First Snow

Melissa Sandfort

I was at a loss for what to write about today and then Mother Nature stepped in and delivered the first snow of the season. Western Nebraska had between 6 to 8 inches on Saturday but we only had rain (and I’m not complaining). Today is a different story. We’re only supposed to get an inch, but it’s much-needed moisture for the fields. Farmers had been busy to the bone applying anhydrous the past month but activity in the fields came to a hault more than a week ago.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln extension specialists say that 12 inches of snow could provide farmers 0.8 to one inch of additional soil moisture in the soil profile. That moisture could make a difference of 8 to 12 additional bushels per acre of corn yield. That moisture is especially valuable to dryland crops and the irrigation farmer benefits from reduced irrigation pumping costs, too. Al Dutcher, state climatologist, says precipitation during the winter recharge period of Oct. 1 to April 30 is critical to Nebraska crop production.

I’ll put on my snow boots and drive on muddy roads if it’s helping the farmers. Let it snow!

Until we walk again …

Uncategorized

Financial Impact Of Eliminating PRRS

Chuck Zimmerman

There is a serious financial impact from the PRRS disease in pigs and at the Boehringer Ingelheim PRRS Seminar we learned how much. Dr. Derold Holtkamp, Iowa State University, made a presentation titled, “Bio-economics: The Impact of PRRS & PRRS Control. He had recently completed a Pork Board cost of PRRS study and says they were able to use that data to calculate the impact of the disease in an area control project.

He says they looked at a Minnesota project which they felt best exemplified success at elimination of the disease and asked the question, “What was the value of the productivity improvements in that county after they successfully eliminated the virus there?” So they made a comparison between having the virus eliminated and projecting out to 2018, to if the area had continued in that time period without having the virus eliminated. The difference was positive $4.2 million to the county, using a net present value analysis, if they completed the project. That sounds like real value for going to the effort of getting rid of this disease!

You can listen to my interview with Derold here: Dr. Derold Holtkamp Interview

2011 Boehringer Ingelheim PRRS ARC&E Seminar Photo Album

Agribusiness, Animal Health, Audio, Boehringer Ingelheim, Swine

South-East Iowa PRRS Project Update

Chuck Zimmerman

Providing a report on the progress of the South-East Iowa PRRS ARC&E Project during the BIVI PRRS Seminar was Dr. Tim Loula, Swine Vet Center. He says these projects to try to eliminate Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome are similar to ones conducted some time ago for Pseudorabies. He says the Iowa program was started in a very pig dense area to get ready to “clean up” this virus. The project was started in 2010 and the goal was to have everyone do the same thing. He says it’s going to be a long journey.

Tim says they have about eighty percent buy in from producers in the area which has taken a lot of legwork. They’ve started mapping and have some early indication that the efforts have reduced some finishing mortality. This is going to be a multi-year project since PRRS is a very difficult virus and travels very fast in pig dense areas. If successful the area would be expanded and copied in other similar areas.

You can listen to my interview with Tim here: Dr. Tim Loula Interview

2011 Boehringer Ingelheim PRRS ARC&E Seminar Photo Album

Agribusiness, Animal Health, Audio, Boehringer Ingelheim

Ag Aviators Facing Unnecessary Regulations

Cindy Zimmerman

naaaLike all of agriculture, aerial applicators are facing potentially onerous regulations that could ground them if they are allowed to continue.

The biggest issue they are dealing with right now is the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, which National Agricultural Aviation Association executive director Andrew Moore told me just went into effect on Halloween. “It’s kind of a scary regulation,” said Andrew of the regulation which impacts pesticide application near water. “The problem is that it’s duplicative of everything that already exists to protect the environment in regard to pesticide regulation.”

naaaAndrew says the NPDES would require a great deal of paper work on the part of applicators. “FIFRA already regulates the safety of pesticides to water, so this is a completely unnecessary burdensome rule.” In addition, Andrew says they are very considered about lawsuits under the new regulation.

So, NPDES was a big topic at the NAAA convention in Las Vegas this week, where workshops were held and applicators were educated about the current status of the federal rule and where it stands at the state level. Andrew says they are also urging aerial applicators – and really anyone in the agriculture industry – to contact their senators about the issue. “Because we’ve been successful in passing legislation that would exempt pesticide applications over water for FIFRA approved pesticides,” said Andrew. The measure has been passed by the House and has gone through the Senate Agriculture Committee. “We believe we have the votes in the Senate but it’s not being brought to the floor for a vote,” he said.

Listen to my interview with Andrew here: NAAA executive director Andrew Moore

2011 NAAA Convention Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2011 NAAA Convention is sponsored by BASF.
Audio, BASF, Environment, NAAA

Sharing PRRS and PRRS Control Information

Chuck Zimmerman

This is my favorite Dr. Laura. She’s Dr. Laura Batista, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica and she was our moderator at the PRRS ARC&E Seminar in Chicago last week. I had to wait until today to get these posts done (more coming) since I had to re-voice my part of my interviews due to losing my voice end of last week. It’s almost back to normal.

