Honoring Marsha Purcell

Chuck Zimmerman

Marsha Purcell and Gene HemphillA big thank you to our good friend Gene Hemphill for sharing a photo of Marsha Purcell who has just retired from a career of service to agriculture. He went further though in also providing us with these fantastic comments:

Email Dateline: Friday, Aug. 2, 2013 – “Wow! The day has finally come and I can’t believe it – it’s retirement day!“

And there it is, the final public message launched into cyber space from her American Farm Bureau Federation e-mail address. It was a farewell to professional relationships across the country – all who were touched and inspired by her dedication, expertise, dependability and humor – all laced into a tremendous work ethic that spanned throughout her 35-year career.

Marsha Purcell was and indeed remains a reluctant trailblazer – reluctance enhanced by her inherent sense of humility; I do not believe she ever fully recognized the footprints she was implanting thus far through her journey. Those footprints include raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for research and ag literacy … revitalizing safety programs … continued refocusing efforts of the Women’s Leadership Committee … managing the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture for 13 years … working diligently with Ag in the Classroom, where she earned the USDA Distinguished Service to Ag in the Classroom award . She also earned the Centennial Laureate Award from her alma mater (University of Kentucky)… the Management Executive Achievement Award from the Association Forum of Chicagoland, and the list indeed really goes on. All of this and more from a lady who began her career with the Kentucky Farm Bureau and eventually became the first female member of the AFBF’s management team. Beyond the doors of Farm Bureau she has also served on, among many others, the boards of organizations such as the International Society for Agricultural Safety and Health and the National Farm-City Council (NFCC). As past chair on the National Farm-City Council and current board member, I had the honor of presenting Marsha with a special plaque which offered tribute to her more than 30 years of dedication to the organization. During that presentation I recited words from a letter directed toward Marsha from current NFCC chairman Hugh Whaley:

“This letter is not intended to recall memories. Rather, it is intended to celebrate the future, your future and the future of the goals to which you have endeared yourself. From all of us on the National Farm-City Board, we wish for you safe travels as you journey forward exploring new highways. It is a comfort knowing that one of those roads will always carry your never-fading spirit as a steward of agriculture.”

AFBF, Ag Groups

Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and Ethanol Fuel

Chuck Zimmerman

Renewable Fuels Association at SturgisOn my way to Sturgis, SD this weekend for my second trip to the Legendary Buffalo Chip Campground and the 73rd Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. I’ll be working with our good friends at the Renewable Fuels Association. They are partnered with the event and venue to promote the use of ethanol fuel to motorcycle enthusiasts. And having been there once, let me tell you, these are motorcycle enthusiasts!

RFA has produced promotional and educational materials, banners and merchandise including koozies and t-shirts (featured above) exclusively for this event that will be handed out at various locations during the week. The RFA’s promotional trailer will be featured at The Crossroads, a gathering area for riders. The Sturgis Rally offers an opportunity for attendees to be educated on ethanol-blended fuel as it is often mischaracterized as a problem fuel for engines found in motorcycles.

New this year, campers at the Buffalo Chip will see more ethanol promotional efforts on the jumbotrons during the day and concerts at night as videos play 144 times each day. Banners will now also wrap the jumbotrons.

Returning this year is the opportunity for riders to fuel their motorcycles for free. The “Free Fuel Happy Hours” promotion will allow motorcyclists to fill their tank, free of charge, with 93 octane E10 (10 percent ethanol). This high octane fuel is not available in the area, and will be brought in specifically for this event. To fill up, riders must have a Buffalo Chip wristband and no fuel containers will be allowed. The Free Fuel Happy Hours will be on Tuesday, August 6, Wednesday, August 7 and Thursday, August 8 at The Crossroads at the Buffalo Chip from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. each day.

