4-H Challenges Students to Tackle Soil Health

Kelly Marshall

Students in the midwest are tackling the challenges of healthy soils as part of the 2017 4-H Ag Innovators Experience (4-H AIE) activity. Sponsored by Monsanto, the two-part challenge was developed by The Ohio State University and focuses on soil composition, impacts of tillage, and new ways to farm. Teams of students in 4-H clubs, camps, after school programs, and enrichment classes conduct tests to determine soil health and then search for solutions to maintaining microbials and nutrients while minimizing the environmental impact. Students will have the opportunity to build a 1:64 scale no-till planter to gain a better understand of how to reduce agriculture’s carbon footprint.

“This program was created for students to get hands on experience and generate an understanding of the challenges farmers face,” said National 4-H Council President and CEO Jennifer Sirangelo. “We’re excited this program brings together students throughout their communities for an education on real-world problems and the opportunity to apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills for solutions.”

AgWired Precision, Education, Soil

Seasoned Ag Journalists Stay Credible in Fake News World

Chuck Zimmerman

Three well seasoned agricultural journalists will be holding a webinar for the Agricultural Communicators Network (AAEA) next week. So how do you stay credible with all the fake news out there? This looks like a good place to get ideas.

Staying Credible in a “Fake News” World

Thursday, June 15, 2017, 12 p.m. CST – Register here

How can ag journalists and communicators stay relevant and credible in an era when the media is scrutinized more closely than ever, and news is not taken seriously if a reader disagrees with the story topic or slant?

As trained journalists and professional communicators, how do we make sure our stories and the organizations we represent are taken seriously when the internet allows anyone to be an “expert” on any given topic?

Join us Thursday, June 15 at 12 p.m. CST for a webinar with seasoned agricultural journalists Chris Clayton, Willie Vogt and Betsy Freese on their thoughts about “fake news,” how to advocate for trust in ag journalism and writing for rural America. Participants will hear from Clayton as the guest speaker for the first 20 minutes, followed by a 20-minute panel discussion featuring all three panelists. The last 20 minutes will be a Q&A session.

BTW this webinar is brought to you by the AAEA Young Professionals Taskforce.

ACN, Media

ZimmCast on Climate Change & Paris Accord

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast 548The decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Accord has generated reactions from many I am connected with via social media that border on hysteria. But the majority have expressed approval of the decision. As we reported earlier this week, agricultural interests seem to be pretty quiet on the matter. I think that’s because they are more likely to be science based thinkers, realists, business oriented and personally concerned about taking care of our natural resources. They don’t see that deal as one to accomplish anything except hurt business and transfer wealth, in particular our wealth!

So, I reached out to the Heartland Institute for someone to talk with me about this whole issue. I visited with Dr. Jay Lehr, senior fellow and science director of The Heartland Institute. It is a good conversation that I hope you’ll enjoy.

The Heartland Institute is one of the world’s leading free-market think tanks. It is a national nonprofit research and education organization based in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Its mission is to discover, develop, and promote free-market solutions to social and economic problems.

For those who might have seen some very questionable information about the Heartland Institute you are invited to see their responses on this web page. I would also point you to a presentation that Jay made during this year’s 12th International Conference on Climate Change on March 23, 2017 (ICCC12). You can also find lots of information on climate change here.

Listen to the ZimmCast here: ZimmCast with Dr. Jay Lehr, Heartland Institute

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

The ZimmCast

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The ZimmCast podcast is sponsored by GROWMARK
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Audio, Weather, ZimmCast

Zimfo Bytes

Lizzy Schultz

Zimfo Bytes

  • The third-grade class that was named the winner of the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture’s First Peas to the Table Contest won a visit from Miss America 2017 Savvy Shields, who spoke to the students about her platform of ‘Eat Better, Live Better.’
  • The trade show floor at Commodity Classic will open to new exhibitors on Thursday, June 1, 2017. The 2018 Commodity Classic will be held Tuesday, February 28 through Thursday, March 2 in Anaheim, California.
  • Summit Agricultural Group announced the hiring of Michael Bousselot as a managing director and head of external relations.
  • The American Soybean Association (ASA), DuPont Pioneer and DuPont Crop Protection are seeking applicants for the 2017-18 ASA DuPont Young Leader Program (DYL), which has identified and developed grower leaders who have shaped the agricultural industry for the past 30 years.
Zimfo Bytes

John Deere Display Gets Smarter

Kelly Marshall

The John Deere Gen 4 monitor has been in large agriculture tractors since the 2014 model, but at the big Reveal event last week in Moline, Illinois the company unveiled its latest upgrade, the 4640 Universal Display.

“Brand new today is a 4640 Universal display, so that means we have a portable display that we can retrofit back into 30 series and newer John Deere tractors, as well as compatible, competitive machines. We do that will auto track universal and auto tract convertible,” explains Product Marketing Manager, John Mishler.

Being able to retrofit the same display into a growers’ entire fleet means users can get to work quickly, Mishler says. It’s easy-to-use interface gets operators into the field quickly and provides a high-quality job and smarter farming even in older equipment. The display also connects to a second monitor, giving extended screen space in the cab for even more control of applications.

