Camso To Offer Remanufactured Wheels and Tracks

Carrie Muehling

Camso announced at the 2017 Farm Progress Show a program aimed at making the old new again. Martin Lunkenbein, Service and Aftermarket Sales Executive Director for Agriculture, says the company’s vision for the future is to offer products with multiple lives.

During the show, the Camso team shared details about the company’s new remanufactured tracks and wheels program. “Later this year, we’ll be launching our remanufactured tracks and wheels program. We’re giving multiple lives to a product farmers have always trusted, thus showing once again our commitment to provide the lowest operating cost solution,” explained Lunkenbein. Camso will remanufacture the wheels and tracks from the best, longest-lasting carcass in the industry and will use the same Camso original materials and quality. “Camso is continuously thinking about the next generation of tracks and innovation to the industry. With this program, we’ll provide customers with an economical, effective and durable solution that will extend the use of tracks and wheels on their equipment,” said Lunkenbein.

The company plans to launch pilot programs for remanufactured wheels in October 2017 and remanufactured tracks in January 2018.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Martin Lunkenbein at the 2017 Farm Progress Show: Interview with Martin Lunkenbein, Camso

View all photos from FPS here: 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
Agribusiness, Equipment, Farm Progress Show

No Hurricane Damage Included in New Crop Report

Cindy Zimmerman

Two hurricanes in the past two weeks mean that the September Crop Production report is already a bit out of date.

Rainfall from Hurricane Harvey caused flooding in parts of southeastern Texas and southwestern Louisiana, impacting data collection activities for the September report, so NASS will collect harvested acreage information in both states for a number of crops in preparation for the October report. Harvested acreage information will be collected from all producers surveyed in Louisiana for corn, Upland cotton, rice, sorghum, soybeans, and sugarcane; and in Texas for corn, Upland cotton, alfalfa hay, other hay, rice, sorghum, and soybeans. Hurricane Irma will impact next month’s reports in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina for Upland cotton, peanuts, and soybeans.

The September report increased both corn and soybean production by about one percent and cotton by six percent compared to August.

Corn, Cotton, Peanuts, Soybean, USDA

Communicating with the National Association of Wheat Growers

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast 558This week’s ZimmCast continues my series visiting with farm organization Directors of Communications. At the Farm Progress Show I sat down with Caitlin Eannello, National Association of Wheat Growers, to talk about her career choice and what the challenges of the job are.

Caitlin does not have a farm background but does have a passion to help farmers and a love of food! Prior to joining NAWG she worked with BIO, the Biotech Innovation Organization, and that set her up for the transition to her current job.

As an added bonus in this program I’m including an example of Caitlin’s work. She set me up to interview the NAWG President, David Schemm, a Kansas farmer. David has been touring areas where wheat growers are suffering from drought conditions and we talk about their need for a new farm bill that takes into consideration resources to help them like crop insurance.

Both Caitlin and David are now members of the #GoldenMic Club. When will it be your turn?

I hope you enjoy the program and thank you for listening!

Listen to the ZimmCast here: ZimmCast with NAWG

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

The ZimmCast

sponsored by
The ZimmCast podcast is sponsored by GROWMARK
Locally owned, globally strong.
Ag Groups, Audio, Farm Progress Show, NAWG, Wheat, ZimmCast

GROWMARK Committed to Nutrient Management

Carrie Muehling

Nutrient management was a focus of the GROWMARK-FS System exhibit at the 2017 Farm Progress Show in Decatur. The regional cooperative has spearheaded a number of initiatives to help farmers learn more about nutrient management strategies and to assist them in executing those practices on their farms.

“The main thing we do when we’re working with customers is trying to help them with nutrient management plans, strategies in order to overall reduce the amount of nutrients they’re using in order to get the most output,” says Ryan Hasty with South Central FS. “The main goal is to maximize their yields and do that with the least amount of nutrients to get that yield goal.”

Programs like the 4R4U partnership with county Illinois Farm Bureaus and the N-Watch program for nitrogen management are examples of how GROWMARK is helping its customers.

Listen to Cindy’s interview with Ryan Hasty at the 2017 Farm Progress Show: Interview with Ryan Hasty, South Central FS

View all photos from FPS here: 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
Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, Farm Progress Show, GROWMARK, Nutrient Management, Sustainability

Democrat Senators Offer Farm Bill Energy Package

Cindy Zimmerman

Senator Al Franken (D-MN), together with Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) have introduced the Agricultural Energy Programs Reauthorization Act of 2017, to reauthorize Title IX programs and funding through 2023.

“Each and every day, our nation’s farmers have our backs,” said Sen. Franken, a member of the Senate Energy Committee. “I believe we need to have theirs as well. My measure will support rural jobs, play a critical role in cutting energy costs, and help farmers and producers invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies.”

According to the Agriculture Energy Coalition, the legislation would make renewable chemicals facilities fully eligible to participate in the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program; expand the BioPreferred program and the REAP program; and add new mandatory funding to “create economic and energy opportunities for rural America.”

Biodiesel, Biofuels, Ethanol, Farm Bill

John Deere 5R Series Utility Tractor – Power & Versatility

Jamie Johansen

Offering tractors from 90 to 125 engine hp, the John Deere 5R series tractors were on display at the 2017 Farm Progress Show. Attendees saw first-hand the advanced technology to the utility tractor provides, meeting many farming demands. John Doyle, product marketing manager, took us through key product specs and the ideal customer of this new product offering.

“The 5R is the highest horsepower tractor we have made out of the Augusta, GA factory, with up to 125 engine horsepower. One of the key aspects of utility tractors is maneuverability. Our 5R tractors have best in class turning radius which is key for customers turning in tight spaces,” Doyle said.

