The Executive Director of the Sunbelt Ag Expo is Chip Blalock, seen here at the Southeastern Farmer of the Year luncheon. When I spoke to him he said, “We’ve had truly Chamber of Commerce type weather this week.” I echo that since it was sunny with a nice breeze all the time I was there.
I asked him to tell us a little about the history of the show, especially this unique location on an ex-military airfield. One of the things that has become increasingly important is the relationship with companies that are providing products and services to people who want to live the country life. He says that the rural lifestyle market is well served now at the show.
When it comes to marketing Chip says they depend heavily on their relationship with the media and all farm media. For example, when it comes to radio he says, “On the radio side, we work closely with Southeast AgNet. They cut a wide swath through Georgia, Florida and Alabama, what we call the deep southeast.” He mentions lots of specific media outlets and says there’s just too many to mention them all.
Listen to my interview with Chip here:
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I got an overview of Sunbelt Ag Expo today. By overview I mean from the control tower for this airport which was formerly a military airfield. I climbed up and took a few photos early today.
While I was up there I got out my FLIP (you can get them customized now) and shot a short video clip so you can see what it’s like. The old control tower makes a nice photo stand. I think we need to have one of these at all farm shows.
I’ve got a lot more for you from Sunbelt and will be posting them over the next couple days. The weather was “Chamber of Commerce” perfect today and probably will be on the closing day tomorrow.
It seems like having a web cloud over your farm show is the “in thing” now. This time it’s Sunbelt Ag Expo. That’s good to know because that’s where I’m heading tomorrow.
Sunbelt AG Expo 2008 exhibitors and visitors will be able to access the Internet, wirelessly, from anywhere on the show grounds for a 3rd consecutive year. After last year’s very popular and successful deployment of wireless Internet, Expo sponsors and Digitel will provide this service once again.
The 2008 Sunbelt AG Expo will host new and innovative wireless AG technologies powered by a recently deployed 180 mile wireless broadband ‘backbone’ that connects 5 rural counties in southwest Georgia. The rural broadband network is owned and operated by the South Georgia Regional Information Technology Authority (SGRita) and was built with the help of Digitel and Digitel Wireless. (For more information, go to www.sgrita.org)
I think this year’s Farm Science Review has had the best weather of any farm show I’ve ever attended. Of course they had to go through some nail-biting times just prior to the show when the remnants of Hurricane Ike blew through. In this week’s show I talk with show manager, Chuck Gamble. He says he’s all about promoting agriculture. In fact, he received one of the new Honorary Farm Broadcaster awards from ABN Radio on the opening day.
One of the new things at the show this year is the re-naming of Chemical Ave. to Conservation Ave. He says this was done “to honor (farmers) who I call the ultimate conservationists.”
Another new feature of the show is a “wireless internet cloud.” Chuck says that they didn’t have cable out to the show site but this year they laid in fiber optic and put up over 50 small towers around the exhibit area. It’s fast, reliable and everywhere. So besides us media types, exhibitors now have a new resource.
I’d love to see other farm shows adopt this type of infrastructure at their permanent sites.
The program this week ends with music from the Podsafe Music Network. Since I just attended a swine health seminar you get to listen to “Rocket Science” from Brain Buckit. I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.
You can download and listen to the ZimmCast here: ZimmCast 187 (15 min MP3)
Or listen to this week’s ZimmCast right now:
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Another day, off to another farm show. After Cindy and I got in to St. Louis last night we re-grouped and re-packed. She’s going to be attending an event for Agrotain in St. Louis today while I’m on my way to Columbus, OH and the Farm Science Review.
I’ll get in early this afternoon and probably start posting later today. 2008 Features at a Glance
* This is the 46th Farm Science Review, the 26th at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center.
* Hundreds of demonstration plots and several million dollars worth of machinery.
* Nineteenth-year inductions into the Farm Science Review Hall of Fame.
* Ohio Farmer Conservation Awards; Thursday at 11:30.
* OSU Central, featuring demonstrations and displays from OSU colleges and departments.
