Cat Partners with AFBF in Commitment to Agriculture

Jamie Johansen September 2, 2015

Caterpillar Inc. is in their second year back to the Farm Progress Show and have a growing presence in the agriculture community. I met up with Cat’s Agriculture Industry Manager, Dustin Johansen, during the event to learn more about their product line and their new partnership with American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) that will provide members up to $2,000 in purchase incentives on Cat machines.

“Farm Bureau members can now receive additional discounts on Caterpillar construction products. In addition, we are excited for our Cat dealer network from across the country to work hand in hand with their county and state Farm Bureau’s.”

Caterpillar Inc. is confident that equipment like their skid steer loaders, compact track loaders and mini hydraulic excavators can help get the job done on the farm.

“In the last five years we have really upped our focus on the agriculture market segment. We have continued to see the industry for construction products being used by agriculture producers grow year after year. This year the industry is up 10% from the previous year. It is a testament to the growth of ag producers needing more equipment to get more done as their operations grow.”

Listen to my complete interview with Dustin to learn more about Cat’s investment in the agriculture community here: Interview with Dustin Johansen, Caterpillar Inc.

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

Coverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by

AFBF, Agribusiness, Audio, Equipment, Farm Progress Show

WOTUS Topic at #FarmProgressShow

Cindy Zimmerman September 2, 2015

The current status of the EPA’s Clean Water Rule, formally known as Waters of the United States or WOTUS, is a big topic of discussion at the 2015 Farm Progress Show in Illinois this week.

The rule was blocked by a federal judge last week in response to a lawsuit filed by 13 state attorney generals, but National Corn Growers Association president Chip Bowling of Maryland says EPA’s contention that the rule is only blocked in those 13 states just muddies the waters even more. “I don’t think the judge in North Dakota that gave the injunction just thought it was for the 13 states,” said Bowling during an interview at FPS. “That’s what National Corn Growers thinks also.”

NCGA is part of another lawsuit against the rule which would be national in scope. “This is a national program with national ramifications and means the same thing for a corn farmer in Ohio as it does in Texas, as it does in Maryland,” he said.

In this interview, Chip also discusses the RFS, the corn crop, and growing markets for corn: Interview with NCGA president Chip Bowling

American Soybean Association president Wade Cowan of Texas says they just wish they did not have to deal with this issue at all. “We’re going to see the negative effects on agriculture that comes from the states that are being impacted and the farmers that are being impacted,” said Cowan. “We’re in a tough environment already with the prices and farm incomes being down and this is just a level of uncertainty that we don’t need.”

Wade also takes about other issues important to soybean growers in this interview: Interview with ASA president Wade Cowan

2015 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Coverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by

ASA, Audio, Corn, Farm Progress Show, NCGA, Soybean

Overlapping Residuals for Weed Management

Joanna Schroeder September 2, 2015

Heavy rainfall this season has led to heavy weed pressure in fields around the Midwest, making overlapping residuals more important to protect next season’s crop. FMC Midwest Technical Lead Gail Stratman explains that a grower wants to maintain good and strong weed control to maximize yield potential in the corn crop. As you travel around the Midwest, says Stratman, with the conditions including heavy rains, there is a tremendous amount of weed pressure and there are late season weed escapes in a lot of fields. This causes problems for growers.

“What an overlapping residual program does is use a two-pronged approach,” says Stratman. “First you use an early season residual program to set up a foundation for good weed control. Then you turn around and in your post emergence program you want to include a residual again. That’s where the overlapping residual part comes.”

He noted that you want to add the second residual before the first one breaks, thus overlapping. FMC products that fit especially well in an overlap system are Anthem/Anthem Maxx and Solstice.

Second part of the two-prong approach comes with resistance management. One key component of this, says Stratman, is trying to keep weeds from becoming established. Growers are starting to see increasing resistance issues with herbicides. So if a grower doesn’t let weeds come up then he doesn’t have to rely on post emergence herbicides.

Learn more about residual programs by listening to Cindy Zimmerman’s interview with Gail Stratman here: Interview with Gail Stratman, FMC

Coverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by

Audio, Corn, Farm Progress Show, FMC, Herbicide, weed management

Farm Progress Show Sunset

Chuck Zimmerman September 2, 2015

Hello and welcome to day two of the Farm Progress Show. I love sunrises and sunsets. Last night as I left late I drove through some rain and thought there would be no sunset. I was wrong.

