Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Farm Journal Media’s AgWeb.com launched its mobile application, providing smartphone users with easier, more graphic access to its market-leading content.
  • Croplife recently released a new video on fertilizer, crop protection product handling and distribution. Watch the video here.
  • The soybean-checkoff-funded U.S. Soybean Export Council launched a revamped website for its global aquaculture program to communicate the benefits of soy in aquaculture feeds to both consumers and the global seafood industry.
  • FMC Corporation announces the promotion of David Wheeler to Business Solutions Manager.
    Zimfo Bytes

    America Needs Farmers at Iowa Football Game

    Chuck Zimmerman

    This is a great picture. It’s from the University of Iowa and Iowa Farm Bureau’s “America Needs Farmers” first-ever ‘card stunt’ at Kinnick stadium celebrating ANF Game Day a little over a week ago.

    Today, the organizations jointly announced a $20,000 donation to the Iowa Food Bank Association in recognition of the “ANF” and “Farm Strong” initiatives.

    “We are proud of our Hawkeye fans and we knew they would embrace the card stunt and, more importantly, ANF Day at Kinnick because they understand the many contributions farmers make to our family table and to our economy. We are also very proud of our partnership with the Iowa Farm Bureau. It’s one that is giving back to our communities in ways that go well beyond touchdowns on Saturday afternoons,” said Gary Barta, the UI’s director of athletics.

    Ag Groups

    The Myth of Meat Glue

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Meat MythCrushers (The American Meat Science Association and the American Meat Institute) has just released a new episode in their library of videos to help people find the truth behind a lot of meat myths. Let’s take a look at this one on transglutaminase which is being called “meat glue.” There’s a rumor going viral on the web about this. In fact, one of my friends from grammar school forwarded me an email from a friend of his who was all worried and afraid of the information on the internet. I looked at it and forwarded him some facts and a link to this video so he could get some perspective. Nothing like the truth for perspective, eh?

    Transglutaminase is a protein that is used to bind ingredients together in many foods. In meat products, for example, it can help hold bacon around a filet mignon to create a bacon wrapped filet or it can help hold several smaller cuts together to make a larger cut that can be sliced.

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recognized transglutaminase as safe and it has been safely used for many years. Canada, Australia and many of European countries also recognize this as a safe food processing aid. Transglutaminase is not classified as an allergen. Still, when it is used, it will appear on the ingredient label.

    Watch Dana Hanson, Ph.D., associate professor and meat extension specialist, food science at North Carolina State University, clarify why transglutaminase is used, how it is labeled and why it is safe. Meanwhile, I think I’ll go glue some steaks together for supper!

    Ag Groups, Food, Video

    Engle Creative Solutions

    Chuck Zimmerman

    ZimmCast 324What’s new in the world of agricultural marketing is Engle Creative Solutions, LLC. This morning I visited with Steve Engle, President. This is another episode in my informal series of interviews with the leadership of agricultural marketing agencies.

    Steve started the new venture just last month. Steve says he’s focusing on small to mid sized businesses and wants to help them, “Stand Out In A Crowded World.” He’s offering a “complete array of implementation services, from mainstream advertising and public relations to new media, interactive services, motion media and more.”

    Listen to my conversation with Steve in this week’s ZimmCast: Engle Creative Solutions

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

    The program ends this week with music from Music Alley, called “Natural Solution” by RION-I. I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.

    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.

    Agencies, ZimmCast

    GROWMARK Among Top Ten Co-ops

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Once again this year, the GROWMARK cooperative system is among the nation’s top ten co-ops.

    The GROWMARK System of cooperatives, headquartered in Bloomington, Ill., was ranked seventh on the NCB Co-op 100 listing of the nation’s 100 highest revenue-earning cooperative businesses. GROWMARK was ranked sixth on the 2010 list.

    “The boom of cooperative organizations and the key role they play in both our national and global economy, is clearly evidenced in the growth and expansion highlighted in this year’s report,” said Charles E. Snyder, President and CEO of NCB. “As a cooperative business ourselves, we are proud to support these efforts and participate in the United Nations General Assembly declaration of 2012 as the International Year of the Cooperative, to educate the public on the benefits of cooperatives. Our report is just one of the many ways we work to inform the public on the advantages of cooperatives in all fields of enterprise.”

    The NCB Co-op 100 debuted in 1991 and is the only yearly report of its kind to track cooperative revenues in the United States. Cooperatives in this year’s top 100 account for a combined revenue of more than $193 billion in 2010.

    Cooperatives

    Food Day?

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Welcome to food day. For me that’s every day. Thank God we live in a blessed country where we have the most plentiful, safe and affordable food supply in the world. The food we produce is safe to eat, safe for the environment, high quality and protects our national security. Thank all you farmers of all kinds who produce it.

    Unfortunately there’s a very misguided effort calling today “Food Day.” I’d put their logo on here but they’ve got restrictions on its use:

    For-profit entities must request permission from the Center for Science in the Public Interest by clicking here and providing a description of how they would like to participate in Food Day and use the Food Day logo.

    I wish that was the only misguided part of what they’re doing. There’s more. Let’s start with the name, Center for Science in the Public Interest. It would be nice if they stuck to science. Instead, this is a lobbying organization with an agenda. For example, they want you to sign their Eat Real agenda and have it sent to your Congressman. Read it. It certainly is an “agenda.” It’s not mine and I hope it’s not yours.

