Everglades Ag Conservation in Action Preview

Cindy Zimmerman October 1, 2014

If you have ever wanted to see the Florida Everglades up close and personal – here is your chance.

The Conservation Technology and Information Center’s 2014 Conservation in Action Tour is exploring the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) October 14-15 to hear the tale of farmers working with the entire ecosystem in mind.

CTIC executive director Karen Scanlon says the tour will showcase innovative ideas and emerging technologies in conservation by farmers who grow very different crops than in the Midwest. “We’re going to be visiting vegetable farms and sugarcane, as well as rice growing regions,” said Scanlon. “It’s a very important region for agriculture and the conservation practices they’re working on.”

Scanlon says the region had a regulatory goal of reducing phosphorus by 25%. “And in the years farmers have been working on this best management practice program, they’ve achieved an average of 54% reduction, so they’re far surpassing the goal that was set for them,” she said.

Listen to more of what the tour has to offer in this interview: Interview with Karen Scanlon, CTIC

Farmers, agricultural retailers, members of agricultural and conservation organizations, government agency representatives, legislators, researchers, members of the media and anyone who wants to learn more about conservation in the Everglades is welcome to attend. Registration information is available here.

Audio, Conservation, CTIC, specialty crops

Cooperatives Set Another Record

Cindy Zimmerman October 1, 2014

October is National Cooperative Month and once again the nation’s agricultural cooperatives set a new sales record for 2013.

According to USDA, total business volume in 2013 surpassed $246 billion, exceeding the 2012 record by $8 billion or four percent. This is the third consecutive year of record sales by ag cooperatives, reflecting increased sales in the overall farm economy in 2013. U.S. crop production and livestock sales both increased 6 percent in 2013, while production input (farm supply) sales increased 2 percent. Ag co-ops also enjoyed record net income (before taxes) of $6.2 billion, besting the previous high of $6.1 billion, set in 2012.

“These sales and net income records for ag cooperatives, combined with strong gains in employees for 2013, underscore the strength and productivity of the nation’s farmer- and rancher-owned cooperatives. These co-ops play a vital and growing role in the nation’s economy,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, making the announcement to mark the start of National Cooperative Month in October. He also signed a Cooperative Month proclamation that salutes the nation’s entire cooperative business sector, which includes about 30,000 co-ops. In addition to agriculture, the nation’s co-ops play a major role in electricity and telecommunications services, credit and financial services, housing and in many other sectors of the economy.

Cooperatives, USDA

Next USFRA Dialogues to Feature CAST Winner

Cindy Zimmerman October 1, 2014

The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) is presenting the Borlaug CAST Communication Award this year to Dr. Alison Van Eenennaam, an Animal Genomics and Biotechnology Cooperative Extension Specialist in the Department of Animal Science at the University of California-Davis.

The award recognizes individuals who are actively excelling in communication of agricultural science and technology. She will receive the award on the occasion of the 2014 Borlaug Dialogue hosted by the World Food Prize Foundation and will speak on “The Livestock Revolution” and then will participate in a Food Dialogues hosted by U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance. It will take place October 15 in Des Moines.

Participating in the USFRA event with Van Eenennaam will be v-Fluence Interactive president Jay Byrne and farmer Julie Kenney with CommonGround Iowa.

Van Eenennaam recently completed a new scientific review on the performance and health of livestock and poultry consuming genetically engineered feed in the time since it was first introduced 18 years ago. The review examined nearly 30 years of livestock-feeding studies representing more than 100 billion animals. The results found conclusively that the health and productivity of food-producing animals consuming genetically engineered feed has been comparable to that of animals consuming non-GE feed.The review study also found that scientific studies have detected no differences in the nutritional makeup of the meat, milk or other food products derived from animals that ate genetically engineered feed.

Animal Agriculture, Animal Health, USFRA, World Food Prize

New Holland and Expo Milano 2015

Chuck Zimmerman October 1, 2014

Happy New Holland Blogger Days. That’s the “holiday” I am participating in this week in Turin, Italy. In fact, right now I’m in CNH Industrial Village.

