Commodity Classic Cute Baby Blogging

Chuck Zimmerman

Commodity Classic is a family affair in more ways than one. I think I saw more cute babies this year than ever. This was a photo I couldn’t resist. You can find others in our online photo album too.

It’s time for the ZimmComm team to take a break since the media room is closing and I think we’re last ones in it. But that doesn’t mean that there won’t be more coverage of this year’s show. We’ve got to edit some photos and interviews and will get to that just as soon as we can.

2012 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Coverage of the 2012 Commodity Classic Show is sponsored by BASF and New Holland
Commodity Classic

What’s New With Wheat

Cindy Zimmerman

Caught up with the execs of the National Association of Wheat Growers and U.S. Wheat Associates at the 2012 Commodity Classic to find out what’s new with wheat.

What’s really new for NAWG is a brand new scholarship program with BASF just announced at the Classic, and CEO Dana Peterson says they are happy about the scholarship but sad about the circumstances that brought it about. “We are pleased to join with BASF to honor a longtime friend of wheat, Mr. Jerry Minore. He passed away just recently from a sudden illness and we were sorry to see him go,” Dana said.

Because Jerry just passed away less than a month ago, the details on the scholarship are still being developed, but Dana says they will be announced soon and available on the NAWG website.

Dana says they are thrilled with the record turnout of over 6,000 producers at Classic this year and pleased to celebrate their fifth year being one of the commodity groups that join together for the event.

Listen to my interview with Dana here: NAWG CEO Dana Peterson

I also spoke with U.S. Wheat president Alan Tracy at the wheat industry booth and he told me how excited they are about export opportunities in Asia, noting that they just celebrated their golden anniversary in Philippines. “In Asia, we continue to do very well,” he said. “I just returned from the Philippines where we celebrated the 50th anniversary of our having an office there in Manila.”

Alan says the Philippines have become at least the 5th largest market for U.S. Wheat. “This year it’s going to be 95% of their wheat comes form the United States,” Alan said, adding that the export market makes up about half of the U.S. crop in a given year.

Listen to my interview with Dana here: US Wheat President Alan Tracy

2012 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Coverage of the 2012 Commodity Classic Show is sponsored by BASF and New Holland
Audio, BASF, Commodity Classic, Trade, Wheat

NAMA AAEA Get Together At Commodity Classic

Chuck Zimmerman

One of our sponsors here at Commodity Classic, BASF, gets involved in supporting the event in so many ways. One of them is to sponsor this year’s combined American Agricultural Editors Association and National Agri-Marketing Association reception. Pictured (l-r) Beth Burgy, Broadhead and NAMA President; Nadine Keutzer, BASF; Amy Ogburn, Padilla Speer Beardsley and Greg Horstmeier, DTN/The Progressive Farmer and AAEA President. As a member of both organizations I think I can speak for fellow members in saying how much we appreciate BASF’s support.

Beth made a point of saying that this combined event with AAEA is due to NAMA efforts to reach out and work with other industry organizations. This is part of the new strategic plan that we’re trying to implement starting this year. I am serving on the NAMA Exec Committee and was glad to see this collaboration come about.

2012 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Coverage of the 2012 Commodity Classic Show is sponsored by BASF and New Holland
ACN, Commodity Classic, NAMA

NCGA Has Missouri Corn Membership Machine

Cindy Zimmerman

Missouri Corn Growers president Billy Thiel is a membership machine for the National Corn Growers Association.

During the NCGA Awards banquet at the 2012 Commodity Classic, Billy became the 17th member of the Walter Goeppinger Recruiter Hall of Fame, an honor which comes with a classy new blazer.

Billy led the way in recruiting new members for the NCGA in 2011, adding 811 Missouri corn growers and helping to push NCGA to a record membership of 37,l30. He also helped Missouri Corn get first place for both the largest number of new members and the largest percentage increase for the year.

Billy is pictured here in the center between Mickey Peterson of Minnesota, one of the first Hall of Famers, and NCGA president Garry Niemeyer.

