Apply for Alltech’s Corporate Career Development Program

Jamie Johansen August 16, 2016

The 5th annual Alltech Corporate Career Development Program seeks to recruit 12 recent recent bachelor’s and master’s degree graduates. Alltech invites graduates who wish to develop skills in science, veterinary science, biotechnology, information technology, marketing and finance to apply during the window of Aug. 15–Sept. 30. The program will commence in February for the 2017 group.

Alltech aims to develop future leaders within the agriculture industry and values long-term talent development through the Alltech Corporate Career Development Program, which started in 2012. This program was designed specifically by Dr. Aoife Lyons, Director of Educational Engagement at Alltech. Education, development and engagement are fundamental to the culture of Alltech, now one of the top five animal health companies in the world.

“This is a life-changing opportunity for recent graduates to interact with colleagues from other countries, develop both their technical and interpersonal skills, and share innovative ideas,” said Dr. Lyons.

“Previous Career Development Program members have worked in a variety of areas, including internal auditing for Latin America and marketing and event promotion for ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference, an annual symposium with more than 3,000 global attendees,” she continued. “We strive to match successful applicants’ interests with Alltech’s global needs.”

The 12-month, salaried, full-time mentorship program will begin with an intensive three-month training period at Alltech’s global headquarters in Nicholasville, Kentucky, USA, where graduates will study topics including sustainable energy, communications, marketing and international business. Afterward, they will continue training and development while simultaneously managing key company projects in one of the company’s global offices, guided and mentored by senior management.

Agribusiness, Alltech, Education

ZimmCast with RFA at Sturgis

Cindy Zimmerman August 16, 2016

We’ve been going to the famous Sturgis Motorcycle Rally to help the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) promote ethanol to bikers for six of the last eight years. This year was the 76th rally and the 35th anniversary of the Legendary Buffalo Chip Campground, which is home to many of the half million bikers who attend each year.

RFA board members Chuck Woodside and Dana Lewis chat with bikers getting free 10% ethanol fuel

This year, two RFA board members took part in the ethanol educational promotion that includes “Free Fuel Happy Hours” – providing bikers with a free tank of 10% ethanol blended fuel and a t-shirt, as well as answers to any questions they might have about ethanol. Dana Siefkes-Lewis of Redfield Energy in South Dakota and Chuck Woodside of KAAPA Ethanol in Nebraska joined RFA Vice President of Industry Relations Robert White at the event and we have comments from all of them in this edition of the ZimmCast.

Learn more in this week’s program: ZimmCast from 2016 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally with RFA

RFA at 2016 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Photo Album

Subscribe to the ZimmCast podcast here.

The ZimmCast

sponsored by

Locally owned, globally strong.

Audio, Ethanol, RFA, ZimmCast

Year Two of LibertyLink #RealYield Sweepstakes

Jamie Johansen August 15, 2016

The 1st annual Bayer Showcase Plot Tours are underway across the country delivering diverse solutions and expertise for many pressing crop challenges. Athens, Illinois was home to one stop where I got to chat with Bayer’s Daren Bohannan to learn more about Bayer’s LibertyLink Real Yield Sweepstakes which is in it’s second year.

Growers have the chance to win up to 500 acres of the LibertyLink system for either cotton or soybeans with the 2016 Liberty Link Real Yield Sweepstakes. There will also chances to win 200 acres of the LibertyLink system for cotton and soybeans monthly. Two winners will be drawn each month through December. Once again, state FFA will have the chance to compete for dollars to support their organizations.

Growers can participate in the Sweepstakes by attending one of the Bayer Showcase Plot Tours, or by visiting RealYieldSweepstakes.com and entering their information. Six cotton growers and six soy growers will win 200 acres of LibertyLink, and one lucky winner will win 500 acres of LibertyLink for the crop of their choice.

More Showcase Days include:
Sparta, IL – August 16
Pikeville, NC – August 30
Troy, OH – September 8
Stockbridge, MI – September 13

Listen to my complete interview Daren to learn even more about the 2016 LibertyLink Real Yield Sweepstakes. Interview with Daren Bohannan, Bayer

View and download photos from the plot tours here: Bayer Showcase Days Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Bayer, Cotton, Soybean

3rd Party Developer Integrations for @JohnDeere Have Tripled

Chuck Zimmerman August 15, 2016

The Operations Center of MyJohnDeere.com has become increasingly beneficial to customers with the growth in third party application developers who have integrated their software via APIs. This allows for more seamless connectivity of data into the Operations Center that can be shared out to other platforms and software. Many of these companies have attended the annual John Deere Developers Conference which I plan to attend again this year.

