NAFB is 75 Years Strong

Cindy Zimmerman

The 2018 National Association of Farm Broadcasting Convention is marking the diamond anniversary of the meeting, which has been held in Kansas City for about 45 of those 75 years.

NAFB president Tom Cassidy, Ag Radio Network, says this year’s convention is the largest ever in the organization’s history, with many retired members who have been away from the business for years coming in for the celebration.

In this interview, Cassidy talks about this year’s meeting and the state of farm broadcasting.Interview with NAFB president Tom Cassidy, Ag Radio Network

PHOTOS

2018 NAFB Convention Photo Album

AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Audio, NAFB

Nuelle to Join Agri-Pulse

Cindy Zimmerman

Ben Nuelle interviews Bill Northey at 2017 FPS

After a year away from the microphone, Ben Nuelle is joining the Agri-Pulse editorial team in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 1, where he will write and broadcast for the company’s subscription-only newsletter and website.

Agri-Pulse Editor Sara Wyant says Nuelle was a freelancer for them while he worked at the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network “and we’ve continued to be impressed by his interest in the intersection of policy and politics.” Most recently, Nuelle served as an agriculture specialist for Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst.

Nuelle grew up on a hay and cattle farm near Higginsville, Mo., and studied multimedia journalism at Northwest Missouri State University, where he worked for KXCV/KRNW radio as a news anchor and reporter. He also studied economics at George Mason University in Arlington, Va., and interned for Radio America. He is a recipient of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting’s Doan Award and the Institute on Political Journalism Director’s Award. Nuelle is also an accomplished pianist, often showcasing his talent in church, at weddings, and in front of two National FFA audiences.

Congrats Ben – we knew you couldn’t stay away from the microphone for long!

Agri-Pulse

Grains Council Officers Meet in Mexico

Cindy Zimmerman

U.S. Grains Council (USGC) officers headed south of the border last week to talk about the new trade agreement and meet with new government officials in the country that accounts for a big chunk of U.S. feed grains exports.

Leaders from the U.S. feed grains value chain traveled to Mexico on the heels of the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) negotiations, and the new presidential administration of Andrés Manuel López Obrador, known as AMLO, prepares to take office on Dec. 1.

While in the country, the joint leadership team visited with USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) post in Mexico City; met with key customer organizations including the Mexican feed manufacturers’ council, known as CONAFAB; and made a stop at the Mexican grain trade association, known as APPAMEX. They also met with officials already appointed by the new president-elect, including Victor Villalobos, the incoming head of the agriculture department.

Mexico is the top export destination for U.S. corn, distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and barley and a significant buyer of U.S. sorghum. The country also holds near-term potential for increased use of U.S. ethanol following energy policy changes in recent years.

Corn, Ethanol, Exports, Grains, USGC

Precision Ag Bytes 11/7

Carrie Muehling

  • CNH Industrial N.V. and Farmers Edge announced that they have entered into a strategic digital agriculture agreement that will make available a portfolio of connectivity and agronomic solutions to Case IH and New Holland customers. Through this agreement, Case IH and New Holland Agriculture, the global agricultural brands of CNH Industrial, will provide their customers with access to FarmCommand.
  • Four new agtech startups entered AgLaunch365 Phase I programming in Memphis. AgLaunch365 integrates startups with farmers in the AgLaunch Farmer Network to create and implement sophisticated field trial protocols and prepare for funding by aligned capital sources. This 6-week program, delivered through remote programming and in-person sessions held in Memphis, will culminate at the Farm Journal AgTech Expo in Indianapolis December 3-5, 2018.
  • Ag Leader unveiled new guidance and steering solutions including a dual-antenna automated steering system and the latest in GNSS technology to be added to its already high-end precision agriculture guidance and steering line.
  • S&W Seed Company announced that it has acquired certain assets and assigned contracts of Chromatin, a U.S.-based sorghum operator which entered into receivership earlier this year. The purchase price was $26.5 million.
  • Agrellus has added aerial and ground custom application services to its mobile and online ag input marketplace. Grower members can customize requests by crop; choose targets like insect, weed, seeding or defoliation; select rate per acre or get advice on correct rates or best product for their needs.
  • Almost 200 scientists and organization leaders engaged with 41 researchers and subject matter experts during a two-day Conference on Connections Between Soil Health and Human Health offered by the Soil Health Institute on October 16–17, 2018.
  • Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Greg Ibach will discuss the future of plant breeding innovation, including federal policies around gene editing, at ASTA’s CSS 2018 & Seed Expo, Dec. 3-6 in Chicago. Ibach will take part in a panel discussion during the Plant Breeding Innovation session on Thursday, Dec. 6.
  • HELM Agro US, Inc. announced the hiring of Adam Hensley as the company’s new Marketing and Business Development Leader.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes

Kansas City Here We Come

Cindy Zimmerman

ZimmComm is headed out today to the 75th annual NAFB convention at the Westin Crown Center in Kansas City, Missouri. We first started attending NAFB in the mid-1980s and have been there every year since 1987. But there are lots of NAFB members who have been faithfully attending the annual meeting since before it started being held in Kansas City. This year will be different for us since we’re bringing our fur baby with us because the Westin is so dog friendly and we will be seeing the grandbabies later this week!

The NAFB was founded in 1944 as the National Association of Radio Farm Directors (NARFD). Television was added to the name in 1955 to become NATRFD. The next name change came in 1964 to the more inclusive National Association of Farm Broadcasters and NAFB. In 2005, the name was changed from Broadcasters to Broadcasting.

