Nufarm U.S. Promotes Schwehr

Jamie Johansen

nufarmNufarm announced that Rob Schwehr has been promoted to the position of Vice President of Innovation & Regulatory Affairs for Nufarm Americas. In this position, Schwehr will oversee product development and interactions with governmental agencies which regulate Nufarm products. In addition, he will oversee the Technical Service Group within Nufarm Americas. He will continue to be located in the company’s Morrisville, North Carolina office.

“Rob has been an integral part of our team and our success since he joined Nufarm in 2008,” said Darryl Matthews, general manager for Nufarm in North America. “With his extensive experience in the crop protection industry, he will continue to help us find new and better ways to bring innovative crop protection solutions to market, as we pursue our mission to ‘Grow a Better Tomorrow.’”

Schwehr started as a product manager with Nufarm in 2008. He then moved to Colombia and served as the general manager for Nufarm’s operations in that country. He returned to the U.S. as the tree, nut, vine and vegetable (TNVV) marketing manager in 2013. He took on the additional role of leading the Core Chemistry team at Nufarm earlier this year.

Prior to Prior to joining Nufarm, Rob worked for 25 years with Bayer CropScience and its legacy companies in technical and marketing positions, including serving as product manager for imidacloprid and thiacloprid products. He has a master’s degree from the University of Georgia.

Agribusiness

2015 Interest Rates for Rural America

Jamie Johansen

15821157975_fcca025115_zBrian O’Keane, Executive Vice President of AgriBank, spoke with our intern, Taylor Truckey, during Trade Talk at the 2014 National Association of Farm Broadcasting’s annual meeting. AgriBank is one of four banks in the Farm Credit system. Their main priority is accessing capital from Wall Street and making that available for borrowers in rural America.

“If you look at the last few years borrowers in ag have been beneficiaries of a high commodity prices and historically low interest rate environments. That has created opportunities for those customers to manage and instill some discipline in their operation.”

Looking into 2015, Brian said interest rates will likely start rising due to the fact they are so low now. But, by how much? Brian and his colleagues expect about half a percent within the next year, over one percent in two years and two or more in three years.

In Taylor’s complete interview with Brian, he discusses products and services they offer to help their clients manage risk in this ever-changing environment. Interview with Brian O’Keane, AgriBank

Find photos from the event here:
2014 NAFB Convention Photos

Agribusiness, Audio, Farm Credit, NAFB

How BASF Flo-Rite Helps Increase Yields

Cindy Zimmerman

asta-css-14-basf-justinKeeping seed treatment on the seed to retain the active ingredient at maximum capacity is one of the main benefits of BASF’s Flo Rite Plantability Seed Coating and that benefits growers at harvest time.

“Our Flo Rite plantability polymer acts as a thin film coating that locks that seed treatment on the seed and keeps it there where a grower can realize the maximum benefit,” said BASF Technical Market Specialist Justin Clark. Think of it as kind of like the candy coating on M&Ms.

Clark says the polymers are very unique in the benefits they provide, in terms of flowability, better and more accurate seed placement, and reduction of skips and doubles in the planting process for corn, soybeans, cotton and wheat. Interview with Justin Clark, BASF

At the ASTA CSS 2014 and Seed Expo, Justin had a demonstration showing the flowability properties of Flo Rite and how it helps with yields in the long run. Watch the video to see for yourself.



2014 ASTA CSS & Seed Expo photo album

Coverage of CSS 2014 and Seed Expo brought to you by
Coverage of CSS 2014 and Seed Expo brought to you by the American Seed Trade Association and Coverage of CSS 2014 and Seed Expo brought to you by BASF Ag Products
ASTA, Audio, BASF, Seed, Video

NFU Disagrees with RFS Report Recommendations

Cindy Zimmerman

NFUlogoThe National Farmers Union (NFU) represented agriculture on a Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) advisory group that helped develop a new report on “Options for Reforming the Renewable Fuel Standard.”

“It was very important that agriculture that supports the renewable fuels industry be present at the table,” said NFU vice president of programs Chandler Goule, who notes that while the meetings were held in a very professional manner, “they were heavily skewed toward big oil.”

