In this week’s ZimmCast we’re going to take the pulse of Agri-Pulse Communications with President, Sara Wyant. Sara says that her company will be celebrating seven years very soon. So will ZimmComm so perhaps we should celebrate together! Agri-Pulse publishes a weekly news report and also has a blog, “Ag Policy From The Inside Out.”
Sara was a speaker at the recent Export Exchange 2010 DDGS seminar in Chicago. I spoke with her following her presentation. Sara started out all by herself with an electronic newsletter and now has several people on her staff and has placed more emphasis on her website content. Sara says the most rewarding feedback she has received is in the form of personal comments like a recent one in which she was told, “I don’t go out and go to any industry meeting or give a speech unless I’ve read you first.” So if you’re not subscribing to Agri-Pulse you may want to join everyone else!
This week’s program ends with some fun music from Music Alley. It’s a song titled, “The Last Impulse” by YTheBand. I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.
Silk Soymilk announced a new website that allows consumers to trace the origin of the soybeans in each carton of Silk down to the county level.
Cibus Global has moved its U.S. research facilities to a state-of-the-art, Platinum LEED-certified location in San Diego.
At the fall Board meeting of the American Butter Institute, Mark Korsmeyer, Dairy Farmers of America, Inc., Kansas City, Mo., was elected President of ABI and two new officers were seated.
Harvest Heroes is a new program designed to recognize everyday heroes in the agricultural community. High Plains/Midwest Ag Journal and John Deere have partnered to introduce these extraordinary individuals and stories to the world. It’s a thank you to the everyday heroes who make agriculture a special community.
Our house sits at the bottom of a hill, near a small creek. Ever notice as you’re driving through the country, how, when you get to the bottom of a hill, the temperature drops about 5 to 10 degrees? It just “feels” different.
We were sitting outside the other night when the cool breeze mixed with the smell of harvest, and I had to breathe it in. My husband, on the other hand, thought I was crazy. I claim his sniffer must be off because they were harvesting in the field directly across the road, and to the south about a half mile. How could he not smell it? The musky smell of corn dust, mixed with oil and fuel from the combine, tossed in with a little dirt and dried corn shuck? It’s distinctive. And unmistakable.
Having a nose full of harvest smells at their best, I then proceeded to have a sneezing fit. That was the allergies kicking in. I’m not sure how I survived all these years being allergic to dust, mold, pollen, grass, trees, pets, you name it. Maybe it just made me stronger because for some reason, I just can’t help but enjoy the scent this time of year brings. The only thing that would make it better is if a nearby neighbor would burn off their leaf pile. Or start up their wood fireplace.
Bring on the hayrack rides and marshmallows. Please.
A webinar on the proposed GIPSA rule was offered this week by the National Agricultural Law Center (NALC) and is still available on line for those who are interested.
The webinar is one of several events the center has conducted for the industry to understand the rule, including a series of regional workshops in Arkansas. The purpose was to provide “information only” for livestock producers and others in the industry who would be affected by the proposed rule.
They provide a pretty detailed explanation of how and why the rule was developed, how and why to make comments, and a real in-depth look at what the rule actually says. The details of the proposed rule are presented by NALC staff attorney Beth Rumley and it’s definitely worth a listen. If you want to skip ahead to that, it starts about 35 minutes in to the webinar.
All livestock producers – poultry, pork and cattle – are strongly encouraged to find out how this proposed rule will impact them and provide comments to USDA before the comment deadline coming up on November 22. As of this week, over 11,000 comments have been received, according to NALC. That’s about twice what it was just three weeks ago, so with another five weeks of comment period time to go, lots more are expected. USDA is required to read and consider ALL comments that are received – so your comments are as important as your vote in an election, if not more so. The easiest way to make comments is by email at comments.gipsa@usda.gov.
There’s a new weapon in the farmer’s arsenal from BASF. Actually, it’s an expanded label for Verdict™ herbicide that includes soybeans.
