The National Association of Farm Broadcasting is bringing you Season’s Greetings.
On this Christmas Eve, celebrate all the good things.
Celebrate… the Tradition of Giving, the Beauty of the Season, and a New Year of Peace and Happiness.
Pollers Feel Climate Accord Adds To Regulations
Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What do you think climate accord will mean for ag?”
It looks like the majority feel that climate accord will add to the already over-abundant regulations or is simply bad for everyone. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack said the COP21 deal will support a “better-nourished, stable, secure future” and the benchmarks “build on the ambitious climate smart strategy being implemented by U.S. farmers, ranchers and foresters.” No matter how you feel, the climate discussion isn’t going anywhere as we enter 2016.
Here are the poll results:
- Meaningless – 10%
- Good for farmers- 5%
- More regulations – 35%
- Good for everyone – 20%
- Bad for everyone – 30%
- Other – 0%
Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, What’s your favorite food/drink gift?
‘Tis the season for yummy gifts of goodies to eat and drink – which is probably why we always end up gaining a few pounds over the holidays! So, what is your favorite food or drink to get or give as a gift during the holidays?
Wettersten Joins GROWMARK Corporate Relations Team
Matt Wettersten is the new Publications and Media Relations Specialist at GROWMARK. He takes over for Cassie Becker who accepted a position outside the GROWMARK System. Wettersten comes to GROWMARK from WCIA-TV, the CBS affiliate based in Champaign, Illinois. He spent over five years there serving most recently as Sports Director. “It’s an honor to join such an outstanding team at GROWMARK. I love the company’s mission and vision and dedication to its members and local communities,” said Wettersten. “Television has afforded me the opportunity to tell the stories of some amazing people and I look forward to sharing the stories and expertise within the GROWMARK system,” he added.
Wettersten will handle media relations responsibilities, working with outlets to cover newsworthy topics at GROWMARK and in the field of agriculture. He will also work on various GROWMARK publications and internal content creation. He is a graduate of Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois and has also spent time working at WLFI-TV in West Lafayette, Indiana and WMBD-TV in Peoria, Illinois.
Read full release here.
GROWMARK Announces 2016 Essay Contest Theme
The theme for the 2016 GROWMARK Essay Contest is: “What can young people do to ensure the sustainability of agriculture?” The contest is open to all high school FFA members in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin.
This is the 23rd year for the program, sponsored by the GROWMARK System and FS member cooperatives, in conjunction with state FFA leaders, to help young people develop their writing skills, learn about current issues affecting agriculture, and understand the unique role of cooperatives.
This year, students will create a working definition of sustainability, and offer suggestions for ways their generation can ensure agriculture remains strong well into the future.
Essays should be approximately 500 words, typed and double-spaced. The postmarked entry deadline for all essays is March 1, 2016. Additional program details have been sent to agriculture teachers and are online at www.growmark.com/company/youth-young-farmers/pages/essay-contest.aspx
“Sustainability is an important topic, and there are many definitions out there,” said Karen Jones, GROWMARK youth and cooperative education specialist. “I look forward to reading about the ideas students have for keeping our industry viable and growing.”
Each state’s winner earns a $500 award and the winner’s FFA chapter receives a $300 award. Four runners-up per state each win $125 awards.
The program is offered each year and many agriculture teachers use it as part of their class curriculum. Past topics have included renewable fuels, biotechnology, and the cooperative principles.
Read full release here.
Joyent Team Wishes You Happy Holidays
Happy Holidays from our web server host, the Joyent Team!
Tis the season to reflect on the great things in our lives.
Wishing you a new year filled with happiness and prosperity.
Farm Bureau Video Highlights Problems with WOTUS
A new video from Farm Bureau shows just how problematic the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule is. This news release from the group says the story revolves around a farmer who is being cited by the government on the basis of the Environmental Protection Agency’s controversial water regulation and how more farmers could be in trouble for doing a basic farm chore: plowing.
As the enforcer of water regulations, the Army Corps of Engineers has told fourth-generation tree, vine and wheat grower John Duarte, a member of Farm Bureau in California, that he broke the law simply by plowing his land in rural Tehama County, California. Experts say that under the EPA’s WOTUS rule, the same type of regulatory enforcement could become commonplace, threatening farmers across the nation. EPA has said that farmers have no need to worry about the rule because normal farming is exempt from regulation, but what’s happening to the Duarte family shows how the EPA and the Corps work around that exemption.
