How To Communicate With Farmers

Chuck Zimmerman

Those pesky producers. How do you communicate with them? Isn’t there just one way that reaches all farmers? Not. So to help beginning agrimarketers the morning session at NAMA Boot Camp features a producer panel led by Janelle Buxton, Successful Farming/Agriculture.com (seated on left). Next to her are Colleen Gerke, Lonny Duckworth and Ken McCauley.

I spoke with Ken before we got started. He really likes the opportunity to have this discussion because he would like to have more efficient communication targeted to him. I asked him about media choices and he says that he’s a big magazine guy. Loves to read articles. He also mentions the internet and when it comes to his involvement with organizations like the National Corn Growers Association, he says the internet is an even more important tool to use for member communications. I’m charging his iPhone up right now and you had better believe the AgWired App will be loaded on it before he gets it back. Actually, he asked me to go ahead and load it for him. He said he had been meaning to! Ken McCauley Interview
2010 NAMA Boot Camp Photo Album

Audio, NAMA

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Osborn & Barr launched “O&B Blog.” Created to foster continued dialogue around the issues and opportunities facing our industry today, O&B Blog will feature thought-pieces from O&B’s staff, as well as that of selected key leaders from the ag, rural and food industries.
  • Paul Georgy, President of Allendale, Inc., promotes Rich Nelson by expanding his responsibilities to include media relations, effective immediately.
  • A new interactive map and exhibitor list on the Husker Harvest Days website offers visitors unique tools for maximizing their time spent at the show. The new interactive show map and exhibitor list is available here.
  • The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will be holding three additional public meetings on the animal disease traceability framework approach. These are the final public meetings being planned to obtain feedback on the framework and development of the proposed rule on traceability. Detailed information about the upcoming meetings is available here.
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    NAMA Boot Camp Underway

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Melanie AcklinThe 2010 National Agri-Marketing Association Boot Camp is in full swing in KC, MO. This is the 7th annual event. Time flies when you’re having fun. Seems like just yesterday the first Boot Camp was held.

    The Chair for this year’s event is Melanie Acklin, Director of Marketing, SFP. I spoke with Melanie after the farm tour today that was coordinated by the MoKan NAMA Chapter and before the evening’s activities had started. Melanie provides an overview of this year’s agenda and speaks about the importance of this event which is geared to newcomers to the agrimarketing field. The tour today provided some of them a first time look at the “real life” on a farm. Melanie Acklin Interview

    At the opening dinner this evening we heard from long time friend Dave Mehlhaff, Public Affairs Officer, Kansas City Board of Public Utilities. Dave has been involved in agrimarketing most of his career. He led our group through some networking exercises so everyone got to know each other better. It was a great way to start.

    On Wednesday the program kicks in with a producer panel first thing in the morning. I’ll be in and out during the day so you can expect more right here. I have started a photo album (duh): 2010 NAMA Boot Camp Photo Album

    Audio, NAMA

    GIPSA Rule Hot Topic At Next USDA/DOJ Workshop

    Chuck Zimmerman

    The next USDA/DOJ public workshop on competition in the livestock industry is scheduled for next week in Ft. Collins, CO, and I will be attending. The session will be held on Friday and there will be a separate session the evening before hosted by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and National Pork Producers Council which I will also be attending. So what is so important about this session? The main issue that will probably be discussed is the proposed rule making by USDA’s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration which was published in June. This proposed rule has huge implications for both livestock producers as well as packers and others. It’s not a simple issue either. On the surface you’ve got the intention, “. . . improve fairness in the marketing of livestock and poultry,” but underneath there’s a whole lot more to it. You can download all 17 pages of the proposed rule here (pdf) or an outline here (pdf).

    To get some perspective on just what this proposed GIPSA rule making is all about I spoke with Allie Devine, VP and General Counsel, Kansas Livestock Association. I think Allie provides a good background on “how we got here” and what some of the specific concerns are, especially for cattle producers. I heard a presentation on the rule at the BIVI Swine Health Seminar last week and I can tell you it has pork producers concerned too. So to better understand what this think means please give my interview with Allie a listen. Allie Devine Interview

    You can register for the USDA/DOJ Public Workshop on August 27 here. During the events next week I’ll be providing full coverage here and via my Twitter account so I hope you’ll tune in. My participation is being made possible with support from NCBA. We’re going to be conducting some additional interviews in advance of the events to provide further background and information on this very important issue.

    Ag Groups, Audio, Beef, GIPSA, Livestock, NCBA, USDA

    NAMA Boot Camp

    Chuck Zimmerman

    It’s time for NAMA Boot Camp and yours truly will be checking in starting later this afternoon. I see that the official Twitter hashtag for the event is #10boot.

    There’s a tour going on today with MoKan NAMA and then a welcoming reception this afternoon. I will be seeing you from there!

