Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Report

Cindy Zimmerman

Illinois agriculture director Raymond Poe

The directors of the Illinois Department of Agriculture and Illinois Environmental Protection Agency yesterday presented the state’s Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy Biennial Report at the Farm Progress Show.

This report describes actions taken in Illinois during the last two years to reduce nutrient losses and influence positive changes in nutrient loads over time.

Illinois’ Strategy is one of numerous other state strategies developed and implemented over the 31-state Mississippi River basin, intended to improve our nation’s water quality. Illinois’ Strategy provides a framework for reducing both point and non-point nutrient losses to improve our state’s overall water quality, as well as the quality of water leaving the state and making its way down the Mississippi River into the Gulf of Mexico.

Listen to the press conference here:
Illinois Nutrient Management presser

2017 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by John DeereCoverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by GrowmarkCoverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Bayer CropScience
Audio, Conservation, Farm Progress Show, GROWMARK, Nutrient Management, Water

Soybeans Hit the Road with Goodyear

Kelly Marshall

The United Soybean Board (USB) and Goodyear made an exciting announcement at the Farm Progress Show yesterday.  Together they are introducing the new Assurance Weather ready tire, made possible with soybean oil.

“The launch of new, innovative products to meet the ever increasing demands of our customers allows us to showcase our latest technology developments and that leads me to the reason for us being here today. In developing one of our latest material’s technologies we have crossed paths with the American farmer,” said Bob Wolosyznek, a Goodyear engineer. “I am proud to announce Goodyear’s successful application of soybean oil in commercially available passenger tires- a first in our industry.”

The process was a team effort with USB, Wolosynek confirms. Soybean oil has been on the company’s radar for many years, but it was the involvement of the soybean checkoff that brought the idea back to the front and helped push it over the finish line.

“The Soy checkoff is committed to looking at our crop as more than just bushels,” said USB chair, John Motter. “We’re considering the value of our soybeans and how we can get more back to the farm gate. We’re leading the way by meeting our end users needs with a sustainable, reliable crop that preforms in the ways they need it to. This tire is a clear example of how U.S. soybeans and your checkoff is doing just that.”

And while you may think choosing soybean oil is a matter of sustainability, it is that and so much more. Soybean oil actually improves flexibility of the tire at low temperatures, provides greater traction in both rain and snow, and mixes easily with the rubber compound- resulting in less energy for production. In the end, Wolosynek says, soybean oil met the challenge of their performance goal.

Learn more about Assurance Weather ready tires in the press release here:USB and Goodyear Press Release

2017 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by John DeereCoverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by GrowmarkCoverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Bayer CropScience
AgWired Precision, Audio, Soybean, USB

Bayer and 4-H Launch Science Matters Collaboration

Cindy Zimmerman

Bayer and 4H alums celebrate Science Matters partnership

Opening day of the Farm Progress Show, Bayer and the National 4-H Council announced a new partnership for future innovators in science and technology to help feed a growing population. The nationwide collaboration, Science Matters, is designed to address the need for an enhanced STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) workforce by planting a love of scientific exploration in young people around the nation.

Alumni of the youth organization within Bayer joined to celebrate the announcement. “The ability to reach out to youth across America and have a conversation about science and its connection to food and agriculture, there really is no better partner than 4H,” said 4H alum and Bayer North American Vice President of Communications Darren Wallis.

“In 4-H, we believe in the power of young people, and we are thrilled to join with a company like Bayer that also sees the potential when you equip youth with the skills and opportunities they need to be true leaders,” said Artis Stevens, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, National 4-H Council.

Learn more about the partnership in this interview with Wallis and Stevens:
Interview with Darren Wallis, Bayer and Artis Stevens, 4H

2017 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by John DeereCoverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by GrowmarkCoverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Bayer CropScience
AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Audio, Bayer, Education, Farm Progress Show

NCGA Officers at #FPS17

Cindy Zimmerman

LtoR – NCGA first VP elect Lynn Chrisp; President Wesley Spurlock; 1st VP Kevin Skunes

Officers of the National Corn Growers Association are busy at the 2017 Farm Progress Show this week.

I had a chance to chat with NCGA president Wesley Spurlock of Texas, first vice president Kevin Skunes from South Dakota, and 1st VP elect Lynn Chrisp first thing yesterday morning at show. We talked about a variety of topics, including crop conditions – with Wesley providing a Texas update, farm bill wish list, ethanol and the RFS, and more.

