Agrimarketer On Emeril’s Table

Chuck Zimmerman

This fine looking cooking crew will be featured on the Emeril’s Table, December 14th, 11a/10c, on the Hallmark Channel. Emeril is pictured with Matt Coniglio, Fastline, and family.

Matt’s brother’s wife is Executive Producer btw. Here’s what Matt says the show will be about:

We are the season finale- our episode is about a family tradition we have called the Feast of The Seven Fishes. It is an Italian tradition and Emeril cooks for us and gives us some ideas on how to improve our family event with new menu ideas.

We shot the episode in June…so it was hard to be in the Holiday spirit but having access to Chianti at 9 am in the morning can create a festive atmosphere!

I think a good chianti anytime is a good thing! Matt also says, “the theme music for the show was written by my youngest brother (not on the show w/us). So listen for the theme song at the beginning and during commercial breaks.”

Food, Media

Washed Away

Melissa Sandfort

Ever wonder what farmers do during the winter after the crops are harvested?

We’re in a part of Nebraska where fields sits on hillsides, have terraces and curves. And, we have a lot of precipitation during the year, so this means top soil has the potential to wash away and end up in the creek bed instead of staying in the field where it’s needed. To help prevent that from happening, farmers can receive additional funds through the USDA’s Conservation Stewardship Program (www.ne.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/CSP.html) to install drainage tiles in their fields.

That’s what they’ve been doing the past couple of months, among many other things. On any drive within 60 miles from home, you could see dozers and back hoes hard at work. They’re parked now because the ground has frozen and it’s turned colder, but farmers were doing their part to preserve the integrity of the land and make it as optimal as possible for next year’s crop.

I’ve always heard that farmers are the world’s best environmentalists and they are.

Until we walk again …

Uncategorized

GROWMARK Perspective on 2012 Farm Bill

Cindy Zimmerman

2012 is likely to be a very interesting year for agricultural policy as we face the writing of a new Farm Bill during a presidential election year with a huge federal deficit.

growmarkSince the GROWMARK cooperative system represents the interests of farmers on the federal level, I talked with GROWMARK government affairs director Chuck Spencer to get his perspective on what might happen in 2012 as it relates to farm policy, after the “super committee” failed to reach an agreement which would have created an new farm bill. “The super committee did find that the agriculture community stepped up to the plate and were in agreement to a $23 billion reduction over a ten year period in farm program spending,” he said. “The discussion now is ‘where do you begin?’ Do you start over? Do you begin where everybody agreed and then move forward?”

Chuck believes the groundwork has been laid and he expects the agriculture committees in Congress to use that as a framework for discussion. “It’s important to note that while the farm bill will expire in 2012, it either needs to be extended or they’ll need to come to agreement and pass a new one or the 1949 Farm Bill goes into play which is dealing with parity prices, and that would certainly be a budget buster,” Chuck noted.

Chuck also pointed out what most of us in the agriculture business already know – that of the 15 titles in the farm bill, the commodity title is what gets most of the attention, even though it only makes up 2/10ths of a percent of the federal budget. “It’s provided as a safety net, a way to manage risk,” Chuck said. “You’ll notice that 90% of the groups offering proposals to the super committee asked for a revenue-based, risk management-based safety net.”

Listen to my conversation with Chuck Spencer here: Chuck Spencer Interview

Audio, Farm Bill, GROWMARK

Farmer Christmas Present

Chuck Zimmerman

I’ll bet you can come up with lots of ideas for the perfect gift for the farmer. How about a brick? A brick to be placed on the Farmer’s Walk of Fame at the Ag Hall of Fame? Gift bricks come in two sizes.

The National Agricultural Hall of Fame serves to educate the public about the past, present, and future of farming in America. Without the dedication and hard-work of the farmer we could not eat, wear the clothes we wear, or live the quality of life we enjoy today. Through the brick program at the Ag Hall of Fame you can show your appreciation of the American Farmer and recognize a loved one at the same time! Brick Order Form (pdf)

For your gift of $125 you will receive . . .
An engraved 4×8 brick with wording of your choice (up to three lines of 13 characters or less) placed on the Farmer’s Walk of Fame at the Ag Hall of Fame permanently
A frame-suitable certificate mailed directly to you or your loved one
One-year membership to the Ag Hall of Fame so you can view your brick on display
A tax deduction on your Federal taxes (we are a 501c3) The knowledge that you are supporting the National Agricultural Hall of Fame and our ability to honor the American Farmer and help educate all who visit about the past, present, and future of farming

For your gift of $225 you will receive . . .
An engraved 8×8 brick with wording of your choice (up to six lines of 13 characters or less) placed on the Farmer’s Walk of Fame at the Ag Hall of Fame permanently
A frame-suitable certificate mailed directly to you or your loved one
One-year membership to the Ag Hall of Fame so you can view your brick on display
A tax deduction on your Federal taxes (we are a 501c3)

The knowledge that you are supporting the National Agricultural Hall of Fame and our ability to honor the American Farmer and help educate all who visit about the past, present, and future of farming Special Recognition for Farmers: Let us know if your contribution is in honor/memory of a farmer and we will be sure to place your brick in our walkway specifically designated for farmers. The Ag Hall of Fame is funded solely through private and corporate donations generated through admission, special events, and event rentals.

And don’t forget the 2012 ZimmComm Ag Events Calendar!