To highlight the newly expanded label, BASF has changed the Integrity™ herbicide name to Verdict herbicide. The additional use pattern in soybeans represents a growing change in management strategies for preemergence herbicides, as growers continue to seek products that help them get the most out of every acre through simple and effective weed management programs.
Verdict, powered by Kixor® herbicide technology, is a corn preemergence herbicide product with the flexibility of use for soybeans. Verdict is a simple solution for preemergence burndown and residual control of 46 of today’s toughest weeds in corn, grain sorghum and soybeans, providing a foundation for maximum yield potential.
“Verdict herbicide offers a stronger option for broadleaf weed control in corn, with the simplicity and convenience to also be used in soybeans,” said Bryan Perry, Kixor Product Manager at BASF. “BASF developed Verdict in response to our customers’ need for uncomplicated, effective weed-management solutions that contribute to an efficiently-managed operation. As part of the Kixor family of products, Verdict also offers growers additional modes of action to utilize in their corn and soybean weed resistance programs.”
Are you looking for some good music for your iPod this harvest season? Look no further than High Valley in iTunes. They might just make you smile while you’re “On The Combine!” They’re a Canadian country band and thanks to Penny Brown, Centricity Music, for bringing it to my attention. It’s downloading in iTunes on my computer now.
Hey AAEA and LPC members. Want to pocket $200? Enter a design in the 2011 Ag Media Summit logo contest.
This contest is open to any LPC or AAEA member or student member of either organization. ACT members, you may participate if you are a student member of either organization.
Things to consider:
Theme: Jazz It Up! NOLA 2011
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Dates: July 23-27, 2011
Keep in mind this logo is used in a variety of mediums from signage to the website to give-aways so don’t make it so complicated that it does not reproduce well. It’s a good idea to design it so it looks good in black and white too.
Deadline for submission: Wednesday, October 20, 2010; to dianej@flash.net, please put “AMS 2011 logo submission-“your name” in the subject line. Please submit as a pdf but keep it so that you can modify it slightly if the committee requests. You may submit as many entries as you wish.
The AMS Steering Committee will vote on the entries and their decision is final. The logo then becomes the property of the AMS and it will be the logo for the 2011 event only.
AgWired sponsor, Leica Geosystems, has added to their sales staff. First up is Matt Hayes who is the southern region sales manager. Hayes started with Leica Geosystems in July, and is based in Florida.
Originally from Canada, Hayes brings more than 20 years of experience in precision agriculture and ag equipment sales to the position. Hayes honed his sales skills for a number of years in an equipment dealership, then left to start an independent precision agriculture dealership. Most recently, Hayes served in a sales management position with a John Deere dealer in Florida.
“I was attracted to Leica because of its deep roots,” Hayes said. “This is a strong company with almost 200 years of history. Leica is not only steering tractors, but they are also building CORS networks and have a large footprint in precision guidance globally. I’m excited to introduce the company and its products to new dealers, and help farmers benefit from the available technology.”
Also joining Leica is David Greer who is the Midwest sales manager. Greer joined Leica Geosystems earlier this year, and is based in South Dakota.
Greer started his career working for an independent farm equipment manufacturer and wholesaler. As the precision agriculture segment developed, Greer moved into sales and has held positions with several precision ag companies.
“I enjoy building relationships with resellers and farmers,” Greer said. “I like to help people solve problems. Leica offers simple, reliable, affordable equipment that can help farmers meet the challenges they face, and that leads to increased efficiency and improved profitability.”
We’re getting near time for the annual National Association of Farm Broadcasting convention. It’s one of my favorite times of the year because it also means time for deer hunting!
The NAFB Foundation has just announced that you can place an order for one of their toy tractors, designed, signed and numbered by Joe Ertl. This year the model is a John Deere B. This is the final year for the program so get your order in soon. It is expected that these will sell out.
Joe Ertl has personally autographed each of the numbered John Deere B 1/16 scale toy tractors for NAFB. To make it a unique toy for the organization, Joe designed and mounted a replica of a tractor radio.
