Ag Leader Launches Blue Delta Dealer Network

Chuck Zimmerman

Mike OlsonAg Leader Technology has announced the Blue Delta Dealer Network. At the Iowa Power Farming Show I spoke with Mike Olson to learn more about it. He’s pictured working in the booth here at the show.

Basically, Ag Leader Technology has developed a new elite precision farming distribution network in an effort to bring more structure to a growing precision agriculture community.

The network is designed to help precision farming dealers become well-rounded precision farming experts, as well as help farmers locate and identify elite precision farming dealerships throughout North America.

“There are thousands of precision farming dealerships and specialists out there; our goal with Blue Delta is to create an opportunity for the best of these dealers to separate themselves with in-depth training, and increased product and marketing sup- port so they can become an even better resource for their customers,” says Mike Olson, North American Sales Manager. “We recognize the end user’s most important resource is their precision farming dealer. This is a great way to bring more consistency and expertise to the marketplace.”

Blue DeltaAg Leader unofficially launched the Blue Delta network in December at the grand opening of Ag Leader Academy in Ames. Since that time Ag Leader has been working with dealers on intense product training and marketing efforts.

“Our goal is to provide these dealers with a number of tools to help them better educate and sup- port their precision farming customers,” continues Olson. “We’ve learned that the more educated growers are about precision farming, the more they embrace it. We believe this will have a significant impact on the industry.”

You can listen to my interview with Mike below.

Iowa Power Farming Show Photo Album

Ag Leader, Audio, Farm Shows, Precision Agriculture

Iowa Power Farming Show

Chuck Zimmerman

Tom Junge IA Power Farming ShowI’m attending my first ever Iowa Power Farming Show courtesy of PrecisionPays.com sponsor Ag Leader Technology. The first person I met this morning was show manager, Tom Junge. The show is conducted by the Iowa-Nebraska Equipment Dealers Association.

Tom says they represent about 400 dealers and have been doing the show for 55 years. They have a show in December in Nebraska now too. Here at the Iowa show they use 3 different buildings with 6 acres of exhibits. They’re hoping for another record attendance this year like they had last year.

You can listen to my interview with Tom below. I also uploaded a short video clip from above the show floor with my iPhone so you can see what it’s like.

And of course I’ve got photos for you in the Iowa Power Farming Show Photo Album.

Ag Leader, Audio, Farm Shows, Video

Study Shows Environmental Benefits of Soybeans

Cindy Zimmerman

Soybeans are better than ever for the environment, which makes soy-based products greener than ever.

usb lifecycleThat’s the findings of a new peer-reviewed life cycle profile just released by the United Soybean Board (USB) that documents multiple energy and environmental benefits of U.S. soybean farming and processing.

“This profile is the first comprehensive life cycle study covering U.S. soybean production through four major biobased products,” said Arkansas soybean farmer John Cooper, a USB Director and Member of the USB Domestic Marketing Committee. “U.S. soy already delivers environmental and energy benefits. It’s exciting to see the trends point to even more in the future.”

A key objective was to update life cycle inventory (LCI) databases for soybean production and processing as well as conversion into four key soy-derived feedstocks (methyl soyate, soy lube base stock, soy polyol, and soy resin) used in fuel and industrial products. Its cradle-to-gate scope begins with soybean farming (the cradle) and goes through processing of products (the gate).

Among the study’s key findings are that soybean production results in significant greenhouse gas reductions and that soybean yields are 12 percent higher than 10 years ago and should increase 40 percent over the next decade.

The updated data show approximately 20% less direct energy used in soybean farming due to reduced diesel and gasoline usageand soybean processing facilities reduced their energy consumption by 45% compared to 1998 data.

Soybean, USB

Elanco Enhances Commitment to Food Safety

Cindy Zimmerman

ElancoElanco has launched a new business platform focused on food safety that includes new products for both poultry and beef processing plants.

