Great Debate at Alltech Symposium

Chuck Zimmerman

Alltech Great DebateThe Great Debate at the Alltech Symposium included some interesting personalities from around the world. The moderator for the session was Aidan Connolly, Vice President, Alltech. Panelists included:

Gordon Butland, Director, G&S Agriconsultants.Co. Ltd., Thailand, Osler Desouzart, Managing Director, OD Consulting Planning and Strategy, Brazil, Trent Loos, Loos Tales, Nebraska, USA and Patrick Wall, Associate Professor of Public Health, University College Dublin, Ireland.

You can see a recording of the live stream of the session on the Alltech website. To give you a flavor for their comments I’m posting their answers to the first question which was, “Is being green a fad for the 21st century?”

Trent Loos: alltech-symposium-10-debate-loos.mp3

Patrick Wall: alltech-symposium-10-debate-wall.mp3

Gordon Butland: alltech-symposium-10-debate-butland.mp3

Osler Desouzart: alltech-symposium-10-debate-osler.mp3

2010 Alltech Symposium Photo Album

Alltech, Audio

StollerUSA Crop Photo Contest

Chuck Zimmerman

If you have an amazing crop this year then StollerUSA wants a picture of it. It’s their “Picture Perfect Crops” contest. Of course you need to have treated your crop with a Stoller product.

StollerUSA is looking for amazing crop photos and Stoller success stories for entry in the 2011 StollerUSA calendar contest. Judges will select a total of 12 stories/photographs from the 2010 growing season to be published—one for each month. The Grand Prize winner will receive a $500 cash prize. To learn more, or enter your Stoller success story, go to StollerUSA.com/calendar.

Uncategorized

New Holland Starts Farm Raised YouTube Channel

Chuck Zimmerman

New Holland has just started a YouTube channel.

There’s a new YouTube channel devoted to all things farming www.youtube.com/NewHollandNA. New Holland’s dedicated YouTube channel is a resource for a wide variety of farm equipment-related information. The channel currently has 36 videos covering topics ranging from making great hay to equipment at work in the fields, as well as, how-to tips and animated videos that reveal the inner workings of farm equipment.

“Our YouTube channel creates an incredible opportunity to broadcast our brand and engage our audience with compelling content,” says New Holland’s North American Senior Director of Marketing David Greenberg. “We plan to keep adding new videos weekly that inform and entertain. We invite all viewers to subscribe to the channel and upload your agriculture, outdoor and farming related videos.”

New Holland, Video

Zachary Larson Borlaug Summer Intern

Chuck Zimmerman

Let me introduce you to Zachary Larson. Zachary is a recipient of this year’s Borlaug Summer Internship Program. He is already in China where he will be conducting research work and providing regular updates for us. Here’s some information about the internship program.

The Borlaug Internship Program is intended to provide undergraduate students exciting research, community or field experiences in an international setting – experiencing first hand some of the many factors and issues involved in international development and food production. Internships will be offered to undergraduate students at Iowa State University who have demonstrated superior academic ability and who have course work, professional or personal experience, and career interests related to international food production. The Borlaug Internship Program will be administered through the Global Agriculture Programs Office in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University.

Here’s a little bit of information about Zachary:

I am a student at Iowa State University studying Agronomy and Global Resource Systems. My majors principally involve the fields agronomic science and global agriculture, and specifically my interests lie in plant breeding, plant genetics, and the study of the Chinese language. This summer I have been given the great opportunity to travel to China to Nanjing Agricultural University, and study wheat genetics as part of a two month internship. This will be an incredible opportunity for me not just in seeing the actual practice of genetic research, but in also having an in depth view of the Chinese language and culture.

Zachary is fluent in the Chinese language and equipped to take photos and shoot video clips to send back here so we can share them with you. Let’s hope he finds some good open internet access! BTW. Zachary is the son of our advertising sales representative, Dave Larson.

Education, International, University

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

    Panama Will Be In Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Estuardo BoderoOne of the global partners with Alltech in the upcoming World Equestrian Games is Nutrición Animal S. A. in Panama. I met Estuardo Bodero Ganoza, Director General of the company, during last week’s Symposium.

    Estuardo says his company is dedicated to the pet food industry, including horses. He’s been able to gather a lot of new knowledge from this year’s Symposium and likes the interaction with people from all over the world. Looking ahead to the games he says it’s the first time that Panama will participate. He says he’s just going to be able to come home from the event and say that they were able to participate finally.

    You can listen to my interview with Estuardo below.

