Review of #ASTACSS from President LaVigne

Kelly Marshall December 12, 2016

President and CEO of ASTA, Andy LaVigne, breathed a big sigh of relief at the success of this year’s conference. After planning and scheduling the largest seed conference of it’s kind in the world, all you can do is hope people show up– and show up they did. “We had to bring in tables and chairs,” LaVigne told Cindy Zimmerman.

The conference boasted the sessions and events that have made it so popular while adding new aspects. The addition of a living room setting in Columbus Hall turned out nicely, with screens to watch events, spaces for collaborating, and a chance to catch up over great food.

A new video campaign was also launched at this year’s event, featuring seed breeder and mother, Jessie Alt, showing her life as a mom and backyard gardener to help the general public relate to the job of plant breeder. Plant breeding is foreign to most people, LaVigne says, but they do such an amazing job of improving seed characteristics every year.

For those less in the know than plant breeders, the conference also held the opportunity to learn about the newest gene editing technique. Technology and innovation have made it possible to maximize characteristics already in plants to make them stronger or more resistant to problems in a much faster way, making sure farmers and, ultimately, consumers, have the nutritious, sustainable food they want.

Cindy’s interview covered politics for 2017, Trump’s EPA pick, and trade, in addition to some exciting tidbits about the upcoming Flower and Vegetable Seed Conference. Listen here to learn more about it: Interview with Andy LaVigne, ASTA

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BASF’s Future #Seed Giant at #ASTACSS

Cindy Zimmerman December 12, 2016

Justin Clark is a Technical Marketing Manager for BASF Ag Products who was named Future Giant of the Seed Industry by Seed World this year. At the ASTA CSS and Seed Expo, we talked with Clark about BASF’s recent agreement with FMC for in-furrow seed protection.

“We think it’s a unique technology that addresses a grower need,” said Clark. “As growers start to plant earlier they really need that extra layer of protection to combat those early season seedling diseases that are out there.”

Clark started working with BASF four years ago with the company’s acquisition of Becker Underwood, which moved BASF strongly into the seed treatment industry with products such as the Flo Rite Plantability Seed Coating that he talked about at the 2014 ASTA CSS event. “There’s a lot of concern out there about keeping active ingredients on the seed and our Flo-Rit Plantability polymer technology really addresses that,” he said, noting that it also helps a grower realize optimum seed spacing.

Learn more about BASF seed solutions in this interview: Interview with Justin Clark, BASF

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Chromatin Talks #Sorghum at #ASTACSS

Cindy Zimmerman December 12, 2016

One of the S’s in ASTA CSS stands for sorghum and one of the sponsors for the American Seed Trade Association 71st Corn & Sorghum Seed Research Conference 46th Soybean Seed Research Conference and Seed Expo is a company that’s all about sorghum.

“Chromatin is a sorghum-focused company – we only work in sorghum,” said Charles Miller, Chromatin vice president of international sales and business development. “We are vertically integrated from seed research through sales and distribution.”

Chromatin’s corporate headquarters are located in Chicago, where the ASTA CSS is held every December, and the company is currently selling in 43 different countries around the world with lots of upside potential. “We’re seeing a need for crops that can adapt to harsher climates and sorghum is one of the best adapting crops in the world,” said Miller, which makes it an important crop in areas of the world such as Africa as the population grows to demand more meat and more starch.

For the more developed countries, Miller says sorghum is also great for gluten-free diets. “It’s been added to gluten-free beers, it’s been added to gluten-free cereals, so as that trend develops … we’re going to see sorghum grow there,” Miller said. Chromatin recently signed an exclusive license agreement for unique sorghum genetic stocks developed by Agrigenetics Inc., an affiliate of Dow AgroSciences.

In this interview, Miller also talks about why Chromatin is such as strong supporter of ASTA: Interview with Charles Miller, Chromatin

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AgCompass Helps You Navigate Your Software

Cindy Zimmerman December 12, 2016

The technology has been around for years now but there is still some confusion when it comes to cloud computing or hosted software solutions and who can benefit from it most.

Ken Wedig, who was retired from John Deere after 30 years, partnered with Everett Chambers in 2003 to create AgCompass, one of the pioneers in the technology which supports businesses by hosting their software on a remote server so they can access their data from multiple locations.

“A farmer may have a farm in Wisconsin, another one in Illinois, another one in Iowa, with people distributed throughout, and once they are on the server they can all access the same set of data and keep it updated and simultaneously maintained,” explains Wedig, who holds a degree in Mathematics from the University of Wisconsin and lives in Iowa. Basically, AgCompass can help if you have to share data, but require secure access to your windows-based software and value data independence.