For poultry, AviBrom™ is a post-harvest carcass rinse that reduces Salmonella pathogens during processing. Research has shown up to a 2.5-log reduction1 in post-chill whole-carcass Salmonella levels when using AviBrom.

“AviBrom works in a wide range of water pH so acidifiers aren’t needed as with some food-safety interventions,” says Tom Nicholson, director of sales and technical services for Elanco Food Solutions. “That reduces the risk of color and shelf-life issues that poultry processors often see with acid-based interventions.

Two food-safety products for the beef industry include Finalyse™, a pre-harvest hide wash that targets E. coli pathogens on live beef animals as they enter the packing plant, and BoviBrom™, a post-harvest carcass rinse that reduces E. coli and Salmonella pathogens on the carcass during processing.

“Elanco Food Solutions’ food-safety products are unique and science-based,” adds Nicholson. “We’re focused on helping food-animal packers and processors deliver safe, affordable and wholesome food to consumers.”

Beef, Elanco, Food, Poultry

BASF Launches Headline Training Module

Cindy Zimmerman

basfBASF Corporation has just launched a new online training program – www.planthealtheducation.com – to educate growers on how Headline® fungicide for maximum benefit.

The training program examines the three pillars of Plant Health—disease control, stress tolerance and growth efficiency—and how Headline fungicide can best affect the most important aspects of growing a healthy plant.

The audio-visual presentation also examines the science behind Headline fungicide and includes trivia questions, statistical information, visual evidence and user testimonials.

I’m sure we will find out more about this new program for growers at the upcoming Commodity Classic in Anaheim, March 4-6. Coverage of Classic on Agwired will be once again sponsored in part by BASF.

BASF, Commodity Classic, Corn, Soybean

Dealing With Issues Management

Chuck Zimmerman

Issues Management MeetingMuch of the work done at the Cattle Industry Convention is in committees. These meetings are open and as I’ve found over the years, a great learning experience to attend. I did a walk around during the main committee time as part of my work for the Cattlemen’s Beef Board and stopped in just as the Joint Issues Management Committee was concluding. As you can imagine, this committee is dealing with some real challenges, especially from activist groups like HSUS and others that are spreading misinformation about the industry.

I spoke with committee chair, Mike Stahly. Mike says that the checkoff does many surveys of consumers to learn what they think about the industry and the product. This information is then used to craft strategies for how to deal with issues like the whole animal welfare one.

All committees of the Beef Board have their own web page and archived copies of agendas and minutes. You can find the Joint Issues Management Committee page here. This has been a key feature of the website we built for the CBB and it has proven to be a simple tool to make checkoff information available and easy to find.

You can listen to and download my interview with Mike below.

Cattle Industry Convention Photo Album

Ag Groups, Animal Activists, Audio, Cattle Industry Conference, Wackos

Linda Brake CattleWoman of the Year

Chuck Zimmerman

Linda BrakeYou get to meet a lot of wonderful people in a media room, including the media. At the Cattle Industry Convention one of the interesting people I met was Linda Brake. She was named the 2009 Outstanding CattleWoman of the Year by the American National CattleWomen. Linda is from Arizona and seemed a little overwhelmed by the honor. The award is sponsored by Land O’ Lakes Purina Mills LLC.

Linda says she feels very “special.” She says it’s an honor to have been selected. In my interview with her you can listen to her describe her feelings and talk about the work she’s done.

Linda has been an active CattleWoman for 20 years. As an ANCW member, she has served on various committees and as the vice-chair and chairman of the National Beef Cook-Off (NBCO) Committee and co-chair of the 2001 NBCO. She has served as Secretary and President in the Santa Cruz CattleWomen and numerous positions at the state level including Arizona CattleWomen President in 1998. Linda has also served on a joint NCBA committee, is a member of the Arizona Beef Council and producer member of the Western Center for Risk Management Education.

