What You Like About Farm Radio

Chuck Zimmerman

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What do you like best about farm radio?” This question generated the least results by far of any we’ve done to date. I kind of thought it would have generated more response. So here’s what the results are in order of most responses. 39% said All of the Above, 18% said Markets, 16% said None of the Above, 11% said Policy News, 7% said Crop News and same for Interviews and only 2% said Weather. We also had a comment posted on AgWired that said, “The localization and attachment to the farm broadcaster who is most familiar with the area ag news beat.” So what do you think about these results?

Our new ZimmPoll is now live. We’re asking the question, “Which of these Fall Farm Shows Will You Attend?” Your input and thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

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

ZimmPoll

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • BRANDT Consolidated, Inc. has named Karl Barnhart to its senior management team as Chief Marketing Officer.
  • World Ag Expo is searching for the newest and most innovative products for World Ag Expo 2012.
  • Kinze Manufacturing, Inc. gave the agriculture industry a glimpse into the future with the unveiling of its precision planting technology – an autonomous planter that operates without an operator in the tractor cab.
  • Challenger is pleased to introduce the all-new MT500D Series High Horsepower wheeled row crop tractors to North American professional producers.
    Zimfo Bytes

    NAMA Boot Camp Networking

    Chuck Zimmerman

    The kickoff event on the NAMA Boot Camp program was a dinner and program on networking. Our presenter was Becky Johnson, Fleishman-Hillard.

    Becky made us get to know each other at our tables. She said that networking can be likened to the idea of six degrees of separation since we all probably have something in common. We also did some “dating.” I was a little worried about that since I was sitting in between Jeff Jackson and Matt Coniglio. But we made it to our third date. ‘Nuff said about that. We also talked about quality vs. quantity.

    You can listen to my interview with Becky here: Becky Johnson Interview

    2011 NAMA Boot Camp Photo Album

    Audio, NAMA

    NAMA Boot Camp Preview

    Chuck Zimmerman

    The 2011 NAMA Boot Camp is underway. To get a preview of the program I spoke with Erin Nash, Osborn & Barr, Vice Chairman for the conference.

    Erin says we’ve got a lot packed into the program which includes hearing from farmers themselves. She says “We design Boot Camp to offer not only an introduction but introductory information to the junior staffer or someone who is new to the ag industry where we want to show them the producer side of things.” She wants to remind people that when you register for Boot Camp you get a one year membership in NAMA.

    In the photo our group attended a dinner this evening where we learned some networking skills. I’ll more on that tomorrow morning.

    You can listen to my interview with Erin here: Erin Nash Interview

    You can find photos from this year’s Boot Camp in my 2011 NAMA Boot Camp Photo Album.

    Agencies, Audio, NAMA

    International Joint Commission Chair Attends CTIC Tour

    Cindy Zimmerman

    One of the participants on the 2011 CTIC Conservation In Action Tour in northwest Ohio last week was the chairman of the International Joint Commission (IJC), Lana Pollack.

    The IJC was established by the 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty to monitor the rivers and lakes along the border of Canada and the United States and aid the governments of the two countries in finding solutions to problems in these waters. “The commission was established to avoid and resolve disputes with water,” Lana told me. “Everywhere we share waters with Canada is an area that we the commission are interested in helping to protect – for agriculture, hydropower, navigation, and environmental purposes.” The six member commission has three members from each country, appointed by the highest level of government.

    Lana’s interest in attending the CTIC tour was seeing what is being done to deal with environmental issues on Lake Erie. “The issue before us is one of water quality and why is Lake Erie so stressed again that we’re seeing algal blooms that are impacting recreation and probably health as well,” she said. Lana was pleased to see the tour included agricultural producers who are implementing best practices to protect water quality.

    Listen to my interview with Lana here: IJC Chairman Lana Pollack on CTIC Tour

    CTIC 2011 Conservation in Action Tour Photos

    AgWired coverage of the CTIC Indian Creek Watershed Field Tour is sponsored by AGROTAIN
    Audio, CTIC, Environment

    PRRS Vaccine Reduces Viral Shedding

    Cindy Zimmerman

    New results from a trial done in Minnesota show that the PRRS modified live virus vaccine appears to reduce viral shedding.

    The trial results were presented at last week’s Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Swine Health Seminar in North Carolina by Dr. Joel Nerem of Pipestone Vet Clinic. “What we found was that vaccinated pigs shed virus for fewer days and for a shorter duration of time than the vaccinated control pigs,” he said.

