Andy Vance Joins Feedstuffs

Cindy Zimmerman

Andy Vance, formally with ABN Radio, has officially announced his new gig will be with Feedstuffs.

“I’m very excited to announce that I’m joining Feedstuffs and Feedstuffs Foodlink as a featured contributor, writing for Feedstuffs’ weekly print and online editions, and providing exclusive online audio and video content,” Andy says on his blog “The Angle.”

According to Feedstuffs, Andy starts his new job next week. “The challenges before agriculture today are indeed immense and, by nature, quite complex. They include such critical things as determining the unintended consequences of abandoning the modern food supply chain and even who has the right to impose their beliefs on the plates of others. We are excited to have Andy joining our team to provide his prospective on these and other related issues,” said Sarah Muirhead, Feedstuffs editor and publisher and co-creator of Feedstuffs FoodLink.

Vance is an agricultural journalist, commentator and entrepreneur who is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading agricultural communicators. An active member of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB), he received the 2006 NAFB Horizon Award recognizing excellence in farm broadcasting and promise for the future. He also received the 2009 Excellence in Agriculture Award from the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation. Most recently, he led the broadcast team at the Agri Broadcast Network, earning the 2010 NAFB Newscast of the Year Award, national runner-up in the 2009 NAFB Newscast and Marketcast of the Year Awards and NAFB News Service Awards in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

Vance also has become one of the nation’s foremost authorities on “new” and “social” media in agriculture.

Congrats to Andy and to Feedstuffs on this exciting new partnership! Hope to hear equally good news about Lindsay Hill’s future soon.

Media

ABN Radio Ceases Operations

Cindy Zimmerman

It is always sad to report a death – in this case, the death of a very well-respected agricultural radio operation.

The ABN (Agri Broadcast Network) was founded in 1972 by the late Ed Johnson and has a rich history of service to Ohio’s agricultural community. In 2007, the network was taken over by Lindsay Hill and Andy Vance, who got their start as farm broadcasters at ABN and launched the Buckeye Ag Radio Network (BARN) in 2005.

Today, Lindsay made the sad news of the network’s ceasing operations official on their website.

I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank you for your support of ABN Radio through the years. As the producers of the food, fiber and fuel that sustain our daily lives, farmers- and those of you employed in every aspect of agricultural production – are truly the backbone of America. It has been our most sincere pleasure to share your stories over the years.

With that in mind, it is with great regret that I share that today marks the final day of operations for AdVance Broadcast & Communication, Ltd.

I’d like to thank our advertising partners and friends who have supported this journey through the years. And, express my sincere appreciation to each of you for tuning into your radios to join us “on the farm” everyday.

Andy left the network just a couple of weeks ago for a new assignment with Ohio FFA. Lindsay is president of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) and expected to officially take over the post at the end of this month. No official word yet from NAFB how the status of the network and her job will affect her position in the farm broadcast organization.

We know from experience how tough it is to have your own business, having been through it ourselves, so we sincerely wish our friends at ABN the best of luck in future endeavors.

Media, NAFB

Why Do You Believe in Biodiesel?

John Davis

Maybe it’s the renewable nature of the fuel. Maybe it’s the fact that the fumes from some of it smells likes french fries. Maybe, my personal favorite, it helps this country get off its foreign oil addiction. Well, whatever your reason for believing in biodiesel, the National Biodiesel Board is inviting you to put your thoughts onto video:

The best of the best clips will be used during the 2011 National Biodiesel Conference & Expo, Feb. 6 – 9 in Phoenix, showcased on the National Biodiesel Board’s web site, Facebook Fan Page, and other communications where biodiesel is at work.

Make your voice heard as our industry moves forward!

The statements must be submitted in the following format: “I believe in biodiesel because….”

You can check out the National Biodiesel Board’s site and see how some of the NBB’s staffs’ examples to get you started. My personal favorite is my friend Jessica Robinson’s video, where she mentions her best friend’s husband, who is in the Marine Corps serving overseas.

