Wednesday August 31 Ag News

Nebraska State Fair Features Beef Masters Culinary Challenge

Beef will be taking center stage at the Nebraska State Fair on Friday, September 2nd during the “Beef Masters Culinary Challenge” presented by the Nebraska Beef Council and Central Community College in Hastings. The contest will take place in the Raising Nebraska Building, north of the main entrance, from 11:00 am until 2:00 pm. Admission is free with paid entry to the State Fair.

The contest is modeled after the popular television series “Chopped” where chef contestants compete to create the best dish using ingredients from a mystery basket. The contest at the State Fair will feature four teams of culinary students from Central Community College in Hastings.

“We had a lot of fun with the Nebraska’s Best Burger contest at the fair last year and so we wanted to keep that excitement going,” said Adam Wegner, director of marketing for the Nebraska Beef Council. “The contestants will be preparing various beef dishes for a panel of judges. It will be exciting because the contestants won’t know what the beef cuts are or what the other ingredients will be until moments before the contest begins.”

The student chefs will be working in teams of two and will have 30 minutes to prepare, plate and serve their dish to the judges. Each round, one team will be eliminated until a winner is determined.

“This is such a great opportunity for our students to use their creativity and to show off the culinary skills they’ve learned through our program,” said Lindsay Higel, hospitality management and culinary arts program director at Central Community College in Hastings. “You have to be able to think on your feet when you’re a chef. Sometimes you have to improvise and make adjustments along the way.”

The contestants will be competing for prizes and the coveted title of “Beef Master.” Audience members will also have the opportunity to win door prizes and other give-a-ways.

“We want this event to be both entertaining and educational,” said Wegner. “The audience will walk away with creative ideas for putting beef on the table and confidence that they too can create some delicious beef meals right at home.”

For more information about the Beef Masters Culinary Challenge, visit the Nebraska Beef Council Facebook page.



AVOID PASTURE DAMAGE DURING FALL GRAZING
Bruce Anderson, NE Extension Forage Specialist

               Many of us have had plenty of moisture to support pasture growth this year. Don’t take too much advantage of the extra growth, however.

               Extra rain this year compared to the past few years is making pastures greener and more productive.  This extra growth is more than welcome.  But as we approach the end of the growing season, don’t get too greedy and try to completely graze off every green blade.

               Do you have pastures dominated by cool-season grasses?  Like bromegrass, bluegrass, or wheatgrasses or maybe needlegrasses?  Late summer rain and cooler temperatures could give these grasses some good growth in September.

               It’s tempting to keep cattle on these nice green pastures as long as possible to use all this growth.  But grazing pastures short just before winter begins limits the plant’s ability to develop the roots and tiller buds needed to fulfill their growth potential next spring.  Those extra mouthfuls of grass harvested now could cost you many more mouthfuls next spring.

               To help pastures recover from past stress and set the stage for abundant growth next spring, be sure to keep several inches of green leaves on your grasses all the rest of this growing season.  At least do this with the pastures you intend to graze first next spring.  These green leaves will convert fall sunlight into tiller buds, root growth, and root nutrient reserves.  Next spring, these plants will green up early, be ready to grow rapidly, and yield much more than if grazed short this fall.

               Don’t be greedy.  Protecting some of your grass from grazing this fall could pay big dividends next spring.



'Faces of Farming & Ranching' Finalists Named
With enthusiastic farmers across the country, spanning beef, corn, cotton, dairy, pork, poultry and soybeans, excited to share the truth behind today's agriculture to consumers, U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance announces the finalists of its third class of Faces of Farming and Ranching, a nationwide search to help put real faces on agriculture.

The following farmers and ranchers were named finalists: Lauren Arbogast, Va.; Emily Buck, Ohio; Katie Roth, Wis.; Lauren Schwab, Ohio; Jeremy Brown, Texas; Paul Lanoue, Minn.; Geoff Ruth, Neb.; and Joy Widerman, Pa.