AgCompass can host nearly any windows-based software and specializes in hosting accounting software such as FBS Systems, Red Wing and Quickbooks, as well as mill software from Vertical, trucking software such as ProMiles and more. “If its a multi-user product, doing that on a local desktop is very difficult, but when we put it on our server, if you’ve got 15 users all 15 can log in and use it,” Wedig said. Click here to learn more about how it works.

As self-described “technophiles with deep roots in agriculture,” Wedig says the AgCompass team is dedicated to personal service. “We’re a small company but what we do well is the support of applications and access to data from anywhere.” He encourages any company, ag or otherwise, to contact AgCompass for a free 30-day demo.

Learn more in this interview: Interview with Ken Wedig, AgCompass

Click here for more information and to get the free guide – 5 Easy Steps to Electronic File Organization

Agribusiness, Audio, data, software

The Shark Farmer Podcasts From #AgChat

Chuck Zimmerman December 9, 2016

Shark farming in Illinois. I didn’t find much about that on Google. Google knows everything of course.

But I did meet the Shark Farmer, Rob Sharkey, this week at the 2016 Cultivate & Connect Conference in KC, MO. Rob actually produces a regular podcast on Tuesday’s called Sharkfarmer Podcast. It’s not only a play on his name but he started it during Shark Week. I love the name.

The Shark Farmer grows row crops and has done so for decades now. I found/met him on social media got to meet him IRL at the AgChat Foundation event. My presentation was on podcasting at the same time he was doing a breakout so I thought our chance to talk and learn from each other would make a great ZimmCast.

I’m still on the way home to ZimmComm World Headquarters but really wanted you to have a chance to hear this talented and creative young man who is passionate about farming and using this tool to help agvocate on behalf of his industry.

Learn more about the Shark Farmer in this week’s program here: ZimmCast with Rob Sharkey, Shark Farmer

Subscribe to the Sharkfarmer Podcast here. Follow him on Twitter here.

Subscribe to the ZimmCast podcast here.

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Audio, Farming, Podcasts

ASTA Chair Optimistic for 2017 at #ASTACSS

Cindy Zimmerman December 9, 2016

AgReliant Genetics president and CEO Mark Herrmann took over as chairman of the American Seed Trade Association this past summer at the annual meeting and we had the chance to sit down and talk about priorities for the organization in 2017 during the ASTA CSS & Seed Expo this week.

“Unnecessary regulation in the seed business can either completely stall development in seed or make it extremely costly,” said Herrmann. “So we do need a well-understood, consistent, reliable regulatory process.” And there are hopes that the incoming Trump administration will have a more science-based approach to regulation.

Herrmann also commented on consolidation in the seed industry with so many of the major players involved in mergers and acquisitions this year. “You could get concerned because it sounds like bigger may be a problem,” he said. “But if (consolidation) can bring products to market that it otherwise couldn’t, if it can increase efficiency for sustainability, it’s a positive thing.”

Listen to our interview with Mark here: Interview with Mark Herrmann, ASTA Chairman

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Beck’s & Benson Hill Partner for Corn Genetics

Kelly Marshall December 9, 2016

Benson Hill CEO Matt Crisp (left) in a round table meeting at ASTA CSS

Beck’s Hybrids is one of the largest retail seed companies in North America, and now thanks to a partnership with agriculture technology company Benson Hill Biosystems, they’ll be able to accelerate their corn breeding program in the future. Using Benson Hill’s CropOS cognitive platform, Beck’s will gain yet another tool to enhance the ability to offer farmers improved traits. The new system will bring improvement to emergence, stand ability, plant health, maturity and yield.

Benson Hill’s platform combines biological knowledge and genomic data with high-throughput computing—an intersection of disciplines known as cloud biology—to predict biological outcomes and provide critical decision support in advancing breeding programs. CropOS levels the playing field for organizations that desire to use whole-genome information and machine learning to accelerate genetic gains. Researchers can speed up generations of experimentation and pinpoint desired traits for improved plant performance. CropOS’s machine learning intelligently evolves with every experiment or data set, allowing companies to develop higher performing genetics and create more choice in the marketplace.

“To meet global challenges in agriculture and provide farmers with additional choices, we need more innovation in crop genomics. In the face of additional consolidation, we need to empower a broader agriculture community of innovators,” said Matthew Crisp, CEO and co-founder of Benson Hill. “Beck’s mission to provide farmers with the choices they need to succeed aligns with Benson Hill’s drive to build an innovative and sustainable future for farmers, communities and our planet.”

