Monday December 21 Ag News

Human Resource Workshops for Farm, Ranch, and Main Street

This January Nebraska Extension will be hosting HR 4 Ag & Main Street workshops for farmers, ranchers, and other agriculture and main street business owners. The three-hour programs are to provide education on human resource management and human risk mitigation strategies to increase your farm, ranch, or other business’ resiliency and stability. Topics to be covered include:
-    recruiting and retaining the best employees,
-    pay and benefits,
-    motivating and engaging employees,
-    communication,
-    building and leading your team, and
-    managing conflict.

Programs will be presented from 1-4 p.m. at the following sites:

    NORFOLK: Tuesday, Jan. 19 at the Lifelong Learning Center, 601 E. Benjamin Ave. To register call the Northeast Research and Extension Center  at 402-379-4000

    YORK: Tuesday, Jan. 26 at the York County Extension Office at 2345 Nebraska Ave. To register call the York County Extension Office at 402-362-5508

    NORTH PLATTE: Thursday, Jan. 28 at the West Central Research and Extension Center at 402 W. State Farm Road. To register call West Central Research and Extension Center at 308-696-6740.

    SCOTTSBLUFF: Tuesday, Feb 9 at the Panhandle Research & Extension Center at 4502 Avenue I, To register call: Panhandle Research and Extension Center at 308-632-1230.

 This program is made possible through a grant by the North Central Risk Management Education Center. For more information contact a HR 4 Ag team member:
-    Ben Dutton, Extension Educator – Red Willow County (308-345-3390)
-    Jessica G. Jones, Extension Educator – Johnson County (402-335-3669)
-    Tim Lemmons, Extension Educator – Northeast Research & Extension Center (402-370-4061)
-    Marilyn Schlake, Extension Educator – UNL Ag Economics Dept. (402-472-4138)
-    Brandy VanDeWalle, Extension Educator – Fillmore County (402-759-3712)
-    Aaron Yoder, Assistant Professor – University of Nebraska Medical Center (402-552-7240)



HEUERMANN LECTURE TO FOCUS ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE FOR U.S. AGRICULTURE

    The history and vision for the future of international trade for U.S. agriculture will be the subject of the next Heuermann Lecture on Jan. 12. Clayton Yeutter, former U.S. trade representative and U.S. secretary of agriculture, and Darci Vetter, the chief agricultural negotiator for the Office of the United States Trade Representative, will have a panel discussion.

    The free lecture, sponsored by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, will be at 7 p.m. at the Nebraska Innovation Campus Conference Center, 2021 Transformation Drive. A 6:30 p.m. reception precedes the lecture.

    Yeutter recently retired as senior adviser of international trade for Hogan Lovells, LLP, in Washington, D.C., one of the nation's oldest and largest law firms. Previously he acted as counselor to President George H.W. Bush for domestic policy, a cabinet-level post. From 1989 to 1991, he was U.S. secretary of agriculture and was responsible for administration of the fourth-largest department of the United States in budget terms (nearly $50 billion) and sixth largest in employment (more than 100,000). From July 1985 until January 1989, he was U.S. trade representative, reporting directly to the president on all trade matters. He was born in Eustis and spent 18 years operating a 2,500-acre farm, ranch and cattle-feeding enterprise in central Nebraska.

    As chief agricultural negotiator at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Vetter is responsible for bilateral and multilateral negotiations and policy coordination regarding agricultural trade. In her previous role at USDA as deputy undersecretary, she oversaw the department's international activities. Before joining USDA, she was an international trade adviser on the staff of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance. Before that, Vetter spent six years at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, including as director for agricultural affairs. She also was the director for sustainable development in the U.S. Trade Representative's environment office. She received her master of public affairs degree and a certificate in science, technology and environmental policy from Princeton University and her undergraduate degree from Drake University in Des Moines. She grew up in Nebraska on a family farm.