Applications were received from dedicated farmers and ranchers from across the nation. Winners will share their stories and experiences about how food is grown and raised in the U.S. on a national stage through media interviews, consumer-facing public appearances, blog posts and more.

Through October 10-16, people can visit USFRA's Facebook Page to learn more about each of the finalists and the work they do, including short videos highlighting their operation. From there, the public can vote for the farmers and ranchers whom they believe best represents the passion and innovation behind today's agriculture. These votes will be factored into the final decision to determine the next Faces of Farming and Ranching.  The winners will be announced November 9th.

This is the third class of Faces of Farming & Ranching that USFRA has sought to speak on behalf of the industry in this capacity.



NCTA fall enrollment grows

Fulltime student enrollment at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis has increased this fall semester for a third consecutive year.

NCTA Aggies who completed their first week of college after starting classes on August 22 tally 245 fulltime students, a slight increase from 239 who enrolled last fall.

“We are pleased to see a solid 2.5 percent growth in full-time, on-campus student enrollment,” said Ron Rosati, NCTA dean.

Additionally, NCTA has 77 high school students enrolled in dual credit courses and 20 part time registrants to boost the total enrollment to 342.

Quality learning outcomes are a campus-wide objective in academics as well as competitive teams, Rosati said.

“When students go to the NCTA dining hall for supper, they can look back over their day and clearly articulate the skills and competencies they have developed,” Rosati said. “Students appreciate our high quality academic programs, our focus on hands-on learning, our friendly faculty and staff, and the ability to document measurable skill and technical competence gained on a daily basis.”

As part of the University of Nebraska system, NCTA’s mission is statewide and counts many public-private partnerships in its curriculum.

The two-year institution provides associate of science or associate of applied science degrees, in addition to certificates and dual credit courses taught by 13 fulltime faculty and three adjunct instructors.

“Our industry partners who employ NCTA graduates express appreciation for students’ technical competence, work ethic and dedication to their industry,” Rosati noted. “The college is focusing its initiatives toward serving the needs of these students.”

In a strategic path beginning this fall, NCTA’s dual credit offerings are now focused on NCTA’s specialty – preparing students who are pursuing agricultural careers.

Some high schools, such as York High, offer NCTA’s certificate programs emphasizing career and workforce development in irrigation technology, agronomy and agricultural chemical applications.

Additionally, another highlight came on opening day. NCTA was notified that a national firm ranked NCTA in the top 2 percent nationally for schools offering two-year degree programs.  NCTA rated 9th overall among 821 colleges evaluated by the personal-finance firm, wallethub.com.



ICA seeking young cattle producers for leadership class

In an on-going effort to build future leadership for both the Iowa cattle industry and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, ICA is taking applications for the Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program through October 1, 2016. The application can be downloaded from the ICA website, www.iacattlemen.org.

Those selected for the Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program (YCLP) will meet five times in the coming year. They will tour beef production facilities, learn about trending cattle production issues, governance of ICA and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, communication skills, and legislative processes.

The first meeting of the group is scheduled for January 11-12, 2017. Other meetings are scheduled for February, June, August and December.

The application for YCLP asks potential participants to explain why they are interested in participating in the program, as well as explaining their goals and giving their vision for the future of the cattle industry. Preference will be given to current ICA members. If you have questions about the program, or would like an application mailed to you, contact Adair Lents at adair@iabeef.org, or call 515-296-2266.

YCLP is sponsored by ICA with funding provided by the Iowa Cattlemen’s Foundation and members of the ICA President’s Council.



Farmer-led Movement for Soil Health Receives $4 Million Boost
   
A revolutionary effort to support on-farm conservation has added a new partner representing major agricultural companies, food companies and environmental groups. The new collaboration will accelerate the Soil Health Partnership's leadership in helping farmers adopt practices that protect natural resources while potentially increasing profits.

At the Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa, the industry-leading companies and environmental organizations today announced the launch of the Midwest Row Crop Collaborative. Its goal is to support, enhance and accelerate the use of environmentally preferable agricultural practices.

