Staff Changes at Brownfield and Agri-Pulse

Cindy Zimmerman August 8, 2017 Agri-Pulse, Brownfield, Media, NAFB 0 Comments

Brownfield Anchor/Reporter Meghan Grebner has a new role on the Brownfield team, stepping in to take over livestock market reporting for Brownfield’s radio network, mobile application and website to replace retiring Jerry Passer. In this role, Meghan will be the lead reporter for the network’s livestock coverage and will continue to host Brownfield’s Weekly Livestock Market Update with University of Missouri State Extension Ag Economist Scott Brown, as she has done for the past year.

Meghan grew up on a diversified family farm in central Illinois, majored in communications and animal science at Western Illinois University and managed a farrow to finish swine operation before becoming a farm broadcaster in 2006. A graduate of the Illinois Ag Leadership Program, Meghan received the 2009 National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) Horizon Award and she joined Brownfield in 2011.

Agri-Pulse has promoted Spencer Chase to the position of Deputy Managing Editor.

The South Dakota native began working with Agri-Pulse as an intern in 2013, covering agricultural policy issues on Capitol Hill, interviewing lawmakers for the “Meet the Lawmaker” series and assisting with the website and social media. He took a full-time position with Agri-Pulse in the summer of 2014, doing writing and broadcasting and later, producing an audio feed for Agri-Pulse each weekday.

Spencer is an active member with National Association of Farm Broadcasting and serves on the NAFB board as East Region Vice President.

We are happy to congratulate these two very talented young agricultural journalists and proud to call them friends.

Agri-Pulse, Brownfield, Media, NAFB

Soil Health Institute Endorses 19 Soil Health Measurements

Cindy Zimmerman August 8, 2017 AgWired Precision, Conservation, Soil, soil health institute, Sustainability 2 Comments

After three years of industry collaboration, the Soil Health Institute (SHI) has endorsed 19 national soil health measurements that will help answer the question “Just how healthy (or unhealthy) are the nation’s soils?”

“We can’t really know the answer to that question until we have a set of common soil health measurements that scientists and farmers can compare and track over time,” said Dr. Wayne Honeycutt, CEO of the Soil Health Institute. “But we believe our endorsement of 19 measures will help us seek and track that common ground – and ultimately answer that important question.”

Over the last three years, scientists from public and private sectors, farmers, field conservationists, soil test laboratories and many others provided input to develop a “Tier 1” list of recommended soil health measures, considered effective indicators of soil health. These specific measurements are regionally defined, have known thresholds, and help define management strategies to improve soil function – like providing nutrients and water.

“Many of these Tier 1 measures have proven effective to help producers achieve high yields for decades,” Honeycutt said. “Consequently, many of the soil test laboratories and field conservationists are already using these measurements. Currently, the Soil Health Institute is reaching out to those organizations to explore additional implementation opportunities.”

Work continues with the agricultural industry to add more measurements to the Tier 1 classification – currently being researched as Tier 2 and Tier 3 measurements. They require additional research to elevate them to Tier 1 usefulness. Such research may involve understanding regional differences in interpretation, establishing thresholds, and developing management recommendations to improve soil functioning.

Learn more from SHI.

AgWired Precision, Conservation, Soil, soil health institute, Sustainability

Ag Community Remembers Adam McClung

Jamie Johansen August 7, 2017 Ag Media Summit, AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Beef 4 Comments

UPDATED

The beef and agricultural media communities lost a great man and passionate spokesperson for the industry. Adam McClung, executive director, Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association, passed away over the weekend after a brief but severe illness. Just weeks ago many Livestock Publications Council and American Ag Editors Association members were gathered together and Adam was among us. We all have such fond memories of his wit and commitment to agriculture.

Just three weeks ago, I was able to spend the day with Adam on a farm in North Central Arkansas gathering a story on the Black Headed Vultures and depredation loss Arkansas cattlemen are seeing. This policy issue is just one example of Adam’s dedication. We send prayers to his family and friends during this time, along with love and support to his wife and young daughter.

An education memorial fund has been set up in memory of Adam for his daughter, Maggie Blair. Make checks to “Maggie Blair Education Fund” in memory of Adam McClung. They can be mailed to Peoples Bank, Maggie Blair Education Fund, 20409 Arch Street, Little Rock, AR 72206.

Ag Media Summit, AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Beef

USDA Getting #BackToOurRoots

Cindy Zimmerman August 7, 2017 AgWired AgNewsWire, AgWired Animal, AgWired Energy, AgWired Precision, Audio, USDA 0 Comments

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue has been on a five-state “Back to Our Roots” Tour to gather input on the 2018 Farm Bill, meeting with farmers, ranchers, foresters, producers, students, governors, USDA employees, and other stakeholders. This is the first of two RV tours the secretary will undertake this summer.

This first RV Tour features stops in five states: Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana. “The ‘Back to our Roots’ Farm Bill and rural prosperity RV listening tour will allow us to hear directly from people in agriculture across the country, as well as our consumers – they are the ones on the front lines of American agriculture and they know best what the current issues are,” Perdue said.

