Novus Donates Award to Global 4H Project

Cindy Zimmerman

Novus International has won a national award for information technology and donated the prize money to the Global 4-H Knowledge Center.

novusNovus received $1000 for the first ever Information Technology Innovation Award from the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) for a customer inventory management system integrating satellite communications and remote monitoring technology.

The Global 4-H Knowledge Platform is a program of the National 4-H Council designed to enhance sustainable food security in Africa. The Global 4-H Knowledge Platform links 4-H programs in the United States with others around the world to develop a global network that employs the 4-H model to create sustainable livelihoods and improve economic security for young people. Earlier this year, Novus partnered in the launch of this program.

Novus International

Introducing…Royal Star Papaya

Melissa Sandfort

Tex Starr Distributing LLC, a newly formed company in South Texas announces the unveiling of the company’s new sweet papaya variety called Royal Star Papaya. The proprietary seed variety is a natural hybrid that is sweet, firm, and brightly colored inside and out.

To reach the consumer, Tex Starr Distributing LLC plans to launch a consumer marketing push this summer to align with the product’s availability.

David Peterson, grower and proprietor of Tex Starr Distributing LLC., says, “Foodies, chefs, health and adventure eaters alike are searching for the next big culinary ingredient and we intend to give them Royal Star. It smells and looks enticing, tastes amazing, is great for your body and has a longer shelf life than other papaya varieties available on the market.”

While most Maradol papayas have a shelf life of 3 days once it has been cut, Royal Star Papaya has a shelf life of up to 5 days, even after it is cut. Uncut the fruit can last for up to 14 days.

Contact information for Tex Starr Distributing LLC, the only distributor of Royal Star Papaya, is available at www.royalstarpapaya.com.

Food

Alaska’s Summer Salmon Season Kicks Off Today

Melissa Sandfort

Alaska’s summer salmon season kicks off today. This year’s projected harvest of 203 million fish would mark the fifth largest salmon season for the state.

For the first time recent USDA 2010 Dietary Guidelines are advising Americans to eat eight ounces of seafood rich in omega-3s per week for brain and heart health. The average American currently eats about 3.5 ounces of seafood per week. Wild Alaska salmon is a high quality protein and a premier source of long-chain omega-3s containing generous amounts of vitamin D, vitamins B6, B12, and selenium.

Alaska is home to over 90% of the wild salmon in North America, and five different species.

Visit www.wildalaskaflavor.com for dozens of healthy Alaska salmon recipes including: Grilled Alaska Salmon with Avocado and Papaya Spinach Salad or Spicy Alaska Salmon Wraps.

Uncategorized

Skim or Whole?

Melissa Sandfort

You can learn a lot about someone from their garden. For instance, do they use Clorox or Downy; do they drink more skim milk or more whole milk? And because of the popularity of home gardening these days, our back yards have taken on quite a different look than in years past.

I posted a while back about putting down roots, and included a picture of my seeds that had sprouted. Last week, I had the crazy idea of putting the cups outside (they were now 4 inches tall and getting spindly) to get them adjusted to the weather since it had been cold. The day I decided to put them out, the wind blew like we lived in western Kansas and some of the leaves wilted before I could get them in the ground.

Some of them were too far gone, and others, I’m trying to save. See, that’s the thing about a garden – it’s so fulfilling, knowing that you’re actually GROWING something. It makes me feel successful. It’s the little accomplishments in life.

So, for the tomato and pepper plants I transplanted, I’ve used one of the tricks from Grandma’s “I learned it from my mother” book of knowledge and put milk jugs over them. This creates a sort of greenhouse effect and I must say, out of the 27 plants that made their beginning in red Solo cups, I’ve managed to save 15 of them. The wind took out about 9, so I’d say that’s a pretty good save-rate.

Some things about modern gardening haven’t changed. Including knowing what your neighbors are drinking and washing their clothes in.

Until we walk again …

Uncategorized

Iowa Corn Growers Join The Team

Chuck Zimmerman

Here’s the whole group of participants at the Iowa Speedway last week doing the Iowa Corn Growers Join The Team promotion. You’ve got Iowa State, Indy Car, University of Iowa and Iowa Corn Growers gathered together. The emcees for the program and games that were played included Craig Floss, CEO, Iowa Corn Growers and Bruce Gaarder, former farm broadcaster and one of the announcers at Iowa Speedway. I visited with Craig after the games had ended.

