This morning at AG CONNECT Expo the first session was the Ag Executive Forum. The keynote speaker for breakfast was Thomas Cunningham, Economist and Associate Research Director, Federal Reserve of Atlanta. Thanks to Mary Thompson, Farm Foundation, for taking a photo of us in the hallway during my interview with him.
According to Thomas the economy is recovering but at a very slow pace. I asked him if there was room for optimism and he said it was more like “less room for pessimism.” He says that things are pretty good for the ag sector of the economy. With people around the world building wealth they’re spending more on food. As he put it, “It doesn’t look too bad right now.” and “The world is getting wealthier and as it does that it is changing its diet.” He doesn’t see this trend reversing. I thought he made an interesting observation that in talking with ag groups they “have a good sense of history.” So the bottom line is that the ag sector is relatively healthy compared to the rest of the economy but we should keep in mind that the world has changed, mostly for the better, and make financial decisions accordingly.
The winners of the AG CONNECT Expo 2011 “Advocating for Agriculture” awards were honored at the “Celebration of Agriculture” and opening ceremony for the show on Friday evening. These awards recognize those who support “in a compelling way the work of farmers and ranchers to provide abundant and affordable food and fiber.” Online voting by the Ag community helped select the winners, and more than 12,500 votes were cast for the nine finalists.
The winners from left to right are: Next Generation of Ag Award — Elliott Marsh from Statesboro, Georgia Ag Woman of the Year — Beverly Hall from Baxter, Tennessee Community Advocate Award — Ray Bowman from Frankfurt, Kentucky
We live streamed the opening ceremonies from AG CONNECT Expo here and will post both video and audio later since we have it recorded.
In the meantime you can check out our photo album from the link below. It’s growing by the hour!
The preview day is history and it’s party time in Atlanta.
Post Update: You can listen to the opening ceremonies here: AG CONNECT Expo Opening Ceremonies
Here’s an edited video version of the opening ceremonies:
We’ve been talking with Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) Vice President of Agricultural Services Charlie O’Brien about AG CONNECT Expo since it was first announced at Ag Media Summit in July 2008.
Now we are starting the second AG CONNECT Expo, which will be held every other year after this year, and Charlie says the show has really come together this year to be what they envisioned. “It’s certainly a larger footprint than we had last year,” Charlie says. “It feels like people really stepped it up a little bit more this year and it’s really looking good on the show floor this year.”
Charlie says it worked out very well for them to team up with American Farm Bureau, as well as other groups such as the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, to have co-located events. “That’s kind of been the strategy all along is to have key meetings associated with it and then have the trade show and the educational events as part of the trade show. We’re trying to be as efficient as we can with everybody’s time.”
This afternoon John Deere held an AG CONNECT Expo media tour of their exhibit while providing an overview of their latest product offerings. I spoke with John Deere’s Tim Merrett who says the show is a great place to display new products like their new Interim Tier 4 tractors that are just rolling off the production line this month. These new 8R models come with JDLink Ultimate Service and Service ADVISOR Remote, all of which is on display. There are also several tractor simulators you can get in and take them for a test drive.
You can listen to Tim talk about all that’s being offered from John Deere here: Tim Merrett Interview
Follow along with the media touring John Deere during the show:
The trade show floor is now open on preview day at AG CONNECT Expo. We had quite a crowd waiting to come in which bodes well for the exhibitors here. The show opens up for general admission on Saturday and runs through Monday afternoon.
Cindy and I are getting ready to head out on the floor and talk with some of the folks that are here. Later this afternoon we’ll live stream the opening Celebration of Agriculture Reception. I’ll have that posted on the top of AgWired this afternoon or you can find it on our AgWired Live TV page.
I spoke with Josh Daniel, State Vice President from Oconee County, and Beth Hickey, State Vice President
Stephens County, about their involvement in the expo. “We’re helping with some of the educational breakout sessions and with some of the other educational opportunities and tours that AG CONNECT is offering,” Beth told me.
They are both very excited about meeting people from the agriculture industry all over the world. “It’s really a joy to meet people in the industry and seeing the way it’s growing and changing and always learning more about agriculture,” said Josh.
Preview day for the second AG CONNECT Expo is underway here in Atlanta and it’s obvious the newest U.S. ag show is going to be much bigger this year.
There are already more media folks here than last year in Orlando. In fact, Julie Harker with Brownfield Network commented that last year it was just her and Chuck here!
I took photos and recorded Julie interviewing show director Sara Mooney, who says they are happy being co-located with the American Farm Bureau annual meeting this year. “We’re really excited about it,” Sara said. “We’re going to have over 380 exhibitors on the show floor with AG CONNECT and American Farm Bureau Trade Show Pavilion.”
