Challenges For Dairy Farmers

Chuck Zimmerman

Next up from the recent NAFB convention Trade Talk session is the Dairy Farmers of America. I spoke with Jackie Klippenstein, VP, Industry and Legislative Affairs.

Jackie says that priorities for DFA include making sure new legislators are familiar with the needs of dairy farmers. She says the industry lost some long time supporters in the recent election. Looking ahead she says that dairy farmers need farm policy reform quickly and cites margins as the biggest challenge facing them.

You can listen to my interview with Jackie here: DFA Interview

NAFB Convention Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Dairy, NAFB

Death Tax and the White House

Chuck Zimmerman

It looks like the death tax is going to be really hard for Washington legislators to ignore. There are 31 ag groups making sure of it. They sent a letter to President Obama today “urging immediate, permanent and meaningful estate tax reform.” Anyone with a lick of common sense would know that if estate taxes are allowed to be reinstated at the beginning of the year there will be a huge negative impact on the industry let alone individuals. This goes for a lot of people outside the ag industry as well.

During the recent NAFB convention Trade Talk session this was one of the items that came up in my interview with Gregg Doud, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Chief Economist. Gregg is pictured here being interviewed at Trade Talk by Julie Harker of Brownfield while NCBA’s Mike Deering looks on in the background.

Listen to Gregg describe where things currently stand on the death tax issue: Gregg Doud on Death Tax

Keeping up the pressure, a number of ag groups will join with NCBA in a press conference tomorrow at 1pm EST.

Speaking on behalf of NCBA is Scott Bennett, a junior at Virginia Tech University and an active participant in his family’s operation, Knoll Crest Farm, in Red House, Va. The American Farm Bureau Federation; the American Soybean Association; the National Association of Wheat Growers; the National Corn Growers Association; the National Cotton Council; the National Farmers Union; the National Milk Producers Federation; the National Pork Producers Council; and the Public Lands Council will also participate in the news conference.

To watch the event live, go to NCBA’s policy blog at www.BeltwayBeef.com.

Ag Groups, Audio, Farm Policy, NAFB, NCBA

New Research From Beef Checkoff

Chuck Zimmerman

Some of the latest research being conducted by the Cattlemen’s Beef Board includes environmental footprint research, changes to the National Beef Cook-Off and new lean cuts of meat. To talk about them at the recent NAFB convention Trade Talk session was Robert Fountain, Jr., CBB Secretary/Treasurer.

I thought the environmental footprint research sounded especially interesting. Interesting but sad that money has to be spent to overcome emotional non-scientific information that’s floating around about animal agriculture/production. The good thing is that other valid scientific research along these lines has already debunked some of the myths out there. This study will no doubt do the same and focus specifically on beef.

You can listen to my interview with Robert here: CBB Interview

NAFB Convention Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Beef, NAFB

Vote For AGCONNECT Expo 2011 Advocating For Agriculture Awards

Chuck Zimmerman

It’s time to vote for the AGCONNECT Expo 2011 “Advocating For Agriculture Awards.”

AG CONNECT Expo 2011 is proud to announce the finalists for its “Advocating for Agriculture” Awards. It’s now up to you to determine the Grand Prize winner for each category by voting online from November 24 – December 9, 2010.

Meet our finalists by reading their nominations and watching their videos. Then, vote for a finalist in each of the three categories. Winners will be notified by December 10, 2010.

Finalists Include:

Ag Woman of the Year

* Beverly Hall
* Debbie Lyons-Blythe
* Maria McGinnis

Community Advocate

* Ray Bowman
* Melinda Jackson
* Jerry Schleicher

Next Generation of Ag

* Chad Bremmer
* Elliott Marsh
* Erin Mohler

Uncategorized

Free iPhone App on Cyber Monday

Chuck Zimmerman

On Cyber Monday you iPhone people can get a freebie. Join the nearly 1,000 who already have the first agricultural news media app for the iPhone – the AgWired iPhone App. The app offers one-touch access to all the latest news and information in the agribusiness and agricultural marketing world posted on Agwired.com, including audio, photos and video, and connections to other ZimmComm news sites. The AgWired App features a news tab drop down menu to select ZimmComm News Network feeds as well as individual news on AgWired by category.

