VP Talks Trade with Minnesota Farmers

Cindy Zimmerman

Vice President Mike Pence talked trade Thursday with Minnesota farmers and FFA leaders at R & J Johnson Farm near Glyndon.

“Farmers need the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) done now. U.S. agriculture needs strong trade agreements to access 95% of the people in this world who live outside of the United States. Our number one and number two customers on most of our products are Canada and Mexico. Trade is critically important to our members,” said Minnesota Farm Bureau President Kevin Paap.

Before speaking, Pence heard stories from farmers about how tough the economy is for them right now.

Listen here: VP Pence hears from MN farmers

Audio, Trade

Zimfo Bytes 5/10

Carrie Muehling

  • The American Soybean Association announces the promotion of two staff members in an organizational realignment aimed at elevating ASA’s success as the industry’s policy organization. Wendy Brannen, who has served as Director of Policy Communications, has been promoted to Senior Director of Marketing and Communications. Abby Podkul, ASA Director of Commodity Classic, will now lead a new Meetings and Conventions Department as its Director.
  • Thirteen U.S. cotton industry members have been chosen for the National Cotton Council’s 2019-2020 Emerging Leaders Program. Representing the industry’s seven segments are: Producers – Philip Edwards, III, Smithfield, Va.; Jaclyn Ford, Alapaha, Ga.; Ben Good, Starkville, Miss.; Kellon Lee, St. Joseph, La.; Dean Rovey, Buckeye, Ariz.; and Jake Sheely, Lemoore, Calif.; Ginner – Burch Pierce, Jonesville, La.; Merchant – Bob Champion, Prattville, Ala.; Warehouser – Kyle Taubert, Seminole, Texas; Marketing Cooperative – Jeremy Speis, Corpus Christi, Texas; and Josh Warren, Garner, N.C.; Cottonseed – Joe Gribble, Altus, Okla.; and Manufacturer – Ellis Fisher, Inman, South Carolina.
  • Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. announced the appointments of three new executives: Rizal Hamdallah as Global Chief Innovation Officer; Katy Latimer as Vice President of Research and Development; and Chris O’Connor as Vice President of Marketing.
  • Tractor Supply customers and team members raised $917,954 in only 12 days during the Paper Clover campaign by making donations in-store and online across the country. A biannual program, Paper Clover is in partnership with the National 4-H Council.
  • CommoditAg™, the online ordering and purchase option for farmers, announces the addition of Premier Companies in Southern Indiana.
  • The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture and the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association, with funding from the USPOULTRY Foundation, have launched a new My American Farm game along with a supporting lesson plan, eComic and activity sheet. The game and resources were developed to help third- through fifth-grade students better understand the poultry and egg industry. In the game, students will adventure through the progression of stages in poultry and egg production.
  • The National Corn Growers Association welcomes Nicole Hasheider, who joins the organization as director of biotechnology and crop inputs in the St. Louis office.
Zimfo Bytes

Mastering the Art of Podcasting

Chuck Zimmerman

It has been fascinating to watch the resurgence of podcasting in agricultural communications. Although some of us have been doing this for more than twelve years it seems like communicators are embracing this channel in greater numbers.

I’m hoping to see some new podcasts from Cooperatives after conducting a webinar yesterday for the Cooperative Communicators Association. Of course some cooperatives like GROWMARK already produce a regular podcast but there sure is room to grow. Members and especially farmers jumped on podcasts from the start. I remember getting emails when I started from farmers in the U.S. and Canada who loved having meaningful content on their industry they could subscribe to and listen to on their iPod while sitting in a cab for extended periods of time with nothing else to listen to.

If you want to get started with a podcast for your company or other organization I am ready, willing and able to help you out. Here’s a tidbit from my webinar yesterday to give you a taste of what we talked about. By the way, the webinar was recorded and will be available to CCA members on their website. I am a member of CCA too.

