Bayer Building on Feed a Bee Buzz

Cindy Zimmerman

The Feed a Bee program has planted more than 2 billion wildflowers with the help of 900,000 individuals and 117 partner organizations in the past three years, but Bayer says it’s not stopping there. The company recently requested proposals to establish pollinator forage in all 50 states by 2018, hoping to build upon their success and move the needle forward.

The Feed a Bee Steering Committee, made up of Feed a Bee partners and representatives from the Bayer Bee Care Program, will be contributing $500,000 for research and additional forage over the course of the next two years.

“We convened the steering committee to address an extreme need, now more than ever, to invest in forage and planting initiatives across the country,” said Dr. Becky Langer, project manager, North American Bee Health, Crop Science, a division of Bayer. “Today’s announcement represents a collaborative effort of some of the leading bee health stakeholders who are making it our mission to support the expansion of these programs and make sure organizations in every state in the U.S. have the opportunity to bring their pollinator initiatives to life.”

The committee is requesting forage initiative proposals that will promote pollinator health and help provide a tangible solution to the current lack of forage. Organizations including, but not limited to, nonprofits, growers (individual and trade groups), beekeepers (individual and associations), businesses, schools, clubs, gardening groups, government agencies, etc. are encouraged to submit a proposal.

Bayer, Bees, pollinators

#RebuildRural Encourages Trump to Prioritize Infrastructure

Kelly Marshall

Two hundred some #RebuildRural organizations representing U.S. agriculture, rural businesses, communities and families sent a letter to the President, asking him to make infrastructure in rural America a priority. The letter highlights the needs in rural communicates where a lack of population density creates challenges.

“American agriculture truly feeds the world and creates millions of jobs for U.S. workers. Our nation’s ability to produce food and fiber and transport it efficiently across the globe is a critical factor in U.S. competitiveness internationally. Infrastructure that supports rural communities and links them to global markets has helped make the U.S. the unquestioned leader in agricultural production. Our deteriorating infrastructure threatens that leadership position,” the letter states.

The letter also highlights the “critical needs” that “exist in providing clean water for rural families, expanding broadband to connect rural communities to the outside world, and enhancing the ability to supply affordable, reliable and secure power for the rural economy.”

Ag Groups, Infrastructure

FMC Promotes Cover Crops for Weed Control

Kelly Marshall

Growers will do about anything to control resistant palmer amaranth in the MidSouth region where Matt Wiggins works as a tech service manager for FMC. And while cover crops have been traditionally considered a method of erosion control, FMC has done a lot of work on understanding how they prevent weeds as well.

They’re effective because they create a layer of mulch, preventing weeds from coming through, Wiggins explains. Even though he still feels like there is a lot to learn, they do know a winter annual cover cop of cereal rye or winter wheat planted after harvest and terminated a few weeks before spring planting adds bio mass necessary to make a big difference handling those resistant weed problems. Cover crops also work together with an herbicide program, Wiggins says. Neither should be a stand-alone management.

As a bonus, cover crops are multifunctional on the farm.

“There are other benefits. The primary one we think about with cover crops is erosion prevention and soil health. Other things guys are not thinking so much about are things like weed control and also water conservation and nutrient reduction strategies and things like to that to help capture nutrients that we put in the soil and prevent them from getting into waterways. So there are a lot of other benefits other than just weed control that cover crops can benefit our growers.”

FMC has several solutions for growers wanting to take advantage of what cover crops can offer. Their Authority MTZ and Authority Elite offer a great pre-emergence burn down for starting the growing season off right, and they offer in-furrow protection products against the insects that seem to go hand-in-hand with cover crops.

Learn more about FMC and their cover crop approach by stopping by their booth at Commodity Classic or Mid-South Farm and Gin Show next week or listen to Chuck’s interview here: Interview with Matt Wiggins, FMC

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, cover crops, Crop Protection, FMC, National Farm Machinery Show, weed management

Deere Showcases 5R Series Tractors at #NFMS17

Kelly Marshall

Chris Lammie is pretty excited about his job with John Deere small tractors– especially the brand new 5R Series being shown at the National Farm Machinery Show. The 5R series features incredible maneuverability with a 12.1 foot turning radius, a comfortable cab, brand new loader, improved visibility and a fully electronic clutch.

It also comes with a fantastic lighting package, combined with the panoramic cab roof and interactive display now on the righthand post that mean the user can see everywhere at a glance.

“And it’s incredibly comfortable” Lammie told Chuck Zimmerman at NFMS. “All day I’ve been watching people climb up in it. They sit down in the seat and you see them smile, and whoever they’re with they say ‘Oh yeah, this is good.'”

The 5R was also designed to go with the John Deere 540R Loader. The loader’s automatic mast latch, single-point hydraulic connection, remote implement latch and slide-slung self-leveling links provide an integrated loader experience for the 5R Tractor operator. Removal or installation of the loader can be accomplished with a single trip out of the cab, thanks to a latch system that automatically connects the loader once contact is made between the loader boom and mounting frames, simplifying the connection process.

Listen to Chuck’s full interview with Lammie here to learn about availability and other features of the 5R series:Interview with Chris Lammie, 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
Agribusiness, Audio, Equipment, John Deere, National Farm Machinery Show, Tractor

Ag Groups Support Farm Bill Funding

Kelly Marshall

The 2014 Farm Bill helped reduce the nation’s deficit with budget cuts, but further cutbacks in 2018 could cause a serious threat, says a letter from 502 agriculture groups, nutrition organizations, conservation departments and local governments.

