Get Ready for the Census of Agriculture

Chuck Zimmerman

It’s that time farmers. The 2017 Census of Agriculture is coming in December. The survey is conducted by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. It has been conducted since 1840 and is a complete count of U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them. It takes place every five years.

During the NAFB Trade Talk session I visited with Barbara Rater, USDA-NASS, about the new survey. She says there will be new questions that include veteran status, farm decision-making and food marketing practices. There is also a much improved online questionnaire designed to make it easier to fill out. There will also be versions for mobile phone, tablet and desk/laptop computer.

Barbara also talks about the importance of filling out the survey which includes being able to show the country the importance and value of U.S. agriculture. The information will also be useful for influencing decision makers on topics like transportation/marketing locations, farm services, production practices and new technologies and farm policy. I can vouch for the importance of the survey even to those of us in agricultural marketing and ag media. You can watch a message about the Census from our U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue, here.

And congratulations to Barbara for becoming a member of the #GoldenMic Club!

Learn more about the new census here: Interview with Barbara Rater, USDA-NASS

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

Photo Contest Kicks Off Science Matters for Bayer and 4-H

Carrie Muehling

Young people can win a trip to the National Youth Summit on Agri-Science by entering a photo contest. The contest is the kickoff activity for the Science Matters initiative, a partnership between Bayer and 4-H first announced at the 2017 Farm Progress Show.

“It’s really going to expose kids in urban, rural and suburban areas to science and why it should matter in their everyday life,” said Cheryl Lesko, director of development for agriculture with the National 4-H Council.

Millions of people are 4-H alumni, including many Bayer employees. Vice President of Communications for Bayer’s Crop Science Division Darren Wallis is one of those people with 4-H experience.

“For us at Bayer, whether we’re in animal health, consumer health, pharmaceutical, or crop science, science is the underpinning of all of that. So it’s a perfect partnership to inspire the youth of tomorrow,” said Wallis.

The deadline to submit a photo is November 26, 2017.

Listen to Cindy’s interview here: Interview with Darren Wallis, Bayer and Cheryl Lesko, 4-H

2017 NAFB Convention Photos

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Agribusiness, Audio, Bayer, NAFB

Propane Can Do That

Carrie Muehling

The Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) has launched a new website dedicated to agricultural applications of propane.

“It’s a really good site. I think if you’re excited about saving money and having reliable, powerful, clean equipment, it will be a great site for you,” said Cinch Munson with PERC.

The site also offers details about the Farm Incentive Program to help people make the initial investment into propane equipment, offering up to $5,000 towards that type of purchase. Munson said about 10 percent of propane sales go into agriculture applications, from drying grain to heating livestock facilities.

Learn more about propane in agriculture here: Interview with Cinch Munson, PERC

2017 NAFB Convention Photos

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Agribusiness, AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Audio, NAFB, PERC

Find Your Adventurous Lamb Side

Jamie Johansen

Last week the American Lamb Board (ALB) launched “Feed Your Adventurous Side,” a consumer campaign representing the spirit of today’s lamb industry. We met up with them during NAFB’s Trade Talk to hear the details first hand.

“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, ALB chairman and Ohio sheep producer. “The digital nature of ‘Feed Your Adventurous Side’ allows focused promotions within the campaign at key times and locations.”

Lamb offers a unique and adventurous flavor capturing the attention of today’s adventurous consumer. 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.

Listen to my complete interview with Jim to hear the details of their flavor research, what lamb menu items are trending and get a glimpse into their long-range plan. Interview with Jim Percival, American Lamb Board

2017 NAFB Convention Photos

Coverage of the NAFB Convention is sponsored by
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Ag Groups, AgWired Animal, American Lamb Board, Animal Agriculture, Audio, Food, Lamb, Livestock, NAFB, Sheep

Congrats to NAFB Winners

Cindy Zimmerman

The major awards and new officers for the National Association of Farm Broadcasting annual meeting are announced and presented within 24 hours at the annual convention so it may be hard to keep track of them all!

First, here are the new officers of NAFB. The lovely Rita Frazer (pictured here) with RFD Radio Network in Illinois is the new NAFB vice president; Tom Cassidy with New York’s Ag Radio Network takes over as president and Lorrie Boyer, KSIR Radio, is president-elect. Regional vice presidents are Dewayne Gandy, KRMO Radio; Joe Gill, KASM; and Spencer Chase, Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc. Rounding out the board are Wendy Pinkerton, Zoetis and Dr. Dwayne Cartmell, Oklahoma State University from the Allied Industry Council; Breck Von Bank, Brownfield Ag News and Tim Marshall, KRVN Rural Radio Network – Management Sales Council; and Lance Knudson, American Ag Network – Marketing and Promotion chair.

Two of the board members were also winners of major awards this year. Congratulations to Lance Knudson, the 2017 Dix Harper Meritorious Service Award Winner, and Spencer Chase who received the 2017 Horizon Award.

The best in the business, Tom Steever of Brownfield Ag News was named the 2017 Farm Broadcaster of the Year. The 40+ year NAFB member also got top honors for Newscast and Feature awards. Brownfield Ag News also finished third for video marketcast – Meghan Grebner, and second for Video Feature Shannon Yokely. Also Mark Dorenkamp placed third in Newscast and Julie Harker third in Feature.

Congrats also to the NAFB News Service Awards, sponsored by John Deere –
Excellence in Ag Reporting – Jared White, WHOW Radio
Editor’s Choice for Exceptional Merit – Joe Gill, KASM
Editor’s Choice – Andy Eubank, Hoosier Ag Today – Overall Ag Reporting

Joining the NAFB Hall of Fame, Class of 2017, were former NAFB executive director Mark Vail, and the late Gary Wergin, WHO.

