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

2013 CIC – Education, Engagement & Entertainment

Jamie Johansen

cic-tradeshow-crowdEducation, engagement and entertainment were the focus to this year’s Cattle Industry Convention in sunny Tampa, Fl. Cattlemen and women gathered to gain knowledge, network with fellow producers and take in some sights along the way.

Forrest Roberts, CEO of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, shared with me highlights for members who attended this year’s convention, NCBA’s priorities for 2013 and what the future holds for beef producers across the country.

“When you look at it from a consumer prospective we here in this country are trying to make sure we understand more about what the millennial generation thinks about beef, not in terms of just why they should choose beef for their source of protein, not about the nutritional story. It’s about the image story. Telling the story of the beef community to consumer influencers all across the country. That is a big area of focus because as you all know the millennial generation is the future of the industry in terms of demand here in the next two or three decades.”

Check out my complete interview with the Forrest: Interview with Forrest Roberts

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

Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA

God Made Farmer Spoofs

Cindy Zimmerman

The Dodge Ram Truck “God Made a Farmer” Super Bowl commercial has already topped 10 million views and spawned more than a dozen parodies.

This one is funny – “So God Made Farmville.”

Another “spoof” on the commercial was not so funny. “God Made a Factory Farmer” posted on “Funny or Die” was kind of snarky, actually – and so were some people who wrote about it, saying that it “pokes holes in the myths of the hardworking American farmer.” Riiiight. I’m pretty darn sure that every single farmer that I know works harder than any “factory farm” critic on the planet.

However, there are a few truths in the words to the spoof.

“And back when America was founded, 90% of the population were farmers. But now it’s less than 1%. So God made a factory farm.” Ignoring the negative connotation of the term “factory farm” this is a true statement. A factory farm is a “large industrialized” farm, which means an operation based on producing as much as possible – to feed the other 99% non-farmers.

“And then God wanted to maximize yield, so he made pesticides and herbicides. And he made genetically modified seeds that are resistant to those chemicals. And God let Monsanto patent those seeds.” It’s nice to see God getting the credit for a change! I would have to agree with that statement.

You can read the rest of the lyrics and watch the video here.

Farming, Social Media, Video

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

Zimfo Bytes

New Beef Board Leadership

Chuck Zimmerman

Wesley and WeldonThe 2013 Cattle Industry Convention is coming to a close but we’ll have more stories to share over the next several days. Today was business meeting day for the CBB, Federation and NCBA.

The Cattlemen’s Beef Board now has a new Chairman, Weldon Wynn. Here’s now past Chairman, Wesley Grau, passing the gavel to Weldon.

Other officers elected were Kim Brackett, Vice Chair and Jimmy Maxey, Secretary/Treasurer. The members of the CBB Executive Committee were also announced and they are as follows.

The 12-member CBB Executive Committee includes the Board’s three officers and eight members elected at large. The CBB elected the following members to its 2013 Executive committee: CBB Vice Chairman Kim Brackett, who will serve as chairman of the Executive Committee; and members Weldon Wynn (CBB chairman); Jimmy Maxey (CBB secretary/ treasurer); Anne Anderson of Texas; Dean Black of Iowa; Laurie Bryant, an importer; Steve Irsik of Kansas; Hank Maxey of Virginia; Sugie Sartwelle of Texas; Gary Sharp of South Dakota; and Eric Smith of Alabama.

Before leaving the convention today I visited with Weldon to find out his thoughts on being elected and what he sees ahead in the coming year.

You can listen to my interview with Weldon here: Interview with Weldon Wynn

Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference

Stuart Varney on Stage

Chuck Zimmerman

Stuart VarneyDuring the 2013 Cattle Industry Convention attendees got to hear from Stuart Varney who serves as a business contributor and substitute host for FOX News Channel’s (FNC) “Your World with Neil Cavuto” as well as the host of FOX Business Network’s “Varney & Co.” He was a very entertaining and informative speaker.

To get a taste of what you missed you can listen to a few minutes from the start of his presentation here: Stuart Varney on Stage

Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Cattle Industry Conference