Pennsylvania Farm Show Goes Green

Joanna Schroeder

The Pennsylvania Farm Show kicked off a little greener this year. The Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center has some new “eco” features including a 124 kW rooftop photovoltaic solar array that were part of an energy savings project complements of the Pennsylvania Guaranteed Energy Savings Act. The new energy efficient, eco-features were celebrated during an opening day celebration coined “Switch to Solar”.  The construction was actually completed in October of last year.

The ceremony highlighted recent efforts by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and the Farm Show Complex to make the facility more eco-friendly, energy efficient and energy wise through an energy savings performance contract implemented by Pepco Energy.

Some of the “eco” improvements included a comprehensive recycling program and the Susquehanna River Basin Commission’s installation of a demonstration storm water garden and a 20,000-gallon water storage tank, which will reduce run-off into Paxton Creek and reduce the Farm Show Complex’s water costs.

The $3.6 million project also included a 124 kW rooftop photovoltaic solar array and a variety of energy efficiency and solar hot water implementation measures. The project is estimated to save the complex more than $300,000 annually in operating utility costs and should decrease carbon dioxide emissions by 1,650 metric tons each year.

“The completion of the GESA project represents the Farm Show Complex’s dedicated investment to environmental stewardship,” said David Weiss, Chief Operating Officer of Pepco Energy. “Pepco Energy is pleased to offer its expertise and ongoing commitment to providing the energy solutions for this project to reduce costs, consumption and emissions.”

Farm Shows, Sustainability

Messages that Matter: Consumer’s Attitudes Toward Food System

Joanna Schroeder

The Center for Food Integrity (CFI) has just released insight into what influences the segment of society most capable of changing consumer attitude toward today’s food system. The report, “Messages that Matter” is based on CFI’s Consumer Trust in the Food System research that has taken place over the past four years. The most recent study specifically focused on “early adopters” because of their ability to drive social change and found that using a platform of shared values is critical for building trust in today’s food system.

“If we are going to be successful in changing attitudes we must not only increase consumer knowledge but also change what they currently believe,” said Terry Fleck, CFI’s executive director. “This document is a key component in our mission to increase consumer trust and confidence in today’s food system.”

Key areas of focus included nutrition, food safety, humane treatment of farm animals, and responsible use of technology in food production. Specific attitudes and beliefs of consumers were tested and the results were used to determine what the most effective messages and programming elements would have the most positive impact on changing attitudes.

The research determined that “early adopters,” which represent about 13 percent of the population, are opinion leaders who can influence other people. While they have a higher level of concern about food safety, animal welfare and other food system issues they are also information seekers who are willing to consider credible sources.

“We encourage organizations to use this information to help shape their approach to communicating the benefits of today’s food system to consumers,” said Fleck. “We think organizations will find it very helpful in developing programming and messages.”

For more information about the study, visit www.foodintegrity.org.

Education, Food, Research

Wrapping Up AG CONNECT Expo

Chuck Zimmerman

AG CONNECT ExpoThe chairman of the management committee for AG CONNECT Expo is Martin Richenhagen, AGCO President/CEO. I spoke with him about this year’s show which is now winding down to its last hour.

Martin said that one of the differences for this show from last year was having a lot more visitors and he credits having other organizations holding their meetings at the same time with helping. He says the location was very desirable for exhibitors. They use the show to hold their own meetings with dealers and customers. He says they want the show to attract big growers who are looking to invest. He also makes a point about how the show is put on by a non-profit organization, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. Martin also talks about the relationship with AgriTechnica, the largest European show, and says they have even invested in AG CONNECT Expo. Beginning now the two shows will run in off set years.

You can listen to my interview with Martin here: Interview With Martin Richenhagen

I have several more interviews to post from AG CONNECT Expo but am transitioning over to the AFBF Annual Meeting so I’ll see you from there. Our show photo album is now complete. I hope you enjoy them.

2011 AG CONNECT Expo Photo Album

AEM, Audio

AG CONNECT Expo Photos

Chuck Zimmerman

AG CONNECT ExpoThe 2011 AG CONNECT Expo is winding down but that doesn’t mean our coverage has ended. I’ve just updated our photo album with today’s photos.

Cindy and I have more stories that we’ll be posting over the next several days. I’m heading over to the American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting. They’ve got another general session starting real soon. See you from there.

2011 AG CONNECT Expo Photo Album

Uncategorized

AFBF Show Goes On

Cindy Zimmerman

Neither freezing rain, nor snow, nor sleet has stopped the American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting from going on today in Atlanta. The shuttle buses have stopped running, the media reception is canceled, but there are still plenty of people here attending sessions and finishing interviews and presentations for YF&R awards. Conferences this morning included animal welfare and crops outlook, this afternoon we’ll hear about the livestock outlook and how farmers can tell their story with social media.

State Farm Bureaus were recognized for excellence yesterday during the opening general session. For outstanding program achievement and membership growth, the Arizona, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas and Michigan Farm Bureaus received Pinnacle Awards and numerous states received Awards for Excellence and President’s Awards.

