Farm Bureau Buys Farm Shows/Publications

Chuck Zimmerman

I don’t know about you but this caught me by surprise. What do you think about what Farm Bureau’s big announcement today? The American Farm Bureau Federation announced today the acquisition of Cygnus Business Media’s agricultural events and publications. The purchase includes five IDEAg branded farm shows – Minnesota Farmfest, Dakotafest, Amarillo Farm and Ranch Show, Northern Illinois Farm Show …

AFBF, Ag Groups, Media

Honoring Marsha Purcell

Chuck Zimmerman

A big thank you to our good friend Gene Hemphill for sharing a photo of Marsha Purcell who has just retired from a career of service to agriculture. He went further though in also providing us with these fantastic comments: Email Dateline: Friday, Aug. 2, 2013 – “Wow! The day has finally come and I can’t believe it – it’s …

AFBF, Ag Groups

Engage Energize Empower at NAMA Fall Conference

Chuck Zimmerman

This fall you can Engage, Energize and Empower at the National Agri-Marketing Association Fall Conference. The conference provides outstanding professional development opportunities to help you take your career to the next level. Registration is now open. Agri-marketers are always looking for opportunities to learn more … to challenge themselves and get better at what they do. The NAMA Fall Conference …

Ag Groups, NAMA

MAIZALL Announces Board and Website

Cindy Zimmerman

An organization uniting corn growers of North and South America has elected officers and unveiled a new website. The International Maize Alliance (MAIZALL) was formed in May between the corn industries of the United States, Brazil and Argentina with the goal of addressing key issues concerning food security, biotechnology, stewardship, trade and producer image. MAIZALL is composed of MAIZAR, representing …

Ag Groups, Corn, Grains, International, NCGA, USGC

Awards for Precision Agriculture

Chuck Zimmerman

During the InfoAg Conference the 2013 PrecisionAg Awards of Excellence were presented, sponsored by the PrecisionAg Institute. Announcing the awards was Paul Schrimpf, Group Editor, Croplife Media Group and posing with each of the winners is K. Elliott Nowels, Meister Media Group. First up: Crop Adviser/Entrepreneur Award Laserplane Arkansas, Inc. The next award: Educator/Researcher Award Dr. John Fulton, Auburn University …

Ag Groups, Audio, Precision Agriculture

Farm Foundation Publishes Farm Bill Perspectives

John Davis

You need information, especially when it comes to one of the most important pieces of legislation this Congress will consider: the Farm Bill. That’s why our friends at Farm Foundation, NFP and the National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy (NCFAP), have put together a series of essays by thought leaders in ag and rural America called Perspectives on the …

Ag Groups, Farm Bill, Farm Foundation

Apps for Agriculture

Chuck Zimmerman

Hello and welcome to the ZimmCast. In this week’s program I’m sharing a conversation with Brian Arnall, Oklahoma State University. Brian was one of the presenters at the 2013 InfoAg Conference on precision agriculture. Brian’s presentation topic was “Ag Apps for Smart Phones and Tablets.” That certainly got my attention. Brian is keeping a list of apps he finds that …

Ag Groups, Apps, Audio, Farming, Precision Agriculture, Technology, ZimmCast

Monsanto Part of CTIC Conservation Efforts

John Davis

Monsanto was one of the sponsors on the recent Conservation Technology Information Center tour in Livingston County, Ill., and Chuck caught up with the company’s Emilio Oyarzabal, who said the CTIC’s work is very important to Monsanto and its customers. “We need agriculture more than ever,” Emilio said, but he added that farmers are being accused of doing environmental damage. …

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Audio, Conservation, CTIC, Environment

Texas Congressman at Peanut Conference

Cindy Zimmerman

Congressman Mike Conaway (R-TX) provided an update on the farm bill at the 2013 Southern Peanut Growers Conference on Saturday. Rep. Conaway, a member of the House Agriculture Committee, says the House still intends to get a nutrition bill passed. “We’ll have a nutrition title and it will have reforms in it…probably stronger reforms than what we had in the …

Ag Groups, Audio, Farm Bill, Peanuts, SPGC, Video

Investing in Illinois Soil’s Wealth

John Davis

“The wealth of Illinois is in her soil, and her strength lies in its intelligent development.” That quote was from one of the first presidents of the University of Illinois almost 200 years, but attendees of the recent Conservation Technology Information Center tour in Livingston County, Ill., heard it reiterated by Jean Payne, President of the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical …

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Audio, Conservation, CTIC, Environment, Fertilizer