FMC Promotes Stewardship for Resistance Management

Cindy Zimmerman September 8, 2015

One of the biggest concerns for farmers attending the 2015 Farm Progress Show last week was control of resistant weeds, and FMC is a company that is promoting a stewardship approach to resistance management.

“Proper stewardship is very important with the resistance that we are seeing,” says FMC Senior Technical Sales Manager Brent Neuberger. “So we want to mix things up, use multiple effective modes of action in these weed control programs.”

That means starting early – as soon as harvest is finished. “Those areas that typically have a lot of mare’s tail, fall application has a very good fit,” Neuberger said. “So we put something down, take out a lot of those winter annuals, so come spring we can ‘start clean to stay clean.'”

FMC has a weed management stewardship infographic that growers can consult to learn more.

Listen to my interview with Brent here: Brent Neuberger, FMC, on resistance management

Coverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by

Audio, Farm Progress Show, FMC, weed management

GROWMARK Debuts New Website

John Davis September 7, 2015

GROWMARK has unveiled a new company website. Company officials say the old site had been around for the last five years, and it was time for a change.

“[C]ombined with the adoption of responsive design technology, we believe users will have a better experience on the redesigned website.” [Cliff Dolbeare, GROWMARK’s corporate strategic development manager] said the new site will be cleaner and easier to read, incorporating smart use of white space and large format images. It will be simple to navigate, easy to read, and will look appropriate across all device platforms.

To execute the redesigned site, GROWMARK partnered with Tahoe Partners, a Chicago-based firm specializing in designing and implementing personalized, digital experiences. .

The new site will also help customers locate their local FS member cooperative, FAST STOP, or grain cooperative, as well as to connect directly with GROWMARK headquarters. Prospective employees, whether they are potential interns, seasonal employees or experienced workers, will also find it easier to view available positions within the system.

Agribusiness, GROWMARK

Update from @USFRA at #FarmProgressShow

Cindy Zimmerman September 7, 2015

The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) will be just five years young this fall, but the coalition of agricultural organizations has experienced amazing growth in that short time.

“We are at 93 affiliate organizations, which is largely unprecedented,” said USFRA CEO Randy Krotz, who notes that those affiliates represent a broad range of agriculture. “We have lamb, beef and pork and poultry, potatoes…we’re always looking to grow,” he said. “We’d love to have an organic organization come in, and we think we’ll get there.”

During a press conference at the Farm Progress Show, Krotz also talked about what’s new with FARMLAND, the documentary feature film that USFRA helped to support. “We’re offering it as a 44 minute version and putting it in high schools,” he said. “We’re working with Discovery Education to get it into high school curriculums across the country.” By mid-October, every high school will have a curriculum and lessons built around agricultural issues highlighted in the film.

Find out more about what’s new with USFRA in this interview. Interview with USFRA CEO Randy Krotz

2015 Farm Progress Show Album

Coverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by

Audio, Farm Progress Show, USFRA

Farmers Almanac Predicts Harsh Winter

John Davis September 7, 2015

It might be the unofficial end of summer today, but some folks are already thinking about winter. The Farmers’ Almanac warns those in the eastern part of the United States, especially the Southeast, to “brace yourselves” for a harsh winter.

“The winter of 2015–2016 is looking like a repeat of last winter, at least in terms of temperatures,” reveals Caleb Weatherbee, the Farmers’ Almanac’s weather prognosticator, adding, “the term ‘déjà vu’ comes to mind.”

“Wet and very chilly” is how the Almanac summarizes the winter for the Southeast, adding “an active storm track will bring above-normal precipitation to the Southeast.”

Those in the western half of the U.S. should expect milder to more normal winter conditions.

The Farmers’ Almanac makes its weather predictions based on a very specific mathematical and astronomical formula, and many users claim the forecast are 80-85 percent accurate.

Officials with the almanac point out that it does more than predict weather.

This year’s edition of the Farmers’ Almanac is packed with valuable advice on ways to live a more natural and healthier lifestyle. It takes a look at five historical droughts (including one current one), shares unusual muffin recipes, a new recipe contest, best days in 2016 to buy a house, quit smoking or wean your toddler, natural ways to combat garden pests, weird roadside attractions you’ve got to see to believe, plus annual favorites such as gardening, Moon, fishing, and eclipse calendars.

“The Farmers’ Almanac is a slice of everyday life topped with the “hacks” you need (we’ve been doing them since our first edition) to do things better and more easily, plus wit and wisdom” shares Duncan, “including a very timely and appropriate Thought of the Year: ‘All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to criticism.’ ”

Agribusiness

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

Coverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by

Agribusiness, Farm Progress Show, FMC, Herbicide

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

2015 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Coverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by

Audio, Education, Farm Progress Show, FS System, GROWMARK

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

2015 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

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Audio, Farm Progress Show, Media

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

Coverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by

Audio, Farm Progress Show, FMC, Fungicide, Insecticides

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)

2015 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Coverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by

Audio, Farm Progress Show, GMO

“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

2015 Farm Progress Show Album

Coverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by

Agribusiness, Farm Progress Show, Marketing, New Holland

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