FMC Excited About Product Pipeline

Cindy Zimmerman

FMC Agricultural Solutions is expanding its portfolio, and herbicide product manager Chris Reat says it’s an exciting time to be with the company.

“FMC was always recognized as a very strong insecticide company, we’ve morphed into a strong soybean pre company, and now we’re looking to build that portfolio out even further,” said Reat during an interview at the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville. “We’re getting to a point where we can have a positive conversation with growers about an FMC solution for their corn or soybean acres.”

Reat says recent acquisitions, such as the Cheminova purchase in 2015, have helped build up FMC’s portfolio but being stable now during a time of industry mergers and acquisitions may provide them with new opportunities. “We want to make sure that farmers don’t lose the tools they have,” he said.

Learn more in this interview. Interview with Chris Reat, 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, FMC, National Farm Machinery Show, NFMS

BigIron Auction at #NFMS17 Benefits Blue & Gold

Cindy Zimmerman

ZimmCast 536This edition of the ZimmCast comes to you from the 2017 National Farm Machinery Show where BigIron Auctions has been sharing its story and innovative auction platform with show attendees while also supporting the future of agriculture.

BigIron hosted a Blue and Gold Benefit Auction for the Kentucky FFA Foundation during the Exhibitor Reception Wednesday, celebrated seasons with show attendees, and talked about their website and mobile application that make on-line bidding a breeze.

Mark Stock founded the business with his brother Ron in 1984 as an onsite auction company. Today the company conducts both weekly online and scheduled onsite auctions, and has reinvented the way used equipment is sold.

Mark sat down with Chuck for this ZimmCast to tell us more about this unique auction company. Listen here: ZimmCast with Mark Stock, BigIron Auctions

Subscribe to the ZimmCast podcast here.

The ZimmCast

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The ZimmCast podcast is sponsored by GROWMARK
Locally owned, globally strong.
Audio, Equipment, National Farm Machinery Show, NFMS, ZimmCast

FMC Urges Growers to Comment on Pyrethroids

Cindy Zimmerman

Farmers at the National Farm Machinery Show are being encouraged to submit comments to the Environmental Protection Agency to protect widely used class of insecticide being targeted under a routine regulatory review.

Pyrethroids are used to control insects in 120 different crops, as well as turf, lawns and gardens. But an EPA assessment released at the end of last year found that use of the chemical was a risk for aquatic insects, a claim the industry says is based on models instead of actual use data.

“FMC is a member of the Pyrethroid Working Group industry consortium which has developed a lot of additional data that we consider more real world…and EPA has chosen not to use that at this stage in the risk assessment process,” says FMC Registration and Regulatory Affairs Manager John Cummings. FMC’s Capture LFR and Brigade are two products that would be impacted under the review.

The comment period on the review opened at the end of November and originally closed at the end of January but has been extended now until the end of March. “Obviously the industry will be submitting very technical comments,” said Cummings. “But it’s important that EPA hears from the growers how these products are actually used…EPA is required to consider not only the risks but also the benefits to society.”

FMC has an easy way for growers to comment without having to navigate the government websites – just click here.

Learn more in this interview: Interview with John Cummings, 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, FMC, Insecticides, National Farm Machinery Show, NFMS

#NFMS17 Highlights Story of Rural Infrastructure

Kelly Marshall

People don’t know the story of agriculture, Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarels stated at the kickoff panel of the National Farm Machinery Show. The event, sponsored by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), highlighted the importance of rural infrastructure and the challenges faced due to a lack of understanding by consumers.

Recently Kentucky passed a bill to make transporting equipment easier; old laws required the removal of duel wheels to drive on roads. During debate on the matter one committee member had to ask what duel wheels are, which is funny, Quarels says, but shows us that we have to do a better job.

“We have to do a better job, as agricultural leaders. We have to do a better job explaining what our industry is about, who we are and why we continue to be the backbone of America, because if you look at where American agriculture was 50 years ago to where we are today, we have doubled the amount of food we produce. We’re doing it with 22 million less workers and we’re only using 75 percent of the land we used to use in the United States to farm. So we’re doing a very good job.”

In fact, it’s that story of efficiency that is the cause of the disconnect, but our new administration and his cabinet need to understand that the concerns of agriculture rank right up there with the concerns of the EPA or anything else in the nation. And sure, trade looks different now than it did a few months ago, but agriculture can benefit from new agreements and we need to be ready to transport our product, Quarels emphasizes.

You can listen to his full address here: Ryan Quarels, Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture

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
AEM, National Farm Machinery Show, transportation

“Seeding Innovation” Website Unveiled by ASTA

Kelly Marshall

The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) has announced a new, educational website, seedinginnovation.org. The organization hopes to provide answers to consumer questions like: What is plant breeding innovation? What do plant breeders do? And what could the latest breeding techniques like gene editing mean for the future of agriculture and our society?

