ASFMRA Leadership Institute Program

Chuck Zimmerman

Besides certification programs the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers also has a Leadership Institute. Let’s learn all about it from Merrill W. Swanson, ARA of Dugger, Canaday, Grafe, Inc, in San Antonio, TX. Merrill has moved into the role of First Vice President of the ASFMRA. He also serves as the Co-Chair of the Government Relations Committee which has been conducting this annual leadership program for about 20 years. The program is sponsored by Dupont Pioneer. Merrill has attended four of the institutes.

Approximately 30 members are selected each year to go to Washington, DC for the program where they learn about how to navigate and communicate with the politicians and regulators making decisions about policies that affect their business. Attendees range in age and experience across all members of ASFMRA. It’s a week long program.

You can listen to my interview with Merrill here: Interview with Merrill Swanson

Agronomics Vision 2014 Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the ASFMRA Agronomics Conference is sponsored by Halderman Farm Management.

Ag Groups, Audio, Education, Video

Jagels Elected Chairman of USMEF

Talia Goes

*Post updated with audio from NAFB*

necornThe Nebraska Corn Board is proud to announce that Mark Jagels, a farmer from Davenport, Neb., was elected chairman of the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) at the organization’s recent annual conference. Jagels served as USMEF vice-chairman over the previous year.

nafb13-meat-jagelsZimmComm intern Kristyn Stidham had a chance to talk with Mark at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting annual Trade Talk last week, right after he was elected as chairman. He told her that USMEF is very excited about the big increase in exports to Japan after that country moved back to allowing 30-month and under cattle.

“We’ve seen exports to Japan up 57% since that time,” said Mark. “We had really been out of that market since the BSE ‘black Christmas’ but with their adoption of the 30-month and under rule exports have really surged there.

Listen to Kristyn’s interview with Mark here: Interview with Mark Jagels, USMEF

2013 NAFB Convention Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Meat, NAFB

Stay Meaty Fresh with Power Bacon Deodorant

Chuck Zimmerman

Power Bacon DeodorantHey all you bacon lovers. I know there are a lot of you out there. Now you don’t have to smear some fresh cooked bacon on your wrists before going to work or out on a date. Just put on some Power Bacon deodorant.

FOR WHEN YOU SWEAT LIKE A PIG.

POWER BACON deodorant is designed specifically for those with active lifestyles – or people who just sweat like pigs.

Using POWER BACON will probably make everyone drawn to you like you were the most powerful magnet on Earth. And by everyone, we mean friends, acquaintances, beautiful strangers, dogs, bears, swamp alligators, lions and even pigs. It’s like an aphrodisiac for your armpits. But use your new power wisely, because with great bacon power comes great baconsibility.

For all day meat-scented protection, apply liberally to your underarms or private areas.

Do not eat or hike in the woods without a firearm while wearing POWER BACON.

Meat

Pork Council Talks Animal Health, Markets & Trade

Jamie Johansen

nafb-13-32-editedThe National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) was among many ag groups who took advantage of NAFB Convention’s Trade Talk to discuss issues with farm broadcasters from across the country. Dr. Howard Hill, President-Elect, for NPPC was on hand along with Steve Meyer, NPPC Economist.

Each hit on the one of the most talked about topics when if comes to animal health in the pork industry and that of course is Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PED). The virus is thought of have entered the United States back in April of this year. Research has shown that it likely originated in China. Dr. Hill stressed the amount of research that is being conducted to combat this epidemic, but a cure has yet to be found.

Sticking to the topic of animal health Dr. Hill also hit on FDA Guidance 209. “Any antibiotic that is used for growth promotion that also has applications in the human medical field will not be allowed. If it has a label for treatment, prevention or control then it will still be on the market.”

Listen to my complete interview with Dr. Hill here: Interview with Dr. Howard Hill

nafb-13-35-editedAs an economist, Steve quickly recapped the 2013 pork markets stating that markets were of course low coming out of 2012. But producers got back in the black throughout the summer and have been making money since then. Looking into 2014 for pork producers a good corn crop means low feed prices. He committed on the futures markets and says it looks up for producers heading into the next year.

