AFBF Wants More Rural High Speed Internet

Chuck Zimmerman

American Farm Bureau FederationThe push to get broadband out in the countryside continues. Now I hope everyone realizes that there’s probably no place left you can’t get high speed internet if you want it. But the choices certainly are limited in many areas. Right here in Jefferson City, MO, we have only a couple choices. Now the American Farm Bureau Federation is getting in on the act. They know that rural America needs to be AgWired! I’m not sure which PEW Internet study they’re quoting from but it’s one of them. So, basically, they’re urging support for a Senate bill to provide incentives to build more broadband access in rural areas.

Rural Americans lag behind urban and suburban residents in the use and availability of high-speed Internet connections, according to AFBF. Twenty-four percent of rural Americans have high-speed Internet access at home, compared to 39 percent of urban and suburban residents.

“Access to high-speed Internet access is important to rural America. Broadband plays a critical role in health, education and economic development,” AFBF President Bob Stallman said in a letter to U.S. senators.

A 2006 report from the Commerce Department shows that broadband Internet access enhances the economic growth and performance of communities. A three-year study by the department indicates communities with broadband access significantly outpaced communities without broadband access in terms of employment, overall number of businesses and property values.

Farm Bureau is urging support for S. 1190, new legislation sponsored by Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) that would provide $40 million annually for a competitive, matching grant program to improve access to broadband Internet service. If approved, 80 percent of funding for the program would come from the federal government, with state and private funds supplying the remaining 20 percent.

That lag of 15% they quote here may seem big but keep in mind that the 24% number is significant. You can be sure that when it comes to farmers at high income levels the number is significantly higher.

Ag Groups, Internet

May I See You Somewhere

Chuck Zimmerman

After a couple days to get caught up (right) it’s time to head out on the highway. Here’s a few of the places you’ll find me in May.

This Friday I’ll be in Washington, DC at the National Press Club covering a speech by Bobby Rahal, Rahal-Letterman Racing. He’ll be talking about the Greening of Racing. A topic near and dear to my heart.

I’m going to do my best to attend next week’s Gateway NAMA meeting in St. Louis. The topic is “Outlook of the Agricultural Industry through the Eyes of the National Corn Growers Association & the American Soybean Association. I’m very behind in keeping up our chapter website but I’ll try to get that taken care of over the next week. Anyone want to volunteer to help?

Then I’m going to be in Chicago the next week for an ethanol industry related event on which I really don’t have many details yet.

After that I’ll be attending an Elanco “sensory briefing.” You will learn more about that along with me.

Following that one I’ll be in Louisville for the IFAJ Board Meeting at which I’m giving a presentation on blogging and podcasting and attending the Alltech International Feed Industry Symposium. That’s all about “The New Energy Crisis: Food, Feed, or Fuel?”

Then it’s off to Indianapolis for the Indy 500, the greatest event in racing. You can count on Team Ethanol being there in force to celebrate the relationship that has led to the League switching to a renewable fuel source.

Finally I’ll be giving a presentation on new media at the Canadian Animal Health Institute annual meeting where their theme is “Harnessing Technology to Expand Markets.”

I’d say that makes for a pretty full month don’t you?

Elanco

D&PL Boll Box/AVICTA Complete Pak Giveaway

Chuck Zimmerman

D&PL WinnerIn this picture Harvey Hancock (center) is awarded his Boll Box of treated seed from Wes Joost, D&PL district salesman (left), and Robbie Long, Syngenta Seed Care Sales representative (right). That’s his prize from a D&PL seed treatment promotion.

Cotton seed costs for Harvey Hancock of Slaton, Texas will be slightly lower this planting season after winning a Delta and Pine Land Company Boll Box containing the D&PL variety of his choice treated with AVICTA Complete Pak seed treatment.

The giveaway was part of a joint seed and seed treatment promotion by D&PL, the nation’s leading provider of cotton planting seed, and Syngenta Crop Protection, which developed and markets AVICTA Complete Pak seed treatment. Hancock, who farms cotton in Crosby County, Texas near the Robertson Community, will take his Boll Box with DP 164 B2RF, a mid-full maturity variety from D&PL.

Hancock’s name was randomly selected from participants who responded to a mailing regarding leading D&PL cotton varieties and the AVICTA Complete Pak, which is a promotional combination comprised of AVICTA nematicide, Cruiser insecticide and Dynasty CST fungicide seed treatments.

Completely unrelated to this story is the fact that I Googled “D&PL” while creating this post and AgWired shows up as result #8 on the first page of results. That’s out of almost 30,000 results in fact. Not bad for a little old industry blog don’t you think?

Agribusiness

Carl Moberg Joins EMD Crop Bioscience

Chuck Zimmerman

Carl MobergEMD Crop Bioscience has added Carl Moberg to their marketing team.

As one of EMD Crop BioScience’s North American Marketing Managers, Moberg will concentrate on areas of expansion, specifically new, foliar-applied LCO Promoter Technology and other technologies for a variety of crops. As new crop onputs are introduced, Moberg will lead marketing efforts to get the yield and plant health-enhancing technologies in the hands of growers.

“Carl brings a wealth of knowledge to EMD Crop BioScience,” says Scott Fleetwood, Ph.D., EMD Crop BioScience Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “His background and experience in product development and marketing will bring a fresh perspective to EMD Crop BioScience’s rapidly-growing portfolio of plant health-enhancing products.”

Moberg comes to EMD Crop BioScience with 30 years of experience in the agriculture industry. He started with Terra Industries in 1976 and worked in credit, sales and marketing management. Moberg then joined Agriliance in 1999 where he most recently held the position of Director of Branded Product Marketing and was responsible for the development and marketing of all products sold under the AgriSolutions, Origin and RSA brands.

