The white flag signifying the final lap for growers to enter the BASF Crop Protection Kixor® herbicide technology Road to DAYTONA® sweepstakes is waving.
BASF is sending one lucky winner four tickets to the 54th annual DAYTONA 500® to the Feb. 25, 2012 race along with an expenses-paid three-day, two-night trip to Daytona Beach, Florida. BASF will also be awarding $100 gift cards to 10 additional sweepstakes entrants.
The sweepstakes is open to all growers 18 years or older with an operation of 250 acres or more and entries are due by Dec. 31, 2011.
Click here for the official rules and entry form.
Our latest ZimmPoll didn’t excite too many people judging by the response. Thanks to all of you who did take the poll though. We asked the question, “How do you view the new free trade agreements for U.S. ag?” The majority view the agreements as Positive at 54%, while 28% view them as Negative and 18% as Neutral. I guess we’ll see what happens. You know that time will tell!
Our new ZimmPoll is now live. We’re asking the question, “What is the cause of obesity?” It seems like we read about this “crisis” all the time. Is this something we should look to the government to fix? Or is this something that people need to take personal responsibility for? Do we blame someone else or look in the mirror? Are efforts like the USDA’s Choose My Plate having any affect on obesity? What do you think? Let us know and thank you.
ZimmPoll is sponsored by Rhea+Kaiser, a full-service advertising/public relations agency.
I think the fall colors are fading here in mid Missouri. We have had some real contrasts this year and it seemed to me like the trees turned color in a couple of waves instead of all at once. Here’s our maple tree when it was in full color.
So, have you wondered about the science behind leaf changing? Then read about it on the USDA Blog.
Daylength (or more correctly, the length of nights) is the real cause of trees’ transition to autumn colors. (Read more here about how longer nights translate into the vibrant color of autumn.)
So what role does frost play in the changing color of autumn leaves? Frost actually ruins vivid fall colors by causing cells in the leaf to rupture and die.
The appearance of fall colors shifts each year due to weather. Heavy cloud cover limits ultraviolet light, so the chlorophyll lasts longer, and leaves stay green longer. High night temperatures cause cells to burn accumulated sugars, so less red and purple pigments are formed and yellow and orange are the predominant colors. Drought stress or a windy interlude cause leaves to drop prematurely.
The ideal conditions are warm, sunny days and cool nights with little wind or drought stress.
According to new research from the Florida Department of Citrus, drinking orange juice “actually made participants feel positive, carefree and rejuvenated.”
Through a patented research process designed to reveal unconscious emotions, consumers shared their thoughts and feelings about orange juice and its role in their lives. Findings showed that while participants view their daily life as a “hard road,” the simple act of drinking orange juice provides a momentary “escape” to a more positive mindset. The rejuvenating feelings they get from a glass of orange juice helps give them the energy and resolve to take on the day.
Research participants shared positive emotions about orange juice through analogies and memories. For example, one respondent likened orange juice to a “water station” in the marathon of life, while another described life as an everyday battle in which orange juice helps to “carry you through the day and help you win the war.” Another participant shared, “orange juice almost makes me feel like a child again, where I was comfortable, cozy, and secure.”
The link between orange juice and a more positive outlook revealed through in-depth interviews with a small group of participants was also supported by a recent survey of 1,002 adults nationwide, which showed more than half of the respondents believe drinking a glass of orange juice provides an energizing boost, while 33 percent said it is a simple way to help improve their mood. Furthermore, when American adults drink orange juice, 56 percent of those surveyed said they feel rejuvenated, followed by calm, positive, happy and alive.
This sounds like a good alternative to “energy” drinks and a lot less expensive.
You may find it hard to believe but I enjoyed a couple days off the grid. Only used my computer to import photos from my camera and a couple of the guys I was hunting pheasant with. It was a nice break but I’m back at ZimmComm World Headquarters and ready to rock and roll.
This is our group with most of a day’s batch of feisty pheasants. Central South Dakota conditions were just about perfect. Sunny, dry but very dusty. The birds were there but we had to cover a lot of ground to find them. But after is was over we all had our daily limits of roosters!
We hunted on a row crop/livestock farm. It is a beautiful operation. Most of the birds we found were in Conservation Reserve Program fields with shoulder high grass. That made for some leg muscle burn! The farm is a good example of how serious farmers take responsibility for good care of the land they tend. They’re helping feed many other people, taking care of the environment and providing an opportunity for outdoor recreation. It doesn’t get any better than that.
In this week's program Chuck talks with David Armano, Global Innovation and Integration.
