Farmers as AgCatalysts

Chuck Zimmerman

Dave FredericksonDave Frederickson, Minnesota Commissioner of Agriculture, greeted the attendees of the 2014 AgCatalyst event this afternoon. The theme of the event is “It’s All About the Content.” Dave says, “I believe the best way to drive good content is characters. What better way to tell the story about agriculture than through the eyes and actions of our farmers and ranchers and producers.” He says, “Put a face on them and then put them on Facebook.” Well said Dave, well said. He then told us about some of the characters he got to know during his lifetime.

You can listen to Dave’s remarks here: Dave Frederickson Remarks

2014 AgCatalyst Photo Album

Coverage of The 2014 AgCatalyst Conference is sponsored by
Coverage of The 2014 AgCatalyst Conference is sponsored by AdFarm
Agencies, Audio, Social Networking

AgCatalyst Off to the Races

Chuck Zimmerman

AdFarm AgCatalystThe 2014 AgCatalyst, sponsored by AdFarm, is off to the races. I say that because our opening keynote is from Marcus Sheridan, The Sales Lion. He is a wild animal on the stage talking about how sales and marketing have changed. He’s letting us know what we “must” do about it. I hope to get him to sit down for an interview on a break.

We move into breakout sessions after this keynote and I’ll be sharing what I’m sure is going to be some great content since, “It’s All About the Content.”

If you want to follow these inspired conversations about food and agriculture keep your eye on the hashtag, #AgCatalyst.

Speaking of content, find photos here: 2014 AgCatalyst Photo Album

Coverage of The 2014 AgCatalyst Conference is sponsored by
Coverage of The 2014 AgCatalyst Conference is sponsored by AdFarm
Agencies

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

Zimfo Bytes

  • Julie White is the new Hereford World editor brining a combination of cattle knowledge and journalism experience to her new role.
  • Farm Journal Media announced it will acquire the remaining outside interests in Commodity Update, the leading mobile media company serving agriculture, in a transaction expected to close by year’s end.
  • In continuing efforts to remain customer-centric, Verdesian Life Sciences, LLC (Verdesian) is expanding its sales staff.
  • Nineteen farmer-leaders will be sworn in as directors of the United Soybean Board (USB) in December, after their recent appointments by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
Zimfo Bytes

New Holland Agriculture Claims World Record

Jamie Johansen

cr10_90_world_record_14_082New Holland Agriculture has reclaimed the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title, harvesting an impressive 797.656 tonnes (29,308.84 bushels) of wheat in eight hours with the world’s most powerful combine: the 653 hp CR10.90 Elevation.

“We are extremely proud to have recaptured the Guinness World Records title for harvesting almost 30,000 bushels of wheat in eight hours, shattering the previous record by more than 4,409 bushels,” stated Hedley Cooper, Head of Harvesting Product Management. “This record demonstrates the unsurpassed capacity and productivity of the CR10.90 Elevation, especially as the current record of 24,832.87 bushels was broken after just six hours and 36 minutes!”

The record was set on August 15, 2014 at H.R. Bourn and Sons Farm in Grange de Lings, near Wragby, Lincolnshire, United Kingdom. The field was sown with Santiago wheat in the autumn of 2013 before it was chosen in May 2014 for the record-breaking attempt, which meant that it represented real-world growing conditions.

The record-breaking day’s harvesting, which started at 11:17 a.m., was characterized by changing weather conditions, with the ambient temperature ranging from 64-70°F and light showers occurring from 5:30 p.m. onwards. The CR10.90’s average throughput was 3,663 bushels/hour and peaked at 4,960 bushels/hour in a crop yielding an average of 148.1 bushels/acre and an average moisture content of 16.2%. The record was achieved using a mere 124.6 bushels/gallon of grain harvested with the straw chopper engaged throughout the day.

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Agribusiness, Equipment, Harvest, New Holland, Wheat

Bio S.I. Tech’s SD 25 Aids Drought Stricken Farm Land

Joanna Schroeder

While the Midwest is rife with rain, other areas of the country including California and the southwest have been drought stricken for several years. When this occurs, the farmland needs extra help with naturally occurring microbes. Some areas use pile and burn tactics to improve soil health but not only does this strategy not restore the soil with carbon and microboal life, this is not an option for dry lands.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 30-35 percent of U.S. farmers are facing moderate to extreme drought conditions and a cold winter is anticipated. This becomes a good time for farmers to improve microbial activity – microbes are busy during winter months – as microbial activity increases soil temperature between 2-4 degrees when organic matter is available for digestion.