During the 2016 InfoAg Conference I talked with Kevin Krieg, Partner Integrations – Software Segment Manager, John Deere. Kevin describes how the John Deere Operations Center allows data to be acquired in the field and become available to a whoever the farmer wants to share that data with in a matter of minutes. This includes having the data integrate with a third party developer’s software system. This could be shared with a banker, consultant, agronomist or just back to his office. Kevin says the number of developers with integrations has tripled in the last year. Companies who are interested in creating an application that will work with John Deere’s APIs just need to go to the John Deere Developer website.

Listen to my interview with Kevin to learn more: Interview with Kevin Krieg, John Deere

2016 ICPA/InfoAg Photo Album

Coverage of the InfoAg Conference is sponsored by

Agribusiness, Audio, Info Ag, John Deere, Precision Agriculture

GIS Tech is @Esri Specialty

Cindy Zimmerman August 15, 2016

At the recent 2016 InfoAg Conference we had the chance to learn about Esri, a software company that allows growers to integrate high-resolution imagery, field observations, and real-time data feeds to help growers manage their land more efficiently with GIS technology.

Charlie Magruder, Agriculture Lead for Esri, explained some of the unique benefits that technology is offering growers.

“What we allow an organization in agriculture to do is take and form tasks that they might want to do, whether it’s backing up database management or precision agriculture activities or tasks related to field management, we have the ability to offer that as a solution that is completely tailored to your needs and wants and is deployed in any way that you want,” said Magruder. “We have a set of tools that can be as easily deployed as downloading an app.”

Learn more about Esri in this interview. Interview with Charlie Magruder, Esri

View and download photos from the event here: 2016 ICPA/InfoAg Photo Album

Coverage of the InfoAg Conference is sponsored by

Audio, Info Ag, Precision Agriculture, Technology

Farmers’ Almanac Releases 200th Collector’s Edition

Kelly Marshall August 15, 2016

Somethings never go out of style, which is why Farmers’ Alamanac is publishing a special edition of its 2017 anniverstay edition. The 200th edition is a throwback, featuring a mix of weather, astronomy, humor, and life-hacks, along with the greatly anticipated winter forecast.

The special collector’s edition takes a look back at 200 editions worth of clever, forward-thinking, and occasionally crazy “Almanackey” tips and advice, including Advice to Girls (1876) about playing hard to get; The Power of Sunshine (1869), which is relevant today; and How to Quiet a Fussy Child (1878) that involves molasses and feathers (really!).

“What’s really fascinating is a look into how the world has changed, yet how it’s stayed the same,” says Managing Editor Sandi Duncan, Philom., “Some of the healthy tips are eerily appropriate – from warning off tobacco habits (1834), to limiting intake of sugary, greasy foods (1873). The 2017 Farmers’ Almanac truly rewards the curious reader.”

The famous long-rage weather prediction is based on an almost 200 century-old formula, and the upcoming season is described as the “Return of the Ice Cold Winter.” The Almanac predicts colder-than-normal temperatures for two-thirds of the nation, especially in the Northern Palins, Great Lakes, Midwest, Ohio Valley, Middle Atlantic, Northeast and New England states. The Western U.S., however, can expect milder than normal conditions.

“February is the month to really be ready for cold conditions,” warns Editor Peter Geiger, Philom., “according to our long-range outlook, many places will see downright frigid temperatures this month, some as low as 40 degrees below zero!”

Anyone else thinking “snow bird?”

The Almanac also contains all the traditional favorites, including details about the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse.

“Accurate long-range weather is what people associate with the Farmers’ Almanac, says Geiger. “Yet, from the start, it has grown into a manual of sorts that can help people live healthier lives. It has been a guide to good living no matter what is going in the outside world.”

Uncategorized

Looking Ahead to 2017 IFAJ Congress

Chuck Zimmerman August 12, 2016

Pre-promotion for the 2017 Congress of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists is moving quicker than normal. That’s because the Congress will be in South Africa April 2-7 next year. The Congress website will be live soon

The congress will start just north of Pretoria at Kievit’s Kroon on 2 April 2017 in Gauteng with newsworthy and informative discussions and presentations that should spark debate and enlighten journalists on pressing issues in the South African agricultural sector.This will be followed by tours in the northern summer rainfall area where the focus will be on game farming,crop production and cattle ranching. South Africa has 9 600 private game ranches on 20,5 million ha.Maize, soya beans and sunflower is produced in higher rainfall areas, whilst stock farming can be found in the more arid bushveld region as well as in mixed operations across the region.The second part of the congress will be organised in the Western Cape’s winter rainfall area where the focus will be on wine,citrus and deciduous fruit production.The congress will conclude on the Friday evening with a formal dinner.

I still have some stories to share from this year’s Congress in Germany but look forward to this opportunity to expand my horizons and knowledge next year. I hope you’ll consider coming along.