Listen here to learn more about the 4640 Universal Display, or talk to your local John Deere dealer, Mishler suggests. Interview with John Mishler, John Deere

2017 John Deere Reveal Photo Album

Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, Audio, John Deere, Technology

Precision Ag Bytes

Kelly Marshall

  • Pinnacle Operating Corporation has announced that President and CEO Kenny Cordell will be transitioning out of his current role during the coming months. He will continue to work with the board of directors and the company’s leadership team as a successor is found.
  • The Climate Corporation, a subsidiary of Monsanto Company, will now be working aerial imagery partners: Ceres Imaging, TerrAvion, and Agribotix, to deliver valuable, high-resolution imagery to farmers through the Climate FieldView digital agriculture platform.
  • Deere & Company has signed an agreement to acquire the Wirtgen Group, a leading manufacturer worldwide of road construction equipment. Detailed financial information concerning the transaction is included in an investor presentation online.
AgWired Precision, Zimfo Bytes

John Deere Adds New Tillage Tool

Kelly Marshall

There was no shortage of exciting new offerings on display at the John Deere Reveal in Moline, Illinois last week. One of those was the new Frontier™ VT17 Series Vertical Tillage Tool with adjustable gang angles, a rolling basket, and two blade options.

“The point of these tillage tools is to mix, slice, and incorporate residue and leave a nice finish for a seed bed coming off the back, so much different than a conventional, traditional disk,” said Scott Geier, marketing manager for John Deere.

The 20 inch flat fluted blade provides typical tillage work, while the 22 inch concave blades are available for situations with heavier residue. Extra weight is built right into the frame, but the tool can be pulled by a lower horsepower tractor at 8 to 10 miles per hour, thanks to a working depth of just 1 to 3 inches.

Geier also notes that the VT17 is easy to use since a lot of the adjustments are mechanical and simple to change back and forth. It comes in four widths ranging from 10 to 15 feet and requires an 85 to 150 horsepower tractor, depending on the size model chosen.

Learn more about the new vertical tillage tool in Jamie’s interview here: Interview with Scott Geier, John Deere

2017 John Deere Reveal Photo Album

Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, Audio, Equipment, John Deere

The Paris Accord and Agriculture

Cindy Zimmerman

Unlike everyone else, agriculture interests had very little to say about President Trump pulling the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Accord.

“President Trump promised that he would put America first and he has rightly determined that the Paris accord was not in the best interests of the United States,” said Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue in a statement. “The Earth’s climate has been changing since the planet was formed – on this there is no disagreement. At USDA, we rely on sound science and we remain firmly committed to digging ever deeper into research to develop better methods of agricultural production in that changing climate.”

The only farm organization to release a statement on the president’s action was the National Farmers Union (NFU). President Roger Johnson said the President’s decision “is shameful, and it fails to recognize the very real and immediate threats of climate change to family farmers, ranchers, and our nation’s food security.”

Under the Paris Agreement, the U.S. pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 26 percent by 2025. The Trump Administration intends to begin negotiations on an entirely new agreement with more favorable terms for the United States.

AgWired Precision, Environment, USDA

#WPX17: A Showcase of the Pork Industry

Jamie Johansen

This week we hit the agriblogging highway for the 2017 World Pork Expo at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) hosts the annual event taking place June 7-9 and will feature the world’s largest pork-specific trade show, educational seminars, youth and open swine shows, market outlook sessions and of course pork of all shapes and sizes for your eating pleasure. Find all our coverage of this year’s event here, on Animal.AgWired.com and in it’s very own Virtual Ag Newsroom at AgNewsWire.com thanks to this year’s sponsor, Aptimmune.

“Expo is truly an international show, with visitors and exhibitors from throughout the world,” says Ken Maschhoff, NPPC president and Illinois pork producer. “It presents an excellent opportunity to expand your global reach and build an understanding of why pork is the No. 1 consumed protein worldwide. It’s sure to provide a new perspective on what you do back home.”

NPPC expects about 20,000 producers and pork professionals, including more than 1,000 international guests. Nearly 450 companies from North America, Asia and Europe will display the latest products, services and technologies for pork businesses in the trade show. NPPC says the number of hospitality tents also has grown, with 53 tents.

“As they walk through the trade show, producers will find the newest products, services and technology offerings in one location, and that’s a huge benefit,” says Doug Fricke, director of trade show marketing for NPPC. “Be sure to plan extra time this year as exhibits will be on display in the Ag Building, inside and along the north, east and south perimeters of the Varied Industries Building, as well as in the expanded outdoor space.”

Coverage of the World Pork Expo is sponsored by
Coverage of the World Pork Expo is sponsored by Aptimmune
Ag Groups, AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, NPPC, Pork, Swine, World Pork Expo

SMART Farmer Brad Greenway

Cindy Zimmerman

Brad Greenway of South Dakota was named 2016 Pig Farmer of the Year by the National Pork Board recognizing him as a pig farmer who excels at raising pigs using the industry’s We Care ethical principles that include not only raising pigs humanely and safely, but also promoting a safe workplace and contributing to the local community. Right after he received the title in October, Brad was elected as only the third chairman for the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance.

What Brad really likes to talk about is his farm with his wife Peggy in Mitchell, South Dakota where they have two wean-to-finish pig barns and also raise beef cattle and grow corn, soybeans, wheat and alfalfa.

Learn how passionate Brad is about SMART farming in this episode: SMART Farmer Podcast with Brad Greenway, South Dakota

Subscribe to the SMART Farmer podcast

Learn more about USFRA and SMART Farm

AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Audio, Pork, USFRA