USDA Closes Broadband Loan Agreement

Chuck Zimmerman January 14, 2009

Let’s hope we see continued commitment to rural development in the new administration in Washington, DC. The outgoing one has sure done a lot in this area, especially to develop broadband which is providing new opportunities in our rural and farm communities.

Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer announced today that Open Range Communications has finalized a $267 million loan agreement with USDA Rural Development to provide broadband service to 518 rural communities in 17 states.

“The completed agreement brings millions of rural Americans closer to having access to broadband and other cutting-edge communications technologies,” Schafer said. “This kind of high-speed internet connectivity will lead to increased investment and business opportunities in rural communities.”

The loan closing executes an agreement USDA Rural Development announced on March 25, 2008, when it approved a $267 million loan to Open Range. In addition to the USDA Rural Development loan, Open Range has secured $100 million in financing from One Equity Partners, the private equity arm of JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Internet, USDA

Political Policy Dynamics Changing

Chuck Zimmerman January 14, 2009

The topic of the St. Louis Agribusiness Club lunch was “Policy Outlook for Agriculture as the Political Dynamics Begin to Change.” I think the political dynamics have already changed don’t you?

Giving us his take on this was Thomas J. Erickson, Vice President, Government Affairs, Bunge North America. He says that since the incoming administration seems to have a lot of public support it will be interesting to see how elected leaders and others interact with it. So developing relationships will be a big part of the initial activity we’ll see. He’s also looking to the upcoming USDA Planting Intentions Report to provide an important signal about American agriculture that will be looked at very closely in Washington.

I wonder when our first interaction with the new administration will be. I sent an email to the transition team last week suggesting that they convert the presidential limo to run on ethanol but haven’t heard anything back on that yet.

You can listen to my interview with Tom here: slac-erickson.mp3

Agribusiness, Audio, Farm Policy

Plant Management Network Teaches You How To Use It

Chuck Zimmerman January 14, 2009

Here’s a good example of the use of a webinar by the Plant Management Network. It looks like it was put together with Articulate.

PMN recently hosted a live webcast demonstrating its informational resources and how to use them. Specifically, it showed how agricultural practitioners may use PMN’s various tools in their daily work. The webcast was presented by Howard Brown, current chair of the International Certified Crop Adviser Board, and Phil Bogdan, PMN communications manager. While oriented to consultants, the talk provides a quick backgrounder of use to anyone interested in science-based agricultural management information. The webcast is titled An Online Resource to Support Agricultural Practitioners and has been archived for further viewing, sound required.

Ag Groups, Internet

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort January 14, 2009

Pioneer Hi-Bred is releasing 96 new Pioneer brand corn products to growers across North America for the 2009 planting season. This new advancement class includes 39 new genetic platforms providing improved genetic gain across all maturities.
The National Biodiesel Board announced Jessica Robinson has been named Senior Communications Specialist to enhance the organization’s communications efforts in promoting the widespread benefits of biodiesel.
Brownfield Ag News radio network announces the addition of radio station KQMQ-AM in Independence, Iowa. This addition brings the total number of Midwestern radio stations affiliated with Brownfield Ag News and Waitt Agribusiness to 300.
Capital Agricultural Property Services, Inc., has hired Tim Harris, AFM, as a Senior Manager, joining the company’s Lisle, Ill. office.

Zimfo Bytes

New Media Work Station

Chuck Zimmerman January 13, 2009

Here’s my work station earlier today at the DoubleTree Hotel in St. Louis. Macbook Pro, iPhone, card reader and my camera. Oh, and yes, I was using hotel lobby bandwidth.

The tools to communicate with are certainly changing. If I didn’t want or need to take real high res photos I could just blog an event with my phone and computer. In fact, I’ve had more than one person ask me if I’m willing to try it.

Want to sponsor my effort? You pick a meeting that I don’t already have sponsored and I’ll blog it with my iPhone and Mac only. Let me know if you’re willing to try it with me.

Uncategorized

What’s the Job Outlook?

Amanda Nolz January 13, 2009

Despite icy roads and blizzard conditions, I made the haul from Brookings, S.D. to Lincoln, Neb. for a job interview. I decided that the poor economy and struggling job market was a lot scarier than a good, old South Dakota winter storm, so I made the 5 hour trip down to Neb. for the interview.

As this is my last semester at South Dakota State University, the time is ticking to find a job and make a decision about my future. I have got to admit that I’m feeling very fortunate to have agriculture as my area of expertise because so many general journalist students are having a difficult time finding jobs in the current market. It was really sad to see some of my Dec. graduate friends still searching for jobs during winter finals week. Do you think the jobs just aren’t available right now? Will this economy ever recover?

