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  • University of Georgia mycologists in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences found one Macrocybe titans—a species that produces the largest mushrooms in the Western Hemisphere—in the lawn of an abandoned Athens home last October.
  • The iPhoneography webinar on September 30th is designed for anyone who wants to enhance their cell phone photography and be inspired to be more creative.
  • The National Alpaca Farm Days will be held September 28th and 29th at Alpaca farms across the Nation.
  • Agriculture Secretary Vilsack announced loans to help finance the construction of broadband networks in rural Iowa, Minnesota, Oregon and South Dakota.
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Policy Panel at NAMA Fall Conference

Cindy Zimmerman

nama-panelThe NAMA Fall Conference featured a policy panel moderated by Sara “Legs” Wyant of Agri-Pulse, and featuring Mike Deering with the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, Garrett Hawkins with Missouri Farm Bureau, and Steve Censky with the American Soybean Association.

The need for a new farm bill was the major topic of discussion. “We’re all kind of waiting to see what happens with this,” said Deering. “It’s like the cartoon ‘Peanuts’ where Lucy’s holding that football and Charlie Brown’s running as hard as he can to kick it and ends up falling flat on his butt and that’s the same thing we’re dealing with right now as an industry, working together and trying to kick that ball over the finish line but it keeps getting pulled back.”

Deering says they have been busy on the state level fighting against the Humane Society of the United States with the Missouri Right to Farm amendment that passed the state legislature this year and will go to the voters next fall. “It just gives farmers and ranchers in the state the right to farm,” he said. “It’s absolutely vital that we have some protection in our state to keep these wackos out of here.”

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Mike here: Interview with Mike Deering, Missouri Cattlemen's Association

2013 NAMA Fall Conference Photo Album

Audio, Beef, Livestock, NAMA

The #FoodD Conversation

Jamie Johansen

food-dialogues-como-13-16-editedU.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) & Missouri Farmers Care brought the Food Dialogues to Columbia, Missouri. Expert panelists discussed animal welfare, livestock handling, conventional vs. non-conventional farming and much more. The purpose was to simply start conversations with consumers about where their food comes from and how it is produced.

Dan Kleinsorge, Executive Director for Missouri Farmers Care, spoke with me after the event and shared that the goal was to bring the consumer and the farmer closer together. That goal was met and the hope is consumers will have a better understanding of the food system. Dan also shared that they are working on some exciting things that will be unveiled in the upcoming year.

“I think there are two take home messages from the food dialogues. One is we’ve got to keep having these dialogues. We’ve got to keep promoting ourselves and keep talking about what we are doing, why we are doing it and how we are doing it. And do a better job explaining agriculture to the public. The other take away is that the conversation is not going away. This is something that people have really keyed in to these days and it’s going to be a big issue from years to come.”

Listen to my complete interview with Dan here: Interview with Dan Kleinsorge

Don’t worry if you missed the live stream of the event. The archived videos can soon be found on Missouri Farmers Care & USFRA’s YouTube Channels. You can also search the hashtag #FoodD to find out what those who watched it live had to say.

Audio, Food, USFRA

Soybeans Get Boost from Biodiesel

John Davis

USBlogoThe longtime and still primary feedstock for biodiesel has received a bump up in its demand and value. Figures from the United Soybean Board show that in order to meet this year’s federal requirement of 1.28 billion gallons of the green fuel this year, it will take 9 billion pounds of vegetable oils and animal fats, with a majority, at least 4.8 billion pounds, coming from soybean oil. That equals out to 430 million bushels of American soybeans.

“There’s value for soybean farmers from the growing market use of soybean oil for biodiesel,” says Gregg Fujan, a USB director and soybean farmer from Weston, Neb. “It expands the market for our soybeans, which also increases the price we receive.”

According to research commissioned by soybean farmers in Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota through their state soy checkoff boards, biodiesel contributed to a $15 billion increase in soybean-oil revenues between 2006 and 2012. Over that time period, this raised the price of soybeans by 74 cents per bushel.

Biodiesel already qualifies as the Nation’s first EPA-approved Advanced Biofuel. Guess that makes soybeans the first advanced feedstock.

