Ag Interests Voice Support for Pruitt

Cindy Zimmerman January 5, 2017

Agricultural interests are voicing support for Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, who has been chosen by President-Elect Donald Trump to be his administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as the pre-confirmation process begins with members of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works meeting privately with the nominee.

Sen. Deb Fischer of Nebraska meets with EPA nominee Scott Pruitt

Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE), who has challenged the EPA’s authority as implementation of rules impacted agriculture in her state adversely, met with Pruitt this week to question him about how he would run the agency. “My discussion with Mr. Pruitt focused on how he intends to unroll these reams of federal red tape and put the agency back on the right track,” said Fischer.

The American Farm Bureau Federation has formally endorsed Pruitt in a letter to the leadership of the committee that will hold confirmation hearings in the coming weeks. In the letter, AFBF president Zippy Duvall called Pruitt “an ideal nominee” who “has profound respect for the laws written by Congress.”

“We desperately need an administrator who understands the challenges our farmers and ranchers face in producing safe, wholesome and affordable food for our nation and the world,” Duvall said.

AFBF, EPA

IFAJ Debuts New Logo and Website

Cindy Zimmerman January 5, 2017

The International Federation of Agriculture Journalists (IFAJ) has officially launched a new logo and updated website at ifaj.org.

The new logo has a sleeker, single color look while the new website has enhanced navigation and can be used on any mobile device. The structure of the content on the website has also been improved and the site now contains integrated social media buttons for Facebook and Twitter.

Check it out.

IFAJ

Inspirational ZimmCast with Amberley Snyder

Chuck Zimmerman January 4, 2017

As we start a new year I think everyone can use some inspiration to tackle all that life throw’s at us. This week’s ZimmCast might just provide you with what you need. I visited with Amberley Snyder by phone yesterday and am sharing her story for you.

Amberley’s lifelong passion is rodeo, especially barrel racing and breakaway roping. However, almost seven years ago she was involved in a rollover accident with her truck and wound up in surgery for a broken back and spinal cord injury. The accident left her with no feeling below her waist. As you can see in the photo, Amberley needs a wheelchair. But as you can also see, she has her horse and has overcome this tragic accident to begin riding and racing. You can read her full story on her website.

Amberley’s story is simply titled, “Get Back on the Horse.” Not only did she do that but she is back in rodeo competition and available for public speaking to inspire others to overcome obstacles in their lives. Her story has special meaning to me since my oldest daughter was involved in a rollover accident as a teen which left her paralyzed too. She has never been depressed and lives and works very independently. These young women will probably never even know how much their approach to a tragedy has inspired and helped others but I am sure there are a lot of people who have been touched in a positive way from their stories.

I hope you’ll enjoy listening to Amberley’s story in this week’s program here: ZimmCast with Amberley Snyder

Subscribe to the ZimmCast podcast here.

The ZimmCast

sponsored by

Locally owned, globally strong.

Rodeo, ZimmCast

Purple Plow Promotes STEM Learning

Cindy Zimmerman January 4, 2017

I’ve never seen a purple plow, but the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture has just launched the Purple Plow Challenge site for middle-school students to research scenarios related to food, hunger and sustainability.

“The Purple Plow Challenge is a great fit for individuals, groups and classes in grades 6, 7 and 8. It’s perfect for makerspaces, after-school programs, in-school lessons, 4-H clubs, library learning, scout troops and more,” said Angela Mayfield, education director of the Foundation.

The Purple Plow Challenge contest will run seasonally beginning in January 2017. Interested teachers, mentors and students should check out the website – purpleplowchallenge.org – after Jan. 1 for the announcement of the spring Purple Plow challenge. Resources will be available for free download. Spring submissions are due May 1. See the website for complete details.

Resources for the Purple Plow project are made possible by the support of DuPont Pioneer.

AFBF, Education

Land O’Lakes Scores with Farmer Feeds Us Video

Cindy Zimmerman January 3, 2017

Land O’ Lakes scored big with a commercial that aired during bowl games over the weekend to remind everyone that the farmer feeds us all. I can’t believe I never heard the lovely poem by author Amelia E. Barr that was used for the video – truer words were never written!

Here’s the full version of the video:

Video

Harrington Writes Book about Iowa Journalist

Cindy Zimmerman January 3, 2017

Longtime agribusiness PR and marketing man Jerry Harrington is now a published author.

Harrington, who retired in 2014 after 16 years as marketing public relations manager for DuPont Pioneer, has written a book about a Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper editor in the 1930s. “Crusading Iowa Journalist Verne Marshall: Exposing Graft and the 1936 Pulitzer Prize,” is now available from The History Press of Arcadia Publishing.

