Tweetup4Troops

Melissa Sandfort

621The Christmas SPIRIT Foundation (CSF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the Spirit of Christmas for kids, families and the environment. Since 2005, CSF has delivered 50,000 Real Christmas Trees to military families in the U.S. and overseas through the Trees for Troops program.

CSF is inviting people to become local hosts of fundraising events called “Tweetup4Troops,” designed to help raise money for CSF’s Trees for Troops program. Tweetup4Troops events will be held the week of Veteran’s Day (Nov. 7 – Nov. 14) to help honor veterans, support Trees for Troops and have fun!

Click here for more information about how, why and where you can host a local event in your community!

Click here to register to become a local host of Tweetup4Troops.

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Pioneer Hi-Bred Takes The Long Look

Chuck Zimmerman

Robin NewellThe man who got us started here at the Pioneer Hi-Bred Forage Media Day is Robin Newell. Cindy spoke to him about the “long look.” He says the Pioneer long look has four components that include: “We strive to create the best products;” “We deal honestly and fairly with our constituents;” “We represent our products vigorously;” “We help our customers get the most from our products.” He says the focus today on the development of corn silage and alfalfa and inoculants like their new 11GFT.

He also mentioned their focus on animal welfare since they keep many animals here at the Livestock Nurition Center. He says they have an animal welfare committee that even includes “local clergy.” He says that person helps provide a good moral and ethical backbone to the committee. Now that’s interesting!

Pioneer Forage Media Day Photo Album

You can listen to Cindy’s interview with Robin below:

Animal Health, Audio, Forage, Pioneer

Developing The Brand

Amanda Nolz

NOLZ-Logo Since I have returned to my family’s cattle operation, I’ve quickly been put in charge of all marketing efforts. For the fair, I developed a brochure about our business, as well as designed stall cards to display information about our cattle. My next task is improving our website (it’s in need of dire help), and starting up a newsletter for our customers.

Of course, these projects take time, and I have to balance these ideas with my writing and speaking duties, as well. Yet, my hope is to help my parents really develop the NOLZ Limousin brand as one that people in the industry will recognize. Today, my questions for AgWired readers include the following: What are you looking for in a good newsletter and website? How long is the newsletter? What topics should it address? What’s the best programs for developing professional online and print materials? How often does a newsletter need to be sent out? Can it easily be sent via email, too?

Any and all advice is greatly appreciated! I’m learning as I go. I’m definitely not a graphic designer! HELP!

Amanda Nolz
Blogger
Speaker
Daughter
Cowgirl
Student

Advertising, Public Relations

Pioneer Hi-Bred Announces 11GFT Forage Inoculant

Chuck Zimmerman

Pioneer Introduces 11GFT Inoculant PlatformThe news here at the Pioneer Hi-Bred Forage Media Day is a new product. The 11GFT inoculant is the second in a series of products in the Pioneer fiber technology platform. This one will offer dairy producers another avenue to enhance forage digestibility which will reduce feed costs. The product was developed exclusively for grass and cereal silage and is the first of its kind. The company says other fiber technology products are currently under development.

Cindy interviewed Kyle Whitaker (pictured), Pioneer Hi-Bred Marketing Manager, Forage Additives, about the new product. Kyle says they see three key benefits that includes good basic fermentation, aerobic stability and fiber digestibility. He says they see the product used in silage markets across the U.S. with key targests in the northeast and far west.

We also have a photo album started for the event which will be added to later today but we’ve got some photos in there for you now: Pioneer Forage Media Day Photo Album

You can listen to Cindy’s interview with Kyle below:

Audio, Forage, Pioneer

The Farm Podcaster is in Forage Day Class

Chuck Zimmerman

Pioneer Forage Media Day ClassThe Pioneer Forage Media Day has started with class in session at their Livestock Nutrition Center near Des Moines, IA. We have a very good attendance from the ag media. Cindy (FarmPodcaster) stopped to pose at the entrance of the Center.

Right now we’re listening to the first presentation by Bill Curran on corn silage reearch. He’s giving us a complete overview of their process for testing and evaluating genetics of various hybrids.

During our breaks Cindy and I will be conducting interviews with the presenters which we’ll post primarily on World Dairy Diary but also here when appropriate as well. We’ll also be building up some new Forage Forum podcasts as well. So it’s going to be a busy day here.

We’ll also be doing some special tweets on the World Dairy Diary Twitter feed so keep an eye on it too. Please feel free to follow if you aren’t yet.

