Book Review & Contest – Combines with Casey & Friends

Joanna Schroeder

There is a new strategy this year for “Black Friday” that I’m coining “StayFriday” where one does his/her holiday shopping from home. And today I’m offering up a great gift idea that you can purchase online for the little ones in your life: “Combines” written by Holly DuFek and illustrated by Paul E. Nunn. What better way to review a book then try it out on an adorable four-year old child named Keaton Dicks? Alas, there is none.

Keaton Dicks

Book reviewer Keaton Dicks of Des Moines, IA takes “Combines” for a test drive.

We sat down to read Combines and while he loved the pictures, Keaton soon lost interest in the story. Why? Because I discovered it was a bit too difficult for him at his age. The well-illustrated story kicks off with farm girl Casey who talks about her love of farming. Along with her Case IH friends such as Bailey the Bailer, Kellie the Combine and Cody the Combine (Keaton’s favorite) she tells the story of the fall harvest and the evolution of the equipment used not only to harvest the crops, but grow the crops. Combines has some neat facts and fun games too. While the publisher recommends the book for ages 4-8, my recommendation is to purchase this book for children, both boys and girls, ages 6+.

As a bonus, Keaton and I read, “Casey’s Bright Red Christmas” and he really enjoyed this book. It’s the day before Christmas and Casey comes down with a bad cold. Under the leadership of her friend Tillus the worm, he and her friends put together a great Christmas celebration. In one scene they make cute Christmas tree cookies, which really got Keaton’s interest, and the recipe is included. This book is more suited to younger kids 3+.

Case IH is offering our readers a special contest. For your chance to win, make a comment to my post. You can share your experience of harvesting, tell a funny story on the farm, or just give us your name, but have some fun, and you’ll be registered to win both of these children’s books along with one for adults, “Red Combines” a coffee table book that I will be doing a book review of soon.

Can’t wait to win? Then click here to purchase either of the books or another in the series.

Case IH, Equipment

Sorghum Checkoff Selects New Team Members

Kelly Marshall

sorghum-checkoffThe United Sorghum Checkoff Program has recently promoted and hired new team members.  The positions have been filled in the communications and high value markets departments.

Faith Jurek has been serving as the communications director and has now been promoted to Consumer Communications Strategist.  She will lead consumer communications in regards to human and pet food areas of the sorghum industry.  She will begin her new position in January 2016.

Kelli Fulkerson has been promoted Sorghum Checkoff Marketing Coordinator for the high value markets program.  She was previously serving as the National Sorghum Producers communications director for the past year.

Michelle Hochstein from Nazareth, Texas is being welcomed as a new team member.  She will begin her work as Sorghum Checkoff communications manager.  She is a recent graduate of Texas Tech and has completed multiple internships, including time spent with Sorghum Checkoff and the Texas Farm Bureau.

Ag Groups, sorghum

They’re Back – Peterson Farm Bros New Video

Chuck Zimmerman

It’s titled, “Farmers Feed the World (Watch Me, Hit the Quan, Uptown Funk Parody).” And it is very well done. You will recognize some of the video contributors to the music video, including our own Joanna Schroeder! Here’s their message to go along with the video on YouTube. Enjoy it below.

Thanks to Syngenta!
“Through The Good Growth Plan, Syngenta is committed to six specific targets related to improving resource efficiency, rejuvenating ecosystems, and revitalizing rural communities. Find out more about Syngenta’s commitment to sustainable agriculture at www.goodgrowthplan.com”

A parody music video of the songs, “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae),” “Hit the Quan,” and “Uptown Funk” done by the Peterson Farm Bros (Greg, Nathan, and Kendal)! If you like it, feel free to share it with your friends!


Farming, Video

Crisis Communications – Are You Prepared?

Jamie Johansen

New Holland ZimmPollOur latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What’s mass media’s impact on consumer food opinion?”

This poll made it clear that mass media does impact the opinions consumers have on food. Is this a good thing or bad? It seems good news doesn’t make front page. How do we get consumers to look at the science behind the food they eat? Maybe that should be an upcoming ZimmPoll.

Here are the poll results:

  • Big – 71%
  • Small – 19%
  • None – 0%
  • Doesn’t matter – 10%

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, Does your agribusiness/operation have a crisis communications plan?

Consumers are more interested than ever about our diverse food supply. We as an agriculture community have a great challenge when it comes to communicating in an ever-changing world where information is just a click away. Agribusinesses and farming/ranching operations need to be proactive in communicating with the consumer. Do you have a crisis communications plan set in place? Have you had to use it?

ZimmPoll

#NAFB15 Foundation Auction Raises $18,500

Cindy Zimmerman

nafb-15-auctionAnother successful NAFB Foundation auction was held last week at the annual convention in Kansas City raising some $18,500 for scholarships and internships to support future farm broadcasters.

As always, the “Legendary” Lake Weekend at Agri-Pulse world headquarters in Camdenton, Missouri was the big money maker – generating about a third of the total raised, thanks to the Lost Boys who just insist upon winning! Both the boys and the girls are looking forward to yet another great weekend in 2016 where what happens at the Lake, stays at the Lake!

New on the block this year was a weekend on Pensacola Beach, donated by us, which was first up for bid and didn’t generate a lot of activity but we are absolutely thrilled that our Agri-Pulse friends Al Johnson and Sara Wyant were the winners and they will come down to see us for a change!

