Out Flying In His Field

Chuck Zimmerman

Corn SunriseIt was a beautiful day in central Iowa yesterday when I attended the Monsanto Technology Showcase. There are 13 tour stops this summer. I hope they all have weather like we had yesterday. Cool, with light cloud cover.

The field day events are intended to help farmers “experience the future” and learn about Monsanto’s advanced technology and research.

I’ll be posting a number of interviews here after I find some time to get some editing done today. It was a long drive up and back yesterday.

Yellow Crop DusterMost of the interviews I did were out in the field and this crop duster came over top of us every time I got the golden ZimmComm microphone out.

I took a lot of pictures though, including a whole series of this guy flying over top of me. You can find them in the Monsanto Technology Showcase photo album.

Agribusiness

New Numbers From John Deere

Chuck Zimmerman

New John Deere Numbering SystemThere’s lots of news out today from John Deere (5 news releases). The first one is interesting since it’s such a visual thing.

What’s in a name? Quite a bit actually – especially when it comes to tractors. John Deere announces it’s currently transitioning to a new name and number system for its full line of tractors with the introduction of the new 5D, 5E, 5M, and 6D Series Tractors.

“The updated name and numbering system is unique to John Deere and allows for a more consistent approach to naming our equipment around the world,” says Steve Robisky, John Deere marketing administration manager. “This new system allows customers to more quickly and easily identify the engine horsepower of a tractor, its capability, and its size by looking at the hood decal,” Robisky adds.

Other news includes:

Agribusiness, John Deere, Tractor

California Strawberries in China

Chuck Zimmerman

California strawberries heading to ChinaThanks to Liza Teixeira, California Strawberry Commission, I just found out that Olympic athletes and visitors will enjoy some juicy red goodness in China.

In a historic step for the California strawberry industry, America’s favorite fruit will arrive on Chinese soil for the first time in history today (Aug. 5). After receiving approval from Chinese authorities, the California strawberry industry has been readying for the first shipment.

The strawberries were specially harvested on Saturday in preparation for their arrival in China today. This initial test shipment will be inspected by the China General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) to ensure the fruit meets China’s food safety and quality standards.

California Strawberry Commission President, Mark Murai said, “After initial review and quality checks in Beijing, California strawberries will continue to enter the country and will be available throughout the entire Olympic Games.”

The fruit will be prepared by the official caterers who will incorporate this favorite fruit into their menus and served at the Beijing Olympic Village eateries, the U.S.A. House and the U.S. High Performance Center.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said, “I commend China for providing the world’s greatest athletes with healthy diet options and I look forward to a continued dialogue on gaining permanent market access for California grown strawberries. As Governor of this great state, I am committed to promoting and will continue to campaign for our world-renowned products and services.”

Ag Groups, Food, International

Cow Tunes

Chuck Zimmerman

Ear-A-RoundCows wearing headsets. Uh. Right. I want to know if they can subscribe to farm podcasts.

The same Global Positioning System (GPS) technology used to track vehicles is now being used to track cows.

But Agricultural Research Service (ARS) animal scientist Dean M. Anderson has taken tracking several steps further with a Walkman-like headset that enables him to “whisper” wireless commands to cows to control their movements across a landscape—and even remotely gather them into a corral.

He and his colleagues realize this is a highly futuristic technology, but they can envision a time when these technologies will be affordable and useful for a range of applications, from intensive animal operations to monitoring and controlling the movements of some wildlife species and even household pets.

The commands vary from familiar “gathering songs” sung by cowboys during manual round-ups, to irritating sounds such as sirens and even mild electric stimulation if necessary to get cows to move or avoid penetrating forbidden boundaries.

Via Engadget.

Animal Health, Research, USDA

Kixor Kicks Up Weed Control

Cindy Zimmerman

BASF SignageLet’s make this perfectly clear up front – Kixor is not yet registered for use by the EPA. Registration is anticipated in late 2009 for the 2010 crop year.

Okay – that being said – BASF is very excited about this new broadleaf herbicide they hope will eventually be approved for use on over 90 different crops. Trials are taking place across the country this summer on a variety of crops, including corn and soybeans on Kip Cullers’ farm in southwest Missouri. Once approved, Kixor will actually be the active ingredient in at least four different products planned for release by BASF.

This is Dr. Dan Westberg’s “baby” and he proudly shows off how Kixor speeds up the action of Roundup on weeds in this video shot at Kip Cullers Record Breaking Field Day.

Kip Culler’s Record Breaking Field Day photo album

BASF, Farming, Video

Soybean Champion Coach

Cindy Zimmerman

Dennis BelcherEvery successful champion has at least one good coach and world soybean yield champ Kip Cullers has several.