The 5R series comes in four models, all with an easy-to-use transmission, AutoClutch and the list goes on and on. Doyle said this series is perfect for the livestock producer and anyone focused on forage production. Listen to my complete interview with John here: Interview with John Doyle, John Deere

View John Deere photos here: John Deere at #FPS17 Photo Album

View all our photos from FPS here: 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
Agribusiness, AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Audio, Equipment, Farm Progress Show, Forage, Hay, John Deere, Livestock

Arkansas Urged to Consider Impact of Dicamba Ban

Cindy Zimmerman

Soybean leaf cupping seen from suspected dicamba drift (ZimmComm file photo)

The Arkansas State Plant Board is considering recommendations for dicamba use in the 2018 growing season that Monsanto calls “unwarranted” and BASF considers to be a “rush to judgement.”

On August 24, the state’s Dicamba Task Force voted to recommend a cutoff date of April 15 next year for the use of all dicamba products, including Monsanto’s XtendiMax and BASF’s Engenia, meaning farmers could basically only use the product as a burn down, not post emerge.

“By just focusing on the burn-down, growers aren’t going to get the full advantage of an Engenia-like product,” said BASF Midwest Technical Service Manager Gary Schmitz during an interview at Farm Progress Show. “Weeds like Palmer amaranth, waterhemp, kochia, they’re really going to need that post-emerge application to manage that.”

BASF Vice President for U.S. Crop Scott Kay says farmers who used in Engenia this season were pleased with the results and the company is committed to fully investigating and understanding the off-target reports and damage this year. “It’s probably the best weed control farmers have seen in probably a decade,” said Kay. “We’re on the farm with over 400 people and talking with farmers and walking with them and we’re still looking at some results.”

Listen to interviews with Schmitz and Kay below:
Interview with Gary Schmitz, BASF
Interview with Scott Kay, BASF

Monsanto, which sells both the dicamba-tolerant soybean seed and the herbicide itself, last week filed a petition with the Arkansas State Plant Board to “halt an unwarranted and misinformed ban on dicamba, a critical tool for growers—and to ensure that growers in Arkansas have access to a vital new weed-control tool next year.”

BASF and Monsanto are both working with agriculture departments in the states where issues with dicamba drift were reported. Arkansas has been a hot spot for dicamba issues with nearly 1000 complaints filed, over 75% of the cases reported in more than a dozen states.

AgWired Precision, Audio, BASF, Soybean, weed management

GROWMARK Eyes Priorities for New Farm Bill

Carrie Muehling

GROWMARK Executive Director for Corporate and Government Relations Chuck Spencer heard some clear messages at a farm bill listening session during the 2017 Farm Progress Show in Decatur.

Spencer says agricultural producers in the Midwest have strong opinions about the need for crop insurance and how to improve current options. Farmers shared the desire for a strong safety net, hoping for improvements, but not fundamental changes, to price loss revenue coverage. Conservation practices continue to be another priority with a focus on soil health, water quality, and nutrient management.

Spencer shared other priorities with regard to tax reform, transportation and infrastructure as discussion ahead of the next farm bill continues.

“We all understand the critical value of our road, river, rail and runway systems. And that’s what needs to make us worldwide competitive, because we have technology advancements, growing advancements on the farm, and we’re more efficient acre by acre which helps sustainability,” says Spencer. “Now we need to make sure we get it to the markets as efficiently as possible going down that path. That’s new 1200-foot locks, that’s better bridges and roadways and it’s better transportation systems for the rail, as well.”

Listen to Cindy’s interview with Chuck Spencer at the 2017 Farm Progress Show: Interview with Chuck Spencer, GROWMARK

View all photos from FPS here: 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
Agribusiness, Farm Bill, Farm Progress Show, GROWMARK

SMART Farmer Robb Fraley

Cindy Zimmerman

Robb Fraley isn’t our typical SMART Farmer, but after growing up on a small Illinois farm, his work has helped farmers around the world produce food more sustainably with science and technology that has helped increase yields by decreasing threats to crops. That technology is genetic modification of plants, creating GMO crops that are resistance to insects and disease, able to tolerate extreme variations in climate, and even provide human health benefits.

As executive vice president and chief technology officer for Monsanto Company, Fraley has made a commitment to broader open dialogue to address consumer concerns innovations in agriculture, including biotechnology, and one way Monsanto has done that is to help the efforts of the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA). “Working together as an industry we need to share more background and more information on food innovation and GMO safety with the millions of people out there who have legitimate questions,” Fraley said.

Listen to our SMART farmer conversation with Robb Fraley – SMART Farmer Podcast with Robb Fraley, Monsanto

Subscribe to the SMART Farmer podcast

Learn more about USFRA and SMART Farm

AgWired Precision, Audio, GMO, USFRA

John Deere Acquires Blue River Technology

Chuck Zimmerman

Farming just keeps getting smarter thanks to new technology like that being developed by Blue River Technology. It certainly caught the attention of John Deere which just announced acquisition of Blue River. To learn more about what Blue River Technology does and what this means to John Deere and its customers I spoke by phone with Willy Pell, Director of New Technology, Blue River Technology and Deanna Kovar, Director, Production & Precision Ag Marketing at John Deere.

Blue River has designed and integrated computer vision and machine learning technology that will enable growers to reduce the use of herbicides by spraying only where weeds are present, optimizing the use of inputs in farming – a key objective of precision agriculture. I didn’t really know what the term “machine learning” meant for farming until this interview. One of the results is the ability to enable thousands of instantaneous, customized, precise decisions to be made at the plant level.

You can read the announcement release here.

You can listen to my interview to learn more: Interview with John Deere and Blue River Technology

Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, Audio, John Deere, Technology