Understanding the Farmers of Tomorrow

Jamie Johansen

OsbornBarr has rounded up ag thought-leaders from across the country to discuss and tackle issues impacting the agricultural community. The first challenge they collectively believe is imperative is understanding farmers of tomorrow.

Chairman of the newly formed O+B Agricultural Advisory Council, Richard Fordyce, former Missouri Director of Agriculture, attended the 2017 National Association of Farm Broadcasting’s Trade Talk to talk about the research they conducted on Generation Z’s (18-22-year-olds) future in agriculture.

How do the children of today’s farmers view their role in agriculture’s future? How do their perceptions of brand and industry compare to those of their parents and grandparents? Can the answers to these questions shape the future of farming?

The results centered around four major factors shaping the future of our industry: Farm Succession Expectations Differ, View of Government Involvement, Agricultural Technologies Tops List, Preference of Peers Over Brand Names.

Richard reminded us that all those surveyed are currently somehow involved in agriculture. A glimpse of the results: 54% plan to take over their family farm, 77% are still active on their family farm and 71% of farmers believe their kids want to take over the family farm.

The council will continue to digest these results and conduct further research on areas of particular interest and make all findings available to the public. Visit RuralSpirit.com to learn more.

Listen to my complete conversation with Richard to learn more :Interview with Richard Fordyce, O+B Ag Advisory Council Chair

2017 NAFB Convention Photos

Coverage of the NAFB Convention is sponsored by
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Agribusiness, AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Audio, Marketing, NAFB

National Thanksgiving Turkey Presented to POTUS

Jamie Johansen

National Turkey Federation Chairman Carl Wittenburg presented the National Thanksgiving Turkey named “Drumstick” to President Donald J. Trump during a White House ceremony celebrating the 70th anniversary of the event that has occurred since 1947.

“As we gather together with our families on Thanksgiving and give thanks for our many blessings, we are reminded of the national family to which we all belong as citizens of this incredible country,” said President Trump. “This Thursday, as we give thanks for our cherished loved ones, let us also renew our bonds of trust, loyalty and affection between our fellow citizens as members of a proud national family of Americans.”

The turkeys were raised with the involvement of 4-H members from Douglas County, Minnesota: Kodi Bundermann, Kayla Egenes, Katie Kent, Christina Kuismi, and Kerryn Lund under the supervision of the Wittenburgs. The names for the birds were suggested by school children through the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association.

Jaindl’s Turkey Farm of Orefield, Pa. provided the President’s family with two dressed turkeys as part of the First Family’s food donations to Martha’s Table in Washington, DC.

Listen to President Trump’s turkey pardoning and Thanksgiving remarks: President Trump pardons Thanksgiving turkeys

Ag Groups, AgWired Animal, Food, Poultry

Precision Ag Bytes 11/22

Carrie Muehling

  • A recent BASF survey of 400 soybean and cotton growers across the country showed grower satisfaction with Engenia herbicide, designed to battle tough weeds for dicamba tolerant crops. Growers said Engenia provided them with cleaner fields during the 2017 growing season. They rated weed control from Engenia herbicide an 8.6 out of 10 nationally. Eighty-five percent of growers surveyed planned to use Engenia in 2018 and 83 percent said they would recommend the product.
  • AgGateway presented its Ron Storms Leadership Award to Randy Fry with Ceres Solutions Cooperative at the organization’s annual conference. The 2017 President’s Award went to Jeremy W. Wilson with Crop IMS.
  • AgGateway also shared its newly released 2017 Annual Report, entitled “AgGateway in Action” at the annual conference. The report outlines a new 5-year strategic plan to address challenges in digital agriculture and using information.
  • Syngenta honored Allen Hatley and Tim Cobb, accredited farm managers, rural appraisers and principal partners of Hatley/Cobb Farmland Management with the 2017 Professional Farm Managers of the Year Award.
  • Valent U.S.A. launched its new Aveo EZ Nematicide to help protect soybeans from yield loss caused by Soybean Cyst Nematode, Reniform nematode and more. To learn more about new Aveo EZ, as well as Valent’s proven base seed treatment, INTEGO SUITE Soybeans, visit www.soybeanprotection.com.
  • Indigo Ag, Inc. has released preliminary data from its microbial seed treatment for corn. Indigo Corn was commercially launched in the spring of 2017.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes

John Deere Expands TruSet Technology in Tillage Tools

Carrie Muehling

John Deere is expanding the availability of its TruSet technology to a wider variety of tillage tools in 2018. The company first offered TruSet on the 2730 Combo Ripper in 2015 and will now include the depth and pressure control and mapping functions on more new and late-model tillage tools.

