Zimfo Bytes 12/7

Carrie Muehling

  • The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) announces its 2019 officers as well as directors elected to the AEM Board of Directors and AG and CE Sector Boards at its recent annual business meeting.
  • Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the appointment of three producers and three industry representatives to serve on the Peanut Standards Board.
  • The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is pleased to announce that California-based advanced renewable fuels company Aemetis, Inc. has joined RFA as a member.
  • American Farmland Trust, the organization behind the national movement No Farms No Food®, announces the promotion of Nick Herman to vice president of development.
  • The Yield Lab announces Jim Tobin and Kieran Gartlan as new Managing Directors at the Yield Lab. Jim will join the North American based Yield Lab accelerator out of St. Louis, and Kieran will join the Latin American accelerator, opening the Sao Paulo – Brazil operation.
  • Nomination meetings to fill three positions on the Georgia Peanut Commission Board of Directors will be held Dec. 10 in Ocilla, Vienna and Americus. The Georgia Farm Bureau Federation will conduct the meetings during which peanut producers will nominate peers to represent the Peanut Commission’s Districts 2, 4 and 5. The terms of the commission members who currently represent these districts expire Dec. 31, 2018.
  • The next AGree Discussion Series Event will be a panel discussion on Blockchain Applications for Agriculture on Tuesday, Dec.11, 2018 in Washington, DC.
Zimfo Bytes

Seed Treatment Tour at #ASTACSS

Chuck Zimmerman

A new feature this year at the ASTA CSS & Seed Expo was a Seed Treatment Education Tour in the expo. Groups of attendees visited ten different booths in rotation where they heard a ten minute presentation from each company.

I caught one of the groups in the Bayer booth. Doing the presentation is Greg Ginisty, SeedGrowth Product Manager. You can listen in to his presentation in the video below.

You can also learn more about Bayer SeedGrowth in this interview – Interview with Greg Ginisty, Bayer

See and hear all about the new Bayer at ASTA CSS and Seed Expo on AgNewsWire –
Bayer at 2018 CSS and Seed Expo virtual newsroom


2018 ASTA CSS and Seed Expo photo album

AgWired Precision, ASTA, Audio, Bayer, Seed, Video

BASF Launches Vault® IP Plus and Obvius® Plus

Chuck Zimmerman

BASF has expanded its soybean seed treatment portfolio with the launch of Vault® IP Plus seed treatment and Obvius® Plus fungicide seed treatment, recently registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Both products will be commercially available in September 2019. I spoke with BASF’s Justin Clark to learn more about these products.

With the launch of Vault IP Plus seed treatment, BASF sets new standards for seed inoculation and protection. It’s the only combined inoculant and EPA-registered bio-fungicide, containing two active biologicals for improved fungicidal activity and protection.

“Soybean growers can benefit from Vault IP Plus seed treatment, as it delivers increased root nodulation and disease protection for an overall healthier soybean plant,” said Justin Clark, Technical Marketing Manager, BASF. “The highly effective rhizobia are produced fresh every year to increase overall nodulation and maximize nitrogen fixation potential.”

Obvius Plus seed treatment supports faster emergence and healthier plants. The new seed treatment delivers four-way disease protection that helps growers get their soybean crop successfully established earlier in the season.

“While early planting allows soybeans to intercept more sunlight for better photosynthesis, this practice also exposes newly planted seeds to potential damage from fungal infections while the soil is still damp and cool,” said Clark. “Obvius Plus seed treatment offers protection from key diseases such as Phytophthora, Pythium, Fusarium and Rhizoctonia.”

Learn more in this interview –
Interview with Justin Clark, BASF

BASF at 2018 ASTA CSS and Seed Expo

2018 ASTA CSS and Seed Expo photos

AgWired Precision, ASTA, Audio, BASF, Seed

Basse was Back at #ASTACSS

Cindy Zimmerman

Dan Basse, Ag Resource, returned to the ASTA 2018 CSS and Seed Expo for the 6th year in a row to deliver his insights on the intersection of economics and agriculture.