Dozens more NAFB members received tenure awards, and Orion Samuelson was also honored for his work with the NAFB Foundation. Congratulations to everyone!

2017 NAFB Convention Photos

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NAFB

Animal Ag Bites 11/13

Carrie Muehling

  • Cargill and Performance Livestock Analytics, Inc. (PLA) are partnering to bring new data analytics to cattle production. PLA’s Performance Beef is now enhanced with the Cargill MAX system for beef, creating an advanced and more robust feedlot system, Performance Beef MAX. This new version is exclusive to Cargill and its customers.
  • The American Angus Association has announced the 2017-2018 board of directors and officers elected during the 134th Annual Convention of Delegates in Fort Worth, Texas. Those elected to serve the Association for a second three-year term are: Jerry Connealy, Whitman, Nebraska; David Dal Porto, Oakley, California; John Grimes, Hillsboro, Ohio; James Henderson, Memphis, Texas; and Dave Nichols, Bridgewater, Iowa.
  • Donations to the Animal Agriculture Alliance will be doubled on Giving Tuesday, November 28th, thanks to Cooper Farms and Cattle Empire. Cooper Farms has pledged to match donations to the Alliance up to $5,000. Cattle Empire will be participating in the Alliance’s Giving Tuesday campaign for the first time this year by matching donations from $5,001 to $10,000. Visit www.animalagalliance.org/donatenow to make your contribution. Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving that harnesses the power of social media and community collaboration.
  • Belgium headquartered feed additives producer NUTRIAD hosted a customer event at the 2017
    European Aquaculture Society conference, which took place in Dubrovnik, Croatia, Oct. 17-20. The conference attracted over 1,600 participants and more than 40 exhibitors. NUTRIAD’S event “Functional feed additives in aquaculture: How to add more?” was well received by producers of marine fish, fish feed producers, and a large number of consultants and academic scientists that attended from Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Norway and Croatia.
AgWired Animal, Animal Bites

MiField by FS Brings Applied Research to Your Field

Carrie Muehling

Today’s farmers can gather all kinds of information about the crops they plant and harvest, but it can be difficult to know how to use that information to enhance yield and increase efficiency. GROWMARK is providing farmers with a tool to help in MiField Applied Research by FS.

“We can follow certain procedures and not only have that information relative to that grower, but now we can roll it up and incorporate that with maybe 50, 100 or 200 trials that were similar and have a database that we can help provide insight back to that grower,” said Brendan Bachman, GROWMARK Applied Research Marketing Manager.

The program is in its second year, with more than 1,000 trials already compiled for growers to use. The company plans to publish a yield book in December and January that will aggregate much of the information. Growers can also visit www.fssystem.com and select the state, county and trial type to research local trials.

Learn more in this interview from the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Trade Talk: Interview with Brendan Bachman, GROWMARK

2017 NAFB Convention Photos

Coverage of the NAFB Convention is sponsored by
Coverage of the NAFB Convention is sponsored by FMC
Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, Audio, FS System, GROWMARK, NAFB

Larson Dairy Reacts to Latest Activist Video

Chuck Zimmerman

One of the most well-respected dairy operations in the nation was the subject of an underground animal activist video that was released this past week.

Larson Dairy in Okeechobee, Florida is owned by Woody Larson, who bought the operation from his father Red Larson, who started in the dairy business in 1947. His son Jacob is also involved in the operation. The video released shows numerous cases of animal abuse by dairy employees over the course of three weeks. The Larsons are cooperating fully with the authorities and have already terminated employment of the employee in the video and put two others on leave while an investigation takes place.

In this interview, Gary Cooper with AgNet Media and Chuck Zimmerman, AgWired, talk with Woody and Jacob Larson about the disturbing video and the policies and training that they have put in place to avoid just such a situation. Interview with Woody & Jacob Larson

AgWired Animal, Animal Activists, Audio, Wackos

New ImpactZ™ Corn Herbicide from AMVAC®

Cindy Zimmerman

AMVAC Chemical Corporation recently announced new corn herbicide ImpactZ has received EPA registration, giving growers a new safe and flexible solution for control of tough broadleaf and grass weeds, including glyphosate resistant species. We had a chance to learn more about this exciting new product during the National Association of Farm Broadcasting annual Trade Talk this week.

“We like to talk about the knock down activity of this product, but also the flexibility and crop safety,” said Jim Lappin, AMVAC crop marketing manager for corn and soybeans. “ImpactZ gives a grower the flexibility to go to either a pre-emergence followed by a post-emergence, a total post program, or perhaps a sequential.”

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.

Learn more about ImpactZ in this interview or watch below – Interview with Jim Lappin, AMVAC


2017 NAFB Convention Photos

AgWired Precision, AMVAC, Corn, Herbicide, NAFB

FMC Completes Deal with DowDupont

Chuck Zimmerman

During the NAFB convention Trade Talk session Jamie and I visited with our sponsor, FMC. Mike Krull, North America Business Development, sat down with Jamie to talk about the FMC DuPont Integration.

FMC has announced that it has successfully completed the closing of its two pending transactions with DuPont. The companies signed a definitive agreement on March 31,2017, and have now satisfied all necessary conditions and approvals. FMC has acquired the portion of DuPont’s Crop Protection business it had to divest to comply with the European Commission ruling related to its merger with The Dow Chemical Company, which was completed on August 31, 2017 to form DowDuPont™. Additionally, FMC has completed the sale of FMC Health and Nutrition to DuPont.

Listent to Jamie’s interview with Mike for more details or watch below: Interview with Mike Krull, FMC


2017 NAFB Convention Photos

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