Ag Urges Senate to Pass TPA

Cindy Zimmerman

trade-farmers-1Senate Republicans and agriculture industry leaders held a press conference in Washington today to discuss the ways new trade deals could benefit the agriculture community and urge passage of the bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislation.

Senators speaking on behalf of TPA included Republican Conference Chairman John Thune (R-SD), Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS), Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) and Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO). “I am hopeful that the Senate can find a path forward to pass this legislation, which is essential to securing free and fair trade agreements and providing access to new markets for American farmers, ranchers, and manufacturers,” said Sen. Thune in advance of an afternoon vote to proceed with the legislation. “We’re going to have a spirited debate, there are going to be a lot of amendments offered…hopefully we’ll be able to keep it in as close a form as we had coming out of the committee.”

California Farm Bureau president Paul Wenger

California Farm Bureau president Paul Wenger

The senators were joined by agricultural representatives American Soybean Association First Vice President Richard Wilkins of Delaware, Virginia Cattlemen’s Association President Jeff Slaven, and California Farm Bureau President Paul Wenger.

“Last year we had a record $152 billion in exports for American agriculture,” said Wenger, speaking on behalf of American Farm Bureau. “We’re on pace this year to drop back by $9 million because we have not been a part of many agreements going on around the world. If we do not meet the demand, somebody else will meet that demand.”

Listen to comments from all participants here: Senators and ag groups urge TPA passage

AFBF, ASA, Audio, Exports, NCBA, Trade

A Day for Pictures

Melissa Sandfort

IMG_2542In social media, we have #TBT (Throwback Thursday), where people share photos from the past; we also have “Wordless Wednesday”, where stories are shared in pictures. This isn’t a “throwback” unless you are being very literal about the past as this photo was just taken yesterday.

You see, working from home, I see the same fields along my 3-mile walk and 12-mile drive to town every day. However, my significant other travels all across southwestern Nebraska for Landmark Implement, fixing drills, tractors, sprayers you name it. So he has many the opportunity to grab pictures for me.

Here’s a photo of local Cambridge cattle producer and farmer Bill Moore Farms with Marc Rasmussen operating a 16-row planter and tripper. We won’t hold it against him that he has a red tractor and our four kids prefer reading “Johnny Tractor” books.

Just another busy day for agriculture in Nebraska!

Until we walk again …

Uncategorized

New Holland 1st Cut Competition

Chuck Zimmerman

New Holland 1st CutHave you made your 1st cut of hay? About to, weather permitting? Consider entering the New Holland 1st Cut Competition. Following a successful Voice of the Next Gen contest New Holland has launched a new online promotion.

To enter, upload a picture of YOUR first cutting at NHfirstcut.com. The prize is a FREE one-year lease of a genuine Roll-Belt round baler.

New Holland is the undisputed leader in hay tools and now, the Gold Standard has been raised. To New Holland, SMART means smooth, clean cutting with faster dry down and plug-free conditioning. The competition ends July 31st.

Rule here.

View and Vote here.

Agribusiness, Hay, New Holland

Do You Have a Favorite Craft Brew?

Jamie Johansen

New Holland ZimmPollOur latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What technology is most responsible for rapid planting progress?”

#Plant15 is in full swing and many attribute the rapid progress to auto steering and GPS capabilities. Others commented saying larger equipment, lots of hard work and long hours come into play. I know all are true. Where would we be without technology?

Here are the poll results:

  • Automatic section control (ASC) – 5%
  • Variable-rate seeding – 6%
  • Precision seed metering – 21%
  • Auto steer/GPS – 31%
  • Faster planters – 16%
  • Other – 21%

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, What is your favorite type of craft beer?

The Alltech’s Rebelation is right around the corner and no Alltech event is complete without craft beer. This year Alltech will kick off the educational festivities with the 2nd Annual Craft Brews & Food Fest slated for Saturday, May 16. In honor of that, we want to know what craft beer tops your list. Do your taste buds lean towards an IPA, wheat, stout or do you love them all?

ZimmPoll

College Aggies Online Engage to Advocate

Jamie Johansen

aaa-15-107-editedZach Hollingsworth and Kaylynn Million are part of the Dairy Science Club at Oklahoma State University. Their club was honored at the recent Animal Ag Alliance Stakeholders Summit as the 1st place team in their College Aggies Online (CAO) competition.

COA is an initiative of the Alliance that connects college students from across the country who are interested in promoting agriculture. Participants receive training and instructions from industry experts and engage on social media by posting information about current and emerging issues facing farmers and ranchers and telling personal stories.

Kaylynn said, “The College Aggies Online program is there to train us to engage with consumers. Each week we were given assignments like participating in webinars with industry experts. What they taught us we used to actually engage with consumers and we were judged by our involvement. What we learned throughout the competition, we took back and are still using today.”

On campus they shared “Meat Myths” to fellow collegiates, passed out cheese with dairy facts and executed a number of other things throughout the community and online to advocate for the agriculture community.

Zach said he learned a lot about utilizing Twitter to share news about agriculture. When participating in tweet chats they were taught to act, not react. “You are wanting to promote your cause, not degrade what they are doing.”