“We’re very pleased to have the Renewable Fuels Association at the Chip and offer our campers some education and free ethanol-blended fuel,” said Rod Woodruff of the Sturgis Buffalo Chip. “The RFA will be here to address some of the loose talk we all hear about motorcycles and ethanol. Personally, I’ve used home-grown American ethanol-blended fuel in my motorcycle for years. Naturally, I’m looking forward to getting a free fill at the Buffalo Chip’s CrossRoads during the RFA’s ‘Free Fuel Happy Hours’ and, hopefully, even get some free ‘Fueled with Pride’ stuff.”

Biofuels, Ethanol, RFA

Historical Ag Data Online

Cindy Zimmerman

If you want to amaze friend and family or just have some stimulating cocktail party icebreakers, check out the fun facts you can find in 77 years of historical data now available online from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

Here are a few examples:

U.S. egg exports skyrocketed from 5 million dozen in 1940 to 153 million dozen in 1941 and by 1944, that number was nearly 700 million dozen.

Iowa harvested 2.36 billion bushels of corn in 2011, more than the entire U.S. corn harvest of 1935.

Horse and mule populations fell from 18.7 million in 1930 to 3.1 million in 1960, after which the statistic was discontinued.

NASS just recently completed the digital compilation of data since 1936. In the past, this information, published in the annual bulletin Agricultural Statistics, was available in print form only. The volumes detail U.S. farming for much of the 20th century, including the Dust Bowl and World War II.

“U.S. agriculture continues to progress by learning from our past, which is why it is imperative to have historic data easily available,” said Dr. Cynthia Clark, NASS Administrator. “By publishing this information online we are simplifying the research process and further enhancing access to this important and interesting information.”

It is pretty interesting stuff. Check it out!

Farming, USDA

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

    Zimfo Bytes

  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that Vidalia onion producers will vote from September 9 through September 27, 2013, on whether to continue their Federal marketing order.
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture will announce Saturday, August 3 the number of markets registered in the 2013 National Farmers Market Directory, kicking off National Farmer’s Market Week (August 4-10, 2013).
  • Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. (BIVI) names Del Birkhofer to executive director of the Swine Division.
  • Syngenta is adding to its pool of the most diverse corn genetics in the industry with the introduction of 102 corn hybrids for the 2014 planting season.
Zimfo Bytes

Ag Leader Continues to Invest in Developing Dealers

Melissa Sandfort

Insights Weekly

Over the course of the past couple of years, Ag Leader has watched how the computer industry and the way they host peer groups in an effort to educate dealers and facilitate idea-sharing sessions, trying to see if it was a good fit for the precision agriculture industry. The genesis for peer group sharing has been around for decades, and being in a developing industry (precision ag is only a mere 20 years old), Ag Leader felt it mutually beneficial to develop the Precision Ag Peer Group program for dealers to help them grow their businesses. The purpose of the groups is business and personal growth driven by execution.

Michael Vos, Ag Leader territory development manager, says peer groups help dealers network, discover new and innovative ideas (that’s what precision ag is all about, right?), learn about business practices across the country and improve on their leadership and management skills.

Listen to my full interview with Vos here.

Listen to Vos explain

Vos says people understand the big idea behind peer groups but until you experience them for a day, you don’t really know their true value…the results are encouraging. Contact your Ag Leader territory manager today if you are interested.

Become a fan of Ag Leader on Facebook today, and get the latest precision ag videos on the YouTube channel. For more information about Ag Leader products and services, or to visit the blog site, go to www.agleader.com.

Ag Leader, Agribusiness

Nation’s Largest Outdoor Farm Show Expands

Jamie Johansen

FPS13-flagThe nation’s largest outdoor farm event, Farm Progress Show, has once again exceeded the initial projections for exhibit space. But don’t worry they are introducing an expanded show site for the event to be held in Decatur, IL. August 27-29. A new street has been added as well as an annex.

“When the Farm Progress Show sites were built in Decatur and Boone, they were built to accommodate the largest show usage in recent times,” says Matt Jungmann, national events manager. “Before the 2011 show, we added Eleventh Street to meet the demand for space. This year, it became clear that extra space was needed to accommodate all the requests by exhibitors, and the investment would need to be made to accommodate those requests.”