The Midwest Row Crop Collaborative's founding members include Cargill, the Environmental Defense Fund, General Mills, Kellogg Company, Monsanto, PepsiCo, The Nature Conservancy, Walmart and the World Wildlife Fund.  The overall shared goal is to help achieve a 45 percent nutrient loss reduction by 2035 across the Upper Mississippi River Basin - chiefly nitrogen and phosphorus.

As part of this effort, the Collaborative has committed to raise $4 million over five years to augment the Soil Health Partnership, a farmer-led initiative of the National Corn Growers Association established in 2014.

With more than 65 farm sites already enrolled in nine Midwestern states, the new funding commitment recognizes SHP as the leader in field-scale testing and measuring of management practices that improve soil health. These practices include:
-    Growing cover crops to prevent erosion and nutrient losses, 
-    Implementing conservation tillage like no-till or strip-till, and
-    Using advanced, science-based nutrient management techniques to reduce nutrient loss.

"Through healthy soil, farmers can play a major role protecting water quality and the environment-while also optimizing their crop yields and economic returns," said Nick Goeser, director of the SHP. "We're honored to welcome the Midwest Row Crop Collaborative to our program. Their support will amplify our research and communications efforts in helping farmers find practices that work best for them."

The new alliance will help SHP achieve the goal of enrolling 100 farms a full two years earlier than planned. It also underscores SHP's key milestones and early vision, a vision advanced by initial and continuing funding from Monsanto, Walton Family Foundation, NCGA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. These early supporters helped form SHP's operating and data collection structure, while recognizing common goals.

"As a farmer, I am committed to soil health because I know we have to constantly improve how we care for our land and how we farm it," said Roger Zylstra, a farmer in Lynnville, Iowa enrolled in the SHP. "This funding commitment is significant to me because now we have more support from the large food and ag companies as well as environmental groups pushing for change. They're showing us we don't have to do it alone."



Soil Health Open House in Southwestern Iowa to Feature Soil and Water Experts

As more Iowa farmers seek innovative farming practices to change the way they care for their land, the Soil Health Partnership helps lead the charge. Soil Health Partnership demo farmer Karen Seipold and the Women, Land & Legacy of Southwest Iowa organization will host a soil health farmer discussion at the Classic Café in Malvern, Iowa. 

The RSVP-only event takes place:
 ·     September 13 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
 ·    317 Main St., Malvern, Iowa 51551

Topics covered will include an introduction to soil health as well as a practical discussion from local farmers on the soil health building practices they are implementing on their farms. There will also be staff from  local organizations on hand to answer questions about resources available in the area. Dinner will be provided.

An initiative of the National Corn Growers Association, the Soil Health Partnership works closely with diverse organizations including commodity groups, industry, foundations, federal agencies, universities and well-known environmental groups toward common goals. The partnership has begun its third year with 65 test sites across eight Midwestern states.

“The agricultural community is awakening to the positive impact soil health can have on the environment, crop yields and farm economics,” said Nick Goeser, SHP director. “Our farmer-partners are innovators and pioneers—and are our best ambassadors for sharing these soil health practices with their peers.”

Please register for the event at SoilHealthPartnership.org.



ERNST, BRANSTAD, QCCP DISCUSS THE FUTURE OF RENEWABLE FUELS

Senator Joni Ernst and Governor Terry Branstad today met with staff and board members from Quad County Corn Processors (QCCP) and representatives from Syngenta, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association and the Iowa Corn Growers Association to discuss opportunities to grow demand for Earth-friendly American ethanol. QCCP is the site of the world’s first commercial cellulosic ethanol facility (using corn kernel fiber as feedstock).

Items on the agenda included the need for high compression engines to be manufactured by auto companies and a Reid Vapor Pressure waiver for E15. Both are seen as critical to making the benefits of renewable fuels more broadly available.

According to Gov. Branstad, renewable fuels are key to the state’s economic development, as well as the country’s energy independence.

