AgProLink A Social Network for ASFMRA Members

John Davis

Communication is important for any organization, and at the recent 83rd Annual Meeting and Trade Show of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers and AgroNomics Conference & Trade Show, Chuck caught up with George Baird, an accredited farm manager (AFM) who has a company called Baird & Brunson Land Management Group based in the Mid-South. He explained what one of ASFMRA’s communications tools is AgProLink, which Baird likens to a social network site just for farm managers.

“[We] work on problems, discuss issues… and it’s just another way to keep everybody tied together,” Baird said. He added AgProLink is helping farm managers do more things more efficiently. “We can’t do everything. Some of us are good at some things, [others are good at others]. This is a perfect way to lean on each other.”

And Baird stressed the importance of attending conferences like this one and the networking opportunities it brings. “People tell me it costs too much to go. I tell them, ‘I can’t afford not to go!'”

Listen to Chuck’s interview with George here: Interview with George Baird, AFM, Baird & Brunson Land Management Group

2012 Agronomics Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the ASFMRA Agronomics Conference is sponsored by Halderman Farm Management.

Agribusiness, Audio

Capital Into Ag Sector Good for ASFMRA Members

John Davis

Rising prices in the ag sector are prompting a lot of companies to look at investing in those areas. But since these companies might not know that sector, they’re going to need good farm managers and appraisers to make sure their investment is well spent. At the recent 83rd Annual Meeting and Trade Show of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers and AgroNomics Conference & Trade Show held in Indianapolis, Ind. attendees were able to hear exactly what that might mean for their fields.

“Those companies [looking to invest in farmland] are looking for good farm management talent to do the due diligence on those properties, see if they’re worth acquiring and at what level, which may lead into the management and appraisal of that asset,” explained Gary Thien, AFM, owner of Thien Farm Management in Council Bluffs, Iowa. And he says it’s why an organization such as ASFMRA and conferences like these are important. “It’s always a leading-edge conference, and you always come home with something afterwards.”

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Gary here: Interview with Gary Thien, AFM

2012 Agronomics Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the ASFMRA Agronomics Conference is sponsored by Halderman Farm Management.

Agribusiness, Audio

NAFB Horizon and Farm Broadcaster Awards

Cindy Zimmerman

The coveted NAFB Horizon and Farm Broadcaster of the Year awards were presented during the Friday awards luncheon.

This year’s Horizon winner was Leslie Smith of KNEB/Rural Radio Network in Scottsbluff, Nebraska and the 2012 Farm Broadcaster of the Year is Al Gustin of KFYR/KBMR in Bismark, North Dakota. They are pictured here with retiring NAFB Awards Committee Chairman Mike Perrine of AgriTalk (left) and Steve Goldsmith of Syngenta, awards sponsor (right).

2012 NAFB Convention Photo Album

NAFB

NAFB Makes an Egg Souffle

Chuck Zimmerman

It’s not all business and hard work at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting convention. It can also be a hilarious educational opportunity. The Egg Lady, Jo Manhart, orchestrated an egg souffle making demonstration just prior to today’s luncheon. Four NAFB members were given separate jobs to get an egg souffle in the oven before the end of the William Tell Overture finishes. Do they do it? You’ll have to watch the video. According to Jo, the last time a group got it done was an FFA meeting in the 1980’s!

Conducting the music was NAFB President Tom Steever, Brownfield Ag News. See if you can identify the chefs in the video below.

Be sure to check out the 2012 NAFB Convention Photo Album for some great photos from this really funny demo.

Media, NAFB, Poultry, Video

BASF Survey Reveals Sustainability Attitudes

Cindy Zimmerman

BASF Crop Protection had great news to talk about with farm broadcasters at the NAFB meeting in Kansas City this week.

According to a new BASF survey, a majority of consumers and growers agree that modern agriculture can achieve two critical goals simultaneously: Feed the world’s growing population while demonstrating responsible stewardship.

More than 80 percent of the growers and nearly 70 percent of the consumers who participated in the survey were confident that growers will be able to strike a balance between producing enough food for the planet and preserving it for future generations. “Technology and knowledge advancements” were cited by both groups as the primary reasons for their confidence.

“Technology is and will continue to be the number one driver behind our ability to meet the demands of a growing population in a way that stewards resources,” said Paul Rea, Vice President, U.S. Crop Operations, BASF. “We know there is no room for failure—we have to make it happen. This is what drives our commitment to invest $2 million a day in research and development on innovations that will help growers preserve the land and maximize yields.”

Listen to or download my interview with Paul at NAFB here: BASF VP Paul Rea

I also got a comment from Paul on the recent announcement that BASF will be acquiring the assets of seed treatment company Becker Underwood. “We expect to close on that transaction here in the next few weeks and we’re very excited to bring their technology to our very extensive BASF crop protection technology,” said Paul. “We already have some very well established seed treatment technologies and there will be nice synergy between those products and what the Becker Underwood team has.”