In fact, the 23 member advisory group included seven representatives of the oil industry, who apparently heavily influenced the report recommendations. Goule says NFU has major objections to two of the policy recommendations made in the report. “The flattening of the total renewable fuel mandate at its current level going forward, but continuing to increase the three advanced categories, we have significant concerns about what that would to do ethanol and biodiesel,” he said. “Even more concerning was removing the total renewable fuel mandate and only mandating the three advanced categories. Basically what they are doing is giving in to Big Oil’s conclusion that a blend wall exists, which it does not.”

In this interview, Goule also comments on NFU’s concerns with the spending bill passed by Congress, their pleasure with the tax extenders package, what they are looking forward to in 2015, and the NFU annual meeting in March. Interview with Chandler Goule, NFU

Ag Groups, Audio, Biodiesel, Ethanol

The AgNerd Cloud

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast 458Welcome to a new regular column I will be publishing on all things AgNerdish. I’m calling it the Cloud since the cloud covers everything and is one of the hottest things developing in the AgNerd world. This week’s ZimmCast gets things started with a discussion I had with Willie Vogt, Editorial Director, Penton Farm Progress. Like me, he loves new technology.

Willie makes a point early in our discussion that although it has been developing, “This is really the year everybody got a smart phone.” Farmers have made the decision that they want to do things mobile, handheld and not be tied to their office. They now have access to information via mobile devices that they never did before.

AgNerd Word CloudIn our program we talk about the most popular and useful new ag gadgets of 2014 and also look ahead to what the trends will be in the coming year. We also discuss a Christmas wish list. A problem both of us have is that we buy our own gadgets and use them for work for the most part. But that doesn’t mean that we have all the gadgets we want!

You’ll need to listen to our discussion to get some ideas for what new gadgets are proving most helpful on the farm and what you should be thinking about for next year: AgNerd Cloud with Willie Vogt

Here is a list of ideas for your gadget giving and receiving. There are way too many to list everything that is available but I’m providing links to a couple for each category.

Smart Phone: iPhone 6/6+, Samsung S5
Tablet: iPad Air 2, Samsung Galaxy Tab S, Microsoft Surface Pro 3
Laptop: Lenovo Yoga Pro 3, Macbook Air
Wearable Tech: LG G Watch, Google Glass
Mobile Power: Hyper Juice, Anker External
Drone: Precision Drone, AgDrone, AgEagle
Camera: GoPro, Polaroid Cube

Subscribe to the ZimmCast podcast here.

The ZimmCast

sponsored by
The ZimmCast podcast is sponsored by GROWMARK
Locally owned, globally strong.
Audio, Media, Precision Agriculture, ZimmCast

Gadget Gift Giving & Receiving

Jamie Johansen

New Holland ZimmPollOur latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What’s the biggest challenge for the seed industry?”

All of agriculture depends in some way on seed. The long term survival of the seed industry impacts everything. It looks like you think anti-GMO attitudes have the greatest negative impact on the seed industry. Environmental regulations came in with a close second.

Here are the poll results:

  • Intellectual property rights – 4%
  • Anti-GMO attitudes – 33%
  • Trade restraints – 11%
  • Environmental regulations – 19%
  • Innovation progress disruption – 4%
  • Pollinator health issues – 11%
  • All of the above – 11%
  • Other – 7%

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, What type of gadget is on your wish or to-give list?

Christmas is right around the corner and gadgets are one of our favorite things to talk about. We want to know what gadget you want to find under the tree this year or what type of techie gift you’re giving. Is it a smart phone, computer, power tool, camera or one of each? I wouldn’t mind seeing a camera under my tree!

ZimmPoll

Air Force Plays Western Michigan for All the Spuds

John Davis

idahopotatobowl1It’s the most wonderful time of the year, as the college football bowl season kicks off this weekend. In what should be a great matchup, the men in blue from the Air Force Academy (9-3) take on Western Michigan (8-4) on Saturday, December 20th in the Famous Idaho® Potato Bowl in Boise, Idaho, highlighting America’s potato growers nationwide on ESPN.

“The Famous Idaho® Potato Bowl has become a tradition for the Idaho potato industry. It’s really the only opportunity for growers, shippers, processors and vendor partners to come together and support a nationally recognized sporting event that showcases the potato, one of Idaho’s most important agricultural products,” said Frank Muir, President and CEO, Idaho Potato Commission (IPC). “More people purchase Idaho® potatoes in November and December than any other time of year and this bowl game helps remind millions of consumers to always look for the famous ‘Grown in Idaho®’ seal when buying potatoes.”