So Dr. Batista says the goal of the seminar was to share all the new information about PRRS and PRRS control projects. By bringing a diverse group of scientists and veterinarians together BIVI hopes this will improve the spread of information and collaboration and perhaps avoid duplication of efforts which would save on resources. The seminar was divided into three sections. First was a report on a couple of area control projects. Then the presentations focused on the different tools that are available like mapping and monitoring and surveillance. Then the seminar ended in an open forum for questions and answers and additional sharing of information.

You can listen to my interview with Laura here: Dr. Laura Batista Interview

2011 Boehringer Ingelheim PRRS ARC&E Seminar Photo Album

Agribusiness, Animal Health, Audio, Boehringer Ingelheim

Ag Aviators All in the Family

Cindy Zimmerman

naaaAt this year’s National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA) convention, I had the pleasure of meeting a wonderful family that is dedicated to the business of aerial crop protection in North Dakota.

Left to right, they are Jayse Wharam, his mother and father Vernie and Glen, and brother Chris. Glen is the owner of Valley Sprayers in Park River, ND and a member of the NAAA board of directors and Jayce is a pilot with the company. Chris is a tech services rep with BASF in North Dakota, and Verni is the glue that keeps them all together.

Glen purchased Valley Sprayers in 1995 because flying was in his blood. “I remember flying with my dad since I was about three years old,” he said. “Fortunately for me, my two sons have stayed close to that industry as well.”

Jayce and Chris were involved with the business from a very young age. “Some of the earliest memories I have are being at the airport, my dad had a repair shop and worked on small engines back then,” Jayce said, noting that he just finished his 16th season as a pilot with Valley Sprayers.

Chris took a different path and went to North Dakota State University to ultimately get a master’s degree in plant pathology so he could stay involved in the agriculture and ag aviation business on the crop protection products side. He’s been with BASF now for almost four years.

Meanwhile, Verni has been in a totally different industry for the past 40 plus years as a neonatal nurse while at the same time supporting the company at home. “I haul the meals to the airport or out to the field wherever they are. I’m kind of their go-fer,” Verni said, although the men in her life think of her more as a saint.

Listen to my interview with the Wharams here: Wharam Famiy

2011 NAAA Convention Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2011 NAAA Convention is sponsored by BASF
Audio, BASF, NAAA

Feeding The World With Soybeans

Chuck Zimmerman

Becker Underwood has a new video available addressing the need to feed our growing world population. It’s available on their sustainability website and YouTube. Follow along with them on their blog, The Comment.

It’s one of the most critical questions of our time – how are we going to feed the growing global population that is expected to reach 9 billion people by the year 2050? As we all know, agricultural productivity gains are vital to enable the global population to have access to healthy, nutritious and affordable food. Becker Underwood, technology-intensive developer of biologicals and specialty products for the ag sector, just released a video that addresses this need that would be of great interest to your readers, “Feeding the World Using Soybean BioStacked Sustainable Technologies.”

Agribusiness, Soybean, Video

Alltech Ag Network Live From Global 500

Chuck Zimmerman

The Alltech Ag Network is live again this morning from their Global 500. As we’ve reported before, the Alltech Ag Network is powered by iHigh.com and AgWired has just set up a channel with the intention of using it in the coming year when our clients want and need live streaming.

I’d love to know your thoughts on the Alltech Ag Network. Here’s a company that has taken a lead in utilizing new communication tools. They’ve been blogging and using social media for years. Now they have their own tv channel distributed via the internet and through mobile devices. Yes, you can watch this live on your smartphone! They have 600 people in the auditorium. How many do you think are watching all around the world?

Would your company want to provide more live streaming of your events? Got questions about how to make it happen? Give me a call and lets discuss it. For current and potential clients we would be happy to talk about how we can add this service to your plans.

Watch live here: Post Update: You can find the archived recording here.

Alltech

Looks Like Your Income Will Mostly Be Same or Higher

Chuck Zimmerman

The slices on this ZimmPoll pie are almost the same size! In our latest ZimmPoll we asked the question, “With net farm income up this year, how is your income?” The idea for the question came from the recent USDA Economic Research Service Net Farm Income Forecast that showed a 28% increase over 2010. The responses to our question were Higher – 34.4%; Lower – 31.2% and Same – 34.4%.

Our new ZimmPoll is now live. We’re asking the question, “What’s tops on your Christmas gift list?” If your income is the same or higher than last year perhaps you have a little more in the disposable category for holiday shopping. What categories are tops for you this year?

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

ZimmPoll

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • RFD-TV will honor Roy Rogers with a spectacular 75’ float entitled “Happy Trails” in the 2012 Tournament of Roses Parade.
  • The FDA has approved Pulmotil, an innovative Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) treatment for groups of cattle in the early stages of a BRD outbreak that provides 14 days of sustained in-feed therapy.
  • CEV Multimedia has launched the new Meat Science & Food Safety PowerPoint, the approved resource for the National FFA Meats Evaluation and Technology CDE written exam.
  • Bayer CropScience has announced that growers who purchase HBK Seed soybean seed for 2012 plantings may qualify for grower financing options, an important addition to the Bayer Innovation Plus programs.
Zimfo Bytes