NCGA Congratulates “Champion for Change”

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YoderThe National Corn Growers Association congratulates Past President Fred Yoder as he is recognized by President Obama as a “Champion for Change.” The official recognition, which takes place in the White House on a weekly basis, honors 12 ordinary Americans are doing extraordinary things in their communities to out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of the world.

A fourth-generation farmer, Yoder has been an advocate for many years, promoting agriculture as a solution to many of the sustainability challenges.

Agribusiness, NCGA

New Holland Dealers Honored

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NewHollandTwelve New Holland dealers have been honored by New Holland for their company’s sales growth during the New Holland North America Dealer Meeting held in Indianapolis, Indiana.

New Holland presented the awards to the top three dealers who have demonstrated the most significant increase in sales growth over the previous year in one of four customer market segments: Cash Crop, Dairy & Livestock, Pro Work Tools (residential, commercial and utility), and Compact Construction equipment.

According to Abe Hughes, New Holland Vice President, these dealers are among the leading-edge New Holland dealers who have smartly positioned their dealership to attain growth through their outstanding commitment to serving their customers.

To read full article click here.

Agribusiness, New Holland

Spring Planting Delay

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Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “How do you combat social media overload?” We live in a new media world where we can communicate instantly with one person or the whole world. Does it ever bother you? Do you have to take a break from it all?

Our poll results: Twenty-five percent said Focus On 1 or 2 Social Networks, twenty-three percent said Physically Talk To People, thirteen percent Turn Devices Off For a While, ten percent Don’t Get Overloaded, eight percent Do Farm Chores and said Overload, What Overload?, five percent Set Time Limits, Read a Book, and Other. Based on poll results, focusing on one or two social media networks rather than all of them helps most people keep the chaos at ease.

Untitled

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “Have you started spring planting?” The weather has been less than predictable over the last month, this time last year many of you were already in the fields. Has it delayed your spring planting date? Let us know.

ZimmPoll is sponsored by New Holland Agriculture.

New Holland, ZimmPoll

Zimfo Bytes

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Zimfo Bytes

Elanco Invests $100M in China Animal Healthcare

Joanna Schroeder

Elanco logoElanco is investing approximately $100 million to purchase a minority equity stake in China Animal Healthcare Ltd., one of the leading players in the animal health industry in the People’s Republic of China. The investment expands Elanco’s commitment to China, with the goal of providing ChinaAnimalHealthCarelogoinnovative, safety-enhancing food production solutions to help meet the growing food demands and nutritional needs of the Chinese people. The parties have agreed to a framework to allow for future commercial collaboration activities.

“At Elanco, we are committed to providing innovative solutions to enhance food production and companion animal care. In China, we are working with local stakeholders to improve the health and performance of animals and help to ensure a growing supply of safe, affordable and abundant food,” said Jeff Simmons, president, Elanco. “Our sizable financial investment in China Animal Healthcare builds on our long-term commitment to China. By working with local stakeholders, together, we can make a real difference in the lives of the Chinese people.”

With global population expected to exceed 9 billion in the next 40 years, some of the greatest growth – about 750 million – will come from Asia, driving significant demand for meat, milk and eggs. China is poised to help meet this demand. By the end of this decade the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization predicts about 25 percent of the production growth for meat will come from China alone.

“In the past few decades China’s government has made significant strides to reduce poverty and improve food security, resulting in unprecedented growth of a middle class that demands a safe, high-protein, affordable diet,” said Eduardo Lopes Alberto, Elanco Country Director in China. “Elanco and China Animal Healthcare are well positioned to help China meet this demand by further working to enhance animal health and productivity.”

Listen to the official announcement here: Elanco Press Conference

Agribusiness, Audio, Elanco, International

Husker Food Connection Connects Urban and Rural

Melissa Sandfort

IMG_7235The Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska (A-FAN) collaborated with agriculture-related student organizations at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to host the second annual, Husker Food Connection.

Husker Food Connection helps urban students better understand where their food comes from. The theme of the Husker Food Connection was, “Know what we grow: Discovering Nebraska Agriculture.”

Listen to Lukas Fricke, UNL freshman and animal science major, as he explains how he addresses consumer concerns about modern pork production.
Listen to Fricke explain

Participants learned about where their food comes from and the importance of agriculture in Nebraska while engaging in several activities. Students received a free lunch featuring beef, pork and turkey sandwiches along with ice cream — all products raised and made in Nebraska. During the event, approximately 2,000 lunches were served. The first 1,000 students to attend the event also received free t-shirts. Numerous students were eager to take a closer look at the piglets, chicks and Holstein calf. For many of them, this was their first experience with livestock.

