FMC Expands Relationship with Monsanto

Lizzy Schultz September 4, 2015

FMC Corporation and Monsanto Company announced this week that they have expanded an agreement to continue their participation in the Roundup Ready PLUS® Crop Management Solutions platform.

The agreement will be included in the new Roundup Ready® 2 Xtend Crop System that is set to launch in 2016, and includes FMC’s Authority® brand sulfentrazone herbicides as well as FMC’s Capture® LFR® and Hero® insecticides for corn in the Monsanto recommendation platform as a qualifying brand.

“FMC has become a really strong partner with Monsanto and the Roundup Ready PLUS platform,” said Roundup Ready marketing manager Chris Reat in an interview with AgWired at the 2015 Farm Progress Show, “We’re really excited about the expansion of the agreement, because it’ll ensure farmers have the choice to continue to use the Authority Brand with Roundup Ready products,”

Monsanto and FMC have worked in collaboration on the Weed Management Solutions platform since 2010, providing a benefit that is seen within both companies, as well as with customers.

“When we look for partners to partner up with, we want good, solid companies that provide industry-leading brands and products, and certainly FMC does that with the Authority brand,” says Reat, “The good thing about collaborations with two industry-leading companies like FMC and Monsanto is that when we get a chance to work together its very powerful and very impactful. It really is a win win for Monsanto, FMC, and our customers.”

Listen to my interview with Reat here:
Interview with Chris Reat, Monsanto Company

2015 Farm Progress Show Album

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GROWMARK Foundation Helps Educate About Ag

Cindy Zimmerman September 4, 2015

At the GROWMARK/FS Services exhibit during the Farm Progress Show this past week, Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom received the latest in a long line of generous contributions to their efforts from the GROWMARK Foundation.

Amy Bradford, who manages the foundation efforts, says they contributed another $70,000 this year as part of an annual donation to help improve ag literacy in the state. “We’re closing in on a million dollars giving to Ag in the Classroom and ag literacy initiatives,” said Bradford. “We think that it is one of our responsibilities to help expand that reach and tell agriculture’s story.”

Accepting the big check was Susan Moore, director of the IAA Foundation and primary fundraiser for Illinois Ag in the Classroom. “It means so much to our program,” she said. “Not just the amount of the check, but the passion behind it from GROWMARK and the consistency of their contributions. They’ve been supporting the program for 20 plus years and to have long term partners is really what helps us.”

Illinois Ag in the Classroom education director Kevin Daugherty says last year they reached over 31,000 teachers and more than 550,000 students. “We are using agriculture as a springboard to teach math, science, social studies, and language arts,” said Daugherty. “Ag literacy is targeted at our pre-K through 12 level – and we’re education about agriculture, not ag education.”

Listen an interview with Amy, Susan and Kevin here: GROWMARK Foundation Ag in the Classroom contribution

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Wrapping up Farm Progress Show

Chuck Zimmerman September 4, 2015

The 2015 Farm Progress Show concluded but the Farm Progress staff are now moving on to the next show and already planning for next year in Boone, IA. The ZimmComm Team has a lot more stories to share with you over the next couple weeks so keep checking back.

Before we left Decatur, I sat down with Don Tourte, Vice President/Market Leader for Penton Farm Progress, to find out how things went. We had three beautiful days of weather and field demos which were attended by big crowds. Unfortunately the FAA grounded the UAV demos but hopefully they’ll get their regs together by next year.

Listen to my interview with Don here: Don Tourte, Farm Progress Companies

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FMC Launches ‘New Beginning’ with Ethos

Joanna Schroeder September 4, 2015

Matt Hancock, FMC Corn Segment Manager, says his company is helping growers to maximize their yields and returns with a new launch Ethos XB. “The Interpretation of Ethos is a new beginning and that’s what we consider this line,” he said.

