ZimmCast 602 – A Farm Broadcasting Icon and More

Chuck Zimmerman

Cindy and I are getting ready to go to the annual NAFB Convention next week in KC, MO. Farm broadcasters are exactly the kind of agricultural media our AgNewsWire service is targeted to, providing them with fresh content they can use in their broadcasts, rights and cost free!

In this week’s program I share a conversation with farm broadcasting legend Everett Griner who just announced his retirement after 70 years in the broadcast business. Ev was also a mentor for both me and Gary Cooper when we first got in the business many years ago. Ev continued working for Gary and Southeast AgNet until this week. After 70 years in broadcasting, most of it in farm radio, it sounds like he’s a perfect candidate for the NAFB Hall of Fame!

Next in the program I have an interview with Kelly Davis, Renewable Fuels Association, about their co-partnership with the Export Exchange conference that brings together international grain buyers with U.S. grain trade representatives to help increase markets for the ethanol co-product and animal feed called DDGs.

Finally, I have an interview conducted by Jamie Johansen with Pat Crowley of Alltech who talks about mycotoxin myths during the recent World Dairy Expo.

Listen to the ZimmCast here: ZimmCast 602 - Ev Griner, Export Exchange and Alltech

The ZimmCast

sponsored by
The ZimmCast podcast is sponsored by GROWMARK
Locally owned, globally strong.
Alltech, Animal Health, Audio, Ethanol, Media, NAFB, RFA, ZimmCast

FMH Offers New Cyber Risk Protection for Farmers

Cindy Zimmerman

Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Company of Iowa (FMH) has announced the new FMH Cyber Risk Protection suite, which includes two new cyber risk products to provide protection and services in the event an individual, family, or farm is the victim of a computer attack, cyber extortion, online fraud, or a breach of personal information.

“Farmers Mutual Hail has been protecting the livelihoods of America’s farmers for over 125 years,” said Pat Faga, FMH CMO and Executive Vice President of P&C. “We can attribute that longevity to innovation. FMH is continuously creating and offering new products and solutions to meet the ever-changing needs of farmers as technology and farming practices develop. These products reflect that innovation.”

FMH is among the first farm insurance companies to offer protection designed specifically for precision ag equipment and software. The FMH Cyber Risk Protection suite includes two products, both of which can be added to an existing FMH Property & Casualty policy:

– FMH Cyber Risk Protection Home is bundled coverage that protects families from losses such as compromised data on personal computers, mobile devices and other connected home technology, as well as damage to software and operating systems.
– FMH Cyber Risk Protection Farm is comprehensive coverage that protects farm operations from losses such as compromised data on business computers, mobile devices and other connected farm technology, as well as damage to software and operating systems including precision ag technology.

Find out more from Farmers Mutual Hail

AgWired Precision, Insurance, Precision Agriculture

Zimfo Bytes 11/2

Carrie Muehling

  • On November 2 at noon EDT, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will release selected tables prepared for the upcoming USDA Agricultural Projections to 2028 report. The early-release tables will be posted to the USDA Office of the Chief Economist’s website.
  • Students from California, Louisiana, Michigan, Oklahoma, Alabama and Oregon have been elected by delegates throughout the United States to serve on the 2018-19 National FFA Officer team. Luke O’Leary, an agricultural leadership and development major at Texas A&M University, was elected national president. Layni LeBlanc, an animal science – science and technology major at Louisiana State University, was elected national secretary. Adrian Schunk, a communications major at Michigan State University, was elected eastern region vice president. Ridge Hughbanks, an agribusiness major at Oklahoma State University, was elected central region vice president. Jordan Stowe, an agriscience education major at Auburn University, was elected southern region vice president. Shea Booster, an agricultural business management major at Oregon State University, was elected western region vice president.
  • Rhea + Kaiser welcomes the addition of Associate Creative Director Paul MacNerland and Media Assistant Melissa Sears.
  • Early bird registration is now open for the 95th annual Agricultural Outlook Forum, the largest annual meeting of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This two-day event will take place on Feb. 21-22, 2019, at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington, Va.
  • The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture and the National Auctioneers Association, with generous funding from the National Auctioneers Foundation, have launched a new My American Farm game along with supporting resources for two separate age groups, third through fifth graders and fifth through eighth graders. The new online game gives students a close look at how auctions work and the many different opportunities within the auctioneering industry.
  • The National Corn Growers Association announces Sarah McKay, manager of market development, has been promoted to the role of director.
  • Global animal health and nutrition company Alltech has strengthened its presence in Asia with the official opening of its Nepal sales and support office in the city of Kathmandu on Oct. 25, 2018.
  • CNH Industrial N.V. and Farmers Edge announced 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 will provide their customers with access to FarmCommand.
Zimfo Bytes

