Book Introduces Children to the World of Modern Farming

Jamie Johansen

Screen Shot 2015-01-14 at 5.09.31 PM“A Year on the Farm,” a new educational children’s book from Case IH, introduces children, ages 4 to 8, to modern farming, showing how the tractors, combines and other equipment are needed to plant and harvest crops. The first in a series from Case IH, “A Year on the Farm” is filled with colorful photography, fun illustrations and a cast of cartoon characters.

Casey the farmer, Tillus the worm, Big Red the tractor and a whole team of cartoon equipment characters teach children about the many different jobs on a farm. Through the seasons, children learn that modern farming involves yearly planning, responding to the weather, caring for animals and working hard as a team. The book provides details on how different types of equipment on the farm contribute to the production of the food we eat every day. Educational sidebars are presented in simple, kid-friendly terms. Plus, the picture glossary and fun farming facts share information in an entertaining way.

Published by Lee Klancher’s Octane Press, the book continues a long tradition of farm equipment books published by the respected author/photographer. Author Holly Dufek holds a master’s degree in education and has written educational curriculum development materials for many years. Illustrator Paul E. Nunn is a full-range artist who has worked for Disney, Nickelodeon and LucasArts.

“A Year on the Farm” is the first in a complete series about Casey and her Case IH cartoon friends. “Big Tractors,” “Combines” and “Planters and Cultivators,” coming soon in 2015, will cover how and why the equipment works on the farm. Each book will have a mix of real-life photography, cartoon characters, fun facts and easy-to-follow glossaries.

“A Year on the Farm” is available for purchase at select Case IH dealers, on www.shopcaseih.com or Amazon.com.

Agribusiness, Case IH

Satechi Comfort Gadget – USB Humidifier

Chuck Zimmerman

Satechi HumidifierI don’t know about you but during the winter months I need some humidity, especially in hotels where the heat is always on and it gets so dry. I’ve even tried packing a large warm air humidifier that you have to add salt and water to. Always too big and a hassle to deal with.

But Satechi has a new gadget to come to my sinuses rescue. It’s their USB Portable Humidifier. Put it on a bottle of water, plug into a USB port and you have instant cool moisture. Ahhh. Just got mine and have been using since yesterday while working at my computer. It’s nice to have a simple device that just plain works and solves a problem I think a lot of us have. It will be in my suitcase on my next trip, taking up almost no space. I also purchased one for Cindy!

Gadgets

Big Game Week Avocados

Jamie Johansen

Screen Shot 2015-01-14 at 9.40.49 AMOver 111 million sports fans watched the Big Game last year, and nearly 64,000 sports fans will gather at the University of Phoenix Stadium on game day this year. The numbers are nothing compared to the amount of avocados – a food quickly becoming synonymous with the Big Game – Americans will consume this year. It’s estimated Americans will eat nearly 120 million pounds or 240 million fresh avocados during the week leading up to the Big Game on Feb. 1. That’s a whopping 3,785 avocados per seat in the University of Phoenix Stadium and it’s 21 percent more avocados than in 2014 – higher rates than ever before. The total amount of avocados consumed during the Big Game would be enough to fill an entire football field from end zone to end zone over 46 feet high.

While fresh avocados consumed during the Big Game are eaten in many ways, the most common is in the form of guacamole, and new research reveals that as rowdy Americans gather for the game, they try to stay well-mannered when they huddle around the bowl of dip.

Americans aspire to a higher standard of guacamole etiquette than we actually follow. While only 67 percent of guacamole eaters use a spoon to serve themselves guacamole, 81 percent believe it’s the actually the proper way to dip.

And, yes, the dreaded double dippers are among us. Four percent admit to double-dipping the same piece of food repeatedly, and two percent believe it’s the most appropriate way to eat guacamole.

When the guacamole supply runs low, Big Game rivalry extends to the serving bowl, especially for Millennials. 63 percent of guacamole eaters are comfortable being the person to take the last bite of guacamole from the serving bowl after asking if anybody else wants it. The youngest respondents, age 18-34, are most likely (24 percent) to try to be the person who gets to scrape the last bite of guacamole from the communal bowl because they want it for themselves.

No matter how you choose to dip, there’s no doubt guacamole made with Hass avocados is a staple in many Big Game celebrations. In 2014, Americans consumed 99 million pounds or approximately 198 million avocados during Big Game week. Ninety-eight percent of all avocados sold in the United States are the Hass variety – which contain naturally good fats and are cholesterol free.

Agribusiness, Food

AAEA Finest Images 2015 Calendar

Chuck Zimmerman

AAEA PIF CalendarOf course I use my Calendar app on my Macbook, iPhone, iPad, etc. but I also like to be able to see a calendar with just a sideways glance at my desktop. That’s where the AAEA Finest Images 2015 Calendar comes in handy! If you do not have one here’s more information on how to order while supporting a great cause for agricultural journalism. The funds raised go directly to the AAEA PIF which helps young aspiring ag journalists!

The AAEA Professional Improvement Foundation (PIF), in collaboration with Boelte-Hall, now has available a desk calendar that features amazing images from the AAEA Photo Awards program. The back of each photograph describes the situation and technique used by the photographer to capture the image.

If you are interested in purchasing additional calendars, here is the information:
–Calendars cost $15, which includes shipping
–Bulk orders of 100 or more are $12 per calendar, plus shipping. You can personalize each month with your company logo. The image area for logos is 1.25″ x 1.25.” Logos should be vector art or at least 175dpi.

Click here to place your order. If you have questions, contact the AAEA office at 952-758-6502.