2012 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Coverage of the 2012 Commodity Classic Show is sponsored by BASF and New Holland
Commodity Classic, Corn, NCGA

Osborn Barr Honors John Becherer

Chuck Zimmerman

The United Soybean Board’s CEO, John Becherer, got a little bit of love from everyone attending the Osborn Barr reception at Commodity Classic. John is receiving this year’s National Agri-Marketing Association Agribusiness Leader of the Year Award which will be officially presented to him during next month’s Agri-Marketing Conference in Kansas City. However, Osborn Barr which has worked with USB for many years invited in a number of current and former board members and others for a special recognition of John here in Nashville at Cellar One.

The highlight of the event was a new rendition of the song Ring of Fire. Accompanying the band to sing the new lyrics were the current USB Chair, Vanessa Kummer and other past Chairmen. I just happened to capture the moment on video for your viewing pleasure. I know John will really appreciate this. You’re welcome John and congratulations on your very deserved award! You’ll hear Lance Burditt, Osborn Barr, explain why John is so deserving of this award. In the photo John is responding to all the love by making a few comments.

You can read the lyrics here (.doc).

2012 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Coverage of the 2012 Commodity Classic Show is sponsored by BASF and New Holland
Agencies, Commodity Classic, USB

BASF Promotes Applicator Training

Cindy Zimmerman

Fighting herbicide resistant weeds depends as much on the proper application techniques and equipment as it does on using the right products.

BASF Crop Protection has partnered with application technology specialist Dr. Bob Wolf, retired Professor Emeritus of Kansas State University, to help growers get the most out of their pesticides by using best application practices with the On Target Application Academy.

Dr. Wolf says the program focuses on research and education of applicators to “maximize control of weeds and minimize spray drift.”

One of the educational tools he uses is a spray table that is designed to allow applicators to actually see the differences between spray nozzles, the droplet size and drift produced. “I encourage them to put water in their sprayer on a day when they’re not busy, turn the sprayer on, get out and walk along and do some comparisons,” he said.

On Target Application Academies will be held throughout 2012 at industry and state events. Sessions will be about two hours long and cover a number of topics including best practices for self applications, nozzle selection, adjuvants, calibration, sprayer set up, equipment clean out, and more. More information on dates and locations will be available from BASF representatives and on the BASF website.

Listen to or download an interview with Bob Wolf here: Dr. Bob Wolf

Watch Dr. Wolf’s demonstration of the spray table during the BASF “Science Behind” event held in conjunction with Commodity Classic in Nashville:

2012 BASF Science Behind Photo Album

Coverage of the 2012 Commodity Classic Show is sponsored by BASF and New Holland
Audio, BASF, Commodity Classic, Crop Protection

Classic Farm Report

Chuck Zimmerman

The general session of the Commodity Classic is not complete without a farm report containing market prices and the latest news. That was done once again this year by the President of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting. This year that’s Tom Steever, Brownfield Ag News.

BTW. Session emcee Mark Mayfield remarked afterward that the farm reporter is not supposed to be funnier than the comedian. Watch the video to see why.

2012 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Coverage of the 2012 Commodity Classic Show is sponsored by BASF and New Holland
Commodity Classic, Media, Video

Tornado Warning at Commodity Classic

Chuck Zimmerman

We just got the All Clear on a tornado warning that happened at about 3:45pm. I was in the trade show area when it happened. I certainly hope the tornado that was sighted caused no damage or injuries. We’ve got some severe weather still on the outlook for later today too.

Everyone got herded into a very large and empty basement level ballroom in the area near the trade show. I had to risk the hotel staff wrath to go get my computer out of the media room so I could get this posted. Unfortunately, they said this will probably happen again this evening. We’ve got that to look forward to. Now it’s reception time!

You can hear the warning here: Gaylord Opryland Commodity Classic Tornado Warning

It looks like we have a lot of Midwesterners here as you’ll see in the video clip from the trade show floor. We’re kind of used to this sort of thing.

