#ASTACSS Taking Cover Crops Mainstream

Cindy Zimmerman December 9, 2015

A diverse panel covered the topic of cover crops at the ASTA CSS 2015 and Seed Expo this week, exploring how the practice is starting to hit the mainstream.

David Pearl with the CISCO Companies in Indianapolis, who serves as chair of the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) Cover Crops Working Group, says this was the first full cover crops session at the CSS/Seed Expo. “It’s seed and that ties in with corn, soybeans, wheat and sorghum,” said Pearl, who noted that he was very pleased with the diverse perspectives presented on the panel and the standing room only attendance at the session. Interview with David Pearl, CISCO Companies

The panel included a farmer, seed dealer, and farm organization representative, with perspectives from DuPont Pioneer and Monsanto as well. “We really need collaboration across all of the industry,” said Nancy DeLong with DuPont Pioneer. “Everyone needs to be thinking about how we can improve the tools that farmers use for conservation practices.”

Learn more about what DuPont Pioneer is doing to spread the word about cover crops in this interview: Interview with Nancy DeLong, DuPont Pioneer

Monsanto’s Kevin Coffman talked about the importance of agriculture in the overall environmental picture with the focus on climate change. “Because we’re unique in agriculture that we’re in the photosynthesis business – cover crops, corn and soybeans all have a role in sequestering carbon,” said Coffman. He also talked about the initiative announced by Monsanto just last week “to make agriculture part of the solution” to climate change, and he discussed the role of the Soil Health Partnership in educating farmers about cover crops and other conservation solutions. Interview with Kevin Coffman, Monsanto

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ASTA, Audio, Conservation, Corn, Farming, Seed

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Talia Goes December 9, 2015

Download and rent Great American Wheat Harvest documentary online at www.vimeo.com/ondemand/gawh.
New Holland is pleased to announce two new Braud grape harvester models that will be available for model year 2016.
Hesston by Massey Ferguson introduces the 40th Anniversary Edition Hesston National Finals Rodeo (NFR) Collector Series buckles.
The United States Potato Board announces Schylar Denton has become an Assistant Marketing Manager in the USPB Marketing Department.

Zimfo Bytes

Planning Ahead for PRRS

Jamie Johansen December 9, 2015

Our nation’s Windy City hosted the 2015 North American PRRS Symposium and Boehringer Ingelheim hosted a session on “Combatting the Latest PRRS Cycle.”

Dr. Bill Hollis, Carthage Vet Services, was one of the speakers who focused on the production side of PRRS and explained key field experiences used in control and management with one of the newest PRRS strains, 174.

“Our strategies and control programs are in an effort to help producers who are both trying to prevent the entrance of PRRS into their populations and field experiences with control and then moving that virus out of that pig population.”

Dr. Hollis said if he had a hog operation he would consider immunity first. He said the real decision for producers on the farm is what am I going to do to either prevent the virus or to minimize the losses from the entry of the virus.

Dr. Hollis said there are key elements to prevent the swarm. Stop moving pigs around. Stage your virus activity. Identify the virus. Stop fostering. No gilt entry. He stressed the importance of planning ahead so the steps needed are ready to implement when a outbreak occurs. This ensures a quick, healthy return to baseline production.

Learn more from Dr. Hollis here: Interview with Dr. Bill Hollis, Carthage Vet Services

View and download photos from the event here: 2015 BIVI PRRS Seminar Photo Album

Agribusiness, Animal Health, Audio, Boehringer Ingelheim, Swine

Eco Agro and Koch Agronomic Settle Patent Litigation

Taylor Truckey December 9, 2015

Following a mediation scheduled months ago by the parties, Koch Agronomic Services, LLC and Eco Agro Resources LLC jointly announced an agreement that settles litigation between the companies. The parties have been engaged in litigation since 2014 concerning claims brought by KAS with respect to one of its patents and counterclaims brought by Eco Agro. Financial and other terms of the agreement are confidential and were not disclosed.

Full Release here.

Agribusiness, Koch Agronomic Services

Agri-Pulse Open Mic with Jeff Swanhorst, AgriBank

John Davis December 9, 2015

Agri-Pulse Open Mic this week features Jeff Swanhorst, chief credit officer for AgriBank.

Lower farm income is already affecting farm balance sheets and raising concerns about operating loans. This interview includes tough questions and straight answers on the sufficiency of the new farm bill and crop insurance to help farmers manage risk, the outlook for farmland prices, and how lower commodity returns could force a shift in crop acreage. Jeff Swanhorst says the industry has entered an ag efficiency cycle that will likely include further producer consolidation.

Click here to listen to Agri-Pulse Open Mic with Jeff Swanhorst, AgriBank.

Agri-Pulse, Audio

USDA Urged to Enforce Buy American for School Lunches

John Davis December 9, 2015

Fifty agricultural trade associations, farmer co-ops and agribusinesses want the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to enforce buy American provision when it comes to school lunches. After an investigative report showed some school districts were spending tax dollars on imported Chinese canned fruit, the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives urged Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to strengthen enforcement of the “Buy American” provision for participants in the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program.

“Our organizations are deeply concerned that the Buy America Act requirements of the National School Lunch Act are not being adequately monitored and enforced,” the groups wrote to the Secretary. “Our concerns were amplified with the Sacramento City Unified School District’s recent acknowledgement that they have been purchasing canned peaches, pears and applesauce from China. Since there is currently no transparency regarding school purchases of imported products, we must assume there are other districts throughout the country purchasing imported food products.”

