IFAJ Master Class

Chuck Zimmerman

Want more reasons to support IFAJ? How about the annual Master Class held prior to the IFAJ Congress? The Master Class started this year with a ‘Getting Familiar Evening’ followed by peer-to-peer workshops on Monday and Tuesday. The agricultural journalists represent nine countries. They are: Burkina Faso: Inoussa Maiga Burundi: Jean de Dieu (John) Ininahazwe Congo: Roger Vutsoro Gambia: Sang …

Education, IFAJ, International, Video

IFAJ Boot Camp for Young Leaders

Chuck Zimmerman

Here’s a reason why I support the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists. It is because of programs like the IFAJ-Alltech Young Leaders in Agricultural Journalism awards. These winners attend a pre-Congress Boot Camp. The winners participate in a two-day boot camp to develop their professional skills in agricultural journalism and get a broader global perspective in agricultural communication. The first …

Agribusiness, Alltech, Education, IFAJ, International, Media

A Happy Farm Progress Show

Chuck Zimmerman

I am worn out and not ashamed to admit it. The Farm Progress Show was not only busy as usual but upper 90 degree temperatures and a media tent that hovered around 100 degrees inside half the time contributed. Cindy and I have a lot of interviews to share in the coming week. So let’s get started. Before leaving the …

Audio, Farm Progress Show, Media

NAMA at Farm Progress Show

Chuck Zimmerman

During the Farm Progress Show the National Agri-Marketing Association held a reception which was very well attended. The idea here is to reach out and engage with other people and organizations in the ag world. There are probably five times as many people in the business who could and should be a NAMA member as there are members. So we’ve …

Ag Groups, Farm Progress Show, NAMA

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

Diamond V dedicated its new 17,000 sq. ft. high-tech global headquarters at its 77-acre campus in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy is now accepting nominations for the second year of the U.S. Dairy Sustainability Awards. Becker Underwood has released the company’s first ever sustainability report, Be Legendary. Be Positive., highlighting the company’s economic, environmental, social and …

Zimfo Bytes

RFS Comments Start; Corn Growers Want More Time

John Davis

Today kicked off the 30-day comment period to the EPA on the waiver request of the Renewable Fuels Standard. But the National Corn Growers Association is already asking for more time. NCGA President Garry Niemeyer sent a letter to the EPA requesting an additional 30 days of comments, citing harvest and the uncertainty of this year’s corn crop: “Across the …

Ag Groups, Corn, Ethanol, NCGA

Apples to iPods Contest

Melissa Sandfort

Vermont’s pick-your-own orchards will offer a chance to win an iPod during the Apples to iPods promotion that kicks off next week. In this technology-meets-agriculture contest, one specially marked wooden apple is hidden in an apple tree at 20 Vermont pick-your-own apple orchards. The lucky apple picker who finds a wooden apple wins an Apple iPod, iPod Shuffle or iPad. …

Agribusiness

Ag Sec. Vilsack Announces Beginning Farmers Grants

Chuck Zimmerman

New USDA grants to support beginning farmers were announced by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack on the final day of the Farm Progress Show. Sec. Vilsack held a a press conference in the New Holland media tent. “In the past few decades, U.S. agriculture has become the second most productive sector of the American economy thanks to farmers adopting …

Audio, Farm Progress Show, Farming, USDA

FS InVISION Sightings at FPS

Cindy Zimmerman

A photo contest has been running to get the word out about new FS InVISION™ seed corn and today is the last day to vote for your favorite. “This year, we’ve re-branded our FS seed corn and it’s now FS InVISION seed corn,” said Justin White with FS who explains that the FS InVISION Sightings Contest was designed to let …

Audio, Corn, Farm Progress Show, FS System, GROWMARK

FMC Announces Finalists in Anthem Contest

Melissa Sandfort

After receiving more than 155,000 votes in the “Stand and Be Heard Anthem Singing Contest,” FMC Agricultural Products Group (APG) announces the four finalists to continue on in the competition. Allison Nohre from De Pere, Wis.; Lexie Sistrunk from Oak Grove, La.; Jessica Smith from Picayune, Miss.; and Katie Wesler from Birmingham, Ala.; have been selected as finalists by popular …

Agribusiness, FMC