Sustainability Practices Now Determined Via New Online Calculator

Joanna Schroeder February 27, 2009

Sustainability is a hot topic and growers have often been put in the hot seat defending their use of the land. But today, sustainability practices can be assessed using the new online Fieldprint Calculator, created by Field to Market, The Keystone Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture.

As the world population explodes, producing food, feed, fuel, and fiber in a sustainable manner throughout the world will be paramount to success. “We’re adding three China’s in our children’s lifetime,” said Marty Matlock, Director of the Center for Agriculture and Rural Sustainability at the University of Arkansas. “Today, the U.S. is top of its game globally.”

This free, confidential calculator, measures several factors including land use, soil loss, energy use and water use. After entering your data, a summary graph in the shape of a “spider” appears –the smaller your spider, the better your sustainability practices.

“This tool will hope us demonstrate how the U.S. measures up when talking about sustainability,” said Doug Goehring, who grows corn, soybeans and wheat in North Dakota. “This tool helps a grower re-affirm how sustainable he is. The feedback is vitally important.”

The Keystone Alliance is asking growers to test out the Fieldprint Calculator and offer feedback before its anticipated full-scale launch on March 15. You can visit them at Commodity Classic in booth 718. You can also sign up online by visiting www.fieldtomarket.org.

Watch a video of Doug demonstrating the Fieldprint calculator here:

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Commodity Classic, Environment, Farming

Commodity Group Leaders Speak

Chuck Zimmerman February 27, 2009

Our opening general session has just ended and once again we got a chance to hear from the Presidents of the commodity groups involved in Classic. This year there are four. Pictured (l-r) are Moderator, Mark Mayfield, NSP Chairman Toby Bostwick, NAWG President, David Cleavinger, NCGA President, Bob Dickey and ASA President, Johnny Dodson.

This was their opportunity to provide a little perspective on their organizations and the industry. Prior to their roundtable discussion they each had a one on one session with Mark.

You can listen to their session here: cc-09-presidents-stage.mp3

You can also download their session with this link: Commodity Group Round Table (mp3)

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Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort February 27, 2009

Grain samples without running a combine? Minibatt, a portable grain sampler, can do this. Reichhardt Electronic Innovations is now distributing this handy device in North America.
DuPont has received federal registration approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for two corn herbicides: Accent Q and Steadfast Q. Both new herbicides provide corn growers with the flexibility to apply them under more diverse weather conditions, across more hybrids and with a wider range of adjuvants.
Soil Warrior, a unique pull-type and one-pass tillage machine that provides the proven economic, agronomic and environmental benefits of strip-tillage – with deep zone tilling (with fertilizer) in the fall and superior planting zones (with fertilizer) in early spring – is now available from Environmental Tillage Systems.
Georgia-Pacific (G-P) Plant Nutrition announces the addition of Jon Mixson as national sales and marketing manager, and Blake Covert as sales agronomist for the western U.S.

Zimfo Bytes

BASF Booth Features Corn Carpet

Cindy Zimmerman February 26, 2009

At the 2009 Commodity Classic trade show, growers are finding that the BASF exhibit not only features new products to help them be more productive, it is also showcasing new products made from the corn they grow.

The floor in the BASF exhibit is covered with a carpet made from corn polymers, and they are giving away plastic coffee cups made from 100 percent corn plastic, as Dan Westberg and Leon Duschene explain in this YouTube video.

See more photos from the BASF exhibit in the BASF at Commodity Classic photo album.

Check out all the Commodity Classic photos here.

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BASF, Commodity Classic, Corn, New Holland, Video

Classic Promotion

Chuck Zimmerman February 26, 2009

There’s not really a story for this photo. I just thought it was a very cool looking promotion.

You see a lot of logos projected on walls at conferences but not too many on the floor.

It does help you remember where you are.