Secretary Vilsack and the Department should focus on ways in which the Buy American provision can be better enforced. Suggestions included more closely monitoring procurement specifications and contractor performance.

You can read the full letter here.

Ag Groups, USDA

#ASTACSS Economic Outlook from Dan Basse

Cindy Zimmerman December 8, 2015

Back by popular demand for the fifth year, AgResource Company president Dan Basse presented his economic outlook for agriculture at the opening general session of the ASTA CSS 2015 and Seed Expo on Tuesday.

In his fact-filled 90 minute presentation, Basse talked about a “world awash in grain” with record global wheat and soybean crops and second largest corn crop. “We were very impressed with the last crop year,” said Basse. “When you look at the kind of flooding we had in Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri and to then come up with a record U.S. soybean yield…is really testament to the seed genetics and agronomic benefits that we now have.”

With too much grain, however, has come lower prices for farmers and 2015 saw the biggest drop in farm income since 1932, and Basse expects grain and livestock prices to remain relatively cheap. “In fact this will be the first period since the 1970s in which net farm income in the U.S. will slump for three consecutive years,” he said. “So it’s not a very rosy picture – all farmers can do is somehow manage their costs to the best of their ability.”

As far as the seed industry is concerned, Basse noted that for farmers “seed is like their first born son.”

“All of us go to the fields every spring and we have high optimism for yields and production and profitability,” he said. “The one thing everyone can agree on is that genetics in seed has been a tremendous advantage over the past couple of years … so the investment that we farmers make in seed will probably continue.”

Lots more in this interview with Dan: Interview with Dan Basse, AgResource Company

ASTA CSS 2015 and Seed Expo Photo Album

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ASTA, Audio, Markets, Seed

AAEA Offering Beautiful Stocking Stuffer

Kelly Marshall December 8, 2015

The American Agricultural Editors’ Association has created the perfect stocking stuffer. The AAEA Professional Improvement Foundation is offering a desktop calendar featuring beautiful, award-winning photographs. Each photograph comes with its backstory printed behind the page.

The calendar is provided as a “thank you” gift for new and renewing members. Additional copies may be purchased for $14, shipping included. Proceeds support the work of the Professional improvement Foundation.

For more information about the 2016 calendar, contact Den Gardner at the AAEA office –aaea@gandgcomm.com or phone: 952/758-6502.

ACN, Ag Groups, Journalism

Wrap-up of #ARA2015 by President/CEO

Chuck Zimmerman December 8, 2015

Palm Desert, CA is a place you really have to want to go to. It is beautiful but can take some effort to travel to. But apparently a lot of Agricultural Retailers Association members really wanted to attend their annual conference. According to Daren Coppock, ARA President/CEO, attendance was strong. Much stronger than they even hoped for.

In my last program we got a preview of the ARA Conference & Expo. This week Daren gives us the wrap-up. One of the highlights on the social agenda for the conference was the Pinot & Politics ARAPAC fundraiser. This dinner and wine tasting included a silent and live auction. My favorite auction item (I lost) was a day with Daren as my employee. I think that’s a very cool idea and he went for some big money compared to my budget.

In our wrap-up Daren discusses ARA legislative priorities as well as services and benefits the organization brings to its members.

The Conference Wrap-up is here: Daren Coppock, ARA President/CEO

Subscribe to the ZimmCast podcast here.

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Ag Groups, ARA, Audio, ZimmCast

Manolovits Named AGCO Operator of the Year

Taylor Truckey December 8, 2015

Brian Manolovits, ag operator for Wilbur Ellis hailing from Mott, N.D., was selected as the 10th Annual Operator of the Year. Manolovits earned the top honor at the 2015 Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) Conference and Expo held Dec. 1 through Dec. 3 in Palm Desert, California.

“I am honored to be selected as AGCO’s Operator of the Year from among so many top operators across the country,” stated Manolovits. “I work hard at my job and enjoy it, but I never expected to be recognized like this.”

With nine years of application experience, Manolovits typically applies about 20,000 acres each year. However, this year he successfully completed 30,000 acres in just three months. He serves as the head of the Environmental Health and Safety program at his branch and continuously goes above and beyond expectations.

Manolovits , who owns a motorcycle of his own, received a Harley-Davidson® motorcycle as part of the grand prize package, and his nominator, Derek Mayer of Wilbur Ellis, will receive 100 hours free use of either an AGCO TerraGator® self-propelled high-flotation applicator or RoGator® self-propelled sprayer.

“AGCO Operator of the Year winners are outstanding leaders in the industry and deserve to receive as much recognition as possible for all that they do. Without them, farmers would have a difficult time achieving high yields with their busy schedules,” stated Conor Bergin, tactical marketing manager of AGCO Application Equipment. “This year, we received a lot of great nominations for outstanding operators, and it was a tough decision. Brian works hard to make sure that everything is applied precisely and his equipment is maintained and in good working order to ensure precision. He continually strives to do his best at work, at home, and in the community.”

Manolovits is a member of the Mott Volunteer Fire Brigade, serving as the training officer, helped organize the Pee Wee football program in his community, and has organized several motorcycle ride benefits for families going through difficult times. He also was a member of the North Dakota National Guard for more than nine years and served 15 months overseas in Operation Iraqi Freedom II.

The Operator of the Year program was designed to recognize custom applicators in North America who spend hundreds of hours in the field every year, operating sophisticated equipment, like a RoGator or a TerraGator, to apply fertilizer and crop protection products on millions of acres of crops.

To hear more of Chuck’s interview with Brian: Interview with Brian Monolovits, Operator of the Year

2015 Agricultural Retailers Conference & Expo Photo Album

ARA

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