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

AgWeb Launches Mobile App

Chuck Zimmerman

Now there’s an app for AgWeb. Farm Journal Media just announced the launch of their mobile app.

“Our online user base—the largest web audience in agriculture—repeatedly turns to AgWeb for current market information, agriculture news and online tools and databases. The new mobile app will help keep growers connected to AgWeb from their mobile phones or tablets, even when they are in the field or on the road,” said Greg Vincent, AgWeb Editor.

Vincent anticipates that two of the most popular features of the new app will be its weather and markets sections. Users can get current local weather conditions, 12-hour weather history and forecasts, precipitation, wind forecasts and a seven-day forecast. The weather radar can also be expanded to show weather activity down to the road level, allowing farmers to see if they are getting rain on a particular field.

The new app is free to download, and available through iTunes and Android app stores for use on iPhones and Android mobile devices.

Don’t forget to include the AgWired app on your smartphone too. 🙂

Apps, Media

Farmers Want To Share CommonGround About Food

Chuck Zimmerman

With all the World Food Day and Food Day talk does it seem like the farmer kind of gets left out of the conversation? CommonGround thinks so. By the way, what’s with having multiple food day deals held very close together? I’m sure it makes sense to someone. As far as I’m concerned, every day is a food day. I’m sure the hungry people in the world without enough to eat think so too.

In the past, if someone wanted to talk about how our food is grown and raised, they would talk to a farmer. Today, the way we receive information about food seems to have changed. Conversations about food flow through many channels, and often the farmers who produce most food are not involved. Food Day is an example of a public conversation that could be enhanced by including the voice of the farmer.

Fourteen states now participate in the CommonGround movement, which continues to gain momentum across the nation. Farmers behind the program want to reach consumers in urban areas to dispel misconceptions and share facts about farming and food.

Ways to join in with CommonGround:

Website: www.FindOurCommonGround.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com/findourcommonground
Twitter: @CommonGroundNow
Twitter Hashtag: #CGConvo
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CommonGroundNow

Ag Groups, Food

FFA Becomes Farm American Communications Partner

Chuck Zimmerman

I Believe the National FFA Convention is in full swing. Watch it live via the Alltech Ag Network.

Yesterday Farm American and Furniture Row Racing made a big announcement about a new relationship with FFA. Pictured are Farm American’s Pat Driscoll (left) and National FFA Organization COO Bill Fleet (right) along with FFA members. (Photo by DeLoss Jahnke/National FFA Organization).

Together, FFA and Farm American announced today that the National FFA Organization will become a communications partner with Farm American for the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Season. FFA and Farm American will work hand in hand in furthering American agriculture by telling the story of agriculture’s important role both today and tomorrow.

The National FFA Organization, on the heels of announcing major increases in nationwide membership in the past year, will support Farm American’s effort to grow the role the of American agriculture because of the basic connection it has with the goals of FFA and agriculture education.

“FFA is all about making a positive difference in the lives of our members by expanding their leadership and career horizons,” said National FFA Organization COO Bill Fleet. “By working with Farm American to increase the stature of American agriculture, we’re hoping to increase their future career possibilities while also assisting American agriculture as a whole.”

The Farm American program promotes the importance of U.S. agriculture, which employs directly and indirectly more than 22 million people in the American workforce. The details and schedule of the 2012 Farm-American program are still being worked out and will be announced at a later date.

So what’s your take on a member organization becoming a “communications” partner. The media world is very different than it used to be!

Ag Groups, FFA

Farming First For A Sustainable World

Chuck Zimmerman

Putting Farming First is the theme of a “coalition of organisations that articulates, endorses and promotes practical and actionable programmes and activities to further sustainable agricultural development worldwide.” This effort has produced a video to promote this concept called ‘The Story of Agriculture and the Green Economy.” It “highlights the importance of sustainable agriculture in creating sustainable livelihoods, feeding a growing population and safeguarding the environment. It illustrates the many links between agriculture and the green economy, including increased food production, more efficient water use, further access to women farmers and improved livelihoods.”

You can learn more about Farming First on their website. What do you think about efforts like this?

Farming First is a coalition of multi-stakeholder organisations, not an organisation. The coalition exists to articulate, endorse and promote practical, actionable programmes and activities to further sustainable agricultural development worldwide. There is no secretariat and it is not intended that one will be created.

Ag Groups, International, Video