The 2720 Disk Ripper is the latest implement available with the option of TruSet technology, which can be added from the factory to new equipment or later to existing implements. TruSet is included in base equipment on all 2630 Series implements.

The new 2630 Series implement lineup includes four distinct models: 2630 Disk, 2633 Disk, 2635 Disk and 2633 Vertical Tillage implement, each providing different levels of soil penetration, residue mixing and seedbed preparation. According to Jarred Karnei, John Deere product marketing manager, the new 2630 Series tillage tools allow customers to match the right tool to their field and soil conditions while improving tillage performance with the latest in on-the-go precision control, thanks to TruSet Technology.

AgWired Precision, Equipment, John Deere, Precision Agriculture

Bayer COPeO Prime Helps Optimize Cotton Yields

Carrie Muehling

Cotton growers in all regions can better protect their crop with COPeO Prime, a fungicide with nematicidal activity, from Bayer CropScience. The seed treatment is available on all Stoneville and FiberMax, bringing a new mode of action to the cotton market.

“By reducing those stresses early season from nematodes. There been a lot of work done about the first 40 days of cotton production. If you can protect it from those nematodes and diseases and even thrips, and by adding a product like Aeris, which has activity against thrips, you get a broad spectrum package against most all of your early season pests of cotton,” said Chip Graham, seed growth technical service representative with Bayer CropScience. “That helps it reach its full yield potential.”

Hear more in this interview from NAFB Trade Talk: Interview with Chip Graham, Bayer CropScience

Speaking of cotton yields, the Bayer FiberMax® One Ton Club™ is seeking new members. To qualify, growers must produce an average of 2,000 lb/A on 20 or more acres planted to FiberMax varieties. Additionally, growers must plant 100 percent FiberMax cotton seed on qualifying acres in 2017. Learn more at www.FiberMax.com/OneTonClub.

2017 NAFB Convention Photos

Coverage of the NAFB Convention is sponsored by
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Audio, Bayer, Cotton, NAFB

Guide to Precision Agriculture and Ag-Tech Companies

Chuck Zimmerman

This looks like a good resources to have. It’s the “Guide to Precision Agriculture and Ag-Tech Companies” from Meister Media Worldwide. Just click on this link to get your copy.

Staying on top of the hundreds of product and service providers in precision agriculture and ag-tech companies can be difficult.

With this FREE guide compiled by the editors of Meister Media Worldwide, you’ll have a list of the major players as of summer 2017 in nearly 40 categories including data analytics, guidance, imagery, Internet of Things field monitoring, sensors, smart irrigation, UAVs, and variable-rate technology.

AgWired Precision, Media, Precision Agriculture

Enogen® Corn Hybrids Good for Feed and Fuel

Cindy Zimmerman

Enogen® corn hybrids from Syngenta have been providing value for farmers and ethanol producers, now Enogen® Feed hybrids can help provide value for beef and dairy producers as well.

“Enogen continues to be an exciting part of our business in Syngenta and the NK brand,” said Quinn Showalter, NK Sales Head, during an interview at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) annual Trade Talk. Enogen corn will produce about 2 billion gallons of ethanol this year. “New as we move forward into 2018 is the value that Enogen brings from a feed standpoint.”

Showalter says on-farm trials this year showed very promising results and as grain or silage, can provide a valuable ration component that helps provide more available energy for cattle in the form of starch and sugar, which also helps improve digestibility. “There is incremental value in the form of feed efficiency that come from Enogen,” he said.

