BASF Beauties and Bozeman at NAFB

Cindy Zimmerman

nafb13-basf-lukeBASF Technical Market Manager for Herbicides Luke Bozeman is surrounded by a bevy of beauties here at NAFB Trade Talk. Left to right around Luke are Courtney Reigh and Amy Jensen with Padilla/CRT; Sandi Wilson, Pat Morrow and Hillary Jaworski of BASF.

We talked with Luke to get the latest update on Engenia™ herbicide and the BASF On-Target Application Academy (OTAA).

lukeEngenia is the BASF herbicide being developed for dicamba-tolerant soybeans and cotton. Luke says all the field trials this year went well and the launch is basically just waiting on approvals. “Regulatory reviews are progressing nicely and we’re expecting to be in the marketplace following the approval of the dicamba-tolerant soybeans and cotton which looks like it could be 2015,” he said.

BASF’s OTAA just finished its second year and Luke says they plan to expand the program’s reach in 2014. “We’ve had over 3,000 growers come through our training events,” he said. “In 2014 we’ll be developing an on-line tool that will allow growers, at their convenience, to source the most up-to-date information on application technologies.”

Find out more from Luke here: Interview with Luke Bozeman, BASF

2013 NAFB Convention Photo Album

Audio, BASF, Crop Protection, NAFB, weed management

Climate Corporation’s Growth by Tracking Weather

Jamie Johansen

nafb-13-29-editedAnother ag based company who attended this year’s Trade Talk at the recent NAFB Convention was the Climate Corporation. They are focused on applying data science to production agriculture and take all the environmental data, weather, soil conditions and current and seasonal projections and apply it to the production agricultural decisions growers make on a daily basis.

Greg Smirin, CEO of The Climate Corporation, sat down with me during the event to talk about some new products they are offering growers and what changes customers might see with the Monsanto acquisition.

“We help protect the grower from things they cannot control with our total weather insurance, crop insurance and we are rolling out for the season Climate Basic and Climate Pro, which helps the farmer make decisions throughout the growing season to boost profitability.”

Climate Basic and Climate Pro will use data science to change agriculture. The basic program is a free web and mobil service and will provide hyper-local weather on each of the fields a grower has. A grower gets projected growth stages, soil moisture tracking, alerts along with scouting and notes. The pro version comes with a fee, but growers get everything the basic provides with an advisor for planting, nitrogen, pest and disease, harvest and in variable rates.

There is no doubt the company provides a service for growers that can increase profitability by over $100 per acre. Recently, the company was acquired by Monsanto. The two companies have found that they are doing the same science based research. The Climate Corporation will continue to operate independently with growers, but they are now able to leverage the research that has come out of Monsanto’s labs.

Listen to my complete interview with Greg here: Interview with Greg Smirin

Checkout photos from NAFB Convention: 2013 NAFB Convention Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Media, NAFB, Weather

Summer Education for ASFMRA

Chuck Zimmerman

Jeff Berg, ARA, and Past President of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, talked about the ASFMRA Summer Education Week program during Agronomics Vision 2014 in Reno, NV. He told me that ASFMRA has a net increase of about 86 new members this year which is a big increase for the organization. Sounds like the ways that the organization is encouraging young people to get into the industry are working. It’s a great time to get into the business due to the changing demographics in the United States. ASFMRA chapters are sending representative to college clubs and classes like ag econ. He calls farm management, consulting and rural appraisal the best kept secret in agriculture.

Summer Education Week will take place July 13 – 17, 2014 in Des Moines, IA.

You can listen to my interview with Jeff here: Interview with Jeff Berg

Agronomics Vision 2014 Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the ASFMRA Agronomics Conference is sponsored by Halderman Farm Management.

Ag Groups, Audio, Education, Video

Rabo AgriFinance Report From NAFB

Jamie Johansen

nafb-13-40-editedRabo AgriFinance was present for the recent Trade Talk during the 2013 NAFB Convention. The company is the leading U.S. ag lender and specializes in protein to produce and inputs to oilseeds. Their expert team monitors and evaluates the global market that influences agriculture around the world.

