Somehow I neglected to do a post on Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack being at NAFB last week. He did a press conference and attended the NAFB Foundation luncheon where he spoke and helped to honor this year’s scholarship winners. Not a whole lot of newsy information out of the Secretary’s visit, but it was nice to have him there. He …
BASF Amps Up Headline
During NAFB Trade Talk last week, BASF announced that Headline AMP™ fungicide has received full registration from the Environmental Protection Agency. I talked with Reed Barrett and Nick Fassler about Headline AMP and Headline Advantage. Nick says Headline AMP is the first combination fungicide specifically developed for corn growers. “There’s a segment of corn growers that desire a combination fungicide …
A Year of Growth Energy
It was a year ago this month that ethanol advocacy group Growth Energy was formed, absorbing the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) and more recently merging with the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition (NEVC). Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis has been with the organization since March, after leaving the National Farmers Union and he was on hand at the National …
Food Fight Underway
A FOOD FIGHT got underway today with dairy farmers and beef producers joining forces to fling facts in the face of food foes. The main message is to Give Thanks for food and farmers as we prepare for the holiday season. Giving thanks can even get you a steak – actually, an Omaha Steaks Ideal Gift Collection of steaks and …
Harvest is Making Progress
USDA reports that farmers took advantage of a dry week to get 17 percent of the corn out and 14 percent more soybeans harvested last week. The new crop progress report has the soybean harvest nearing average for this time of year at 89 percent, while corn remains about 35 percent behind normal at just 54 percent complete. North Dakota …
Farmers and Farm Media Use of Internet Tools
This week’s ZimmCast features two interviews done at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting annual meeting last week in Kansas City. We have been attending the NAFB convention since 1985 and some things never change – like Ted Haller, for example. But, other things – like Ted’s hair – do change, and in recent years that has been the emphasis …
Last Day For Ken Hobbie
My first stop at the NAFB Trade Talk was the U.S. Grains Council booth. I interviewed Ken Hobbie and Rick Fruth, Chairman. Today is Ken’s last day on the job as President/CEO. Let’s all wish him well as he starts “relaxing.” In my interview they talk about the current activities of USGC, including international trade development. Speaking of which, I’ll …
AgriMarketers Building New Community Ties
This week’s NAMA Trends In Agriculture conference provided a great program opportunity for this week’s ZimmCast. You’ll get to hear from the morning panel on day two. I interviewed each of them and have included them in the program. The session focused on how agrimarketers are building new community ties. 3G-enabled smart phones, the “Tweeting Farmer,” and unusual partnerships are …
Producers Talk About New Ag Community
It’s one thing to say there’s a new ag community. It’s another thing to live in it as a farmer. At the NAMA Trends in Agriculture conference a panel of producers addressed this subject. The panel included a row crop farmer from Texas, a dairy producer from Wisconsin and the California Association of Winegrape Growers. Their task was to share …
The New Ag Community
Our opening keynote speaker at the NAMA Trends In Agriculture conference is David Kohl, Professor Emeritus, Agricultural Finanace and Small Business Management, Virginia Tech and President, AgriVisions, LLC. His topic is “Defining the New Ag Community.” David set up his session with a number of facts and figures including the fact that 70% of North American farm ground will change …