Re-energizing The @OfficialNAMA Brand

Chuck Zimmerman

NAMAThe National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) brand is getting re-energized thanks to a fresh look at the organization’s mission, especially why it exists and membership value. Sounds very logical for an organization of members involved in agricultural marketing!

Here’s are NAMA’s key pillars:

  • Focus on agriculture
  • Agri-marketing education that increases skills
  • Connections that advance careers
  • Student involvement that secures the future

Here is the brand promise:

We are leaders in agri-marketing, connecting brands, agencies, publishers, media companies, students, business leadership, faculty, sponsors and exhibitors through interactive and engaging experiences that increase knowledge, recognize achievement and build relationships, to ensure personal and industry growth.

NAMA plans for regular fresh information that will be posted across all channels. Below is a video that was just published during the NAMA Fall Conference about the Agri-Business Education Foundation (ABEF).


NAMA, Video

FMC Creating More Minutes

Chuck Zimmerman

FMC MinuteWe’ve got our minutes back. As in The Minute, brought to you by FMC.

FMC Corporation will produce 12 new episodes of The Minute to help growers prepare for the 2017 season. The Minute series is designed to provide growers and retailers timely information about current agronomic issues impacting their businesses.

“Our host, Jake Turner, is back traveling the country, talking with industry experts and growers about best practices, new technologies and emerging trends,” said Aaron Locker, FMC marketing director. “Growers have told us how much they enjoy The Minute, and we are pleased to bring it back with new information and ideas to help them prosper.”

For every new episode posted to http://www.fmcminute.com, five winners will receive a $100 Visa® gift card. Registered viewers of The Minute by FMC are automatically entered to win each time they view an episode.

Here’s what you’ll find in the first new episode now online:

Creating an optimal yield environment for your corn takes a combination of modern genetics, crop protection products and fertilizers. Host, Jake Turner, and Dr. Fred Below, a crop physiologist at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, discuss how a strong start is key to achieving high yields.


Agribusiness, FMC, Video

+3,500 Commercial Drones Showcased InterDrone 2016

Jamie Johansen

interdrone16-expohallBZ Media LLC’s InterDrone™ The International Drone Conference & Exposition, held at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas Sept 7-9, drew 3,518 attendees from 54 different countries on 6 continents. The event featured 155 exhibitors and sponsors in more than 230 booths. FAA Administrator Michael P. Huerta gave the Grand Opening Keynote speech to thousands gathered on the first day.

“The second year of InterDrone leapt over every high bar that the first show had set,” said Ted Bahr, Chairman of InterDrone. “Its success reflects the exciting growth in the commercial drone market and the strong desire of businesses to take part in it. Attendance grew 26% and we had 58% more exhibitors and sponsors than last year. More than 260 media and association partners have helped build InterDrone into the largest dedicated commercial UAV event in the world.”

“InterDrone 2016 took Vegas by storm. Enthusiasts from every state and over 50 countries gathered together to geek out over the latest products and services. I found myself mesmerized,” said Nathan Tennant, a Blogger and Instructor with UAV Ground School. Anthony Merlino, CEO, Verge Aero added, “We heard such great feedback on the opening day, we literally bought plane tickets and flew across the country to be here for the final days!”

Exhibitors and sponsors included a cross section of the entire commercial drone industry including AeroVironment, PrecisionHawk, Yuneec, Intel, SenseFly, Insitu, Parrot, NovaTel, 3D Robotics, eHang, Autel, AUVSI, Hubsan, C-Astral, Brother, Airbus, SlantRange, Kodak, Flir, Parrot, AEGis Technologies, Sentera, and pavilions from Iowa, North Dakota and Nevada.

