It was 6 below when I left my office yesterday morning, so I decided to make a pit-stop at Casey’s for a cup of vanilla cappuccino – and a good reason to let my vehicle warm up for a few more minutes!  Two hours and 115 miles later, it was a balmy 0 degrees in Des Moines.

Visions of tropical destinations entered my mind each time I left one meeting in a heated office building only to drive across the metro in a cold vehicle to attend yet another meeting in a warm office building.  I returned home later that day, however, only to be reminded that I’m actually living in a Winter Wonderland.  It’s all in one’s attitude.

As I turned into my driveway, I saw “snow art” decorating our front yard.  My son was playing King of the Hill with his BFF Bailey, our 11-month-old Black Lab.  Then he asked me to peek at the “cool” snow fort he had built.

“Bear Grylls is right – It’s much warmer in a cave,” said my little Man v. Wild fan before proceeding to demonstrate how he fits perfectly into a hole he had dug with my garden spade.

Whether you’re 9 or 90, there are plenty of fun ways to warm up on a cold winter’s day.  Here’s what tops my list:

• Enjoying a hot cup of soup for dinner with my family (after all January is National Soup Month);
• Playing outdoors, tossing the ball with Bailey or sledding with my kids; and
• Reading by the fire, but this has to happen before my kids wake up or after they go to bed!

What’s your favorite way to warm up on a cold, winter’s day?

Starting last Friday, ag industry professionals from around the world gathered in Atlanta at the Georgia World Congress Center for the 2011 Ag Connect Expo. The expo provides a world-class international forum for agriculture industry professionals – bringing together the latest in equipment, technology and ideas.

This year, over 380 exhibitors will be present ranging from Trigger and Bullet, in celebration of Roy Roger’s 100^th birthday, to Cabela’s. (Oh, what I wouldn’t give to have my photo with Roy Rogers and Trigger!) In addition to the exhibits, this year the expo is featuring more educational and networking events. The education breakout sessions provide content covering ways to increase productivity, business management tips and sustainability practices.

Attendees also have the option to attend a free session in the Innovations Theater, sponsored by Successful Farming. One session I would have loved to hear was “Telling Agriculture’s Story: The Role of Media in Agriculture Advocacy” presented by Jeff Caldwell of Successful Farming and others.

For more information about the 2011 Ag Connect Expo, click here. To stay up to date with expo happenings, visit Jeff Caldwell’s Ag Connect blog, here. And if you’re at the show, let us know what’s going on by using the official Ag Connect hashtag on Twitter, #AgConnect, with all your tweets.

“Lose weight” once again topped the list of New Year’s resolutions made for 2011. While most Americans resolve to decrease their pant size, today we’re going to talk about ways we can increase your bottom… line, that is!

If I were a full-time farmer making New Year’s Resolutions for 2011, I’d list “increase bushels per acre” at the top of my list.  Then I would resolve to:

1. Make better use of applied nitrogen fertilizers.  Those serious about averaging 300 bu/A corn will need to change the way they apply nitrogen.  They will need to manage their nutrients, probably split-applying nitrogen to achieve better utilization.  There are many variables that go into the process for writing a variable rate nitrogen recommendation, but it all starts with the soil.  That’s why Latham’s hallmark Seed2Soil® program is worth a second look for 2011. 

2. Choose corn hybrids and soybean varieties that are right for my specific farming situation.  Seed decisions shouldn’t be based strictly on price or “coffee-shop talk.” What works for your neighbor might not work for you.  That’s why, at Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, we take pride in working with our customers to help them choose hybrids and select soybeans that will maximize yields and increase profitability.

3. Embrace learning.  Use the long, winter months to learn about new products, management techniques, equipment options, etc.  Attend University Extension-sponsored training sessions and surf the Internet for new ideas and solutions.  Not only is it a good way to make use of “down time” until spring arrives, but it might also help you fight cabin fever!

4. Focus more on marketing.   More time is often spent trying to save a buck or two when purchasing seed rather than figuring out yield potential and value at harvest.  For example, a unit of Roundup Ready 2 Soybeans from Latham cost $5 more than the RR1 varieties last year.  Even a three-bushel increase netted (conservatively) $30 per acre more.  Some of our customers saw a 15-bushel yield advantage from RR2 v. RR1.  With $150 more revenue per acre, it doesn’t take long to justify the added $5 per unit in seed cost.  That’s why it’s important to set market-based goals rather than focusing merely on seed input costs. 

5. Determine the cost/benefit ratio.  Take a closer look at the cost/benefit ratio from changing or improving just two things in your farming operation.  Improvements could come in the way of equipment, management practices, information sources and herbicide programs.  Maximizing ROI from the seed technologies planted in each field, as well as nutrient programs and production practices, is a benefit of the second tier of Latham’s Seed2Soil program, powered by SciMax.

If you are involved in crop production in Iowa, plan to attend a 2011 Crop Advantage Series meeting sponsored by the Iowa State University Extension. Starting today, there will be 14 meetings held at different locations throughout Iowa.

The meetings are day-long sessions designed to give producers all the latest information to help make profitable decisions for the upcoming growing season. Each meeting features a general session on topics of interest to all producers in the particular area that the meeting is being held as well as a wide variety of topics, including: crops, pests, soil fertility and farm management. This year’s keynote presentation focuses on understanding Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) in soybeans and SDS management options.

In addition, each location offers the opportunity for attendees to recertify their IDALS Private Pesticide Applicator’s license. Each meeting is also approved for continuing education credits.

For the 2011 Crop Advantage schedule and to register online, visit www.cropadvantage.org.

