Animal Ag Bites 9/4

Carrie Muehling

  • Alpaca Owners Association, Inc. invites you to visit their member farms and ranches on National Alpaca Farm Days on September 29th and 30th. This is a unique opportunity for the public to explore the many aspects of the alpaca livestock industry in North America. For a complete list of participating farms and ranches, visit www.AlpacaFarmDays.com.
  • Huvepharma® announces the acquisition of T-HEXX Animal Health, a division of Hydromer, Inc. The T-HEXX lines of products are based upon innovative hydrophilic polymer technologies for animal health, primarily in the dairy and equine markets.
  • Balchem Corporation, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Balchem Italia S.r.l., acquired Bioscreen Technologies, S.r.l., a small privately held manufacturer of encapsulated and fermented feed nutrition ingredients, headquartered in Bertinoro, Italy.
  • Dairy.com, the world’s leading provider of software as service solutions powering dairy supply chains, is acquiring Data Specialists, Inc., a technology company with deep roots and multiple platforms deployed across the dairy industry. The combined companies will feature over 100 employees in four main locations.
  • The board of directors of Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative has appointed Gordon Speirs, a dairy farmer from Brillion, Wis., to fill the vacant board seat held by the late John Pagel.
  • The Board of Trustees of the Meat Industry Hall of Fame announced seven new members will be inducted into the Hall as the Class of 2018. To learn more about the Meat Industry Hall of Fame or purchase tickets to this event, go to www.meatindustryhalloffame.com.
AgWired Animal, Animal Bites, Dairy, Horses

Farm Bill Conference Committee Meets This Week

Cindy Zimmerman

The 2018 Farm Bill Conference Committee will hold its first public meeting this week on Wednesday, September 5 at 9:30 am Eastern.

Agriculture Committee Chairmen Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Rep. K. Michael Conaway, R-Texas, and Ranking Members Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., announced the meeting last month, saying that they are “committed to working together on a Farm Bill that delivers certainty and predictability to our farmers and families as quickly as possible.”

The Farm Bill Conference Committee is composed of 56 members, including nine Senators and 47 Representatives.

Faced with the lowest farm income in 12 years, the presidents of the American Farm Bureau Federation and National Farmers Union are asking Senate and House conferees to move quickly.

AFBF and NFU, together with more than 150 other organizations, also sent a letter to the Senate and House Agriculture committees asking the farm bill conference committee to pass an on time, five-year farm bill before the September 30 expiration of the 2014 farm bill.

The hearing will be webcast live on ag.senate.gov.

AFBF, AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Farm Bill

GROWMARK Embraces Change in Agriculture

Carrie Muehling

GROWMARK CEO Jim Spradlin (left) and Chairman of the Board John Reifsteck (right) address those gathered for the company’s annual meeting in Chicago.

GROWMARK CEO Jim Spradlin said the company’s new strategy – based on the acronym ‘GROW’ – is not just focused on getting bigger. It’s focused on getting better.

During a shared address at the company’s annual meeting in Chicago, Spradlin and Board Chairman John Reifsteck reflected back on the past 30 years or more in agriculture, sharing both personal experiences as well as changes that have come to the GROWMARK system.

“We thrive on change,” said Spradlin. “We thrive on it primarily because where we can get better and we can utilize the skills of our people to lend advice and support and help to our customers, and help them be more successful, we think that’s our spot in this world.”

Spradlin recognized farmer members are dealing with a very difficult agriculture economy right now, with trade issues only adding to the seriousness of the situation. But he believes farmers are resilient and will continue to adjust. He said great attitudes prevail across the organization at the farm level, even though it is more challenging than it has been in recent years.

GROWMARK began a new fiscal year on Sept. 1, and Spradlin shared that this was a solid year fiscally for the cooperative, especially in the agronomy and grain divisions.

