Field Notes from Koch Agronomic Services – Episode 6

Chuck Zimmerman

The Field Notes podcast series from Koch Agronomic Services (Koch) breaks down the science and technology behind agronomy to help growers do more with less. Crop science experts and others in the agriculture industry discuss topics ranging from nitrogen loss and soil health to ways growers can increase operational efficiencies.

Fall and Next Season Information

This episode features Kate Koehler, the director of product management and communications for Koch Agronomic Services, and Edwin Suarez, technical agronomist with Koch Agronomic Services. They discuss the information growers need to make their input plan for next season, the benefits of fall applications and how the decision to use a stabilizer can help growers achieve a higher return on their nitrogen investment.Field Notes from Koch Agronomic ServicesThe two cover the 4R Nutrient Stewardship initiative and how it can empower growers to meet and exceed their yield goals. You’ll also learn more about the role that nitrogen stabilizers play in increasing production and profitability, enhancing environmental protection and improving sustainability.

You can listen to the program here: Fall & Next Season Information

And to make sure you don’t miss an episode, choose an option to subscribe

For Spotify on your computer download the desktop app.

Agribusiness, Audio, Koch Agronomic Services, Podcasts, Soil

U.S. Court Rules for Farmobile in Farmers Edge Lawsuit

Cindy Zimmerman

The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals has unanimously ruled in favor of Farmobile in an appeal brought by Farmers Edge, which had sued Farmobile and its founders for breach of explicit or implicit contract, breach of duty of loyalty, and misappropriated trade secrets.

The action was brought against Farmobile founders Jason Tatge, Farmobile CEO, Heath Gerlock and Randy Nuss, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska.

The 8th Circuit found that the Nebraska Court did not err in denying Farmers Edge relief. Specifically, the Court determined that the facts did not support Farmers Edge’s remaining claims on appeal of trade secret theft, breach of contract and breach of duty of loyalty.

“It goes without saying that Heath, Randy and everyone who works at Farmobile is elated,” said Jason Tatge. “This has been a long, hard-fought battle, but we always knew we were in the right. The U.S. justice system worked, it just took us a bit longer than anticipated to reach this final result. We are thankful to our legal team for their persistence.”

This concludes Farmers Edge’s claims against Farmobile in the United States. As announced last week, Farmobile continues to enforce its patent in a lawsuit filed against Farmers Edge in the Federal Court of Canada. That case is set for trial beginning on April 19, 2021 in Vancouver, B.C.

For more information about Farmobile and the benefits and values of a collect-share-monetize farm data strategy, visit http://www.farmobile.com.

AgWired Precision, data, Precision Agriculture

Animal Ag News 8/17

Carrie Muehling

  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the availability of assistance for agricultural producers in the Midwest affected by the recent severe weather to help eligible farmers and ranchers reestablish their operations.
  • To give fall calves the nutritional boost they need during times of stress such as birth and weaning, Brookside Agra recommends Calf-Rescue™. When given as directed, Calf-Rescue provides calves with select vitamins and a stabilized source of direct-fed microbials (probiotics) to maintain a healthy, natural appetite, digestion and immune system.
  • Register now for the Real Science Lecture Series: Feeding the People without Wasting the Planet on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020 at 10:00 AM EDT featuring Dr. Frank Mitloehner, University of California, Davis.
  • Zoetis has partnered with the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) and AQHA Members Plus to introduce the Healthy Horse Challenge. Through the Healthy Horse Challenge, horse enthusiasts can test their equine health knowledge and be entered in a sweepstakes for the chance to win a John Deere® TS Gator that is being donated by AQHA Members Plus.
  • Nutrient-dense and fresh foods including dairy, meat and poultry products are often the most needed items at food banks and pantries according to Feeding America and its affiliate organizations. However, they are often the least donated and the most difficult to preserve, due to a lack of appropriate cold storage. Recognizing an opportunity to serve its colleagues’ and customers’ communities, Zoetis has donated $50,000 to The Dairy Alliance and Midwest Dairy to purchase 17 cold storage units for food banks in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota and Virginia.
  • For the first time, World Dairy Expo’s Purple Cow Gift Shop is offering online sales. Spurred on by the cancellation of World Dairy Expo® 2020, the online store features Expo apparel and cow paraphernalia. WDE is pledging 10% of all profits from the online store in 2020 to the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety.
  • Coming soon to a television provider near you: RIDE TV. Programming includes PBR Tuesdays, Nashville Insider, and Equestrian Friday. For more information, visit www.ridetvtogether.com.
AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

ZimmCast 653 – Wrap-up of #NAMA20 Conference

Chuck Zimmerman

Hello and welcome to the ZimmCast, featuring weekly interviews with agribusiness industry leaders and all about what’s new, with a focus on agricultural marketing.

The #NAMA20 is a wrap and it was a great show. If you are registered you can still go back and watch presentations. You can also still visit the Connection Point and say hi to those of us with a booth. You can also visit our virtual newsroom on AgNewsWire to see some images from the conference and hear from NAMA Sustaining Sponsors.