ACN, Education, Media

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

Zimfo Bytes

Zimfo Bytes

San Diego Sun Sets on AFBF Convention

Cindy Zimmerman

afbf15-sunsetThe sun was just going down over the bay in San Diego when we walked out of the convention center at the conclusion of the business meeting of the 96th annual American Farm Bureau convention Tuesday after voting delegates approved resolutions for the coming year.

AFBF president Bob Stallman held his traditional end of the meeting press conference with the last remaining reporters to talk about some of the most important issues, with the number one being the proposed Waters of the United States rule. “I view that WOTUS will be front and center, and it has been and it will be until we get it resolved,” said Stallman.

Data privacy remains another important issue for farmers and delegates reaffirmed that it should be strictly the property of the farmer or rancher when submitted to third parties for analysis and processing, and that they must have the right to remove their data permanently from the systems of agricultural technology providers.

Farm Bureau delegates also voted to oppose state efforts to dictate out-of-state, farm-level production practices, reaffirm support for producer-led and -approved checkoff programs; and support for country-of-origin labeling provisions consistent with World Trade Organization rules.

AFBF president Bob Stallman top issues at delegate session


2015 AFBF Convention photo album

AFBF, Audio

AFBF Young Farmer and Rancher Awards

Cindy Zimmerman

Winners of the Young Farmers & Ranchers Achievement Award, Discussion Meet and Excellence in Agriculture competitions were announced at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 96th Annual Convention Monday.

afbf15-achievementChris and Rebekah Pierce of Kentucky won the Achievement Award, recognizes young farmers and ranchers who have excelled in their farming or ranching operations and exhibited superior leadership abilities. They are the winners of either a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado or 2015 GMC Sierra, courtesy of GM. They will also receive paid registration to attend the 2015 FUSION Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, in February.

afbf15-seanSean Arians of Illinois won the Discussion Meet. He will have his choice of either a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado or a 2015 GMC Sierra, courtesy of GM, plus free registration to the 2015 FUSION Conference. The Discussion Meet simulates a committee meeting in which active discussion and participation are expected. Participants are evaluated on their ability to exchange ideas and information on a predetermined topic.

afbf15-excellencePaul and Ruth Lanoue of Minnesota won the Excellence in Agriculture Award, which recognizes young farmers and ranchers who do not derive the majority of their income from an agricultural operation, but who actively contribute and grow through their involvement in agriculture, their leadership ability and participation in Farm Bureau and other organizations. They will receive their choice of either a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado or 2015 GMC Sierra, courtesy of GM, plus free registration to the 2015 FUSION Conference.

Congrats to all those who are the future of the agriculture industry!

2015 AFBF Convention photo album

AFBF

FDA Official Provides Update at AFBF

Cindy Zimmerman

afbf15-fdaFood and Drug Administration Deputy Commissioner Mike Taylor provided an update on the implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) at the American Farm Bureau convention this week in San Diego.

Taylor says his agency is focusing on three broad themes in implementing the 2011 law: the farm-to-table approach, practical common standards, and holding imports to the same standards as domestically produced foods. “We issued proposed regulations starting in January of 2013 and we’ll be issuing final regulations later this year and early 2016 and this will provide a common set of standards that we know work,” he said, noting that Farm Bureau has been very helpful in providing comments to help develop the regulations.

Listen to my interview with Taylor here: Interview with FDA Deputy Commissioner Mike Taylor at AFBF


2015 AFBF Convention photo album

AFBF, Audio, Food

Ag is Target for Guest Worker Audits

Cindy Zimmerman

afbf15-eileen-scofieldAgriculture has a target on its back when it comes to compliance with guest worker regulations, according to Eileen Scofield an immigration law attorney who held a workshop at the American Farm Bureau annual meeting this week.

“Currently there’s three agencies that focus on employers but for ag in particular there’s about five or six other separate laws which are a very big focus of the Department of Labor,” she said.

Scofield recommends that agricultural employers have a very simple, one page policy and take it very seriously. “Also, have a go-to person, a czar, so you know what is happening,” she said.

Scofield believes reform of agricultural immigration laws would be relatively easy to do compared to more comprehensive reform. “We’ve had 25 years of trying to do comprehensive which has never passed … I think it makes more sense to separate certain industries and ag is the best because it already has separate immigration laws,” she said. “To me it’s a simple carve off because it’s deemed a critical infrastructure industry but we’re not able to give it the critical workers it needs to operate.”

Listen to my interview with Eileen here: Interview with immigration attorney Eileen Scofield at AFBF


2015 AFBF Convention photo album

AFBF, Audio, labor

2015 IFAJ Congress Australian Pre-Tour

Chuck Zimmerman

IFAJIf you are thinking about going to this year’s International Federation of Agricultural Journalists Congress in New Zealand then you might want to leave a little early and stop in Australia. The Australian Council of Agricultural Journalists is joining with the Rural Press Club of Queensland to put together an enticing pre-congress tour.

There will be a welcome gathering on the evening of October 8 followed by three action packed days which will include visits to the World Heritage Daintree rainforest and the iconic Great Barrier Reef. The group will then fly to Sydney on October 12 for a leisurely evening before crossing to New Zealand the next day for the 2015 IFAJ Congress.

The Cairns organising committee is already working hard to offer delegates an unforgettable experience. The team is headed by new Australian president Genevieve McAulay and vice president Peter Lewis. Other members providing local knowledge include Gordon Collie, Carolyn Martin and Stacey Milner from Queensland, Australia’s IFAJ delegate Leigh Radford and former IFAJ delegate Liz Harfull.

Follow Cairns pre tour developments here www.acaj.org.au/Cairns.

Join our email list via the website for regular updates or email queries to ifajcairns2015(at)outlook.com.

For more information about the 2015 World Congress in New Zealand from October 14 to 18, visit www.congress2015.co.nz.

IFAJ, International, Media