BASF Survey Says Farmers Concerned About Risk

Cindy Zimmerman February 25, 2015

No doubt farming is a risky business or everyone would do it, but this year more than ever farmers are concerned about managing financial risk and worried about potential commodity price fluctuations.

According to a survey of over 200 farmers, BASF Crop Protection found that farmers are very or extremely concerned about managing financial risk in the coming season, and a full 90% say they are concerned about commodity price fluctuation. In addition, BASF Vice President for US Crop Protection Scott Kay said they found farmers would feel better if they had someone to share that risk. “60% of them said they would like to partner with a chemical manufacturer to help me make better decisions moving forward,” said Kay. In addition, 55% said risk sharing with a crop protection company would “give them peace of mind.”

Kay invites farmers to visit with BASF during Commodity Classic this week to find out how they can work together. Interview with Scott Kay, BASF

Stay tuned to find out what’s new from this 150 year old company!

2015 BASF Science Behind Photos

Audio, BASF

Learning More About BASF ecovio®

Cindy Zimmerman February 25, 2015

You might recall that we first told you about BASF ecovio® compostable polymer after the ASTA CSS meeting in December. That was the first we heard about this amazing material that has a variety of agricultural applications and at the Science Behind event on Wednesday agricultural media got to touch and feel it and learn more about it.

Ruth Watts with BASF’s Biopolymers Group in North America highlighted the use of this material for mulch applications. “The molecular structure is designed specifically to be designed to be recognized as food for microbes (in soil) … it basically becomes biomass, CO2 and water,” Watts explains.

Which makes it a more sustainable, environmentally-friendly mulch film, which is traditionally polyethylene and used for weed and water management and maximizing soil quality. It’s been used in Asia and Europe for a couple of years already and Watts says it is now available in the United States, particularly for high value fruit and vegetable crops like tomatoes, peppers, and melons.

Learn more about ecovio in Ruth’s short presentation at the Science Behind and my interview with her: Ruth Watts, BASF Biopolymers Group, at the Science Behind Interview with Ruth Watts, BASF Biopolymers Group

Stay tuned to find out what’s new from this 150 year old company!

2015 BASF Science Behind Photos

Audio, BASF, Crop Protection

BASF Celebrates 150 Years of Science

Cindy Zimmerman February 25, 2015

Since 2015 marks the 150th anniversary of BASF, our friends with BASF Crop Protection are pleased to kick off this anniversary year in the U.S. with the 9th annual media symposium, the Science Behind the Right Chemistry, prior to the official start of Commodity Classic in Phoenix, Arizona. Opening the big event was Technical Crop Production Specialist AJ Woodyard and Vice President for US Crop Protection Scott Kay.

BASF was founded in 1865 as Badische Anilin und Soda-Fabrik (hence the BASF acronym) in Ludwigshafen, Germany, and since that time has played a key role in turning family farms into the modern operations they are today.

Joining the Science Behind event via Skype from RTP headquarters, where he said there was a “blizzard” underway, was Senior VP Crop Protection Paul Rea. “Conscientious care toward the environment and society are two of the reasons for our long-term success,” said Rea. “Sustainability is a core value that has supported our growth since 1865 into the world’s largest chemical company, and will take us into the next 150 years.”

Rea told us that from 2015 to 2019, BASF Crop Protection plans to introduce 45 new products to help growers increase yield potential and grow more and better crops. The new products will join the already big BASF portfolio of industry-leading products including Priaxor® fungicide, Xanthion™ In-furrow fungicide, Limus® nitrogen management, Kixor® herbicide technology, and Engenia™ herbicide, which will be BASF’s most advanced formulation of dicamba. Engenia herbicide is expected to receive U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registration this year.

Listen to Paul Rea via Skype at #ScienceBehind15 here: BASF Senior VP Crop Protection Paul Rea

Stay tuned to find out what’s new from this 150 year old company!