* Lots of farm safety, home safety and health information.
* Global Positioning Systems (GPS) hands-on demonstrations in the demonstration fields.
* Expanded programs on conservation practices in the Gwynne Conservation Area.
* An arts and crafts exhibit tent.
* Permanent washroom facilities with diaper changing stations.
Field Demonstrations
Harvesting, strip-tilling, global positioning, and tillage demonstrations will take place every day. Check the schedule for demonstration times.
We expect to completely fill the commercial exhibit area this year, with about 600 exhibitors from all over North America in the Central Exhibit Area.
The potential for increasing yields exists everywhere if you ask Michael Doane. Michael is the Sustainability Team Lead for Monsanto. He spoke at the Monsanto discussion on sustainability on the 2008 Farm Progress Show last week. After his speech, I caught up with him and we spoke more about how he thinks the world will answer the global food demands of the future.
While Michael says a big portion of global food needs will be met in developing countries that have a huge potential for improving crop yields, he says there is still a lot of opportunity for increasing yields in the already yield-efficient U.S. Modern technology such as biotech, Michael says, means farmers in the U.S. still have a landscape that’s wide open with opportunity.
“If you just look at some of the yields that have been achieved in some very optimized conditions, it suggests that we’ve got a long ways to go before we’ve tapped yield potential [in the U.S.],” Michael said. (more…)
Thirty-three percent of the land’s surface is used for food production. That’s the figure that John Hoffman, Iowa farmer and President of the American Soybean Association puts out there. He says that 33 percent makes up 55 percent of the land that’s arable. So, we’re already using more than half the arable land out there to feed the world. Much of the rest, John points out, is mountainous, desert or protected forests and parks. In short, John is basically saying, ‘what we’re already using, is all we’ve got.’ Plus, he adds, we have to produce more… ‘with what we’ve got.’
“We’ve got to grow to feed double the amount of people on the same amount of arable land.,” John said. “We don’t want to encroach on fragile rainforests as Michael said or encroach on grasslands. So we need to find a way to do that. I think from my experience, my travels, my knowledge on my own farm, that the way we’re going to do that is unequivocally with biotechnology.”
Biotechnology, Hoffman says, is the answer for feeding the future and protecting our environment.
“We’ve got to feed that growing world,” John said. “We’ve got to step up to the plate and provide fuel, food, fiber, feed and I think American agriculture world agriculture will be able to do that and its through biotechnology.” (more…)
“Non-profits are like air,” Peggy said. “They’re all around us but we hardly notice it. They are an integral part of a healthy, artistic, viably economic, productive society working towards sustainability.”
Sustainability, Peggy says, is crucial to healthy living and, well, feeding and eating, worldwide. She echoed the sentiments of Hugh Hammond Bennett, the man the TNC considers “the original crusader for farmland conservation:”
“For everything we do - all we share, even whatever we amount to as a great people - begins and rests on a sustained productivity of our agricultural lands.”
Peggy adds, that non-profits, are the key to preserving that standard of sustainability. She says the 1.4 million non-profit organizations in the U.S. are growing at a faster rate than the American economy.
“That shows you the vital niche and need that these organizations fill,” Peggy said. (more…)
There’s a lot the National Corn Growers Association is looking forward to in the next few months. I caught up with Bob Dickey, First Vice President of the association, at the 2008 Farm Progress Show in Boone, IA today. He says corn growers are counting on good weather, a good harvest and a good relationship with the new Secretary of Agriculture who’ll be named after this year’s Presidential election. In the meantime, Bob says representatives from the 33,000 member organization are on site here at the Farm Progress Show to get out their grassroots message:
“Our mission is to create and increase opportunities for corn growers,” Bob said.
A lot of those opportunities have come from ethanol in recent years. Bob says ethanol technology is continually progressing. Cellulosic technology is proving to be the newest frontier in the industry and Bob says, the National Corn Growers Association is behind cellulosic development 100 percent.
