How The Best Was Won

Chuck Zimmerman

Best of NAMA Call For EntriesI’m guessing most of you are not online reading AgWired this weekend and I’m not doing a lot of posting either. It is “Labor Day” weekend after all. However, just in case you’re taking a peek now (or later this week). . .

It’s time for you to start thinking about your Best of NAMA entries. This year’s theme is “How The Best Was Won.” The brochure which came in the mail might be stretching it just a tad where it says, “An epic tale of guts and glory.” However, if we get the time to put together some entries this year I have had a few moments this past year that took a little bit of the guts part. Like at Farm Progress Show when I climbed on top of the grain bin next to the media tent to take photos. I do not like heights and although there was a ladder and rail I can’t say that’s my favorite thing to do.

You can find out all about the Best of NAMA Call for Entries on the NAMA website. The deadline for entries is October 12, 2007.

NAMA

Zimfo Bites

Laura McNamara

  • Illinois, in partnership with Ford Motor Company, is set to play a major role in advancing new clean vehicle technology with the introduction of Ford’s first of its kind E85 Hybrid Escape. Five of the 20 Ford E85 Hybrid’s in existence were delivered to the State of Illinois and the Illinois Corn Growers Association at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Illinois. Two additional vehicles are going to Commonwealth Edison.
  • Grower leaders from opposite ends of the state have been elected to lead the Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB) and the Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) for the next year. Julius Schaaf, a grower from Randolph in Fremont County, has been named the new ICPB chair. Schaaf also represents Iowa with the U.S. Grains Council (USGC), where he currently leads the USGC’s Asia Advisory Team. Kyle Phillips, Knoxville, serves this year as the ICPB past chair, and Darrel McAlexander, Sidney, moves up to chair-elect. Tim Burrack, Arlington, joins the officer team as ICPB secretary/treasurer. Tim Recker, who raises corn, soybeans and hogs near Arlington in Fayette County, will serve as the new ICGA president. In addition to officer positions, Recker chairs the Iowa Corn Political Action Committee and serves as a delegate at NCGA’s policy conference. Bob Bowman, DeWitt, serves as the ICGA past president. Gary Edwards, Anamosa, advances to ICGA president-elect, and Don Elsbernd, Postville, is newly elected as the ICGA’s secretary/treasurer.
  • Soybean producers growing Pioneer® brand low linolenic soybeans again will be able to receive an attractive premium for their crop at more than 115 locations across the heart of the Corn Belt. The market for low linolenic soybeans continues to expand, increasing contracting opportunities for growers. Low lin soybean growers will earn a premium of $.60 per bushel for on-farm storage of low linolenic soybeans and a premium of $.55 per bushel for harvest delivery. Additionally, growers can participate in an early purchase offer from Pioneer. With a purchase of 250 units of Pioneer low linolenic soybeans by Oct. 10, 2007, growers earn 25 free units. Contract growers also are eligible to earn a rebate on DuPontTM Asana® XL, Assure® II and PunchTM crop protection products from DuPont Crop Protection used on their 2008 Pioneer low linolenic soybean contract acres. The soybean oil from Pioneer brand soybeans is marketed as TREUSTM Low Linolenic Soybean Oil from the Bunge DuPont Biotech Alliance to food companies to help meet increasing demand to reduce or eliminate trans fats in products while preserving flavor and shelf life.
Zimfo Bytes

Harvest Labor Weekend

Chuck Zimmerman

Corn HarvestThis is what I saw a lot of coming home from the Farm Progress Show and then again today when I was out in the field.

It’s perfect weather to be out in the field so I’m sure this is going to be a busy weekend of harvesting.

While I was out today there was a kind of infrequent breeze which made for a lot of dust devils. I tried to get a picture of one but they didn’t cooperate with when my camera was ready.

Corn HarvestA large one crossed over the highway in front of me at one point carrying a lot of corn trash with it. It was interesting to see swirling corn leaves moving through a soybean field which was on the opposite side of the highway from where it started.