“The Corps and EPA aren’t trying to micromanage farmers. They’re trying to stop farmers,” Duarte said. “They’re trying to turn our farm land into habitat preservation. They’re simply trying to chase us off of our land.”
Duarte decided to take his case to court, which was met by a counter-suit from the U.S. Justice Department, seeking millions of dollars in penalties, basically for plowing his field, according to Tony Francois, an attorney with the Pacific Legal Foundation, which is representing Duarte.
“Anyone who’s being told not to worry about the new WOTUS rule, they should be thinking about this case,” Francois said. “The very thing they are telling you not to worry about is what they are suing Duarte over – just plowing.”
ZimmCast on LibertyLink Campaign
If you have been listening to farm radio at all in the last couple of months you have probably heard the Real Yield radio spots that have been running featuring real farmers from around the soybean producing part of the country talking about their experience with the Bayer CropScience LibertyLink system.
In this edition of the ZimmCast, we talk with Malin Westfall, Bayer CropScience soybean marketing manager, about the the LibertyLink system and the goals of that campaign. Part of the campaign included the Real Yield Game, which gives farmers a chance to win some great prizes and support the FFA at the same time.
Every time growers play the game they have a chance to instantly win a John Deere combine, five winners get a year’s supply of LibertyLink soybeans with Liberty herbicide, and the grand prize is a year’s lease on a John Deere tractor. Winners of the game will be announced at the 2016 Commodity Classic in New Orleans and the donations to FFA will also be presented at that time.
Listen to this week’s ZimmCast here: ZimmCast with Malin Westfall, Bayer CropScience
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AFBF Offers Survey to Improve USDA Programs
The American Farm Bureau Federation has launched an online survey to collect feedback from farmers and ranchers about 10 programs being offered from the Agriculture Department. AFBF plans to use the results to create recommendations for the USDA to make its programs better serve growers.
Any farmer or rancher is encouraged to take the survey. The process requires about 10 minutes.
“Farmers and ranchers sometimes find it confusing and complex to participate in USDA programs,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman. “At the same time, USDA staff are concerned that farmers and ranchers who could benefit from a number of different programs frequently do not apply.”
Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Rural Development are the focus of the survey, with programs being:
• Environmental Quality Incentives Program;
• Conservation Stewardship Program;
• Conservation Reserve Program;
• Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program;
• Value-Added Agricultural Producer Grants;
• Rural Energy for America Program;
• Farmers’ Marketing and Local Food Promotion Program;
• Direct Farm Ownership Loans;
• Direct Farm Operating Loans; and
• Guaranteed Farm Loans (farm operating and farm ownership).
The survey will be open through March 15. AFBF will make the results available to the USDA for future improvement.
Precision Impact Award Presented to Leading Retailers
AgProfessional Magazine, MapShots AgStudio, and the Agricultural Retailers Association sponsored an award presented to three retailers leading the way in precision agriculture. Accepting the Precision Impact Award on behalf of their companies were: Elliott Marsh, East Georgia Agronomy Services, Southern States Cooperative; Glen Franzluebbers, Central Valley Ag Cooperative, and Luke Lightfoot, Co-Alliance, LLC.
The award was presented on December 3 at the ARA conference. Companies were selected for their input efficiency, grower engagement, environmental stewardship, innovation and profitability.
Nomination for the 2016 Precision Impact Awards are being accepted now.
ARA Honors Rising Stars Class of 2015
Twelve of the top performers in ag retail have been awarded the honor of being selected for the Agricultural Retailers Association Rising Stars Class of 2015.
The Rising Stars program began in 2013 to recognize high achievers and develop future leaders in the agriculture retail industry. Member companies have the opportunity to introduce new leaders to the ARA and the annual conference.
The Rising Stars Class of 2015 includes:
Joe Bridges, J.R. Simplot Company
Ryan Brooks, MFA Inc.
Wes Carmony, Yargus Manufacturing
Tom Curtiss, International Raw Materials Ltd.
Mike Griffel, J.R. Simplot Company
Josh Hilbrands, South Dakota Wheat Growers
Kelly Kliner, J.R. Simplot Company
Nathan Locken, South Dakota Wheat Growers
John McCool, DuPont Crop Protection
Ashlee Rankin, Precision Laboratories, LLC
Seth Shaw, J.R. Simplot Company
Kathy Westcott, Crop Production Services, Inc.
A special reception was held by Yargus Manufacturing during the ARA Conference and Expo to honor their achievements.