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

Data Management Key to Successful Farming

Cindy Zimmerman

jd-filesMost people can relate to having tons of data that is hard to manage, such as digital photos, for example. You may have photos in various places – like on your desk top, your lap top, smartphone, or server – but not organized in one place so you can easily catalog, view or share them.

That is a dilemma facing modern farmers collecting and using increasing amounts of digital data to run their operations and precision agriculture extension specialist Dr. John Fulton with Auburn University says addressing data management is a key issue for production agriculture. “Getting data off the machine automatically is the number one barrier that farmers say is keeping them from moving forward in data management,” said Dr. Fulton during a session at last week’s John Deere Product Intro for the media.

jd-intro-fultonFulton says bigger machines have led to more data. “There’s more to it than guidance systems, it’s rate control, variable rate, section control – all that technology’s built-in,” he said. “But how big is not really the question, it’s the processing that’s really limiting us” and that will need to be addressed on the software level. “Getting it down to where it’s organized, where I can view it, simply bring it up when I’m on the road,” he said. “The key to success is being able to visualize the data.

Dr. Fulton says farmers have told them in surveys that they need wireless data transfer that is automatic, simple and web-based, and they need local support to make it happen and he thinks the introduction of wireless data transfer for MyJohnDeere.com is an example of what is coming.

Listen to Dr. Fulton explain more here: Interview with Dr. John Fulton, Auburn University extension

John Deere Product Intro photo album

Audio, John Deere, Precision Agriculture, Technology

The Value of a Veteran

Joanna Schroeder

There are hundreds of thousands of skilled and qualified veterans in need of a job and one industry that hasn’t tapped into the potential is the agricultural industry. But this can change according to Lisa Rosser, a 16-yeat human resources (HR) professional and a military veteran who spent 22 years in the active Army and Army Reserve.

Lisa-Rosser-Value-of-a-VeteranRosser founded the company “The Value of a Veteran” because she wants to help companies understand what military veterans have to offer an organization. She also helps companies translate military skills into civilian positions. In addition, she works with companies in all varied industries on how to market and source military talent. Rosser did just this during the AgCareers.com HR & Food Roundtable.

According to Rosser, the military has over 7,000 job positions across more than 100 plus functional areas and 81 percent of these jobs have a direct civilian equivalent. The challenge is helping companies understand the parallel between job skills and experience and how to apply them to the jobs they are looking for. With a shortage in skilled talent in the agriculture industry, Rosser says veterans and ag are a perfect fit.

During her presentation, Rosser walked HR professionals through a “cheat-sheet” per se of the language veterans use versus the jobs they need to fill. She also laid out a “map” to help companies hire veterans. I asked Rosser for a industry challenge when it comes to hiring veterans.

“For me it’s always understand why this might be a good business case for you to do this. What talent problems do you have to solve and could veterans potentially be part of the solution? So with many industries its a changing industry, maybe they have a graying workforce and they don’t know how they are going to replace all these skilled workers,” said Rosser. “That is where military can be part of the solution because we have very young, very talented, very skilled adaptable learners, who with a little bit of training, a little bit of on the job experience could be a really good fit….If you’re willing to make the investment at home, veterans can be a really good asset to you.”

Listen to my interview with Lisa Rosser: The Value of a Veteran

Visit the AgCareers.com Ag & Food HR Roundtable photo album.

AgCareers, Agribusiness, Audio

More New from John Deere

Cindy Zimmerman

Lots of new products from John Deere for 2014 will be on display this week at Farm Progress Show.

jd-intro-windrowerBesides what we’ve already told you about, there’s the new W235 Windrower featuring more horsepower, a larger cab, Integrated AutoTrac™ and CommandCenter™ display and more.

The W235 Windrowers will be offered in two configurations, a Rotary and a Draper. The Rotary will be compatible with 994 and 995 heads and the Draper will be compatible with the 600D head.

jd-intro-tracksThe S-Series Combines will be making new tracks when the fields get muddy. For the first time ever, John Deere will be offering 36″ tracks that will provide better flotation with reduced compaction and fuel use in challenging field conditions.

Other enhancements to the S-Series line-up include a new Interactive Combine Adjustment™ (ICA) which automates combine settings while harvesting on-the-go.

John Deere is also adding the new 2510L Liquid Fertilizer Applicator to its nutrient application product line. See it in person this week at Farm Progress Show!

John Deere Product Intro photo album

Agribusiness, Equipment, Farm Machinery, John Deere

Media Ready for 2013 Farm Progress Show

Chuck Zimmerman

Farm Progress Show Ag MediaIt’s almost time to kick off the 2013 Farm Progress Show in Decatur, IL. The ZimmComm team is traveling that way today and looking forward to working out of the BASF Media Tent. Thank you to BASF for being the new sponsor and for providing an air conditioned tent. This will be much needed this week looking at the forecast.

In the photo a number of ag media are getting a presentation in the new tent from show manager Matt Jungemann. The media got a preview look last week which included a tour of the show property. We’ll all be there this week.

