Ethanol Fueling Legends Ride at Sturgis Rally

Joanna Schroeder

Robert White Renewable Fuels AssociationThe Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is in full swing and one of the highlights of the event is the 2013 Legends Ride. The event started in Deadwood, South Dakota and ended at the Legendary Buffalo Chip Campground where the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is a sponsor. This is the site where RFA is also pumping free 93 octane E10 for riders.

Chuck Zimmerman caught up with RFA’s motorcycle expert and enthusiast Robert White just before he rode off with the tens of thousands of other riders for the Legends Ride. White said that this is the fifth year Ethanol, Fueled with Pride has sponsored the event. The event is limited to 200 riders, comprised of celebrities, motorcycle builders, riders and more and the event is designed to raise money for charity. This year White said all the funds raised will go to the Black Hills Special Olympics and part of the effort is to fund the vehicle they take to the events.

RFA, or “ethanol” is also involved in other events taking place at Sturgis including the art exhibit at the Buffalo Chip Campground, where motorcycles that can’t be seen anywhere else are on display as well as a few other events. But White said beyond that, they are here for one main reason and that is to promote ethanol.

“This year we’ve had a lot of push back from the American Motorcyclists Association (AMA) and it’s really focused around E15 and it has gotten really confusing to a lot of people. We want folks to use the right fuel; to know what type of fuel they can use, and in fact Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 1-4 pm at the Buffalo Chip, we have 93 octane E10 that I has especially blended for the riders who can come and fill their tanks for free….And we’ll show them that indeed E10 will work just fine.”

You can listen to Chuck’s interview with Robert here: Interview with Robert White

2013 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Ethanol, RFA

It’s Time To Send in Your Nominations!

Talia Goes

NAFBFoundation-color-compressedFarm Broadcaster of the Year and the Horizon Award sponsored by Syngenta are given based on professional excellence demonstrated in these specific areas:

  • On-air broadcasting (including news, markets, weather and/or special reports)
  • Leadership in broadcast programming, promotion and marketing at station/network
  • Community involvement and leadership
  • NAFB involvement

Broadcast Council members with five years or less experience are eligible for the Horizon Award. Nominate a deserving Broadcast Council member or yourself for either award by emailing Member Services & Event Coordinator Aaron Corbet (aaron@nafb.com) by August 23. Each individual nominated is reviewed for eligibility and then asked to provide more information about themselves in an application.

The NAFB Awards Committee will determine the winner of each category. Winners will be announced at the Awards Luncheon on Friday, November 15, during the NAFB Convention.

Agribusiness, Syngenta

BigBalers for Big Jobs

Jamie Johansen

new-holland-ag-13-093-editedNow here is a new toy for all those commercial hay operations, straw contractors and owner-operators shipping world-wide. New Holland Agriculture’s Next Generation BigBaler 330 produces 3’x3′ bales and the BigBaler 340 produces 3’x4′ bales.

  • Provides up to 20% more capacity with up to 5% more density with patented “C” Shaped Shuttle design.
  • Increased baling speeds of 110 bales per hour.
  • PTO driveline design brings improved durability with efficient and faster feeding.
  • Proven pre-change chamber along with 48% increased flywheel inertia ensuring consistent and dense flake formation with less driveline.
  • SMART features including Smart Fill Indicators, Crop Saver and Crop ID.

new-holland-ag-13-081-editedMark Lowery, Hay & Forage Marketing Specialist, focuses on crop packaging and baling equipment and served as our BigBaler expert for the day. While interviewing Mark, he gave light into the new technologies used to bring New Holland’s 2014 lineup front and center when it comes to hay and forage production in North America.

Listen to my interview with Mark from here: Interview with Mark Lowery

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

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

Rod Hamilton Brings Sexy Back to Ag

Joanna Schroeder

Ever since Justin Timberlake sang about bringing sexy back, it appears that sexy is making its way back to a lot of things – including, says Rod Hamilton, agriculture. Although he admits that the cheek and tongue comment gets people’s attention and that’s not necessarily the image in which he believes ag should brand itself, he is serious that one reason kids and college students aren’t working toward careers in ag is because they don’t think its a cool industry. But it is.

AgCareers13-HRroundtable-hamiltonRod Hamilton joked about not being sure why he was asked to speak to the over 200 attendees at AgCareers.com Ag & Food HR Roundtable but it only took a few comments for everyone to realize, why in fact, he was perfect. Rod didn’t begin life on a farm. He was sent to a farm to “grow up” and before he knew it he landed a job at Christensen Farms (a pork producer) based in Minnesota. Now the communications manager, he has seen several things: an industry that is not delivering a consistent message nor doing a good job of telling positive stories about itself and a shortage of up and coming talent. He noted that HR managers need to widen their pool of candidates and begin recruiting kids at a younger age to get them excited about agriculture.

