Cattle Industry Convention Kicks Off

Cindy Zimmerman

We’re still on our way there, but about 5,000 cattle producers were in Denver for the opening of the 2011 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show on Wednesday, according to Mike Deering with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Mike has been busy live streaming, tweeting (@beltwaybeef), taking photos, posting to beltwaybeef.com and sending out news releases from the event. He tweeted this photo of NCBA president Steve Foglesong at the opening general session.

Foglesong advised the attendees to reflect on 2010 successes but focus on possibilities for 2011.

“Your NCBA didn’t waver to the critics or this administration’s regulatory rollercoaster ride. We buckled down and took them on, which resulted in several wins for U.S. cattlemen. You ladies and gentlemen sat high in the saddle and worked with your NCBA to aggressively defend this industry,” said Foglesong. “The success stories go on and on. As you set forth policy positions this week, I am confident the success stories will continue in 2011. We will go do battle again and again with forces that are aligned against us and our commonsense approach will win again”

Foglesong said the Obama administration’s “regulatory rollercoaster ride” is unprecedented and has the potential to devastate rural America. However, he is hopeful President Obama will carry through with a thorough regulatory review to rein in the Environmental Protection Agency, the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration and other government agencies from regulating farmers and ranchers out of business. Foglesong said NCBA’s pressure on the administration to eliminate burdensome, costly and scientifically unfounded regulations assisted in the President’s decision to conduct the review.

Hopefully, your beef blogging team will be on site in time for the rest of the convention tomorrow.

Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA

Largest-ever Beef Donation in Colorado

Melissa Sandfort

It’s easy to think that in the land of the plenty, everyone has consistent access to high-quality, nourishing foods, like beef. However, according to the USDA, in 2009, more than 50 million Americans were food insecure and did not have consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy lifestyle.

Today, in conjunction with the largest gathering of the nation’s cattlemen and women for their annual meeting in Denver, Greeley-based JBS USA – the world’s largest animal protein processor – and cattle farmers and ranchers from around the country made the largest-ever donation and delivery of 16,000 pounds of beef to Colorado’s Feeding America Food Banks, drawing attention to the very serious issue of food insecurity right here in our own communities.

High-quality and nutritionally efficient foods, such as beef, are important to help meet daily nutritional requirements. One, three-ounce serving of lean beef provides 10 essential nutrients, including protein and B vitamins. Iron and zinc deficiencies are common worldwide and beef is a good source of iron and an excellent source of zinc.

By continuing to innovate and advance what they do, the entire beef industry is able to work together to provide nutritious food to feed a growing population around the world.

Beef

Ag Leader Launches New SMS Mobile Package

Joanna Schroeder

It was a big day in Des Moines yesterday – a major snow storm blew in and thousands of farmers blew in with weather for the 56th Annual Iowa Power Farming Show.  In tandem with the show, Ames, IA based Ag Leader Technology launched some new precision ag products and their team spent a very busy day demonstrating them for hundreds of growers who stopped by their booth. One new product is the updated Mesa Rugged Notepad with the SMS Mobile software package.

The Mesa Rugged Notepad is a handheld device that is larger than a PDA but smaller than a laptop and the perfect size for growers to take out to the field. And it’s durable – it can be rained on or dropped and it will stand up to the wear and tear. It also has a glare-proof screen so even on the sunniest of days, you’ll have no problem reading the screen.

The SMS Mobile software includes several key types of in-field information that can be collected and analyzed including Soil Sampling Mode, Crop Scouting Mode, Coverage Mode, Boundary Mode, and General Logging Mode.

I caught up with Michael Vos, Software Sales Manager for Ag Leader to learn more about the SMS Mobile technology that was launched and how it will improve a grower’s operations. Vos gave me a step-by-step tutorial on how one element, the Soil Sampling Mode, worked. You can watch here in this detailed video. Now don’t worry. Even if you’re new to GPS systems and the software, the Ag Leader team will get you set up, trained and started in no time.

SMS Mobile is available right now through the purchase of a Mesa Rugged Notepad kit or you can purchase the SMS mobile and install it on your own device. To learn more, contact Ag Leader or visit their website.

