The Power of AgFiniti

Melissa Sandfort May 9, 2014

It seems like every year it gets harder and harder to meet up with the consultant to grab the planting or seeding prescriptions; or if they do make it into our hands, it seems to get forgotten on the kitchen table.

The good news is, with the AgFiniti cloud platform, access to your valuable prescription and setup files is easier than ever! Instead of running into town to grab your files, or waiting for your consultant to get them to you, simply transfer them wirelessly directly from the field.

Many already have a wireless solution that will work with AgFiniti. If you have a smart phone or tablet with a cellular data plan, you may have a device that is capable of becoming a “personal hotspot”. These devices can turn their cellular data connection into a Wi-Fi signal for other devices to connect to. Or, if your operation has a wireless network that’s accessible from the field, office, or shop, you can easily connect your Ag Leader display’s to your AgFiniti account without having to utilize cellular data at all.

Connect your Ag Leader display to your secure AgFiniti account to access prescriptions, guidance lines and display setup files without having to keep track of a USB! As planting progresses, wirelessly send your as-applied data back to your office or to your trusted advisor, without the hassle of managing multiple USB’s and spending valuable time transferring field data, making data management quick and easy.

Ag Leader, Agribusiness

College Cafeteria Confidential

Chuck Zimmerman May 8, 2014

It might sound like something secret but a panel of college “Millennials” talked about “College Cafeteria Confidential: Millennials in the Lunch Line.” Our moderator was Rob Morasco, Sodexo USA. During his session I heard some terms like sustainability and food justice from the George Washington University students participating. I got some contrasting views from two of our panelists.

First up is Jesse Schaffer, Senior, who sees eating good food as a human right. He also believes in food justice and defines it in my interview with him. He got motivated after seeing the unequal distribution of food here in this area and has become active in creating two urban farms. I asked him what his definition of sustainability is.

Interview with Jesse Schaffer

I also spoke with Jennifer Weinberg, Freshman, who was asked on during the panel discussion to define sustainability. I asked her the same question.

Interview with Jennifer Weinberg

The ring frame for the photo comes from our conference room tables. They’re sitting on the end of a lot of rows of tables. I’m not sure why but thought it would make a cool frame for this panel photo.

2014 AAA Stakeholders Summit Photo Album

Ag Groups, Animal Agriculture, Audio, Food, Sustainability

African Seed Industry Dominated by Local Start-Ups

Jamie Johansen May 8, 2014

Locally-owned African seed companies participating in a program to offer high-yield crop varieties to smallholder farmers across the continent have collectively become the largest seed producers in sub-Saharan Africa, according to a new report released today at the Grow Africa Investment Forum alongside the World Economic Forum on Africa.

The analysis by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) reveals 80 small- to medium-size African seed companies in 16 countries are on track to produce over 80,000 metric tons of professionally certified seeds in 2014.

“The rapid growth of local seed companies over a very short time period is a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit percolating in communities across Africa and to the pent-up demand among Africa’s smallholder farmers for improved, high-yield crop varieties,” said Dr. Joe DeVries, director of AGRA’s Program for Africa’s Seed Systems (PASS.)

AGRA launched PASS in 2007 to inject new energy into Africa’s commercial seed sector, which was failing to provide African farmers with a steady supply of locally-adapted, improved crop varieties—something that farmers elsewhere in the world take for granted. The stagnant state of commercial seed production often is cited as a key reason why yields per hectare in Africa for staple crops like maize are up to 80 percent below what farmers outside of Africa achieve.

Find the complete report here.

Ag Groups, International, Seed

Long-term Sustainability of Global Agriculture

Jamie Johansen May 8, 2014

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What is the MOST important part of sustainability?”

The environment is the number one thing on pollers mind when it comes to sustainability. The economy came in with a close second. Those resources and are utilized daily when it comes to agriculture. What are you doing to make them more sustainable?

Our poll results:

Environmental – 35%
Economic – 28%
Human resources -5%
Public policy – 5%
Inputs – 0%
Energy – 12%
Other – 15%

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “Is climate change impacting agriculture?”

The White House released a sweeping climate change assessment this week that has a large section on how agriculture is being impacted. What do you think about that?

ZimmPoll

ASA Pushes for Broad Land Grant Coalition

Jamie Johansen May 8, 2014

In a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack this morning, the American Soybean Association (ASA) and six other national farm groups urged USDA to consider the needs of soybean growers and growers of all crops when awarding funds included in the 2014 Farm Bill to land grant universities for the development of websites and web-based tools to assist producers in deciding which of the new law’s farm programs to sign up for.

“Given the complexity of choices in the commodity and crop insurance titles of the farm bill, these tools will be critical for producers in our organizations to make well-informed decisions,” wrote the groups in the letter. “It is important that academic institutions representing different regional views on farm programs participate in this work. As a result, we urge you to select a lead institution possessing substantial experience with revenue-based risk management tools and representing a broad-based, national consortium of land-grant universities. In order to be effective, these web-based decision tools will need to come from institutions that have both the confidence of producers and a strong familiarity with the cropping practices and farm economics of the Midwest and northern Great Plains, which have the majority of acres subject to program decisions.”

The letter came following the Senate Agriculture Committee’s hearing this morning on USDA’s implementation of the farm bill, and included the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Barley Growers Association, National Corn Growers Association, the National Sunflower Association and the U.S. Canola Association, in addition to ASA. USDA anticipates making its awards for website development and other decision aids on May 22, with the final tools expected to be in place by late summer.

