Precision Ag Bytes 11/14

Carrie Muehling

  • The Weed Science Society of America and its affiliated scientific societies have scheduled information-packed annual meetings over the coming months. Registration details for this year’s annual meeting of the Canadian Weed Science Society are available at www.weedscience.ca. Registration details for the annual meeting of the North Central Weed Science Society are available at http://ncwss.org.
  • The Association of Equipment Manufacturers’ October U.S. Ag Tractor and Combine Report shows overall sales remained positive year-to-date, although a few categories recorded October declines. Here is link to the full report online: https://www.aem.org/AEM/media/docs/Statistics/18-10-USAG.pdf.
  • The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture and Land O’Lakes SUSTAIN announced the forthcoming availability of Field to Market’s sustainability metrics within the new Truterra™ Insights Engine from Land O’Lakes SUSTAIN in mid-December. Land O’Lakes is the first partner that will integrate fully with the latest version of Field to Market’s Fieldprint Platform released this month.
  • Midwest farmers and row crop advisers can learn valuable take-home precision solutions to increase return on investment on every acre at the Farm Progress Tech Forum on Nov. 27-28 in Coralville, Iowa. Check out all the details and register to attend at FarmProgressTechForum.com.
AgWired Precision, Precision Agriculture

John Deere and Pheasants Forever Working Together

Carrie Muehling

A new partnership between John Deere and Pheasants Forever will promote conservation on the farm.

“John Deere and Pheasants Forever just announced a new joint effort that will improve wildlife habitat across the country and provide discounts on select models of new John Deere equipment to Pheasants Forever members,” said Lyle McMillan, tractor marketing manager for John Deere, during an interview at NAFB Trade Talk last week.

McMillan said John Deere will now become the “Official Habitat Tractor” for Pheasants Forever and the company also plans to sponsor a Conservation Farmer of the Year award to promote conservation practices. John Deere will also host workshops on how to maximize those returns on investment for every acre on the farm. McMillan was at the 2018 National Association of Farm Broadcasting Trade Talk event in Kansas City, where he also shared information about new features added to existing models this year including technology updates to 5R and 6R Series tractors.

Listen to Cindy’s interview with Lyle here: Interview with Lyle McMillan, John Deere

2018 National Association of Farm Broadcasting Convention Photo Album

AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, John Deere

ZimmCast with NAFB Leadership

Chuck Zimmerman

This week’s ZimmCast is dedicated to discussions with the leadership of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting. NAFB just held its 75th annual convention in Kansas City. Cindy and I attended and obtained some great content which you’ll find in our virtual ag newsroom on AgNewsWire.com as well as story posts on AgWired. As you can see in the photo, Cloud, the ZimmComm World Headquarters puppy made it to the convention and worked out of our hotel room in the dog friendly Westin!

Featured in the program are immediate past-president of NAFB, Tom Cassidy, Ag Radio Network; Tom Brand, NAFB Executive Director; NAFB President-Elect is Rita Frazier, RFD Radio Network and new NAFB President, Lorrie Boyer, KSIR and Northeast Colorado Broadcasting.

The rest of the new NAFB board includes:

• Vice President: Gail Cunningham, WYXY FM Radio
• South Region VP: Dewayne Gandy, KRMO Radio
• West Region VP: Joe Gill, KASM Radio
• East Region VP: Eric Pfeiffer, Hoosier Ag Today
• Allied Industry Council: Chad Colby, Colby Ag Tech
• Allied Industry Council: Dr. Dwayne Cartmell, Oklahoma State University
• Management Sales Council: Courtney Kibblewhite, Northern Ag Network
• Management Sales Council: Lee Gill, WNAX Radio
• M&P Chair: Sabrina Hill, American Ag Network

Listen to the ZimmCast here: ZimmCast 603 - NAFB Leadership

Photos from the 2018 NAFB Convention

The ZimmCast

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Audio, Media, NAFB, ZimmCast

AMVAC Collaborates with Iowa Soybean Association

Chuck Zimmerman

I would like to thank AMVAC for helping make it possible for ZimmComm to attend the NAFB Convention and provide a robust virtual ag newsroom on our AgNewsWire service.

During the annual Trade Talk session I got to sit down with Jim Lappin, Amvac Chemical Marketing Manager Corn & Soybeans. We talked about AMVAC’s collaboration with the Iowa Soybean Association to monitor root worm pressure annually in and around the state of Iowa. He describes the methods they use like setting traps. In the last several years he says they’ve been seeing an increase of adult populations and explains why and what it means. Listen in to hear how AMVAC offers solutions for higher root worm pressure.

Listen to my interview with Jim here: Interview with Jim Lappin, AMVAC

Prior to the NAFB convention AMVAC Chemical Corporation announced the launch of a new customer-facing website. The website design includes a robust search function for agricultural and environmental protection products, retailers and field representatives, as well as marketing and sales campaigns and product promotions.

“With more than 50 percent of traffic coming from mobile devices, we wanted a better user experience for our retailers, farmers and other professionals who rely on our products,” said Neil DeStefano, Director, Portfolio and Marketing/eCommunication Management at AMVAC. “The design ensures an equally user-friendly experience on laptops, tablets and mobile devices, while featuring our expanding portfolio of products, delivery systems and services.”

