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Talia Goes

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  • Monsanto Company announced that it has been named one of the “World’s Most Admired Companies” by FORTUNE magazine.
  • American Farm Bureau Federation Executive Vice President and Treasurer Julie Anna Potts and Pennsylvania Farm Bureau President Carl Shaffer presented Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson with AFBF’s “Golden Plow” award on Wednesday during Pennsylvania Farm Bureau’s National Legislative Conference.
  • Syngenta announced that ELATUS, a breakthrough foliar fungicide, has been approved by the Brazilian authorities.
  • Merivon fungicide from BASF has received registration for use on almonds in California.
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Classic Farmland Movie Stars

Cindy Zimmerman

classic14-usfra-farmlandCommodity Classic went to the movies last week with a sneak preview of the feature length documentary “Farmland” which will debut later this month.

The media was allowed to watch, but not report on, the movie – but we are able to meet and talk with some of the stars who took part in a press conference at Classic with the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA). The guy in the middle here is not one of the stars, that’s USFRA Executive Director Randy Krotz – he just wishes he were as talented and good-looking as the farmers in the film!

The four pictured here, from left to right around Randy, are David Loberg of Nebraska, Ryan Veldhuizen of Minnesota, Leighton Cooley from Georgia, and Brad Bellah of Texas. Listen to them talk about themselves and their experiences with film director James Moll in the making of “Farmland.” – Farmland Movie Press Conference


2014 Commodity Classic Photos

Audio, Commodity Classic, Farming, USFRA

Bayer Develops Seed Treatment for SDS

Cindy Zimmerman

bayer-ilevoDuring the Bayer CropScience Ag Issues Forum and Commodity Classic last week, Bayer was pleased to announced they have applied for EPA registration of ILeVO, the first seed treatment developed to address Soybean Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS).

“We’re anticipating federal registration fourth quarter of 2014 for planting in 2015,” said Seed Treatments Product Manager Dave Byrum.

classic14-bayer-riggs-byrumJennifer Riggs, Bayer SeedGrowth product development manager, says people think of SDS as a late season disease, but they have found that is not true. “The infection of the fungus into the plant happens at the seedling stage,” she explains. “So ILeVO does a very good job of protecting that very critical zone from the fungus.”

Dave and Jennifer talked about this exciting new development during a press conference, and Chuck interviewed both of them during the Ag Issues Forum. Take your pick – or take them both!

Interview with Dave Byrum and Jennifer Riggs, Bayer CropScience Bayer CropScience ILeVO press conference

2014 Bayer CropScience Ag Issues Forum Photos

Agribusiness, Audio, Bayer, Commodity Classic, Seed, Soybean

FMC’s Solutions for Southern Rice Growers

Jamie Johansen

farm-gin-14-don-johnsonDon Johnson is FMC’s Tech Service Sales Manager for the Southern Region. Chuck met up with him during the Mid-South Farm & Gin Show in Memphis last week and talked about what FMC has available for rice farmers. Don also reminded attendees as they walked through their booth that FMC has a wide product portfolio that includes something for all crops.

Obey was launched in 2013 and has dual modes of action. Obey provides effective weed management for Southern rice growers fighting barnyardgrass and hemp sesbania. It also offers the flexibility to be used in a sequential (split) application program with Command® 3ME herbicide.

“Our universities have been supporting FMC the last three or four years trying to get that window expanded in order to manage resistant barnyardgrass in rice fields and now we are happy to announce this year that we finally got that expanded for the growers.”

As growers know barnyardgrass is the number one yield robber in rice fields. Fighting resistance has been an uphill problem for years, but with the use of these two FMC products growers have a solution.

“This show is more than just a cotton show. It is a gin show as well. It has been expanded to cover all crops. FMC also is diversified in the crops we cover whether it’s soybeans, corn, rice or cotton. We have products that cover each crop.”

