Novus Chicken Balloons

Chuck Zimmerman

Chickens just want to have fun. Actually, chicken balloons.

This is part of the Novus International team here at the International Poultry Expo with one of their decorative chicken balloons that could be found at their social hour last night. You can also see the chicken balloon getting “scanned.” Everyone coming in had their badge scanned which was a very handy way for the company to know who attended. The hand scanner immediately delivers results to a smartphone too btw. I love new technology!

2012 International Poultry Expo Photo Album

Coverage of the 2012 International Poultry Expo is sponsored by Novus International
Novus International, Poultry Expo

Proposed Ag Child Labor Regs Would Negatively Impact Farming

Chuck Zimmerman

Our latest ZimmPoll asked a very timely question since it’s on a topic that is the subject of a cover story on USA Today. We asked, “How will proposed changes to child labor in agriculture regulations affect farms?” Seventy percent said Negatively, seventeen percent said No Effect and only thirteen percent said Positively.

You may know that last fall the Department of Labor proposed changes that many believe could have major impacts on family farms and farm life (proposed rule – pdf). This is just another example of unnecessary government intrusion in private business and lives in my opinion. We don’t need it but . . . as if the government knows better. Riiight. You can find out more from this DOL early news release.

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “Do you agree with President Obama’s call for more clean (renewable) energy?” Let us know what you think. He definitely issued a call during his State of the Union speech last night. Here’s an excerpt:

We have subsidized oil companies for a century. That’s long enough. It’s time to end the taxpayer giveaways to an industry that’s rarely been more profitable, and double-down on a clean energy industry that’s never been more promising. Pass clean energy tax credits and create these jobs.

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

ZimmPoll

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • A new CAST Issue Paper, Energy Issues Affecting Corn/Soybean Systems: Challenges for Sustainable Production, examines energy issues within the corn/soybean production system.
  • The national soy checkoff once again plans its Green Ribbon Fairs reimbursement program, aimed at encouraging fairs across the country to promote and use soy-based products.
  • Animal Welfare Approved is pleased to announce the 2011-12 Good Husbandry Grants which help promote innovative, forward thinking farming techniques.
  • Growers Edge has introduced a new and free online tool to assist grain farmers in tracking the profitability of their farming operation.
Zimfo Bytes

The Novus IPE Week Program

Chuck Zimmerman

The Global Poultry Market Manager for Novus International is Scott Carter (on right). I got an overview from him of all the activities Novus is involved in during IPE Week.

To start with Scott says they participated in the International Poultry Scientific Forum with a sponsored lunch featuring David Armano who spoke about social media. David was my interview in this week’s ZimmCast. Scott says he learned a few key things from that presentation, including the fact that academics are the most trusted source of information. Another learning point was that “everybody is empowered, everybody has a voice.” That’s social media.

Another way Novus was involved was with the Animal Ag Sustainability Summit where Scott Hine, Novus Product Management and Operations, spoke about Novus’s commitment to sustainability. I’ll have more on that topic in my interview with Scott coming up soon. Besides these programs Novus is catching up with “old” friends and customers in the trade show.

Listen to my interview with Scott here: Interview with Scott Carter

2012 International Poultry Expo Photo Album

Coverage of the 2012 International Poultry Expo is sponsored by Novus International
Agribusiness, Audio, Novus International, Poultry Expo, Sustainability

Hard Rock at Poultry Expo

Chuck Zimmerman

I did not expect to see Hard Rock Cafe at International Poultry Expo but they are. Apparently Hard Rock has been working with IPE to produce a commemorative pin for the show for years.

I spoke with Jennifer Waxman, Sales & Marketing Manager, about how Hard Rock Cafe Atlanta is working with the show this year. Jennifer says that besides the commemorative pin there is a co-branded t-shirt this year. A portion of the sales from these items goes to benefit Wellspring Living, a charitable organization working on behalf of abused children. If you show your IPE badge you get ten percent off your meal at the Cafe!

Listen to my interview with Jennifer here: Hard Rock at Poultry Expo

2012 International Poultry Expo Photo Album

Coverage of the 2012 International Poultry Expo is sponsored by Novus International
Audio, Food, Poultry

Revived Renewable Fuels

Chuck Zimmerman

While I’m attending IPE Week, Cindy is at today’s Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit. Most of her coverage can be found on Domestic Fuel. Just thought I’d share this first story with you:

Today’s 6th Annual Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit kicked off in Des Moines on Tuesday on a very positive note, considering that 2011 was a record year in the state for both ethanol and biodiesel.

In his annual address to the summit, Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw noted that the state’s 41 ethanol plants produced 3.7 billion gallons of ethanol. “If Iowa were a country, it would be the third largest ethanol producer in the world, behind only the rest of the United States and Brazil,” said Shaw.

