USFRA Releases Sustainability Research

Jamie Johansen

USFRA Chairwoman and Wisconsin farmer Nancy Kavazanjian along with USFRA CEO Randy Krotz answer questions during the 2015 Farm Progress Press Conference about USFRA’s new sustainability research survey.

USFRA Chairwoman and Wisconsin farmer Nancy Kavazanjian along with USFRA CEO Randy Krotz answer questions during the 2015 Farm Progress Press Conference about USFRA’s new sustainability research survey.

During the Farm Progress Show this morning, U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) announced the results of a new survey on consumer views on farming and ranching sustainability.

“For USFRA, no question about agriculture is off the table,” said USFRA chair Nancy Kavazanjian during the press conference. “We want to make sure farmers and ranchers are involved in the most important conversations about food. We know that impact on the environment is a frequent conversation when it comes to food production. While farmers and ranchers are stewards of the land, we have not always been vocal voices in the environmental conversation, and we want that to change.”

USFRA is using the results as a foundation to better answer consumer questions about sustainability and agriculture. The survey found that 56 percent of all respondents agreed with the statement, “Farmers and ranchers use new technologies and innovations to protect the environment.” While 47 percent of all respondents agreed with the statement, “The way that most of today’s farming and ranching operations in the U.S. grow and raise food meets the standards of sustainability.” However, when presented with the same statement, the survey revealed that women are less likely than men to agree that farming and ranching practices are sustainable – 37 percent of women versus 59 percent of men responding they are in agreement.

Additionally, the survey findings provided several insights to help farmers and ranchers better engage in conversations about sustainability practices on their farms or ranches. Among the findings:

  • Consumers are interested in learning more about what farmers and ranchers touch most – The survey revealed a need to frame stories about sustainability around water, soil, air and habitat.
  • Consumers are interested in the human impact of sustainability – Respondents shared interest in the actions farmers and ranchers are taking to improve human health through access to safe, nutritious food and the impact they are making on the local community, specifically improvements to the social and economic well-being of agriculture communities.
  • Consumers are interested in how agriculture is focused on the future, versus defining past successes

When discussing sustainability, respondents want to hear about future commitments to the environment versus stories about a farming operations’ multi-generational history. Consumers are also interested in learning how farmers and ranchers are doing more with fewer resources and impact, while preserving the land for the next generation.

Learn more about this survey in this interview – Interview with Nancy Kavazanjian, USFRA Chair

Hear more in this press conference with USFRA CEO Randy Krotz and Nancy Kavazanjian- USFRA Press Conference

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View and download photos from the press conference in the 2015 Farm Progress Photo Album.

Download the press release here.

Download the Sustainability Research Summary here.

Coverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by
Coverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New HollandCoverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by FMCCoverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Growmark
Ag Groups, Farm Progress Show, Farm Shows, Sustainability, USFRA

Broadcasting Live with New Holland at FPS

Joanna Schroeder

New Holland Global LeadershipOn day one of the 2015 Farm Progress Show New Holland global leaders were out on the lot early to see the new equipment and hear directly from product managers. I was on location with them to broadcast live at 8am as the show opened. It was a quiet time for us all before the crowds showed up.

My broadcast was a live Periscope stream with Dan Valen talking about the new T7 tractor. It is on the lot for the public to see for the first time. You can watch a recording of our broadcast below to hear Dan talk about the new features of the T7. You’ll hear Dan talk about Power, Efficiency, Comfort and Versatility.


New Holland Farm Progress 2015 Photo Album

Coverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by
Coverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New HollandCoverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by FMCCoverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Growmark
Agribusiness, Farm Progress Show, New Holland, Tractor, Video

2015 Farm Progress Show Grand Opening

Jamie Johansen

fps-15-panoThe crowds have gathered and no rain in the forecast. The nation’s largest outdoor farm show is underway with more than 600 exhibitors and more than 300 acres of field demonstrations. Today, here at Farm Progress Show, we have cloudy skies, but temperatures are expected to be in the 90s. But don’t worry attendees will be cooled off with 43 air-conditioned structures on site. I climbed that Sukup grain bin this morning to give you a birds eye view of the grand opening.

