New BASF Blog – Farm Perspectives

Chuck Zimmerman

BASF has started a blog, Farm Perspectives. They want to know what you think. We welcome them to the blogosphere!

When we opened our twitter account, we had a simple idea: Share the best news stories, studies and blog posts on farming, farm policy and agricultural research.

Almost three years later, we’ve decided to try our hand at a blog. On the one hand, we meet so many fascinating people every day. And each one has a story to tell. In our new blog, we want to share some of these stories, especially those that may lead to a good discussion. For example, last week a colleague talked to a farmer who drills hundreds of holes in his field so that he can save money and preserve the environment. How does this contribute to sustainability in agriculture? You will find out here, in one of our next blog posts. On the other hand, many of our twitter feeds spark heated debate here at BASF. We may also use this blog to share some of that debate and opinions.

We are looking forward to your comments. To tune into this blog just follow us on Twitter or Facebook and keep on coming back once in a while. You will find new blog posts every three to four weeks.

We meet so many fascinating people every day. And each one has a story to tell. In our new blog, we want to share some of these stories, especially those that may lead to a good discussion.

Visit our website www.agro.basf.com or go directly to www.farmperspectives.com to find out more about our new blog “Farm Perspectives”.

Agribusiness, BASF

Outlook Good for Ag Biotech/Energy Jobs

Chuck Zimmerman

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “Where are best job opportunities in agribusiness?” So listen up all you Student NAMA members here in Kansas City for the 2012 Agri-Marketing Conference and getting ready for your marketing competition. Here’s what our poll results showed. Most picked Biotech at 28% with Energy coming in second at 21%. They were followed by Agronomy at 17%, Sales/Marketing/Communications at 15%, Dairy at 7% and both Crop Protection and Equipment at 6% each.

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “Would you be willing to donate the proceeds from one acre of your farm to help your local food bank?” Let us know what you think and thanks to everyone who participates in our weekly poll!

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

ZimmPoll

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Agri Marketing magazine announces the release of its App for both Android and Apple devices, sponsored by Farm Progress Co. The App can be downloaded here.
  • A new Environmental Working Group report examines water pollution caused by farm runoff and details how treating the problem after the fact is increasingly expensive, difficult and, if current trends continue, ultimately unsustainable.
  • More than 2.45 million meals are headed for hungry families thanks to the second annual CHS Harvest for Hunger food and funds drive.
  • The U.S. Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative is again offering two early alert systems for growers in areas at risk for Fusarium head blight, or scab.
    Zimfo Bytes

    NAMA Executive Committee Meets

    Chuck Zimmerman

    The Executive Committee for the National Agri-Marketing Association has been meeting all afternoon in advance of the 2012 Agri-Marketing Conference. We discussed the strategic plan and how things are going with the core areas for it as well as other business of the organization which will be discussed further in tomorrow’s board meeting.

    It’s time now for NAMA leaders to freshen up before meeting the students who are all here getting started on their marketing competition. I’ve already seen a number of good friends and NAMA colleagues and can’t wait for the rest of the NAMA games to begin!

    Remember to use the conference hashtag in your tweets – #NAMA12.

    We’ll be collecting photos to the 2012 Agri-Marketing Conference here: 2012 Agri-Marketing Conference Photo Album

    NAMA

    BASF Indiana Great Grower is Ahead on Planting

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Another of the BASF Great Growers we will be following during the 2012 season is Kip Tom of Tom Farms, a multi-generation, family owned operation in northern Indiana. Tom Farms traces its roots to 1837 and today has nearly 18,000 acres of seed corn, corn and soybeans in seven Indiana counties and another 4,000 acres of seed production in Argentina.

    Noting that no two years are alike when it comes to farming, Kip says 2011 was definitely a “unique year” but they still did well. “One thing we’ve learned about this business is we treat it as manufacturing and we have a ‘pick list’ that if something is occurring in our weather that requires a change, we know how to adapt,” Kip said. “Yields were surprisingly better than we thought they would be.”

    A wet fall kept them from getting some fall tillage done, which put some pressure on them to get work done this spring but they are off to a “fabulous” start. “We’re about 45% planted on commercial corn acres and about 15% planted on soybeans,” Kip says, which is ahead of schedule.

    To deal with weed pressure, Kip says they use winter annual herbicides to control weeds like henbit, dandelion and chickweed. “We apply a herbicide on during the fall and early winter. Then we come in with a pre-emerge grass herbicide on our corn acres and follow up with Roundup,” he said.

    However, Kip says they are getting concerned about the resistant weeds and he thinks BASF is being very pro-active in that area. “I applaud BASF and the other companies that have been working hard on new formulations that will allow us to stop resistance yet make sure that we’re good stewards with our neighbors,” he said, particularly noting the work being done on lower volatility Dicamba formulations.

    Listen to or download my interview with Kip here and watch for more Great Grower interviews coming up. BASF Great Grower Kip Tom

    How do you think this crop year is looking so far? Give your opinion in the BASF Production Poll.

