Leica Geosystems Gets Its mojo On

Chuck Zimmerman

Leica GeosystemsMost any photographer will know the Leica name. Oskar Barnack created a small 35mm camera back in 1925 that pretty much changed the way we look at things. What a lot of people are now learning about Leica is that they’re into precision agriculture technology in a big way. The company has three distinct divisions and the one on display at AG CONNECT Expo was Leica Geosystems. It was there that I met with Rob Kiernan, Global Sales & Marketing Manager.

Rob says that since they come from the optical business they’re basically a measurement company that has moved into GPS and that has led them into agriculture. At the show he says they’re promoting their mojoRTK which was launched in early 2008. He thinks they’re just now hitting their stride with the product. Service has been one of their priorities and they offer Virtual Wrench which allows the operator to get help without leaving the cab using mobile phone technology. The newest addition to their product lineup is their mojoMINI which does field guidance as well as standard navigation and will be available starting in February. You can see the unit on the display in the photo.

You can listen to my interview with Rob below:

AG CONNECT Expo Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Precision Agriculture

AEM Annual Outlook Survey

Chuck Zimmerman

Association of Equipment ManufacturersThe Association of Equipment Manufacturers has released their 2010 outlook for agricultural machinery. It looks like an expectation of continued “continued weakness in U.S. and Canadian tractor sales.” This is comes from a survey they conduct of members. So although this year’s outlook is somewhat negative, future years look much better.

For all sizes of two-wheel tractors, however, the declines are expected to be less steep than 2009 losses. Double-digit decreases are expected for four-wheel-drive tractors, following relatively flat business in 2009. Combine sales are predicted to drop in the double digits for 2010 after 2009 sales growth. Sales of tractors and combines are then predicted to start rebounding through 2011 and 2012.

For other types of farm-related equipment covered in the AEM survey, overall 2010 demand for most products in the U.S. and Canada is expected to improve after 2009 business declines. All categories are predicted to be in the plus column for 2011 and 2012.

You can read the full results online.

AEM, Equipment, Tractor

FFA Reconnects With Members During AG CONNECT

Joanna Schroeder

One of the organizations that I met during the AG CONNECT Expo is the National FFA Organization. FFA was founded in 1928 and today has more than 7,400 chapters in all 50 U.S. states plus Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The organization’s mission is agricultural education for kids in junior high and high school. I sat down with Phyllis McDonald and Rita Robertson, both with the foundation, to learn more about what they do.

FFA Logo from NationalThe foundation’s main focus is on scholarships and grants that help students and ag teachers. One of their big initiatives is helping students go to their Washington Leadership conference in D.C. each year. Last year, the foundation provided $2 million in scholarships.

In addition to educational efforts, members of FFA spend a lot of time donating their time to charitable causes. Several of their largest programs are their work with Habitat for Humanity, and in conjunction with Campbells, their barn restoration program. FFA recently announced the five barns that will be restored this year and the local FFA chapters will be helping with the construction. And for alumnus a big program is Harvest for America, where members glean food and donate it to their local communities.

You don’t have to be a former member of FFA to become a member of the alumni organization and Phyllis and Rita were able to catch up with more than 100 former FFA members and current alumni members. They were also able to spend time with many of their corporate sponsors, who were also exhibiting at the show. To learn more about becoming an FFA alumni member or sponsor, visit www.ffa.org.

AG CONNECT Expo Photo Album

Listen to my interview with Phyllis and Rita here.

Audio, FFA

Topcon Talks Precision Ag During AG CONNECT

Joanna Schroeder

Topcon Precision Agriculture is a global company with a strong presence in the U.S., Australia, New Zealand and South Africa and is growing in Europe. One of their most popular products is the AGI-3 receiver. This system not only picks up GPS satellites, but also receives information from Galileo, the European satellite and Glonass, the Russian satellite said Michael Gomes, the company’s Director of Global Strategic Alliances, during the AG CONNECT Expo.

TopconThe most unique aspect of this precision ag technology is that the receiver can steer the tractor and I asked Gomes why this was advantageous to a farmer. He explained that being a farmer is economically hard. Input costs keep rising whereas commodity prices are not neccesarily increasing so farmers are squeezed for profit. So, he continued, products like the AGI-3 are tools for efficiency.