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View and download photos from the event here: 2015 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Coverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by
Coverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New HollandCoverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by FMCCoverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Growmark
Agribusiness, Equipment, Farm Progress Show, Farm Shows, Video

Capture Higher Yields with Capture LFR

Cindy Zimmerman

Corn prices are lower than they have been in recent years, which makes maximum yields more important than ever.

fmc-capture-LFRFMC Corn Segment Manager Matt Hancock says even with the weather challenges farmers have faced this year, corn yields are forecast to be the third largest ever. “I think that gets back to good, sound agronomics,” said Hancock in an interview for Farm Progress Show. “I think growers are still trying to grow more corn and we’re seeing that in the use of many of our corn products and glad to see that it’s a success for growers out there in the field.”

One of FMC’s corn products is Capture LFR. “When it comes to producing more yields, Capture LFR is the simplest thing for growers to do, to be able to just mix that product with liquid fertilizer,” Hancock says. “We still see that market growing.”

Find out more about Capture LFR in this interview: Interview with Matt Hancock, FMC, on Capture LFR

Coverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by
Coverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New HollandCoverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by FMCCoverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Growmark
Audio, Corn, Fertilizer, FMC, Insecticides

Better #Cotton Through @BASFAgProducts Science

Cindy Zimmerman

basf-tn-danBASF Priaxor® fungicide was just registered for use on cotton recently and Engenia™ herbicide for dicamba-tolerant cotton is expected to be approved by the end of this year, giving cotton farmers two new tools to use in the field.

Dr. Dan Westberg with BASF Ag Products says they are very excited about the Priaxor registration. “This is a combination of Headline with Xemium fungicide, so that really brings a broader spectrum of disease control, two sites of action to work on those diseases, and also resistance management – as well as longer lasting disease control,” said Westberg at a field day in Tennessee last week.

During that field tour, we had the opportunity to see how Engenia works in conjunction with other herbicides for superior weed control in cotton. “One of the thing we’ve been demonstrating in field tours is the need to use Engenia herbicide, which is a broadleaf herbicide especially for resistant palmer amaranth, with a system of control,” explained Westberg. That means a residual foundation, followed by a timely post, and also layering in post applications.

Learn more in this interview with Dr. Dan and see him talk about some of the trial plots in the video below: Interview with Dr. Dan Westberg, BASF

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BASF Southern Media Event in Tennessee

Audio, BASF, Cotton, Crop Protection, Video

#FarmProgressShow Preview

Chuck Zimmerman

Matt JungemannHello and welcome to Day 1 of the 2015 Farm Progress Show. It’s a beautiful morning in Farm Progress City, Illinois.

To get a preview I spoke with Show Manager Matt Jungemann. One of the things that’s very exciting this year are the field demos. That’s because the last two years have been cool and wet making the crops unavailable for harvest. Not so this year. We’re expecting a big crowd over the next couple days and the ZimmComm Team is on site and working out of the BASF-sponsored, air conditioned, Media Tent!

You can listen to my interview with Matt here: Matt Jungemann, Farm Progress Show

2015 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

I’d like to thank our sponsors for covering this year’s show:

Coverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by
Coverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New HollandCoverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by FMCCoverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Growmark
Audio, Farm Progress Show, Media

FMC Fall Burndown Advice

Joanna Schroeder

authority-logoHarvest is soon to be underway as summer gives way to the fall, and that is the time when growers need to think about getting a clean start next spring. For growers having problems with chickweed and marestail, a fall burndown program can provide good benefits.

“Fall is the best time to really deal with winter annuals,” says FMC Senior Technical Sales Manager Brent Neuberger. “You can apply a product to kill what is up but also a product that gives you some residual so come next spring you have a clean seed bed.”

The two main products FMC recommends for fall application are Authority XL and Authority MTZ.

