The Seasons of a Farmer

Melissa Sandfort

imageHi! I am Melissa’s Aunt Jeanette. I would like to invite you to take a stroll with me until Melissa walks with you again. Although teaching was my chosen career, I grew up on a farm and also married a farmer. That last thing – marrying a farmer – was something I said I would never do, but I guess you can’t take the farm out of the girl!

So here goes…..

The Seasons of a Farmer

Aahhh, Saturday morning. Maybe a leisurely cup of coffee while reading the news. Reality – “Are you busy? Do you have a minute?” Of course I did…..

While I was writing down the numbers on the ear tags of the cows and calves, I multi-tasked and also wrote this little story (and no one suspected!):

After the Super Bowl, and even before then, we all knew “Why God Made a Farmer.” We even knew why He chose certain special people to do His work. Well, God also made “The Seasons of a Farmer.” In my mind, those seasons are Planting, Irrigating, Harvesting and Preparing To Do It All Over Again. Since Planting is completed, or nearly completed, at least here in south central Nebraska, we are bracing ourselves for Irrigating – and in the meantime praying for a good, soaking rain. Now, just as there are transition days between the regular seasons, there are also those transition days between the farmers’ seasons. In this time between Planting and Irrigating, there are weeds to be sprayed, fences to be checked and fixed, cows and calves to be moved to grass, planters and drills to be cleaned and put away, and numerous other “what do you do with all your free time now that you’re done planting?” jobs! My part in all this? I maintain my sense of humor and when I get up in the mornings I usually try to be ready for the questions, “Are you busy? Do you have a minute?”

It’s 2:00. Now for that cup of coffee…..

Uncategorized

Sustainability focus at Alltech Beef Discussion Dinner

Maggie Seiler

alltech-symposium-13-10Tuesday night at the Alltech International Symposium was discussion dinner night. While Chuck was sitting in on the Marketing discussion, I got to participate in the Beef 2020 dinner and discussion. Participants in the conversation were from a wide range of backgrounds and geographies including people from the United States, South America and Europe. The topic of discussion for the night was sustainability. Conversation included issues such as remaining economically sustainable as well as environmentally sustainable. The many varied opinions and experiences allowed for a lively dinner. The discussion was facilitated by James Campbell from the Irish Farmers Journal and Bruno Mazzer, beef sales and solutions manager with Alltech.

I interviewed Mazzer following the dinner and you can listen to his comments here: Beef Sustainability

2013 Alltech International Symposium Photo Album

Agribusiness, Alltech, Audio

Chaney’s Dairy Barn

Maggie Seiler

alltech-symposium-13-11The World Market at the Alltech International Symposium played host to several companies. Walking through the market an attendee had the opportunity to taste test meat, bread or cheese, but one of the most popular attractions was the Chaney Dairy Barn ice cream.

The Chaney family dairy is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The dairy farm has been in the family since 1888 and currently milks about 50 Jersey cows. In 2003, they opened the Chaney Dairy Barn selling ice cream. This product goes hand-in-hand with their popular agritourism business. The farm played host to approximately 8,000 kids last year. One of their more popular events is Ice Cream and a Moovie that was recently chosen as a top 20 event by the Southern Tourism Society.

I caught up with Carl Chaney, co-owner of the Chaney Dairy Barn, scooping ice cream at the world market. It was really interesting to talk with him about their operation and how they market their products. When asked how he markets his product, Chaney said, “Anyway I can.”

You can learn more about the Chaney family and the Chaney Dairy Barn at their website.

Listen to the whole interview here: Chaney Dairy Barn

2013 Alltech International Symposium Photo Album

Agribusiness, Alltech, Audio

Alltech Lyons Glimpse the Future

Chuck Zimmerman

Drs. Mark & Pearse LyonsA pair of Dr. Lyons bid us goodbye from the 2013 Alltech International Symposium. Here are son/father, Dr. Mark Lyons and Dr. Pearse Lyons.

