Congressmen Visit Farm Progress Show

Cindy Zimmerman

Two Illinois congressmen visited with agricultural leaders and the media during opening day of the Farm Progress Show in Decatur to talk about issues important to farmers and ranchers.

fps13-davisCongressman Rodney Davis, a Republican from the district of Illinois that includes Decatur, is a member of both the House Agriculture and Transportation committees, so he is deeply involved in two top agriculture priorities – the farm bill and WRDA.

Davis said he was shocked when the farm bill failed in the House and called it “probably the worst day I’ve had in Congress” but he is hopeful they will get it done yet. “We passed an ag-side only, didn’t change hardly anything, and that’s going to give us a chance to conference that portion. And we’re going to go back to Washington at the beginning of next month and pass a food and nutrition side which I hope then is combined back together.”Interview with Rep. Rodney Davis

fps13-shimkusCongressman John Shimkus, who represents Illinois’ 15th district, says nutrition is still going to be tough. “It’s going to be $40 billion in major reforms,” he said. “But once we do that, I do believe (both bills) will go to conference and Chairman Lucas and Debbie Stabenow will work their magic.”

Shimkus serves on the House Energy Committee so he is fully engaged in the battle over the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), representing both sides of the issue in his district on the Eastern side of Illinois. “I’ve got corn growers, I’ve got renewable refiners and I’ve got petroleum refiners,” said Shimkus, who does believe the RFS has some problems that need to be fixed, such as the Renewable Identification Numbers (RINS) program. Interview with Rep. John Shimkus

2013 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

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

GROWMARK Supports Illinois Ag in the Classroom

Jamie Johansen

fps-13-166-editedGROWMARK took advantage of the warm sunny skies of the 2013 Farm Progress Show and announced their donation of $70,000 to Illinois Ag in the Classroom programs.

The funding will go to support IAA Foundation’s grassroot efforts to aid Agriculture Literacy Coalitions across the state of Illinois. These programs reach over 500,000 students in both rural and urban areas.

GROWMARK is a regional cooperative providing agriculture-related products and services, as well as grain marketing in more than 40 states and Ontario, Canada. GROWMARK owns the FS trademark, which is used by affiliated member cooperatives. More information is available at www.growmark.com

Here you can listen to the complete press conference announcing the donation. Growmark Press Conference

Chuck Spencer, GROWMARK corporate and government relations director, represented the company and presented the IAA Foundation with the check. I spoke with him following the event and he shared why those at GROWMARK and FS saw the need to invest in the education of the future of agriculture.

Listen to my interview with Chuck here: Interview with Chuck Spencer

Director of the IAA Foundation, Susan Moore, accepted the funds and expressed great enthusiasm and passion when describing how they can be put to the money to work by increasing the number of literacy programs and putting the agriculture curriculum in the hands of even more teachers across the state.

Listen to my interview with Susan here: Interview with Susan Moore

Check out photos from the event here:2013 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

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

Bayer’s New Revolution in Agriculture

Jamie Johansen

fps-13-184-editedToday marks the kick-off of the 2013 Farm Progress Show and Bayer Crop Science brought ag media together for a luncheon focused on their show theme, “One World to Grow On.” After hearing from key Bayer representatives, we went through roundtable interviews designed to drive conversation and education.

Dr. Mathias Kremer, Head of Strategy for Bayer, spoke to attendees on the future of the crop science industry and the new revolution of agriculture. I caught up with him after the event and asked him about the key strategies Bayer is focusing on to ensure innovative products for growers globally.

“A new revolution in agriculture means that we are strongly putting a lot of emphasis on innovation. Innovation in seeds, traits, crop protection and biologics because we believe you need the whole integrated solution in order to maintain productivity and make it more sustainable for the future.”

Listen to my interview with Dr. Kremer here: Interview with Dr. Mathias Kremer

Listen to Dr. Kremer’s complete remarks here: Remarks from Dr. Mathias Kremer

Check out photos from the event here:2013 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

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

Your ZimmComm Team at Work

Cindy Zimmerman

fps13-teamHere is your ZimmComm team at the 2013 Farm Progress Show, all fresh and ready to go – before we got to work and started wilting in the heat – standing in front of the new and improved **AIR CONDITIONED** media tent, sponsored by BASF.

This is our biggest team ever at any event! That’s me, Cindy Z, on the left. Next is Leah Guffey, brand new to the team after a four year hiatus from the ag reporting business. Chuck is in the middle, flanked by his all female team members. Our new fall intern Kristyn Stidham is to Chuck’s right and next to her is our darling expectant mother Jamie Johansen.

fps13-patIt may be 90-plus degrees out here this year, but as long as we are in the media palace, we are more comfortable than ever before, thanks to our wonderful friends at BASF. We seriously can’t thank BASF enough for this great working environment. This is the first year that BASF has sponsored the media tent and Pat Morrow says they really wanted to upgrade to make it a first class working environment for the agricultural media who bring the important information to farmers and ranchers every day.