    Heuermann Lectures are free and open to the public. Lectures focus on providing and sustaining enough food, natural resources and renewable energy for the world's people, and on securing the sustainability of rural communities where the vital work of producing food and renewable energy occurs. They are made possible by a gift from B. Keith and Norma Heuermann of Phillips, longtime university supporters with a strong commitment to Nebraska's production agriculture, natural resources, rural areas and people. 

    Lectures stream live at http://heuermannlectures.unl.edu and are archived at that site soon after the event. They also air on NET2 World at a later date.



Contributors Needed for UNL Custom Rate Survey
Roger Wilson, NE Extension Farm Management Analyst

Every other year the University of Nebraska Department of Agricultural Economics conducts a survey of the rates charged for custom farming operations in Nebraska. Results for the 2014 survey are published online at http://cropwatch.unl.edu/economics/customrates. Results for the 2016 survey will probably be published around June 1, 2016.

Custom operators who would like to be included in this survey can either provide their name and address at http://farm.unl.edu/custom-rate-participants or send their name and address to Roger Wilson, Farm Management Analyst, University of Nebraska, PO Box 830922, Lincoln, NE 68583-0922 or email rwilson6@unl.edu. Please call (402) 472-1771 if you have questions.

This survey is done in two parts. The first part covers spring and summer practices such as tillage, planting, and haying operations. The second part covers fall practices such as harvest and livestock operations.



Farm Succession Workshops Continue in January

The Nebraska Farm Succession Series, hosted by the Nebraska Beginning Farmer and Rancher Network, returns in January with free workshops in Mead, Tekamah, Norfolk and Central City.

The meetings are designed to answer key questions of farm and ranch owners, families, and those just beginning in farming.

Speakers are Dave Goeller, deputy director, Northeast Center for Risk Management Education, UNL, and Joe Hawbaker, agricultural law attorney, with Hawbaker Law Office, Omaha.

Workshops will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Mead on Jan. 13; Tekamah on Jan. 14; Norfolk on Jan. 15 and Central City on Jan. 28. Lunch is included.

The workshops are about farm and ranch business succession, family estate planning, and beginning farmer programs.  It is intended for established farm and ranch owners and their successors, and for beginners. Topics include:  the stages of succession planning, contribution and compensation, balancing the interests of on-farm and off-farm heirs; the importance of communication, setting goals, analyzing cash flow, and balancing inter-generational expectations and needs; beginning farmer loan and tax credit programs; the use of trusts, wills, life estate deeds and business entities (such as the limited liability company) in family estate and business succession planning; buy-sell agreements, asset protection, taxation (federal transfer taxes, Nebraska inheritance tax, basis adjustment), and essential estate documents.

To register or for more information, call the Nebraska Rural Response Hotline at 1-8000-464-0258.



Free Farm Finance and Ag Law Clinics in January

One-on-one, confidential Farm Finance Clinics are held across the state each month. An experienced ag law attorney and ag financial counselor will be available to address farm and ranch issues related to financial planning, estate and transition planning, farm loan programs, debtor/creditor law, water rights, and other relevant matters. They offer an opportunity to seek an experienced outside opinion on issues affecting your farm or ranch.

January Clinic Sites and Dates
    Valentine — Thursday, Jan. 7
    Grand Island — Thursday, Jan. 7
    Norfolk — Monday, Jan. 11
    North Platte — Thursday, Jan. 14
    Lexington —Thursday, Jan. 21
    Fairbury — Friday, Jan. 22
    Norfolk — Monday, Jan. 25

To sign up for a clinic or to get more information, call Michelle at the Nebraska Farm Hotline at 1-800-464-0258.  The Nebraska Department of Agriculture and Legal Aid of Nebraska sponsor these clinics.



NC Foundation Announces Availability of Youth Scholarships

The Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation (NCF) is accepting applications for scholarships from qualified youth in Nebraska who have an interest in the beef industry. These scholarships will be awarded for the 2016-2017 academic year and are provided through contributions received by the Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation. Applications are available on the Nebraska Cattlemen website (www.nebraskacattlemen.org) or can be obtained by calling the NCF office at (402) 475-2333.

