Cattle Producer Bob McCan Optimistic About Future

Joanna Schroeder

Bob McCan, a cattle producer from Victoria, Texas is optimistic about the future, despite the legislative challenges before the industry. He shared his views with me on the industry during the Cattle Industry Summer Conference.

There are many issues affecting the industry right now including proposed GIPSA rules, which he views as a major issue right now. He said the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA) government affairs team has spent an inordinate amount of time working on this issue and he is confident that it can be resolved in a way that favors cattle producers.

When asked him what issue he thought was most affecting his business, McCan said, “I can probably encapsulate most of the issues to over regulation in one word. And that’s basically from all the regulatory authorities. This administration has been particularly restrictive and more or less abusive of the authority they have within the regulatory agencies. That has been a full-time job for our staff in Washington.”

Despite the challenges, McCan said he is confident that the industry is going to be able to work through these issues. However, he did point out the need to elect more agriculture friendly legislators in the next cycle and this goal is being addressed through the PAC.

Listen to my interview with Bob McCan here:Cattle Producer Bob McCan Optimistic About Industry Future

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

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

Record Setting Conservation in Action Tour

Cindy Zimmerman

The 2011 CTIC Conservation In Action Tour on August 9 in northwest Ohio was one for the record books.

“We’re thrilled that we had to add an extra bus,” said one of the organizers of this year’s event, Steve Davis with the Ohio USDA NRCS. “We wanted to show people the agriculture in northwest Ohio, the good work that many Ohio farmers are doing, and also talk about the challenges that still lie ahead for us.”

Listen to my interview with Steve here: Steve Davis on CTIC Tour

“This is by far our largest tour ever,” said tour chairman Larry Clemens of The Nature Conservancy. “I think that as CTIC we’re learning that our tours are enjoyable for people, they’re gaining in reputation, and we’re going to have to make some adjustments on how to handle over 200 people in the future.” Despite the very large group, the tour went smoothly, on time and without a hitch. Next year’s tour is slated to be in the Mississippi Delta region.

Listen to my interview with Larry here: Larry Clemens 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, Conservation, CTIC, Environment

Seven Wonders of Corn Yield World

Cindy Zimmerman

Seven has always been considered to be the perfect number, so it’s no surprise that there are seven factors that make up the combination for consistent high yielding corn crops.

7 wonders corn worldA new website looks at “The Seven Wonders of the Corn Yield World,” based on the research of University of Illinois plant physiologist Dr. Fred Below.

Dr. Below has been on a quest to help all farmers achieve the Holy Grail of corn – consistent 300 bushel per acre yields – ever since he saw it happen more than 25 years ago. He has categorized the results of his research into seven management practices or “wonders” that can result in high yielding corn. His study helps growers answer the question of what the latest products and practices contribute to yield.

“Roughly speaking, the higher up on the Wonder list the more control that factor exerts over the Wonders that follow,” Below explains. “When combined, all of these factors contribute to big-yield gains.” In order of importance, they are:

1. Weather
2. Nitrogen/fertility
3. Hybrid selection
4. Previous crop
5. Plant population
6. Tillage
7. Growth regulators

Below will present his plots and detail the 7 Wonders of the Corn Yield World in person at the annual Farm Progress Show at the AGROTAIN exhibit (lot 1164 on Eleventh Street) Aug. 30 – Sept. 1 in Decatur, Ill. Below’s plots at the show were sponsored by AGROTAIN International, BASF, DEKALB and Mosaic.

I interviewed Fred about the 7 wonders earlier this year at the GROWMARK FS Green Plan Solutions “In Pursuit of Maximum Yields” conference. Listen to that interview here: Fred Below Interview

Audio, BASF, Corn, Farm Progress Show, GROWMARK

Boehringer Ingelheim Treats Clients Like Family

Cindy Zimmerman

It is always a pleasure to cover the Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica (BIVI) Swine Health Seminar in North Carolina and see so many young swine producers with their families. Makes me optimistic about the future of agriculture.

The big barefoot kid in this photo surrounded by smaller kids is BIVI’s Dan “The Man” Johnson, who is organizer of this great annual event on the beach in North Carolina that combines just the right amount of work and play. The producers spend a day getting swine health and industry updates on Friday and then get family activity time on Saturday. “We want to be more than a vendor to our customers,” Dan says. “We know that their families are important to our producers, so they are important to us as well.”

This year’s meeting had a pirate theme and concluded with a really fun and funny pirate magic show put on by No Sleeves Magic. It was great fun and the photos are proof!

BIVI Swine Health Seminar Photo Album

Boehringer Ingelheim, Swine

Farmers Educate NAMA Boot Camp

Chuck Zimmerman

National Agri-Marketing Association Boot Camp attendees heard directly from the farmer this morning. The first item on the agenda was a producer panel moderated by Tom Hudson, Successful Farming.

Tom says it was very interesting to hear what types of media influenced these farmers. One thing that came through loud and clear was how important local information is. They want to know how information or news relates to them. He says that one of the farmers on the panel still has dial-up internet access but the others had good service and rely heavily on their smartphones for information. When it comes to that old fashioned media he says that print was a very important to them and radio too. Basically, what he heard backed up research that has been done.

You can listen to my interview with Tom here: Tom Hudson Interview

I also spoke with one of the farmers on the panel, Jimmie Long, Cole Camp, MO. Jimmie is a cattle buyer and has a cow-calf operation. Jimmie explained to the group that radio ads that are “catchy” get his attention as well as nice colorful mailers and print ads. I think the takeaway is that good creative works! He says they will often see an item they want to purchase but then they’ll get home and research it on the internet. When it comes to his smartphone, he uses it a lot and checking weather is at the top of the list. He would like to get a tablet btw.

He was surprised at how many people in the audience did not have an ag background. He was shocked that no one asked him about DTN and it never came up in the discussion since it is still so important as a source for real time markets.

You can listen to my interview with Jimmie here: Jimmie Long Interview

2011 NAMA Boot Camp Photo Album

Audio, Farming, NAMA

Update on BIVI 3FLEX

Cindy Zimmerman

It has been on the market for less than a year, but Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica’s 3FLEX™ swine vaccine is already gained wide acceptance among producers.

At the BIVI Swine Health Seminar in North Carolina last week, Dr. Greg Cline gave an update on the acceptance of the 3-way vaccine to combat Porcine Circovirus, Mycoplasma Hyopneumoniae AND PRRS. “The acceptance and reaction has been phenomenal,” Greg says. “It delivers in a lot of areas and we look for the acceptance to continue to accelerate as time goes by.”

The 3FLEX product is the first 3-way combination approved by the USDA to be mixed and administered as a single shot for pigs three weeks of age or older, combining BIVI’s Ingelvac CircoFLEX® 1, Ingelvac MycoFLEX® 2 and Ingelvac® PRRS MLV 3 in one 2 mL shot. “it was a vision by Boehringer-Ingelheim’s a very convenient vaccine in a one-dose, small dose delivery and have it still be convenient, safe and effective,” Greg said, calling it a winning team for hog producers. Chuck interviewed Greg last September when 3FLEX was first introduced.

Listen to my interview with Greg here: Dr. Greg Cline at BIVI Swine Health Seminar

BIVI Swine Health Seminar Photo Album

Animal Health, Audio, Boehringer Ingelheim, Swine

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