Fresh New Look for the FFA Emblem

Jamie Johansen February 10, 2015

The National FFA Organization’s website got an overhaul giving it a fresh, clean new look. This also lead the FFA to think about updating their brand and the FFA emblem is the center of that. The old emblem format was out-of-date and caused problems in digital production efforts.

With approval from the National FFA Board of Directors, FFA staff began a process to update the mark with a clear intention of preserving the elements and emotion that the mark has long held. The goal was a final product that both reflected the heritage of the FFA brand and was capable of reproduction in perfect quality, every time.

You’ll notice that the refreshed emblem has been digitally enhanced to highlight the crisp, well-defined eagle, shield, arrows, owl and plow. On the eagle, the wings have been made symmetrical, while the the kernels of corn and rays of sun are new equally proportioned.

Over the next year, you’ll see the new mark deployed in more and more places. It will make its way to the FFA jacket with an accurate, more vibrant stitched embroidery, and will also begin to appear on other Shop FFA merchandise.

The emblem will also be more accessible for those who desire to use it non-commercially through the new FFA Brand Center on the redesigned FFA.org. There you’ll find a comprehensive set of downloads and guides for how to best display it in a way that illustrates the tradition and pride in the mark.

Find a detailed description of the changes to the FFA emblem on the National FFA’s Official Blog.

Agribusiness, Education, FFA

Data Is Available & It Is Accurate

Jamie Johansen February 10, 2015

During the 2015 annual meeting for the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau, a panel was formed to talked about the impact of big data on crop insurance. One of those panelist was Deb Casurella with MyAgData and Chuck caught up with her as she shared her insights into this rapidly evolving industry.

“We take data from the tractor and tie it to a crop insurance policy and the land to allow a crop insurance agent or producer to have an accurate acreage report for USDA program participation.”

Deb said they are in the early stages of using the data so early adoption is small, but once farmers see the results they expect it to takeoff similar to the technology of auto steering. “People will understand that it’s accurate, it’s audible, it can stand up in compliance review and they are going to want to use the data that is collected on the farm.”

She also added that she believes that the farm technology is ahead of where the USDA is. Data privacy was also discussed along with how adaptable their system is when it comes to the color or type of equipment the farmer is using. Listen to those topics and more in Chuck’s complete interview with Deb here: Interview with Deb Casurella, MyAgData

2015 Crop Insurance & Reinsurance Bureau Annual Meeting Photo Album

Coverage of the Crop Insurance & Reinsurance Bureau Annual Meeting is sponsored by

Agribusiness, Audio, CIRB, data, Insurance

New Leadership for CBB

Jamie Johansen February 10, 2015

Cattle feeder Jimmy Maxey from Fresno, CA., was elected by fellow Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) members to serve as CBB chairman in 2015. The vote came during the 2015 Cattle Industry Annual Convention in San Antonio, Texas. Melissa Sandford sat down with him to find out what he hopes to accomplish in his year as chairman. Interview with Jimmy Maxey, New CBB Chairman

Other new leadership to the CBB includes Brett Morris of Ninnekah, OK, who will serve as secretary/treasurer helping to lead the national Beef Checkoff Program throughout the coming year.

The Beef Board also elected members to serve on the CBB Executive Committee: Vice Chairman Anne Anderson, who will serve as chairman of the Executive Committee; and members Jimmy Maxey (CBB chairman); Brett Morris (CBB secretary/ treasurer); Laurie Bryant, an importer representative; Sarah Childs of Florida; Dave Edmiston of Texas; Robert Fountain of Georgia; Barbara Jackson of Arizona; Laurie Munns of Utah; Kent Pruismann of Iowa; and Gary Sharp of South Dakota.

CBB members elected to the 2015 Beef Promotion Operating Committee during the annual meeting in San Antonio include: Chairman Jimmy Maxey; Vice Chairman Anne Anderson; Secretary/Treasurer Brett Morris; Marty Andersen, Wisconsin; Jeanne Harland, Illinois; Brittany Howell, Kansas; Joe Guthrie, Virginia; Chuck Kiker, Texas; Stacy McClintock, Kansas; and Joan Ruskamp, Nebraska.

Ag Groups, Beef

National Farm Machinery Show Celebrates 50 Years

Cindy Zimmerman February 10, 2015

The National Farm Machinery Show (NFMS) will celebrate 50 years of farming this year, starting with a ribbon cutting ceremony at the opening of the show on Wednesday in Louisville.