Rod is also interesting because he sees an industry that needs more involvement in politics, so to fill the void he became a politician. He is now serving his fifth term in the Minnesota House of Representatives, and he is a member of the Agriculture Committee and served as Minority Lead, Vice Chair and Chair of the Committee. In this role, he has worked with educators throughout the state from elementary school through college as well as members of Minnesota communities who are passionate about where their food comes from, to ensure ag education stays in the classroom. And fortunately for the ag industry, he is just ramping up his career.

I couldn’t help but become excited about the field during his presentation and as the first day came to a close, I realized that if HR managers could bottle his passion for the industry and for kids and sprinkle it on students around the country, there would no longer be a shortage of amazing talent entering the agribusiness industry. But until then, he gave HR managers some great advice on recruiting and retaining talent to the ag industry.

Listen to my interview with Rod Hamilton here: Rod Hamilton Brings Sexy Back to Ag

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

AgCareers, Agribusiness, Audio

AgCareers.com HR Roundtable Kicks off to Full House

Joanna Schroeder

AgCareers.com Ag & Food HR Roundtable (@AgCareers / #AgRT) kicked off in Johnston, Iowa today, the home of global agricultural powerhouse and event host, DuPont Pioneer. Each year the event has grown larger and its no wonder why. With an urgent need for new agcareers13-HRroundtable-spelltalent to join the agricultural industry, there is no better event in the country for HR managers to network about job recruiting, hiring and retention tips.

The first session kicked off with some remarks from AgCareers.com President Eric Spell (who BTW- I am in a Twitter competition with) who discussed some recent trends, gave some project updates and announced some new and exciting projects. In addition, he announced the preliminary results of AgCareers.com AGRIBUSINESS HR REVIEW. This year more than 60 agribusiness companies participated with information about emerging industry trends and developments regarding Salary Reviews, HR Management Practices, Management Performance Schemes, Benefits and Salary Packaging, Recruitment Practice, Retirement Trends, and Branding Practices.

A few key discoveries according to Spell: more than 1 million agribusiness veterans are expected to retire in the next three or so years. This during the same time that there is a severe shortage of students who are graduating and taking jobs in the agribusiness field. The two hottest career fields in agriculture over the next few years: plant sciences or agronomy.

AgCareers.com has thousands of jobs on its site at any given time also has job posts for thousands of internships. Spell said the most high-profile internships for 2014 will be filled by Thanksgiving and encourages students, and employers to begin the search now.

But maybe one of the coolest programs AgCareers has, and it happens to be new, is its AgWarriors program which aims at helping connect veterans and employers. Interestingly, Spell said that more than 40 percent of the jobs needed in Ag don’t require ag backgrounds and with the unique skill sets these veterans bring to the workforce, they will be in high-demand to fill positions over coming years.

I’ve barely touched on the great information that was shared during the opening session today. You can listen to my interview with Eric Spell here: Interview with Eric Spell

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

AgCareers, Agribusiness, Audio

Passing the AAEA Gavel

Cindy Zimmerman

ams13-aaea-prezAt the American Agricultural Editors Association (AAEA) membership meeting this morning at the Ag Media Summit, the gavel was officially passed and a new president took over the reins of the organization.

Laurie Bedord with Successful Farming (right) is now the immediate past president of AAEA and Holly Spangler of Prairie Farmer is the new president. They are both excited about the direction of the organization and getting more young people involved for the future of agricultural journalism.

Listen to my interview with Laurie and Holly here: Interview with two AAEA presidents
2013 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

ACN, Ag Media Summit, Audio, Media

FMC Announces Anthem Finalists at AMS

Cindy Zimmerman

ams13-fmcYou could call it “Rural America’s Got Talent.” After six months, 185 entries and a round of online voting and judging, FMC Corporation has announced the final four contestants in the Anthem “Stand and be Heard” Singing Contest.

“This is the second year we’ve had the Stand and be Heard contest,” said FMC’s Tim Thompson, pictured here second from the right with his colleagues at the Ag Media Summit this week. “It’s for students in FFA, NAMA and 4H – ag students – who sing the national anthem on video and submit it and (are judged) for the opportunity to win up to $10,000 in scholarships.”

FMC Anthem Stand and Be HeardTim says over 30 states were represented in the entries and they have now been judged down to the final four – Alexander Raun, 18, from Minden, Nebraska; Alexandra Carpenter, 19, from Crawfordsville, Indiana; Hayley Hall, 17, from Bladenboro, North Carolina; and Noelle Goodson, 18, Fayette, Ohio.