Listen to Carrie’s interview with Jim here: Interview with Jim Spradlin, GROWMARK CEO

AgWired Precision, Audio, Cooperatives, GROWMARK

BASF launches Credenz with LibertyLink GT27

Cindy Zimmerman

At the 2018 Farm Progress Show, BASF launched Credenz® soybean with LibertyLink® GT27™, the first soybean seed technology with herbicide-tolerant stacked traits that allows growers to apply both Liberty® herbicide and glyphosate over the top of soybeans for post-emergence control of broadleaf and grass weeds.

“It’s very exciting for the Credenz brand,” said Marc Hoobler, BASF Soybean Agronomy Lead. “We’re only a four year old brand, but last year we were the 10th most planted soybean seed brand in the U.S.”

Recent BASF field trials have demonstrated that Credenz LibertyLink GT27 varieties can have as much as two to four bushels per acre average yield advantage over leading commercial soybean trait systems.

“We believe that growers need to have choices in their weed management programs,” said Hoobler. “We know resistance is increasing across the U.S. and we want to make sure growers steward their products and at the same time have the highest producing soybean acres that they possibly can.”

Learn more in this interview from Farm Progress Show – #FPS18 BASF Interview with Marc Hoobler, Soybean Agronomy Lead

BASF at the 2018 Farm Progress Show virtual newsroom

AgWired Precision, Audio, BASF, Farm Progress Show, weed management

Smart Ag Driverless Tractor Demo at #FPS18

Cindy Zimmerman

A driverless tractor demonstration stole the spotlight at the 2018 Farm Progress Show, especially since it was able to get out and in the field Tuesday before demos were cancelled for a day and a half due to weather.

Ames, Iowa-based technology company Smart Ag introduced a full-stack software platform and aftermarket kit for driverless tractors. This revolutionary development in agriculture automation was displayed with field demonstrations of AutoCart® – a software application that fully automates a grain cart tractor and provides farmers much needed labor assistance during harvest.

Smart Ag Founder and CEO, Colin Hurd, said AutoCart will address the issues of labor, profitability and productivity for today’s farmer. “At Smart Ag, we strongly believe the best way for producers to increase the capacities of their farms is to allow them to perfect the operation of their machinery – and that can be accomplished by using Smart Ag’s automation and driverless tractor technologies,” Hurd said.

Hurd was joined at the show by Chief Technology Officer Mark Barglof and Chief Marketing Officer Justin Heath for a press conference and field demo which generated quite a bit of interest. The cost of the system is $35,000 to $40,000 and is comparable to retrofitting a sprayer or planter with precision technology. Orders for AutoCart have been filled for 2018, and the Smart Ag development team will be delivering and installing 15 to 20 systems throughout the Midwest, MidSouth and Manitoba, Canada for use in this fall’s harvest and for post-harvest dealer demonstrations.

Listen to the Smart Ag team explain the system here: FPS18 Smart Ag press conference

Watch a video Iowa Farm Bureau shot at FPS:


You can also find lots of photo from the presser and demo here:
2018 Farm Progress Show

Content Creation at the Farm Progress Show brought to you by Farm Progress Show content creation courtesy of John DeereCoverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by GrowmarkCoverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Bayer CropScience
AgWired Precision, Audio, Equipment, Farm Progress Show, Technology, Tractor, Video

Farm Progress Show News Briefs

Cindy Zimmerman

As always, there was lots of new equipment announcements at the 2018 Farm Progress Show. Here are some of them:

AGCO Corporation
Fendt IDEAL Combine Takes Center Stage at 2018 Farm Progress Show
Massey Ferguson Debuts the 1700M Series Compact Tractor at Farm Progress Show 2018
Massey Ferguson Introduces the RB Series Silage Baler at Farm Progress Show 2018

Case IH
Case IH Adds to Farmall Tractor Lineup
Seed More Acres With the Precision Disk 500DS Air Drill From Case IH
New Disc Mower Conditioner Features From Case IH Maximize Haying Window
Case IH Rolls Out AFS Soil Command Agronomic Control Technology for Tillage Lineup

