Have a Sweet Thanksgiving!

Cindy Zimmerman

Of the many foods we have to be thankful for in this nation, I’ll bet there are lots of people who are thankful every day for the gift of chocolate! Oh yeah!

This is an image of our sweet Thanksgiving greetings sent this year to some of our clients. Hopefully most received them before leaving for the holiday, but if not, it will be waiting for you at your desk on Monday. Some other clients will be receiving a sweet bag of Florida citrus next week. We want you to know how much we appreciate not only your business, but your friendship as well.

We also are very grateful for the hundreds of other business associates and AgWired readers that we count as our friends. Wish we could send everyone a whole bushel of Florida citrus and sweet chocolate to let you know how much we appreciate you! You are all in our prayers of gratitude this holiday and we wish you the sweetest joys of the season!

ZimmComm Announcement

What’s on your wish list?

Melissa Sandfort

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, ” What’s your favorite Thanksgiving food?”

Our poll results: Thirty-three percent said turkey; twenty-five percent said other; twenty-one percent said pumpkin pie; fifteen percent said sweet potatoes/yams; and six percent said Cranberry sauce/relish.

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “What gadget is on your Christmas wish list?” Are you hoping for a new smartphone? A new tablet? An upgraded item or nothing at all? Let us know!

ZimmPoll is sponsored by Rhea+Kaiser, a full-service advertising/public relations agency.

ZimmPoll

FMC Talks New Product Lines

Jamie Johansen

FMC Corporation shared new product lines during the recent National Association of Farm Broadcasting’s Trade Talks. Chuck talked with Bentley Curry, FMC Representative, about herbicides and harvest aids farmers can take advantage of in the fields.

“This year we had the Authority line of products in combination with Authority XL, Authority MTZ. Probably the product that was best fitted for the Mid South was Authority MTZ. It has a great point when you get resistant management where we got pigweed, water hemp and lambs quarter that has become glyphosate resistant. It is a super fit for that because it gives residual that you can go down at pre planting and at planting with the product and take care of those small seeded resistant type weeds.”

“On the cotton side we are really excited about a new product for the defoliation department called Display. I had the opportunity to look at sizable acreage of it this year. It had just received its label for 2012. We had the opportunity to see it after some rain events had come in. The cotton was getting pretty close to harvest and the cotton had greened back up, had all this second growth and typically that stuff is really hard to get off the cotton plant. But Display is a new PPO type compound that disrupts the cellular action in the leaf and gives you really fast dry down of that juvenal growth. It take that stuff off the plant, shuts the plant down from growing and gets it ready for harvest.”

Listen to my complete interview with Bentley here: Bentley Curry - FMC Corporation

2012 NAFB Convention Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Cotton, FMC, Harvest, NAFB

SMS Basic/Advanced v12.5 and SMS Mobile v6.5 released!

Melissa Sandfort

Insights WeeklyAg Leader is pleased to announce the release of SMS Basic/Advanced v12.5 and SMS Mobile v6.5. With this new release, SMS Basic, SMS Advanced, and SMS Mobile PC now support Windows 8 and gesture control for touchscreens running Windows 7 and 8. We have also added enhanced support for the following precision ag companies: Ag Leader Technology, CNH, Gradient, John Deere, Mid-Tech, Precision Planting and Trimble. Changes have also been made for Legends and the Legends Utility for SMS Basic/Advanced.

With the release of v12.5, Ag Leader is adding two new modules to SMS Advanced: Water Management and Plot Prescription. The new Water Management module includes a tile plan editor where users can map out and plan where tile lines should be installed on their farm. The Plot Prescription module allows you to strategically place and define in-field research plots in the office and then use these plot prescriptions to plant in the field. Click here to learn more about the modules for SMS Advanced.

Before updating to the latest version of the SMS Software, here are a few things you should do first:
• Check In Projects – If you are an SMS Advanced user, all projects that have been “Checked Out” need to be checked back in. This can be done by going to the File menu and clicking Projects.
• Create a backup of your data – Creating backups ensures that you have a good starting point in the event in that you have issues during migration or if you have other computer issues, such as a bad hard drive, down the road. Backups can be created by going to the Services menu and clicking Backup/Restore Project(s)
• Plug devices into the wall – If you’re using a laptop, Ag Leader MESA, Ag Leader Field PC, or other pda device, make sure that you have it plugged into the wall. This will ensure that your device does not loose power while installing the update or migrating data.

