FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative board of directors recently unveiled its new logo. The identity symbolizes the newly formed cooperative’s vision and commitment to its members.
The logo and brand identity were approved by the FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative’s board of directors and will be integrated throughout membership and marketing efforts as the new cooperative establishes its presence in the industry.
Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, ”How do you feel about the fiscal cliff compromise?”
Our poll results: Forty-one percent said Sick of Congress; thirty-two percent said Disgusted; 15 percent said Disappointed; five percent said Pleased and Hopeful; and one percent said Thrilled. Looks like the majority of you are tired of hearing about Congress!
Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, ”What do you think is top story of 2012?” 2012 was a wild year for farmers. What do you think the top story was? We’re listing the top ones we’ve seen here and on other farm news sites like AgriMarketing.com. There certainly are more stories. Feel free to add your ideas if they’re not on the list here in comments or in comments on the poll.
ZimmPoll is sponsored by 
.
Cotton growers in the Southeast have been dealing with weed resistance since the first case was confirmed in Georgia in 2005. While it spread rapidly in that region, Texas cotton growers have been comparatively resistance-free – but not anymore, according to Dr. Paul Baumann with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension who gave growers an update at the Beltwide Cotton Production Conference Tuesday.
“Over the past couple years, 2011-2012, we saw a dramatic increase in the number of reported or suspected sites, particularly for common waterhemp,” he said. “We have confirmed resistance in a large percentage of these sites. Bottom line is – we’ve got the issue.”
That’s mainly in southern Texas, but there is resistance rapidly developing in the plains as well where they have found a large number of sites with resistant Palmer ameranth pigweed. “We that being one of the major cotton production areas, this is a big issue for us,” Dr. Baumann said.
He says they believe one reason Texas has been slower to develop resistance to glyphosate is that growers have already been using multiple modes of action, which is the primary way to fight the problem.
Listen to my interview with Dr. Baumann here: Paul Baumann interview
The FMC team at the 2013 Beltwide Cotton Conferences has been hard at work here talking to growers about Display and Anthem. We sincerely appreciate their support making coverage of this year’s event possible. Since this is the last year that technical exhibits will be a part of the Beltwide, the FMC folks say they will miss this opportunity to interact with cotton growers, but they will still be involved in other shows in cotton producing areas.
Growers who stop by the booth here at Beltwide have been signing up to win $250 gift cards for Cabela’s – they had a drawing for one yesterday and will draw for another today. Stop by and win!
During the Tuesday morning general session of the Cotton Production Conference in San Antonio, Gaylon Morgan with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service gave a review of 2012 in cotton production.
“Several of the states are going to set record yields this year,” Gaylon said, particularly in the Southeast and the Delta.
“As you move further west into Texas and Oklahoma, we were better than 2011, but we still only harvested about 72% of our cotton acres in Texas and Oklahoma only harvested about 50% of total cotton acres,” he continued, explaining that that was due in part to a continuation of the drought, but also to an early freeze. “Up in the high plains of Texas we had an early freeze October 8 in the irrigated cotton that was doing fairly well there that more or less ended the season for them.”
Way west in Arizona and California where the cotton is irrigated, yields are pretty consistent, but they did observe glyphosate resistant Palmer ameranth for the first time. “So the monster is moving further west,” he noted.
Listen to my interview with Gaylon here: Gaylon Morgan interview
Citing his contribution to the promotion, development and improvement of the agricultural industry in the Metro East, the St. Louis AgriBusiness Club named Representative John Shimkus as its AgriBusiness Leader of the Year.
Shimkus accepted the award during the Club’s January meeting at Baisch and Skinner Wholesale Floral Distributor in St. Louis.
Throughout his seven terms in Congress, Shimkus has maintained a 94 percent voting record with the Illinois Farm Bureau due to his championship of the issues that directly impact the agriculture industry. Shimkus’ agricultural accomplishments include his support of the Renewable Fuels Reinvestment Tax, sponsorship of the 2011 Open Fuel Standard, the establishment of the 25x’25 Illinois Renewable Energy Alliance, and his unwavering support of the renewable energy and biofuels industries.
The NCERC Biofuels Research Center nominated Shimkus for the award in conjunction with the Illinois Corn Growers, Illinois Renewable Fuels Association, and the Illinois Farm Bureau. NCERC Director John Caupert said the nomination reflects Shimkus’ efforts on behalf of the nearly two-thirds of the St. Louis AgriBusiness Club membership who live and work in Illinois.
Results are in for World Ag Expo’s Top-10 New Products competition. The winners will be showcased at the 46th annual World Ag Expo. A group of judges made up of farmers, ranchers and industry professionals selected the Top-10 New Products.
ADA Enterprises: This first-of-its-kind product provides a safe, healthy and comfortable environment for newly-weaned calves, replacement heifers and veal calves.
Freeman, a division of Allied Systems: baler attachment
Barrier Systems, LLC: While watching television coverage of hundreds of volunteers filling sandbags during a flood in Fargo, N.D., general contractor Joe Hartley thought, “There has to be a better way.”
Clemens Vineyard Equipment, Inc.: a product that could dramatically change the way American growers plot and plant their vineyards and some tree crops.
L&H Airco: System featuring breakthrough technology to cool warehouses, processing facilities and other large enclosed areas
Click here to see the complete list of Top-10 products.
National Cotton Council president and CEO Dr. Mark Lange gave his Washington update during the Beltwide Cotton Production Conference on Tuesday, explaining what the taxpayer relief act passed on New Year’s Day means for them with the extension of the 2008 Farm Bill.
“One thing they didn’t do was make any cuts,” Mark told me during an interview. “All that means is the next four year farm bill is going to have five years worth of cuts in it. That’s going to make coming to a good resolution about farm policy all the more difficult.”
The big problem is all of the major issues that Congress has to deal with in the next 60-90 days – including sequestration, debt ceiling and the budget. Mark says he is concerned with what the farm bill extension might mean for the WTO cotton trade issue with Brazil. “I know the U.S. government will be talking with the Brazilians in the next week or so and we should get some feedback,” he said.
Listen to my interview with Mark here: Mark Lange interview
Check out photos from the conferences here: 2013 Beltwide Cotton photo album
I’m betting that many of you are in the learning stage with your new gadget you got for Christmas. Maybe that’s an iPhone, iPad or some sort of Android device. There are others, I know. If you can power it up via a usb cable connection then here’s my choice of a very useful device to stick in your bag for when your gadget runs out of juice.
It’s the Hyperjuice Micro. Cindy and I each carry one with us and I use it frequently, especially during a very active day of agriblogging and when I’m on a tour bus and there are no other power outlet options. I started out with a Hyperjuice Mini which I still have but I like the smaller Micro. It has two usb ports so you can plug in two gadgets at the same time to power them up. In my experience, my devices generally charge back up quickly.
There are special gadget covers that include an extra battery in them but I don’t like the extra bulk, including the “thin” ones. I like my slim case on my iPhone and I’d rather stick one of these in my jacket pocket if I’m going to be somewhere I can’t have my gear bag handy.
Your gadget is only good if it’s got power. True AgNerds know the importance of this. Don’t have to say, “My Phone is dead” because you ran out of juice!
Available in 10 different juicy colors and housed in an exquisite aluminum casing, HyperJuice Micro is equipped with one high power and one low power USB port that can charge the iPad and iPhone or any USB device. You will be spoiled for choice finding the right color to match your USB device.
How do you address the need to power your gadget up out in the field or on the road?
You’ll find lots of other useful gadget devices at HyperShop besides HyperJuice.