In this interview, Quinn also discusses Syngenta’s long-term commitment to the NK brand and what is new for 2018. Interview with Quinn Showalter, Syngenta/NK Seeds

2017 NAFB Convention Photos

Coverage of the NAFB Convention is sponsored by
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Zimfo Bytes 11/21

Carrie Muehling

    • The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture is urging support for #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving on Nov. 28. #AgGives on #GivingTuesday is an industry-wide campaign to raise funds, find volunteers and build awareness of agriculture in local communities. Every donor contributing $25 or more to the Foundation on #GivingTuesday will receive one entry for a chance to win an exclusive Book of the Year bundle valued at over $80.
    • Tractor Supply Company’s fall Paper Clover campaign raised more than $980,000, becoming the most successful fundraiser in the company’s history. As a result, more than 14,500 4-H youth will have the opportunity to attend county-level development programs, camps and leadership conferences.
    • The International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) has opened the application process for the 2018 IFAJ/Alltech Young Leaders Award. The online application is available here. Individual applications must be completed by January 12, 2018.
    • The 2017 Water for Food Global Conference included three days of presentations and discussions on pressing global water and food security challenges, including innovations in sustainable irrigation in Africa, governance of major river basins and groundwater, and new technologies to improve water use. The proceeding of the conference are summarized in a report entitled, “Water for Food Security: From Local Lessons to Global Impacts.”
    • AMVAC Chemical Corporation has selected Swanson Russell as its advertising and public relations agency of record. Swanson Russell will be providing full service communications for AMVAC, including public relations, database marketing, digital, branding and marketing strategy.
    • Swanson Russell recently promoted four in its Lincoln office and one in its Omaha office. In Omaha, Heather Garth is promoted to art director. In the Lincoln office, Kaylee Dump is promoted to digital producer, Belinda Pabian is promoted to senior account manager, Kassie Smidt is promoted to lead accounting assistant, and Emily Yoble is promoted to senior designer.

 

Zimfo Bytes

Biodiesel Benefits Farmers and Livestock Producers

Carrie Muehling

Midwest soybeans are fueling the country from coast to coast. The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) has a goal of supplying 10 percent of the nation’s diesel fuel by the year 2022, equating to about four billion gallons per year. NBB Board Member and Nebraska Farmer Greg Anderson said the northeast market for heating oil is a bright spot, while California will soon be the number one market for biodiesel. He said that’s important during a challenging agriculture economy.

“We do have the production capacity to serve this market. We have America’s advanced biofuel providing some 64,000 jobs across the country – good paying, clean energy jobs – as well as really making agriculture profitable,” said Anderson. “We need biodiesel to keep adding almost a dollar per bushel value to our crop, making soybean oil 11 to 20 cents per pound more valuable, just because of biodiesel.”

U.S. farmers grow over four billion bushels of soybeans each year, producing 22 billion pounds of soybean oil. Biodiesel production uses about one third of the domestic soybean crush.

Hear more with Cindy’s interview from NAFB Trade Talk: Interview with Greg Anderson, National Biodiesel Board

2017 NAFB Convention Photos

Coverage of the NAFB Convention is sponsored by
Coverage of the NAFB Convention is sponsored by FMC
AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Audio, Biodiesel, NAFB

Survey Shows LibertyLink System Rates Highest With Growers

Cindy Zimmerman

Results from an independent market research survey of growers in 21 states conducted by Kynetec have found that the LibertyLink® system by Bayer was the highest rated trait platform of the year.

The study found that 97 percent of growers who planted LibertyLink this year rated it “good” to “excellent,” beating out both new and established platforms currently on the market. The results also revealed that better control of resistant weeds was the most important factor in a seed trait decision.

“The results from this research are indicative of the tremendous growth we have seen over the last few years,” said David Tanner, Liberty product manager at Bayer. “In the last three years, LibertyLink has gone from six percent market share in 2015 to more than 20 percent in 2018. The growth continues as growers experience the system and get excited about it.”

The study surveyed nearly 500 growers who made seed decisions on their operation in August 2017. Growers rated their experience with various platforms, what they look for when making planting decisions and their satisfaction with trait and herbicide performance.

Tanner explains more about the survey in this interview – Interview with David Tanner, Bayer Liberty Product Manager

AgWired Precision, Audio, Bayer, Soybean, weed management