“We get behind the cellulosic industry because that will help enhance the overall industry,” Bob said. “And so we’re very supportive of what’s going on in the cellulosic side of the ethanol industry, whether it be switchgrass, sweet sorghum, alfalfa, wood chips, corn stalks, corn cobs, whatever. We’re excited.”
I interviewed Bob about what he feels are the important issues for corn growers. You can listen to my interview with Bob here:
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Ag equipment has been running on biodiesel during the Farm Progress Show for a number of years, but this year is the first year machinery will be operating on a B20 blend at the show. Growmark is this year’s official Farm Progress Show fuel sponsor. Mark Dehner, Marketing Manger Refined and Renewable Fuels for Growmark, says the company is using a B20 blend of biodiesel at this year’s event to showcase the value of alternative fuels for farmers nationwide. It’s simple economics he says. Biodiesel generates more use and demand for energy crops, particularly soybeans. And that, he says, means added value for the farmers. Plus, Mark points out that manufacturers are making more equipment that’s compatible with biodiesel blends.
“We’re seeing more and more engine manufacturers endorse a B20 blend of biodiesel,” Mark said.
I spoke Mark about why Growmark believes biodiesel is an important fueling resource for farmers. You can listen to my interview with Mark here:
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It feels more like fall and not late August this morning at the Farm Progress Show. And, that’s a good thing. Farm Progress is hoping the beautiful, mild weather will draw more participants to this year’s show in Boone, Iowa. Don Tourte, National Sales Director for Farm Progress Companies says participants will have more to see this year. The exhibition site is the largest in Farm Progress history witha five percent growth from last year’s record exhibition area.
I grabbed a quick interview with Don about his thoughts for this year’s show. You can listen to my interview with Don here:
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Tropical Storm Fay has certainly changed my plans this week. Instead of being in a plane on my way to Ft. Myers, FL for the Florida Citrus Expo, I’m staying home. The final word on the status of the event is pending the next forecast this morning but it doesn’t look good.
I spoke with Gary Cooper, President, Southeast AgNet, on my way to the airport this morning and he said, “Turn around.” Good call I think after looking at the latest NOAA projection map. It looks like it could go right over top of the show site. Updates on the situation are being posted on the Citrus Expo website and on Southeast Agnet.com.
I was going to be part of the team down there blogging the event and also spending some time with Gary’s staff continuing some new media training. I’m sure that opportunity will arise again.
So, what do I do now?
Post Update: Here’s the decision on the Florida Citrus Expo:
AS OF 8:20 a. m. Monday August 18, 2008:
Citrus Expo has officially been cancelled due to the latest weather forecasts related to Tropical Storm (possible hurricane soon) Fay calling for a pending landfall in the area over the next couple of days. The Lee Civic Center concurs with this decision.
Further information will be posted to this website in coming days and we will be in contact with exhibitors, speakers and vendors directly. This is a final decision and official notice, Citrus Expo has been cancelled for this week.
We greatly regret this decision and have waited as long as we feel we should to see if the storm would take a stronger turn either west or east to allow for the event to go on. Without any assurances of either, we are left with no other choice at this time. We apologize for the inconveniences this will mean for many, but it is a situation totally out of our control.
From propane-powered irrigation systems to tankless water heaters and pickup trucks, today’s propane innovations are helping farmers save money and the environment.
Here at the Ag Media Summit, the Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) was talking about the green benefits of propane and some of their upcoming events where they will be showcasing new propane innovations for agriculture. PERC will be sponsoring AgWired’s coverage of two big farm shows in the next few months - Farm Progress show and the Sunbelt Ag Expo.
You can listen to my interview with Brandon here:
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Monsanto’s industry-exclusive Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans showcased in the ag company’s new Mobile Greenhouse is proving to be quite the curiosity for many farmers and growers at the 2008 Michigan Ag Expo.
