Learning about DeLaval

Chuck Zimmerman

How much do you know about DeLaval? Want to learn more? Then sit in on this press interview with President/CEO, Joakim Rosengren. For you ag journalists out there, this is another example of they type of opportunity that comes from participating in an annual IFAJ Congress. We conducted this interview during this year’s Congress while visiting the DeLaval Hamra Farm. After our tour of the facilities we had a wonderful meal under the roof of their big machines shed.

The first question was how Alfa Laval became DeLaval. From there we moved to what’s new in terms of equipment from the company. Prior to our interview we saw a number of these products on display in their show room. There were four of us involved in asking questions and I hope you enjoy it.

2012 IFAJ Congress Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2012 IFAJ Congress is sponsored by DuPont Pioneer
Agribusiness, Audio, IFAJ, International

Meals in the Fields

Chuck Zimmerman

It’s time for a meal in the field with the Farm Credit Services of Illinois.

The 2012 National Farm Safety and Health Week will be celebrated September 16-22 with the theme “Agricultural Safety & Health: A Family Affair”. Even as the average size of farms continues to increase, 94% of all Illinois farms are family-owned. Most farm workers in Illinois are members of the respective farm family and often all members of the family contribute to the farm work and chores.

Although farming continues to be one of the most dangerous occupations, Illinois recorded nearly a 50% reduction of farm-related deaths last year compared to the previous year. The twenty farm fatalities occurring between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2012 were the fewest in the State of Illinois in more than thirty years. This year’s National Farm Safety and Health Week marks the 69th consecutive signing of a farm safety proclamation by a U.S. President; the first was signed by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1944.

As a part of the upcoming Farm Safety Week, more than one-hundred Illinois farm families will be served complimentary “Meals in the Field” by Farm Credit Services of Illinois. More than hot lunches will be delivered to farmers during their busy harvest season; Farm Credit will also deliver a farm safety message to the host family with special emphasis on safety reminders for farm children.

Farm Credit established the “Meals in the Field” program in 2000 to promote farm safety during the harvest season. All Farm Credit regional offices select at least one farm family to receive lunch on each weekday of Farm Safety Week. The Farm Credit staff serves the food wherever the farmers are working.

Each “Meals in the Field” family will also be provided a Farm First Aid Kit produced by the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety compliments of Farm Credit. The durable and weather-resistant kit is specifically designed for farm injuries and is equipped with items such as an isothermal blanket, ice packs, a finger splint, and eye wash containers.

Agribusiness, Food

IFAJ Master Class

Chuck Zimmerman

Want more reasons to support IFAJ? How about the annual Master Class held prior to the IFAJ Congress?

The Master Class started this year with a ‘Getting Familiar Evening’ followed by peer-to-peer workshops on Monday and Tuesday. The agricultural journalists represent nine countries.

They are:
Burkina Faso: Inoussa Maiga
Burundi: Jean de Dieu (John) Ininahazwe
Congo: Roger Vutsoro
Gambia: Sang Mendy
Rwanda: Cryspin Kayitare
Tanzania: Enos Masanja Matonange and Susuma Msikula Susuma
Zambia: Calvin Kakoma Kaleyi
Brazil: Analice Lourenci
Ecuador: Nelly Romero Jara

Workshops were given by IFAJ member journalists, making it a true peer-to-peer teaching and learning experience. Subject matters covered include interviewing skills, new media, as well as trends in agricultural journalism and ethics. Most attending journalists are closely affiliated with organizations of smallholders and family farmers in their native countries. José van Gelder of Agriterra, the agricultural development agency based in the Netherlands, was in charge of organizing the event.

Meet one of the participants:

2012 IFAJ Congress Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2012 IFAJ Congress is sponsored by DuPont Pioneer
Education, IFAJ, International, Video

IFAJ Boot Camp for Young Leaders

Chuck Zimmerman

Here’s a reason why I support the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists. It is because of programs like the IFAJ-Alltech Young Leaders in Agricultural Journalism awards. These winners attend a pre-Congress Boot Camp.

The winners participate in a two-day boot camp to develop their professional skills in agricultural journalism and get a broader global perspective in agricultural communication. The first day’s program is joint with the Master class. The award-winners get expert training in agricultural journalism and will report running news during the congress.

Let’s meet one of them.

Lindi van Rooyen has been a journalist at Farmer’s Weekly since 2010. She began her career as a news reporter, later venturing into travel writing and has now found a home at South Africa’s leading English agricultural magazine. Lindi writes a wide range of agricultural related articles including investigative news, opinion columns and farm production features. She has won several awards during her career, the highlight of which is the latest award from the IFAJ.


2012 IFAJ Congress Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2012 IFAJ Congress is sponsored by DuPont Pioneer
Agribusiness, Alltech, Education, IFAJ, International, Media

A Happy Farm Progress Show

Chuck Zimmerman

I am worn out and not ashamed to admit it. The Farm Progress Show was not only busy as usual but upper 90 degree temperatures and a media tent that hovered around 100 degrees inside half the time contributed. Cindy and I have a lot of interviews to share in the coming week. So let’s get started.

