Farm Foundation, NASDA to Host Presidential Forum

John Davis

Our friends at Farm Foundation will team up with the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) to hold a Presidential Forum on Agriculture, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012, at the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates, 100 Locust Street, in Des Moines, Iowa. The forum will use Nebraska Senator and former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns to represent the Romney campaign and former Iowa Lt. Governor and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Patty Judge to represent the Obama campaign.

“It is a challenging time in agriculture and it is exciting to see the presidential campaigns engage directly on these important issues with leaders from across the country,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey, who is the current NASDA President. “This forum will highlight the impact agriculture has on nearly every aspect of our economy. I encourage voters to tune in and learn more about where each candidate stands on important issues affecting agriculture.”

“As a non-advocacy organization, Farm Foundation has an important role in providing this opportunity for voters to learn more about the platforms of the respective candidates,” says Neil Conklin, President of Farm Foundation, NFP. “This Forum is an important opportunity to focus on the candidates’ attention to the enormous challenges facing the global food system, agriculture and rural communities.”

There will be a moderator and questions from the invitation-only audience, but it will be streamed live online on Iowa Public Television (IPTV), www.iptv.org, and viewers can submit questions via Twitter using the hashtag #AgForum. It will re-air at 1 p.m. Sept. 16, and at 8 p.m. Sept. 19 on IPTV WORLD. The forum precedes the 2012 NASDA Annual Meeting taking place in Des Moines Sept. 12 to 17.

Ag Groups, Farm Foundation, politics

Battle of the Brands Winner

Melissa Sandfort

Simpson College stands alone as champion of Lessing-Flynn Advertising’s Battle of the Brands.

The contest, now in its third year, pitted 65 Iowa brands head-to-head in a March Madness-style bracket. Over the course of four weeks, fans of the brands determined who moved on by voting on each match-up, including the championship match that saw Simpson College triumph over Anderson Erickson Dairy.

By winning the 2012 event, Simpson College’s charity of choice, Children and Family Urban Ministries, will receive $5,000 worth of marketing support from Lessing-Flynn.

Executive Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Simpson College, Jill Johnson, attributed the victory to an extremely loyal alumni base that responded enthusiastically to the school’s efforts to drum up support.

Simpson College utilized multiple marketing tactics to garner votes, including social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. In addition, email announcements were sent out to remind alumni, staff and students to vote.

Advertising, Agribusiness, Education

Top Farmers Markets in America Announced

Jamie Johansen

Throughout the summer farmers market shoppers from across the United States have been voting for America’s Favorite Farmers Markets. American Farmland Trust sponsors the event and is ready to announce this years winners.

But the contest isn’t just about being number one. This fun-loving contest showcases the role farmers markets play in local communities and cities alike. Farmers markets are a great educational tool informing consumers of where their food comes from and gives them the opportunity to meet the farmers who grew and raised the dinner they will eat.

Are you ready to find out if the farmers market you visit made the list? Wait no longer! The top markets in the 2012 America’s Favorite Farmers Markets contest are…

View the top 5 by state and the top 20 overall, but here are the winners of each category:
Small: Arlington Farmers Market
Mid-sized: Sulphur Springs Texas Farmers Market
Medium: Winter Garden Farmers Market
Large: Fayetteville Farmers Market

Food

New Holland Weather App

Chuck Zimmerman

Can’t get enough weather information? Then get this new app from New Holland. This new service was announced last week at the Farm Progress Show.

New Holland’s commitment to making farming easier for enhanced productivity is once again confirmed by the launch of the free ‘Farming weather forecast and services by New Holland Agriculture’ app which forms a key element of the overarching digital strategy. New Holland is the first in the agricultural sector to develop and launch such an application, which is distinct from the purely product based apps already on the market, and offers the increasing number of farmers and agribusinesses that use smart phone technology a comprehensive service.

The essential app for farmers: it provides professional forecasts dedicated to agriculture and important data such as evapotranspiration, degree days and almanac to compare current conditions with average of the same period. In one single place it also provides the most important news on farming and professional agriculture directly from the most authoritative sources. Also locate your nearest New Holland dealer and get driving directions to reach the dealership or contact New Holland for further information or requests

Get it in the iTunes Store or Google Play.

2012 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2012 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New Holland and Monsanto Roundup Ready Plus
Agribusiness, Apps, Farm Progress Show, New Holland, Weather

Vilsack Talks Obama Plan for Rural Economy at DNC

John Davis

Pres. Obama has a way to keep the rural economy moving forward… that’s the message delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, NC received from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. “President Obama has a detailed plan for a new rural economy,” Vilsack told the delegates. “More support for small businesses making, creating and innovating. More investment in biofuels and other biomaterials. And more trade and more markets.”

Vilsack said rural Americans want someone who will help the middle class and that Obama and running mate Vice President Joe Biden are the ones to keep things moving forward.

In a recent ZimmPoll, Obama and Biden’s challengers, Republicans Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan seem to be holding a small lead in a close race, with 42 percent choosing Romney/Ryan and 35 percent going for Obama/Biden. But nearly a quarter of respondents say we need a better choice.

Hear Vilsack’s remarks here: Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack at DNC

Audio, Biofuels, politics

GROWMARK Honors Youth in Ag

Jamie Johansen

The role of young people involved in agriculture is a true focus for GROWMARK. During their recent annual meeting State FFA Officers from Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin and representatives from the Ontario Cooperative Young Leaders spoke to members on the role of young people in agriculture and their future roles in the industry.

I had the chance to talk with Darren Riskedal, State FFA President from Illinios, and Marley Burgess, Ontario Cooperative Young Leader Representative, before they took the stage. You can find their complete interviews below.