CLAAS of America
CLAAS Launches FIRST CLAAS USED Program
CLAAS Launches New CONVIO Header Line for LEXION Combine
CLAAS of America Announces Numerous Launches and Updates Across Long-Line Product Range

New Holland
New Holland Equipment for Cattlemen Focused on Efficiency Debuts at 2018 Farm Progress Show
New Holland Pushes Operational Performance to a New Level at 2018 Farm Progress Show
New Holland Equipment Showcased at 2018 Farm Progress Show Boosts Quality Forage Production
New Holland Enhances CR Revelation Combines and Takes Productivity to a New Level

AgWired Precision, Case IH, Equipment, Farm Progress Show, New Holland

AMVAC Launches Force® 10G HL Insecticide

Cindy Zimmerman

At the 2018 Farm Progress Show this week, AMVAC® Chemical Corporation announced the launch of Force 10G HL Insecticide for field corn, seed corn, sweet corn and popcorn.

Force 10G HL has a reliable pyrethroid mode of action for proven control of corn rootworms and seed-attacking pests, including Mexican corn rootworms, northern corn rootworms, southern corn rootworms, western corn rootworms, cutworms, lesser cornstalk borers, white grubs, wireworms, seedcorn maggots and seedcorn beetles. With three times the amount of active ingredient than in Force 3G Insecticide, growers get the performance they expect with the convenience of fewer SmartBox® containers, refills, pallets to store and boxes to unload, leaving more time to plant.

“AMVAC’s new high load granular insecticide allows growers to plant more acres with fewer refills,” said Jim Lappin, AMVAC crop marketing manager, corn and soybeans. “AMVAC’s SmartBox closed system protects the applicator and Force 10G HL protects corn roots for healthier, stronger stands and better returns from the fields.”

AMVAC is offering a grower rebate of $3/per acre with the purchase of Force 10G HL and either Impact® or ImpactZ® Herbicide in the same growing season.

Audio – FPS 18 AMVAC Jim Lappin on new Force 10G HL and Buy 2 Get 3

AMVAC photo album at the 2018 Farm Progress Show

AgWired Precision, AMVAC, Audio, Corn, Farm Progress Show, Insecticides

Deere Adds New Tillage Models

Cindy Zimmerman

John Deere introduced a number of new product offerings at the 2018 Farm Progress Show, including the new 2660VT Variable-Intensity Tillage Tool.

Paul Richardel, Deere Product Line Marketing Manager for Tillage, was excited to talk about the new 2660VT with its adjustable gang angle that features an all-new frame and the right amount of weight per blade to handle a wide range of soil, crop residue and field conditions at operating speeds up to 10 miles per hour.

Specifically for the 2660VT, Deere is introducing the exclusive 22-inch (55.8 cm), heavy-duty Commander™ Blade with its double-cut edge to more easily penetrate hard soils and size and mix residue. This wavy straight blade on 7.25-inch (18.4 cm) spacings has a serrated edge and shallow concavity to fracture and lift hard soils with less smearing and is designed for low-draft tillage at maximum field speeds.

Richardel talks about the 2660VT in this interview. FPS 18 John Deere 2660VT Interview with Paul Richardel

John Deere at the 2018 Farm Progress Show

Content Creation at the Farm Progress Show brought to you by Farm Progress Show content creation courtesy of John DeereCoverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by GrowmarkCoverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Bayer CropScience
AgWired Precision, Audio, Farm Progress Show, John Deere

