Change Coming to USDA

Cindy Zimmerman

VilsackJust a few hours after Barack Obama took the oath of President of the United States, the U.S. Senate confirmed seven of his cabinet appointees, including Tom Vilsack as Secretary of Agriculture.

But, don’t look for an update on the USDA website just yet. Unlike the new whitehouse.gov website, which went live at 12:01 eastern yesterday, the USDA website has yet to be updated with the new secretary’s info. As of this morning, the Secretary pages on usda.gov are just blank. Could be because USDA offices were closed yesterday for the inauguration. First time I can recall there being four days in a row without an updated USDA newsline.

Everybody in agriculture seems happy about Secretary Vilsack – with the exception of mainly activists who are opposed to biotechnology. In case you don’t know his background, Vilsack was governor of Iowa from 1999-2007, during which time he chaired the Governors Ethanol Coalition, Governors Biotechnology Partnership, and the National Governors Association’s Natural Resources Committee, which handles agriculture and energy policies. He also owns a 600 acre farm in Iowa.

Now we will await the secretary’s new appointments for deputy and the various agencies within USDA.

USDA

A Green Afternoon in Houston

Chuck Zimmerman

Drive Green in HoustonIt’s great to be out on location for the first time in 2009. The weather in Houston is beautiful so I’m sure John Deere is loving it. Tomorrow we’ll have a full day of activities at the Houston Farm and Ranch Club. It’s Drive Green time again.

This afternoon was all about setting up for the show tomorrow. I took some photos like this one and started the event interviews which you’ll find on the Drive Green Utility Tractor Show blog. Unfortunately I couldn’t get internet access to work there. Believe me, I tried. Even the AT&T signal for my air card is the “wrong one.” Don’t ask. It would take too long to explain. But I can still use my iPhone there so keep an eye on my Twitter feed tomorrow.

John Deere

Associating With StollerUSA

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast-204 - Associating With StollerUSAI got to associate with Jerry Stoller, CEO and President of Stoller Group, today at his 16th annual U. S. Ag Associates Conference in Houston, TX. I am on location with the John Deere Drive Green Utility Tractor Show but had time to stop by and speak to Jerry during their lunch break today. Patricia Lawson, Hondo Group, was kind enough to snap a picture of me interviewing Jerry with my iPhone.

Chuck Interviews Jerry StollerJerry says he’s been conducting this Conference for 16 years now after 7 people got together for the first one.

University professors, researchers, growers, crop consultants and Stoller Group representatives will join in an effort to learn from one another. With individuals from many different backgrounds contributing, results from various experiments and observations from the past year are presented at this technical meeting. Highlights of the conference include discussions on product development and strategies to increase crop yields. Some of the work presented is theoretical; however, most are practical studies that have been obtained through university research and field trials.

There are representatives attending this year’s Conference from 40 countries. Maybe it will need to be re-named with the word “International” after this! Jerry is also a blog fan. He says, “I think there’s tremendous potential using the internet, these blog sites, in order to teach.” You have to listen to this interview. He’s got some great anecdotes like an analogy of a crop to a woman. It’s great. You can hear why he makes a good teacher.

You can download and listen to the ZimmCast here: Listen To ZimmCastZimmCast 203 (12 min MP3)

Or listen to this week’s ZimmCast right now:Interview with Jerry Stoller - ZimmCast 204

The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired which you can subscribe to using the link in our sidebar. You can also subscribe in iTunes

Agribusiness, Audio, ZimmCast

Farm Manager of the Year

Melissa Sandfort

steve_myersSteve S. Myers, an 18-year veteran at Busey Ag Services, LeRoy, Il, has been named Farm Manager of the Year by the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. The presentation was made during the ASFMRA Annual Meeting held in November in San Antonio.

Steve was raised on a grain and livestock farm in Western Illinois. His passion for agriculture led him to Illinois State University where he graduated with a degree in Agriculture Education. Upon his graduation in 1986, Steve began his career as a vocational education instructor at Blue Ridge High School in Farmer City, Ill. After a couple of years in education, Steve joined the ag retail industry when he became a Crops Specialist and Plant Manager for McLean County Service Company in Bellflower, Ill. In 1990, Steve joined what was then Busey Bank as a professional farm manager. He currently manages more than 15,000 acres for 66 clients. In addition to professional farm management, Myers is a licensed real estate broker and certified crop advisor.

The award is sponsored by ASFMRA, Syngenta, and AgProfessional magazine.

Farming, Syngenta

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Four leading chefs from around the country have developed tasty, new almond snacks in response to the Almond Board of California’s “Ultimate Snack Off Recipe Contest.” By March 13, fans are encouraged to vote for their favorite almond recipe and to be entered in the Grand Prize College Basketball Package sweepstakes, valued at $8,500.
  • Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc., announces that it has an adequate supply of its Ingelvac CircoFLEX vaccine to meet the needs of swine producers and veterinarians who want to vaccinate pigs against porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2).
  • The 23rd annual Farm Progress Hay Expo will be held June 10 and 11 at Trinity Farms, located near Hixton, Wisc.
  • Stewart-Peterson is offering a series of interactive workshops for farm families to learn how to navigate the current volatile commodity markets. Workshops will be held at the Riverland Energy Cooperative community room in Arcadia, Wisc., 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Feb. 5 and Feb. 17, 2009.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Stream Live TV On Your iPhone

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Inauguration PhotoMy main man, Steve Mays, the Obamanator, is on the ground in Washington, DC to attend today’s inauguration. I realize he’s not looking for the agricultural angle but he’s blogging it and tweeting it, using Flickr and even some video. I’d rather watch his coverage than any of the network blather. We may be miles apart politically but he does a good job and gets the new media thing better than most.