I spoke with two of the team’s analysts at the event and they each shed some insight into the upcoming 2014 futures and recapped how growers and producers faired in 2013. John Grettenburg is a Relationships Manager in Western and Southwest Iowa and specializes in the corn and soybean market. Don Close is the Vice President for Food and Agribusiness Research (FAR) and his area of interest is in international markets and cattle feeding.

John hit on on-farm storage of grains and how it can benefit growers. “I think it gives the producer the opportunity to mange it from one tax year to the next from an income tax perspective. Historically we have had some increases and bumps in the market through the spring months and early summer. It allows farmers to increase the speed of their harvest if they have their own drying facility and by not have to wait in lines at local elevators. It gives them that flexibility to move that crop to market when the price dictates.”

nafb-13-42-editedListen to my complete interview with John here: Interview with John Grettenburg

Don describes 2013 for cattle feeders as dismal and says the replenishing of herds will be a slow process and supplies will continue to be tight. “One of the areas the beef industry will be challenged with is the position of both the broiler and hog industry while they gain market shares at the expense of beef. With the likely hood of recovering cow numbers the prospects of growing international trade both short-term and long goals gives a very positive outlook for the future.”

Listen to my complete interview with Don here: Interview with Don Close

Checkout photos from NAFB Convention: 2013 NAFB Convention Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Beef, Corn, Grains, Markets, Media, NAFB, Soybean

Watching Out For ASFMRA In Washington

Chuck Zimmerman

Stephen Frerichs, AgVantage, LLC, works with the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers on its Leadership Institute in Washington, Dc. He attended the Agronomics Vision 2014 conference to provide a Farm Bill update and learn about what this year’s priorities are for ASFMRA.

I sat down with him to talk about the work he does with ASFMRA members when they visit Washington, DC for the annual Leadership Institute.

You can listen to my interview with Stephen here: Interview with Stephen Frerichs

Agronomics Vision 2014 Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the ASFMRA Agronomics Conference is sponsored by Halderman Farm Management.

Ag Leader, Audio, Video

American Agri-Women Elect New Officers

Jamie Johansen

2013 AAW officers NRThe American Agri-Women (AAW) have elected officers and recognized outstanding contributors at their 38th annual convention recently in Niagara Fall, New York.

AAW is the nation’s largest coalition of farm, ranch and agribusiness women representing more than 50 state, commodity and agribusiness affiliates. The convention included meetings in Niagara Falls as well as meetings and tours in Ontario, Canada, which were sponsored by several Canadian ag groups. This was the first time AAW collaborated with Canadian women for its annual convention.

There new national officer slate for the upcoming year includes:
• President: Sue McCrum, Mars Hill, Maine
• Past-President: Karen Yost, Billings, Montana
• First Vice President for Resolutions & Vital Issues: Doris Mold, St. Paul, Minn.
• Secretary: Lisa Condon, Horicon, Wis.
• Treasurer: Peggy Clark, Dayton, Ohio
• Vice President of Education: Kris Zilliox, Omaha, Neb.
• Vice President of Communications: Lynn Woolf, Milton, Kan.

The highest honor given to non-members is the VERITAS Award. This year it was presented to Richard Ulrich, the senior advisor on industry engagement at the Canadian Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food. The VERITAS award is given annually to a person who has given public witness to “the pursuit of truth.”

The LEAVEN award is the organization’s highest honor given to AAW members. This year it was awarded to:
• Frances Hendricks, Aumsville, Ore.
• Penny Lauritzen, Lanark, Ill.,
• Kris Zilliox, Omaha Neb.

Ag Groups

ASFMRA Award Winner

Chuck Zimmerman

The American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA) recognized Gary Thien, AFM, ARA, Thien Farm Management, Inc., with the 2013 D. Howard Doane Award during the 2013 ASFMRA Annual Meeting in Reno, NV.

The D. Howard Doane Award is held in great esteem in the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. It is given annually to a member or non-member who has demonstrated such qualities and outstanding contributions in the field of agriculture with emphasis on farm management and rural appraisal.

Gary Thien AFM, ARA, graduated from Iowa State University in 1974 and started managing farms in western Iowa for the Council Bluffs Savings Bank. That same year he attended an Iowa Chapter meeting of the ASFMRA and became a member shortly thereafter.

Learn a little bit more about Gary in this interview I did with him during the Agronomics Vision 2014 Conference.