SD 25To see a further improvement on microbial digestion, Bio S.I. Technology recommends the use of SD 25 Field Stubble Digester, a product that capitalizes on soil microbes to digest plant debris left behind after harvest. This product aids the soil’s ability to hold nutrients and improve water efficiency. According to Bio S.I. Technology, without a proper mixture of microbes in the soil, organic matter can’t be totally broken down and the soil becomes clogged with two much undigested organic matter that ties up nutrients.

“SD 25 works beyond the growing seasons to prepare fields for future planting by releasing the nutrients tied up in leftover debris,” explained Bio S.I. founder and CEO Wayne Tucker. “Plant debris can be a real problem for the next planting season for some growers. SD 25 helps farmers re-use nutrients they have already paid for plus the benefits of adding carbon (humus) to help retain water and nutrients in their fields,”

The company literature states SD 25 is an all-natural microbial formula that is safe for organic use. Unlike other stubble digesters, SD 25 is free of preservatives, which makes it safe for use in any setting. After harvest and before the ground freezes, growers should apply the initial application. SD 25 can be used successfully in till and no-till regimens, although it is important to beat the first freeze because microbial activity and decomposition are significantly slowed by cold temperatures. Growers will notice debris is significantly decomposed within 60-75 days.

Agribusiness, Soil

Why Not Add Beets to Your Cow Ration

Jamie Johansen

wde-14-176-edtedFor the first time, Feed Beets took advantage of the World Dairy Expo and shared with producers the opportunities with adding beets into their cattle rations. Lisa Butzer, marketing manager for Feed Beets, explained the nutritional elements to feeding beets and it’s benefits to beef and dairy operations.

“What we are finding through nutritional surveys and testing is that as dairy producers add it to their rations they can decrease or eliminate their need for molasses or other sugar sources. They may also be able to decrease their corn intake. It’s a nice alternative to adding some starch in and slow release sugars.”

Lisa explained since the source of starch is a sugar it floats in the rumen and release in a slow 18-hour period. There is no sugar spike that you may see from other sources. The high dry-matter beet hybrid can be planted with a corn planter and has a five to six month grow time. Other perks to beets is it is a non-maturing crop and can be grown in all 50 states. Lisa said some areas of the country will leave the crop in the ground for 12-14 months or until needed for consumption.

Listen to my complete interview with Lisa here: Interview with Lisa Butzer, Feed Beets

Find all photos from the event here: 2014 World Dairy Expo Photo Album.

Coverage of World Dairy Expo is sponsored by
Coverage of World Dairy Expo is sponsored by New Holland
Agribusiness, Audio, Beef, Dairy, Nutrition

Florida Farm Bureau Welcomes Conservation Tour

Cindy Zimmerman

ctic-14-hoblickThe president of the Florida Farm Bureau welcomed participants on the 2014 CTIC Conservation in Action tour to the Sunshine State Tuesday night as they prepared to visit the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) today.

john Hoblick spent some time telling the group, many of whom are from the Midwest, about the EAA and the efforts Florida farmers have undertaken to preserve the state’s valuable water and wildlife resources, while at the same time being one of the most diverse and productive agricultural areas in the country.

I talked with John about the state’s agricultural conservation successes, as well as policy issue and challenges facing Florida. Interview with John Hoblick, Florida Farm Bureau President


2014 CTIC Conservation in Action Tour Photo Album

Audio, Conservation, CTIC

Verdeisan Adds Sales Expertise

Joanna Schroeder

Verdesian Life Sciences has increased its sales staff with the hiring of four sales experts: Bob Bischoff, John Henize, Brad Meckle and Mark Seipel who will join Verdesian as regional sales managers. The new team members will help to drive sales growth and support relationships with key customers in the plant nutrition, seed treatment and inoculants product categories.

Verdesian Life Sciences Logo“As we continue to grow and attract new talent, we strive to keep the focus on our customers,” said Greg Thompson, chief operating officer for Verdesian. “The plant health and nutrition markets are rapidly expanding. Creating the perfect fit with our staff’s knowledge, product strengths and geographic needs allows us to build valuable relationships and better serve our customers.”

