RoboFlight Offers Affordable Ag UAVs

Cindy Zimmerman

roboflight_500RoboFlight is a global company that deals in data acquisition including UAV platforms as well as full scale aircraft and satellite systems. Beyond the agricultural industry, RoboFlight also works in security, search and rescue, utilities, mining and insurance.

Chuck interviewed Phil Ellerbroek, Global Director of Sales for RoboFlight, and he shared more about the company. RoboFlight acquired Aerial Precision Ag, giving them an upper hand when it comes to agriculture. Aerial Precision Ag was the first company to bring affordable, price-point conscientious UAV’s to the average farmer.

roboflight-ag

“Agriculture is definitely where we are focusing. Response not only within the industry but for our company as a whole has been phenomenal. We feel we continue to lead this area because of a specific advantage we have. Our team members bring a science and understanding of agronomy to our end users.”

Phil explains that pricing will vary depending on a producers needs. Their goal is to customize a plan that best fits each individuals goals for data retrieval.

RoboFlight is working with Farm Bureaus in different states and will also be attending various UAV and agriculture conferences.

Listen to Chuck’s complete interview with Phil here: Interview with Phil Ellerbroek

Audio, data, Farming, Precision Agriculture

Opening Day for Farmland Movie

Cindy Zimmerman

farmland-posterThe long-awaited theatrical debut of the Farmland movie has arrived!

The film is being distributed via D&E Entertainment in more than 60 major markets, starting today, after being privately screened around the country to agricultural audiences and shown at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival, Atlanta Film Festival, Nashville Film Festival, Newport Beach Film Festival and Cleveland International Film Festival.

In case you have not heard about it, Farmland offers viewers a glimpse into “the lives of six young farmers and ranchers across the U.S., chronicling their high-risk/high-reward jobs and their passion for a way of life which has been passed down from generation to generation, yet continues to evolve.” The documentary features an original score composed by Nathan Wang with the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. The film also includes an original recording of “This Land is Your Land” performed in a first-ever collaboration with platinum rock band Everclear and Grammy® Award-nominated artist Liz Phair.

To find out where Farmland will be in your neck of the woods, check out the website.

Ag Groups, USFRA

CUTC Highlights Native American Spirit

Cindy Zimmerman

ncgaKristin Meadors with the Kentucky Distillers Association will deliver the keynote address at the National Corn Growers Association’s Corn Utilization and Technology Conference, June 2 in Louisville, Kentucky.

“The bourbon industry’s iconic utilization of corn makes it a perfect platform in which to kick-off three days of lively discussions among the corn industry’s leading researchers, processors and business representatives,” said NCGA Research and Business Development Action Team Chair Tom Mueller. “We are excited to have Kristin Meadors discuss her industry’s impact on our economy and why this corn-based spirit continues its popularity at home and abroad.”

Meadors is the Kentucky Distillers Association’s first-ever Director of Governmental and Regulatory Affairs. She is responsible for coordinating the association’s governmental and regulatory affairs initiatives at all levels of government, working with federal officials on trade issues and expanding global opportunities for Kentucky’s signature bourbon industry.

In 1964, Congress declared bourbon America’s only native spirit. It must be made with a minimum of 51 percent corn, aged in charred new oak barrels and stored at no more than 125 proof. This year, CUTC will be held June 2 – 6 at the Marriott Louisville Downtown Hotel. The conference’s agenda focuses on wet and dry milling technologies and new uses. Visit www.corntechconf.org for more information and to register online.

Ag Groups, Corn, Events, NCGA, Research

REPREVE Launches New Biomass Crop System

Cindy Zimmerman

A North Carolina-based biomass company has launched a brand new system for the production of high-yielding energy crops that can be used for renewable, bio-based products.

repreveREPREVE® RENEWABLES LLC is collaborating with farmers and landowners across the country to use the innovative biomass crop system grow giant miscanthus grass on marginal and underutilized land.

REPREVE developed a comprehensive solution to the challenge of planting rhizome-propagated crops like miscanthus on a commercial scale, according to Jeff Wheeler, chief executive officer. “We’re really excited to be launching this year our new ACCU YIELD™ system,” said Wheeler, explaining that they had to develop specialized equipment to extract and process the rhizomes for planting, and then develop a precision planter to accurately and efficiently plant the crop for the highest yields.

ACCUDROP planter in fieldThe system is comprised of three elements: the ACCU LIFTER™ machine lifts rhizomes from a field in such a manner that reduces damage to the rhizomes thus increasing viability; the ACCU PROCESSOR™ unit sizes and cleans rhizomes for improved germination and quality and the ACCU DROP® planter provides optimal row spacing at varying planting densities to ensure a uniform, consistent and rapid stand establishment.

Farmers and landowners in Iowa, Georgia, North Carolina and Wisconsin are among the first to adopt this inventive approach to diversified land management. “These early adopters of commercial-scale biomass are trailblazers,” Wheeler says. “We provide turnkey solutions to farmers and landowners whereby we plant and harvest the crop. Plus we provide the market for the harvested crop each year.” The crop is marketed to end users for a variety of renewable products, from biofuels to animal bedding.

Learn more in this interview with Wheeler: Interview with Jeff Wheeler, REPREVE Renewables

Audio, Biofuels, Equipment, Ethanol, Farming

BASF: Knowing the Enemy is Key in Weed War

Cindy Zimmerman

weed-warThe first defense in the war against weeds is knowing the enemy, according to BASF Crop Protection.

A recent BASF survey found that 76 percent of growers have made changes to their weed management programs to address weed resistance and proper weed identification is fundamental to any effective control program.