Listen to or download Paul’s comments on Becker Underwood here: BASF-Becker Underwood

2012 NAFB Convention Photo Album

Audio, BASF, NAFB, Seed, Sustainability

Generational Differences Among Farmers

Melissa Sandfort

New research shows how the management style of younger dairy producers and corn growers compares and contrasts with that of their older counterparts. The survey, commissioned by McCormick Company, considered management practices, ownership structures, decision-making processes, business and transition planning, and the role of information — including digital media — in running respondents’ operations.

What the study found was that younger managers embrace the same values and reasons for farming, but they often consider new ways to get information and manage their operations.

McCormick’s goal is to share proprietary insights from this research with select companies seeking innovation as they connect with key customers.

An independent research firm interviewed more than 600 corn farmers and dairy producers, half of which were younger than 45 years of age. The vast majority of their farms were owned by two or more family generations; but one in four of the younger dairy producers were first-generation owners. Read More

Agribusiness, Corn, Dairy, Research

A Monsanto Ground Breaker

Chuck Zimmerman

Here’s Bruce Trautman, a Nebraska farmer and Monsanto Ground Breaker.

This season, Monsanto will be piloting the Ground Breakers program with its new drought-tolerant corn system, Genuity® DroughtGard™ Hybrids. Approximately 250 growers throughout the Western Great Plains region including South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma and Colorado will have the opportunity to plant Genuity® DroughtGard™ Hybrids on their farm.

Through Monsanto’s Ground Breakers program, growers will be evaluating new hybrids with the drought trait, as well as hybrids with drought-tolerant germplasm derived from Monsanto’s breeding program. Genuity® VT Double PRO®, Genuity® VT Triple PRO® and Roundup Ready 2 Technology will serve as the agronomic trait platform for the drought-tolerance trait.

So Bruce was one of the ground breaking farmers and attended the NAFB convention to talk with farm broadcasters. He says Monsanto gave him the seeds for a hybrid plot with fourteen varieties. Those included Genuity DroughtGard seeds that performed 5-6 bushels better, very important during a drought year! He says this effort allowed him to see side-by-side comparisons right there on his farm and has helped him make better buying decisions for next year.

You can listen to my interview with Bruce here: Interview with Bruce Trautman

2012 NAFB Convention Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, NAFB

Getting Ready For Food Dialogues

Chuck Zimmerman

Put November 15, 2012 on your calendar to tune it to the USFRA Food Dialogues which will be streaming live from New York City. Yours truly will be there covering the event.

During the 2012 National Association of Farm Broadcasting convention I got an update on the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance from board chairman Bob Stallman, President, AFBF. Here’s Bob doing one of his many interviews with farm broadcasters yesterday. It was two years ago that Bob made the announcement of the formation of USFRA.

Bob says it has been about fourteen months since USFRA has started running its active programs. The first goal was to get all the producer groups in the country to participate and they got most of them. Then the job was to bring in the checkoff programs and industry partners. Bob says, “We’re off and running. But we knew this needs to be a long term effort.”

You can listen to my interview with Bob to learn more about the progress of USFRA: Interview with Bob Stallman

2012 NAFB Convention Photo Album

Media, NAFB, USFRA

NAFB Creative and Broadcast Excellence

Cindy Zimmerman

Honors for creative and broadcast excellence were presented Thursday night at the NAFB annual meeting in Kansas City.

The Herb Plambeck Award for Creative Excellence was won in both categories by Broadhead. Broadhead’s work for the Mosaic Company received the Best Single award for the 30,000 feet spot. The TrichGuard series for Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica won for Best Series.

Finally, the last ever Oscar in Agriculture was presented to the niece of NAFB veteran Al Gustin, Sarah. Yes, you read that right – the last ever “Oscar” in Agriculture. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences suddenly realized this year, after 50 years, that NAFB uses the name “Oscar” for the annual award recognizing broadcast excellence. The academy sent a “cease and desist” order just a month or so before the meeting, but were magnanimous enough to allow us one last year – since the award was already made up! Every one who has an Oscar should post it on Facebook or Twitter and give the Academy grief! I plan to do that with mine when I get back home. I was fortunate enough to receive one of the old big pewter Oscars in 1991 and it still proudly displays on my desk.

2012 NAFB Convention Photo Album

Boehringer Ingelheim, NAFB

NAFB Night of Honors – Tears and Laughs

Cindy Zimmerman

The NAFB Night of Honors started with tears for the untimely loss this year of former president Stewart Doan inducted into the Hall of Fame. Stewart’s wife Leslie and two daughters Lauren and Sarah were on hand to see the industry pay tribute to this great husband, father and industry professional. So many of us still can’t believe he is gone – but not forgotten.

The second Hall of Famer honored was veteran broadcaster George Gatley of Western Agri-Radio Networks, who started his career in 1958 – the year after I was born. George has been the official photographer at NAFB forever and he made me feel good by calling me a “girl.” Thanks, George!

The Dix Harper Meritorious Service Award was presented to Mike Hansen, Agriculture Sales Director for the Rural Media Group (RFD-TV/Rural TV). Mike began his tenure with NAFB as Marketing Manager at the Omaha Stockyards and then at WOW-AM where he was Farm Director and Farm Sales Manager. He was a key player in developing the concept of Trade Talk at the NAFB Convention and served as chairman of the event for several years.

2012 NAFB Convention Photo Album

NAFB