In addition, Randy Kegler is joining Verdesian as a technical sales representative serving as a specialist in the southeast for More Than Manure® (MTM®) Nutrient Manager.

“We are pleased to have Bob, John, Brad, Mark and Randy join our Verdesian sales team,” added Thompson. “They each bring unique perspectives and expertise from their wide-ranging experiences in the agriculture industry. We look forward to the value they will offer our customers.”

Agribusiness, Seed, Verdesian

Alltech Appoints Aidan Connolly CIO

Joanna Schroeder

Alltech has appointed Vice President Aidan Connolly as chief innovation office (CIO) as part of the company’s global research department. Connolly will work closely with Dr. Karl Dawson, vp and chief scientific officer in developing their innovation pipeline and take products from test scale to commercial scale.

Aidan Connolly has been named Alltech’s Chief Innovation Officer, responsible for the commercialization of Alltech’s research. He will be based at Alltech’s corporate headquarters near Lexington, Kentucky, USA.

Aidan Connolly has been named Alltech’s Chief Innovation Officer, responsible for the commercialization of Alltech’s research. He will be based at Alltech’s corporate headquarters near Lexington, Kentucky, USA.

In his new role, Connolly will put together a team within the company’s research department that will primarily focus on developing innovative, nutrition-based technologies. Their new product development will capitalize on the insights gained through the company’s considerable investment in nutrigenomics, the science of how diet affects gene expression.

“Giving a rapid and effective response, backed up by cutting-edge scientific research, to the market’s changing needs, has always been one of Alltech’s biggest strengths. It is all about how these technologies are implemented to the market,” said Connolly.

Connolly brings a strong commercial background to Alltech’s research team. He graduated from University College Dublin with a master’s degree in international marketing. He has been with Alltech for nearly 25 years, initially in Ireland, and then in France, Brazil and the U.S. He is also an adjunct professor of marketing at University College Dublin and professor of agribusiness at the China Agricultural University in Bejing.

Dawson said of the appointment, “As Alltech is moving forward to become a $4 billion company in the next 4-5 years, it is crucial that the company’s research and technical teams work hand-in-hand with sales and marketing. With Aidan joining our group, we will be even more strongly placed to support the industry with science-based nutritional solutions.”

Agribusiness, Alltech, International

Crop Health Laboratories Presents Sap Analysis Seminar

Jamie Johansen

Screen Shot 2014-10-14 at 1.31.05 PMAvailable for the first time in North America, Plant Sap Analysis is transforming the landscape of American agriculture. With proven success in Europe for over 10 years, this technology reveals nutrient deficiency four to six weeks before standard tissue analysis.

Crop Health Laboratories is hosting a Power Growers Seminar, November 7-8, 2014 in Santa Clara, inviting growers, researchers, and consultants to weigh in on the benefits of this new technology. Feature presenters include Sjoerd Smits and Maikel van de Ven of NovaCropControl, creators of the technology. The expedited technology provides lead time, allowing growers to proactively and quickly adjust fertilization strategies quickly.

Crop Health Laboratories is the exclusive distributor of Plant Sap Analysis in the United States, which represents a significant advance over current industry standards.

“Sap analysis carries the same diagnostic value of a blood sample,” explained Program Director Michelle Gregg. “The test provides a screenshot of nutrient content in the sap prior to metabolism by plant cells. Producers can anticipate crop needs and counter imbalance with fertility inputs before the plant expresses symptoms of deficiency.”

Smits and van de Ven of the Netherlands-based NovaCropControl, will discuss their team’s experience in pioneering the Plant Sap Analysis system and why this approach produces much more valuable results than tissue or soil tests alone. Growers will leave equipped with the science and data management knowledge that ensures success.

The seminar will include presentations from Smits and van de Ven, exclusive Q &A with consultants from Crop Health Laboratories, and evening networking opportunities with users of Plant Sap Analysis. The event will be held at The Biltmore in Santa Clara, CA. Tickets for the event in California are $325 through Oct. 15 and $350 thereafter. Registration is available online at www.crophealthlabs.com, by email info@crophealthlabs or call 800-495-7938.

Agribusiness, Agronomy, Crop Science