Listen to my interview with Pat here: Interview with Pat Morrow, BASF

2013 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

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

2013 Farm Progress Show Update

Leah Guffey

fps13-mattThe 2013 Farm Progress Show is underway in Decatur, Illinois.  

It was my pleasure to sit down and chat with Matt Jungmann, Show Manager and talk about the what’s up here this year, including the new air conditioned media tent sponsored by BASF, and that there are no field demonstrations thanks to the cooler temperatures experienced earlier this summer.  As of this posting, the overflow lots were already filling up ahead of schedule and 2013 looks to be a hot and memorable Farm Progress Show.

Listen to my interview with Matt here: Interview with Matt Jungmann

2013 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

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

AgLeader at 2013 Farm Progress Show

Leah Guffey

ImageAgLeader Technology is on site at the 2013 Farm Progress Show highlighting their latest and greatest technologies for the upcoming spring planting season.  New equipment being talked about in the AgLeader Technology tent include their AgFinity and Compass.

Russ Morman is with AgLeader Technology and he tells us that it’s a hands on demonstration where you can not only learn about their latest ideas, but also see how they would work on your farm and field.  He did mention to stop by and see them for an ice cold bottle of water to help battle the heat and humidity.  Stop by their booth 518 on the show grounds to see the latest that AgLeader has to offer.

Listen to my interview with Russ here: Interview with Russ Morman

2013 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

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

New Holland On Site at Farm Progress Show

Cindy Zimmerman

fps13-newholland-cornmanWe are proud once again to have New Holland Agriculture as a major sponsor for our Farm Progress Show coverage here in Decatur, Illinois.

Jamie Johansen spoke with New Holland’s Mike Cornman as the crew was getting set up late Monday about some of what is new this year from New Holland in the hay and forage department. “We’re debuting our new Roll-Belt 560 Round Baler, which is brand new for next season,” Mike said. “We also have a Discbine 313 on display and our new Speedrower self-propelled windrower.

Listen to Jamie’s interview with Mike here: Interview with Mike Cornman

2013 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

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

Farm Progress Show Preview

Chuck Zimmerman

2013 Farm Progress ShowHello from the 2013 Farm Progress Show in Decatur, IL. Let’s get a preview from Don Tourte, V.P. of Sales for Farm Progress America.

Don says it’s a record number of exhibitors (70 new ones this year) requiring them to add a new street. Don says every major manufacturer will be showcasing their newest products and technology.

It’s going to be a warm one with near record high temperatures so hopefully everyone will drink plenty of fluids and take it easy.

Listen to my interview with Don here: Interview with Don Tourte

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

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Government officials, agricultural experts and members of Colorado Proud cut the ribbon of the first-ever Colorado Proud Store, which opened at the Colorado State Fair, supporting local businesses and connecting consumers to the state’s $40 billionagricultural industry.
  • CHS Inc. and Dakota Plains Cooperative announced the two cooperatives have been in discussions about entering into a merger transaction and now seek approval from the members of Dakota Plains Cooperative and the CHS Board of Directors.
  • At the Ag Media Summit held in Buffalo, NY, the American Agricultural Editors Association (AAEA) announced its annual award honorees.
  • Brownfield Ag News is excited to announce the addition of 9 radio stations in key agricultural areas of the Midwest.
Zimfo Bytes

Agvocating with Youtility

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast 409The AgChat Foundation has a new President after the board meeting held during the 2013 National Agvocacy Conference. He’s Jeff VanderWerff, Michigan farmer. I spoke to him during the conference and with our keynote speaker.

Jeff VanderWerffJeff told me that the organization is in great shape as it continues its mission of “Empowering farmers and ranchers to connect communities through social media platforms.” That’s what training conferences like this one accomplish when up to 100 new agvocates go back home to tell their stories from the farm. It’s also what social media campaigns like #FoodThanks do and another one is planned for this fall.

Jay BaerYoutility is a concept that the newly trained agvocates from the 2013 National Agvocacy 2.0 Conference got a full dose of. That is also the title of a new book by Jay Baer who keynoted the conference. Jay and I sat down for a chat about his Youtility concept and changes in technology and media. I think you’ll enjoy his ideas. One that stood out for me is how much more difficult the job of a media buyer is today when you consider the incredible fragmentation of audiences that are using not only traditional media but the new media of today.

Listen to this week’s ZimmCast here: Agvocating with Youtility

2013 National Agvocacy 2.0 Conference Photo Album

Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsors, GROWMARK, locally owned, globally strong and Monsanto, Roundup Ready Plus, for their support.

Ag Groups, Audio, Farming, Social Networking, ZimmCast