The Grass Is Always Greener On The Other Side Of The…Road?

Melissa Sandfort August 13, 2015

Today Aunt Jeanette writes:

We had a very welcome 1.50 inches of rain last week. This always brings a new, fresh outlook on the farm. The tired irrigation engines can be turned off and the exhausted irrigators can enjoy a little break from watering. The grass looks greener, the flowers bloom brighter, the cows munch contentedly on the sweet, tender pasture grass, the locusts and frogs sing happily from the trees and ponds, and the turtles – hmmm – well, the turtles cross the road to see what is on the other side.

Dan was looking out the kitchen window, when suddenly I heard, “What is THAT?” We looked closer and saw this huge old snapping turtle just sitting in the middle of the driveway. Of course we went out to investigate. He didn’t seem bothered by us, and, as people started driving in to begin their day’s work, I imagined a little smile on the old snapper’s face. He probably hadn’t had quite this much attention before or had his picture taken so many times.

As we went about our day I kept glancing out the window to make sure nothing had happened to him. He was there every time I looked. However, even a turtle can only stay in one place for so long. When I looked again, he had turned around and begun his trek back to the pond across the road. I laughed as I watched him get sidetracked by this puddle of water and begin “playing” in it. He reminded me of three little boys who hadn’t been able to resist splashing through every mud puddle they could find!

I didn’t see him cross the road, but I am quite certain he is back home in his pond. He apparently didn’t find anything green enough to keep him on this side of the road.

Until we walk again …

Uncategorized

New Holland Looks to Take Manual Out of Data Transfer

John Davis August 13, 2015

For years, there’s been no problem with generating data with farm equipment. The issue came with the extra chore too many farmers had to perform at the end of the day and manually transfer information from a USB stick to their computer back in their home office. During the recent InfoAg Conference, Chuck caught up with Chris Carrier from New Holland to talk about the company’s Precision Land Management (PLM) Connect, which looks to take the manual, extra chore out of that data transfer.

“Our PLM Connect platform … uses the cloud to not only transmitting the machine data, but getting into agronomic data, helping the growers get the field data into the cloud easily and having a secure place to keep that data until [they can get it to a place where] they can bring value to it, improving yields and profitability,” Carrier explained.

He says New Holland has been very deliberate in making sure their system is open and connected so it works with a variety of other service providers and to make sure producers are able to get the information gathered, even from other brands, into a place where they can use it. Carrier adds that being at InfoAg has helped facilitate the idea of openness. “That’s one of the great things about this conference: you’re able to start collaborating with a lot of other providers that are here. That’s key for us.”

Listen to all of Chuck’s interview with Chris here: Interview with Chris Carrier, New Holland

2015 InfoAg Conference Photo Album

data, Info Ag, New Holland

Farm Bureau: EPA Massively Increasing Its Authority

John Davis August 13, 2015

New maps released by Farm Bureau shows the federal government is massively increasing its authority at the cost of American producers. This news release from the group says the Environmental Protection Agency will radically expand its jurisdiction over land use if its controversial Waters of the United States rule takes effect as expected Aug. 28. That expansion comes even as major parts of the rule remain largely incomprehensible to experts and laypeople, alike.

The maps, prepared by Geosyntec Consulting, show the dramatic expansion of EPA’s regulatory reach, stretching across wide swaths of land in Pennsylvania, Virginia and Montana. In Pennsylvania, for example, 99 percent of the state’s total acreage is subject to EPA scrutiny. Landowners have no reliable way to know which of the water and land within that area will be regulated, yet they must still conform their activities to the new law.

“Farmers face enforcement action and severe penalties under EPA’s new rule for using the same safe, scientifically sound and federally approved crop protection tools they’ve used for years,” AFBF President Bob Stallman said. “This rule creates a new set of tools for harassing farmers in court, and does it all with language that is disturbingly vague and subject to abuse by future regulators. It’s worth saying again: The EPA needs to withdraw this rule and start over.”

