Upgrade Propane Equipment for Year-End Savings

Cindy Zimmerman

propane-incentiveNow is the time to take advantages of year-end tax deductions by upgrading your on-farm propane equipment.

The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) has three incentive programs where farmers can get up to $10,000 toward the purchase of new propane equipment for the farm and home.

The Propane Farm Incentive Program offers up to $5,000 on eligible propane irrigation engines, grain dryers, ag heaters, generators, and more.
The Propane Mower Incentive Program, now extended through March 31, 2015, is offering double incentive dollars, up to $2,000, toward the purchase of a new propane-powered mower, and up to $1,000 toward a qualified conversion.
The Propane Heat & Power Incentive Program offers financial incentives of up to $10,000 for eligible propane-powered products, such as standby generators and combined heat and power (CHP) systems.

“Post-harvest is the perfect time to consider equipment upgrades for cutting input costs and increasing profits — and that’s where new fuel-efficient propane technology comes in,” said Cinch Munson, PERC’s director of agriculture business development. “PERC incentives reduce costs for new equipment, so farmers will see a return on their investments in a shorter amount of time and be set for a productive and cost-efficient 2015.”

PERC recently released a suite of cost calculator tools to help producers estimate fuel savings and ROI for propane irrigation engines, work trucks, and commercial mowers in comparison with their running on conventional fuels like diesel and gasoline. The calculators are available for use online, as a desktop tool, and as mobile applications for phones and tablets available in app stores for iOS and Android devices.

Equipment, Propane

An FFA Welcome to Ag Retailers Convention

Chuck Zimmerman

Louisiana FFAAttendees to the 2014 Agricultural Retailers Convention were welcomed this morning by two of the Louisiana state officers of the National FFA.

On the stage were Christen Wall (l) and Nicole Roofner. Christen talked about her family alligator farm and Nicole gave us an invocation. Both are high school seniors but already have plans for what they want to do with their careers. I’ll let you listen to them describe their ambitions.

You can listen to my interview with Christen and Nikki here: Interview with Louisiana FFA members

You can find lots of convention photos here: 2014 ARA Convention & Expo Photo Album

Ag Groups, ARA, Audio, FFA

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Ag Retailers Kick Off Convention

Chuck Zimmerman

Daren CoppockThe 2014 Agricultural Retailers Association Convention & Expo is underway in New Orleans. The President/CEO for ARA is Daren Coppock, pictured here with some of our younger attendees from FFA and AFA. Great to see them here!

Daren says attendance is at a record this year and judging by the crowd at the opening reception and today’s opening general session it’s a big one. The big keynote speakers include Mike Vande Logt, Winfield and Kenny Cordell, Pinnacle Ag Holdings. I’ll feature some of their remarks when I can. Daren also says that the networking opportunities with ag retailers and agribusinesses here at the convention is always one of the key reasons they love to attend.

You can listen to my interview with Daren here: Interview with Daren Coppock, ARA

The hashtag for the convention is #ARA2014.

You can find lots of convention photos here: 2014 ARA Convention & Expo Photo Album

Ag Groups, ARA, Audio

NAMA Nominations Sought

Cindy Zimmerman

namaThe National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) is seeking nominations for the cream of the 2014 crop – Agribusiness Leader of the Year and NAMA Marketer of the Year.

Who do you think belongs in the company of such past agribusiness leaders as Sonny Beck of Beck’s Hybrids (2014), Thad Simons of Novus International (2013), John Becherer of United Soybean Board (2012), and Jeff Simmons of Elanco (2011)? What marketers meet the high standards set by Jeff Hartz of Wyffels Hybrids (2014), Steve Vandeberg of Merial Limited (2013), Greg Guse of Paulsen Marketing (2012), or Roger Reierson of AdFarm (2011)?

The deadline to submit your nominations is January 16, 2015. Winners of these prestigious awards will be honored at the 2015 Agri-Marketing Conference, April 15 – 17 in Kansas City, MO. Celebrate the achievements and impressive careers of the very best in agriculture with NAMA – Growing Greatness!

Agencies, Agribusiness, NAMA

Alltech’s 2014 Harvest Analysis Results

Jamie Johansen

alltechAlltech will be unveiling the 2014 Harvest Analysis Results from their 37+ Mycotoxin Analysis program and during the National Association of Farm Broadcasting’s Trade Talk, Chuck spoke with Ann Hess, North American Field PR Manager for Alltech about their discoveries.

“A few years ago we started the Alltech 37+ Mycotoxin Analysis program that analyzes up to 38 toxins in feed samples. It’s surprising each year what we find and often more than meets the eye. This year experts are estimating a record plus year for yields, but an abundant harvest doesn’t always mean a problem free crop for livestock.”

Producers who send in their samples receive a customized report and then an Alltech rep will visit each operation to examine where the mycotoxins might be entering into the feed. Solutions will vary, but storage plays a big factor.

The Alltech Mycotoxin Management Team will be releasing their annual North American Harvest Analysis Survey and producers can see the latest results from the 2014 crop, the potential mycotoxin challenges for 2015 and ways to protect livestock health and performance.

