Topguard® EQ Fungicide at #ARA2016

Cindy Zimmerman December 6, 2016

FMC Corporation just launched its new Topguard® EQ fungicide premix last month so it was a hot topic at the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) convention last week.

Topguard® EQ fungicide with FMC’s patented flutriafol is rapidly taken up by the plant and distributed throughout the leaf to control the spread of disease.

“We’re launching it in the 2017 planting season for corn and soybeans but it’s going to have a fantastic label…so we’re really excited about what Topguard EQ is going to bring to the table,” says FMC Southern Regional Business Manager Matt Hancock.

“What we’ve done is put our Topguard fungicide together with azoxystrobin so we’ve got that recognized plant health care benefit, but we’ve also got the longest lasting, most systemic triazole on the market in that product,” Hancock explained. “So we’re really getting a one-two punch.”

Topguard EQ fungicide is the only premix of azoxystrobin and flutriafol, a triazole fungicide patented by FMC, and is registered on more than 20 crops including soybeans, corn, wheat, cotton, vegetables and nuts for the 2017 season. Learn more in this interview: Interview with Matt Hancock, FMC on Topguard EQ

2016 ARA Conference & Expo Photo Album

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ARA, Audio, FMC, Fungicide

Ag Economic Outlook at #ARA2016

Cindy Zimmerman December 6, 2016

If there is one word to describe the current economic outlook for agriculture it would probably be uncertain, according to Terry Barr, Senior Director for the Knowledge Exchange Division of CoBank.

“We’re entering into a fairly dynamic period of uncertain political and economic realities,” said Barr, who spoke to a standing room only crowd at last week’s Ag Retailers Association annual meeting in Orlando. “We’re in transition politically, we’re in transition economically, we’re finishing out this commodity super-cycle, so there’s a lot of things on everybody’s plates trying to plan for the future.”

Barr says the global dynamics of agriculture are coming more into play. “It’s a more difficult period than we’ve been through – ag’s enjoyed a pretty good run here – and now we’ve got some tough challenges and adjustments to make,” he said.

Get the major takeaways from Barr’s talk at ARA in this interview: Interview with Terry Barr, CoBank

2016 ARA Conference & Expo Photo Album

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ARA, Audio

Swine Health Monitoring Project Update

Jamie Johansen December 5, 2016

The 2016 North American PRRS Symposium took place over the weekend in Chicago, IL and researchers and swine vets from across the globe gathered to continue the control of the deadly swine disease. Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc. (BIVI) once again sponsored a session focused on prevention.

Bob Morrison, University of Minnesota, started off the morning by giving an update on the Swine Health Monitoring Project (SHMP).

The project started five years ago through a collaboration of veterinarians looking to share data about PRRS with hopes to improve prevention efforts. 29 participants and 1000 sow farms currently share their data to the project and receive a weekly report on the shared data.

“One of the key elements is to try and watch and determine and know when the PRRS virus is becoming more active in the field, and that seems to start every fall,” he said in an interview following the session. “That data has been so repeatable, and it has allowed us to review our biosecurity earlier in the fall to try and take steps to decrease a farms risk of infection.”

Learn more in Jamie’s full interview with Bob here:
Interview with Bob Morrison, University of Minnesota

View and download photos from the event here: 2016 BIVI PRRS Seminar Photo Album

Animal Health, Audio, Boehringer Ingelheim, Swine

Happy World #SoilDay!

Cindy Zimmerman December 5, 2016

In 2002, the International Union of Soil Sciences made a resolution proposing the 5th of December as World Soil Day to celebrate the importance of soil as a critical component of the natural system and as a vital contributor to human well being. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has made it an annual campaign which aims to connect people with soils and raise awareness on their critical importance.

