- With an ever-increasing demand from the livestock industry on RFID technical services, Allflex USA has promoted Chuck Rogers to Technical Services Manager. Rogers joined the Allflex expert team in 2006 and has helped to elevate the company’s technical expertise in helping producers with all aspects of implementing and troubleshooting EID systems. Rogers will manage the North America Technical Team and support the implementation of EID systems in various types of livestock operations. He will also work within the global Allflex R process to evaluate new EID products and determine their suitability for use in real-world conditions. Rogers’ training includes degrees in information technology systems and electronic engineering.
- Penton Media’s Farm Industry News® was named as the winner of three regional awards at the American Society of Business Publication Editors’ regional awards banquet held in Chicago. The magazine received two editorial and one design award at the ceremony. “We’re honored to have been selected by our peers for these awards, from more than 2600 entries,” said, Karen McMahon, editor of Farm Industry News. McMahon won gold in the “Original Research” category for her October 2006 article “Plenty of Power.” In the “How To” article category, “Farm Office Redesign,” written by Jodie Wehrspann, senior editor, was awarded second place. The magazine’s September 2006 cover received a bronze award for its cover photography taken by Lynn Varpness, art director for Farm Industry News. Farm Industry News also won a bronze award at the National ASBPE Awards. Lora Berg, contributing editor of Farm Industry News, was awarded third place in technical feature for her Animal Trackers story.
- Penton Media’s Farm Industry News®, The Corn and Soybean Digest®, National Hog Farmer® and Hay & Forage Grower® were named as award winners by the American Agricultural Editors Association (AAEA) at the annual association awards banquet held in Louisville, KY during the Agricultural Media Summit. Dale Miller, editor of National Hog Farmer, won a gold award for his personality profile, “Wendell & Dell Murphy: Dedication Sustains Murphy Family Ventures.” The Corn and Soybean Digest’s Susan Winsor was named as a Level Three Master Writer by the association, while Neil Tietz, editor of Hay & Forage Grower, took second place for his photography in the Nuts & Bolts category. “Can We Stop Wasting Energy?” an editorial opinion piece by Greg Lamp, editor of The Corn and Soybean Digest, won a bronze medal. Lamp also placed third for some of his unpublished photography. Mark Leiknes, art director for The Corn and Soybean Digest, received a bronze medal in the special publication design category. Jennifer Kampinen, marketing communications specialist, took first place honors for the 2007 Farm Industry News Media Kit and second place honors for The Corn and Soybean Digest 2007 Media Kit.
A Media Perspective of the Syngenta Learning Center
Farm Industry News editor Karen McMahon was one of the media representatives attending the Syngenta Learning Center in Milford, IA. Here she’s taking notes during our media briefing. (Me, I take pictures)
Today when we were out in the field I interviewed her about what we’ve seen and what she thinks about attending a very personal, just for the media, opportunity to listen to and interview company representatives and then get to go out in the field and see what they’re talking about “live.”
Corn After Corn Ideas From Dr. Fred Below
One of the more entertaining presenters at today’s Syngenta Learning Center in Milford, IA was Dr. Fred Below. He’s a professor of crop physiology at the University of Illinois.
The main focus of his comments was mitigating the effect of yield loss when planting corn after corn. His research offers a number of suggestions for growers and you can hear them in my interview with him. You can also get a taste of his presentation in the following video.
You can listen to my interview with Dr. Below here: learning-centers-below.mp3
Or you can download the interview using this link: 
Dr. Fred Below Interview (3 min MP3)
A View of Today’s Syngenta Learning Center
There was a nice breeze out on the Johnson farm where the Syngenta Learning Center was held today in Milford, IA. You’ll hear it at the beginning of this overview video from the site.
Learning On Bruce Johnson’s Farm
The Syngenta Learning Center in Milford, IA was located on a farm just south of town. The owner of that farm is Bruce Johnson.
Right after lunch today I got to talk with Bruce about his farm and why he decided to work with Syngenta to hold this major event on his property. He says that about 59 acres is involved with the project and one of the things he’s looking forward to is getting the information first hand about the products and practices the Syngenta is working on.