Steve went on to discuss the export market. Though it has been low over the last year the future looks optimistic and should increase throughout 2014.

Listen to my complete interview with Steve here: Interview with Steve Meyer

NPPC is also leading an ad hoc coalition of agricultural and food organizations urging Congress to establish criteria for revoking a country’s tariff-free access to the U.S. market if it fails to give U.S. products treatment consistent with international trade rules.

Checkout photos from NAFB Convention: 2013 NAFB Convention Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Media, NAFB, Pork

Halderman Farm Management Continues to Expand

Chuck Zimmerman

As you know, Halderman Farm Management has been the sponsor of our coverage of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers Agronomics Conference for two years now. We greatly appreciate their support and to learn more about how things are going for the company I visited with Howard Halderman again at this year’s conference.

Howard says things are going well in the eastern corn belt and they are continuing to expand their services. He says recently they’ve started representing some large investment groups and building portfolios of farm land for them. He says this work has led them to various parts of the country and has emphasized the need for the Agronomics conference with the networking opportunities it provides. Listen in on our conversation to learn more about what’s going on in the industry.

You can listen to my interview with Howard here: Interview with Howard Halderman

Agronomics Vision 2014 Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the ASFMRA Agronomics Conference is sponsored by Halderman Farm Management.

Ag Groups, Audio, Video

Update from Animal Ag Alliance at NAFB

Jamie Johansen

nafb-13-12-editedThe Animal Agriculture Alliance has been busy over the course of the last year staying up-to-date on animal ag issues, researching current activist campaigns and advocating farm policy. At the 2013 NAFB Convention I met up with Kay Johnson Smith, President and CEO, and Emily Meredith, Director of Communications during the events Trade Talk.

Hot topics of discussion included the Animal Rights Conference Report, Meatless Monday campaign, Farm Protection legislation, their outreach efforts and the 2014 Stakeholders Summit.

Kay shared that they recently attended the Animal Rights Conference Report to better understand what our industry needs to be on the lookout for throughout the next year. The key takeaways from the event were three target audiences these activist groups are focusing on. They include retail restaurants, youth K-12 and students on college campuses as well as, health conscious adults.

Listen to my complete interview with Kay here: Interview with Kay Johnson Smith

nafb-13-15-editedThe Animal Ag Alliance took it upon themselves to do a little digging into the Meatless Monday campaign and the results were shocking. You can checkout their complete report here. Emily shared how people were really surprised and that with such busy news cycle many of the mainstream news media take fact checking for granted.

The 2014 Animal Ag Alliance Stakeholders Summit is scheduled for May 8-9 in Arlington, VA. “Cracking the Millennial Code,” is the topic of discussion and will cover hot-button issues including antibiotics, animal welfare, sustainability and communication through the lens of a Millennial.

Listen to my complete interview with Emily here: Interview with Emily Meredith

Checkout photos from NAFB Convention: 2013 NAFB Convention Photo Album

Ag Groups, Animal Agriculture, Audio, Beef, Livestock, Media, NAFB, Pork, Poultry

Autumn Leaves

Melissa Sandfort

1474585_10202510914353919_1382138640_nThis week Aunt Jeanette writes:

Instead of two stories for the price of one, you get two pictures this time!

I can’t remember an autumn when the leaves were as gorgeous as they were this year. The red, orange, yellow, and gold leaves appeared to be fluorescent. It was almost as if Mother Nature put everything she had into making one beautiful fall. (Maybe it was her way of apologizing for last summer!)

imageWhen I went to visit Mom and Dad about ten days ago, their Burning Bush caught my eye. It was about the prettiest I have ever seen it. Although I don’t care to take pictures without people in them, I thought the bush was photo worthy.

And who can resist a pile of newly raked leaves? Apparently not our two youngest grandchildren! This was the perfect end to a wonderful autumn day. Life just doesn’t get much better than this.

