC‘s new herbicide, Anthem, farmers are also hearing about some other new FMC products in the works. One of those is Marvel. “This is a combination of two PPO products,” Brent Neuberger, Senior Technical Sales Manager for FMC, told Chuck during an interview. Neuberger said since it is actually two products, the soybean-only compound will give some differences in spectrum without sacrificing the individual control of each product.

He said they will soon be submitting a package to EPA, looking for approval to make it available for next year’s growing season. Since it is two products already approved, he expects a pretty quick turnaround from the government on this compound. Neuberger said look for FMC to have more information on Marvel at the trade shows coming up this winter.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Brent here: Interview with Brent Neuberger, Senior Technical Sales Manager for FMC

You can find photos from the event here: FMC Anthem Field Plot Tour Photos

Agribusiness, Audio, FMC

Bayer CropScience Opens New Greenhouse

Chuck Zimmerman

Bayer CropScience is about to cut the ribbon on the grand opening of Greenhouse 5 in RTP, NC. I’m here for the grand opening and will be conducting interviews and learning more about this new facility and the kind of work Bayer is doing in the seed and trait area.

To get a preview I spoke with Scott Kohne during the dinner get together for our group at Chatham Hill Winery. Our group got a fascinating tour from Marek Wojciechowski, Owner/Winemaker, that included a barrel tasting and a post dinner wine tasting. Let’s just say I know where to get some good North Carolina wine!

Scott says that “Bayer wants to show that we are growing a business in this seeds and traits industry. We’re traditionally known as more of a chemical company but we are expanding and growing a seeds and traits business that we feel will be a large and key competitor for this type of seeds and traits activity.”

Listen to my interview with Scott here: Interview with Scott Kohne

I’m putting photos from the Bayer event here: Bayer CropScience Greenhouse 5 Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Bayer

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

    Drop in USDA Estimates Talk of Wyffels Event

    John Davis

    Some significant drops in USDA’s expected corn and soybean yields due to the drought have been the talk of the recent Wyffels Hybrids Corn Strategies event. “USDA took 20 bushels off of its yield, end of July, and dropping the soybean yield down to 40 and a half bushels… that makes a huge statement, and USDA probably thinks it’s smaller than that,” said Arlan Suderman, Market Analyst, Farm Futures Magazine. He talked about corn prices during the event, and in an interview with Chuck, said that big of a drop in yields will mean a lot… once the funds traders start looking at the corn market. “They’re still more worried about Europe, and so if they were to happen to come in, we could drive prices much higher than what’s justified.”

    Suderman said we’re not at the same level of drought widespread as in 1988. But he cautions that if we do hit that level, it could cause some real problems in the corn market. He’s got some great tips on how to marginalize risks in the complete interview with Chuck here: Interview with Arlan Suderman, Market Analyst, Farm Futures Magazine

    2012 Wyffels Hybrids Corn Strategies Photo Album

    Agribusiness, Audio, Corn, Soybean, USDA

    Peanut Growers Gather to Work and Play

    Cindy Zimmerman

    The 14th annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference kicked off Thursday with the usual scoop of southern hospitality at the ice cream registration reception.

    Georgia Peanut Commission Executive Director Don Koehler is very excited about this year’s meeting of the Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi peanut producers.

    “It’s our biggest conference we’ve ever had, largest attendance. We’ve got more sponsors, we’ve got more going on,” Don says. “What’s really important is we’ve got a fantastic program this year.”

    That includes sessions today on a variety of topics such as nutrition and research, and an update on the farm bill situation from the Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee on Saturday. Don says peanut growers are much happier with the bill developing in the House, since the Senate bill basically left them out of it. “There’s no safety net for our farmers (in the Senate bill),” he said. “The House has given us a little better safety net and we’re very appreciative to Chairman Lucas.”

    We’ll be posting all of the SPGC happenings on the SPGC blog.

    Listen to my interview with Don here: Don Koehler Interview

    Check out the SPGC photo album

    Audio, Farm Bill, Peanuts, SPGC

    GROWMARK: Uniting for Conservation is Refreshing

    John Davis

    Different groups coming together for a common good… that’s the name of the game on the recent Indian Creek Watershed Project Field Tour. Chuck caught up with one of our good friends from GROWMARK, Howard Brown, manager of agronomy services and one of the participants during the tour. He said it was refreshing to see various groups coming together to promote that common cause: conserving resources.

    “It’s not about selling one thing or promoting one idea. It’s collectively a systems approach to nitrogen management,” Brown said. He added that if farmers dedicate themselves to only one approach to nitrogen management, they will fail. The dry summer was a classic example of that this year. If farmers only put all their nitrogen on at once post-emergence, they wouldn’t see much value out of that nitrogen because the rains didn’t come. And that also sets up more nitrogen runoff later on. Brown suggested an incremental approach to nitrogen application to minimize any liabilities. It’s just part of GROWMARK’s overall approach to making things work better for their member owners.