“Renewable fuel is something I’m very passionate about,” Branstad said. “Renewable fuels are important for Iowa and they are important for America. A robust Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) will continue to diversify our nation’s transportation fuels, add value to commodities grown in rural America, reduce emissions, and provide consumers low-cost choices at the pump.”

Sen. Ernst added that Iowa leads the nation in ethanol production, producing enough E-85 each year to drive a pickup truck around the Earth’s equator 2.4 million times.

“The RFS ensures our national fuel supply provides increased consumer choice, decreases dependence on foreign oil, improves the environment, and creates jobs for those in Iowa – and across the country,” Ernst said.

Making Ethanol Even More Sustainable
According to the Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory, ethanol reduces greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 34 percent compared to gasoline. Moreover, advanced biofuels have the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 100 percent.

Today, advances in cellulosic technology are helping to make ethanol even more sustainable and produce more ethanol from the same kernel of corn.

“Adding corn fiber-to-cellulosic ethanol technology at every existing dry mill ethanol plant across the U.S. would have a significant effect on greenhouse gas reductions,” said QCCP CEO Delayne Johnson. “The potential reduction would be equivalent to removing as many as 2.98 million passenger cars from the road, or 4.1 average coal-fired plants, or the amount of carbon sequestered by as many as 13.3 million acres of forest.”

To date, QCCP has produced 5 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol, which represents 90 percent of total U.S. cellulosic ethanol production (D3 RINs) in the last three years. Cellerate is marketed to ethanol plants in North America exclusively by Syngenta along with Enogen® corn enzyme technology, an in-seed innovation that features the first biotech corn output trait designed specifically to enhance ethanol production.

“Ethanol is helping America reduce its dependence on foreign oil, improve the environment, lower prices at the pump and grow the economy with jobs that can’t be outsourced,” said Jack Bernens, head of Enogen at Syngenta.  “QCCP helped kick off a new era for the biofuels industry when it opened its commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol facility. By helping to squeeze more ethanol from the same kernel of corn, Cellerate technology enhanced by Enogen corn can help make ethanol even more sustainable.”



Chinese Buyers Commit to Buy Nearly 1.8 Billion Dollars of U.S. Soy at 2016 U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange

As U.S. farmers prepare to harvest their 2016 soybean crops, customers in China are committing to purchase them. Buyers from China have committed to buy nearly $1.8 billion worth of U.S. soy, totaling 146 million bushels of U.S. soybeans. Several of these commitments were made official at a signing ceremony held at the Global Trade Exchange in Indianapolis, hosted by the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC).

“China continues to be the No. 1 importer of U.S. soybeans,” says Xiaoping Zhang, USSEC country manager – China. “International buyers have many options, so the fact that Chinese buyers purchase such a magnitude from the U.S. is testament to the U.S. Soy Advantage and the quality and sustainability that it provides.”

Last year, U.S. soybean farmers exported a record 62.88 million metric tons of soy and soy products, valued at $27.7 billion – a record high. Economists are predicting even more in 2016.

More than a dozen Chinese representatives are in attendance this week at the Global Trade Exchange to network with U.S. farmers and learn more about the sustainability of U.S. soybeans. In addition to signing commitments for U.S. soy, they will network with buyers from other countries around the world, learn from industry experts and get a firsthand glimpse of U.S. farmers’ sustainable practices.

The U.S. Soybean Export Council connects U.S. soybean farmers with opportunities to improve human nutrition, livestock production and aquaculture. This mission is accomplished with a science-based technical foundation and a global network of partnerships including soybean farmers, exporters, agribusiness and agricultural organizations, researchers and government agencies.



All Fertilizers Lower for Third Straight Week

For the third week in a row, retail fertilizer prices showed considerable price declines the fourth week of August 2016, according to fertilizer retailers surveyed by DTN. Like last week, all eight major fertilizers were lower compared to a month earlier, and all but one fertilizer has seen significant price drops.

