On The Go Crop Sensing Technology Next Big Thing In Precision

Chuck Zimmerman

AG CONNECT ExpoI took a look at what’s new with Ag Leader Technology with Mike Olson at the AG CONNECT Expo. Here’s Mike talking through precision applications and options during the show.

Mike says they just announced the addition of advanced seed tube monitoring to their displays. This allows farmers to take their Integra display and monitor singles and doubles in their spacing along with other things. This helps make sure you’re getting the best performance from your planter. Mike says farmers are most interested in auto steering since many haven’t implemented it yet and also planter clutch control which allows section control.

Looking ahead Mike says that he wants farmers to take a look at their OptRx crop sensor technology which allows for on the go variable nitrogen application. He says data they’ve seen from fields using this technology is amazing.

Listen to my interview with Mike here: Interview With Mike Olson

2011 AG CONNECT Expo Photo Album

Ag Leader, Audio, Precision Agriculture

World Agriculture Investment Conference 2011 heads to Chicago

Chuck Zimmerman

Agricultural investors have a major conference to look forward to in just a few months in Chicago. Let me introduce you to FC Business Intelligence and the World Agriculture Investment Conference 2011.

In spring this year, leading investment groups from across North America and Europe are coming to Chicago to discuss the opportunities and risks in agricultural markets. With the latest market insight and global case studies, anticipation is high.

On May 9-10, a unique forum will bring together institutional and private investors with top Ag fund managers, to debate strategies for participating in agriculture and surrounding investments.

Following months of research, this forum has been designed specifically to help investors to network and walk away with the practical information needed to make an appropriate choice based on varying risk tolerances and return objectives.

Confirmed participants already include: CAIA, ViVa, AgriCapita, Inter-American Development Bank, IFC, Rafferty Capital Markets, Farmers Edge, Chess Ag Full Harvest Partners, Citi and many more.

This is a unique chance to network with key investors, hedge funds and Ag managers, and to effortlessly catch-up on where allocations are being made and how best to develop the ideal Ag portfolio.

Debate will focus on:

  • How to take advantage of private equity investment in the full agriculture supply chain
  • Proven techniques for sourcing top operators
  • Understand how agriculture fits within investor portfolios
  • Identify the best agriculture opportunities from across the Americas and beyond

For more information please visit: http://www.aginvestconference.com/usa/

With more and more demand for food and farmland, surging prices and growing interest from investors, there’s one thing for sure…

Agricultural markets are exciting.

For additional information, registration assistance or questions, please contact George Kiley, Investment Director – World Agriculture Investment Series by email on gkiley@aginvestconference.com, or call on +44(0)207 3757 54

You can find the agenda here.

Agribusiness, International

Support for “Corn Sugar” Growing

Cindy Zimmerman

Support from corn grower organizations to use the term “corn sugar” instead of high fructose corn syrup is growing.

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) recently sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration supporting use of the term ‘corn sugar,’ and other state organizations such as the Texas Corn Growers have also voiced their support.

“We are calling upon the FDA to eliminate the confusion of the safety of high fructose corn syrup,” NCGA President Bart Schott said. “Permitting use of the term ‘corn sugar’ on labels will allow manufactures to more clearly describe high fructose corn syrup as a natural ingredient, nutritionally equivalent to sugar.”

The Corn Refiners Association (CRA) filed a petition with the FDA in September requesting approval for food and beverage manufacturers to have the option of using the new term as an alternative ingredient on product labels.

“Consumers need to know what is in their foods and where their foods come from and we want to be clear with them,” said CRA president Audrae Erickson. “The term ‘corn sugar’ succinctly and accurately describes what this natural ingredient is and where it comes from – corn.”

No word on when FDA may respond to the petition.

Corn, NCGA

World Ag Expo Going Mobile Via Smartphone Apps

Chuck Zimmerman

Now there’s an app for the World Ag Expo. I have never had the opportunity to attend but might have to get there via mobile!

For the first time in 44 years, World Ag Expo is going mobile. Available for both the iPhone and all phones with the Android Market, World Ag Expo’s Application gives its users access to everything the expo has to offer.

“World Ag Expo 2011 is themed Tools for Agri-Business, and our new app is just that – a tool for success at the expo,” said Lee Coito, 2011 Chairman. “Our app adds another free option for our attendees, building on our success in providing tools to help attendees identify in advance the exhibitors and seminars they want to see.”

By coupling with the Digital Show Grounds feature on worldagexpo.com, the app provides a mobile option for attendees to use to search products by category, explore the exhibitor directory, learn more about the seminars, view the Top-10 products and more. The MyShow Planner feature helps users organize and plan an agenda, making sure that they get the most out of their trip to World Ag Expo.

In addition the app allows users to search for hotels and nearby restaurants, check the weather and more in the resources portion of the app.

You can find it in the iTune App Store and Android Market.

Apps

Growmark Sponsors AgWired and Precision Pays

Chuck Zimmerman

We’d like to introduce you to the newest sponsor of AgWired – Growmark, a regional cooperative, marketing products and services from the Rocky Mountains to the East Coast and in Ontario, Canada.

