MyWay RTK Launches MyWay Xchange

Chuck Zimmerman

The precision ag arena has certainly been seeing a lot of activity in the development of new online and mobile tools. Here’sa new one from MyWay RTK called MyWay XChange.

Today MyWay RTK LLC officially launched MyWay Xchange, a new online tool that will connect MyWay resellers and customers in real time. MyWay designed the reseller portal to give resellers live information about their customers and base stations within their respective coverage areas, enabling them to ensure their customers’ RTK service is always performing at optimum levels. MyWay Xchange features a real time map that indicates the current or last known position of each customer. Having access to this live information allows resellers to specify a user’s proximity to surrounding base stations, so they can easily diagnose a connection issue in the event a user leaves the coverage area inadvertently. In addition, live streaming from base stations means resellers know at once if a base station ever goes offline.

“In the event a customer ever has a connection issue, the reseller now has the tools to resolve the matter quickly,” said MyWay RTK general manager, Andy Hill. “MyWay Xchange was engineered to not only alert resellers about current problems, but to also help them anticipate possible risks. Essentially, this tool helps minimize the chance a customer ever gets disconnected because of distance or weather problems.”

As MyWay Xchange features live Doppler Radar coverage for the entire United States, resellers can see both active customers and current weather conditions simultaneously on one screen. In the event severe weather conditions limit a user’s RTK service, the reseller can easily diagnose the problem’s source without leaving the office. Resellers can also use the radar coverage to view weather forecasts and warn customers of impending severe weather conditions beforehand.

A mobile version of MyWay Xchange – available at www.mywayxchange.com – has also been developed, providing resellers an easy and effective way to manage subscriptions, mount points, and login credentials while on the go. The mobile site offers benefits to subscribers as well, letting them manage their accounts and create custom profiles right from the field.

“These MyWay mobile tools let you manage your account without having to return to the office or farm during a hectic day,” said Hill. “It’s a convenience that will help MyWay customers and resellers to keep moving while they’re moving.”

Agribusiness, Precision Agriculture

Corn Grower Leaders Reflect on Serving Industry

Cindy Zimmerman

As the National Corn Growers Association prepares to start a new fiscal year this weekend, some old faces (not OLD old!) are being replaced with new ones on the Corn Board. “Off the Cob” podcaster Cathryn Wojcicki did interviews with three retiring board members to find out what they learned and experienced through service and to ask for any advice that might benefit farmers considering stepping up to a leadership role.

Over the last several years, Iowa farmer Daryl Haack served as the Corn Board’s liaison to NCGA’s Public Policy Action Team, chaired the Ethanol Committee, and represented the organization to the Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee, the BNSF Railway Ag Business Council and the U.S. Meat Export Federation.

Daryl says that while board involvement does require a significant time investment, serving on the Corn Board presents an unparalleled opportunity to enrich the lives of its members through opportunities to work with some of the most influential individuals both in the industry and in the country as a whole. “If you do have the time to get involved, the Corn Board presents a unique opportunity in that it allows you to meet people with whom you may not ever have another opportunity to interact,” he said.

Listen to Daryl’s comments here: Daryl Haack

ncga leadersDuring his tenure on the Corn Board, Minnesota farmer Jerry Larson chaired NCGA’s Finance Committee and served on the Association Relations Committee, Ethanol Committee and Research and Business Development Action Team.

Jerry stresses that potential leaders must understand the value of communications to all stakeholders. “It is of the utmost importance that we communicate our message back home, be it state-by-state, farmer-to-farmer, or even to the general public,” he noted.

Listen to Jerry’s comments here: Jerry Larson

Finally, Off the Cob spoke with Dave Nelson, a farmer from Belmond, Iowa who served as the Corn Board liaison for the NCGA Research and Business Development Action Team, the Ethanol Committee and the Biotechnology Working Group, and as NCGA’s liaison to the National Pork Producers Council.

“During my years on the Corn Board, we saw some very good times for corn growers,” Dave said. “We saw the market for corn expand and ethanol become a mainstay, both utilizing corn and marrying with the livestock industry in the use of distillers dried grains as a valuable feed source.”

Listen to Dave’s comments here: Dave Nelson

More info from NCGA here.

Audio, Corn, NCGA

Look – Corn! Look – More Corn!

Melissa Sandfort

Over the weekend, we loaded up 10 bales of hay onto my husband’s flatbed trailer and took five kids under the age of 5 on a hay rack ride. For about an hour, we toured the 10 rectangular miles around our house and ended at our make-shift pumpkin patch. Since “real” pumpkin patches were too far away to drive to, we ditched some little ones and about 15 gourds in the field entrance up the road.

