NFU Fly-In Features Big Names

Cindy Zimmerman September 10, 2013

The 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

The 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 September 10, 2013

Last 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 September 10, 2013

American 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

In 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 September 9, 2013

On 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 September 9, 2013

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 September 9, 2013

We 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

Teen Restores John Deere Tractor for Charity

Cindy Zimmerman September 9, 2013

About seven years ago, 16-year-old Austin Rhoda of Chenoa, Illinois was a leukemia patient at St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis, TN. After several years of successful treatment, he decided to give back to that organization that helped him and his family so much by doing something he loves – restoring old tractors, selling raffle tickets and donating the proceeds back to St. Jude’s.

Austin had his latest project on display at the Farm Progress Show in the John Deere exhibit – a restored 1951 John Deere A Tractor that is being raffled off this month with all proceeds going to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Interview with Austin Rhoda on restoring John Deere for charity

2013 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Audio, Events, Farm Progress Show, John Deere, Tractor

BASF Expands RTP Faciity

Cindy Zimmerman September 9, 2013

While we were in Argentina last week, BASF held a ribbon cutting to officially open its $33 million facility expansion in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.

“This expansion demonstrates BASF’s strong commitment to Agricultural Solutions and strengthens our research and development capabilities”, said Peter Eckes, President BASF Plant Science. “This investment demonstrates our commitment to our employees, our neighbors and the state of North Carolina.”

North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory, Commissioner Steve Troxler, U.S. Representative David Price, Mayor of Durham William Bell and other guests from government, business and academia were invited to join BASF employees at the event.

“A significant share of BASF’s insecticide research is conducted in RTP. These larger facilities will enable us to evaluate our promising insecticide candidates faster,” said Nevin McDougall, Senior Vice President, BASF Crop Protection North America.

The facilities include a climate-controlled greenhouse and laboratories for plant biotechnology research and a new environmentally-controlled insect production facility to expand insect control research.

Photo courtesy of BASF. Pictured left to right: Congressman G.K. Butterfield, Congressman David Price, President of BASF Plant Science Peter Eckes, North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory, Senior Vice President of BASF Crop Protection Nevin McDougall and City of Durham Mayor William Dell.

Agribusiness, BASF, Biotech, Crop Protection

Gauchos Herding Livestock Across River

Chuck Zimmerman September 9, 2013

After a dusty day on the trail during our IFAJ Congress livestock farm tour in Argentina’s Entre Ríos province we got a welcome change of pace with a boat trip on the Paraná River. Our boats all took us to where we got a front row seat as gauchos herded horses and cattle across the river. It turned into a beautiful afternoon with the sun shining. As we got to the crossing we could hear the gauchos in the distance through the brush as they brought the herds to the river. Then they kept them going and swam on their horses along with the livestock to the other side where they turned back around and did it again. It was fascinating to watch.

2013 IFAJ Congress Photo Album

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

Farming, IFAJ, International, Livestock, Video

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