UAN28 is now 10% lower compared to the previous month. Liquid nitrogen fertilizer had an average price of $234 per ton. Urea, 10-34-0 and UAN32 were all down 8%, with urea having an average price of $330/ton, 10-34-0 $502/ton and UAN32 $280/ton.

Potash is 7% less expensive compared to last month, while anhydrous was down 6% and MAP was 5% less expensive. Potash had an average price of $330/ton, anhydrous was at $515/ton and MAP was at $468/ton.

The remaining fertilizer without a significant move lower was DAP. The phosphorus fertilizer had an average price of $451/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.36/lb.N, anhydrous $0.31/lb.N, UAN28 $0.42/lb.N and UAN32 $0.44/lb.N.

Retail fertilizers are lower compared to a year earlier. All fertilizers are now double digits lower.

10-34-0 is now down 18%, both MAP and UAN32 are 20% less expensive and DAP is 21% lower. Anhydrous is now 23% lower, UAN28 is 24% less expensive, urea is down 26% and potash is 31% lower compared to a year prior.



EIA: Ethanol Stocks Edge Up - Production, Blender Inputs Down

The Energy Information Administration issued a mixed ethanol report Wednesday, showing total stockpiles edged up again last week while domestic production and blender inputs fell during the week-ended Aug. 26.

The data showed U.S. ethanol inventories increased 100,000 bbl to 20.9 million bbl for the week reviewed while up 1.9 million bbl or 10.1% year-over-year.

Plant production eased 5,000 bpd to 1.023 million bpd last week, the second straight weekly decline, while up 75,000 bpd or 7.9% year-over-year. For the four weeks ended Aug. 26, domestic ethanol production averaged 1.025 million bpd, 67,000 bpd or 7.0% above the comparable year-ago period.

Net refiner and blender inputs of ethanol, a proxy for demand, fell for the fourth straight week, down 2,000 bpd to 929,000 bpd during the week-ended Aug. 26, while up 8,000 bpd or 0.9% year-over-year. The four-week average blender input rate through Aug. 26 is up 31,000 bpd or 3.4% year-over-year at 907,000 bpd.

EIA also implied motor gasoline demand declined, dropping 148,000 bpd last week to 9.511 million bpd, which was 0.8% higher than the same week in 2015.



Advancing Zero Deforestation Beef Production to be part of Global Beef Sustainability Conference

The Global Conference on Sustainable Beef, to be held October 4-7 at the Fairmont Hotel in Banff Springs, Alberta, Canada, is featuring a dedicated breakout session focusing on work being done in South America to support forest conservation and sustainable beef production.

Simon Hall, a member of the International Wildlife Conservation team at the National Wildlife Federation and co-chair of the Joint Working Group on Forests, explains, “very positive work is being done in South American countries to reduce deforestation driven by the production and expansion of cattle ranching”. The advancement of zero deforestation beef production is having substantial social, economic and environmental benefits in these regions”.

The session at the Global Conference will include representatives from Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay who will report on national-level efforts to address deforestation and promote zero-deforestation cattle production.

In addition, representatives from meatpacking companies, retailers, and non-governmental organizations will present examples of coordinated supply chain support for zero-deforestation beef, including successful examples of commitments and sourcing in action.

The Joint Working Group on Forests (JWG), facilitator of the session, is a technical working group of the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB) and the Brazilian Roundtable on Sustainable Livestock (GTPS), focused on engagement and collaboration to address forest-related issues in cattle supply chains. Led by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), the JWG serves in an advisory role to the Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) on efforts to mobilize resources to achieve zero-net deforestation by 2020.

“This featured session during the Global Conference will provide an international forum at which progress on this important issue may be shared as well as discussed during the interactive session,” said Hall.

The Global Conference, hosted by the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB) and the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, will also feature several sessions created to be highly engaging and focused on work being done in various regions of the world in myriad areas of beef sustainability. In 2014, GRSB adopted a set of five core principles to define global sustainable beef including natural resources; people & the community; animal health & welfare; food; and efficiency & innovation. These principles will be at the center of discussions of future efforts to advance sustainable practices globally in the production, processing, and merchandising of beef.

