The Story of the Skates

Melissa Sandfort

A few months ago, we cleaned out my parents’ house that they lived in since I was just 9 months old. Without giving away my age, let’s just say it’s been a few years. In the boxes buried in basement closets, we found all sorts of things from when my brother and I were kids: flattened basketballs, R2D2, Strawberry Shortcake, whiffle ball and bat, and these old ice skates.

In my town of 120 people, across the road from our house was a ¼ acre field. Each winter, the farmer would flood the field to make a skating rink for the kids in town…all six of us. The nice part was, mom could just yell out the front door when it was time for supper.

I didn’t master the ice skates like I did the roller skates though I used to lay awake at night and dream of doing a triple lutz. That was also back in the day when a few hours in the cold didn’t phase me and now if I’m out for more than 10 minutes I’m claiming frostbite so I can head back to the house.

These skates put a few laps on around the old rink, but you had to watch out for corn stalks sticking up through the ice. I was always glad when he rotated to soybeans – it made for a cleaner ice skating surface!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Until we walk again …

Uncategorized

Thanksgiving Dinner Still a Bargain

Cindy Zimmerman

Thanksgiving dinner this year will cost more, but it’s still a bargain no matter how you slice it.

According to the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), the retail cost of menu items for a classic Thanksgiving dinner including turkey, stuffing, cranberries, pumpkin pie and all the basic trimmings increased about 13 percent this year. That may seem like a lot, but it still means that the average cost to feed a hungry table of ten is less than $50 – not even five bucks a plate. Try to get that in any other country for the same price!

fb thanksgiving“The quality and variety of food produced for our dinner tables on America’s diverse farms and ranches sets us apart from our contemporaries around the world,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman. “It is an honor for our farm and ranch families to produce the food from our nation’s land for family Thanksgiving celebrations.”

The turkey itself is what gobbled up most of the price increase this year. According to AFBF, a 16-pound turkey will cost about $21.57 this year at $1.35 per pound, an increase of about 25 cents per pound over last year. “Turkey prices are higher this year primarily due to strong consumer demand both here in the U.S. and globally,” said AFBF economist John Anderson.

Those into the organic scene can expect to pay double the amount for the average Thanksgiving meal this year, according to the Arizona Farm Bureau. The Organic Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings will cost $106.39, with a 16-pound organic turkey at $63.84 or $3.99 per pound. But really, even that is a bargain at just over $10 per person.

So, gobble up and give thanks this week for the most abundant and affordable food supply in the world.

AFBF, Food

New Research On Benefits Of Atrazine

Chuck Zimmerman

During the recent NAFB convention, AgriTalk recorded a panel discussion about new research on Atrazine. This herbicide, which has been on the market for more than 50 years is very beneficial from an economic and environmental standpoint in the production of corn, sorghum and sugar cane according to this new research.

I interviewed one of those researchers, Dr. Mike Owen, during the NAFB Trade Talk in the Syngenta booth. He says his role was to investigate the issue of herbicide resistance. He says the information basically reinforces what most people already knew about the impact of using glyphosate resistant crops with glyphosate to the exclusion of a lot of the other tools in the agricultural toolbox. He says farmers are still in denial about this issue. They need to diversity in weed management! You can find a number of links on this subject posted by Dr. Owen here.

Listen to my interview with Dr. Owen here: Interview with Dr. Mike Owen

According to a release from Syngenta (pdf) on this subject:

U.S. consumers and society benefit from atrazine and other triazine herbicides by up to $4.8 billion per year, due to increased yield as well as decreased producer costs and reduced soil erosion, according to new studies released today in Kansas City.

In addition, the U.S. economy benefits from atrazine and other triazine herbicides by as much as $22 billion over a five-year period. Benefits to farmers and consumers from the triazine herbicides include increased corn, sorghum and sugar cane crop yields, lower weed-control costs, significantly reduced soil erosion and less carbon released into the atmosphere. Atrazine and the triazine herbicides account for as many as 48,000 American jobs in corn production alone.

You can watch the AgriTalk program with all the researchers, as they share highlights of the new data, documenting atrazine’s impact on weed management, crop yields and jobs.

2011 NAFB Convention Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Environment, Farming, NAFB, Syngenta, Video

Cattlemen’s Beef Board Update

Chuck Zimmerman

The Cattlemen’s Beef Board is enjoying the best relationships with its contractors in years according to new CEO Polly Ruhland. I spoke with Polly, pictured on the right, at the NAFB Trade Talk session to find out how things are going after some of the recent changes.

Polly says that the Beef Board is taking a look at the structure of its joint committees to see if they can be better or re-structured. She says they’re also looking at their by-laws and some of the antiquated language that’s now twenty five years old. The Beef Checkoff is celebrating its silver anniversary. Polly also mentions that they’re starting a big life cycle analysis project that “allows us to put metrics on how we’re doing as far as sustainability goes and to communicate those to consumers.”

Listen to my interview with Polly here: Interview with Polly Ruhland

2011 NAFB Convention Photo Album

Coverage of the NAMA Trends in Agriculture & NAFB Convention is sponsored by BASF
Ag Groups, Audio, Beef, NAFB

Government Role In Ethanol Future

Chuck Zimmerman

At the recent NAMA Trends in Agriculture conference one of our panel discussions focused on “Trends In Energy/Alternative Fuels.” On the panel were Nathan Schock, POET & Matt Roberts, PhD.

What are the main influences escalating the demand for ethanol and other plant-based energy? This session examines the trends in the alternative fuel market and the initiatives needed to drive the production to meet the demand. You’ll also discover the messages and opportunities on which ag communicators and marketers need to focus.

