ABFB General Session Organist Retiring

Chuck Zimmerman

Nancy FaustFor twenty six years Nancy Faust has been playing the organ for the American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting general sessions. She plays before during and after keeping everyone entertained and adding to the whole experience.

I spoke with her briefly just before the closing session of this year’s meeting. She has made a decision to retire now because she “felt the time was right.” Playing here for AFBF has been a thrill for her because she feels like she’s surrounded by people who are the salt of the earth. I think she’s right.

You can listen to my interview with Nancy here: Interview with Nancy Faust

2013 American Farm Bureau Convention Photo Album

AFBF, Ag Groups, Audio

American Farm Bureau Gets Down to Business

Chuck Zimmerman

American Farm Bureau Annual Delegates Mtg.It’s the next to final day for the 2013 American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting in Nashville. Today is the meeting of the voting delegates when the organization gets down the grass roots in setting policy. Tomorrow things will conclude with a morning board of directors meeting.

I’ve got some more interviews to share today and will have some concluding information later today after AFBF President Bob Stallman holds his ending press conference.

2013 American Farm Bureau Convention Photo Album

AFBF, Ag Groups

Deere Harvest ID Cotton at Beltwide

Jamie Johansen

bwcc13-deereWe told you about John Deere’s Harvest Identification, Cotton when it was first introduced last year at Beltwide Cotton Conferences.

This year we got an update from Janae (formally Althouse) Tapper on this precision harvest technology and grower adoption of it.

“John Deere harvest identification is really important to the cotton growers so they can understand how many modules are being built with in a field. We are really looking at continuing to reduce labor requirements that are needed in cotton production especially around 7760. We understand that with the introduction of that machine we are building four modules for every one traditional module. So, it increases labor to go out and tag each of those individual modules.”

“In our technology division we saw a use to utilize the RF ID reading technology that we have in the round module wrap to enable them to reduce that manuel labor going out and tagging the modules. We are automatically reading those RF ID tags in the modules and sending that information to the display in the cab of the machine.”

Janae shared that cotton producers are continuing to be on board with the adoption of precision agriculture. And since the launch of time & money saving technology, John Deere’s growers are sending in very positive feedback.

Listen to an interview with Janae here: Janae Tapper interview

2013 Beltwide Cotton photo album

beltwide-fmc

Audio, Beltwide Cotton, Cotton, FMC, Harvest

Bayer CropScience Honors Cotton Growers for Yields

Cindy Zimmerman

bwcc13-bayer-brehmerBayer CropScience and FiberMax® cotton are looking for more members to join the FiberMax One Ton Club™.

“More than 410 growers who’ve achieved 2,000 pounds of cotton to the acre on at least 20 acres, doing that with more than 27 varieties,” Jeff Brehmer, U.S. marketing manager for FiberMax, told attendees of the Beltwide Cotton Conference, highlighting the high yields of the varieties. And he says the fiber quality of the FiberMax cotton is recognized throughout the world. “We hear from gins out there who know they are ginning FiberMax cotton because it so much more efficient going through the gin. Those are the characteristics of that brand that we need to continue to deliver.”

Brehmer said that even in areas where water and growing conditions don’t make it possible for growers to achieve 2,000 pounds per acre, the FiberMax varieties still offer significant increases over what they had been growing. “The emotion also comes from where a farmer maybe 10 years ago was growing 350 pounds on their dryland but today is now growing 550 pounds. That success and emotion come with reaching levels that are attainable respective to your area.”

Growers can submit their qualification forms between now and March 1, 2013. Forms are available at local gins, through Bayer CropScience sales reps and online at www.FiberMax.com. Both first-time One Ton Club qualifiers and past members need to submit qualification forms for membership in the 2012 One Ton Club class. Members will be recognized at a banquet in April 2013 and have a chance to win a two-year lease on a Ford® Super Duty® F-350 King Ranch® truck. They also receive special FiberMax One Ton Club apparel and gifts.

Listen to Jeff talk about FiberMax and the One Ton Club here: Jeff Brehmer, FiberMax

Audio, Bayer, Beltwide Cotton, Cotton

FMC Display Shows Results in 2012

Cindy Zimmerman

bwcc13-displayNew Display (TM) cotton harvest aid from FMC Corporation showed good results in limited use last season and the company is now looking forward to expanded use this season. Rusty Mitchell gave us some of the technical details about Display already, Randy Childress then talked to us about the results he saw last year in the field.

Randy covers west Texas and into New Mexico for FMC and was able to see Display at work as a harvest aid for cotton in his area. “Did a very good job, pleasantly surprised with the effects we got with this in a tank mix,” Randy said. “Display gave us a very versatile product that we used in a lot of different conditions.”

Randy says Display offers the same advantage of Aim herbicide in that it can be used without harm to cover crops like wheat. “Display fit like a glove,” he said. “You can put it out, take the leaves off the cotton without harming any adjacent crop or the cover crop.”