Scholarship recipients must be a high school senior or college student, have a "C" or higher grade point average, and be enrolled or intending to enroll full time in a college or university that offers a bachelor degree, an approved vocation or trade school, or a state accredited junior college. Refer to NCF application(s) for complete selection requirements.

The Nebraska Cattlemen Beef State Scholarship awards a $10,000 scholarship to an outstanding college junior, senior or graduate-level student. Eligible students must be residents of Nebraska and be enrolled in a Nebraska college or university pursuing a beef industry-related degree. The scholarship will be awarded based on student need, Nebraska beef industry involvement (past achievements and future plans) and academics. Students will be required to complete the written application (due in the NCF office by February 15, 2016) and finalists will be invited to an interview with the selection committee.

NCF offers numerous other $1,000 scholarships, awarded on the basis of academic achievement, beef industry involvement and goals/quality of application from the following funds. These completed applications are due into the NCF office by March 15, 2016.

    Robert E. Lute II Memorial (high school senior or higher)
    Frank and Shirley Sibert (high school senior or higher)
    Bell Heller Memorial (high school senior or higher)
    Donavan Yoachim Memorial (high school senior or higher)
    Cattlemen's Open (high school senior or higher)
    Clarence and Lois Jean Hartmann (high school senior or higher)
    Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship(s) (high school senior or higher)
    Col. Melvin Huss Memorial (high school senior or higher, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) animal science major)
    Ron and Shirley Huss (high school senior or higher, UNL animal science major)
    Bill Pullen (college junior or higher, UNL agriculture major)
    Vance Uden Memorial (college junior or higher, member of UNL Senior Livestock Evaluation Team)
    Nebraska Cattlemen Beef Pit (college junior or higher, meat/food science major in Nebraska)
    Martin Viersen Range Management/Conservation Memorial (college junior or higher, range management/conservation/grazing systems major in Nebraska)

The Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation was created in 1968 and has been nurturing important, long term facets of the cattle industry, education for our future leaders and promoting needed research. The Foundation's mission is to advance the future of Nebraska's Beef Industry by investing in research and education programs. For more information concerning the Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation, contact Lee Weide, Nebraska Cattlemen Vice President of Operations at 402/475-2333 or Jana Jensen, NCF Fundraising Coordinator at 308/588-6299.




FCC-WEST CENTRAL MERGER APPROVED

The members of Farmers Cooperative Company (FC), Ames, Iowa, and West Central Cooperative, Ralston, Iowa, have both approved the merger of their cooperatives effective April 1, 2016.

“In this merger vote, our members were presented with a rare opportunity to combine two strong, financially-stable cooperatives in a merger of equals to maintain local ownership for generations to come,” explained West Central Board Chair and Paton, Iowa-area farmer Sue Tronchetti.

“We are pleased the memberships approved the boards’ recommendation,” said FC Chief Executive Officer Jim Chism. “We are confident that together, we will become an even stronger cooperative and be better positioned to help improve the economic well-being of our member-owners.”

“On behalf of our boards, management and nearly 700 employees, we appreciate each and every member who cast a ballot in this historic cooperative merger,” said FC Board President and Odebolt, Iowa-area farmer John Scott.

Each membership met Iowa’s state voting requirement for a successful cooperative merger as certified by independent auditing firm of Gardiner Thomsen. To approve a merger, Iowa law requires at least 50 percent of each membership (plus one) to vote, with two-thirds of those casting ballots voting in favor of the merger.

“Our members’ voices were heard in this merger process. Not only in the results of the vote, but in each and every member meeting and coffee shop conversation,” explained West Central President and CEO Milan Kucerak, who will become the CEO of the newly formed cooperative. “This merger showcases our members’ request for their cooperative to do more together for their operations than either business could do separately. We take our members’ confidence in a combined cooperative seriously as we prepare for integration and execution.”