Presidion Ag Announces Patent Allowance

Cindy Zimmerman

Florida-based Presidion Ag is pleased to announce the technology behind their Nitrogen Efficiency product Neon Laser(TM) for Anhydrous Ammonia has received “Notice of Allowance” from the United States Patents and Trademark office.

Presidion Ag is the exclusive licensed seller of these technologies in the USA for Eco World Research and Development Group, led by President and CEO, David McKnight.

“Presidion is the right license partner for us in taking these innovations to market in the United States and we are pleased to be able to enter the market quickly after many years of hard work and research on this project,” said McKnight.

“Based on the improved results, this chemistry platform of preserving Cyano groups is key to optimizing Cyanoguanidine performance and is without a doubt the next wave of nitrogen protection and a significant breakthrough to help prevent nitrogen loss,” added Presidion Ag president Ray Perkins. “Other new Anhydrous Ammonia efficiency technologies have high load rates and do not significantly preserve the Cyano group bond, and the traditional technologies have significant challenges such as corrosion and restrictions in handling, and this chemistry does not have those operational issues” said Perkins.

Neon Laser is a non-corrosive, easy to use, highly concentrated Cyanoguanidine product for Anhydrous Ammonia applications. Test results show outstanding results versus both traditional technologies and other recently introduced products.

AgWired Precision, Nutrient Management, Precision Agriculture

NAMA Launches Student Sales Competition

Chuck Zimmerman

The National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) is announcing plans to launch a new competition for student members in conjunction with the 2019 Agri-Marketing Conference in Kansas City. The competition will take place on Tuesday, April 9.

The Student NAMA Sales Competition is an individual sales call skills challenge. With this competition, NAMA hopes to promote the sales profession as a viable career option for college graduates and furnish a venue for talented and qualified students to exhibit their selling skills.

“NAMA is continuously looking for innovative ways to benefit our professional and student members and we believe this will be a great addition to the student program,” said Jennifer Pickett, NAMA Executive Vice President/CEO. “We feel this competition will have broad appeal across ag companies and media, as well as with NAMA students.”

Sponsorship is vital when launching any new program. NAMA is pleased to announce GROWMARK, Inc. as the premier sponsor for this year’s competition. Additional sponsorships will also be available.

This program will be offered in addition to the annual Student Marketing Competition, which will continue as usual. More details will be available soon.

NAMA

EPA Extends Dicamba Registration with Label Changes

Cindy Zimmerman

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that it is extending the registration of dicamba for two years for “over-the-top” use (application to growing plants) to control weeds in fields for cotton and soybean plants genetically engineered to resist dicamba.

“EPA understands that dicamba is a valuable pest control tool for America’s farmers,” said EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “By extending the registration for another two years with important new label updates that place additional restrictions on the product, we are providing certainty to all stakeholders for the upcoming growing season.”

Label changes include prohibiting over-the-top application of dicamba on soybeans 45 days after planting and cotton 60 days after planting and limiting the number of over-the-top applications in cotton from 4 to 2 (soybeans remain at 2 OTT applications).

Bayer says the continued registration for XtendiMax® Herbicide with VaporGrip® Technology ensures growers will have access to this important weed-control tool for the 2019 season and beyond. “For the 2019 season, we’ll continue to work closely with growers and applicators, along with grower associations, state regulators, universities and others to ensure growers have continued success with XtendiMax with VaporGrip Technology,” says Ryan Rubischko, Bayer’s dicamba portfolio lead.

Read more from Bayer.

AgWired Precision, Bayer, EPA, Herbicide, weed management

Hunting with a Can-Am Mossy Oak Edition

Chuck Zimmerman

It’s deer hunting time in Georgia. This year the Crystal Pig Hunt Club (CPHC) members are getting to roll in camo style with a machine that is built to handle some pretty rough terrain.

