Boots and Jeans at Commodity Classic

Cindy Zimmerman

Nobody has made a guess yet on the last “Guess Whose Boots” from Commodity Classic, but here is another pair that was spotted on the trade show floor. These “boots with bling” were purchased by the owner at last year’s classic in Texas.

I don’t think we have ever done a “Guess Whose Jeans” but these are just too good to pass up. These Ethanol Jeans were profiled on Domestic Fuel last year and on Corn Commentary and they are very hard to find. Very appropriate fashion statement for the corn growers, since the jeans even came with a little packet of corn attached.

For a hint on whose boots and jeans they are – both of them can be found on Domestic Fuel. As to the one that has not been guessed, you could say she is long and tall and rides a Mustang. There – I gave them all away – you have to be able to figure them out now!

Commodity Classic Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2010 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: BASF and New Holland

Commodity Classic

Study Shows Performance Benefits of BIVI’s Vaccines

John Davis

Researchers at Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. (BIVI) have unveiled the results of a performance study of their swine vaccine products during BIVI’s Swine Health Seminar in Omaha, NE.

Dr. Keith Bretey, a professional service veterinarian at BI, told the group of veterinarians in attendance that the company’s CircoFLEX and PRRS vaccines were safe to be used concurrently and did not affect the performance of the swine herd.

“Because concurrent use is something we’re seeing a lot of out in the industry today, so we needed some evidence to say, ‘Is that a good idea or not?’ ”

Dr. Bretey says there was a significant improvement in using both of Inglevac’s CircoFLEX and PRSS vaccines.

“In the nursery, the non-vaccinated pigs performed the same as the vaccinated pigs. And what this tells us is, with very little pathogen presence in the nursery, the vaccines did no harm in the nursery.” He says lots of producers ask the question whether the vaccine will hurt the performance of the non-infected pigs. Dr. Bretey says they now have conclusive evidence the vaccines are very non-stressful and smooth to the pigs.

They also found the vaccines were helpful in several finisher performance categories.

You can hear more of my conversation with Dr. Bretey below.

BIVI Swine Health Seminar Photo Album

Audio, Boehringer Ingelheim, Swine, Veterinary

BIVI Swine Health Seminar: Climbing the Mountain of Data

John Davis

A great opening session at the Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. (BIVI) Swine Health Seminar in Omaha, with BIVI’s own Director of Technical Services, Dr. Tyler Holck, talking to attendees about FLEX vaccinology.

Dr. Holck talked about how Ingelvac’s CircoFLEX and MycoFLEX vaccines have nearly three years and 200 million doses of experience in U.S. swine herds. He says that has given the company lots of information on the vaccines.

“When we look at what we have for CircoFLEX, for example, we’ve got over 30 different trials conducted … either efficacy or safety.” And Holck says that can make for a mountain of data (even comparing it to the great mounds of snow Midwesterners have dealt with this winter!). He says BIVI’s goal is to simplify this vast amount of information for producers and veterinarians to make good, interpretive recommendations from that knowledge. Dr. Holck calls it distilling down to the simple side of complex.

“We do look at a lot of different things, but at the end of the day, we’re looking at what’s most economical for the producer.”

Dr. Holck says that really comes down to average daily gain and feed efficiency. He says, for example, a product like CircoFLEX can return on investment $4-5 for every one dollar a producer spends, so it’s too important not to monitor and have all the tools needed.

Hear more of my conversation with Dr. Holck below.

BIVI Swine Health Seminar Photo Album

Audio, Boehringer Ingelheim, Swine, Uncategorized, Veterinary

Good Eggs By Howard Helmer

Chuck Zimmerman

Howard HelmerThe world’s fastest omelet maker is Howard Helmer seen here in action at Commodity Classic. I missed his presentation but got there in time to talk with him. In the interview you’ll hear him tell you how to make a delicious omelet fast.

He also talks about the Good Egg Project. It is

. . . an initiative by America’s egg farmers to educate people about where eggs come from and encourage them to join them in the fight against hunger. For every pledge made to “eat good and do good every day” an egg will be donated to Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger relief charity. Already millions of eggs have been donated, delivering great nutrition, taste and versatility to those who can’t afford to buy them. By the way, if you haven’t done so already, visit the website now (www.GoodEggProject.org) and do your good deed today!

Howard is blogging too. Read his latest post on Blogging Moms.

You can listen to my interview with Howard below.

Commodity Classic Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2010 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: BASF and New Holland

Audio, Commodity Classic, Poultry

BASF Lego Artist

Chuck Zimmerman

I’m going to do another post about Nathan Sawaya, Brick Artist, who built a farm scene in the BASF booth at Commodity Classic out of LEGO building blocks because I interviewed him during the show. For now though I just thought you’d like to see the final creation in this short video clip from my iPhone right at the end of the trade show.