“It’s a new beginning for FMC. FMC is a long time insecticide company who has come up with a lot of innovations for growers over the years in the insecticide line, and now we’re combining insecticide and fungicide into one super convenient formulation to be applied in liquid fertilizer,” explained Hancock. Ethos XB is a new liquid fertilizer ready insecticide combined with fungicide.

Many growers have heard about FMC’s “zone of production”. Hancock said this refers to the engaging in a multi-approach strategy such as protecting the stand and protecting plant health overall. Ethos XB combines an insecticide with a biofungicide and the intent, he said, is to outperform the existing methods of diseases in seedlings. In those areas that need longer control (research shows after two-three weeks seed treatments can lose efficacy) they are offering protection that literally grows with the roots that form a biofilm that kills pathogens.

Hancock said FMC is really excited about the entire platform and is confident the brand will take off over the next few months as more farmers hear about the product and its benefits. Growers can learn more by speaking with an agronomist or FMC star retailer.

To learn more, listen to Chuck Zimmerman’s interview with Matt Hancock: Interview with Matt Hancock, FMC, on Ethos

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Rep. @RodneyDavis at #FarmProgressShow

Cindy Zimmerman September 3, 2015

Farm Progress Show is in the Congressional district of Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL) and he stopped by Wednesday to visit.

“I’m blessed enough to represent Decatur and host this event every two years,” said Davis. “You got billions of dollars of equipment sitting out here. It really shows what agribusiness and agriculture means, not only to Illinois and Iowa, but the entire Midwest and our entire national economy.”

Congress is on break now, giving Rep. Davis a chance to catch up with his constituents – and let his facial hair grow out! We talked about some of the important issues for agriculture that the House has already acted on but the Senate has yet to. That includes GMO labeling, WOTUS and COOL.

Listen to my interview with this outstanding friend of agriculture in Congress – Interview with Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL)

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“Club Blue” Speakers Discuss Market Outlook

Lizzy Schultz September 3, 2015

New Holland invited several speakers to give presentations at their “Club Blue” event for customers and dealers at the Farm Progress Show, one of them being Mark Gold of Top Third Ag Marketing. He spoke to customers on his market outlook and on current risks in the market.

Gold is optimistic about the market, but emphasized how important it is for farmers to look at marketing more carefully.

“The message I have today is that there is still some risk here. With everything that’s happening in China, in the crude oil market, we could see lower prices yet, but we’ll see,” he said in an interview with AgWired before the event.

Despite how low commodity prices still are, Gold has a positive outlook on the market looking into the future, and sees the market’s current state as a wonderful opportunity for investors.

“This is a great time in my opinion to get into agriculture, to expand. Today you’ve got an opportunity to buy land a little cheaper, cash rents are coming down. I want to sell things when they are a lot more expensive. And I think that’s coming down the road, it may be a while, but hopefully in the next six months we’ll see this thing turn around.”

He explained that risk management is farmers’ key to smooth maneuvering through the cycles of the market: “When you’ve got good prices, don’t try to only manage that year, but maybe the next two or three years because the markets are cyclical, so what goes up will go down, and what goes down will come up. The market doesn’t care what the cost of production is, the economics and the supply and demand still rule these markets.”

Gold’s final message for farmers? Quit trying to outguess the markets.

“Quit listening to any of the marketing gurus, including myself, who make predictions about where markets are going. What you want to do is look at the price, put in a floor, protect it if it goes down, be able to sell grain if it goes up, and quit listening to all the nonsense that’s out there.”

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Gold here:
Interview with Mark Gold, Top Third Ag Marketing

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New Holland in the Farm Progress Field

Chuck Zimmerman September 3, 2015

Farm Progress Show field demos are underway this year. Some might say, “Finally!” That’s because they have been canceled the last couple years.

Here’s a New Holland CR combine in the field followed by a tractor pulling one of their new large round balers. Lizzy gets credit for this picture.

Jamie shot video of the combine for your viewing pleasure.

