John Stevenson is New to New Holland

Chuck Zimmerman

Chuck Interviews John StevensonAgWired has arrived at the Farm Progress Show and the first person I got to meet is the new VP, Sales and Marketing, New Holland Agricultural Equipment NA. He’s John Stevenson and this is his first Farm Progress Show. Thanks to Laura McNamara for taking our picture.

So John is my first interview and that’s appropriate since New Holland is once again one of our show coverage sponsors. Here’s what he says about his new position. “I think it’s an outstanding opportunity and really a noble cause. We’re producing products to help feed the world.”

John says New Holland is a heritage company and he feels a lot of responsibility taking on this new opportunity. He says they’ll be re-evaluating everything, including products, services and even the organization. As he puts it, “Are we truly focused on the customer?” Based on this effort they’ll make any changes deemed necessary.

John says they expect to have focus teams internally that are both regional as well as product based. Feedback will be coming from the grassroots, their customers. He’s also planning a tour starting in September spending every other week in a different region, meeting with customers and dealers. He says to “Look forward to a new New Holland.”

You can listen to my interview with John here: fp-08-stevenson.mp3

You can also download the interview with this link.

AgWired coverage of the 2008 Farm Progress Show
is sponsored by: BASF and New Holland

Agribusiness, Audio, BASF, Farm Progress Show, New Holland, Tractor

The Perfect Storm Changes Directions

Harry Siemens

Harry Siemens

The light at the end of the tunnel for cattle and hog producers appears to have changed from a train to small ray of hope. It’s no consolation for producers exiting prematurely or involuntarily for various reasons.

However, Jim Long, President of Genesus Genetics lists a couple of ‘I Told-You-So’s in his most recent pork commentary that I happen to agree with. The first one has to do with the latest US Corn Estimate, which Long says is positive for hog cost of production.Read More

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Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Alltech is proud to announce the initiation of its Margin of Excellence program by naming Anne Koontz its first Alltech – University of Kentucky Margin of Excellence Fellow. The program was developed by Alltech as a means of rewarding the dedication of graduate students in the study of science while promoting technology and development in Kentucky. The fellowship is a stipend of $40,000 per year for a maximum of five years for each graduate fellow.
  • Accelegrow Technologies, Inc., announced that William H. (Bill) Camp, former Executive Vice President of Archer Daniels Midland Company, has been named Chairman and CEO of Accelegrow effective Aug. 6. Camp has served on the Board of Directors of Accelegrow since January this year.
  • A unique, heavy-built, high-performance round baler that significantly improves speed, capacity, density and bale appearance — particularly when harvesting cornstalk bales — is now available from Vermeer Corporation. The new Vermeer 605 Super M Cornstalk Special is built for custom operators and high-volume producers.
  • DuPont announced growers who plant Pioneer brand corn hybrids with the Herculex XTRA trait, including those stacked with the Roundup Ready Corn 2 trait, will be eligible for crop insurance premium reductions in select states in 2009.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Getting Smart with the Smart Nozzle

    Laura McNamara

    The Smart Nozzle does exactly what it sounds like it does. It’s a boom nozzle that can operate independently during sprayer operations. John Harrison Jr. is the Product Engineer for Harrison Technologies(pictured far left) and is the brainchild behind this innovative, yet “why-didn’t-I-think-of-this” technology.

    “The smart nozzle takes existing technology for precision agriculture of boom control with the boom sections in a field and we take it one step further and go down to the nozzle level,” said John. “We can control each individual nozzle on a sprayer at any resolution that precision agriculture companies, that mapping companies want.”

    John says the Smart Nozzle can enable controlled spraying within as little space as a single square foot.

    “We can control on and off control to eliminate overlap, or we can even get down to the modulation of the individual nozzles so that we can do rate control at a square foot area,” John said.