You can listen to my interview with Bruce here: learning-centers-johnson.mp3
Or you can download the interview using this link: Bruce Johnson Interview (3 min MP3)
Syngenta’s Science of Corn
One of the presenters at the Syngenta Learning Centers media briefing is Bruce Battles, Agronomy Marketing Manager, Syngenta Seeds. He talked about the science of corn from the standpoint of what Syngenta is working on with new varieties. He says that there are a lot of options and challenges for growers. For example he says they’re working on solutions to the challenges of planting corn after corn.
You can listen to my interview with Bruce here: learning-centers-battles.mp3
Or you can download the interview using this link: Bruce Battles Interview (4 min MP3)
Welcome to Syngenta Learning Centers
The Syngenta Learning Centers got off to a great start today as everyone was divided up into groups and then rotated between different program stations.
Right after having some donuts and coffee we got an overview of the property and what we’d see. You can hear what that sounds like in the following audio file.
Welcome to the Syngenta Learning Centers: learning-centers-welcome.mp3
Milford, IA Syngenta Learning Centers Underway
The Syngenta Learning Centers program in Milford, IA is underway on a nice and cool day. The area had a little bit of rain overnight but we got lucky and haven’t had any this morning.
There are hundreds of farmers out here. Enough to be divided into 8 groups. Each group is attending a session on a particular topic. When the horn sounds it’s time to rotate to the next session. We’ll do 4 before lunch and 4 after lunch.
I’ve got lots of pictures and interviews but I’m going to wait until I get to my stopping point tonight in Omaha to work them up for you.
Playing With Past and Future in the Present
I already clued you in to what Tad Whitten is doing right now at the Missouri and Iowa State Fairs. Now, I’ve got the scoop on what Tad will be doing for this year’s Farm Progress Show coming up at the end of August. Tad says he will be debuting a new filling station replica:
Zimfo Bites
- Mediacom of Springfield announces Wednesday the launch of RFD-TV in Springfield, Columbia, Jefferson City, Jasper, Cassville, Carl Junction and other surrounding areas. RFD-TV is a cable channel that targets the general interests of rural North America, South America, Europe, and the rural world. RFD-TV services the business and personal needs of rural America, which includes small acreage owners, farmers, ranchers, horse owners, small town residents and those who just enjoy the rural way of life. RFD-TV’s programming has a variety of well-balanced, high-quality, original programs including rural “lifestyle” features, rural news, commodity and financial market reports, equine training & features, consumer programming, rural event coverage, and traditional country/ethnic music-themed entertainment including programming from RFD-TV The Theatre in Branson, MO.
- For the 2008 growing season, Pioneer Hi-Bred will offer a new system to help growers target their soybean product selections based on high-yielding genetics and traits to maximize their profit potential – not seed count. The Pioneer Soybean Seed Size Value Guarantee minimizes seed size cost variations per acre by using a price adjustment starting at 2,800 seeds per pound across all varieties and lot numbers. Customers purchasing Pioneer® brand soybean varieties will receive a graduated discount on varieties or lots with fewer than 2,800 seeds per pound. This program will be available to customers served by Pioneer sales representatives in the United States and Canada; some Southern and Western areas of the United States are excluded.
- Pennsylvania FFA and 4-H organizations may enhance their programs thanks to more than $300,000 in funds awarded today by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. The FFA and 4-H received the funds from Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff during Ag Progress Days in Rock Springs, Centre County. “Our youth are the future leaders of Pennsylvania agriculture, our state’s number one industry,” said Wolff. “The FFA and 4-H encourage youth to explore the many opportunities in agriculture that are available to them. By supporting these programs, we can keep Pennsylvania agriculture growing for generations to come.” State FFA officers accepted $71,000 in fair funds, which will be divided among 139 chapters that are home to nearly 8,000 students. State 4-H officers received $236,000 to provide local program support to more than 90,000 members in Pennsylvania.