National Cotton Council Names Planting Intentions, Leaders

Carrie Muehling

The National Cotton Council (NCC) announced planting intentions for 2017 and recognized award winners and new leadership at the organization’s recent annual meeting in Fort Worth, Texas.

U.S. cotton producers intend to plant more cotton acres this spring compared to 2017, according to the National Cotton Council’s 37th Annual Early Season Planting Intentions Survey. This year’s cotton acres should total about 13.1 million acres, which is 3.7 percent higher than last year.

The group elected Ron Craft, a cotton producer and fifth-generation ginner from Plains, Texas, as chairman for 2018. The NCC’s vice chairman for the coming year is Mike Tate from Huntsville, Alabama.

The membership recognized the late William T. “Bill” Lovelady, a long-time West Texas cotton producer and former National Cotton Council president, as the recipient of the 2017 Oscar Johnston Lifetime Achievement Award.

Former National Cotton Council senior vice president for Washington Operations John Maguire was named the winner of the 2017 Harry S. Baker Distinguished Service Award.

Ag Groups, Cotton

Eco Agro Introduces Nitrogen Conservation Input System

Cindy Zimmerman

Eco Agro and Eco Agro International LLC are proud to introduce the Nitrogen Conservation Input System (NCIS) for use in the Urea Production Process.

“Our latest innovation, “Nitrogen Conservation Input Systems” (NCIS), enables Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizers (EEFs) to be affordable and effective at a lower cost for today’s grower. We see NCIS as being a tool that overcomes a significant hurdle toward increased utilization of EEF’s worldwide in efforts to improve crop production and yields.” said David McKnight, whose team headed the development of NCIS.

NCIS Technology allows for introduction of proven Nitrogen Efficiency additives to optimize the conditions for Enhanced Urea Production and performance. “The options in these innovative discoveries are significant and the delivery system and molecular synergies created can be modified and taken down stream and applied onto Urea also,” said Ray Perkins President of Eco Agro.

Andrew Semple of EAI stated, “These proven Enhanced Efficiency Technologies coupled with an unparalleled low costs of treatment are a major leap toward mass adoption but there are more innovations on the horizon that are game changing and equally as exciting.”

To learn more about the Eco Agro Nitrogen Conservation Input System contact Greg Stake at gstake@ecoagro.com for domestic inquiries and Asemple@ecoagroint.com for International Inquiries.

AgWired Precision, Soil

John Deere Expands Low-Profile Specialty Tractor Options

Carrie Muehling

John Deere took the opportunity to show off some new low-profile specialty tractors at the 2018 National Farm Machinery Show. One model introduced at the show was the 5090EL, which is built on the John Deere 5E 4-cylinder tractor platform. That tractor is made for poultry producers, but can also be a great machine for tree fruit or tree nut growers.

The company also showcased its 5125ML with added horsepower. They’ve added options to the 5100ML and 5115ML tractors, and the 5ML tractors now come with JDLink as a field installed kit.

“JDLink gives you the ability to connect to your tractor remotely, either from an iPad, a smartphone, your computer,” said Deere’s John Doyle. “What it’s going to give you the ability to do is monitor your tractor. It helps you monitor maintenance intervals, it gives you the hours, fuel usage, it also gives you the location of the tractor. It will tell you if the tractor is running. It’s just a great tool for our customers who have multiple tractors.”

John Deere dealers are currently taking orders for the 5090EL and 5125ML tractors. Doyle expects production of the 5090EL to begin in April and production of the 5125ML to begin around October. For detailed information visit JohnDeere.com/Specialty or see your local dealer.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with John here: Interview with John Doyle, John Deere

2018 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by
Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by FMCCoverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by John Deere
Audio, John Deere, National Farm Machinery Show

Precision Ag Bytes 2/21

Carrie Muehling

               