Farm Bureau says the additions to the Clean Water Act will prohibit many common agricultural practices in or around many ephemeral features.

AFBF, Ag Groups, EPA, Water

Big Crowd for @USFRA Food Dialogues in Minnesota

Cindy Zimmerman August 12, 2015

It was a packed house last night at the USFRA Food Dialogues in Minneapolis entitled “Farm to Consumer: Bridging the Gap between Consumer Concerns and Food Production and Sourcing Decisions.”

Chuck was supposed to be there but had his flight cancelled and at the last minute our amazing summer intern Lizzy Shultz drove from Madison to fill in.

The event, which was co-sponsored by our friends at the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council and the Nebraska Soybean Board, was moderated by Bloomberg agriculture policy journalist Alan Bjerga, who is a veteran of the Food Dialogues. “I was asked to moderate, I think it was their first event, in Washington DC, and I also moderated an event in Boston,” said Bjerga in an interview with Lizzy. “It’s been a way to have a conversation about agriculture that’s brought a lot of diverse interests together.” Bjerga adds that it’s very important for the agriculture community to get out in front of the food-consuming public and discuss topical issues.

Listen to Bjerga’s comments in this interview with Lizzy: Interview with Alan Bjerga, Food Dialogues moderator

USFRA Food Dialogues Minneapolis Photo Album

Audio, Food, USFRA

Ayrestone Productivity Making Data Transer Efficient

Chuck Zimmerman August 12, 2015

There’s a revolution coming in agriculture, and it has to do with technology and how data is managed.

“There’s just a lot more devices today that talk on a network and more coming all the time,” Bill Moffitt with Ayrstone Productivity told Chuck during the recent InfoAg Conference. His company offers producers long-range wi-fi networks that can cover up to 100 thousand acres! “All those devices generate data, and what we do is move data from where it’s generated to where it needs to be used.”

Bill adds that all those devices come with their own bills for network charges. A wi-fi system from Ayrstone can eliminate those bills while giving the producers the connectivity they truly need. For the future, he said data will continue to be increasingly important on the farm. The key is keeping data integrity during all the transfers.

Bill said he likes coming to InfoAg because of the people who attend bring a lot of great ideas to discuss.

“[We see] a really good back and forth with people who know what they’re doing, use our products, use competing products and give me really solid feedback. That alone is worth the price of admission,” he said.

Listen to all of my interview with Bill here: Interview with Bill Moffitt with Ayrstone

This story is one of many we found at the recent InfoAg Conference. You can find many more on the AgWired Precision website.

2015 InfoAg Conference Photo Album

Coverage of the InfoAg Conference is sponsored by

Audio, Info Ag, Precision Agriculture, Technology

Planted Acreage Update From USDA

Cindy Zimmerman August 12, 2015

USDA is forecasting the third largest corn crop and the second largest soybean crop on record in a new planted acreage update released today.

U.S. growers are forecast to produce 13.7 billion bushels of corn this year, according to the report from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). That is actually a four percent decrease from last year’s production, but if realized will be the third largest production on record.

Overall, the report says that growers nationwide planted 88.9 million acres to corn, unchanged from the June estimate. As of August 2, 70 percent of U.S. corn was reported to be in good or excellent condition, three percentage points below the same time last year.

U.S. soybean growers are now forecast produce the second largest crop on record although one percent less than last year. NASS forecasts U.S. soybean production of 3.92 billion bushels with a yield of 46.9 bushels per acre, which would also be the second largest on record, down 0.9 bushels per acre from the record set in 2014. Growers are expected to set new record-highs in Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Virginia.

Today’s report also included the first production forecast for U.S. cotton. NASS forecasts all cotton production at 13.1 million 480-pound bales, down 20 percent from last year. Yield is expected to average 795 pound per harvested acre, down 43 pounds from last year.

Wheat production is forecast up from 2014. According to the report, all wheat production is expected to total 2.14 billion bushels this year, up 5 percent from 2014. Based on August 1 conditions, NASS forecasts the all wheat yield at 44.1 bushels per acre, up 0.4 bushels from last year.