2015 BASF Science Behind Photos

Agribusiness, Audio, BASF, Crop Protection

Bayer Inaugural Produce Innovation Award

Chuck Zimmerman February 25, 2015

Bayer CropScience started a new award program at this year’s Ag Issues Forum – the Produce Innovation Award. The first recipient is Chalmers R. Carr III, owner and president of Titan Farms in Ridge Springs, S.C. Accepting the award is his wife Lori Anne Carr.

A first-generation farmer, Carr manages 6,100 acres of peaches, peppers and broccoli on an operation that spans over 20 miles. His achievements in the areas of improving product quality, increasing market demand, supporting consumer education on health benefits and increasing the accessibility of produce to more people exemplify the spirit of innovation the Produce Innovation Award is designed to honor.

Carr and his wife, Lori Anne, purchased Titan Farms in 1999 and have since grown the operation 400 percent, from 1,500 acres to 6,100 acres. At the production level, the Carrs attribute their success with yield and quality to an uncompromising focus on employee training and retention, precision ag technology and a team-based approach to farm management.

“Any success we have begins and ends with our employees,” said Carr. “Everyone here has ownership in the products we grow, harvest and ship. And we firmly believe our investment in employee training and support programs pays enormous dividends in product quality and yield.”

Listen in to Lori Anne Carr’s remarks here: Lori Anne Carr Remarks

Photos: 2015 Ag Issues Forum Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Bayer, Produce

Bayer Young Farmer Sustainability Award

Chuck Zimmerman February 25, 2015

Last night Bayer CropScience announced this year’s Young Farmer Sustainability Award Winner, Andrew Fansler.

Andrew Fansler is a rare commodity these days—a first-generation farmer whose farming career was born from a passion for the soil, for growing things, and for the lifestyle and value system which are part of agriculture. Fansler is also the newly-minted winner of the 2015 Young Farmer Sustainablility Award presented by Bayer CropScience, and part of a growing cadre of young, ambitious farmers committed to making sustainable agricultural and business practices a priority as they tackle the challenge of producing ever more food, feed and fiber for a growing world population.

Each year, Bayer recognizes an agricultural producer age 40 or under who demonstrates entrepreneurial initiative and new approaches to farming, sustainability efforts and economic stability. The 36-year-old Fansler, owner of Fansler Farms of Shelbyville, Indiana, received the award today during the 10th annual Ag Issues Forum, a Bayer CropScience-hosted thought-leadership event.

“When I think about sustainability, what comes to mind are the many ways we as agriculture producers must strive to sustain not only profitability, but the factories in which we work – our land,” says Fansler. “Sustainability to me means being both financially sustainable and biologically sustainable. I strive to sustain and better everything I do!”

Listen in to Andrew’s remarks here: Andrew Fansler Remarks

Photos: 2015 Ag Issues Forum Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Bayer, Sustainability

Policy in Focus at #Classic15

Cindy Zimmerman February 25, 2015

Corn, soybean, wheat and sorghum growers from all over the country are heading to Phoenix this week for the 20th annual Commodity Classic convention and trade show.

“Commodity Classic gives us the opportunity not just to celebrate great work, meet with friends and learn about new products and services, it allows growers to get together in one place to shape policy for our organization,” said National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) President Chip Bowling. “This year, all eyes and ears will be focused on the importance of building profitable demand for our farmers when corn production is high and corn prices are low.”

Corn rowers are meeting today for an issues briefing and open forum, followed by caucuses at the state level, where they will discuss proposed resolutions and organizational priorities to come before NCGA at the two Corn Congress sessions, held Thursday morning and Saturday afternoon.

Also this week, growers are scheduled to hear from Val Docini, the administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency, at the Thursday Corn Congress session. And USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack will speak before several thousand Classic attendees at the show’s general session Friday morning.

We’ll be bringing it all to you right here on AgWired, thanks to our wonderful sponsors!

