NCBA Staff Reorganization

Chuck Zimmerman

NCBATerry Stokes, CEO of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association issued a statement today in regards to some changes on the staff. Here’s a portion of his letter:

Yesterday, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced a staff reorganization to continue to serve cattlemen, our state partners and the cattle industry in an ever-changing environment. We have simplified our organization into these areas:

– Governance, Leadership and State Services, led by Kendal Frazier
– Marketing and Communications, led by Kim Essex
– Member and Corporate Services, led by Polly Ruhland
– Research and Education, led by Dr. James O. Reagan
– Government Affairs, led by Terry Stokes, interim

NCBA’s mission is to increase profit opportunities for cattle and beef producers by enhancing the business climate and building beef demand. As a reflection of the changing industry, this restructuring occurred at the direction of NCBA’s officers to make NCBA efficient and effective at achieving this mission. Read More

Ag Groups, Beef

The Distinguished Dr. Greg Stapleton

Chuck Zimmerman

Greg StapletonsBASF Senior Technical Service Representative Greg Stapleton has just been awarded the Distinguished Service Award for Industry at the Southern Weed Science Society (SWSS) annual meeting in Jacksonville, FL.

In making the nomination, fellow members stated that Dr. Stapleton has been very active in SWSS on many different committees. During the presentation of the Distinguished Service Award for Industry, the weed scientists expressed great appreciation for Dr. Stapleton’s diligent efforts in hosting the annual SWSS Weed Contest.

Agribusiness, BASF

Springtime Migration

Chuck Zimmerman

Farm BirdsI think it must be getting near spring time if the Sandhill Cranes are flying over Nebraska. Here’s a formation doing a flyover when I gassed up on my way back from Omaha today.

There were countless numbers of birds in the air this morning. According to Wikipedia:

The Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) is a large crane of North America and extreme northeastern Siberia. It has one of the the longest fossil histories of any extant bird[1]. But although a 10-million-year-old crane fossil from Nebraska is often cited as being of this species[2], this is more likely from a prehistoric relative or the direct ancestor of the Sandhill Crane but may not even belong in the genus Grus, while the oldest unequivocal Sandhill Crane fossil is “just” 2.5 million years old[3]. Still, this is nearly half as old again as the earliest remains of most living species of birds, which are not known from remains older than the Pliocene/Pleistocene boundary some 1.8 million years ago. As these ancient Sandhill Cranes varied as much in size as the present-day birds, even those Pliocene fossils were sometimes described as new species[4]. Grus haydeni on the other hand may or may not have been a prehistoric relative of the living species, or it may actually comprise material of the Sandhill Crane and its ancestor[5].

Farm BirdsThe common name of this bird references habitat like that at the Platte River, on the edge of Nebraska’s Sandhills in the American midwest. This is the most important stopover area for the Lesser Sandhill Crane, Grus (canadensis) canadensis, with up to 450,000 of these birds migrating through annually.

I passed a field and stopped for a quick photo to add to my collection.

They all swirled around and around before finally landing in this field off of I-29 right near the Nebraska/Missouri border.

Uncategorized

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Producers and custom applicators will want to check out the significantly improved operator comforts available in the 2008 4000 and 7000 Series Spra-Coupe® from AGCO Corporation’s Application Equipment Division. Changes were implemented to reduce the roll of the machine and improve force absorption of the suspension by taking oscillation out of the front end. Engineers also switched to a rigid-mount front axle, using linear-rate springs rather than variable-rate springs and nearly doubled the travel on the front axle. For more about the changes, visit the Web site.
  • Nufarm Americas Inc. and North Carolina based Etigra announced that they have reached agreement for Nufarm to acquire the assets of Etigra. This proposed acquisition will strengthen Nufarm’s existing position in the turf and specialty segment.
  • Indiana’s Hoosier Ag Today has announced the creation of a new programming dealing with the energy sector. The daily Energy Update will include crude oil, gasoline, e-85, and ethanol prices, along with analysis and trends in the energy market. The prices being paid by Hoosier ethanol and biodiesel plants for corn and soybeans will also be included. The report can be heard on HAT radio stations across the state as well as online.
  • AGCO Corporation’s application equipment division is moving to complete realignment of its sales and service network for the Ag-Chem brand. These changes mean large commercial producers who own and operate Ag-Chem application equipment can turn to their local Caterpillar (http://www.cat.com) dealer as the one source for their application equipment sales and service needs. Across the country, 22 dealers have assumed responsibility for new machinery sales of Ag-Chem’s RoGator® high clearance sprayers and TerraGator® flotation applicators.
Zimfo Bytes

What Are You Doing For Ag Day/Week?