Kentucky Lt. Governor Crit Luallen, and the daughter of former governor Ned Breathitt, Linda, will perform the ribbon cutting. Gov. Breathitt cut the ribbon to begin the first NFMS in 1966. Charter members who have exhibited at all shows will be honored during an exhibitor reception.

What is now the country’s largest indoor farm show grew out of an electricity demonstration and exhibit in Lexington in 1963. Still held at the Kentucky Exposition Center, this year’s show Feb. 11-14 will again feature the latest in farming technology and equipment from 860 exhibitors in over 1.2 million square feet of exhibit space. This year’s seminar topics include unmanned aerial vehicles, cloud-based data handling and weather and commodity trends.

And carrying on a 47 year tradition this week is the Championship Tractor Pull, sponsored by Syngenta, and held in conjunction with NFMS. Each year 500 teams apply to pull in the prestigious event and 180 are chosen to contend for $250,000 in prize money. This year’s teams include all reigning Grand Champions and a record number of women drivers.

We will be there once again, thanks to the generous sponsorship of New Holland and FMC, as well as John Deere on Precision.AgWired.com. Hope to see you there!

Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by

and

National Farm Machinery Show

Risk Management Agency Update from CIRB

Jamie Johansen February 9, 2015

Brandon Willis, Administrator of Risk Management Agency (RMA) for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), provided an RMA update for those at the recent annual meeting for the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau (CIRB). Brandon shared insights for activity in the coming year and discussed the long-term outlook for crop insurance.

Prior to joining USDA in 2009, he served as agricultural staff for Senate Agriculture Committee member and Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus. So, he is no stranger to the needs of farmers across the country and strives to keep those communication lines open to aid in crop insurance education.

“We have a lot to do this year. While the program might be up and running, a lot of farmers still need to learn more about them.”

“I believe the actions we take over the next few years will make sure we have a safe net for everybody and insure our program is one that is free from abuse and will have the same impact for the programs future as past ones did that got us here today.”

Learn more about RMA from Brandon complete presentation here: Interview with Brandon Willis, USDA-RMA

2015 Crop Insurance & Reinsurance Bureau Annual Meeting Photo Album

Coverage of the Crop Insurance & Reinsurance Bureau Annual Meeting is sponsored by

Ag Groups, Audio, CIRB, Insurance

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes February 9, 2015

Applications being accepted through Friday, Feb. 13th for six, $1,500 stipends to help defray the costs of attending the 2015 IFAJ World Congress in New Zealand, Oct. 14-18.
Farm Journal Media announced that veteran agricultural journalist Mike Walsten has been appointed as Editor of The Agriculture Letter.
Leading Minneapolis marketing agency broadhead is re-organizing under the Broadhead + Co umbrella to expand its branded offerings, led by two of its long-time leaders Beth Burgy and Troy Schroeder.
Nufarm’s chairman, Mr Donald McGauchie AO, announced that Managing Director and Chief Executive Doug Rathbone had stepped down and that a global search for his replacement had commenced.

Zimfo Bytes

Agnerd Giveaway – BrydgeAir

Chuck Zimmerman February 9, 2015

This edition of the AgNerd Giveaway is a BrydgeAir keyboard and case for the iPad Air. I took it on the road to the National Biodiesel Conference to try it out. I used it in the airport, on the plane and as seen here, in my lap during the conference sessions. I left my Macbook Pro in the media room and only had to carry my iPad to the session to use for tweeting, etc.

Before we get into more on this giveaway product let me announce that Chris was the winner of our last AgNerd Giveaway, a QiPack wireless gadget charger. Way to go Chris!

Okay. Back to keyboards. The Brydge keyboard for iPad is a really solid piece of hardware (single piece of aluminum). By having built in clips to hold the device it allows you to open, close and adjust the screen angle so you feel much more like you’re using a small laptop than with other keyboards I’ve tried. The keyboard felt great. Other keyboards I’ve used work okay but either the keyboards are too small for my fingers or it just feels frail. Not this one. And the keys are backlit! That’s a “have to have” in a dark room.

It took me a minute or two to realize that it has built in speakers that have their own bluetooth connection to my iPad. Other than that it’s simple to set up and operate. I’m not sure how long the battery in it will last since I’ve only charged it once and the keyboard hasn’t need re-charging yet! Their website says up to 3 months. The speakers are louder than your iPad but the quality doesn’t quite match.

