A Different Approach to Nutrient Management

Jamie Johansen

Michelle redGrowers who are interested in reducing crop inputs and increasing profits can learn more about a program to achieve both from Crop Health Labs. This nutrient management tool is plant sap analysis and they are hosting webinars throughout July to educate growers about this different approach to very common nutrient management problems.

I spoke with Crop Health Labs Executive Director, Michelle Gregg, to learn more about the benefits of plant sap analysis and whats sets it apart from traditional methods. “Plant sap analysis differs from traditional tissue analysis in that we are collecting the liquid portion of the plant instead of the structure of the plant. By collecting a ‘blood sample’ of the plant we are able to detail and predict nutrient deficiencies three to four weeks prior to traditional tissue analysis.”

Growers can then proactively apply nutrients instead of waiting until visible signs of the plant suffering are apparent. Gregg said that from what they have collected from real users of the technology, growers have reduced their total input costs between 15-40%.

RedingGaryPicGary Reding, Crop Consultant for Advancing Eco Agriculture, a distributor for Crop Health Labs, also spoke with me about the 21 different nutrient parameters for testing in a lab environment. Crop Health Labs is the only company that offers this, along with a customized analysis for each grower’s operation.

He shares an example of one of the most common parameters tested. “The potassium and calcium ratio is one of the 21 data points. We look at the parts per million of potassium in the plant sap and then how much calcium is in the plant sap and then we look at the relationship between the two.”

Listen to my complete interview with Michelle and Gary to learn more about the webinars they are offering and how your operation could benefit from plant sap analysis. Interview with Michelle Gregg & Gary Reding, Crop Health Labs

Agribusiness, Audio, Crop Science, Nutrition

Biggest Hot Dog Holiday to Kick Off Hot Dog Month

Kelly Marshall

hero_bumperAmericans are expected to eat more than 150 million hot dogs over the July 4th weekend, appropriately kicking off July as National Hot Dog month.  Independence Day will be celebrated with fireworks and more hot dogs than any other time of the year– enough to stretch from D.C. to L.A. more than five times.

“There’s no better way to celebrate America’s birthday than with the all-American hot dog,” said Janet Riley, National Hot Dog and Sausage Council president and ‘Queen of Wien.’ “No matter how you top it, the hot dog is the food that everyone craves to make the Independence Day weekend complete.”

To celebrate the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (NHDSC) is offering fans and chance to win hot dogs and other prizes by creating a bumper sticker slogan.  Hot Dog enthusiasts can submit up to three clever slogans to contest@hot-dog.org by Junly 10.  Finalist slogans will be featured on the Facebook page, where fans will vote for their favorite.  The winner will be announced on July 22, National Hot Dog Day.

“Hot dogs aren’t just great for backyard barbecues, they’re also great road trip food, so we decided to combine these two American pastimes,” said Riley. “With the bumper sticker, people can share their hot dog love wherever they go.”

The person who submits the best bumper sticker slogan will win a $100 gift card for their favorite hot dogs plus a Curl-A-Dog spiral hot dog slicer. Second place wins a $50 gift card for their favorite hot dogs. The top three choices will all win NHDSC t-shirts and a bumper sticker with the winning slogan. Full contest guidelines and rules are available at http://www.hot-dog.org/media/contests.

To see how hot dogs are made, review an etiquette guide, read hot dog history, and learn trivia visit the website.

Agribusiness, Food

‘Shark Tank’ Investor to Address AFBF Annual Convention

John Davis

sharkFarmers certainly know a lot about investing their money… and if the rain doesn’t stop in the Midwest, they might be swimming with the sharks, figuratively and literally! Seems only appropriate that the American Farm Bureau Federation will have “Shark Tank” investor Barbara Corcoran give the keynote address at the group’s 97th Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show in Orlando, Florida, on Jan. 11, 2016.

Corcoran, one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the country, turned a $1,000 loan into a $5 billion real estate business. She is currently an investor on ABC’s No. 1 show on Friday night, “Shark Tank” and has helped more than 30 entrepreneurs succeed in their respective industries.

“We are excited to have Barbara Corcoran as one of our keynote speakers,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman. “American Farm Bureau is extremely supportive of rural entrepreneurs. Providing our members the opportunity to learn from one of the most successful businesswomen in the nation is a great fit with our Farm Bureau Rural Entrepreneurship Challenge.”

The challenge provides an opportunity for individuals to showcase ideas and business innovations being cultivated in rural regions of the United States. Nearly $145,000 is up for grabs to help competitors finance their business ventures. Finalist teams for the 2016 competition will be announced Oct. 15.

Farm Bureau members can register for the 97th AFBF Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show through their state Farm Bureaus or online through AFBF at http://annualconvention.fb.org starting in September.

