ICYMI: Live With Camso at #NFMS17

Chuck Zimmerman

We were AgWired Live on Facebook from the National Farm Machinery Show recently with Martin Lunkenbein and Eric Blondeau to talk about two new products from Camso. I gave them each the opportunity to tell us what’s new during our live webcast – you can watch the replay below:


Martin talks about Camso’s new CTS High Speed which allows tracked harvesting machines to reach road speeds similar to wheeled combines with its integrated final drive system.

Eric shows off the AG 2500 series track, available for all friction-drive tractors, including the John Deere 8RT and 9RT tractors as well as the AGCO MT700 and MT800 platforms.

2017 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 FMC
Equipment, NFMS, Tractor, Video

Farmers Edge at #Classic17

Jamie Johansen

A little birdie told us Farmers Edge has some big news being revealed next week at Commodity Classic. Mums the word, but we suggest stopping by booth #942 to hear the latest in precision technology on Friday, March 3rd.


Agribusiness, Commodity Classic, Precision Agriculture, Video

FMC Offers PPO Resistance Advice for Farmers

Kelly Marshall

When we say “resistance” most of us think glyphosate, but marestail and palmer amaranth have also developed a resistance to PPO in some states, according to FMC technical service representative Nick Hustedde.

“It’s definitely a significant problem. It’s unfortunate any time we loose a herbicide technology,” Hustedde said during an interview at National Farm Machinery Show. But fortunately we can do things to preserve the effectiveness of PPO herbicides.

“With PPO resistance the mechanism is actually a low-level resistance so we can still over come it. Our soil applied treatments are still providing value, so when we think about a soil treatment, you know we’re trying to control what’s there at the time of application as well as what might come up six weeks from the application. So it’s a high dose in the soil and it can overcome that resistance mechanism.”

Diversification and more effective sites of action are key to control. FMC offers products like Authority MTZ and Authority Elite herbicides that offer two sites of action, as well as others that work for growers facing more large seeded broad leaf pressure, like Anthem Maxx herbicide. Other practices like row spacing, higher seeding rates and cover crops play a part in preserving technologies as well.

To learn more listen to Chuck’s full interview with Hustedde and stop by to talk with him and other FMC experts at both Commodity Class and the Mid-South Farm and Gin Show this week. Interview with Nick Hustedde, FMC

2017 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

Audio, FMC, National Farm Machinery Show, NFMS

NAMA Honors Mike Stern as Agribusiness Leader

Kelly Marshall

Mike Stern, Chief Executive Officer of The Climate Corporation, a subsidiary of Monsanto Company, has been selected as the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) 2017 Agribusiness Leader of the Year. The award, considered NAMA’s highest honor, will be presented at the 2017 Agri-Marketing Conference in April.

Mike Stern exemplifies the spirit of the award through his understanding of the challenges farmers face and his passion for solving agriculture’s most pressing issue: the need to feed a growing population while minimizing the impact on the environment. Stern and his team are on the forefront of solving this problem through digital agriculture, which holds the potential to unlock the next giant leap in farming productivity and efficiency. Through the combination of advanced data science, sensors and seamless connectivity of farm data, Climate is helping farmers gain a deeper understanding of their fields with data-driven, real-time insights delivered through digital tools available right at their fingertips.

Stern has served the agriculture industry by providing testimony to the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture on the importance of privacy, speaking about the potential of digital ag and helping to launch the America’s Farmers program that supports rural communities and schools.

NAMA

House Ag Committee Chair to Speak at Classic

Kelly Marshall

U.S. Congressman Mike Conaway, chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, will give an address at Commodity Classic on Friday, March 3 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Conaway represents 29 counties in the 11th congressional district of Texas– his native state. He also serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the Premanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

“We are very pleased that Congressman Conaway has agreed to address Commodity Classic attendees,” said Ed Erickson, Jr., a North Dakota soybean farmer and co-chair of the 2017 Commodity Classic. “With the change in administration in Washington, DC, the next Farm Bill due for debate, and discussions on international trade policy, the farmers attending Commodity Classic will be very interested to hear from one of the nation’s ag policy leaders on a wide range of issues.”

Other notable speakers include John O’Leary, a motivation speaker who suffered sever childhood burns and amputations and now encourages other to live boldly, and the leadership of the four presenting commodity associations.

Ag Groups, Commodity Classic

GROWMARK Growing as a Propane Retailer

Cindy Zimmerman

GROWMARK ranked as the fifth largest propane retailer in the United States by LP Gas Magazine with sales of over 211 million retail gallons of propane during 2016.

“Propane is used for a lot of different reasons,” says Zach Baugher, GROWMARK Propane Marketing & Technical Services Manager. “Home heat, livestock building heat, grain dryers, and now we’re starting to see an increase in autogas and irrigation motors.”

