ZimmComm General Manager First Day

Chuck Zimmerman

MiniZDuring the April NAMA conference we announced the addition of Clint Underwood as General Manager for ZimmComm New Media. Today is his first official day at ZimmComm World Headquarters! Clint and Caitlin (our daughter) have made the move from Missouri to Pensacola, FL. Caitlin will be joining us as our first Office Manager shortly.

Welcoming Clint after all items had been unloaded is MiniZ, our newly adopted zebra. MiniZ couldn’t believe the moving truck showcased a zebra so he had to come out with Cindy and me to pose for a photo.

Clint and Caitlin are in the process of setting up offices this week. We will be working together on a number of projects to help this little company grow to the next level.

ZimmComm Announcement

Farm Bureau Celebrates Supreme Court Victory

Kelly Marshall

AFBFA unanimous Supreme Court ruling was handed down yesterday.  The law of the land says landowners may challenge the federal government and the Army Corps of Engineers over improper regulations designed to protect water.

Landowners have attempted many times to challenge Corps rulings known as jurisdictional determinations, but the government successfully argued that those determinations were not “final agency actions” and the lawsuits were dismissed. Now, when the Corps asserts jurisdiction over low spots that look more like land than water, it will have to do so with the knowledge that its jurisdictional determination can be tested in court.

“Today’s decision removes a huge roadblock that has prevented landowners from obtaining relief from the courts when the Corps illegally claims their land is federally regulated water,” AFBF President Zippy Duvall said. “Now, farmers and ranchers can have their day in court when the government tells them they cannot plow a field or improve a ditch without a federal permit.”

AFBF filed amicus curiae briefs in the lower court and the Supreme Court to support plaintiffs who were represented by the Pacific Legal Foundation in the case of United States Army Corps of Engineers v. Hawkes Co., Inc.

These results say the Supreme Court has recognized designating a landscape feature as a “water of the U.S.” presents dire consequences to the landowner, since a farmer can be fined up to $37,500 a day or even face criminal penalties.  A farmer can also spend hundreds, or even thousands of dollars to receive a permit, only to be denied after several years.

AFBF, Ag Groups, EPA, Water

Culver’s Raises $56,500 to Support Agriculture

Kelly Marshall

inside-culvers-thank-you-farmersCulver’s “Scoops of Thanks Day” on May 5th raised $56,500 by selling more than 48,000 scoops of custard on behalf of agriculture education.  Guests were offered a free scoop of custard for a $1 donation to their FFA or other local agricultural organization.

“Our guests appreciate the hard work farmers put into producing our nation’s food as much as we do,” said David Stidham, vice president of marketing for Culver’s. “We’re glad to be able to set aside a day when the entire Culver’s community can show their gratitude and make a contribution to support the next generation of farmers.”

Scoops of Thanks Day is just one part of Culver’s Thank You Farmers program.  The company has recognized the work and commitment of the people who feed the nation by raising almost one million dollars to support the National FFA Organization and Foundation, local chapters and other ag organizations.

Ag Groups, FFA

Animal Ag Education is Working

Jamie Johansen

Alltech ONEThe control, prevention and eradication of diseases like salmonella, PRRS, E. coli and camppylobacter are all key factors to profitable production. Lance Barton, director of wean to finish and genetic services, Belstra Milling Co. spoke to attendees during a special session at ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference sharing his work with Fair Oaks Farms and how their Pig Adventure focuses on education, training and openness to new ideas.

“We are hoping to be ambassadors the the 99% of the population that don’t know about animal agriculture. We want to show them the evolution of the industry. We want to show how it is good for the animal and for people.”

Lance said of the people who visit Fair Oaks Farms, 98% walk away with positive impressions. The farm focuses on transparency and Lance can’t think of any topic relating to pigs that isn’t discussed with visitors. The topic of farrowing crates creates open dialogue and the public walks aways understanding their purpose.

Agriculture education is important because it works. Research proves that Fair Oaks Farms is impacting people and they are walking away with a better understanding of the entire production process. The farm implements the highest animal welfare standards and truly practices what they preach.

Listen to my complete interview with Lance to learn more about the operation and their plans for the future. Interview with Lance Barton, Belsta Milling Co.

View and download photos from the event here: 2016 ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference Photo Album

Agribusiness, Alltech, Animal Agriculture, Audio, Education, Swine

New Holland’s Brand Marketing Communications Mgr.