    Plus, John says, a wireless interface gives operators the option of turning on their booms without spraying anything. The nozzle is also compatible with sensors for plant and weed recognition. Ultimately, John claims that the Smart Nozzle can eliminate fertilizer and spray costs by up to 15 percent.

    I spoke with John about his Smart Nozzle device and his small family business. In the interview, John explains that the Smart Nozzle isn’t the first precision agriculture technology that he’s come up with. It’s just the first he’s managed to commercially develop before before the big manufacturers such as John Deere, New Holland and Case IH. You can listen to my interview with John here:
    john-harrisonjr-preag-08.mp3

    You can also check out this video here:

    Agribusiness, Audio, Farming, Technology, Video

    Forecasting for Farming Success

    Laura McNamara

    There are two kinds of information that are important for Pessl Instruments: “ground truth” and expected forecasts. The Austria-based company claims that it offers a one-of-a-kind tool for farmers:

    “What we do is we measure the ground truth,” Gottfried Pessl, President of Pessl Instruments said. “That means what’s going on actually on the field of the farmers but we now also bring in the weather forecast. The weather forecast comes from a Swiss company we have teamed up with and this Swiss company delivers us a five day weather forecast in real-time for that particular farm.”

    Gottfried adds that the technology is based entirely on the internet giving farmers the option of accessing the “ground truth” and weather forecast information on any internet capable electronic device, such as a cell phone.

    “We have a wireless system which brings the data in a centralized server and through that centralized server our clients can worldwide have real time access to the data,” Gottfried said.

    The information collected from Pessl Instruments, Gottfried explained, is valuable for irrigation management for plant protection requirements. He says the collected data can help farmers “optimize the use of the chemicals, to prevent the diseases to prevent insect pest outbreaks and also to have a full traceability of their crop.” Plus, he says using weather forecast data together with real-time weather helps farmers schedule their farm operations associated with the weather, such as harvest sprays.

    “Most of the activities on the farm are very much dependent on if the weather is good or the weather is bad,” Gottfried said.

    The company now exports tools and technology to about 70 countries.

    I interviewed Gottfried about his products and technology. You can listen to my interview with Gottfried here:
    gottfried-pessl-preag-08.mp3

    Agribusiness, Audio, Environment, Equipment, Farming, International, Technology, Weather

    Farm Progress Here We Come

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Farm Progress ShowI hope you’ve got all your Farm Progress Show preparations made. I’m still getting my stuff together.

    It looks like great weather this week according to the Weather Channel. Highs in the upper 70’s, lows in the upper 50’s to lower 60’s. That’s a big difference from last year.

    I think Laura and I will get in around 3pm tomorrow afternoon if all goes well. We’ll work on setting up the AgWired command center and probably take some pictures before heading off to dinner in Ames. At least, that’s the plan now.

    See you from there.

    The nation’s largest outdoor farm show’s 106-acre expo facility will host more than 500 exhibitors showcasing the best and latest products for American and international producers to evaluate and purchase. This year’s show presents more exhibitors and new features compared to its recent Iowa shows including expanded precision and strip-till demonstrations and product introductions of combines, tractors, utility vehicles and crop trait technologies.

    AgWired coverage of the 2008 Farm Progress Show
    is sponsored by: BASF and New Holland

    BASF, Farm Progress Show, New Holland

    Make Waves and NAFB Registration

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Pam JahnkeIn case you need a little reminder and encouragement to get your plans made for the NAFB Convention, then Pam Jahnke, Fabulous Farm Babe, has it:

    NAFB Members and Guests:

    We are less than three months out from the agri-media event of the year…”Making Waves, Lifting Tides”…the 64th Annual Convention of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting. Our host site again will be the beautiful Westin Crown Center in Kansas City.

    Be sure to block Wednesday to Friday, November 12-14, on your planner. Here is a look at our Preliminary Agenda.

