Illinois Farmers Dealing with Challenging Year

Cindy Zimmerman

basf-IL-panelCentral Illinois has definitely gotten a lot of water this growing season so far and corn and soybean farmers are having to adjust their plans accordingly.

During a panel discussion at the BASF Midwest Research Farm this week, we heard from a farmer and his team of advisers on just how this season is impacting crops in the region. From left to right pictured here are farmer Mark Winship from Canton, Illinois; BASF customer business representative Lance Roskamp; Shannon Chenoweth, Fulton FS crop consultant; and BASF Innovation Specialist Dave Phelps.

basf-IL-markWinship says the season started out good but started going bad in June with record rainfall and all the problems that have come with that. “Flooding, drowned out spots in the field, weed control, getting beans sprayed, all that,” said Winship. “It’s not a good situation right now.” Interview with Illinois farmer Mark Winship

That same situation is being experienced by growers across Illinois and Fulton County where Winship farms is one of the hardest hit areas. “The corn up until about three weeks ago was phenomenal,” said Chenoweth. “Anywhere from 15 to 20 inches of rain in June has definitely taking it’s toll.”

basf-IL-shannonWhile growers work with their consultants to develop a weed control plan for the season, Mother Nature sometimes causes the best laid plans to change. “We had Plan A, everything was working well, we were able to stick to it until about the second week of May,” said Chenoweth. Then the rains came and growers have just not been able to get in the fields to spray so the weeds are getting away from them. “I’ve got the biggest weeds I’ve ever had to spray before,” he said. Interview with Shannon Chenoweth, Fulton FS

During the panel discussion, Roskamp and Phelps talked about their roles in helping growers like Winship adapt their weed control plans in the face of adverse conditions to take advantage of the windows as they become available and take care of disease problems which are also starting to develop.

Listen to the panel discussion, moderated by BASF’s AJ Woodyard, here: BASF Midwest Research Farm panel

Driving from Bloomington to Champaign and back this week I was able to see the problems in the fields and would have liked to have taken some photos to share, but … yeah, it was raining. Not only that, today the temperature dropped to about 58 degrees with steady rainfall – not like July at all!

BASF Midwest Research Farm photo album

Audio, BASF, Crop Protection, Farming, GROWMARK, Weather, weed management

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

Zimfo Bytes

Zimfo Bytes

New Coffee Table Book Highlights IH Equipment

John Davis

redcombinesA new book recounts the glories of International Harvester and Case IH equipment. Octane Press says the book, “Red Combines 1915–2015,” comes out this September and chronicles the complete story of the most significant piece of farm equipment built in the 20th century.

The 384-page coffee table book is also a tribute to the people who invented the machine that helped shaped the farm as we know it today. Recounting the combine’s remarkable evolution, the book captures behind-the-scenes drama and clandestine encounters with rival companies, personnel and machines. Starting with research conducted by a rogue Swedish engineer in the 1950s and continued by a group of dedicated engineers who did their work in a top-secret garage, the book details how extensive research and development allowed International Harvester (IH) to build a new machine that took the market by storm.

Red Combines 1915–2015 includes detailed accounts by a host of authors and researchers, alongside more than 300 archival images, concept drawings, sketches, and new photography depicting the machines and men at work today. The six-pound volume is the result of dozens of interviews with engineers, salespeople, and customers — all under the direction of Lee Klancher, who serves as the project’s lead author and photo editor.

Klancher has overseen the development of some of the most-respected and best-selling books in the transportation niche, including Red Tractors 1958–2013, which has sold 16,000 copies and was the recipient of a “Gold” Benjamin Franklin Award and “Bronze” Independent Book Publisher Award.

Case IH

Summer is Great Time for Farm Pics

Kelly Marshall

AFBF-Photo ContestDon’t forget!  AFBF  is reminding you of the opportunity to take summer photographs in preparation for the 2015 Farm Bureau Photo Contest.  Any Farm Bureau member 18 years and older at the time of entry is eligible to submit pics, including state/county staff and professional photographers.

“Now is a great time to get pictures of farmers and ranchers working safely during harvest, working in the garden or even selling their goods at farmers’ markets,” said Kim Baker, AFBF’s assistant director, creative services. “The summer months offer endless opportunities to shoot diverse photos of American agriculture.”

Photo submissions will be used to accurately portray today’s agriculture and the safe practices of farmers and ranchers. Additionally, submissions will also be used for future publications, promotions and social media by AFBF and related companies. All photos submitted must exemplify safe practices on the farm or ranch.

The contest is open for submissions until March 31, 2016. Photos may be entered in four categories: Farm Families, Farm Labor, Technology and Consumer Outreach. Monetary prizes will be awarded to the top three placing photos from each category. First place winners will be awarded $150, second place $100 and third place $75.

Keep an eye on Farm Bureau’s social media and website to see the winners announced on April 15, 2016.

AFBF, Ag Groups

Visit to @BASFAgProducts Midwest Research Farm

Cindy Zimmerman

basf-field-IL-ajOut in the Illinois countryside just a little southwest of Champaign is the BASF Midwest Research Farm (MWRF), which the company has developed into a showcase for the latest in crop development trials and stewardship practices.

“Several years ago we were farming about 45 acres worth of plots at this site and not really doing a whole lot of customer interaction,” said BASF Crop Production Specialist AJ Woodyard during a tour this week for agricultural journalists. “Today we’re running about 1500 customers through here in the summer with 200 acres of plots focused on not only development of new chemistry but also a lot relevant agronomic information for growers.”

