Ag Industry Not Ready for Cloud Data Storage

Chuck Zimmerman

It doesn’t look like the ag world is ready to embrace the cloud to store precious data. Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “Will you use the cloud to store your data?” According to the results 62% said No, too many risks. Only 20% said Yes, already do and 18% said Yes but looking for better options. So how do you handle the storage of all your data today? Stick it onto an external hard drive? Keep it on your computer’s hard drive? Are you backing up? Do you keep a copy of that data off site? Something to think about if you haven’t already. We don’t use the cloud to store data for the reason that we have lots of data and in order to upload and access it you need more massive internet access capabilities than currently available. Then there’s the whole cost of that storage on an on-going basis. We triple back up our data too. This system is working for us right now.

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, Do ag journalists (broadcast/print/web) adhere to good ethical practices in reporting? This topic of ethics always comes up at meetings like the Ag Media Summit. It usually generates a lively debate. How do ag journalists handle the interaction with advertisers and maintain some kind of neutrality in their reporting? That’s a good question. Our belief is that transparency is the key. We do our best to make sure our sponsors are known and the interviews we do with them are right there for you to listen to directly. Feel free to respond or posts your thoughts here in comments.

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

Farming, ZimmPoll

Dupont Pioneer Honored for Continued Support

Jamie Johansen

Long-time supporter of AgCareers, Cindy Heser, HR Talent Acquisition Representative for Dupont Pioneer, was honored during the 10th Annual HR Roundtable for her continued support. I took the opportunity to talk with Cindy during the event and ask her a few questions about what Dupont Pioneer looks for in recruiting potential employees for careers with their company.

“What we’re looking for in new employees are people that can be good team players, people that are collaborative in their approach and are innovative problem solvers. That’s what we really need in the agriculture industry, globally, as well as across the United States. Universities that are here are all trying to develop those students for us and we are ready to hire and really help us grow agriculture because ag is hot right now. We have never really felt the giant impact of the recession and we have been growing for years.”

“Look for an organization that fits you and know your strengths. If you know yourself best then you can figure out where that match is going to be.”

Dupont Pioneer is proud to be the host of the 2013 North American Ag & FOod HR Roundtable, so don’t worry if you missed this years event. Plans are already underway and it is guaranteed to be a success.

You can listen to my interview with Cindy here: Interview with Cindy Heser

Follow the event on Twitter using #AgRT and check out our photo album for the 2012 North American Ag & Food HR Roundtable.

AgCareers, Agribusiness, Audio, Education

Soybeans Used for Tractors Now… and Back Then

John Davis

Attendees at the USB Biobased Products Stakeholders Workshop this week in Dearborn, Michigan got a chance to step back in history. Antique Ford tractor collector Dave Schafer showed off his pair of 1939 Ford 9Ns, one that was given to his father by Henry Ford himself! “My father worked for Henry Ford as a tractor demonstrator,” Schafer explains. “The day that my dad was driving that tractor, that 179, was the day I was born, and Henry Ford gave him that tractor that day.” The other tractor was built the very last day of production for the 1939 model, so Schafer has the very first and last Ford 9Ns built in 1939.

While these days, we hear a lot about using soybean-based biodiesel in farm equipment, Schafer points out that the beans were also used for other parts way back when. “The tractor I have, the very first one, that had a soybean seat made on it in 1939,” he says. “Ford was already using soybeans to make the seats, steering wheels. They also used it on all the knobs in the car,” ranging from gearshifts to window cranks. “It’s terribly strong material. It lasts forever!” And Schafer says we can keep using soybeans for all those parts and more today.

Listen to Cindy’s interview with Dave here: Antique Ford Tractor Collector Dave Schafer

Check out the photo album below and the SoyBiobased.org website as well.

2012 USB Biobased Products Stakeholders Workshop Photos

Audio, Soybean, USB

Time to Vote in FMC Anthem Singing Contest

Chuck Zimmerman

It’s time for voters to stand and be heard by casting their votes in the FMC Stand and Be Heard Anthem Singing Contest. Rick Ekins, FMC Product Mgr., says voting has been going well with over 61,000 votes so far. I spoke with him during InfoExpo at the Ag Media Summit.

All you need to do is go to the FMC Singing Contest web page and you can see the entries and vote for your favorite. Rick says FMC is ready to give away some scholarship money ($25,000 in all). There are about two weeks left to vote so let’s get it done.

You can listen to my interview with Rick here: Interview with Rick Ekins

2012 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2012 Ag Media Summit is sponsored by FMC
Ag Media Summit, Agribusiness, Audio, FMC

Meet New AAEA President

Chuck Zimmerman

Let’s meet the new President of the American Agricultural Editors’ Association, Lauri Bedord. Here’s Laurie presenting now past President Greg Horstmeier his plaque with gavel during the AAEA business meeting at the Ag Media Summit.

Laurie says she’s going to have several priorities that include the strategic plan which calls for an increase in membership. She encourages members to get involved. She says that although things have been great for AAEA they must not become stagnant. AAEA is also looking ahead to celebrating 100 years soon and making plans on how to celebrate it.

