ASTA at the Grand Ole Opry

Cindy Zimmerman

The opening reception for the 130th American Seed Trade Association annual convention was held at the Grand Ole Opry and the entertainment was provided by an up-and-coming country artist who is now starting to get so popular that he is having less time for his job as a Syngenta Seeds sales rep. Not coincidentally, the reception was sponsored by Syngenta Seeds.

http://agwired.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/asta-13-levi.jpg“>asta-13-leviLevi Riggs is an Indiana native who has been with Syngenta Seeds for five years. “In February I stepped into a seed adviser role so I’m actually a dealer selling to local farmers around my area and really focusing in on that and country music,” Levi said.

He grew up on a dairy farm, studied Ag Econ at Purdue, and worked as an intern with Golden Harvest prior to its purchase by Syngenta Seeds, but he always loved music. “I sang with the Purdue Varsity Glee Club and I just had a passion for country music,” which Levi said led him to put a band together and start singing at county fairs.

Last night was the first time that Levi, with his sister Lauren and brother-in-law, played the Grand Ole Opry but with songs like “Born to Farm” it probably won’t be the last! “Corn and beans, green and red machines, he was born to farm!”

Listen to our interview with Levi here where he signs part of “Born to Farm” – Interview with Syngenta Seeds singer Levi Riggs

Check him out at LeviRiggs.com or on Facebook.

Watch the video that Meghan Grebner with Brownfield Ag News shot of Levi singing “Born to Farm.”

ASTA Annual Meeting Photo Album

Agribusiness, ASTA, Audio, Seed, Syngenta

New Holland Excavators Good for Ag & Construction

John Davis

new-holland-ce-10During the recent New Holland Construction Media Event at company headquarters in New Holland, Pa., company officials emphasized how this year, they are integrating their agricultural and construction lines of equipment. One of those items that falls into that category of being useful in either world is their E55B excavator, which Peter Nelmes, construction equipment specialist for New Holland CE Specialist, explained during an interview with Chuck that the quiet, rubber-tracked 5.5-metric ton with auxiliary hydraulics is a very flexible excavator/crawler.

“It’s very versatile because of the size and because of the swing radius on it,” he said. “It’s where you can’t get a larger machine in to do a job, where you’d have to get people to come in and hand dig it, this one will do it.”

Several features set this machine apart from its competition, including a tremendous drawbar force, good for pushing up and down hills and moving materials with a dozer blade, as well as great swing torque.

While most would think of this for construction and landscaping, Peter said he expects that this could be very handy on the farm.

“A lot of times if you have to dig trenches along the side for your dairy farm or cleaning out bins, these are compact enough to be able to get in, and they can move the bulk of the stuff out from where you can’t reach with a skid steer over corral pens and put it where you can get it with your larger equipment.”

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Peter here: Interview with Peter Nelmes

New Holland Construction Equipment Media Event Photos

Agribusiness, Audio, Equipment, New Holland

ASTA Convention Tackles Industry Issues

Cindy Zimmerman

asta-13-signThe American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) is holding its 130th annual convention in Nashville, Tennessee this week and it goes without saying that the organization is facing issues today that members at that first meeting never even dreamed about.

“It’s really exciting when we look at 130 years of all the issues that impact the seed industry and how the industry has changed just over the last 10-15 years, let alone 130,” said ASTA President and CEO Andy LaVigne.

asta-13-andyToday the big issues for the industry include dealing with new breeding methods, handling of seed treatment, and advocating for the seed industry on the local, national and even international level.

On the national front, Andy says they are kicking off a new seed industry advocacy program to help members become more involved in legislation and regulatory issues; and on the international front they are continuing to make progress on what is know as “The Accord” – an industry-wide effort to address the opportunities and the challenges associated with biotechnology patent expiration. “The whole program will be up and running by the end of this year and the opportunity for generic products to come into the marketplace or be stacked will be there,” said Andy, just in time for the first commercial biotech event to come off patent.

Find out more in this interview with Andy: Interview with ASTA CEO Andy LaVigne

The official photo album is started and we will also be keeping a page on AgNewsWire.AgWired.com where all audio files will be posted.

Agribusiness, ASTA, Audio, Seed

2013 World Livestock Auctioneer Champion Dustin Focht

Chuck Zimmerman

2013 WLAC Dustin FochtA big congratulations to Dustin Focht, Stillwater, OK, who is the 2013 World Livestock Auctioneer Champion! Here’s a photo of Dustin. The Runner up Champion is Blaine Lotz from Edna, Kansas and the Reserve Champion is Brian Little from Wann, Oklahoma. We had a fantastic group of 31 contestants for this honor. It’s the Super Bowl of livestock auctioneering and I’m proud to have had the opportunity to be a judge for the interview portion of the competition.

As the 2013 World Livestock Auctioneer Champion Dustin will be driving that truck he’s standing in front of. He’s also holding his Gist Belt Buckle and will also receive a Champion Sculpture, $5,000, Hand-tooled leather briefcase, World Champion Ring, Golden Gavel Award and James Reid, Ltd. Money Clip. Dustin will make a lot of appearances around the country in the coming year. Maybe he’ll be in your area soon. If so, please say hello and meet an awesome representative of the livestock auction market industry.

If you’d like a short sample of yesterday’s ring competition I shot a video clip of the first contestant before I had to hit the road. I’ve got plenty of early photos from Montgomery Stockyards in the photo album too. I also have more interviews to share from the LMA Annual Convention too.

