Monsanto’s new FieldScripts service, the first from their Integrated Farming Systems, is changing the company’s pipeline and testing programs. During our media visit at the Monsanto Huxley, IA location we learned more about this from Tracy Klingaman. In the video below you’ll see him talking in front of one of their field trial plots. Here’s how FieldScripts will work: The …
Mobile Technology the Future of Agriculture
Float Mobile Learning has several new research papers available for purchase that deal with the use of mobile technology and agriculture. According to their infographic forty percent of farmers own a smartphone and ninety four percent own a mobile or smart phone. Of course we know it’s a lot and that’s why we went directly to an app so you …
USFRA a Part of Agvocacy 2.0
One of the sponsors of the AgChat Foundation is the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance. During the recent Agvocacy 2.0 Conference in Kansas City we got to hear from Hugh Whaley, General Manager. He gave our participants an overview of the organization which includes shared values with the AgChat Foundation. Hugh says there are three main goals: “We’re going to …
Learning about DeLaval
How much do you know about DeLaval? Want to learn more? Then sit in on this press interview with President/CEO, Joakim Rosengren. For you ag journalists out there, this is another example of they type of opportunity that comes from participating in an annual IFAJ Congress. We conducted this interview during this year’s Congress while visiting the DeLaval Hamra Farm. …
Meals in the Fields
It’s time for a meal in the field with the Farm Credit Services of Illinois. The 2012 National Farm Safety and Health Week will be celebrated September 16-22 with the theme “Agricultural Safety & Health: A Family Affair”. Even as the average size of farms continues to increase, 94% of all Illinois farms are family-owned. Most farm workers in Illinois …
IFAJ Master Class
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 …
IFAJ Boot Camp for Young Leaders
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 …
A Happy Farm Progress Show
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 …
NAMA at Farm Progress Show
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 Sec. Vilsack Announces Beginning Farmers Grants
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 …