The Can-Am Defender Mossy Oak Hunting Edition is easy to drive and that includes changing to 4-wheel drive when needed. So far we’ve hauled corn to fill feeders, worked on our stands, driven out to our hunt location and back to camp.

We also have trail cams set up where we have feeders. Here’s a night time hello from a nice buck. He’s one of several that have been showing up along with a couple of does. Of course we have feral hogs too. But, so far, they have only showed up in one area of our property.

I have only had a couple of days at the CPHC so far but more is coming soon. Looking forward to a great deer season.

Can-Am, Hunting

Alltech Yeast Products Help Dairy Efficiency

Carrie Muehling

Alltech knows very well the benefits of using live yeast in a feed ration, and Territory Sales Manager Kurt Peterson was talking to farmers about that at the 2018 World Dairy Expo.

“Right now, everybody is aware of low milk prices. So the focus really is still driving efficiency at the dairy, looking at the ways to increase production without increasing cost, just evaluating things that they can control,” said Peterson.

Peterson said using yeast can lead to rumen stabilization and enhanced fiber digestion. He told farmers it is important to identify whether that yeast is going into a mineral, complete feed, or a supplement.

Listen to Jamie’s interview with Kurt here: Interview with Kurt Peterson, Alltech

2018 World Dairy Expo Photo Album

AgWired Animal, Alltech, Audio, Dairy, Nutrition, World Dairy Expo

Precision Ag Bytes 10/31

Carrie Muehling

  • AGTools, Inc. has created and launched a brand-new online tool enabling the agriculture industry to improve decision making, reduce waste, and increase revenue. The tool is the first of its kind in the agriculture industry designed to help farmers by providing hard data in real time to food supply chain stakeholders, helping to improve their bottom line.
  • Alltech Crop Science has attained organic certification for three of its products: Specify®, Turn® and Viable®.
  • Florida farmers and ranchers who suffered damage to working lands and livestock mortality due to Hurricane Michael are encouraged to sign up for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service. For more information on disaster assistance programs for farmers and ranchers, visit farmers.gov/recover.
  • Verdesian Life Sciences has announced the addition of four new vice presidents to lead growing demand for nutrient use efficiency and sales of Verdesian technology solutions across the United States. Alan Sparkman, Jason Radford, Scott Jungman and Pat Mullahey will fill those roles.
  • Vegalab, Inc. recently finalized a Distribution Agreement with AMVAC Mexico for distribution of all-natural biologically derived pesticides, fertilizers and specialty products across Mexico.
  • GMO Answers has updated one of its most popular graphics on plant breeding. The new graphic provides a definition, a list of the 10 GMO crops on the market today in the U.S., and gives a brief overview of some plant breeding techniques.
  • Arysta LifeScience announces the launch of RAZE™ 0-3-2, an advanced foliar nutrition product that promotes more balanced uptake of essential plant nutrients necessary for optimum crop growth and higher yields.
Zimfo Bytes

Deere Celebrates 75 Years of FFA Sponsorship

Cindy Zimmerman

John Deere commemorated 75 years of partnership with the National FFA Organization at the 91st annual convention and expo last week in Indianapolis.

To celebrate, John Deere provided a $75,000 contribution to the FFA Living to Serve Platform, as well as a time capsule representing that last 75 years of agriculture to be opened 75 years from now. Sam Allen, Deere & Company chairman and CEO, announced the contribution at the 91st National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis, where he was a keynote speaker.

“The Living to Serve Platform inspires FFA members to put leadership into action through service activities and prepare them to be responsible leaders in agriculture and many other professions in the future,” said Allen.

Since it first made a $1,000 contribution in 1943, John Deere has provided funds totaling more than $13 million to the National FFA Organization. Deere sponsors a wide range of FFA activities, including a John Deere dealer scholarship program, the farm business management career development competition, and the international leadership seminar for state officers.

Alex Voichoskie with the Rural Radio Network provided interviews from the Deere presentation for FFA Today. Here is her interview with Allen.

FFA 2018 Alex Voichoskie interviews Deere CEO Sam Allen
Audio, FFA, John Deere