Modern Luxuries

Melissa Sandfort

Here I go again, thinking about the past and appreciating (to the utmost extent these days, appreciating and LOVING the A/C) the modern luxuries that we have. Our second child is expected to come along here in about four short weeks and with the weather in southeast Nebraska, I will be the first to admit that I’ve become accustomed to being inside the majority of the day and doing my gardening when the trees shade over my raised beds. I guess I’ve developed pretty thin skin.

Also having lived in the city for 15 years, driving 45 minutes one way to get to a volleyball game was no big deal. Living where we live now, I have to drive at least an hour to the nearest “big” grocery store and again, it’s just part of loving the life and place where you live.

With child #2 on my mind, I also think about car seat safety and proper installation, then remember stories I’ve heard of children “back in the day” riding in the car in a shoebox on the floorboard. Or another story: My husband has a ’69 truck and my mother asked if we buckled our son in the other night when we went for a drive. My answer? No…it doesn’t even come with seat belts!

Where am I going with all of this? In the town my grandfather was raised, a trip to Lincoln was an all-day excursion on dirt roads at 30 mph tops and it took 2 ½ hours just to get there (it was only 75 miles away!).

Listen to my grandfather’s AgWalk as he recalls a certain “experience” he had in the Model T. Listen to Grandpa explain

I think I’ll go check the car seat handbook now.

Until we walk again …

Uncategorized

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • The United Fresh Foundation is now accepting applications for the 2012 Frieda Rapoport Caplan Family Business Scholarship Program.
  • The Association of Equipment Manufacturers and DTN/The Progressive Farmer announced that DTN University will be held at AG CONNECT Expo & Summit in 2013.
  • USPOULTRY’s Women’s Leadership Conference, held August 16-17 in Florida, will focus on providing professional development and enhancing leadership and management skills.
  • Pioneer Hi-Bred has entered into an exclusive agreement with Bayer CropScience to provide EverGol Energy fungicide seed treatment to growers planting Pioneer brand soybeans, beginning with the 2013 growing season.
    Zimfo Bytes

    USDA: Environment Not Conducive to Public Info

    John Davis

    At a time when farmers rely more and more on good information, officials at the USDA worry that budget cuts are going to make their job of providing information to those farmers more difficult.

    “We were being stressed right now in an environment not conducive to public information,” said Joe Prusacki, Director, Statistics Division, at the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) during a recent webinar hosted by the Farm Foundation. Prusacki said while the U.S. Congress’ joint budget committee has increased the amount of money to NASS to $158.6 million (more than the $149.5 million passed by the House and $152.6 million passed by the Senate), it’s still less than what his agency asked for and leaves them with some hard decisions about what to keep and what they’ll have to cut. He said they can either reduce the number of reports or reduce the number of inputs and sample sizes, and thus the quality and accuracy, to those reports. Neither one is a very palatable proposal for either the USDA or producers who rely on those reports. But he says there are six core reports they’ll continue no matter what: 1. the quarterly hogs and pigs survey; 2. the monthly cattle on feed survey; 3. the prospective plantings/acreage report; 4. grain stocks; 5. crop production and; 6. monthly prices.

    Prusacki went on to point out that another problem NASS has is knowing who uses this data.

    “With the way data are provided today via the Internet, there’s not that personal connection, and many times, we don’t know who our data users are until we have program changes,” he said. Prusacki added there is also a disconnect between providers of information to the USDA and those who use that information when NASS puts it back out for consumption. He says while producer GROUPS are interested in providing good, accurate information, individual farmers sometimes see it as an intrusion to their privacy. And that leads to lawmakers asking if his agency really needs that information and if certain programs need to exist… and thus, the budget issues NASS now faces.

    You can here more of what Prusacki had to say here: Joe Prusacki, USDA NASS during Farm Foundation Webinar on Data Collection

    Plus, his slide show to go along with the audio is available at this link.

    And you can hear the entire hour-long Farm Foundation webinar here:
    Farm Foundation Webinar on Data Collection

    Audio, Farm Foundation, Markets, USDA

    Woodruff Sweitzer Acquires Paradowski Creative

    Melissa Sandfort

    Woodruff Sweitzer has acquired Paradowski Creative, an independent agency based in St. Louis, Mo. The acquisition took effect July 2. Each agency will retain its individual agency name.