We talked with Crisp at the ASTA CSS this week to learn more about Benson Hill, CropOS, and the significance of this new partnership. Listen to our conversation here: Interview with Matt Crisp, Benson Hill Biosystems

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Agribusiness, ASTA, Audio, Biotech

BASF Proud to Support FFA at #ASTACSS

Cindy Zimmerman December 9, 2016

BASF Ag Products has been a proud sponsor of the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) for many years now, particularly the annual CSS and Seed Expo.

This year at BASF used its presence at the event to raise money for the FFA, a cause which corn and bean communications specialist Colby Mower is very passionate about. “We’re committed to the future of the industry,” said Mower. “We’re big supporters, both as a company and me personally, so we felt like it was a good chance to give back.” The FFA “Wheel of Fortune” ended up raising over $5800, which will be donated to the FFA chapters chosen by the ASTA CSS participants who spun the wheel.

Mower says they are also proud to support the media at ASTA CSS by sponsoring a comfortable space for us to work, something they do at many industry events. “We have also felt that the ag media provide a great service to the industry,” he said. “So we’ve always been a big supporter to make sure our media partners have the best accommodations to do their jobs.”

Listen to my interview with Colby here: Interview with Colby Mower, BASF

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New Products for the New Year at John Deere

Kelly Marshall December 9, 2016

John Deere is announcing several new solutions for 2017.

For producers looking for additional in-cab display, the Gen 4 Extended Monitor has the ability to monitor multiple machines, implements and precision ag functions and allows for easy movement of pages and display functions from one monitor to another. It’s easy to install, easily customizable and offers more information during key times. The monitor also eliminates the possibility of conflicting data from two different systems and requires minimal setup. No additional software and lower costs make the Gen 4 Extended Monitor an attractive option for growers.

John Deere is also introducing the new Rate Controller 2000 to integrate with many implements– John Deere and others. The high-resolution product control can be used with pull-type sprayers, liquid and dry fertilizer systems, anhydrous applicators and some planters. Like the monitor it can be utilized with numerous equipment platforms and costs less than multiple controllers. It aids in field documentation, map-based prescription applications, and overlap control with the John Deere Section Control on up to five different products.

Other new products making their debut are the new tillage tools, the John Deere 2230 Level-lift and 2230 Floating Hitch Field Cultivator. Both models showcase “below the ground up” designs for faster, smarter tillage that offers effective handling, even in tough conditions and at speeds of up to 10 mph. The redesigned frame comes with stubble-resistant radial tires, requires no maintenance points, and provides true six-inch split-the-middle shank spacing with TruPosition Standards.

For level or gently rolling ground, the John Deere 2230 Level-lift Field Cultivator comes with three-section or five-section configurations in 15 different sizes ranging from 23.5 feet to 60.5 feet in width. For level or hilly terrain, customers can select the 2230 Floating Hitch Field Cultivator, available in 14 different widths from 25.5 feet to 69.5 feet, that can cover up to 217 more acres in a 10-hour day than previous models.

Both the Level-lift and Floating Hitch Field Cultivators feature the ProFinish™ Leveling System with six rear harrow options that enable producers to achieve their desired level of field finish. Hydraulically adjustable flat-bar or round-bar rolling baskets are also available, allowing the operator to easily raise, lower or float the baskets as field conditions change.

Agribusiness, Equipment, John Deere

Trump EPA Pick Pleases AFBF

Kelly Marshall December 9, 2016

President-elect Trump has selected Scott Pruitt to head the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President, Zippy Duvall, responded positively to the announcement that the Oklahoma Attorney General who challenged the California caged hen law, investigated the Humane Society of the United States, and sued the EPA on more than one occasion, will now be in a position to help America’s farmers and ranchers.

“President-elect Trump’s selection of Scott Pruitt to lead the Environmental Protection Agency is welcome news to America’s farmers and ranchers—in fact, to all who are threatened by EPA’s regulatory overreach—and should help provide a new degree of fairness for U.S. agriculture,” Duvall commented.

Noting farmers’ appreciation for Pruitt’s effective legal work in response to EPA’s overreaching Waters of the U.S. rule, Duvall said AFBF anticipates that as EPA administrator, Pruitt will pay attention to the concerns of farmers and ranchers and others who work with the nation’s natural resources on a daily basis.

AFBF, EPA

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