Farmers Rank Top Products on Precision Ag Reviews

Cindy Zimmerman

Precision Ag Reviews, an independent resource to help farmers make decisions about precision ag equipment, has ranked the top five products of 2019 according to thousands of reviews received by farmers.

“More than 3,000 reviews of precision farming products were submitted to Precision Ag Reviews online and in person at farm shows across the country in 2019,” said Stacie McCracken, Precision Ag Reviews project manager. “For the first time, we are sharing the findings from aggregated data that showcases the precision farming products farmers collectively rated the highest.”

For 2019, the top five products were determined by the highest overall ratings based on a five-star system that includes cost, ease of use, value and support.

Ag Leader, InCommand Display
Climate, FieldView Drive
Precision Planting, 20l20 Display
Ag Leader, Integra Display
Trimble, TMX-2050 Display

The Ag Leader InCommand display topped the list in the categories of ease of use, overall value and technical support, while the Climate FieldView Drive had the highest ranking for cost. The product with the most reviews in 2019 was the John Deere Greenstar 3 2630 display.

Precision Ag Reviews was started in 2017 with the support of the Ohio Soybean Council and the soybean checkoff to provide a reliable, unbiased source of information about precision technology products for farmers based on their own peer reviews.

Interview with Stacie McCracken, Precision Ag Reviews 5:15

Visit with Precision Ag Reviews at Commodity Classic booth #125!

AgWired Precision, Audio, Precision Agriculture, Soybean

Precision Ag News 2/26

Carrie Muehling

  • As the U.S. Department of Agriculture continues 2018 Farm Bill implementation with the release of its Environmental Quality Incentives Program Interim Rule, National Farmers Union is urging the agency to strengthen the conservation program to better support farmers as they work to ensure the longevity of their land and natural resources. In comments submitted to USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and in a subsequent statement, NFU President Roger Johnson emphasized the program’s value and recommended improvements to ensure its efficacy.
  • The American Soybean Association congratulates the regional winners of the 2020 Conservation Legacy Award. Susan and Mike Brocksmith, Vincennes, Ind. (Northeast Region); Frank Howey, Monroe, N.C. (South Region); Nancy Kavazanjian, Beaver Dam, Wis. (Upper Midwest Region); and Nicole and Randy Small, Neodesha, Kan. (Midwest Region) will be honored Feb. 28 at the Commodity Classic in San Antonio, Tex.
  • NewLeaf Symbiotics, Inc. announced that it has raised $20 million in a first close of its Series D financing as it broadens and accelerates product commercialization. Koch Agronomic Holdings, Leaps by Bayer, Otter Capital, S2G Ventures and RockPort Capital were participants in the investment round.
  • The GROWMARK System would like to help 4-H clubs do their part to help sustain and increase honey bee populations. This is the fifth year of the program, open to 4-H clubs, Ag in the Classroom groups, and FFA chapters in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin. Groups who previously participated in the program have been automatically re-enrolled. Clubs wishing to participate should fill out the online application by March 20, 2020.
  • American Farmland Trust is releasing four new “Accelerating Soil Health” case studies, adding to four studies released in July 2019, to assist farmers who are curious about soil health and technical service providers who want to help farmers adopt soil health practices.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes

Partnership Testing 100 Percent Biodiesel in Fleet Trucks

Cindy Zimmerman

A new partnership is conducting a year-long test project to demonstrate viability of 100 percent biodiesel (B100) in high-mileage fleet applications.

Under this partnership, five trucks owned by ADM will be outfitted with Optimus Technologies’ Vector fuel system, an innovative technology that enables diesel engines to run almost entirely on sustainable biodiesel. The trucks will be used in daily fleet operations for a yearlong period, with each vehicle anticipated to travel 160,000-180,000 miles and reduce up to 500,000 pounds of CO2. Advanced monitoring protocols will compare the performance and results of the new technology with five other trucks comprising a control group operating on conventional diesel. All biodiesel used in the project will come from ADM’s refinery in Mexico, Missouri.

The American Lung Association, National Biodiesel Board, Illinois Soybean Association, and Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council are all partners in the project with ADM and Optimus.

“Biodiesel blends have been utilized successfully in millions of miles of real-world applications across the diesel sector over the last two decades, but this project is especially exciting as more fleets look to take it to the next level,” said Kaleb Little, director of communications for the National Biodiesel Board.

