NAMA Creates Young Professionals Membership

Chuck Zimmerman

National Agri-Marketing AssociationFresh out of college agrimarketing professionals whether they are new to the National Agri-Marketing Association or not and under age 25 will now receive a discount on their membership. The organization has created a Young Professionals Membership after a lot of discussion on committees and with members.

In response to these discussions, we’ve created the Young Professionals Membership. This membership category offers a discounted membership to recent graduates and new hires under the age of 25, who are already engaged in an agri-marketing business – agency, media, company, etc.

Dues for these Young Professionals would be half the amount paid by regular members until they reach the age of 25 – this is half of national dues as well as half of chapter dues. Once they reach 25, they will pay the full membership dues. Watch your email for more information coming soon on the Young Professionals membership.

Many businesses pay dues for their more seasoned employees. This will provide a cost-effective means for businesses to provide development and networking opportunities to their entry level employees. The development and networking opportunities would naturally help the younger employees become a bigger asset to their employers.

NAMA

Quarry & Syngenta Canada Agree To Marketing Partnership

Chuck Zimmerman

Quarry Integrated Communications and Syngenta Crop Protection Cananda have agreed to a new, multi-year marketing partnership.

SyngentaAccording to Patrick Crampton, Head of Marketing for Syngenta Canada, Quarry’s deep knowledge of the agriculture industry, combined with its ability to service all of Syngenta Crop Protection’s marketing communications needs in an integrated manner was the impetus for the partnership. “Syngenta Canada is excited to join forces with a team of highly skilled, marketing communication professionals who will be working on our behalf to share our vision of delivering outstanding crop protection solutions to Canadian producers.”

“As the agriculture industry undergoes a state of transformation, Quarry looks forward to working with Syngenta Canada to navigate this rapidly changing environment,” stated Ken Whyte, President of Quarry Integrated Communications Inc. “We are thrilled to support Syngenta Crop Protection – an already highly regarded and respected brand – going forward. For Quarry, the partnership feels like an ideal match.”

Agencies, Agribusiness

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

    Vagueness of GIPSA Proposal Concerns Montana Producer

    Cindy Zimmerman

    The basic problem with the proposed Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) rule as far as Montana cow-calf producer Bill Donald is concerned is that it is just too vague.

    “We can have intelligent people that read it and come up with a very different analysis of what it will or won’t do,” Bill says. “It’s so hard to make a comment about what the rule may or may not do because it doesn’t define some things very well.”

    He does believe the proposed rule has the potential to have a severe adverse impact on value-based marketing programs that producers currently utilize and because it is so vague he fears that it will lead to apprehension on the part of both buyers and sellers going into a year with one of the smallest cattle herds in history. “The market has always responded negatively to apprehension,” he says. “If people don’t know the playing field, if they don’t know what the premium is going to be for a given product or commodity, they tend to pull back and – at least in the short term – that makes for lower prices.”

    Bill, who is the president-elect of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, says the most important thing for producers to do right now is to make comments on the proposed rule before the November 22 deadline. “It is going to impact every producer in the cattle industry,” Bill said. “Every time the government comes up with a rule like this, it’s incredibly important for the people who are going to be impacted to let the governing agency know how it will impact them.”

    Producers can submit comments directly on-line and more information about the rule and comment period is available on the NCBA website.

    Listen to or download my interview with Bill here: Bill Donald Interview

    Audio, GIPSA, Livestock, NCBA

    Farm Foundation Forum Tackles Obesity, Food & Policy Issue

    John Davis

    Our friends at Farm Foundation are offering another one of their free conversations on agricultural policy in this country … this time tackling the issue of the connection between obesity, food and the nation’s agricultural policy on Tuesday, November 9 from 9-11 am at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. :
    What’s the Connection?

    Presenters will be:

    * Jon Doggett, Vice President of Public Policy for the National Corn Growers Association;
    * Mary Muth, Director of the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Program at RTI International; and
    * Michael Jacobson, Executive Director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

    Each presenter will get 10-15 minutes to make their case, followed by a discussion moderated by former Texas Congressman Charlie Stenholm.

    Make your reservation by noon Friday, November 5 at the Farm Foundation website.

    Farm Foundation

    Kip Cullers Shares Record Soybean Techniques

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Kip Cullers recently set yet another world soybean yield record with 160.6 bushels per acre on his 2010 test fields. The question other growers have is “How does he do it?”

    kip cullersKip maintains that he has no big secrets and that any farmer can do what he does. He shares some of his techniques in two recent BASF Top Plots episodes, available on the BASF YouTube channel.

    In addition to planting the right genetics, he credits the record to taking a proactive, total-systems approach to help his soybeans thrive. As part of that approach, Cullers makes a strong case for using Headline® fungicide for superior disease control and the Plant Health benefits that helped his soybeans get past stressful weather this summer and Kixor® herbicide technology for controlling glyphosate-resistant weeds. “Headline was a key to driving higher yields this season,” said Cullers. “It’s the foundation of our Plant Health program, and the reason we’re able to produce happy, healthy plants that produce more yield.”

    BASF has created a page on Facebook to send congrats to Kip for not only setting another world record, but also for helping show other farmers how to increase their own yields. Send a message to Kip by going to the SuperSoy landing tab on the BASF Crop Protection Facebook page.