    2010 Alltech Symposium Photo Album

    Alltech, Audio

    Boost Your AT&T 3G

    Chuck Zimmerman

    If you’re an iPhone lover like me then you’re probably a frustrated AT&T 3G client. Why? Their signal is often weak, especially in rural areas. I’ve been waiting for this device to become available forever it seems like but when I stopped by my local store this morning, there it was. It’s installed and activated. They sent me a text message when it was ready and sure enough I’ve got a full 3G signal all over ZimmComm World Headquarters. I’m not sure this is available everywhere yet and you have to at least have a marginal 3G signal (plus broadband internet) to make it work but it may be very helpful if you’ve been as frustrated as I’ve been. Who knew our location was in a little triangle of AT&T weakness when we moved to the carrier? We didn’t. But for a few dollars more it looks like our woes are over.

    AT&T 3G MicroCell acts like a mini cellular tower in your home or small business environment. It connects to AT&T’s network via your existing broadband Internet service (such as DSL or cable) and is designed to support up to four simultaneous users in a home or small business setting. With AT&T 3G MicroCell, you receive improved cellular signal performance for both voice calls and cellular data applications like picture messaging and surfing the Web.

    Device Features:

    * Enhanced coverage indoors – supports both voice and data up to 5000 square feet
    * Available unlimited minute plans – individual or FamilyTalk plans.
    * 3G handset compatible – works with any AT&T 3G phone.
    * Supports up to four voice or data users at once.
    * Device is secure – cannot be accessed by unauthorized users, easy and secure online management of device settings
    * Seamless call hand-over – start calls on your 3G MicroCell and continue without interruption, even if you leave the building.

    Equipment

    Farm Podcaster Microphone From Blue

    Chuck Zimmerman

    I’m working on a project for the 2010 National Association of Farm Broadcasting convention to bring new technology options into a session and hopefully display. The new Mikey G2 Pro iPod, iPhone Microphone from Blue looks like a good item to add. It’s supposed to be available soon.

    The all-new Mikey is the perfect tool for mobile recording. Featuring two custom-tuned Blue capsules for stereo recording, a line-input, USB pass through and a stylish updated 230-degree rotating design. Mikey’s three gain settings allow for a versatile recording experience for everything from a loud concert to a whisper. Record lectures, voice notes, live music, interviews, and more. Mikey also comes with its own carrying pouch and headphone adapter for playback and monitoring. Mikey turns your iPod or iPhone into the coolest mobile recording device around!

    * CD-quality audio recording direct to iPod and iPhone
    * No software necessary
    * Unique compact design for superior audio recording
    * 7 angle adjustments for any environment
    * 3 gain settings to capture the clearest stereo sound
    * Low price point for superior quality
    * Innovative design allows for superior audio recording
    * Perfect for lecture recording, concerts, voice memos, dictation, field recording, interviews, and travel journals

    Equipment, Podcasts

    Alltech Angus Served At Symposium

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Alltech AngusSince it’s still Beef Month I have to mention Alltech Angus once again. For one thing they did sponsor my coverage of their Symposium this week. For another they did serve Alltech Angus and it was delicious.

    Promoting Alltech Angus is Paige Ishmael, Marketing Coordinator. This is a Kentucky Proud product, meaning the cattle are born and raised in Kentucky and fed Alltech’s natural nutrition products. Alltech works with Critchfield Meats for marketing and distribution. Paige says they’ve received very positive feedback from customers including chefs and recommends you try it too.

    You can listen to my interview with Paige below.

    2010 Alltech Symposium Photo Album

    Alltech, Audio, Beef

    Leica Geosystems Offering Spray Season Specials

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Leica GeoSystemsThe AgGuidance folks are offering some special customized guidance + auto-section control packages for spraying season. That would be our sponsor, Leica Geosystems. Here’s a list of what they’re offering.

    Through June 30, the company is offering three packages pairing guidance and section-control products that cover a wide range of accuracy levels and price points.

    Lightbar guidance plus section control

    Those who are looking for a simple, cost-effective entry point will find a package assembled with them in mind.This entry-level package features a Leica mojoMINI display, which provides manual guidance, paired with an AS7500 auto-section controller for just $2,500.

    Auto steer plus section control

    Growers and applicators looking for 6”-8” accuracy may choose a package with the easy-to-install and use Leica mojoGLIDE auto-steer console plus the iNEX color, touch-screen display and auto-section control for a complete auto-steer guidance system designed for spraying applications. This package is affordably priced at $9,980.

    RTK auto steer plus section control

    Now through the end of June, farmers seeking sub-inch accuracy can acquire a robust, auto-steer system complete with a color display and auto-section control for just $13,480. This specially priced package includes a Leica mojoRTK auto-steer console and base station, and an iNEX color touch-screen display with auto-section control.

    “Our customers have a wide range of requirements related to precision technology, and we’re working to provide them with solutions to fit their individual needs,” said Harlan Little, North American business manager for Leica Geosystems Ag. “Each of these packages was developed to be modular and scalable so that our customers can easily add functionality or move components into other vehicles, and all at very economical prices.”

    Equipment, Leica Geosystems, Precision Agriculture