“What they allow you to do is get more productivity out of the asset. When you put in an auto steering system on a tractor it is not uncommon to get double hours. Now you can get day and night repeatability,” said Gomes. This also allows farmers to go through re-tooling and ultimately a farmer can farm more acres at a lower cost per acre.

The AIG-3 works directly with steer ready tractors but if a farmer doesn’t have one, he can use the AES25 which in essence, gives the farmer a steer-ready tractor.

AG CONNECT Expo Photo Album

Listen to my interview with Michael here.

Audio, Precision Agriculture

Livestock Publications Council Starting To Blog

Chuck Zimmerman

lpc-logo-smallThe Livestock Publications Council has implemented a blog element into their website. Let Diane Johnson know if you’ve got information for it. You can subscribe with this link.

Also:

Don’t forget to RSVP for LPC Luncheon at NCBA Convention in San Antonio

For the first time this luncheon is being co-sponsored by Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health and will recognize the 2009 LPC Forrest Bassford Student Award Winner, Whitney Wallace, from the University of Missouri. Incoming NCBA President Steve Foglesong has been invited to address the group plus we’ll update you on all of the exciting LPC events planned for 2010. The luncheon will be on Friday, January 29, 2010 at 12 noon at the Marriott Rivercenter Hotel (note there are two different Marriotts close to the Convention Center). The exact location are Conference Rooms 17-18 but the room locations will be posted at the hotel if you forget.

You MUST RSVP by Friday January 22 to Diane; dianej@flash.net or call 817/336-1130. No-shows obviously won’t be charged but will be unappreciated!

A big thanks to Intervet/Schering-Plough for their generosity in support of this event and the student award program for LPC.

LPC

No-Till Farmers Love BASF Headline

Cindy Zimmerman

BASF Headline® fungicide is a four time winner for no-till farmers.

basfHeadline® fungicide from BASF was recognized as fungicide of the year during the Annual National No-Tillage Conference 2009 No-Till Product of the Year awards presentation. The recognition marks the fourth consecutive year that Headline fungicide has been proclaimed the leading fungicide on the market by no-till farmers nationwide.

The overall winner for No-Till Product of the Year was the Keeton Seed Firmer from Precision Planting.

Here is a complete list of winners from No-Till Farmer:

No-Till Product of the Year: Keeton Seed Firmer, Precision Planting.

Fertility: Agrotain, Agrotain International. Honorable Mention: Avail and NutriSphere-N, SFP.

Fungicides: Headline, BASF. Honorable Mention: Quilt, Syngenta; Stratego, Bayer CropScience.

Insect Protection: YieldGard VT Triple, Monsanto. Honorable Mention: Herculex, Dow AgroSciences and Pioneer; Warrior, Syngenta.

No-Till Equipment: 3600 Twin-Line Planters, Kinze Mfg. Honorable Mention: Early Riser planters, Case IH; YP2425 Yield Pro planter, Great Plains Mfg.

Planter/Drill Attachments: Keeton Seed Firmer, Precision Planting. Honorable Mention: Martin-Till WA1360 floating row cleaner, Martin Industries; 20/20 Airforce System, Precision Planting.

Precision Tools: 20/20 SeedSense, Precision Planting. Honorable Mention: EZ-Guide 250 Lightbar System, Trimble Navigation; SmartBoom automatic boom system control, Raven Industries.

Residue Management: Bt Crusher, Calmer Corn Heads. Honorable Mention: The Chaff Spreader, Spreader Inc.; 600C corn head, Deere.

Seed Treatment: Poncho, Bayer CropScience. Honorable Mention: CruiserMaxx, Syngenta.

Application Equipment: Patriot 3330 Sprayer, Case IH. Honorable Mention: 47/4830 sprayer, John Deere; RoGator sprayer, AGCO; Apache AS715 sprayer, Equipment Technologies.

Strip-Till: Blu-Jet Strip-Till unit, Thurston Manufacturing. Honorable Mention: 2510S Strip-Till Residue Master, John Deere; Pluribus Strip-Till unit, Dawn Equipment.

Weed Control: Roundup PowerMAX, Monsanto. Honorable Mention: LibertyLink with Ignite herbicide, Bayer CropScience; Touchdown herbicide, Syngenta; Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Yield, Monsanto.