Commodity Classic Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2010 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: BASF and New Holland

BASF, Commodity Classic

ZimmComm Team at Commodity Classic

Chuck Zimmerman

Here’s your ZimmComm team on location at Commodity Classic in the media room. It kind of looks like a “Mac Attack” don’t you think? Tell Cindy she looks good in a Mac.

We’ve been producing a lot of content that will be posted here on AgWired as well as other ZimmComm sites like Domestic Fuel and Precision Pays. We’ll get what we can posted today before heading back to ZimmComm World Headquarters tomorrow.

I hope you’re enjoying it so far. It’s been a good one from what I can see and from all the feed back we’ve gotten from farmers, exhibitors and the media. Our photo album is just about up to date. We may have a few more to add but feel free to check it out.

Thank you to Mark Lambert, NCGA, for taking the photo.

Commodity Classic Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2010 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: BASF and New Holland

Commodity Classic

NCGA Scholarship Winners

Cindy Zimmerman

BASF NCGA Scholarship winnersIn partnership with BASF, the National Corn Growers Association Academic Excellence in Agriculture Scholarship Program awarded five $1,000 scholarships to undergraduate or graduate students pursuing a degree in an agriculture-related field during the 2010 Commodity Classic.

Three of the five recipients were at the Classic to be honored on Friday and they are pictured here at the BASF trade show exhibit between Nevin McDougall of BASF and NCGA Chairman Bob Dickey of Nebraska.

Left to right, they are:
John Schultz of Dyersburg, Tennessee, a sophomore at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville studying food and agricultural business; Gina Meyer of New Ulm, Minnesota, a junior at the University of Minnesota pursuing a major in animal science; Carly Cummings of Pleasantville, Iowa – Carly is a sophomore at Iowa State University majoring in agricultural business.

Charlene Barlieb of Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania who graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 2009 and will be returning to Penn State this fall to pursue her graduate degree in animal sciences, and Lisa Tronchetti of Paton, Iowa

Listen to an interview with John, Gina and Carly below.

Commodity Classic Photo Album

You can view more photos that are BASF only from Commodity Classic in the BASF Commodity Classic photo album.

AgWired coverage of the 2010 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: BASF and New Holland

Audio, BASF, Commodity Classic, NCGA, Uncategorized

AAEA At Commodity Classic

Chuck Zimmerman

The American Agricultural Editors Association held a first time reception for members at this year’s Commodity Classic. We had very good attendance and it was a great way to unwind with friends at the end of a busy day.

If you haven’t joined AAEA then consider doing so. The organization has really been developing more and more benefits for members like educational webinars as well as the Ag Media Summit and awards programs.

Commodity Classic Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2010 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: BASF and New Holland

ACN, Commodity Classic

ASA Scholarship Award Winner

Cindy Zimmerman

BASF ASA Scholarship winnerBen Bellar, a high school senior from Howard, Kansas, was named the 2010-2011 ASA Scholarship recipient during the 2010 Commodity Classic in Anaheim, California. An active member of the ASA and FFA, Bellar has been raising soybeans since he was a child and plans to study agriculture technology management at Kansas State University next year. He is pictured here at the BASF exhibit on the trade show floor with ASA First Vice president Alan Kemper of Indiana and Nevin McDougall, Group Vice President, North America Crop Protection Division at BASF. Ben is the one in the middle, in case you were wondering!

Bellar’s scholarship package includes a one-time $5,000 education award, a trip to the Commodity Classic and special recognition during the ASA Awards Banquet. The scholarship is offered and managed by the ASA and is made possible through a grant by BASF.

I talked to Ben about his background and goals in life and you can listen to that interview below.

Commodity Classic Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2010 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: BASF and New Holland

ASA, Audio, BASF, Commodity Classic

Sustainable Definitions

Chuck Zimmerman

Commodity LeadersCan you define sustainability? Neither can I. But that was the first task of the panel discussion of commodity group leaders this morning at Commodity Classic. Moderated by Mark Mayfield, the panel discussed what sustainability means to them. Panelists included: Darrin Ihnen, President, NCGA, Rob Joslin, President, ASA, Karl Scronce, President, NAWG and Gerald Simonsen, Chairman, NSP.

You’ll hear the panel says what sustainability isn’t and provide some good reasons why farmers are very much involved with this issue.

You can listen to the commodity group leaders with Mark below.

Commodity Classic Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2010 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: BASF and New Holland

Ag Groups, Audio, Commodity Classic, Corn, NCGA, sorghum, Soybean, Sustainability, Wheat