In addition, AFBF announced that Ben LaCross of Michigan has been elected as the new chairman of the Young Farmers and Ranchers committee.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and “Dirty Jobs” Mike Rowe are still on for this afternoon’s closing general session so stay tuned for more.

2011 AFBF Annual Meeting Photo Album

AFBF

Consumer Food Habits Study Presented at AG CONNECT Expo

Chuck Zimmerman

AG CONNECT ExpoWhat do consumers think about food? Betsy Freese, Living The Country Life, told AG CONNECT Expo attendees about the results of recent survey results from the Better Homes & Gardens magazine editors. They mainly focused on women readers and their food habits in the last two year.

Betsy says that between 2008 to 2010 they found that the economy had an impact but that they’re still interested in organic and locally grown food although their use of those foods hadn’t really increased during this time. The economy is probably the reason as they are making fewer trips to the grocery store. They also looked at what types of meat they were consuming and found that beef and pork were stable while chicken had declined very slightly. Fresh fruit and vegetable use went down also probably due to the economy. There was a whole part of the study on food safety. In the past two years food safety confidence was steady although it had declined in the time period before this survey. She says the local food movement seems to have hit a plateau in the last couple years. She says that there is a lot that farmers can take away from the study. She thinks it is very important that farmers don’t try so hard to segment what kind of farmer they are, as in organic vs. non-organic and try to work together more.

You can listen to my interview with Betsy here: Interview With Betsy Freese

2011 AG CONNECT Expo Photo Album

Audio, Food

Smartphone Technology Education at AG CONNECT Expo

Chuck Zimmerman

AG CONNECT ExpoOne very well attended education session at AG CONNECT Expo was on “Smartphone Technology: Unleashing Agriculture.” The presenter was Neil Mylet, Loadout Technologies. He started his company right after graduating Purdue to develop intelligent smartphone technologies to allow phones to command and control and be part of industrial processes such as grain handling.

Neil was encouraged by the turnout at his session and he hopes they left better able to assess how they can better integrate mobile smartphone technology into their operation. He thinks mobile technology is still in a growth mode but will change how we communicate and work within the industry. The ag industry is no different than others that are being transformed by new technology. He says wifi is also essential on farms to take full advantage of these technologies. He also believes farmer adoption of smartphones is just a matter of time.

You can listen to my interview with Neil here: Interview With Neil Mylet

2011 AG CONNECT Expo Photo Album

Audio, Technology

Final Day For AG CONNECT Expo

Chuck Zimmerman

AG CONNECT ExpoThe staff at the Atlanta Convention Center was out shoveling snow early today. That’s something they don’t do very often but it was sure needed. The final day of the 2011 AG CONNECT Expo is here and the show will open for business at 9am. All educational sessions are taking place too. A lot of things got canceled in Atlanta but here, the show goes on. The roads are pretty well covered with snow and now freezing rain has moved in. It was crunchy walk over but not too bad.

The American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting is also in full swing after this morning’s Foundation Flapjack Fundraiser. I did not get to that breakfast but enjoyed one in the AFBF Media Room area with several other reporters. I’m back to the AG CONNECT Expo media room now and getting ready to do some posts and more interviews on the floor. Cindy will be working over at AFBF until I transition over there later today.

We hope you are warm and safe wherever you are.

2011 AG CONNECT Expo Photo Album

2011 AFBF Annual Meeting Photo Album

AFBF

The Art of Moving Hay

Melissa Sandfort

The year was 1930 and my Grandmother was 5 years old. For historical preservation, the dog, Spot, was lovingly noted on the back of the photograph. A while back, I wrote about round bales versus smaller square bales. Today, the picture depicts a time before either of those existed and hay was moved in loose piles.

This photograph is my grandmother, her mother, and her younger brother, posed in front of a hay wagon, onto which the hay was loaded with pitchforks. The wagon was then taken to the barn where it was parked under the hay fork. The hay fork was a large hook, tied to a heavy rope, looped through a pulley at the end of the barn.

A team of horses was hitched to the end of the rope, and they would pull on the rope to raise the forkful of hay into the barn. Grandpa said on their farm, he was always in charge of the trip rope, which emptied the hay into position in the loft. And then the process would start all over again until the hay wagon was empty.

Today we have balers, and tractors with forks, and large trailers to stack bales on to transport them to a barn, or even another farm three states away for cattle feed. And with digital photos and frames, I doubt the dogs get their notoriety these days. Thanks to Grandma for finding this picture.

I’m telling you folks, grandparents are a goldmine. Take time to do some digging.

Until we walk again …

Uncategorized

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • U.S. Wheat Associates (www.uswheat.org) welcomes Tyler Jameson as Assistant Director of Policy in its Arlington, Va., headquarters effective today.
  • A cooperative effort between Hoosier Ag Today and the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, all the photos featured on the Indiana Agriculture Calendar were taken by Indiana farmers and are of scenes from Indiana farms and rural communities.
  • Bayer CropScience announced the official launch of GlyTol glyphosate-tolerant technology, GlyTol + LibertyLink technology and six new cotton varieties for 2011.
  • The American Veterinary Medical Association has released a new video promoting its policy on how to reduce pain for cattle during a common surgical procedure — dehorning.
    Zimfo Bytes