NAFB Convention Photo Album

Coverage of NAFB Convention is sponsored by
Coverage of NAFB Convention is sponsored by BASF
Agri-Pulse, NAFB

EPA Official at #NAFB15

Cindy Zimmerman

nafb-15-epaEPA agricultural counselor Ron Carleton was at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Trade Talk last week to discuss ways the agency is working to partner with farmers and ranchers for the benefit of all.

“I understand that the relationship between EPA and agriculture over the years has not been necessarily been warm and fuzzy,” said Carleton, who was appointed to the EPA post earlier this year after serving as a Colorado state agriculture official and congressional aide. “I do know that Administrator McCarthy has been very adamant about trying to find ways to enter into more collaborations and partnerships with agricultural stakeholders to address some of the challenges that we have.”

One of those new partnerships, announced at NAFB last week, is the Nutrient Recycling challenge, designed to address the challenge livestock producers have to manage over a billion tons of manure every year. “We think it can be managed in a way that is more economically viable and beneficial for producers, as well as for the environment,” said Carleton.

He admits that the challenges to EPA’s Clean Water Rule, or WOTUS, remain. “I do think there was a little misunderstanding about its impact on agriculture overall,” Carleton said. “A lot of folks would disagree with me on that and I understand that and that’s one of the reasons we’ll end up sorting this out in court.”

Listen to my interview with Carleton here: Interview with Ron Carleton, EPA

NAFB Convention Photo Album

Coverage of NAFB Convention is sponsored by
Coverage of NAFB Convention is sponsored by BASF
Audio, Environment, EPA, NAFB

Agri-Pulse Open Mic with Sen. Debbie Stabenow

John Davis

open-micAgri-Pulse Open Mic this week features Sen. Debbie Stabenow.

In this week’s interview the ranking member on the Senate Agriculture Committee discusses a challenging agricultural agenda. With time running out on the congressional calendar, Stabenow feels an urgency to find compromise on GMO labeling and COOL trade laws. Stabenow discusses a potential compromise child nutrition reform and defines the TPP trade deal as a complicated proposal with benefits for agriculture but challenges for industry. Stabenow also lists legislation that could be included in an omnibus appropriations bill next month.

Click here to listen to Agri-Pulse Open Mic with Sen. Debbie Stabenow.

Agri-Pulse, Audio, GMO, Trade

Farm Bureau Creates ‘The Buzz’ Over Educational Game

John Davis

TheBuzzA new educational game offered for free by Farm Bureau is creating quite the buzz about pollinators. This news release from the group says “The Buzz,” a new interactive and educational game, recently released by the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, educates users on the power of pollinators and reinforces science learning expectations by having learners explore pollinator habitats and correctly label the parts of the bee and butterfly.

The Buzz players will travel to “Pollinatorville” and discover the important role bees and butterflies play in food production through a series of educational and fun challenges. Players sort items to identify which pollinators live, work and eat in various areas.

The Buzz can be played both in the classroom and at home. A supporting lesson plan, “My Butterfly Book,” will help young readers explore the pollination process as they develop their own book. An activity sheet, “Build a Pollinator” is also available.

The game was developed for Kindergarten through second-grade students.

AFBF, Bees, pollinators

BASF Features Armezon PRO at #NAFB15

Cindy Zimmerman

nafb-15-basf-1BASF Ag Products just recently received registration for Armezon® PRO herbicide, which offers long-lasting residual control of emerged grass and broadleaf weeds. The BASF product has received full Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registration for use on all corn types and BASF Technical Market Manager Daniel Waldstein was at NAFB Trade Talk last week to talk about it.

“Armezon PRO can be used with or without glyphosate and works effectively against a broad spectrum of weeds,” said Waldstein. “Another feature of Armezon PRO is a low use rate … so that means for growers covering more acres in less time.”

Another big plus for Armezon PRO is that it can be used on all different corn types. “So growers don’t have to use one product for sweet corn and another product for field corn, they can use Armezon PRO for both,” Waldstein says. Armezon PRO herbicide is a combination of topramezone, the active ingredient in Armezon herbicide, and dimethenamid-P, the active ingredient in Outlook® herbicide.

Learn more about Armezon PRO in this interview. Interview with Danial Waldstein, BASF

View and download photos from the event here: NAFB Convention Photo Album

Coverage of NAFB Convention is sponsored by
Coverage of NAFB Convention is sponsored by BASF
Audio, BASF, Crop Protection, NAFB, weed management

Valent Selfie Stick for AgNerds

Chuck Zimmerman

Valent Selfie StickDuring the NAFB Convention I received a Valent Selfie Stick. I guess you would call it a VSS?

Unfortunately I did not have time to visit with Valent during Trade Talk. But I did use the VSS for a photo I’ve already published. I’ve never had or used a selfie stick before. Using this one I got to thinking. I know I don’t do it often.

Could this VSS be a precision ag tool? Crop scouting tool? You know. You need a photo of something you can’t quite get the angle or height right with your arms so you whip out your VSS and voila, the right photo. Seems logical to me. But I’m an AgNerd. What do you think?

Revised definition: A selfie stick is a monopod used to take selfie and farm photographs by positioning a smartphone or camera beyond the normal range of the arm.

I don’t know of a farm that has banned their use yet!

Precision Agriculture