Learn more about the project and what it could mean for the biodiesel industry in this interview.
Interview with Kaleb Little, NBB 21:33

Audio, Biodiesel, Soybean

Energy Ag News 2/25

Cindy Zimmerman

  • The Renewable Fuels Association, in partnership with the Industrial Steel Drum Institute and TRANSCAER®, will host safety training in Davenport, Iowa March 4. The free seminars are funded through a Federal Railroad Administration/TRANSCAER grant.
  • Students from Ridgewater College in Wilmar toured Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company (CVEC) in Benson last week to learn about ethanol and dried distiller’s grains with solubles (DDGS) production. The tour was organized by MN Biofuels.
  • According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending Feb. 14, ethanol production grew 0.7%, or 7,000 barrels per day (b/d), to 1.040 million b/d—equivalent to 43.68 million gallons daily. Ethanol stocks built to 24.8 million barrels, up 1.7%.
  • Eco-Energy, a leading biofuel supply chain company, is pleased to announce that it has entered the final stage of construction on its ethanol distribution facility located in Phoenix, Arizona. The facility will be Eco-Energy’s tenth (10th) ethanol distribution terminal and is scheduled to commence operations in 3Q 2020.
    • Uncategorized

    Climate Change and Risk Management

    Carrie Muehling

    Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Commissioner Rostin Behnam spoke at the 2020 Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau Annual Meeting about the impact of weather and climate change on risk management and an initiative he is spearheading at the Commission.

    “In my view, it’s critical to have private sector and public sector participants, a public-private partnership, contributing to this evolving, but critical conversation,” said Behnam. “Further, we cannot rest while waiting for the perfect. Action is required now, and every step – however big or small – is a positive step towards addressing these risks.”

    Commissioner Rostin Behnam, CFTC (23:57)

    2020 Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau Annual Meeting Photo Album

    Audio, Crop Insurance

    Animal Ag News 2/24

    Carrie Muehling

    • Mark Frasier of Fort Morgan, Colo., was elected 2020 president of CattleFax at the organization’s annual meeting, held in conjunction with the Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show in San Antonio, Texas.
    • Public Lands Council Executive Director and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Executive Director of Natural Resources, Kaitlynn Glover released a statement applauding the court ruling in a case related to the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. Chief Judge Beryl Howell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that the Bureau of Land Management’s decision to remove more than 1,700 wild horses from the Caliente Complex in Nevada complied with federal laws.
    • Phibro Animal Health Corporation’s new nutritional specialty product, OmniGen Pro, increases dairy profit potential by supporting immune competence, optimizing rumen health and helping cows be and stay healthy.
    • Thanks to continued vigilance by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. pork industry, the United States has so far prevented an outbreak of African swine fever, an animal disease affecting only pigs with no human health or food safety risks. To ensure the U.S. swine herd remains free of the disease, the National Pork Producers Council and 30 state pork producer associations asked Agriculture Secretary Perdue to take additional measures, including restricting imports of organic soy products for animal feeds from all ASF-positive countries.
    • PenCheckTM, a highly anticipated, new rapid test for African swine fever, demonstrates impressive results in a clinical study. Silver Lake Research Corporation makes and manufactures PenCheckTM,, the only low-cost rapid African swine fever test on the market with accuracy rates greater than 95%. PenCheckTM can be easily administered pen-side with results in just 20 minutes, to help prevent the spread of the deadly virus.
    • In a formal letter sent to the Packers and Stockyards Division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, R-CALF USA requests that the agency extend the comment period in its proposed rule regarding undue preferences or advantages for at least 90 additional days beyond the current deadline of March 13, 2020.
    • National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Senior Director, International Trade and Market Access, Kent Bacus released a statement voicing “serious concerns” in response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture restoring access to the U.S. for Brazilian beef.
    • The now-ubiquitous term “plant-based” seems to exclude meat, poultry, milk and eggs – but that’s not the whole story. Join registered dietitians Cara Harbstreet, Street Smart Nutrition; Nicole Rodriguez, Enjoy Food, Enjoy Life and Alison Webster, International Food Information Council, at the Animal Agriculture Alliance’s 2020 Stakeholders Summit for a candid conversation about the latest consumer buzzwords.
    AgWired Animal, Animal Bites

    ZimmCast 637 – Ethanol Conference & Hauk Designs

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Hello and welcome to the ZimmCast where ethanol is our topic today.

    We attended the 25th National Ethanol Conference last week, our 14th in a row. But this one was definitely a history maker with an appearance by George W. Bush, the 43rd President of the United States. We talked with Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) Senior Strategic Advisor Bob Dinneen about 25 years of ethanol advancement and being able to hear from the former president who signed the Energy Policy Act of 2005, creating the original Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

    Kenny HaukWe also have an interesting interview from the conference with Kenny Hauk of Hauk Designs, who built a custom Jeep Wrangler for RFA that runs on up to 85 percent ethanol. It is a monster machine that will be touring the country with RFA and Kenny loves to talk about how he learned of ethanol’s high octane capabilities while building it. Kenny is pictured in front of the Jeep with Robert White, RFA; Derek Tidd, Tidd Racing; and Brian Sowers, Crappie Masters who all participated in a panel on the off-road benefits of ethanol. You can watch Kenny’s show, Hauk Machines, on Amazon Prime. The shows on the Jeep build are in season two.