Throughout the last eight years Farm Progress Show has been in Decatur, grounds have grown from 10 streets 12. This expansion equates to 3.647 million square feet of exhibit space, a 6% increase since 2011. The new annex has an excess of 60 new companies exhibiting. With all these additions the show will host more than 600 companies, almost 100 more than in previous years.

The event is more than just the latest in ag technology, visitors can take in the 3rd Annual Great Lakes Hybrids Farm Progress Show Shootout Tractor Pull or a country music concert headlined by Chris Cagle.

Don’t forget to download the handy Farm Progress Show app for iPhone and Android. For more information visit the event website, like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

Events, Farm Progress Show, Farm Shows

New Holland iBrochure App

Chuck Zimmerman

New Holland iBrochure AppNeed to look up some information about New Holland products? It just got easier with this new android app.

Browse the NH iBrochure anywhere and anytime: videos, photo galleries and a wide variety of media contents that offer you an interactive experience and product info about agricultural tractors, combine harvesters, forage harvesters, groundcare, balers, telehandlers and front loaders. Enjoy!

Agribusiness, Apps, New Holland

New Holland Invites Media to First in the Field

Jamie Johansen

new-holland-ag-13-030-editedNew Holland Agriculture’s First in the Field event has taken place throughout the month of July. The event is designed to train and educate dealers on new products, but ag media had the opportunity to take it all in as well.

While enduring the heat in southern Texas, ag media spent the morning going through six checkpoints. Each station dug deep into the products new elements, gave a visual for hands on learning and time for some q & a. After a lunch of chicken and beef fajitas, we boarded vans to head out in the field. Ride and drive stations were set-up to allow for an up close and personal view of all the new bells and whistles.

During the event I chatted with Mike Cornman, New Holland Hay and Forage Segment Marketing Manager, about the importance of this event and how their innovative technology for 2014 will be desired by farmers across North America.

“As we prepare for season 2014 we have several new products when it comes to hay and forage equipment and felt it necessary to spot light that equipment, but not only tell the media about the equipment but have an opportunity for them to use the machines in the field and see them as they are cutting and baling hay.”

Listen to my interview with Mike from here: Interview with Mike Cornman

View photos from the event here: 2013 New Holland Ag Media Event Photo Album

Audio, Beef, Dairy, Forage, Hay, Media, New Holland

Pioneer See the T Photo Contest

Chuck Zimmerman

Pioneer See the TGot some T’s? Take a picture and submit in the Dupont Pioneer See the T Photo Contest.

The “See the T” photo contest has just launched as a fun tie-in with the arrival of the new Pioneer® brand T Series soybeans.

Just “Find a T, Snap a T and SubmiT” photos of T’s, on or around your farm, then upload them to the “See the T” website.

The 8-week contest runs from J​uly 29–S​eptember 20, 2013. All submitted photos will be sorted and judged, with bi-weekly prizes of Certified Angus Beef® brand T-Bone steaks going to the winners.

Bi-weekly winners will then be eligible for a chance to win the grand prize: a deluxe Weber gas grill.

So go exploring. See and snap as many T photos as possible. Tantalizing T-Bones and a killer Weber gas grill could be in your future.

Agribusiness, Pioneer, Soybean

On the Top of the World

Melissa Sandfort

20130725_101605You’ve all seen the famous “Titanic” scene where the star-crossed lovers are on the bow of the boat, arms outstretched, and Jack’s character yells, “I’m the king of the world!” The movie writers must have been inspired by a farm kid. That’s my theory anyway.

Why do I say that?

Because they probably caught an 8-year-old farm girl on top of a grain bin like this, arms outstretched, hair blowing in the wind, feeling like she was on top of the world. It’s not THAT high off the ground, but when you’re only 4 ½ feet tall, it seems like half-way to the sky.

I was that girl. I used to spend hours up there, and as I drove by these bins on my way home the other day, I thought, “Just another ag structure that dots the countryside that city folk don’t get the opportunity to enjoy”.

Until we walk again …

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