dishNET Learning From Rural America

Chuck Zimmerman

Brian McIntyre at AFBFDISH Network wants everyone in rural America to have internet access. That’s why they launched dishNET last fall. Now they’re going a little further by bundling DISH tv & entertainment with dishNET. They’re also reaching out to rural Americans and various organizations to find ways to capitalize on the economic and educational opportunities that internet access provides.

I found them doing that at the American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting in Nashville. DISH Network was conducting a rural access survey to gather information about where and how people are using the internet. I am hoping to find out the results of that survey when it is complete. This is part of a Rural Access Listening Sessions program they’ve started to create a dialogue with rural influencers.

To learn more about what is going on with DISH and dishNET I visited with Brian McIntyre, vice president of broadband at DISH. Brian says that a key message he’s hearing from rural America is the desire to stay relevant. There’s a word we heard multiple times during the AFBF annual meeting. He says that dishNET brings service to rural America on par with that found in urban markets. Plans start as low as $39.99 and include download speeds of up to 10 mbps download. You’ll also get one bill for your tv/entertainment and internet services. Brian also talks about some of the technology upgrades DISH has undertaken in recent years to make their services better.

You can listen to my interview with Brian here: Interview with Brian McIntyre

2013 American Farm Bureau Convention Photo Album

AFBF, Ag Groups, Internet

BASF Camp Innovation Gets to the Roots

Cindy Zimmerman

basf-rootsOne of the highlights of the BASF Crop Protection Innovation Symposium for growers this week was Camp Innovation, where they got to see some amazing underground results of fungicide treatments.

Watch Brianne Reeves with BASF walk us through Camp Innovation to see how Headline, Headline AMP and Priaxor make a difference in root health for a variety of crops.

BASF Grower Symposium Photo Album

BASF, Crop Protection, Farming, Video

Producers — Complete 2012 Census!

Talia Goes

usda-logoAgriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack continues to remind producers to complete forms for the Census of Agriculture – the only source of uniform, comprehensive and impartial agricultural data for every county in the nation. The 2012 Census of Agriculture will provide the USDA with current information to help ensure an abundant, safe, and accessible food supply for all of America. The Census of Agriculture, said Vilsack, is one of the most important tools for providing certainty to producers and sustaining the unlimited economic potential of rural America.

Currently underway by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, the Census collects detailed data covering nearly every facet of U.S. agriculture. It looks at land use and ownership, production practices, expenditures and other factors that affect the way farmers do business and succeed in the 21st Century.

Census information helps USDA monitor trends and understand the needs in agriculture to better align its products and services. Ways the department used Census data in the past include:
• Helping to ensure the future of the agriculture industry in America, by developing programs and priorities to help new and beginning farmers get started and stay in business.
• Looking at where and how to provide expanded and improved Internet access and services to rural America.
• Illustrating the changing nature and needs of agriculture.

Agribusiness, USDA

New Farm Bureau YF&R Chairman

Chuck Zimmerman

Zach HunnicuttThe new Chair of the AFBF Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee is Zach Hunnicutt, Nebraska farmer. Many of you may follow Zach on Twitter @zhhunn. Now you’ll be following his travels in his newly elected position on this important Farm Bureau committee. Here’s Zach doing one of many media interviews at the AFBF annual meeting. I had my turn.

Zach is a Nebraska farmer. He farms with his Dad and brother and they grow corn, pop corn, seed corn and soybeans. He and his wife have been involved with Farm Bureau for several years. He officially took over his duties after the closing board meeting in Nashville. He says he’ll be doing a bunch of travel talking to groups about the activities of his committee and encouraging people to get involved. He will also be very involved in the next round of YF&R competitions that will take place at next year’s annual meeting. With all that travel I asked him if he was well equipped to keep up with his social media channels. Zach packs an iPad and a Droid so he should be in good shape. He says that social media has connected him to a lot of people from all over the country. By staying active he’s making a good agvocate! BTW. Zach is a board member of the AgChat Foundation.

You can listen to my interview with Zach here: Interview with Zach Hunnicutt

2013 American Farm Bureau Convention Photo Album

AFBF, Ag Groups, Audio

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

Zimfo Bytes

Former NFL QB Speaks to BASF Growers

Cindy Zimmerman

basf-13-archie-nevinArchie Manning was a well-known quarterback in the 70’s and 80’s, playing for the New Orleans Saints for ten years, then the Houston Oilers and the Minnesota Vikings – but these days he is better known as Eli and Peyton’s daddy.