    BASF Crop Protection is also offering some extra incentives for farmers who want to use Headline® fungicide for the 2011 growing season by saving money through the Headline Advantage and Farm Plan™ offers. Headline Advantage offers growers an opportunity to earn a $100 per gallon rebate on Headline purchases made by March 15, 2011 from authorized BASF retailers. BASF has also teamed up again with Farm Plan to allow growers to finance a purchase of two or more BASF crop protection products—such as Headline fungicide and Kixor® herbicide technology—through Farm Plan with zero percent interest and no payments for 180 days. Farmers can find out more from their local BASF rep.

    BASF, Soybean

    Dairy Business Driven By Social Media

    Chuck Zimmerman

    At the beginning of the Alltech Global 500 I participated in a presentation on social media and I’ve been overhearing farmers talking about how to use it for their farm. During a discussion dinner last night I met a dairy farmer who has been using it to drive business on his farm. He’s a great example for all farmers. He’s Carl Chaney (left in photo) and you can find his farm online at Chaney’s Dairy Barn.

    Carl has a great story which I recorded this morning. Basically, his family operation decided to take control of their own destiny and diversify into processing their own milk, making their own ice cream and creating an agri-tourism component of their farm. So over the last couple years they have been using a website and now Facebook and Twitter to promote their business and Carl says they have direct evidence of how it has helped. This use of social media has helped them stay in the dairy business after they were considering getting out.

    Besides driving business Carl says they are also helping educate consumers about where their food comes from. Sounds like he could be on the board of the AgChat Foundation! The farm conducts tours with a growing number of area schools. You’ll hear the pride in his voice when he sees kids marvel over a new calf or seeing a milking parlor in action.

    You can listen to my interview with Carl here: Interview with Carl Chaney

    Alltech Global 500 Photo Album

    Alltech, Audio, Dairy, Social Networking

    New Strawberries Website

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Strawberry lovers have a new website from the California Strawberry Commission.

    The new website is chock full of some of the best recipes from professional chefs and top food bloggers, along with colorful and mouth-watering food photography. Recipes can be shared via social networks, voted on, and printed. Additionally, consumers and bloggers can submit their own recipes to be featured on the California Strawberries site.

    “Strawberry fans across the country like sharing their love for strawberries. They are always looking for the latest recipes, events and information,” said Carolyn O’Donnell, Communications Director, California Strawberry Commission. “We strive to create that direct, two-way communication with strawberry lovers everywhere with the new site, integrated with other social networks.”

    Ag Groups, Food

    Beef Producer Emphasizes Importance of Social Media To Ag

    Chuck Zimmerman

    This year’s Alltech Global 500 includes a full program for beef producers. As we’ve said many times before, if you’re in the dairy business, you’re in the beef business. So, I spoke with one of the beef farmers here, Charles Miller. He’s a Kentucky cattleman so he didn’t have as far to go as many who are here from 29 different countries.

    Charles says he’s an Alltech customer and he’s glad to see the company placing a greater emphasis on beef lately and here at this conference. He sees the interaction with international farmers as a great opportunity. He says that one of the most interesting things he has seen and learned so far is the importance and perspective on social media. He said, “As we go forward as an industry, if we fail to utilize that tool to our best advantage we’re going to be left behind.”

    You can listen to my interview with Charles here: Interview With Charles Miller

    Alltech Global 500 Photo Album

    Alltech, Animal Health, Audio, Beef, Social Networking

    House Ag Committee Dems Decimated

    Cindy Zimmerman

    us houseWith debate on the next farm bill expected to begin in earnest next year, the make-up of the House Agriculture Committee will be significant – and after yesterday’s election there will be lots of new faces.

    While Chairman Collin Peterson was re-elected, he will no longer be chairman with the Republicans in control. What is really amazing is that 16 of the 28 Democrats on the House Ag Committee were defeated – over half! On the Republican side – not a single member lost their election. Only Jerry Moran of Kansas will no longer be in the U.S. House as he won his bid for the open Senate seat in that state.

    The Senate Ag committee fared better, mainly because most of the members were not up for re-election. However, Chairman Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas was soundly defeated, as was expected.

    It will definitely be interesting to see what happens next!

    By the way – the HSUS backed “puppy mill” proposition in Missouri unfortunately passed. It was looking really good early on, with the No votes running over 60% – until the St. Louis and Kansas City ballots started coming in and the balance changed. Missouri is kind of a microcosm of the U.S. with our very own East and West coasts that have a whole different viewpoint compared to the rest of the state!

    So, will Prop B really “save the puppies?” Farm broadcaster Tom Brand of KFEQ in St. Joseph, Missouri had an interesting take on that yesterday on Facebook. “The Humane Society of the US says there’s 200,000+ dogs in MO w/ 1,400 licensed breeders. A limit of 50=70,000. What about the remaining 130,000? MO’s 350 shelters (that HSUS doesn’t help) would have to take 350+ dogs by 12/31. If they’re not rescued, killed or moved to another state – 83,000 dogs will be killed. HSUS says 64% of dogs that go to shelters don’t leave.” Nice job, HSUS! I’m sure those puppies will be thanking you.

    Animal Activists, politics