In this week’s program we’re feature some more of the sustaining partners of the National Agri-Marketing Association. You’ll hear from David Lazarenko, Think Shift; Dustin Johansen, OBP and Marty Wolske, Meredith Agrimedia. They will talk about their organizations and why they support the work of NAMA.

So, that’s the ZimmCast for this week. I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.

Listen to the ZimmCast here: 2020 Virtual Agri-Marketing Conference

Here’s more on what happened during the conference.

The 2020 Agri-Marketing Conference closed out Thursday after three days of terrific presentations, lively interaction and fun virtual activities. Highlights include:

2020 Virtual Agri-Marketing Conference

  • The first ever virtual Best of NAMA. Check out the winners in this month’s edition of Agri Marketing magazine.
  • Two days of top-notch keynoters. Kelly McDonald offered great ideas for being more diverse in your marketing, maximizing social channels and leading by example. Back by popular demand, Vihn Giang dazzled the crowd with improving your communication skills (and a little magic!). Vietnam POW Captain Charlie Plumb shared his riveting experiences of being held prisoner and how his experiences can help us all live more fully. And bonus keynoter Marty Neumeier, author of the Brand Flip, shared great ideas on branding and achieving your “onlyness.”
  • A great lineup of breakout sessions featuring ag marketing professionals sharing their latest ideas and strategies.
  • Fun was had by all during several activities including a mixologist demonstration, sponsored by Farm Progress; souffle making presentation sponsored by NAFB; yoga session sponsored by Brighton; G.O.A.T. Games sponsored by Filament; great tunes from High Tide sponsored by DTN/Progressive Farmer; and a Selfie Station and Vision Wall sponsored by FLM Harvest.

Remember, the sessions are available on demand to paid attendees.

Thank you to all the sponsors who made this event possible.

Subscribe to the ZimmCast in:

Advertising, Agencies, Agribusiness, Audio, Media, NAMA, ZimmCast

Industry Ag News 8/14

Carrie Muehling

  • Register now for the 2020 Ag Outlook Forum, in person or virtually. The event is scheduled for September 28 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown, presented by the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City and Agri-Pulse.
  • Twelve growers from seven states took part in the first session of this year’s National Corn Growers Association Leadership Academy program in St. Louis last week.
  • The Certified Agriculture Dealer (CAD) Program, and their partner RFD-TV, are announcing that “AgRally, America’s New Live Farm Show” will be held September 23rd creating agriculture’s first live national farm show that includes both a local and virtual aspect for farmers and ranchers to participate in the best way that suits their operations.
  • A live event is the preferred way to get information for the farm, but when a pandemic tosses you a lemon, the best choice is to make lemonade. For the Farm Progress Virtual Experience, the lemonade goes beyond the most extensive field demos in the history of the two top farm shows in the country. Farmers who attend the free event will be able to choose from a focused range of breakout sessions designed to help them deal with hot topics of the day.
  • Register now for the Women Leaders in Water for Food: Improving Lives and Ag Productivity webinar, August 20 from 10-11 a.m. CST via Zoom. The free program is the first of two sessions in the Women Leaders in Water for Food: Empowering Youth Entrepreneurs series.
  • Farm Credit institutions increased their support of young, beginning and small farmers and ranchers across the country in 2019, according to a Farm Credit Administration (FCA) presentation released on August 13, 2020.
  • Miami International Holdings (MIH), the parent holding company of the MIAX Exchange Group, and the Minneapolis Grain Exchange (MGEX), a Designated Contract Market (DCM) and Derivatives Clearing Organization (DCO), announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement and plan of merger under which MIH has agreed to acquire MGEX for a combination of cash and MIH common stock following a demutualization of MGEX by its members. As a result of the acquisition, MGEX will become a wholly owned subsidiary of MIH. MIH will continue to maintain the trading and clearing operations of MGEX, including its hard red spring wheat contract, while adding new futures products.
  • Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC) announces Jeanette Lombardo will become new Executive Director of the organization, and current executive director Michael O’Gorman becomes FVC’s Chief Agricultural Officer to help members tap into the demand for local produce and grow their vegetable operations.
  • National Land Realty and LandGate have announced a strategic partnership to expand services, data intelligence, and marketing capabilities within the land industry.
Zimfo Bytes

Trial Set to Resolve Farmobile Lawsuit Against Farmers Edge

Cindy Zimmerman

The Federal Court of Canada has set April 19, 2021 as the final trial date to resolve the patent dispute between Kansas-based agricultural data company Farmobile and Canadian company Farmers Edge Inc. Farmobile is seeking over $20 million (CAD) in damages and an injunction prohibiting Farmers Edge from using the infringing technologies.

In the lawsuit, Farmobile claims that Farmers Edge’s FarmCommand platform infringes Farmobile’s Canadian Patent No. 2,888,742, Farming Data Collection and Exchange System. Earlier this summer, Farmers Edge sought leave of court to file a motion for summary judgment, but the request was denied and the Court awarded Farmobile $5k CAD for costs associated with defending against the leave request (Order Citation 2020 FC 688). Farmers Edge later submitted a Notice of Motion indicating its intent to appeal the Court’s ruling on its summary judgment request, but no further action has been taken by it in this regard.