You can listen to my interview with Don here: Interview with Don Johnson

2014 Mid-South Farm & Gin Show Photo Album

Coverage is sponsored by FMC

Agribusiness, Audio, FMC, Herbicide, Rice

Majority in Ag are Boycotting Chipotle

Jamie Johansen

New Holland ZimmPollOur latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What do you think about Chipotle’s Farmed & Dangerous?”

An overwhelming majority said they have boycotted Chipotle and I am proud to say I fit into that majority. I also believe Chipotle should be ashamed and have decided I don’t need to watch their recent stunt to know they are bad news. Thank you to those in the agricultural community who have made a stand against this restaurant giant and joined the fight to tell agriculture’s story.

Our poll results:

  • Chipotle should be ashamed – 25%
  • Hilarious – Lighten up! – 6%
  • Thought provoking – 4%
  • Refuse to see it – 6%
  • Will never eat at Chipotle – 47%
  • Never heard of it – 12%

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “What’s your favorite fish?”

Today is Ash Wednesday and the first day of Lent. Many across the country are giving up something beloved to them in the 40 days leading up to Easter and reframing from meat on Friday’s. In honor of that we want to know what’s your favorite way to prepare fish.

ZimmPoll

GROWMARK, John Deere Data Collaboration

Cindy Zimmerman

growmarklogoGROWMARK and John Deere are collaborating to make life easier and improve decision-making for producers and agronomists.

The two are collaborating to deliver near real-time field level data to producers and FS Crop Specialists by linking FS Advanced Information Services (FS AIS), a suite of precision agronomy software, with John Deere Wireless Data Transfer, JDLink™ and MyJohnDeere.

John DeereGROWMARK Agronomy Marketing executive director Ron Milby says they are among the first agricultural retailers to leverage the Wireless Data Transfer Application Programming Interface (API) for its precision agronomy decision support software, making data exchange faster and more useful for growers and its FS company staff. “The open platform John Deere provides enables farmers and FS company staff to use the FS AIS software to make decisions in near real time – that’s a win-win,” Milby said.

Ron says they chose to work with Deere because they believe they are a leader in this field. “I think they’re going to be a viable leader in the future,” he said. “We were headed to this base, they were headed to this base, and we were able to work with them.

Producers will utilize an efficient and secure interface between FS AIS and MyJohnDeere, taking advantage of both companies’ commitment to supporting better decisions through improved data integration at the field level. This includes the ability to easily transfer work instructions, prescriptions, and product lists to the GreenStar™ 3 2630 display. Yield data, as-applied maps and work records can be transferred back to the FS AIS software.

Find out more in this interview with Ron: Interview with Ron Milby, GROWMARK

Agribusiness, Audio, Farming, GROWMARK, John Deere, Precision Agriculture

Training to Win With New Holland

Chuck Zimmerman

Train to Win with New HollandNew Holland’s Operation Blue Force is underway in California. This is a series of training events for dealers. They get out on the farm to ride and learn about what’s new from New Holland.

Here’s Mark Hooper, Director of Marketing in North America for New Holland, explaining what we’ll be doing today. I’m part of a group of ag media folks who are getting our turn today. I’ll be out in the field and have lots to share with you when I get time. This is going to be fun.

Agribusiness, New Holland

NCGA Honors Corn Industry Legend

Cindy Zimmerman

classic14-jere-groupThe National Corn Growers Association celebrated the long and productive career of a corn farmer, friend and industry legend last Saturday during the concluding Corn Congress at the Commodity Classic.

Jere White is retiring from the Kansas Corn Growers after leading that organization for a quarter of a century. During the Congress, he was presented with the Meritorious Service Award from NCGA and received a standing ovation from those present. Our friend had a serious motorcycle accident in September 2012, and while he has made a remarkable recovery from critical injuries, he recently decided it was time to pass the reins of the association on to someone else.

classic14-greg-jereThe new Kansas Corn CEO, pictured here with Jere, is Greg Krissek – who is both highly qualified for the job and a long-time friend. In his career, Greg has served as Assistant Secretary at the Kansas Department of Agriculture; Director of Operations at Kansas Corn and Kansas Grain Sorghum; Director of Government Affairs for ICM Inc. and, most recently was a manager at Kennedy and Coe, LLC. He has also served on many ethanol and agricultural association boards and on seven ethanol plant boards of directors.