Craig says the main purpose of the event was to promote the Join The Team program. This consist of two main sporting events, the Iowa Corn Indy 250 race and the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series, the two biggest in the state. He says Join The Team is a great metaphor for what they’re all about. He wants Iowa corn growers to be a part of the team that’s not just Iowa Corn but corn growers nationally.

You can listen to my interview with Craig here: Craig Floss Interview

Iowa Corn “Join The Team” Indy 250 Promotion Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Corn, Ethanol, Indy Racing

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Hoosier Ag Today has launched a web services division to better serve its sponsors and radio stations.
  • Broadhead has added six new team members who will help strengthen the agency’s ability to meet the needs of its growing client base and evolving business challenges.
  • DRAKE & COMPANY announced that it has recently been awarded reaccreditation by AMC Institute.
  • A “Corn Replanting Decision Tool” has been released as part of the FAST series of Microsoft Excel spreadsheets.
Zimfo Bytes

Importance of Panama Canal Highlighted

Meghan Grebner

With soybean  exports doubling over the last ten years and the continued demand for US soy, the question arises can we handle it?  Now, we know we can physically make that happen.  We plant, grow and harvest more efficiently and effectively than any other country in the world, the concern arises if our ports and infrastructure will last the next ten years.

Early last week, the Soy Transportation Coalition and the Panama Canal Authority signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a promise to continue to develop global commerce.  Also involved in Monday’s MOU signing was the American Soybean Association and the United Soybean Board.  The objectives of the agreement are to undertake joint marketing efforts, data exchange to forecast future trade flows and market trends, and the sharing of information related to modernization and improvement projects.

With the Panama Canal increasing in size to be able to accommodate “Suezmax” ships – it could be a great thing for American Agriculture, especially since 60% of our exports currently travel through the Panama Canal.  Except our infrastructure is failing and the Department of Commerce thinks existing ports will be incapable of handling the shipments within the next decade.

I sat down with immediate past Chairman of the United Soybean Board and a farmer from Griggsville, Ill. and he detailed Monday’s announcement. Bradshaw Talks Panama

ASA, Soybean, USB

Iowa State Coach Ready To Wrestle Corn Growers

Chuck Zimmerman

He’s not a sideline kind of guy. At least I don’t think so. He’s Iowa State Wrestling Head Coach Kevin Jackson. He also was not selected to compete in the Iowa Corn Growers Join The Team competition at Iowa Speedway last week.

He says he’s disappointed and was “overlooked” since he’s the best athlete on the staff. He says he could have done it all better than the ones selected. But he says it’s all in fun. He still thought it was a special day to be at the event that brought together two universities, Indy Car and Iowa corn growers. You can listen to my interview with Coach Jackson here: Coach Kevin Jackson Interview

I thought you might enjoy that. Hope he doesn’t ever want to try to twist me into a pretzel.

Iowa Corn “Join The Team” Indy 250 Promotion Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Corn, Indy Racing

AgWired Makes It To Afghanistan

Chuck Zimmerman

It might be a first. An AgWired shirt proudly displayed over Kandahar Air Field in Afghanistan.

Showing off is John Davis, one of the long time editors who has posted mostly on our Domestic Fuel website but also on AgWired. He’s helping develop a radio journalism/production program and I’m sure we’ll get some updates from him from time to time. I saw John briefly in Washington, DC Reagan Airport. I was flying out and he was flying on. Glad to see he made it safe and sound.

ZimmComm Announcement

Drive Green Challenge at Hudson River Tractor

Chuck Zimmerman

It’s Drive Green Challenge time again this weekend. Today I’m in Clifton Park, NY visiting with Hudson River Tractor Company. I spoke with one of the owners, Tory Northrop, who gave me some background on how the company came together. He’s in the group photo of the family members out here for today’s event.

Tory says the merger that made what is now Hudson River Tractor Company happened in 2005. They serve a combined ag/consumer market with consumer now counting for over half of their business. The territory includes the Albany, NY metro area, northern New York City area and Chatham area. He says the Drive Green Challenge helps bring a lot more attention to all the products that John Deere offers and is a big draw. He says compact tractors and anything to do with improving their landscape seems to be of high interest right now. You can listen to my interview with Tory here: Tory Northrop Interview

You can see photos from the event in the Hudson River Drive Green Challenge Photo Album.

Agribusiness, Audio, John Deere