“InterDrone has been a great show for us. Traffic has been really good. The people who were coming by were knowledgeable and asking great questions. We feel like the show definitely paid for itself and we’ll be back in 2017,” said Adam Sloane, Founder, BirdsEyeView Aerobotics. John Ferguson, CEO of Saxon Remote Systems added, “Our staff was absolutely exhausted. There were nine of us working the booth and not one person had five minutes to sit down the entire show. The traffic was overwhelming. We were definitely making sales, getting tremendous contacts and generating a lot of interest.”

Sally French, Columnist, Wall Street Journal and Founder, DroneGirl called it a “great conference!” And Alan Phillips, Publisher, DroneLife said it was “A great show for us. InterDrone has become the CES for the new drone economy.”

“I have never seen an event with more buzz and energy, and I have been to them all,” said Mark Barker, Director of Business Development, NIAS-UAS.

Enrico Schaefer, Managing Partner, Traverse Legal said, “The turnout was insane. The response to our products and services was way beyond what we expected. We go to a lot of shows but this is THE show that people need to come to if you are in the Commercial UAV market. Where do we sign up for 2017?”

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Agribusiness, Technology

Bill Would Help Grow Urban Farming

Cindy Zimmerman

urban-ag-wikiSenate Agriculture Committee ranking member Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) this week introduced the Urban Agriculture Act of 2016 to “addresses the unique needs of urban farmers by investing new resources and increasing flexibility through existing programs administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).”

Senator Stabenow announced her legislation Monday during a press conference at D-Town Farm in Detroit. “Urban agriculture is steadily growing in cities and towns across Michigan and across our country, creating new economic opportunities and safer, healthier environments,” said Senator Stabenow. “The Urban Agriculture Act will continue this momentum by helping urban farmers get started or expand their business, so they can sell more products and supply more healthy food for their neighbors.”

American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) president Zippy Duvall said the legislation would help urban farmers by providing them with the technology and tools to succeed. “As an organization that supports farmers of all sizes, commodities and production systems, Farm Bureau believes this legislation will build a stronger bond among all farmers—rural, suburban and urban,” said Duvall. “It’s exciting that more Americans want to become farmers… Farm Bureau looks forward to being a partner in those efforts.”

The legislation would provide support for urban farmers in a variety of ways through USDA, such as helping to develop farm cooperatives in urban areas, making it easier for urban farms to apply for USDA farm programs and assists producers with information on operating rooftop and vertical farms and investing $10 million for cutting-edge research to explore market opportunities for urban agriculture and develop new technologies for lowering energy and water needs.

AFBF, Farming, Food

It’s Time for #CFWF16 in Saskatoon

Chuck Zimmerman

Canadian Farm Writers FederationI’ll be traveling with Case IH this week to attend the 2016 Canadian Farm Writers Federation Conference. This year we will be in Saskatoon. It’s another Canadian place I’ve never been. This annual conference has been a great way to see parts of Canada I’ve never had a chance to visit. And I have made lots of good friends as well. Tours are going to be fun, including one on bicycles. The conference hashtag is #CFWF16.

Tour options include a bike tour around the University of Saskatchewan, a bus tour looking at big business on a small land base, plus a second bus tour exploring farm businesses on a big land base. The conference also includes a pre-tour on Thursday, a slate of interesting speakers at Saturday’s PD day and an awards banquet Saturday evening. See you in Saskatoon!

Coverage of the Canadian Farm Writers Federation 2016 Conference is sponsored by
Coverage of the Canadian Farm Writers Federation 2016 Conference is sponsored by Case IH
Case IH, International, Media

Zimfo Bytes

Lizzy Schultz

Zimfo Bytes

  • The National Farmers Union (NFU) General Counsel and Vice President of International Relations Dave Velde represented the world’s farmers during high-level meeting of the United Nations (U.N.) earlier this month to discuss global antibiotic resistance, which concluded with all 193 U.N. member countries adopting a declaration to fight antibiotic resistance and reduce the use of the drugs in agriculture and human medicine.
  • Bad Boy Off Road, a Textron Specialized Vehicles brand, acted as the title sponsor at New Hampshire Motor Speedway’s upcoming NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race Sept. 25 in Loudon, N.H.
  • Verdesian Life Sciences recently announced that its board of directors has named Kenneth M. Avery chief executive officer effective Monday, September 19.
Zimfo Bytes

Pearse Lyons Accelerator Seeking Entrepreneurs

Kelly Marshall

Alltech Founder and President, Dr. Pearse Lyons presents during the Alltech 30th Annual International Symposium in Lexington, Kentucky.