    The last thing we need in this country is more unnecessary government spending and government control over business which their agenda calls for. Our food is safe and if people would use more common sense in how they select, store, handle and cook it we would have far less problems. You can’t legislate common sense. Our food system is not broken as these wackos assert. What is broken is our government thanks to groups like this. If more common sense was used then we would have food distributed to the really needy. That goes for here and in other parts of the world where we send so much food aid. And let’s not forget about personal responsibility. You choose the foods you eat and you can choose your lifestyle. Please don’t blame others for the consequences of your own actions.

    I guess that to survive and grow, a group like this has to manufacture a crisis, knowing how gullible people are. And they are really gullible. I had a long time friend send me another in a series of “articles” this morning about a new dirty secret in the food industry that had him all worried. Instead of checking it out for the truth he accepted what he saw as the truth. Folks, what do you think Google is for? Do your research and don’t buy in to the kind of nonsense being promulgated by groups like this one.

    Have a wonderful food day every day and feel good about it. Cheers.

    Food, Wackos

    The Horse Trainer

    Melissa Sandfort

    Have you seen Robert Redford in The Horse Whisperer? He had a remarkable way of knowing and understanding horses, and it seemed as though they had their own secret language between horse and man. I believe that some people are born with the gift of understanding animals, and I’m not one of them — shoot, I can’t even understand my 3-year-old sometimes and he speaks English!

    I mentioned a while back that our two horses, Thelma and Louise, were at “horsey school.” That is, they have spent a month with Russ Smith, horse trainer in Auburn, Neb. I’ve had the distinct pleasure of observing and working with Russ over the past month which has only furthered my training, discipline and understanding of our horses. I’m not an experienced rider, and in fact, I haven’t been on a horse since I was 10. But after a few hours at Russ’s barn I was already out trotting (and hanging on for dear life!).

    Russ has a talent. A gift. He has ridden bulls and roped a few steers. He has had broken bones and bruises and maybe a sore ego when he was 15 trying to showing off for the cowgirls and was bucked to the dirt. But he has taken that gift and shared it with others in the horse community through training.

    I’ve learned that cowboys all have different styles and what works for one trainer may not work for another. But I got on Thelma and with one small nudge to her belly, she was off and walking. Simple as that.

    I wanted to chalk it up to the fact that Thelma has always been the calmer of the two horses, but after just one month, I see that I was wrong. Louise just needed Russ.

    (This photo shows Russ on one of his own horses with Caramel, the goat supervising and his son getting ready for sledding season.)

    Off to trail riding!

    Until we walk again …

    Uncategorized

    Zimfo Bytes

    Melissa Sandfort

      Zimfo Bytes

    • Pioneer Hi-Bred International is suing Monsanto, accusing the seed giant of illegally using seed production methods developed by Dupont.
    • Japan is preparing to ease restrictions on U.S. beef imports: Japan may raise the age limit of cattle from which U.S. beef can be imported from 20 months of age or younger to 30 months and younger.
    • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is offering financial assistance to young producers who wish to attend the 2012 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show: ten $250 travel fellowships to Young Producer’s Council members.
    • Agricultural Future of America is pleased to announce Paul F. Engler and Sara R. Wyant have been selected as 2011 Leader in Agriculture Award winners.
    Zimfo Bytes

    GROWMARK Offers Grain Bin Safety Tips

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Every year there are dozens of grain bin accidents reported across the Corn Belt, with far too many ending in fatalities.

    GROWMARK grain systems operations manager Randy Holthaus says the harvest season is an especially dangerous time on the farm around grain bins. “During the harvest, with the need to get it in and get it done, people get in a hurry and work long hours,” he said. “They’re running non-stop to get the crop out so fatigue plays in as well.”

    Randy says they recommend that growers never enter a grain bin if at all possible, but realistically he knows there are times when it might be necessary. “Don’t get into the bin unless you lock out the power and make sure someone knows you are getting in to the bin,” he says, adding that the person on the outside should ideally be able to observe you getting in and out and have a rescue line tied to you.

    The biggest hazards often occur when someone gets trapped in a bin and another person automatically tries to help. “The first reaction of family members or co-workers is to get in the bin to help,” which Randy says often results in making a bad situation worse by sending grain cascading on the victim and totally engulfing them. “Getting into the bin with a victim is twice as bad because you are not only endangering yourself but you may be creating a bigger problem for the person in the bin.”

    The buddy on the outside should instead make sure the power is shut off, call 911 and possibly try to get a line thrown to the victim if that can be done safely. “The main thing is, you need professional help,” he stresses.

    Bottom line – be alert, be aware and just be careful out there!

    Listen to or download my interview with Randy here: Randy Holthaus Interview

    Audio, Grains, GROWMARK

    New Officers for National FFA

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Congratulations to the newly elected National FFA officers for 2011-2012. Here they are closing out the 84th National FFA Convention.

    Ryan W. Best of New Mexico, Jason Troendle of Minnesota, Kenneth D. Quick Jr. of New York, Alicia Hodnik of Wisconsin, Cain Thurmond of Georgia and Seth Pratt of Idaho have been elected National FFA officers for 2011-12.
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    FFA