2012 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Coverage of the 2012 Commodity Classic Show is sponsored by BASF and New Holland
Audio, Commodity Classic, Video

2012 Farm Bill Priorities From Commodity Classic Groups

Chuck Zimmerman

It’s almost like a tradition now. The Presidents of the farm organizations that participate in Commodity Classic take the stage for a few minutes of lighthearted discussion about their priorities. Emceeing the general session with them this year again was Mark Mayfield. You can listen to their interaction below. All of the organizations released a joint statement yesterday about their farm bill priorities which I’ve included below as well.

First up on the stage with Mark was Gary Niemeyer, a corn grower from Auburn, Ill and President of the National Corn Growers Association.

Listen to Gary’s comments here: Comments from Gary Niemeyer

Next up on stage was Steve Wellman, soybean farmer from Syracuse, Neb. and President of the American Soybean Association.

Listen to Steve’s comments here: Comments from Steve Wellman

Next we heard from Terry Swanson, a sorghum grower from Walsh, Colo. and President of the National Sorghum Producers.

Listen to Terry’s comments here: Comments from Terry Swanson

Finally, we heard from Wayne Hurst, a wheat producer from Burley, Idaho and President of the National Association of Wheat Growers.

Listen to Wayne’s comments here: Comments from Wayne Hurst
“Commodity Classic provides our organizations an opportunity to come together to discuss important policy issues facing our industry. As Congress continues work on the next farm bill, our organizations agree that an affordable crop insurance program is our No. 1 priority. We also stand ready to work with House and Senate Ag Committee leaders to create farm programs that provide risk-management tools to growers when they are facing a loss beyond their control.

“We urge Congress to pass a new farm bill this year to provide the level of certainty in America that a short-term extension cannot.The nation is currently facing record high federal deficits and this requires difficult decisions. We stand ready to do our part to develop more efficient farm policy that will be responsive to taxpayers and effective in helping farms remain viable and productive.

“Our organizations represent more than 70 percent of all crop acres in the United States. Agriculture is a bright spot in our nation’s economy, sustainably meeting the expanding demands to provide food, feed, fuel and fiber to the world. We are pleased to see the Senate and House Agriculture Committees have produced such an aggressive schedule and we thank them for their efforts.”

2012 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Coverage of the 2012 Commodity Classic Show is sponsored by BASF and New Holland
Ag Groups, ASA, Audio, Commodity Classic, NAWG, NCGA, NSP

Ag Secretary Hits Right Notes at Classic in Nashville

Cindy Zimmerman

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack was interrupted by applause several times during his address at the 2012 Commodity Classic in Nashville Friday as he hit the right notes for corn, soybean, wheat and sorghum producers.

Someone in the crowd shouted “Amen” when Vilsack said, “This country also needs a new generation of farmers,” noting that something needs to be done about the estate tax, but also that there are barriers to people transferring land while they are still alive due to increasing land values.

Vilsack also got applause when he said, “As Congress works on this farm bill, the country needs them to have the political courage and spine to work on immigration reform and get that done and get it done now.”

When it comes to passing a farm bill, Vilsack said even though Congress thinks it’s a tough time to do it, “that’s not what America does. We don’t make excuses, we solve problems and we expect our leaders to do that.”

Before heading back to Washington for a White House conservation conference, Vilsack also announced the opportunity for producers to enroll a total of 1 million acres of land in a new Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) initiative to preserve grasslands and wetlands.

Vilsack will highlight the announcement later today at the Interior Department during the White House Growing America’s Outdoor Heritage and Economy conference, which emphasizes the link between conservation and strong local economies through tourism, outdoor recreation, and healthy lands, waters and wildlife.

Listen to or download Visack’s address here: Secretary Tom Vilsack at Commodity Classic

2012 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Coverage of the 2012 Commodity Classic Show is sponsored by BASF and New Holland
Audio, Commodity Classic, USDA