Advocating for Agriculture Winners Honored

Cindy Zimmerman

The winners of the AG CONNECT Expo 2011 “Advocating for Agriculture” awards were honored at the “Celebration of Agriculture” and opening ceremony for the show on Friday evening. These awards recognize those who support “in a compelling way the work of farmers and ranchers to provide abundant and affordable food and fiber.” Online voting by the Ag community helped select the winners, and more than 12,500 votes were cast for the nine finalists.

The winners from left to right are:
Next Generation of Ag Award — Elliott Marsh from Statesboro, Georgia
Ag Woman of the Year — Beverly Hall from Baxter, Tennessee
Community Advocate Award — Ray Bowman from Frankfurt, Kentucky

You can see more photos from the opening ceremony in the
2011 AG CONNECT Expo Photo Album

AEM

Live Stream – AG CONNECT Expo Opening Ceremonies

Chuck Zimmerman

AG CONNECT ExpoWe live streamed the opening ceremonies from AG CONNECT Expo here and will post both video and audio later since we have it recorded.

In the meantime you can check out our photo album from the link below. It’s growing by the hour!

The preview day is history and it’s party time in Atlanta.

Post Update: You can listen to the opening ceremonies here: AG CONNECT Expo Opening Ceremonies

Here’s an edited video version of the opening ceremonies:

2011 AG CONNECT Expo Photo Album

Audio, Video

AEM Executive Pleased With AG CONNECT

Cindy Zimmerman

We’ve been talking with Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) Vice President of Agricultural Services Charlie O’Brien about AG CONNECT Expo since it was first announced at Ag Media Summit in July 2008.

Now we are starting the second AG CONNECT Expo, which will be held every other year after this year, and Charlie says the show has really come together this year to be what they envisioned. “It’s certainly a larger footprint than we had last year,” Charlie says. “It feels like people really stepped it up a little bit more this year and it’s really looking good on the show floor this year.”

Charlie says it worked out very well for them to team up with American Farm Bureau, as well as other groups such as the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, to have co-located events. “That’s kind of been the strategy all along is to have key meetings associated with it and then have the trade show and the educational events as part of the trade show. We’re trying to be as efficient as we can with everybody’s time.”

Listen to my interview with Charlie here: Charlie O'Brien

2011 AG CONNECT Expo Photo Album

AEM, Audio

John Deere Shows What’s New At AG CONNECT Expo

Chuck Zimmerman

AG CONNECT ExpoThis afternoon John Deere held an AG CONNECT Expo media tour of their exhibit while providing an overview of their latest product offerings. I spoke with John Deere’s Tim Merrett who says the show is a great place to display new products like their new Interim Tier 4 tractors that are just rolling off the production line this month. These new 8R models come with JDLink Ultimate Service and Service ADVISOR Remote, all of which is on display. There are also several tractor simulators you can get in and take them for a test drive.

You can listen to Tim talk about all that’s being offered from John Deere here: Tim Merrett Interview

Follow along with the media touring John Deere during the show:

2011 AG CONNECT Expo Photo Album

Audio, Equipment, John Deere, Tractor

Trade Show Floor Open at AG CONNECT Expo

Chuck Zimmerman

AG CONNECT Expo WelcomeThe trade show floor is now open on preview day at AG CONNECT Expo. We had quite a crowd waiting to come in which bodes well for the exhibitors here. The show opens up for general admission on Saturday and runs through Monday afternoon.

Cindy and I are getting ready to head out on the floor and talk with some of the folks that are here. Later this afternoon we’ll live stream the opening Celebration of Agriculture Reception. I’ll have that posted on the top of AgWired this afternoon or you can find it on our AgWired Live TV page.

2011 AG CONNECT Expo Photo Album

Video

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