Find out more about Alltech’s mycotoxin testing in Chuck’s complete interview with Ann: Interview with Ann Hess, Alltech


2014 NAFB Convention Photos

Agribusiness, Alltech, Audio, Feed, Forage

Google Glass Wedding

Cindy Zimmerman

wedding1We are back at ZimmComm World Headquarters today after spending Thanksgiving in Cancun marrying off our youngest daughter to a wonderful young man we are proud to call our new son-in-law.

The setting for the wedding was just beautiful in a Catholic chapel on the beach. All of my family was there from south Florida, which made it very special. And Daddy wore Google Glass walking Caitlin down the aisle, which you can see below. Congratulations to our newlyweds – Clint and Caitlin Underwood – and our adorable grandson Cruz and baby brother Case on the way.

laura-weddingWe were so pleased to be able to have one of the best photographers in the world capture this special day for us. Our long-time AgWired readers will remember Laura McNamara who was our very first freelancer back in 2007-2009. She lives in Playa del Carmen, Mexico – just about an hour away from Cancun – so she was able to be our photographer.

In all the craziness of the wedding day we neglected to get a photo of her with us, but here is a screen shot of her at work. It was so wonderful to see her again! Be sure to check out her website PlayaLoves.me to see her work.


Photography, Video, ZimmComm Announcement

Program Helps Farmers Commercialize Farm Inventions

Jamie Johansen

Incubator Client - GrassRoots Energy copyOttawa County, MI announced the official kick-off of the Great Lakes Ag-Tech Business Incubator.

The Incubator, a non-profit corporation, will specialize in helping farmers and entrepreneurs turn their ag-tech machine, equipment, or software ideas and inventions into successful businesses. “Most farmers are intuitive, can-do individuals who have innate abilities to solve farm problems with ingenious mechanical inventions,” said Mark Knudsen, Planning and Performance Improvement Director. “These inventions can often be the foundation for a thriving business.”

The Incubator provides specialized assistance designed to propel start-up companies through business hurdles. These services include, but are not limited to, validating concepts, obtaining patents, developing markets, streamlining regulatory permits, developing financial plans, assembling management teams, obtaining business financing, and developing supplier sustainability plans. In addition, farmers associated with the Incubator share their expertise with entrepreneurs to validate their ag-tech ideas, provide recommendations to improve new products, and field test prototypes. Ottawa County is uniquely poised to test technology involving wireless broadband since it has built out high-speed wireless broadband throughout the County.

State Representative Joe Haveman also announced at the Grand Opening that the State has awarded $500,000 to support the innovative Ag-Tech Business Incubator. “Ottawa County has built something entirely unique for farmers and entrepreneurs,” said Representative Haveman. “I am pleased to announce that the State will make a three year, $500,000 investment in this first of its kind incubator model to help develop businesses and jobs in the ag-technology sector.”

The state funding commitment will be in addition to funds that have been pledged by private sector sponsors and Member Counties.

Agribusiness

Meet the New USFRA Faces: Thomas Titus

John Davis

usfra-faces-thomasIf you get a chance to talk to one of the newest representatives in the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance’s (USFRA) Faces of Farming and Ranching program, you’ll certainly be taken by more than just Thomas Titus’ impressive height (6’8″!). You’ll hear just how enthusiastic he is to talk about the world of agriculture.

“Talking about agriculture was something instilled in me at a very young age,” he told Cindy during a recent interview, adding that his mother was active talking about the pork industry, addressing classrooms and even lawmakers in Washington, D.C. And he believes it’s important to keep telling that story. “Because at the end of the day, we’re consumers as well, and our number 1 priority is producing a safe, secure wholesome product.”

The Illinois pig farmer, who also has a corn and soybean operation and raises show pigs, besides the farrow-to-finish operation, admits the year-long commitment he’ll be making traveling throughout the country as part of the Food Dialogues conversations to help consumers be better aware of what America’s farmers are all is a big one. After talking with the whole family, he decided that this was too important for him not to try to do.

Thomas also encourages anyone who wants to talk more about agriculture to contact him.

“Feel free to reach out to contact me on Facebook or Twitter. If there is a question, that’s why we’re here and what we’re charged with – helping the consuming public understand what we do on a daily basis on our farm.”

You can here more of Cindy’s conversation with Thomas here: New USFRA Faces of Farming and Ranching - Thomas Titus

Ag Groups, Audio, Corn, Farming, Pork, Swine, USFRA

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  • Louis Dreyfus Commodities named Mayo Schmidt, former head of Canadian grain handler Viterra, as its new chief executive in the latest stage of a corporate shake-up at the 163-year-old global trading firm.
  • Zoetis, the Chinese Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA), and Kansas State University (KSU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work together and promote the Doctor of Veterinary Program (DVM) in China.
  • West Central’s board of directors announced their unanimous decision to name Milan Kucerak President and CEO-elect following Jeff Stroburg’s retirement at the end of the fiscal year.
  • The Maine Beef Industry Council (MBIC) will be closing by year’s end, and the Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) will take over collections and communications with producers in that state moving forward.
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