Thanks to Paulsen Marketing for supplying this video clip with Nathan who talks about government’s role in ethanol’s future.

Agencies, Ethanol, NAMA, Video

Learfield Studio D Named Derry Brownfield Studio

Chuck Zimmerman

I admit it. I got a lump in my throat when I read this release from Learfield Communications about naming Studio D, the Derry Brownfield Studio. The first image that came to my mind was seeing Derry in his chair getting ready for his talk show. He would start snapping his fingers and bounce around in his chair saying, “Let’s get whomped up!” Yeah man. He used to whomp up a lot of people! Thank you Clyde Lear and company for doing this. Here’s Clyde pictured with Derry’s wife Verni at the naming ceremony. Thanks to Tom Steever for the photo. Sure wish I could have been there.

When Derry Brownfield and Clyde Lear teamed up to start a farm radio network nearly forty years ago, neither of them could have dreamed their brand new company would become what it is today: America’s largest agricultural radio network service and one of the country’s leading sports marketing firms. Brownfield died on March 12, 2011 and his contribution as a company founder is being commemorated by the naming of the Derry Brownfield Studio at Learfield Communications.

The company Lear and Brownfield started was called Missouri Network, Inc., which changed its name to Learfield Communications, Inc. in 1982. “Learfield” was a combination of the names of the two founders. Today, the Brownfield Ag News radio network is heard throughout the heartland on more than 320 radio stations and Learfield Sports owns the collegiate multi-media rights to over 50 major universities, including the University of Missouri.

The studio, where for years Brownfield hosted his daily talk show, is situated next to the newsrooms for Brownfield Ag News and the Missourinet, another Learfield-owned service. “Derry Brownfield was not only my business partner, but also my friend. It’s wonderful to be able to honor him and recognize not only his contribution to the formation of this company, but also his stature in the agriculture community as one of the country’s most-listened to farm broadcasters,” said Lear, Learfield Communications’ chairman.

The commemoration ceremony at the Learfield building was attended by members of the Brownfield family and employees of Learfield.

Here’s a video clip from the ceremony:

Media

Most Planning Same Size Thanksgiving Meal

Chuck Zimmerman

The ZimmPoll is one year old! And you can re-visit all of them since they are all archived right here on AgWired. Thank you Rhea + Kaiser for your sponsorship and support.

In our latest ZimmPoll we asked the question, “Will higher cost (13%) of Thanksgiving dinner affect your meal?” Apparently it won’t for most of our respondents. 64% said, No, same as usual; 22% said Yes, Fewer items on table; 9% said Yes, Planning smaller portions and 5% said No, Bigger dinner this year. A story in yesterday’s USA Today seems to reflect this response. It says that some will be cutting back.

Some are holding potluck dinners instead of springing for the entire feast. Others are staying home rather than flying. And a few are skipping the turkey altogether.

Our new ZimmPoll is now live. We’re asking the question, “Do you use Facebook or Google+?” Google+ now allows company pages but so far they don’t seem to have attracted the kind of audience found by companies using Facebook. Which “house” do you live in? Feel free to chime in. We appreciate it.

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

ZimmPoll

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has appointed three new members to serve on the Mushroom Council: Pat Jurgensmeyer, Miami, Okla.; David Carroll, Reading, Pa.; and, Elizabeth O’Neil, Ontario, Canada.
  • Cargill has completed the acquisition of Provimi, a global animal nutrition company, for $2.1 billion.
  • Under an agreement, Pioneer Hi-Bred and Evogene will collaborate to develop soybean varieties displaying in-plant resistance to rust.
  • Dow AgroSciences LLC, announced that it has received the first country registration for the sulfoxaflor molecule.
    Zimfo Bytes

    New Farm Podcaster Tool

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Here’s another potential tool for the farm podcaster. They just keep coming and notice how many are geared to the iPhone? Just saying.

    TASCAM’s iM2 turns the iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch into a high-quality stereo recorder. A pair of condenser microphones – the same high quality as TASCAM’s best-selling DR-series recorders – plugs into the dock connector of your Apple device.

    The microphones are adjustable over 180 degrees for the best sound placement. The uni-directional elements are arranged in an AB pattern for detailed stereo imaging while capturing the ambience of your room.

    The iM2 contains its own microphone preamp and analog-to-digital converter for low noise and great audio quality. Unlike mics that use the built-in iPhone preamp, the iM2 can handle up to 125dB sound levels to capture the loudest concerts and instruments without distortion.

    Looks like the item is available for pre-order only right now. I think I’ll check this one out when it becomes available.

    Equipment, Podcasts

    Summary From World Agriculture Investment Conference

    Chuck Zimmerman

    If you’d like to learn more about investing in agriculture and didn’t get to attend the October World Agriculture Investing Conference then check out the summary paper (pdf) just published by FC Business Intelligence.

    Extreme drought and unprecedented heat in the US farm belt, the eurozone debt crisis and political unrest throughout the Middle East – the threats to and concerns over world food supplies are everpresent. Political and natural disasters have driven agricultural commodity prices to record highs. But many experts predict longer-term rises as food production will need to increase by 70% in order to feed the world’s population of 9 billion people by 2050.

    Under the threatening cloud of global warming and changing weather patterns, among other challenges, the potential risks of agricultural endeavors have perhaps never been higher, but experts say the only thing greater than the risks are potential returns for investors. Some have gone so far as to call agriculture “the best place to make money in the coming decade.” The trick is how and where to invest to reap the reward.

    Agribusiness