Idaho potatoes will be on prominent display throughout the game, with signage throughout the stadium, TV and radio ads, the Famous Idaho® Potato and Idaho® potato logos on the field, and the Great Big Idaho® Potato Truck, “the largest potato on wheels,” parked in the stadium parking lot partaking in all the pre-game festivities.

This should be a good sign for my beloved AF Falcons: the showdown is played on the blue turf in Boise, Idaho.

Agribusiness, Potato

Bayer CropScience Funds FFA Grants

Cindy Zimmerman

bayer-cropscienceBayer CropScience is partnering with the National FFA to inspire interest in agriculture and apiculture professions among America’s youth.

The new grant program will help FFA members develop their unique talents and explore science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers with a focus on finding solutions that will help honey bees thrive. “I have a real passion for the FFA and I love to support them,” said Dr. Becky Langer, manager of Bayer‘s Bee Care Program. “So, we’re sponsoring $50,000 that can go towards grants – whether individual, chapter, or environmental … these grants will provide funds to develop projects over 2015 and help us arrive at some great solutions for pollinator health.”

Langer provides more details in this interview: Interview with Becky Langer, Bayer CropScience on FFA partnership


2014 ASTA CSS & Seed Expo photo album

Audio, Bayer, Bees, FFA

Agriculture May Benefit From Cuba Relations

Cindy Zimmerman

cubaThe White House announcement Wednesday that the United States will begin the process of normalizing relations with Cuba brought positive responses from the agriculture industry.

“Throughout history, agriculture has served as a bridge to foster cooperation, understanding and the exchange of ideas among people,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in a statement. “I have no doubt that agriculture will continue to play that powerful role as we expand our relationship with the Cuban people in the coming years.”

Vilsack and a host of agricultural organizations believe the new course expands opportunity for U.S. farmers and ranchers to do business in Cuba. “The president’s opening to Cuba promises to improve trade conditions by making it easier for Cuba to buy U.S. agricultural and food products,” said American Farm Bureau president Bob Stallman. “Improving trade relations between the U.S. and Cuba will expand access to a market of 11 million consumers for U.S. agriculture. That’s good for Cuba and good for America, too.”

“Acknowledging that Cuba is one of our closest neighbors and a potentially valuable trading partner, and allowing the relationships between the two nations and its citizens to renew and blossom is good for both nations,” said National Farmers Union president Roger Johnson.

Central to the initiative is allowing U.S. and Cuban banks to have direct relationships, as opposed to the third-party banking requirements that have made trade difficult.

“The changes to banking are very important because they will significantly reduce red tape and costs associated with doing business with Cuba,” said Betsy Ward, president and CEO of the USA Rice Federation. She adds that USA Rice has long maintained that the “embargo was not on Cuba, as they could source rice and other products from around the world, but rather on the rice growers in the U.S., whose own government cut them out of one of the world’s top markets, just 90 miles from our shores.”

American Soybean Association (ASA) president Wade Cowan says normalizing relations with Cuba creates new opportunities for soybean growers. “Whether it’s the burgeoning Cuban demand for pork, poultry and dairy or that nation’s expanded demand for cooking oils, American soybeans have a significant market opening just off our own shores,” said Cowan.

AFBF, Ag Groups, ASA, Rice, Soybean, Trade, USDA

Register for NAMA Greatness

Chuck Zimmerman

NAMA Conference 2015The National Agri-Marketing Association is going to be “Growing Greatness in Kansas City.” It’s that time. Time to register for the 2015 Agri-Marketing Conference.

Agri-marketers know constant challenge and improvement are critical to success. Settling for status quo and good enough just won’t do in this competitive industry. The keynote speakers NAMA has chosen for the 2015 Agri-Marketing Conference embody the idea of continuous improvement and personal growth.

We’re inviting you to challenge yourself… and expand your viewpoints across the entire spectrum of professional development and leadership. Our group of experts will outline the underlying forces shaping the future of business and translate what that means for managing teams and people… show you how to adapt your leadership style to get the most out of your entire organization… and how to deliver excellent results for every responsibility on your plate.

That’s just the beginning. Register now to get more details as the conference unfolds.

You can download a keynote speakers brochure here (pdf).

NAMA