GMO Coalition for Safe Food Formed

Cindy Zimmerman

A diverse group of industry and non-governmental organizations today announced the formation of a new coalition dedicated to the advancement of a federal solution on the labeling of food products derived from genetically modified ingredients (GMOs).

cfsafThe goal of the “Coalition for Safe Affordable Food” is to urge Congress to seek a federal solution that would establish standards for the safety and labeling of food and beverage products made with GMOs.

Representatives of some of the participating groups announced the coalition during a media conference call today – including Grocery Manufacturers Association, National Council of Farm Cooperatives, National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), American Soybean Association and the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO).

“American families deserve safe, abundant and affordable food,” said NCGA President and Illinois farmer Martin Barbre. “And America’s farmers rely on this proven technology to protect crops from insects, weeds and drought, enabling us to deliver on that promise and to do so through sustainable means. A federal solution on GMO labeling will bolster consumer confidence in the safety of American food by reaffirming the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) role as the nation’s foremost authority on the use and labeling of foods containing genetically modified ingredients.”

Listen to the conference call here: GMO Coalition Announcement

Ag Groups, Audio, Biotech, Corn, Food, NCGA, Soybean

Head to the Clouds with Ag Leader’s AgFiniti

Joanna Schroeder

The big trend in the data world these days is the “cloud”. The cloud is a way to store your data in a safe, secure place and have access to it anywhere you may be. Ag Leader recently headed to the “clouds” with their new AgFiniti precision technology and to learn more, I spoke with Kaleb Lindquist during the 2014 Iowa Power Farming Show.

Ag Leader Kaleb LindquistLindquist explained that AgFiniti is a cloud-based solution, or platform, Ag Leader developed to make the growers, dealers and the agribusiness community’s life easier. “It’s designed to interconnect everybody,” said Lindquist, “whether that be the grower to the dealer, the grower to the agribusiness or vice versa.”

So seriously, what is the cloud? Lindquist explained that it is a metaphorical term for a remote server somewhere. Data is uploaded to the cloud, in other words to a remote, secure server so your data is not housed on your physical desktop. The data is safe, secure and backed up regularly (so if your hard drive in your desktop or laptop computer crashes you still have all the data you stored in AgFiniti).

Here is how it works. Using a wiresless hot spot, a grower can take a file from his or her display (both Integra and Versa) while he’s out in the field, upload it to AgFiniti and bam, it’s there. Then the grower can call his agronomist, tell him or her he’s uploaded a file and the agronomist (with the grower’s permission) can instantaneously pull down the file, review it and then give the grower some recommendations. Is there any more instantaneous way to share data other than having the agronomist with you on the farm? Nope.

I’m waxing lyrical because I’m having fun in AgFiniti’s cloud. You will too once you learn more about this precision ag technology.

Listen to my full interview with Kaleb Lindquist: Head to the Clouds with Ag Leader's AgFiniti

Click here to view the 2014 Iowa Power Farming Show photo album.

Ag Leader, Agribusiness, Audio, Internet, Iowa Power Show, Precision Agriculture

Let Ag Leader’s Compass Guide You

Joanna Schroeder

Ag Leader Josh RasmussonAg Leader introduced the Compass display last fall during the Farm Progress Show and in the few months it’s been available, it has seen great success. To learn more about the technology, I spoke with Josh Rasmusson with Ag Leader during the 2014 Iowa Power Farming Show.

He explained that the Compass display is their new, high-definition, 7 inch touch screen with a guidance display. He also noted that you can incorporate other Ag Leader precision technologies such as OnTrac2+, GeoSteer or the assisted steering, ParaDyme for your high-end hydraulic system.

Rasmusson told me that nearly 50 percent of farms in the U.S. aren’t using any type of precision technologies but the Compass display is designed for entry-level users – an easy way to ease them into the world of precision ag.

“The Compass display would be a generic lightbar for them to use in a tillage scenario or a spring scenario if they wanted to do coverage mapping,” explained Rasmusson. “There is a built in guidance so they don’t have to use markers, and you can also incorporate the steering into the system.”

In fact, says, Rasmusson, the system is so easy to use a grower can figure it out in around an hour. If not, Ag Leader has 24/7 free technical assistance available.

Listen to my full interview with Josh Rasmusson: Let Ag Leader's Compass Guide You

Click here to view the 2014 Iowa Power Farming Show photo album.