There are only 200 of these tractors being produced and sold to benefit the NAFB Foundation. Numbers 6-200 will be available to the public for sale. Numbers 1-5 will be auctioned live during the Foundation Auction at the NAFB Convention on November 11, 2010.
Orders for 6-200 are currently being taken, but the tractors won’t be shipped until early December 2010.
Made in the USA. Price is $85 plus shipping and handling.
How many times have we heard of the need for a “unified voice for U.S. agriculture?” I lost count a long time ago. Now there is an effort underway to accomplish this much needed goal. Two days ago the legal papers were completed to form the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA). To learn the who/what/why I spoke with Rick Tolman, CEO, National Corn Growers Association. NCGA is one of more than 20 national food and agricultural organizations who sent representatives to a formation meeting where an agreement was reached to incorporate USFRA to “focus on working together to enhance U.S. consumer trust in modern food production that ensures the abundance of affordable, safe food.” Rick is chair of the USFRA Steering Committee. The photo above is of individuals who attended the formation meeting (thank you Steve Drake’s Facebook page!).
“Today represents a start toward a unified voice for U.S. agriculture,” said Rick Tolman, CEO of the National Corn Growers Association and chair of the USFRA Steering Committee. “While the results of today’s organizational meeting represent the culmination of six months of planning, it is only the beginning of a process designed to create a coordinated effort by and on behalf of U.S. farmers and ranchers. Several participants have stepped forward to officially join the Alliance. Others need to return to their boards to determine whether they will join.”
Rick told me that USFRA hopes to have its first campaign up and running shortly after the first of the year and will be sending out an RFP for a management organization to handle coordination since there are no plans to create a full time staff. He says they really hope to take advantage of the efforts already started by many organizations and coordinate them in a unified way so that consumers hear the same message. I asked him about the AgChat Foundation and he says that is a specific group that USFRA will be reaching out to as well as many others. Organizations have been asked to respond about affiliation no later than November 1. After that date, a board of directors will be established and will elect an executive committee. Rick says that members of the USFRA Board, its executive committee and its affiliated organizations will be announced formally in mid-November. If any farm group out there would like to become involved they are encouraged to contact Rick at NCGA or others that you’ll hear him mention in my interview.
Becker Underwood announced that it has acquired Biological Control Products (Pty) Ltd., a leading company in Africa for solid-state fermentation of fungal products.
More than 60 representatives from more than 20 national food and agricultural organizations agreed to incorporate a U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) to focus on working together to enhance U.S. consumer trust in modern food production that ensures the abundance of affordable, safe food.
In anticipation of more strict milk quality standards in the United States, A&L Laboratories is rolling out its new and comprehensive Quality Milk Program, to assist U.S. dairy operations in the quest for higher quality milk.
Record-breaking grower Kip Cullers has done it again-shattering his world-record soybean yield by nearly six bushels with an outstanding 160.6 bushels per acre on his 2010 test fields-and BASF is pleased to rally all of agriculture to congratulate him on this achievement.
Being in Des Moines this week was a great opportunity to see a lot of friends and clients. AgWired sponsor, Novus International, was on display for the World Food Prize activities. In fact, Novus is a big supporter. Pictured are Thad Simons (left), President/CEO and Jill Mahoney, Public Relations.
Thad says the Novus vision to feed the world ties right in with the goal of the World Food Prize to recognize world hunger and that’s why they’re so supportive. The company has also just released their second Sustainability Report, “Health Through Nutrition.” Thad says this report includes more metrics to help show how they are taking this issue seriously.
This report summarizes the past progress and future commitment of Novus International, Inc. to providing innovative solutions that will help feed the world affordable, wholesome food and achieve a higher quality of life.
While I was in Des Moines this week I attended the press conference for the CropLife Foundation/CAST 2010 Borlaug CAST Communications Award. This award was announced and presented in September at the CropLife America annual meeting but a presentation was made this week in Des Moines for the press. I recorded the presentation, including introductions and questions and answers. There are additional photos in the photo album too. Dr. Akin Adesina (right) was presented the award by CAST Executive Vice President, John Bonner.
