Time For Hog Producers To Check Protocols

Chuck Zimmerman

Working as a herd health and production veterinarian for Standard Nutrition Services is Keith Kinsley, one of the presenters at the Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Swine Health Seminar. Keith’s topic was “A Review of Nursery Scouring.”

I asked Keith what he wanted the attendees to take away from his talk and he says that it’s not always scours that is the problem but other issues and “we’ve got to be good at measuring all aspects of what’s going on in these barns so we know if we’re dealing with an enteric disease and how we can correct it.” He says it’s a good time for hog producers to review their protocols they’ve got in place.”

Interview with Keith Kinsley

2012 BIVI Swine Health Seminar Photo Album

Agribusiness, Animal Health, Audio, Boehringer Ingelheim, Swine

Monsanto Working on Drought Tolerant Cotton

Chuck Zimmerman

Doug Jost is a Technology Development Representative for Monsanto and was visiting with us at the Ag Media Summit. Doug says what they do for the company is “test our new technologies usually in an experimental form and not commercialized yet . . . from cotton varieties to roundup formulations to drought tolerant cotton, things like that.”

When it comes to cotton he says they’re in phase two development of some drought tolerant varieties but that it’s still several years away from commercialization. In the meantime they’re looking at their existing varieties and seeing how they perform under different amounts of water.

You can listen to my interview with Doug here: Interview with Doug Jost

2012 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

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

Farming Rock Star of YouTube

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast 361One of the YouTube Farming Rock Stars attended the Ag Media Summit. He’s Greg Peterson, one of the Peterson Brothers who made the hit, Farming and I Grow It.

Greg really does sing and showed his talent at AMS. Here’s Greg on stage singing the National Anthem during one of our lunches. Great voice and a great job.

I sat down with him to talk about the making of the hit YouTube video. Greg says that he and his brothers edited the video and help from their sister to shoot the video. It took a whole summer since there is a lot of work today between school and the farm. The video has been viewed over 6.6 million times as of this post.

If you haven’t seen the outtakes you need to watch them too: Outtakes 1 – Outtakes 2 Need the lyrics? Here they are.

Listen to this week’s ZimmCast here: Greg Peterson Farms & He Grows It

Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsors, GROWMARK, locally owned, globally strong and Monsanto, Roundup Ready Plus, for their support.

The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired. Subscribe so you can listen when and where you want. Just go to our Subscribe page.

2012 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

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

Pork Export Market Opportunities

Chuck Zimmerman

“Trade Policy for a Dynamic Pork Industry” was the topic for one of the first presentations at the Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Swine Health Seminar. Our presenter was Laurie Hueneke, National Pork Producers Council.

During her presentation Laurie provided an overview of what the trade situation is for the industry in various regions and countries around the world. I spoke with her afterward. She says the growth opportunities for the industry include the ability to continue to export and access markets by reducing barriers. This includes China which has a lot of potential. Japan and Mexico continue to be good markets for us.

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

I finally got all my photos uploaded. Please feel free to view and share: 2012 BIVI Swine Health Seminar Photo Album

Agribusiness, Animal Health, Audio, Boehringer Ingelheim, NPPC, Swine, Trade

It’s Time For The 2012 IFAJ Congress

Chuck Zimmerman

It’s time for Sweden and the 2012 International Federation of Agricultural Journalists Congress in and around the Stockholm area. I’m leaving in the morning and should have some of my first coverage starting on late Tuesday.

I’d like to extend a special thank you to Dupont Pioneer for once again sponsoring my coverage of this annual event. Dupont Pioneer has supported my coverage and IFAJ since my first Congress years ago.

IFAJ, Pioneer

Administration Supports Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack demonstrated the Obama administration’s strong commitment to ethanol and the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) by spending over an hour at the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) conference on Friday morning.

“This is an industry that is worth supporting,” he told the crowd of about 250 ethanol industry leaders. “Which is why the president is supporting the Renewable Fuel Standard, and it’s why I’m supporting the Renewable Fuel Standard.”

In light of the lowered crop forecast for corn due to the drought, Vilsack noted that the RFS has built-in flexibilities and the market is responding as it should. “The market responds, the market reacts, the market pays attention, and we’re already seeing that,” he said.

Vilsack also stressed the need for the industry to defend itself in the face of attacks by critics and for friends of the industry to step up as well.

Listen to Vilsack’s remarks here: Secy Vilsack at ACE Visack answers audience questions: Secy Vilsack Questions


2012 ACE Conference Photo Album

ACE, Audio, Corn, Ethanol, USDA

NCGA CEO Addresses Ethanol Producers

Cindy Zimmerman

National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) CEO Rick Tolman shared the farmer’s perspective to the American Coalition for Ethanol’s conference while addressing the group on the 2012 corn crop, the drought and NCGA’s support for ethanol and all markets for U.S. corn.

“It could all change tomorrow,” was the theme of Tolman’s talk, just hours after the USDA released a new crop forecast showing a 13% drop in corn production this year compared to last. “This too shall pass,” said Tolman. “We think the future’s going to be bright still.”