Agribusiness

Caterpillar Says Eat My Dust

Chuck Zimmerman

Eat My DustThis looks like a very creative way to engage your client and to help them generate some sales while having a lot of fun.

Apparently, car dealers aren’t alone in finding creative ways to set up test drives. Now construction equipment dealers are joining the fun.

Winners of the recent “Eat My Dust” Sweepstakes, sponsored by Caterpillar dealers in the southwest, not only won a NASCAR race weekend at Fontana (CA) Speedway in February – they tested a new Cat tractor by using the machine to actually build their own dirt race track. Once completed, participants raced around the dirt track in dune buggies.

“What a cool way to demo a new machine,” exclaimed Monty Fross, owner of Rocks ‘N Stuff, of Stockton, CA. “When it came time to race the dune buggy, I drove it to win. And I did.” In addition to bragging rights, Fross got to lead a parade lap around Fontana (CA) Speedway prior to the start of the NASCAR Auto Club 500 – from inside the new Cat tractor. “I had a blast waving and honking at all the kids as I circled the track,” said Fross.

The event was created by Rhea & Kaiser Marketing Communications for its Cat dealer clients. The promotion helped launch a new product, the Cat 414E Industrial Loader, to contractors within seven Cat dealer territories, explains Fred Nichols, management supervisor for Rhea & Kaiser.

The picture is of one winner in the Caterpillar “Eat My Dust” Sweepstakes preparing to race around a dirt track created by various test drives of the new Cat 414E Industrial Loader, behind.

Agencies, Agribusiness

Farmer Frank Wins First Place

Chuck Zimmerman

Farmer FrankThanks to the Ag Documentation Center for bringing this to my attention. It’s a really good piece of television photojournalism. In fact, it’s the #1 award winner of the Poynter Institute 2007 The Best of Television Photojournalism.

The first place winner is Jonathan Malat/KARE Minneapolis, Minn.

Jonathan follows Farmer Frank who has made the move to the city but can’t quit working “on the farm.” Visit the site to watch the video.

Media

10th World Agricultural Forum

Chuck Zimmerman

World Agricultural ForumThe World Agricultural Forum for 2007 will take place next week in St. Louis. The agenda says it kicks off with a reception on Monday, May 7.

They’ve got some interesting names on the program like Mariann Fischer Boel, Commissioner for Agricultural and Rural Development for the European Union. She’ll be doing the keynote address.

As you might guess biofuels are a major topic. Sessions on it include:

BIOENERGY: HOW DO WE RATIONALIZE INVESTMENTS IN AGRICULTURE TO AUGMENT FOSSIL FUELS?
HOW CAN WE MAKE BIOENERGY A SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT WITHOUT AFFECTING FOOD SUPPLIES?
Are Biofuels an Option for Developed Economies?
How Do We Balance Conflicting Forces: The Debate on “Food and Fuel”?
What are the Social, Ethical and Environmental Issues in Bioenergy and Agriculture?
What affect does Biofuel Have on Smallholder Farmers?

Ag Groups

FMC Hero Dollars

Chuck Zimmerman

Hero InsecticideWe sure need some new heroes in our society today. And a good comic book to go with it. I just noticed how FMC is marketing their Hero Insecticide using a “Hero.” It looks like their Commodity Classic donation promotion went over well.

As part of its ongoing “Be a Hero, Support a Hero” promotion, FMC Corporation will donate more than $4,200 to the United Service Organization’s (USO) Operation Care Package, which provides care packages to U.S. Servicemen and women who are stationed overseas.

This donation from the “Be a Hero, Support a Hero” promotion represents $5 for every attendee at either the FMC “What is New” or ” Closing Learning Center” sessions, or those who registered for a prize drawing at the company’s booth at the recent Commodity Classic event in Tampa, Fla. These monies will allow FMC to purchase USO care packages for nearly 200 U.S. service personnel stationed overseas.

Agribusiness

AASHTO Starts Transportation Vision

Chuck Zimmerman

Transportation VisionDo you remember the trip I took across the United States last year with AASHTO to commemorate the Interstate Highway System’s 50 year anniversary? I do. It’s hard to forget a 2 week convoy where I got to meet and get to know some great people. AASHTO has just announced a new website called Transportation Vision.

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) today launched a web site to chronicle and facilitate the establishment of a new multi-decade vision for U.S. transportation. AASHTO, which represents the state departments of transportation nationwide, is planning a conference May 21-23 in which an estimated 150 people from public and private-sector groups will lay a conceptual framework for that transportation vision.

The new website can be accessed at http://www.transportationvision.org. It contains links to research, a set of recent reports created by AASHTO, conference information, and links to associated groups.

Uncategorized

New Japan Director for U. S. Wheat Associates

Chuck Zimmerman

Mr. Wataru Mr. Wataru “Charlie” Utsunomiya will be the new Japan country director for U. S. Wheat Associates beginning June 1. I am so glad we can call him Charlie.

Mr. Utsunomiya started his career as a grain trader with Japan’s Marubeni Corporation and has held various management positions with the company for 30 years. Mr. Utsunomiya is currently chairman of Columbia Grain, Portland, Ore. He also served as president and CEO of Rice Milling Company, a Marubeni subsidiary, general manager of Marubeni’s oilseeds, fats and oil department and assistant general manager of its foodstuffs division among other positions. He has commodity export experience in the Asian, South American, African and the Middle Eastern markets and has served four assignments in the United States over 13 years.

Every year, with one recent exception, Japan imports more wheat from the U.S. than any other country.

Ag Groups, International