Jack Scoville of the PRICE Futures Group analyzed what he called a “smoking” report for the Minneapolis Grain Exchange crop call. MGEX Crop Call with Jack Scoville

Audio, Corn, Cotton, Soybean, USDA, Wheat

Cheese & Beverage Pairing App

Jamie Johansen August 12, 2015

To the delight of cheese-loving smartphone users, the Wisconsin Cheese Cupid cheese and beverage-pairing app from Wisconsin Cheese is now available for Android mobile devices. Developed by the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, Wisconsin Cheese Cupid takes the guesswork out of pairing cheese with wine, beer and spirits. With its easy-to-use features, the app can help users create expert pairings on the spot wherever they may be – the cheese counter, beer aisle or liquor store. An updated version of the iOS mobile app is also available.

Named a “Food and Wine Essential” by the iTunes App Store, the updated app allows users to browse by specific cheese variety or play a game of Pairing Roulette and be served up a delicious cheese and drink pairing at random with the touch of a button or the shake of a smartphone.

Ag Groups, Apps, Dairy, Food

Great American Wheat Harvest Nominated for Award

Kelly Marshall August 11, 2015

The Great American Wheat Harvest film has been nominated for a regional EMMY® Award! The Mid-America Chapter of National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences revealed the nominees for the 2015 Regional EMMY® Awards. Great American Wheat Harvest has been nominated in the documentary-cultural category.

The film aired on WQPT (Quad Citiies PBS) this past February, and consequently qualified to be submitted for the nomination. As one of nineteen regional chapters of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the Mid-America Chapter is the standard-bearer for excellence in the television broadcasting industry and the gatekeepers of the prestigious regional EMMY® Awards. Mid-America represents the most experienced and talented television professionals from all disciplines of the industry in the region.

It’s really an honor be considered for an EMMY® Award; it’s the culmination of a lot of hard work and persistence in getting our film to an audience who needs to see it. This nomination is also a tribute to the farmers and harvesters who work hard, year in and year out, to bring food to our tables.

Winners will be announced at a Gala on Saturday, October 3, 2015 at the Marriott St. Louis Grand Hotel in St. Louis, Missouri. Our best wishes for a golden statue.

Harvest, Wheat

West Central New to #AgMedia Expo

Cindy Zimmerman August 11, 2015

New to the Ag Media Summit (AMS) Info Expo this year was West Central Distribution of Willmar, Minnesota.

“We’re a wholesale distributor of farm inputs,” said Jesse Cler, Focus Product Marketing Manager for the company. “So we stock the shelves for retailer and create a business partnership with them and help to grow their business.”

Cler says they came to AMS to connect with ag editors to help get information out about their company. “It’s really important for growers to have information on the cutting edge of agriculture,” he said, adding that he was very impressed by how they were received at the event as a new exhibitor and attendee.

Listen to my interview with Jesse here. Interview with Jesse Cler, West Central Distribution

2015 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

Coverage of the Ag Media Summit is sponsored by

Ag Media Summit, Audio

Partnership Launches No-Cost Farm Transition Project

John Davis August 11, 2015

A group of educators and agricultural consultants is launching a new, no-cost farm transition planning project to make sure farmland stays in families’ hands. Ag Transition Partners, supported by American Agri-Women, a coalition of farm, ranch and agri-business women is offering the project with webinars, on-site or virtual coaching and action plan templates. The project’s multi-layer approach sets it apart from other planning processes, better helping farm families ensure the legacy of their operations.

This project is free for participating farm families and is made possible through a grant from North Central Extension Risk Management Education Center (NCERMEC) and the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

According to some studies, an estimated 70% of farms and farmland will transition ownership in the next 20 years and fewer than 50% of farmers have estate plans; less than 70% have named successors; and less than 11% have farm business transition plans in place. The consequences of a failure to plan can be severe.

More information, including registration for the webinars, is available here.

Ag Groups

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