Poll Reveals a Close Presidential Race

Melissa Sandfort

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “Which team for President would be best for agriculture?”

Our poll results: Forty-two percent said Romney/Ryan; thirty-five percent said Obama/Biden and twenty-three percent said neither, we need a better choice.

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “Beyond commodity prices, what will this year’s drought have a greater impact on?” From crop insurance to feed and fuel costs, there are a lot of potential items the drought could impact. But what do you think is going to take the biggest hit?

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

ZimmPoll

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • The Pro Farmer Midwest Crop Tour provides accurate late-season information about likely corn and soybean yields during the upcoming harvest season at the state and regional level.
  • The Meat Industry Hall of Fame is delighted to announce Dr. Temple Grandin will deliver the keynote presentation at the Annual Induction Ceremony and Dinner.
  • Rhea + Kaiser has recently promoted four current staff and added seven new staff to the agency following recent account growth and diversification.
  • The Dairy Business Association is pleased to announce that Deb Barlament has been selected for the position of Development Director with the organization.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Poultry Groups Pleased RFS Waiver Process to Start

    John Davis

    Add Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal to those calling on the EPA to waive the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS). In a letter to the EPA (available from the National Chicken Council website), Deal joins Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe and North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue asking for the waiver because of the impact the drought is having on corn. The EPA has posted the notice in the Federal Register and is accepting public comments for the next 30 days. A decision would come within 90 days.

    One of the biggest backers of the waiver has been the poultry industry. In a news release, the National Chicken Council says “it is now abundantly clear that severe economic damage has occurred, and will continue, as a result of the RFS’ strain on the corn supply that has been exacerbated by the worst drought in more than 50 years.” Their colleagues at the National Turkey Federation agree. In an interview with AgWired, the group’s president Joel Brandenberger says that lawmakers created the waiver just for disastrous droughts. “If this isn’t such a situation, you would have to conclude that the waiver process as written is worthless.” Brandenberger says the premise behind the waiver is pretty simple: it will reduce the amount of corn used to make ethanol, and thus, reduce the amount of overall corn used, leading to lower prices.

    Poultry folks make no effort to hide their dislike of the RFS, with Brandenberger asserting that it is the standard combined with the drought that is pushing up prices. “The [RFS] has been distorting the corn market from the first day it was created in 2005,” adding that everyone who uses corn … including ethanol makers … could benefit from a more realistic market price. He also says it unfair for the government to mandate the use of a product, such as corn, for one user, while not guaranteeing markets for others. “As one of my members said, ‘There’s no federal mandate that everyone has to throw a turkey in their basket every time they go to the supermarket.’ We’d really like to get the government out of the business of picking winners and losers.”

    Listen to my interview with Brandenberger here: Interview with Joel Brandenberger, President, National Turkey Federation

    Audio, Corn, Ethanol, Poultry

    AG CONNECT Previews Lineup at Ag Media Summit

    Chuck Zimmerman

    It might be a few months off, but it’s certainly not too early to think about the coming AG CONNECT Expo, January 29-31, 2013 in Kansas City, MO. At the recent Ag Media Summit, I caught up with AG CONNECT show manager Sara Mooney, who says the show will include several co-located meetings and a chance to meet the Masters and Mavericks. “We’re bringing in some very high-level executives, thought leaders, industry experts, and top producers available to answer all kinds of questions,” she explained. Those agribusiness leaders won’t be around just during the numerous panel sessions and classes, Sara says expect to see them throughout the trade show as well.

    More information is available at www.agconnect.com. You can also listen to my interview with Sara here: Interview with Sara Mooney

    2012 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

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

    Monsanto Announces New Leadership

    Jamie Johansen

    Monsanto Company recently announced Brett Begemann as their President and Chief Commercial Officer. He will lead the oversight and operational execution of the company’s near-term expansion and growth in key international markets.

