TeeJet SraySelect App

Chuck Zimmerman

It’s ag app day I guess. TeeJet Technologies just announced their SraySelect App.

TeeJet Technologies is pleased to offer growers and custom applicators a new tool for simplifying their spraying operations. The SpraySelect mobile app allows the user to quickly and easily choose the proper spray tip for a given application. Just enter speed, tip spacing and target rate, select your droplet size category and a list of recommended tips is provided. Specific gravity input is also included to for use when applying liquid fertilizers.

SpraySelect supports US and Metric units along with six languages – English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, German and Russian. It is available at no cost for both Apple® and Android™ devices. To download, visit the app store and search for “TeeJet,” or go to the following links:
Android: https://play.google.com/store/search?q=teejet&c=apps
Apple: http://itunes.apple.com/app/sprayselect/id520882606?mt=8

Apps, Irrigation

Re-Locating ZimmComm World Headquarters

Chuck Zimmerman

This is a view to get used to. Pensacola Beach on a pretty weekend day.

In case you didn’t already know, the ZimmComm team selected this area to re-locate ZimmComm World Headquarters. We’ll actually be at a Cantonment address which is a north side burb of Pensacola. It’s just a short drive to this photo location though!

So, over the next two weeks the ZimmComm team will be very busy getting the move completed. Pardon our “dust” in the meantime although we’ll be online every day. We’re from the Sunshine State and love the Show Me State but it’s time to get back “home.” And in case you’re wondering, this doesn’t mean any changes to ZimmComm New Media as you know it. We’ll just be closer to the beach and to an airport!

ZimmComm Announcement

Ethanol Rocks

Chuck Zimmerman

Okay, I think most of us will agree that a little ethanol on the rocks, rocks. Sorry, couldn’t help it :). Ethanol Rocks is actually a National Corn Growers Association video contest.

NCGA is conducting a nationwide competition to promote the advantages of ethanol in motor vehicles. The NCGA “Ethanol Rocks” Video Contest invites high school and college students to produce a promotional video that highlights the benefits of this fuel. NCGA acknowledges the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association for sharing its success with the “Fuel the Future” video competition.

Eligibility

Active high school (grades 9-12) and college students, individually or collectively, are eligible to submit entries. One $1,500 first place award and one $500 second place award will be issued in both the high school and the college level categories. Each award will be issued as one lump-sum payment, i.e., no multiple distributions of winnings. Students from all scholastic backgrounds/majors are eligible to enter, individually or through organizations, e.g., A/V classes, Ag Clubs, FFA, Science Clubs, Art Classes. Appropriate tax on the awards will be the responsibility of the winners.

Get more information here and entry form/rules here.

Biofuels, Corn, Ethanol, NCGA

Pioneer Corn Replant Calculator

Chuck Zimmerman

The apps for ag just keep coming. Here’s a new one from Pioneer that gives corn growers a way to make a difficult decision on replanting. It’s the Replant Calculator.

The tool helps producers decide whether to keep their current stand or replant where their crops have been impacted by weather, pests or other issues.

The calculator is available on Mobile Pioneer.com via the tools section, which can be accessed through the main navigation menu. It takes into account the original date for planting, original stand target and resulting plant population, and the possible replanting date. Growers are asked to consider their own likely replanting seed and input costs. The calculator presents both scenarios, current stand and replant stand, and provides estimates associated with each choice.

The timing of a replant decision means growers could evaluate different aspects of crop production. Early decisions often are based on plant stand and plant distribution. As the season moves on, the calendar becomes the key factor because yields decline with delayed planting. That said, replanting might not necessarily guarantee a grower will achieve the expected yield if the date is delayed enough.

The replant calculator is based on a long-standing chart developed by Dr. Emerson Nafziger of the University of Illinois and widely used across the Corn Belt, which illustrates the effects of planting date and plant population of grain yield for the central Corn Belt. The new calculator also takes into account the current shift to higher populations, as suggested by Pioneer research and data.

Mobile Pioneer.com is optimized for iPhone, iPod Touch, Android, Blackberry and feature phones. It uses technology that provides geography-specific content, reducing the steps required to reach useful information.

Apps, Corn, Pioneer

Animal Agriculture Alliance Summit Wrap-up

Chuck Zimmerman

To get a wrap up of the 2012 Animal Agriculture Alliance Stakeholders Summit I spoke with President/CEO Kay Johnson Smith. Kay was given these beautiful flowers in recognition of her service during the organization’s celebration of its 25th anniversary.

