Adam McClung Recognized as Transformational Leader

Jamie Johansen

It is still hard to believe our friend and fellow ag communicator is no longer with us. We wanted to share the latest information from the Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association remembering Adam’s life and spirit. We send continued prayers to his family and close friends.

– Adam McClung Recognized as Transformational Leader –

Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association (ACA) Executive Vice President Adam McClung passed away August 6, 2017, at Baptist Health Medical Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. McClung succumbed to a brief, but severe illness. The unexpected passing sent shockwaves through the cattle industry in Arkansas and throughout the country.

McClung was known as a transformational leader, according to ACA President Jerry Christie. “Adam was one of a kind. His larger than life personality and unwavering dedication to the farm and ranch families of Arkansas was unparalleled,” said Christie. “Adam took this association to a whole new level. Under his leadership, we dramatically increased membership, effectiveness in the state legislature and created Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Class. Most importantly, Adam cared about cattle producers and made sure this association was member driven and member run. His passion was contagious.”

Adam first served ACA as director of membership before eventually becoming the executive vice president in 2009 after serving one year with the Oklahoma Beef Council as director of industry relations. His success was noticed throughout the country. McClung’s policy savvy and ability to draft innovative legislation that would truly advance the state’s cattle industry was evident by other state cattle organizations following his lead and pushing McClung’s ideas in their respective states. McClung honored tradition but pushed change when it was necessary to improve the cattle industry. His relentless efforts to bring positive change to the beef cattle industry spurred the White House and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to recognize him in 2014 as just one of 15 “Champions of Change” leaders from across the country.Read More

Ag Groups, AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Beef

Panther Pro Herbicide from Nufarm

Chuck Zimmerman

Nufarm’s Panther® Pro herbicide for soybeans was on display during the Info Expo at the 2017 Ag Media Summit in Snowbird, Utah. Nufarm Communications Specialist, Emilia Villacis, said the product fights broad spectrum weed control in burndown, pre-plant and pre-emergent applications; and residual control of weeds in crop-fallow and non-crop bare ground uses.

Panther Pro will hit the market this fall in time for growers to start planning for the 2018 growing season providing residual control of more than 60 weeds.

Learn more about Nufarm and why they attended Ag Media Summit in Chuck’s complete interview with Emilia here: Interview with Emilia Villacis, Nufarm

View and download photos here: 2017 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

Coverage of the Ag Media Summit is sponsored by
Coverage of the Ag Media Summit is sponsored by FMC
Ag Media Summit, AgWired Precision, Audio, Crop Protection, Herbicide, Nufarm

ZimmCast with Owner of Legendary Buffalo Chip

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast 555The Legendary Buffalo Chip near Sturgis, SD is packed again for the 2017 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. The Chip now has a permanent self serve fuel dispenser which pumps a 93 octane E10 blend which Rod “Woody” Woodruff, owner of The Chip, describes as jet fuel for motorcycles. During the event the dispenser is the site of Free Fuel Happy Hours, 1-4pm, Tuesday – Thursday.

For several years now the Renewable Fuels Association has been a sponsor at The Chip and has used this free giveaway of fuel to bikers as an educational and promotional opportunity. In this week’s program I not only talk with Woody as he pulled up to be first in line to fill his tank but also Robert White with RFA. They talk about the opportunity and what it means to everyone involved.

I hope you enjoy the program and thank you for listening!

Listen to the ZimmCast here: ZimmCast with Rod Woodruff & Robert White

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, Biofuels, Ethanol, ZimmCast

Plant Growth Regulators – An Essential for Plant Growth

Jamie Johansen

Chief Chemist and GLobal Director of Compliance for Stoller USA, Dr. Ritesh Sheth, was at the 2017 Ag Media Summit representing Stoller during the Info Expo. A new product they were spreading news about was their Fortified Stimulate Yield Enhancer Plus, a plant growth regulator (PGR) for optimal yield production.

“The reason we are launching this product is that it is the only product on the market that has four plant growth regulators in a stable formulation. We are trying to educate farmers that PGR’s are essential,” Dr. Sheth said.

