New Deadline for GROWMARK Essay Contest

Cindy Zimmerman September 19, 2016

2017 is the 24th year for the essay contest sponsored by GROWMARK and participating FS member cooperatives. The contest is for active high-school FFA members in Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Missouri.

“Essays will be due now at the end of October, instead of in the spring like we’ve done in the past,” said Karen Jones, GROWMARK Youth and Cooperative Education Specialist. She explained that they had received feedback from teachers that fall was a better time for the students to participate. Another change this year is that the submission process is entirely online, which should simplify the process.

What has not changed is the goal of the essay contest. “It was designed to encourage young people to practice their writing skills while learning more about a current issue in agriculture,” said Karen Jones, GROWMARK Youth and Cooperative Education Specialist. “This year’s topic happens to be ‘What value do cooperatives provide for today’s farmers.'”

The contest offers four state winner awards of $500 each, four runners-up per state with a $125 award each, and FFA chapter of the state winner with a $300 award.

Learn more about the GROWMARK essay contest here: Interview with Karen Jones, GROWMARK

Audio, Cooperatives, Education, GROWMARK

It’s #NAMAFall16 Week

Chuck Zimmerman September 19, 2016

It’s time for the 2016 National Agri-Marketing Association Fall Conference. Yours truly is headed that way today. Want to know who is going to be there? Check here.

This year our keynote sessions will contribute to your career success. From wanting to achieving, learn simple steps to accomplish your goals and accelerate your success. Change is inevitable; discover how to navigate it more effectively for bigger success. Hear leadership and marketing lessons from big companies that can be adapted to any organization and budget. Catch our keynote speakers and take part in these next level management prep conversations.

The breakouts will be refreshing as well. Learn to improvise your dialogue for a more authentic message. Hear the very latest on social media. Check out an all-female panel and see how women are advancing ag. Discover the science behind collecting data and what the future will bring. Enjoy two sessions focused on digital. And much more!

You can find the schedule here. Looking forward to seeing friends in the industry of agribusiness marketing.

NAMA

#FutureFarming Dialog With @Bayer Execs

Cindy Zimmerman September 19, 2016

Bayer CropScience Executive Committee Members Marc Reichardt, Dr. Adrian Percy, Liam Condon, and Bernd Naaf

The Bayer Future of Farming Dialog held in Germany the week before the Monsanto deal was announced was all about dialogue – or dialog – however you want to spell it.

Bayer CropScience division president Liam Condon was joined by three of his Executive Committee members – Marc Reichardt, Dr. Adrian Percy, and Bernd Naaf – and opened up to questions from journalists and bloggers from around the world. Translators were available so that questions could “be asked in English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, Chinese and Japanese – although English is preferred,” said event organizer and moderator Beth Roden.

Also joining the dialog was Tobias Menne, head of Digital Farming at the Crop Science Division, who talked about the company’s emerging efforts in that field.

Listen to the dialog here: Future of Farming dialog with Bayer execs

Bayer Future of Farming Dialog 2016 Photo Album

Audio, Bayer

Cuba – Oh the Possibilities

Jamie Johansen September 16, 2016

Throughout my life I have viewed Cuba as a piece of history, a far off distant land. Today, the country is being discussed in every agricultural circle I come across. The possibilities of future trade with our neighbor creates great opportunities for American farmers and ranchers.

The House Agriculture Committee held a hearing earlier this week exploring the benefits of American agricultural trade with Cuba. American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) has long supported opening trade with this market and said American agriculture is poised for substantial growth in the Cuban market but financing restrictions are placing U.S. farmers and ranchers at a disadvantage.

“Real opportunities exist for increased sales of U.S. agricultural products to Cuba as growing demand is driven by 11 million Cubans and by increasing tourism,” AFBF wrote. Yet, the U.S. has fallen from being the number one supplier of agricultural products to number five due to restrictions imposed on financing those sales.

“U.S. agriculture is at a global disadvantage as we watch foreign competitors continue to take away our market share,” AFBF said. “There is no better time than now to provide American farmers and agribusinesses the tools they need to expand agricultural exports to Cuba and help our industry survive this difficult economic environment.”

In just a few days I will embark on a journey to visit this nearby market and witness it’s potential first hand. The American Agricultural Editors’ Association (AAEA) is hosting an ag media delegation and I am honored to be part of those who will be able to bring back a bit of Cuban agriculture to you. A special thank you goes to Alltech for helping make this trip possible for me. I will have little internet while abroad, but will hopefully be able to share a few photos along the way. Follow me on Twitter and Instagram – @JamieDJohansen. But once home, you can find audio and photos here.