“The Global Conference, held every two years, brings together a wide array of stakeholders in the beef value chain in order to share research and progress on the effort to make beef production even more sustainable,” said Dennis Laycraft, GRSB president and executive director of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association.  “This is a unique group that includes producers, processors, retailers, suppliers, and environmentally-focused organizations that leads to vital dialogue and interaction.”



Export Exchange 2016 Hosts Grain Buyers from Taiwan

Representatives from six feed grain importers and end-users will participate in U.S. Grains Council (USGC) trade teams as part of Export Exchange 2016.

Export Exchange is an educational and trade forum for U.S. feed grains that will host nearly 200 international buyers and end-users from more than 33 countries organized into 19 USGC trade teams. The biennial conference, scheduled for Oct 24 to 26 in Detroit, Michigan, is sponsored by USGC and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA).

With a population more than 23.5 million, Taiwan is the seventh largest U.S. agricultural export market. It is the sixth largest for U.S. corn and the 11th largest for distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS). In the 2014/2015 marketing year, Taiwan imported 1.84 million metric tons of U.S. corn with 95 percent of the total used for animal feed, mainly in the swine and poultry sectors.

“Buyers have been increasingly interested in DDGS and remain impressed by U.S. corn,” said Clover Chang, Taiwan office director for USGC. “It’s a great opportunity for these feed grain importers and end-users to engage with sellers directly.”

Representatives from the following companies in Taiwan are scheduled to be in attendance:
• Great Wall Enterprise Co., Ltd.
• Charoen Pokphand Enterprise (Taiwan) Co., Ltd.
• Taiwan Sugar Corporation
• Fwu Sow Industry Co., Ltd.
• Grobest Group - Trifull Industrial Co., Ltd.
• FoodChina Company
• Nation Taiwan University

The Council works to increase demand for feed grains and related products among livestock and poultry producers, feed millers and other customers in Taiwan and conducts programming that focuses on technical proficiency and customer knowledge of U.S. marketing systems as well as overall quality.

Export Exchange allows attendees to do business and form relationships with buyers in person and in one location. These two factors make the event a highly successful contributor to feed grain sales, with 2014 Export Exchange participants reporting sales of more than $900 million during the conference.





Deere, The Climate Corporation to contest DOJ effort to block Precision Planting acquisition

Deere & Company and The Climate Corporation said they plan to contest legal action announced today by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) that seeks to block Deere’s acquisition of Precision Planting.

In November, Deere and The Climate Corporation, a subsidiary of Monsanto Company, announced they had signed a definitive agreement for Deere to acquire the Precision Planting LLC equipment business, and the companies cooperated fully with DOJ’s antitrust review.

DOJ’s allegations about the competitive impacts of the transaction are misguided and the companies intend to defend the transaction vigorously against those allegations. Deere has long been focused on helping American farmers become more efficient and productive so that they can remain globally competitive. The proposed acquisition benefits farmers by accelerating the development and delivery of new precision equipment solutions that help farmers increase yield and productivity.

Competition in precision agriculture is strong and growing in all of these channels as companies around the world continue developing new technologies. The acquisition will enable broader access to these advancements by ensuring farmers the choice to either buy new machinery or retrofit older planting equipment with the latest new innovations. When the transaction is finalized, Deere will preserve Precision Planting’s independence in order to ensure innovation and speed-to-market and will invest in additional innovation efforts at Precision Planting to benefit customers.



DuPont Pioneer Takes Nitrogen Management Service Options and Mobile Tools to the Next Level

DuPont Pioneer is unveiling a new self-service option to help growers manage nitrogen on their farms. The Pro level of Encirca℠ Nitrogen service provides a field-by-field, real-time look at an operation’s nitrogen levels using a smartphone.
   