  • Valent U.S.A. has announced the launch of MycoApply® EndoPrime™ for corn. MycoApply EndoPrime is applied in-furrow and uses four unique species of mycorrhizal fungi to help improve nutrient efficiency, drought tolerance and yield potential.
  • Agnition announces that multiple recent university research trials demonstrate that Commence® for Soybeans, a seed treatment, increases yield for greater profits. The trials were conducted by the University of Nebraska – Lincoln and Iowa State University. Results were highlighted by the Iowa State Reseach where replicated trials in Ames and Boone Iowa resulted in an average gain of 4.0 bushels an acre over an untreated check.
  • A new video released by National Crop Insurance Services explains that some farm policy opponents are lobbying to exclude people from crop insurance which would harm farmers and taxpayers alike. The video is the second video in its “Risk Management Minute” series.
  • Syngenta has acquired FarmShots, Inc., a North Carolina-based innovator of high-resolution satellite imagery that detects plant health by analyzing absorbed light from field images. This service was developed to help farmers, agronomists and retailers quickly and accurately spot field issues caused by planter skips, emergence, insect feeding, poor plant nutrition, crop diseases, weeds, other pests and environmental damage. With this capability, FarmShots enables growers and their trusted advisers to reduce field scouting by as much as 90 percent and helps them focus on areas of need.
  • DTN announced a partnership with Agronomic Technology Corp., a leader in nitrogen modeling. Through the partnership, DTN, an independent source of insight and analysis, and decision-support solutions to customers worldwide in agriculture, energy, commodities and financial analytics, is providing access to ATC’s N-Insight nitrogen diagnostic tool and Adapt-N nitrogen recommendation tool. ATC is incorporating DTN’s localized weather station network into its industry-leading modeling platform.
  • A group of agricultural and conservation stakeholders has announced the launch of 4R Plus, a nutrient management and conservation program that equips Iowa farmers with the tools and resources to protect and enhance Iowa soils. Support of this program has expanded to 30 organizations, including state commodity groups, agribusinesses, conservation organizations, government agencies, universities and others.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes

HomePod with an Echo

Chuck Zimmerman

Just for fun I set my new HomePod next to my Echo and asked them a couple of the same questions. Well, I asked Siri and Alexa to be precise. Nothing fancy here but I have a couple of observations.

One: I’ve had the Echo longer and this particular model sounds great in my office. Alexa has been getting much better at supplying answers. Although I haven’t really needed a new device like this the attraction was about integration with the Apple device ecosystem. It was simple to set up and Cindy and I have already had a conference call on it via my iPhone.

Two: HomePod requires you to subscribe to Apple Music. I didn’t. I pay extra for Amazon Unlimited music. I don’t want two music for pay services. Now I have to decide which it’s going to be. I might just cancel the extra charge to my Amazon Prime since I still get quite a bit of music there anyway.

Three: I don’t have a lot of “smart” devices for either of these devices to control. I’m more interested in asking questions and getting answers and listening to music. Although this Echo sounds fine I can definitely hear a difference for the better with the HomePod.

Now it’s time to crank it up!


Apps, Gadgets

Getting Planters Ready For Action

Carrie Muehling

Farmers who are preparing for the upcoming planting season might be interested in John Deere‘s Mobile Row Unit Run Off with the PlanterPlus App, a quick and efficient way to dial in their rows and conduct a meter performance test to assure accuracy in ExactEmerge or MaxEmerge 5e planters.

The system connects the display in the tractor to a farmer’s mobile device, giving them the same capability they used to have only when at the equipment dealership.

“They can stand at the back of the planter, select the row unit they want to look at, and engage the planter with their seed and look at the singulation percentages, the skips, the multiples, and adjust the vacuum pressure so that it matches the seed that they’re wanting to plant with, but all while they’re on their own place,” said Kevin Ripple, product line manager for planters with John Deere.

Ripple said the product was released within the last two years for model 2018 planters. In addition, he said opportunities for retro fit kits have been expanded to go back to the year 2005 on a number of models.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Kevin here: Kevin Ripple, John Deere

2018 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by
Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by FMCCoverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by John Deere
AgWired Precision, Audio, John Deere, National Farm Machinery Show, Precision Agriculture

AEM Launches Equipment Industry Podcast

Cindy Zimmerman

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has launched a new podcast to help keep members informed about “potentially disruptive trends in the construction and agriculture equipment industry.”