You can check out Ag Leader during the Iowa Power Farming Show in our flickr photo album.

Ag Leader, Precision Agriculture, Video

Beef Ambassadors Blogging

Chuck Zimmerman

National Beef AmbassadorsIf I can get to Denver in time I hope to meet and interview our National Beef Ambassadors. They’re pictured here with Daren Williams, Masters of Beef Advocacy Program. I took the photo from the Beef Ambassadors Blog, sponsored by ZimmComm New Media! The new ambassadors are starting to post on it. Here’s what Austin Joyce had to say:

Howdy,

My name is Austin Joyce and I am a Freshman Ag Business major from Pearland, Texas and a loud and proud member of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Class of 2014! I can’t elaborate enough on how honored and excited I am to be a member of the 2011 Beef Ambassador Team! This year holds alot in store for us and I am looking forward to meeting many new people in our industry. This is a once in a lifetime oppurtunity and I am ready for the challenge and excitiement that is to come. I am writing this blog from the 2011 NCBA Cattle Industry Meeting in Denver. If you haven’t had an oppurtunity to attend this event I encourage you to at least once. It is a wonderful convention and a great way to meet people in our industry. Also, if you haven’t already, sign up for the Master of Beef Advocacy Course (MBA). It will give you insight into our industry and allow you to be a better beef advocate!

Thanks and Gig’em,

Austin

Beef, NCBA

Raven Industries Sponsors AgWired iPhone App

Chuck Zimmerman

Raven Industries

ZimmComm is happy to announce Raven Industries as our newest sponsor. Raven is taking a big leap into the support of cutting edge information distribution by becoming our first AgWired iPhone App sponsor! Don’t have the AgWired App on your iPhone yet? Then what are you waiting for? If you’ve already got the AgWired App then make sure you get our latest update when you sync with iTunes next! And for you Android fans, we’re working on that right now and will be announcing availability in the Android Market soon.

Ryan Molitor Raven IndustriesAt the recent AG CONNECT Expo I spoke with Ryan Molitor, Raven Applied Technologies Marketing Supervisor (pictured left). This is the precision ag division of the company. Here’s what Ryan says about their sponsorship.

“As a cutting edge technology provider, we’re very excited to be a part of the AgWired app. News and information is more and more readily available, and we are happy to be part of the leading edge of delivering it.”

I asked him what’s new. He says they recently introduced eight new products. One that he highlights is their Envizio Pro II field computer. It controls all functions of the tractor through one console.

Ryan says all their field computers are internet ready and points to their Slingshot field hub product. This is a product that would get my attention in today’s connected world. Benefits include:

* Wireless RTK correction signals via cellular networks for universal access to sub-inch accuracy
* ZERO line-of-site RTK signal limitations provide uninterrupted operation and convenience
* Real-time communications and data sharing with any computer anywhere ensures better data, better decisions and more productivity in the field
* Seamless data transfer from the field to secure online accounts
* Remote capabilities for changing settings and profiles from distant locations
* Remote live support via high-speed Internet slashes downtime and operator error
* Compatible with both Raven and non-Raven precision ag equipment.

Listen to my interview with Ryan here: Interview With Ryan Molitor

Agribusiness, Apps, Audio, Precision Agriculture

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Michael Steele’s research recently garnered him global recognition as a 2010 global winner of Alltech’s Young Scientist Competition.
  • Download the agenda for the upcoming Annual Meeting of the Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, “Today’s Issues: Up Close and Personal”.
  • John Deere announces that, once again, it will partner with the Agriculture Council of America, and other industry partners to sponsor National Ag Day, which will be celebrated Tuesday, March 15, in Washington D.C.
  • Voting began Jan. 31 to select one independent grower member and alternate, and two independent handler members and alternates to serve as directors for the Almond Board of California during the 2011-2012 crop year.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Tillage Practice ZimmPoll Results

    Chuck Zimmerman

    In our latest ZimmPoll we asked about tillage practices with the question, “Which tillage practice do you employ on most of your farming operation.” It looks like No-Till is the winner with 24%, followed by Conventional at 21%, Other at 9% and Strip-Till at 6%.