    Woodruff Sweitzer has realized tremendous growth over the past few years, adding clients in agribusiness, packaged goods and animal health. The agency had been searching for a like-minded independent agency that shares a creative and entrepreneurial-spirited culture and will bring expanded expertise, including digital offerings to its clients. Paradowski Creative fit the bill.

    Current organizational structure and staff, outside of Alex Paradowski’s (who founded the agency 35 years ago) departure, will remain for both agencies. Woodruff Sweitzer currently has 63 employees and Paradowski Creative employs 24 staff members.

    Agencies

    GROWMARK Supports ASTA

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Matt Hynes, Manager, Agronomy Marketing, for GROWMARK is on the board of the American Seed Trade Association as a Regional Vice President. I spoke with him to learn more about ASTA and why GROWMARK is supportive of the organization.

    To start with Matt says that the seed business is part of what GROWMARK does. “To be part of an organization like the American Seed Trade Association is important to GROWMARK and the things we do not only because we have our own seed line but because of our agricultural industry.” He says GROWMARK has a large footprint in the United States and Canada and there are a lot of issues going on that they can’t necessarily keep up on. “That’s a huge part of what ASTA can bring to an organization like GROWMARK and those that are a part of it.”

    As the representative of the central region of ASTA Matt says he made a lot of calls on members recently to find out their needs. This was part of the board’s work on the ASTA strategic plan to make sure they’re serving the needs of all member companies, small or large.

    Learn more about the work ASTA does from Matt in my interview with him as well as what’s new in the agronomy area at GROWMARK: Interview with Matt Hynes

    2012 ASTA Convention Photo Album

    Agribusiness, ASTA, Audio, Cooperatives, GROWMARK

    World Dairy Expo Facebook Fan Giveaway

    Melissa Sandfort

    One lucky fan will win the ultimate Madison experience with the World Dairy Expo 10K Ultimate Fan Giveaway. Dairy enthusiasts are invited to become fans of Expo on Facebook. Fans of Expo’s Facebook page are privy to the latest information, giveaways, including free tickets and official Expo gear, plus it’s an excellent opportunity to connect with other dairy producers and professionals from around the globe. The Expo Facebook page currently has fans from 64 different countries.

    When the Expo fan page reaches 10,000 “Likes” one person will win an amazing package including a three night stay at The Madison Concourse & Governor’s Club during Expo. All Facebook fans over the age of 21 will be eligible to win. The prize package includes:
    • Three night stay at The Madison Concourse & Governor’s Club – A King room in the exclusive Governor’s Club
    • $100 shopping spree to the Purple Cow Gift Shop at World Dairy Expo
    • $100 to Food Fight Restaurants – A collection of over 17 restaurants in the Madison
    • $50 Gift Certificate for Downtown Madison area retailers
    • Two World Dairy Expo Season Passes
    • Madison Gift Basket from the Greater Madison Convention and Visitors Bureau
    • Lunch daily at World Dairy Expo – Including the Expo Bistro, Badger Dairy Club Cheese Stand, GEA Ice Cream Stand and more!
    • Preferred seating for the Supreme Ceremony on Saturday

    Entry into this giveaway will be revealed when the page reaches 10,000 fans. The winner will be responsible for airfare and travel.

    Agribusiness, Dairy, Social Networking, World Dairy Expo

    Dallas Clark Teams With America Needs Farmers

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Here’s what we need. Another respected sports figure to help bring positive attention to farming today. He’s Dallas Clark, an NFL tight end, now teamed up with America Needs Farmers.

    Dallas Clark, a small-town Iowa boy who’s made it big in the National Football League, is teaming up with the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) and the University of Iowa (UI) to promote the America Needs Farmers (ANF) campaign.

    “I really respect and have a lot of pride in the values that farmers have, and the values of Iowa and the values of community, and that’s what Farm Bureau represents,” said Clark, a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this season. “I’m thrilled to be part of this initiative and believe in the importance of farming and the effects it has on our communities and the world.”

    Clark joins an impressive list of former Hawkeye players who support ANF, a campaign launched by legendary Hawkeye coach Hayden Fry in 1985 during the Farm Crisis. The ANF emblem is displayed on Hawkeye football players’ helmets today.

    ANF merchandise is for sale at www.bravosportsmarketing.com. Farm Bureau members can take advantage of special discounts throughout the year at www.iowafarmbureau.com.