Three episodes of the AEM Thinking Forward Podcast are available now and new editions will be available on a monthly basis featuring topics such as 3D printing, automation, precision agriculture, Internet of Things, big data analysis, drones, future technology, and more.
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Here is episode 3, which features AGCO’s Eric Lescourret and AEM’s Curt Blades discussing precision agriculture solutions, the need for broadband infrastructure and how AEM is engaging its members on the topic. AEM Thinking Forward Podcast #3

The AEM Thinking Forward Podcast is now available for listeners and subscribers on many of the most popular podcasting apps, including iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, TuneIn and others. Episodes will also be posted on the AEM Website at aem.org/think, and links to new episodes will be included in the Industry Advisor e-newsletter.

AEM, AgWired Precision, Audio, Equipment, Podcasts

FMC Freedom Pass Offers Options for Growers

Carrie Muehling

As growers plan for the 2018 growing season, many are fighting weed resistance on their farms while still looking for opportunities to make decisions that make the most sense economically.

The FMC Freedom Pass program can help by offering agronomic rewards, financing opportunities, product assurances and application innovations.

“I’ve had great response from my customers, my retailers, as well as growers that I’ve visited,” said Jennifer Maruszewski, FMC retail market manager in northern Indiana. “They find our program to be simple. They find it to be flexible from the standpoint they don’t have to have a certain seed purchase. They can focus on their chemistry and make good agronomic decisions and be rewarded for that.”

Maruszewski said the program works with John Deere Financing to offer growers zero percent interest through Dec. 31 with a $5,000 minimum purchase made by July 31, 2018.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Jennifer here: Jennifer Maruszewski, FMC

2018 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by
Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by FMCCoverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by John Deere
Audio, FMC, National Farm Machinery Show, NFMS

Industry News Briefs

Cindy Zimmerman

It’s been a busy couple of weeks here and we have gotten behind on some industry news stories that we have wanted to post – so here are a few!

Cyndee Smiley, formerly division marketing manager for Region 4 combines and front-end equipment, has been named media relations and communications manager for John Deere Ag & Turf Division for the U.S. and Canada. Smiley replaces Beverly Flores, who recently was named training and events manager for the U.S. and Canada for John Deere. Listen to her on this week’s ZimmCast from NFMS.

Brownfield Ag News announced the addition of KFRM as an affiliate of the Kansas Ag Network, which now reaches more than 82% of corn and wheat acres and nearly 89% of soybean acres in the state, as well as 80% of the cattle. The affiliation expands Brownfield’s marketing reach to more than 700 affiliate radio stations in a 14-state region.

Corryn La Rue will join the Agri-Pulse editorial team in Washington, D.C. in May, where she will cover hearings and events, writing for the company’s subscription-only newsletter and web site. La Rue is a junior at Utah State University, where she is pursuing a double major in Agriculture Communications and Journalism and a minor in Animal Science.

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) proudly announces the promotion of Dr. Nick Goeser, currently NCGA’s Director of Soil Health, to the position of Vice President of Production and Sustainability. Since joining NCGA in April of 2014, Goeser has done an outstanding job developing and building NCGA’s Soil Health Partnership.

Agri-Pulse, AgWired Precision, Corn, John Deere, NCGA, Soil, Soil Health Partnership, Sustainability

ZimmCast From #NFMS18

Chuck Zimmerman

The 2018 National Farm Machinery Show continues to grow and evolve as evidenced by the changes in the location of exhibitors. This year even featured a new Varied Industries tent in the parking lot. There’s a lot of room throughout the Kentucky Exposition Center but between the tractor pull and growth in exhibitors even more room is needed.

In this week’s program I share interviews with Cyndee Smiley, Media Relations Manager for John Deere Ag & Turf and Ryan Quarles, Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture. 

Cyndee was meeting with a lot of media and production folks like me. I got a few minutes to ask her to talk about her job and passion for agriculture.

I also met Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture, Ryan Quarles.  Ryan was the only agricultural representative in a meeting with President Trump on the Infrastructure Rollout earlier in the week. We had a great conversation that I hope you will find informative and entertaining.

Listen to the ZimmCast here: ZimmCast 574 - From National Farm Machinery Show

Subscribe to the ZimmCast podcast here. Use this url in iTunes or your favorite news reader program/app.

The ZimmCast

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Audio, John Deere, National Farm Machinery Show