20th Anniversary of Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show

Chuck Zimmerman

Canada's Outdoor Farm ShowThe 20th anniversary of Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show is underway. Kicking off the event yesterday were Show President Doug Wagner and OMAF Deputy Minister Dr. Deb Stark.

If you’ll be attending the show then get the new COFS 2013 App which is now available for Blackberry, Android, iPhone, and tablets! Download it for free at http://cofs.quickmobile.mobi. Users can get a full list of exhibitors, demo schedule and more right on their smartphone or tablet.

RealAgriculture.com is providing free charging stations for all smartphones and tablets. Find them at the Alltech Deck on the Ducks Unlimited Farm Pond and the OAC exhibit on 4th Lane.

Parking is free and people-movers are available to transport people to and from parking lots. There is also a shuttle service to take farmers and their new purchases back to their vehicle.

Free peanuts from Grand Valley Fortifiers are available at their booth on 9th Lane and Middle Machinery Mall and in wheelbarrows around the Show.

You can also tune in to 104.7 Heart FM for ongoing traffic reports and show updates.

Farm Shows, International

Touring New Holland Products at Farm Progress Show

Chuck Zimmerman

During setup for this year’s Farm Progress Show our Jamie Johansen talked with New Holland’s Mike Cornman about new products that New Holland would be displaying at the show. Then during the show New Holland brought ag media representatives in to their exhibit for a breakfast walk through of the products on display. I’ve got a couple of videos to share from that session starting with this one featuring Mike once again. Mike talks about the Roll-Belt 560 Round Baler, Discbine 313, T6 and T5 Series Tractors.

2013 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Coverage of the 2013 Farm Progress show is sponsored by Bayer CropScience, Growmark and New Holland
Agribusiness, Equipment, Farm Progress Show, New Holland, Tractor, Video

Vilsack Talks Farm Bill, RFS with Growth Energy

John Davis

There’s an old Chinese proverb that’s also considered a curse: “May you live in interesting times.” This morning, members of the Growth Energy Advocacy Conference in Washington, D.C. heard that from Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, as he explained how it’s “interesting” that Congress seems to have its priorities turned around, with lawmakers working to change Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) while doing nothing to pass a farm bill.

vilsack1“We believe (the RFS) is working,” said Vilsack, pointing to the EPA already making adjustments to reflect market conditions. “That’s the way it’s supposed to work. There’s no need for Congress to intervene in this.”

Vilsack says, in his opinion, the oil companies are behind the efforts to derail the RFS, mostly because they need the octane they get from ethanol but want to pay pennies on the dollar to get it. “What they (Big Oil) would really like to happen is for this industry (ethanol) not to succeed, so all those production facilities could be made available for 10 cents on the dollar. That’s what Big Oil’s interest is.”

Vilsack made the tie between the showdown with Syria, the RFS and the farm bill, as he looked at Gen. Wesley Clark, former NATO commander and Growth Energy co-chairman. “When and if Congress makes a decision to authorize military action, when and if the President implements that decision, who is going to implement it? It’s going to be a kid from rural America,” pointing out that rural Americans make up only 16 percent of America’s population but 40 percent of our military.

Vilsack urged Growth Energy members to send a strong message to Congress this week. “When you go and talk to your members of Congress to support the RFS, an additional message is, ‘We’ve been waiting a long time for the farm bill; don’t be sending our young men and women into harm’s way and not give them a decent opportunity back home. Get your work done.'”

Listen to Sec. Vilsack’s full address to Growth Energy here: Ag Sec. Tom Vilsack Address to Growth Energy

Audio, Ethanol, Farm Bill

Ruralisima TV Program 1

Chuck Zimmerman

There’s a new tv show in Argentina and I’m happy to have been included! It’s Ruralisima TV, produced by Uno Sei.

I hope you speak spanish but if you don’t you can find me at about 18:30 in and I only speak English. This was a short interview on our boat ride in which we talked about why participation in an IFAJ Congress is a good thing for agricultural journalists. We also discussed the importance of helping non-farm people better understand where their food comes from.


2013 IFAJ Congress Photo Album

Coverage of the 2013 IFAJ Congress is sponsored by Novus International and Dupont Pioneer
IFAJ, International, Media, Video

NFU Fly-In Features Big Names

Cindy Zimmerman

nfu-johnson-youngThe National Farmers Union held a star-studded press conference on the first day of its Legislative Fly-In in Washington to highlight two important issues for agriculture – passing a farm bill this year, and maintaining the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

Rock star of the event was Grammy-winning artist Neil Young, pictured here with NFU President Roger Johnson. Young, who was among the original founders of Farm Aid in 1985, rocked the free world with his support of ethanol. “I love ethanol. I love how it smells, I love the way it makes my car go, everything about it is great,” said Young. “It’s a beautiful fuel.” He encouraged those who support alternative fuels to contact their lawmakers and urge them to maintain the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).Neil Young for Ethanol

nfu-stabenow-awardThe other stars at the event were Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), who were presented with the NFU Golden Triangle Award.Sen. Stabenow remarks

Special thanks to Agri-Pulse for providing better audio than I was able to record through a cell phone on the speaker from the event!