Growers can preview the Pro level of service, driven by an all new, mobile nitrogen app, at Pioneer’s tent (#634) during the Farm Progress Show, Aug. 30-Sept. 1, in Boone, Iowa. Growers also can learn about new data transfer tools, such as Sync Mobile from Encirca℠ Sync service.

“We recognize that every field is different, every operation is different and every grower is different,” said Eric Boeck, DuPont Pioneer marketing director, Encirca℠ services. “Some prefer to have an advisor to talk things over with and some prefer the self-serve model. We are listening to our customers and catering to their varying needs with the addition of our new Pro level of Encirca℠ services.”

The Pro level service is fueled by Encirca℠ services’ latest technology and analytics, soil science, agronomy expertise and local weather. It empowers growers to independently monitor nitrogen levels and simulate different nitrogen plans and field details, as well as to understand the impact changes will have on crop growth and the probability of achieving desired outcomes. The service includes the ability to set automated alerts for changing field conditions.

The Pro level service is delivered through the new Encirca℠ Nitrogen app, which will be available for download from the App store by mid-September. Growers are encouraged to try the Pro level service for free through Oct. 31, 2016.

“Customers who prefer more hands-on support may still use an Encirca℠ certified services agent through the Premium level of Encirca℠ Nitrogen service,” said Boeck. “And as important as nitrogen is to increasing yields, data is what drives those decisions. DuPont Pioneer is striving to make individual operation data accessible and actionable for all growers regardless of management style.”

This latest addition to the Encirca℠ services line-up joins new data transfer tools, such as Sync Mobile, and collaboration with manufacturers, such as John Deere through the Connected Growers program to encourage use of in-cab equipment.

With a simple adaptor that plugs into field equipment and a complementary app, Encirca℠ Sync Mobile streamlines the process for capturing and transferring data using a phone or mobile device, instead of data cards or storage devices.

“Using Sync Mobile, growers can save time and receive revisions to their prescriptions from Encirca℠ certified services agents remotely and immediately,” said Harley Janssen, DuPont Pioneer service manager, Field Technology. “Growers can also upload yield data right from their combine and quickly receive variable prescriptions in their spreader for potassium, phosphorous and lime.”



MONSANTO SEED APPLIED SOLUTIONS LAUNCHES IMMERSIVE 360-DEGREE VIDEO DEMONSTRATION DURING FARM PROGRESS SHOW 2016

Growers attending Farm Progress Show 2016 will be among the first to experience 360-degree video technology that is an entirely new way to see underground crop development and the protection needed from harmful pests and disease pressures. As the viewer tilts the camera-based technology up, down, left and right, they will see how technology based on naturally-occurring microbials works seamlessly with conventional seed-applied products in an innovative new way to combat pests and increase plant health.

“This type of 360-degree video technology not only explains, but actually shows farmers how the Seed Applied Solutions offering contributes to our systems approach as one of our most advanced way to increase yield,”” said Brent Craig, North America Seed Applied Solutions Lead. “This user-driven, immersive video allows us to demonstrate a complex approach in a simple, easy-to-understand way – a demonstration that shows natural microbes working with chemistry above and below ground to support healthier plants. Initial feedback from engagement with our 360-degree video technology has been extremely positive and we can’t wait to hear more from our growers during the Farm Progress Show.

Acceleron® Seed Applied Solutions and Monsanto BioAg™ have partnered to form the Seed Applied Solutions division of Monsanto, which is part of the company’s systems approach to farming. This approach, while complex, is easy to understand as the viewer moves the 360-degree video to look at above and below ground challenges facing each seed during planting and throughout the growing season.

“In order to better understand and explain how this approach functions, we needed a visual medium with a 360-degree view of the products interacting with the seed both above and below ground. By allowing natural microbials products to work with proven seed-applied products, growers are able to fully support the potential of each seed they plant,” Craig said. “Modern farming technologies are constantly evolving and new approaches, like Seed Applied Solutions, have allowed growers to maximize their operation’s yield potential year after year.”