2018 NAFB Convention Photo Album

AMVAC, Audio, NAFB, Soybean

Animal Ag Bites 11/12

Carrie Muehling

  • Zoetis has announced a new data and testing agreement with Leachman Cattle of Colorado to provide a unique genomically enhanced genetic evaluation.
  • The incidence of occupational injuries and illnesses within the poultry sector’s slaughter and processing workforce has fallen by 83 percent over the last 20 years and continues to decline according to the 2017 Injury and Illness Report recently released by the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.
  • Finalists for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) National Anthem Contest, sponsored by Norbrook, and the NCBA Cowboy Poetry Contest, sponsored by IMI Global, have been selected. Public voting for winners will run through Dec. 4, 2018. Winners will be announced Dec. 5. To view finalists and cast your vote (one vote per location per day), or to register for the convention, go to www.convention.beefusa.org.
  • National Horse and Burro Rangeland Management Coalition Chair, Ethan Lane, released a statement in response to the injunction to halt research exploring surgical sterilization of horses and burros on federal land: “By stifling research exploring surgical population management solutions for horse and burro populations on federal land, we are furthering irreversible damage to rangelands and adding to a complex animal welfare issue. Surgical sterilization is a population management technique scientifically proven to be safe, effective and cost-efficient. The Bureau of Land Management was proceeding in a responsible, measured manner in this study, and they have support from sportsman, livestock, wildlife, and land conservation organizations who represent millions of Americans.”
  • National Cattlemen’s Beef Association members are disappointed in the announcement that R-CALF will be allowed to expand its “activist-funded” crusade against state beef councils. NCBA says R-CALF claims are “without merit and only serve to divide beef producers and distract beef councils from the important work of building demand for our products.”
AgWired Animal, Animal Bites

USTR’s Gregg Doud Talks Trade at #NAFB18

Cindy Zimmerman

Chief Agricultural Negotiator for the US Trade Representative’s Office Gregg Doud held a press conference at the 2018 National Association of Farm Broadcasters Convention in Kansas City Thursday to talk trade after Trade Talk.

Doud discussed what’s in the new U.S. Mexico Canada trade agreement (USMCA) and also addressed strategies dealing with China and the European Union.

Listen here – USTR chief ag negotiator Gregg Doud

2018 NAFB Convention Photo Album

Audio, Exports, NAFB, Trade

U.S. Drivers Hit Six Billion Miles on E15

Cindy Zimmerman

As the administration begins to move toward making E15 available year round, Growth Energy says American drivers have already driven a total of six billion so far on the 15% ethanol blend with no complaints.

“American drivers know a good value when they see it, which is precisely why once they try E15 they come back again and again,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “E15 provides unrivaled value for engines, the environment, and people’s wallets and we’re seeing more and more Americans rely on E15 to fuel their lives.”

E15 is approved for all 2001 and newer vehicles and major retailers like Kwik Trip, Sheetz, Casey’s, Cumberland Farms, Thorntons, Kum & Go, RaceTrac, QuikTrip, Rutter’s, Minnoco, Protec Fuel, Murphy USA, Family Express, and Cenex offer E15 at more than 1,600 stations across 30 states.

Skor talked about the new milestone a the National Association of Farm Broadcasting last week –
Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor comments on six billion miles on E15

Audio, Ethanol, NAFB

FMC Proud to Be Part of NAFB

Cindy Zimmerman

FMC Corporation was once again a sponsor of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting annual Trade Talk, a unique event that provides the chance for agribusiness companies and organizations to be interviewed by dozens of agricultural reporters in one place.

In this interview, FMC Senior Communications Manager Lisa Homer (now a proud member of the Golden Mic Club!) says the event is a great opportunity to connect with the people who tell the story of agriculture, and she talks about the exciting FMC product pipeline.

Listen here – Interview with Lisa Homer, FMC, at 2018 NAFB Convention

2018 NAFB Convention Photo Album

AgWired Precision, Audio, Media, NAFB

RFA Displays Custom Ethanol Motorcycle at NAFB

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) was once again proud to be a sponsor of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting annual convention, this year having on display the new custom motorcycle built by Paul Teutul Jr. for the American Chopper TV series.

In one of many interviews with farm broadcasters at the annual Trade Talk, RFA Vice President of Industry Relations Robert White discussed E15 expansion since the President Trump called on EPA to change the outdated Reid Vapor Pressure rule that keeps the blend from being sold in the summer months. He said they are encouraged by news like the announcement this week that GROWMARK will now offering pre-blended E15 at its company-owned terminals in Illinois, Iowa and Missouri.

He also talks about the challenges ahead in getting the E15 rule approved before next summer, and the continued efforts by RFA to educate boaters and motorcyclists that all of their engines are approved to use up to a 10% ethanol blend but NOT E15.

Listen here: Interview with Robert White, RFA, at 2018 NAFB Convention

2018 NAFB Convention Photo Album

Audio, Ethanol, NAFB, RFA

Night of Honors Winners

Cindy Zimmerman

Longtime good friends Don Wick and Mike Adams were inducted into the NAFB Hall of Fame this year. Adams and Wick served together as officers of NAFB, Wick was president in 1997 and Adams in 1999. Now they are friendly competitors as Mike this year started working for American Ag Network in North Dakota, while Don is president of Red River Farm Network, also in North Dakota.

Mary Kay Thatcher, who retired last year from the American Farm Bureau Federation and now works for Syngenta, was honored with the 2018 Dix Harper Meritorious Service Award Winner for her years of helping farm broadcasters tell the story of agricultural policy from Washington DC.

The 2018 Doan Award winner was Tyne Morgan, host of U.S. Farm Report, pictured here receiving the honor from 2002 NAFB president Colleen Callahan. And the 2018 Plambeck Awards For Creative Excellence went to Arysta LifeScience for a single radio commercial and Wyffels Hybrids for best series. Congrats to all!

2018 NAFB Convention Photo Album

Coverage of the NAFB Convention is sponsored by
Coverage of the NAFB Convention is sponsored by FMC
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