In addition to the exhibit hall, Sara says there’s also an extensive education program, with over 30 brand new sessions and topics as well as Innovation Theater sponsored by Successful Farming. The show, which is sponsored by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), officially opens this evening with the grand opening ceremony and will run through Monday afternoon.
Listen to Julie’s interview with Sara here: Sara Mooney
The U.S. Grains Council is coordinating an industry-wide registration process for interested U.S. companies in response to China’s recently announced anti-dumping charges against imports of U.S. distiller’s dried grains. The deadline for registration is extremely short, a process further complicated by the need to translate all registrations into Chinese.
U.S. companies that wish to participate in this industry effort should e-mail the Council at grains@grains.org with contact information by COB Friday, Jan. 7, 2011. From there, legal counsel will contact each participant, provide the necessary registration form and instructions. The registration form must be completed and returned to the law firm by COB Monday, Jan. 10. From there, the law firm will assume responsibility for translation and submission to China’s Ministry of Commerce by its Jan. 17 Beijing deadline.
More information can be found on the Council’s website, www.grains.org.
Thomas C. Dorr, president and CEO of the U.S. Grains Council and former USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development during the George W. Bush administration, has been named to the board of directors of the Farm Journal Foundation.
Participate in the new Hoard’s Dairyman monthly webinar series starting next Monday, Jan. 10, at noon, central time. To sign up, visit www.hoards.com, and click on “Hoard’s Webinars” in the top right corner of the home page.
It is welcome time for AG CONNECT Expo, where they’re connecting the world of agriculture. Preview day is coming up on Friday and Cindy and I are checked in and ready to bring you all the action.
We’ll be on the floor throughout the next several days conducting interviews, attending educational sessions and taking lots of photos. Speaking of photos, I have started the official ZimmComm photo album: 2011 AG CONNECT Expo Photo Album
Thank you to AG CONNECT Expo for making it possible for ZimmComm to cover this show. It is the 2nd one and we’re looking forward to many more in coming years.
In this week’s ZimmCast we’re actually going to review some statistics for ZimmComm online activity in 2010. Cindy joins me and shares some of the numbers we put together. Let’s just say we’ve done a lot of agriblogging and farm podcasting!
In fact, we’re about to head to downtown Atlanta for AG CONNECT Expo where we really start racking up the new year’s statistics! So listen in as we give you a ZimmComm review and feel free to pose any questions you may have: ZimmCast 287 - 2010 Review
Did you know we have an Animal Welfare Information Center at USDA? I don’t think I did even though it was created in 1986. You can follow it on Twitter now.
The Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC) is mandated by the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) to provide information for improved animal care and use in research, testing, teaching, and exhibition.
This morning Pioneer Hi-Bred announced a new generation of corn hybrids under the AQUAmax name that will work well in dry environments. I joined the press conference during opening remarks. You can listen in and download below.
DuPont business Pioneer Hi-Bred launched a new generation of corn hybrids developed and tested to help deliver a yield advantage in water-limited environments, allowing growers to minimize risk and maximize productivity. These hybrids will be offered to growers under the Optimum® AQUAmaxTM brand name.
These hybrids, introduced for planting in 2011, contain a collection of native corn traits that improve water access and utilization and deliver greater yields in water-limited conditions. The initial class of Optimum AQUAmax innovations will include five hybrid platforms across a range of maturities and technology packages. While the 2011 launch size is limited and primarily targeted in the western Corn Belt, the technology advancement is an important milestone toward the longer-term objective of bringing breeding and biotechnology solutions to drought-prone environments.
It’s official. The NAMA Trends In Agriculture conference will be held back in Kansas City, MO this fall right before the NAFB convention.
The National Agri-Marketing Association announced that its annual high level event, Trends in Agriculture, will be held in Kansas City immediately prior to the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Annual Conference. In addition, the two organizations will collaborate on a producer-focused session that will close the NAMA event and open the NAFB conference.
“As professional organizations, we share a commitment to helping our members better understand and respond to emerging market issues,” NAMA Executive Vice President/CEO Jenny Pickett said in making the announcement. “In addition, because ‘Trends’ focuses on a more strategic perspective, it tends to attract many of the same marketing executives who may be participating in NAFB’s Trade Talk the following day.”
The centerpiece event of the NAFB’s Annual Convention, Trade Talk, affords company and organization participants access to member broadcasters to discuss the issues and topics that are important to them.
“NAFB and NAMA have many people that are members of both organizations,” added NAFB Executive Director Mark Vail. “This type of planning allows the groups to maximize member opportunities while acknowledging the realities of business travel and meeting time and expense.”
Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What do you think will have the biggest influence on ag in 2011?” Here are the results. Most respondents (40%) think weather patterns will have the biggest influence. Other responses include: general U.S. economy (24%); new Republican leadership in House (13%); farm bill (10%); other (10%) and company consolidation (3%). So if you selected other as an answer or have another choice to answer this please submit it in comments.
The new poll is now live and the question is, “What do you think will happen with biofuels policy this year?” The lame duck session of Congress passed a one year extension of the ethanol and biodiesel tax credits. How do you think this will fare with a new Congress? We look forward to your responses.
Remember, you can submit your questions for us to pose and add your feedback anytime by using the comment feature.
ZimmPoll is sponsored by Rhea+Kaiser, a full-service advertising/public relations agency.
NCGA welcomes Alaina Schultz as the new Corn Yield Contest Coordinator. Schultz, having already assisted NCGA through temporary positions supporting both the contest and membership matters, hits the ground running, crucial as the National Corn Yield Contest continues to grow and evolve.
Schultz officially joins NCGA’s St. Louis-based Production and Utilization Department, assisting with all areas of the contest, such as entry and harvest data, communications with participants and industry partners, rules development and implementation, award programs and other responsibilities. Additionally, Schultz will assist the Marketing Department working to process memberships.
Schultz comes into her new role as the contest continues to see explosive growth. Since 2007, participation in the contest has grown by 44 percent. Schultz, a Melvin, Ill., native, holds an Associate of Arts degree in Business and Hospitality Management.
The University of Illinois is holding its 2011 Bioenergy Feedstocks Symposium on Jan. 11 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Jan. 12 from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at University of Illinois I Hotel and Conference Center in Champaign.
Ingersoll Tillage Group is set to launch its latest vertical tillage innovation at this year’s AG CONNECT Expo in Atlanta, Ga.
Farmers National Company is pleased to announce that Andy Hubert, Accredited Farm Manager of Geneva, Neb., has been named the company’s 2010 Farm Manager of the Year.
Sustainability is the number one issue for agriculture and the first on the agenda for educational breakout sessions starting on Friday at 9:30 am. Business Management is on tap for Friday afternoon from 1:30-2:30 with two concurrent sessions, The Impacts of Risk on Supply Chain Management and Implementing an On-Farm Research Program for Your Farm.
Saturday will have three different time frames with concurrent sessions – a total of 11 different sessions on all kinds of topics including land values, irrigation, precision technology, environmental issues, weather, markets, and even using smart phones on the farm. Sunday sessions in the morning and afternoon will focus on topics such as first aid, financial planning, on-farm wireless internet, no till and timber for biomass.
Two final sessions on Monday morning will answer the questions How Does Your Farm Measure Up? and When Is the Best Time to Buy Your Fertilizer?
I have a working Ayrmesh hub now working at ZimmComm World Headquarters. As I posted recently this is a product that creates what is affectionately called “free range internet.” Made by Ayrstone Productivity, the Ayrmesh creates a strong, stable internet wifi cloud, which if placed properly can go a long distance. By adding additional hubs that range can be extended too.
I learned more about the company and the product by talking with Bill Moffitt, a techno geek like me. He says the company was created to bring technology to rural areas to help farmers and others become more productive. One of the ways anyone in business today accomplishes this is by strategically using the internet. Bill says they are even working with Raven Industries on precision applications. Raven is building wifi into their products. This allows for an easier way to transfer data and without monthly cellular charges. There are a lot of other ways that the Ayrmesh can help farmers. One I can think of is becoming more active agvocates!
Listen in to my conversation with Bill to learn all about how to get some free range internet on your farm. Interview with Bill Moffitt
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.
This morning at AG CONNECT Expo the first session was the Ag Executive Forum. The keynote speaker for breakfast was Thomas Cunningham, Economist and Associate Research Director, Federal Reserve of Atlanta. Thanks to Mary Thompson, Farm Foundation, for taking a photo of us in the hallway during my interview with him.
The winners of the 
We live streamed the opening ceremonies from AG CONNECT Expo here and will post both video and audio later since we have it recorded.
We’ve been talking with Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) Vice President of Agricultural Services Charlie O’Brien about 
This afternoon John Deere held an AG CONNECT Expo media tour of their exhibit while providing an overview of their latest product offerings. I spoke with John Deere’s Tim Merrett who says the show is a great place to display new products like their new Interim 
The trade show floor is now open on preview day at AG CONNECT Expo. We had quite a crowd waiting to come in which bodes well for the exhibitors here. The show opens up for general admission on Saturday and runs through Monday afternoon.
Preview day for the second 
In this week’s ZimmCast we’re actually going to review some statistics for ZimmComm online activity in 2010. Cindy joins me and shares some of the numbers we put together. Let’s just say we’ve done a lot of agriblogging and farm podcasting!
In this week's program Chuck talks with David Armano, Global Innovation and Integration.