Biodiesel

Introducing The ZimmPoll

Chuck Zimmerman

Starting today we’re launching a new feature on all the ZimmComm New Media news websites, including AgWired. This is a weekly quick-vote style poll which we’re affectionately calling the ZimmPoll.

The ZimmPoll is designed to gauge your opinions on a range of topics, including agriculture and agribusiness, emerging technologies and consumer trends. Look for a new poll each week in the sidebar on AgWired and on energy.agwired.com, PrecisionPays.com and WorldDairyDiary.com.

The ZimmPoll is sponsored by Rhea + Kaiser. “Target-audience opinions and insights are key to the success of all of our businesses today,” says Diane Martin, president and CEO of R+K. “We hope ZimmComm readers will benefit from – and have a little fun with – these real-time opinions of their ag industry peers.”

Start now and stay tuned for a new ZimmPoll each week. You’ll see results immediately, and we’ll also publish a weekly results recap where you’ll be able to share additional comments and ask questions about the week’s poll question.

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

ZimmPoll

Who Is Novus International

Chuck Zimmerman

Who is Novus International? Well, loyal AgWired fans know and at the recent NAFB convention Trade Talk session a lot more people found out. Pictured are (l-r) Jared Hux, Wendell Knehans and Tracy Barfield.

I spoke with Wendell about this question of just who Novus is. He says Novus is the company that puts together the micro ingredients for a healthy animal’s diet. As he puts it, “We make the other herbs and spices, nutrients, vitamins and antioxidants that complete the animal diet.” This creates healthier and more productive animals and a low cost food source for humans. Also of key importance to Novus is sustainability. Wendell says, “Novus wants to do the right thing for animal agriculture socially, environmentally and economically.” That’s their 3 part commitment to sustainability and their definition of the word.

You can listen to my interview with Wendell here: Novus International - Knehans Interview

While speaking with Jared I learned all about oxidative balance. It’s the balance between the “good stuff and the bad stuff in the animal.” So for Novus it’s all about animal nutrition. Jared points to their work in poultry to create “healthier eggs.”

You can listen to my interview with Jared here: Novus International - Jared Hux Interview

NAFB Convention Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, NAFB, Novus International

Behringer Joins BCS

Chuck Zimmerman

Our good friend Sally Behringer has a new job with our good friends at Blasdel Cleaver Schwalbe Communications. She’ll be an account manager on several key public relations accounts. The photo is from last week’s agency open house (party).

Behringer has more than 20 years of experience in agricultural public relations and marketing communications. She has served clients in the areas of companion, equine and production animal health, animal nutrition, agricultural chemicals, biotechnology, international agricultural policy and economics, agricultural equipment and other related areas.

Leigh Ann Cleaver, partner, BCS Communications, says adding Behringer to the BCS team builds upon the company’s extensive suite of marketing communications services. “Our business provides senior-level, experienced professionals who work with clients every day to help them accomplish their goals. Adding Sally to our experienced account team enhances our public relations services, especially in the areas of media relations, event management, trade show marketing, media training and communications.”

Agencies

Farm Bureau Celebrates 50 Years of Membership Growth

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) has more members than ever before.

afbfAccording to new AFBF membership figures, there are now 6,279,813 member families that belong to the nation’s largest general farm organization, marking 50 consecutive years of membership growth. State Farm Bureaus overall reported a total 2,149 more member families this year than in 2009.

American Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman credited strong agricultural advocacy programs at the local, state and national levels and the growing portfolio of services offered by state Farm Bureaus for the organization’s 50th straight year of membership growth.

Lots of state Farm Bureau meetings are being held around the country this month. Here in the home state of ZimmComm World Headquarters, Missouri Farm Bureau elected a new president yesterday. Blake Hurst of Atchison County will replace retiring Charlie Kruse, who has served as president for 18 years. Blake is not only a successful row crop farmer, he’s also a successful freelance writer who has had numerous agriculture-related articles published in The American Enterprise, Reader’s Digest, Wilson Quarterly and the Wall Street Journal. One of those we highlighted here on Agwired last year, a clever piece he wrote for The American Enterprise titled “The Omnivore’s Delusion.”

