Welcome To AG CONNECT Expo

Chuck Zimmerman

It is welcome time for AG CONNECT Expo, where they’re connecting the world of agriculture. Preview day is coming up on Friday and Cindy and I are checked in and ready to bring you all the action.

AG CONNECT Expo Welcome

We’ll be on the floor throughout the next several days conducting interviews, attending educational sessions and taking lots of photos. Speaking of photos, I have started the official ZimmComm photo album: 2011 AG CONNECT Expo Photo Album

Thank you to AG CONNECT Expo for making it possible for ZimmComm to cover this show. It is the 2nd one and we’re looking forward to many more in coming years.

AEM

Reviewing ZimmComm Activity in 2010

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast 287In this week’s ZimmCast we’re actually going to review some statistics for ZimmComm online activity in 2010. Cindy joins me and shares some of the numbers we put together. Let’s just say we’ve done a lot of agriblogging and farm podcasting!

In fact, we’re about to head to downtown Atlanta for AG CONNECT Expo where we really start racking up the new year’s statistics! So listen in as we give you a ZimmComm review and feel free to pose any questions you may have: ZimmCast 287 - 2010 Review

Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsors, Novus International, and Leica Geosytems for their support.

The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired. Subscribe so you can listen when and where you want. Just go to our a Subscribe page

Audio, ZimmCast

Pioneer Announces AQUAmax Corn Hybrids

Chuck Zimmerman

This morning Pioneer Hi-Bred announced a new generation of corn hybrids under the AQUAmax name that will work well in dry environments. I joined the press conference during opening remarks. You can listen in and download below.

DuPont business Pioneer Hi-Bred launched a new generation of corn hybrids developed and tested to help deliver a yield advantage in water-limited environments, allowing growers to minimize risk and maximize productivity. These hybrids will be offered to growers under the Optimum® AQUAmaxTM brand name.

These hybrids, introduced for planting in 2011, contain a collection of native corn traits that improve water access and utilization and deliver greater yields in water-limited conditions. The initial class of Optimum AQUAmax innovations will include five hybrid platforms across a range of maturities and technology packages. While the 2011 launch size is limited and primarily targeted in the western Corn Belt, the technology advancement is an important milestone toward the longer-term objective of bringing breeding and biotechnology solutions to drought-prone environments.

Full Release here.

You can listen in on the press conference here: Pioneer AQUAmax Press Conference

Agribusiness, Audio, Corn, Pioneer

Trends In Agriculture Back In Kansas City

Chuck Zimmerman

It’s official. The NAMA Trends In Agriculture conference will be held back in Kansas City, MO this fall right before the NAFB convention.

The National Agri-Marketing Association announced that its annual high level event, Trends in Agriculture, will be held in Kansas City immediately prior to the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Annual Conference. In addition, the two organizations will collaborate on a producer-focused session that will close the NAMA event and open the NAFB conference.

“As professional organizations, we share a commitment to helping our members better understand and respond to emerging market issues,” NAMA Executive Vice President/CEO Jenny Pickett said in making the announcement. “In addition, because ‘Trends’ focuses on a more strategic perspective, it tends to attract many of the same marketing executives who may be participating in NAFB’s Trade Talk the following day.”

The centerpiece event of the NAFB’s Annual Convention, Trade Talk, affords company and organization participants access to member broadcasters to discuss the issues and topics that are important to them.

“NAFB and NAMA have many people that are members of both organizations,” added NAFB Executive Director Mark Vail. “This type of planning allows the groups to maximize member opportunities while acknowledging the realities of business travel and meeting time and expense.”

NAFB, NAMA

Weather Expected To Have Most Impact On Ag

Chuck Zimmerman

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What do you think will have the biggest influence on ag in 2011?” Here are the results. Most respondents (40%) think weather patterns will have the biggest influence. Other responses include: general U.S. economy (24%); new Republican leadership in House (13%); farm bill (10%); other (10%) and company consolidation (3%). So if you selected other as an answer or have another choice to answer this please submit it in comments.