Anyway, the interview went well, and I’m excited for the opportunities that await me in the future. Of course, I will continue to pursue new positions as they arise as I’m constantly on the search for the perfect job for me. My question is, what is the job outlook in your area? Are young people finding jobs with ease? Are you offering jobs that you are having a hard time filling? What kind of skills are you looking for in these positions? Has the economy had an impact on the growth of your business? Inquiring minds want to know…

Uncategorized

Greg Guenther Receives Award From St. Louis Ag Club

Chuck Zimmerman January 13, 2009

At today’s St. Louis Agribusiness Club lunch meeting Illinois farmer Greg Guenther received the Agribusiness Leader of the Year Award. Greg is pictured with SLAC President Laurie Hiler (left) and his wife.

I spoke to Greg afterward (on my iPhone) and he says it was a pleasant surprise. He’s says it’s nice for folks to acknowledge the time he’s put in as a volunteer leader over the years. Since Greg is also head of GLB Consulting LLC, a company that provides seminars in bioenergy investing I asked him what he thought the new year and new administration means to that industry. He believes we’re going to see a definite commitment to biofuels out of the new administration and congress. He’s concerned however about the trend toward “next generation” biofuels and what that will mean for farmers who have invested in increasing yield and production of corn to make ethanol.

You can listen to my interview with Greg here: slag-guenther.mp3

Ag Groups, Audio, Energy, Ethanol

Greased Lightning Awarded By AFBF and New Holland

Chuck Zimmerman January 13, 2009

As a gadget, I mean cool tools, kind of guy I thought this was a great invention idea and it won an award at the American Farm Bureau Federation convention.

Daniel Prough of LaGrange, Ind., earned the grand prize in the Farmer Idea Exchange competition at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 90th annual meeting.

Prough won a year’s use of a New Holland TV-145 bidirectional tractor. New Holland has provided a year’s free use of a tractor to the grand prize winner for 19 of the 20 years the program has existed.

Prough’s invention, an illuminating grease gun, is a xenon flashlight mounted on a heavy-duty pistol grease gun. Having the flashlight mounted on the grease gun makes it much easier to pump the gun and hold the grease tip at the same time.

Gene Hemphill, New Holland, says that Dan calls it GREASED LIGHTNING. He used his new iPhone to send me the photo of him (left) with Dan by the way! I’m telling you, they are a handy tool too.

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Equipment, New Holland, Tractor

Defining Sustainability

Chuck Zimmerman January 12, 2009

An alliance of agricultural groups and companies has put together a report to help people understand sustainability. Yes, that word that everyone seems to have a different definition for.

The report released today by the Keystone Alliance, provides a definition of economic and environmental sustainability focusing on “meeting the needs of the present while improving the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” The Environmental Resource Indicators report was released at the American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting by Field to Market, the Keystone Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture.

I interviewed two people today for a release the organization sent out via our AgNewsWire.AgWired.com. Sarah Stokes Alexander is Director of Sustainability Programs, Keystone Center and Project Director, Field To Market Initiative. She describes the organization.

You can listen to my interview with Sarah here: keystone-alexander.mp3

Marty Matlock is the area Director of the Center for Agricultural and Rural Sustainability, University of Arkansas. He talks about the report and trends they found.

You can listen to my interview with Marty here: keystone-matlock.mp3

The Colorado-based Keystone Center examined five resource indicators: land use, soil loss, irrigation water use, net carbon emissions and energy use.

Corn growers in particular posted impressive gains, boosting per-acre productivity by 41 percent while reducing per-bushel land use by 37 percent, per-bushel soil losses by nearly 70 percent, and water use an average of 27 percent per bushel. Energy use dropped an estimated 3 percent per acre and 37 percent per bushel, with greenhouse gas emissions down 8 percent per acre and 30 percent per bushel.

Field to Market members include: American Farm Bureau Federation; American Soybean Association; Bayer CropScience; Bunge; Cargill, Incorporated; ConAgra Foods; Conservation International; Cotton Incorporated; DuPont; Fleishman-Hillard; General Mills; Grocery Manufacturers Association; John Deere; Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences; Mars, Incorporated; Monsanto Company; National Association of Conservation Districts; National Association of Wheat Growers; National Corn Growers Association; National Cotton Council of America; National Potato Council; Syngenta; The Coca-Cola Company; The Fertilizer Institute; Kellogg Company; The Nature Conservancy; United Soybean Board; and World Wildlife Fund.

Read the report here.

Ag Groups, Audio

AAAE Conference in May

Chuck Zimmerman January 12, 2009

After more years in agricultural communications than I care to remember I keep finding organizations that are new to me. This one is the American Association for Agricultural Education.

Goals of AAAE
Serve as an advocate for improvement of teaching and learning in agriculture.
Provide a forum to address issues in agricultural education.
Provide an approach to identifying, prioritizing, and organizing research in teaching and learning.
Provide opportunities for individual and organizational growth, development, and renewal.
Provide opportunities to communicate the results of research and other scholarly activities.
Provide opportunities for collaboration within and outside of agricultural education.
Provide for recruiting, inducting, and mentoring people into the profession.

The AAAE 2009 National Conference will be held in Louisville in May. I see they’ve started a Wiki to allow members to update information.

Ag Groups

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