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Fortix Offers Growers Fungicide Flexibility

Joanna Schroeder September 3, 2015

With moderate temperatures and lots of rainfall, corn and soybean growers have had an environment fairly conducive to pathogen presence of diseases including gray leaf spot and southern corn rust said Nick Hustedde, FMC Technical Service Representative prior to the kick-off of the Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Illinois this week. He cautioned there are also wind-borne spores on their way in and as a result, growers are seeing some late season infections. Hustedde explained that when a grower plants early and there are cool, wet conditions, the environment becomes conducive for sudden death syndrome and growers began to see some symptoms show up in the past week.

Hustedde said fungicide applications are fairly crop specific. He explained that in the case of corn, for example, a grower can see late diseases that can infect early. In these cases, it’s important to have a fungicide option that has a flexible application window. That’s where In Fortix, which is a joint venture between FMC and Arysta LifeScience, comes in. Fortix allows for either ground or aerial application giving it the flexibility for the grower to apply based on what type of pathogen a grower is fighting.

Growers can apply Fortix proactively before symptoms of disease show up. In some cases, however, a grower may see a major epidemic and they may be a little more reactive. Regardless of the strategy used, Hustedde said Fortix is a one and done application and a grower can expect an average yield increase of 7 to 14 bushels per acre for corn and 4+ bushels per acre for soybeans versus untreated acres.

To learn more about application strategies and the role of Fortix, listen to Chuck Zimmerman’s interview with Nick Hustedde: Interview with Nick Hustedde, FMC

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Smile, you’re on camera!

Melissa Sandfort September 3, 2015

I’ve mentioned before all the different creatures that venture into our yard, or in the pasture behind our house. The amazement never ceases when the children see five deer from the back deck, or watch them walk up the freshly mowed path from the trees to our house. The two little ones get a kick out of saying, “Whoa, turkey!” as we drive to town, and most times, it’s because I have to stop on the lake road to let the turkeys cross.

My nephew, Jackson, is big into hunting and fishing. I’ve warned him though, if he’s going to shoot a gun by our house at 6 a.m. to please let me know so I don’t think we’re under attack. He has trail cams set up all through the pasture and down by the old camping grounds. You never know what may wander up to inspect the camera!

I thought it would be fun to share a few of those captured moments.

Until we walk again …

Uncategorized

HiSoy Golden Sweepstakes Winner

Cindy Zimmerman September 3, 2015

Matt Davis and his son Adam who farm near Mendota, Illinois are going home from the Farm Progress Show this week with a Meridian Seed Tender, courtesy of GROWMARK and Grainco FS in honor of the 50th anniversary of HiSoy soybeans.

“It’s fantastic, I didn’t actually believe it at first,” said Davis when he was awarded his prize at the show Wednesday. “It will fit in great with the operation I’ve got.”

GROWMARK seed division mgr Mark Thornsbrough, winner Matt Davis and son Adam; John Walsh and Mike Fredrichson of Grainco FS

GROWMARK seed division mgr Mark Thornsbrough, winner Matt Davis and son Adam; John Walsh and Mike Fredrickson of Grainco FS

GROWMARK Seed Division Manager Mark Thornsbrough said they came up with the sweepstakes to celebrate the golden anniversary of HiSoy.

“HiSoy was the first and the oldest continuous brand in the United States and we’re very proud of our brand,” said Thornsbrough. “We launched (the sweepstakes) about a year ago and wanted to finish it up here at the Farm Progress Show.”

Thornsbrough says one thing that makes HiSoy so special is the leadership behind the brand. “We’ve had four product managers and they’ve all continued to make the brand a leading brand in the industry,” he said. “The most important part from a farmer’s standpoint as a cooperative, it is the farmers’ brand – the farmers own this brand and we want to make sure that we give them the best opportunity for high yields and the ability to maximize their income per acre.”

The GROWMARK Seed Division plans to award three seed tenders to three participants in the HiSOY Golden Anniversary Sweepstakes – randomly selecting a winner from each sales region – Northern, Southern, and Western. Davis was the Northern region winner.

Learn more in this interview: GROWMARK HiSoy Sweepstakes Winner

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