Audio file: Interview with NCGA Officers

2017 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by John DeereCoverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by GrowmarkCoverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Bayer CropScience
AgWired Precision, Audio, Corn, Farm Progress Show, NCGA

Precision Ag Bytes 8/30

Kelly Marshall

  • Salford is introducing the new Valmar 56 series line of granular applicators to replace the 55 series line. The 56 series \ feature polyethylene hoppers, a new ISOBUS controller and the ability to control up to 4 separate metering sections.
  • Equipment Technologies (ET) has unveiled a new series of hydrostatic sprayers.  The Bruin Sprayers were reengineered for durability required by North American farmers and custom applicators and will be available in two models: HS700 (700 gallon) and HS1100 (1,100 gallon).
  • BASF and Proagrica have signed an agreement to bring one of the first farm management system interfaces to market. Proagrica’s integration and connectivity solutions and expertise will work with BASF’s Maglis to connect with different digital farming applications.
  • Raven Industries has released two new precision agriculture products.  The RS1 combines auto steer, GPS, and Slingshot for easy-to-use navigation and the CR7 is a powerful, lightweight field computer with customizable in-job layouts.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes

Bright Outlook for #FPS17

Cindy Zimmerman

The forecast for the 2017 Farm Progress Show is so bright Don Tourte has to wear shades inside the media tent!

Tourte, who is Penton Agriculture vice president and Farm Progress Show manager, says the weather is great and the crowds are here, despite the downturn in the farm economy. “I say, maybe farmers need the Farm Progress Show more in a farm economy like this than they do when things are great,” said Tourte. “You need to look at what’s the edge, that little thing or big thing that’s going to make you more money.”

Audio file: Interview with Don Tourte, Farm Progress Show

2017 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by 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

Harvey Hits Texas Agriculture

Cindy Zimmerman

Rescuing people trapped in flood waters continues to be the number one priority in Texas but it’s clear that Hurricane Harvey has hit agriculture hard.

Texas Commissioner of Agriculture Sid Miller says cotton farmers who were looking at a bumper crop this year were especially hard hit. “Best estimate so far is about a 150 million dollar loss for the cotton industry on the coastal plains,” said Miller.

Livestock producers are also being impacted and in need of feed and fresh water. “If you really want to help farmers and ranchers…we have a STAR fund – State of Texas Agriculture Relief fund – and that gets right in the hands of producers.” To donate, click on this link.

In this interview from Tony St. James with All Ag News, Miller talks about the impact of the storm. All Ag News interview with TX Ag Comm Sid Miller

AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Audio, Weather

Welcome to Day 1 of the Farm Progress Show

Chuck Zimmerman

This morning Jamie and Joanna went up top to get a bird’s eye view of the start of the 2017 Farm Progress Show. We hope to be live when the network allows it, so keep your eye on the AgWired page. And, like it if can. We can use all the likes we can get! LOL.

BTW. The official hashtag for this year’s show is #FPS17. Follow along the journey.


Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by John DeereCoverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by GrowmarkCoverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Bayer CropScience
AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Farm Progress Show, Video

Taiwanese Rice Importers Visit Missouri

Kelly Marshall

No one traveled father for the Missouri Rice Council annual Rice Field Day in Campbell, Missouri than Taiwanese Rice Importer, Chris Lee.  Forty years ago his father began a rice business in Taiwan and today Lee and his brothers have taken that business global by importing rice from around the world.  Last week they were in the U.S. to learn more about varieties that will meet demands back home.

“We were here at the field day today and we saw the effort that was put in by the researchers- rice breeders and researchers- and we saw a lot of varieties. We’re glad to see how advanced and how much effort you guys put into creating new varieties and hopefully we find some type of variety that will fit into our market,” Lee said.

Currently that demand includes long grain rice, as Taiwan mostly grows medium grain.  Lee has been talking to guest speakers at the events they’ve attended to learn more about the varieties of long grain rice and how they differ from state to state.

Listen to Jamie’s full interview with Lee to learn more: Interview with Chris Lee, Shan Shui Me Food Enterprise

Photos of the event can be found here: Missouri Rice Field Day Photo Album

AgWired Precision, Audio, Rice

U.S. Rice Production Finding New Markets

Kelly Marshall

Greg Yielding of the U.S. Rice Producers Association says rice is looking good this year. He brought an outlook message to attendees of the recent Missouri Rice Council Field Day and says growers with good crops need to be deciding now if they’ll sell or wait at harvest time. Indicators point to a pretty tight market, he says.

Whatever farmers choose, the U.S. Rice Producers Association is there to help market that rice. They’re always on the lookout for new markets- like the current deal with China.

“We took U.S. rice into the stores. We saw that there was a market. We showed the Chinese importers and the supermarkets that there was a market for U.S. rice and now, with this administration, we’ve finally got a protocol signed so we can begin trade and actually sell rice to China. It’s going to be huge for the U.S.,” Yielding said. And he believes the deal will happen quickly, with rice heading across the globe within 30 days of China’s final visit to the U.S.

The organization is also working hard on a program in Guatemala. They’re bringing education to schools, especially small schools, about how to cook and serve rice. In places where the mothers come in to cook the lunch meal, this is especially important because the knowledge of how to cook rice goes home as well. Currently, 100% of the rice purchased in Guatemala comes from the U.S., making this program’s impact even more significant.

Learn more about U.S. rice production in Jamie’s full interview here:Interview with Greg Yielding, U.S. Rice Producers Association

View and download photos from the event here: Missouri Rice Field Day Photo Album

AgWired Precision, Audio, Rice, Trade