Before leaving the show on Thursday I spoke with Mark Lovig, Operations Manager. Mark is the guy you see everywhere. He seemed to be a happy camper as the show was winding down. The roads were in great shape and there’s more work that will be done on them before the next show. Attendance was strong although the drought sure hit the area hard. All field demos went off without a hitch and had a lot attendance. The FPS crops weren’t bin busters but had just enough rain to come through pretty good. Mark is already looking forward to 2013 in Decatur, IL.

Listen to my interview with Mark here: Interview with Mark Lovig

2012 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

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

NAMA at Farm Progress Show

Chuck Zimmerman

During the Farm Progress Show the National Agri-Marketing Association held a reception which was very well attended. The idea here is to reach out and engage with other people and organizations in the ag world. There are probably five times as many people in the business who could and should be a NAMA member as there are members. So we’ve got a lot of work to do in getting the NAMA brand out there. If you’d like to join then please consider doing so now. You won’t find a better organization to network with fellow agricultural marketing professionals. Look at these pros having a good time at the reception!

While I’m at it. Have you registered for the new NAMA Fall Conference? Do a little Forward Thinking and get it on your calendar and get your registration in now so we know you’re coming!

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, Farm Progress Show, NAMA

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Diamond V dedicated its new 17,000 sq. ft. high-tech global headquarters at its 77-acre campus in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
  • The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy is now accepting nominations for the second year of the U.S. Dairy Sustainability Awards.
  • Becker Underwood has released the company’s first ever sustainability report, Be Legendary. Be Positive., highlighting the company’s economic, environmental, social and governance performance.
  • The next generation of Rancher Balers from Vermeer is here with the introduction of the Rancher 6640 and Rancher 6650 Balers.
    Zimfo Bytes

    RFS Comments Start; Corn Growers Want More Time

    John Davis

    Today kicked off the 30-day comment period to the EPA on the waiver request of the Renewable Fuels Standard. But the National Corn Growers Association is already asking for more time. NCGA President Garry Niemeyer sent a letter to the EPA requesting an additional 30 days of comments, citing harvest and the uncertainty of this year’s corn crop:

    “Across the nation our members are beginning harvest, one of the busiest times of the year,” Niemeyer wrote. “Given the demands of harvest, I am concerned that the proposed 30-day comment period will not provide sufficient time for a thorough analysis of the proposed waiver and would hinder farmer participation in this important policy process. Also, with the crop still in the field, it is too early to determine this year’s final corn supply.”

    Without the additional requested time, comments are set to close at the end of September. Then, the EPA must make its decision within 60 days after comments close. In 2008, when Texas Gov. Rick Perry made a request for a partial waiver of the RFS, the EPA received 15,000 comments from throughout the country.

    Ag Groups, Corn, Ethanol, NCGA

    Apples to iPods Contest

    Melissa Sandfort

    Vermont’s pick-your-own orchards will offer a chance to win an iPod during the Apples to iPods promotion that kicks off next week.

    In this technology-meets-agriculture contest, one specially marked wooden apple is hidden in an apple tree at 20 Vermont pick-your-own apple orchards. The lucky apple picker who finds a wooden apple wins an Apple iPod, iPod Shuffle or iPad.

    This good-natured promotion of Vermont’s working landscape is in partnership with Woodchuck® Hard Cider, Small Dog Electronics, Vermont Tree Fruit Growers Association and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture. The State of Vermont first launched this promotion in 2007 with hopes of growing participation at Vermont pick-your-own orchards. Since the launch, participation has been incredibly ‘fruitful’ across Vermont.

    Vermont’s nearly 4,000 acres of commercial apple orchards produce leading apple varieties: McIntosh, Cortland, Red Delicious and Empire. In 1999, the Vermont legislature designated the apple as the state fruit, and the apple pie as the state pie.

    Agribusiness

    Ag Sec. Vilsack Announces Beginning Farmers Grants

    Chuck Zimmerman

    New USDA grants to support beginning farmers were announced by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack on the final day of the Farm Progress Show. Sec. Vilsack held a a press conference in the New Holland media tent.

    “In the past few decades, U.S. agriculture has become the second most productive sector of the American economy thanks to farmers adopting technology, reducing debt, and effectively managing risk,” said Vilsack. “Last year, America’s farmers, ranchers and producers achieved record farm income and record exports. To protect and sustain these successes, we must continue to build an agriculture industry diverse and successful enough to attract the smartest, hardest-working people in the nation. These grants will help beginning farmers and ranchers overcome the unique challenges they face and gain knowledge and skills that will help them become profitable and sustainable.”

    Find the full release here.

    Listen to or download Sec. Vilsack’s remarks and question/answer session here: Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack Remarks

    2012 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

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