Listen here to Bob Meduna, Southeast Extension Education, about helping students understand how what cattle eat impacts the final beef product.
Listen to Meduna explain

Willow Holoubek, A-FAN Organizational Director, said she is impressed with the eagerness of students to help their peers understand how their food is grown. “Having conversations about food production and making this connection is vitally important for the future. A-FAN applauds the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) students for their hard work in their efforts to connect farm to fork.”

Agribusiness, Beef, Corn, Dairy, Events, Pork, Poultry, Soybean

BASF Sequential Fungicide Application Program

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BASFHigh-production corn growers can now utilize a fungicide program that includes the latest products from BASF: Priaxor fungicide and Headline AMP fungicide. More than 40 research trials across the Midwest from 2010 to 2012 show a sequential fungicide application program increased corn yield by 15.3 bu/A.

The sequential fungicide application program involves an application of a Plant Health fungicide early in the season pre-tassel, followed by another Plant Health fungicide application at tassel (VT-R2). Studies show sequential fungicide applications are an effective way to consistently deliver the highest yields for growers and control corn diseases throughout the season.

Agribusiness, BASF

Get Your FarmOn

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast 390Hey folks let’s FarmOn! Now, I know that’s not real easy these days, especially for young people who want to get started. Here’s an organization that’s trying to help. The FarmOn Foundation is compiling a number of online resources while also conducting social media awareness campaigns like #FARMVOICES. We’ll learn all about it in this week’s program.

FarmOn

I had a conversation with Sarah Wray, a FarmOn Foundation director and one of the founders of this effort. With her husband they worked hard to find investment funds to get their farm started in Canada. From the effort it took to make that happen they started FarmOn. Sarah says it has been a very cool experience basing their decisions of what they learn by listening to young farmers and the business community. For young farmers, she says “We actually have a real live online facilitator who can help them to find resources themselves in areas we might not have on the site right now.” If you’re interested in helping this effort then consider a sponsorship.

Learn all about FarmOn and #FARMVOICES in this week’s ZimmCast: All About #FARMVOICES

We also talked about the FarmOn social media campaign that’s going on now through Earth Day, April 22. The organization is inviting farmers and consumers to post a photo and a thought to Facebook, Instagram and/or Twitter about their experience. Learn more about it here.

Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsors, GROWMARK, locally owned, globally strong and Monsanto, Roundup Ready Plus, for their support.

The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired. Subscribe so you can listen when and where you want. Just go to our Subscribe page.

Ag Groups, Audio, Farming, Social Media, Social Networking, ZimmCast

Farm Bureau Sends Up Farm Bill Proposal

Cindy Zimmerman

afbf annual hawaiiThe American Farm Bureau Federation sent a farm bill proposal to Capitol Hill this week that offers a diverse mix of risk management and safety net tools to benefit a wide range of farms and it saves $23 billion compared to the cost of continuing the current program.

“We’ve tried to look at providing farmers a three-legged safety net stool where every farmer would have crop insurance and marketing loans available to them,” said Congressional Relations Director Mary Kay Thatcher. The third leg would let farmers choose between a modified STAX (stacked income protection) provision, or a target price program.

Thatcher says the plan approved by the FB board over the weekend saves 23-billion over the current bill – the same as the Senate bill last year.

Listen to my interview with Mary Kay here: Mary Kay Thatcher with AFBF

AFBF, Audio, Farm Bill

Vilsack Speaks to North American Ag Journalists

Cindy Zimmerman

naajAfter speaking to 4-H members for breakfast, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack joined North American Agricultural Journalists for lunch on Monday, covering a variety of important issues, including immigration and getting a new food, farm and jobs bill.

“I believe we will have a bill this year because we have to have a bill this year,” Vilsack said, noting the need to resolve issues such as Brazil’s WTO case against the cotton program. As to when it gets done – “I don’t know when Congress is going to act,” said the secretary. “I know what the ag chairs have said and that is that they’re anxious to get started now.”

naaj-vilsackRegarding immigration reform challenge as it relates to agriculture, Vilsack said, “It would be whether we’re going to import workers or import food…I think comprehensive immigration reform is as much about food security in the long term as it is about access to workers.”

Vilsack also talked about budget cutting, climate change, sugar for ethanol, and more.

Listen to his remarks and Q&A from reporters here: Secretary Vilsack at NAAJ

Audio, USDA