Kay says this year’s Summit was a little different than normal since it focused more on how to effectively communicate with the consumer and better understand what the consumer wants and needs to know. It also provided a cross-species networking opportunity which is one of the benefits to this type of meeting. I asked Kay what stood out in her mind after listening to the presentations. One was a step by step method to communicate with the consumer which gave specific workable ways to accomplish this. Another was presentation on the PennAg Industries Association Today’s Agriculture display at the 2012 PA Farm Show.

You can hear my interview with Kay here: Interview with Kay Johnson Smith

2012 Animal Agriculture Alliance Stakeholders Summit Photo Album

Thanks to the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and United Soybean Board for their sponsorship of our coverage of this year’s Summit.

Ag Groups, Animal Agriculture, Audio

AgRacer Leading The Race

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast 349Just over 100,000 downloads! That’s a big number and that’s how many iTunes downloads there are in under three months for AgRacer by Fastline, the first ag game app for mobile devices. I got the update this morning from Tim Hess, Fastline President. That number will continue to grow now that the app is fully available for Android devices as well. Tim says the pace of daily downloads has been pretty consistent since the app was introduced during the National Farm Machinery Show. So, when it comes to creating a new communications tool in today’s world in the ag sector it looks like Fastline has set the bar.

Tim says the app has surpassed their expectations and has met their initial goals which include introducing Fastline to a younger age demographic. He says feedback has been great and includes from users in countries outside the United States. So they’re reaching a global audience! There are also some creative sponsor opportunities like product placement within the app available according to Tim, some of which are already in the works. He says AgRacer will soon have new upgrades and updates, including two additional vehicles and a new track. By the way, AgRacer is free to download!

Listen to this week’s ZimmCast here: An AgRacer Update

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.

Apps, Audio, Media, ZimmCast

Morning Surprise

Melissa Sandfort

So this morning I was going about my usual routine (even had time to throw a pie in the oven) getting my boys off to work and to the babysitter. I came home, continued that routine and was off to work when my husband comes in the door and says, “Did you see what was out in the pasture?” Nope. Hadn’t even bothered to look in that direction.

The past few weeks we’d thought Thelma was looking a little chunky, but she’s always been a little bigger than Louise. Now we know why.

This little filly was born last night in the middle of a rain storm. Look at those long, knobby knees. She’s absolutely adorable.

Now it has us wondering if the other one is bred, too! It must have happened a day or two before we got them last summer. Ah, the daily surprises on the farm!

Until we walk again …

Uncategorized

Advocating For Animal Agriculture

Chuck Zimmerman

The Chairman of the Animal Agriculture Alliance, Chris Ashworth, closed out the 2012 Stakeholder Summit after introducing our final speaker. I visited with him to learn how things are going with the organization.

Chris talks about the fact that they are celebrating 25 years of advocating for animal agriculture representing all animal species. He says that this past year they’ve had a lot of success at the state level impacting legislation that supports agriculture. He says the Stakeholders Summit had a record attendance and that social media came to the forefront as a tool to communicate agriculture’s message. Yes indeed!

You can hear my interview with Chris here: Interview with Chris Ashworth

2012 Animal Agriculture Alliance Stakeholders Summit Photo Album

Thanks to the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and United Soybean Board for their sponsorship of our coverage of this year’s Summit.

Ag Groups, Animal Agriculture, Audio

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Kinze Manufacturing announces a new mounted planter line available for the spring 2013 planting season: the line will include two models, the 3110 Rigid and the 3140 Stack Fold.
  • Farmers asked to demonstrate the high sustainability performance of U.S. soy: visit www.CoolBean.info to complete the confidential and anonymous Soybean Assessment Tool or Whole-Farm Assessment Tool questionnaires.
  • Novozymes and Syngenta announced a global agreement under which Syngenta will work with Novozymes to commercialize JumpStart technology.
  • Georgia peanut farmers reaffirmed the Georgia Peanut Commission by a vote of 87.6 percent during the recent referendum, held March 15 through April 15.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Moon Shots

    Chuck Zimmerman

    The SuperMoon tonight made me think of these lyrics. Honk if you know the 5th Dimension and remember them.

    When the moon is in the Seventh House
    And Jupiter aligns with Mars
    Then peace will guide the planets
    And love will steer the stars

    The clouds cleared out just in time for tonight’s Cinco de Mayo moon event here in the new home of ZimmComm New Media. If we’re friends on Facebook you can find a few more here. If not then I hope you remembered to look.

    Uncategorized