Listen to my complete interview with the duo to learn more about the competition. Interview with College Aggies Online Winners

Find photos from the event here: 2015 Animal Ag Alliance Stakeholders Summit Photo Album

Coverage of the Animal Ag Alliance Stakeholders Summit is sponsored by
Coverage of the Animal Ag Alliance Stakeholders Summit is sponsored by Elanco Animal Health
Ag Groups, Animal Agriculture, Audio, Social Media

Farm Bureau’s 2015 Photo Contest to Begin

John Davis

afbf-logoFarm Bureau’s 2015 photo contest begins soon. This news release from the group says it is open to all state and county Farm Bureau members and staff above 18 years of age at the time of entry, including professional photographers.

Photo submissions will be used to accurately portray today’s agriculture and the safe practices of farmers and ranchers, and also for future publications, promotions and social media by AFBF and related companies. All photos submitted must exemplify safe practices on the farm or ranch.

The contest will run May 15, 2015, through March 31, 2016. Photos may be entered in four categories: Farm Families, Farm Labor, Technology and Consumer Outreach. Monetary prizes will be awarded to the top three placing photos from each category. First place winners will be awarded $150, second place $100 and third place $75.

Judges will also select a “Best in Show” winner for the most dynamic photo entered across all categories as well as two runners-up. The Best in Show winner will receive $400, with first runner-up and second runner-up receiving $300 and $200, respectively.

“The timeframe for this competition opens up vast possibilities for members interested in capturing farm and ranch photos throughout the four seasons,” said Kim Baker, AFBF’s assistant director, creative services. “We look forward to seeing a bumper crop of diverse submissions from photographers around the country for this contest.”

More information is available on the contest webpage at http://photocontest.fb.org.

AFBF, Photography

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

Zimfo Bytes

  • Lessing-Flynn reached new heights at the NOVA Awards, hosted by the Iowa chapter of the American Marketing Association on Thursday, May 7, 2015 taking home six awards, including the coveted People’s Choice Award.
  • The American Pulse Association, announced the APA’s 2014-2015 Competitive Grant Program recipients.
  • The Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC) board of directors has approved $357,570 in research project funding for the 2015-16 research budget year.
  • The National Association of Wheat Growers announces the addition of Steve Joehl as director of research and technology to the wheat growers’ team.
Zimfo Bytes

Dealer Involvement with New Holland Next Gen Contest

Chuck Zimmerman

New Holland Voice of the Next GenBefore we meet the rest of the New Holland Voice of the Next Gen Contest winners let’s meet one dealer who really got involved with the promotion. His name is Cory Forrester, Forrester Farm Equipment. He’s pictured with Tyler Hubbard, Florida Georgia Line, and his family. Special thanks to Tyler’s photographer for the image.

Cory ForresterCory is what he calls a “pure” New Holland dealer. He only sells New Holland equipment. Cory says that this contest is “the next step for New Holland.” He’s looking for the next generation customer, the 30-somethings who are buying equipment. He says it’s a completely out-of-the-box promotion involving social media. Cory is very enthusiastic about the value of social media in reaching tomorrow’s customer.

Listen to my interview with Cory to hear more of his thoughts on this New Holland promotion here: Interview with Corey Forrester

New Holland Voice of the Next Gen Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Farm Machinery, New Holland

Organic Trade Association Petitions for Checkoff

Chuck Zimmerman

Gro Organic CheckoffThe Organic Trade Association, along with the GRO Organic Core Committee, has formally petitioned the USDA to begin steps to conduct a vote on and implement a research and promotion check-off program for the organic industry. You can read an executive summary of the proposal here (pdf).

OTA’s action reflects three years of dialogue with the entire organic sector and comes 25 years after Congress authorized USDA’s National Organic Program. Marking the first time in the 49-year history of U.S. agricultural check-off programs that organic could be recognized as a distinct commodity class based on production practices, it could have significant and game-changing ramifications for the burgeoning organic sector.

Unlike any other check-off program, the proposed organic check-off has been designed to solve what hasn’t worked in other research and promotion programs, emphasizes what has worked, and creates an innovative program tailor-made for organic.
After USDA completes its review of the application, an official proposal for an organic research and promotion check-off program will be published in the Federal Register, followed by a public comment period. The final step will be a referendum on the proposed check-off, with all certified organic stakeholders eligible to vote. Approval by a majority of the organic stakeholders voting is required for implementation.

Ag Groups, Organic, USDA

Speedy Spud Competition

Chuck Zimmerman

Speedy SpudPotato Lovers Club bloggers are participating in the second Speedy Spud Challenge. This recipe competition has seven competitors. I picked the photo of this entry because it is one of the entries that contains bacon! The competition is being held by the United States Potato Board.

Bloggers were asked to create an original, yum-worthy potato recipe that can be made in 30 minutes or less, and share it on their blog for the chance to win a trip to Chicago to act as potato ambassadors at the annual Eat, Write, Retreat food blogger conference. Bonus points were also offered to bloggers who helped promote the USPB’s #TopTater hashtag campaign and shared their recipes on their respective social media properties.

Seven bloggers opted into the challenge, sharing deliciously creative potato recipes, many of which utilized convenience potato products. From Hash Brown Tostadas to Buffalo Chicken Poutine, here is a peek at entries from “The Speedy Spud Challenge.” After a recipe tasting and judging session, two winners will be crowned in mid-May.

Ag Groups, Food, Potato