CropLife America National Policy Conference

Cindy Zimmerman

CropLife America is hosting its first annual national policy conference via webcast next month.

CropLife AmericaThe conference, entitled Modern Agriculture: Exploring its Relationship with Technology, Science & Society, will bring together leading experts in the fields of agriculture, technology and policy to discuss various issues facing modern agriculture.

Panelists will discuss the essential role of technology to produce more food while using fewer natural resources, barriers to and opportunities for progress and innovation, and a foundational discussion of the ethics behind who decides agriculture policy. Marc Gunther, contributing editor at FORTUNE magazine and a senior writer at Greenbiz.com, will serve as the Master of Ceremonies.

The one-day conference will be web-cast on CropLifeAmerica.org, free and open to all, July 13 beginning at 9:00 am Eastern. They will also be taking questions via Twitter, and will have an open dialogue going throughout the day via social media. Follow them on Twitter @CropLifeAmerica with the conference hashtag #NPC.

Find out more about the conference here.

Uncategorized

Syngenta Seeds Updates

Cindy Zimmerman

VipCot™ cotton has gotten new EPA approval, and the Multi-Pest Complex will soon be ready to fight black and dingy cutworms in the Corn Belt, according to the latest news from Syngenta Seeds.

Syngenta SeedsSyngenta Seeds just announced that EPA has approved a natural refuge option for its VipCot™ cotton technology.

VipCot* cotton contains the transgenic cotton events COT67B, which produces the Cry1Ab protein, and COT102, which features the novel Vip3A protein. Vip3A is the same protein found in Syngenta’s Agrisure Viptera™ trait in corn and is a totally new mode of action in both cotton and corn. The natural refuge option for VipCot affects growers in 16 cotton producing states but does not apply to areas where pink bollworm is a key pest including Arizona, California, New Mexico, and some parts of Texas.

Syngenta Seeds also noted that the first signs of possible black cutworm and dingy cutworm infestations are being seen throughout the Corn Belt as agronomist moth traps have reported significant captures of black cutworm in Missouri, Indiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota and Iowa. Growers are being urged to scout fields now to determine if treatments are necessary, but the arrival of the Agrisure Viptera 3111 multi-pest complex could make that obsolete.

“With Agrisure Viptera 3111, growers will be better able to manage these pests without worrying about costly spraying and scouting,” said Syngenta Seeds agronomy marketing manager Bruce Battles. Once the remaining key import market approvals are received, growers will have the option of planting seed with the new Agrisure Viptera™ 3111 trait stack to protect against black and dingy cutworm damage without scouting.

Corn, Cotton, Seed, Syngenta

Shady Dale Rodeo

Chuck Zimmerman

This was one of my favorite photos from the Shady Dale Rodeo. I took an extra day before the start of the Corn Utilization and Technology Conference which starts tomorrow in Atlanta. It was a fun time with family and friends.

The Shady Dale Rodeo, now in it’s 27th year, is presented by Masonic Lodges Walton #200 and Jasper #50 of Jasper County. The Shady Dale Rodeo is a IPRA sanctioned professional rodeo event. It has been voted the Number One Outdoor Rodeo in the Southeast many times. The Shady Dale Rodeo is put on by an all volunteer crew of local Masons, Shriners, and other citizens of the surrounding area. In addition to the rodeo action you can enjoy a full line of concessions including pit cooked barbecue and fresh baked goods.

Of course I took more photos than this one and put them in a photo album. It was a Zimmerman family and friends day of horses, bbq and rodeo.

Rodeo

The Antique Tractor Show

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast 262Antique tractors are a passion for Michael Hinton. He decided there needed to be a good resource for people who share that passion so he started The Antique Tractor Show. This website is meant to be a place to find information and to enhance the effort he’s teamed up with Frazier Dailey who has Antique Tractors Forum.

Michael Hinton
The Antique Tractor Show is a site dedicated to Antique Tractor Enthusiasts all over the globe. If you use antique tractors, collect antique tractors, or just enjoy looking at antique tractors, welcome to our site! The Antique Tractor Show chronicles those individuals who indulge their passion for buying, restoring, and displaying Antique Tractors through an expanding series of web-based Shows. Our goal is to carry on the legacy of keeping the great tractors of the past, ever present long into the future.

Listen to my conversation with Michael to learn more about what he’s doing.

Since I just attended the Shady Dale Rodeo the program ends with a song titled, “Rodeo Has Got My Heart” by Trinity Lane from Music Alley.

Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsors, Novus International, and Leica Geosytems for their support.

You can listen to this week’s ZimmCast below.

The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired. Subscribe so you can listen when and where you want. Just go to our a Subscribe page.

Audio, Tractor, ZimmCast

Becoming A Researcher in China

Chuck Zimmerman

Zachary Larson, Borlaug Summer Intern, is on location at Nanjing Agricultural University and providing us with updates this summer of his trip. Here’s his latest. You can also find a photo album he’s got started here: Borlaug Summer Intern Photo Album

How to become a researcher in a few easy steps, Part 1

So here I now am in China.

Lab life here in China is a bit hectic, and I have certainly been thrown into the middle of it. It is a bit hard to keep your head on straight in a small lab full of 50 grad students, several professors, and a couple of other university students helping out. It is not something that one can get used to quickly, but it is a pace of life that has its own quirks and benefits.

