IFAJ Presidium Meeting At International Green Week Berlin

Chuck Zimmerman

My IFAJ friends are meeting in Berlin at the International Green Week. Thanks to IFAJ President Mike Wilson, Farm Futures, for sending along some information and photos. You can read about his experiences on his blog.

The German ag minister Ilse Aigner was a bit preoccupied this week as she tried to make the rounds and meet journalists, such as the IFAJ presidium (pictured), at 2011 GreenWeek in Berlin. Minister Aigner has been scrambling since Jan. 3 when a German Health Alert was issued over the discovery of
deadly dioxin that was sold into the animal feed processing chain (details in blog). But she was ever so gracious and spent a few minutes with us. Yesterday she met with several ag ministers from other countries in a roundtable panel discussion, and will give results of that meeting at a press conference today. (picture below)

The IFAJ had a full agenda. We had several important discussions and approved several new initiatives, including the new Yara Sustainability professional development contest that is open to any member in writing, internet or broadcast format, with a targeted topic that focuses on sustainable farming and the challenge of feeding the world’s 9 billion consumers by 2050. We also made progress on the new Master Class program, where 12 participants from developing countries will be offered an opportunity to come to Canada and take part in a journalism workshop and attend the Canadian IFAJ Congress.

These are just a few of the highlights, more will be forthcoming at the IFAJ website next week.

You can find a lot of photos from Green Week on their website. It’s a fascinating show and if you ever want to “eat your way around the world” in one place then you need to go.

Food, IFAJ

International Poultry Expo Guide App

Chuck Zimmerman

Once again this year the International Poultry Expo makes it easy to navigate with their iPhone/iPad app. The show started this last year. It’s on my iPhone and iPad and I’ll be using it there next week!

The IPE Guide App gives you a wealth of information on the International Poultry Expo/International Feed Expo, held in Atlanta, GA, January 26-28, 2011. The Guide gives full information on the show’s exhibitors, floor plans, detailed information and products from exhibitors, schedule of events, and Atlanta dining and hotel information. In short, it’s everything you need to make your visit to IPE/IFE more productive than ever. In addition, up-to-the minute updates will be delivered to the guide via Twitter.

You can find the IPE Guide App in the iTunes Store.

Apps, Poultry Expo

NCGA Applauds EPA’s Latest E15 Decision

Joanna Schroeder

This morning, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it is approving the use of E15 (15 percent ethanol, 85 percent gasoline) in conventional vehicles and light duty trucks manufactured in 2001 or later. Last October, the EPA had approved the use of E15 for model year 2007 or newer.

During a press call, EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson said, “Recently completed testing and data analysis show that E15 does not harm emissions control equipment in newer cars and light trucks. Wherever sound science and the law support steps to allow more home-grown fuels in America’s vehicles, this administration takes those steps.”

Shortly after the official announcement, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) applauded the EPA’s announcement.

“The announcement by EPA this morning is welcome news,” said NCGA Chairman Darrin Ihnen, a South Dakota corn grower. “We have worked closely with EPA during this process and are pleased to see they also realized what our industry has known for a long time: the use of higher blends of ethanol in vehicles is safe.”

Among the benefits Ihnen points out:

  • According to a 2009 study, moving to E15 will create more than 136,000 new jobs across America and inject $24.4 billion into the American economy annually.
  • By using E10 in much of its fuel today, the United States has reduced its dependence on foreign oil by billions of gallons each year. Increasing the blend level from E10 to E15 can avoid the importation of another 7 billion gallons of gasoline per year.
  • Moving from our current blend to E15 means we could reduce an additional 20 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year. That means E15 would reduce greenhouse gas emissions equal to removing 10.5 million vehicles from the road.

“While there is still plenty of work to be done, NCGA is pleased the EPA has taken this important step forward,” Ihnen said. “NCGA and its ethanol industry allies will continue our work to educate the public on the use of higher blends of ethanol in vehicles.”

Corn, Ethanol, NCGA

Agricultural Writers SA Re-elects Leadership

Chuck Zimmerman

The South African agricultural journalists association, Agricultural Writers SA, has re-elected its executive committee.