Uncategorized

Nutrition Bill Passes House

Cindy Zimmerman

lucasAll Democrats voted against the Nutrition Reform and Work Opportunity Act, but nearly all Republicans voted for it, enough to pass the bill that finally completes the House work on a farm bill.

“This has been an unusual process, but it remains my goal to get a five-year farm bill enacted,” said House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK). “It shouldn’t be this hard to pass a bill that ensures all of us in this economy have enough to eat. And that’s what a farm bill does.” Rep. Lucas floor remarks

petersonA series of Democrats took to the floor to argue against the bill that contains reforms that would save nearly $40 billion in food stamp costs over ten years.

“There’s no reason to pass this bill other than to placate some people that want to make a point,” said Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN), ranking member of the agriculture committee. “This bill isn’t going any place in the Senate, the president wouldn’t sign it, so I don’t know what we’re doing.”Rep. Peterson floor remarks

However, passage of the bill does pave the way now for a farm bill to finally make it to conference committee, according to Speaker John Boehner (R-OH). “As I understand it, the Senate probably will have to re-appoint conferees,” he said during his weekly press briefing before the bill was passed. “When they ask for a conference, we’ll appoint our conferees as well, and the sooner the better.”

Whether the sooner is soon enough to get a new bill signed into law before the current farm bill extension expires on September 30 remains to be seen.

Audio, Farm Bill

A Tale of Two…Naughty Boys

Melissa Sandfort

ResizedImage_1379337642897This week Aunt Jeanette writes:

Actually you get two stories for the price of one this week, but you will see how they are related when you have finished reading.

The first story is about two boys – my husband, Dan, and his younger brother, Steve. One of the dishes their mother served for dinner was mashed turnips. You know the kind – disguised to look like mashed potatoes. Well, Dan and Steve did NOT like the mashed turnips. Their directions from their parents were to clean their plates and then they could leave the dinner table. Apparently their mom and dad got tired of waiting for them to finish eating because they retired to the living room. After a believable amount of time passed, Dan and Steve showed their clean plates. Imagine everyone’s surprise several years later when they moved the old freezer, and there was a sizeable pile of mashed turnips behind it! (I can’t help it – I chuckle every time I hear that story!)

Now, imagine MY surprise several weeks ago, when I overheard Dan making phone calls and inquiring about planting – of all things – TURNIPS! Of course there is more to this second story. The seeds we planted are actually a mix of turnips, radishes, rye and rapeseed. We are not planning to eat any of these things. They were planted in an effort to be good stewards of the land that has been entrusted to us. Our corn and soybean crops died this year as a result of severe hailstorms. The turnips, radishes, etc. will help retain the nitrogen already in the soil that was not used by our crops. They will also prevent nitrogen from going into the ground water. Another hope is that our cattle will feed on them during the fall/winter months since there will not be any cornstalks, fallen ears of corn, or beanstalks for grazing.

I will keep you posted on how this cover crop develops, as it is a first time experience for us.

And don’t be surprised if you hear a story about me slipping out to the field, getting a turnip, cooking it, mashing it up, and serving it to Dan – just for fun!

Until we walk again …

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Zimfo Bytes

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  • Lessing-Flynn Advertising, the longest running advertising agency in the state of Iowa and among the oldest in the United States, has been named the top advertising agency in Iowa by AdWeek Magazine.
  • Leaders of eight fast-emerging North Carolina agricultural biotechnology companies will pitch their wares to investors and other interested observers October 10 at the 2013 Ag Biotech Entrepreneurial Showcase.
  • In preparation for the imminent completion of the merger between Fiat Industrial and CNH, Fiat Industrial has announced the following changes in its leadership team.
  • AGCO, a worldwide manufacturer and distributor of agricultural equipment, and Russian Machines, part of the Basic Element group and one of the leaders in the Russian machinery sector, announced the creation of a new joint venture in order to manufacture and distribute agricultural equipment and replacement parts in Russia.
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2013 NAMA PDA Winners

Chuck Zimmerman

Gary SakinDuring our concluding lunch to the 2013 NAMA Fall Conference we celebrated with our new Professional Development Awards of Excellence. Let’s start with Gary Sakin, Monsanto, for Marketing Communications.