Any time you go into a new working environment there are going to be misconceptions on your own part of what you are going to be doing. Personally, I thought going into the research lab was going to be one of the easier parts of my journey here. Instead it has turned out to be one of the hardest. I have no problem carrying on everyday conversations in Chinese and I have some background in basic genetic techniques from Iowa State. However being in the lab here requires a much greater depth of understanding in both the genetic research that the professors and graduate students here are taking, and the vocabulary that they are using.

So, the last week’s activities can pretty much be summed in that I have learned the functions and experiments of this lab by just following the students here, asking copious amounts of questions, and just getting to know the students and my professor better.

So far, I have learned that this lab, while obviously focused on wheat research, is solely focused with researching and breeding wheat varieties that are resistant against the highly potent red scab and speck wheat diseases. These two diseases are present within wheat populations around the world, but in China they have been traditionally problematic.

While this research seems small, the amount of work in trying to understand a small part of the wheat genome is mindbogglingly. These problems are the main research of the this lab, and the some forty students here all have their own individual problems to research with in this lab. My level of understanding still a bit basic, and it will certainly take me a lot more time to finally get a firm grip on what I am doing as I go further a long in my work here.

Education, International, University

Corn Crib Baseball Makes Frontier League Commish Happy

Chuck Zimmerman

Bill LeeThe Commissioner of the Frontier League, Independent Professional Baseball, is Bill Lee. Here’s Bill making some opening remarks prior to the first home game of the Normal CornBelters in the Corn Crib. I spoke to him about this new franchise and what he thinks about the support of Illinois Corn Growers.

Bill says it’s a wonderful thing because it’s a “field of dreams.” He hopes the CornBelters are very successful. You can listen to my interview with Jim below.

I thought I’d also include a new video about the opening home game in the Corn Crib that was produced by the Illinois Corn Growers summer interns. I think they did a great job. How about you?

Post Update: Here’s another video with a look at the pitching skills of Illinois corn farmer Jim Rapp on opening day of the Corn Crib:

Normal CornBelters Corn Crib Opener Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Corn, Uncategorized, Video

Dupont Acquires Seed Companies

Melissa Sandfort

DuPont has entered into agreements to acquire AgVenture, Kentland, Ind.; Hoegemeyer Hybrids, Hooper, Neb., and NuTech Seed, Ames, Iowa; as part of its Pioneer Hi-Bred business’ PROaccess strategy. Closings are scheduled to occur in the latter part of 2010. Terms were not disclosed.

The innovation breadth and depth of Pioneer research and development will strengthen the already robust businesses and customer relationships of AgVenture, Hoegemeyer Hybrids and NuTech Seed. The companies have exciting growth opportunities reachable by expanding product choices for growers in geographies where they operate.

The PROaccess strategy continues to be part of the ongoing commitment to expand the availability of Pioneer’s unique, elite seed genetics using Pioneer-owned brands distributed through alternative routes to market. Ultimately, this will result in growers having more choices for high-performing products to increase their yields and income.

The three seed companies will continue to sell products under the Pioneer-owned trademarks following closing:
– AgVenture – VPMaxx® brand corn hybrids and soybean varieties.
– Hoegemeyer Hybrids – HPT® brand corn hybrids and soybean varieties.
– NuTech Seed – G2® brand corn hybrids and soybean varieties.

Pioneer

Firms Form Strategic Alliance

Melissa Sandfort

Broadhead + Co and Drake & Company jointly announced the formation of a “strategic alliance,” effective July 1, between the two firms to expand available services and expertise to their respective association clientele, and to be best positioned for new association business opportunities.

One of the benefits of the strategic alliance will be the sharing of personnel resources, particularly those of industry communications veteran Hugh Whaley, Broadhead + Co’s current director of Industry & Association Relations.

Uncategorized

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Hoard’s Dairyman has unveiled a new Web site as a complement to its print publication and as a service to readers across the country and globe. The launch coincides with the magazine’s 125th anniversary and celebratory issue.
  • Gowan Company, LLC is pleased to announce the formation of Gowan USA, LLC (GUSA), a wholly-owned subsidiary, with its sole focus on the US Agriculture and Turf & Ornamental Crop Protection Product Business.
  • The National Association of Farm Broadcasting Foundation and Pioneer Hi-Bred have joined together to provide funding for an NAFB News Service internship. Seanica Reineke of Edgerton, Mo., returns for her second summer to work with the NAFB News Service.
  • Iowa State University’s Research and Demonstration Farms field days which begin June 16, will include the 75th anniversary celebration at the Muscatine Island Research and Demonstration Farm.
    Zimfo Bytes

    NAMA Boot Camp Sponsorships Available

    Chuck Zimmerman

    NAMA Boot Camp 2010 has been set for August 17-19 at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City. This might be a good opportunity to promote your company.

    If you think so and would like more information about sponsoring a session or event, please fill out the sponsorship confirmation form at www.nama.org/programs/bootcamp-spo.htm or contact Jenny Pickett at 913-491-6500 or via e-mail at jennyp@nama.org.

    NAMA