There is a lot of history in the NAFB and we’ll be sharing some of it this week, thanks to the support of FMC – which has been a proud sponsor of Trade Talk for many years. Stay tuned for lots of photos and interviews!

Meanwhile, take a walk down memory lane from the past decade or so of NAFB meetings in the ZimmComm Flickr collection. See you in Kansas City to make new memories this week!

POST UPDATE
This year’s photo album is started!
2018 NAFB Convention Photo Album

Coverage of the NAFB Convention is sponsored by
Coverage of the NAFB Convention is sponsored by FMC
AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, NAFB

AMVAC® Enhances Customer Website

Cindy Zimmerman

AMVAC Chemical Corporation has launched a newly enhanced customer website amvac-chemical.com. The website design includes a 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.”

Market pages for agriculture, pest and vector control, turf and application technology provide product information, how to purchase products, news and promotions. Product search functions are specifically tailored to each market, which allows users to find products by region and category or by crop and insect. Product pages also feature access to labels, photos, videos and other instructional materials.

We’ll find out more about the new website and what all else is new from AMVAC this week at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting annual convention where AMVAC will be participating in Trade Talk.

AgWired Precision, AMVAC, NAFB

Agri-Pulse Promotes Spencer Chase

Cindy Zimmerman

Agri-Pulse is promoting Spencer Chase to Managing Editor, effective December 1, 2018.

“Spencer continues to do great work for us, producing quality broadcasts and writing,” said Agri-Pulse editor Sara Wyant. “We look forward to having him assume a key managerial role within our growing company.”

Chase joined Agri-Pulse in 2014 as an Associate Editor, covering a wide range of farm policy issues. Since then, he has contributed to the company’s website and weekly newsletter as well as increased the quality and quantity of Agri-Pulse’s audio and video product offerings. He was promoted to Deputy Managing Editor in 2017 and began assisting in management functions for the company’s editorial staff.

Chase replaces Managing Editor Daniel Enoch, who will retire from his full-time role at the end of the year.

Agri-Pulse

Pedigree is the Animal Breeding Board Game

Chuck Zimmerman

Looking for a unique Christmas gift? See what you think of Pedigree: The Animal Breeding Board Game.

Experience the thrill of animal breeding and raising show ring champions in a fun and fast-paced board game called, “The Game of PEDIGREE,” created by Duane Wulf, former South Dakota State University animal science professor and missionary businessman based in Mexico.

“The Game of PEDIGREE” will be officially be available for sale via a Kickstarter campaign launching on Nov. 1. through Nov. 30. Individual backers can purchase the game for $49 plus $10 shipping, and the first 100 to purchase will have the opportunity to name an individual animal in the game.
With a $950 pledge, backers have the opportunity to customize the game to represent their ranch, specific cattle breed or change the game to reflect another species such as sheep, horses or dogs.

Here’s where you can back the project and get your game on and read reviews from people who have played the game.

Animal Agriculture

GROWMARK Energy Offering Pre-Blended E15

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Association is pleased that farmer-owned cooperative GROWMARK Energy has started offering pre-blended E15 at its company-owned terminals in Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri.

RFA Vice President of Industry Relations Robert White says the move will help expand the market for the higher ethanol blend. “GROWMARK Energy’s announcement provides new opportunities for retailers and a greater choice for consumers,” said White. “We thank GROWMARK Energy for its leadership and look forward to further growth expansion of higher octane, lower carbon E15.”

RFA has been working with GROWMARK on a number of issues related to offering E15 at the terminals, including regulatory compliance, participation in the EPA’s required fuel survey, and adoption of RFA’s Misfueling Mitigation Plan (MMP). RFA will continue to work with interested retailers serviced by the GROWMARK-owned terminals to help them offer E15 for consumers.

Scott Long, GROWMARK Marketing and Business Development Manager for Fuels, says an increasing number of retailers in their service area are starting to offer E15. “Some of them have blender pumps that can already provide E15,” said Long. “This gives them the opportunity to purchase the product without having to blend it themselves.”

Listen to an interview with Scott here: Scott Long, GROWMARK manager marketing and business development, fuels

Audio, Ethanol, GROWMARK, RFA

Latest Agri-Pulse Poll Shows Strong Support for Trump

Cindy Zimmerman

It’s probably safe to say that no president in recent history has talked about agriculture as much as President Donald J. Trump, who has managed to mention farmers in nearly every campaign stop he has made in the past week. That “I love farmers” strategy continues to pay off, despite trade policy strategies that have impacted agricultural exports.

A new Agri-Pulse poll finds farmers and ranchers overwhelmingly approve of the job President Trump is doing, but they would like the administration to focus more on exports and ending the trade war with China.

The poll of 600 commercial farmers and ranchers, conducted over the phone by Aimpoint Research last month, found 79 percent either approve or strongly approve of President Trump, compared to 19 percent who disapprove. Broken down by party lines, 92 percent of the GOP farmers approved of the way Trump is handling the nation’s top job, compared to 33 percent of the Democrats and 65 percent of the independents.

Even though conditions on the farm might not be perceived as favorable right now, farmers seem optimistic that things will get better under President Trump. Our respondents gave fairly high marks to the administration’s efforts to renegotiate and rename the North American Free Trade Agreement, to renegotiate trade terms with China and to repeal federal regulations on their farms.

And when it comes to passing a new farm bill, they see the need to get it done before the end of 2018. On a scale of 0-10, with 10 being extremely important, 79 percent rated the importance of farm bill passage with a six or above.

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Agri-Pulse, AgWired Precision, politics