Magda du Toit was re-elected chairperson of the executive committee of Agricultural Writers SA during a recent annual general meeting. Also re-elected were Adéle Engelbrecht as deputy chairperson, Charl van Rooyen as secretary and Hanlie du Plessis as treasurer. A news report in Agripen emphasized that the association is committed to communicating positive achievements of achievers of agriculture to enhance the image of agriculture and all its role-players.

Find out more about their latest activities in the Agripen.

The association is a voluntary, non-profitmaking professional association promoting the image and standards of agricultural journalism in South Africa. It was established in Pretoria in 1977.

Thanks to the IFAJ newsletter for the heads up.

IFAJ, International, Media

LPC At Cattle Industry Convention

Chuck Zimmerman

lpc-logo-smallAre you a Livestock Publications Council member attending the Cattle Industry Convention? Then let’s get together.

NCBA Luncheon will feature recognition of student award winner Lisa Brown.

The annual luncheon for LPC will once again be held during the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Convention in Denver. The date is THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2011, 12 noon. The location is the Hyatt at 650 15th Street. This is NOT the Grand Hyatt.
Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health will once again co-sponsor the luncheon with LPC and tickets are complimentary. More information will be published later but for now mark THURSDAY on your calendars. RSVP to Diane Johnson.

Applications for the 2011 student award are now available at: http://www.livestockpublications.com/forms.php

Cattle Industry Conference, LPC

AAEA At Commodity Classic

Chuck Zimmerman

AAEACalling all AAEA members who will be attending Commodity Classic. Let’s get together.

Mark your calendars! You are invited to an AAEA member reception at Commodity Classic. The reception is another example of AAEA’s efforts to bring our members together for friendship and connections at industry meetings. Last year’s first annual Commodity Classic reception attracted more than 50 members and guests.

For: AAEA members and guests
When: Friday, March 4, 2011
Where: Tampa Convention Center, Room 30A
Time: 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Please RSVP to aaea@gardnerandgardnercommunications.com or 952-758-6502.

ACN, Commodity Classic

Smartphone Farming

Chuck Zimmerman

Smartphones. You know they’ve become part of farm life when you see educational sessions about them at a farm show. You also know that there are a lot choices. This is one gadget I get asked about and lectured on all the time. Probably more than any other device. So I thought I’d offer my two cents and hopefully start a debate. I think an upcoming ZimmPoll may address this too.

I’m an iPhone fan who wishes he could be an AT&T fan. This brings up a really important point. The device is important but so is the carrier you choose. AT&T is trying and I’ve had good support from them but they are weak in rural America. Verizon has much better coverage in these areas but doesn’t offer an iPhone, yet. That will change next month.

So what smart phone is best for the farm? Now there’s a loaded question. What do you want it to do? What local carrier options do you have? If you’ve got good AT&T then I’d suggest the iPhone. If not, and Verizon is better then I’d look at an Android phone. I just can’t really recommend a Blackberry although they’re great if all you want to do is make calls, text and email. Maybe this will change but for now I haven’t seen one that I would buy. Notice that I’m talking AT&T and Verizon. There are other carriers but either they burned their bridge with me (Sprint) or I don’t have much experience with them (Alltel, T-Mobile). Perhaps they are better where you are.

So let’s get back to phones. In the past, when you got a new phone you could pretty much pitch the old one away. Now, I’ve seen even first gen iPhone sell for good money. This device created a new standard and the rest are playing catch up. You can’t beat the apps and there are more of them than for any other device. So what else is there to choose from?

Let’s look at Android phones. Motorola makes several like the Droid X, Droid Pro and Droid 2 Global. HTC makes the Incredible. It seems like more apps are being made for this platform and it’s gaining traction. I’m considering getting one to replace my Verizon Mi-Fi since you can use some of them to create a mobile hotspot for other computers and still have a phone. Besides, I think it’s time to start trying out another platform just to see what it’s like. I asked followers on Twitter what their favorite android phone is and it looks like Droid versions came up big with the slogan tweeted, “Field tested, Farmer approved!”

But what about those new ones just around the corner? The iPhone 5? The HTC Thunderbolt? The Droid Bionic? I usually figure that if I need a tool and know it’s going to help my business then why wait? Of course, I’m also very impatient. Besides, today you can sell your phone and get something back to apply to the purchase of a new one. However, your personal financial situation will dictate what you can do. There are those pesky contract terms to deal with.