Display was just released last August so this will be the product’s first full year of commercial availability for cotton growers throughout the cotton belt.

Listen to my interview with Randy here: Randy Childress interview

Check out photos from the conferences here: 2013 Beltwide Cotton photo album

beltwide-fmc

Audio, Beltwide Cotton, Cotton, FMC

Ag Sec. Vilsack Addresses AFBF Annual Meeting

Chuck Zimmerman

U.S. Ag Secretary Tom VilsackAfter it was announced today that Tom Vilsack has agreed to serve a second term as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture he addressed the American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting. He started out talking about the challenges in rural America and “urged farmers and producers take advantage of innovation, job creation partnerships and to share their story of a modern, innovative, inspiring rural America to new audiences.”

“Rural America is leading innovation in this country today,” said Vilsack. “Rural areas can benefit tremendously through the bioeconomy, whether producing cutting-edge new products or advanced biofuels from crops and plant products. We are learning more about what can be made from wood and forest products. We are discovering groundbreaking medical benefits associated with many homegrown products – and much more.”

Sec. Vilsack highlighted accomplishments at USDA during his first term and called on Congress to pass a five year farm bill now.

You can listen to or download Sec. Vilsack’s speech here: Sec. Vilsack Speech

Post Update: After the closing general session of the convention Sec. Vilsack held a press conference.

You can listen to or download Sec. Vilsack’s press conference here: Sec. Vilsack Press Conference

2013 American Farm Bureau Convention Photo Album

AFBF, Ag Groups, Audio, USDA

Agriculture To Be On Display at Smithsonian

Chuck Zimmerman

American Museum of Natural HistoryThink about putting your farm on display in a museum. You can. The American Farm Bureau Federation is working with the Smithsonian to create a new exhibit focused on agriculture.

This spring, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History is reaching out to farmers, ranchers and American agri-business to build a collection that reflects modern agricultural practices. Curators are seeking stories, photographs and ephemera to record and preserve the innovations and experiences of farming and ranching.

In partnership with the American Farm Bureau Federation, the museum is announcing this initiative to the farming community today during the AFBF’s 94th annual meeting in Nashville. The first donation will come from Tennessee Farm Bureau member Pat Campbell, of Cleburne Jersey Farm, a multi-generational dairy farm founded in the 1870s in Spring Hill, Tenn. Campbell will give a selection of photographs, a computer cow tag and reader unit to show the change in dairying from a hand-labor intensive process to a modern computer-run operation. The donation will also include his personal recollections about how changing technology has altered his work life and has led to greater efficiency and safety.

I visited with Patrick today to found out what he is donating to the collection.

You can listen to my interview with Patrick here: Interview with Patrick Campbell
Coinciding with National Agriculture Day on March 19, the museum will unveil a new Web portal where the public can upload stories about technologies and innovation that have changed their work lives; stories about precision farming, traceability, environmental concerns, governmental practices, irrigation, biotechnology and hybrid seeds. For details, visit http://americanenterprise.si.edu.

2013 American Farm Bureau Convention Photo Album

AFBF, Audio, Education

Dupont Pioneer Invests in My American Farm

Chuck Zimmerman

My American FarmMy American Farm, the American Farm Bureau Foundation’s online interactive education program, received a huge investment from Dupont Pioneer that was announced at the beginning of the annual meeting here in Nashville. It is a $250,000 investment that will support new games and resources, increased outreach to K-12 stakeholders and a mobile application.

I learned more about it by speaking with Susan Bunz, vice president of policy and outreach for Dupont Pioneer. She says that the company actively promotes science education with a goal of attracting more students to study and pursue careers in sciences including agriculture.

During the stage presentation one lucky state farm bureau – North Dakota – received an interactive My American Farm kiosk to use at events around the state.

You can listen to my interview with Susan here: Interview with Susan Bunz

2013 American Farm Bureau Convention Photo Album

AFBF, Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Education, Pioneer

American Farm Bureau Foundation Book of the Year

Chuck Zimmerman

Cat UrbigkitThe American Farm Bureau Foundation has awarded its sixth annual “Book of the Year” award to Cat Urbigkit for her book “The Guardian Team: On the Job with Rena and Roo.” Cat is being interviewed in the photo by farm broadcaster Bob Middendorf.

Cat is a western Wyoming sheep rancher who raises livestock protection dogs and burros. Her award winning book is aimed at 3rd and 4th graders and is a photo essay of a mix of animals she raised together while shooting photos of them as they grew up. It’s a true story about agriculture that is meant to educate youngsters. She says it’s more important that ever to create good educational materials for children today.

You can listen to my interview with Cat here: Interview with Cat Urbigkit

2013 American Farm Bureau Convention Photo Album

AFBF, Audio, Education

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

Bayer, Food, Syngenta, Zimfo Bytes