Ag Leader, Audio, Iowa Power Show, Precision Agriculture

What is Best in New Farm Bill

Talia Goes

New Holland ZimmPollBefore we get to the Farm Bill let’s look at our latest ZimmPoll which asked the question, “Could drones (UAV’s) serve a purpose on your operation?”

Well over half of the voters this week said that drones could in fact serve a purpose on their operation. Price is still a factor and may be the reason that some operations would not use them yet. We’re going to see a lot more about this new technology since predictions have been made that eighty percent of the multi-million dollar market will be for agricultural use.

Our poll results:

  • Yes, if affordable – 50%
  • No – 18%
  • Yes, at any price – 14%
  • No, worried about privacy – 14%
  • What are they? – 5%

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “What’s best in the new farm bill?”

The Senate finally passed its version of a conference bill Jan. 29, and now the farm bill goes to President Obama’s desk. As you can read on Senator Debbie Stabenow’s website: “This isn’t your father’s Farm Bill. It is a bill for our future that grows our agriculture economy, helps provide greater access to healthy Michigan-grown foods, preserves our land and water, and cuts unnecessary spending. The Farm Bill is a rare example of a major bipartisan jobs bill and a bipartisan deficit reduction bill,” Chairwoman Stabenow said. Have you had the chance to review the new bill? Let us know what you think is the best part.

Farm Bill, Farm Policy, ZimmPoll

Deer Farmers Pleased with Farm Bill

Chuck Zimmerman

North American Deer Farmers AssociationThanks to the Farm Bill I just learned about the North American Deer Farmers Association. Farm Bill? Yep. They sent me a release about their take on the legislation which I’m posting below. I’m thinking of joining. I may not actually farm deer but work a property lease where we harvest them!

“We’re very pleased to have a final, comprehensive Farm Bill,” says NADeFA Executive Director Shawn Schafer. “This bill is a significant step forward for the deer industry and includes several provisions specific to the deer industry, not the least of which are disease research for deer, elk and other cervidae; country-of-origin labeling for venison; and much needed disease indemnity for individual farmers.”

The 2014 Farm Bill includes several key victories for NADeFA and the national cervid farming industry, such as:

• Deer in USDA’s Research Initiatives: The USDA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiatives (AFRI) program has been amended to include emphasis on disease (EHD, CWD), mapping the genome, pest/parasite, diagnostics and vaccination research for deer, elk and other cervidae.
 Read More

Ag Groups, Farming, Food

Ag Leader’s Hydraulic Down Force Improves Planting

Joanna Schroeder

It’s hard to forget the spring of 2013 when growers had more rain then they could handle. For some they lost crops, for others the seed was planted a bit late. But what if there was a way to improve your changes for a better harvest despite too much soil moisture. Well, there is a way to do just that: Ag Leader’s new Hydraulic Down Force System.

Brett Buehler Ag LeaderTo learn more about how this precision technology works, I spoke with Ag Leader’s Brett Buehler during the 2014 Iowa Power Farming show. As explained by Buehler one of the big issues growers face during planting is that the seed is planted at the proper depth. When the seed is not optimally planted, it can negatively impact yield. While there are technologies on the market to help address this, Buehler said that many of them have limitations that the Hydraulic Down Force System overcomes.

For many growers, last year’s crops were planted in wet conditions. (During planting the soil gets compacted and in essence turns in to cement so the roots can’t grow deep enough to access the water and nutrients they need throughout the growing season). “Last year was the perfect storm. We had a wet planting spring and it got dry during the summer. So the guys who used our Hydraulic Down Force System last year had tremendous yield,” said Buehler.

Planters still come from the factory with springs that growers have to adjust and it is hard to determine what the right adjustment is when field conditions can change in less than 50 feet. So unlike the air bag option that some companies have developed, Ag Leader went with a hydraulic actuator that in essence allows the planter to react nearly instantaneously.

“So instead of taking 30 or 40 seconds to compass the air to get the right amount of downforce,” explained Buehler, “we can react within a second with the hydraulic down force.”

The technology, says Buehler, is excellent for the grower who has varying soil types his field.

Listen to my full interview with Brett Buehler: Hydraulic Down Force Leads to Up in Production

Click here to view the 2014 Iowa Power Farming Show photo album.