Tolman stressed the importance of withholding judgment on the final size of the total corn crop until more complete information is available and harvest is complete and reminded attendees that a few short months ago it appeared that farmers would produce a record crop, far exceeding forecast demand. Despite the significant short-term impact of the drought, he noted that conditions will improve, production will increase and ethanol will remain a key market for corn.

NCGA remains committed to maintaining the Renewable Fuel Standard corn ethanol requirement and Tolman said they are working to set the record straight about the RFS and correct misinformation that has been distributed by those who want to waive or dismantle the program. Most important is the inaccurate statement that more corn is used for ethanol than is used for livestock. “That is not true,” said Tolman. “More corn is GROUND for ethanol, but more still is consumed for livestock” when the co-product distillers grains is added to the equation.

Listen to my interview with Tolman at ACE: Interview with NCGA CEO Rick Tolman

Listen to Tolman’s comments at ACE: NCGA CEO Rick Tolman remarks at ACE


2012 ACE Conference Photo Album

ACE, Audio, Corn, Ethanol, NCGA

2012 AAEA Awards

Chuck Zimmerman

Their were some very significant awards given out at the Ag Media Summit from the AAEA. Here are some of them.

2012 AAEA Distinguished Service Award, Sponsored by Archer Daniels Midland (ADM)

Jim evans, Phd
Professor Emeritus, University of Illinois

Dr. Evans is being recognized for his work in the development of the Agricultural Communications Documentation Center on the U of I campus, creating a multi-faceted compendium of information on agriculture in general and the profession of agricultural communication in specific.

“Jim Evans and his staff are the true keepers of agriculture’s historical attic,” said Larry Dreiling, chair of AAEA Legacy Committee. “AAEA has now authorized to ACDC to be the association’s archivists. Our rich history joins the history of so many other agricultural organizations. It’s to Jim Evans’s credit we who love this profession have this treasure trove to keep our industry’s legacy alive and vital.”

2012 AAEA Lifetime Achievement Award, Sponsored by CHS Inc.

Earl Manning
Mid-South Regional Editor Emeritus DTN/The Progressive Farmer

“Earl Manning was selected for his lifetime of devotion to his readers and to the profession of agricultural reporting,” said Larry Dreiling, Legacy Committee chair. Of special note, Dreiling said, is Manning’s work as AAEA president in 1985-86 and in the development of InfoExpo we know today, which changed the way 8 editors met with agribusiness companies and other ag organizations during the Communication Clinic, the forerunner of today’s Ag Media Summit.

2012 Andy Markwart Horizon Award, sponsored by the AAEA PIF and John Deere

Jennifer Shike
Assistant Director for Communications and Marketing University of Illinois College of ACES

This year’s winner, Jennifer Shike, is the adviser for the Illini Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow chapter and serves on the student committees for both AAEA and LPC.

Jennifer said in her Horizon Award application essay:

“It’s been an honor to receive awards in AAEA and LPC contests, but they pale in comparison to the satisfaction I receive from helping young people achieve success. If I were to receive this honor, I would use the stipend to attend the 2013 Ag Media Summit. And, if allowable, I would like to share the stipend with a student who
is not financially able to attend. I would not be where I am today without strong mentoring provided by my heroes in agricultural communications. That’s the legacy I hope to leave. I believe that’s the legacy Andy Markwart left as well.”

Other awards presented during our closing banquet included:

AAEA Designer of the Year: Jamie Cole, Massey Ferguson FarmLife/Red Barn Media Group
AAEA Story of the Year: “The Big Apple,” Richard Banks, Massey Ferguson FarmLife/Red Barn Media Group
AAEA Writer of the Year: Claire Vath, DTN/The Progressive Farmer
AAEA Photo of the Year: William DeKay, The Western Producer
AAEA Photographer of the Year: William DeKay, The Western Producer

2012 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

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

Ag Media Summit Awards

Chuck Zimmerman

Let’s just say that their are a lot of award winners at the Ag Media Summit. For a full list follow these links: AAEA Awards (pdf) – LPC Awards.

Here are most of the first place winners from the AAEA contest. They were pretty excited with their achievements and we congratulate all the winners.

2012 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

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

Boehringer Ingelheim Family Time

Chuck Zimmerman

The Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Swine Health Seminar not only provides speakers on topics of interest to the swine industry but an opportunity for some family togetherness. As in Boehringer Ingelheim family time.

Here’s (Colonel) Dan Johnson wrestling with one of the younger attendees. There are lots of activities to keep the kids entertained while Mom and Dad are “working.” Today we’ve got an Olympics competition going on with relay races, soccer and even a scavenger hunt. The weather is a little windy but that’s not bothering the kids.

I’m going to have a lot more photos to share but will have to wait until getting back to ZimmComm World Headquarters tomorrow to upload them. The internet access here is just too slow. So check the photo album late tomorrow for updates. 2012 BIVI Swine Health Seminar Photo Album

Agribusiness, Boehringer Ingelheim