Alltech Founder and President, Dr. Pearse Lyons presents during the Alltech 30th Annual International Symposium in Lexington, Kentucky.

The Pearse Lyons Accelerator is now accepting applications for its inaugural term.  The progarm is looking for food and agribusiness innovators with a proven technology that is ready for market.  Selected participants will be part of a three-month intensive boot camp that offers market opportunities to allow entrepreneurs to develop their agribusiness plans.

Chosen innovators will present at ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference in Lexington, Kentucky.  This is an chance to share their innovations with more than 3,000 attendees, representing nearly 80 countries.

With plenty of opportunities existing today in agriculture, farmers and producers need to be able to make decisions more accurately and scientifically with the help of ag-tech and big data. The program seeks game changers in the ag industry and opens today for applications. Following a selection process, successful applicants will commence the program in January 2017.

In addition to the conference experience, Alltech is also investing $10 million USD in the program.  Funds will go to support the boot camp, run by Aidan Connolly, chief innovation officer at Alltech.

“Entrepreneurs have the potential to discover solutions today to meet the challenges of tomorrow,” said Connolly. “The Pearse Lyons Accelerator aims to discover the brightest ideas in agriculture, food and technology, and we want these future ag-tech entrepreneurs to be fully equipped to develop successful, sustainable businesses. Alltech is one of the few truly global companies positioned to assist in opening doors, such as routes to market and worldwide market access.”

Alltech is already knows as a leader in innovation for animal health and nutrition.  Now the organization hopes to position itself to be a leader in investments for food and agribusiness as well.

“Thirty-six years ago, I founded Alltech in my home with just $10,000 in my pocket, and that investment has grown into an international business of over $2 billion,” said Dr. Pearse Lyons, founder and president of Alltech. “Alltech’s roots are in entrepreneurial innovation, and it’s an exciting time to be in agriculture. Some of the recent ag-tech applications on-farm today include automation, drones, soil sensors and big data. What next? Personally, I am looking forward to supporting and empowering rising entrepreneurs in making tomorrow’s innovations a reality.”

Agribusiness, Alltech

Candidates Give Views on #Ag Issues

Cindy Zimmerman

clinton-trumpWhile the candidates may weigh in during tonight’s debate on issues such as immigration and trade, which are important to agriculture, it’s not likely they will address topics such as the farm bill and biotechnology.

So, the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) went to both nominees and asked them the same questions on a number of issues that concern farmers and ranchers and the responses are being posted in the organization’s digital newsletter FBNews. In the first responses posted last week, both candidates explained their positions on regulatory reform; the Clean Water, Clean Air and Endangered Species Acts; and the farm bill, biotechnology, and food safety.

“The fact that the candidates took the time in the middle of this very competitive election season to go into such detail in their responses says a lot about the importance of these issues and the farmers and ranchers who care about them,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. While AFBF cannot endorse or support a political candidate, the organization is providing the candidates’ positions to inform Farm Bureau members and others.

The Trump campaign responses to the issues are in first person, while the Clinton camp took a third person approach. For example, in response to the question about the Clean Water Act – What would you do as president to ensure that the EPA acts within the bounds of the Clean Water Act?

Trump Response: “First, I will appoint a pro-farmer Administrator of EPA. Next, I will eliminate the unconstitutional “Waters of the US” rule, and will direct the Army Corps of Engineers and EPA to no longer use this unlawful rule and related guidance documents in making jurisdictional determinations.”

