Illinois Farm Families Open Gates to City Moms

Cindy Zimmerman

Illinois Farm Families are offering mothers from the Chicago area a chance to see first-hand what farmers do, ask questions and connect with the people who produce food for their families and then share what they learn with others as Field Mom reporters.

Illinois Farm Families (IFF) will equip the “Field Moms” with video cameras so they can record and share what they see and learn. Their videos, stories, and photos will be available to everyone on the IFF website WatchUsGrow.org. The Field Moms will also be participating in media interviews and offering insights about their experiences on Twitter and Facebook.

Chicago-area Moms can apply for the opportunity to become a Field Mom at Watch Us Grow. To be eligible, a Mom must be an Illinois resident at least 18 years old, with at least one child under the age of 13 living at home. Applications will be accepted until August 21, 2011.

Field Mom applicants should have a strong interest in learning more about their food and where it comes from. They are expected to be honest, willing to ask questions among peers and farmers, and able to attend up to five day-long farm tours over the next year. Most tours will leave the greater Chicago area at 8 a.m. and return about 6 p.m. More information about Field Mom expectations is available on our website.

Even if you can’t commit to being a Field Mom, you can subscribe to follow the Field Moms on their farm tours, and communicate with them online. Illinois Farm Families will send you email alerts when the Field Moms are on the move, posting thoughts, pictures or videos, or when there’s other news to share.

Sounds like a great way to address that disconnect that non-farmers have with the people who feed them.

Farming, Social Networking

FFA Names 50 New Century Farmers for 2011

Cindy Zimmerman

The National FFA is preparing 50 young people from 23 states this year to take on the challenge of new century farming.

The FFA’s 2011 New Century Farmer program is designed to help young men and women who are pursuing a career in production agriculture.

The participants will take part in an intensive seminar July 24-30 in Johnston, Iowa where they will learn from each other and industry experts during a series of workshops and sessions. Topics will include the global marketplace, farm financing, demographic trends and risk management. New Century Farmers will hear from motivating and informative keynote speakers who will educate them on the risks and rewards involved with agriculture production. In addition to classroom learning, students will experience the latest developments in agricultural technology.

The New Century Farmer program is sponsored by Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business; Rabo AgriFinance; Case IH; and CSX Corporation; with media partner Successful Farming as a special project of the National FFA Foundation.

Education, Farming, FFA

Budget Cuts for Agriculture

Cindy Zimmerman

The budget deficit is taking its toll on agriculture programs.

The House Appropriations Committee approved a spending bill last night that includes major cuts to food safety and nutrition programs, as well as an amendment that would end direct farm payments for those with adjusted gross income over $250,000 per year.

The appropriations bill also includes cuts in research, food aid, conservation and renewable energy programs. While the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) received $1.3 million, the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) was eliminated from the fiscal year 2012 appropriations bill, despite pleas from a variety of agriculture, biofuels and even environmental organizations.

Other funding cuts in the bill made some agricultural producers happy. Several livestock organizations, including the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) and the National Turkey Federation (NTF), are pleased with the appropriations bill because it prevents USDA from implementing its controversial Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) proposal to regulate livestock and poultry marketing.

“This is the first step in preventing an unprecedented government invasion into the private marketplace. Big government has invaded banking, healthcare and more. The last thing we need is the federal government setting up shop on cattle ranches throughout the country,” said NCBA President Bill Donald of Montana.

The bill now goes to the full House for a vote but is likely to change substantially in the Senate.

Uncategorized

AgChat Discusses EPA Over Regulation of Farming

Chuck Zimmerman

Over regulation by the EPA was the topic of last night’s AgChat which I had the pleasure to moderate once again. It was an interesting conversation as always and we had some very different points of view expressed. And that’s what it’s all about. How often do you participate in a conversation where everyone agrees? Nothing wrong with that.

Here’s the list of questions that were posed. You can see the list of responses to each on the AgChat Archives page already.