The kids had a great time and no one fell off, so that’s a success in my book. Here are some snippets of the conversations I heard along the way:

Look – corn!
Look – more corn!
Look – sunflowers (they were wild daisies, but to a 5-year-old, one in the same)!
Look – a bridge!
Look – rocks!
Look – soybeans!

What amazed me was how these two-word sentences held such great enthusiasm and amazement at what farmers do every day. If only everything in life were seen through a child’s eyes.

Little did they know that we were having a bonfire and s’mores later! Nothing like a full day of fresh air, pumpkins and chocolate to put a 3-year old to sleep.

Until we walk again …

Uncategorized

Fall Burndown Will Help Start 2012 Off Right

Cindy Zimmerman

bean harvestTo say that 2011 has been a rough year is an understatement, but the combines are rolling and the soybean harvest is underway. The first harvest figures for the season were reported by USDA this week and it is running behind schedule with just 5% complete so far. Nearly every state is behind both last year and the five year average, and the bulk of the crop is rated fair to good.

As we get closer to putting this year in the rear view mirror, it’s already time to look ahead and get a fresh start for 2012. BASF Herbicide Technical Market Manager Dr. Dan Westberg says the key is getting ahead of weed control with an effective fall burndown program. “Dense populations of winter annuals like marestail can interfere with or delay planting,” Dan says, suggesting that growers can combine fall burndown with fertilizer application. “If you have an effective fall burndown, you’re not losing the fertilizer you apply in the fall to those winter annual weeds and allows greater flexibility come spring.”

BASF at AMS11One option for fall burndown is Kixor® herbicide technology in a product like Sharpen. “Its unique chemistry provides broad spectrum, broad leaf weed control of more than 70 weeds, including winter annuals and weeds resistant to glyphosate ALS inhibitors and triazines,” said Dan.

To optimize the burndown performance of Kixor, Dan suggests the best practices known by the simple acronym A-C-T-T: Adjuvant, Coverage, Tank Mix, Timing.

Listen to or download Dan explain it all here: Dan Westberg on fall burndown

Find out more from BASF at KixorHerbicide.com.

Audio, BASF, Soybean

Canadian Wine Tasting

Chuck Zimmerman

One of my tour stops during the 2011 IFAJ Congress was Jackson Triggs Vintners. We had an excellent lunch and wine tasting that included some of their icewine. One of the take-aways was that Canada produces more than just good ice wine. We had a nice red and white wine during our sampling.

Following lunch we toured the wine making facility with our guide, Carlee. We started out in a vineyard and then moved inside to the production area and ended where the wine is stored before bottling. One of the interesting things I remember Carlee saying is that the vineyards are planted in north/south rows now due to the direction of the wind off Lake Ontario. We could see some older vineyards planted the opposite direction. You can hear Carlee talk about their wine making in this video.

2011 IFAJ Congress Photo Album

Coverage of the IFAJ Congress is sponsored by PIONEER Hi-Bred
IFAJ, Video

Social Media Can Be Used By Farmers To Reach Consumers

Chuck Zimmerman

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “Can farmers effectively reach out to consumers with social media?” The answer was overwhelmingly positive with 75% saying Yes. However, there are some skeptics out there, 25% that said No. What do you think? Can we do it? Are we doing it? Are we making an impact?

Our new ZimmPoll is now live. We’re asking the question, “Do you think the world population will be 10 billion by 2050?” We hear all kinds of predictions on everything from population to climate change. How good are these models? Are they taking into account everything that might happen? Can they? How much stock should we place in them? More questions I know but these predictions are being used to shape policy decisions that have an immediate impact on us. What do you think? Take our poll and feel free to comment. Thank you.

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

ZimmPoll

Farm Podcaster Tools

Chuck Zimmerman

For you farm podcasters who want to turn your iPhone (or or other smartphone) into a work tool, here are a couple of products that can help. I conduct many interviews posted here using my iPhone and the Voice Memo app. The microphone on the iPhone is excellent. But, it does pick up a lot of room noise and you may not want that. It would also be nice to record from a mult box or other audio source too. So I’ve been looking for and testing some options. Here’s the newest ones. These are from VeriCorder Technology.

First up is the VeriCorder Mini Mic. This thing is small and in my test it provides a slightly better audio interview recording by picking up less room noise. I’ve included short test examples below from a test I did this morning at Coffee Zone.

Compact mobile microphones are designed to transform the latest smart phones and MP3 players into a portable sound recorder. Provides improved sound quality and range. Will work with any smart phone MP3 player having a 3.5 mm, four-pin jack, such as the iPhone, iPod Touch 2G, iPod 5G, Blackberry or Nokia. Ideal for recording interviews, lectures, voice memos and more.