    Why is that important in the fight against Porcine Reproductive & Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS)? “It is important when we are working on maintaining a high health status for a particular region,” Joel explained. “One of the things our group is looking at, is in the control of PRRS, can we establish regions that are free of the virus and what technologies can we utilize to maintain those PRRS-free regions?”

    Listen to my interview with Joel here: Dr. Joel Nerem at BIVI Swine Health Seminar

    BIVI Swine Health Seminar Photo Album

    Animal Health, Audio, Boehringer Ingelheim, Swine

    NAMA Boot Camp Starts

    Chuck Zimmerman

    We’ve got a gorgeous afternoon for National Agri-Marketing Boot Camp. There’s a MoKan Chapter Tour going on right now and I’ll be joining the group for a reception and dinner tonight. You can find our program here.

    I’ll be here through tomorrow’s program and I’ll bet I can find some good interviews. If you’re tweeting here or would like to put tweets in the stream or just follow along, please use #NAMABootCamp.

    NAMA

    Bringing Young People Back to the Ranch

    Joanna Schroeder

    Robbie Baird LeValley is a fourth generation Colorado rancher whose ranch has been in the family for a long-time. She hopes it will continue to be in the family for many years to come and operates her business with this goal in mind. I had the chance to speak with her for a bit during the last day of the Cattle Industry Summer Conference and I asked her of all the things she had been following, what was most top of mind as it relates to her business.

    “When we look at all the regulations that have been discussed this week, it’s the cumulative effect. Not only is it the dust and the water regulation from the EPA, it’s over-regulation,” said LeValley. “So we just ever need to be diligent at all levels and that’s why it takes good folks at the local, state and national level to make sure we’re all aware and make our voices heard.”

    LeValley is making her voice heard at all levels and that’s why she is actively involved in the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

    I asked her what she was most concerned about short-term and she said she is worried about the over reach of the GIPSA regulations. Mid-term she believes the industry needs to keep their eye on the EPA and their work on water quality.

    In terms of future challenges, LeValley said they have to continue to show consumers that they produce a safe, wholesome product. And in terms of opportunities, she is most excited about young people coming back to the ranches.

    Listen to my interview with Robbie Baird LeValley here:Bringing Young People Back to the Ranch

    Photos from the conference are posted to this photo album: 2011 Cattle Industry Summer Conference Photo Album.

    Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA

    See the Difference Between Tilled and No-Till Soil

    Cindy Zimmerman

    One of the stops on the 2011 CTIC Conservation In Action Tour in Ohio last week was the farm of Todd Hesterman in Napoleon, Ohio. Todd has employed continuous no-till on his 450 acre corn, soybean and wheat operation for 22 years and used yield mapping for more than 14 years and is a strong advocate for doing what he can to help water quality and “still stay in business.”

    “Our water infiltration rates for heavy rains, we can definitely see an improvement in the quantity of rain water we can accept and not have standing water or running water off the service,” he said. “That’s the biggest improvement we see is soil health and soil quality.”

    Listen to my interview with Todd here: Ohio No Till Farmer Todd Hesterman

    To show the clear difference between tilled and no-till soil, USDA-NRCS Ohio state agronomist Mark Scarpitti did a little demonstration on Todd’s farm by dropping a chunk of soil that had been in no-till for several decades, compared to a similar chunk of tilled soil. You can see what happens in the video below.

    CTIC 2011 Conservation in Action Tour Photos

    AgWired coverage of the CTIC Indian Creek Watershed Field Tour is sponsored by AGROTAIN
    Audio, CTIC, Environment, Farming, Video

    Weatherbill Supplementing Federal Crop Insurance

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Jeff Hamlin is the Director of Agronomic Research for Weatherbill. At the Ag Media Summit I met Jeff and learned “what is Weatherbill?”

    Jeff says “We provide weather insurance that pays farmers for the types of bad weather events that cost them yield.” He says their product is designed to work along with the federal crop insurance as a supplement to “cover the top end bushels that the federal crop insurance program can’t cover.” Weatherbill is currently available for a variety of crops. Jeff says one thing growers like is how simple the product works. You can fill out a form on their website to find an agent near you.

    You can listen to my conversation with Jeff here: Jeff Hamlin Interview

    2011 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

    AgWired coverage of the Ag Media Summit is sponsored by BASF and AgHaven
    Ag Media Summit, Agribusiness, Audio, Insurance