The prestigious 2010 Borlaug CAST Communication Award goes to Dr. Akin Adesina, a distinguished scientist, leader, and communicator who has been working passionately for Africa’s Green Revolution. Dr. Adesina currently serves as a vice president for the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), where he helps set policy and advises former U.N. Secretary Kofi Annan, current president of AGRA. A world-class scholar, Dr. Adesina influences policymakers with his informed speeches, published papers, and tireless leadership.
Soybean superstar Kip Cullers was in big demand by the media on Tuesday in the thriving metropolis of Stark City, Missouri when the governor honored him for once again breaking the soybean yield record on his contest plot with 160.6 bushels per acre.
I waited until everyone had their turn before doing my interview with Kip, and enlisting the help of his 11-year-old son Noah as my videographer. Noah is the oldest of Kip and his wife Michelle’s three children and Kip says he’s very smart and loves school. He was also a big help to me, watching the video camera during the presentation while I ran around taking photos and handling the audio portion of the program.
Kip talks briefly in this interview about how he “changed it up” this year. “We had two goals – control the white mold and control the height and we were able to accomplish both of those,” he said. “As you can see these beans are a lot shorter than normal,” he said, showing off a sample plant from his contest field. On the advice of BASF Technical Service rep Dennis Belcher, Kip used Cobra herbicide from Valent to kill the main growing point of the soybean and cause it to branch out.
Of course, he used BASF Headline fungicide for overall plant health, “keeping that plant alive, happy and healthy.” BASF is encouraging everyone to send Kip congratulations on his new yield record by going to the SuperSoy landing tab on the BASF Crop Protection Facebook page and upload your personal message of congratulations to Kip Cullers. You can also send congrats through Twitter using hashtag #SuperSoy. BASF will present Kip with an album of all the congratulations received during Commodity Classic 2011.
I was invited by Michele Payn-Knoper, Cause Matters, to write a guest post on her Gate to Plate Blog, titled, “WKRP, Silver Sows & Communications Changes,” about my observations of changes in ag media. That was posted this week and with her okay, I’m sharing it with you here. I’d love to hear your feedback, especially in answer to questions posted at end:
Who knew seven years ago that the internet would become so ubiquitous and self-publishing software (blogging/podcasting) would allow everyone to become “the media?” Not me. But that was shortly before my wife/partner, Cindy, and I started a company that works exclusively in the production and distribution of online agricultural news and information. Before that we were “traditional media,” working in farm radio broadcasting for 20+ years. Remember WKRP in Cincinnati and Les Nessman, who was proud of his Silver Sow award for hog reporting? Yeah, I’m that old. Well, we were Les Nessman for many stations via syndicated farm reports. But things have changed!
Back in 1985, there were close to 300 broadcast members of what is now the National Association of Farm Broadcasting. Today there are less than 150. At the same time, there is far more farm audio news being produced and consumed. It’s just being done via the web, courtesy of podcasting in various forms (some subscription, some click to listen). I still believe farm radio is a viable and valuable media channel. Consolidation wreaked havoc though on an industry that was known for great public service and creativity.
Today, I carry more transmitting power in my shoulder bag than any local radio or TV station. I now broadcast to the world-and so do farmers, agribusiness companies, farm groups , farm radio broadcasters and publication editors. The media has converged in agriculture to the point where farm broadcasters are carrying cameras and farm publications are shooting video. Farmers themselves have become legitimate information sources for the public via Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. Some may argue about who is “real” media these days – I say everyone is!
I remember doing a Google search for farm blogs when I got started and there were only a handful. Now there are thousands; many are created and managed by farmers as well as the farm media. I just looked at the web stats for AgWired, and in the last month visitors came from 133 different countries! New media channels like blogs, podcasts and social networking now let us broadcast to the global marketplace. (more…)
There’s a new publication you might be interested in knowing about. It’s the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development (JAFSCD) and it’s now online.