Archie, pictured here with Senior Vice President of BASF Crop Protection Nevin McDougall, provided some words of wisdom about family, faith and football for farmers meeting in Ft. Lauderdale at a BASF Innovation Symposium this week. “I do a lot of speaking to a lot of different groups but there’s so many similarities in various industries and businesses,” Archie told me during a short interview. He noted that football and farming are similar because they both involve hard work. “I know something about farming. I grew up in a rural community and my dad was in farm machinery and his two brothers farmed,” he said. “I know how hard farmers work and how tough it can be. But it can be great too when those crops come in.”

basf-13-manningThe Mannings have produced a great crop of football players, that’s for sure. All three of their sons were standout players from high school and eldest son Cooper would probably be right up there with Eli and Peyton had his career not been cut short due to a spinal condition discovered when he was 18. To Archie, family is everything. “I think it’s the core of the American way. Family should be a high priority with everyone,” he says.

Listen to my interview with Archie here: Archie Manning interview

BASF Grower Symposium Photo Album

Audio, BASF, Farming

Should We Be Friends With HSUS?

Talia Goes

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What do you think is top story of 2012?”

Our poll results: It looks like the majority of you at fifty-seven percent felt like “The Drought” was the top story for 2012. “No Farm Bill” came in at fourteen percent and ten percent said “USDA Meatless Monday Uproar”.

1.16.13

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “Should we sit down with HSUS in “common cause?” Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack’s comments at the AFBF annual meeting this week about sitting down in common cause have attracted a number of comments here and on social networks. So we thought this week’s poll might produce some interesting feedback. Let us know what you think.

ZimmPoll is sponsored by New Holland Agriculture.

New Holland, ZimmPoll

Talking Social Media at Farm Bureau Convention

Chuck Zimmerman

Social Media SessionSocial media showed up on the program at the American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting program a number of times. One of the sessions, “Social Agriculture: Social Media’s Role in the Industry,” featured Zach Hunnicutt, AFBF YF&R Committee; Katie Pinke, PinkePost.com; Ryan Goodman, AgricultureProud.com and Janice Person, Monsanto.

I visited with Janice about their session which was moderated by Melissa Burniston, Tennessee Farm Bureau. Janice says they talked about how they each approach social media including their goals and tactics. One of the questions that came up was about how to know if your Twitter followers are urban or rural people and how to handle dealing with them from a messaging standpoint. Janice also found that people of all ages are looking for help and direction on how they can get involved in social media.

You can listen to my interview with Janice here: Interview with Janice Person

2013 American Farm Bureau Convention Photo Album

AFBF, Agribusiness, Audio

Farm Bureau Annual Meeting Concludes

Chuck Zimmerman

AFBF Bob StallmanThe members of the American Farm Bureau Federation held their voting delegates meeting today to set policy for the coming year. The meeting was presided over by President Bob Stallman who then met with the press one final time for questions. Bob says that although there were a number of language changes in existing policies most of the day was spent re-affirming existing policies. He says that each year they start with a clean slate and get right to work in Washington, DC working on behalf of their members.

Although most members will be heading home the board of directors of AFBF will still be here working in the morning when they hold their meeting. That will be the final duties performed here in Nashville. It’s off to San Antonio next year!

You can listen to or download the press conference here: Bob Stallman Closing Press Conference

2013 American Farm Bureau Convention Photo Album

AFBF, Ag Groups, Audio

BASF Opens Fields of Opportunity for Growers

Cindy Zimmerman

About 275 growers from all over the nation have been learning about new “Fields of Opportunity” from BASF Crop Protection this week while getting a break from winter weather on Ft. Lauderdale beach.

basf-13-rea“We’ve got growers as far away as the Pacific northwest,” says BASF Vice President for Crop Protection Paul Rea. “The universal theme from all those growers is they want to increase their yields and do it more efficiently.”

Paul says it is important for BASF to communicate with growers and find out their needs, which is why they have a grower advisory panel. “It’s a program we’ve had now for about four years,” he said. “We actually invite about 25 growers from across the country to tell us what’s on top of their minds, what are they seeing as their production challenges as they move forward.” Paul says it’s very beneficial for BASF to help them shape strategy to serve the needs of farmers.

BASF invests about $2 million a day in research and development for farmers, and Paul says BASF has also heavily invested in people to connect with those farmers. “You can have the best technology in the world, but if you don’t have great people committed to helping the farmer, you’re not going to succeed,” said Paul. That’s why BASF has expanded its field force team to include great folks they call “innovation specialists” to work closely with growers on their farms.

listen to my interview with Paul from the BASF grower innovation symposium: Interview with Paul Rea, BASF

BASF Grower Symposium Photo Album

Audio, BASF, Crop Protection, Farming