    Listen to Chuck’s interview with Howard here: Interview with Howard Brown, GROWMARK manager of agronomy services

    2012 Indian Creek Watershed Project Field Tour Photo Album

    AgWired coverage of the CTIC Indian Creek Watershed Field Tour is sponsored by AGROTAIN
    Agribusiness, Audio, Conservation, CTIC, Farming, GROWMARK

    Precision Farmer of the Year From Australia

    Chuck Zimmerman

    The recipients of the 2012 PrecisionAg Awards of Excellence were honored during the International Conference on Precision Agriculture. Thanks to Paul Schrimpf, group editor of the CropLife Media Group, for the photo since I could not stay for the luncheon at which the awards were presented. Pictured are the award winners with Elliott Nowels (l), Director of the PrecisionAg Institute, which manages the awards. I did get a chance to visit with the Precision Farmer of the Year, David Cox, DAVCO, and learned more about how he’s using precision agriculture on his sugar cane farm in Australia. You can listen to that interview below.

    Three outstanding individuals have been chosen to receive the 2012 PrecisionAg Awards of Excellence, an annual program honoring exceptional achievement in precision agriculture adoption, use, and education. The awards are sponsored by the PrecisionAg Institute and its supporting partners. This sixth class of recipients included for the first time a grower from outside the United States. Below is the 2012 class of recipients:

    Crop Adviser/Entrepreneur Award

    Darryl Starr, Advanced Ag Solutions, LLC, Lafayette, IN

    Educator/Researcher Award

    Terry Brase, Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, IA

    Precision Farmer of the Year Award

    David Cox, Ayr, Queensland, Australia

    Listen to my interview with David here: Interview with David Cox

    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, Farming, Precision Agriculture

    FMC’s Anthem to Slay the Dragon of Waterhemp

    John Davis

    Weed control and management was a big topic of discussion during the recent Anthem Field Plot Tour in Ames, Iowa, and one weed seems to be standing out this summer more than the rest. “Waterhemp is currently THE dragon,” said Dr. Mike Owen of Iowa State University. “It’s the one that is the big problem. It’s the one that’s going to increase in prominence, in importance, in resistance to herbicides, and in its difficulty to control.”

    Owen told Chuck during an interview that he believes Anthem by FMC, hopefully released this fall by the EPA, will do a good job in helping farmers slay that water hemp dragon and whatever else might be bedeviling their fields. “It’s a good, solid product. It’s one that I think is very important.” He added that Anthem is in the family of herbicides that control long-chain fatty acids… which makes it good at controlling the small seed broadleaf weeds, such as waterhemp and lambsquarters.

    Hear more of what Owen told Chuck here: Interview with Dr. Mike Owen of Iowa State University

    You can find photos from the event here: FMC Anthem Field Plot Tour Photos

    Agribusiness, Audio, FMC

    Time for the Southern Peanut Growers Conference

    Cindy Zimmerman

    The SPGC blog is ready for the 14th Annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference being held Thursday through Sunday, once again at the Edgewater Beach Resort, Panama City Beach, Fla.

    This will be the 5th year that the annual conference of peanut growers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi will be covered start to finish on this blog in photos, audio and video.

    The three-day event provides farmers an opportunity to learn more about the industry and issues affecting them while also enjoying a relaxing time at the beach. This year’s conference general sessions provide farmers with information on how the peanut industry is helping fight world hunger, legislative updates, uncontrollable costs on the farm and peanut research. In addition to the conference sessions the event focuses on the family by offering a ladies program and a golf tournament.

    The legislative update will be of particular interest this year with Congress in the midst of negotiating a new farm bill and one of the major players in the process will be attending SPGC. House Agriculture Committee chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) will be able to enlighten conference goers on the current status of farm legislation and what might happen next.

    I will be the SPGC blogger once again this year as Chuck has back to back events and he is jealous that I will be seeing one of our favorite groups from college that we never did see. Atlanta Rhythm Section will be entertaining the peanut growers on Saturday night, courtesy of Syngenta. I’m pretty excited about that!

    SPGC is a great industry meeting that we enjoy attending every year – just the right mix of work and play! Check out the SPGC blog for all the highlights.

    Peanuts, SPGC

    Going for the Good Stuff

    Melissa Sandfort

    Last week was county fair week and that means one of our local towns was filled with carnival sights, funnel cake smells and 4-H animal sounds. Our son loved every minute of it and the entire time I kept thinking how much better this all was when I was a kid – funny how growing up ruins everything.

    Getting to see all of the animals was the highlight of the weekend. And much to my surprise, I never was asked, “Mommy, can we have chickens? Can we have a rabbit?” He seems to be content with black kitty and our horses.

    We were touring the goats (which were my son’s favorite) when I caught sight of the smartest one in the show arena. Can you see him sticking his head through the fence chowing down on the bag of feed? I had to laugh and think to myself – “Follow your nose little guy! That’s right – it’s 100 degrees and if you can get a little extra nourishment, the judges will never know.”

    As our son grows and is able to “do” more at local events, I get a clearer picture of where our summer days are headed…showing our horse Thelma in 4-H. I’m just not sure I’m ready for a goat yet.

    Until we walk again …

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