The first issue of this international, peer-reviewed journal of applied research and policy analysis is currently open and available free to the public at www.AgDevJournal.com. This allows you to check out the first issue before subscribing. (See the subscription chart below.) JAFSCD is for agencies, organizations, and academics interested in expanding local and regional food systems.
“Growing New Farmers” Is First Special Topic
This inaugural issue is on the timely topic of “Growing New Farmers,” with five articles focusing on the opportunities and challenges of assisting the next generation of farmers.
Additional articles address a wide range of food systems and community development topics:
A study of the experience of 19 adult volunteers on a one-month 100 mile diet
How to apply activity system mapping to a farmers’ market to see how it might improve strategic planning
Legal experts identify the dormant Commerce Clause doctrine as a potential legal barrier to local food purchasing — and a work-around for it
Columns and book reviews round out this first issue.
The second issue on the topic of URBAN AGRICULTURE is COMING SOON!
The agriculture and ethanol industries responded favorably to the EPA’s decision to approve the voluntary use of E15 in cars manufactured in 2007 or later. The increase in ethanol blended into gasoline fuels could help the ethanol industry have a home for another 4-5 billion gallons per year.
Last year, Growth Energy filed the E15 Waiver and after several delays, the ethanol industry is finally able to celebrate a small victory. “Today’s approval of E15 for newer vehicles is the first crack in the blend wall in more than 30 years, and proves what was laid out in Growth Energy’s Green Jobs Waiver – that E15 is a good fuel for American motorists. And while this is an important first step, there are many more steps we can take toward strengthening our national security by reducing our dependence on foreign oil, creating jobs here in the United States and improving our environment,” Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, said.
The American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman applauded the EPA as well. “Ethanol is a clean-burning, home-grown renewable fuel. Increasing the percentage of ethanol in the domestic gasoline supply moves our nation one step closer to greater energy independence. It also promotes job creation in rural America.”
Although the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) was also happy that the EPA took a step in the right direction, they called for EPA to make a quick next step in the approval of E15 in model cars and light duty trucks from 2001-2006. The Department of Energy is still undergoing testing in these vehicles.
“We’re disappointed in the very limited scope of this approval, but pleased the EPA has finally taken action to partially approve the waiver request to allow higher blends of ethanol in some motor vehicles,” said NCGA President Bart Schott, a grower in Kulm, N.D. “We believe this bifurcation of the approval process, and the labels that are expected to be placed on higher-blend fuel pumps, can lead to general consumer confusion and therefore act counter to the original intent.”
The Renewable Fuels Association was a little more harsh than NCGA in EPA’s limited approval of E15. “EPA’s scientifically unjustified bifurcation of the U.S. car market will do little to move the needle and expand ethanol use today,” said RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen. “Limiting E15 use to 2007 and newer vehicles only creates confusion for retailers and consumers alike. America’s ethanol producers are hitting an artificial blend wall today. The goals of Congress to reduce our addiction to oil captured in the Renewable Fuels Standard cannot be met with this decision.”
While many organizations are supportive of the move, not all are happy. The National Cattleman’s Beef Association criticized the decision or adding another ‘financial burden to all corn users’. “Corn ethanol production is significant to the cattle industry because of its impact on feed grain prices. NCBA’s members strongly oppose mandated production and increasing government intervention that artificially inflates the cost of feed ingredients. This waiver is a step closer to more government mandates.”
“Ninety-five percent of all the plant nutrients are in the top 4” of the soil. You’ve got to have a good root system,” explained Cullers during the award ceremony. “The thing that helped us the most was by adding the Bio-Forge to our seed treatment. We picked up 5 to 7 bushels with that alone.”
In addition to using Bio-Forge, Cullers also applied Stoller’s FRAME and Keylate Manganese to help control the white mold. Unfortunately for Culler, the conditions of his contest field are ripe for white mold due to heavy irrigation techniques used to cool the plants in the extreme hot temperatures. FRAME and Keylate Manganese also work to protect flower set, improve pod set and increase photosynthesis.