Some of Basse’s comments included:
Population growth slowing – 9 billion people now about 2054
When you look at population growth, it’s all about Africa
Black swan event for 2018 in grain markets was US trade sanctions on China
World debt record large, and growing
China ethanol production is global demand driver, expects they will start importing corn in 2021-22
US corn and soybean costs estimated to be 2-4% higher in 2019

“Our future is tied to unfettered trade throughout the world going forward,” Basse said. “I’m not trying to be political but free trade helps the world going forward.”

Listen to his entire presentation here:

ASTACSS18 Dan Basse, Ag Resource, presentation

In my interview with Basse, one of the questions I asked was what has changed most in the six years he has been presenting at ASTA CSS:
ASTACSS18 Interview with Dan Basse, Ag Resource

2018 ASTA CSS and Seed Expo

ASTA, Audio, Corn

Precision Ag Bytes 12/5

Carrie Muehling

  • Raven Industries, Inc. announced the release of AutoBoom® XRT, the latest advancement in boom control.
  • Solinftec, a digital agriculture company that grew quickly in Latin America by making sugar cane and row crop operations more efficient, announced plans to establish operations at its U.S. headquarters near Purdue University to bring high-tech solutions to American farmers, creating 90 jobs in 2019 and up to 334 high-wage jobs by 2022.
  • Many farmers are considering the use of corn with the Enlist™ trait to control yield-robbing volunteer corn by applying a FOP herbicide in 2019.
  • AgXplore is pleased to introduce Microcoat™, a blend of five essential micro and secondary nutrients, including magnesium, sulfur, manganese, molybdenum and zinc, with a proprietary delivery package.
  • The Soil Health Partnership has tapped Dr. Maria Bowman, a notable and experienced agricultural and resource economist, for the new position of Lead Scientist.
  • AirBoard Inc. introduces AirBoard AGRO – an aerial platform for pesticide spraying in steep and mountainous vineyards. Built for pesticide and fertilizer spraying with a capacity of 60 liters, it is 50 times faster than manual spraying and twice as cost effective than using a helicopter service.
  • CNH Industrial N.V. has launched the AGXTENDTM brand, focused exclusively on aftermarket precision farming technology solutions.
  • BASF partners with the National Agricultural Aviation Association and presents “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” scholarships to support future aerial applicators. This year, Parker Gore of Cleveland, Mississippi, and Emory Lobley of Dalhart, Texas, receive scholarships of $5,000 each.
  • U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the appointment of Matthew J. “Matt” Lohr to serve as Chief of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes

Major Seed Companies after the Mergers

Cindy Zimmerman

The past two years have seen major changes in the agricultural seed industry and some of the traditional companies have different names and different players. That’s why the “Majors after the Mergers” panel was a big hit at the ASTA 2018 CSS and Seed Expo this week.

Dan Basse, Ag Resource, moderated the panel which consisted of Jim Collins, Corteva; Scott Kay, BASF; Jeff Rowe, Syngenta; and Lisa Safarian, Bayer.

It was a long and very interesting panel, so we split up the audio into opening remarks and panel discussion.

Opening remarks ASTA Majors after the Mergers panel

ASTA Majors after the Mergers panel discussion

2018 ASTA CSS and Seed Expo

AgWired Precision, ASTA, Audio, BASF, Bayer, Seed, Syngenta

AMVAC Offers Smart Solutions for Growers

Carrie Muehling

AMVAC has been growing its portfolio of products with a focus on giving growers more flexibility while still providing excellent crop safety. Products like Impact and ImpactZ herbicides have a wide window of application, from weed emergence up to 45 days before harvest.

“The last two seasons have been such that you’ve not had wide open spraying or planting windows,” said Jim Lappin, AMVAC crop marketing manager for corn and soy. “We believe Impact has set the standard for crop selectivity and gives you that confidence that regardless of the program I use, if I use a product like Impact I’m going to have that crop safety but yet I’m still going to get the performance I need on the key grasses and broadleaves.”

