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

Talia Goes

    Zimfo Bytes

  • 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.
Zimfo Bytes

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

Foro PAIS Promotes Argentina’s Soy Complex

Cindy Zimmerman

ifaj13-foropaisForo PAIS – Productores Agro Industriales de Soja – was born in 2011 with the purpose of promoting the Argentine soy agro-industry and we learned more about it during the IFAJ 2013 Congress.

Foro PAIS Communications and Institutional Relations Director Dr. Adrián Figueroa says soybean production is a huge industry for Argentina. “Soybean production in Argentina in the last ten years has permitted this country to be the first exporter in biodiesel, soybean meal and soybean oil,” he told us.

One of the main reasons for this is Argentina’s large and technologically advanced crushing facilities near to the ports and production areas. “We have huge plants that can produce almost 20,000 tons per day,” he said. “All the arable land is close to the industry sector so in terms of transportation, the cost is so low.”

Listen to my conversation with Dr. Figueroa here: Interview with Adrián Figueroa, Foro PAIS

2013 IFAJ Congress Photo Album

Coverage of the 2013 IFAJ Congress is sponsored by Novus International and Dupont Pioneer
Audio, IFAJ, International, Soybean

Students at NAMA Fall Conference

Chuck Zimmerman

Students at NAMA Fall ConferenceThe NAMA Fall Conference is a great place for professional improvement for agrimarketers who want to take their career to the next level. It’s also a good place for students to achieve the same thing.

At this conference I visited with three students from the University of Illinois, (L-R) Kelley Fornoff, Ben Rakes and Ellen Reeder. I asked them why they are attending and what they hope to get out of this conference. They told me that they are here to get professional experience, learn what’s new in the agrimarketing world and to network with professionals. Good reasons!

Listen to my interview with the students here: Interview with Students

2013 NAMA Fall Conference Photo Album

Audio, Education, NAMA

Iowa Board of Regent Head Promotes Ag Education

Cindy Zimmerman

fps13-rastetterThe president of the Iowa Board of Regents is a great promoter of agricultural education in the United States as “Today’s Solution for Tomorrow’s World.”

Bruce Rastetter visited the 2013 Farm Progress Show last month to talk about the importance of agricultural education and the vast number of career choices available for students of all backgrounds. “I think the biggest fields are agronomy, plant sciences, the animal science area is growing because of world protein demand, but it’s really the technology, the innovation and the ability to use science to create greater yields,” he told me.

Rastetter says Iowa State University’s College of Agriculture has record enrollment this fall, fourth largest in the country, and nearly every single student has a job by the time they graduate, “with the majority of them having five offers by December of their senior year.”

He believes that it is important to promote agricultural education to students with non-ag backgrounds. “I think we can do it by talking about job opportunities in the world,” said Rastetter. “If it wasn’t for Norman Borlaug there would be a couple billion of people that would have died in the world. We need to make sure that we encourage an education system that develops the next Norman Boraug for the world.

Listen to my conversation with Bruce from Farm Progress Show: Interview with Iowa Board of Regents president Bruce Rastetter

2013 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

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

Coach Billick on Elements for Success

Chuck Zimmerman

Brian BillickA former NFL head coach had no problem waking us up as our morning keynote speaker at the 2013 NAMA Fall Conference. Brian Billick, Super Bowl winning coach for the Baltimore Ravens and now an analyst for Fox Sports, talked to us about “The Essential Elements for Success.” He has lots of sports stories to go along with it.

I spoke to him before his remarks and he shares a few words of wisdom for leadership that includes “connecting the dots” and how important your interconnectivity with the team or the work force is. He says it’s particularly important in today’s world of social media.

Listen to my interview with Brian here: Interview with Brian Billick

2013 NAMA Fall Conference Photo Album

Audio, NAMA

The Food Dialogues Come to Missouri

Jamie Johansen

The Food Dialogues: MissouriThere is no question that Americans have questions about how their food is grown and raised. U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) has responded to this need and produced Food Dialogues. The events have taken place all over the United States and sparked educated conversations about our nation’s food.

Tomorrow Food Dialogues come to Missouri. USFRA along with Missouri Farmers Care will host the state’s panel discussion in Columbia, MO. The event brings together panelist on both sides of the spectrum and gives a chance for the media, along with consumers, to ask questions and get educated answers. Moderator for both panels will be Tom Bradley, Wake Up Columbia’s radio talk show host.

In panel one, animal welfare will be the talking point and will target livestock handling and issues that have arisen in recent years.

Panelists:
Mark Mahnken, Grass-fed Cattle Farmer and Owner, Missouri Legacy Beef
Chris Heins, Dairy Farmer, Heins Dairy
Alan Wessler, DVM, Vice President, Feed Operations and Animal Health of MFA Incorporated
Chris Chinn, Hog Farmer and USFRA Faces of Farming and Ranching Winner
Don Spiers, Ph.D., Professor of Environmental Physiology and sponsor of the University of Missouri Animal Welfare Club, University of Missouri
Travis Tucker, Owner, Bleu Restaurant

In panel two, conversation will encompass hi-tech vs. low-tech and will focus on the need for conventional and organic agriculture to work together to meet consumer demands.

Panelists:
Blake Hurst, Farmer and President of Missouri Farm Bureau
Jim Thomas, Vegetable Farmer and Chairman, and Past President, Missouri Organic Association
Fanson Kidwaro, Ph.D., Department Chair of Agriculture, University of Central Missouri
Dan Shaul, State Director, Missouri Grocer’s Association
Kevin Wells, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Genetics, University of Missouri.
Jennifer Polniak, MS, RD, LD, CDE, Clinical Dietitian and Diabetes Educator at Boone Hospital Center

The best thing about these dialogues is that they are streamed online for all to view and join in. You can watch the event via live-stream here. The event is from 2:00p.m. to 5:15p.m. CDT at Reynolds Journalism Institute.

The Food Dialogues will also take place in Raleigh, North Carolina tomorrow. Panel one asks, “What’s on My Plate?” and panel two questions, “Who is My Farmer?” Dialogue starts at 10:00a.m. EDT.

Education, Farming, Food, USFRA