John Block Reports

Chuck Zimmerman

John BlockOne of my all time favorite U.S. Secretaries of Agriculture is John Block. Here he is speaking on a panel at last fall’s NAFB convention. John is currently Senior Policy Advisor in the law firm of Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Matz PC and serves on numerous boards. He also produces a long running commentary, John Block Reports from Washington. His most recent episode touches on immigration reform, spending and budgets and Syria. You can listen to it here: John Block Reports

John encourage everyone to access his website which archives his radio commentaries dating back 10 years and will go back 20 years when complete. Check on what he said back then.

Audio, Media

Sing a Song of Hot Dogs

Chuck Zimmerman

Hot Dog Idol ContestIt’s summer hot dog time and National Hot Dog Month is almost here. According to the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council, Americans are expected to eat 150 million hot dogs over the July 4th holiday alone, part of the 7 billion hot dogs eaten over the summer season from Memorial Day to Labor Day. That’s a lot of dogs!

If you’re a hot dog lover and want to “sing for your supper” then check out the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, Hot Dog Idol Contest.

Fans across America have a chance to win a $250 gift card to use to create their perfect summer picnic; all it takes is a catchy tune. Fans can submit a video or audio post singing a song about hot dogs—the more creative the better. Songs can be an original tune or changed lyrics to a popular song, but the goal is the same: sing to profess a love of hot dogs. Entries must be submitted to contest@hot-dog.org by noon on July 11, 2013.

Finalists will be posted on the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council Facebook page on July 12 for fans to choose their favorite. The songs with the most votes will be announced on National Hot Dog Day, July 17th, 2013 with the grand prize winner receiving a $250 gift certificate to the grocery store of their choosing to build the perfect summer picnic. First runner-up will receive a $100 gift certificate to the grocery store of their choosing, and second runner-up will receive a $50 gift card to the grocery store of their choosing. All three top vote-getters will receive complimentary National Hot Dog and Sausage Council T-shirts featuring the slogan Hot Dogs: Relish the Moment, chosen by hot dog fans during last year’s Hot Dog Month. Full contest guidelines and rules are available at www.hot-dog.org.

Ag Groups, Food, Meat

Concerns About Ag Provisions in Immigration Bill

Cindy Zimmerman

chamblissAs the Senate prepares to vote on comprehensive immigration reform today, Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) took to the floor Wednesday evening to detail some of his concerns about the farm worker provisions in the bill and amendments that he wanted to see added.

The Georgia senator’s main issues center around requirements under the “Blue Card” program the new legislation would set up that he feels could add too many farm workers and ultimately make it easier for them to move out of agriculture and into other areas of employment.

“Because of the way the blue card program is set up, I’m afraid we’re providing too strong an incentive for people who did very minimal or even no work in agriculture to access the program, and that we’ll end up with more ag workers than we need,” said Chambliss. “Then because the work requirements are so low, once folks get the blue card, they’ll perform the minimal amount of work required and move on to a different job.”

Chambliss spent time detailing the amendments he would like to offer that would fix some of the concerns he has and he is disappointed they will not be considered. “The ag portion of this bill is a critical piece of the legislation and I’m afraid it’s been overshadowed by some of the other issues,” he said. “Ultimately, I want what’s best for American agriculture.”

Listen to or download – Senator Saxby Chambliss 6/26/13

Audio, labor

The Tin Man

Melissa Sandfort

imageToday Aunt Jeanette writes:
One of our hired farm hands is always playing tricks on us. He has a quick wit and makes me laugh.

His parents had a garage sale as they are moving and needed to downsize a bit. I knew about the garage sale, but since they live in a different town, I did not go. Plus, I have enough stuff of my own. As our employee was leaving work one day, he said he had a tin man in his pickup that he was going to take to the dumpster. I jokingly said, “Just make sure it gets to the dumpster as I have enough junk around here already!”

The next morning as I was watering my flowers, I saw the tin man hiding in my flower bed! The funny thing is, I thought he was kind of cute. So I left him there. The next morning the little bucket he is holding appeared. There was a wheelbarrow by his feet the next morning. I had no choice but to plant some flowers in the bucket and wheelbarrow. So the Tin Man has a permanent home among my flowers!

Looks like the Tin Man has found my heart.

Until we walk again …

Uncategorized

A Swinetiffic Relationship – Pork and Biofuels

Joanna Schroeder

Today is Iowa Swine Day (June 27) and the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) is taking a time to show how renewable fuels production is boosting the profitability of raising hogs in Iowa.

Cute pig“On Iowa Swine Day, it’s important to remember that a strong renewable fuels industry means a strong hog industry here in Iowa,” said IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw. “IRFA members have developed solid relationships with Iowa’s pork producers and the numbers show it. Whether it’s purchasing choice white grease for biodiesel production or supplying affordable distillers grains for feed, Iowa renewable fuels and Iowa pork production have a symbiotic relationship.”

IFRA says that ethanol production helps Iowa pork producers by providing an affordable, high protein feed called distillers grains (DDGS). The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and ProExporter Network recently noted that Iowa hogs are the number one in-state consumer of DDGS, utilizing approximately 1.2 million tons of each year. This represents 61 percent of in-state DDGS consumption.

In addition, biodiesel production not only lowers the cost of soybean meal, it also increases the value of animal fats benefiting Iowa’s pork producers. A recent study by Cardno ENTRIX found that an Iowa hog producer realizes a $4 per head boost in profitability because of Iowa’s biodiesel industry. Therefore, an Iowa farmer raising both crops and hogs would see nearly a 20 percent increase in net income because of Iowa biodiesel production.