    Audio, BASF, Farming

    Be AgWired Appy at NAMA

    Cindy Zimmerman

    be appyOur theme at the 2012 National Agri-Marketing Association conference is “Don’t Worry, Be Appy!”

    Our AgWired app, sponsored by Raven Industries, is almost two years old now – available for both iPhone and Android users – yet we continue to get new downloads every day and people tell us they use it all the time. It’s a handy way to check the latest posts on all of our websites with just a few clicks. Even those folks who have Blackberries or some other type of phone often download the app to use on their iPad or iPod Touch.

    afbf golden plowSo, in honor of our app, our giveaway this year is the cool “Digi-Clean” handy wipe for all types of screens – from cell phones to cameras to iPads and laptops. What is really cool about this tiny little screen cleaner is that it sticks to your device, then unsticks when you want to use it and re-sticks again! They come in several sizes from REALLY tiny to almost 3.5″ wide, but we went for the tablet size that is still small enough for the phone, but big enough to be used on a good sized laptop screen.

    So come on by booth #412 this week at the NAMA conference in Kansas City and get yours. Chuck is already there for NAMA business stuff, but I will be heading that way tomorrow with our youngest lovely daughter Caitlin to help us out this year.

    We’ll be “appy” to see you there!

    NAMA, ZimmComm Announcement

    Book Review – Cows Can’t Quack

    Joanna Schroeder

    “Cows can’t quack…but they can moo,” begins Cows Can’t Quack, the second delightful children’s book written by Dave Reisman. In my esteem, this book is another winner but who am I to judge at my age? No, I will not delve that information, oh faithful reader. However I will admit I found the illustrations (Jason A. Maas) absolutely charming.

    Quinn H. Reading "Cows Can't Quack"

    To really test out the merits of the book, I enlisted one of my closest friends, 4 year old Quinn H. It was a HIT! She jumped around the room making the sounds and motions of the animal of each page. Her favorite animals were reprised over and over again in the book until our fun was shut down for bed time. After she was tucked in, I quietly stole away with the book, but I won’t be a grinch. The next time I see her we will read it again and it will be left behind to become a favorite in her library.

    For those of you with young children in your lives, this is definitely a book to buy and give as a gift (or keep tucked away in your home for when you have visitors). And if you haven’t already, consider also picking up Reisman’s first book, Cows Can’t Jump. I can’t wait to read his next book and I’m sure readers, you won’t be disappointed either.

    Uncategorized

    National Ag Hall of Fame Season

    Chuck Zimmerman

    ZimmCast 346It’s actually called the National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame which was “chartered by Congress to honor the American farmer.” According to NACHOF Executive Director, Cathi Hahner, their season kicks off on April 19.

    “As spring approaches, we are ready for the new season of sharing about the importance of agriculture in daily life,” said Cathi Hahner, NACHOF director. “We invite everyone to learn more about where food comes from and experience our one-of-a-kind features such as historic machinery, farming related exhibits or exploring FarmTown USA.”

    I spoke with Cathi about the 2012 season which she says offers, “a full line-up of events with seasonal favorites like spring Barnyard Babies for families and children, as well as the fall Linemans’ Rodeo featuring worldwide electric workers.”

    Thousands of people visit the Center which sits on a 164 acre site next to Legends Outlet Mall and Kansas Speedway in Bonner Spring, Kan. The Center relies on dues, donations, facility rental and visitor fees since it doesn’t receive any state or federal money.

    Listen to this week’s ZimmCast here: 2012 National Ag Hall of Fame Season

    Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsors, GROWMARK, locally owned, globally strong and Monsanto, 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.

    Ag Groups, Audio, Education, ZimmCast

    BASF Production Poll

    Chuck Zimmerman

    BASFWith the 2012 crop year now underway, we’re introducing the BASF Production Poll. This new poll will be conducted twice each month during the season with timely questions that we think both farmers and non-farmers alike will find interesting. We’d love to hear from you. So let’s get started with our first one.


    Please let us know if you have any questions about the poll.

    Agribusiness, BASF

    Farm Bureau Honors Goodlatte

    Cindy Zimmerman

    afbf golden plowVirginia Republican Congressman Bob Goodlatte is the latest recipient of the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF)‘s highest award to members of Congress.

    AFBF presented Rep. Goodlatte with the “Golden Plow” award last week for his long-standing support of America’s farmers and ranchers. The award was presented by AFBF President Bob Stallman and Virginia Farm Bureau President Wayne Pryor during an event in Harrisonburg, Va.

    afbf golden plowStallman noted that Congressman Goodlatte “has set a solid example of the courage required to rein in government spending” and “is a vigorous defender of private property rights, both real and intellectual, and he continues to lead the fight against regulatory overreach.”

    According to Stallman, since Goodlatte was first elected in 1992 to represent Virginia’s 6th Congressional District, he has “applied his common sense, expertise and determination to finding solutions to the challenges facing American agriculture.”

    Since coming to Congress, Goodlatte has served on the House Agriculture Committee and also serves on the Judiciary and Education & Workforce committees—assignments where he has worked on a number of issues facing farmers and ranchers. The Virginia Farm Bureau nominated Goodlatte for the award.

    AFBF