    Hugh Grant will continue to serve as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, where he maintains ongoing responsibility for leading the company’s long-term corporate strategy. “Brett has served as a valuable contributor to Monsanto’s agriculture business for nearly 30 years, including leading our global organization, implementing growth strategies both domestically and abroad.” said Grant. “Brett’s leadership has played an important role in accelerating the company’s growth potential and I expect that to continue as our business looks to deliver on the next generation of youth.”

    Throughout Begemann’s career with Monsanto, he has served in a variety of roles across sales, marketing, commercial development as well as senior management positions worldwide. “I’m please to assume this responsibility and focus on the development and delivery of expanded growth opportunities in our global business.” said Begemann.

    Agribusiness

    Come for Beach, Stay for Info at BIVI Swine Seminar

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Lots of good information and a chance for plenty of questions at the recent 12th annual Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Swine Health Seminar held in North Carolina. I talked with Mike Neil with Murphy Brown in Virginia. While he (kiddingly) said he comes for the beach, it’s really the amount of information valuable to his company that brings him there. “It looks like they have a lot of interesting and important topics set out.”

    In addition to getting information, Mike said he’s been able to ask some important questions of his own. “For example, the trade agreements and where the U.S. export is going… the topics of disease,” are ones he cited. He concluded saying he appreciates that a seminar like this shows that Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica is in it with the producer. “With all the things we have to deal with, we need everybody doing their part.”

    Interview with Mike Neil

    2012 BIVI Swine Health Seminar Photo Album

    Agribusiness, Animal Health, Audio, Boehringer Ingelheim, Swine

    Wine Making in Sweden

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Wine making in Sweden? You betcha. During the 2012 IFAJ Congress some of us toured Blaxsta Vineyard. We also sampled a merlot while we were there. The grapes for this particular wine came from Canadian vineyards of French stock.

    Blaxsta Vineyard is located near Stockholm and is about as far north as you can grow grapes to make some good wine. The specialty as you might imagine is ice wine and Blaxsta has been a world competition winner with their’s for years. We got to sample that at the Saturday night closing banquet. You can learn more about the vineyard and how they grow their grapes in the video.

    2012 IFAJ Congress Photo Album

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

    It’s Agvocacy Time

    Chuck Zimmerman

    It’s just about time for the 2012 AgChat Foundation Agvocacy 2.0 Training Conference. Things will kick off tomorrow with a board meeting of the AgChat Foundation followed by an Agtastic Tweet-Up which the attendees of the NAMA Boot Camp are invited to. Then the program kicks off in high gear on Thursday morning. Jamie Johansen and I will be on location during the conference. I’m conducting a session titled, “Media Creation, Storytelling & Publishing” on Friday morning.

    Judging by the amount of posts onto the event FB page there are some pretty excited folks getting ready to head to Kansas City, MO. Jamie and I will be sharing some stories and photos from there as we enjoy some great fellowship with farmer agvocates who are gearing up to tell their story to the world.

    Ag Groups

    Organic Pig Farming

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Here’s something you don’t see everyday. A group of agricultural journalists from many countries playing with some organic pigs. This is on the Asbergby Farm during the 2012 IFAJ Congress. We met Olle and Catharina Linder who are organic farmers raising pigs and cattle. You can see how they keep their pigs in the video.

    What do you think of this type of pig farming? Would it work in the U.S.?

    2012 IFAJ Congress Photo Album

    AgWired coverage of the 2012 IFAJ Congress is sponsored by DuPont Pioneer
    Animal Agriculture, Farming, IFAJ, Media, Video

    2012 Citrus Expo

    Chuck Zimmerman

    I remember attending Citrus Expo early in the ZimmComm agriblogging history and getting to know my first Nikon DSLR. This was back in 2006, an eternity in the advancement of technology, especially for agricultural communications. You can still see my photos from back then.

    Now, it’s seven years later and Southeast AgNet blogs it’s own show. Facebook is now an integral part of what they’re doing with lots of photos and interviews online. It looks like this year’s show was a good one.

    Citrus, Media