Secretary Sonny held a press conference this morning to talk about his trip, with reporters’ questions including issues with Sam Clovis’ nomination, dicamba concerns, and drought in the Dakotas.
Sec. Perdue presser on Back to our Roots tour

AgWired AgNewsWire, AgWired Animal, AgWired Energy, AgWired Precision, Audio, USDA

Animal Ag Bites 8/7

Kelly Marshall August 7, 2017 AgWired Animal, Animal Bites 0 Comments

Elanco celebrated the opening of their new autogenous poultry vaccine manufacturing facility in Winslow, Maine earlier this summer. The new facility is dedicated to manufacturing customized inactivated vaccines for unique disease challenges.
This month the National Young Farmers Coalition is hosting the Young Farmers Roundtables to provide an oppoturnity for members to express their needs to members of the House Agriculture Committee.
On Aug. 4, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) announced that its members have approved a three-year extension of the labor contract covering 29 West Coast ports. The contract between ILWU and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) now runs through June 30, 2022 reports the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

AgWired Animal, Animal Bites

Free Fuel Happy Hours at The Buffalo Chip

Chuck Zimmerman August 7, 2017 AgWired Energy, Biofuels, Ethanol, RFA 0 Comments

The Buffalo Chip Campground now has its own gas dispenser. It’s a high octane blend of E10 which as all bikers need to know is warrantied safe by all manufacturers. In fact, this 93 octane, is highly sought after by the attendees of this year’s Sturgis Rally who are out at The Chip and is usually hard to find. But thanks to the Renewable Fuels Association, working with The Buffalo Chip, there is now a supply at a self service pump on the property.

During this week I will be working with RFA as they hold daily Free Fuel Happy Hours when bikers can just pull up and get a free tank for their next ride. During the week I’ll be visiting with many of our customers to learn what they know about ethanol. While they are filling up they will learn more about ethanol, get the facts and hopefully be able to help spread that word to others.

RFA is a major sponsor here during the Sturgis Rally. One of the locations you’ll see educational information is on the jumbotrons on either side of the Wolfman Jack stage where major bands like Shinedown and Ozzy are playing this week. Last night Shinedown performed to a large crowd which I imagine will be even bigger when Ozzy takes the stage later this week.

I’ll be collecting photos and interviews to share during the week so keep an eye on AgWired for the latest.

AgWired Energy, Biofuels, Ethanol, RFA

CropTrak Continues Steady Success

Cindy Zimmerman August 7, 2017 AgWired Precision, CropTrak, Info Ag, Precision Agriculture, software, Technology, Video 0 Comments

In an industry where tech start-ups abound, CropTrak is a self-made success story in the precision ag space by simply selling a good product that people want to buy.

The company started in 2009 and has just continued to grow year after year “with a little rinky dink booth at InfoAg” and little to no marketing, as VP of sales Jonathan Sherrill told attendees during a session at the 2017 InfoAg Conference. “Most people don’t know that we are entirely self-funded and have been self-funded since 2009,” said Sherrill.

CropTrak creates software that focuses on improving customer efficiency in data collection, management, reporting, and results while helping produce safer food and Sherrill says they have never offered a “freemium” product to attain over 500 paying customer companies with a software and services renewals rate of 96 percent. “We’ve maintained that for 6-7 years running,” Sherrill said.

Learn more about CropTrak in the video below of Sherrill’s session at InfoAg.

2017 InfoAg Conference Photo Album

Coverage of the InfoAg Conference is sponsored by

AgWired Precision, CropTrak, Info Ag, Precision Agriculture, software, Technology, Video

Fall Weed Control Ideas From FMC

Chuck Zimmerman August 7, 2017 Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, Audio, FMC, weeds 0 Comments

I’ll bet you want to talk about fall weed control right? Good. Because during the Ag Media Summit I spoke with Tom Becker, FMC, on this topic.

One of the reasons this is important according to Tom is the need to protect new traits that you might be using in a crop like soybeans. There are some very problematic weeds out there that make a good residual product key to helping you protect your investment. Multiple modes of action and multiple application timings are also key to a good fall weed control program.

You can listen to my interview with Tom here to learn more: Interview with Tom Becker, FMC

View and download photos here: 2017 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

Coverage of the Ag Media Summit is sponsored by

Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, Audio, FMC, weeds

John Deere Developing Media Relationships

Chuck Zimmerman August 4, 2017 Agribusiness, Audio, Harvest, John Deere

Beverly Flores, John Deere, North American Media Relations and Communications, John Deere Ag and Turf Division says she is attending the Ag Media Summit for Deere (first time) and she is looking forward to making relationships with the ag media representatives attending. When it comes to John Deere products she says they focus on what they’re doing in the precision ag space and their new S700 Combine. You can actually find more about the precision ag space via our coverage at the InfoAg Conference last week.

Getting back to the media, Beverly says she wants to know what they want or need from a company like John Deere and how they want to receive it. But getting to meet journalists personally is very important to her. That’s why the networking here is very important to ag company marketing/communication representatives.

You can listen to my interview with Beverly here: Interview with Beverly Flores, John Deere

View and download photos here: 2017 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

Coverage of the Ag Media Summit is sponsored by

Agribusiness, Audio, Harvest, John Deere

AgriEdge Excelsior Farm Management From Syngenta

Jamie Johansen August 4, 2017 Ag Media Summit, Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, Audio, software, Syngenta

Syngenta has brought their farmer-customers a farm management program through AgriEdge Excelsior. AgriEdge Excelsior delivers software, on-farm service and innovative products. We met up with Stacey Shaw, AgriEdge Specialist, Syngenta, during the 2017 Ag Media Summit in Utah to hear more about the programs focus on technology, service and risk management.

“The big picture of the AgriEdge Excelsior program is centered around helping farmers make better decisions in the field. We look at costs of inputs and if it’s profitable for them to run a piece of ground. We also help with planting and better record keeping. We help growers get better at what they do,” Shaw said.

The Land.db software utilized is cloud-based and helps growers digitally organize their data across devices. Shaw said it was developed by growers for growers, making it user-friendly and enabling all growers to collect and analyze data.

Listen to my complete conversation with Stacey as he takes us through the farm management programs entire package. Interview with Stacey Shaw, Syngenta

View and download photos here: 2017 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

Coverage of the Ag Media Summit is sponsored by

Ag Media Summit, Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, Audio, software, Syngenta