You can listen to my interview with Gary here: Interview with Gary Thien

Agronomics Vision 2014 Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the ASFMRA Agronomics Conference is sponsored by Halderman Farm Management.

Ag Groups, Audio, Video

Great American Wheat Harvest Thanksgiving

Chuck Zimmerman

Updated with interview from NAFB

conradWe got an update from the director of the Great American Wheat Harvest during NAFB Trade Talk.

Conrad Weaver tells us the documentary will become a reality March 2014. “We are premiering the film nationally on National Ag Day in Washington DC on March 25,” he said. Conrad logged more than 70,000 air- and 30,000 driving-miles this year alone, capturing the harvest from Texas to North Dakota to the Northwest and across the U.S. border into Canada. Listen to Leah Guffey’s interview with Conrad here: Interview with Conrad Weaver, Great American Wheat Harvest

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, the makers of the film wanted to let everyone know how grateful for all the help they have received in making this great American documentary.

On behalf of the Great American Wheat Harvest Documentary Film Team, “Thank You” for the hospitality you have welcomed us with as we’ve visited your city, state and made presentations throughout the Wheat Belt to share the vision for the film. What has resonated with all of us is the deep appreciation you have for your rich diverse cultural heritage and agricultural roots. We met so many, like you, who work hard every day, if not for anything else, just for the pure love and passion for what you do!

This Thanksgiving, when we sit down at our tables and enjoy the fellowship of family and friends, we will have a true appreciation for the amount of people, energy and work it takes to make “Our Daily Bread”. We tip our hats and salute all who have had a part in putting food on our tables. Your hard work does not go unnoticed.

Farming, Harvest, Wheat

Apply Today for ZimmComm Internship

Jamie Johansen

zimmcom*The application has been updated. We had a technical glitch and need applicants to apply using this form. Sorry for the inconvenience.

ZimmComm New Media is now taking applications for our Winter/Spring Internship. Students in the agricultural communications field interested in attending and learning how to “agri-blog” some of the most important industry events held every year should apply.

The opportunities will include all-expense paid trips to one or more industry events where students will assist in the compiling of photos, audio and video and posting of activities on pertinent websites. Interns will learn and develop the use of tools, techniques and technology to gather and distribute information through various social media channels. Per-diem and college credits may also be available.

YES! I’m interested in learning how to do some agri-blogging. Apply Below.
[gravityform id=”1″ name=”ZimmComm Internship” description=”false”]

Agribusiness, Education, ZimmComm Announcement

USFRA Update on Farmland Movie

Cindy Zimmerman

nafb13-usfra-lunzConsumers want to see a face of where their food comes from and that is one thing the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) has tried to provide. USFRA was on-hand during NAFB’s Trade Talk and Cindy spoke with them about their desire to continually start the conversations about food and farming across the country.

Lisa Lunz, USFRA Board Member, has been involved with all aspects of the organization’s endeavors. She is a corn and soybean producer from Northeast Nebraska. Her involvement on the Nebraska Soybean board is what lead her to USFRA. In the short time USFRA has been in existence, Lisa is truly proud of the dialogue they have been able to start and the wide-spread conversations people are having about the food they eat and produce. She describes USFRA as a movement not an organization, because change doesn’t happen over night. The success of the Food Dialogues is a testament to the need for these conversations to take place globally.

“We need to acknowledge consumers questions, answer those questions and give them an opportunity to understand what we do.”

The latest USFRA outreach activity was the release of trailer and website for the new film Farmland. The documentary is a work in progress. Director James Moll, has interviewed, conducted research and is now almost ready to announce the families featured in the film. This winter the film will be finalized and sent to film festivals. The coveted national debut will come in March 2014. The film is supported by USFRA, but not a USFRA production.

“Part of the reason why we thought this project was so important was because there are a lot of documentaries out there about a lot of different subjects, but there is not one about the next generation of farming. I think they have found a great director, that is a great listener and wanted to learn more too. As he went out and interviewed these famers and ranchers he has had an opportunity to learn also. He is an award winning director and so it has given us a great opportunity to create something that hopefully we can use as an educational tool and something that will spark conversations about food.”

Listen to Cindy’s complete interview with Lisa here: Interview with Lisa Lunz, USFRA Board Member

2013 NAFB Convention Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Food, NAFB, USFRA, Video