Secretary Sonny’s First Visit to NAFB

Cindy Zimmerman

Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue made his first visit to the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) annual convention, where he made a stop in at Trade Talk and then spent nearly an hour talking with broadcasters.

The secretary’s first topic was the launch of USDA’s new resources to support veterans who might wish to pursue opportunities in agriculture, agribusiness, and rural America. “We’re very serious about supporting our veterans,” said Perdue. “They bring skill sets that we think work very well in agriculture.”

Asked when he might get a full court of under secretaries approved for USDA, Perdue pointed to his dress shirt and said, “I have a Free Bill Northey tee shirt under here.”

Perdue also commented on the bigger corn crop expected, trade issues and more. Secretary Sonny Perdue at NAFB

2017 NAFB Convention Photos

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

2017 Missouri Leopold Conservation Award Winner

Jamie Johansen

Sand County Foundation and Missouri Farmers Care announced the recipients of Missouri’s inaugural Leopold Conservation Award® during the 2017 National Association of Farm Broadcasting’s (NAFB) Annual Convention. The Leopold Conservation Award honors farmer, rancher and forester achievement in voluntary stewardship and management of natural resources. This marks the first year this prestigious award has been presented to a Missouri farmer or rancher.

Matt and Kate Lambert own and operate Uptown Farms along with their family in Brookfield, MO. On the family farm they grow corn, soybeans and raise cattle, sheep and kids. Conservation practices aren’t a new thing on the Northern Missouri farm. The use of cover crops dates back to the early 90’s and they continue to progressively stay-up-to-date on new and improved practices that ensure the family farm will be there for future generations.

Learn more about the Lambert’s and their family farm here: Interview with Matt & Kate Lambert, Uptown Farms

The Leopold Conservation Award Program in Missouri is made possible thanks to the generous support of Missouri Farmers Care, Missouri Soybean Association, Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council, Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, Missouri Corn Merchandising Council, Missouri Department of Conservation, MFA, Inc., Missouri’s Electric Cooperatives, Missouri Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Missouri Soil and Water Conservation Program, and USDA NRCS.

2017 NAFB Convention Photos

Coverage of the NAFB Convention is sponsored by
Coverage of the NAFB Convention is sponsored by FMC
Ag Groups, AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Audio, Conservation, Environment, NAFB

NAFB17 Kicks Off With Kevin Folta

Cindy Zimmerman

Dr. Kevin Folta has been on a crusade to educate the public about biotechnology for many years, in addition to his regular job as professor and chairman of the horticultural sciences department at the University of Florida.

Dr. Folta kicked off the 2017 NAFB Convention Wednesday morning with a session on “Communicating Concepts in Biotechnology to a Concerned Public” to give farm broadcasters some tips from his experience in explaining the science behind food production. “We have to identify the audience, understand that facts don’t matter until we establish trust, and that effective communication starts when we listen to people’s genuine concerns, no matter how crazy they are,” said Folta.

Listen to Dr. Folta’s session and a brief interview with him:
Dr. Kevin Folta at NAFB17
Interview with Dr. Kevin Folta, UF

2017 NAFB Convention Photos

Coverage of the NAFB Convention is sponsored by
Coverage of the NAFB Convention is sponsored by FMC
Audio, Biotech, NAFB

NAFB Foundation Names Scholarship Winners

Carrie Muehling

Pictured L to R: Krista Temple, Rhiannon Branch, Hannah Borg, Bobbi Jo Bergum, Delaney Howell

The NAFB Foundation named five scholarship winners Wednesday at the 2017 NAFB Convention in Kansas City.

Glenn Kummerow Memorial Scholarship – Bobbi Jo Bergum, Perdue University
George Logan Scholarship – Hannah Borg, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Orion Samuelson Scholarship – Rhiannon Branch, Murray State University
Noble Research Institute Scholarship – Delaney Howell, Texas Tech University
Grow Smart Scholarship by BASF – Krista Temple, University of Illinois

Listen here to meet each of the winners and hear more about their experiences and goals: Interview with NAFB Scholarship Winners

2017 NAFB Convention Photos

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

ZimmCast from 2017 NAFB Convention

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast 565Hello from Kansas City, MO where the ZimmComm team is attending the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) convention. Cindy and Jamie are here with me. We’re set up in the Broadcast Center behind the golden AgWired table cloth, so we’re easy to find.

Late yesterday we decided to record this week’s program and also let a camera run for most of it. You can see the craziness below. We talk about how long we’ve been attending the meetings, how Jamie joined the team and then share a featured interview with Paul Spooner, USFRA, who talks about his job doing communications work for the organization. It’s part of our on-going series with the Communications Directors at various agricultural organizations.

The team will be on location throughout the meeting, taking photos, doing interviews and sharing them on AgNewsWire in a virtual newsroom. We want to not only thank GROWMARK for sponsoring our ZimmCast but also FMC for all of our coverage of this year’s convention.