Chuck Zimmerman

Francesca VaughnLet’s welcome Francesca Vaughn to the agrimarketing community as the new Brand Marketing Communications Manager for New Holland North America. Francesca will be responsible for overall brand, product segment and channel marketing communications, in addition to management of creative agencies and vendors in North America.

“We’re very excited for the level of expertise which Francesca brings to our organization”, said Chun Woytera, Senior Director of Marketing. “Francesca will lead our team in key initiatives to enrich the New Holland brand in the marketplace and strengthen New Holland’s connection with our diverse dealer network and customers. I’m confident that her creativity and leadership will be a tremendous addition to New Holland.”

“New Holland is an exciting brand and exceptional as the leader of innovative agricultural machinery. This is a great opportunity to heighten visibility and captivation around this brand and to expand its position in the market. I’m thrilled to join this company and to become a part of this team”, said Vaughn.
Francesca Vaughn brings over 15 years’ experience in marketing and communications to New Holland since graduating with a bachelor’s degree in English from Immaculata University. After serving most recently at CertainTeed Corporation as Marketing Communications Manager, her career also includes Marketing Communications and Product Marketing roles at Armstrong World Industries where she developed and executed multifaceted marketing programs and campaigns to promote the companies’ flooring products to retail, dealer and consumer markets.

Agribusiness, New Holland

Blazing Trails Theme for @Better_Seed Meeting

Cindy Zimmerman

asta-2016A trail blazing joint convention of the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) with the Oregon Seed Association this year will highlight the diverse seed industry of the Beaver State.

“Oregon is known as the cool season grass capitol of the world,” says ASTA Chair Risa DeMasi of Grassland Oregon, who will be hosting this year’s meeting. “Over 90 percent of the cool season grasses are produced here in the Willamette Valley. Besides that we’re producing over 220 different crops. We’re extremely diverse.”

asta-risaThe annual meeting will be held in Portland, which is located on the north end of the Willamette Valley, an area of about one million acres of farmland extending 100 miles to the south. The event will include the opportunity for a bus tour to give participants the chance to experience Oregon’s crop diversity first-hand.

DeMasi says the “Blazing Trails” theme of the convention will highlight the unique issues and opportunities facing the industry. “Look at the new technology and innovations that our industry is bringing to the world and affecting everyone’s quality of life, we truly are blazing trails in a number of ways,” she said.

Registration for the 133rd annual ASTA annual convention June 18-22 is still available and Risa encourages everyone in the industry to join us – and check out the new and improved ASTA BetterSeed.org website at the same time.

Interview with Risa DeMasi, ASTA Chair
ASTA, Audio, Seed

Agrievolution Alliance Strengthens Global Industry Support

Kelly Marshall

AgrievolutionThe Agrievolution Alliance is a global network of agricultural equipment manufacturers made up of more than 6,000 member companies.  The group has now announced the newest addition to their ranks, the National Association for Agricultural, Forestry and Landscaping Machinery (ANSEMAT) of Spain.  ANSEMAT represents 63 agriculture equipment manufacturing companies and 124 total companies.  This brings Alliance’s total to 14 equipment organizations from across the globe.

“We look forward to ANSEMAT’s participation in the Alliance as we continue to grow in scope and provide a valuable global voice on behalf of the industry,” said Anita Sennett, director, agriculture product management for the North American-based Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and Alliance Secretariat.  “Our main message to the public and government officials is the essential role of agricultural machinery to improved quality of life and economic gains: advances in mechanization provide the increased productivity and efficiencies that farmers around the world need to feed and clothe the world.”

The addition of ANSEMAT also means more global market data will be available to members through the Agrievolution Statistics Program (ASP).

The program is a 40-year-old global data exchange among 17 companies that earlier this month officially voted in the Alliance as Secretariat to facilitate and help expand the program while receiving data for its members in return. AEM will act as Statistics Secretariat on behalf of the Alliance.

The Agrievolution Statistics Program is open to AEM and Alliance member companies, providing global product-specific market data to those reporting into the program, which currently covers five products: tractors, combines, forage harvesters and two types of hay balers. The program may be expanded in the future to include additional product categories.

Membership in Agrievolution Alliance offers market data, with biannual global sales and outlook reports, global conferences offering market and economic information, and advocacy for the industry.

AEM, Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Equipment

Vets Turn Focus on Soil Health

Lizzy Schultz

one-16-fink Several international experts in animal health and nutrition were present at ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference, where their expert testimony on the solutions to the wide array of challenges facing animal production could be heard by a global audience. Prof. Johanna Fink-Gremmels, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and expert in Veterinary Toxicology who works with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) traveled to the conference from the Netherlands in order to speak to audiences on the future of animal health, which she believes must begin to become more holistic.

