Monsanto Increases Earnings and R&D

Cindy Zimmerman

The first quarter of fiscal year 2017 has been a good one for Monsanto as the company continues working with Bayer to finalize the acquisition deal by then end of this calendar year.

On Thursday, Monsanto announced net sales for the first quarter totaled $2.7 billion compared to $2.2 billion a year ago and gross profit increased to $1.3 billion. In addition, the company reported its R&D pipeline has delivered more than 20 advancements for fourth consecutive year with a record 14 projects advancing to launch.

“Our research is aimed at improving farmer or grower productivity,” said Monsanto Chief Technology Officer Dr. Robb Fraley during a press conference unveiling of more than 35 projects in Monsanto’s The Climate Corporation pipeline. “Going forward, we believe we have a greater opportunity to accelerate innovation, optimize integrated solutions and expand offerings through our combination with Bayer.”

Listen to the Climate Corporation press conference here: Monsanto/Climate Corporation R&D Pipeline

Audio, Bayer

USFRA Introduces SMART Farm at CES

Cindy Zimmerman

USFRA chair Brad Greenway at CES

The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance® (USFRA) this week attended CES, the largest consumer electronics show in the world, to introduce the SMART Farm concept to connect technology and innovation with farmers and ranchers.

“Science and technology are embraced by consumers in all aspects of their lives,” said Brad Greenway, USFRA Chairman and South Dakota crop and pig farmer. “We want to demonstrate that farmers and ranchers are using similar technology to produce food in a way that is good for the soil, air, habitat and water on and around our farms and ranches – without compromise on cost, quality or taste.”

USFRA will incorporate programs and activities to demonstrate SMART Farming practices and showcase them to the non-farming public.

USFRA

Welcome to #PotatoExpo from @NufarmUS

Cindy Zimmerman

The 2017 Potato Expo is underway in San Francisco with more than 180 exhibitors at the trade show with the latest products and technology for the potato industry.

Nufarm seed treatment specialist Evan Carlisle says they are showcasing four products at the show this year. “We have three fungicides and one insecticide for seed treatments for potatoes,” said Carlisle. “I think we can offer the grower the right prescription for their needs.”

We’ll be sharing lots more audio and photos from Potato Expo over the next week, thanks to Nufarm making that possible.

Learn more about Nufarm’s products for potato growers: Interview from Potato Expo with Evan Carlisle, Nufarm

Photo album
2017 Potato Expo photos

Coverage of the Potato Expo is sponsored by Coverage of Potato Expo is sponsored by Nufarm
Audio, Fungicide, Nufarm, Potato

Alltech and O+B Partner for ONE

Cindy Zimmerman

Alltech is teaming up with Osborn Barr (O+B) to make ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference even bigger.

O+B will be working with Alltech to increase participation by U.S. livestock producers and farmers in the conference which invites agriculture professionals from across the globe to discuss new ways to make a long-term positive impact on the food production industry.

“We are thrilled to work with a forward-thinking and dedicated company like Alltech,” said Rhonda Ries, president of O+B. “They are an ideal client as our agency’s background is deeply rooted in the agriculture industry and much of our experience is helping companies like Alltech succeed.” O+B will work with Alltech’s internal marketing team to develop content, creative assets and a strategic communications campaign ahead of the conference.

We’re looking forward to the ONE conference coming up May 21-24, 2017 in Lexington, Kentucky. We have been attending this event since 2007 and it has just gotten better every year!

Agencies, Alltech

Ag Interests Voice Support for Pruitt

Cindy Zimmerman

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

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

ZimmCast 532As 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

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Rodeo, ZimmCast

Purple Plow Promotes STEM Learning

Cindy Zimmerman

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

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

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