What's new in ag? Dec. 10-14

<p>Rabo AgriFinance and Conservis announce a partnership that marks the next evolution in how farms utilize ag data to make informed business decisions. The companies will co-develop technology that makes it possible for U.S. crop farmers to seamlessly – and nearly effortlessly – connect their real-time field and management data with financial results.</p>

<p>Armed with consistent, real-time and easily shareable data in the Conservis platform, farmers and farm managers can make decisions sooner and more easily communicate with their lender and business partners about changes throughout the year.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>With the independent Conservis platform, farmers own their data and control when Rabo AgriFinance receives information.</p>

<p>In working together, Rabo AgriFinance and Conservis are positioned to explore industry advancements like benchmarking, integrations with accounting software and other new services to help improve decision making and profitability.</p>

<p>Nachurs Alpine Solutions is pleased to announce that it has acquired the Garretson, South Dakota manufacturing plant and the related specialty NPK business from Koch Fertilizer, LLC. Jeff Barnes, CEO of Nachurs Alpine Solutions, says “We believe this strategic acquisition fits very well within our current operations and its ability to support all six of our business units in its geography.” The Garretson facility is Nachurs Alpine Solutions seventh plant across North America and all current personnel at the facility will remain on staff.</p>

<p>NRGene, the worldwide leader in genomic analysis, announces a key milestone in its multi-year licensing agreement with Bayer for the use of GenoMAGICTM, a cloud-based big data analytics platform to support the company’s molecular breeding program within its Crop Science Division.</p>

<p>Bayer has completed a one-year evaluation of GenoMAGIC and has tested its usability to compare genetic makeup and select the best candidates for molecular breeding.</p>

<p>The licensing agreement was originally signed by Monsanto Company prior to its acquisition by Bayer.</p>

<p>Bayer’s R&amp;D pipeline encompasses a broad range of solutions to help farmers mitigate the complex challenges they face on the farm – whether caused by pests, disease or weather – while improving their productivity and environmental sustainability. GenoMAGICTM&nbsp;delivers greater breadth and depth to Bayer’s ability to discover traits, enhance genomes, and for genomic selection.</p>

<p>On October 10, 2010, Jeff Gray, Product Manager – Field Support for CLAAS of America, harvested 51,153 bushels of corn in a 10-hour period in a CLAAS LEXION 760 TERRA TRAC combine at Stewart Farms Partnership in Yorkville, Illinois. The impressive harvesting record, which remained unbeaten until now, is a testament to the massive throughput of the LEXION combine and the skillful hand of an operator who knows how to push these machines to the limit.</p>

<p>Eight years later, Craig Stewart and sons Bob and Brad continue to harvest their crops with CLAAS LEXION combines. In fact, they have two CLAAS LEXION TERRA TRAC machines.</p>

<p>Recently, the Stewarts approached CLAAS with a proposition. They wanted to break the old 10-hour corn harvesting record on a field of theirs near Farmer City, Illinois. After some research, it was discovered that Guinness recognizes harvesting records for 8 hours and 12 hours, not 10. Undeterred, the Stewarts decided to break both the 8- and 12-hour world records, as well as the old 10-hour mark that was established on their farm nearly a decade ago.</p>

<p>Maybe even more important than those enhancements are the operator assistance features found in CEMOS AUTOMATIC — the new flagship technology available as an option on 700 Series LEXION combines — which automatically and autonomously optimizes ground speed and system settings throughout the combine based on changing conditions. According to Gray, “CEMOS AUTOMATIC is able to make the same type of adjustments I made when I set the record — only faster and with more precision.”</p>

<p>One component of CEMOS AUTOMATIC that Bob Stewart really appreciates is CRUISE PILOT. “The CRUISE PILOT will actually optimize its own speed and make the adjustments for you on the back end. It’s a big deal.”</p>

<p><strong>Countdown to the World Record</strong><br />
At 8:52 a.m., on Wednesday, September 26, Bob pushed the CMOTION control lever forward on the CLAAS LEXION 760TT combine and 16-row header as the 12-hour countdown clock was started. The conditions were not ideal. After receiving more than half an inch of rain the night before, the corn coming into Tate and Lyle Grain Elevator in Parnell, Illinois, was at 17-18 percent moisture levels. Bob Stewart got the vast majority of the stick time in the combine throughout the day, with Jeff Gray only stepping into the cab on two different occasions.</p>

<p>While Bob was driving the combine, his brother Brad managed the logistics of the record attempt. His job was to keep three grain carts and 10 trucks running at top speed to keep up with the nearly constant unloading of the CLAAS LEXION combine. “The machine is very impressive. It’s incredibly reliable and just eats corn! Our biggest worry was having enough trucks so that we didn’t keep the combine waiting.”</p>

<p>One key feature on the new LEXION combine is called TELEMATICS. This on-board technology transmits real-time performance information back to computers and mobile devices authorized to receive it. It allowed real-time monitoring of the record for the many people tracking the attempt.</p>

<p>For each of the three records, the Stewarts were required to bring their combine to a full stop, unload any grain in the tank into a grain cart, and unload the grain cart into a waiting truck. The truck was sent to the elevator where the grain totals were tabulated.</p>

<p>At the 8-hour mark, the combine had harvested an incredible 43,739.68 dry bushels of corn. At 10 hours, the total was 54,302.97 — more than 3,000 bushels greater than the record set 8 years earlier.</p>

<p>At the end of 12 hours, the combine came to a complete stop and the lone remaining truck made its way to the elevator. The final result after 12 hours: 63,770.10 bushels. With that, the Stewarts had set their third record for the day.</p>

<p>While the results are still being confirmed by Guinness, third-party witnesses and tabulations by the grain elevator show that new records have been set.</p>

<p>PlantResponse™ Biotech announces the close on the first round of their Series B investment&nbsp; December 5.&nbsp;The $6.9 million dollars raised will support further growth of the global company through their new commercial headquarters in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Yara Germinate and iSelect join Bayer Ventures, Middleland Capital and Novozymes in this round.</p>

<p>Tom Warner, previously of Nutrien Ag Solutions, has also been announced as the company’s new independent chairman of the board to steer North American direction and global expansion.&nbsp;</p>

<p>PlantResponse Biotech is a leading agricultural technology company focused on developing solutions for plant health, stress mitigation and nutrient management.&nbsp;</p>