Q1: What’s the single most disruptive regulation the EPA has imposed on U.S. Farmers and why? via @derekbalsley
Q2: What are the most helpful EPA regs to your operations? via @TruffleMedia
Q3: How can farmers communicate the real-life struggles w/EPA regulations to politicians & consumers? via @amyserves
Q4: How can any farmer make sure they are in full compliance with EPA regs? via @AgriBlogger
Q5: Does there need to be a better system of checks & balances for EPA & their regulations? via multiple sources
Q6: Is this really a problem with EPA or the administration? via @BeltwayBeef
Q7: How could the EPA expect to harness dust the way they’re talking in the Clean Air Act? via @DarrenOlafson
Q8: What are resources available to farmers who are having trouble with EPA regs?
Q9: What if there were no EPA and damage caused to environment was settled in court as property damage? via @derekbalsley
Q10: What will you do after participating in tonight’s convo as it relates to EPA regulations and farming?
Q11: What’s your executable idea?

There were a lot of interesting ideas and answers that came out during the course of our conversation. Some things that stood out for me include:

1. An idea that the topic was not “objective.” Really? Of course that was posed by someone who does not farm and works for an environmental extremist organization. I have never met a farmer of any size or kind who believes EPA regulations are not burdensome and often incomprehensible.

2. There was a suggestion that if you farm “organic” you will somehow not have to deal with EPA (just USDA). However, if you look at the EPA website you’ll find a whole page of information and links dealing with organic. Doesn’t look like being organic exempts you from this problem.

3. Q2 got the most responses of all. The whole idea of finding anything helpful regarding EPA regulations seemed like a foreign concept to most of our active participants. I don’t know about all you lurkers out there.

4. Someone made a point that seemed to get good agreement that it’s not just EPA that’s a problem, but Congress which created the agency and gives it the powers that it has. Of course there is also the issue of how EPA administrators interpret their role and rules as well as judges who make decisions in their courts that impact how regulations are enforced.

There’s a lot more but I won’t take time to point them all out here. Check out the archives and see for yourself and join in next time! Thanks to all who participated.

Environment, Farming

Online Version of Precision Laboratories Mix Tank App

Chuck Zimmerman

Now you can get the Precision Laboratories Mix Tank App without having to have a smart phone handy. Now you can “get it” from your online computer or tablet! Give it a try.

Precision Laboratories recently announced the release of an online version of its popular, new Mix Tank app for iPhone. Thousands of growers and retailers have already downloaded the app and are using it to prevent costly mixing sequence errors that lead to compatibility problems and nozzle plugging. Now, Precision Laboratories is able to offer the app to anyone with a computer and internet access.

Like the iPhone and iPod touch app, applicators can now choose from over 900 crop protection products from over 16 different manufacturers at www.mixtankapp.com. The Mix Tank app is able to process any combination of products and determine the correct mixing sequence. Users can also share their recommended mixing orders through email, Facebook or Twitter and can request the addition of any crop protection product not currently in the database.

The Mix Tank App is free of charge both online and on the iPhone. The iPhone app also features a series of training videos on proper mixing sequence from the adjuvant experts at Precision Laboratories, which can be viewed at www.youtube.com/mixtankapp.

The first of its kind, the Mix Tank App helps growers get the most out of every tank mix. Users can access the online app from any internet-connected computer at www.mixtankapp.com.

For more information, visit precisionlab.com.

Apps

Changes Needed in Farm Bill

Chuck Zimmerman

Of course we planned our latest ZimmPoll to coincide with the first public hearings on the new farm bill. Uh. Right. But that’s how it worked out. This past week we’ve asked the question, “What is your opinion about the farm bill?” Early in the poll there was not a large gap in response but then things changed and the choice of Needs Overhaul zoomed out in front with 61% choosing it. That’s followed by 31% who said it Needs Minimal Change and then 8% with Leave as is. I guess the bottom line is that something needs to change, eh?

If you missed the first hearings by the Senate Ag Committee you can still watch them:

Food for Thought: The Role, Risks and Challenges for American Agriculture and the Next Farm Bill in Meeting the Demands of a Growing World

Opportunities for Growth: Michigan and the 2012 Farm Bill

Our new ZimmPoll is now live. We’re asking the question, “Have you ever used your smartphone to scan a QR code?” Well, have you?

And if you have any questions you want to suggest for future ZimmPolls please let us know.