Coverage of Commodity Classic sponsored by

Coverage of Commodity Classic sponsored by Propane Education and Research Council

Ag Groups, Commodity Classic, Corn, NCGA, sorghum, Soybean, Wheat

Coalition Tells Congress to Reject Farm Bill Cuts

John Davis February 25, 2015

A coalition of nearly 400 organizations, including the National Farmers Union (NFU), is calling for Congress to reject efforts to make additional cuts to the 2014 Farm Bill. The NFU and the coalition of groups, representing family farmers and ranchers, agribusiness, food banks, environmental and faith-based organizations, sent a letter to U.S. Senate and House leaders asking them to stop the cuts.

“The 2014 Farm Bill required over three years of debate in both chambers of Congress and ultimately ended with the consolidation of over 100 programs and cuts to mandatory spending across many titles, including the elimination of the direct payment program,” noted the letter, sent to the chairman and ranking member of the Senate and House Budget Committees. “These cuts came in addition to those already in effect due to sequestration.”

The letter noted that the bipartisan Farm Bill was estimated to contribute $23 billion to deficit reduction over 10 years, when including sequestration. “These difficult cuts were made across the farm safety net, conservation programs, and nutrition programs,” noted the letter, which was sent late yesterday.

The signators underscored their united opposition to re-opening any title of the Farm Bill during the consideration of the 2016 Budget Resolution and urged both chambers to refrain from including reconciliation instructions to the respective committees with oversight duties for the Farm Bill.

NFU President Roger Johnson said the 2014 Farm Bill “was a great victory for America’s family farmers and ranchers” and a big win for taxpayers. He added that it is legislation that has already been debated and passed and should be left alone.

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Farm Bill, politics

Former Iowa Congressman at #AIF2015

Cindy Zimmerman February 24, 2015

Republican Tom Latham served as Congressman from Iowa for 20 years, stepping down in January. A speaker at the Bayer CropScience Ag Issues Forum this week prior to Commodity Classic in Phoenix, Latham talked about what’s on the horizon for agriculture. He thinks the 2014 farm bill was very positive but he wonders if it may be the last.

“Going forward, I think it’s going to be a real challenge to get another farm bill,” said Latham in an interview at the issues forum.

A long time member of the House Appropriations committee, Latham acknowledges that funding issues will continue to pressure agriculture. “There’s the sequester, there’s budget pressure and people want to get a handle on the national debt and deficit,” Latham said. “More people are concerned about the deficit that they are able to ignore agriculture.”

Even with a Republican majority in Congress, Latham thinks it will still be difficult for them to get anything done. Interview with former Iowa Cong. Tom Latham, Ag Issues Forum

In his address to the Ag Issues Forum, Latham talked about many issues that will impact agriculture going forward, including tax policy, Big Data, trade agreements, and much more. Remarks by former Iowa Cong. Tom Latham, Ag Issues Forum

2015 Ag Issues Forum Photo Album

Audio, Bayer

10th Annual Bayer Ag Issues Forum

Chuck Zimmerman February 24, 2015

The 10th Annual Ag Issues Forum, conducted by Bayer CropScience, is underway in advance of this year’s Commodity Classic. I want to thank Bayer for making it possible for us to cover this event once again.

Our first speaker is Jim Blome, President/CEO, Bayer CropScience LP. He has talked a little bit about his farm background and challenged attendees to get local though leaders out on a farm to help them better understand where their food comes from.

Listen in to Jim’s remarks and questions and answers from ag media: Jim Blome, Bayer CropScience, Remarks

After Jim’s remarks this morning I sat down with him to talk about the need for more innovation in the ag industry and the need to talk with people outside of agriculture.

This is a very packed program with lots of speakers and panels and I’ll be here to the end.

Photos: 2015 Ag Issues Forum Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Bayer, Technology, Video

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes February 24, 2015

The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture has awarded 23 $500 mini-grants to communities across the nation.
Dr. Kathleen A. Merrigan, who recently served as U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, will join AGree as a Co-Chair, announced AGree Executive Director Deborah Atwood.
Peterson Farms of Loretto, Ky., who was named the winner of the 2015 Top Producer of the Year award, has been recognized by Kentucky state legislature.
Trout Unlimited President and CEO Chris Wood announced the promotion of Elizabeth Maclin to the organization’s executive vice president position.

Zimfo Bytes

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