Farmobile specializes in interoperable data collection and standardization technology which enables farmers to collect, share and even monetize their farm data to improve efficiencies and increase farm revenues. To learn more about Farmobile visit www.farmobile.com.

Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, data, Precision Agriculture

USDA Announces More Eligible Commodities for CFAP

Cindy Zimmerman

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has added new commodities to the list covered by the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), and is extending the deadline to apply for the program to September 11th.

Additional commodities now eligible for the program include a variety of specialty crops like pumpkins, rutabagas, shallots, tangelos; all types of sheep; aquaculture such as catfish, crawfish, salmon, and tilapia; nursery crops and flowers.

The original application deadline was August 28, but producers now have an additional two weeks to apply through USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA). In addition, producers with approved applications will now receive their final payments.

FSA Administrator Richard Fordyce discusses the announcements and what they mean for producers.
Interview with Richard Fordyce, USDA FSA

More information can be found at farmers.gov/cfap.

Audio, Farming, Food, USDA

Virtual Agri-Marketing Conference Underway

Chuck Zimmerman

2020 Best of NAMA AwardsThe 2020 Virtual Agri-Marketing Conference started out right on time yesterday. The staff and volunteer leaders of NAMA have put in a lot of work and it shows as we see the program unfolding virtually.

The experience started out with a live stream of the Best of NAMA Awards. The winners list is available online here.

We have a virtual newsroom started for the conference on AgNewsWire. You can find photos/images and interviews. We’ll be adding more when we can.

Here’s an example of one of the interviews available with Susan Rhode, Farm Journal: Interview with Susan Rhode, Farm Journal

NAMA NavigatorThe awards were preceded by a “reception” sponsored by Farm Progress which included a mixologist who taught us how to make the official NAMA cocktail, the NAMA Navigator, along with one called the Captain. I opened the Florida Gator Bar to learn how to make these. Cindy took my picture and shared my drink. Cheers.

I encourage you to register if you haven’t and visit the virtual Connection Point trade show. ZimmComm has a booth and a special offer for distributing your news releases. If you can’t stop by just contact me about the special we’re offering.

Audio, NAMA

Precision Ag News 8/12

Carrie Muehling

  • AgBiome announced Dr. Marijn Dekkers as the company’s newest advisor. Dr. Dekkers is the founder and chairman of Novalis LifeSciences, an investment and advisory firm for the Life Science industry. He formerly served as the CEO of Bayer AG, and before that, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. He supports AgBiome as an industry advisor and board observer.
  • Pollinators substantially help many crops across the U.S. to grow, so for National Honey Bee Day on Saturday, August 15, the Bayer Bee Care Program is celebrating outstanding beekeepers and pollinator health advocates across the nation. Leading up to National Honey Bee Day, we checked in with Feed a Bee grantees from Alaska to Massachusetts to showcase what they’ve been up to and celebrate their leadership in fostering biodiversity. Click the video to learn more. Additionally, Bayer has issued a nationwide call for next-gen leaders in pollinator health (ages 12-18) to apply for the Blue Ribbon Beekeeper Award. The annual award honors young leaders who have made a positive impact through beekeeping or other pollinator-related work and activities. Applications are open now through August 21.
  • Register now for the Women Leaders in Water for Food: Improving Lives and Ag Productivity webinar, August 20 from 10-11 a.m. CST via Zoom. The free program is the first of two sessions in the Women Leaders in Water for Food: Empowering Youth Entrepreneurs series.
  • NRCS will award up to $360 million through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) to partnerships that improve the nation’s water quality, combat drought, enhance soil health, support wildlife habitat, and protect agricultural viability. USDA is now accepting proposals for RCPP through the RCPP portal. Proposals are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on November 4.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

ZimmCast 652 – Virtual 2020 Agri-Marketing Conference

Chuck Zimmerman

Hello and welcome to the ZimmCast, featuring weekly interviews with agribusiness industry leaders and all about what’s new, with a focus on agricultural marketing.

It is 2020 Virtual Agri-Marketing Conference week and this week’s program will feature some more of the sustaining partners of the National Agri-Marketing Association. You’ll hear from Scott McClure, Brighton Agency; Matt Herman, DTN/The Progress Farmer and Tom Brand, NAFB. They will talk about their organizations and why they support the work of NAMA. I’ll have a virtual newsroom available on AgNewsWire.com with all the interviews and more starting tomorrow morning.

Stop and see ZimmComm in the Connection Point in the virtual conference. We’d love to see you.

This week also includes some virtual work we’re doing for the Renewable Fuels Association for their annual educational/promotional sponsorship at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and the Buffalo Chip Campground. Bikers will have Free Fuel Happy Hours once again. Keep an eye on AgWired and AgNewsWire for more from there.

So, that’s the ZimmCast for this week. I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.

Listen to the ZimmCast here: 2020 Virtual Agri-Marketing Conference

Subscribe to the ZimmCast in:

Agencies, Audio, Media, NAFB, NAMA, ZimmCast