One of his main advisers is BASF Technical Services Rep Dennis Belcher, who is based in Columbia, Missouri. “Kip and I over the last few years have worked very closely together,” Dennis says. In fact, Kip is in touch with Dennis on an almost daily basis and Dennis says what Kip has accomplished with his yields is really important to all growers to show them what good crop protection can do.

“All the crops that we have here at Kip’s expo have BASF products on them – herbicides, insecticides and fungicides,” says Dennis. Kip’s favorite product by far is Headline. “He is looking for something that will actually help him increase yields, and Headline brings growers three things – good disease control, better plant growth efficiency and the ability to handle stress better.”

Dennis also talks about a new herbicide that BASF hopes to receive approval for next year, which I will tell you more about in the next post.

Kip Culler’s Record Breaking Field Day photo album

Listen to my interview with Dennis here: basf-kip-dennis.mp3

Audio, BASF, Farming

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • A recent nationwide survey conducted by the United Soybean Board and soybean checkoff revealed that U.S. consumers strongly back U.S. soybean farmers and biodiesel. The “National Agriculture Image Survey” indicated 82 percent of consumers agree foreign oil-producing countries and the high cost of fuel impacting farming and processing, packaging, storing and shipping food are to blame for food price increases, not U.S. farmers. For complete survey information, click here.
  • John Deere’s Worldwide Commercial & Consumer Equipment Division announces STIHL Inc. and STIHL Ltd. as the preferred supplier of gas powered and corded handheld power equipment in the United States and Canada.
  • Jessica Osterman of Conde was selected 2008 South Dakota Beef Ambassador during the state-wide contest July 25 in Huron. Osterman, who will be a freshman majoring in Animal Science at South Dakota State University this fall, is the daughter of Todd and Sandy Osterman. As winner of the contest’s senior division (age 17-20), she will be representing the state in the National Beef Ambassador Contest in Oklahoma City in October.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Top BASF Exec Visits SW Missouri

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Kip Cullers and Markus HeldtThe chance to visit a tiny town in southern Missouri where the biggest soybean yields in the world have been achieved was a great opportunity for Markus Heldt, BASF Group Vice President responsible for the ag chemical business in North America.

    Markus was really interested to see BASF products in the field and he was very impressed with the turnout at the first ever Kip Cullers Record Breaking Field Day. “It’s the first time we participated in such a large grower event,” said Markus. “More important than the number of growers is the quality of those growers who are looking for innovation and new solutions to improve their productivity.”

    Markus says Kip is a great example for other growers. “Not everybody will grow their crop according to Kip’s recipe but his own experience in the field can help every farmer.”

    Kip Culler’s Record Breaking Field Day photo album

    Listen to my interview with Markus here: basf-kip-markus.mp3

    Audio, BASF, Farming, Soybean

    Kip Shares His Secrets

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Kip Field Day signWhen Kip Cullers told me two weeks ago that they were expecting 2000-3000 people for the first ever Kip Cullers Record Breaking Field Day, I really couldn’t believe it. But I wouldn’t be surprised if there were more than that by the time this event ends on Thursday because there had to be at least 500 out there today in the time I was there and that was just half of the first day!

    Kip at Field Day“I’m just honored that everybody drove all the way down here,” Kip told me. “We got Canadians here!”

    Kip’s main message to the growers is the mantra he has been repeating continuously since becoming the celebrity all-star of the soybean world. “I preach about plant health over and over and over, I sound like a broken record,” Kip says. “A happy plant is a healthy plant.”

    His secrets to high yields are simple – plant the best genetics for your farm and protect your crop with a good insecticide and fungicide program. He is especially strong on BASF Headline fungicide, so much so that he did double applications for both his corn and soybean crops this year since he had some 52 inches of rain early in the season. For growers who might be hesitant about spending the money to buy that protection for their crop, Kip says it’s a no-brainer as far as he’s concerned. “If you’re not using fungicide, you obviously can’t stand prosperity,” he says.

    Kip Culler’s Record Breaking Field Day photo album

    Listen to my interview with Kip here: basf-kip-kip.mp3

    Audio, BASF, Corn, Pioneer, Soybean

    Big New Holland Equipment Rolling Along

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Big New Holland Equipment Rolling AlongIt’s kind of hard to miss a pair of these rolling along the Interstate next to you. Not a bad picture for my Blackberry at 70 mph, eh?

    I saw a lot of farm equipment moving up and down the highway today. This picture is on I-35 north bound just as it runs into I-80 at Des Moines.

    I’ll be heading the other way by tomorrow afternoon.

    Agribusiness, Equipment, New Holland