“When we have previously talked about the food chain, we have always been talking about food security and food safety, but as we are being confronted with antimicrobial resistance as one of the biggest global challenges facing our world, we have to find additional means and tools to analyze it and to stop it,” said Dr. Fink-Gremmels during an interview at the conference. “And in the frame of these activities, we are beginning to look into the food chain and having a one health approach, where we focus on caring for people, as well as having another view of animal production and a focus on the environment.”

Dr. Fink-Gremmels discussed this one health approach in her special session during the conference, titled “A Holistic View of the Food Chain.” She discussed the future role of veterinarians in finding solutions to problems like antibiotic resistance, and that many of these solutions may easily be found within our soil.

“I’m talking this week about the link between animal production, antimicrobial resistance, and people, which is the environment, and my message lies behind using the soil to help take care of all of these things, so we don’t only have healthy people and animals, but happy people and animals,” she said.

Listen to Lizzy’s full interview with Dr. Fink-Gremmels here
Interview with Dr. Johanna Fink-Gremmels, EFSA

View and download photos from the event here:2016 ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference Photo Album

Ag Groups, Alltech, Animal Health, Audio, International, Soil, Veterinary

China – #ONEBigIdea for Beef

Jamie Johansen

one-alltech-16-275The industry of agriculture has an international consumer base, and so many agribusiness professionals are looking into the international opportunities available within their sector and their business. Ian Lahiffe, New Business Development Director for Alltech China hosted several special sessions during ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference, to discuss the opportunities that exist within the country of China, especially for the beef industry.

China’s consumption of beef is increasing at an incredible rate compared to the stagnant rate of beef consumption currently seen in America and Europe, yet 0.5 percent of the beef consumed in China is produced domestically. The U.S. does not currently have access to export beef to China, but Lahiffe believes that the international respect U.S. branded beef currently holds would make the products incredibly marketable in China should access to the country eventually be granted.

“Within ten years, per capita beef consumption could double, which means that they would need an extra seven million tons of beef per year,” said Lahiffe in an interview during the ONE conference. “What other market is there with that kind of latent consumption? It could become our largest market if we are able to gain access to export our products there.”

In the meantime, Alltech is doing a significant amount of work with the Chinese beef industry, with hopes to help improve and increase their domestic production and build a healthy, sustainable beef sector within the country.

“China’s beef sector isn’t on a large scale yet, they’re struggling with financing and the areas of animal nutrition and health, so we have a strong presence over there right now, we’re offering them a lot of support.” said Lahiffe. “We’re building a beef farming institute to train the future beef farmers of the industry, and we also recently brought a group of 20 Chinese beef farmers to Amarillo, Texas, to see the beef sector there.”

Listen to Lizzy’s full interview with Ian here:
Interview with Ian Lahiffe, Alltech China

View and download photos from the event here: 2016 ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference Photo Album

Agribusiness, Alltech, Audio, Beef, International

Research Says Americans Prefer Hot Dogs On The Grill

Jamie Johansen

hot dogNew research commissioned by the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (NHDSC) suggests that Americans prefer their dogs straight off the grill. Of the 90% of Americans who say they prepare hot dogs, 63% say grilling is their favorite way to cook a hot dog. Other cooking methods included steaming (12%), microwaving (9%) or frying in a pan (8%).

NHDSC estimates that Americans will consume more than seven billion hot dogs between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day. That is a lot of hot dogs. Since today is Memorial Day. The count has begun and I am sure many of us have already added to that number.

“Hot dogs are the staple of an American summer,” said NHDSC President Eric Mittenthal. “The smell of a hot dog cooking on the grill awakens us from the soggy spring doldrums and arouses joyful memories, as well as a growling stomach.”

The research was conducted online in May 2016 among more than 2,000 U.S. adults ages 18 and older by Harris Poll for the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (NHDSC).

While Americans are most likely to grill a hot dog, the research also finds that many people prefer to enjoy it inside their home with 34 percent of hot dog eaters saying that’s their favorite place to eat a hot dog, Twenty-two percent prefer eating hot dogs in their backyard, while 19 percent most enjoy their hot dogs while tailgating or inside a sporting event. Thirteen percent of hot dog eaters say they are best enjoyed at a picnic.

“Home is where the heart is, so it’s no surprise that Americans are primarily enjoying hot dogs at home,” said Mittenthal. “No matter where they eat one, we know it is with a smile on their face.”

Ag Groups, Food