And what about 4G you might be saying. What about it? It’s coming but even when it does you’ve got to live in a major urban area to take advantage of it. Verizon will only be offering in selected major markets but promises nationwide coverage by 2013. AT&T is talking later this year. 4G will be great. I’ll upgrade when it happens.

So, to summarize, based on my personal experience, research and talking to users of many devices I would say go for an iPhone or Droid if you’re looking for a new smartphone. Just make sure you’ve got good local coverage! Your thoughts?

Equipment, Technology

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Recycled advertising billboard vinyls are being repurposed as tarp material for farmers and ranchers that want to cover grass, alfalfa, make windscreens, or use as floor covering stuff in the barn.
  • World Ag Expo is going mobile. Available for both the iPhone and all phones with the Android Market (search for “World Ag Expo”), World Ag Expo’s Application gives its users access to everything the expo has to offer.
  • Trimble announced the release of its new DCM-300 modem.
  • T-L Irrigation Co., announces the Precision Point Control III, the newest advancement in T-L’s mid-level control from its family of pivot management systems.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Big US-Chinese Soybean Deal Signed

    Cindy Zimmerman

    usbAs the president of China was flying in for a quick visit to the Windy City on Thursday, representatives from China’s 10 largest soybean crushers were signing agreements to purchase 110 million bushels of U.S. soybeans during a ceremony held in Chicago. The purchase is worth $1.8 billion and more bushels are expected to be committed tomorrow. A similar purchase agreement ceremony in 2008 was largest reported single-day export sale of U.S. soybeans in history, but this buying event – which may be larger – was split into two days.

    “This is a huge event for soybean farmers, this isn’t something that happens everyday,” said Jim Call, United Soybean Board International Marketing chair and a soybean farmer from Minnesota. “We’ve had an office in China for over 25 years now. It just goes to show that our checkoff commitment for that long a period of time has really paid off.”

    Soybean users in China, which purchased 825 million bushels of U.S. soybeans during the most recent marketing year, are the largest international customers of U.S. soy. The country currently imports one out of every four rows of soybeans grown by U.S. soybean farmers. “Every other row of soybeans we raise in the United States is exported and as we increase yields, any additional bushels will have to be exported, too,” Jim said.

    Representatives from the Chinese companies said that they are pleased with the quality of U.S. soybeans, which they are purchasing in the form of both whole beans and soybean oil.

    USB held a teleconference following the signing, which was in a room with a lot of background noise but there are some usable sound bites in here from Jim Call and the interpreter for Deng Haotian, representative from Sinograin. Here is the edited version for your listening or downloading pleasure: USB China Teleconference

    Audio, International, Soybean, Trade, USB

    NCBA Sets Policy Priorities for Convention

    Cindy Zimmerman

    The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) has set it’s 2011 policy priorities in preparation for the upcoming Cattle Industry Convention being held Feb. 2-5 in Denver.

    According to NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Colin Woodall, they identified five major priorities for the organization that will be discussed in great detail during the annual meeting – trade, transportation, environment, competition, and healthy herd – cattle and consumers. Woodall says the overall theme for 2011 is sustainability. “The days of allowing others to define sustainability for this industry are over,” Woodall. “We will discuss these five priorities at the upcoming convention and determine how we can develop policies that ultimately sustain the future of this industry for generations to come. Our five priorities are critical to sustainability, profitability and longevity of the beef industry.”

    There is still time to register for the meeting, if you have not done so yet. There are dozens of good reasons for anyone in the cattle industry to be there, from educational sessions to entertainment. The 18th annual Cattlemen’s College, sponsored by Pfizer Animal Health, offers 20 sessions that cover all aspects of cattle production and marketing. To address today’s challenging industry environment, the 2011 curriculum will focus on three primary tracks:

    * Technology Track – focus on Genomics and Reproductive Management
    * External Forces Track – focus on Consumer and Environmental Issues
    * Business Management Track – focus on Risk and Business Management

    Lots of serious business will be done, but Friday night is reserved for laughs at the Cowboy Comedy Club featuring Larry the Cable Guy, sponsored by Bayer Animal Health. There’s lots more – information and registration details can be found here. Hope to see you there!

    NCBA