AAEA Proposes Membership Changes

Chuck Zimmerman

AAEA The Agriculture Communicators Network is seeking input from its members about a proposed change in membership categories. Here is what is proposed.

The AAEA board is proposing new membership categories that reflect the editorial functions of our members, serve communicators who want to support editorial and content creation, and engage communicators who are at different ends of their career. The proposal allows more potential members serve in leadership roles while valuing the editorial purpose of our organization. It also provides more clarity to membership classes.

In the past we had five membership classes: Active, Affiliate, Honorary Life, Student and Retired.

Under the new membership proposal we will have six membership classes: Editorial, Associate, Partner, Student, Retiree and Honorary Life.
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Condon to Lead New Crop Science Division for Bayer

Cindy Zimmerman

Bayer today announced the new Executive Leadership Team for the Crop Science division will be led by Liam Condon, who continues to serve as a member of Bayer’s Board of Management and as President of the Crop Science Division headquartered in Monheim, Germany. Condon is also responsible for Bayer’s Animal Health business unit and has over 25 years of experience in leading and growing businesses in the agriculture and health industries.

The new team will go into effect at closing of Bayer’s proposed acquisition of Monsanto, which is still subject to pending regulatory approval. The companies are hoping to close the transaction in the second quarter of 2018. Monsanto CEO Hugh Grant announced that he will leave Monsanto at the closing of the acquisition.

Several current Monsanto executives will be part of the new team, including:
• Brett Begemann will become Head of Commercial Operations (Chief Operating Officer). He currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer at Monsanto. Begemann will be based in St. Louis.
• Dr. Michael Stern will become Head of Digital Farming / Climate Corporation. He currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Monsanto’s Climate Corporation. Stern will be based in St. Louis.
• Dr. Robert Reiter will be Head of Research & Development. He is the current Technology Integration Planning Lead at Monsanto. He will be based in Monheim.

Read more from Bayer.

During last year’s Future of Farming Dialog, Condon talked with agricultural journalists about goals for the company moving forward.

“The most important thing is what the combined new company is going to stand for,” says Condon. “It’s all about generating more innovation faster that will benefit our growers and help them improve their yields, but also their profitability.”

Listen to the full interview with Bayer’s Liam Condon here: Liam Condon, Bayer

Watch Condon’s address at the 2017 Bayer Future of Farming Dialog:


Agribusiness, Audio, Bayer, Video

Registration Open for NAMA Boot Camp

Chuck Zimmerman

Registration is open for the 2018 National Agri-Marketing Association Boot Camp. I know it sounds tough but show us what you’re made of and go to camp! NAMA Boot Camp takes place August 15-17, in Kansas City. Register here.

Whether you’ve just entered the rough working world or one who’s been through the NAMA Boot Camp drill before, sign up for this program today to learn more about the agri-marketing industry. This year the Boot Camp will take it to a new level expanding on marketing and agriculture basics.

Who should attend?

  • Agency Account Executives
  • Media Professionals
  • Art Directors
  • Copywriters
  • Marketing Professionals
  • Sales Professionals
  • Previous Boot Camp Attendees

***All attendees will receive a notebook packed with agricultural terminology, facts, case studies and speaker presentations. This notebook has become one of the most popular aspects of the boot camp experience.

Did you attend last year?

If so, we want you back. This year’s program is a perfect continuation of the previous programs. Plan to come early for the Ag Tour. This tour will be sponsored by the MoKan Chapter of NAMA. Whether you’re new to the industry or a seasoned veteran, the Agri-Marketing Boot Camp will give you the tools you need to more professionally market to the ag industry.

