Greetings From Our New Intern

Lizzy Schultz July 28, 2015

Hi! I’m Lizzy Schultz, the summer intern for AgWired. I’m joining Chuck and Cindy this week with the coverage of the 2015 Ag Media Summit in Scottsdale, AZ. I will also be joining them next month at the Farm Progress Show in DeKalb, IL. I come to the team from the Midwest; Madison, Wisconsin has been home for my entire life. I graduated with an animal science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2013. I have also shown American Saddlebred horses my entire life, and winning a world championship title with my horse Luke at our 2013 World Championships in Louisville, KY will always be a highlight of my life.

My interest in agriculture was sparked by a class I took in college on livestock production. I instantly knew I wanted to study animal science and be a part of the industry, and I truly enjoy learning about every diverse niche and division of it. My interest in journalism came to me when my dad, a well-known reporter for a respected newspaper in Madison, encouraged me to start freelancing for a weekly farm paper after graduation. I loved being able to tell the amazing stories of our producers, and using them to start conversations with consumers about the industry that is so separated from their own lives. It amazed me how interested people truly are in the industry, it just takes the right story to get the conversation started!

This internship is going to be a fantastic learning experience for me. I am already learning so much about the inner workings of the communications industry, and how a blog is run and managed. Chuck and Cindy have experience in so many areas of communications, and I am really looking forward to the training they are giving me. I am interested in eventually becoming involved in agricultural policy, and want to have strong communications skills in order to help consumers feel accurately informed and involved in the way the industry runs. I feel so lucky to have this opportunity to work with such experienced professionals, and I’m so excited for the rest of my time with them!

Ag Media Summit, ZimmComm Announcement

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes July 28, 2015

For three days and with five unique components and involving more than twenty farms, the jam-packed SOIL SISTERS culinary event celebrates Wisconsin’s family farms and rural life in and around the farming communities of Monroe and Brodhead, Wisconsin.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the expansion of crop insurance to provide additional options for fruit and nut producers.
Farm Credit, one of the nation’s leading lenders and financial service providers to rural communities and agriculture, has just launched a nationwide search to honor and recognize visionaries that are shaping the future of agriculture and rural communities.
Scientists have developed a vaccine strain that has tested 100 percent effective in protecting chickens from bird flu and testing is underway to see if it also protects turkeys, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told the House Agriculture Committee at a hearing on Wednesday.

Zimfo Bytes

#AgMedia Future is in Good Hands

Cindy Zimmerman July 27, 2015

The AMS Student Awards and Recognition Luncheon was a good reminder of the great up and coming talent we have in this industry.

The American Agricultural Editors’ Association (AAEA) scholarships, presented by Future Ag Communicators committee chair Laurie Bedord, were awarded to Cameron Jodlowski, Iowa State University; Mara McGurl, University of Georgia; and Kelsey Litchfield, University of Illinois. Kelsey was honored with the Jim Evans Scholarship this year, which made her very proud since he is one of her mentors!

Four young ladies were honored to be finalists for the Forrest Bassford Student Award, sponsored by Alltech. They are Kaitlin Morgan and Nicole Lance, both from Kansas State; Jamie Keyes, Utah State; and Kendall Herren, University of Illinois. Nicole was the winner – but they are all winners in our eyes!

AAEA also introduced this year’s two interns – Allison Fortner from the University of Georgia and Josh Booth, University of Missouri – who have been manning the registration desk. Their internships are sponsored by the AAEA Professional Improvement Foundation, BCS Communications and Gardner and Gardner Communications.

2015 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

Coverage of the Ag Media Summit is sponsored by

ACN, Ag Media Summit, Education, LPC

New Features in New Holland’s T6 Tractors

Jamie Johansen July 27, 2015

The new T6 series tractors from New Holland Agriculture should be hitting the pavement at dealerships across the country as we speak and Chuck got a first hand look at the new features while attending New Holland Media Days last week. There he spoke with Gary Wojcik who gave him the inside scoop.

“Some of the benefits of the new T6 is we have met the new Tier 4B level of emissions with this tractor. This means the engines are roughly the same but now use the high efficient SCR systems that are found in our high horsepower tractors.”

Gary explained that this means the engine sits and breathes in and out on it’s own creating full power, but is treated afterwards with the exhaust. “These tractors produce really good power, torque and have a much better chance for fuel efficiency because we are using four cylinder engines.”

The T6 has all new styling that will be carried down to all the Tier 4B models. Another new feature includes the standard long wheel base that still allows operators to turn sharp.

Learn more about the new features in New Holland’s T6 in Chuck’s complete interview with Gary here: Interview with Gary Wojcik, New Holland

Check out photos from the event here: New Holland Media Days 2015 Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, New Holland, Tractor

Deputy Agriculture Secretary Returns to Her Roots

Cindy Zimmerman July 27, 2015

It was a homecoming for Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Krysta Harden at the 2015 Southern Peanut Growers Conference. The number two person at the USDA was raised on a peanut farm in Camilla, Georgia so she felt right at home.

“That’s what qualifies me for my job, that’s what gives me my passion and my love and the ability to help, to listen, to work for this great industry,” she said. “There is nothing more important to me than agriculture. Keeping farmers on the farm and ranchers on the ranch is why I’m in Washington … I have never forgotten where I’m from.”