Farmers know seeds, nutrients and pesticides are essential, but likely don’t consider PGR’s. Dr. Sheth said that PGR’s regulate how well the nutrients are taken up. They are similar to a human bodies hormones, which control our overall health. He also stressed the beauty of this product – it’s good for all crops.

The PGR’s or hormones found in Fortified Stimulate Yield Enhancer Plus are cytokinin (CK), gibberellin (GA), and two auxins (IAA and IBA) formulated in the ideal ratio of 2:1:1 which adapts through time: initially CK, GA, IAA for triggering plant growth, then: CK, GA, IBA for developing better yield characteristics.

Listen to Chuck’s complete interview with Dr. Sheth here: Interview with Dr. Ritesh Sheth, Stoller

View and download photos here: 2017 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

Coverage of the Ag Media Summit is sponsored by
Coverage of the Ag Media Summit is sponsored by FMC
Ag Media Summit, Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, Audio, Nutrient Management, Nutrition

PERC Announces New Propane Farm Incentive Program

Kelly Marshall

If you’ve been thinking about switching to propane, now is the time, says Cinch Munson, director of agriculture business development at the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC).  The Propane Farm Incentive program has been newly revised, taking it from a two-step process to one-step where farmers receive their application packet from the dealer when they purchase a piece of qualifying equipment.  “We wanted to make things easier,” Munson said.

The purpose of the program is to offset the costs of purchasing propane-powered equipment and to gather valuable information about increasing efficiency and the development of new equipment.  Currently propane equipment in the ag space includes irrigation engines, prime power generators, heating systems for greenhouses and animals, and a few grain dryers.  To find a list of qualifying purchases, visit www.propane.com/farmincentive.

Two new offerings have also been brought to market by Origins Engines.  The new 5.7 L and 6.2 L engines provide higher horsepower that was previously lacking.  “We’re pretty excited to see that come to market because more choices are always a benefit for the consumer,” Munson told Cindy.

As with all good things, this offer will come to an end.  Currently it’s set to continue through 2017, but if you’re thinking about it, do it now, Munson advised.  There are lots of positives and very few negatives.

“It’s a good size incentive on an engine that, in most every case, costs considerably less than the latest Tier 4 engines.  So by choosing propane you save money on the cost up front.  Participating in the Farm Incentive Program you save even more money, and then the operating costs on those engines- we’ve seen over the last five years- by using propane instead of diesel, an operation can save 30 to 50 percent on their operating costs.”

Listen to Cindy’s full interview with Munson here: Interview with Cinch Munson, PERC

AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Audio, Propane

Precision Ag Bytes 8/9

Kelly Marshall

AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes

Sturgis Bikers Have New E10 Fueling Station

Cindy Zimmerman

For the first time this year, motorcycle enthusiasts staying at the Buffalo Chip Campground for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally have a place to buy 93 octane, 10 percent ethanol fuel as they head out for a ride in the Black Hills.

“It’s like jet fuel for your bike,” said Buffalo Chip owner Rod Woodruff. “It’s on your way out of the Chip, so you can stop and don’t have to go get in line at some place downtown. It’s 24/7 operated by credit card, so fill up and head for the hills!”

The single pump fuel station was donated by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) which has been sponsoring events at the campground and rally for nine years now, and Woodruff is a big fan of ethanol.

“I personally have been using it myself since we’ve had it available,” he said. “It’s phenomenal.”

Woodruff says the fueling station has already been doing a brisk business, but it will definitely get a good workout this afternoon, as RFA will again sponsor Free Fuel Happy Hours at the rally, providing a free tank of 93 octane E10 for motorcycles. The free tank giveaway will be held today, tomorrow and Thursday from 1-3 pm each day at the Buffalo Chip Campground.

Audio file: Interview with Rod Woodruff, Buffalo Chip Campground owner

2017 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally photo album

Audio, Ethanol, RFA

Young Beekeeper Recognized by Bayer

Cindy Zimmerman

Bayer recently announced the recipients of the fifth annual Bayer Bee Care Community Leadership Award for dedication to pollinator protection and educating their communities about bee health. This year’s winners are young beekeeper Jake Reisdorf, and Kirk and Heidi Tubbs of Tubbs Berry Farm in partnership with the Twin Falls County Pest Abatement District.

Bayer expanded the scope of its awards program this year to show support for the future of the beekeeping industry with a new young beekeeper award.