Equipment Suggestions

Podcasts

Deere Offers Updated Bigger Sprayers for 2020

Cindy Zimmerman

John Deere is introducing its biggest sprayer yet in 2020 – the 1,600-gallon (6057 liter) capacity R4060 Sprayer with the new CommandDrive™ powertrain. In addition, the existing R4045 Sprayer will come standard with CommandDrive beginning starting in 2020. Both sprayers are designed for large, broad-acre cropping systems and high-volume applications.

CommandDrive is an intelligent powertrain that uses a single hydrostatic pump to power all four variable-displacement wheel motors. If one or more wheels lose traction, the system adjusts to slow the slipping wheels and directs more flow to the other wheels with traction in order to power the sprayer over the terrain. The powertrain helps the sprayer more easily handle hills, soft soil, and other conditions where additional traction is needed.

In addition, CommandDrive works in tandem with the engine and entire sprayer system to automatically increase RPMs when more power is needed and to maintain proper spraying. With the powertrain’s Auto Mode setting, operators can maintain selected ground speed and application rate at lower engine RPMs, while the Auto Idle setting reduces the engine’s RPM to 900 when the machine is stopped. Both functions help reduce fuel/DEF consumption and provide a quieter cab for the operator.

Learn more from John Deere.

AgWired Precision, Equipment, John Deere

Ethanol Report on Higher Gas Prices

Cindy Zimmerman

The summer driving season is getting closer and gas prices are just expected to get higher, but don’t blame ethanol.

A recent analysis by the Renewable Fuels Association found that gas prices have been getting higher mainly because of a surge in crude oil prices since the start of the year, combined with normal seasonal gasoline pricing, as well as refinery maintenance and unplanned outages.

In this edition of “The Ethanol Report” podcast, RFA Chief Economist Scott Richman discusses the analysis.

Ethanol Report on Higher Gas Prices

Subscribe to the podcast via iTunes

Audio, Ethanol, RFA

Precision Ag Bytes 5/8

Carrie Muehling

  • AgGateway has published five new case studies that demonstrate specific company examples of how implementation of AgGateway resources has led to direct return on investment for agribusinesses. These brief, 2-page flyers can be found on AgGateway’s website, along with six other studies that were published last year.
  • The Conservation Technology Information Center launched online registrations for its 12th annual Conservation in Action Tour, which will explore conservation systems in central Iowa. Online registration for the tour is available at https://www.ctic.org/cia_tour/registration.
  • NRCS is expanding the technical input in program development and technical services in program delivery. NRCS posted an interim final rule in the Federal Register to make the existing regulations consistent with the changes made by the 2018 Farm Bill.
  • Meister Media Worldwide and its Global Precision Initiative announce the expansion of the long-standing website PrecisionAg.com – among the first media sites in the world devoted exclusively to agricultural technology – as a global digital source of expert commentary, longer-range trends and insights, and headlines from key precision regions.
  • Farmers have from May 6 through July 31, 2019, to enter the National Corn Growers Association’s National Corn Yield Contest. This year marks the 55th year for the contest that began with 20 entries from four states. Last year 7,258 entries from 46 states made NCYC the premier event of its kind in the nation. You can find both entry and harvest rules on the Corn Yield Contest website.
  • Conservis announces the deployment of Zone Economics, which delivers actionable insights to farmers.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes

ZimmCast 615 – Interviews From #Water4Food

Chuck Zimmerman

My first Water for Food Global Conference was a learning experience which included meeting some interesting people from around the world. This is the third time we’ve worked with The Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska to create a virtual newsroom on AgNewsWire.

This episode of the ZimmCast features interviews from the conference that provide a good overview of the Institute and the purpose of the conference. Here’s the list of who you’ll hear.