Baugher says autogas has tremendous growth potential. “We see it as the area that will grow the most between now and 2025,” he said, noting that fueling infrastructure is what is currently restricting expansion. “But we’re really seeing a push for propane-powered school buses right now because of the total cost of ownership savings.”

In this interview, Baugher talks about how GROWMARK is preparing to serve the growing market for propane autogas and how increased use of propane for irrigation motors is being fueled by promotion efforts from the Propane Education and Research Council‘s Farm Incentive Program. Interview with Zach Baugher, GROWMARK Propane

Audio, GROWMARK, Propane

Ag Groups & Ethanol Discuss Common Ground

Jamie Johansen

L-R: RFA CEO Bob Dinneen, former NPPC president Randy Spronk, NCGA CEO Chris Novak

At the National Ethanol Conference, Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO Bob Dinneen sat down with representatives from the corn and livestock industries to talk about the current state of the farm economy, the policy impact of historic surpluses, and moving past food versus fuel.

Dinneen discussed common ground with National Corn Growers Association CEO Chris Novak and National Pork Producers Council past president Randy Spronk. Listen to the discussion here: #RFANEC Ag Groups discussion

National Ethanol Conference photo album

Ag Groups, Audio, Corn, Ethanol, Livestock, NCGA, NPPC, RFA

Terry Branstad Addresses Ag Outlook Forum

Lizzy Schultz

The distinguished speaker at this year’s USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum was former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, who was recently nominated as ambassador to China.

Branstad took time during his speech to praise incoming Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and share his thoughts on the future of agriculture and economic development in rural America.

“Simply put, American agriculture is tied to rural America, and rural America is tied to greater agricultural economic development,” he said in his address. “Perhaps one of the most underreported national news stories of the past few years has been the economic recession that has hit the agricultural economy and the jobs it has cost in farm machinery manufacturing as well as the losses that farmers have sustained.”

Branstad touched on the projected decrease in farm income and how the current farming economy has created financial pressures that are negatively impacting several different industries that are essential to the economies of rural America.

“Despite recent challenges, I believe there is a bright future for agriculture and economic growth in rural America. I’m hopeful because American agriculture is poised to continue innovation, and I believe American agriculture remains best positioned to help feed and fuel this growing global population and deliver the growing fiber and protein requirements demanded by growing middle class populations around the world,” he said. “I’m encouraged by the renewed interest in agriculture and the talent pipeline that is flowing into American agriculture today. I’m confident that the Trump-Pence administration will support the advancement of innovation in agriculture.”

Listen to his full address here:
Terry Branstad Addressing Agricultural Outlook Forum

Ag Groups, Audio, politics, Sustainability, USDA

Farm Bureau President Speaks at USDA Ag Outlook Forum

Jamie Johansen

The American Farm Bureau Federation’s public policy agenda shares much in common with the Trump administration on issues like regulatory reform and tax reform. But even harder issues such as farm labor and trade should present opportunities to engage with Congress and the White House, alike, AFBF President Zippy Duvall told participants at the USDA’s Agricultural Outlook Forum.

Duvall said America’s farmers and ranchers have to make their voices heard on “all of these issues.” And expressed optimism over President Trump’s nomination of former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue to lead the USDA.

“You couldn’t ask for a finer gentleman or a stronger champion for our farmers and ranchers,” Duvall said. “I believe he could be one of the all-time great Secretaries of Agriculture. And we need him confirmed so he can get to work.”

Listen to Duvall’s complete remarks where he addresses regulatory overreach, the tax code, immigration, trade and the 2018 farm bill: Zippy Duvall - American Farm Bureau Federation

Read More

Ag Groups, Audio, Farm Policy, politics, Trade, USDA

Deere Debutes Sprayer Improvements at #NFMS17

Kelly Marshall

Attendees of the National Farm Machinery Show got the first view of John Deere‘s new CommandView III cab on their 4-Series Sprayers and the 4600 CommandCenter that comes with it. Customers are always looking for ways to be more efficient– to spend less time setting up and more time spraying, says Jason Beuligmann, which is why John Deere has made the cab more comfortable, the control easier to use, and the display multifunctional.

The updates make for a more comfortable environment for producers or service providers who spend 10 and 12 hour days in the cab. From the redesigned CommandARM that features a multi-function handle to the heated and ventilated leather seat, there are many ways for the user to customize the cab.

The latest version of sprayers also come with a carbon fiber boom. Carbon fiber allows for a wider boom because the material is lighter but stronger. It’s also erosion resistant and doesn’t fatigue like steel or other metals, Beuligmann says. Customers also like the look of the simpler design and less surface area means the product is easier to clean.

John Deere will begin taking orders in June of 2017. You can learn more about the updated sprayer at the upcoming Commodity Classic event next week, or follow us here on the Ag.Wired family of pages for news brought to you by John Deere.

Listen to Chuck’s full interview with Beuligmann here: Interview with Jason Beuligmann, John Deere

2017 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 FMC
Audio, Equipment, John Deere, National Farm Machinery Show