    Now is a great time to take care of all your registration needs at www.nafb.com. Or simply go to these links:

    Convention Registration

    Westin Hotel Registration

    NAFB is not mailing the same information via Postal delivery, so it will be important to access the online forms. Should you need assistance, please contact Susan Tally in the NAFB Office at 816.431.4032 or susan@nafb.com.

    Listen to Pam’s message here.
    NAFBFFBMESSAGE.mp3

    Or download the audio file. (mp3)

    Audio, NAFB

    Stabilizing Yields

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Monsanto Technology ShowcaseSouthwest Iowa is home to Larry Stolte (not pictured). He was one of the growers in attendance at the Monsanto Technology Showcase tour stop in Elkhart, IA. Larry has corn, beans and hogs.

    I interviewed him part way through the program and he says that what he was seeing and hearing was “very interesting.” He’s learning more about corn and soybeans and what’s coming down the road. I asked him what he thought about the new Roundup Ready 2 Yield Soybeans. He says, “It looks like it’s going to be pretty good for the farmer.” He knows there will be a limited supply for the 2009 season but hopes it’s available in his area so he can try it.

    When it comes to corn, he liked seeing the stress mitigation properties of the new VT Triple technology. As he puts it, this, “helps stabilize yields.” He likes the idea of being able to get through periods of dry weather without losing yields.

    Larry says this year has been one of the toughest in his lifetime due to all the rain in his area. He’s had more drowned out areas than he’s ever seen. In fact, he says that they’ve lost most of what they even re-planted so he’s looking forward to next season.

    You can listen to my interview with Larry here: monsanto-tech-showcase-stolte.mp3

    Monsanto Technology Showcase Photo Album

    Audio, Farming

    Attending Field Days “Critical”

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Dallas JohnstonIt’s always good to get a grower perspective when it comes to new technology. Dallas Johnston farms 1,500 acres of corn and soybeans in southwest Iowa. He’s taking notes during a field station stop. You can also see that he’s got his AgWired t-shirt with him too! That was my thank you for letting me interview him.

    He attends field days like this Monsanto Technology Showcase because “it’s critical.” This is what helps him better understand what’s available to him. He says it allows him to see how plants will actually perform under real life conditions. This particular farm had high winds and he’s able to see how well these plants withstood that.

    When it comes to new technology like Roundup Ready 2 Yield Soybeans, he says, “Anytime you can gain a few bushels here, a few bushels there, that’s what makes the difference in our bottom lines that keeps us out there for the next year.” He likes this opportunity to see that new technology on display.

    Like a lot of Iowa farmers, this season has had its weather challenges. However, Dallas is optimistic. He says things look very good, especially when you consider the early season rains and late plantings. He knows the verdict is still out but says that right now, “things look very well.”

    You can listen to my interview with Dallas here: monsanto-tech-showcase-johnston-interview.mp3

    Monsanto Technology Showcase Photo Album

    Audio, Farming

    More Plant, More Yield

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Dan JohnsonThis seems like common sense on the surface but University research backs it up. To get more corn yield per acre, plant more plants per acre.

    That’s what Dan Johnson, Kruger Seeds, says. He’s in charge of their corn lineup and technical training. At the Monsanto Technology Showcase Tour stop in Elkhart, IA he had a field station devoted to plant populations.

    Dan says they talked about Monsanto’s goal of doubling corn yields in the Unites States by 2030. To do that he thinks there are three components to keep in mind. One is to improve the germ plasm to increase yield potential. The second is to develop trait technology that protects that potential and finally, to try some different things agronomically.

    One of the things Dan is challenging growers to do is look at their plant populations. “There’s two ways you can improve your corn yield. One is making bigger ears. The easier way to do it is having more ears per acre.” Dan says the technology is allowing heavier plant populations. In fact, he says that University research shows that growers can plant about 10 percent more per acre. He recommends that growers test this on their farm.

    You can listen to my interview with Dan here: monsanto-tech-showcase-johnson.mp3

    Monsanto Technology Showcase Photo Album

    Audio, Corn, Seed