Coming to Your Farm: Weekly Video Crop Reports

Joanna Schroeder

If you are interested in getting up-to-date ag reports from growers around the world, then you need to check out Ag Reports Network (ARN). The site utilizes video clips from farmers and agronomists to give growers timely and accurate crop condition reports from farms around the world. The newly designed site gives updates from around the United States as well as from Brazil. Within the next few months, reports will also be coming from farmers in the Ukraine and Argentina.

In addition to crop reports, growers can also buy and sell equipment, also featured via video, as well as view educational pieces focused on various crops such as corn and soybeans. There will also be weekly market reports available that are designed to help a grower manage risk.

ARN is currently looking for additional growers from around the world, growing a diversity of crops, to participate in the weekly video reports. You can visit the website to learn more at www.agreportsnetwork.com. And while you’re there, register to win an all expenses paid trip for two to Bahia, Brazil to learn, first hand, about Brazilian agriculture.

Agribusiness, Farming

Soybean Man

Chuck Zimmerman

Soybean ManYou never know what you’ll run into at a farm show. In this case it’s the Bayer CropScience Soybean Man.

He didn’t talk so I didn’t interview him. Just saw him wandering around and took his picture. I’m sure that if you want to know more you’ll need to talk to your local Bayer CropScience representative.

Iowa Power Farming Show Photo Album

Farm Shows, Soybean

Auditorium View of Iowa Power Farming Show

Chuck Zimmerman

Iowa Power Farming ShowI enjoyed day one of the Iowa Power Farming Show. You’ve got to like a show that’s indoors when the day starts out at 14 degrees. Cindy will be attending next week’s National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville which is an indoor show too.

From all indications it was a good start here today. Like many farm shows, the second day is supposed to be the best day for attendance. I heard only positive comments today and still have some more interviews to post in the next day or so. I’ll actually be traveling home tomorrow to get ready for this Saturday’s Chicago Farmers Farmland Investment Fair before heading directly to the National Biodiesel Conference in Dallas.

Iowa Power Farming Show Photo Album

Farm Shows

Ag Leader Launches Blue Delta Dealer Network

Chuck Zimmerman

Mike OlsonAg Leader Technology has announced the Blue Delta Dealer Network. At the Iowa Power Farming Show I spoke with Mike Olson to learn more about it. He’s pictured working in the booth here at the show.

Basically, Ag Leader Technology has developed a new elite precision farming distribution network in an effort to bring more structure to a growing precision agriculture community.

The network is designed to help precision farming dealers become well-rounded precision farming experts, as well as help farmers locate and identify elite precision farming dealerships throughout North America.

“There are thousands of precision farming dealerships and specialists out there; our goal with Blue Delta is to create an opportunity for the best of these dealers to separate themselves with in-depth training, and increased product and marketing sup- port so they can become an even better resource for their customers,” says Mike Olson, North American Sales Manager. “We recognize the end user’s most important resource is their precision farming dealer. This is a great way to bring more consistency and expertise to the marketplace.”

Blue DeltaAg Leader unofficially launched the Blue Delta network in December at the grand opening of Ag Leader Academy in Ames. Since that time Ag Leader has been working with dealers on intense product training and marketing efforts.

“Our goal is to provide these dealers with a number of tools to help them better educate and sup- port their precision farming customers,” continues Olson. “We’ve learned that the more educated growers are about precision farming, the more they embrace it. We believe this will have a significant impact on the industry.”

You can listen to my interview with Mike below.

Iowa Power Farming Show Photo Album

Ag Leader, Audio, Farm Shows, Precision Agriculture

Iowa Power Farming Show

Chuck Zimmerman

Tom Junge IA Power Farming ShowI’m attending my first ever Iowa Power Farming Show courtesy of PrecisionPays.com sponsor Ag Leader Technology. The first person I met this morning was show manager, Tom Junge. The show is conducted by the Iowa-Nebraska Equipment Dealers Association.

Tom says they represent about 400 dealers and have been doing the show for 55 years. They have a show in December in Nebraska now too. Here at the Iowa show they use 3 different buildings with 6 acres of exhibits. They’re hoping for another record attendance this year like they had last year.

You can listen to my interview with Tom below. I also uploaded a short video clip from above the show floor with my iPhone so you can see what it’s like.

And of course I’ve got photos for you in the Iowa Power Farming Show Photo Album.

Ag Leader, Audio, Farm Shows, Video

Study Shows Environmental Benefits of Soybeans

Cindy Zimmerman

Soybeans are better than ever for the environment, which makes soy-based products greener than ever.

usb lifecycleThat’s the findings of a new peer-reviewed life cycle profile just released by the United Soybean Board (USB) that documents multiple energy and environmental benefits of U.S. soybean farming and processing.

“This profile is the first comprehensive life cycle study covering U.S. soybean production through four major biobased products,” said Arkansas soybean farmer John Cooper, a USB Director and Member of the USB Domestic Marketing Committee. “U.S. soy already delivers environmental and energy benefits. It’s exciting to see the trends point to even more in the future.”

A key objective was to update life cycle inventory (LCI) databases for soybean production and processing as well as conversion into four key soy-derived feedstocks (methyl soyate, soy lube base stock, soy polyol, and soy resin) used in fuel and industrial products. Its cradle-to-gate scope begins with soybean farming (the cradle) and goes through processing of products (the gate).