AFBF

Lucas to Chair House Ag Committee

Cindy Zimmerman

Congressman Frank Lucas (R-OK) has been selected to chair the House Agriculture Committee in the 112th Congress.

“It is an honor to continue in this leadership role of the Agriculture Committee where I have served since I was first elected to Congress,” Lucas said. “As a lifelong farmer from a diverse, agricultural state, I have lived the real world challenges farmers and ranchers face across the country. I will continue to be a strong voice for production agriculture and rural America.”

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Vice President of Government Affairs Colin Woodall says they believe Rep. Lucas will be a good chairman to represent the interests of rural America in general and beef producers in particular. “Under the leadership of Rep. Lucas, we expect the Environmental Protection Agency, USDA’s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration and other departments within this administration to be held accountable for regulations that will stymie the success of innovative and creative cattle producers who are the very best stewards of the land,” Colin said in a statement from NCBA. “Rep. Lucas understands the importance of agriculture. He is aware of the unique challenges facing agriculture and is ready to pursue opportunities for the entire industry.”

NCBA

Sweet Holiday Greetings from Pioneer

Cindy Zimmerman

Pioneer made my day a little sweeter yesterday when a package of holiday cookies arrived on our doorstep in a cute Pioneer Plenish coffee mug.

Can’t show you a photo of the cookies because daughter Chelsea and I gobbled them up. We didn’t even save any for Chuck, they were just so AMAZING! Chocolate chip and cranberry and I presume made with Plenish(TM) high oleic soybean oil. They tasted like they were just baked! Thanks to the Plenish team at Pioneer Hi-Bred for the treat.

We’ve been hearing about Plenish for some time now and have even had a taste of the soybean oil used in cooking and in salad dressings at events like Commodity Classic. Pioneer VP for Crop Genetics R&D John Soper talked about the Plenish soybean trait during an interview at NAFB Trade Talk last month and said it is coming for growers in 2012. “It’s a great new product, the first really biotech trait for end use,” he told me. “It provides an oil much more like olive oil, very stable, very heart-healthy, doesn’t require hydrogenation so no trans fatty acid issues. Really a wonderful product for end users and the food industry.”

John also talked about some other new products in the pipeline, like improved drought-tolerant corn. Listen to my interview with John here: Pioneer's John Soper

Plenish was also one of the topics addressed by Pioneer senior marketing manager for soybeans Don Schafer during Trade Talk. He explained that they still need to get regulatory approval for the new soybean trait before it can go on the market. “That is one of the things we have to do in the industry is make sure that we have this product completely registered worldwide so that the grower doesn’t have any concern about being able to utilize the crop in the marketplace,” Don said.

Don also discussed the 29 new Y-series soybeans from Pioneer coming out in 2011, which will bring the total for the Y-series up to about 80. Listen to Don’s interview here: Pioneer's Don Schafer

Audio, Corn, NAFB, Pioneer, Soybean

BASF Team Supports NAAA

Chuck Zimmerman

Here’s the BASF team looking good at the National Agricultural Aviation Association convention. Their booth has been really busy and the stress relieving corn cobs are going fast!

Dr. Gary Fellows (second from left) has been busy not only interacting with customers in the booth but also conducting educational presentations and presenting the NAAA/BASF Agricultural Aviation Scholarships. I’ll have interviews with the winners posted soon.

I asked Dr. Fellows to tell my about all the ways that BASF has become involved in supporting and working with NAAA. He says that the ag aviators have become extremely important to modern production agriculture and BASF is proud to be a major sponsor. You can listen to my interview with Dr. Fellows here: Dr. Gary Fellows Interview

2010 NAAA Convention Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the NAAA Convention is sponsored by BASF.

Ag Groups, Audio, BASF, NAAA