The new site offers informational videos, blog posts, plant breeder profiles, FAQs and other resources about the ever-changing field of plant breeding. You can also follow ASTA @Better_Seed on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Ag Groups, ASTA

Camso Intros CTS High Speed at #NFMS17

Cindy Zimmerman

Quebec-based Camso is back at the National Farm Machinery Show this year with some new track products for the North American agriculture equipment market.

One of those products is a Conversion Track System (CTS) with suspended frame and integrated final drive system for combines. Track Systems Business Line Executive Director Martin Lunkenbein says Camso’s new CTS High Speed allows tracked harvesting machines to reach road speeds similar to wheeled combines with its integrated final drive system. “Less ground compaction, more flotation, and full speed – so when you’re going from field to field you’re getting there when you want to,” he says.

The new CTS features a frame suspension system and double oscillating wheels that improve ground contact on uneven surfaces, improve machine stability and header placement for more efficient harvesting and provide better overall operator comfort – all with a 12 percent larger footprint to further reduce ground compaction and field damage.

Learn more in this interview: Interview with Martin Lunkenbein, Camso

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, National Farm Machinery Show, NFMS, Uncategorized

AEM to Collaborate with NFMS

Cindy Zimmerman

Kentucky State Fair Board CEO Jason Rittenberry and AEM President Dennis Slater sign agreement

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers joined with the Kentucky State Fair Board today to announce a collaborative agreement on management of the National Farm Machinery Show.

Kentucky State Fair Board CEO Jason Rittenberry and AEM President Dennis Slater signed an agreement at the opening of the 52nd annual show in Louisville that AEM will assist with management and co-production of the show beginning in 2018, and will have an equity position in the future growth of the show.

“Every year, hundreds of exhibitors are wait-listed for America’s largest indoor farm show,” said Kentucky State Fair Board President and CEO Jason Rittenberry. “This partnership will bring new opportunities for current and future exhibitors, and expand the experience for our attendees.”

“This is a first step in a partnership that will benefit all the stakeholders in the National Farm Machinery Show and the Ag industry,” said Dennis Slater, president of AEM. “AEM’s commitment to its core services like public policy and our success in leading tradeshows, naturally lends itself to our new partnership with the Kentucky Fair Board and the National Farm Machinery Show.”

Hear more from Kentucky State Fair Board CEO Jason Rittenberry and AEM President Dennis Slater:
AEM/NFMS press announcement Additional comments from Rittenberry and Slater

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
AEM, Audio, Equipment, National Farm Machinery Show, NFMS

GROWMARK FS Offers Pollinator Gardens to 4-H

Kelly Marshall

GROWMARK is providing an opportunity for 4-H clubs to be a part of sustaining and increasing the honey bee population. 4-H clubs in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin with a public space and secure permission are eligible for enough seeds to plant a 700 square foot pollinator garden and educational signage.

“Last year, we had nearly 40 clubs participating in the program,” said Karen Jones, GROWMARK Youth and Cooperative Education Specialist. “Growing the number of pollinator gardens this year will help provide even more habitat for bees and other beneficial pollinator species.”

Applications are due online by March 31, 2017.

GROWMARK, pollinators

Make Plans for 2017 Water for Food Conference

Cindy Zimmerman

Mark your calendars for the 2017 Water for Food Global Conference April 10-12 at Nebraska Innovation Campus in Lincoln, Nebraska.

The theme of the conference this year is “Water for Food Security: From Local Lessons to Global Impacts” and is based on the premise that global breakthroughs come from local action. It will feature plenary and parallel sessions to explore the research, technology and educational approaches that are advancing food and water security for our world.

Among this year’s speakers are A.G. Kawamura, former California Secretary of Agriculture and third generation fruit and vegetable grower; and Marlos De Souza, Secretary, Water Platform Land & Water Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

Find out more here.

Events, Water

Preview of #NFMS17

Chuck Zimmerman

Greetings from Louisville and the 2017 National Farm Machinery Show!

I arrived early yesterday and one of the first people I ran into was Steve Kelly, Executive Director of Expositions, so we sat down for a preview chat for this year’s event.

Steve says they have filled 1.2 million square feet of space under roof and there’s enough demand to sell almost that much more! They have made a few significant changes in the show which allows for more first level room for farm equipment so there is now a Gift & Craft Market on the Mezzanine Level with more than 70 booths for shopping.

This is the 52nd NFMS and it’s also the 49th annual Championship Tractor Pull. Steve says there have been some additions to the tractor pull which include pay per view live streaming from the show this year. Steve says that there will be some big equipment announcements as usual and that this year the show even has “drones.” Keep up with me as I will be your eyes and ears at the show thanks to our sponsor FMC.

Learn more in this interview: Interview with Steve Kelly, Kentucky State Fair Board

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, National Farm Machinery Show, Tractor