The Soil Health Partnership (SHP), an initiative of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), is encouraging farmers to take some time today to consider ways they can improve soil health. “Soil health is the next frontier in agricultural sustainability,” said SHP director Nick Goeser. “Restoring organic matter through practices like growing cover crops will help soil sequester more carbon while making it more resistant to drought, and more resilient to flooding. These are important goals worldwide as the population grows.”

Not sure where to start? Take a few minutes to watch this fun and informative white board video, “Farmers to the Rescue: How Healthy Soil Can Save the Planet.”

Conservation, NCGA, Soil, Soil Health Partnership, Video

GROWMARK and FS Support Pollinator Literacy in Illinois

Cindy Zimmerman December 5, 2016

ILFB president Richard Guebert with GROWMARK’s Amy Bradford

Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom (IAITC) programs are buzzing with an increased emphasis on pollinators, thanks to GROWMARK and its FS member cooperatives.

At the Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) annual meeting this week, GROWMARK Corporate Relations and Foundation Manager Amy Bradford announced new collaborative efforts focused on activities and education related to the importance of pollinators.

“We place a high priority on teaching students the role agriculture plays in their lives,” said Bradford. “This year, we are excited to participate in activities that enhance students’ understanding of the importance of pollinators in agriculture and food production. While much of the focus is on honeybees, we want students to understand there are a number of pollinators, including butterflies and hummingbirds, which are all important to ensuring a reliable supply of food.”

GROWMARK recently renewed its IAITC commitment with a $73,000 contribution that supports the development of a new Pollinators Ag Mag and classroom poster. Materials and lessons also will feature native Illinois plants that serve as pollinator hosts, discuss what farmers do, and what students can do to help protect and encourage pollinator habitats.

GROWMARK launched a robust pollinator support program this year as part of its Endure sustainability platform. More than 40 4-H clubs in Illinois, Iowa and Missouri, and nearly 30 GROWMARK System employees grew pollinator habitats in 2016 and the program is expanding next year to include FFA chapters.

Learn more about GROWMARK’s pollinator support efforts in this interview with Amy: Interview with Amy Bradford, GROWMARK

Audio, Bees, FS System, GROWMARK, pollinators

Heading to #ASTACSS

Cindy Zimmerman December 5, 2016

We’ll be heading out today for the Windy City (which is also pretty cold this week) for America’s largest seed industry conference – the American Seed Trade Association 71st Corn & Sorghum Seed Research Conference 46th Soybean Seed Research Conference and Seed Expo. That’s a mouthful, so they just call it ASTA’s CSS 2016 & Seed Expo, or #ASTA-CSS.

The event brings together over 3,000 seed industry professionals for educational and networking opportunities and the program includes the most timely session topics for participants. There is an expanded Student Track program this year that offers opportunities for students and young professionals to collaborate with industry veterans on their future career paths. There’s also a new Columbus Hall Innovations Lounge and round table meeting area, as well as the Expo that features everything new in the seed industry.

Founded in 1883, ASTS is one of the oldest trade organizations in the country, consisting of over 700 companies involved in seed production and distribution, plant breeding, and related industries in North America. Learn more about ASTA in the video below.

ASTA, Seed, Video

Wisconsin GROWMARK Essay Winner Announced

Kelly Marshall December 5, 2016

GROWMARK has announced the Wisconsin state winner of their 2017 essay contest. FFA members competed on the theme “What value do cooperatives provide to today’s farmers?” Casey Groening’s submission earned him the top prize for responses like this:

“The value of cooperatives is immensely important to today’s farmers, and is more than what is seen at a business level. Farmers who join and utilize the services are the ones who receive the benefits. Advantages are given straight to the members, helping financially and economically. Members of a cooperative, while working together, can achieve new markets and opportunities previously inaccessible to them.”

Crooning will be awarded $500 from GROWMARK and his Bruce FFA chapter will receive $300 in his honor to assist future students. The four state runners-up have earned a $125 award as well. They are: Taylor Adleman, Medford FFA, Medford, Wisconsin; Allison Bragger, Independence FFA, Independence, Wisconsin; Kendra Gillett, Beaver Dam FFA, Fall River, Wisconsin; and Alexis Harper, River Ridge FFA, Glen Haven, Wisconsin.