Johnson was thrilled with the event and excited to have 300 NFU members on Capitol Hill this week to press lawmakers to finish a farm bill this month. “This is a bill that’s 95% done, all they have to do is finish it,” said Johnson. Interview with NFU President Roger Johnson

Ag Groups, Audio, Ethanol, Farm Bill

Delo Tractor Restoration Competition Winner

Leah Guffey

_DSC2177Last week at the 2013 Farm Progress Show I spent some time checking out the Chevron Delo display where a beautifully restored 1970 Case Demonstrator 1070 caught my eye. Ryan Haass was the young man behind the work, which won him the Delo Tractor Restoration Contest last year. Ryan was also the top winner of the contest in 2011, and his brother and sister were runners-up in previous years.

Ryan says he chose the Case 1070 because there were so few produced and he wanted to do something special. Haas is no stranger to restoring tractors, he’s won several different competitions which helped him be able to afford to restore the Demonstrator.

Ryan says he’s helping the younger kids in his home state of Texas interested in learning more about restoring tractors and participating in contests.  He’s happy to share his knowledge, now that he’s in college and already has his own business, because sharing his tips keeps him involved.

Listen to my conversation with Ryan here: Interview with Ryan Haass

2013 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Audio, Farm Progress Show, Tractor

Americans Score IFAJ Awards

Cindy Zimmerman

ifaj13-yara-awardsAmerican ag journalists were honored for their work in the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) Star Prize contests, results of which were announced last week at IFAJ’s World Congress in Rosario, Argentina.

A Progressive Farmer team of American Agricultural Editors’ Association (AAEA) members Gregg Hillyer, Barb Baylor Anderson, Charles Johnson, and Howard G. Buffett – took home the IFAJ-Yara Award for Sustainable Agriculture Reporting for “Bursting at the Seams.” Charles, pictured on the right here, accepted the award for the team.

This was the first IFAJ Congress that Charles ever attended, so he was pleased that it coincided with his team receiving this prestigious award.Interview with Charles Johnson, Progressive Farmer

ifaj13-photo-pigsIn the IFAJ Star Prize for Photography competition, AAEA member Dean Houghton picked up a distinguished recognition in the Production category for “Loading pigs.” The overall winner in this year’s IFAJ Star Prize for photo excellence, sponsored by DeLaval, was Peter Risteviski of Australia for his photo “I won’t abandon you.”

Other American winners in the IFAJ contests were Steve Baragona of Voice of America, who received third place for Sustainable Agriculture Reporting with his online story “Blended organic-conventional farming could feed world” published in voanews.com. Baragona and Voice of America colleagues Kane Farabaugh and Michael Burke also scored a runner-up plaque in the IFAJ Star Prize for Broadcasting’s Video competition for “A Dry Season.” AAEA member Jennifer Latzke of High Plains Journal – who attended the Congress as an IFAJ-Alltech Young Leader – also won a runner-up nod in the Online category for “The 12 Days of Agriculture.”

Information on all the winners can be found on the IFAJ website.

2013 IFAJ Congress Photo Album

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

John Deere Applicator Makes Sidedressing Easier

Leah Guffey

_DSC2085On display at the Farm Progress Show in the John Deere exhibit was the new 2014 2510L Liquid Fertilizer Applicator, designed for more precise liquid fertilizer placement into the soil to make sidedressing easier.  

“The 2510L enables customers to maximize crop yields through more accurate and timely liquid fertilizer placement,” says Travis Harrison, product specialist from John Deere. This latest model is available in two different models with vertical folds that are 30- and 40-foot with a side fold widths up to 66 feet. There are 18 spacing and control options and Deere is offering one of the largest tank options, up to 2,400 gallons.

John Deere offered the media a look at all the new equipment a few weeks ago and farmers got their first look at the Farm Progress Show.  Orders have already started rolling into dealers all over the world as fertilizer application just got a bit easier with in sync sidedresser capabilities.

Listen to Travis explain more here: Interview with Travis Harrison

2013 Farm Progress Show Photo Album
 

Agribusiness, Audio, Equipment, Farm Progress Show, John Deere, Precision Agriculture

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

    Zimfo Bytes

  • A young Kenyan scientist who made major breakthroughs in combating the deadly aflatoxin mold contamination that occurs in stored grain was named the 2013 recipient of the prestigious “Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application, Endowed by the Rockefeller Foundation.”
  • Sony Pictures Television Ad Sales and Rural Media Group, Inc., have signed a national representation agreement for commercial advertising sales for the company’s rural and western lifestyle themed satellite/cable delivered networks, RFD-TV, RURAL TV, and RURAL RADIO on SiriusXM Channel 80.
  • Cargill’s pork business broke ground this week for construction of a new, $29-million, state-of-the-art, feed mill in Hedrick, Iowa.
  • The Nebraska Soybean Board is investing $3 million to create the first Presidential Chair in Soybean Breeding at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Zimfo Bytes

Argentinian Citrus Grove

Cindy Zimmerman

ifaj13-orangesWe told you earlier about our visit to La Campiña, owned by Cesar and Mónica Cahen D’Anvers, near Rosario, Argentina. The main crop grown on this farm is oranges – both a local variety and navels – and they are cultivated for export to mostly European markets as well as in the making of various juices, jams, jellies and candies that are sold on the farm.

In the video below, La Campiña farm operators explain the varieties and how they are maintained, as well as how they are working to keep the grove from becoming infested with citrus greening, which is a disease well known to Florida citrus growers and to Argentina’s neighbors in Brazil.


2013 IFAJ Congress Photo Album

Coverage of the 2013 IFAJ Congress is sponsored by Novus International and Dupont Pioneer
Citrus, Farming, IFAJ, International, Video