I’m starting to get the dust from the Farm Progress Show out of my system. I know the streets are paved but I didn’t notice much less dust than normal. I had to take my camera to the shop this morning to have it professionally cleaned. I tried but just couldn’t get it all out. I’ll have it back Tuesday. This coming week promises to be a catch up week for me finally. Laura will be going to Chicago to the Peak Anitfreeze Indy 300 which gives me a road break. Thank you Laura.

Farming

Zimfo Bites

Laura McNamara

  • A new ethanol plant project that would make both grain based ethanol and cellulosic ethanol will be good for Kansas and its agriculture industry, according to corn and sorghum growers. Abengoa Bioenergy announced on Aug. 23 that it would build a hybrid ethanol project that would feature an 85 million gallon grain-based ethanol plant and a 30 million gallon cellulosic ethanol plant. Abengoa officials pointed to the unique synergy between the two ethanol processes. Leaders of the Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association agree. “The cellulosic ethanol would be made from the crop residue, like sorghum and corn stalks, and that can create an additional revenue stream for growers,” KGSPA President Greg Shelor of Minneola said. Cellulosic ethanol can also be made from grasses, forage sorghums and other cellulosic materials.
  • Garst Seed Company is adding seven new NK brand soybeans to its broad lineup of 64 high-performing varieties for the 2008 planting season. Garst advanced only the top varieties with high yield potential and a strong disease package, including resistance to soybean cyst nematode (SCN), sudden death syndrome (SDS), Phytophthora root rot and brown stem rot (BSR). Garst will offer growers both NK brand soybeans and Garst brand soybeans. These soybeans match the needs of nearly every soil type and have the characteristics and traits that add value to our customers’ business,” says Christopher Cook, agronomy services manager for Garst. For the 2008 planting season, Garst’s soybean lineup includes varieties in the Group 00 to Group V maturity categories. Garst’s entire lineup includes the Roundup Ready1 trait.
  • Syngenta announced today that it has obtained full regulatory approval in Japan for Agrisure® RW, its corn rootworm insect control corn seed. Agrisure RW now has full approval in the United States, Canada, and Japan, and import approval in Australia and New Zealand. Syngenta’s innovation in genetics and traits such as Agrisure RW is helping growers meet the rapidly expanding demand for corn. The Agrisure brand spans a wide range of products bringing new choices to growers including Agrisure CB/LL, Agrisure GT, Agrisure RW, Agrisure GT/RW, Agrisure GT/CB/LL, Agrisure CB/LL/RW and Agrisure 3000GT. With this approval, Agrisure RW grain can now be accepted by elevators exporting grain to Japan. However, Syngenta is committed to and will continue to implement the grain stewardship program with growers through the end of 2007. In 2008, Agrisure RW will be part of the seed industry’s Market Choices grain direction program.
Zimfo Bytes

Farm Bill Food Battle Video

Chuck Zimmerman

In the never ending push by whacko groups to impact American production agriculture there’s a new video out from the folks at Free Range Studios. It’s called The Farm Bill Food Battle. It looks like the same folks who brought us The Meatrix and other humorous but so off base productions. They demonstrate great creativity as I’ve pointed out before. Too bad they can’t channel it to a good cause. Unfortunately their emotional but non-science based ideas probably tempt a lot of gullible people to donate money to them so they can produce more.

It is good for a laugh though. I’m looking forward to enjoying some non-organic, good old fashioned produced by the American farmer food this holiday weekend. I hope you do too.