This is the 24th year for the program, sponsored by the GROWMARK System and FS member cooperatives, in conjunction with state FFA leaders, to help young people develop their writing skills, learn about current issues in agriculture, and understand the unique role of cooperatives.

Ag Groups, FFA, GROWMARK

Political Insights from #ARA2016 Keynote

Kelly Marshall December 2, 2016

Stuart Rothenberg knows the word “nonpartisan” is suspect, but as the Founding Editor of The Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report, that’s what he strives to be. In his recent keynote address to the members of the Agricultural Retailers Association meeting this week in Orlando, Rothenberg talked about the recent Presidential election, and how it was big in more ways than one.

It was big because the outcome was stunning in many respects, Rothenberg said. It’s more than an upset in the polls, but because someone like Trump has never won a major election in this country, or indeed, in any country in the world. He lacked a plan, a political strategy, and basically convention of any sort, but the American people chosen him for those very reasons.

Of course, it was also big because the difference in votes between the 2008 election and this one were pretty tiny, considering the number of overall votes. But while they were small, they were significant. More than one key win was obtained by slight margins on both sides that Tuesday night, but the results were immense.

Here’s an excerpt from the start of his keynote address: ARA Keynote Address, Stuart Rothenberg

2016 ARA Conference & Expo Photo Album

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Ag Groups, Agribusiness, ARA, Audio, politics

GROWMARK Announces Missouri Essay Winner

Cindy Zimmerman December 2, 2016

GROWMARK has named Marrah Delmont of Halfway, Missouri as the state winner of the 2017 GROWMARK essay contest for FFA members with the theme “What value do cooperatives provide to today’s farmers?”

In her contest entry, Delmont said: “The benefits cooperatives provide go far beyond economics. As successful cooperatives grow, successful leaders, directors, managers, and other employees grow too. By putting members at the heart of the cooperative, farmers are taught the values of selflessness, teamwork, diligent labor, leadership, and a passion for agriculture that continues to grow with time. Cooperatives have been around for hundreds of years, and will continue to grow and benefit others. Cooperatives build a better world.”

As the contest winner, Delmont will receive a $500 award from GROWMARK and the Halfway FFA chapter will receive a $300 award in honor of her accomplishment. In addition, four state runners-up will each receive a $125 award. The runners-up and their FFA chapters are – Daniel Dothage, Wellsville-Middletown FFA; Taylor Dye, Paris FFA; Regan Meyer, Jefferson FFA, Stanberry; and Logan Westmoreland, Columbia FFA, Rocheport.

FFA, GROWMARK

Two Years of Progress for ResponsibleAg

Kelly Marshall December 2, 2016

ResponsibleAg began their safety compliance mission two years ago, and already the program has signed up 2,284 locations, Bill Qualls reported at the Agricultural Retailers Association Conference & Expo.

The numbers reflect the importance of safety to members of the industry, Qualls asserts, and it is his job to make sure they’re well informed. “My goal is to help each of these retail sites, suppliers, distributors, anyone who wants to participate in ResponsibleAg understand the compliance objectives, the issues that regulators are interested in, to identify those and fix those thing to be much safer than they were before.”

Already the program has completed 1,100 audits. While these inspections have noted more than 45,000 non compliance issues, more than 99 percent of the problems were related to documentation, training or other issues not directly affecting the health or safety of workers. In addition to that good news, 25,000 of the problems have already been fixed.

The organization is also working with an insurance company to hopefully provide discounts to companies with the ResponsibleAg certification.

Learn more about the program by listening to Qualls address here: Bill Qualls, ResponsibleAg

2016 ARA Conference & Expo Photo Album

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Ag Groups, ARA, Audio, Safety

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