Farmers and growers took the unique opportunity to get a sneak peek at what Monsanto calls its “next generation” soybeans, peering through the glass of a climate controlled greenhouse on wheels to see an up close demonstration of Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans at various growth stages. Representatives from Monsanto’s Mobile Greenhouse “Street Team” greeted visitors and educated them on the live examples of what the company claims to be “monumentally” higher yielding soybeans. Visitors could also enter to win one of five Family Dream Vacations valued at $8,000 a piece. The Mobile Greenhouse also featured an informative video on Monsanto’s new Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans. Monsanto representatives says the a limited supply of Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybean seeds will be available for the 2009 growing season. The seeds will be commercially available in 2010.
In this day of precision agriculture you can still go old school at a show like the Wisconsin Farm Technology Days.
Although the 2008 Wisconsin Farm Technology Days taking place in Brown County will showcase the latest technological advances in agriculture, it will also pay tribute to the technology that helped farmers increase their productivity in the early 20th Century. The farm expo will include a Heritage Machinery area, featuring classic tractors, implements and other machinery, according to John Schmidt, the show’s Tent City chair.
“This equipment really helped build America’s agricultural industry, making our farmers the envy of the world,” says Schmidt. “That’s one of the reasons why collecting and restoring vintage tractors and machinery is growing in popularity.”
The National Farm Machinery Show now has an official media room. Great news for those of us who will be there this week. Last year was my first year and not having a media room made it a challenge.
An official National Farm Machinery Show (NFMS) media room designated to serve members of the working press at the NFMS and Championship Tractor Pull will provide hospitality to members of the media, allow stories to be filed online and provide an appropriate setting to conduct broadcast interviews.
WHEN: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, February 13-16
WHERE: Kentucky Exposition Center, South Wing B, Room 100
AMENITIES: Wireless Internet, computer access with printer, telephone, dedicated phone line for broadcasts, seating with backdrop for interviews, press rack and refreshments>
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo boasts 21 star entertainers for this year’s event. Tickets go on sale starting tomorrow (Saturday, January 12).
The 21 different star entertainers scheduled to perform at the 2008 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo represent a wide variety of musical genres. Together, these superstars have garnered numerous music industry honors, including 18 GRAMMY(R) awards, 73 Country Music Association awards and 90 Academy of Country Music Awards.
Here are few from the lineup…
Monday, March 3 Tim McGraw
Tuesday, March 4 Faith Hill
Wednesday, March 5 Kevin Fowler
Thursday, March 6 Alan Jackson
Friday, March 7
Black Heritage Day sponsored by Kroger Food Stores John Legend
Other entertainers scheduled to perform throughout the event include Martina McBride, Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus, Sugarland, Rascal Flatts, John Fogerty, Toby Keith, Clay Walker, Brad Paisley, Duelo/Los Horoscopos de Durango, Miranda Lambert, Big & Rich, Fergie, Dierks Bentley, Pat Green and Brooks & Dunn.
The World Ag Expo is right around the corner, a show I’ve never been to. It overlaps with the National Farm Machinery Show for one thing.
Yesterday I chatted on the phone with Shelley Kahl, 2008 Chairman. The Expo is “Where the World of Agriculture Means Business.” She’s been a volunteer for about 18 years and this year was named Chairman. You’ll like her story about going out to the show to see what her husband was up to.
If you’d like to learn more about this year’s show then give a listen to our interview:
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The 2008 Pennsylvania farm show is featuring youth who are “Gearing Up for the 21st Century.” Seven chapters from Future Farmers of America will be showcasing agricultural advances at the 2008 Pennsylvania Farm Show’s Agricultural Technology Display competition.
In its third year, the theme of this year’s competition is “Gearing Up for the 21st Century.” Students are allowed to use their own materials and props — including farm equipment — to develop a display and demonstration that showcases advances made in agriculture. The exhibits will be on display in the Expo Hall of the Farm Show Complex.
Each of the seven participating Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapters will receive $500 for participating and will have the opportunity to win another $500 in prize money awarded by judges, as well as a $250 “People’s Choice” award decided by show visitors. Winners will be announced on Saturday, Jan. 12, in the Expo Hall.
Last year’s winner was the Manheim FFA Chapter display, which highlighted problems associated with an increasing world population. The display showed population growth over the last few decades, from three billion in 1960 to more than 6.5 billion in 2007, and a ticker counted the increase of the population per second.