If you have SMS Mobile for PDAs or have unlocked your software via phone, you will be sent a CD in the mail. Otherwise, if you would like to install the software sooner, see the release notes, or download a demo version for one of our other SMS products, click here.

Become a fan of Ag Leader on Facebook today, and get the latest precision ag videos on the YouTube channel. For more information about Ag Leader products and services, or to visit the blog site, go to www.agleader.com.

Ag Leader

OMG GMO!

Cindy Zimmerman

One of the positive outcomes of the 2012 election was that Californians actually voted against Proposition 37, which would have required the labeling of foods containing genetically-modified organisms (GMOs). However, those opposed to GMOs continue to attack the technology that increases safe, affordable and abundant food by stepping up their scare tactics.

GMOinside, for example, is urging people to “Celebrate a Non-GMO Thanksgiving!” Check this out:

Thanksgiving is a time for celebrating around the dinner table with family and friends. But, is there an unwanted guest at your table? You may not realize that many common Thanksgiving foods contain genetically engineered ingredients!

The website proceeds to provide a chart to help people “identify the GMOs in popular holiday foods” and urging them to “keep a look out for foods from companies that opposed Prop 37, such as Campbell’s, Coke, General Mills, Kraft, Nestle, Pepsi, Hershey, Unilever.” Oddly enough, turkey is not mentioned on the list, despite the fact that the majority of commercial turkey production uses corn for feed – and most feed corn is genetically-modified.

What really bugs me about the non-GMO movement is that the people who are most against modifying crops to prevent disease or tolerate drought are very much in favor of attempts to genetically-modify humans to prevent or eliminate diseases or increase life spans. What’s wrong with that picture?

One of the main reasons that Thanksgiving is celebrated during this time of the year is to give thanks for the blessings of the harvest. Instead of demonizing GMOs, we should be giving thanks for the scientific breakthroughs that continue to allow us to produce more bountiful harvests every year.

Biotech, Food

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Mark Clarke, General Manager of World Dairy Expo, has submitted his resignation to the WDE Executive Committee.
  • Paradowski Creative and Monsanto received a first place Silver Inkwell Award from the International Association of Business Communicators DC Metro chapter for Monsanto’s sustainable agriculture campaign.
  • DuPont Pioneer and the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Foundation announced a donation from the business to double the number of student internship grants available to NAFB member radio and television stations and networks.
  • DuPont Pioneer and Cargill announced they will work with farmers near Cargill’s facility in Sidney, Ohio, to grow Plenish high oleic soybeans in 2013.
Zimfo Bytes

Giving #FoodThanks Time

Cindy Zimmerman

This week marks the third annual AgChat #Foodthanks celebration, a time to reflect on the blessing of all the food choices we have in this nation. Farmers, ranchers, processors, butchers, bakers, chefs, grocers, truckers and more all make it possible for us to have healthy food on plates.

Today and tomorrow in particular, AgChat encourages you to show your #Foodthanks via social media.

Twitter – Join our monthly #FoodChat twitter conversation Tuesday, November 20 from 8:00pm – 10:00pm ET. We will be talking #Foodthanks and of course the upcoming Thanksgiving celebration. Direct message @Foodchat any questions you would like to have included in the conversation.

On Wednesday, November 21st, continue the #Foodthanks conversation. Tweet your favorite recipe, farm blog or tell us why you are giving #Foodthanks. Show the Twitter world your #Foodthanks story.

Facebook – On Tuesday, November 20th, we will be hosting our first ever Facebook Party from 8:00 p.m. -10:00 p.m. ET! Similar to our traditional Twitter conversations, we will be engaging in a conversation that focuses on #Foodthanks. Make sure to join the community and show your #Foodthanks.

On Wednesday, November 21st, we will be asking you to share with us your #Foodthanks story. Share your pictures, blog posts and thoughts on your own personal #Foodthanks.

Pinterest – Join us now as we are pinning our #Foodthanks. Follow our #Foodthanks board and we will ask you to join our community and pin your #Foodthanks. Do you have a favorite food blog? How about grandma’s secret pumpkin pie recipe? Pin a picture showing how your family farm makes #Foodthanks possible. Join us on Pinterest now.

