A University of Chicago economist says banning the herbicide Atrazine would add to the current unemployment level in the United States. According to University of Chicago economist Don L. Coursey, a ban on the herbicide atrazine would cost between 21,000 and 48,000 jobs from corn production losses alone. His findings were presented today at a National Press Club briefing sponsored …
Indy Racing Photo Pro
Happy holiday from ZimmComm. I hope everyone is enjoying a little time off before getting back to work. In this week’s program I’d like to introduce you to the man who is Indy photography. He’s Ron McQueeny, Indy Racing League, Director of Photography. That’s Ron in the picture providing pre-race direction to all of us photographers who were shooting the …
Alltech Pleased With Dairy Symposium Success
The Dairy Solutions Symposium, sponsored by Alltech has come to an end. The theme of the conference was Rumen Health: A 360 Degree Analysis. I think we did look at the subject from just about every angle possible. I started my coverage of the conference with a preview interview with Sylvie Andrieu, European Ruminant Technical Manager, Alltech. So what better …
Healthy Rumen Is A Dairy Solution
The Dairy Solutions Symposium, sponsored by Alltech, was opened by Prof. Wouter Hendriks, Wageningen University, The Netherlands. There are 250 attendees at this year’s event being held at Utrecht University. It’s a good thing there aren’t more because that’s capacity seating in the auditorium where our presentations are taking place. The overall topic for the Symposium is rumen health in …
HSUS Drops Ballot Initiative in Ohio
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has reached an agreement with Ohio Governor Ted Strickland and state agricultural leaders to drop a proposed animal rights ballot initiative. At a hastily called press conference on Wednesday afternoon, Governor Stickland stood with Ohio Farm Bureau executive vice president Jack Fisher and HSUS CEO Wayne Pacelle to make the announcement, which …
USDA Planted Acres Report Lowers Corn
USDA’s new planted acreage report out this morning says corn acres are two percent higher than last year, but that is down a point from the March report with more acres are going to soybeans. Corn planted area for all purposes in 2010 is estimated at 87.9 million acres, up 2 percent from last year. Acreage is up in Illinois, …
Why Agriculture Needs Corn Ethanol to Survive
“If you really look at whose behind the ethanol industry, it’s the American agricultural industry,” said Steve McNich, CEO of Western Plains Energy based in Oakley, Kansas. “There’s no better example at working your way out of a market than the American farmers. The history of the American farmer is that if there is ever an opportunity to make money, …
ACE Provides Communications Opportunities
For those of you not familiar with ACE you might think hardware but it’s actually an agricultural communications organization. The full name is Association for Communications Excellence in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Life and Human Sciences. I conducted a presentation on social media at their convention recently and recorded a conversation with their President, Steve Dodrill. Steve works in Extension …
Biosecurity, Vaccination, Tracking Keys to PRRS Control
Porcine Respiratory and Reproductive Syndrome … better known as PRRS … has changed the way farmers raise hogs, and attendees of the Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. (BIVI) seminars at the recent World Pork Expo were able to hear how biosecurity, vaccination and tracking of PRRS are keys to controlling the disease. At the session I was able to attend, Dr. …
Iowa Corn Growers Tour Indy Garages
One of the cool things to do at an Indy race is tour the garages where the technicians work on the engines in preparation of race day. The Iowa Corn Growers conducted multiple tours of the garages during race weekend for the Iowa Corn Indy 250. I followed one group and interviewed several grower participants. First up was Tim Recker, …