We’re getting a presentation on New Holland’s participation in Expo Milano 2015. The theme of the Expo is “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life.” This theme fits works very well for New Holland with its commitment to being the clean energy leader. This is a very big project with construction taking place now for New Holland’s “Sustainable Farm Pavilion” in the Expo grounds. Expo Milano will be open May 1 to October 31, 2015. Over 20 million people are expected to attend Expo which provides New Holland an excellent opportunity to promote the brand while also educating the public about where their food comes from. Expo Milano is not a farm show but the theme lends itself well for the opportunity New Holland has seized on.

In October New Holland will unveil a new website that will include information and updates leading up to and during Expo. There will also be a promotional campaign associated with the Expo that will be announced in the near future.

That’s a quick look at what New Holland has planned for Expo Milano 2015. I will have more as we continue our tour here in Turin.

I am taking pictures throughout our stay which you can find here: 2014 New Holland Blogger Days Photo Album

Agribusiness, International, New Holland, Video

New Holland Pavilions Unveiled at #WDE14

Jamie Johansen September 30, 2014

The official ribbon cutting for the New Holland Pavilions took place this morning on the opening day of the 2014 World Dairy Expo. State and county officials joined New Holland executives and other industry partners for the ceremony that took place outside the $24.9 million facility.

“With the addition of the New Holland Pavilions, every livestock and agriculture association needs to consider Alliant Energy Center and Madison, Wisconsin, when looking for a place to hold their next event,” says Mark Clarke, Alliant Energy Center Executive Director. “These pavilions give us the tool in our tool belt we have not had before. They allow us the opportunity to offer world-class facilities that the users deserve. We appreciate New Holland’s leadership in this successful public/private partnership.”

The 290,000 square foot pavilions replaced aging barns and will be home to a variety of dairy and livestock animals at future shows and expositions held at the Alliant Energy Center grounds. The pavilions have indoor show rings, riding areas and can comfortably house more than 2,000 head of livestock. They also have indoor and outdoor wash racks, covered manure storage and ample water and electrical capabilities.

Listen to my complete interview Mark here: Interview with Mark Clark, Executive Director of Alliant Energy Center

Listen to ribbon cutting press conference here: New Holland Pavilion Ribbon Cutting Press Conference

Find all photos from the event here: 2014 New Holland Pavilion Opening Photo Album.

Coverage of World Dairy Expo is sponsored by

Agribusiness, Audio, Dairy, New Holland, World Dairy Expo

Corn Stocks Up, Soybeans Down

Cindy Zimmerman September 30, 2014

There’s more corn in the bins than there was a year ago at this time. USDA’s newest Grain Stocks report shows 1.24 billion bushels of old crop corn in all positions as of September 1, up 50 percent from the same time last year.

The report from the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) found less soybean stocks than a year ago. As of September 1, there were 92.0 million bushels of old crop soybeans in storage, down 35 percent from this time in 2013.

NASS also released the Small Grains 2014 Summary, including final tallies for U.S. wheat and oats.

NASS reported growers harvested 46.5 million acres of wheat this year, up 3 percent from 2013. The levels of production and changes from 2013 by type are winter wheat, 1.38 billion bushels, down 11 percent; other spring wheat, 601 million bushels, up 12 percent; and Durum wheat, 57.1 million bushels, down 2 percent.

Oat production is estimated at 70.5 million bushels, up 9 percent from 2013, but the fourth lowest production on record. Harvested area, at 1.04 million acres, is 3 percent above last year but is the third lowest acreage harvested for grain on record.

Due to delays in this year’s harvest, NASS will re-survey small grain growers in Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. Operators that reported unharvested acres will be asked to verify and update, if necessary, their acreage, yield and production for barley, oats, Durum wheat and other spring wheat.

Randy Martinson of Progressive Ag offered commentary on the reports today during the Minneapolis Grain Exchange crop call: MGEX call on USDA stocks and small grains reports

Audio, Corn, Soybean, USDA, Wheat

Drink More Milk, Buy More Balers

Jamie Johansen September 30, 2014

Exhibitors at the 2014 World Dairy Expo are the first to break in the New Holland Pavilions. Last night New Holland Agriculture hosted one of their infamous Club Blue parties for all World Dairy Expo exhibitors. The evening was full of food, drinks, music and some great conversation.

Abe Hughes, VP New Holland North America, said they are so excited to help support the next generation of farmers by making these state-of-the-art facilities possible. “I think the excitement of everything is what’s happening back here in the dairy barns. If you walk up and down the aisles you can see people are happy and we are already hearing rave reviews about the air conditioning system and it’s design using all the modern principles of positive airflow.”