I think this device with the handy leather zip sleeve gives someone who only wants to travel with their iPad a great option. I will take a keyboard if I know I’m only going to use my iPad or need to use it when I don’t want to get my Macbook Pro out. Otherwise I like to use my iPad more for reading so I am often switching cases. This is simple so it doesn’t bother me.

So, I’m giving away this great device. Just let me know in comments here or on Twitter or Facebook if you’re interested and we’ll pick a winner by end of day this Friday. I can only ship free in the U.S. btw.

Gadgets

Changes at National Cotton Council

Cindy Zimmerman February 9, 2015

The National Cotton Council has a new president and a new chairman following elections held over the weekend at the organization’s annual meeting.

Dr. Gary Adams, who has served as the National Cotton Council’s (NCC) vice president of Economics and Policy Analysis since 2002, was elected by the NCC’s board of directors to be president and chief executive officer, replacing retiring NCC President/CEO Dr. Mark Lange who served in that role since 2003.

In his new role, Adams will play a pivotal role in guiding the industry’s seven segments to reach consensus on critical policies affecting U.S. cotton – with the overall mission of helping each of the U.S. cotton industry’s seven segments compete effectively and profitably in global markets.

Sledge Taylor, a ginner from Como, Mississippi was elected National Cotton Council chairman for 2015, succeeding Wallace L. Darneille, a Lubbock, Texas, cooperative marketer.

Taylor is president of the Como Consolidated Gin Co., Inc. in north Mississippi. He also is owner of Buckeye Farms, where he raises cotton, corn, soybeans, wheat, peanuts and cattle, and was named the Sunbelt Southeastern Farmer of the Year for Mississippi in 2004.

The NCC’s vice chairman for 2015 is Shane Stephens, a Greenwood, Miss., warehouseman. Arizona producers Clyde Sharp was re-elected secretary-treasurer.

Ag Groups, Cotton

Eco Agro Resources Teams with Ekompany

Cindy Zimmerman February 9, 2015

US-based Eco Agro Resources today announced an agreement expanding its product range to include Ekote, a line of eco-friendly controlled-release fertilizers by Netherlands-based Ekompany.

Ekompany developed Ekote coated mineral fertilizers to reduce carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions as compared to conventional processes and fertilizers. “This new generation of controlled release fertilizer allows macro- and micro-nutrients as well as minerals to be delivered over a prescribed time period,” said Eco Agro Resources CEO Andrew Semple, who anticipates great demand for an alternative source of controlled release fertilizers in the North American markets. “By releasing just what the plant needs when it needs it, crop growth is maximized while minimizing environmental loss of nutrients.”

Eric van Kaathoven, CEO and founder of Ekompany, said they are excited to enter the North American market with Eco Agro Resources to meet the needs of the local growers and farmers. “Our state-of-the-art technology has demonstrated proven quality in both lab conditions as well as on the field, in different regions and climates world wide, and I am confident the results will be excellent here as well,” he said.

Agribusiness, Fertilizer

Bayer Introduces New Soybean Varieties

Cindy Zimmerman February 9, 2015

Bayer CropScience today announced the introduction of 12 new CredenzTM soybean varieties featuring the LibertyLink® trait.

The new varieties are specifically tailored for growers in the Mid-South, Mid-Atlantic and Southern U.S. regions and are available immediately for the 2015 growing season to help growers maximize performance and fight glyphosate-resistant weeds.

The new varieties represent relief for growers in the south where there are limited options for combatting glyphosate resistant weeds. Through the new line-up of Credenz varieties, LibertyLink® will now be more widely available to southern growers in more maturity groups than previously available.

Launched in 2014, Credenz is Bayer CropScience’s first global soybean seed brand and integrates smart genetics and traits to help soybeans grow stronger and heartier under a wide variety of growing conditions. Over the next few years, Bayer CropScience will invest more than $1 billion in R&D annually, helping to fuel the company’s well-filled product pipeline to continue to bring growers new, innovative products to meet their challenges.

“As weed resistance continues to spread, it is more important than ever to ensure growers have a wide range of options in their arsenal to ensure a long-term sustainable approach to integrated weed management on their farm,” said Diego Angelo, global soybean seed marketing manager, Bayer CropScience. “Bayer is committed to driving innovation in the ever-expanding U.S. soybean market, and our smart genetics and traits help soybeans grow stronger under a wide variety of growing conditions.”