Evening Colors

Melissa Sandfort

Learning your directions – is it innate or is it something you can truly learn. Some people just aren’t born with a good sense of direction. To highlight this, I have to tell a story of my mother, who on family vacation, was reading the AAA Trip Tick and said we’d be at the ocean in 20 minutes. Forty minutes later, no ocean. We’d gone 20 miles the wrong way and all the while, she thought she was following the highlighted line. She was banned from map-reading from then on.

I have always had an uncanny sense of direction. I can step off an airplane in any city and pretty much find my way. Like my internal mapping feature is always on.

I had to look at this picture to see if the sun was coming up or setting based on where the barn is in location to our house to know this was an evening photo. Now I’m giving away the fact that I have a short-term memory because I just took this less than a week ago.

But during a time of cold weather and bland landscape colors, the warmth of the sun on this leafless tree coupled with the dark red hues in the background made this winter day feel just a bit warmer.

Until we walk again …

Uncategorized

Gov’t. Agencies Say LightSquared System Can’t Work With GPS

Chuck Zimmerman

Things are looking bleak for the proposed LightSquared LTE network according to a story in PC World.

A key federal agency involved in testing the proposed LightSquared LTE network has concluded that there is no practical way to solve interference between that network and GPS, possibly dealing a crippling blow to the startup carrier’s hopes for a terrestrial mobile network.

That agency is the National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation and Timing Executive Committee (PNT ExComm). Now that’s a mouthful. The agencies that make up this one have unanimously concluded that none of the LightSquared proposals would overcome interference with GPS.

Here’s an excerpt from the letter to the FCC:

Earlier this week we published results of our ZimmPoll that showed a majority think the LightSquared proposal would be good for ag/rural America. However, most of those positive responses all came at nearly the same time.

Internet

BASF Announces Armezon Herbicide

Cindy Zimmerman

BASFBASF Crop Protection has announced the addition of Armezon™ herbicide to help corn growers deal with resistant weeds and take advantage of strong commodity prices with more complete, comprehensive weed management solutions.

According to BASF, Armezon helps growers maximize their yields by controlling tough, yield-robbing weeds while being safe to all corn types.

BASFA post-emerge herbicide solution for corn, Armezon controls problematic grasses and broadleaf weeds such as common lambsquarters, waterhemp, giant foxtail and crabgrass – including those with resistance to glyphosate, triazines, PPOs, and ALS inhibitors.

“Armezon is definitely tough on weeds,” said John Sabatka, Post Corn Herbicides Product Manager with BASF. “At the same time, it’s also safe to use on all field and specialty corn, regardless of trait – including the most sensitive varieties.”

Armezon also has a wider window of application when compared to most other post-emerge corn herbicides on the market. It is an excellent cross-spectrum tank-mix partner, which makes it particularly helpful for growers who rely on post applications of atrazine or glyphosate to manage tough weeds.

Find out more about Armezon from BASF.

BASF, Corn

Mobile Technology Replacing Brochures At Trade Shows

Chuck Zimmerman

Why pack cases of flyers or brochures to stack in your trade show booth when you can just bring along an iPad to display more information in a multi-media format?

Pioneer Hi-Bred used to bring along more than 50 different product brochures to trade shows. Now they bring an iPad with a company-branded app. Pioneer, along with GROWMARK, worked with Float Mobile on these projects. Here’s what they did with GROWMARK.

At the 2011 Farm Progress Show, GROWMARK used an interactive “Yield Maximizer” game to draw attendees to their booth and keep them there longer. It’s part of a larger trend that’s going on in agribusiness – using innovative mobile technology to showcase products and services in unique ways.

“The FS/GROWMARK System upped its technology ante at the 2011 Farm Progress Show. Our goal at the show is always to engage and share valuable information with the farmers and other interested parties who attend. Making use of iPad-powered games that attracted attention, entertained show-goers, and conveyed information about our strong and diverse product lines was very effective,” said Ann Kafer, GROWMARK’s director of communications and marketing services. “We also debuted cropNAtion.com at the show and signed up those wanting to participate in the new social media platform for information about crop production across the country — farmer to farmer.”

Agribusiness, Apps, GROWMARK, Pioneer

Assistance Available To Attend 2012 IFAJ Congress

Chuck Zimmerman

It’s not too early to look ahead to the 2012 International Federation of Agricultural Journalists Congress which will take place in Sweden. It’s on my calendar. If you need some assistance going, one option is for AAEA members to apply for a professional development stipend. Another is for young agricultural communicators to apply for an IFAJ-Alltech Young Leader Award.

AAEA PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT STIPENDS
The AAEA Professional Improvement Foundation (PIF) is funding three, $2,000 stipends to help AAEA members at large (a fourth stipend is awarded to the current International Committee chair) travel to Sweden for the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) Congress this summer.

Send your completed application to Steve Werblow, chair of the AAEA International Committee, by FEBRUARY 3. Stipend winners will be announced February 10 – the day IFAJ Congress registration opens.

