New Holland Official NASCAR Ag Equipment

Chuck Zimmerman

At the NASCAR Fuel for Business Council® meeting in Chicago today, New Holland became the Official Agricultural Equipment of NASCAR®. Here’s New Holland on display outside of Chicagoland Speedway for this weekend’s NASCAR races. I’ll be covering the Nationwide Series Dollar General 300.

New Holland, the latest NASCAR Official Partner, has served the needs of farmers and ranchers across North America for more than 110 years, and its equipment plays a critical role in the production of ethanol.

“We are proud of our newly expanded alliance with NASCAR and the role our equipment plays in helping power the sport,” said Abe Hughes, vice president of New Holland, North America. “We are the agricultural industry’s Clean Energy Leader, and are looking forward to further enhancing our 30-year relationship with a sport that is pushing the bar on clean and efficient fuel that is not only helping to restore America’s energy independence, but also serves to strengthen American farmers and the rural economy. New Holland stands 100% behind this impact.”

While I was out at the track today I ran into Mark Schneidewind, farmer and manager of Will County Farm Bureau. He was helping set up the exhibit area for Illinois Family farmers. Listen to my interview with Mark to get a preview of the action for race fans when they come out to the track: Interview with Mark Schneidewind

I’ll be taking photos through tomorrow’s Dollar General 300 race and you can find them here: 2012 NASCAR Dollar General 300 Race Photos

Agribusiness, Audio, Corn, NASCAR, New Holland

Farm Foundation Forum to Look at Global Ag Policies

John Davis

Our friends at Farm Foundation hold another free forum … this time on global agricultural policies on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012. The forum, entitled Perspectives on Global Agricultural Policies, will be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. EDT at the National Press Club, 529 14th St. NW, Washington D.C. and will feature the official release of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) 2012 Agricultural Policy Monitoring and Evaluation Report.

Speakers at the Forum will include:

Frank van Tongeren, head of the Division of Policies in Trade and Agriculture at the OECD Trade and Agriculture Directorate, will provide an overview of the OECD report.
Keith Fuglie, Chief of the Resource, Environmental, and Science Policy Branch in the Resource and Rural Economics Division of USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS), will provide perspectives on productivity and innovation policies.
Riikka Rajalahti, Senior Agricultural Specialist at the World Bank, will offer perspectives from developing countries.
Farm Foundation President Neil Conklin will discuss U.S. farm policy issues.

After their brief presentations, the floor will be opened for discussion.

Register by noon Monday, Sept. 17. More information is available on the Farm Foundation website.

Ag Groups, Farm Foundation, International

Monsanto Previews FieldScripts

Cindy Zimmerman

On the eve of the 2012 Farm Progress Show, the media was invited to Monsanto’s Huxley, Iowa facility for a sneak preview of FieldScripts, the company’s first product from the Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) platform.

Monsanto IFS commercial lead John Raines says FieldScripts will deliver two things for farmers. “A variable rate corn hybrid prescription in that field, as well as the very best hybrid matched with that prescription for that field,” he said. Farmers in four Midwestern states will participate in Monsanto’s Ground Breakers testing program for FieldScripts next year and then it will be launched on a limited basis in 2014. “It will be launched on the DEKALB brand in the initial phase in the states of Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois and Indiana.”

Listen to my interview with John here: Monsanto's John Raines

Monsanto has been testing FieldScripts for over two years with some growers, including Kip Tom of Indiana, who talked about his experience using the product. “They built it so it can be used across multiple equipment platforms very easily,” Kip told me. “This new technology of using the iPad and getting it wirelessly is really going to make it easy for the producer to use.”

“The greatest benefit is the additional yield we get,” Kip said. “We’re trying to get every bushel we can out of an acre. At the end of the day, we need to drive more yield home to benefit global consumers and put more money to our bottom line.”

Listen to my interview with Kip about FieldScripts here: Indiana farmer Kip Tom

Audio, Corn, Farming, Technology

Ready for some NASCAR

Chuck Zimmerman

It’s NASCAR time for me again this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway. My good buddy Kenny Wallace will be on the track Saturday for the Dollar General 300 Nationwide Series race. The cars will be running on Sunoco Green E-15, a blend of fuel that contains 15% corn-based ethanol. The American Ethanol green flag will drop at 2:30pm central.

I’ll be agriblogging with Illinois Family Farmers and the Illinois Corn Growers, including posts onto Corn Scoops. The photo is Kenny during the July race at Chicagoland Speedway. I’ll see you from there.

Corn, Ethanol, NASCAR

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • DuPont Pioneer recently received all necessary regulatory approvals for import into major world markets of grain grown from Optimum AcreMax XTreme products.
  • Christie Communications announced that NaturaTech Sustainable Growing Solutions has retained the agency to develop and manage their strategic branding and communications campaign.
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking nominations for the Peanut Standards Board.
  • National 4-H Council announced the launch of the fall 2012 4-H Paper Clover Campaign in partnership with Tractor Supply Company.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Packer Sues Over Lean Finely Textured Beef Story

    John Davis

    Meat packing giant BPI has filed a lawsuit against broadcaster ABC, three of its reporters, and others for “knowingly and intentionally publishing false and disparaging statements regarding BPI and its product, lean finely textured beef (LFTB).” This news release from BPI says the network and others launched a concerted disinformation campaign against the meat packer, costing the company money and 700 workers their jobs:

    “For more than 30 years, our family has built and operated companies that are committed to providing consumers with wholesome, safe and nutritious lean beef. We’ve created thousands of good jobs for Americans and our lean finely textured beef has made the leaner ground beef that consumers desire more affordable,” said Eldon Roth, founder and CEO of BPI. “The blatantly false and disparaging statements made about our lean beef have done more than hurt my family and our companies; they have jeopardized the future of our employees and their families.”