Biodiesel, Biofuels, Ethanol, Pork, Swine

Contestants Came Far & Wide For WLAC Competition

Jamie Johansen

lma-13-jonesThe World Livestock Auctioneer Championship took place in conjunction with the Livestock Marketing Association’s Annual Convention. Auctioneer’s from around the world who qualified for the event traveled to Montgomery, Alabama to compete and take in the convention.

Chuck caught up with Garrett Jones from Los Banos, California, who was a contestant in the auctioneering championship. Garrett qualified in the top 31 contestants and was eager for the competition to begin.

With little agricultural background, Garrett first became interested in auctioneering when he saw a local auctioneer sell his country fair. The auctioneer was also a local cattle buyers and encouraged him to go to auctioneering school and the rest is pretty much history.

When asked if he had done any preparation for the competition he shared that auctioneers sell cattle everyday, so that part is easy. The part he was a little nervous about was the interview process and talking to a panel of judges.

Garrett was proud to do his best to represent the industry well. Here he is pictured with his dad and Jimmy Maxey, Secretary/Treasurer, Cattlemen’s Beef Board.

You can listen to Chuck’s interview with Garrett here: Interview with Garrett Jones

Here you can find photos from the event: 2013 LMA/WLAC Photo Album

Audio, Beef, Livestock, LMA

New Efforts for House Farm Bill

Cindy Zimmerman

House Democrats have officially introduced the Senate version of the farm bill as Republicans continue to mull their options.

Dave-LoebsackDemocrat representatives Dave Loebsack and Bruce Braley of Iowa, together with freshman Cheri Bustos of Illinois introduced HR 2498 with the exact text as the Senate Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013 which passed earlier this month on a vote of 66-23.

“After voting down the farm bill last week, the House must act quickly to move the farm bill process forward. The Senate voted in a strong bipartisan fashion to move the Farm Bill forward and it is time House leaders bring up this legislation and allow a vote on the bill,” said Congressman Dave Loebsack. “I know the Farm Bill is critical for Iowa’s farmers, rural communities and economy. While the Senate legislation is not perfect, Congress must provide our farmers and rural communities some certainty. Partisan bickering will only further delay enactment of a long-term Farm Bill.”

Meanwhile, House Republicans met on Wednesday in an effort to regroup after last week’s stunning defeat of the farm bill on the House floor. No official word on what they might do, just that they want to “do something.”

Farm Bill

IFAJ Has Two Positions Open

Chuck Zimmerman

IFAJThe International Federation of Agricultural Journalists is looking for a couple of good people. It’s to support the IFAJ Strategy 2020 program. you can read all about that here (pdf).

There are two part time positions open to help administer the expanding day-to-day affairs of the organization. Here are short descriptions of the positions. You can find out more online.

General Manager – (Executive Secretary and internet network facilitator)

The general manager maintains contact with executive members, guild secretaries and the presidium.

Global Coordinator – (Coordinator strategy 2020, treasurer and guild support)

The global coordinator reports to the presidium and works to create liaisons and manage partner programs between IFAJ and agricultural journalists worldwide.

IFAJ, Media

Multiplier Effect of IFAMA Student Involvement

Cindy Zimmerman

ifama-13-studentsA panel at the Student Summit luncheon at the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA) World Forum last week showcased the “multiplier effect” that IFAMA has for the industry. It also shows the tremendous commitment of Novus International to bringing along future talent.

ifama-13-novus-tomasTomas Murtagh has been with Novus International for five years now as a business and financial analyst based in Brazil, after being involved in the student case competition in 2006. “It’s a good chance for students to sit down with industry leaders, with the Novus’, the Monsantos, the Coca Colas out there,” he said. “It’s not just networking, it’s educational as well.” It was through contacts with IFAMA that got the opportunity with Novus.

Listen to Tomas’ comments here Tomas Murtagh, Novus International

ifama-13-novus-internsYiwei Yan and Mingxuan Liu from China were on the 2012 winning student case competition team from Nanjing Agricultural University and are now both interns for the summer with Novus International. Yiwei is working with the HR department of Novus and is attending the University of Georgia, while Mingxuan (Micky), who will receive her PhD next month, was quite active at the forum greeting people and helping them get to where they were going.

“This is a big event for us to help us understand more about the industry,” said Yiwei. “From here we can know how to use our knowledge in reality and not just specialize in one single field.”

Micky’s exuberance and outgoing personality has paid off for her in helping her team win last year at IFAMA in Shanghai and with her internship this year at Novus, which has helped her see different sides of IFAMA. “This year as an intern I have a wider horizon as to what the whole of IFAMA is,” she said. “We can see what the role we are going to play and who we are going to be in the future.”

Listen to comments from Yiwei and Micky here: Novus student interns from China

Also, in case you missed it, be sure to listen to my interview with Novus CEO Thad Simons, new president of IFAMA, in which he talks about how important the IFAMA student program is to Novus and to the industry as a whole. Interview with Novus CEO and IFAMA president Thad Simons


IFAMA 23rd World Forum Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Novus International

Are You a Satellite Radio Listener

Talia Goes

Before we get to our new Zimmpoll let’s look at the results of our latest one which asked the question, “How concerned are you about the government having your private data?” Our poll results read loud and clear this week. Over half of you are now more worried that the government sees private data.

Our poll results: Sixty-nine percent said More Worried, twenty-four percent said Not Concerned, four percent said Other and two percent said Less Worried. Many agriculturalists have converted to digital data systems in order to become more efficient. Knowing the government is actively collecting private data is causing concerns in all sectors of business and that includes farming.

Untitled

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “Do you listen to satellite radio?” Satellite radio has become more and more popular over the years. Not only is it included in many new vehicles but you can even access it over your smartphone. So do you subscribe? Has it changed your listening habits? Will this affect “regular” farm radio? Let us know.

ZimmPoll is sponsored by New Holland Agriculture.

ZimmPoll