GROWMARK also recognized forty-one college students from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin with scholarships aimed to promote higher education in agriculture and business. GROWMARK has been supporting college students since the early 1960’s and strives to provide $44,000 in scholarships annually.

Listen to my interview with Darren here: Interview with Darren Riskedal

Listen to my interview with Marley here: Interview with Marley Burgess

You can find photos from the event here:2012 GROWMARK Annual Meeting

Agribusiness, Audio, Cooperatives, Education, FFA, GROWMARK

Up and Back the River

Melissa Sandfort

I’ve never been one to wish for snow, at least not while I’m lucid, but this summer I find myself dreaming of big sweatshirts, scarfs and my fur-lined boots. August teased us with some 70-degree days but now it’s been back near 100.

I also wonder if winter will come in October since the seasons have been accelerated by at least a month in 2012, which gets me to thinking about snowy, icy days. When we were kids, we lived in town and by town I mean all 120 of us according to the last census. I think it must have been a holiday when they counted and everyone’s family was included in that number. There was (and still is) a small 1 block by 1 block field across from our house that they planted to soybeans each year. When it was cold enough, the farmer would flood the field and make a skating rink for the kids who lived in town. You had to watch out for bean stalks poking up through the ice, but it really was fun.

When my grandpa was about 15 years old, he recalls a similar ice skating story. So take a listen as grandpa takes another “AgWalk” with us today.
Listen to Grandpa explain

The difference was, his ice skates were clamp-on skates that would tear off the soles and heels of his shoes and I had shoe skates.

Back to wishing for cooler weather … Not snow, just cooler fall days.

Until we walk again …

Uncategorized

Syngenta Promotes Safety Benefits of Atrazine

Joanna Schroeder

Have you visited the Oasis yet? Syngenta recently launched the website “Saving the Oasis” to promote the safety of using atrazine. During the Farm Progress Show, Cindy Zimmerman caught up with Ann Bryan of Syngenta to learn more about the campaign.

The website features several documentaries: “Atrazine and Water,” “Atrazine and Safety,” and “Atrazine and Food Safety”. The goal of the campaign is for people to watch, learn and decide for themselves if they believe atrazine is safe. As an added incentive, if people go and watch the videos this month, Syngenta will donate $5 to the Iowa Food Bank Association through the end of September.

Ann said they wanted to correct some misinformation that’s out there with the public about atrazine. So the company engaged some academic experts over the last couple of years and released their benefits studies last November. With this information in their arsenal, they decided to turn them into mini documentaries with a focus of some of the benefits of atrazine that many don’t know about.

For example, atrazine helps minimize soil erosion and helps to keep the soil from collapsing into waterways. Ann said it also protects the environment and helps to foster habitat development. It also helps to increase the yield of many crops including corn, sorghum and sugarcane. Lastly, Ann highlighted that with the increase in yields, growers can help to feed a growing population.

Now it is time for you to decide. You can learn more about atrazine by watching the mini-documentaries (and helping those hungry get fed) and by listening to Cindy’s interview with Ann: Saving the Oasis

2012 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Environment, Farm Progress Show, Syngenta

November Food Dialogues

Chuck Zimmerman

The next edition of The Food Dialogues is coming up on November 15, 2012 in New York City. Farmers, ranchers, industry experts, pundits and media will meet for in-depth conversations on today’s most provocative topics concerning food and its production – antibiotics, biotechnology, and media, marketing and food. The line up has not been announced yet but should be soon.

During the Farm Progress Show I got to sit down with Lisa Cassady, Internal Communications Manager, to talk about the event. Consumer influencers and the media are a target to get the information presented across to. The event will be streamed live on the USFRA Food Dialogues website. I’m sure that antibiotics and biotechnology will generate some interesting discussion.

If you’re wondering how you can join in the conversation to help non-farmers better understand where their food comes from Lisa suggests contacting USFRA via their website to take their Conversation with EASE training. It is conducted by webinar.

Listen to my interview with Lisa here: Interview with Lisa Cassady

2012 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2012 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New Holland and Monsanto Roundup Ready Plus
Ag Groups, Audio, Farm Progress Show, USFRA

Key Tips for 2013 Growing Season

Joanna Schroeder

There was a lot of talk during the Farm Progress Show this year about the epic drought and how it was impacting growers across the country. Brent Wilson, DuPont Pioneer technical services manager, was out interacting with growers and when talking with them heard quite often that they just want to put the epic drought of 2012 behind them.

That leads to the question, what should growers be doing to get prepared for 2013? Wilson responded by putting together a list of key things DuPont Pioneer agronomists are doing to help growers prepare for next season. One question that was asked and answered during the press conference was, What impact will the drought have on product positioning for 2013?

A product getting a lot of buzz during the show was Pioneer® brand Optimum® AQUAmax™ products. Wilson said while they were originally developed for the Western corn belt where you see lower yields, the product lineup can also offer top-end yield potential in optimal growing conditions.

Some other issues Wilson brought to the field to think about included understanding maturity issues, knowing what trait packages as far as insect and disease and herbicide resistance are available and learning about the newest genetics that can be incorporated into a growers lineup that will help to increase overall yield potential.

While I have simply posed the questions Wilson suggests asking, he also answered them. To hear more details about the key things growers should consider when planning for the 2013 growing season, listen to the full press conference. Key Tips for 2013 Growing Season

2012 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2012 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New Holland and Monsanto Roundup Ready Plus
Agribusiness, Audio, Farm Progress Show, Pioneer, Seed