Zimfo Bytes 8/31

Carrie Muehling

  • U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue unveiled a new webpage featuring information about the importance of rural e-Connectivity and the ways the U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing to help deploy high-speed broadband infrastructure in rural America. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
  • National Farmers Union Foundation has announced the 2018 recipients of the Hubert K. & JoAnn Seymour and Stanley Moore Scholarship awards. Jessica Jurcek of Jefferson, Wisconsin, received the $2,000 Hubert K. & JoAnn Seymour Scholarship. The recipients of the Stanley Moore Scholarship are Marissa Holinka of Watertown, South Dakota; Mya Vetter of Linton, North Dakota; and Megan Olson of Maddock, North Dakota.
  • The Georgia Cotton Commission, Georgia Peanut Commission and the University of Georgia Extension Cotton and Peanut Teams, will co-sponsor a joint research field day on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018, in Tifton, Georgia. To view an agenda, visit www.georgiacottoncommission.org or www.gapeanuts.com.
  • INMED Partnerships for Children and INMED South Africa announced that project beneficiary Pella Food Garden Cooperative was named Best Subsistence Producer by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries at this year’s annual Female Entrepreneur Awards. The group also was named the Overall Winner of the provincial Female Entrepreneur Awards by the Department of Agriculture in the Northern Cape.
  • Join The Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City and Agri-Pulse Communications for the 2018 Ag Outlook Forum on September 27, 2018 from 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Visit the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City website for event registration. Early bird registration ends today, August 31st, so be sure to register now!
  • The World Food Prize Foundation announced that Matthew Rouse, a U.S. Department of Agriculture scientist, is the winner of the 2018 Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application, endowed by the Rockefeller Foundation, at the Sustainable Development Goals Conference in the Netherlands.
  • Recognize, reward and develop your organization’s high achievers and future leaders by nominating them for the Agricultural Retailers Association Rising Stars Class of 2018. Nominations will be accepted through September 14.
  • College students are lining up for the chance to win more than $25,000 in scholarships while advocating for agriculture in the Animal Agriculture Alliance’s 10th annual College Aggies Online (CAO) scholarship competition which kicks off September 10. Undergraduate students, graduate students and collegiate clubs can sign up at https://collegeaggies.animalagalliance.org.
  • Start making your plans for the 2018 NAFB Convention today. Join more than 650 agricultural industry leaders November 7-9 in Kansas City for three days of learning, newsmaker sessions, networking, and more. Click here for a tentative 2018 schedule.
  • Alltech’s Town Branch Distillery will soon use non-GMO corn from a familiar local source: the Nicholasville farm of Alltech co-founder Mrs. Deirdre Lyons. Alltech’s crop science division is cultivating the plants using its own organic solutions to optimize yield and ensure a healthy harvest destined for use in bourbon and rye whiskeys.
  • Culver’s has again teamed up with corn mazes designers to grow messages that celebrate agriculture while growing our guests’ appreciation for those who produce food. Since the creation of the Thank You Farmers Project in 2013, Culver’s has donated nearly $2 million to advancing agricultural education and helping guests understand why it’s so important to support those who provide food for our growing population. Learn more about this year’s mazes and the Thank You Farmers Project at http://www.culvers.com/thankyoufarmersproject.
Alltech, NAFB, Peanuts, USDA, Zimfo Bytes

GROWMARK: Our Strategy is to ‘GROW’

Carrie Muehling

The theme of the 2018 GROWMARK Annual Meeting in Chicago is more than just a theme. It’s also the strategy the company will use moving forward.

The executive team is focusing on the word “GROW” – an acronym they plan to use to reflect an entire enterprise strategy across all of the cooperative’s business units, according to Ann Kafer, vice president of human resources and strategy officer.

The GROW acronym stands for Good Relationships, Resources of Unmatched Value, Optimized Supply Chain, and Winning Innovations.

“This is about growing, but it’s growing in efficiency, growing in profitability, growing geographically but truly growing in our ability to be an unsurpassed customer experience for our farmer owners and our member companies,” said Kafer, who served as emcee for the Agribusiness Symposium portion of the meeting.

The symposium included four speakers and each one spoke on a specific pillar of the GROW strategy. Burn survivor John O’Leary handled Great Relationships. Business expert Scott McKain spoke on Resources of Unmatched Value. Scott Komar with Driscoll’s Berries shared his company’s story regarding an Optimized Supply Chain, and Duke’s Mike “Coach K” Krzyzewski talked about Winning Innovations.

Learn more in this interview: Interview with Ann Kafer, GROWMARK VP of Human Resources

Audio, Cooperatives, GROWMARK