Harden talked passionately about the future of agriculture and the need to get young people interested in the industry. “I’m talking about what I love, the people I love, the industry I love and it’s future and I encourage you to do the same,” she said. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Krysta Harden at SPGC

After her remarks, I interviewed Harden about some of the important issues at USDA – from conservation compliance to funding for research, avian flu and international trade, and more. Interview with Krysta Harden

2015 Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album

Audio, Peanuts, SPGC, USDA

Florida Congressman Addresses Peanut Farmers

Cindy Zimmerman July 27, 2015

Congressman Ted Yoho (R-FL) is serving his second term as representative of North Central Florida’s 3rd Congressional district which encompasses 13 counties, including two of the largest peanut growing areas of the state – Lafayette and Suwanee counties. “It’s the best district in Florida,” said Yoho after making remarks to the Southern Peanut Growers Conference. “It’s a large, rural, agricultural area and it couldn’t be more perfectly designed for me being a large animal veterinarian for 30 years.”

In his remarks, Yoho stressed the opportunities for agriculture with new trade agreements being negotiated, now that the president has been granted Trade Promotion Authority. “Anytime you can bolster trade, especially for the ag economy, it makes America stronger,” he said. Yoho serves on both the House Agriculture Committee and the Foreign Affairs committee, which both have an interest in pursuing new trade relationships.

In my interview with Rep. Yoho, he also talks about the Clean Water Rule, GMO labeling, Country of Origin Labeling, USDA oversight, budgeting, and immigration. Interview with Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL)

Watch a video of Rep. Yoho’s remarks to the SPGC below.

2015 Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album

Audio, Peanuts, SPGC, Video

GROWMARK Names Summer Exploring Agriculture Interns

John Davis July 27, 2015

GROWMARK has named the newest members of its summer Exploring Agriculture Intern program. This news release from the company says the program helps bridge the gap between students and faculty at the two year community and/or technical college level and the GROWMARK system retail companies.

“We are striving to provide students with hands-on agronomic experiences, allowing them to gain a strong understanding of the GROWMARK System and the agriculture industry, with the hopes of preparing them to fill full-time positions with an FS retail or member company,” said Amie Hasselbring, GROWMARK university relations recruiter.

As a participant in the Exploring Agriculture Intern summer program they will spend 10 weeks working for member and retail companies in the GROWMARK System. Their internship will focus on agronomy operations of the retail business.

At the end of the 10 weeks, interns will each meet with their company’s management staff to discuss their experiences and present a summary of their projects.

The complete list of interns and their colleges is here.

GROWMARK

Ag Media Summit Starts with Board Mtgs.

Chuck Zimmerman July 26, 2015

Board meetings are done at the Ag Media Summit. This morning the boards of the American Agricultural Editors Association and the Livestock Publications Council met to conduct business. These volunteers spent hours making sure that all the i’s were dotted and the t’s crossed.

This photo shows the LPC board after their meeting. Later this week we’ll feature an interview of the the president of LPC to find out what the goals and objectives are for the next year.

The board of AAEA met longer than LPC. I guess they had more work to do? I dunno.

After the AAAEA board was done the AAEA Professional Improvement Fund board met. And voila, then they were done and ready to head to the pool.

This evening we have the Famous Welcome Party. Attendees are encouraged to wear white or at least light colors. This should be interesting and yes, photos will be in the photo album tomorrow.

Here’s where you’ll find out AMS photos: 2015 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

Coverage of the Ag Media Summit is sponsored by

ACN, Ag Media Summit, LPC, Media

New Baling Capabilities from New Holland

Chuck Zimmerman July 25, 2015

New Holland has added capabilities to its line of BigBalers and Curt Hoffman took to the field to tell us about them.

One big new feature is ISOBUS III compatibility. What does this mean? It means that the balers now feature the IntelliCruise™ feed rate control system on the Standard and CropCutter™ BigBaler 1270 and BigBaler 1290 large square balers. They work with an ISOBUS III tractor like the new T7 AutoCommmand tractor.

IntelliCruise automatically adjusts the forward speed of the tractor in relation to the crop yield going into the baler, resulting in a optimal crop feeding rate. With this feature there is no need to monitor tractor speed, so that operator fatigue is greatly reduced. It also makes it possible for an inexperienced operator to achieve high productivity levels.

Don’t forget to get a picture of your first cutting of hay entered into the New Holland 1st Cut Competition by July 31st. You could win a Roll-BeltTM 450 Silage Special Round Baler. Rules here.

New Holland Media Days 2015 Photo Album

Agribusiness, Forage, Hay, New Holland, Video

Ag Media and Friends About To Get Together

Chuck Zimmerman July 24, 2015

As the Youngbloods used to sing:

Come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another
Right now

Right now, as in the 2015 Agricultural Media Summit in Scottsdale, AZ. It’s already happening for the early young bloods. The conference officially kicks off on Sunday but I’ll be traveling there tomorrow. Cindy and summer intern Lizzy Schultz will join in the love on Sunday. It’s going to be blazing hot time with friends and sponsors and we’re looking forward to it. We’ll be seeing you from there thanks to sponsors New Holland, FMC and the National Biodiesel Board!

Coverage of the Ag Media Summit is sponsored by

Ag Media Summit, Media

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