BASF, Farming

NCGA Says Cap and Trade Will Hurt Farmers

Cindy Zimmerman

After a detailed analysis, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) has come out in opposition to the House version of the American Clean Energy and Security Act HR 2454, better known “cap and trade” legislation.

NCGA“Since the passage of this bill by the U.S. House of Representatives in June 2009, the National Corn Growers Association has maintained a neutral position on the legislation pending further review,” said NCGA President Darrin Ihnen. “Although our neutrality has often put us at odds with the majority of other mainstream agricultural groups, we believe it was critical to remain engaged with lawmakers while the economic impacts were analyzed.”

NCGA retained Informa Economics to analyze those impacts and as a result of this study, “NCGA has no choice but to oppose H.R. 2454. The results of the Informa study indicates that every corn grower in the country will experience increased costs of production resulting from H.R. 2454. In the early years of this legislation, these higher production costs will be relatively minor. However, over time these prices will significantly increase, placing an unnecessary burden on growers.”

NCGA, along with other agricultural organizations, is sending a letter to Congress supporting a “disapproval resolution” in the Senate, sponsored by U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), that would stop EPA from promulgating rules to regulate greenhouse gases.

Listen to a press conference about the NCGA announcement this morning.

Corn, Environment, NCGA

I ♥ Beef

Melissa Sandfort

5_I_heart_beef_BlackFont_BLOCKDuring a time when sales of middle meats are traditionally slower, the checkoff’s food and nutrition communications team is gearing up to capitalize on a month that boasts many familiar holidays and special occasions. Thus, the beef checkoff is initiating an “I Heart Beef” campaign.

The program was specifically designed to help strengthen interest in beef middle meats by reminding consumers of their passion for great steaks like the T-bone and tenderloin. Not only that, but February is Heart Health Month.

The checkoff-funded consumer survey used as a foundation for the campaign found:
• In this month of romance, beef is the preferred choice of Americans (62 percent) because nothing says love like a great steak dinner for Valentine’s Day.
• Americans associate steak as a “best match” for love (44 percent), romance (42 percent) and passion (41 percent)—more so than other high-end proteins.
• When it’s time to share that Valentine’s Day meal, beef wins. A ribeye (35 percent) or T-bone steak (32 percent) are chosen as the best meal to share with a significant other.
• Americans most often associate beef with celebrations (50 percent), compared to chicken (18 percent), pork (17 percent) or fish (15 percent).
• Sixty-two percent of Americans say they choose to prepare beef if they are looking for gratitude or appreciation from their dinner partner.
• Fifty-three percent of Americans identify filet mignon as the food most associated with candlelight romance and 50 percent of Americans think filet mignon is the best way to say “I love you.”

The campaign includes numerous media outreach components, online and electronic communications, and communications and a recipe contest geared toward registered dietitians, encouraging them to share their love for lean beef.

For more information, visit MyBeefCheckoff.com.

Beef

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Syngenta Seeds, Inc. has named Evan Uthof of Jackson, Neb. the 2009 Golden Harvest Seeds, Inc. Seedsmen of the Year.
  • Headline fungicide from BASF was recognized as fungicide of the year during the 17th Annual National No-Tillage Conference 2009 No-Till Product of the Year awards presentation.

  • The National FFA Foundation

    • has named Todd Greenwood the new team leader, corporate contributions, effective Jan. 25, 2010.

  • No-Till Farmer readers have weighed in on the products that performed the best in their no-till operations, citing the Keeton Seed Firmer as the “2009 No-Till Product Of The Year.”
    Zimfo Bytes

    Muzinic Promoted to VP at Rhea + Kaiser

    Chuck Zimmerman

    muzinicCheryl Muzinic has been promoted to VP, Group Account Manager, at Rhea + Kaiser Marketing Communications.

    Muzinic, who joined Rhea + Kaiser in 2005 as management supervisor, manages strategic development and planning for the agency’s business-to-consumer accounts: DePaul University, Hammes Company and Central Garden & Pet, including Excel Marketing, Gulfstream Home & Garden, Pennington Seed and TechPac, LLC.

    “Cheryl has deep consumer experience, drive and an ability to see beyond the expected. Our clients benefit every day from her unique insights into their needs,” said Steve Rhea, president and CEO of Rhea + Kaiser Marketing Communications. “This promotion recognizes her accomplishments in the growth of our consumer group and her dedication to excellent client service and team leadership.”

    Agencies