The unified cooperative, to be known as Landus Cooperative, will be led by current West Central President and CEO Milan Kucerak and be headquartered in Ames, Iowa. The board of directors will be made up of nine directors from each cooperative for equal representation. More information on any changes will be provided in coming months as integration plans are finalized.

Together, West Central and FC have more than 70 grain, agronomy and feed locations in 26 Iowa and three Minnesota counties. According to World Grain magazine’s Grain and Milling Annual, Landus Cooperative will become the seventh largest grain company in North America based on storage capacity and have shuttle-loading access on all seven major Iowa rail lines.



Iowa Corn Growers Association Releases Top State and Federal Priorities for 2016

The Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) has released the final list of state and federal legislative priorities for the upcoming year. These priorities are based on grassroots input from members across the state.

“As a long-standing, influential agricultural organization, our grassroots members drive our policy development process. ICGA knows that creating sound policy is the single most important thing that we can do for our members. We actively encourage engagement from ICGA members across the state to help develop policy to positively impact our farming operations,” said ICGA President Bob Hemesath. “We are grassroots driven at both the state and federal level, and continue working towards fair policy that protects the interests of our members and the Iowa corn industry.”
The 2016 ICGA state and federal priorities are as follows:

2016 ICGA state priorities, listed in alphabetical order:
 1.    Conservation: 2016 funding for the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy
 2.    Department of Agriculture: Funding for IDALS budget requests (state veterinarian, conservation, fuels, etc.)
 3.    Ethanol: Extend/renew income-tax credits for renewable fuel retailers (E15, E85, and increasing levels of biofuels)
 4.    Ethanol: Infrastructure cost-share for retail fuel stations up to E85
 5.    Ethanol: Tax credits for cellulosic ethanol production or other advanced biofuels
 6.    Livestock: Full $4 million funding for ISU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
 7.    Livestock: Support the livestock industry and the existing laws regulating livestock operations
 8.    Research: Increased funding for ISU Experiment Station, livestock related research re: animal stress and odor management
 9.    Research: Increased funding for ISU Extension programs
 10.    Value-Added Agriculture: State tax credits for bio-based products beyond food and fuel

2016 ICGA federal priorities, listed in alphabetical order:
 1.    Biotechnology: Create a national voluntary biotech labeling law
 2.    Environment: Repeal of the 2015 EPA Clean Water Act rule
 3.    Environment: Voluntary water quality efforts, not EPA regulatory nutrient limits
 4.    Ethanol: Reduce regulatory barriers to higher ethanol blends for conventional cars
 5.    Ethanol: Retain the Renewable Fuel Standard
 6.    Farm Bill: Protect crop insurance funding
 7.    Taxes: Extend or make permanent bonus depreciation, Sec. 179, and capital gains
 8.    Trade: Expand bilateral and multilateral trade agreements (ex: Trans Pacific Partnership)
 9.    Trade: Protect Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) funding
 10.    Transportation: Increase appropriations for river transportation, including locks and dams

ICGA’s 2016 state and federal priorities originated from discussion at the ICGA Annual Meeting and Policy Conference held this past August, and were finalized by the ICGA board of directors on behalf of its nearly 8,000 members at this week’s meeting. ICGA members will bring these key priority issues to their elected officials throughout coming year.

To view all of ICGA’s comprehensive policy, the 2016 Iowa Corn Growers Association policy book is available online at: www.iowacorn.org/policy or contact the Iowa Corn office.



Growers Talk Membership, Leadership and Communications

In meetings this December in St. Louis, members of the National Corn Growers Association's Grower Services Action Team focused on ways to diversify our membership, expand and better target communications to members, create stronger leaders and coordinate programs to communicate the association's successes and the importance of corn and corn products to consumers and the general public.

"Our action team covers an important range of responsibilities," said team Chairwoman Patty Mann, an Ohio corn grower. "As a grassroots organization, NCGA cannot be successful without a broad, diverse, informed and engaged base of members. And that's what Grower Services is all about - building that base that makes our state and national organizations so successful."

