RFA Ethanol Podcast

AGROTAIN Presents University Nitrogen Efficiency Research

Cindy Zimmerman

AGROTAIN continues to line up the university research on the performance of their products that control nitrogen loss.

commodity classic agrotainAt the Commodity Classic earlier this month, plant science professors from the University of Kentucky and the University of Delaware presented some of their findings during a press conference. They were also available to talk with growers at the AGROTAIN booth and recorded a segment of the AGROTAIN educational series on RFD-TV that aired on March 7.

Dr. Greg Schwab, University of Kentucky, has been researching the performance of inhibitors in no-till corn under high loss conditions. “AGROTAIN under those high loss conditions performs just as well as the ammonium nitrate fertilizer,” he said. “This is important because a lot of our farmers historically have used ammonium nitrate but find it harder and harder to get it and it’s much higher priced.”

Dr. Greg Binford, University of Delaware, tells farmers to make sure the products they use are supported by data. “I think there’s clear data with AGROTAIN to show that it is definitely a urease inhibitor,” he said. “DCD which is a product in SuperU and AGROTAIN Plus, there’s definite data to show that it’s a nitrification inhibitor. So both are providing the mode of action that they claim they are.”

“What we’re really talking about is loss. Anytime that you have a producer putting urea fertilizer out, it’s subject to loss – upwards of 30%,” said John Hassell, AGROTAIN International’s Manager of Research and Agronomic Development. “Today, we’re seeing urea prices around $500 a ton and if you’re losing 30% of that, you’re losing $150 right off the top. So, it’s really important that we be able to provide a technology to protect urea fertilizers and that’s what AGROTAIN does.”

AGROTAIN also recently released some new data from California and Arizona that shows the effectiveness of AGROTAIN technology in controlling nitrogen (N) loss for higher yields in almonds, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, corn, cotton, lettuce, rice, tomatoes, and wheat.

Listen to comments from Schwab, Binford and Hassel here: AGROTAIN at Commodity Classic

Audio, Commodity Classic, Corn, Fertilizer

Lisa Adams Joins Woodruff Sweitzer

Cindy Zimmerman

Lisa AdamsWoodruff Sweitzer announces the hiring of Lisa Adams to the position of Vice President, Director of Public Relations. In this role, Adams is responsible for the management, growth and development of the Woodruff Sweitzer U.S. public relations functions and team. Adams will be based in the agency’s Kansas City office.

Adams supports the organization with 20 years of experience in strategic product and portfolio campaign management, public relations and public affairs in the agribusiness and business-to-business sectors. Prior to joining Woodruff Sweitzer, Adams was Director of Public Relations for AdFarm.

“Lisa’s experience, talent and passion for results-driven public relations supports our commitment to superior client service, continued growth and our unique promise in delivering unexpected ideas,” says Terry Woodruff, President of Woodruff Sweitzer. “We are excited to bring Lisa’s marketing and corporate communications skills to the forefront of our clients’ business and brand strategy successes. Her contributions will strengthen the equity of their brands and messages through new public relations initiatives and reputation management strategies.”

Adams holds a M.B.A. from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management and a B.S. in Agricultural Communications from The University of Illinois. Prior to her position at AdFarm, Adams’ career has included public relations, advertising and corporate communications roles with Rumrill-Hoyt/Saatchi & Saatchi, TBWA/Chiat Day, Bader Rutter & Associates and IMC Global.

Agencies

Meet our Intern

Cindy Zimmerman

John BrownZimmComm New Media is proud to announce and welcome John Brown as our intern this semester.

John brings over 5 years of marketing experience as well as a healthy knowledge of 21st Century communications strategies. He comes to us from Columbia College, where he is in his final year of pursuing a degree in Business Administration with a double major in Public Relations and Advertising.

“I am excited to work with ZimmComm New Media and learn more about social media and marketing,” said John, “Chuck and Cindy are very knowledgeable and fun to work with, I couldn’t ask for a better fit.”

John has been working with us for a couple of months now, mainly on promotional activities, including the upcoming NAMA annual meeting. That is where you will get a chance to meet him as he will be at the booth with Chuck during the last hours of the trade show.

John is our first ever real intern and we are happy to be able to work with him and show him a little bit of what we do and how we do it. John is also (coincidentally!) the boyfriend of our youngest daughter Caitlin, who is also attending Columbia College and about to finish her degree in marketing.

ZimmComm Announcement

AGRITECHNICA Will Feature Smart Farming

Cindy Zimmerman

2011 commodity classicAgricultural equipment and machinery manufacturers are implementing more advanced electronics into their products these days to help farmers become ever more efficient. That’s why “Smart Farming” will have its own special segment at Agritechnica 2011, November 15-19 in Germany.

During the 2011 Commodity Classic, I had a chance to chat with our friends Malene Conlong and Annette Reichhold with DLG (Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft – German Agricultural Society) who organize the bi-annual Agritechnica. Malene says they chose “smart farming” as the special topic to highlight during Agritechnica this year. “You guys in America actually started this off with your precision farming and this is something that we’ll be exploring in depth,” she said. “By 2050 we’ve got 9 billion people on the earth and these people have to be fed somehow and I think smart farming is one of the ways that will be possible.”