AFBF, Ag Groups, Agribusiness

New FAPRI Report Shows ARC, PLC Picks

John Davis

fapri-logoA new report from the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute at the University of Missouri (FAPRI-MU) shows how many farmers are using Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) plans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Highlights from the report, titled, “U.S. crop program fiscal costs: Revised estimates with updated participation information,” include:

· The FAPRI-MU baseline anticipated that most corn and soybean producers would elect ARC, because average ARC payments were projected to exceed PLC payments for those crops. Election results show that even more corn and soybean producers chose ARC than had been expected.

· For wheat, we expected a more even split, with 60 percent choosing PLC, given a closer balance of projected payments. Instead, a narrow majority chose ARC.

· As expected, given projected payments, the vast majority of long grain rice and peanut producers chose PLC, as did smaller majorities of sorghum and barley producers.

· The reallocation of base acreage resulted in more base acres for corn, rice and peanuts, crops that have larger projected ARC or PLC payments than most other crops.

Based on this new information, FAPRI expects increased outlays associated with the 2014 and 2015 crops, especially for corn. In 2017 and 2018, outlays are expected to drop.

Agribusiness, ARC, USDA

Record Beans, Lower Corn in New Acreage Report

Cindy Zimmerman

USDAThe U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) estimates 85.1 million acres of soybeans planted in the United States this year, up two percent from last year and setting a new record high. In contrast, growers planted an estimated 88.9 million acres to corn, the lowest corn acreage since 2010.

Record high soybean planted acreage is estimated in Kentucky, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. However, planting delays in Missouri may change the numbers and USDA is planning to resurvey. The latest crop progress report shows Missouri soybean planting is only 62 percent complete, about 30 percent behind average. Planting is also behind in Arkansas and Kansas. To ensure accurate final estimates for all crops, NASS will resurvey growers in these states and if the new data shows any changes to the current estimates, NASS will publish updated estimates in its Crop Production report on August 12.

All cotton planted area for 2015 is estimated at 9.0 million acres, down 18 percent from last year and the lowest cotton acreage in the United States since 1983. A significant percentage of cotton acres also remained to be planted due to weather in Texas, which representing 58 percent of total U.S. acreage.

All wheat planted area for 2015 is estimated at 56.1 million acres, down one percent from 2014.

Louise Gartner of Spectrum Commodities analyzed both the Planted Acreage report and the Grain Stocks report in today’s Minneapolis Grain Exchange (MGEX) crop report conference call. MGEX crop report commentary call

Audio, Corn, Cotton, Soybean, USDA, Wheat

AGree Report Calls for Food & Ag Research Reform

John Davis

AGree1A new report calls for reforms in food and ag research. AGree, a group that’s supported by leading foundations that fund food and agriculture, international development, and health and well-being, unveiled its comprehensive report on food and ag research, “Research & Innovation: Strengthening Agricultural Research,” which includes nine recommendations to strengthen the impact of public research dollars by reforming the system and also makes the case for increased research funding.

“We need to make a smart investment even smarter,” said Deborah Atwood, Executive Director of AGree. “The need to modernize our research system has long been discussed behind closed doors – now it’s time to have an open national conversation about needed changes.”

The recommendations were developed based on meetings held across the country throughout a two year period involving more than 100 people. They were further informed by five Point of View papers commissioned by AGree, and guided by the direct engagement and insight of AGree Co-Chairs and Advisors. They are:

– Scrutinize and modernize federal funding mechanisms for public research, education, and extension to foster innovation and maximize public benefits.
– Review and reset publicly-funded research priorities periodically, employing a transparent process with input from multiple stakeholders and end users to ensure that funds are focused on high-impact areas.
– Minimize duplicative efforts and unnecessary costs by assessing the existing research infrastructure and improving grant monitoring and tracking systems.
– Target public research funding to areas unlikely to be addressed by private industry.
– Increase Congressional oversight of the U.S. agricultural research enterprise.
– Make data, information, and findings from publicly-funded research accessible.
– Strengthen the role of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Chief Scientist to help ensure the U.S. continues to serve as a global leader on food and agricultural research and innovation.
– Integrate research, education, and extension activities to promote coordination across each of these three interconnected elements at the university level.
– Maintain U.S. leadership and engagement in international food and agricultural research.

The next steps for AGree include convening a diverse coalition of thought leaders to coalesce around smart, long-term changes to the public food and agricultural research enterprise.

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Research

Calling All Drone Buffs – Interdrone

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast 480Got Drone? Want Drone? Then plan to attend Interdrone! It’s Interdrone, the International Drone Conference & Expo, taking place in Las Vegas, September 9-11.

InterdroneAgWired is a media sponsor for Interdrone and I hope to attend the show to provide coverage right here and on Precision.AgWired.com. I talked with Ted Bahr, President/CEO, BZ Media, the company that is conducting the show to learn more about it.

Registration is open and a lot of people have already taken care of it. One of the interesting components of the show is a drone flying area inside for vendors to show off their products. A number of ag focused companies are on the list and precision ag is on the program. Get a full overview of the program by listening to my conversation with Ted.