In the area of membership, the team looked at how NCGA could bring increased diversity to its membership and extend the value of membership to interested parties in each farming operation. After a productive discussion, the team called for a task force of state and national staff to examine the issue more closely and come up with recommendations for action by the team's February meeting and Membership Symposium.

The group also looked at NCGA's draft strategic plan, paying close attention to the goal of enhancing customer and consumer trust, and related objectives. Related to this goal, the growers received updates on some key NCGA programs, such as its participation in the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance, CommonGround and the Corn Farmers Coalition.

In addition to Mann, the Grower Services Action Team includes Vice Chairman Ted Mottaz, Corn Board Liaison Kevin Skunes, and members Debbie Borg (Allen, NE), Jayne Dalton, Les Imboden, Aaron Martinka, Mike Moreland, Gerald Mulder, Danny Nerud, Leah Pottinger, Glenna Taylor, Roger Zylstra and state affiliate staff representative Katie Glick of Indiana.



USDA to Honor American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman

On Jan. 6, 2016, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will honor Bob Stallman’s tenure as President of the American Farm Bureau Federation. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden will proclaim Jan. 6, Bob Stallman Appreciation Day, presenting the honoree with an official proclamation in recognition of Stallman’s commitment to strengthening rural American families and communities.

Stallman, a recognized champion of agriculture, has served as President of the American Farm Bureau Federation for 16 years, tirelessly supporting U.S. farmers and ranchers as they help feed the world, protect and preserve the environment, provide jobs, and contribute to the nation’s economy.



Cattle On Feed
Brenda Boetel, Professor, Dept of Ag Econ, University of Wisconsin-River Falls
 
The United States Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA, NASS) released their monthly Cattle on Feed report on Friday December 18, 2015. The latest numbers released by the USDA were bullish in total numbers of cattle on feed, placements and marketings, compared to trade expectations. Total cattle on feed on December 1, 2015 numbered 10.79 million head, on par with last month and minimally below December 2014 levels.  Pre-report estimates expected cattle on feed numbers to be up 1%.

Placements in feedlots during November totaled 1.60 million head, down 11 percent from 2014, and 7 percent lower than pre-report estimates.  Placements were down 6% in Kansas, 7% in Nebraska, and 18% in Texas.  Placements are the lowest for November since the series began in 1996.  All weight categories saw declining placement numbers for November 2015, compared to year ago. Even cattle weighing over 800 pounds saw a decrease in placement numbers, although placements are still skewed to the higher weigh category.  Placements for cattle weighing under 600 pounds decreased by 15%, cattle weighing 600-699 decreased by 10%, cattle 700-700 decreased by 16%, and cattle weighing over 800 pounds decreased by 1%. Mild weather, high feeder cattle prices and good forage and pasture conditions throughout much of the U.S. continues to allow cattle to stay out of the feedlots longer and the lower finished cattle prices have deterred feedlots from placing cattle.   This trend for placing heavier cattle could continue for another couple of months.  

November marketings were slightly higher than pre-report estimates.  Marketings were at 1.5 million head, up 3.8% over November 2014.  There was one more marketing day available in 2015 compared to 2014, which would attribute to greater marketings.  The daily average of marketings in November was about 1% lower than that in 2014.  Marketings as a percentage of on feed inventory decreased in November, indicating a slight delay in marketings.  Carcass weights have decreased slightly though. 



Survey Aims to Collect Farmer Feedback on USDA Programs

A new online survey http://usdaprograms.questionpro.com/ launched by the American Farm Bureau Federation will collect feedback from farmers and ranchers about their experiences with 10 Agriculture Department programs housed in three agencies. Results will be used by AFBF to develop recommendations on how USDA can enhance its programs and make them more useful to farmers and ranchers.

All farmers and ranchers, not just Farm Bureau members, are encouraged to take the survey, which takes about 10 minutes to complete.