You can listen to my interview with Laurie here: Interview with Laurie Bedord

2012 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2012 Ag Media Summit is sponsored by FMC
ACN, Ag Media Summit, Audio, Media

New President of LPC

Chuck Zimmerman

The new President of the Livestock Publications Council is Kathy LaScala. Her term started here at the Ag Media Summit following the organization’s board meeting.

Kathy is ready to get to work and make a difference at LPC. She says that under past President Scott Vernon they’ve done research to determine what the membership wants so they can bring them those programs and value and she plans to work on that. The organization is doing very well and she says she wants to increase the number of young members involved in LPC.

You can listen to my interview with Kathy here: Interview with Kathy LaScala

2012 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2012 Ag Media Summit is sponsored by FMC
Ag Media Summit, Audio, LPC, Media

Georgia Peanut Commission Opens New HQ

John Davis

As part of their recent 50th anniversary celebration, members of the Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC) board of directors held the official ribbon cutting ceremony and open house at the new headquarters in Tifton, Georgia:

“We are proud of the new energy efficient headquarters and the opportunities that exist to promote peanuts to millions of consumers traveling through Georgia,” says Donald Chase, GPC Building Committee chairman and peanut farmer from Oglethorpe, Ga. “The principles of forward thinking in the design of the new headquarters is a testament to the forward thinking of farmers in the peanut industry here in Georgia.”

The new headquarters is the Georgia state government’s first net-zero energy building, designed and built to meet criteria for LEED Certification at a Platinum Level. The building also boasts both passive and active geothermal systems, solar energy arrays, systems to take advantage of natural sunlight, and even rain harvesting capabilities.

The one thing the building does lack is any kind of debt for its construction. “We’re absent of a mortgage because it’s paid for,” noted Don Koehler, GPC executive director. Sponsorships and a commemorative brick and bench program paid for the construction. The commission also pointed out that the building was put up using local contractors and businesses for the relatively low price of just $87 per square foot.

You can see more pictures from the ribbon cutting ceremony here.

Ag Groups, Peanuts

From New Zealand to BASF

Cindy Zimmerman

The Vice President of U.S. Crop Protection for BASF decided he wanted a career in agriculture when he was still a young boy growing up on a small farm in New Zealand.

“Mom and Dad farmed on a small holding just outside Christchurch, New Zealand,” Paul said during a recent interview at the BASF Ag Media Solutions Summit. “So farming’s in my blood. It’s all I’ve ever done, all I’ve ever known.” His family operation had mixed crops, peas and cereals, and sheep. “I also worked on a number of local dairies, milking cows on Sundays, and worked on a poultry farm as well,” he said, which impressed upon him the importance of hard work and dedication in agriculture.

Paul moved into agribusiness by taking a job with an ag retailer in New Zealand. “I was lucky to have some great bosses who helped me in terms of guiding my career,” Paul said. He moved on to a seed business in Australia after a few years. “You think that Australia and New Zealand are right next to each other, but the agricultural systems are different in lots of ways,” he said, noting that he worked there for 15 years, including three years with BASF.

Paul has been with BASF for about 11 years, moving to the U.S. eight years ago. “I really enjoy working with my team and seeing us achieve our goals of helping growers push their yields even further,” he said. “When you see growers doing really cool things with this technology, it’s fun.”

Learn more about Paul and BASF in this interview: BASF VP Paul Rea

Audio, BASF, Farming

Ag Media Summit Closing Banquet

Chuck Zimmerman

The 2012 Ag Media Summit is nearing the end. Tonight we had a lot of award presentations. I’ll have some of those posted for you soon.

After the awards banquet it was time to relax and we did that on the dance floor and in the hallways. Just another time to enjoy fellowship with friends and colleagues in the ag communications industry.

I’ve updated the photo album. So please feel free to enjoy and share. I have more interviews to share when time on the agriblogging highway allows.

2012 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2012 Ag Media Summit is sponsored by FMC
Ag Media Summit, Media

Day One is a Wrap at AgCareers HR Roundtable

Jamie Johansen

The first day of the 2012 North American Ag & Food HR Roundtable is a wrap. Agribusiness representatives, university personnel and HR professionals have listened two to renowned speakers and already have had a fun evening networking with agriculture colleagues from across the country sponsored by ADM.

A big shout out to Tyson Foods for hosting the event. A pre-conference tour was offered where attendees had the opportunity to take a behind the scenes look into how Tyson’s works their magic. It is easy to tell we are all welcome on their campus because every employee I have seen has greeted me with a smile on their face.

Greg Honey, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Farm Credit Canada (FCC), took the stage after a warm welcome from Eric Spell, President of AgCareers. He discussed the importance of reinventing the image of agriculture and the food industry. FCC just launched AgricultureMoreThanEver.ca where you can share your agriculture story and listen to others.

Economist and futurist, Dr. Jay Lehr, has five decades of expertise in agricultural economics, agronomy, environmental science and business administration. He talked about how the price of ‘X’ impacts recruitment and retention in the agriculture and food industry. He challenged us all to spend two hours a month simply talking about what we know about agriculture to someone different. He shared this video of him doing just that in San Francisco, CA.

Follow the event on Twitter using #AgRT and check out our photo album for the 2012 North American Ag & Food HR Roundtable.

AgCareers, Agribusiness, Education