Jake is the first-ever beekeeper under 18 years of age to receive this award, which includes a $1,000 prize to support his school and community honey bee-focused initiatives. Among 20 entries, based on his standout application, 14-year-old Jake was selected for his diversified approach to pollinator health and commendable efforts to ensure that future generations understand the significant impact of bees on the ecosystem.

“It is so cool to receive the Bayer Bee Care Community Leadership Award for my efforts to educate the world about the honey bee,” said Jake Reisdorf, owner of the Carmel Honey Company. “With the money I’ve been awarded, I’d like to fulfill my dream of building an educational center called Pollination World to teach people about all types of pollinators including bees, bats, birds and butterflies.”

Learn more about how Jake got started in beekeeping and how he gives back to the community in this interview.
Interview with young beekeeper Jake Reisdorf

Tubbs Berry Farm began beekeeping 10 years ago due to pollination issues and have since become a local resource in Twin Falls, Idaho, for anything related to beekeeping. They were recognized for their pollinator-supportive partnership in the Pacific Northwest for its positive impact in the realm of honey bee health.

AgWired Precision, Audio, Bayer, Bees, pollinators

Staff Changes at Brownfield and Agri-Pulse

Cindy Zimmerman

Brownfield Anchor/Reporter Meghan Grebner has a new role on the Brownfield team, stepping in to take over livestock market reporting for Brownfield’s radio network, mobile application and website to replace retiring Jerry Passer. In this role, Meghan will be the lead reporter for the network’s livestock coverage and will continue to host Brownfield’s Weekly Livestock Market Update with University of Missouri State Extension Ag Economist Scott Brown, as she has done for the past year.

Meghan grew up on a diversified family farm in central Illinois, majored in communications and animal science at Western Illinois University and managed a farrow to finish swine operation before becoming a farm broadcaster in 2006. A graduate of the Illinois Ag Leadership Program, Meghan received the 2009 National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) Horizon Award and she joined Brownfield in 2011.

Agri-Pulse has promoted Spencer Chase to the position of Deputy Managing Editor.

The South Dakota native began working with Agri-Pulse as an intern in 2013, covering agricultural policy issues on Capitol Hill, interviewing lawmakers for the “Meet the Lawmaker” series and assisting with the website and social media. He took a full-time position with Agri-Pulse in the summer of 2014, doing writing and broadcasting and later, producing an audio feed for Agri-Pulse each weekday.

Spencer is an active member with National Association of Farm Broadcasting and serves on the NAFB board as East Region Vice President.

We are happy to congratulate these two very talented young agricultural journalists and proud to call them friends.

Agri-Pulse, Media, NAFB

Soil Health Institute Endorses 19 Soil Health Measurements

Cindy Zimmerman

After three years of industry collaboration, the Soil Health Institute (SHI) has endorsed 19 national soil health measurements that will help answer the question “Just how healthy (or unhealthy) are the nation’s soils?”

“We can’t really know the answer to that question until we have a set of common soil health measurements that scientists and farmers can compare and track over time,” said Dr. Wayne Honeycutt, CEO of the Soil Health Institute. “But we believe our endorsement of 19 measures will help us seek and track that common ground – and ultimately answer that important question.”

Over the last three years, scientists from public and private sectors, farmers, field conservationists, soil test laboratories and many others provided input to develop a “Tier 1” list of recommended soil health measures, considered effective indicators of soil health. These specific measurements are regionally defined, have known thresholds, and help define management strategies to improve soil function – like providing nutrients and water.

“Many of these Tier 1 measures have proven effective to help producers achieve high yields for decades,” Honeycutt said. “Consequently, many of the soil test laboratories and field conservationists are already using these measurements. Currently, the Soil Health Institute is reaching out to those organizations to explore additional implementation opportunities.”

Work continues with the agricultural industry to add more measurements to the Tier 1 classification – currently being researched as Tier 2 and Tier 3 measurements. They require additional research to elevate them to Tier 1 usefulness. Such research may involve understanding regional differences in interpretation, establishing thresholds, and developing management recommendations to improve soil functioning.

Learn more from SHI.

AgWired Precision, Conservation, Soil, Sustainability