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.
LPC At Cattle Industry Convention
Are 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
AAEA At Commodity Classic
Calling 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.
Smartphone Farming
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?
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.
Big US-Chinese Soybean Deal Signed
As 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
NCBA Sets Policy Priorities for Convention
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!
On The Go Crop Sensing Technology Next Big Thing In Precision
I took a look at what’s new with Ag Leader Technology with Mike Olson at the AG CONNECT Expo. Here’s Mike talking through precision applications and options during the show.
Mike says they just announced the addition of advanced seed tube monitoring to their displays. This allows farmers to take their Integra display and monitor singles and doubles in their spacing along with other things. This helps make sure you’re getting the best performance from your planter. Mike says farmers are most interested in auto steering since many haven’t implemented it yet and also planter clutch control which allows section control.
Looking ahead Mike says that he wants farmers to take a look at their OptRx crop sensor technology which allows for on the go variable nitrogen application. He says data they’ve seen from fields using this technology is amazing.
Listen to my interview with Mike here: Interview With Mike Olson
World Agriculture Investment Conference 2011 heads to Chicago
Agricultural investors have a major conference to look forward to in just a few months in Chicago. Let me introduce you to FC Business Intelligence and the World Agriculture Investment Conference 2011.
In spring this year, leading investment groups from across North America and Europe are coming to Chicago to discuss the opportunities and risks in agricultural markets. With the latest market insight and global case studies, anticipation is high.
On May 9-10, a unique forum will bring together institutional and private investors with top Ag fund managers, to debate strategies for participating in agriculture and surrounding investments.
Following months of research, this forum has been designed specifically to help investors to network and walk away with the practical information needed to make an appropriate choice based on varying risk tolerances and return objectives.
Confirmed participants already include: CAIA, ViVa, AgriCapita, Inter-American Development Bank, IFC, Rafferty Capital Markets, Farmers Edge, Chess Ag Full Harvest Partners, Citi and many more.
This is a unique chance to network with key investors, hedge funds and Ag managers, and to effortlessly catch-up on where allocations are being made and how best to develop the ideal Ag portfolio.
Debate will focus on:
- How to take advantage of private equity investment in the full agriculture supply chain
- Proven techniques for sourcing top operators
- Understand how agriculture fits within investor portfolios
- Identify the best agriculture opportunities from across the Americas and beyond
For more information please visit: http://www.aginvestconference.com/usa/
With more and more demand for food and farmland, surging prices and growing interest from investors, there’s one thing for sure…
Agricultural markets are exciting.
For additional information, registration assistance or questions, please contact George Kiley, Investment Director – World Agriculture Investment Series by email on gkiley@aginvestconference.com, or call on +44(0)207 3757 54
You can find the agenda here.
Support for “Corn Sugar” Growing
Support from corn grower organizations to use the term “corn sugar” instead of high fructose corn syrup is growing.
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) recently sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration supporting use of the term ‘corn sugar,’ and other state organizations such as the Texas Corn Growers have also voiced their support.
“We are calling upon the FDA to eliminate the confusion of the safety of high fructose corn syrup,” NCGA President Bart Schott said. “Permitting use of the term ‘corn sugar’ on labels will allow manufactures to more clearly describe high fructose corn syrup as a natural ingredient, nutritionally equivalent to sugar.”
The Corn Refiners Association (CRA) filed a petition with the FDA in September requesting approval for food and beverage manufacturers to have the option of using the new term as an alternative ingredient on product labels.
“Consumers need to know what is in their foods and where their foods come from and we want to be clear with them,” said CRA president Audrae Erickson. “The term ‘corn sugar’ succinctly and accurately describes what this natural ingredient is and where it comes from – corn.”
No word on when FDA may respond to the petition.