    I’m not sure where I’ll be at actual inauguration time. Heck, I’ve got to look up what time it is. I haven’t really been that interested. However, I did download the new Ustream.tv app to my iPhone and it works great here at KCI Airport wifi. It requires a wifi connection but allows you to watch live streaming video like Agwired Live TV! They’re supposed to have a live feed from the event. You can already watch some live webcam video from the area.

    Just think of the possibilities for events of your own!

    Internet

    Rural Life Radio.com

    Chuck Zimmerman

    RuralLifeRadio.comIt looks like Mike Parry has Rural Life Radio.com up and running. On it you can watch video interviews from the SHOT show. Hmm. Video clips on the web/radio broadcasting? Goes together, eh? I assume this is a project of the NAFB. Feel free to add to comments.

    “Welcome to RuralLifeRadio.com. This website is dedicated to those living the rural life….and to those who might be considering buying their first piece of paradise. Our intent is to bring you information that you can use while living the rural life. Featuring some of the best rural lifestyle broadcasters.”

    You’ll find interviews with exhibitors at the show like the one pictured here in which ZimmComm client Southeast AgNet’s Gary Cooper interviews Samantha Virk, Samantha’s Wildlife.

    NAFB

    God Bless Farm Gals

    Amanda Nolz

    img_1323It is often overlooked that the female in a farming operation plays a crucial role in the success of that business. This ranch partner wears many hats including: hired hand, meals-on-wheels service, chauffer, maid, errands-runner, fix-it gal and chore help. She can be found in the kitchen, in the feedyard, on a tractor or in a repair shop. She keeps the books, takes care of paperwork and makes sure the kids get to band practice and basketball games. She maintains several full-time jobs: housewife, farmer, career woman, mom and wife. She is a super hero; She is a ranch wife.

    For these everyday agriculture super heroes, the Women In Blue Jeans (WIBJ) Conference was developed. Seven years ago, WIBJ started as a club for fifteen local farm gals. These women met in the conference room of a crop insurance building, and they discussed everything from farm prices to maintaining good health. The need for fellowship in women in agriculture was strong, and soon, the word spread about WIBJ. This year’s event boasted an all-time attendance rate, with over 200 female participants. The 2009 WIBJ Conference was held in Mitchell, S.D. at the Dakota Wesleyan University Campus on January 15-17.

    I had the great opportunity to speak at the 2009 WIBJ Conference. My forum topic was, “What happened to the next generation of agriculture?” It identified the issues facing young people after graduation. This is a time when they have to choose between a high profile career in the cities and the rural lifestyle they have always known. It was a great presentation, and if you are interested in hearing more about it, let me know.

    Anyway, another WIBJ Conference has come and gone, and with that, women in agriculture have renewed their passions for their lives on the farm. You might see her at the grocery store. She might be picking up feed at the elevator. She could be getting parts for the tractor. Maybe she is picking up the kids from practice. Wherever you see her, take the time to thank these agriculture superheroes for their efforts.

    For more information on the conference, check out Women in Blue Jeans today!

    Uncategorized

    Top Producer Top 25

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Top Producer Top 25Top Producer magazine has published it’s annual Top 25 list of people, issues and trends. “A Top Producer Staff Report…It’s difficult to predict who or what will shake out as agriculture’s biggest influences and influencers in the coming years, but we identify some that will surely have an impact on your business.” Yours truly is mentioned in the item titled, “Internet pundits and critics.” Here’s an excerpt:

    “The conversation is taking place already, and agriculture needs to join it,” says Zimmerman, who runs several Web sites for a variety of clients, including his own AgWired. “There is no question public opinion about agriculture is swayed by people who are not directly involved in the industry. And it’s not just bloggers, either. I think you’re seeing a lot of reporting from more of the traditional media today that is opinionated reporting. I think that’s being driven by how blogging has changed the industry.”

    Basically this is about people in agriculture getting involved in the online conversation that’s going to take place with our without us. This goes for companies and member organizations. You have no control over the message anymore. However, you can make sure that your side is told!

    Publication

    Stoller’s Cybercoffeeshop

    Chuck Zimmerman

    CybercoffeeshopI guess that StollerUSA has started blogging with Cybercoffeeshop. They just started posting from their US Ag Associates Conference that is taking place in Houston, TX.

    Join the insightful online chat between farmers, researchers, and crop consultants. Find out what others are doing to cope with the changes in today’s farming environment.

    It looks like they’re asking questions in an attempt to engage visiting farmers in a conversation. That is a good tactic. I would also suggest posting more information on the actual activities, products, etc. being presented to provide them with more to “chew on.”

    Agribusiness