Agritechnica started in 1985 and is the world’s largest agricultural machinery and equipment exhibition, with 2300 exhibitors and 355,000 visitors. They recently partnered with the AgConnect Expo here in the United States to build up a similar show on this side of the Atlantic on the off years – even though they will technically be held in the same calendar year.

Listen to or download my interview with Malene and Annette here: 2011 Agritechnica Preview

2011 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Equipment, Events, Farm Shows, Precision Agriculture

Precision Laboratories Helping Farmers Mix It Up

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast 296It’s Spring folks and that means it’s about time for farmers to get in the field! And just in time to help them out, Precision Laboratories has a mobile application that will be very helpful. It’s the Mix Tank App which was just recently announced. In this week’s program we’re going to learn more about it and the company.

I spoke with James Reiss, Vice President of the agricultural chemistries business and Daniel Ori, Marketing Specialist. The company is headquartered in Waukegan, Illinois and provides “specialized chemistries applied to plants, seed, soil and water to maximize resource and biological performance potential while stewarding the environment.” It was founded in 1962 and entered the ag industry in 1976.

There are several things about their new mobile application that really help set it apart and I think ultimately will make it successful. To start with, the Mix Tank app provides a service that you can’t find on the web right now and it’s one that is not only needed now but will become increasingly important as time goes on. This unique, needed service, is a really good characteristic of a good app. It seems to be rock solid in performance, at least from my short time using it on an iPod Touch. And finally, it allows you to save custom tank mixes and share them out via email, Twitter and Facebook. As you’ll hear Jim and Dan say, this app has been really well received by not only farmers but retailers and consultants who want to use it as a way to communicate their recommendations to customers!

Learn more about Precision Laboratories in this week’s ZimmCast: ZimmCast 296 - Precision Laboratories

This week’s program ends with some music from Music Alley. It’s called “Spring Break” by masceo.

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 Subscribe page

Agribusiness, Apps, Audio, Precision Agriculture, ZimmCast

I Thought They Were Usually Roosters

Melissa Sandfort

It’s a classic farm-house icon. The rooster on top of the barn. At least that’s what I always thought they were. But my grandfather proved me wrong with this combination weather vane/lightning rod in the shape of a horse.

This one is made out of copper and scrap metal so it’s heavy. Today, they’re made of aluminum. Back then, they showed the wind direction and acted as a lightning rod; today, they only tell you which way the wind is blowing on the horse’s rear end (or rooster’s tail feathers).

Now I know it’s kind of hard to see from this picture, but either my dad or my uncle was a pretty good shot with a BB gun and got this ol’ horse right between its hind legs.

Until we walk again …

Uncategorized

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

    Your First Step To Become An Angus Breeder

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Here’s another blast from the past from the American Angus Association. It was produced in the late 1960’s or early 1970’s to show how and why young cattle producers could become Angus breeders. You’ll love the scenery. And guess what? You can still become an Angus breeder. Just give them a call to find out how.

    Beef, Video

    TJ Masker Has AgWired App On His iPod

    Chuck Zimmerman

    TJ MaskerSpeaking of very impressive young people making an impact at National Ag Day activities let’s hear from Iowa State University student, TJ Masker. Why? Because he told me that his iPod Touch has the AgWired App installed on it! Yes, this is a pure testimonial for why you should have the app on your iPhone, Touch or iPad (Android version coming soon). TJ also did a great job introducing Ag Day speaker Jonathan Coppess too.

    You can listen to my interview with TJ here: TJ Masker Interview

    2011 National Ag Day Photo Album

    AgWired coverage of National Ag Day is sponsored by:
    Agriculture Council of America and American Seed Trade Association and Syngenta

    Ag Day, Apps, FFA

    Agricultural Youth Participate In Ag Day Activities

    Chuck Zimmerman

    ACT StudentsThe National FFA isn’t the only agricultural youth education organization involved with Ag Day. I visited with several more this week starting with Jessica England, President (left) and Lauren Greaves, First Vice President, Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow. I learned that you pronounce it A-C-T to start off! This college level student organization promotes leadership with agricultural communications majors. They were attending Ag Day activities because they wanted to help make sure elected leaders in the Capitol were aware of how important the industry of agriculture is. We also talked about different activities conducted by ACT like their annual meeting that’s held in conjunction with the Ag Media Summit.

    You can listen to my interview with Jessica and Lauren here: ACT Interview

    Another organization represented at National Ag Day was 4-H. I spoke with Brad Copenhaver, Virginia Tech, who has been active in 4-H for many years. He says his Grandmother has been a 4-H volunteer for over 50 years! He started with 4-H when he was nine years old. He served on his state 4-H cabinet and is still involved. He was asked to be a 4-H representative at National Ag Day activities to help promote how important agricultural education is.

    You can listen to my interview with Brad here: 4-H Interview

    And I also spoke with Nancy Barcus, Agriculture Future of America. Nancy is the Director of Leader Development Programs. She says that AFA works with college men and women who are preparing for a career in agriculture with leadership programs that help them become more competitive. There were twenty five student members attending Ag Day activities. She says that their attendance helps them understand how policy affects agriculture.

    You can listen to my interview with Nancy here: AFA Interview

    2011 National Ag Day Photo Album

    AgWired coverage of National Ag Day is sponsored by:
    Agriculture Council of America and American Seed Trade Association and Syngenta

    Ag Day, Audio