Listen to my conversation with Ted in this week’s program: 2015 Interdrone Conference

Subscribe to the ZimmCast podcast here.

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Audio, ZimmCast

July 4th Cookout is Less Than $6 Per Person

Kelly Marshall

afbf summer cookoutThe American Farm Bureau reports that all your favorite cookout foods will cost you less than $6.00 per person.  If you like hot dogs, cheeseburgers, pork spare ribs, potato salad, bakes beans, lemonade and chocolate milk, you’re in luck.  The cost of of $5.58 is actually a 3-percent decrease from prices a year ago.

“Based on our survey, food prices overall appear to be fairly stable. Prices for beef have continued to increase this year, but prices for other meats are generally declining. Dairy product prices are also quite a bit lower,” said John Anderson, deputy chief economist at AFBF.

“Meat production is starting to increase substantially. Beef prices have started to stabilize but have not declined yet. On the other hand, retail pork prices have been declining all year,” Anderson continued.  “Fuel and other energy prices have also generally been lower so far this year compared to last year.  This helps keep prices down on the more processed items in the basket. Energy is an important component of the final price for these products.”

A total of 88 Farm Bureau members (volunteer shoppers) in 30 states checked retail prices for summer cookout foods at their local grocery stores for this informal survey.  The summer cookout survey is part of the Farm Bureau marketbasket series which also includes the popular annual Thanksgiving Dinner Cost Survey and two “everyday” marketbasket surveys on common food staples Americans use to prepare meals at home. A squad of Farm Bureau members across the nation checks retail prices at local grocery stores for the marketbasket surveys.

A breakdown of food costs for the last three years can be found on the AFBF website.

AFBF, Ag Groups, Food

TPA Signed With Eye Toward New Agreements

Cindy Zimmerman

tpa-obamaPresident Obama signed two trade bills passed by Congress on Monday, one authorizing Trade Promotion Authority and one renewing Trade Adjustment Assistance. The president pointed out that while the bills will help negotiations move forward on trade agreements such as the Transpacific Partnership (TPP) and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP), they are not the actual agreements.

“We still have some tough negotiation that is going to be taking place,” said Obama. “The debate on a particular provision of trade will not end with this bill signing.” President Obama signs trade bills

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, who joined the president as he signed the bills, says U.S. agriculture will benefit as trade negotiations move forward now. “This sets a framework for being able to do that,” Vilsack told USDA Radio. “And we know if it gets done, we’re going to see increased agricultural sales, increased exports, better paying jobs, and it’s certainly going to be beneficial to rural America.” Vilsack comments on trade bill signing

“President Obama’s signature today opens the door to creating new trade partnerships around the world that will drive American business forward in the international marketplace,” said American Farm Bureau Federation president Bob Stallman. “U.S. agriculture is ready for ambitious trade agreements that break down barriers to products grown and made in America, so our trading partners know we mean business.”

AFBF, Audio, Trade, USDA

American Agri-Women Present ‘Champion of Ag’ Awards

John Davis

The American Agri-Women (AAW) presented Sen. John Hoeven of North Dakota and Rep. Mike Conaway of Texas with its “Champion of Agriculture” awards. This news release from the group – the nation’s largest coalition of farm, ranch and agribusiness women – says the the award goes to outstanding members of the U.S. Congress for their steadfast courage in upholding the ideals of American agriculture to their peers.

HoevenHoeven … is a strong proponent of the ag industry and supports AAW positions on private property and water rights. He is a cosponsor of the Death Tax Repeal Act of 2015, which was introduced by Senator John Thune of South Dakota earlier this spring. This bill helps family farms thrive from generation to generation.

Hoeven serves on the Senate Agriculture Committee, the Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture and was a member of the conference committee that negotiated the final 2014 Farm Bill.

“Sen. Hoeven supports many of our legislative positions. For instance, he share our concern about the overreach of regulatory agencies, such as EPA and the ‘Waters of the U.S.’ definition of the Clean Water Act. He also supports programs that balance conservation concerns and private land use,” says AAW President Sue McCrum, who is part of a fifth generation family farm in Maine. “We respect his bipartisan approach to politics and are pleased to recognize him as a 2015 Champion of Agriculture.”

ConawayConaway serves as chair of the House Committee on Agriculture [among other key committees in the House].

“Rep. Conaway works to ensure that farmers and ranchers are supported, not hindered, by the federal government. He also works to reduce the regulatory overreach of agencies such as the EPA that adversely affects farmers’ and ranchers’ ability to produce food,” says AAW President Sue McCrum, who is part of a fifth generation family farm in Maine. “We are pleased to thank him for his support for him by recognizing him as a 2015 Champion of Agriculture.”

Past recipients include Rep. Frank Lucas of Oklahoma; Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, Rep. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Rep. Dennis Cardoza of California, Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas, Rep. Collin Peterson of Minnesota and Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma.

Ag Groups