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

ZimmPoll

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Syngenta announced that it has received cultivation approval for its MIR162 trait, branded Agrisure Viptera, from the Ministry of Agriculture in Argentina.
  • Farmers must decide whether to plant row crops or take the prevented planting payment from their crop insurance policy. University of Illinois agricultural economist and farm management specialist Gary Schnitkey has provided calculations to help farmers choose the option with the best net return.
  • WATT recently unveiled its new and improved corporate website.
  • Merial is pleased to announce the addition of a new web-based audiovisual training module, Mastitis Control, to www.BestInClassDairies.com. A third module, Dairy as a Profit Center, is also featured on the new enhanced site – giving dairy operations even more tools to be successful.
    Zimfo Bytes

    FarmVille Fanatics to Plant Real Crops

    Cindy Zimmerman

    The top players of the popular on-line game FarmVille will get a taste of reality as they leave the virtual farm this month to plant a real fruit orchard in the real town of Farmville, Virginia – courtesy of Edy’s Fruit Bars.


    The new orchard in Farmville, VA commemorates a branded integration between Edy’s Fruit Bars and FarmVille. From June 13 to June 19, 2011, FarmVille players across the country will plant limited edition Edy’s Fruit Bars branded crops within the FarmVille game, earning additional profitability and the opportunity to receive mastery recognition for planting, growing and selling the Fruit Bars crops.

    A handful of lucky players have been selected to plant trees in real life, as well. Sharyn Martinez is among the FarmVille enthusiasts traveling to Farmville, VA to plant a fruit orchard with Edy’s Fruit Bars. “Being from Los Angeles, I thought the only way I’d get to plant an orchard was on my beautiful virtual farm! But now, thanks to Edy’s Fruit Bars and Zynga, I am getting ready to dig in and plant fruit trees in the real town of Farmville,” says Sharyn.

    The planting in Farmville, VA is an example of Edy’s Fruit Bars ongoing commitment to revitalizing one of our most precious resources: fruit trees. In 2010, Fruit Bars introduced Communities Take Root, an annual program dedicated to planting fruit tree orchards in deserving communities nationwide. Throughout the summer, Edy’s Fruit Bars invites people across the United States to cast their vote to help twenty communities blossom, one orchard at a time.

    Brilliant! Wish I had thought of it!

    Farming, Public Relations

    AgriSafe Network Seeking Partners for Farm Safety

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Most everyone knows what a dangerous occupation farming can be, but the AgriSafe Network does something about it, and safety product companies can help.

    The AgriSafe Network is a national nonprofit organization that represents health professionals who provide agricultural occupational health and safety services to farmers and their families.

    To help out with this mission, AgriSafe has developed a social business venture based on the sale of safety products. “Without spending any additional dollars companies can assist farm families by choosing AgriSafe as the vendor for safety equipment,” said Outreach Coordinator Janie Boyer. “100% of the proceeds support AgriSafe’s non-profit work.”

    For more information on the AgriSafe Network, go to www.agrisafe.org.

    Safety

    Dealing With Disruptive Change In Dairy Industry

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Mandi McLeodDisruptive change sounds disturbing. However, perhaps it’s more of a challenge. Mandi McLeod, System Insights, Ltd., New Zealand, talked about it and its impact on the dairy industry during the Alltech International Symposium. She’s seen here being interviewed by Ireland’s RTE voice Damien O’Reilly. I spoke with Mandi after Damien to learn what is going on with dairy farming in her country and how she coaches family business strategy.

    Mandi says the New Zealand dairy model is still working but needs to evolve further in light of disruptive changes in the industry. She says that their level of productivity hasn’t kept up with the price of their product which makes them vulnerable at the moment. The current pricing of dairy products is just not financially sustainable and it looks like that isn’t going to improve soon. Mandi is a family business strategist and advises dairy farmers to take a look at their business and make sure they’re using resources wisely. Sounds like common sense advice for any business. She wants people to enjoy what they are doing by finding a balance in their life and business. Having a good plan would help a family business tremendously. Perhaps you should give Mandi a call if you need help. Mandi McLeod Interview

    2011 Alltech Symposium Photo Album

    Alltech, Audio, Dairy, International