Georgia FFA Helps Out with AG CONNECT

Cindy Zimmerman

Georgia FFA officers from around the state are helping out with AG CONNECT Expo this year.

I spoke with Josh Daniel, State Vice President from Oconee County, and Beth Hickey, State Vice President
Stephens County, about their involvement in the expo. “We’re helping with some of the educational breakout sessions and with some of the other educational opportunities and tours that AG CONNECT is offering,” Beth told me.

They are both very excited about meeting people from the agriculture industry all over the world. “It’s really a joy to meet people in the industry and seeing the way it’s growing and changing and always learning more about agriculture,” said Josh.

Listen to my interview with Josh and Beth here: Georgia FFA at AG CONNECT

2011 AG CONNECT Expo Photo Album

AEM, Audio, FFA

Preview Day at AG CONNECT Expo 2011

Cindy Zimmerman

Preview day for the second AG CONNECT Expo is underway here in Atlanta and it’s obvious the newest U.S. ag show is going to be much bigger this year.

There are already more media folks here than last year in Orlando. In fact, Julie Harker with Brownfield Network commented that last year it was just her and Chuck here!

I took photos and recorded Julie interviewing show director Sara Mooney, who says they are happy being co-located with the American Farm Bureau annual meeting this year. “We’re really excited about it,” Sara said. “We’re going to have over 380 exhibitors on the show floor with AG CONNECT and American Farm Bureau Trade Show Pavilion.”

In addition to the exhibit hall, Sara says there’s also an extensive education program, with over 30 brand new sessions and topics as well as Innovation Theater sponsored by Successful Farming. The show, which is sponsored by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), officially opens this evening with the grand opening ceremony and will run through Monday afternoon.

Listen to Julie’s interview with Sara here: Sara Mooney

2011 AG CONNECT Expo Photo Album

AEM, AFBF, Audio

Industry-wide Response to China’s Anti-Dumping Case

Melissa Sandfort

The U.S. Grains Council is coordinating an industry-wide registration process for interested U.S. companies in response to China’s recently announced anti-dumping charges against imports of U.S. distiller’s dried grains. The deadline for registration is extremely short, a process further complicated by the need to translate all registrations into Chinese.

U.S. companies that wish to participate in this industry effort should e-mail the Council at grains@grains.org with contact information by COB Friday, Jan. 7, 2011. From there, legal counsel will contact each participant, provide the necessary registration form and instructions. The registration form must be completed and returned to the law firm by COB Monday, Jan. 10. From there, the law firm will assume responsibility for translation and submission to China’s Ministry of Commerce by its Jan. 17 Beijing deadline.

More information can be found on the Council’s website, www.grains.org.

Grains

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Thomas C. Dorr, president and CEO of the U.S. Grains Council and former USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development during the George W. Bush administration, has been named to the board of directors of the Farm Journal Foundation.
  • Participate in the new Hoard’s Dairyman monthly webinar series starting next Monday, Jan. 10, at noon, central time. To sign up, visit www.hoards.com, and click on “Hoard’s Webinars” in the top right corner of the home page.
  • The Nebraska Department of Agriculture and the Nebraska Corn Board announce the release of a six-minute video, “Consider the Possibilities — Cattle, Corn and Co-Products,” featuring many opportunities available for feeding cattle in Nebraska.
  • The all-new Hesston 1363 10-foot side pull disc mower conditioner by Massey Ferguson provides dairy and beef producers cutting and conditioning innovations designed for making high-quality hay.
Zimfo Bytes

Welcome To AG CONNECT Expo

Chuck Zimmerman

It is welcome time for AG CONNECT Expo, where they’re connecting the world of agriculture. Preview day is coming up on Friday and Cindy and I are checked in and ready to bring you all the action.

AG CONNECT Expo Welcome

We’ll be on the floor throughout the next several days conducting interviews, attending educational sessions and taking lots of photos. Speaking of photos, I have started the official ZimmComm photo album: 2011 AG CONNECT Expo Photo Album

Thank you to AG CONNECT Expo for making it possible for ZimmComm to cover this show. It is the 2nd one and we’re looking forward to many more in coming years.