    In their complaint, filed Thursday in Circuit Court in Union County, South Dakota, BPI alleges that ABC and the individuals named in the suit knowingly made false, defamatory and disparaging statements regarding BPI and LFTB during a disinformation campaign this spring. These statements were made even after BPI and others sent ABC factual information about LFTB, including conclusions from USDA, FDA, food safety organizations and numerous beef industry experts that LFTB is a safe, nutritious lean beef. As a result of the disinformation campaign, BPI sales declined from approximately five million pounds of LFTB per week to less than two million pounds per week, three BPI facilities closed and more than 700 employees lost their jobs.

    The suit is asking for more than $1 billion in compensatory and statutory damages, plus punitive damages. You can read BPI’s charges at www.beefisbeef.com.

    Beef, Media

    Discharge Could Re-Charge Farm Bill

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Members of the U.S. House of Representatives have resorted to unconventional means to try and force a farm bill to the floor for a vote.

    Congressman Bruce Braley (D-IA) formally filed a “discharge petition” on Thursday in an effort to bring the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management (FARRM) Act passed by the House Agriculture Committee on July 12 to a vote. If at least 218 members sign the petition, the legislation must be brought to the floor.

    “After 65 days of dithering and distraction, Speaker Boehner has finally allowed the bill to be released from Committee,” Braley said in a statement urging colleagues to sign the petition. “Now that we, a group of Democrats and Republicans, have filed this discharge petition, and it’s available for signatures, we’ll see who really supports the Farm Bill Now.”

    Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack was pleased to hear the news. “That’s an encouraging sign because it gives representatives who are keenly aware of the need for a farm bill the opportunity to compel House leadership to bring a farm bill up for a vote,” Vilsack told USDA Radio Thursday.

    Meanwhile Rep. Kristi Noem (R-SD) and others sent a letter to House Majority Leader Eric Cantor requesting a meeting to discuss the farm bill. Noem spoke passionately about the need for new farm legislation Wednesday, both at the Farm Bill Now rally and on the House floor. In an effort to put a face on those in agriculture, she read excerpts of a letter from a South Dakota farming couple. You can watch her speech below:

    Farm Bill, Video

    Minimum Tillage Changes Due to Drought

    Melissa Sandfort

    Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, ” What tillage practice changes will you make due to drought?”

    Our poll results: Thirty-one percent said No change, continue conventional till; 35% said No change, continue conservation till; 15% said Will start conservation till (no-till, strip-till, other) on part of crop; and 19% said Will start conservation till (no-till, strip-till, other) on all of crop.

    Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, ” Do you plan to buy an iPhone 5?” It’s taller, thinner, lighter weight and has a bigger screen. Or do you just love your Android? Or not want a smartphone at all? What do you think?

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

    Technology, ZimmPoll

    New Chair of Apple Processors Association

    Melissa Sandfort

    Thomas M. DeNisco, Vice-President, General Manager & CFO of Knouse Foods Cooperative, Inc. has been elected Chairman of the Apple Processors Association (APA). DeNisco will serve a two-year term as industry leader of the 25-year old association charged with representing and improving the nation’s apple processing industry.

    DeNisco is a 20-year financial executive with the apple processing industry, and a native of Buffalo, New York. He was named Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer of Knouse Foods Cooperative, Inc. in November, 1992, elected the firm’s Treasurer in November, 2000, and became General Manager in 2005. He has been a Certified Public Accountant since 1974, and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Financial Executives Institute, and the Institute of Cooperative Financial Officers.

    DeNisco has served on the Apple Processors Association board since 2010, and has been instrumental in decision-making effecting national legislative and regulatory issues, as well as product production, marketing, sales, and foreign trade.

    Agribusiness

    Up On End

    Melissa Sandfort

    I proudly work for the beef industry and up until I was in high school, my dad had a small feedlot. He has since rented the pens out to a neighbor to use for feeding, but the bunks are still there. I remember my dad loading up steers in the late evening hours and making the trip to the Omaha stockyards in the old semi; me in tow in the sleeper bed reading a book or napping while he sold cattle. My in-laws also run a mid-sized cow/calf operation in Kansas, so I guess it’s “all in the family”.

    “In 1955, Omaha’s livestock market became the largest in the world. Some market days, the livestock trucks would be lined up from 36th and L Streets all the way west to 72nd Street. Stockmen would have to serve as traffic cops to keep the trucks moving, and still it would take hours to unload.”

    Unfortunately, the sale at our local auction market is on Wednesdays, right in the middle of my work day, so our son hasn’t been to a sale in quite some time.

    My grandfather worked for a cattle feeder when he was younger and he, too, has some stories to tell.

    Listen to Grandpa explain

    Can you imagine – a livestock truck tipped up on its back end with all the cattle squished against the gate?

    Maybe our son will want a steer when he gets bigger. He will have to make friends with our horses.

    Until we walk again …

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