ACN, Ag Groups, Alltech, Exports, Trade

The Global Value of US Soy

Lizzy Schultz September 16, 2016

Our 300 international attendees were present for the 2016 U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange held earlier this month in Indianapolis, offering soy growers from across the country the opportunity to engage with an international audience about the value of U.S. Soy.

One attendee who utilized the opportunity to communicate with the international audience was Kevin Scott, a diversified corn and soybean grower who works alongside his brother, nephew, and son on their operation in South Dakota. Scott also holds several different leadership roles within the soybean industry, serving as an American Soybean Association (ASA) Director and a U.S. Soybean Exchange Council (USSEC) Board Member.

“ASA and the USSEC Board are just furthering my education into what the U.S. soybean industry needs as far as talent and the work force are concerned,” said Scott in an interview during the 2016 U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange. “It’s amazing the things that you learn as you move up in these organizations. I’ve been here quite a while and I’m still not done learning, there is always more to learn.”

Talking with foreign buyers was the main focus for Scott during the event, with his take-home message focused on the universal value that U.S. soybeans can offer.

“It’s the most economical and sustainable product we can use to feed livestock, to feed people, and to feed the world. It’s a wonderful source of protein for the whole world, and our foreign buyers know that,” he said. “It’s really important for us as U.S. producers to show the world how we produce soybeans and highlight our sustainability practices, our multi-generational operations, and all the things that we do to produce the best, safest, and most abundant product we can.”

Listen to Jamie’s full interview with Kevin here:
Interview with Kevin Scott, SD Soybean Grower

View and download photos from the event here: 2016 U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange Photo Album

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Audio, International, Soybean, Trade, USSEC

CNH Reman’s Commitment to Different & Better Parts

Jamie Johansen September 16, 2016

CNH Reman in Springfield, MO is one of only two CNH Industrial remanufacturing facilities globally. That means parts from around the world come to Southwest Missouri to be taken apart and built back better. The task of making sure all those components are met and operations run smoothly goes to Dave Reader, operations manager for CNH Reman.

Dave said they remanufacture about 3,000 different parts numbers including engines, fuel, transmissions, hydraulics, electronics and turbos. Basically everything that makes since they remanufacture.

“Within Reman, everything comes back down to the component level. We disassemble everything and it’s cleaned thoroughly. Cleaning technologies vary for the products. Then it is measured back to the original criteria and accepted or rejected based on that information, repaired where possible, reassembled and finally tested back to OEM specifications.”

A focus on quality was highlighted throughout my tour of the facilities. And quality starts with well trained employees. Dave said they are looking for two things when hiring skilled laborers and those are work ethic and aptitude. “When they come in we have foundational training which includes key aspects of the business. Then they build upon that within each individual product line. Everything is done through work instructions. Often they start in the disassembly area allowing them to become familiar with the products in a general sense.”

In my complete interview with Dave you can learn how each part is looked at from an investment standpoint to determine the amount of money put into the right parts of each product and a bit about how he sees the future of remanufacturing. Interview with Dave Reader, CNH Reman

View and download photos from the event here: CNH Reman Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Case IH, Equipment, Farm Machinery, New Holland

I AM @USFRA – Janna Stubbs of Texas

Cindy Zimmerman September 16, 2016

Janna Stubbs from Alpine, Texas is a cow-calf operator who serves on the Cattlemens’ Beef Board executive committee and is all about telling agriculture’s story to the general public.

“I married into this 14 years ago and I really enjoy being a part of agriculture and the cattle industry,” Janna says. “I feel like I’m always my husband’s voice because he’s always out working.”

As an active volunteer for the beef industry, Janna was involved with the American National CattleWomen as chair of consumer education and promotion in 2011-2012 when the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) was just getting started. “I was asked to be part of the leadership retreat in Chicago for USFRA through American National CattleWomen,” she said. “I have seen from that time a huge growth – it’s been magnificent.”

Janna’s favorite USFRA program is the Faces of Farming and Ranching. “Programs like this put us out there so we can answer the questions (that consumers have),” said Janna. “If we don’t tell our story, someone else is going to and it’s not going to be right.”

Learn more about why Janna supports USFRA in this interview: Interview with Janna Stubbs of Texas

Audio, Beef, USFRA

Wow What a Concept from New Holland – NHDrive

Chuck Zimmerman September 16, 2016

It’s two tractors in one which gives you maximum flexibility. It’s the NHDrive concept tractor from New Holland. Just announced at the Farm Progress Show this machine has the capability to be driven with the attached cab just like a normal tractor. But can also run driverless and be controlled by a portable device or computer.

I spoke with Bret Lieberman, Vice President, North America, New Holland, to get his thoughts on what this means for customers. It’s all about new technology that will help customers. “How can we make them be more productive and do a better job in the work that they do everyday and are committed to in their lifestyle,” says Lieberman.