Gary joined Monsanto in November of 2006, and has made impactful changes to how Monsanto approaches branding, measures marcom impact, and engages with its audiences. Currently, Gary is a key member of Monsanto’s U.S. Marketing Leadership Team, serving as Director of Advertising, and is involved in providing strategic recommendations and counsel that includes Monsanto’s seed, biotechnology, prescriptive agriculture and chemistry brands. He manages multi-agency relationships, oversees tradeshow contracts and participation, identifies and monitors industry trends and their impact on Monsanto marketing objectives, drives overall brand planning, and helps guide Monsanto’s significant overall advertising presence.

Listen to remarks from Gary here: Gary Sakin Remarks

Linda RomanderNext up we have Linda Romander, Broadhead, for Public Relations.

A senior public relations manager at leading agribusiness marketing agency broadhead., Linda has achieved a great deal since her arrival in 2005. Since day one, she has fast become the go to resource for clients seeking sound PR strategy and vision, as well as a mentor for her firm’s younger staff and teams.

Listen to remarks from Linda here: Linda Romander Remarks

Zach HetterickThe Product Management award was presented to Zach Hetterick, Case IH.

Zach has distinguished himself in the past two years, leading the charge at Case IH for the Livestock/Hay/Forage business as Livestock Marketing Manager. While in this role, he has successfully spearheaded several new product launches, including the Case IH LB4 large square baler, and current launches for the WD3 series windrower, DC3 series disc mower conditioner, and RB565 round baler.

Listen to remarks from Zach here: Zach Hetterick Remarks

Jay CarlsonFor Sales the award was received by Jay Carlson.

As regional sales manager for BEEF magazine and its digital communications properties, Jay is arguably the nation’s top marketer on a volume basis of print and online livestock advertising. He has been a key innovator in U.S. livestock publishing, developing a number of key instruments and programs that continue to meet the needs of both U.S. livestock producers and U.S. product marketers.

Listen to remarks from Jay here: Jay Carlson Remarks

2013 NAMA Fall Conference Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Marketing, NAMA, Public Relations

Country Financial at Farm Progress Show

Cindy Zimmerman

fps13-country-financialAt the Farm Progress Show last month, we learned more about the services Country Financial offers for farmers and ranchers from Kristin Kramer and Julie Walters.

Kristin says Country Financial realizes that farming is a risky business and there are many ways to limit further issues and protect your farm.  “I like to think of everybody like my dad,” Kristin said. “So if my dad is out there I want to make sure his needs are met.”

Julie says they recommend an umbrella policy for many farm operations to ensure that there is an extra level of comfort for farmers if their auto or farm policy fails to cover them. “They cover the things that your underlying auto or farm policy may not be covering you for,” she said. “Give you that extra layer of comfort.

Country Financial is the leading farm insurance company in Illinois, protecting farmers since 1920.

Listen to my interview with Kristin and Julie here Interview with Country Financial

2013 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Coverage of the 2013 Farm Progress show is sponsored by Bayer CropScience, Growmark and New Holland
Audio, Farm Progress Show, Insurance

Do You Plan to Upgrade Your SmartPhone?

Talia Goes

zp-nhOur latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “ Do you contact your members of Congress?”

Our poll results:
• When issues are important to me 41%
• Never, what’s the point? 32%
• Who is my member of Congress? 14%
• Other 9%
• Often call or write 5%
• Visit offices and go to town hall meetings 0%

Looks like our poll respondents are at opposite ends of the spectrum. Almost half are motivated to act when issues arise and the other half would rather have nothing to do with grassroots policy matters.

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question “Planning to buy new iPhone or upgrade?” Apple has announced two new iPhone models, the 5S and the 5C, and they will be available soon. Are you satisfied with an older model or do you camp out on the sidewalk in anticipation of the next new thing? Or are you still happy with a phone that just makes calls without the bells and whistles? Let us know.

ZimmPoll