“The first step in weed control is to know your enemy,” said Kevin Bradley, Ph.D., Associate Professor of plant sciences at the University of Missouri. “If you don’t know what you’re going after, you’re probably going to be behind from the very beginning.”

BASFOften, the same weed species will show up in a field year after year, so it is important to know where problem weeds live.

“It’s about characterizing which part of your farm needs certain attention,” said Greg Armel, Technical Market Manager, BASF. “There’s an adage – every year you don’t control weeds, there will be seven more years of fighting that weed. The less you know about what you’re dealing with, the more that weed has a chance to get a foothold in your ground and prevent you from controlling it in an effective manner.”

Newly acquired land, or any major land management changes, requires special attention when scouting and identifying weeds.

Read more from BASF.

Agribusiness, BASF, Farming, weed management

Wake Up Sleepy Head!

Melissa Sandfort

Do you ever have those days when you just wish you could pull the covers up over your head and stay in bed for a few more hours? I certainly do, and so does my son. He’s a bear in the morning – there is no “right side of the bed”, it’s almost always the wrong side. I’m hoping that hanging curtains over his window will entice him to stay put a bit longer to sleep off the crabbiness!

Thank goodness though, he hasn’t hit the stage where he has faked an illness to avoid going to school. And most times if no one else is awake, he’ll just crawl in the chair with a blanket and take a little snooze until someone else stirs.

My grandfather was the oldest of six children and I’m sure his parents heard many excuses as to why to not get out of bed, or do chores, or go to school. But one of his brothers, Charles, found a creative way to avoid waking up.

Listen to Grandpa explain

If that would’ve been me hiding in the closet, I would’ve realized that I needed to use the bathroom, then my brain would’ve started going through the list of things I needed to accomplish that day and I might as well have just stayed up.

Until we walk again …

Uncategorized

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

    Zimfo Bytes

  • John Deere Landscapes (“JDL”), the largest North American distributor of landscaping products, announced the appointment of Doug Black as Chief Executive Officer effective immediately.
  • To help better serve the needs of Maryland farmers, the Agriculture Law Education Initiative, in conjunction with the newly formed Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA) Special Committee on Agriculture Law, has published the 2014 Legal Services Directory.
  • USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced additional support and resources for America’s small and midsized farmers and ranchers.
  • The Illinois Nutrient Research & Education Council has published its first annual report, summarizing seven projects that NREC funded in the calendar year 2013.
Zimfo Bytes

More on IFAJ and the FAO Agreement

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast 436As announced earlier this week, the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists has signed an agreement with the FAO. Signing for IFAJ was current President, Marcus Rediger.

This morning I spoke with Marcus via Skype and we talked about the agreement and what it means to IFAJ members (AAEA members here in the U.S.). Information from the FAO will be featured on the IFAJ website in the near future and there will be a new award program announced at this fall’s IFAJ Congress in Scotland. Listen in to learn more in my conversation with Marcus.

You can listen to this week’s program here. IFAJ and the FAO

Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsor, GROWMARK, locally owned, globally strong, for their support.

Subscribe to the ZimmCast podcast here.

Audio, IFAJ, International, Media, ZimmCast

Flooding Southern Style

Chuck Zimmerman

Good morning from ZimmComm World Headquarters. Home of more than 22 inches of rain overnight. That doesn’t count yesterday morning. According to reports I’ve seen we had over 7,000 lightning strikes in a 15 minute period too. We had more rain in one hour between 9-10pm than all of Hurricane Ivan which was our last severe one. I have not ventured out yet because I don’t have a boat :). Here’s a video clip that gives you an idea of what things were like.

So, there you have it. We’ve been using our phone hotspots for internet since we had no cable until just now.

I hope everyone has turned off their sprinkler systems!

Weather

Ag&#8729ri&#8729li&#8729cious – All Things Local Food

Jamie Johansen

Screen Shot 2014-04-29 at 4.16.29 PMAgrilicious launches today. A website that is at the heart of the food movement, providing an exciting way to participate in the local food experience while expanding the family-and-farmer connection. They want to be the go-to source for all things local food – families, farmers, restaurants, grocery delivery and meal kit services, distributers, educators and food industry advocates and experts all come together through Agrilicious to share ideas, connect, and make a difference. Based in Seattle, WA, Agrilicious SPC is a Social Purpose Corporation.

Celebrating the best of food, farms and family – Agrilicious is not just for the foodies, Locavores and farmers, it’s for all those working with farmers to help get local food to the community. Most of all it’s for those of us who are becoming increasingly curious and concerned about the food we eat…where it’s from…and what is actually in it.

In a recent study by Sullivan Higdon & Sink’s FoodThink:
– 70% of consumers would like to know more about where food actually comes from
– 92% think local and organic just tastes better than conventional food
– 79% would like to buy more local food

CEO Duane Dahl says, “Making good food choices has become a priority for all of us, and we wanted to use our team’s expertise to help advance the local food movement. Agrilicious brings together families, farmers and the food industry to share, connect and to make a difference. We are pleased to provide direct access and quality information about local food that is important to the mainstream consumer.”

Agrilicious launch features include:
– Over 100,000 listings and enhanced profiles of all things local food – the most available in one place online today
– Search tools allowing individuals, Agripreneurs and B2B food suppliers to connect online and offline
– Informative, engaging content – food, farming and agriculture news, independent reviews and analysis, columns, education, a blog and featured farms and businesses
– AnswerVille – Have a question related to food, farming or gardening? Get them answered here!
– Agrilicious-TV features informative videos from industry experts, food-related documentaries, and exclusive programming including “In Search of Food.”

Agribusiness, Farming, Food