Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Merck’s animal health division announced that it will begin using the new name, Merck Animal Health.
  • Simplex Manufacturing Co. announced that they have acquired the granular spreader product line from Heli-Ap.
  • Trimble introduced its new high-accuracy Global Navigation Satellite System compatible correction service. The Trimble® CenterPoint™ RTX™ correction service can offer 4 centimeter (1.5 inch) repeatable accuracy and will be available initially through Trimble’s Agriculture Division.
  • Mitas held a ceremony marking the groundbreaking of construction at the former Winnebago Industries Charles City plant, which is being converted into a farm tire factory and which will begin production early next year.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Registration Open For NAFB Convention

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Registration is now open for the 2011 National Association of Farm Broadcasting convention. This will be the 67th convention and it will be held November 9-11 at the Westin Crown Center. You can register online now.

    This year’s Convention, iNSIGHT for Agriculture…Every Day, will combine networking opportunities, more professional improvement sessions, hot topics and newsmakers, and of course Trade Talk.

    Already on the docket for the NAFB/NAMA shared session on Wednesday, November 9 is Elanco President Jeff Simmons. Jeff will explore the myth that consumers don’t want modern, efficient technology used in food production—tapping into the growing wave of food insecurity threatening more than 1 billion people around the world.

    NAFB

    Get FREEDOM And Learn Truth About Ethanol

    Chuck Zimmerman

    During the 2011 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop attendees got a chance to see the new documentary from Josh & Rebecca Tickell. I first met Josh during a National Biodiesel Conference before he produced his award winning film, “Fuel.” Together with Rebecca they have now produced a film that should open a lot of people’s eyes about the myths surrounding ethanol. It is called “FREEDOM.”

    FREEDOM is a one-hour documentary that takes a hard look at America’s perilous and unsustainable addiction to foreign oil. It explores the role that Ethanol plays as a homegrown alternative that will boost the domestic economy, create jobs and reduce our need to rely on dangerous and unstable parts of the world for our fuel. Filmmakers Josh Tickell and his wife Rebecca set out on a journey to take a fresh look at Ethanol and try to separate the myth from the hyperbole.

    Following the screening which was viewed in a packed room at the FEW, I spoke with them about their latest project.

    Rebecca says the devastation in the Gulf of Mexico last year spurred them to look into more alternatives to oil. So they did some checking to find out the truths about our main alternative fuel source, ethanol, and had their eyes opened when they looked into the myths surrounding the industry and the fuel. They spoke to experts on all sides of the debate including the authors of anti-ethanol studies.

    They chose the title, “FREEDOM,” because event though we were promised by our current President in his election campaign that he would bring our troops home from the Middle East, we have actually increased the number of our soldiers there. Developing our own renewable fuel choices would give us freedom from that situation. They also point out the complete lack of a fuel choice at the pump and say that’s not freedom either.

    The couple is embarking on a 30-city FREEDOM bus tour to promote their new film and you can see the schedule and find out more about the project on their website. You can watch and purchase the film there. They are producing a 90 minute theatrical version of the film too.

    Josh/Rebecca Tickell Interview

    You may want to consider purchasing the film to show to your neighbors and friends or your favorite skeptic. How about sending a copy to your elected leaders? It’s great for generating conversation!

    2011 FEW Photo Album

    Our coverage of the 2011 Fuel Ethanol Workshop was made possible by the Renewable Fuels Association.

    Audio, Education, Ethanol

    Watermelon Pig

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Yesterday I posted grilling ideas but let’s not forget some other holiday foods. There are too many to mention. So I’ll keep it simple. How about a watermelon pig? No cooking required.

      Materials

    • 1 Round seedless watermelon
    • 1 Pipe cleaner
    • 1 Piece of pink foam craft sheet
    • 3 Buttons (one large pink and two blue or substitute blueberries)
    • Melon baller and a bowl
    • Toothpicks or straight pins
      Instructions

    • Wash the watermelon. Using the round seedless watermelon, cut a ¼ inch slice off the bottom to provide a stable base.
    • Cut the melon 2/3 from the bottom and about 4″ away from the front, then slice down to detach top. See picture below for an easy reference. Place this leftover rind piece to the side for later.
    • Use a melon baller to cut out melon pieces from the inside of the main piece and place aside in a bowl. Gently scoop out remaining watermelon bits to create a clean “bowl” for serving the watermelon balls.
    • Coil the pipe cleaner to create the tail, and cut ears from the pink foam craft sheet. You can also use a small circle of the rind for the snout, and if you prefer, top with a large pink button. Cut a small circle to mount the snout on from the leftover rind piece. Attach the tail, eyes and snout with straight pins or toothpicks.
    • To make the pig hooves, cut four square shapes from the leftover rind piece. At the bottom of each square, make a triangle cut to define the hoof. Attach the hooves with toothpicks or pins.
    • Fill the bowl with the melon balls. Try adding other fruits or berries for more color and enjoy!

    My only problem with this recipe is that by the time I’ve cut up the melon and “sampled,” there isn’t anything to make melon balls with. Kind of like when I picked strawberries or blackberries as a kid and my Mom complained that I was eating more than I picked.

    Thank you National Watermelon Promotion Board for the recipe! Follow them on Twitter.

    Ag Groups, Food

    NAFB Foundation 2011 Scholarship Winners

    Chuck Zimmerman

    The National Association of Farm Broadcasting Foundation is once again awarding scholarships and just announced their 2011 recipients. Here they are.

    Selected for the Glenn Kummerow Memorial Scholarship of $5,000 is Carah Hart of the University of Missouri-Columbia. Carah is a junior, majoring in Agricultural Journalism, and has been patiently awaiting the year when she could apply for the scholarship—as she’s dreamed for some time of becoming
    a Farm Director for a Midwest station or network.

