Opening day weather for the Western Farm Show will be much better than set up day. A very unexpected winter storm developed and moved over Missouri today. My local radio station in Jefferson City, MO was still using a recorded forecast from the morning that said it would be up to 49 degrees and some showers moving in overnight. Wrong! When I heard that about noon today it was only 34 degrees and sleet/snowing! I called to let them (KWOS-AM) know they really should do live weather and not pre-recorded.
So the AgWired booth is set up in the main entrance way hall. We’re working with our iPhone App sponsor Raven Industries to give away an iPod Touch to one lucky person. If you come out to the show stop and enter and say hi. I’ll be conducting a presentation with Darin Grimm on Friday at 11am in Wagstaff Theater on becoming an “agvocate.” Then on Saturday I’ll do a how-to session on social media.
Of course there will be stories posted over the next several days from the show and lots of photos. Meanwhile, Cindy is enjoying much better temperatures in Ft. Myers, FL at the Agricultural Relations Council meeting. I’m sure we’ll be hearing all about what’s going on there soon.
For all you on Twitter, the show hashtag is #WFS11. See you there.
I didn’t get to go to the World Ag Expo to see these tractors unveiled but they were on display at the National Farm Machinery Show. They are the New Holland PowerStar Series Utility Tractors. To learn about them I spoke with Brad Moore, North American Mid-Range Tractor Segment Leader.
Brad says customers really designed these tractors by giving feedback in a series of customer clinics and “virtual reality” applications. The virtual reality allowed for a lot of models that could be tested with customers without using real steel.
PowerStar tractors will be available in both cab and ROPS versions. The entire three-model line (75 hp – 100 hp) will provide outstanding maneuverability, unparalleled comfort and excellent fuel efficiency for part-time farmers as well as livestock, dairy and other operators who are looking for a highly versatile tractor.
You can listen to my interview with Brad here: Brad Moore Interview
2011 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album
AgWired coverage at the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by:
Let’s learn what’s new with McCormick Company this week. As part of my ongoing series of conversations with agricultural marketing and communications agencies I spoke with Mark Perrin, President.
Mark says the agency is one of the oldest in the country having started in 1926 in Texas. It has grown to include offices in Amarillo, Kansas City, Des Moines and two offices in Canada. He says they’ve put a real priority on analytics in the last two years. To him that means “doing our best to monetize an advertiser’s investment in marketing communications.” Additonally, they’ve made a real focus on mobile and have partnered with Unwired Nation and a product called Kinita, a mobile-apps-as-a-service model.
Listen in our my conversation with Mark: ZimmCast 293 - McCormick Company
This week’s program ends with some music from Music Alley. It’s called “Under Western Skies” by Gabe Hizer.
Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsor, Growmark, locally owned, globally strong, 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
To be told something is average has a negative or “middle of the road – not to exceed expectation” kind of connotation. But if you think of what it means, it’s just that there’s got to be someone or something higher, and someone or something lower. When my son was a baby, they’d say — “He’s in the 95th percentile on height. He’s really tall!” — as though babies in the 25th percentile were anything less than average.
In agriculture, averages can help us explain societal shifts, production changes, population growth and a whole lot more. This picture comes from my great-grandfather. He raised hogs, and on an “average” day, he’d have 12 pigs on the farm. Some for butchering and canning for personal use and some for selling. In 1992, the average number of hogs on a farm was 945. In 2004, it had risen to 4,646.
But in the same breath, I have to make note that even though the operation size has increased, they’re still family-owned and operated farms. In fact, the term “factory farming” was devised to frighten consumers into thinking modern food production is unhealthy. It’s not. It’s safe, frighteningly efficient and a family tradition that 97% of U.S. farmers take pride in.
The average beef cow herd size is 40. That’s family farming at its finest and an “average” that many farmers should be proud of.
Not everything can be as small as it was back in 1919. Our houses are bigger, cars are bigger, and yes, animal agriculture is bigger. We just have more mouths to feed.
Until we walk again …
Farmer and rancher members of many local Farm Bureaus are reaching out to consumers in their communities during Food Check-Out Week (Feb. 20-26) by offering information and cost-saving tips on putting nutritious meals on the table.
“Stretching Your Grocery Dollar With Healthy, Nutritious Food,” the official theme of Farm Bureau’s Food Check-Out Week, reflects the fact that Americans from all walks of life continue to work through an economic squeeze. Dining out less often and preparing more meals at home is the new reality for many Americans.
Since the program was initiated in the mid-1990s, Farm Bureau members have donated approximately $3 million in food and monetary contributions to Ronald McDonald Houses and other worthwhile charities during Food Check-Out Week. A number of studies have shown that rising energy costs for processing, packaging and transportation are the driving forces behind recent increases in retail food prices.
Participating county and state Farm Bureaus are holding events throughout Food Check-Out Week. Links to state Farm Bureau websites may be found here.
The third week of February was selected for Food Check-Out Week as a bridge to National Nutrition Month in March.