NAMA

Animal Ag Bites 5/7

Carrie Muehling

  • Cooperatives Working Together has accepted nine requests for export assistance from Dairy Farmers of America, Michigan Milk Producers Association, Northwest Dairy Association (Darigold) and United Dairymen of Arizona. These cooperatives have contracts to sell 1.04 million pounds of cheddar cheese, 262,350 pounds of butter and 923,737 pounds of whole milk powder to customers in Asia and North Africa.
  • New research from the University of Colorado published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests meat, such as pork, can be an important source of much-needed protein in an infant’s diet during the transition to solid foods. The first six to 12 months of life is a period of rapid growth when nutrition plays a pivotal role and, for many moms, meat may not be the first choice for an infant’s complementary feeding. Yet this new research suggests meat-fed infants (complementary to formula or breastfeeding) could have an advantage when it comes to early length growth.
  • Wilbur-Ellis Agribusiness President Dan Vradenburg has announced his decision to take on a new position in the company as board chair of Cavallo Ventures, after 16 years as president of the Agribusiness division. The transition is expected to take place later this year; Wilbur-Ellis expects to name Vradenburg’s successor by the end of 2018.
  • The U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (USRSB) has opened a 60-day public comment period on the group’s Sustainability Framework. The USRSB Sustainability Framework is a set of resources developed to assist ranchers, cattle auction markets, feedyards, packers, processors, and retail and food service organizations in their efforts to continuously improve the sustainability of U.S. beef.
  • The American Hereford Association is proud to introduce the Maternal Advantage program — a genetically verified program that will be used to identify premium replacement females. This new female-focused program is designed to take advantage of hybrid vigor by capitalizing on Hereford genetics.
  • The Beef Improvement Federation is celebrating 50 years in 2018. Themed “Elevating the Industry,” the Annual Meeting and Research Symposium is poised not only to celebrate the last 50 years but launch into the next 50.
AgWired Animal, Animal Bites

Zimfo Bytes 5/4

Carrie Muehling

  • Illinois and other Midwestern students will have help paying for college tuition during the 2018-2019 school year, courtesy of scholarships awarded today by the IAA Foundation. The IAA Foundation, the charitable arm of the Illinois Farm Bureau, awarded $123,600 to 69 students pursuing degrees in agriculture-related fields, based on their academic ability, leadership involvement, professional career goals and financial need.
  • Iowa Corn announced the 16 student recipients of the Iowa Corn Future of Agriculture Scholarship program for the 2018-2019 school year. Iowa Corn awarded 16 $1,000 one-year scholarships to deserving, qualified students enrolled at an accredited U.S. 2-year or 4-year college or university, or graduate school, in a program of study to equip them to contribute to Iowa’s agriculture industry. The program is sponsored by the Iowa Corn Growers Association and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board.
  • MGEX announced an impressive 272,068 contracts recorded for April of 2018. This number topples over the previous reigning April by 24 percent while also breaking into the top five overall monthly volume charts coming in at fifth-best in MGEX history.
  • The Farm Foundation Forum on May 22 will be A Conversation with the Ambassadors: Trade War or Rhetoric? There is no charge to participate in the Forum via webcast or in person, but registration is requested.
  • The American Feed Industry Association announced Bridget Rinker has joined as the new development assistant effective April 30. Rinker will support AFIA President and CEO Joel G. Newman with managing programs and communications, as well as support of the AFIA Board of Directors and Executive Committee.
Zimfo Bytes

USFRA Unveils New Sustainability Officers Program

Carrie Muehling

The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance created the Sustainability Officers Council to provide food companies with access to the farmer and rancher perspective about sustainability in food and agriculture. (PRNewsfoto/U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance)

Six farmers and ranchers selected by the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance will help to provide food companies with the farmer and rancher perspective when it comes to sustainability in food and agriculture. The new Sustainability Officers Council allows companies to speak with a farmer or rancher before shifting sourcing decisions that could result in fundamental changes in farmers structures.

USFRA is pleased to announce six new Sustainability Officers:
Kyle Bridgeforth – Alabama crop farmer
Tom Crave – Wisconsin dairy farmer
Cassidy Johnston – New Mexico cattle rancher
Nancy Kavazanjian – Wisconsin crop farmer
Hilary Maricle – Nebraska cattle, pig, corn and soybean farmer
Leon Sheets – Iowa pig, corn and soybean farmer

“As former chairwoman of the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance, I look forward to serving voluntarily as one of the Sustainability Officers and highlighting how all farmers make environmental sustainability a priority,” said Nancy Kavazanjian, Wisconsin crop farmer. “These farmers and ranchers serve as a great representation of today’s agriculture — making continuous improvement a priority by utilizing technology to enhance animal welfare and conserve our natural resources.”

As part of the Sustainability Officers Council, these six farmers and ranchers will participate in conversations with food companies and retailers, offering data, research and knowledge about modern agricultural practices on today’s farms and ranches. In addition, the Officers will participate in USFRA’s Food Dialogues panel discussions at The Sustainable Consortium (May 1-3 in Chicago, Ill.), National Restaurant Association Conference (May 19-22 in Chicago, Ill.) and Sustainable Brands (June 4-7 in Vancouver, B.C.).