    Columbia University Graduate Student, Nathan Vickers, is a recipient of one of two $4,000 scholarships. Nathan plans to graduate from Columbia’s Graduate School of Journalism in New York in June of 2012. He received his undergraduate degree in Communications/Journalism from Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri.

    Nathan’s family farm roots run deep in Southwest Missouri and he is excited about the prospect of applying his hard-work ethic toward his goal of becoming an ag journalist on the national stage.

    The Foundation’s second $4,000 awardee is Texas Tech Junior Lauren Bogel. Lauren, who is majoring in Agricultural Communications, grew up on her family crop farm and cattle and horse ranch in New Mexico.

    When she is home she works with the family company to manage and maintain farm equipment, and also has her own detailing business. During her time at Texas Tech, she has worked with Ramar Communications and Ag Talk 950 in Lubbock, getting experience in reporting, writing, sales, editing, scheduling and research.

    You can read more about these scholarship recipients in the NAFB Foundation newsletter (pdf).

    Education, NAFB

    4th of July Grilling

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Grilling. It’s what will be done this weekend at ZimmComm. This is a photo of a recent grilled meal of mine.

    With the 4th of July weekend upon us and I’m guessing many of you are already on vacation, it’s time to think about what you’re going to grill. If you are looking for ideas I thought I’d share some links where you can find lots of them:

    If you need some pointers on grilling then just go to the second largest search engine, YouTube, where you you’ll find great videos like this one from BBQ Pit Boys Old-Time Barbecue and Grilling Food Show. Feel free to share your grilling ideas in comments.

    Food

    GIPSA Debate on AgWired

    Cindy Zimmerman

    A story about comments Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS) made this week regarding USDA’s proposed GIPSA livestock marketing regulations has generated a flood of comments, thanks to an organized campaign by R-CALF USA.

    The Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America, better known as R-CALF, took exception to the senator’s remarks during a Senate Agriculture Committee Hearing on the State of U.S. Livestock and sent out a communique to members encouraging them to make comments on the post, calling it a “rare opportunity to defend the GIPSA rule against packer lackeys.”

    R-CALF CEO Bill Bullard says Sen. Roberts made “a personal attack against GIPSA Administrator Dudley Butler in an attempt to kill the GIPSA rule” so he returned fire with his own personal attack on the senator:

    “Senator Pat Roberts made the most dishonorable and repulsive opening statement that anyone could possibly make at a congressional hearing. Whether you support USDA’s proposed GIPSA rule or not, every American should be appalled at Senator Robert’s theatrics. He lied. He outright lied. Senator Roberts knows, and all his staff knows, that GIPSA Administrator Dudley Butler NEVER said that the proposed GIPSA rule is a lawyer’s dream.”

    There have been ethical concerns raised about Butler being in charge of livestock regulations, since he is a trial lawyer who has sued meat and poultry companies and the referenced quote is from a speech Butler made in August 2009 to the Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM), where he said “When you have a term like ‘unfair, unreasonable or undue prejudice,’ that’s a plaintiff lawyer’s dream.”

    The proposed GIPSA rule, which would have a significant impact on the marketing and production of livestock and poultry, is obviously a contentious and divisive topic for the industry but it would help if there were more constructive dialogue and less name calling.

    GIPSA, Livestock

    Iowa Corn Farmers Love IndyCar Promotion

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Iowa corn farmers who attended the Iowa Corn Indy 250 got an exciting race, a sold out crowd and a nationally televised platform to showcase the performance value of ethanol. Over 2,500 growers were expected to be in attendance. I didn’t speak to all of them but I did speak with several.

    These are the people who are investing their hard earned dollars in educational and promotional campaigns like the one with the IRL and Iowa Speedway and it’s good to know what they think. Here’s a basically random selection of quotes from some of the farmers I spoke with at the event. : Iowa Corn Farmers Speak Out

    2011 Iowa Corn Indy 250 Photo Album

    Ag Groups, Audio, Corn, Ethanol, Indy Racing

    Iowa’s Bill Northey Back From China Trip

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Iowa’s Secretary of Agriculture, Bill Northey, was one of the corn growers attending the Iowa Corn Indy 250. Here he is in the photo being interviewed by Ken Root. I took my turn with him afterward.

    Bill spent two weeks in Korea and China visiting customers of U.S. farm products. He says they discussed and argued a little bit about pork imports but they certainly will keep buying soybeans and even talked “under their breath” about buying some corn. He says “we’d still love to see more pork and beef going in to china.” On the subject of flooding there are some very devastated areas but the state still has a huge crop in the ground. When it comes to the Iowa Corn Indy 250 he can’t say enough about the exposure the industry receives from the race.

    You can listen to my interview with Bill here: Bill Northey Interview

    2011 Iowa Corn Indy 250 Photo Album

    Ag Groups, Audio, Corn, Ethanol, Indy Racing

    Zimfo Bytes

    Melissa Sandfort

      Zimfo Bytes

    • Growth of Diamond V continues with the construction of a new worldwide headquarters and expansion of its second, recently constructed, manufacturing plant.
    • Syngenta announced that it has entered into an exclusive global technology partnership with Pasteuria Bioscience Inc., to develop innovative bio-nematicide products based on the naturally occurring soil bacteria Pasteuria spp.
    • DoMor Equipment Company unveiled its new generation skid-steer line of heavy-duty, road-grading attachments that mount on a Bobcat, skid steer, newer tractors or even backhoes, and grade forward or backward thanks to a unique patent-pending 4-blade design.
    • Schuler Manufacturing, a family-owned business specializing in feed mixer wagons in Griswold, is the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation’s Renew Rural Iowa Entrepreneur of the Month award winner.
    Zimfo Bytes