This is the sun setting alongside I-72 on my way to Springfield. Hope you like it.

The ZimmComm Team is back on site seeking out sponsor and other stories to share with you. Keep checking in.

Please view and share our photos 2015 Farm Progress Photo Album.

Coverage of the 2015 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by

Farm Progress Show

FFA Awards 1000th Gift of Blue Jacket

John Davis September 2, 2015

A California FFA member is the proud owner of his very own blue jacket, thanks to the group’s Give the Gift of Blue Program. This news release from FFA says Casey Custer, a junior, who attends Waterford High School in Waterford, California, was the proud recipient of the 1,000 FFA jacket through the program.

FFA has more than 610,000 members nationwide; however, not all members own the esteemed blue jacket. In fact, more than 50 percent of FFA members don’t have an FFA jacket. This jacket is traditionally worn at official functions at the local level and for state and national conventions, competitions and special events. Many borrow jackets from the chapter or from past FFA members. The moment they zip up their own jacket is priceless.

“The blue jacket means a lot to me,” Custer said, “as it represents the opportunity to gain experience and knowledge, especially as I play a role in our Waterford’s FFA Ag Mechanics team.”

On Jan. 1, 2014, the National FFA Organization and National FFA Foundation began the Give the Gift of Blue program. Funded by individual donors and sponsors, the program provides members with blue jackets, which is part of FFA Official Dress. Members apply for a jacket by visiting FFA.org/GIVEBLUE to share their story of what the jacket means to them. Along with an essay, members also share information on what they have been doing in FFA, their communities and in their schools.

“For so many, the blue corduroy gives a sense of belonging,” said Joshua Bledsoe, the chief operating officer for the National FFA Organization. “Thanks to this program, we are able to bring this sense of pride and belonging to more of our members, who are part of our FFA family.”

Funding for the program comes from corporate sponsors CSX Transportation, Valent U.S.A. Corporation and their parent company Sumitomo, Ram Trucks, Tractor Supply Company, as well as donations from individuals. In addition, an endowment created by Donald and Mira Ball continues to fund the program as well.

FFA

Farmers Union’s Grassroots Activists Coming to DC

John Davis September 2, 2015

They might be from rural America, but in just a couple of weeks, the grassroots activists of the National Farmers Union (NFU) will make their way to the big city of Washington, D.C., for their annual fly-in, Sept. 15-18, 2015. This news release from the group says their enthusiasm and willingness to fight for better public policies for family farmers and ranchers are a long-time tradition for the members of the NFU.

“For generations, Farmers Union activists have come from across the land by bus, plane, automobile or train to bring the issues affecting the nation’s farm families directly to their members of Congress,” said [NFU President Roger] Johnson. “Some of the participants have made several dozen trips to the nation’s capital over the years.”

Johnson pointed out that the event is now called “fly-in,” but the name has changed over the years to reflect the predominant form of transportation used at the time. Regardless the mode of transportation used, the event has proven to be a very effective way to help hold policymakers’ feet to the fire on important issues to rural America. Last year, more than 250 Farmers Union members participated in the fall fly-In, meeting with their elected representatives, as well as important U.S. Department of Agriculture and other administration officials.

“Farmers Union is truly a grass-roots organization that has been driven by its voting members for well over a century,” said Johnson. “We form our national policies through the participation of family farmer and rancher delegates at our national convention, and then many of them come to Washington to bring those ideas to fruition, ” he noted.

Some of the hot button issues expected to be discussed include Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL), the Renewable Fuel Standard, and international trade.

Uncategorized

USFRA Releases Sustainability Research

Jamie Johansen September 1, 2015

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

Ag Groups, Farm Progress Show, Farm Shows, Sustainability, USFRA

Broadcasting Live with New Holland at FPS

Joanna Schroeder September 1, 2015

On 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

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

2015 Farm Progress Show Grand Opening

Jamie Johansen September 1, 2015

The 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

Agribusiness, Equipment, Farm Progress Show, Farm Shows, Video

Capture Higher Yields with Capture LFR

Cindy Zimmerman September 1, 2015

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

FMC 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

Audio, Corn, Fertilizer, FMC, Insecticides

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