If you can’t make the show, or even if you can, keep your eye on us as we bring you all the information we can find. You can also watch what’s going on from the webcams or follow along on the Twitter hashtag, #FPS13.

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

New Sprayers from John Deere

Cindy Zimmerman

jd-intro-sprayerTo meet evolving application needs of customers and Final Tier 4 emissions requirements, John Deere is introducing the new, completely redesigned John Deere 4 Series Sprayers.

jd-intro-breaAccording to product line manager Brea Harms, the R4030 and R4038 Self-Propelled Sprayers offer greater productivity, more uptime, and reduced cost of operation while delivering faster, easier and more precise product application.
“We’ve added the Solution Command System for push-button automated loading and a new front-fill option that makes loading easier and faster with 3-inch Quick Fill couplings at the front of the machine,” Brea says. She also explained during a classroom session how the new sprayers can help farmers deal with herbicide resistance. John Deere's Brea Harms

We learned quite a bit about these new sprayers during the media introduction in Columbus, Ohio. Check out the video below narrated by product manager Laura Robson and look forward to seeing them in person at Farm Progress Show.

John Deere Product Intro photo album

Agribusiness, Audio, Farm Machinery, John Deere, Video

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Christine (Christy) Bradshaw was hired as the new education and information services coordinator for the American Hereford Association (AHA).
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is offering online courses for youth and teachers through its teachers and students webpage.
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture is requesting comments on proposed revisions to three standards: U.S. Standards for Grades of Creole Onions, U.S. Standards for Grades of Bermuda-Granex-Grano Type Onions, and U.S. Standards for Grades of Onions (Other Than Bermuda-Granex-Grano and Creole Type).
  • Cargill announced it will suspend the purchase of beef cattle fed Merck Animal Health’s beta agonist feed additive Zilmax (zilpaterol), after a transition period to clear its current supply chain.
Zimfo Bytes

New CEO for Calcium Products Inc.

Cindy Zimmerman

CalciumProducts4Calcium Products, Inc. has a new CEO.

Mike Hogan has been named to succeed founder Larry Moore, who grew the business into one of the largest producers of pelletized limestone and gypsum in the world. Moore plans to stay on with the company in a consulting capacity.

CPI_MPH_photo-1Hogan joins Calcium Products following a 24 year career with John Deere, where he was most recently the business director and factory manager for one of Deere’s tractor divisions in Augusta, Georgia. Previously he was the general manager for Deere’s sprayer business in the Netherlands and also managed certain tractor operations for Deere in Waterloo, Iowa. Hogan is an Iowa native and attended Iowa State University with a degree in mechanical engineering. He also has an MBA from the University of Chicago.

“Larry Moore has done an outstanding job of building a strong team and establishing Calcium Products as the market leader in pelletized limestone and gypsum,” Hogan said. “These innovative products improve crop yield and I’m excited to have the opportunity to lead the company into the future.”

Calcium Products recently opened a second plant in Fort Dodge, Iowa to meet increasing customer demand. The new plant complements the company’s existing operations in Fort Dodge as well as its pelletized limestone plant in Gilmore City, IA.

Agribusiness, Fertilizer

Agvocates On Way Home

Chuck Zimmerman

National Agvocacy 2.0 ConferenceThe 2013 National Agvocacy 2.0 Conference has come to a close and another group of passionate, trained agvocates are on their way home for some needed rest before continuing to tell stories from their farms.

I’ve attended several of these conferences and they keep getting bigger and better. Last night we had some great social activity during the “traditional” swap meet where attendees exchanged various products and information from their home areas. Thanks to Alltech we also had some fine Kentucky Ale to wind down with too!

Keep this conference on your radar for 2014 to attend or perhaps consider sponsoring.

2013 National Agvocacy 2.0 Conference Photos

Ag Groups, Social Networking

McChrystal to Keynote AFBF Annual Convention

Talia Goes

am_headerGen. Stan McChrystal, a retired four-star general and former commander of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan, will deliver the keynote address at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2014 Annual Convention, Jan. 12-15, 2014, in San Antonio, Texas.

More than 7,000 Farm Bureau members from across the nation are expected to gather in San Antonio for the 95th Annual Convention to hear from distinguished leaders and participate in a grassroots policy-setting process that will guide AFBF through 2014.

McChrystal has been referred to as “one of America’s greatest warriors,” dedicating 34 years of military service to the U.S. He is a former leader of the Pentagon’s Joint Special Operations Command, which oversees the military’s most sensitive forces. His leadership of JSOC is recognized for the December 2003 capture of Saddam Hussein as well as Abu Mousab al-Zarqawi, the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, in June 2006.

McChrystal retired from the military in 2010. He currently teaches a leadership course at Yale University and is the co-founder of the McChrystal Group, which delivers innovative leadership solutions to organizations. He is also the author of the best-selling leadership book, “My Share of the Task: A Memoir.”

Farm Bureau members can register for the 95th AFBF Annual Convention through their state Farm Bureau. Learn more about convention events and related activities at http://annualconvention.fb.org/.

AFBF, Agribusiness, Events