"Farmers and ranchers sometimes find it confusing and complex to participate in USDA programs," said AFBF President Bob Stallman. "At the same time, USDA staff are concerned that farmers and ranchers who could benefit from a number of different programs frequently do not apply."

The survey focuses on the following USDA programs from the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Rural Development:
    Environmental Quality Incentives Program
    Conservation Stewardship Program
    Conservation Reserve Program
    Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program
    Value-Added Agricultural Producer Grants
    Rural Energy for America Program
    Farmers' Marketing and Local Food Promotion Program
    Direct Farm Ownership Loans
    Direct Farm Operating Loans and
    Guaranteed Farm Loans (farm operating and farm ownership).

AFBF will share feedback from the survey about what is working well with the programs and how they can be improved with USDA.



Bill Blocks NH3 Rules

Fertilizer retailers and anhydrous ammonia users got a bit of an early Christmas present in the tax and spending bill passed last week.

Buried in the omnibus appropriations bill is a rider that forbids the Occupation Safety and Health Agency from requiring ag retailers to comply with Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals (PSM) regulations. The rules would have required ag retail operations that sell anhydrous ammonia fertilizers to have the same level of safety rules and facility securities as do chemical manufacturers.

While OSHA estimated the costs of facility safety renovations at $2,160 per site, the Ag Retailers Association estimated it would cost members an average of $20,000 per site. Some retailers said costs would be more than $60,000 to comply and that they would stop selling anhydrous if the exemption was removed.

The prohibition on OSHA requiring higher safety rules for retailers lasts through calendar year 2016.



CWT Assists with 12.7 million Pounds of Cheese and Whole Milk Powder Export Sales

Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has accepted 14 requests for export assistance from Dairy Farmers of America, Michigan Milk Producers Association, Northwest Dairy Association (Darigold), and Tillamook County Creamery Association who have contracts to sell 3.515 million pounds (1,595 metric tons) of Cheddar, Gouda and Monterey Jack cheese, and 9.215 million pounds (4,180 metric tons) of whole milk powder to customers in Asia, the Middle East, Oceania and South America. The product has been contracted for delivery in the period from January through July 2016.

Year-to-date, CWT has assisted member cooperatives who have contracts to sell 57.109 million pounds of cheese, 25.847 million pounds of butter and 49.930 million pounds of whole milk powder to thirty-five countries on six continents. The amounts of cheese, butter and whole milk powder in these sales contracts represent the equivalent of 1.473 billion pounds of milk on a milkfat basis.

Assisting CWT members through the Export Assistance program, in the long-term, helps member cooperatives gain and maintain market share, thus expanding the demand for U.S. dairy products and the U.S. farm milk that produces them. This, in turn, positively impacts all U.S. dairy farmers by strengthening and maintaining the value of dairy products that directly impact their milk price. Renewing this important program for 2016 through 2018 is currently underway. Cooperatives and individual dairy farmers interested in investing in their future can find membership application at www.cwt.coop under the membership tab.



Mosaic Announces Quarterly Dividend

The Mosaic Company announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.275 per share on the Company's common stock. The dividend will be paid on March 17, 2016, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 3, 2016.

The declaration and payment of any future dividends is subject to approval by Mosaic's Board of Directors. There can be no assurance that the company's Board of Directors will declare future dividends.

The Mosaic Company is one of the world's leading producers and marketers of concentrated phosphate and potash crop nutrients. Mosaic is a single source provider of phosphate and potash fertilizers and feed ingredients for the global agriculture industry.



BarnVista Revolutionizes Processes

Ladders on bulk bins at a north central Iowa pork production facility were showing wear and needed to be replaced. Staff used BarnVista to put in a work order for the project. When reviewed by managers, the work order was canceled because new bulk bins were due to be installed. Because all of the facility’s activities are tracked with BarnVista, the expense of purchasing and installing ladders on bulk bins soon to be removed was prevented.

At another site, a curtain was scheduled to be replaced. When reviewing the work order on BarnVista, staff added replacement of wood behind the curtain and improved the outcome of the project by making efficient use of time and resources.