The NHDrive concept tractor is equipped with a seeder, and is able to autonomously seed the next crop straight behind the combine. Using an application installed on a portable device, perfect for supervised automation, such as an operator driving a combine, or on a desktop computer, perfect for the farmer working in his farm office, the tractor and implement parameters can be continually monitored and controlled, and changes can be made if necessary.

Able to work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the NHDrive tractor helps to reduce the risks associated with human error as it follows predetermined and optimised plans for all activities. It is able to reach higher levels of productivity and efficiency than traditional methods. The NHDrive can make full use of the periods of favourable weather for farming operations by working day and night.

In the future, the NHDrive tractor will be able to completely automate grain handling during the harvest when equipped with a trailer, including unloading, transport and offloading activities.

Listen to my interview with Bret here: Interview with Bret Lieberman, New Holland

New Holland at 2016 Farm Progress Show Photos

Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by

Agribusiness, Audio, Farm Progress Show, New Holland, Technology, Tractor, Video

New Propane Tractor Prototype from New Holland

Joanna Schroeder September 16, 2016

For ten years, New Holland’s brand position has been as a Clean Energy Leader and the company didn’t disappoint at this year’s Farm Progress Show with the launch of the third-generation Alternative Fuels Tractor prototype that is powered by propane autogas. I got all the details about the cutting-edge tractor from New Holland’s Mike Cornman who said the concept tractor can also be adapted to run on bio-propane, bio-methane or methane itself. Cornman said they decided on propane as the preferred alternative fuel, in part, because of some of its advantages.

One key factor when you compare a tractor burning propane versus a tractor burning diesel, says Cornman, includes a 20 to 40 percent savings on fuel costs per year. “It’s also producing up to 80 percent less pollutants up in the atmosphere with propane versus diesel. So it really fits well with us being the clean energy leader standpoint while being able to provide a benefit to the operators utilizing propane rather than diesel.”

New Holland’s baseline tractors are the T-6 series tractors and when they compare diesel versus propane, they found very similar performance in terms of horsepower and engine torque. The company has provided several customer clinics where they have conducted various exercises that included pooling, front end loader use, among others, and found that the propane powered tractor performed just as well as compared to a tractor fueled by diesel. “So there’s no real sacrifices that an operator would be giving up in purchasing a propane tractor over diesel,” Cornman adds.

I asked Cornman how a grower would fill the Alternative Fuels Tractor knowing that many growers have propane tanks on their farms for use in other capacities. He explained that one challenge of the propane concept tractor is that it takes more space for the propane autogas, i.e. the tractor needs a larger fuel tank. So New Holland designed a fitted tank to carry the propane. In addition, Cornman says the fill technology has evolved to a quick-fill type nozzle making it easy for the operator to re-fill the tank with propane.

Cornman said that moving forward New Holland will hold several more customer clinics to get additional feedback and they will also assess market opportunities. He also says that growers interested in the propane autogas powered tractor can call their local dealer for more information. And while there is no set date on commercialization, Cornman anticipates the Alternative Fuels Tractor will go into production in the near future.

Learn more about New Holland’s Alternative Fuels Tractor concept by listening to my interview with Mike Cornman: Interview with New Holland's Mike Cornman on Propane Tractor

New Holland 2016 Farm Progress Photo Album

2016 Farm Progress Show Photos

Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by

Agribusiness, Audio, Equipment, Farm Progress Show, New Holland, Propane

#USSoy – A People to People Business

Jamie Johansen September 15, 2016

A fifth generation farmer from North Dakota, Bob Metz, is proud to say all four of his children are all involved in production agriculture. Bob’s a soybean grower, current United Soybean Board Director and former U.S. Soybean Export Council member, who is truly passing on his passion and commitment to agriculture for generations to come. I met him at the 2016 U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange where U.S. soybean growers gathered with agribusinesses from around the world to talk why U.S. soy.

“It’s actually the second time I have retired from USSEC. USSEC has been very valuable and is an amazing organization. We have people in approximately 80 different countries around the world. Consultants who are from the country they work in, so they understand the culture and the issues. They work for us, the American soybean farmer, helping us make our customers more profitable. There is something about a people to people business.”

Bob said he wants buyers of U.S. soy to understand that they are getting a premium with their purchase. This event was just one example of the support buyers receive. Not only were attendees able to meet the growers, they visited their farms, they toured loading facilities at the Gulf or Pacific and gathered an understanding of how GM crops give them a good, clean, safe soybean.

Listen to my complete interview with Bob here: Interview with Bob Metz, ND Soybean Farmer

View and download photos from the event here: 2016 US Soy Global Trade Exchange Photos

Ag Groups, Exports, Soybean, Trade, USSEC

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