Farm Policy, Wackos

Zimfo Bites

Laura McNamara

  • The National Corn Growers Association is joining producer organizations, suppliers and conservation groups in an agriculture sustainability initiative that will examine practices for sustaining production agriculture. The initiative is meant to support the group’s idea that agricultural production should not negatively impact the environment by providing growers with diverse, economically viable options in production. The initiative aims to increase productivity to meet future nutritional needs while preserving the environment, develop access to safe, nutritious foods for improving human health and developing an improved social and economic well-being of agriculture communities.
  • Dow AgroSciences announced that it will continue to expand its global corn germplasm portfolio and corn business with the acquisition by its affiliate Agrigenetics, Inc. of Duo Maize, a corn germplasm company focused primarily on early maturing germplasm silage applications for northern climates. Duo Maize is based in Rossum, Netherlands. “The technology will further enhance and expand the strong silage market presence Dow AgroSciences has achieved in the U.S. with our silage specific product line as well as position Dow AgroSciences as a key player in European silage applications along with our existing corn product offering,” said Jerome Peribere, Dow AgroSciences president and chief executive officer. Duo Maize technology will provide a new opportunity for Dow AgroSciences to build its silage and grain corn business as well as to expand usage of its Herculex* brand portfolio of insect resistant technology for which Dow AgroSciences expects European registration soon.
  • The second annual Michigan Bio-Economy Summit will be held on Sept. 12 and 13 at the Lansing Center in downtown Lansing, MI. The Michigan Bio-Economy Summit will bring together state and national commercial and industrial leaders in the fields of renewable fuels, bio-products, bio-refineries, methane and research. Since the Michigan Corn Growers Association (MCGA) and Corn Marketing Program of Michigan have been partners with the Michigan Agri-business Association (MABA), MCGA members are able to attend at a reduced rate. “This summit will be a great opportunity for those interested in learning more about the different sectors relating to Michigan’s bio-economy,” said Jody Pollok, CMPM executive director.
Zimfo Bytes

Farm Progress Show Wrapup

Chuck Zimmerman

Farm Progress ShowIt’s time for me to pack up and head on home from the Farm Progress Show. I hope you’ve enjoyed our coverage and I want to thank New Holland for their sponsorship. As always it has been a pleasure to work with Gene Hemphill, New Holland and Holly Fritz, H.B. Fritz & Associates, Inc.

Right before heading out I spoke with Farm Progress Show Manager Matt Jungmann and he gave me a wrapup on the show so far. He says that not only the attendees seem to be happy but they’re getting very happy comments from exhibitors. Matt says that on the first two days of corn harvest the corn was running at about 15-17% moisture and 175 to 180 bushels.

Listen to my interview with Matt here: fp-07-jungmann-wrap.mp3

Or you can download it here: Listen To MP3Matt Jungmann Interview (2 min MP3)

Farm Progress Show Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2007 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New Holland

Audio, Farm Progress Show

A Farm Progress Show “Guess Who’s Boots”

Chuck Zimmerman

Boot GuessI almost completely forgot about this. This is an AgWired, “Guess Who’s Boots” post.

Your job is to be the first person to correctly identify who is wearing these Red Wings and post your entry as a comment to this post.

The winner will receive a pair of ZimmComm New Media retractable ear buds so we make it worth your while.

Good Luck.

Post Update: Vicki Henrickson guessed correctly that these boots belong to Susie Decker.

Farm Progress Show Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2007 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New Holland

Farm Progress Show, New Holland

Farm Progress Show Harvesting

Chuck Zimmerman

CombinesIt’s cool and breezy today but the sun is shining at the Farm Progress Show.

There’s a big crowd out watching the corn harvest demo as different combine brands take turns doing a row.

Laura was out there yesterday and shot a video clip of a Case IH unit.

Farm Progress Show Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2007 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New Holland

Farm Progress Show, New Holland, Video

Tour The New Holland Exhibit

Chuck Zimmerman

So you say you’ve never been to a Farm Progress Show? Hopefully the 40 something posts from here on AgWired will give you a pretty good overview of what it’s like.

Since New Holland is my sponsor I thought you might enjoy a walking tour through their exhibit. This is not meant to be a serious product demonstration so it doesn’t get into specifics but you’ll get a pretty good idea of what the show is like and their booth in particular.

Farm Progress Show Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2007 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New Holland

Farm Progress Show, New Holland, Video