Ag Groups, ASA, Farm Bill, Soybean, USDA

Presenters Set for 2014 HR Roundtable

Jamie Johansen May 8, 2014

It’s time to register for the 2014 Ag & Food HR Roundtable and learn from our engaging lineup of speakers. The Roundtable is the premier North American event for HR and educational professionals that provides relevant content examining recruitment and retention specifically within the agriculture and food industries. The AgCareers.com 12th Annual Ag & Food HR Roundtable will be held August 5-7, 2014 in Minneapolis, MN, hosted by CHS, Inc.

In its twelfth year, the level of content and educational resources provided to participants of the Roundtable is unmatched in our industry. AgCareers.com is pleased to announce the speakers for the 2014 North American Ag & Food HR Roundtable:

– Nicole Price, Cy Wakeman
– Sarah Wilson, Farmer on a Mission
– Bob Treadway, Treadway & Associates, Inc.
– Dave Maxheimer, Hagie Manufacturing Co.
– Jason Lauritsen, Talent Anarchy
– Ann Bares, Altura Consulting Group
– Jennifer Burnett, CSX Transportation

The 2014 Roundtable Organizing Committee met in December to help provide input and select hot topics that human resource professionals, managers, university/college staff and associations within the agriculture industry are currently facing. Some of this year’s topics include:

– Recruiting and Retaining Talent in Rural Areas
– Strategic HR for Multiple Locations
– Uncovering Unique Talent Pools
– Reward & Retention- What Really Matters?
– Overcoming Challenges of Connecting on Campus
– AgVocacy: Professionally Representing Our Profession

Back in 2014 by popular demand, we are again offering the add-on workshop for those responsible for compensation and benefits. This special workshop on August 7 will incorporate main sessions from the Roundtable and supplemental sessions after the event. Sessions will be specific to compensation and benefits issues, including Communicating Total Rewards Offerings through the Ranks and The Big Debate: Incentive vs. Base Pay. Add this track onto your Roundtable registration for a discounted rate.

You can register today. If you have any questions, please email agcareers@agcareers.com or call 800.929.8975.

AgCareers, Events

Graphic Recording Going On

Chuck Zimmerman May 8, 2014

The photo albums we create at events become a pretty good graphical representation and documentation of what we see and hear. However, there are other ways to do it.

Jim Nuttle is here at the Animal Agriculture Alliance Stakeholders Summit doing graphical recording. He’s writing and drawing on huge sheets of paper taped to the walls of the conference room. They are his “notes” of what he’s seeing and hearing. You can see my pictures of him creating his graphics in our photo album.

2014 AAA Stakeholders Summit Photo Album

Ag Groups, Animal Agriculture

Oh, The Retirement Opportunities!

Melissa Sandfort May 8, 2014

This week Aunt Jeanette writes:

I wrote the following poem in honor of the retirement of a wonderful, patient, kind, creative teacher who taught next door to me for many years. Not only did we share our teaching ideas, classes, successes, and disappointments, we share a friendship that will endure through the years. When I was having a bad day, she was always there to lift me up and offer encouragement. It was one of those colleague friendships that you wish everyone could experience, but you just don’t find every day. So here’s to you, Susan. Enjoy!

As you retire from teaching, Susan, my friend,
May you know joy and happiness that will never end.
Please remember the many lives you have touched,
Each girl and each boy that has loved you so much.
All the friends, too, you’ve made on the way
To this much anticipated retirement day.
Throw that pesky alarm in the trash,
When Steve leaves to farm, back to bed you may dash!
Dreams of recess duty, conferences, papers to grade,
Standards, tests, charts can now slowly fade.
You’ll never again wonder if there’s enough snow
For school to be canceled, or if that north wind will blow.
For you see, our friend Dave N. said it the best,
“Every day is a snow day!” now that you’ve earned your rest.

This poem is for you, your new life to begin,
And don’t ever forget what a blessing you’ve been!
Enjoy every day, read books, and rest much,
From one of those friends whose life you have touched!

Until we walk again …

Uncategorized

Moderating a Millennials Discussion

Chuck Zimmerman May 8, 2014

Moderating the 2014 Animal Agriculture Alliance Stakeholders Summit is Andy Vance, Feedstuffs. Andy has a millennial ribbon on his name tag but I’m not sure he’s really a Gen Y-er. Why is this important? The theme of this year’s conference is “Cracking the Millennial Code.”

Our first panel discussion is a good example of why we have millennial ribbons. The panelists are millennial staffers on Capitol Hill. Each is a legislative assistant.

Andy was actually on a panel last year and from that experience he was asked to moderate the program here. We visited for a few minutes before the program started.

Interview with Andy Vance

Photos from the Summit can be found here: 2014 AAA Stakeholders Summit Photo Album

Ag Groups, Animal Agriculture

iCropTrak Introduces 60 Second Soil Zoning

Cindy Zimmerman May 7, 2014

iCropTrak has released a new mobile farming app with the ability to create a new grower, a new farm, add CLU field boundaries, and soil zones in as little as 60 seconds on an iPad without the need of a desktop or cloud server.

According to Cogent 3D president Aaron Hutchinson, this new application means that for the first time, even small and medium sized farmers have access to simple technology to track their fields using zones.

Farmers can use iCropTrak Soil to determine a field’s most typical soil types for making better seed selection and application decisions. Visually see where the soil changes in your fields to make better soil sampling decisions. Know what was applied to every field and how your different soils produce. Even use it to evaluate new leases since you can quickly look at the soil productivity potential for the land against your other fields in seconds.

Subscriptions start at just $250 per year, including native mobile app, private cloud, report engine, support, and all upgrades for one price. To learn more about iCropTrak visit www.iCropTrak.com or schedule a live web demo at
Contact@Cogent3D.com.

CropTrak, Precision Agriculture, Soil, Technology

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