MGEX Sets New Records

Cindy Zimmerman

mgex2014 was a record year for the Minneapolis Grain Exchange (MGEX) in total volume of trading at 2,177,740.

It marks the first time in history that the Exchange’s volume has surpassed 2 million in a calendar year. Electronic volume during 2014 was 1,856,423, which is also an all-time high for the Exchange.

Total volume from 2014 was 47 percent higher than it was during 2013. Five new monthly volume records were set during the year, which also included the highest open interest day in the history of MGEX – 82,056, set on April 17.

Following Wednesday’s activity, MGEX also set a new record for total volume during the month of December, finishing at 167,617. This is the second-straight month that the Exchange has set a new monthly record, having done so in November, as well. Electronic volume during December was also a new high for the month, coming in at 144,101 and the 18th best month electronically in Exchange history.

Markets

GROWMARK Cultivating Master Farmers Program

John Davis

Learning from someone who has “been there and done that” can be some of the most valuable lessons of all. That’s why GROWMARK, along with the other sponsors, including 1st Farm Credit Services, Farm Credit Illinois, Illinois Farm Bureau, Monsanto, and Prairie Farmer are looking for applicants for the Cultivating Master Farmers (CMF) program for the class of 2017.

Now in its tenth year, the Cultivating Master Farmer program has provided expert farm and family guidance from folks who have walked the walk. This unique mentoring program links young farmers with a wealth of information from Prairie Farmer’s Master Farmers.

cultivatingmasterfarmersClasses of approximately 10 young farmers (21 to 35 years old) and 10 Master Farmers are selected for the two-year program, which features six ag-related events. The Class of 2015, which graduates in July, toured the Chicago Farmer’s Market, the Federal Reserve, and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. They also heard from acclaimed speakers on estate/succession planning, diversification on the farm, marketing strategies, how to give back, and managing working relationships with family members.

Like previous classes, incoming CMF members will have plenty of opportunity to hear from a top-notch slate of speakers. However, the real backbone of the program is the round-table discussion, where young farmers learn from Master Farmers and vice versa. Upon the completion of the two-year program, most participants have developed lasting relationships that continue to yield solid farm advice even after the program’s conclusion.

Young farmers need to get their applications in by March 31, 2015. They must be residents of Illinois, be between the ages of 21 to 35 as of Dec. 31, 2014, and actively engaged in production agriculture. They also must be willing to actively participate in the two-year program. Couples are encouraged to apply.

More information is on the GROWMARK website.

Ag Groups, GROWMARK

First AgriBlogger Event of 2015

Chuck Zimmerman

2015 Beltwide Cotton ConferencesWhat is the first event on the agriblogging highway for the ZimmComm Team? The Beltwide Cotton Conferences in San Antonio. Much thanks to NuFarm for making this possible.

It will actually be a short trip for Chuck but that’s where you’ll find him tomorrow.

You can find the program here.

Coverage of the Beltwide Cotton Conference is sponsored by Coverage of the Beltwide Cotton Conference is sponsored by NuFarm
Agribusiness, Nufarm

Where in the World was the Gold Mic in 2014

Chuck Zimmerman

2014-world-micWith a lot of help from Cindy here’s the answer to the question.

Another busy year is history as ZimmComm New Media moved into its second decade in 2014, celebrating our 10 year anniversary in April.

The ZimmComm team covered 78 events around the world in 2014, in twenty different states and five other countries – six if you count the visit to Mexico for our youngest daughter’s wedding!

2014-us-micAmong the highlights: getting caught in Atlanta’s snow fiasco covering the International Production and Processing Expo in January, going on an airboat ride in Wild Florida at the National Ethanol Conference, having NAMA in the Sunshine State, joining international bloggers in France – oh, and becoming grandparents, seeing one daughter marry and another become a doctor!

We now have almost 123,000 photos in 546 Flickr photo albums – and if you go visit before the end of the year we might hit the 10 million view mark! Update: We have passed that mark!

2014 was an exceptional year in many ways and we are most grateful to our fabulous family and friends, both inside and outside the wonderful world of agriculture. Thanks be to God for the good people in our lives!

The ZimmComm golden microphone is getting a few days of holiday R&R but preparing to get back on the Agriblogging Highway in January. Watch for the mic at the Beltwide Cotton Conferences, American Farm Bureau convention, National Biodiesel Conference, and IPPE – just to start the new year off right1

ZimmComm Announcement

2015 CCA Communications Contest Entries

Jamie Johansen

Screen Shot 2015-01-02 at 9.22.01 AMEntries for Cooperative Communicators Association’s 2015 Communications Contest are now being accepted. This year, electronic, rather than printed, contest brochures have been issued to save money and allow more in-depth category descriptions. The early bird deadline for the entries is Friday, Feb. 6.

