Innovation-Driven Power & Performance is the theme for next week’s John Deere new products reveal. I will be there in Waterloo, IA. It all kicks off on Monday after lunch as we get to see presentations on new products. We then conclude on Tuesday afternoon. I don’t know what we’re going to see but you can bet that I’ll be …
Grains Council Chair Stresses Excellence in Exports
Nebraska farmer Alan Tiemann was recently elected chairman of the U.S. Grains Council and he is excited about the work they are doing to expand exports of ethanol and the co-product Distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) used for livestock feed. “For this coming year, my theme is ‘Excellence in Exports,’” said Tiemann during an interview after his address to …
Science Moms Challenge Celeb Moms on GMOs
The granddaughter of the father of the Green Revolution has a bone to pick with the mother of Apple. Julie Borlaug, granddaughter of Nobel Laureate Norman Borlaug, joined eleven other “science and advocate” moms across the country in co-signing a letter to celebrity moms, including Gwyneth Paltrow and Sarah Michelle Gellar, regarding their opposition to agricultural biotechnology. Paltrow and her …
NAMA Boot Camp ZimmCast
This week the National Agri-Marketing Association’s annual Boot Camp is taking place in Kansas City, MO. The Chair for the conference this year is Michelle Jones, Iowa Soybean Association. During the conference Jamie Johansen spoke with her about this year’s schedule and how the conference was going. So, I’m sharing that interview in my ZimmCast this week. In case you …
You Just Never Know …
… what you will find when you live on the farm. This morning, I was downstairs working at my computer with the windows open when I heard an odd noise. I grabbed my phone and stepped out on the back deck. This is what I saw. What these two were doing in our yard, or how they got there, is …
More Internet on the Farm
A new USDA-NASS report shows that internet access on the farm continues to grow. According to the Computer Usage and Ownership report, 70 percent of U.S. farms and ranches now have access to internet, up three percent from 2013. DSL remains the most popular method for accessing internet, accounting for 30 percent of all farms and ranches with internet access. …
Perry Says Americans Fed Up with DC
Former Texas Governor Rick Perry’s main message on the Des Moines Register soapbox at the Iowa State Fair this week was about getting America back to a constitutional country. Citing the 10th amendment, he stressed that power and decision making needs to go back to the state and to the people, as intended by our founding fathers, and taken away …
Biodiesel 2015 and Beyond
The Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council is conducting a first ever event today in Mankato, MN. The event, “Biodiesel 2015 & Beyond: A Biodiesel/Bioheat Forum,” brings together biodiesel industry market developers, researchers and a number of representatives of east coast oil heat and fuel companies. The open forum is providing an educational look at what’s going on in the …
Kasich Supports #Ag But Rubio Stays Silent
During the question portion of Ohio Governor John Kasich‘s time on the soapbox during the Iowa State Fair he stressed that he supports agriculture. Due to rain, Florida Senator Marco Rubio cut his remarks short and did not directly address the topic. Ohio Governor John Kasich shared his “bootstrap” story and shared other antidotes rather than really hitting hard on …
Zimfo Bytes
The twenty-ninth annual Georgia Peanut Tour brings the latest information on peanuts while giving a first-hand view of industry infrastructure from production and handling to processing and utilization. USDA has announced the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee Meeting date. The National Corn Growers Association welcomes Jessica Johnson Bennett, who rejoins the organization as Director of Market Development. Epicosity, a …