The new poll is now live and the question is, “What do you think will happen with biofuels policy this year?” The lame duck session of Congress passed a one year extension of the ethanol and biodiesel tax credits. How do you think this will fare with a new Congress? We look forward to your responses.

Remember, you can submit your questions for us to pose and add your feedback anytime by using the comment feature.

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

ZimmPoll

New NCGA Staffer

Melissa Sandfort

NCGA welcomes Alaina Schultz as the new Corn Yield Contest Coordinator. Schultz, having already assisted NCGA through temporary positions supporting both the contest and membership matters, hits the ground running, crucial as the National Corn Yield Contest continues to grow and evolve.

Schultz officially joins NCGA’s St. Louis-based Production and Utilization Department, assisting with all areas of the contest, such as entry and harvest data, communications with participants and industry partners, rules development and implementation, award programs and other responsibilities. Additionally, Schultz will assist the Marketing Department working to process memberships.

Schultz comes into her new role as the contest continues to see explosive growth. Since 2007, participation in the contest has grown by 44 percent. Schultz, a Melvin, Ill., native, holds an Associate of Arts degree in Business and Hospitality Management.

NCGA

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Murray Wise Associates LLC has announced the addition of Matt Conlon to its Clarion, Iowa, office.
  • The University of Illinois is holding its 2011 Bioenergy Feedstocks Symposium on Jan. 11 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Jan. 12 from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at University of Illinois I Hotel and Conference Center in Champaign.
  • Ingersoll Tillage Group is set to launch its latest vertical tillage innovation at this year’s AG CONNECT Expo in Atlanta, Ga.
  • Farmers National Company is pleased to announce that Andy Hubert, Accredited Farm Manager of Geneva, Neb., has been named the company’s 2010 Farm Manager of the Year.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Get Educated at AG CONNECT

    Cindy Zimmerman

    The second AG CONNECT Expo is now just days away in Atlanta and if you are attending, make sure you check out all of the educational events on tap.

    There will be a lot more people at this second event than there were at the inaugural event in Orlando last year and there will be even more educational opportunities – including breakout sessions, the Progressive Farmer Innovations Theater, new Town Hall forums, and Farm Journal Media presents.

    Sustainability is the number one issue for agriculture and the first on the agenda for educational breakout sessions starting on Friday at 9:30 am. Business Management is on tap for Friday afternoon from 1:30-2:30 with two concurrent sessions, The Impacts of Risk on Supply Chain Management and Implementing an On-Farm Research Program for Your Farm.

    Saturday will have three different time frames with concurrent sessions – a total of 11 different sessions on all kinds of topics including land values, irrigation, precision technology, environmental issues, weather, markets, and even using smart phones on the farm. Sunday sessions in the morning and afternoon will focus on topics such as first aid, financial planning, on-farm wireless internet, no till and timber for biomass.

    Two final sessions on Monday morning will answer the questions How Does Your Farm Measure Up? and When Is the Best Time to Buy Your Fertilizer?

    There is so much more I can’t get it all in one post – check out the list of educational opportunities here or use the handy search function on the AG CONNECT website to create a customized agenda based on your own personal interests.

    Education

    Ayrmesh Now Powering ZimmComm Internet

    Chuck Zimmerman

    I have a working Ayrmesh hub now working at ZimmComm World Headquarters. As I posted recently this is a product that creates what is affectionately called “free range internet.” Made by Ayrstone Productivity, the Ayrmesh creates a strong, stable internet wifi cloud, which if placed properly can go a long distance. By adding additional hubs that range can be extended too.

    I learned more about the company and the product by talking with Bill Moffitt, a techno geek like me. He says the company was created to bring technology to rural areas to help farmers and others become more productive. One of the ways anyone in business today accomplishes this is by strategically using the internet. Bill says they are even working with Raven Industries on precision applications. Raven is building wifi into their products. This allows for an easier way to transfer data and without monthly cellular charges. There are a lot of other ways that the Ayrmesh can help farmers. One I can think of is becoming more active agvocates!

    Listen in to my conversation with Bill to learn all about how to get some free range internet on your farm. Interview with Bill Moffitt

    Audio, Equipment, Internet