Opening Day of National Farm Machinery Show

Chuck Zimmerman

New Holland National Farm Machinery ShowThe first day of the National Farm Machinery Show has been a busy one. The large crowd was treated to some light snow which has now melted and it seemed to have no effect on attendance that I can tell. I visited with Corinne Fetter, Director of Expositions, once again to get her outlook on this year’s show. She says “We’ve got a packed house.” The show is sold out, all 1.2 million sq. ft. of it, with over 860 exhibitors. Then Championship Tractor Pull will be taking place once again (45th year) and I hope to have a chance to see it tomorrow night.

You can listen to my interview with Corinne here: Interview with Corinne Fetter

I’ve got a photo album started for you which I’ll be adding to over the next couple days: 2013 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album


Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by FMC and New Holland Agriculture
Audio, Farm Shows, National Farm Machinery Show

Grade Vilsack’s First Term

Talia Goes

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What did you think of Ram Trucks Super Bowl ad?”
Our poll results: The majority at forty-eight percent said All of the Above; twenty-eight percent said Great Exposure for Ag; twelve percent said Very Well Done; six percent were Not Impressed; four percent Hope to See More Like It; and two percent said Other. The Ram Truck super bowl ad could have been controversial within the ag community, but from the looks of our poll, most of you can look past the fact that Paul Harvey, the voice of the commercial, was an animal activist and enjoy the message that he conveyed.

feb13

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “What grade would you give Ag Sec. Vilsack during his first term?” Vilsack has had an entire term under his belt, so how would you rate his performance as leader of the USDA? Let us know.

You graded him at mid term and the results were mixed. It will be interesting how you grade him at this point.

ZimmPoll is sponsored by New Holland Agriculture.

ZimmPoll

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

Zimfo Bytes

Corn Yield Contest Sets New Record

Talia Goes

NCGA color logoFarmers participating in the National Corn Growers Association 2012 National Corn Yield Contest set a new record by submitting 75 entries that surpassed the 300 bushels-per-acre mark. Bucking trends and overcoming severe drought conditions, these entrants showed the incredible achievements that are possible in farming using advanced practices and state-of-the-art technology.

Despite higher average yields nationally among all farmers in 2011, only 10 entries achieved the 300 bushels-per-acre mark that year. Entries showing yields this high have not exceeded approximately 30 per year even under optimal weather conditions.

The National Corn Yield Contest is in its 48th year and remains NCGA’s most popular program for members. With 8,262 entries, the 2012 NCGA National Corn Yield Contest neared the participation record set last year of 8,425 entries.

Agribusiness, Corn, NCGA

CCA Institute Seeking Sponsors

Jamie Johansen

image006Mark your calendars for the Cooperative Communicators Association Institute being held in the Country Music Capitol of the World June 1-5. Nashville, TN. is bound to bring attendees to a ‘foot stomping’ good time this summer.

South region CCA’s are working hard to find Institute sponsors to create an event full of learning, laughing and leadership.

Parton us for askin’…

We need your help to make the
2013 CCA Institute in Nashville a success!

Whether you are BIG AND RICH or just have a little extra in the PAYCHECK, we need CASH to make the event a huge success. So check your budgets and see what you are WAYLON to send our way. We know you are JONESing to help make our Annual Institue an award winning event.

Like WILLIE said:
If you got the money, honey
We’ve got The Time
We’ll plan you a Institue
And you’re gonna have a time
Bring along your laptop and IPAD
Leave my worries behind
If you got the money, honey
We’ve got the time

Well maybe that’s paraphased just a little!

Be SWIFT about it and contact Laura Thornton at 334-237-0117 (laura.thornton@peariver.com) or Chellie Phillips at 334-796-3258 (chelliep@southaec.com) to get your sponsorship lined up.

Events

Agriblogging From National Farm Machinery Show

Chuck Zimmerman

Media Room National Farm Machinery ShowThank you FMC for sponsoring the media room at the 2013 National Farm Machinery Show once again. It’s a little quiet in here this afternoon. Heck, the show doesn’t open until tomorrow!

I just like to get checked in and get my bearings before all the action starts. Over the next several days I’ll be looking for stories from our sponsors which includes New Holland and FMC as well as whatever looks interesting.

If you’re not able to be here then follow along. On Twitter use or follow the show hashtag #NFMS13.


Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by FMC and New Holland Agriculture
National Farm Machinery Show

New Holland’s New NCBA Partnership

Chuck Zimmerman

New Holland at Cattle Industry ConventionA lot is new with New Holland and that includes expanded support of the livestock industry as this display shows early in the morning at the 2013 Cattle Industry Convention & Trade Show in Tampa, FL.

To get an overview of everything New Holland is doing to support livestock producers I spoke with Abe Hughes, VP, North America. He says you can’t help but bump in to New Holland equipment when you come in to the show. Abe says New Holland has entered in to a new partnership with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. It’s one of their “key smart partnerships.” He says they’re going to crawl, then walk, then run like they’ve done with other partnerships. New Holland has been very strong in the dairy industry and the NCBA partnership is meant to expand on that industry base. The NCBA partnership includes the sponsorship of eight episodes of Cattlemen to Cattlemen too.

You can listen to my interview with Abe here: Interview with Abe Hughes

Looking ahead to this week’s National Farm Machinery Show, I’ll be visiting with New Holland again as they’ve just announced a full lineup of new equipment.

Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show Photo Album

Audio, Cattle Industry Conference, Equipment

Sanding Ovations at the NCBA Trade Show

Jamie Johansen

cic-13-151-editedIf you attended the 2013 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show this year then I know you passed the people playing in the sand a couple dozen times. I couldn’t help but stop and snap a few pictures of the duo hard at work. I even asked if I could interview them and Meredith Corson, with Sanding Ovations, said sure.

Meredith and her husband, Dan Doubleday, met in the sand and soon fell in love and started Sanding Ovations. Combined, the couple has over 40 years experience in sand sculpting and travel the world building dynasties in the sand professionally and competitively.

cic-13-153-editedDid you know that the type of sand makes a huge difference in how you are able to mold it? Meredith and Dan are from Treasure Island, Fl., so they were excited to be able to work with sand from their own backyard. The sand is the first thing in and the last thing out.

Bayer Animal Health sponsors this three time world champion team each year for the NCBA Trade Show. They brought in about 16 tons of sand to build their version of “Boots on the Bay.” A castle and corral reef coming out of a pair of cowboy boots.

Check out Sanding Ovation’s website to book them for your next event or stare in amazement at photos of their past work.

Listen to my complete interview with the Meredith: Interview with Meredith Corson - Sanding Ovations

You can find photos from the event here:Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show Photo Album

Audio, Bayer, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA

Vilsack Visits Ethanol and Biodiesel Meetings

Cindy Zimmerman

nec13-vilsackAgriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack hit two meetings in one city last week, appearing at both the National Ethanol Conference and the National Biodiesel Conference within a few hours of each other, since they were both being held in Las Vegas a mile apart.

Vilsack told both groups that the renewable fuels industry is worth fighting for. “Your country’s future depends on it,” he said. “It’s that important. That’s why I’m here – I firmly believe it.”

Watch the Secretary’s address at the NEC below:


Video streaming by Ustream

nbb13-vilsackUnderstandably, the secretary gave similar speeches to both groups – but not the same and he had slightly different questions to address specific topics such as chances for a farm bill, energy title funding and more. We covered both events last week for the 7th and 8th years in a row.

Listen to Vilsack’s speech to the biodiesel conference here: Vilsack at NBB Listen to his speech to the ethanol conference here: Vilsack at NEC

2013 National Biodiesel Conference Photo Album

2013 National Ethanol Conference Photo Album

Audio, Biodiesel, Ethanol, USDA, Video

USPOULTRY Honors Industry Workhorse of the Year

Jamie Johansen

2013_USPOULTRYWorkhorseofYear_OlentineVice President of USPOULTRY, Dr. Charles Olentine, was named Workhorse of the Year during the International Poultry Expo. This year’s expo was part of the International Production & Processing Expo.

This honor is given annually in recognition of dedicated service and valuable leadership given to the poultry industry. Olentine was “collared” with the long-established horse collar by 2012 Workhorse of the Year recipient, Bill Bradley. He was also presented with a commemorative plaque by 2012 USPOULTRY chairman, Mark Waller, Ingram Farms, Cullman, AL.

After earning his BS in Animal Science at Cornell University, MS in Animal Science at the University of Kentucky, and PhD in Animal Physiology from Clemson University, Olentine worked with the National Feed Ingredients Association and with Watt Publishing for over 24 years before joining USPOULTRY in 2004. Olentine is in charge of all aspects of the International Poultry Expo for USPOULTRY.

You can find photos from the event here:International Production & Processing Expo Photo Album

Sponsored by Novus International Inc

IPPE, Poultry, Poultry Expo