Forage, Pioneer

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • The 2009 American Hereford Association experienced an increase in registrations and membership as production sale prices remained consistent with previous years.
  • Wisconsin Crop Production Association’s Board of Directors announced Robert J. Poehnelt as the new executive director of the association effective Sept. 23, 2009.
  • Novartis Animal Health announces the introduction of Healthy Heifer, a new heifer management program designed specifically to maximize the long-term value of beef and dairy replacement heifers through established health and management protocols.
  • AgVenture Frontier Hybrids has hired Michael Jenkins of Amarillo, Texas, to serve the company’s customers as district sales manager.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Pioneer Hi-Bred Forage Day

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Pioneer Forage Media DayPioneer Hi-Bred has invited ag media to attend a day filled with information on their forage products.

    The Pioneer Livestock Nutrition Center (PLNC), Pioneer experts will provide the latest updates on technologies designed for producers and forage growers to get the most return on their investment.

    Pioneer provides the entire range of seed genetics, crop-specific forage additives, revolutionary Corn Fiber Technology, silage know-how and local services – all dedicated to the goal of producing more nutritious feed for livestock.

    Cindy and I are on location and will be covering the event throughout the day here and on World Dairy Diary.

    Agribusiness, Pioneer

    Syngenta Seeds Celebrating New Headquarters

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Syngenta At Farm Progress ShowIn just a few days Syngenta Seeds will be holding the grand opening celebration of their new headquarters in Minnetonka, MN and Cindy will be on site to document the celebration in pictures and with interviews.

    While I was attending the Farm Progress Show I visited with Syngenta’s Bruce Battles and Tracy Mader in their exhibit about one of their upcoming new traits called Agrisure Viptera. They believe that this product, which is due out in 2010, will take a corn grower’s yields to the next level.

    Bruce says that when they were doing research on the product they discovered a whole new class of vegetative insecticidal proteins.

    Agrisure Viptera™ Broad-Spectrum Lepidopteran Trait

    The Agrisure Viptera trait is the first of many new traits being developed from an entirely new class of Vegetative Insecticidal Proteins (VIP) within the Agrisure system of high-performance corn traits.

    During the development of Agrisure Viptera they’ve looked at the collection of pests which they call the Multi-Pest Complex and found that it has cost American corn growers up to $1.1 Billion/year in lost yield and grain quality. They believe Agrisure Viptera can help mitigate that risk for the grower.

    You can listen to my interview with Bruce and Tracy here:

    Agribusiness, Audio, Farm Progress Show, Syngenta

    Ethanol Education for FFA Members

    Cindy Zimmerman

    FFANational FFA members will be getting an education in the growing field of renewable fuels, thanks to a new partnership.

    The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and the Renewable Fuels Foundation (RFF) are partnering with teachers and the National FFA Organization to provide tens of thousands of high school students information about the opportunities available to them in the field of renewable fuels.

    RFFThe curriculum was designed to provide FFA members with details about the nature of the renewable fuels industry today and focuses on the ethanol production process, the benefits of ethanol production, the interplay between renewable fuels and agriculture, and wide range of other issues. The lessons are available through the Team Ag Ed Learning Center, a website designed to provide agriculture teachers with new and exciting instructional materials, tools and resources.

    The RFF is also offering 10 scholarships to cover the cost of the registration fee for the National Ethanol Conference. More information is available here.

    Education, Ethanol, FFA, RFA

    Tom Dorr New President/CEO of USGC

    Chuck Zimmerman

    ZimmCast 231 - Tom Dorr New CEO of USGCIn this weeks program I chat with new a US Grains Council CEO/President, Tom Dorr. The announcement was just made that the former U.S. Undersecretary for Rural Development will be replacing the retiring Ken Hobbie in November. Ken has held the position for the past 18 years and has been with USGC for 33 years.

    Tom DorrHeres a photo of Tom I took from a Farm Foundation Forum I attended. In fact, as I looked back through posts here on AgWired, hes been kind of a regular! Were really looking forward to working with Tom in his new position.

    Tom farmed in Iowa before moving to Washington, DC and is taking the helm of the organization as it is about to celebrate 50 years in 2010. He says his first priority will be to work with the Council’s membership, Board of Directors, and staff to clearly define, not just the challenges, but the opportunities for international grain trade.

    So, listen to my conversation with Tom as we discuss his new position and the challenges he sees in the future.

    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.

    Ag Groups, Audio, USGC, ZimmCast