Ag Groups, Farming

The ZimmComm Ag Events Calendar

Cindy Zimmerman

zimmcomm calendarOne day I was thinking to myself, “I wish there was a calendar that had all the ag events for the year on it.” I had never seen such a thing, so I decided to make one.

This was not an easy task. It took me about a month to get it the way I wanted it, including photos from events throughout this past year and getting as many dates for the major ag events included. Not sure how it would actually look in person, we ordered a limited quantity to give as Christmas gifts to some of our clients.

We think they actually came out pretty sweet and now we are wondering if there is any interest among AgWired readers to get their very own copy.

You can order your calendar here: Order 2012 ZimmComm Ag Events Calendar.

The cost is $20 each plus $2 shipping/handling.

ZimmComm Announcement

PRRS Surveillance

Chuck Zimmerman

Dr. Jim Branstad, Keota Veterinary Clinic, spoke about PRRS Surveillance in area regional control projects during the Boehringer Ingelheim PRRS Seminar. He should know all about pig surveillance since as he says, “I spend about 90 percent of my time with pigs.”

The message he had included the need to talk individually with producers in the project area. That one on one approach works well since he’s only had one producer who didn’t want to cooperate in the program. So besides having full participation if possible he says the next crucial thing is testing and this is a challenge. He says they’re doing surveillance testing but not as often as “we need to, to know everything.” He also spoke about there being too much pig movement within the area project he’s been involved with. He believes this is causing a lot of the problems they’ve been having.

You can listen to my interview with Jim here: Dr. Jim Branstad Interview

2011 Boehringer Ingelheim PRRS ARC&E Seminar Photo Album

Agribusiness, Animal Health, Audio, Boehringer Ingelheim, Swine

Sled Driver Inspires Ag Aviators

Cindy Zimmerman

ZimmCast 329Last week I attended the National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA) convention in Las Vegas. It was the third time we have had the opportunity to find out more about these “unsung heroes of agriculture,” thanks to our friends with BASF.

naaaAmong the many ways BASF supports NAAA is by sponsoring the convention kick off breakfast, which always features a speaker with an aviation theme. This year, that speaker was Brian Shul, pilot and author of the coffee table book Sled Driver – Flying the World’s Fastest Jet, which is a compilation of the best photos that he took over many years flying the SR-71 Blackbird. It would make a great Christmas gift for anyone on your list who appreciates military aircraft and/or breathtaking photography! You can order yours at SledDriver.com.

I interviewed Brian at the NAAA about the plane, the book, how he got such great shots, and his continuing love of photography – listen to that conversation in this week’s ZimmCast: Pilot and Author Brian Shul

See more photos from the NAAA convention here – 2011 NAAA Convention Photo Album

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.

AgWired coverage of the 2011 NAAA Convention is sponsored by BASF
Audio, BASF, NAAA, Photography, ZimmCast

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • The U.S. Potato Board Nutrition Campaign Signature Regulations are official and ready for the industry’s use.
  • A new case study released by BiOWiSH Technologies finds BiOWiSH Manure & Odor Treatment quickly and significantly reduces ammonia levels in poultry bedding.
  • Learfield Communications, Inc. announced the closing of a strategic investment by Shamrock Capital Growth Fund III, a key component in the company’s growth plans.
  • NutWare has been nominated for Best Product of the Year by the World Ag Expo.
    Zimfo Bytes

    The Magic of BASF

    Cindy Zimmerman

    naaaThere was magic in the air at the BASF booth during the National Agricultural Aviation Association NAAA convention and trade show this past week in Las Vegas.

    Those of you who visited with BASF at the 2011 Commodity Classic may have gotten a chance to see corporate magician Jon Petz perform there. BASF liked him so much that they brought him to NAAA to entertain the aerial applicator folks. Jon, pictured here in the middle with some of the BASF crew, is a fun and really interesting guy. Not only is his magic amazing, it’s equally impressive how he works in the BASF message at the same time. Entertaining and educating!

    Watch him in action below:

    2011 NAAA Convention Photo Album

    AgWired coverage of the 2011 NAAA Convention is sponsored by BASF.
    BASF, NAAA, Video

    Irish Guild of Agricultural Journalists Commemorates 50 Years

    Chuck Zimmerman

    The Irish Guild of Agricultural Journalists has just released a 50th Anniversary document (pdf) that includes historical information and photos. Here are a couple of samples:

    In 1961 we had a visit from John Hayhurst, President of the Guild of Agricultural Journalists, London. He was editor of a weekly called The Smallholder. He was exploring Ireland’s potential for membership. He was met by Henry Kennedy, director of IAOS (now ICOS) and General John Costello, chief executive of the Irish Sugar Company.

    New scope had arisen with the imminent launch of RTE television and the growing significance of public relations for the larger agricultural bodies like the Department of Agriculture, the Irish Sugar Company and the newly formed Bord Bainne.

    and

    The Guild’s Journalism awards honour professionals who have achieved excellence in journalism and communications. The awards were initiated in 1976 in honour of the late Vincent Colgan, public relations manager with Bord Bainne (now the Irish Dairy Board).

    The Journalist of the Year was selected by nomination and ballot of Guild members and was presented with the bronze bull. There was just one annual award which was presented at the Bord Bainne sponsored function for the Guild, held on the eve of the RDS Spring Show.

    IFAJ, International, Media