On December 12, 1934, police raided a canning factory in Cedar Rapids, uncovering an illegal liquor and gambling set-up. Verne Marshall, tempestuous editor of the Cedar Rapids Gazette, sensed a bigger story and a wider network of corruption. His aggressive investigative reporting led to multiple resignations, nearly fifty indictments and the dramatic trial of the state’s attorney general. These explosive exposés earned Verne Marshall and the paper the 1936 Pulitzer Prize. Author Jerry Harrington traces the legacy of Marshall’s incendiary crusade across Iowa’s political landscape.

While Harrington had a career in the agri-marketing industry that spanned three decades, he has been a history buff his entire life and received his master’s degree in history from the University of Iowa in 1981. A frequent contributor to Iowa History Journal, he recently won the 2016 George Mills-Louise Noun Popular History Award from the Iowa State Historical Society for a series on Iowa governors. Jerry is also a big comic book collector and combines his love of both by teaching “The History of American Comic Books” at Kirkwood Community College in Iowa City.

Order Jerry’s book here.

Journalism

It’s #PotatoExpo Time

Chuck Zimmerman January 2, 2017

It’s still very early in the new year but it’s already time for the annual Potato Expo, which takes place this week in San Francisco, CA. I’ll be back on the agriblogging highway and on location by Wednesday evening to be your eyes and ears at the expo, thanks once again to our friends with Nufarm.

Unite with others at high energy networking opportunities and gain practical business solutions at the 9th annual Potato Expo! Join more than 2,000 growers, suppliers, and experts at the largest conference and trade show for the potato industry held in North America.

Potato Expo 2017 offers educational programming covering the top issues facing the potato industry, provides countless networking opportunities with key decision makers, and showcases the latest products and services for potato production, storage, and distribution. Come to share knowledge and gain insight into the industry’s newest offerings and opportunities.

Last year was my first at the Potato Expo so I’m looking forward to being there again. If you’d like to see what last year looked like then check out those photos.

Coverage of the Potato Expo is sponsored by

Coverage of Potato Expo is sponsored by Nufarm

Nufarm, Potato

Bayer Recognizes Growers with Legacy Club

Kelly Marshall January 2, 2017

Stoneville cotton seed is celebrating the history of the south with a special Legacy Club to honor growers averaging more than 1,794 lb/acre of Stoneville seed cotton grown on 20- acres or more. The 1,794 mark was chosen to remember the year Eli Whitney patented the cotton gin.

Those who qualify for membership also have the opportunity to attend a Legacy Club event in their area for a chance to win a Polaris Ranger XP 1000 EPS. Throughout the spring of 2017, entries will be collected and one name will be drawn at random to receive the Ranger.

“In the Legacy Club, we remember our roots,” Wistehuff says. “Both our growers and our Stoneville cotton seed are deeply rooted in the cotton industry, and that history is what our local events will celebrate.”

Stoneville cotton seed must be planted on 100 percent of qualifying acres between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016, and club qualification is open to all 17 cotton-producing states. Growers are encouraged to contact their local Bayer sales rep or agronomic services representative to learn how to sign up, and visit www.Stoneville.com/LegacyClub for more information.

Agribusiness, Bayer, Cotton

ZimmPoll Comes to a Close

Jamie Johansen December 30, 2016

As we say farewell to 2016, we also say goodbye to our ZimmPoll. For the past six years we have brought you a weekly poll on current events and issues impacting agriculture. The first ZimmPoll took place in November 2011 and asked the question, “How do you think agricultural interests will fare in the new Farm Bill?” Since then we have posted 289 ZimmPolls with the most response coming from one posted in June 2011 asking the question, “What do you think of USDA’s proposed GIPSA rule?”

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What 2016 ag news will have most impact on future?”

Reflecting on the top ag news stories in 2016 allows us to take a trip down memory lane. The easy majority winner in this poll didn’t take us back too far in history. The Trump cabinet is still being discussed and that will continue well in to 2017. As we look further into 2017, I am sure we will also continue to discuss upcoming mergers, the autonomous tractor, GMOs, biofuels and the ever-changing farm economy.

Here are the poll results:

New Trump cabinet – 75%
Mergers and acquisitions – 9%
Concept driverless tractors – 0%
GMO labeling – 8%
Higher biofuel levels under RFS – 0%
Farm economy – 8%

Thanks to New Holland for being our ZimmPoll sponsor for six years!

ZimmPoll

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