    ZimmPoll 8

    Our next ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “Will commodity prices be higher or lower a year from now??” Let us know and thank you for participating.

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

    ZimmPoll

    Agwired Cattle Convention Coverage Delayed

    Cindy Zimmerman

    It looks like the 2011 Cattle Industry Annual Convention & NCBA Trade Show will be officially kicking off on Wednesday without us, although we are still trying to get there.

    I know we are not alone, there are lots of cattlemen and women across the country who are having problems getting to Denver for the big event this week, but it’s still frustrating. Our original flight was scheduled for today (Tuesday) and although we tried to beat the storm by rescheduling for early Monday evening, our flight was canceled after we arrived in Kansas City. We made the drive through freezing rain to and from KC airport safely and re-booked for Wednesday afternoon, wishfully thinking that the worst would be over by then. Apparently, not so much. Our 1:30 pm flight has already been canceled.

    Sooo, we are now re-scheduling on a different airline to try and get in late and still be there for all of Thursday, Friday and Saturday. We can only hope. At this point, however, we will definitely miss the Cattlemen’s College, opening general session and Trade Show Welcome Reception.

    We are determined to make it there yet so that we can still bring coverage to others who may still not be able to get there, so stay tuned!

    NCBA

    Beef Board Blogging

    Chuck Zimmerman

    I was supposed to be Beef Board Blogging by now but am stuck in Missouri snow. Hopefully Cindy and I will make it tomorrow (or sometime). In the meantime, the show goes on as can be seen on the Cattlemen’s Beef Board Blog. Diane Henderson and Melissa Slagle are picking up my slack I see. So, meetings are taking place because the work of the Checkoff will go on! Here’s an excerpt from one of Diane’s posts today:

    Snow, ice and cold across much of the country are making it difficult or impossible for a lot of folks to reach the 2011 Cattle Industry Convention this week in Denver, where the high temperature has remained below zero today. Some people flew in early — yesterday and today — to get in front of the storms in the Midwest and East, but others have faced one canceled flight after another, to no avail.

    But the convention must go on. And so it does. A few meetings have gotten under way today, including a meeting of state beef council execs with the Cattlemen’s Beef Board’s collections compliance staff to discuss checkoff collections issues across the country. Another meeting going on this afternoon is of the members of the Beef Industry Long Range Planning Task Force, which will be presenting a proposed three-year plan to the industry later this week.

    Cattle Industry Conference

    Snow Can’t Keep Growers Away From Iowa Power Farming Show

    Joanna Schroeder

    Despite blizzard conditions throughout much of Iowa and across the country, the weather couldn’t keep thousands of growers from descending on Des Moines for the 56th annual Iowa Power Farming Show that kicked off today. This three day show, which ends on February 3, 2011, is expected to be one of the largest in the show’s history and I’m here courtesy of our sponsor, Ag Leader Technology. The show is conducted by the Iowa-Nebraska Equipment Dealers Association.

    Tom Junge, Show Manager, said that this year there are 100 new exhibitors out of more than 680 total exhibitors. There are more than 1680 booths spread out between three major convention centers and 50 companies were still on a waiting list. Next year, the show will expand to Vet’s Auditorium and that should accommodate another 100 exhibitors.

    I asked Junge what some of this year’s trends were. He said that in one of the surveys that they sent out to growers prior to the show, 24 percent of them indicated that they are planning on purchasing a tractor this year. Another 22 percent plan on expanding their precision ag applications. As a result, Junge said a majority of precision ag exhibitors expanded their booths this year.

    I also asked Junge what one of the coolest things on the trade show floor was. He said that farmers are very interested in being more self sufficient on the farm for their own energy. This year there are six energy companies at the show and they are getting a lot of traffic. Junge noted that he feels offering a diversity of companies makes them unique; yet, they pride themselves in keeping everything ag related.

    To learn more about the this year’s Iowa Power Farming Show, listen to my interview with Tom Junge. Tom Junge Interview

    You can also see pictures from the show in my Iowa Power Farming Show flickr album.

    Ag Leader, Audio, Farm Shows