Dr. Mark Lyons, vice president of corporate affairs at Alltech, talked to us about the importance of food safety as he shared the company’s vision for helping expand agricultural production in China. According to Lyons, food security is seen as “the potential Achilles’ heel of China” and is too big of an issue to ignore publicly.

China’s five-year plan focuses on making farms larger, more efficient and more traceable. For example, half of the world’s pigs live in China and from those 50 million sows, 20 pigs per sow are born alive per year. This equals an annual production of one billion pigs per year. However, due to preweaning mortality, only 600 million actually go to market. The 400 million lost is three times the size of U.S. pig production. In China, one more pig per sow per year would mean one million tons of feed saved.

“What is Alltech’s five-year plan? We want to be a foreign brand with a Chinese heart,” Lyons said. “We want to firmly establish market leadership, partner with the government and leading feed, production and food companies, and give our customers a competitive advantage.

Listen to Mark talk about his vision of 2020 here: Dr. Mark Lyons Vision

Founder and president of Alltech, Dr. Pearse Lyons in his wrap-up challenged the delegates to help the farmer of tomorrow and to use the resources provided to them at this year’s event.

“Are you going to fly or are you going to soar? Will you flourish?” Dr. Lyons asked. “You need to leave here today and say, ‘I may not rule the world, but I can have an impact on feeding the world’s growing population.’”

Listen to Pearse wrap-up the Symposium here: Dr. Pearse Lyons Wrap-up

2013 Alltech International Symposium Photo Album

Agribusiness, Alltech, Audio

Is Ag Marketing Itself Well or Not?

Talia Goes

With all the farm bill activity in Congress this past week, our latest ZimmPoll asked “What’s your opinion of committee farm bill?” From the results, most think it’s better than nothing.

Our poll results: 18% said Better Than Nothing and Other, 14% said Hits Nutrition Too Hard and Bad For Everyone, nine percent said Senate Better Than House, Bad For Farmers, Will Help Conservation and Great For Everyone, and nobody said House Better Than Senate. Poll results are all over the charts this week with mixed reviews and disagreement with particular sections of the farm bill.

Untitled

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “Is agriculture doing a bad job of marketing?” Marketing seems to be the key to a successful industry. The public often gets a bad taste for agriculture after “issues” hit the media. Do we cover our tracks and market the good along with the benefits to agriculture, not to mention the must haves of it? Let us know.

ZimmPoll is sponsored by New Holland Agriculture.

ZimmPoll

Study Shows Internet Increases Small Farm Income

Jamie Johansen

LSUAC4CAccording to research conducted by Aditya Khanal & Ashok Mishra, both with the Department of Agricultural Economics & Agribusiness at Louisiana State University, the internet has added $2,000+ annual gross farm income to small farms.

“Small farms with access to the Internet earned approximately $2,200 to $2,700 more in gross farm income compared to small farms without access to the Internet.”

The pair of agricultural economists presented their findings in February. Researchers used data from a nationwide U. S. Department of Agriculture survey of farm households in 2010. They defined a “small farm” as having a gross cash farm income of less than $250,000. Sixty-two percent of the small farm households had access to the Internet.

Researchers concluded that small farm businesses, through good management of off-farm and on-farm activities, can benefit from Internet service as it opens up options for gaining information and potentially reducing input costs and household expenses.

Those living in rural areas understand that access to high-speed internet or any form of internet is sometimes hard to find. But is getting better. The internet allows farmers to have access to more education and research, enables different marketing opportunities and can serve as a networking tool.

For more information on this study you can read the complete report here.

Education, Research

Canadian Farm Writers Federation Plan Conference

Jamie Johansen

cfwftransparent2Canadian Farm Writers Federation (CFWF) is currently in the planning stages for a conference for members this fall. The event will be held October 3-6, 2013 at the world-famous Harrison Hot Springs Resort.

The Fraser Valley is one of the most densely cultivated areas in Canada. This compact region boasts the highest blueberry production in North America, Canada’s largest dairy farm, and a poultry sector leads the country in both population density and adoption of biosecurity. The Circle Farm Tours also make this area a leader in direct farm marketing and agri-tourism.