Chuck Zimmerman

National Agriculture DayWhat is your company doing to promote or celebrate National Ag Week and National Ag Day? Are you having a party? Running a special promotion? Send me your pictures, images and audio files or links to them, including video and I’ll do my best to feature it here on AgWired over the coming week or so.

Successful FarmingHere’s something Successful Farming is doing. They’ve recorded the Ag Day PSA’s to run on Successful Farming Radio.

You can hear one of them here: ag-week-psa.mp3

Successful Farming will deliver a series of National AgDay promotional mentions on The Successful Farming Radio Magazine and also make the promos available on Podcast through iTunes and on the Successful Farming(r) Web site Agriculture Online. The SF Radio Magazine has been on the air for nine years, and provides coverage in 22 states.

Want more SF Radio? Click here to subscribe to the SF Radio podcast. Need help? Click here for our podcast FAQ section.

Ag Groups, Audio, Publication

Pam Fretwell Joins Conklin Company

Chuck Zimmerman

Pam FretwellI guess there’s an opportunity for a farm broadcaster at WTAD in Quincy, IL. Pam Fretwell, Past President of the NAFB is going to work for the Conklin Company as the corporate spokesperson for its agriculture division. She’s pictured here at last year’s NAFB convention.

Ms. Fretwell will lead public relations and media development training. Given her love for farm broadcasting she plans to continue to do some weekly on-air programming and maintain her NAFB connections.

Ms. Fretwell joins Conklin’s Kansas City corporate staff from her nine-year position as the Farm Services Director for STARadio Corporation. Often recognized in her broadcasting career, Pam’s distinctions include the award for Missouri Corn Growers Farm Broadcaster of the Year Award and the Outstanding Service to Agriculture Award from the Missouri Farm Bureau.

According to Charles W. Herbster, CEO and owner of the Conklin Company, “Pam’s impressive reputation in farm broadcasting and experience in public relations make her the ideal person to help Conklin reach thousands of independent American farmers who can increase their profitability with our crop and livestock management systems.”

Agribusiness, Media

America’s Egg Producers Help Feed Hungry

Laura McNamara

The American Egg BoardThe American Egg Board is giving food banks across the nation more than 12 million eggs. America’s Second Harvest will distribute the protein-rich eggs just in time for the Easter holiday.

The donation will provide food-insecure Americans with much needed high-quality protein, which helps kids and adults build muscle strength, helps older adults prevent muscle loss, and may also promote weight management.

Second HarvestEgg producers from across the country, through commitments made to United Egg Producers, will participate in the donation, with most of the eggs being delivered to America’s Second Harvest in the two to three weeks prior to Easter. “Egg demand is highest during the Easter holiday,” said Joanne Ivy, president and CEO of the American Egg Board. “A donation of this size during the Easter season is a true indication of egg producers’ dedication to providing American families with the important nutrients they need to stay nourished and energized throughout the day.”

In addition to providing American families with a natural, unprocessed source of high-quality protein, eggs and their nutrients offer a host of benefits: Eggs are all natural and have 13 essential vitamins and minerals, high-quality protein, healthy unsaturated fats and antioxidants, for only 70 calories each; egg yolks are an excellent source of choline, an essential nutrient that contributes to fetal brain development and helps prevent birth defects; choline also helps maintain the structure of brain cell membranes and is a key component of the neurotransmitter that helps relay messages from the brain through nerves to the muscles; lutein and zeaxanthin, two antioxidants found in egg yolks, help prevent macular degeneration, a leading cause of age-related blindness, studies show that eggs provide energy without causing a spike in blood glucose or insulin levels, thereby helping people feel full longer and more energized.