“Linda is a role model for all who work to sell beef,” said Vicki Wilkinson, of Chino Valley, Ariz. and past ANCW president. “She has always been there to lend a hand, give sage advice and do whatever was necessary to promote and educate the public or her peers about our product, beef.” Linda Vensel, Ariz. past president, credits her ability to work well with others and leadership skills for the success of the first destination city National Beef Cook-Off in Chicago that earned over 400 million beef impressions.”

Linda is also a wife, mother, grandmother and has served as a volunteer at her church and for the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Posse for over 20 years.

The Outstanding CattleWoman of the Year Award is given to one cattlewoman each year that has excelled at continued beef promotion on the local, state, and national level, while contributing dedication, commitment and support to the American National CattleWomen, Inc.

Cattle Industry Convention Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Cattle Industry Conference

Novus Sponsors World Ag Forum Regional Roundtables

Cindy Zimmerman

novusDuring the International Poultry Expo/International Feed Expo in Atlanta last week, Novus International was promoting some World Agricultural Forum (WAF) regional roundtables that will be held during this off year for the World Ag Congress. I talked with Novus president and CEO Thad Simons and World Ag Forum president and CEO Kathy Moldthan about how they are working together on these events.

“The World Agricultural Forum is a not-for-profit organization, headquartered in St. Louis, that brings together world leaders to address issues of the agricultural sector and agribusiness to feed the world’s growing population,” Kathy told me. To that end, WAF holds a World Congress every other year in St. Louis, but they also saw a need to take those discussions on the road to other regions of the world, including Latin America, China and Africa.

Thad says Novus has been a long time supporter of the World Ag Forum and is sponsoring these regional roundtables, which fits in with the mission of the company to help feed the world affordable, wholesome food and achieve a higher quality of life. “If we’re going to be helping to feed the world wholesome and affordable world, then it’s important that we reach out to all the different stakeholders to complete that vision,” Thad says.

WAF events planned for 2010 include a regional roundtable for Latin America in Brazil May 12-13; a world congress in China July 1-2; and a regional forum focusing on east Africa in Uganda October 6-7. More information is available on the WAF website.

Listen to or download my interview with Thad and Kathy in the player below:

2010 International Poultry Expo photo album

AgWired coverage of International Poultry Expo is sponsored by:
Novus

Novus International, Poultry, Poultry Expo

New NAFB Leadership

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast 248Starting March 1, the National Association of Farm Broadcasting will have a new Executive Director. He’s Mark Vail and many of you know him from his career in farm broadcasting both on the microphone and in management. In fact, Mark was just serving again on the NAFB board! So they’ve got a new staff leader with strong roots in the business and experience at all levels. Makes sense to me.

I spoke with Mark about his career move this morning and you can listen in to our conversation in this week’s program. Mark says he really looks forward to continuing to work on behalf of two of his favorite industries, agriculture and broadcasting. He’s going to walk the talk, at least that’s his goal. Mark says that the changes in communications technology along with the globalization of agriculture present some challenges for NAFB but he wants the relationship between farm broadcasting and agriculture, especially in the area of marketing to remain strong.

Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsors, Novus International, and Leica Geosytems for their support.

You can listen to this week’s ZimmCast below.

The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired. Subscribe so you can listen when and where you want. Just go to our a Subscribe page.

Audio, Media, NAFB

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Elanco Food Solutions has introduced its first food-safety product for the poultry industry. AviBrom is a post-harvest carcass rinse that reduces Salmonella pathogens during processing.
  • The National Association of Farm Broadcasting announces that Nov. 10-12, 2010, will be the annual convention at the Westin Crown Center in Kansas City, Mo.
  • In preparation for key battles it foresees for the beef industry in coming years, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Board of Directors voted to adopt a report and governance structure concept by a Governance Task Force that would lead to significant structural changes to the organization.
  • Linder Farm Network announces its annual Marketing and Management Seminars, held Feb. 15-19, 2010. Registration begins at 8 a.m. each day. Cost is $30 per person.
    Zimfo Bytes