  • Overview interview of the conference with Peter McCornick, Executive Director, Water for Food Institute
  • Interview with Mark Edge, Director of Collaborations for Developing Countries, Bayer
  • Interview with the Irrigation Association: Deborah Hamlin, CEO, Irrigation Association; Brent Mecham, Industry Development Director, Irrigation Association; Aric Olson, President, Jain Irrigation
  • Interview with Conference attendee Grace Mukarusagara, Rwanda
  • Interview with Conference attendee Elisa Zancanaro Zanella, Brazil

I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.

Listen to the ZimmCast here: ZimmCast - Interviews from #Water4Food

2019 Water for Food Global Conference Photo Album

AgWired Precision, Audio, Farming, Water, Water for Food, ZimmCast

Stay Strong Nebraska Helping Farmers and Ranchers Rebuild

Cindy Zimmerman

The flood waters may be receding, but the damage from them still remains and Nebraska farmers and ranchers will need help for some time yet to rebuild. “Stay Strong Nebraska” is an initiative created to do just that, providing easy access to the Nebraska Farm Bureau Disaster Relief Fund and Nebraska Cattlemen Disaster Relief Fund with all donations remaining in the state.

Federal officials estimate the bomb cyclone weather phenomenon and subsequent flooding caused $1.4 billion in damages in the state of Nebraska. The damage assessment accounts for livestock, crop loss and infrastructure damage, but does not reflect personal property losses such as homes and farm buildings. Steve Nelson, president of Nebraska Farm Bureau, has met with dozens of families in many of the agricultural communities impacted by the recent storms. Listen to the update he gave on the situation at last week’s Water for Food Conference in Lincoln.

WFF19 Presentation by Steve Nelson, Nebraska Farm Bureau

Nebraska Cattlemen is also taking action to help ranchers and cattlemen. Pete McClymont, executive vice president of Nebraska Cattlemen, said the response from the community has been generous and heart-warming. “Gifts received by Nebraska Cattlemen Disaster Relief Fund will be disbursed to cattle producers in need, regardless of membership in Nebraska Cattlemen,” said McClymont. “This entire process has been very humbling knowing some cattlemen and women that were heavily impacted have already turned away assistance. We want every rancher, farmer, producer that has been impacted to know there are monies for qualified applicants. Every dollar given to a fund was donated with those impacted in mind.”

Nebraska-based agency Swanson Russell is helping with the effort and has created some media materials for use, including radio and TV spots, and are encouraging people to use them and spread the word that donations are still needed. Here’s a link to the PSA on YouTube.

Stay Strong Nebraska 30 second radio spot

Stay Strong Nebraska Media Kit

AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Audio, Weather

Farm Foundation President to Become AFIA CEO

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Feed Industry Association has Constance Cullman to succeed Joel Newman as president and chief executive officer of the association, upon his retirement later this year. She will also become the president of the industry’s public charity, the Institute for Feed Education and Research. Cullman will officially join AFIA on July 29.

Cullman currently serves as president of Farm Foundation, the seventh person to lead the organization in its 86-year history. She has served as President of the Foundation since June 2016. “Over the past three years with Constance leading the team, Farm Foundation has strengthened its role as a convener of all voices in the food and agriculture sector and as a source of objective analyses,” said Joe Swedberg, Chairman of the Farm Foundation Board of Directors. Swedberg has appointed a search committee to begin the process of finding a successor.

AgWired Animal, Farm Foundation, Feed

Animal Ag Bites 5/6

Carrie Muehling

  • Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the availability of a new web-based tool – developed in partnership with the University of Wisconsin – to help dairy producers evaluate various scenarios using different coverage levels through the new Dairy Margin Coverage program.
  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association welcomed the introduction of S. 1255, the Transporting Livestock Across America Safely Act, legislation in the U.S. Senate aimed at reforming federal Hours of Service rules in a way that ensures animal welfare, highway safety, and the well-being of livestock haulers.
  • The National Pork Board is accepting applications through May 22 for the Agricultural Marketing Fellowship. Students who are accepted for full-time enrollment in a graduate/professional school program for the 2019-2020 academic year are encouraged to apply.
AgWired Animal, Animal Bites