The app is available for iPhone users to download, free of charge, in the Apple iTunes store. You can find the AgWired App in the iTunes Store with this link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/agwired/id382820712?mt=8

Technology

Area Code First

Melissa Sandfort

I can imagine how it sounded:
“Can I have your phone number please, starting with the area code?”
“6.”
“I’m sorry, I just caught the first number. Can you give it to me again?”
“Yes. 6. That’s my phone number.”

I can’t even keep up with the latest in cell phone technology. Pretty soon, we’re going to have a chip implanted in our ear and we just have to blink to dial someone. Once for home, twice for the office.

Back in 1947, however, my grandfather’s family was on the rural farmer-owned telephone exchange where the central office was upstairs in an old farm house. His family’s number was 6. Just 6. The poles were installed and lines strung by the farmers themselves.

It wasn’t until the REA was given authority to install rural phone lines in 1949 that the installation of rural phone systems took off. By 1975, farmers overtook and surpassed their urban neighbors in the percentages of households with telephone service.

The phone pictured here hangs on the wall as decoration, but I think it was less than 10 years ago when they finally took down the rotary phone in the kitchen and installed a touchtone phone.

Until we walk again…

Uncategorized

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • USDA has finalized procedures for the upcoming referendum on the continuation of the Sorghum Checkoff Program. USDA will conduct the referendum Feb. 1-28, 2011, at local Farm Service Agency offices for producers and the Agricultural Marketing Service office for importers.
  • Only 25 percent of Americans consider “healthy” food choices when dining out, according to the 2010 Healthy Eating Consumer Trend Report.
  • Online voting is now open for the Ag community to help select the 2011 “Advocating for Agriculture Awards” winners. Deadline to vote is Dec. 9, 2010.
  • Mother Earth News and Funny Farm Industries has launched the Pickin’ Chicken app in the Reference section of Apple’s App Store. Download price is $2.99.
    Zimfo Bytes

    CHS Growing With Renewable Fuels

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Mark Fenner, CHS Energy (not pictured), was one of the people working during the NAFB Trade Talk session. He says that they market under the Cenex brand. They’ve been selling a lot of diesel fuel products and the new Tier 4 engines are a real focus for them. Trends in the renewable fuels area have a definite effect on them. An example is the flat price of biodiesel which has really hindered growth in the use of the fuel. They are extremely bullish on ethanol though.

    You can listen to my interview with Mark here: CHS Interview

    NAFB Convention Photo Album

    Audio, Cooperatives, Energy, NAFB

    Croplife America Presents Modern Agriculture

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Mary Emma Young was taking care of business at the NAFB Trade Talk session for Croplife America. I visited with her to learn what the organization is focusing on this year.

    She says they have been pushing the image of “modern agriculture” and the use of new technologies. Of course using new technology depends a lot on regulations. This is an area that Croplife America works on with legislators in Washington, DC. She says agriculture is largely a bi-partisan issue so they look forward to continuing to work with legislators on both sides of the aisle.

    You can listen to my interview with Mary Emma Young here: Croplife America Interview

    NAFB Convention Photo Album

    Agribusiness, Audio, NAFB

    Last Chance for NAFB Foundation Toy Tractor

    Cindy Zimmerman

    As you start your Christmas shopping, consider this for someone on your list – a signed John Deere toy tractor that will support future farm broadcasters.

    Joe Ertl has personally autographed each of the numbered John Deere B 1/16 scale toy tractors for the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) Foundation. This unique tractor was specifically designed for NAFB and includes a mounted replica of a tractor radio. Only 200 of these tractors have been produced to benefit the NAFB Foundation. Numbers 6-200 have been made available to the public for sale while the first five were auctioned live during the NAFB Convention earlier this month.

    The price per tractor is $85 plus shipping and handling and orders can be made online.

    The NAFB Foundation is the nonprofit charitable and educational arm of NAFB that works to keep the quality and viability of the farm broadcasting profession and industry at the highest level through the support of NAFB education, marketing and research activities, annual student scholarships and internship grants to stations and networks.

    NAFB