Ag Groups, AgWired Animal, USFRA

An Audio Magazine as Podcast?

Chuck Zimmerman

When I see a creative idea it is worth sharing. I have lots of people ask about how to come up with ideas for regular podcast episodes. I don’t think it’s difficult but I understand that concern. So here’s an idea that I think worked really well.

Matt Wetterson, GROWMARK (AgWired sponsor), produces a regular podcast, The GROWMARK Podcast, and his latest episode uses the organization’s quarterly magazine for content. Listen to the program to hear the stories from the current issue. They are read to you and are very interesting. I think it makes you want to subscribe to the publication! It definitely makes it easier for people to consume who don’t have time to sit down and read it.

Listen to the podcast here: GROWMARK Podcast - SOURCE Magazine

I really like this idea. How about you? Would you listen to a magazine on your mobile device?

Audio, GROWMARK, Podcasts

ZimmCast 582 – More Members of the #GoldenMic Club

Chuck Zimmerman

In this week’s program I’m featuring some new members of the #GoldenMic Club. These folks got their first opportunity to be interviewed with one of our Golden ZimmComm Microphones during the Agri-Marketing Conference.

Featured are Curt Dennison, Curt Dennison Photography; Daniel Lamoureux, LaTerre and Jeffrey Ross, Ross Creative Works.  I visited with Curt while Jamie did with Daniel and Jeffrey.

If you would like to join the club or schedule the Golden ZimmComm Microphone at your event please contact me. I’ll offer ideas for how we can amplify your marketing campaigns.

Listen to the ZimmCast here: ZimmCast 582 - More #GoldenMic Club Members

I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.

Subscribe to the ZimmCast podcast here. Use this url in iTunes or your favorite news reader program/app.

The ZimmCast

sponsored by
The ZimmCast podcast is sponsored by GROWMARK
Locally owned, globally strong.
Audio, NAMA, Photography, ZimmCast

Growth Energy Ads Urge E15 Action

Cindy Zimmerman

Growth Energy has launched a new radio and digital ad campaign telling listeners in the Midwest that it’s “make or break time” for the rural economy.

The ads encourage farmers and ethanol stakeholders to call on President Trump to lift federal restrictions on the sale of E15 fuel blends, a move that would boost farm income amid the sharpest agricultural downturn since the 1980s.

“Outdated regulations kick back in on June 1st, cutting consumers off from a lower-cost product that supports farmers and rural manufacturing,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “President Trump promised Midwest lawmakers that he would fast-track a long-overdue fix, but oil lobbyists have held E15 hostage for years, and the White House needs to hear from rural communities. Too many American farmers are struggling to make ends meet, but we can deliver immediate relief by simply letting consumers make their own choices about American-made biofuel.”

Each year from June 1 to September 15, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules governing Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) limit the sale of E15 in many markets around the country, under guidelines that were drafted before E15 hit the market. The result is lower demand for biofuels and the crops that are used to make them during the summer months of vacation travel tim

Listen to the ad here: Growth Energy E15 radio ad

Audio, Ethanol

New USDA Program for Producers Hit by Hurricanes

Cindy Zimmerman

Flooded citrus groves in Florida after Hurricane Irma

Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced details this week on eligibility for a new USDA disaster program, 2017 Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program (2017 WHIP). USDA will also provide $340 million through a block grant to the State of Florida specifically for Hurricane Irma losses to citrus production expected during the 2018 through the 2020 crop year to provide reimbursement for the cost of buying and planting replacement trees.

The WHIP program will help producers in at least nine states with recovery of their agricultural operations due to hurricane and wildfire damage with $2.36 billion that Congress appropriated through the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018. “While USDA has a suite of disaster programs as well as crop insurance available to help producers manage their risk, Congress felt it was important to provide extra assistance to our nation’s farms and ranches that were the hardest hit last year,” Secretary Perdue said. “At President Trump’s direction, our team is working as quickly as possible to make this new program available to farmers in need.”

In the video below, Perdue comments on the Florida citrus aid, along with Florida Governor Rick Scott and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam. In addition, AgNet Media’s Abbey Taylor interviewed Perdue about the details. AgNet interview with Perdue on hurricane loss program


Audio, Citrus, USDA, Video