Authority XL provides a good residual and burndown for the grower who is going to plant soybeans again while Authority MTZ provides more flexibility from a crop rotation standpoint. A grower can come back with corn or soybeans after applying Authority MTZ if you use less than 14 oz. The ideal time to begin the process is when the temperature drops down to 55 degrees or below but to be effective, Authority needs to be applied prior to the ground freezing.

Learn more about fall burndown, listen to Cindy Zimmerman’s interview with Brent Neuberger here: Interview with Brent Neuberger, FMC

Coverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by
Coverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New HollandCoverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by FMCCoverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Growmark
Audio, Farm Progress Show, FMC, Herbicide, weed management

ARA Conference & Expo Registration Open

Kelly Marshall

Ag Retailers AssociationRegistration is now open for the 2015 Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) Conference & Expo.

The event will take place December 1-3 at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa in Palm Desert, CA.  The Conference & Expo will feature presentations and discussions on sustainability, water issues, fertilizer trends, branding, finical movements, personal health and wellness, and many other topics.

Discover how performance, precision and passion shapes success through presentations, networking and exhibits at the only essential event for ag retailers and suppliers: the ARA Conference & Expo. 

Visit the website to see a full schedule and learn about the special events planned.

Agribusiness, ARA, Events

How @BASFAgProducts Helps Farmers #GrowSmart

Cindy Zimmerman

basf-tn-carenThe BASF Ag Products “Grow Smart” strategy is able to help farmers all over the country.

At a field day last week in Tennessee, BASF Technical Marketing Manager Caren Schmidt talked about the high yield Grow Smart small plot replicated trial programs. “We’re in the second year in a corn-soybean rotation program in 15 locations from North Dakota to Mississippi and Kansas to Indiana,” she said. “And what we’re looking at is incremental treatment approaches. So we’re adding additional inputs, whether that’s crop protection or agronomic inputs, and trying to see that step-wise progression that can be achieved.”

In addition to the small plot trials, Schmidt says they have on-farm Grow Smart trial programs being conducted on various crops in various areas. “This year we have 78 trials in place across the country, looking at corn and soybeans, but we’ve also added spring wheat, cotton, and potatoes,” said Schmidt.

Also at the event was national corn yield record holder Randy Dowdy of Georgia who talked about how farmers can implement the Grow Smart approach themselves. “Randy looks at his farming operation very critically and he’s really trying to affect management factors that influence yield components in his crops,” said Schmidt. “So, he’s looking at different agronomic techniques and different crop protection inputs and trying to put them all together to have a positive impact on his yields.”

And that’s what Grow Smart is all about. Learn more in this interview: Interview with Caren Schmidt, BASF

BASF Southern Media Event in Tennessee

Audio, BASF, Corn, Crop Protection, Farming

Senator Roberts Happy About WOTUS Decision

John Davis

roberts-hearingA federal judge has put the brakes on the controversial “Waters of the U.S.” (WOTUS) rule in several states, and that has gained praise from the chairman of the Senate Ag Committee. Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kansas) welcomed the preliminary injunction to stop the WOTUS rule in North Dakota, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, South Dakota, Wyoming and New Mexico.

“This is great news for parts of agriculture and rural America,” said Roberts. “I have been opposed to this ridiculous rule from its inception. The WOTUS rule is nothing but a land grab under the guise of the Clean Water Act, and I’ll continue to keep fighting the good fight to push back against EPA’s federal overreach.”

The WOTUS rule, which expands federal jurisdiction over land and waterways, has received considerable criticism from a variety of industries – including agriculture. Kansas’ lawsuit was filed with several other states in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, which denied the plea. Multiple rulings undoubtedly leads to added confusion for landowners and farmers and ranchers.

Roberts’ committee held a hearing on the WOTUS rule in March, and the senator introduced legislation in April to stop implementation of the WOTUS rule, which was approved by the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee and is now waiting on the Senate floor.

Agribusiness, EPA, politics, Water