The bus tours will feature agriculture in and around Chilliwack, Abbotsford and Agassiz, as well as the first ever CFWF Cycle Farm Tour of farms, processors and research facilities in the Agassiz-Harrison area. Attendees can arrive early for the Thursday pre-tours: ‘Up the Creek’, a boat tour up the Fraser River, or ‘Round the Mountain’, a bus tour to the ranchlands of the Nicola Valley.

More details will be coming soon. Watch the CFWF Facebook Page for breaking news. Registration opens May 15, 2013 and if you have any questions, contact Tamara Leigh, tamara@shinybird.ca, 778-232-4036 or checkout their website.

Events

Charleston|Orwig Named A Top Wisconsin Workplace

Jamie Johansen

Lyle Orwig Leadership Award_May 17 2013For the fourth consecutive year, Charleston|Orwig, Inc. has been recognized as one of the Top Workplaces in Wisconsin. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s award program honors companies that rank among the best for their commitment to providing an outstanding workplace.

Charleston|Orwig ranked eighth among companies with fewer than 150 employees. They were recognized for providing a family-like atmosphere where dogs are welcomed on Fridays, employees manage a company food garden and co-workers can rely on each other professionally and personally.

Lyle Orwig, chairman and founding partner, received a special award for leadership. The award was based on standout scores regarding employee confidence in company leadership.

“We congratulate Lyle on this special honor,” said Marcy Tessmann, president, Charleston|Orwig. “He is widely regarded as one of the most trusted individuals people encounter. As a founding partner, Lyle established a culture of mutual respect and collaboration which has flourished for 20 years.”
“We’re equally honored to receive the Top Workplace award,” added Tessmann. “It exemplifies our belief that bringing talented people together in a great work environment enables us to produce innovative, results-driven work for our clients,” added Tessmann.

Charleston|Orwig is a full-service communications consultant, providing integrated marketing and reputation management to food system clients from agriculture processing and distribution to the point of retail.

Uncategorized

AFBF Pleased with Immigration Bill Progress

Cindy Zimmerman

afbf-logoThe immigration reform bill passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday retained the farm labor provisions that the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) supports.

“We believe this bill will help ensure an adequate supply of farm labor but also will provide an increased level of surveillance of high-risk areas along our borders,” AFBF president Bob Stallman said in a statement. “We know that one of the best ways to improve border security is to create a legal, workable way for farm workers to enter our country. If we do not have to waste resources locking up lettuce harvesters, we can focus on keeping those with criminal intentions out of our country.”

At last week’s NAFB Washington Watch, AFBF Director for Congressional Relations Kristi Boswell said they are pleased to see progress on the bill. “I’m cautiously optimistic,” she said. “The energy is there, the effort has been bipartisan and I think that makes everyone feel more comfortable that this bill isn’t just going to get passed without fully vetting it.”

Boswell says they are carefully watching to make sure that the ag piece of the bill, which was negotiated between agriculture and farm labor interests, remains in the legislation. “From agriculture’s view specifically, we have a lot of sympathies. People are understanding that we are relying on an undocumented work force and we are having shortages and we also have a broken H2-A visa program,” she said.

Listen to or download interview with Boswell here: AFBF's Kristi Boswell

2013 NAFB Washington Watch Photo Album

Find more NAFB Washington Watch audio on AgNewsWire.AgWired.com.com

AFBF, Audio

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

    Zimfo Bytes

  • broadhead has been named to the Minnesota Business 100 Best Companies to Work For list for the second year in a row.
  • Twelve southern Minnesota John Deere dealerships merged into one large operation on May 1, under the corporate name Kibble Equipment.
  • Case IH Dealer Titan Machinery is partnering with the North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, N.D., to educate, train and provide hands-on internships to students in a two-year diesel technology program.
  • DuPont Pioneer President Paul Schickler urges leaders from across government, business and non-profit organizations to invest in youth to solve the greatest challenge of tomorrow’s generation – feeding 9 billion people.
Zimfo Bytes