A unique addition to the New Holland Pavilions is the touches of the past that have been archived in the new buildings. The entry way of Pavilion 1 has wood and bricks from the old barns capturing the history of this historic event.

Beyond the pavilions, New Holland has a strong presence at this year’s World Dairy Expo as the official equipment partner for the event. Attendees can also visit the New Holland Trade Center which is packed full of booths just waiting for visitors. Abe invites all to come by, see the equipment and most importantly, drink more milk and buy more balers.

Listen to my complete interview Abe here: Interview with Abe Hughes, VP New Holland North America

Find all photos from the event here: 2014 New Holland Pavilion Opening Photo Album.

Coverage of World Dairy Expo is sponsored by

Agribusiness, Audio, Dairy, New Holland, World Dairy Expo

My Turin Highlight

Chuck Zimmerman September 30, 2014

One of the highlights for me during this week in Italy will always be visiting the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist and spending time with the Shroud of Turin. I had free time today before an informal dinner this evening. So this was where I wanted to go. The trip included a subway ride and long walk along the Via Roma toward the Cathedral. That is a big shopping district and reminds me a lot of my time in Rome.

During the rest of this week I’ll be sharing stories with you from the area as I join a group of agricultural bloggers from around the world for New Holland Blogger Days. You’re going to hear about sustainability, feeding a hungry world and lots more. So as I learn, so will you. Follow our tweets at #NHAgWorld.

Here are some fairly random photos from my visit to downtown Turin this afternoon: Visiting Turin

Agribusiness, New Holland

Holland Picks New Holland

Cindy Zimmerman September 30, 2014

The T6 AutoCommand™ tractor, from CNH Industrial brand New Holland Agriculture, has won the ‘Boerentrekker of the Year Award 2014’ in the Netherlands by leading Dutch farming magazine Boerderij.

The title recognizes the ‘Best Farmer’s Tractor’ for the year in Holland and was conferred at the Agrotechniek 2014 trade fair by the magazine. First published in 1915, this weekly independent farming magazine counts a readership of over one million.

New Holland’s T6 range is considered to be the tractor of choice for future-focused farmers who have mixed arable and livestock farms, as well as for contractors and specialist agribusinesses.

The jury ruled the T6 AutoCommand™ as winner based on a number of factors regarding its design, technology, comfort and quality. The tractor’s ergonomics, intuitive operation and high level of comfort are thanks to the multi award-winning SideWinder™ II armrest, that hosts the most frequently used controls, and the Horizon™ Cab, that offers high levels of operator comfort and outstanding visibility in all applications. This model also features the ECOBlue™ SCR technology for Tier 4A compliance to improve productivity and profitability. The optional SuperSteer™ front axle delivers outstanding manoeuvrability, while the optional Terraglide™ front axle (with fully integrated front suspension) makes for smooth driving both in the field and on the road.

International, New Holland, Tractor

GROWMARK Encourages Proactive Nutrient Management

Cindy Zimmerman September 30, 2014

This is the third of a four part series on Nutrient Management sponsored by FS/GROWMARK

There are lots of good reasons to be proactive about nutrient management in agriculture, not the least of which is the threat of government regulation and litigation.

“If we aren’t part of the solution, regulations and legislation will define agriculture and how we farm,” says GROWMARK Government Relations Manager Liz Hobart. “Agriculture does a very good job with production practices and I think we need to take ownership of that issue.”

Hobart says the regulatory landscape impacting agricultural practices continues to threaten with cases such as the Chesapeake Bay nutrient management program, which established a precedent with a judge’s ruling last year affirming the legality of broad federal authority under the Clean Water Act. Another case is the Mississippi River Basin Initiative, which would include some 7,000 streams. “We are definitely working on the federal, state and local levels to help growers be a part of the solution,” said Hobart, which includes minimizing the impact of regulation, legislation and civil litigation. “GROWMARK encourages the use of best management practices in all phases of farming.” Interview with Liz Hobart, GROWMARK

Our final segment of this series will look at developing nutrient management plans. Read the first post in the series on Illinois’ nutrient loss reduction strategy here and the second with Dr. Howard Brown on N-Watch.

Nutrient Management Series

sponsored by

Audio, Conservation, GROWMARK

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