And last but not least, Stoller’s Sugar Mover was used to move sugars and nutrients from the leaves to the grain to enhance pod fill, and then Cullers used a new experimental Stoller product to increase branching expression and increase pod set and fill.
Cullers’ contest plot was planted on April 13, 2010, and soon after the plant emerged he was surprised to find branching and root nodulation at the unusually early unifoliate stage. Cullers had no doubt the seed treatment had gotten his contest plot off to an early and impressive start. Vigorous early root growth, branching and early nodulation were quickly apparent. Other physical highlights included the large and uniform pods that were located up and down the multiple branches and an extended period of nodulation Root systems became so prolific they were difficult to dig up. Since the stalks were unusually large and robust, they easily supporting the pod-laden plants.
“We’re already planning what we’re going to do differently next year,” shared Cullers, “We are definitely going to be using Stoller products because they helped us.”
During the annual TATT Global Farmer to Farmer Roundtable our participant from Portugal received a prestigious award. Gabriela Cruz received the Kleckner Trade and Technology Advancement Award. I spoke with her about her award and participation in the roundtable and you can listen to our conversation below.
Gabriela Cruz is passionate about many things: the family farm that she and her sisters work and manage on the eastern border of Portugal; the use of soil conservation to combat the erosion that annually tries to steal their land from them; and access to the technology that will allow her to prevail in the future.
Those passions, and Cruz’s drive to change attitudes of European governments that block farmer-access to genetically modified (GM) crops, led to her selection as the 2010 winner of the Kleckner Trade and Technology Advancement Award.
The award, given by Truth about Trade and Technology (TATT), seeks to recognize “strong leadership, vision, and resolve in advancing the rights of all farmers to choose the technology and tools that will improve the quality, quantity, and availability of agricultural products around the world.”
One of the places visited by the TATT Global Farmer to Farmer Roundtable was Couser Cattle Company. Our host was Bill Couser. Bill conducted a fascinating presentation about his marriage of row crop farming (corn/soybeans), livestock production and ethanol production! You can see a portion of his explanation in the video below. He used a long table to display all the products he produces starting with an ear of corn and winding up with ethanol (2.81 gal/bushel of corn) as well as by-products like DDGS and ultimately fine quality beef. I loved his description about the whole food vs. fuel debate, “It’s rubbish!”
In this week's program Chuck talks with David Armano, Global Innovation and Integration.
David conducted a presentation on delivering expert opinion via social media to an audience at the start of International Poultry Expo week. He's got some great information about who consumers trust and how you can use today's consumer behavior to help communicate your message.
In this week’s ZimmCast we’re going to take the pulse of Agri-Pulse Communications with President, Sara Wyant. Sara says that her company will be celebrating seven years very soon. So will ZimmComm so perhaps we should celebrate together! Agri-Pulse publishes a weekly news report and also has a blog, “Ag Policy From The Inside Out.”
Sara was a speaker at the recent Export Exchange 2010 DDGS seminar in Chicago. I spoke with her following her presentation. Sara started out all by herself with an electronic newsletter and now has several people on her staff and has placed more emphasis on her website content. Sara says the most rewarding feedback she has received is in the form of personal comments like a recent one in which she was told, “I don’t go out and go to any industry meeting or give a speech unless I’ve read you first.” So if you’re not subscribing to Agri-Pulse you may want to join everyone else!
A webinar on the proposed GIPSA rule was offered this week by the 
Hey AAEA and LPC members. Want to pocket $200? Enter a design in the 2011 
Soybean superstar Kip Cullers was in big demand by the media on Tuesday in the thriving metropolis of Stark City, Missouri when the governor honored him for once again breaking the soybean yield record on his contest plot with 160.6 bushels per acre. 
In this week's program Chuck talks with David Armano, Global Innovation and Integration.