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NAFB Members At Commodity Classic

Chuck Zimmerman February 26, 2009

This evening we had a very nice and well attended media reception, sponsored by New Holland. The presidents of each Commodity Classic participating organization were on hand to greet us and it was a nice opportunity to unwind a little and share some fellowship.

We successfully got the farm broadcasters present to pose for a group photo. This is just one of those NAFB traditions.

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New Holland Zero Turn Radius Mower Giveaway

Chuck Zimmerman February 26, 2009

I announced the New Holland Zero Turn Radius mower giveaway at the end of this afternoon’s trade show session. The winner was Duane Lee from Albion, NE.

This annual giveaway really draws a crowd since you have to be present to win. All growers who fill out a registration card are automatically entered. I believe this is the first time we’ve had the first name drawn be present. It made for a short program.

Duane was very excited and happy to win the mower. He’s seated on the mower in the picture along with me and two boys who helped me with the drawing. Duane grows soybeans and says he’s been coming to Classic for 4 years now.

You can listen to my interview with Duane here: cc-09-mower.mp3

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Farm Photographers

Chuck Zimmerman February 26, 2009

Photographers almost never get their picture taken. That’s why I try to always include pictures of them.

This is the ever so creative John Walter, AgricultureOnline, who was seen getting his shot during the opening session of the Commodity Classic trade show. He’s afraid I was going to tweet it. Actually, I am since AgWired’s rss feed posts to my Twitter account. Some farmers got a kick out of seeing my shooting John’s picture while he was shooting a picture. They then walked up and said hello to him. Obviously he’s in close contact with his audience and they like him.

I’m sure I’ll have more photos of ag photogs in the photo album.

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Commodity Classic, Media

Commodity Classic Media Room Etiquette

Chuck Zimmerman February 26, 2009

This was part of the buzz in ag media at Commodity Classic today. You can click on the photo to get a big enough version to read.

Commodity Classic Media Room Etiquette. Are you kidding? What’s that all about? I’ve never heard of such a thing and I dare say I’ve been to a few media rooms and not just for ag events. I’d love for you to post your comments, especially items 4 and 6.

The rules here for media are getting a little bit “over the top.” No other organization or media room that I have worked in is quite this severe and strict and none of them ever have any problems other than an occasional incident here and there. I for one am quite happy to have a public relations professional, farmer or company representative able to visit the media room. Most are very courteous and respectful of the fact that the media room is a working environment. I’d use the media room that NCBA runs for the Cattle Industry Convention as an example of one of the best that I know of. Or perhaps the Farm Progress Show media tent, which is also sponsored by New Holland.

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Hugh Whaley Joins Broadhead+Co

Chuck Zimmerman February 26, 2009

3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . . Hugh Whaley has a new job. (old farm broadcasters will get the 3,2,1 thing) This was the only picture I could find quickly of Hugh (far right). Hugh will be the director of Broadhead+Co.’s association and federal government practice. Major congratulations to Hugh and to Dean Broadhead.

“I’m very excited and honored to be invited to join the top-notch professionals at Broadhead + Co,” said Whaley. “I’ve had the unique privilege of competing against Dean and his staff in the past, and I’m now proud to call Broadhead my professional home.”

Hugh Whaley served as head of the Association Business sector for over 12 years at Osborn & Barr in St. Louis. He led a team of 20 professionals responsible for strategic and tactical advertising, public relations and issues management communications programs, primarily for agricultural producer-funded organizations, not-for-profit associations and U.S. Government agencies.

“Hugh will provide veteran leadership to our government and association team that has deep roots in the nation’s capital,” said Dean Broadhead, President|CEO. “We are an agency that has always valued experience, making Hugh’s extraordinary background and keen instincts a natural fit.”

Whaley has held numerous leadership positions with a number of organizations including the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) and the NAFB Foundation, the American Society of Association Executives, National Agri-Marketing Association and the St. Louis Agri-Business Club. Hugh received a Bachelors degree in Political Science from Purdue University, and is a U.S. Navy veteran.

Agencies

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