Among the study’s key findings are that soybean production results in significant greenhouse gas reductions and that soybean yields are 12 percent higher than 10 years ago and should increase 40 percent over the next decade.

The updated data show approximately 20% less direct energy used in soybean farming due to reduced diesel and gasoline usageand soybean processing facilities reduced their energy consumption by 45% compared to 1998 data.

Soybean, USB

Elanco Enhances Commitment to Food Safety

Cindy Zimmerman

ElancoElanco has launched a new business platform focused on food safety that includes new products for both poultry and beef processing plants.

For poultry, AviBrom™ is a post-harvest carcass rinse that reduces Salmonella pathogens during processing. Research has shown up to a 2.5-log reduction1 in post-chill whole-carcass Salmonella levels when using AviBrom.

“AviBrom works in a wide range of water pH so acidifiers aren’t needed as with some food-safety interventions,” says Tom Nicholson, director of sales and technical services for Elanco Food Solutions. “That reduces the risk of color and shelf-life issues that poultry processors often see with acid-based interventions.

Two food-safety products for the beef industry include Finalyse™, a pre-harvest hide wash that targets E. coli pathogens on live beef animals as they enter the packing plant, and BoviBrom™, a post-harvest carcass rinse that reduces E. coli and Salmonella pathogens on the carcass during processing.

“Elanco Food Solutions’ food-safety products are unique and science-based,” adds Nicholson. “We’re focused on helping food-animal packers and processors deliver safe, affordable and wholesome food to consumers.”

Beef, Elanco, Food, Poultry

BASF Launches Headline Training Module

Cindy Zimmerman

basfBASF Corporation has just launched a new online training program – www.planthealtheducation.com – to educate growers on how Headline® fungicide for maximum benefit.

The training program examines the three pillars of Plant Health—disease control, stress tolerance and growth efficiency—and how Headline fungicide can best affect the most important aspects of growing a healthy plant.

The audio-visual presentation also examines the science behind Headline fungicide and includes trivia questions, statistical information, visual evidence and user testimonials.

I’m sure we will find out more about this new program for growers at the upcoming Commodity Classic in Anaheim, March 4-6. Coverage of Classic on Agwired will be once again sponsored in part by BASF.

BASF, Commodity Classic, Corn, Soybean

Dealing With Issues Management

Chuck Zimmerman

Issues Management MeetingMuch of the work done at the Cattle Industry Convention is in committees. These meetings are open and as I’ve found over the years, a great learning experience to attend. I did a walk around during the main committee time as part of my work for the Cattlemen’s Beef Board and stopped in just as the Joint Issues Management Committee was concluding. As you can imagine, this committee is dealing with some real challenges, especially from activist groups like HSUS and others that are spreading misinformation about the industry.

I spoke with committee chair, Mike Stahly. Mike says that the checkoff does many surveys of consumers to learn what they think about the industry and the product. This information is then used to craft strategies for how to deal with issues like the whole animal welfare one.

All committees of the Beef Board have their own web page and archived copies of agendas and minutes. You can find the Joint Issues Management Committee page here. This has been a key feature of the website we built for the CBB and it has proven to be a simple tool to make checkoff information available and easy to find.

You can listen to and download my interview with Mike below.

Cattle Industry Convention Photo Album

Ag Groups, Animal Activists, Audio, Cattle Industry Conference, Wackos

Linda Brake CattleWoman of the Year

Chuck Zimmerman

Linda BrakeYou get to meet a lot of wonderful people in a media room, including the media. At the Cattle Industry Convention one of the interesting people I met was Linda Brake. She was named the 2009 Outstanding CattleWoman of the Year by the American National CattleWomen. Linda is from Arizona and seemed a little overwhelmed by the honor. The award is sponsored by Land O’ Lakes Purina Mills LLC.

Linda says she feels very “special.” She says it’s an honor to have been selected. In my interview with her you can listen to her describe her feelings and talk about the work she’s done.

Linda has been an active CattleWoman for 20 years. As an ANCW member, she has served on various committees and as the vice-chair and chairman of the National Beef Cook-Off (NBCO) Committee and co-chair of the 2001 NBCO. She has served as Secretary and President in the Santa Cruz CattleWomen and numerous positions at the state level including Arizona CattleWomen President in 1998. Linda has also served on a joint NCBA committee, is a member of the Arizona Beef Council and producer member of the Western Center for Risk Management Education.

“Linda is a role model for all who work to sell beef,” said Vicki Wilkinson, of Chino Valley, Ariz. and past ANCW president. “She has always been there to lend a hand, give sage advice and do whatever was necessary to promote and educate the public or her peers about our product, beef.” Linda Vensel, Ariz. past president, credits her ability to work well with others and leadership skills for the success of the first destination city National Beef Cook-Off in Chicago that earned over 400 million beef impressions.”

Linda is also a wife, mother, grandmother and has served as a volunteer at her church and for the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Posse for over 20 years.

The Outstanding CattleWoman of the Year Award is given to one cattlewoman each year that has excelled at continued beef promotion on the local, state, and national level, while contributing dedication, commitment and support to the American National CattleWomen, Inc.

Cattle Industry Convention Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Cattle Industry Conference