2014 Commodity Classic Photos

Ag Groups, Commodity Classic, Corn, NCGA

BASF Helps Farmers Increase Production

Leah Guffey

At the BASF Crop Protection Science Behind the Advanced Acre media event last week farmers from different states talked about how BASF Innovation Specialists help them get the most out of their operations.

12807855514_866aa16cfe_qMatt Miles is a 4th generation row crop farmer from southeastern Arkansas who grows corn, soybeans and cotton on a 6300 acre family operation with his wife and son-in-law.

Irrigation is key to Matt’s operation. “Without irrigation our soybean yields would be 20% of what we make now,” he said. Also important to increased yields for Matt is precision agriculture and his BASF Innovation Specialist Brad Koen, a friend since high school who provides him with important agronomic information.

Listen to my interview with Matt here: Interview with Matt Miles, Arkansas Farmer

12807529195_21054ae829_qAlex Rock and his family have Illinois roots and have moved their operation to Colorado where they also have a heifer replacement program from his mother’s side of the family. “Mom said we aren’t milking cows again,” said Alex. “But this gives us an opportunity to remain involved in the dairy industry.”

The Rock family wheat crop is currently in the field, but as a dry land farmer they are reliant on the snow melt from mountains. They have to deal with real life tumbleweeds as some of the weeds that have become resistant are continuing to reek havoc. He relies on his BASF representative Bob Leisy to help him make informed and smart decisions with local growers about Advanced Weed Control and Plant Health.

Listen to my conversation with Alex here: Interview with Alex Rock, Colorado Farmer


BASF at the 2014 Commodity Classic Photos

Audio, BASF, Commodity Classic

Soybean Growers Glad for Farm Bill, Upset Over EPA

John Davis

Soybean growers have had a mixed bag of emotions the last couple of months: happy over the passage of the much-anticipated Farm Bill … but not so happy over the government’s proposed cut to the amount of biodiesel, which is mostly made from soybeans, to be blended into the Nation’s fuel supply.

classic14-asa-gaesserAt a news conference at the recent Commodity Classic in San Antonio, American Soybean Association (ASA) president Ray Gaesser, a farmer from Iowa, said after three long years of debate, it was great to see the Farm Bill become law.

“It was a compromise bill, and the final product strengthens risk management, streamlines conservation programs, reinforces the safety net, and invests in key programs in the areas of trade promotion, research and renewables,” he said, adding a big win for ASA in the new law is that planting decisions remain separated and decoupled from income safety net programs. “This helps to ensure that farmers plant for the market and not for government programs.” ASA News Conference at Commodity Classic

classic14-asa-murphyMeanwhile, ASA Chairman Danny Murphy, a grower from Mississippi, said their first priority is to get the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reverse its biodiesel proposal.

“These proposed regulations would reduce the production over the next year or two and really stifle the growth in a really valuable market for soybean farmers,” he said.

The hundreds of comments his members sent into the EPA might be having an effect as he told Cindy in a separate interview that EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy might be having second thoughts about her agency’s proposal. “So we hope that means they’ll make some changes and allow this biodiesel industry to grow.”

During that interview, Danny also talked about trade agreements, biotechnology, and how good demand and good prices are really helping soybean farmers do well.

“It’s an exciting time to be a soybean farmer,” Danny said.

Listen to all of Cindy’s interview with Danny here: ASA Chairman Danny Murphy


2014 Commodity Classic Photos

ASA, Audio, Commodity Classic, Farm Bill, Soybean