Bumper Crops Still Possible

Chuck Zimmerman August 6, 2009

With a little cooperation from the weather we might see some interesting corn and soybean crop results this year. Can you say feed and fuel in the same breath?

Bumper corn and soybean crops are still possible in 2009, despite a very unusual growing season, according to the latest Farm Futures survey of U.S. farmers.

Corn production could reach 12.545 billion, the second biggest crop in history, with soybeans setting an all-time high at 3.275 billion.

USDA reports 2009 production Aug. 12, in a widely anticipated release that features the agency’s first estimates based on in-field surveys, not statistical guesses. The government also will update acreage for corn in seven states where planting delays made its June 30 estimates uncertain.

Farm Futures found a 2 million acre drop in corn plantings from USDA’s June survey, with the total falling to 85.04 million. But farmers also reported above average yields of 160.3 bpa, compared to the current USDA statistical guess of 153.4. Farm Futures production estimate is 255 million above the July government forecast.

Farm Futures put the average U.S. soybean yield at 42.8 bpa, slightly higher than USDA’s trend forecast.

Media

America Needs Agriculture

Amanda Nolz August 6, 2009

It’s going to cost WHAT to raise a child today? $221,190, you say? No kidding? With the rising cost of living, including raising children, it’s more important now than ever before for American families to have safe, inexpensive food for their dinner plates. With ballot initiatives sponsored by groups such as the Humane Society of the United States working to make production agriculture a volatile career, I fear much of our food with be imported from unsafe locations around the globe in the future. I don’t know about you, but I want safe, wholesome American food for future generations. Check out this interesting read and spread the word!

USDA RELEASES ANNUAL STUDY WHICH NOTES THAT CHILD BORN IN 2008 WILL COST $221,190 TO RAISE

WASHINGTON, Aug. 4, 2009 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture today released a new report, Expenditures on Children by Families, finding that a middle-income family with a child born in 2008 can expect to spend about $221,190 ($291,570 when adjusted for inflation) for food, shelter, and other necessities to raise that child over the next seventeen years.

Food

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort August 5, 2009

Mycogen Seeds is pleased to announce the addition of 29 new grain corn hybrids to its robust 2010 lineup.
Internet Radio has been taken to the next level with the launch of iBizRadio.com’s personalized business talk Internet radio station. This free Internet radio station allows listeners to schedule their own programming and learn from some of the best minds in business and technology.
Nufarm Ltd has strengthened and expanded its seed business by acquiring two U.S. based sorghum companies: Richardson Seeds Ltd and MMR Genetics Ltd.
Robin Winters has moved from sales and on-air production to farm director at WOWO in Fort Wayne, IN. He began his new position on June 1.

Zimfo Bytes

Riding into the Sunset

Joanna Schroeder August 5, 2009

It’s been an amazing week here in Ft Worth for the largest ever IFAJ Congress and Ag Media Summit. We’ve had some fun times and made long-lasting new friends from around the world but its time to ride into the sunset and say goodbye.

Thanks for letting AgWired be a part of your celebration with special thanks to Novus International, Pioneer and Successful Farming for sponsoring our coverage. You can check out pictures from all the events in our IFAJ/AMS 2009 Photo Album, and come back to AgWired.com often as we’ll be posting stories about the events during the next few weeks.

We’ll see you next year in Belgium. Cheers!

AgWired coverage of IFAJ 2009 is sponsored by:
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Ag Media Summit, IFAJ, Novus International, Pioneer

Kickin it up with Kixor

Joanna Schroeder August 5, 2009

AgWired coverage of IFAJ 2009 is sponsored by:
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There’s been a lot of stampeding and kicking it up on the dance floor here in Ft. Worth this week during the IFAJ Congress and Ag Media Summit. And one company that is really kicking it up is BASF with their new product Kixor. Kixor is currently under development and is being designed for broadleaf weed control. Once it is perfected and available for producers, farmers will able to apply the herbicide prior to crop emergence for burndown or for season-long residual broadleaf control.

To learn more, I spent a little time at the campfire with Dan Westberg, Technical Services Manager for BASF.

“Kixor herbicide technology is a unique chemistry that is specifically designed by BASF to solve the toughest broadleaf weed control problems facing growers today,” explained Westberg. “If you look across the board there are a little over 70 broadleaf weed species. Many of those are resistance or hard to control.”

When the technology comes to market, it will have a wide range of crops it can be used on including corn, sorghum, soybean, wheat, all of the cereals, cotton, follow, treat fruit, and more.

One of the best attributes of Kixor will be the short amount of time for it to take effect – three to five days.

“Kixor herbicide technology will be very unique in that it has both burndown activity and also soil residual activity. So, depending on which crop it will have a very effective burndown and for some crops we can provide a very effective residual effect especially corn,” said Westberg.

IFAJ/AMS 2009 Photo Album

You can listen to my full interview with Dan Westberg here:

Ag Media Summit, Audio, BASF, IFAJ, Novus International, Pioneer

Fungicides in Ft. Worth

Joanna Schroeder August 4, 2009

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Small grain farmers and agricultural researchers were taken by surprise this year due to a huge outbreak of head scab. But many farmers were spared to much damage through the application of various fungicide products including those who used Caramba. Caramba is a fungicide developed by BASF and now for the first time this year available to producers and its benefit is to increase yield protection and reductions of DON levels in grain.

Dr. Gary M Fellows was able to sit down with me during the Ag Media Summit and tell me more about Caramba and Twinline.

“Caramba is the number one product worldwide for the control for head scab in small grains, and we launched it this year which was a good thing because this was the worst year for head scab that we’ve seen in the past 25 years,” said Fellows.