When conducting self-audits, the internal auditor notes any failures in a work order on BarnVista. This can be reviewed in an audit failing report to monitor progress of corrective actions. Staff monitors those aggregate corrective actions, looking for parts, processes, or protocols which contribute to systemic issues as opposed to an audit failing being a single, one-time problem. With BarnVista, corrective actions can become learning moments and site-wide changes improve overall outcome.

For example, a particular brand or installation of fan may cause multiple audit failings. When the repetitive nature of the failing is viewed from an overall perspective versus the single site, the fans can be replaced, installed differently, or monitored more closely to avoid future, repetitive audit failings.

Because BarnVista collects and stores all information arising from self-audits, this data is available when third party auditors arrive to conduct their examinations. Audit documentation is integral to BarnVista’s design, making it possible for the process to be easily managed at each level.

Modern livestock production is multi-layered, complex, and contains many moving parts. BarnVista was developed for animal agriculture businesses to manage the energy and effort required to effectively and efficiently produce protein.

In addition to audit documentation and reporting as well as work orders, BarnVista includes protocol and policy, and asset management as many of these functions may be interrelated. The web-based design and reporting capabilities provide effective access for management and personnel from remote locations.

“BarnVista automates processes previously handled by a messy paper trail, prioritizes activities, provides historical and site documentation, and improves production efficiency,” explained Derrick Sleezer, product manager for BarnVista. “We know it works because it was developed by livestock producers, tested, and proven before being offered to the public. It’s available now, affordable, and will improve any livestock enterprise’s processes.”

To learn more about BarnVista and explore implementing this program within your livestock production enterprise, go to www.barnvista.com or call Sleezer at 712-261-5684.



DuPont Pioneer and Trimble Enable Wireless Data Transfer Between Encirca℠ Services and Connected Farm

DuPont Pioneer and Trimble today announced a collaborative effort that will give growers increased access to field data to help improve their productivity and profitability acre-by-acre. The collaboration allows for the seamless flow of information between the Trimble® Connected Farm™ solution, a Web-based farm management solution that includes wireless data transfer, and Encirca℠ services, which are tailored decision services offered by DuPont Pioneer.    

Growers will now have more options to quickly and easily import field operations data, including as-applied maps and production data from planters, spreaders, sprayers and combines, into Encirca services.

“This technology integration between Encirca services and Trimble’s Connected Farm solution brings an added level of convenience to growers by expanding the list of compatible equipment they may use to farm more efficiently and effectively,” said Eric Boeck, DuPont Pioneer marketing director, Encirca services.

“Trimble understands the importance – and ultimately the benefit to the grower – of working with a variety of solution providers in the industry to provide a seamless experience for the customer,” said Pierre-Andre Rebeyrat, strategic marketing director of Trimble’s Agriculture Division. “By integrating the Connected Farm solution with Encirca services, we are able to provide Encirca services users and their advisors with an easier way to view their field data so they can operate more efficiently and make better decisions based on that data.”

Encirca services combine the latest technologies for weather, soils and agronomy with a grower’s field operations data to comprehensively manage whole farm practices. These proprietary analytics and a personal advisor help growers make real-time management decisions to maximize crop yields and reduce risks.

Using the Connected Farm Application Programming Interface (API), Encirca services users will have the ability to transfer field data wirelessly, at their discretion, to the Encirca services platform via Trimble’s Connected Farm solution. The integration also delivers the added benefit of transmitting prescriptions from Encirca services back to Trimble in-cab devices to be accurately applied in fields.

The Connected Farm solution – which works with in-cab displays, smartphones and mobile tablets – integrates data from all types of equipment, farm practices, crop types and farm sizes so growers can easily view field activities and other key farm information in one central location. By providing real-time data in a convenient online platform, and connecting the field to the office wirelessly, the Connected Farm solution enables better decision making for the farmer and facilitates easier collaboration with their trusted advisor.