This week’s ZimmCast features two interviews done at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting annual meeting last week in Kansas City. We have been attending the NAFB convention since 1985 and some things never change – like Ted Haller, for example. But, other things – like Ted’s hair – do change, and in recent years that has been the emphasis …
Last Day For Ken Hobbie
My first stop at the NAFB Trade Talk was the U.S. Grains Council booth. I interviewed Ken Hobbie and Rick Fruth, Chairman. Today is Ken’s last day on the job as President/CEO. Let’s all wish him well as he starts “relaxing.” In my interview they talk about the current activities of USGC, including international trade development. Speaking of which, I’ll …
AgriMarketers Building New Community Ties
This week’s NAMA Trends In Agriculture conference provided a great program opportunity for this week’s ZimmCast. You’ll get to hear from the morning panel on day two. I interviewed each of them and have included them in the program. The session focused on how agrimarketers are building new community ties. 3G-enabled smart phones, the “Tweeting Farmer,” and unusual partnerships are …
Producers Talk About New Ag Community
It’s one thing to say there’s a new ag community. It’s another thing to live in it as a farmer. At the NAMA Trends in Agriculture conference a panel of producers addressed this subject. The panel included a row crop farmer from Texas, a dairy producer from Wisconsin and the California Association of Winegrape Growers. Their task was to share …
The New Ag Community
Our opening keynote speaker at the NAMA Trends In Agriculture conference is David Kohl, Professor Emeritus, Agricultural Finanace and Small Business Management, Virginia Tech and President, AgriVisions, LLC. His topic is “Defining the New Ag Community.” David set up his session with a number of facts and figures including the fact that 70% of North American farm ground will change …
NAMA Reaching Out To Members
The NAMA Trends In Agriculture Conference is underway in KC, MO at the Hyatt. The first order of business was the board meeting. You can see NAMA President-Elect Susie Decker, Farm Progress Companies, leading the group. I got there just as they were wrapping things up. I actually interviewed Susie with my new SONY PCM-M10 but had a “whoops” and …
One Pass Biomass From AGCO
AGCO is one of the companies working on a prototype biomass harvest/transport system. At POET’s Project LIBERTY Field Day they demonstrated a pulled behind baler system to harvest corn cobs and stover. Dean Morrell, Product Marketing Manager for Hay and Forage Harvesting, was on site and talked with me about their system. He says it’s a one pass system which …
R&D At Fluidigm
When it comes to research and development at Fluidigm Corporation, one of the key people involved is Andy May. In my interview with him he puts the high level technology Fluidigm develops into easy to understand terms. You’ll find out why this is necessary when we get into the whole DNA sequencing issue and how Fluidigm has pioneered some of …
Talking Trade With NAFB This Week
The National Association of Farm Broadcasting Trade Talk invites keep showing up and this is the week for the convention. Hear the latest from NAFB President, Pam Jahnke, who quotes the prophet, Dolly Parton.
BASF Headline Harvest Report from SW Missouri
The harvest is running about a month behind schedule just about everywhere, including Missouri, which only had half the corn crop and a third of the soybean crop harvested as of November 1. BASF sent us out on the road this week to talk to some farmers about the late harvest and we started at the top, with World Soybean …