IFAJ, International, Media

Record #Corn and #Soybean Crop Forecast

Cindy Zimmerman August 12, 2016

USDA’s first crop production forecast based on actual field data is predicting some bin-busting crops this year.

Corn production is forecast at 15.2 billion bushels, up 11 percent from last year. Based on conditions as of August 1, yields are expected to average 175.1 bushels per acre, up 6.7 bushels from 2015. If realized, this will be the highest yield and production on record for the United States. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 86.6 million acres, unchanged from the June forecast, but up 7 percent from 2015.

Soybean production is forecast at a record 4.06 billion bushels, up 3 percent from last year. Based on August 1 conditions, yields are expected to average a record 48.9 bushels per acre, up 0.9 bushel from last year. Area for harvest in the United States is forecast at a record 83.0 million acres, unchanged from the June forecast but up 1 percent from 2015. Planted area for the nation is estimated at a record 83.7 million acres, also unchanged from June.

Cotton and wheat production, while not records, are also forecast to be higher than last year by 23% and 13% respectively.

Mike Krueger of The Money Farm gave his insights into the new report during the MGEX crop conference call on Friday. Listen to it here: MGEX 8-12 Crop Report Call

Audio, Corn, Soybean, USDA

Bayer’s Showcase Plot Tour Offers Real-Life Education

Kelly Marshall August 12, 2016

Daren Bohannan is a Technical Development Representative for Bayer and he took some time to talk with AgWired’s Jamie Johansen about Bayer’s first annual Showcase Plot Tours in central Illinois. The tours allow growers and retailers to get out in the field and see Bayer’s products in action. They’ve got everything from seed treatments and herbicides, to the Liberty Link system and the whole line up of Credenz on display.

“It’s an educational process, not just a sales pitch for our products,” Bohannan explains. “And actually how to use them right and incorporation with other companies products, because we don’t have a portfolio that covers everything that a grower might need, so we’re always trying to work together on that type of situation.”

Bohannan also spoke with Jamie about Sudden Death Syndrome and Bayer’s ground-breaking treatment designed to suppress and control the pathogen that causes SDS. “We’ve seen tremendous benefit to growers in the last two years,” he says.

Learn more about the Showcase Plot Tours in Jamie’s interview: Interview with Daren Bohannan, Bayer

Bayer Showcase Days Photo Album

Agribusiness, Bayer, Events

NCGA Leaders Learn New Skills

Kelly Marshall August 12, 2016

This week marked the inaugural meeting of NCGA’s 2016 Leadership Academy. Eighteen aspiring leaders met in Greensboro, North Carolina for a session sponsored by Syngenta. They are part of more than 500 participants of this program over the last 30 years.

The meeting included a talk from NCGA First Vice President Wesley Spurlock, a Leadership Academy alumnus. He offered the group some insights on the issues facing corn growers today. Participants also had the opportunity for media training, public speaking exercises and management skill building. Futurist Bob Treadway presented a look at the economic forecast and possible future impact of the industry. Members also received training in personalities and their impact on interaction and tools for working together effectively.

“As a Leadership Academy graduate, I have a deep appreciation for the confidence and skills attendees develop in such a short time,” Spurlock said. “The Syngenta speakers, as well as the many outside experts brought in, have an incredible ability to hone in on precisely what will be most beneficial for our participants.

“As NCGA’s First Vice President, I am excited to see new leaders who want to take on an active role in the association. When these volunteers come together, you can feel their commitment to the industry. It is heartening to know that such strong farmer leaders will carry on our mission well into the future.”

This year’s Leadership at Its Best Class includes: Duane Aistrope (Iowa); Jayne Dalton (Wis.); Sarah Delbecq (Ind.); Deb Gangwish (Neb.); Patricia Geerdes (Minn.); Jeff Gormong (Ind.); Brent Hoerr (Mo.); Mike Lefever (Colo.); William Leigh (Ill.); Stacy Mayo (Kan.); Lawrence Onweller (Ohio); Mark Recker (Iowa.); Betty Skunes (N.D); Randall Small (Kan.); Clint Stephens (Mo.); Roger Sy (Ill.); Scott Winslow (Minn.); and Josh Yoder (Ohio).

Open to all NCGA membership, Leadership at Its Best provides training to interested volunteers of all skill levels. The second session, which will be held this March in Washington, addresses public policy issues, working with the Hill and parliamentary procedure. Through this program, participants build the skill set needed to become a more confident public speaker with a solid background in the procedures and processes used by NCGA and many state organizations.

NCGA and Syngenta have been helping train leaders since 1986. All participants are registered members of NCGA.

Ag Groups, NCGA

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