In addition to Caramba, BASF also launched Twinline fungicide which uses the same active ingredient in Headline which is designed to control aggressive wheat diseases.

“The neat thing about Twinline is that its powered by Headline. What we’ve done is taken Headline and moved it up to the next level and that’s Twinline. And so we’ve actually increased it activity its given it a little longer in curative control as well as preventive control we’ve always had. In the trials that are starting to come off, the wheat harvest in the south is almost done, we’re seeing great yields in Twinline compared to all the other competitive products and compared to untreated.”

Although Twinline is only for small grains such as wheat they are working on a comparative product for corn but we’re going to have to wait to get the details.

We had several fellow journalists here at IFAJ and Ag Media Summit from Australia with us and they are not expecting a great wheat harvest. However, although not a record breaking year, the United States, says Fellows, should have a good harvest.

IFAJ/AMS 2009 Photo Album

You can listen to my full interview with Dr. Fellows here:

Ag Media Summit, Audio, BASF, IFAJ, Novus International, Pioneer

Pioneer Promotes Its New Products

Joanna Schroeder August 4, 2009

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I spent some time with Jerry Harrington, Sales and Marketing PR Manager for Pioneer during the Ag Media Summit today so that I could learn a little more about some of their new products. Pioneer is launching several new products this year for producers, two of which are for corn farmers and one for soybean farmers.

“We’re waiting for approval on cadre of new technologies. One is Optimum GAT in corn which is broad spectrum herbicide resistance…and we expect regulatory approval this year with eventual product introduction. There’s also Optimum Acre Max 1 which is our new in the bag refuge program which makes setting up refuge easier for farmers in corn,” said Harrington.

He continued, “And thirdly high oleic soybeans. High oleic soybeans, known as brand name Plenish, is the first oil trait with a human benefit. That is its soybean oil that has greater stability in cooking and its also healthier for the end use audience. We’re looking forward to approvals on all three of those in the second half of this year.”

Producers and media can get more information Optimum GAT, Optimum Acre Max and Plenish on Pioneer’s website.

IFAJ/AMS 2009 Photo Album

You can listen to the full interview with Jerry Harrington here:

Ag Media Summit, Audio, IFAJ

IFAJ Congress/Ag Media Summit Update

Chuck Zimmerman August 4, 2009

Although I could not attend the combined IFAJ Congress/Ag Media Summit that doesn’t mean I’m not in touch. I just got off Skype with Greg Lamp, Corn & Soybean Digest, and Co-Chair of the event. He had a short break before the afternoon activities get underway.

Greg says the mix of U.S. and international visitors has worked out great and the event is a success. Many of our international guests commented that the “cowboy spirit” they’ve experienced is just what they hoped it would be. Greg says he’s caught that spirit too. Sounds like a lot of hats and boots are going home from this conference.

So listen to my chat with Greg to hear how this year’s event has been going. Just click on the audio player below.

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

AgWired coverage of IFAJ 2009 is sponsored by:
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ACN, Ag Media Summit, Audio, IFAJ, LPC

AG CONNECT: The Place to Be in 2010

Joanna Schroeder August 4, 2009

AgWired coverage of IFAJ 2009 is sponsored by:
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Time flies when you’re getting close to an event as exciting as the AG CONNECT Expo, who just celebrated its one year anniversary of “existence”. What does that mean you wonder? Last year the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) announced the first ever AG CONNECT show on January 13-15, 2010 in Orlando, Florida. This international show is designed for agriculture industry professionals to share global agricultural ideas and management trends. Participants will be able to interact with exhibits of the latest industry innovations, products and technology as well as a participate in a comprehensive education program and extensive networking opportunities with industry experts worldwide. And what better time for producers to head to Florida then just before they begin to prepare for Spring planting.

The Ag Media Summit was a perfect place for me to catch up with Charlie O’Brien, V.P. of Ag Services for AEM and find out the latest news about AG CONNECT and to learn why everyone should be there.

“It’s really an opportunity to bring agriculture together in one place. They have an opportunity from a trade show perspective to see the latest and greatest innovations and technologies that are available in agriculture. We also have a full complement of education that’s going on. We have more than 50 educational sessions that are available to the attendees. Those are trying to bring out the latest and greatest of what’s happening in agriculture. Agriculture is used whether its precision farming or farm management or succession farming. And we also have the opportunity for networking.”

Everyone who participated in A Media Summit had the opportunity to meet hundreds of journalists from around the world and AG CONNECT will be a great place for them to learn more about global agriculture. You can get more information about AG CONNECT and register at www.agconnect.com.

IFAJ/AMS 2009 Photo Album

You can listen to the full interview with Charlie O’Brien here:

Ag Media Summit, Audio, IFAJ, Novus International, Pioneer

“Shooting” in Old Texas

carly August 4, 2009

This year IFAJ and AMS brought an all-day photography school to the conference. The photography school was taught by Michael Schwarz of the Blue Pixel Group. We started the day off at the historical Fort Worth Stockyards, where we were free to roam the grounds and take pictures that inspired us. Our assignment was to capture old time Texas and anything that would represent that. Participants shot photos of everything from long horns to cowboy hats. At 11:30 the daily cattle drive was taken through the main street of the Stockyard and was a great photo opportunity for us as well as something new to see.

After the cattle drive we headed back to the hotel for the critique session. Each participant picked out their favorite 5 pictures and as a group we reviewed all of them to share our thoughts. The best 50 were chosen and we made our own storytelling slide show of our days adventure. Apart from being a little hot the day was a fun filled learning experience.

You can check out my photos from the Stockyards on our photo album here:

IFAJ/AMS 2009 Photo Album

AgWired coverage of IFAJ 2009 is sponsored by:
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Ag Media Summit, IFAJ, Novus International, Pioneer

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