Application Form (.doc)

IFAJ-ALLTECH YOUNG LEADERS AWARD
Applications are now available for the IFAJ-Alltech Young Leaders in Agricultural Journalism Award, an exciting program for agricultural communicators 35 years of age and younger. Here are some highlights:

– A 1,000-Euro ($1,272) prize
– Travel scholarship to the 2012 IFAJ Congress in Sweden
– Participation in a professional development Boot Camp with the other award winners from around the world
– Connection with a mentor from the IFAJ community

Each IFAJ member guild (AAEA is a guild, and you are all members) can nominate one candidate to the global competition. The AAEA International Committee will select one candidate from among the AAEA member applicants; judging of the 10-person Class of 2012 will be conducted by an IFAJ panel.

Entry requirements are available online. They include:

– Candidates must have been no more than 35 years of age on December 31, 2011
– Applicant must be an active or affiliate member in good standing of AAEA
– Application includes a brief essay
– Candidate must submit three samples of his or her work for judging.

Application Form (.doc)

Lycka till! (That’s Swedish for “Good luck!”)

IFAJ, International

European Network Of Agricultural Journalists Formed

Chuck Zimmerman

It looks like you have to be a member to log in to the new website but the EU has a new ag journalist organization.

The European network of Agricultural Journalists (ENAJ), a new organisation representing agricultural journalists from the EU was officially launched today in Brussels. The Commissioner for Agriculture Dacian Ciolos was presented with the working charter for the ENAJ at a function attended by 140 journalists from the EU 27. The new journalist run organisation will be initially led by Belgian journalist Jef Verhaeran who explained at the launch how the idea came about following consultation between journalists and the EU Commission earlier this year. Leaders of agricultural journalist associations from member states came together to explore the possibility of establishing a new organisation and the idea received the backing of these member guilds and associations. A “project team” of eight journalists will now go about establishing and growing the network over the next twelve months.

The main objectives of the network is to help agricultural journalists throughout the EU communicate easily with each other while also providing members with better access to issues of importance including the CAP debate from DG Agri.

International, Media

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Bayer CropScience has created the Young Farmer Sustainability Award to acknowledge farmers under the age of 40 who are demonstrating sustainability in their operations.
  • U.S. soybean farmers can now apply for the United Soybean Board’s free See for Yourself program, which will enable 10 U.S. soybean farmers this year to witness for themselves how the soybeans they grow are used in animal feed at home and abroad.
  • BPA Worldwide announced the launch of its new free online tool for audited site traffic.
  • Deere & Company officials recently broke ground on the company’s second tractor factory in India, announcing the facility will be constructed in Dewas, which is located northeast of Indore, the largest city in the state of Madhya Pradesh.
Zimfo Bytes

BASF Invests in Cellulosic Sugar Company

Cindy Zimmerman

BASFGlobal chemical giant BASF has invested $30 million in a Pennsylvania-based company that has developed a process to produce cellulosic sugars for renewable chemicals and biofuels.

BASF, through subsidiary BASF Biorenewable Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG led a $50 million financing round in the technology firm Renmatix Inc.

BASFRenmatix has developed the patented Plantrose™ platform whereby industrial sugar can be produced from lignocellulosic biomass (wood, cane trash or straw). In the Plantrose technology, biomass is split into cellulose and sugar in supercritical water at high temperature and pressure in a two-step process.

Industrial sugars are important renewable resources for the chemical industry and can be used, for example, to produce biofuels or basic chemical products and intermediates by fermentative processes. The availability of industrial sugars in sufficient quantities and at favorable cost is therefore important for the competitiveness of the products.

BASF, Biofuels

TOCA Offers Time Management Webinar

Chuck Zimmerman

The Turf and Ornamental Communicators Association is offering a time management webinar to members and non-members. It will be held on January 26 at 2pm eastern time.

As a non TOCA member, if you are interested in participating, please send us a $25 check payable to TOCA and send to: TOCA, 120 Main St. West, New Prague, MN 56071. Please contact the TOCA office if you have questions at 952-758-6340 or email us. Thanks to GIE Media for coordinating this webinar as a member service.

Time Management for Creative Types
Find out how to get the most out of your workday. Spend an hour and learn how to:
· Identify time killers
· Email smarter
· Use software to improve your workflow

Presenter: Mike Prokopeak, Vice President and Editorial Director, MediaTec Publishing

Register here.

Uncategorized

National Farm Machinery Show App

Chuck Zimmerman

Going to the National Farm Machinery Show? We are and we’ll have the new NFMS App on our iPhones!

The first-ever mobile app, called “NFMS ’12,” for the National Farm Machinery Show is now available for free on smartphones (iPhone, Android and Blackberry) and features an interactive exhibitor map and listings, seminars and speakers, Championship Tractor Pull schedules, and Louisville area information to plan your trip to the largest indoor farm show in America.

The mobile app will include frequent updates right up to the opening day of the show. “NFMS ’12” also will provide digital information from exhibitors, text alerts, product updates and instant connectivity, all in the palm of your hand. Text alerts and mobile updates on what’s happening during the show are also features.

“In addition to the product-packed NFMS Show Guide, the mobile app will contain all the information needed to plan your visit and also help make your days at the National Farm Machinery Show very full and productive,” says Allen Barkve, general manager of Farm Industry News.

Social media will also be incorporated into the app to connect attendees (hashtag: #nfms12). To find additional information about the show, connect with National Farm Machinery Show by following it on Facebook and on Twitter @nfmslouisville.

The free application can be downloaded by searching “NFMS ’12” in the Apple Store, Android Market and BlackBerry’s App World or by clicking here.

Apps, National Farm Machinery Show