Ag Leader, Audio, Iowa Power Show, Precision Agriculture

Poultry Part of Novus Past, Present and Future

Cindy Zimmerman

The vision of Novus International is to help feed the world affordable, wholesome food and achieve a higher quality of life, a global viewpoint that provides the company with a firm foundation in the past and optimism for the future, according to chief information officer and vice president of operations Scott Hine.

ippe-14-novus-hine“It’s something that’s stood the test of time and I think it has a lot of future potential as well,” Scott told me last week at the International Production and Processing Expo. “The products that we produce are really exemplary of continuing to do just that.”

Novus was formed in 1991 when Monsanto sold its feed ingredients division and With two products for the poultry industry to Mitsui and Nippon. Since then, Novus has brought numerous products to the market, including more than 100 over the past decade, but the company remains just as dedicated to the poultry industry as ever. “MHA and ALIMET is the better source of methionine, MINTREX is the most bio-available mineral out there, and our CIBENZA line of products we are continuing to extend,” said Scott. “Poultry is our number one business and continues to be.”

Scott says Novus markets products now in over 100 countries around the world with over 3,000 customers. “We’ve got fantastic global customers as well as fantastic regional customers,” he said, many of whom were at the expo last week. Interview with Scott Hine, Novus International


International Production and Processing Expo Photos

Sponsored by Novus International Inc

Animal Health, Audio, IPPE, Novus International, Poultry, Poultry Expo

The Cow in Patrick O’Shanahan’s Kitchen

Joanna Schroeder

There is a cow in Patrick O’Shanahan’s kitchen this morning as his dad makes his world famous french toast. Why? Because Patrick thinks his food comes from the grocery story until the cow, a menagerie of chickens and a few maple trees appear causing him to The Cow in Patrick oShanahans kitchenrethink where his food comes from. In this new children’s book, “The Cow in Patrick O’Shanahan’s Kitchen,” authored by Diana Pritchard, children can begin to learn more about the animals that provide their food and the farm to fork concept.

Prichard, who lives in a rural farming community and is raising children of her own, says she is frustrated about the voices who are telling the story of American farmers. “Watching people who have little or no practical knowledge of agriculture dominate our national discourse on food and faring is extremely frustrating,” explained Prichard. “I wanted to contribute a positive and informed message for parents and kids.”

And that she did. The illustrations are quirky and fun and the ideas of where food comes from are easy to understand and presented in an engaging way. With all the concern about where our food comes from, this book is a great way to introduce children to the concept of how food is produced.

Food

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

Zimfo Bytes

Congratulations! It’s a Farm Bill

Cindy Zimmerman

baby-farm-billAfter a what seemed to be a never-ending labor process, Congress has finally delivered a new farm bill – well past its 2012 due date. Everyone has something to say about the overdue bill, so we’ll take the releases in the order they came.

First to pass out cigars is the American Soybean Association (ASA). “We are relieved and pleased to see the farm bill cross the finish line this afternoon,” said ASA President and Iowa farmer Ray Gaesser.

National Farmers Union was next in the in box. “Passage of the bill on a wide 68-32 margin is a testament to the importance of the legislation to every region of the country,” said NFU President Roger Johnson.

Another admirer is the National Cotton Council. “Congress has demonstrated strong bi-partisanship and we urge President Obama to sign this long-awaited bill into law,” said chairman Jimmy Dodson.

From the National Corn Growers Association – “We’re happy to see the farm bill pass the Senate and are looking forward to seeing it signed and implemented,” said NCGA President Martin Barbre. “While it’s not perfect, we’re pleased to see the bill contains many provisions we’ve been working hard for over the years.”

American Farm Bureau Federation president Bob Stallman added his congratulations. “We are particularly pleased with provisions in the 2014 farm bill to provide risk management to fruit and vegetable farmers and to support livestock farmers during disasters,” he said.

And, from the man who will be charged with raising the little tyke, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack says the bill will achieve “meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for the taxpayer. While no legislation is perfect, this bill is a strong investment in American agriculture and supports the continued global leadership of our farmers and ranchers.”

During a press call today on a separate topic, Vilsack was asked what USDA will do first when the farm bill is finalized. Listen to or download his comments here: Vilsack on Farm Bill Implementation

Ag Groups, Audio, Farm Bill, USDA