He also noted that with the return of the biodiesel tax credit in 2011 helped most of Iowa’s biodiesel plants return to production. “Ten Iowa biodiesel plants operated during 2011 produced a record 169 million gallons,” said Shaw.

However, Shaw noted that the challenges facing biofuels are just as strong as ever. “I know it’s hard to believe, but not everyone in America enjoys the renewable fuels success story,” he said, outlining the attacks against ethanol in particular by the food and oil industries. “Today the oil industry enjoys billions of dollars in tax subsidies while the renewable fuels industry has none,” said Shaw, proceeding to name off all of the subsides unique to the oil industry.

Shaw outlined the priority issues for the renewable fuels industry in 2012 as getting the biodiesel tax credit reinstated, keeping the Renewable Fuel Standard in place, and getting E15 commercially available.

Listen to Shaw’s address to the 6th annual Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit here: IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw address

2012 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit Photos

Ag Groups, Audio, Biodiesel, Biofuels, Ethanol

IPE, The All-Feather Event

Chuck Zimmerman

It has been an interesting morning on the agriblogging highway. My flight to Atlanta was cancelled and I didn’t know until I got to the gate. But with a little work and a friendly ticket counter person things worked out.

So, it’s IPE Week in Atlanta and I’m here for a couple days. I’ll be working with my sponsor, Novus International, once again and finding stories and interviews where I can.

Of course there’s a photo album started: 2012 International Poultry Expo Photo Album

Coverage of the 2012 International Poultry Expo is sponsored by Novus International
Ag Leader, Poultry Expo

Ah, the memories.

Melissa Sandfort

I mentioned a few posts back that in December, my dad had a farm sale. I noted the old 4020, the bigger combine, and all the semi trucks, but I failed to mention all the JUNK he dug out of who knows where. There were boxes and bins and piles on the ground, all available to the highest bidder. These are just the kind of boxes my grandpa has found collectibles in for the low price of $2.

But take a look in the background of this picture (on the right next to the shed) and you’ll notice a dust-covered 3-wheeler with a bench seat. Yes, three wheels, not four. And yes, I said bench seat. Dad welded a T-post to the back of this thing to hang pipe irrigation socks from. When it was too muddy, this came in handy to take to the fields to switch the water in the irrigation rows.

And when dad wasn’t looking, my brother and I used to hang on for dear life as we jumped terraces. And I’ll never forget the day my brother ran it into the gas tank and popped two holes in the leather seat. For once I wasn’t the one in trouble.

I never did ask dad how much this old thing brought at the sale but I’m sure it’s memory-making days are over.

Until we walk again …

Uncategorized

Expert Opinion Via Social Media

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast 336Events started taking place today for IPE Week in Atlanta and Novus International got their schedule started with a presentation titled, “Like It: Consumers want to hear your expert opinion.” The session was conducted by David Armano, Executive Vice President – Global Innovation & Integration. His focus was on “how cutting edge research influences the everyday consumer via social media.”

I spoke with David afterward. He says he talked about what’s next in regards to social media and digital and how some of the technology shifts are being dictated by our behaviors and the ways we now communicate and do business. He especially zeroed in on the changes in media and talks about a Media Cloverleaf (Mainstream, New Media, Social and Owned). He also shared some polling study information from what they call the Trust Barometer. One of the findings was that traditionally academics and technical experts have been perceived as the most trustworthy. Last year the third most trusted individual was a financial industry analyst but this year it’s someone like yours truly ie. someone like you! I think you’ll find some great information in my conversation with David.

Listen in on my conversation with David in this week’s program: Expert Opinion Via Social Media

Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsor, GROWMARK, locally owned, globally strong, 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.

Coverage of the 2012 International Poultry Expo is sponsored by Novus International
Agencies, Audio, Poultry Expo, Social Networking, ZimmCast

2012 IPE Week Underway

Chuck Zimmerman

It’s 2012 International Poultry Expo time. I’ll be on location at this all-feather event by tomorrow afternoon thanks to our sponsor, Novus International.

This show is big so there are a lot of resources for you like the Product Locator and Show Planner. Go to the show website for more.

Here are some statistics from last year’s show:

The 63rd annual International Poultry Expo featuring its fifth year with the International Feed Expo produced very impressive attendance numbers.

Attendance totaled 20,742 for the 2011 show up from 18,896 in 2010. International attendees numbered 4371, an increase of 505 over 2010 with Latin America constituting the largest segment at 43% of non-US attendees.

States with the greatest representation in 2011
Georgia 4291
North Carolina 893
Illinois 876
Arkansas 760
Alabama 713

Countries with the greatest representation in 2011
Canada 767
Mexico 516
Brazil 276
Colombia 256
Venezuela 207
China 203

Coverage of the 2012 International Poultry Expo is sponsored by Novus International

Poultry Expo