More than 90 percent of Iowa’s land is devoted to farming, which is the most of any state. To help showcase what makes Iowa unique, the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) has launched a fun, interactive national campaign built around the theme, “It Starts in Iowa”.

The campaign will kick off New Year’s Eve when Iowa farm families will be showcased during a video message that will air on the giant CBS Jumbotron screen in New York City’s Time Square. (I love that Iowa farms and faces will be center stage among all the excitement in Times Square! How cool is that?) The video focuses on the dedication and integrity of Iowa’s farmers and the pride they take in providing safe, nutritious food, as well as the general message of “healthy eating means healthy living.” Click here to see the video on YouTube.

You can visit the website, www.ItStartsInIowa.com to learn more about the campaign and to participate in the “Be Our Guest, Be a Farmer” contest. The winner will receive a four-day, three-night trip to Iowa in August that will include guided tours of several Iowa crop and livestock farms, an opportunity to feed cattle, drive a tractor and enjoy a home-cooked meal prepared and served by a farm family. To top it off, the winner and guests will receive red-carpet treatment to the 2011 Iowa State Fair.

Fun Iowa Farm Facts:

• Nearly 96% of Iowa farms are owned and managed by families.
• Iowa has at least 11,000 different soils that make up some of the richest, most productive land in the world!
• Around 15 billion eggs are produced each year in Iowa – enough to provide every American an egg for 47 days. If Iowa was a country, the state would rank 11^th worldwide in number of eggs produced.
• The average size of an Iowa farm is around 350 acres (an acre is about the size of a football field, less the end zones).
• Iowa produces the second most wind energy in the nation, helping generate enough electricity to power several hundred thousand homes each year.

(Source: www.ItStartsInIowa.com)

How are you “agvocating” for Iowa?

With much relief from farmers across America, the federal tax bill that addressed estate taxes was signed into law on December 17.

For the next two years, the new tax package will alleviate the pressure farmers have had to sell some of their land to help pay the estate tax. It exempts the first $5 million dollars of a farm estate, with a 35% tax rate after that. The tax package also extends the 2006 tax incentive for landowners, who donate a conservation easement on their land with the enrolled property- permanently limited to ag or other compatible uses.

Jon Scholl, president of American Farmland Trust said in a recent article in Wallaces Farmer, “We need to permanently extinguish federal taxes that cause farmers and ranchers to stop production and sell their land.” He hopes Congress will continue to look for a more permanent solution that exempts farms, ranches and forest land estate taxes for land that remains in agriculture.

To read more about the new tax package, click here.

(Source: Wallaces Farmer)

For young farmers trying to get started in the industry or those looking to retire, the USDA has established a new online resource that can get you one step closer.

The new online resource, TIP(Transition Incentives Program) Net, provided by the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), links retiring farmers who have expiring Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts with beginning farmers who are interested in bringing the land into production. TIP also provides up to two additional CRP annual rental payments to qualified retired or retiring owner/operators with an expiring CRP contract – the extra payments come when the farmer signs an agreement to sell or lease their CRP acres to a beginning or socially disadvantaged farmer.

In a recent Iowa Farmer Today article Tom Vilsack, USDA Secretary said, “The interest in TIP during the first six months of implementation has far exceeded our expectations. The tool should make TIP even more effective in facilitating the transition of land to our next generation of farmers.”

To learn more about the TIP Net program, click here.

What are your thoughts on the new TIP Net program?

Have you “tweeted” “Facebooked” or “blogged” lately? This lingo that at one time might have seemed like a foreign language to you is now making its way into the everyday vocabulary of your average Joe. In fact, at Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, we “tweet” “Facebook” and “blog” every week day.

Seed World magazine recently featured Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds in their story about how social media tactics are helping seed companies reach growers to provide instant, relevant information. We use our blog, Facebook page, YouTube Channel and Twitter account to communicate pertinent information and industry news with our growers (and of course, a few recipes here and there).

However, we don’t see the traditional methods of communication disappearing anytime soon as others predict.  We believe combining social media with traditional media has been a great way to reach a larger audience.

A special thank you to Teresa Falk at Seed World for including us in her story.  To view the entire story, visit our website, and go to “News & Events.” Check out the “In the News” section to see this story, as well as other recent Latham news.

Ag Processing Inc. (AGP) has announced it will partner with soybean growers who are interested in producing Vistive^® soybeans and delivering them to one of four participating AGP processing facilities.

AGP plans to process Vistive beans at plant locations in Eagle Grove, Iowa; Manning, Iowa; Sergeant Bluff, Iowa; and Hastings, Neb. Growers can earn a premium of between 50 and 60 cents a bushel, depending on the delivery option they choose. 

Growers interested in Vistive contracts should consider these Latham^® soybean brands with the Vistive trait:

• L2735R2V – This 2.7 soybean contains the Genuity^® Roundup Ready 2 Yield^® technology with the Vistive low-linolenic trait.  It’s a fairy tall, tough line that performs well in lighter soils but also responds to higher fertility situations.  Its defensive package includes the C-gene for Phytophthora, good tolerance to Iron Chlorosis and very good tolerance to Sudden Death Syndrome.
• L3153R2V – This is a second generation Roundup Ready 2 & soybean line that combines that new high-yielding technology with the Vistive trait for low-linolenic oil production.  It carries the Rps1-c gene for Phytophthora and has very good tolerance to Iron Chlorosis.  Its excellent stress tolerance makes it ideally suited for tougher soils.

For the complete story on AGP’s announcement about Vistive contracts for 2011, click here.