2013 LMA/WLAC Photo Album

Ag Groups, Livestock, LMA, Video

Off to ASTA

Cindy Zimmerman

asta-130What better place is there than Nashville to celebrate 130 years of the seed industry’s strong roots while charting a path for the progress and innovation of our present and future?

I am heading to the 130th American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) annual meeting at the Gaylord Opryland and joining me will be AgWired summer intern Maggie Seiler. Among the events we will be covering for you at ASTA will be an address by nationally known agriculture economist Lowell Catlett, who will kick off the convention on Monday morning, followed on Tuesday by a State of Agribusiness panel discussion. There will be lots of focus on trends, challenges and opportunities, here and abroad, facing seed companies, large and small, over the coming year.

Breakout sessions will feature up-to-date reports on intellectual property rights, phytosanitary issues, food safety and seed stewardship and more. In addition, ASTA will also hold its annual elections and welcome in new leadership for the coming year.

Stay tuned to AgWired for full coverage and all audio and photos will also be posted on AgNewsWire.AgWired.com.

Agribusiness, ASTA, Seed

Industry Celebrates First Year of Feeding for 30

Cindy Zimmerman

feeding-30At World Pork Expo, Purina Animal Nutrition was celebrating the first anniversary of its Feeding for 30 program, adding new partners to further the the industry goal of achieving 30 pigs per sow per year.

We launched it one year ago in partnership with Zinpro,” says Elena Lindemann, lactating livestock marketing director with Purina Animal Nutrition. “And this year we added another partner, DSM Nutritional Products.”

“When we created the Feeding for 30 program, we knew that properly feeding sows promotes their health and well-being – allowing better potential of achieving 30 healthy piglets weaned each year,” she added.

At World Pork Expo, Feeding for 30 presented a sow nutrition and management seminar designed to help producers achieve 30 pigs per sow per year. Organized as an interactive peer-to-peer forum, a panel of pork producers and swine nutritionists shared new tips and management insights, and answer questions. Producers can find out more at FeedingFor30.com and on their Facebook page.

Listen to my interview with Elena here: Interview with Purina's Elena Lindemann

Animal Health, Audio, Pork, Swine

Time For LMA Socializing

Chuck Zimmerman

Past WLAC ChampsWe have had a business meeting going on here at the 2013 Livestock Marketing Association Annual Convention for the past two days. Tonight it was time to relax and socialize. Big thanks to Montgomery Stockyards for sponsoring an excellent Fat Boy’s Bar-B-Que Ranch dinner at Union Station.

During our supper we heard from several folks and then all the past World Livestock Auctioneer Champions came up for a photo opportunity with Bailey Ballou, the 2012 Champion. It was an emotional time since Bailey will be turning over the reigns to a new champion tomorrow. I’ve updated my photos so please feel free to enjoy and share. I’ve got lots more interviews to share with you soon.

2013 LMA/WLAC Photo Album

Ag Groups, LMA

Ag Leader’s Educator Training

Melissa Sandfort

Insights WeeklyAg Leader’s 4th annual Educator’s Training will be held on Aug. 6-8 at Ag Leader Academy. The program is designed for institutions that are teaching precision ag practices to their students either in the classroom or in the field with the purpose of educating institutions on Ag Leader’s various services and products, as well as to provide hands on demonstrations of Ag Leader’s product lineup.

Tyler Anderson, Ag Leader software support specialist, says Ag Leader is helping to cultivate the next generation of precision ag specialists in the job field, whether it’s back home on their own farms, at Ag Leader or as a precision farming dealer.

Listen to Anderson explain

Anderson also says, “These ‘educating the educator’ sessions help students understand where precision ag might fit into their future.” Here’s what people can look forward to.

Listen to Anderson explain

Please contact Tyler Anderson or Adam Walters at 515-232-5363 or education@agleader.com if you are interested in attending, need more information regarding the training, or are interested in learning about Ag Leader’s Educational Solutions program.

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

LMA Provides Animal Handling Expertise

Chuck Zimmerman

Laura MarksAnimal handling is THE big priority issue for the Livestock Marketing Association. Members have Laura Marks, LMA Director of Animal Handling, as a great resource when it comes to this issue. Here at the 2013 LMA Annual Convention Laura conducted a workshop on this issue. I visited with her in between sessions to learn what she wanted members to know. Laura says members want to treat the animals in their care the best way possible at all times.

You can listen to my interview with Laura here: Interview with Laura Marks

The LMA offers Animal Care Training information for its members which can be found here.

2013 LMA/WLAC Photo Album

Ag Groups, Animal Agriculture, Animal Health, Audio, LMA

Former WLAC Bailey Ballou Works for LMA PAC

Chuck Zimmerman

2012 WLAC Bailey BallouThe 2012 World Livestock Auctioneer Champion is Bailey Ballou. He got to perform for us here at the LMA Annual Convention at the LMA PAC dinner/auction. Bailey auctioned off a number of items to raise money for the effort.

Before we got started with that I chatted with Bailey about his year as the WLAC. He says he’s been on the road to almost 70 different events this past year and is looking forward to a little break in the action. Bailey has always been goal driven and after reaching his goal of winning the WLAC he says he needs some time to formulate a new challenge. He also offers encouragement to anyone who would like to pursue a career as an auctioneer and especially in the livestock business.

You can listen to my interview with Bailey here: Interview with Bailey Ballou

A little Bailey doing LMA PAC auction here: Bailey Ballou at PAC Auction

2013 LMA/WLAC Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, LMA, Video