Ag Groups, Farming, Food

Closing Out 25x’25 Renewable Energy Summit

Chuck Zimmerman

Allen RiderHello from Nebraska. I’ve been attending some of the 25x’25 Renewable Energy Summit and about to head over the the Nebraska Ethanol Board’s “Ethanol 2008:Emerging Issues Forum.” In between I’ve had some meetings here as well. You can find more information on what’s going on over on our Domestic Fuel site. However, I thought you might enjoy this since some of you probably know Allen Rider, past president of New Holland North America and a member of the 25x’25 National Steering Committee.

Allen’s job here was to summarize what we’ve learned at the Summit. To start with he says that he’s heard a real affirmation of the goal of 25x’25 and that it’s the right goal. He learned a lot about the economic benefit of realizing that goal in terms of what it will mean for revitalizing rural America. Finally, he says the environmental impact is huge and ties right in with the other two.

He left everyone with the 3 A’s – Alliance, Advocacy and Administration. He says the strength of the organization comes from the alliances and grass roots efforts. He says there’s such a big need to advocate and get the facts out to the public. Everyone in the room raised their hand when he asked if they had seen a story in the media in the last week about renewable energy that had fact errors. And finally, he said they will need to educate and assist the new administration in Washington, DC.

You can listen to Allen’s closing remarks here: ne-ethanol-08-rider.mp3

Ag Groups, Audio

DuPont Gets “Fast” With Nitrogen

Laura McNamara

DuPontArcadia Biosciences is teaming up with Dupont to improve nitrogen use efficiency in corn. DuPont’s Pioneer Hi-Bred will use Arcadia technology to deliver a technology that DuPont Crop Genetics Research and Development VP William S. Niebur says “will help farmers increase the productivity, profitability and sustainability of global corn production.”

ArcadiaFarmers around the world depend on a combination of nitrogen fertilizer and advanced genetics and technology to increase productivity. According to the International Fertilizer Association and the Food and Agriculture Organization, more than 12.5 million metric tons of nitrogen fertilizer are applied globally each year to corn. Nitrogen fertilizer prices, which are closely tied to natural gas prices, continue to rise, making efficient use of nitrogen fertilizer an increasingly important issue in grower profitability.

Corn is a key focus for the application of nitrogen use efficiency technology because it is one of the most important global food crops and an intensive user of nitrogen fertilizer. ArcadiaLike most crops, corn only absorbs some of the nitrogen that is applied to it, resulting in economic inefficiencies for farmers. Although farmers have taken great strides to reduce runoff, a portion of the unabsorbed nitrogen can enter waterways or volatize into the air as a greenhouse gas.

Pioneer is aggressively pursuing enhanced efficiency in nitrogen use – applying both transgenic and traditional research methods for future hybrid improvement. The collaboration with Arcadia builds on nitrogen use efficiency work already under way at Pioneer.

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Corn, Farming, Food, Technology

Get Ready For National Ag Day

Chuck Zimmerman

National Agriculture DayWe’re just over a week away from National Ag Day. Here’s a few faq’s you can use when talking to your urban friends about it. These come from the Ag Day website.

What Is Ag Day?

It’s a day to recognize and celebrate the abundance provided by agriculture. Every year, producers, agricultural associations, corporations, universities, government agencies and countless other across America join together to recognize the contributions of agriculture.

When Is Ag Day?

Ag Day is celebrated on March 20, 2008 – the first day of spring. National Ag Day falls during National Ag Week, March 16-22, 2008.

Who Hosts Ag Day?

The Agriculture Council of America hosts the campaign on a national level. However, the awareness efforts in communities across America are as influential – if not more – than the broad-scale effort. Again this year, the Ag Day Planning Guide has been created to help communities and organizations more effectively host Ag Day events.

What Is Ag Day All About?

Ag Day is about recognizing – and celebrating – the contribution of agriculture in our everyday lives. The National Ag Day program encourages every American to:

* Understand how food and fiber products are produced.
* Value the essential role of agriculture in maintaining a strong economy.
* Appreciate the role agriculture plays in providing safe, abundant and affordable products.

Ag Groups