*Photo courtesy of American Farm Bureau.
The National Agri-Marketing Association has announced award winners.
2011 Agribusiness Leader of the Year
NAMA has named Jeff Simmons, President, Elanco Animal Health, as the 2011 Agribusiness Leader of the Year. This award, which is NAMA’s highest honor, will be presented at the Opening General Session of the 2011 Agri-Marketing Conference, “Harvesting Ideas,” April 14, 2011, in Kansas City, Missouri. The award honors outstanding leaders in agribusiness, education, government service or other agribusiness related areas who exemplify excellence in agribusiness by their significant contributions to the industry.
Jeff Simmons is a dynamic, young, visionary leader that has positioned Elanco for significant innovation and growth. Located in Greenfield, Indiana, the global company is comprised of 2,300 employees with offices in more than 40 countries.
2011 NAMA Marketer of the Year
Roger Reierson, President and Chairman, AdFarm, has been named the 2011 NAMA Marketer of the Year. The NAMA Marketer award will be presented during the Second General Session of the 2011 Agri-Marketing Conference, “Harvesting Ideas” on Thursday, April 14 at 11:00 a.m. in Kansas City, Missouri and is sponsored by Agri Marketing magazine.
NAMA recognizes its active members with senior management of marketing and/or sales responsibilities with the NAMA Marketer of the Year award. This award is NAMA’s most prestigious honor awarded to active members of the association and honors outstanding accomplishments in the field of agri-marketing.
You can listen to my ZimmCast with Roger here.
The NAMA Agribusiness Educational Foundation is moving forward on advancing its core mission of supporting and developing future Agribusiness leaders.
Named ‘Vision2020,’ the new initiative seeks to raise up to $4 million over the next 10 years for college student scholarships, student and young professional development programs, and support of the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) Student Program. Funding may also be made available for outreach to high school juniors and seniors, promoting careers in Ag business, marketing and communications.
Mick Sibbel, President of Sibbel & Partners, also serves as Chair of the ABEF Operating Committee. “Since 1990, ABEF has been a volunteer-driven organization serving the interests and needs of ag business college students and young professionals, “says Sibbel. “And, over the years, we have relied on a core group of strong individual and corporate supporters.” However, to accomplish the new Vision2020 goals, ABEF will need to embark on an aggressive fundraising campaign, advises Sibbel.
ABEF works with donors to accept a variety of funding options including program sponsorships, annual unrestricted and restricted gifts, and endowments. For more information, contact the ABEF offices at 913-491-6500, or Mike Gustafson at 217-251-3659.
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack is returning to the Commodity Classic and will be joined this year by U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture Chairman Frank Lucas. The two will deliver keynote addresses during the General Session on March 4th in Tampa, Florida.
“We are honored to welcome two of the most respected and influential men in Washington on agriculture issues to Commodity Classic,” National Corn Growers Association President Bart Schott said. “With a new farm bill and election year looming, our growers will value their attendance and appreciate hearing about their positions on future farm policy.”
This is the 16th year for the Commodity Classic, where the U.S. corn, soybean, wheat and sorghum industries join forces. This year’s trade show will host nearly 900 booths showcasing the latest agricultural equipment, technology, products and services, and more than 4,500 are expected to attend. In addition to walking the trade show floor, participants will also have numerous opportunities to take part in policy discussions, view demonstrations and attend learning sessions.
American Soybean Association President Alan Kemper added, “It will be a pleasure to have both the Secretary and the new House Ag Chairman join us in Tampa. I am looking forward to hearing how the Administration and Congress are going to work together to support the President’s National Export Initiative (NEI) goal of doubling exports in the next five years.”
It’s hard to believe we’ve been conducting a weekly poll for agrimarketers and everyone involved in the agribusiness industry, farmers included, for almost 3 months now! We’re always looking for question ideas so please feel free to use comments here to suggest one or just email me. These polls are all archived so that you can easily review them anytime by clicking on the ZimmPoll Category. Over time they will become a good historical resource and we can’t thank Rhea + Kaiser enough for helping make it possible.
In the last couple weeks we’ve been very involved in two of the main biofuels events of the year, the National Biodiesel Conference and National Ethanol Conference. Last week’s question was very timely and received the most activity of any ZimmPoll to date.
We asked the question, “Which biofuel feedstock do you think has best future?” This is a very important question that is hotly debated and the answer will have a major impact in the biofuels industry and agribusiness as well. So what did you say? Energy Crops (Switchgrass, etc.) received the most votes at 26% followed by, Waste Material 24%, Corn 23%, Other 13%, Woody Biomass 10% and Soybean 4%. I really would not have predicted these results. If you clicked on “Other” what was on your mind? Something yet to be discovered? Feel free to post your comments.
Our next ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “Is agricultural marketing and communications a profession?” Let us know what you think and thank you for participating.
ZimmPoll is sponsored by Rhea+Kaiser, a full-service advertising/public relations agency.