Next the four will be on their way to Nashville for a professional recording session and new videos will be posted to the site on August 26 so you can cast your vote for the winner. You really have to go and listen to these kids sing acapella to hear their pure sound. Everyone knows what a difficult song our beautiful national anthem is to sing, so you know these kids have real talent!

The contest was started last year to promote FMC’s Anthem herbicide for corn and Tim says they expect to have new registrations coming soon for cereals, potatoes, peanuts, cotton and soybeans. “A great grass products, longest residual product on the market today, along with great broadleaf control for things like palmer amaranth,” he added.

Listen to my interview with Tim here: Interview with Tim Thompson, FMC
2013 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

Ag Media Summit, Audio, FMC

True Blue Tractor Luxury

Jamie Johansen

new-holland-ag-13-103-editedThe two tractors highlighted during New Holland Agriculture’s First in the Field Media Event included the T5 and T6 series tractors. The new T5 has redefined utility tractor standards for mixed farmers with diversified livestock and crop operations. And the T6 has been further enriched by the addition of Auto Command.

T5 Series:
– 3.4L F5D Tier 4A emission complaint engines that utilize a Cooled Exhaust Gas Recirculation system & a Diesel Particulate Filter.
– Heavy-duty components that enable long hours of working on the farm.
– A broad loader offering further enhanced versatility.
– VisionView cab provides ultimate comfort and visibility.
– Ergonomic CommandArc console provides the operator with perfect placement of controls.

T6 Series:
– Auto Command transmission for enhanced efficiency.
– Multi-award-winning Side Winder II armrest.
– Upgraded Horizon Cab for outstanding all-day comfort.
– Powerful hydraulics boasting 33 gal. per min. of flow capacity.
– Blue Power edition for a touch of farming luxury.
– ECOBlue SCR technology which will reduce fuel consumption by up to 10%.

Mike Sevick, Marketing Specialist in Dairy & Livestock Brand Marketing, specifically works with T4, T5, T5 Electro Command, T6, T6 Auto Command and TS6 series tractors. While explaining all the new features of these tractors, Mike was excited to share the dealers enthusiasm while they got behind the wheel of these blue beauties. He even stated that many are looking for them to replace the T6020 and T6030 tractors.

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

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

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

AMS Student Awards

Cindy Zimmerman

ams13-lpc-studentsAll of the students attending Ag Media Summit are outstanding, but several of them received special recognition at the awards luncheon on Monday.

The Livestock Publications Council recognized four students as Forest Bassford award finalists, with Ann Kopecky on the left representing sponsor Alltech. Next to Ann from the left are finalists Kari Weis (University of Missouri), Reba Underwood (West Texas A&M), Claire Carlson and Logan Britton (both from Kansas State). The winner of the award honoring the founder of LPC was Kari.

ams13-aaea-awardsKari was also one of four students who received scholarships from AAEA. Next to Kari here are Ellen Reeder (University of Illinois) and Courtney Leeper, also from MU. Next to Courtney is JoAnn Alumbaugh, Pork Network and AAEA committee chair, who made the presentations. Not pictured is Maggie Jo Pruitt, University of Arkansas, who is completing a summer internship abroad.

I talked to Kari about her experience at Ag Media Summit, which she says is like “one big family.”

Listen to my interview with Kari here: Interview with student award winner Kari Weis
2013 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

ACN, Ag Media Summit, Alltech, Audio, LPC, Media

The International Side of AMS

Cindy Zimmerman

ams13-marcusLess than a month from now, many of the folks in Buffalo at the Ag Media Summit will be in Argentina for the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) 2013 Congress. But this week, IFAJ came to us as organization president Markus Rediger and his wife Marianne of Switzerland attended the AMS.

“I like very much to be here with my colleagues in North America,” Markus said. “Actually, I was at an AAEA meeting in 1985, way before I was at the first IFAJ Congress.” That is because Markus was at the University of Illinois at that time and was introduced to North American agricultural journalism by none other than the legendary Dr. Jim Evans. Markus and his wife were visiting friends in Illinois last week before heading to New York for the AMS.

Markus is excited about the upcoming IFAJ Congress in Argentina. “It’s the first Congress in Latin America for IFAJ,” he said. “Argentina is quite a large agricultural producer in many markets.” He adds that IFAJ currently has about 30 countries that have member guilds, including AAEA here in the United States, with more being added each year.

Listen to my interview with Markus here: Interview with Markus Rediger, IFAJ president
2013 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

Ag Media Summit, Audio, IFAJ, Media