Use with 1stVideo or VC Audio Pro recording and editing software for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad to create sophisticated audio & video projects. For use in moderate volume environments because of it’s high sensitivity levels. It is not recommended for recording loud music.This mic will also turn your iPod touch into a Skype™ phone. It’s as easy as 1 – 2 – 3. Insert Mic, make call and when call connects press speaker.

Next, I tested the VeriCorder Technology XLR Adapter Cable. This allows me to plug in the much sought after Golden ZimmComm Microphone! Of the three test examples you can hear below this is by far the best quality. The audio level was lower than the other test options that included using the built in microphone. However, that’s a simple fix since I edit all audio anyway.

Connect a professional XLR microphone to the headset jack of the iPhone or smart phone. Provides separate headphone output for monitoring the playback levels of the recording. Use with 1st Video, ShowCase or VC Audio Pro editing software Apps for iPhone.

The XLR Adapter includes a preamplifier circuit with 6.1dB gain that allows a low-impedance dynamic microphone to be used as a high quality audio source for recording on the iPhone. The preamplifier also includes RF noise suppression circuitry to enhance the quality of the recordings. The preamp is also compatible with self-powered condenser and wireless microphones. Note: This is NOT an official “Works With iPhone accessory” (iPhone and microphone not included).

My work flow for this is to record on the iPhone using the Voice Memo app, sync to iTunes and use iTunes to convert to an .MP3, then import to Adobe Soundbooth to edit. So here are a couple of test examples. See what you think.

iPhone built in microphone Mini mic XLR Adapter Cable
Equipment

Broadhead Moves Into New Offices

Chuck Zimmerman

Broadhead is celebrating ten years in business by moving into new office space in the Colwell Building in Minneapolis.

It’s been said that the best minute you spend is the one you invest in people.

Dean Broadhead knows this all too well, as evidenced by his commitment to invest in top-notch talent for the past decade. It’s just one of many reasons the communications agency that bears his name is celebrating 10 years in business with a move into a new 20,000-square-foot office space in the Colwell Building in Minneapolis.

“I’d like to think I have a patented formula for success that I can attribute to my years of experience and education,” says Broadhead. “But in all honesty, what distinguishes this agency day-in and day-out is an experienced staff.”

Such thinking has resulted in the agency more than doubling in size in the last three years. Even more impressive is that only 10 years ago, Broadhead started his agency as a solo act, operating out of a converted spare bedroom.

Forty employees later and with a great deal more square footage than the spare room in the house, Dean Broadhead is still enjoying the ride.

“It’s been a thrilling 10 years, but I firmly believe the best is yet to come,” says Broadhead.

Agencies

BASF Launches Kixor Road to Daytona 500 Sweepstakes

Cindy Zimmerman

BASF will be sending some lucky farmer to the 2012 Daytona 500.

kixor daytonaBASF Crop Protection today announced the launch of the Kixor® herbicide technology Road to DAYTONA® sweepstakes, which celebrates the fast, complete burndown and residual control growers get with Kixor. BASF will award the sweepstakes winner a trip to the 54th annual DAYTONA 500®. BASF will also be awarding $100 gift cards to 10 additional sweepstakes entrants.

“BASF is dedicated to providing the solutions, technical support and tools that help growers implement a weed management program based on herbicide best practices,” said Bryan Perry, Kixor Marketing Manager with BASF. “By providing burndown that is three to five times faster than 2,4-D or glyphosate, plus strong residual staying power, Kixor herbicide technology helps growers win the race against weeds in their fields — the way high-powered engines win races for drivers.”

The winner of the sweepstakes will receive four tickets to the race on February 26, 2012, as well as an expenses-paid three-day, two-night trip to Daytona Beach, Florida.

The sweepstakes is open to all growers 18 years or older with an operation of 250 acres or more. For the official rules and to enter, participants should go to http://www.road-to-daytona.basf.us and fill out a brief entry form. Entries are due by Dec. 31, 2011.

BASF

GROWMARK Names Scholarship Winners

Cindy Zimmerman

GROWMARK is helping 35 college students from throughout the Midwest to continue their educations in agriculture and business.

GROWMARK Steve German“GROWMARK invests more than $45,500 annually on scholarships. We’re investing today for a return tomorrow,” says Steve German, GROWMARK member employment manager, pictured here at the scholarship luncheon during the recent GROWMARK annual meeting. “There’s a need for agriculture businesses to support formal education to strengthen agriculture.”

The students from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, and Wisconsin all received GROWMARK-sponsored scholarships this year, joining hundreds more who have been helped by the cooperative over since the early 1960s. Today, they are awarded to students majoring in agriculture or accounting at 15 universities and colleges. Each educational institution is responsible for the selection process and awarding scholarships. University scholarship recipients are honored each year at the GROWMARK Annual Meeting in Chicago.

Find out who all received the awards on the GROWMARK Blog.

Education, GROWMARK