Large, professional operations, that’s what Case IH focuses on in Western Europe. So, it’s fitting that Case IH is introducing the largest tractor to ever hit the European Market at the farm machinery event in Europe, Agritechnica 2007. The new MAGNUM 335 delivers up to 368 hp with 1,900 rev/min. Case IH also claims the MAGNUM 335 delivers the highest torque of any standard tractor in the world.
Sylvan Blaise, the Marketing Director in Europe for Case IH, says Germany, France and Austria are the biggest markets in Western Europe for the MAGNUM 335 and other high horse power tractors and Agritechnica is an optimal place to introduce the entire redesigned line of MAGNUM tractors. Sylvan says emerging markets for these tractors and the other products Case IH offers are concentrated in central Europe.
Precision farming and autoguidance are also big selling technologies in Europe for Case IH. Sylvan says there is a heavy demand for more integration of precision farming and autoguidance as farmers look to productivity.
Sylvan says the demand for automatic technology, such as the stepless transmission system, is greater in Europe and is, therefore, much more developed. But, he says the North American market is more advanced in precision agriculture and technology. He adds that while Case IH offers a full line of Equipment in North America, the company focuses on tractors, combines and balers for the European market.
You can listen to my interview with Sylvan here:
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The Executive Director of the Sunbelt Ag Expo is Chip Blalock, seen here at the Southeastern Farmer of the Year luncheon. When I spoke to him he said, “We’ve had truly Chamber of Commerce type weather this week.” I echo that since it was sunny with a nice breeze all the time I was there.
I got an overview of Sunbelt Ag Expo today. By overview I mean from the control tower for this airport which was formerly a military airfield. I climbed up and took a few photos early today.
It seems like having a web cloud over your farm show is the “in thing” now. This time it’s 
I think this year’s Farm Science Review has had the best weather of any farm show I’ve ever attended. Of course they had to go through some nail-biting times just prior to the show when the remnants of Hurricane Ike blew through. In this week’s show I talk with show manager, Chuck Gamble. He says he’s all about promoting agriculture. In fact, he received one of the new Honorary Farm Broadcaster awards from ABN Radio on the opening day.
Another new feature of the show is a “wireless internet cloud.” Chuck says that they didn’t have cable out to the show site but this year they laid in fiber optic and put up over 50 small towers around the exhibit area. It’s fast, reliable and everywhere. So besides us media types, exhibitors now have a new resource. 
Another day, off to another farm show. After Cindy and I got in to St. Louis last night we re-grouped and re-packed. She’s going to be attending an event for Agrotain in St. Louis today while I’m on my way to Columbus, OH and the 
The potential for increasing yields exists everywhere if you ask Michael Doane. Michael is the Sustainability Team Lead for 
Thirty-three percent of the land’s surface is used for food production. That’s the figure that John Hoffman, Iowa farmer and President of the 
The air we breath is often taken for granted. And, Peggy James, 
There’s a lot the 
and 
Ag equipment has been running on biodiesel during the Farm Progress Show for a number of years, but this year is the first year machinery will be operating on a B20 blend at the show. 
It feels more like fall and not late August this morning at the Farm Progress Show. And, that’s a good thing. Farm Progress is hoping the beautiful, mild weather will draw more participants to this year’s show in Boone, Iowa. Don Tourte, National Sales Director for Farm Progress Companies says participants will have more to see this year. The exhibition site is the largest in Farm Progress history witha five percent growth from last year’s record exhibition area. 
Tropical Storm Fay has certainly changed my plans this week. Instead of being in a plane on my way to Ft. Myers, FL for the Florida Citrus Expo, I’m staying home. The final word on the status of the event is pending the next forecast this morning but it doesn’t look good.
From propane-powered irrigation systems to tankless water heaters and pickup trucks, today’s propane innovations are helping farmers save money and the environment.
In this day of precision agriculture you can still go old school at a show like the 
The 
The 
Large, professional operations, that’s what 
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