Lappin said AMVAC is again offering the Buy 2, Save 3 program in 2019, where growers who use a granular or liquid soil-applied insecticide along with Impact or ImpactZ hericide can save three dollars per acre on qualified products. Lappin was at the 2018 National Association of Farm Broadcasting Convention in Kansas City.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Jim here: Interview with Jim Lappin, AMVAC

2018 National Association of Farm Broadcasting Convention Photo Album

AMVAC, Audio, Crop Protection, Herbicide, Insecticides

ZimmCast 604 – ARA Conference & Expo

Chuck Zimmerman

Hello and welcome to the ZimmCast. Thank you to our sponsor, GROWMARK, Locally Owned, Globally Strong.

Last week the Agricultural Retailers Association held its annual conference and expo in Boca Raton, FL. Yes, that’s where you want to be this time of year. Once again ZimmComm worked with ARA to produce a virtual ag newsroom via our AgNewsWire service. So, in this week’s program I want to share a couple of interviews I hope you’ll enjoy.

The first one is with Melisa Augusto, ARA’s Director of Communications and Marketing. Melisa talks about her job and how she will be supporting the efforts of ARA’s new strategic planning initiative. She also offers some advice for people considering a career in agricultural marketing and communications.

Next in the program is one of the key sponsors of the ARA conference and expo – FMC. The company sponsored the charging station for all our mobile devices with a place to sit down and relax. I spoke with Christina Coen, FMC’s North America Marketing Director. We talked about what she is doing and one of her favorite marketing initiatives, the FMC Freedom Pass.

Besides these interviews you’ll find many more in the ARA Conference virtual ag newsroom. Just go to AgNewsWire.com to find it. All ag media are welcome to use the content rights and cost free.

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

Listen to the ZimmCast here: ZimmCast 604 - ARA Conference & Expo

The ZimmCast

sponsored by
The ZimmCast podcast is sponsored by GROWMARK
Locally owned, globally strong.
ARA, Audio, FMC, ZimmCast

Iron Solutions Promotion to Benefit Toys for Tots

Carrie Muehling

A unique promotion by equipment appraisal experts Iron Solutions will benefit Toys for Tots, based on a tongue-in-cheek call for information to appraise Santa’s well-used sleigh.

Santa is ready to trade-in his old model 1918-12.25 Sleigh, but has no idea what it’s worth. After all, Santa is busy pushing his elves to make more toys and has little time to spend with sleigh dealers.

“Iron Solutions has more than 80 years’ worth of equipment data, but not much data on Flying Sleighs. So, we figured we would do what we do best to generate values on used equipment — ask our dealer customers to help #AppraiseTheSleigh to benefit Toys for Tots,” said Linda Rader, General Manager for Iron Solutions.

To accomplish this appraisal, Iron Solutions is calling for its dealer customers (and other interested used sleigh experts) to submit the scores of data needed to appraise this 1908-12.25 sleigh.

For every option value or helpful comment received via Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, Iron Solutions will donate 25 cents to Toys for Tots, up to $2,000.

Rader said, “Of course, Santa wants a decked-out ride, but Mrs. Claus says cash flow is an issue. We are asking lenders to offer finance options for Mr. and Mrs. Claus, which also will result in donations for Toys for Tots.”

Ideas should be sent via Iron Solutions’ social media sites by December 18 in order to be in time for Santa to trade-up for the big ride on December 24th.

Equipment, Social Media

FMC Focusing on Research & Development

Chuck Zimmerman

FMC’s Hilary Winn, Communications Manager, spent a few minutes talking to me about the message for farm broadcasters at the NAFB Trade Talk session in Kansas City.

She says the acquisition of branded products from DuPont has been a smooth process and it’s hard to believe it has been a year now. More focus on research and development is also something that Hilary is excited about as are FMC customers. The company has several new products moving from discovery into development now.

You can hear more in the video below.


2018 NAFB Convention Photo Album

Coverage of the NAFB Convention is sponsored by
Coverage of the NAFB Convention is sponsored by FMC
FMC, NAFB, Video