    Ag Groups

    Wisconsin Branded Tag Program Unveiled

    Melissa Sandfort

    The Wisconsin Livestock Identification Consortium (WLIC) is pleased to announce the launch of the Identifying Wisconsin branded tag program.

    The voluntary Identifying Wisconsin branded Official ID program is the first of its kind and has been developed with support from Wisconsin livestock producers, industry and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP).

    The Identifying Wisconsin initiative is an independent, industry-funded program dedicated to accurate animal identification and highlights the consumer value and quality of Wisconsin livestock. The program was developed by producers, for producers and consumers.

    Under the Identifying Wisconsin program, Wisconsin producers with a premises ID can purchase approved AIN (840) and Premises ID tags. All tags approved for the program will carry the “Wisconsin Origin” seal that is printed by tag manufacturers and only distributed to farms in the state of Wisconsin through select distributors.

    The tags offered under this program can be used to satisfy traceability needs for marketing, state and national animal health programs and on-farm management. Data about the farm of origin is housed in a producer and industry managed database located in Madison, Wis.

    As consumers, processors and export markets require more traceability of the product sold back to the farm of origin and the lingering concern of what would happen in the event of a catastrophic disease outbreak; the Identifying Wisconsin program has allowed Wisconsin to take a leadership position in this effort and position itself to meet the needs of consumers both domestically and internationally.

    Agribusiness, Livestock

    Data Collection Focus of Farm Foundation Webinar

    John Davis

    Having good information is critical to agricultural operations, but increasing budget concerns are limiting the U.S. government’s ability to provide the information farmers want and need. Our friends at the Farm Foundation recently held a webinar organized by the Council on Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics (C-FARE), in partnership with the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), and Montana State University to address those issues brought on by what could become an information bottleneck.

    “The importance of data is a really critical matter for us today,” said Farm Foundation President Neil Conklin, who served as moderator for the event. “Data remains as important as ever to public and private decision makers and to the smooth functioning of markets.”

    Conklin was joined by Joseph J. Prusacki, Director, Statistics Division, USDA National Agricultural Statisics Service (NASS), who provided an overview of data uses, user groups and the impacts of budget cuts; Jim Robb of the Livestock Marketing Information Center, who talked about the challenges USDA faces in data collection; Paul Hughes of Nestle Purina PetCare, who provided a private sector perspective on data collection issues; and Mark Seetin of the U.S. Apple Association, who addressed producer groups’ concerns on the issue.

    It’s some excellent information, and over the next few days, I’ll be giving you a closer look at what each one had to say. In the meantime, I’ll let you hear the entire hour-long webinar here:
    Farm Foundation Webinar on Data Collection

    Audio, Farm Foundation, USDA

    Remote Display Access From John Deere

    Chuck Zimmerman

    During the John Deere FarmSight Technology Summit in Des Moines we saw a live demonstration of Remote Display Access. During the event we broke up into groups like this one to rotate display stations for different products being announced. In the video below you can watch the demo and hear our presenters talk about the benefits of this new technology. To use Remote Display Access from a remote computer, tablet or smartphone, users can log in to JDLink.com or MyJohnDeere.com and navigate to the Remote Display Access link that connects to the display in the cab of the equipment they select. The actual live operator’s view of the display data is sent via wireless cellular data connection from the MTG to the John Deere communications network, which the remote user can access from their device.

    As farmers integrate more precision technology into their equipment and operations, the ability to remotely supervise and support those field operations becomes even more important to both farmers and dealers. To provide that support, John Deere introduces Remote Display Access, which allows users to view the operator’s display screen on their John Deere equipment.

    By using an Internet-connected device, users with Remote Display Access can view the operator’s GreenStar™3 2630 Display screen, which helps them to identify any problems, assist the operator in navigating the steps needed to resolve an issue or ensure correct settings and machine operation.

    To operate Remote Display Access requires the GreenStar™ 3 2630 Display; JDLink Modular Telematics Gateway (MTG) hardware with the latest updates; JDLink subscription with Remote Display Access; and an ethernet cable to connect the display to the MTG.

    Displays from multiple machines can be viewed at the same time, and multiple remote users can view the same operator’s display if a remote desktop sharing program is used. Remote Display Access is compatible with most web browsers, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.0, Google Chrome and Apple Safari 5.0.

    John Deere FarmSight Tech Summit Photo Album

    Agribusiness, Equipment, John Deere, Technology, Video