Woodyard says visitors to the farm range from local growers and retailers to international guests. The media folks who visited Tuesday heard about some of the challenges facing the region this growing season, took a plot tour, and got an update on Engenia herbicide, which they are hoping will receive federal approval by the end of the year. We also learned about how BASF is educating growers about proper herbicide application and about the new Grow Smart approach working with farmers to get the most out of every acre.

Listen to my interview with AJ here to learn more about the research farm: Interview with AJ Woodyard, BASF

Listen to an overview of the farm from AJ: Overview of BASF Midwest Research Farm

BASF Midwest Research Farm photo album

Agribusiness, Audio, BASF, Corn, Crop Protection, Research, Soybean

Recipe Showdown Launched by Sorghum Checkoff

Kelly Marshall

Sorghum ShowdownIf you’ve got a great recipe that uses sorghum, the Sorghum Checkoff is looking for you!  The contest goes through the month of July.  Recipes including sorghum whole or pearled grain, flour, syrup, popped, flaked or bran are welcomed.

“This is a great opportunity for people to explore the benefits and versatility of cooking with sorghum,” said Doug Bice, Sorghum Checkoff high value markets director. “Sorghum has really taken off as a food ingredient, and this recipe contest will help express why sorghum is the smart choice for all your culinary needs.”

Sorghum Showdown2To enter the Sorghum Recipe Showdown, participants must submit their entry form, original recipe and a high resolution photo. Alternatively, participants may post the recipe with a photo of the dish on their blog and then Pin the recipe to Pinterest with the tag #tastesorghum in the description. All entries must be posted and submitted or pinned between July 1, 2015, and July 31, 2015.

“We have some great prizes for winners,” Bice said. “First place will take home $500 cash, second place will win a custom Dutch oven, and third place will receive a Sorghum: The Smart Choice® apron. I would encourage everyone to get involved whether this will be your first or 100th time to cook with sorghum.”

Look for winners to be announced on September 1, 2015. Visit SorghumShowdown.com for full contest details.

sorghum

Commodity Classic Trade Show Grows with AEM

Chuck Zimmerman

Commodity ClassicCommodity Classic has announced the opening of the trade show floor for the 2016 Commodity Classic in New Orleans, March 3-5, 2016. In 2016 the inclusion of what was AEM’s AG CONNECT will offer more floor space opportunities.

“The increased size of the trade show floor in New Orleans provides additional space for new exhibitors and a perfect opportunity for companies who have been wanting to participate in Commodity Classic,” said Sam Butler, an Alabama soybean farmer and Commodity Classic Co-Chair. “This is where the nation’s top farmers come to learn what’s new and become even better at what they do. And it’s where the companies that want to reach those farmers come to exhibit.”

The remaining exhibit space will likely be sold quickly, so exhibitors are urged to stake their claims as soon as possible. “This is a rare opportunity to have a good inventory of available exhibit space,” Butler said. “But companies should act quickly if they want to ensure their place in New Orleans.”

AEM, Commodity Classic

Agri-Pulse Open Mic with Rep. John Shimkus

John Davis

Agri-Pulse Open Mic this week features Rep. John Shimkus.

open-mic The Illinois Republican is pleased with the results of the first six months of the 114th Congress but admits difficult votes lie ahead on spending and regulatory overreach. Shimkus supports free trade and believes leadership should withhold opposition to the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal until the final rules of the pact are known. As a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Shimkus says Washington needs to act on a GMO labeling rule and believes the retail sector could be the answer to the renewable fuel volume debate.

Click here to listen to Agri-Pulse Open Mic with Rep. John Shimkus.

Agri-Pulse, Audio

Bowman Wins Samsung Galaxy Tab S – AgNerd

Chuck Zimmerman

Contest-Banner-2I guess Ray Bowman is an AgNerd. Now he’s an AgNerd with a new tool – Galaxy Tab S Android Tablet. That’s because Ray has won the drawing in the ZimmComm AgNerd Giveaway! Ray is the owner of Jerusalem Ridge Farms and President/CEO, Farmstead Media Group.

We had entries from 26 states and in a fair random drawing Cindy reached her hand in and picked out the ticket with Ray’s name on it. So here’s what he’s getting:

Samsung Galaxy S Tab Specs:

  • Super AMOLED® display (1600 x 2560)
  • Our thinnest (0.26″) and lightest (1.02 lbs.) yet
  • Unique innovations like Fingerprint Scanner, Multi-window™, and more
  • Get up to 9 hours of battery life, and even more with Ultra Power Saving Mode

Thanks to everyone who participated in our little contest. It’s a mobile world and AgWired wants to help you adapt! I’m going back to the ZimmComm gadget stash to see what we can come up with for our next AgNerd Giveaway.

Gadgets, ZimmComm Announcement

iCropTrak at InfoAg Conference

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast 481The InfoAg Conference is only four weeks away and companies like iCropTrak are getting excited to showcase their products to a record setting crowd in St. Louis. iCropTrak has been a supporter of ours for several years now and I look forward to visiting with them in the trade show and during a session I will be moderating that includes iCropTrak on the program.

iCropTrakI spoke with long time AgWired supporter, Aaron Hutchinson, iCropTrak, about what’s new and what we can expect to see when visiting the company during InfoAg. They’ll be in booth 85. Aaron says they’ll be showing the new 6.1 release of their software. He says the key word this year is reporting with customers needing pixel perfect government forms and the ability to create them faster. So there’s a new software plugin that allows that to happen.

Listen to my conversation with Aaron in this week’s program: Visit iCropTrak at InfoAg

Subscribe to the ZimmCast podcast here.

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Agribusiness, Audio, CropTrak, Info Ag, Precision Agriculture, ZimmCast