All the brochures, information and forms you need to submit your contest entries are available on the CCA website.

Questions can be answered by Marian McLemore, CCA Vice President and overall contest chair, at mmclemore@flintemc.com, or the CCA Business Office at ccacontest@communicators.coop.

Ag Groups

AgWired on MyFarmRadio

Chuck Zimmerman

AgWired on MyFarmRadio

Want to listen to AgWired audio on a brand new channel? Try out MyFarmRadio courtesy of Farm Journal.

All you need to do is download the app to your mobile device and look for us in the on-demand section. We’ll be featuring our regular podcasts as well as special interviews and other types of audio that we hope you’ll be interested in. Got ideas for what you’d like to hear? Feel free to make suggestions and let us know how you like the app!

Apps, Media, Podcasts

New Holland Wishing Everyone Happy Holidays

Jamie Johansen

Screen Shot 2014-12-30 at 8.51.09 AMThere are many reasons to be thankful this holiday season.

As we head into our 120th year, we can think of many.

Wishing you a Happy Holiday and a prosperous New Year.

Abe Hughes, VP New Holland North America and the New Holland Team

Agribusiness

Four Industry Trends for 2015

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast 460Looking for what some of the trends in agriculture will be in 2015? Well, Bo Warren, director of the Georgia Center of Innovation for Agribusiness, has four key ones for you. In this week’s program he talks about them.

Precision agriculture will become more precise
The FAA has been paying close attention to unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) as the technology has matured and new applications have been developed. The result of all that research will be realized in 2015, when the commercial UAS market will blossom. The most likely initial applications will be in agriculture, where UAS have proven benefits and can be applied in the friendliest conditions.

The proliferation of connected devices in agriculture will drive further efficiencies. 2015 will usher in a new age of precision agriculture.

The southern migration of blueberries will be firm as Georgia takes the lead in production
Georgia recently overtook Michigan as the number-one state for blueberry production. Georgia’s lead will be cemented in 2015 thanks to better farming methods, development of seed genetic technologies with research partners such as the University of Georgia, and further R&D focused on seed production that marries with soil in Georgia.

Other technologies – specifically UAV applications focused on the blueberry industry – will help to increase production.

Big data will coincide with agriculture in ways never before seen
In 2015, we will begin to see all available information at the farm level – such as soil quality and water utilization – merge with information about specific crops and seeds to maximize yield and production. This will result in far fewer resources being used.

Gone will be the days of identifying a single type of seed for an entire farm. For example, new technologies will allow a cotton producer with 1,000 acres of land to analyze his entire field and break it down by specific acre. This kind of hyper-specific land analysis will be enabled by big data and will significantly maximize production levels.

Water utilization will become critically more important
60 percent of fresh water in the United States is used for agriculture. In certain parts of the country, water tables have been depleted to alarming levels. In 2015 we will see a proliferation of technologies that maximize the efficiency of the water farmers use and minimize waste.

Water utilization sensors that are currently being developed will be married with smart farms and connected technologies and apps that give farmers a clear picture of their watering needs. Apps will combine external weather information with sensor-driven, farm-specific information to paint a real-time data picture around a farm’s soil moisture, and provide recommendations to reduce water usage while maximizing crop yields.

Listen in to my conversation with Bo to hear his outlook for 2015 for the ag industry: Agribusiness Trends and Predictions

Subscribe to the ZimmCast podcast here.

The ZimmCast

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The ZimmCast podcast is sponsored by GROWMARK
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Agribusiness, Audio, Precision Agriculture, ZimmCast

Did you find your favorite gadget under the tree?

Jamie Johansen

New Holland ZimmPollOur latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What type of gadget is on your wish or to-give list?”

Did you find your favorite gadget under the tree this year? Our results were pretty evenly spread out. I was excited to see many were wanting to utilize drone technology. But the GoPro video camera exceeded all other gadgets. I think that might be what I use my Christmas money on.

Here are the poll results:

  • Smart Phone – 12%
  • Tablet – 9%
  • Hybrid Laptop – 0%
  • Wearable Tech – 9%
  • Mobile Power Supply – 5%
  • Cordless Power Tools – 9%
  • Drone – 12%
  • Camera – 9%
  • GoPro Video Camera – 26%
  • Bluetooth Speakers/headphones – 3%
  • Other – 6%

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, What do you think were the biggest ag stories of 2014?

No matter the segment of agriculture you are involved in, their has been at least one ag story throughout the year that has caught your attention. Let us know which topped your list as the biggest ag story of the year. As we review stories from 2014 I can’t help but wonder what 2015 will bring.

ZimmPoll