Until we walk again …

Uncategorized

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

    Zimfo Bytes

  • LG Seeds donated $8,925 this week to the National FFA Organization to support existing programs for 580,000 FFA members across the country.
  • The 24th annual Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) has officially opened its nomination season for 2014.
  • AgGateway’s eighth annual conference in St. Petersburg, Fla., drew a record 300 professionals to discuss ongoing successes in implementing eBusiness within the agriculture industry.
  • Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has appointed seven members to serve on the National Mango Board.
Zimfo Bytes

Farm Bill Top Topic at NAFB Trade Talk

Cindy Zimmerman

For the third year in a row now, the main topic of discussion at the NAFB Trade Talk was farm bill, or lack thereof.

nafb13-afbf-thatcherDespite reports that high hopes are fading for a farm bill yet this year, the ag group representatives we talked to were still cautiously optimistic. “I think progress is being made and I’m still confident that we’re going to get something before the end of the year,” said Mary Kay Thatcher with the American Farm Bureau Federation. Interview with Mary Kay Thatcher, AFBF

nafb13-nfu-johnson“Last year when I was here I predicted that by the end of the year we’d have a farm bill and I’m going to make that prediction again,” said National Farmers Union president Roger Johnson. Interview with Roger Johnson, NFU

ncga-martinNational Corn Growers Association president Martin Barbre says they are still hopeful. “We’re pressing every day, working with our friends in Congress,” the Illinois grower said. “We got it to conference, that’s a step forward!” Interview with Martin Barbre, NCGA

American Soybean Association board member Ray Gaesser of Iowa says they are also pleased to see some progress. “We’ve been working on the 2012 farm bill for more than three years,” he said. “But we are encouraged that it has at least come to conference.” Interview with Ray Gaesser, ASA

The other ASA, the American Sugar Alliance, is watching the farm bill progress very carefully because it is so critical to their industry. “The farm bill is .. our one, two and three most important priorities that we deal with,” said chairman Ryan Weston. “We’ll just keep working with all the other farm organizations and members of Congress to try to get a farm bill done by the end of the year.” Interview with Ryan Weston, American Sugar Alliance

The National Sorghum Producers chairman J.B. Stewart of Oklahoma is hoping this process is finally coming to an end. “I think both sides of the aisle are definitely ready to get this behind them,” he said. “We certainly are.” Interview with J.B. Stewart and Tim Lust, NSP

National Association of Wheat Growers president Bing Von Bergen hopes the conference committee puts partisan politics aside. “When they’re in conference they need to reach across the table and say … let’s meet in the middle. And we believe that will happen.” Interview with Bing Von Bergen, NAWG

There are other issues important to agriculture, like the water resources bill and immigration reform, but everyone is looking forward to not having to talk about a farm bill again next year at Trade Talk!

2013 NAFB Convention Photo Album

AFBF, Ag Groups, ASA, Audio, Corn, Farm Bill, NAFB, NSP, sorghum, Soybean

Thanks to FMC for NAFB Trade Talk

Cindy Zimmerman

nafb13-fmc-paulIt’s really hard to describe the National Association of Farm Broadcasting‘s annual Trade Talk to someone who has never experienced it. Farm broadcasters often refer to it as “running the gauntlet” in the quest to visit with as many of the exhibitors as possible in the short six hours Trade Talk is open. Spokespersons for the various companies and organizations exhibiting can do dozens of interviews in that time span. It’s challenging, fun, informative, rewarding, and exhausting. There’s really nothing else like it.

One of the long-time sponsors of this one-of-a-kind event is FMC Agricultural Products and our very good friend Paul Redhage. They also sponsored our coverage of NAFB on our sister site, PrecisionPays.com, and we sincerely appreciate that as well.

Paul and I interviewed each other at Trade Talk but only mine was for real. He was just showing off his smart phone case that looks like a microphone. We talked about what’s new with FMC, including the popularity of the Anthem Singing Contest, which they took to the National FFA Convention last month. Paul says they brought in a sound booth to allow FFA members to “get a head start” on prepping for the 2014 contest. “We had over 400 students do that!” Paul said. “So the kids really responded enthusiastically.”

In our interview, Paul also talks about how FMC’s successful “Authority Minute” will expand its focus to become simply “The FMC Minute” in December. Interview with Paul Redhage, FMC Agricultural Products

2013 NAFB Convention Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, FMC, NAFB