Clinton Response: “The Clean Water Act not only stemmed these environmental disasters but helped to reverse course and restore healthy swimmable and fishable waters for all Americans to enjoy. As president, Hillary will continue this legacy. She will work to ensure waters are safe and protected, will maintain the longstanding exemptions for common farming practices, and will continue pushing for clarity within the law.”

The candidates’ opinions on Immigration, International Trade and TPP, and Energy will be posted this week.

AFBF, politics

Monsanto Invests $1.6 Million in Carbon Smart Research

Kelly Marshall

monsantoMonsanto has announced they will be supporting the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and its Soil Health Partnership (SHP)‘s efforts with a $1.6 million investment.  NCGA was recently awarded $1 million dollars from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) to help farmers find better solutions for reducing climate change.  Monsanto’s contribution will provide expertise, tools and resources to help verify and qualify greenhouse gas reductions from carbon smart farming practices.

“Climate change is a global challenge facing the entire planet and agriculture has the opportunity to be a huge part of the solution. We’re honored to be partnering with NCGA and the SHP on this grant from USDA-NRCS. Together, we can bring focus and resources to help identify ways that modern agriculture helps drive sustainability,” said Brett Begemann, Monsanto President and Chief Operating Officer. “We look forward to continued collaboration with farmers and forward-thinking industry partners who are leading the way in making greenhouse gas reduction a reality on the farm.”

Monsanto, in conjunction with the CIG project partners (NCGA, AgSolver, Applied GeoSolutions, DNDC-ART, Climate Smart Group and CropGrowers) will develop a framework that draws on existing greenhouse gas modeling science, emerging verification technologies (satellite data), and proven precision business planning methods to drive adoption of conservation practices and validate that farmers are helping achieve greenhouse gas reductions.

“To significantly scale up greenhouse gas mitigation practices, a sustainable agriculture systems approach is needed that is simpler and more cost-effective for the farmer,” said Michael Lohuis, Ph.D., Monsanto’s Director of Ag Environmental Strategy. “The system being developed will help remove barriers to confirming adoption of best practices and to quantify the benefits these innovative farm practices can have to air, soil and water quality.”

Monsanto has committed to making its own operations carbon neutral by 2021 and works with farmers around the world to encourage best farming practices.  You can read more about their efforts to reduce greenhouse gasses in the “Charting a Path to Carbon Neutral Agriculture: Mitigation Potential for Crop Based Strategies” report.

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Environment, NCGA

Get Consumer Marketing Inspiration for Ag Marketing Success

Chuck Zimmerman

Stacie MarshallOne of the breakout sessions during the NAMA Fall Conference was a presentation by Stacie Marshall, Bayer CropScience. The session title was “Working Together to Help Growers: What Agriculture Can Learn From Consumer Marketing.”

Stacie started out by dispelling some myths about farmers that she has heard, even from people involved in agricultural marketing. For example, some people still believe that farmers are not very tech savvy. Also, that they aren’t online very much. I still hear this myself, along with the notion that farmers don’t use mobile technology and are certainly not involved with social media. It’s just not true.

Stacie uses some examples to help dispel these myths. For example, there has been a lot of buzz about self driving cars but farmers have been dealing with gps control for steering for quite some time. Another great example is that Google searches for ag related terms (mostly technical) are up 2,000 percent in the last year.

Another take away from Stacie’s presentation is that we shouldn’t think of digital as a separate channel. She says we should think of digital, television, magazines not as channels but all in the same light as behaviors because they are things we do to get information. And of course we are seeing a change in the age demographics with younger farmers who have grown up using digital technology. We also need to look at consumer marketing and get inspiration from it because farmers are consumers. I can’t agree more.

You can listen to my interview with Stacie here: Interview with Stacie Marshall, Bayer

2016 NAMA Fall Conference Photo Album

Audio, Bayer, NAMA