Listen to the ZimmCast here: ZimmCast 565 NAFB Convention


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

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

The ZimmCast

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The ZimmCast podcast is sponsored by GROWMARK
Locally owned, globally strong.
Audio, NAFB, Video, ZimmCast

Ag’s Most Energetic Event Returns to Calgary

Cindy Zimmerman

The FARM FORUM EVENT, hosted by AGRI-TREND®, returns to the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre December 5-7, 2017 with the theme LEARN & GROW.

The FARM FORUM EVENT brings over 1,000 attendees together to see the latest innovations, learn from top experts from the world’s leading agricultural companies, and share information among the largest growers from Canada and the United States.

Attendees of the FARM FORUM EVENT manage more than 6 million acres each year. In interviews, sponsors cite the high quality of the attendees and the unique format of the FARM FORUM EVENT as primary reasons why they choose to participate in the show. You can view portions of the interviews on the AGRI-TREND channel here.

Click here to learn more about the FARM FORUM.

AgWired Precision, Events

Precision Ag Bytes 11/8

Carrie Muehling

  • Ag Leader will release firmware in February 2018 offering access to in-cab, internet-based functionality through a single data connection source. InCommand displays will be able to connect to NTRIP networks for RTK corrections and Ag Leader’s cloud-based data management platform, AgFiniti, through the same connection source using one cellular data plan.
  • AgLaunch365 has accepted three new ag tech startups into Phase I of its farm-centric innovation platform. This 6-week program will be delivered through remote programming and in-person sessions held in Memphis, culminating at the Farm Journal AgTech Expo in Indianapolis December 11-13, 2017. Phase I teams include:  Minnesota-based DryMAX, Illinois-based EarthSense, and Indiana-based Rabbit Tractors. The deadline to apply for Phase II is November 15, 2017.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes

“Feed Your Adventurous Side” with American Lamb

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Lamb Board (ALB) announces the launch of “Feed Your Adventurous Side,” a consumer campaign representing the spirit of today’s lamb industry.

Research conducted for the American Lamb Board shows an opportunity to position lamb as offering unique and adventurous flavor to capture consumers’ attention. The campaign reaches out to people most likely to desire new food favorites with lamb through social media, websites and other online destinations, supported by retail, foodservice and influencer programs. By capitalizing on how the target audience connects with information today through digital means, American Lamb will be in front of adventurous consumers.

“This new positioning for American Lamb as the adventurous, versatile protein option talks directly to people we call “Flavor Seekers” who are bored with ordinary food options. Millennials are an important part of our audience,” says Jim Percival, Xenia, Ohio, ALB chairman. “The digital nature of ‘Feed Your Adventurous Side’ allows focused promotions within the campaign at key times and locations.”

The consumer hub is AmericanLamb.com plus social media channels including Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram.

AmericanLamb.com plus social media channels including Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram.” Click to read more.

AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Livestock, Meat, Sheep

ImpactZ™ Herbicide from AMVAC® Approved for Corn

Cindy Zimmerman

AMVAC Chemical Corporation has received federal registration from EPA for a new broad spectrum, low use rate corn herbicide – ImpactZ.

ImpactZ provides corn growers with a new solution for control of tough broadleaf and grass weeds, including glyphosate resistant species.

“Impact herbicide has long provided value to corn growers as an excellent tool for weed resistance management,” said Jim Lappin, AMVAC crop marketing manager, corn and soybeans. “ImpactZ herbicide provides safe, effective broad spectrum control in corn.”
ImpactZ herbicide provides excellent control of tough grass weeds, including barnyardgrass, crabgrass and foxtails. It also controls a broad spectrum of broadleaf weeds, including waterhemp, palmer amaranth, lambsquarters and velvetleaf.

ImpactZ herbicide is registered for use in field corn, seed corn, popcorn and sweetcorn, with no restrictions on soil type, tank mix partners or insecticides. ImpactZ herbicide contains both Impact® and Atrazine for highly effective control of grass and broadleaf weeds in corn.

Individual state registrations for ImpactZ herbicide are pending.

Click here to learn more.

AgWired Precision, Corn, Crop Protection, Herbicide

New TV Ad Recognizes President’s Support for Rural Communities

Chuck Zimmerman

President Trump’s support for biofuels is getting some recognition.

The nation’s top renewable fuel advocates have launched a new television ad recognizing President Trump’s steadfast support for rural communities, farmers, and workers in the biofuel sector. The ad responds directly to oil industry attacks on the president for his long-standing commitment to growth under the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

“Refining executives seem to think that attacking the president will undermine his support for rural jobs and homegrown fuels, but he’s consistently sided with voters across the heartland,” said Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy, a member of the Fuels America coalition. “There are over 200 biorefineries across the nation, each serving as a key manufacturing hub, supporting jobs and creating vital markets for countless farmers. This industry is creating low-cost energy right here in America, and those communities deeply appreciate the president’s commitment to U.S. leadership on biofuels.”

The new ad, which begins airing November 6th on Fox News, features footage of President Trump’s advocacy for homegrown fuels, noting that he “kept his promise, protecting farm and manufacturing jobs.” The ad urges viewers to thank the president for standing up to refiners who have attacked the White House for its support of clean, affordable fuel options for American drivers.


Biofuels, Energy, Ethanol, Video