What makes you give #Foodthanks?

Food

Pork Checkoff – Promotes & Educates

Jamie Johansen

Pork Checkoff dollars were hard at work during the National Association of Farm Broadcasting’s Trade Talk. I met up with Conley Nelson, President of the National Pork Board, and he expressed his concern with the rising cost of feed and other impacts to the pork industry due to the drought. But more importantly he shared how the National Pork Board is using checkoff dollars towards international and domestic marketing efforts promoting the other white meat.

“One of our biggest items we put checkoff dollars to is domestic marketing of pork. About a year and a half or two years ago we launched a new pork ‘Be Inspired’ ad campaign. That campaign was targeted towards consumers that already like pork and we just want to get them to eat pork two or three more times a month. What’s cool about these people is they are the consumer that enjoys life and likes to entertain and they love pork.”

“‘We Care’ is very important. It’s sort of the foundation of what we expect out of all our pork producers. It starts with Pork Quality Assurance training we provide for all producers and their employees. We also have a Pork Quality Assurance site assessment where we come in with a 3rd party and assess the sites. We try and hit all those food safety factors, environmental and animal care, which is a big one. We strongly believe the pork producer is the best person to know how to care for the animals and we want to make sure that choice remains with the pork producer.”

Listen to my complete interview with Conley here: Conley Nelson - National Pork Board

2012 NAFB Convention Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, BASF, Education, NAFB, Pork

Schools Receive Ag in a Growing World Grants

Melissa Sandfort

Twenty-five schools were recently selected as grant recipients for the Agriculture in a Growing World program, made possible by the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture with partnership from the Nutrients for Life Foundation. Grant recipients represent the following states: Ariz., Calif., Colo., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kan., Ky., La., Md., Mich., Neb., N.J., N.M., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Pa., S.C., Tenn., Texas, Wash, and Wis.

Grant recipients will receive a class set of “The Man Who Fed the World,” by Leon Hesser. This book brings to life the story of Norman Borlaug, a man who came from a one-room schoolhouse in Iowa and became one of the 100 most influential persons of the 20th Century.

The Agriculture in a Growing World Essay Contest is a national competition, open to 9th-12th grade students who have explored the book “The Man Who Fed the World.” The book, which comes with supporting educator resources, can be purchased at www.agfoundation.org. Contest details are available online. Essays and accompanying entry form must be emailed to foundation@fb.org or faxed to 202.314.5121 by April 1, 2013.

Also, the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture is celebrating the release of “Feeding Minds – Cultivating Growth,” the latest educator resource to be developed by the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture. The guide and accompanying books can be purchased online starting early next week at www.agfoundation.org. “Feeding Minds – Cultivating Growth” teaches young people to care for others, build healthy relationships and learn from their elders while living vicariously through the narratives of young farmers and ranchers.

AFBF, Education

GROWMARK Cookbook Helps Feed the World

Cindy Zimmerman

GROWMARK cooked up a great way to help farmers feed the world this year by compiling a cookbook filled with recipes contributed by GROWMARK employees and selling it to raise money for the an important charity.

“We wanted to do something special this year to promote the International Year of Cooperatives and GROWMARK’s 85th anniversary,” said Karen Jones, GROWMARK’s Publications and News Specialist, who explained that they came up with the idea for the cookbook as a way to allow everyone in the system to participate. “We decided it would be really neat if we could sponsor a charity with the proceeds from the cookbook and we decided on Farmers Feeding the World.”

There are over 1100 recipes in the cookbook, which was sold for $20 each. “We are going to be making a donation of $1500 to Farmers Feeding the World in the next few weeks,” Karen said. “The organizations that Farmers Feeding the World helps out are organizations that we really believe it.”

Karen says there are no plans at the moment to do a second printing of the sold out cookbook, but the recipes are being made available through social media. “On our FS Pintrest boards, we do have a recipe board and we are posting recipes on there occasionally, so even if you didn’t get a chance to buy a book you can still get a few of the best recipes that way,” she said. To find those recipes, go to Pinterest.com/FSservices.

Listen to my interview with Karen here: GROWMARK's Karen Jones

GROWMARK Iowa Media Tour Photos

Audio, Cooperatives, Food, GROWMARK, Social Networking