The letter was spearheaded by the American Farm Bureau Federation, Bread for the World, Feeding America, the Food Research & Action Center, the National Association of Counties, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. It strongly urges Congress to reject additional cuts during this time of economic stress. It further reminds congressional leaders that the farm bill voluntarily reduced spending to the tune of $23 billion over ten years in the last go-round.

“We have all begun preparing for the 2018 Farm Bill and recognize that passing a bill with additional funding reductions would be extremely difficult, if not impossible,” the letter said. “Therefore, as the Senate and House Agriculture Committees begin preparing for the 2018 Farm Bill, it is imperative that the committees not be hamstrung by further budget or appropriations cuts to any farm bill program.”

Farm Bill

Farm and Rural Ag Network Launches Podcast

Kelly Marshall

Podcasts are becoming more and more the thing, especially for agriculture when they’re targeted, downloadable and mobile. That’s what lead to the creation of The Farm and Rural Ag Network, a home for ag related podcasts featuring Shark Farmer Podcast, Ontario AgCast, Future of Agriculture Podcast, Farmer & The City Girl Podcast, and Grow Smart with BASF, with more expected in the coming months.

Rob Sharkey, Illinois grower and host of the Shark Farmer Podcast, says “Podcast are gaining in popularity because of how specific they can appeal to an audience’s interest. With farmers being such a small part of the population, it’s not surprising that farmers and ranchers are turning to ag podcasts. It gives them a chance to find sources of information and entertainment with an ag twist.”

To learn more about The Farm and Rural Ag Network, visit www.farmruralag.com, like the Facebook page and follow along on Twitter. You can also visit the Network at booth #2318 at the 2017 Commodity Classic Show from March 2nd through March 4th.

Media, Podcasts

Media Scrum Sighted at #RFANEC

Cindy Zimmerman

I have to admit to never having heard the word “scrum” – meaning an impromptu press conference – until yesterday. According to Wikipedia, the word comes from a rugby term where players from both teams cluster around the ball competing for possession. “Analogously, in a media scrum reporters cluster around a public figure competing for his or her attention.”

So reporters covering the National Ethanol Conference in San Diego were clustered around Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen competing for his attention after his annual State of the Ethanol Industry address.

The first questions centered on the discussion Dinneen had on stage at the NEC with petroleum industry representatives and how the industries can work together. “I’ve been trying to move the dialogue to a different plane where we’re talking about the future growth and certainty for both our industries,” he said.

The media also wanted to know more about Dinneen’s thoughts on the Trump administration and the new reality in Washington, as well as the future for exports in the ethanol industry.

Listen to the scrum here: RFA CEO Bob Dinneen press questions

National Ethanol Conference photo album

Audio, Ethanol, Media, RFA

Farm Faster with 3RIVE 3D

Cindy Zimmerman

FMC’s Rick Ekins and Micro-Trak’s Heath McCormick

It was two years ago at National Farm Machinery Show that FMC Corporation introduced us to the revolutionary 3RIVE 3D application technology. Last year it won a FINovation award. This year, the product is now available through Micro-Trak Systems dealers in seven Midwest locations, according to company representative Heath McCormick.

“Those dealers are available to sell and install (3RIVE 3D) systems,” said McCormick during an interview at the NFMS last week. “Typical lead time this time of the year is under a week and our dealers would be happy to install it and get the grower up and going as soon as possible.”

The 3RIVE 3D platform integrates formulation technology, application technology and active ingredient to cover more ground in less time with fewer refills according to FMC Insecticide/Fungicide Portfolio Manager Rick Ekins who says their Capture® 3RIVE 3D™ insecticide is exclusively formulated for use with the 3RIVE 3D delivery system. “You take that proven technology, you put it in the 3RIVE 3D formulation, you marry that up with the system, and now we’re able to deliver a whole lot of acres with not a lot of product,” said Ekins.

Listen to both McCormick and Ekins talk about 3RIVE 3D in this interview: Interview with Rick Ekins, FMC and Heath McCormick, Micro-Trak

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, FMC, Insecticides, NFMS

NFU Announces Speakers, Panelists for Convention

Kelly Marshall

The National Farmers Union will be celebrating 115 years at their annual convention in San Diego next month. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from industry professionals, policy makers and reporters during the four-day event. The speaker schedule is as follows:

Conservation Panel (March 6, 2017)
~ Jason Weller, former chief, U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (panel moderator)
~ David Gagner, director of government relations and external affairs, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
~ Laura Lengnick, founder, Cultivating Resilience
~ Ron Nichols, soil health and communications coordinator, U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation ServiceRead More

Ag Groups, Events

State of the Ethanol Industry from #RFANEC

Chuck Zimmerman

Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) President and CEO Bob Dinneen gave his annual State of the Industry address at the National Ethanol Conference today, addressing more than 1,000 attendees in San Diego.

Last year was “a record year for production, a record year for net exports, a record year for domestic demand, and a record year for E15 sales and infrastructure build-out. It was, in short, a pretty darn good year,” said Dinneen. “Thus, I can once again say with great confidence and respect for what you have been able to accomplish that the state of the U.S. ethanol industry is strong, poised for continued growth, steeled for the challenges we know will persist, but resolute in our commitment to consumers seeking relief and choice at the pump, farmers in need of value-added markets for their commodities, and Americans all across the country concerned about the air we breathe and the national security threat posed by our stubborn dependence on imported energy.”

Read Dinneen’s remarks as prepared for delivery

Listen to the full state of the industry speech or watch the video below:
2017 State of the Ethanol Industry Address

National Ethanol Conference photo album


Audio, Ethanol, National Ethanol Conference, RFA, Video