    NAMA

    Vote For AgChat Foundation Panel At SXSW

    Chuck Zimmerman

    AgChatThe AgChat Foundation is looking for your assistance. One of the larger music and interactive conferences of the year, South By Southwest (SXSW) has a proposed panel title, “Agvocacy 2.0: Adding a Human Voice to the Farm.” It would be great if this is on the program since agriculture is often under or mis-represented in public forums like this . The event will be held in Austin, Texas, from March 11th through the 15th, 2011. Voting for panels closes August 27th.

    Here’s how you can help:

    1. You will first need to create an account with SXSW and make sure you confirm it from the email you’ll receive.

    2. Then go directly to Agvocacy 2.0: Adding a Human Voice to the Farm. You vote by clicking the Thumbs Up right below the title. Comments are allowed at the bottom of the voting page. You must be registered to vote and comment.

    Thanks for your support!

    Uncategorized

    Zimfo Bytes

    Melissa Sandfort

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    • The National Corn Growers Association announces that Paul Bertels, former director of agricultural economic analyses and environmental impacts, has been promoted to the position of vice president for Production and Utilization.
    • Ray Lee Equipment Co. has a new tool in hand to manage used-equipment inventory dollars across the dealer’s multiple locations: Purple Wave Auction.
    • Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the appointment of the Advisory Committee onBeginning Farmers and Ranchers.
    • Meeting customers’ aftermarket needs in today’s and tomorrow’s economy is the focus of the 2010 Customer Support Council Seminar from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. The AEM seminar will be held Oct. 3-6, 2010 in Bettendorf, Iowa.
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      Look, Kids, It’s The Swamp Buggy!

      Melissa Sandfort

      We used to call it the “Swamp Buggy,” otherwise politely known as the sprayer. We’d run down to the end of the driveway when it passed through town and wave like kids trying to stop an ice cream truck (also not-so-politely known as the “ding ding man”). Today, inspired by the sound of the swamp buggy approaching town, I decided to look into the effects of these two different front tires on soil compaction.

      According to the University of Minnesota, some soil compression can be good: it can speed up the rate of seed germination and reduce water loss. Excessive soil compaction can, however, adversely affecting crop yields. And, the number one cause of soil compaction on fields is wheel traffic.

      According to a University of Nebraska-Lincoln Crop Watch report, the wider and taller a tire is, the better, as it will have a larger footprint on the soil surface and spread out the weight. Large, single tires are preferred over duals as duals often increase the total axle weight and have a “pinch row” between them.

      Then, here are some test results published from Penn State: Dual tractor tires, compared to single tires, decrease pressure on soil, but the affected area is at least twice as large…Testing at USDA’s National Tillage Laboratory indicate there is no crop yield increase for dual tires over single tires. But, by spreading the weight over more axles, deep compaction is reduced or eliminated. Which also has big benefits.

      This is a picture of two sprayers our family farming operation runs (the swamp buggy is on the left). I guess they couldn’t decide which one was best either.

      Until we walk again…

      Uncategorized

      BIVI Swine Health Seminar Concludes

      Chuck Zimmerman

      Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Swine Health SeminarYou can’t have a swine health seminar without having a little pig on the menu and at the Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Swine Health Seminar we got it at our closing dinner which was a luau on the lawn. I have just updated the photo album with a lot of photos from yesterday’s events that include the dinner and entertainment. I think I’ll have a video clip to add to this post later too.

      You’ll be able to see from the photos that BIVI likes to mix a little fun and fellowship with their business and the customers I talked with really enjoy and appreciate it. Like with all our event photo albums you can click on any photo and download it. You’ll find a choice of photo sizes to choose from so please enjoy them. A big thank you to BIVI for including Cindy and myself in this event for the third year now. We’re already looking forward to next year.

      BIVI Swine Health Seminar Photo Album.

      Agribusiness, Animal Health, Boehringer Ingelheim, Swine

      Swine Health Seminar Take Aways

      Chuck Zimmerman

      Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Swine Health SeminarIt’s always good to hear from the producers who attend a farm production meeting like the Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Swine Health Seminar. I’ve posted interviews with all the presenters so let’s hear from a couple of the attendees.

      First up is Mark Daughtry, Prestage Farms. He actually has a contract farm with Prestage bu also works for them. He says he’s only missed a couple of the BIVI seminars. He says it’s a really good opportunity to get together with other producers and hear some excellent speakers and share information. That allows them to sit back and think about how to improve the health of their animals. Some of the PRRS research he heard helped him better understand how to manage it. He says BIVI has always been good to him and very helpful when he needed anything. Mark Daughtry Interview

      Next we have Jon Hoek, director of animal husbandry, Belstra Milling Co.. This was his first seminar which has found to be very informative. He describes BIVI as a very important resource for his company. At this seminar he is taking away a reminder of some of the strategies for the control and elimination of PRRS. He says their facility is part of the area regional control project in Indiana and they are now PRRS negative. Jon Hoek Interview

      BIVI Swine Health Seminar Photo Album.

      Agribusiness, Animal Health, Audio, Boehringer Ingelheim, Farming, Swine