AEM

Reviewing ZimmComm Activity in 2010

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast 287In this week’s ZimmCast we’re actually going to review some statistics for ZimmComm online activity in 2010. Cindy joins me and shares some of the numbers we put together. Let’s just say we’ve done a lot of agriblogging and farm podcasting!

In fact, we’re about to head to downtown Atlanta for AG CONNECT Expo where we really start racking up the new year’s statistics! So listen in as we give you a ZimmComm review and feel free to pose any questions you may have: ZimmCast 287 - 2010 Review

Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsors, Novus International, and Leica Geosytems 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 a Subscribe page

Audio, ZimmCast

Animal Welfare Information Center

Chuck Zimmerman

Did you know we have an Animal Welfare Information Center at USDA? I don’t think I did even though it was created in 1986. You can follow it on Twitter now.

The Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC) is mandated by the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) to provide information for improved animal care and use in research, testing, teaching, and exhibition.

Animal Activists, USDA

Pioneer Announces AQUAmax Corn Hybrids

Chuck Zimmerman

This morning Pioneer Hi-Bred announced a new generation of corn hybrids under the AQUAmax name that will work well in dry environments. I joined the press conference during opening remarks. You can listen in and download below.

DuPont business Pioneer Hi-Bred launched a new generation of corn hybrids developed and tested to help deliver a yield advantage in water-limited environments, allowing growers to minimize risk and maximize productivity. These hybrids will be offered to growers under the Optimum® AQUAmaxTM brand name.

These hybrids, introduced for planting in 2011, contain a collection of native corn traits that improve water access and utilization and deliver greater yields in water-limited conditions. The initial class of Optimum AQUAmax innovations will include five hybrid platforms across a range of maturities and technology packages. While the 2011 launch size is limited and primarily targeted in the western Corn Belt, the technology advancement is an important milestone toward the longer-term objective of bringing breeding and biotechnology solutions to drought-prone environments.

Full Release here.

You can listen in on the press conference here: Pioneer AQUAmax Press Conference

Agribusiness, Audio, Corn, Pioneer

Trends In Agriculture Back In Kansas City

Chuck Zimmerman

It’s official. The NAMA Trends In Agriculture conference will be held back in Kansas City, MO this fall right before the NAFB convention.

The National Agri-Marketing Association announced that its annual high level event, Trends in Agriculture, will be held in Kansas City immediately prior to the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Annual Conference. In addition, the two organizations will collaborate on a producer-focused session that will close the NAMA event and open the NAFB conference.

“As professional organizations, we share a commitment to helping our members better understand and respond to emerging market issues,” NAMA Executive Vice President/CEO Jenny Pickett said in making the announcement. “In addition, because ‘Trends’ focuses on a more strategic perspective, it tends to attract many of the same marketing executives who may be participating in NAFB’s Trade Talk the following day.”

The centerpiece event of the NAFB’s Annual Convention, Trade Talk, affords company and organization participants access to member broadcasters to discuss the issues and topics that are important to them.

“NAFB and NAMA have many people that are members of both organizations,” added NAFB Executive Director Mark Vail. “This type of planning allows the groups to maximize member opportunities while acknowledging the realities of business travel and meeting time and expense.”

NAFB, NAMA

Weather Expected To Have Most Impact On Ag

Chuck Zimmerman

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What do you think will have the biggest influence on ag in 2011?” Here are the results. Most respondents (40%) think weather patterns will have the biggest influence. Other responses include: general U.S. economy (24%); new Republican leadership in House (13%); farm bill (10%); other (10%) and company consolidation (3%). So if you selected other as an answer or have another choice to answer this please submit it in comments.

The new poll is now live and the question is, “What do you think will happen with biofuels policy this year?” The lame duck session of Congress passed a one year extension of the ethanol and biodiesel tax credits. How do you think this will fare with a new Congress? We look forward to your responses.

Remember, you can submit your questions for us to pose and add your feedback anytime by using the comment feature.

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

ZimmPoll