Thoughts From First USFRA Food Dialogues Panel

Chuck Zimmerman

Here are our first panelists from the New York Food Dialogues backstage after their session was completed this morning. I visited with almost all of them before we moved on to the next panel. They were tasked with talking about Media, Marketing and Healthy Choices. Richard is a New York vegetable farmer. He says it was a little daunting to …

Ag Groups, Audio, Food, USFRA

USFRA New York Food Dialogues Underway

Chuck Zimmerman

The New York Food Dialogues is now live on the web. Here’s our panel being led by Ari Velshi, CNN chief business correspondent. Just before we got started I visited with U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance board member Doug Wolf, National Pork Producers Council. This is his first visit to New York. He says the “agenda is laid out that …

Ag Groups, Audio, Farming, Food, USFRA

USFRA Board Meets and Ready for Food Dialogues

Chuck Zimmerman

The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance board is in session in New York City. I’m in the audience right now and will be featuring some thoughts from various members of the board while I’m here. We’ll be taking a break to attend The Food Dialogues which will be a live web stream featuring three different panel discussions. It will start …

Ag Groups, Audio, USFRA

Ag Dominates 21st Century Economics

Chuck Zimmerman

Have you heard the term “New Agriculture?” I had not but now I know a little bit more about it. This morning the closing keynote speaker at the AgroNomics Conference was none other than Dr. Lowell Catlett. He’s doing fine and performed (spoke) about the subject of “How Agriculture Dominates 21st Century Economics.” We’ve been experiencing a “golden age” in …

Ag Groups, Audio

New Accredited Farm Managers & Rural Appraisers

Chuck Zimmerman

One of the big values that the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers brings to the membership is their accreditation program. Here are the new Accredited Farm Managers. One of them is Jeffrey Hignight. I talked with Jeffrey about what this accomplishment means to him personally and professionally. Jeffery says it shows that he’s continually trying to educate …

Ag Groups, Audio, Education

Investment and Land Markets Perspective

Chuck Zimmerman

It was a morning of economics at the AgroNomics Conference. Michael Swanson, Senior VP/Agricultural Economist and Consultant, Wells Fargo & Company, tackled the subject of “U.S. & Global Perspective on Investment and Land Markets.” Michael’s presentation provided producers and lenders with information that allowed them to better understand the drivers of the current global agricultural market. ASFMRA members were able …

Ag Groups, Audio

Factors Impacting Global Agriculture

Chuck Zimmerman

What is ahead for global agriculture? Now there’s a question that can’t be easy to answer. But that’s the task Steve Elmore, Economics Director, Dupont Pioneer, had this morning at the AgroNomics Conference. Steve provided attendees with information on the current major factors influencing agriculture. By understanding what these are ASFMRA members can draw more informed conclusions about the current …

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Audio, Pioneer

Some Perspective on Land Values

Chuck Zimmerman

The value of land is a big topic of discussion at AgroNomics. We’re seeing some very high values and selling prices these days. I talked with Howard Halderman, Halderman Farm Management (on left in photo), to get his perspective on where we’re at in the U.S. with land values. He says landowners are very happy right now since higher land …

Ag Groups, Audio

Education for Farm Managers/Rural Appraisers

Chuck Zimmerman

Continuing education is very important to farm managers and rural appraisers and very much a part of what ASFMRA offers to its members. Meet ASFMRA Education Chair for Appraisers, Justin Bierschwale, Bierschwale Land Company. Here at AgroNomics Justin is serving on the program committee and conducted one of the educational presentations. Justin says AgroNomics offers a variety of educational seminars. …

Ag Groups, Audio, Education

Opening of AgroNomics

Chuck Zimmerman

It is always inspiring to see our FFA members in their blue coats. Here are Shelby Riley (left) and Brandan Bergdall holding the flags that they presented to start off the 2012 American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers Annual Meeting and AgroNomics – Vision 2013. I asked both FFA’ers how their convention went since both attended and what …

Ag Groups, Audio, FFA