Growmark picked the unique online community that ZimmComm New Media has built to enhance awareness about their brands. The community includes both the on-line publications and the social media channels associated with them. We’re thrilled to be able to provide Growmark with significant search engine brand optimization, as well as work with Growmark in developing its own social media channels.

In addition to Growmark’s sponsorship of AgWired, their FS Green Plan Solutions is also a sponsor of our Precision Pays. So over the coming months we’ll be learning all about the full range of products, services offered by this unique agribusiness.

Amy Bradford, Growmark corporate communications manager, says the sponsorship offers a unique opportunity. “ZimmComm is a well-respected company with publications and relationships that include key audiences we want to touch. And, as we enter the social media venue, we want to take advantage of the experience and knowledge ZimmComm has across media channels, and especially in new media, to increase awareness about the Growmark System.”

While visiting Growmark headquarters in Bloomington, IL this week I spoke with Brian Koenig, Member Services, about the company. He gave me a good overview of all the different things Growmark is doing. The first thing I learned is that Growmark has 219 members in 12 states and Ontario. He works with these member cooperatives on business processes as well as IT and technology needs. So I guess you could say that Growmark is a regional cooperative of local member cooperatives. That means that they are still ultimately owned by farmers. Growmark allows its members to focus more on their territory while taking care of business opportunities on a more national level. I asked who their competition is and it includes other regional cooperatives and entities within the industry. Brian says that right now some of the work they’re focused on includes some tax issues and the upcoming planting season.

You can listen to my interview with Brian and learn more about Growmark here: Brian Koenig Interview

Audio, GROWMARK, Precision Agriculture

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

    Do We Have Enough Farm Groups Or Too Many?

    Chuck Zimmerman

    The results are in for ZimmPoll #5. The question: “What do you think about the number of farm groups?” Our readers are not shy about letting us know their opinions and we appreciate that. The results: 33% say there are too many, 28% say the more the merrier, 25% say some are not needed but most are and 14% say there are just enough for everyone to have a voice. What do you think? Got a different answer?

    Our next ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “What does “sustainability” really mean to the public? This ought to be interesting. Let us know what you think and thank you for participating.

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

    ZimmPoll

    Keynote Speakers for Animal Ag Conference Announced

    John Davis

    Leaders in research and industry will headline the upcoming 2011 Annual Conference of the National Institute for Animal Agriculture, April 11-14th, 2011, in San Antonio, Texas, as they talk about how to feed a world that’s expected to need nearly twice as much food in 2050 than what is needed today.

    To discuss this issue (and more), NIAA will feature Dr. Terry Barr, Senior Director of Industry Research, CoBank, Washington, DC; Dr. Frank Mitloehner, Agriculture Economist, University of California, Davis, CA; Mr. Charlie Arnot, Center for Food Integrity, Kansas City, MO; Dr. Peter Groot Koerkamp, Professor Biosystems Engineering / Agrotechnology & Interim Professor in Animal Production Systems, Wageningen University, Netherlands; Mr. Ian Reece, Rabobank, New York, NY (Invited); Dr. Molly McAdams, H-E-B Foods, San Antonio, TX (Invited); Mr. Mark Anstoetter, Shook Hardy & Bacon, Kansas City, MO; and Mr. Clint Hickman, Hickman Family Farms, Buckeye, AZ … plus, plenty of input and ideas from the folks attending the four days of seminars and meetings.

    If you’re involved in animal agriculture, it’s definitely an event you won’t want to miss.

    Register before March 1st and save 50 bucks off the $450 registration fee. More information is available here.

    Animal Health, Events

    BASF Headline and Kixor Named No-Till Products of the Year

    Cindy Zimmerman

    BASF Crop Protection products Kixor® herbicide technology and Headline® fungicide were named top no-till products of 2010 for weed and disease control at the 19th Annual National No-Tillage Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio last week. This was the first time that Kixor was eligible for the award, and marks the fifth consecutive year Headline has been selected as a product of the year.

    “BASF is committed to providing solutions that help growers protect – and even increase – yield potential by controlling tough broadleaf weeds, addressing yield-robbing diseases, and improving Plant Health,” said Paul Rea, Vice President, U.S. Crop Operations, BASF. “Kixor was widely successful in its first year as it offers growers a great resource for battling resistant weeds. Headline continues to offer growers the excellent disease control needed to provide Plant Health benefits and help maximize yield.”

    BASF

    Growmark Getting Social

    Chuck Zimmerman

    I’ve been spending a wonderful day at Growmark. Do you know who Growmark is? If not, don’t worry. In coming weeks and months we’re going to get to learn about them together. We’ll be making a more formal announcement tomorrow as Growmark becomes a major new sponsor of AgWired and Precision Pays!

    This morning we talked all about social media. Growmark has just launched a new website and is in the process of setting up and deciding how to manage social networking accounts like Twitter and Facebook. How to gauge effectiveness has been a big part of the conversation. Feel free to let them know what you think either here in comments or on Twitter. They would appreciate it.

    GROWMARK