Cross Country Event Blogging

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast74 - Cross Country BloggingAfter a week off, the ZimmCast is back. I am glad I got to travel coast to coast as part of a historic interstate convoy but it sure took up way more time each day than I imagined. I got a little behind in some things like posting here on AgWired and getting a new program for you last week.

This week’s program talks about the trip and includes my interview with Andrew Firestone while we stopped in at Firestone headquarters in Akron, OH late one evening.

There’s going to be a lot of event blogging going on here in coming months but none of them will have the same effect that getting behind a wheel each day for 2 weeks and driving all day had. Thanks for your patience and I hope you have a great 4th of July week!

Listen here: Listen To ZimmCastZimmCast 74 (9 min MP3)

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.

Audio, ZimmCast

Got Grain Basis Blues

Chuck Zimmerman

Cash Grain BidsFarmers looking for the best grain deal have a new tool from Cash Grain Bids. It’s a mapping interface where you just plug your zip code in and it will show you a local Google-powered map with local markets and pricing to decide where to go.

“Basis levels are as low as they’ve been in five years,” said Kevin McNew, president of Cash Grain Bids. “We look for things to improve with this fall’s 2006 crop. But that doesn’t help farmers trying to market their grain right now.” “There are still premium markets out there,” McNew said. “But it can be difficult for farmers to find them quickly.” With that in mind, McNew’s company is offering a free online price and map service through the end of the marketing year. Farmers who use this service can enter their zip code and review 100 different markets in their area on a map and find the one with the best price for them.

“On a table, everything looks the same and a farmer has no concept of how far away that market is,” McNew explained. “A map is an intelligent tool that helps farmers really use the data presented to them. It’s not just a list of numbers.” To use this free service, log onto www.cashgrainbids.com and follow the link to the basis map.

Agribusiness

Waste Water Reduction Benefits

Chuck Zimmerman

Harry SiemensAn Alberta, Canada pork producer suggests technologies designed to cut the amount of water wasted by hogs in the grower barn not only offer environmental benefits, but substantial economic benefits.

As part of a project to examine water wastage and greenhouse gases reduction in hog operations, JV Farms in High River, Alberta installed water meters and compared usage by pigs drinking from ball bite type nipple drinkers to those using standard drinking systems for one calendar year. The switch to ball bite drinkers slashed water use by an average of 35 percent with the most dramatic reductions evident during the hottest days of the summer with no negative impact on behavior or performance. Read More

International

D&PL Buys Dupont Licenses

Chuck Zimmerman

D&PL Big news from Delta and Pine Land Company today as it has acquired several licenses from DuPont subsidiary Pioneer Hi-Bred including its Optimum herbicide tolerance technology for cotton and soybeans.

Additionally, the Company has acquired licenses for other products developed by the DuPont biotechnology research program and certain enabling technologies for use in cotton, soybeans and other crops. D&PL and Pioneer Hi-Bred are partners in joint venture, DeltaMax Cotton, which was initially formed to develop and
commercialize glyphosate tolerance technology in cotton. The Company also announced that it has reached an agreement to license soybean lines suitable for planting in the Southern soybean market through the involvement of GreenLeaf Genetics. D&PL will pay DuPont $20.5 million in connection with this transaction
and expects to account for it in the fourth quarter.

Agribusiness

Bader Rutter Hires Klaiber

Chuck Zimmerman

Jeff KlaiberDon’t ask this guy to race you on skates.

Jeff Klaiber has joined Bader Rutter & Associates as a brand strategist in the agency’s brand asset management group. Prior to joining Bader Rutter, Klaiber worked as a senior research analyst for C&R Creative & Response Research in Chicago, Ill. Outside the corporate world, he was a member of two United States Olympic Speed Skating Teams, participating in the 1988 and 1992 winter games.

Agencies

Shinn Joins Brownfield

Chuck Zimmerman

Peter ShinnHe’s a great farm broadcaster and I know he’ll do a good job for Brownfield. He’s Peter Shinn and no longer with the NAFB. Peter is now going to be the farm director for Waitt Agribusiness. Okay Learfield people, is it Brownfield or Waitt?

“Peter’s extensive background telling the story of agriculture and his high level of professionalism make him a true asset to the Brownfield team,” said Cyndi Young, Brownfield Farm Director. “With the addition of Waitt Agribusiness, we are especially gratified to be bringing on board a highly regarded farm broadcaster who has extensive experience covering agriculture in the area served by this network.”

“I’m thrilled to be working for the nation’s leading farm broadcaster company,” Shinn said. “The Brownfield team is second to none in providing the agricultural news and information today’s farmers and ranchers want and need.” Shinn added, “I’m really looking forward to joining Brownfield and serving the information needs of ag producers of Nebraska, South Dakota and western Iowa.”

Media

Farm Aid Blog

Chuck Zimmerman

Farm AidDid you miss me? Well I’m back at the home office and it’s a lazy Sunday. I just got the yard done in 100 degree sun and am enjoying a cool beverage.

Just to let you give you hope that there’s more to come I just noticed that there’s a Farm Aid blog: Farm Aid: Around the Kitchen Table.

I’ve been keeping an eye on their website wondering when they’ll announce the next concert. Well, the wait is almost over. It will be announced this coming Thursday. They have provide clues on the location though.

The state where we are going has 3 top crops- sweet corn, peaches and blueberries.

What’s your guess?

Ag Groups

Next Blogging Trip

Chuck Zimmerman

Cattlemen's Beef BoardI’m not even home yet and I’ve been asked where the next trip will take this road blogger.

It’s going to be the Cattle Industry Summer Conference in Reno. I just drove through Reno on my way cross country.

You’ll be able to follow the action here on AgWired and on Beef Board Meeting.

Ag Groups, Beef

Farm Animal Welfare on the Agenda

Chuck Zimmerman

Harry SiemensCanada’s national and provincial farm animal care councils are joining forces to deliver a three year 700 thousand dollar project designed to put farm animal welfare on the agenda.

A new national initiative, being coordinated by the Ontario Farm Animal Council, its sister groups in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta and the new National Farm Animal Care Council has been launched in an effort to improve the lines of communication among the scientists who conduct animal welfare research, the farmers, ranchers and veterinarians who use that information and the public. Read More

International

Convoy Duty Done

Chuck Zimmerman

Hello AgWired fans. My marathon road trip for ethanol awareness with the AASHTO Celebrate the Interstate 50th Anniversary Cross Country Convoy is over! Over 80 posts on Domestic Fuel to date but I’ve got more to add over the weekend. You can use this link to scroll back through my trip and listen over 25 interviews and audio clips, lots of pictures and even a bunch of video clips. I’ve posted some here but not a lot.

I know posting has been light but I will be making up for it. I’ve got more road trips coming up for one thing and they’ll be very agrimarketing related.

So thanks for hanging in there with me on this journey. It’s been a blogging adventure and if you’ve had a chance to follow along I hope you’ve enjoyed it.

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