    I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.

    Listen to the ZimmCast here: ZimmCast 637 - 25th NEC and Hauk Designs

    Subscribe to the ZimmCast in:

    Audio, Podcasts, RFA, ZimmCast

    Industry Ag News 2/21

    Carrie Muehling

    • Sunny skies, large crowds and optimistic attendees defined the 53rd edition of World Ag Expo. The world’s largest annual outdoor agricultural exposition came to a close on Thursday, February 13 and boasted 1,442 exhibitors on 2.6 million square feet of exhibit space. The three-day show hosted 106,357 attendees representing 46 states, the District of Columbia and 56 countries.
    • Creative Art Director Heather McKendree and Account Coordinator Marisa Miller are the newest BLNKPGers to join the Blank Page Marketing team in Indianapolis.
    • National Farmers Union hosted 75 students in Minneapolis, Minnesota, last weekend for its annual College Conference on Cooperatives. The three-day conference provides an interactive learning experience for American agriculture’s next generation on the importance, structure, and operations of various types of cooperative groups.
    • FLM Harvest – a strategic consulting, marketing and communications agency – announced Midwestern BioAg has selected the agency to build awareness and create demand for its new and innovative TerraNu products.
    • The Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska is pleased to welcome Felicia Marcus as a new member of its board of directors. Marcus is an attorney/consultant with 35 years of experience in organizational management, policy development, program implementation, and public engagement at the federal, state, and local levels.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Farm Credit System Optimistic for 2020

    Cindy Zimmerman

    2019 may have been a challenging year for many of the farmers and ranchers served by the nationwide Farm Credit System, but the recent trade agreements are generating a lot of optimism for 2020.

    “We’ve been here for a hundred years in the good times and the bad and last year was kinda one of the bad times and we’re looking at the good times,” said Pat Shields with Capital Farm Credit of Texas at the recent Cattle Industry Convention in San Antonio. “We think that there’s a better propensity for profits this year with higher feeder prices and fed cattle market as well.”

    CIC2020 Interview with Pat Shields, Capital Farm Credit 2:34

    Marshall Hansen with Farm Credit Services of America talked about investments the system is making in rural America.

    “Ultimately we hope to bring not only investment in job growth but also innovative ideas that in the long run benefit our customers,” said Hansen.

    FCS of America serves farmers and ranchers in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. “Looking into 2020 a lot of our customers are more optimistic and so we’re optimistic when they’re optimistic,” Hansen says.

    2020 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show Photo Album

    CIC2020 Interview with Marshall Hansen, Farm Credit Services 3:58

    Next week at the Commodity Classic, which is coincidentally back in San Antonio, we will spend some more time with Farm Credit Services of America, and also Farm Credit Mid-America, which serves Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee to learn more about their outlook for 2020.

    Audio, Cattle Industry Conference, Commodity Classic, Farm Credit

    CIRB Hemp Perspectives

    Cindy Zimmerman

    One of the most timely sessions at the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau annual meeting last week was Hemp Perspectives, moderated by CIRB Executive VP Michael Torrey.

    The session offered a look at the volatile world of the new U.S. hemp industry through the eyes of a processor, a farmer and an insurance provider.

    Steve Bevan, president of GenCanna Global, which just filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy this month, gave the perspective of a major CBD oil processor impacted by the evolving market which is now in an oversupply situation.

    Processor Perspective - Steve Bevan, GenCanna Global (25:13)

    USDA recently announced the availability of a pilot hemp insurance program through Multi-Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI) and the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) coverage.

    The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) Board of Directors approved the Hemp Actual Production History (APH) Multi-Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI) that was developed by AgriLogic Consulting’s AgVersity analytical team. Clif Parks of AgriLogic talked about the current market conditions and the challenges of putting together a crop insurance program for hemp.

    Insurance Perspective - Clif Parks, AgriLogic (39:53)

    The farmer perspective came from Ron Conyea of Conyea Farms in Kentucky who grows hemp as a rotational crop with corn and tobacco.

    He talked about the benefits of hemp farming as an alternative to tobacco and the frustration of regulatory uncertainty.

    Farmer Perspective - Ron Conyea, Conyea Farms (19:07)

    Interview with Ron Conyea, Conyea Farms
    Interview with Ron Conyea (5:51)

    Audio, Cannabis, CIRB, Crop Insurance, hemp