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

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

Zimfo Bytes

  • 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.
Zimfo Bytes

NSIP Commits to Rebranding Initiative

Jamie Johansen

NSIPFollowing a competitive RFP process, the National Sheep Improvement Program (NSIP) has selected Demeter Communications for its Rebranding Initiative.

The purpose of the rebranding is to better position NSIP as the genetic selection tool for U.S. sheep producers, and increase usage of the technology for the benefit of all segments of the industry, according to Reid Redden, NSIP chairman. The Rebranding Initiative includes:

· Review of the current structure and operation of the organization and recommendations for changes to further the NSIP vision and mission
· Learn from other livestock industries and other countries’ lamb industries which have implemented this technology
· Conduct market research to evaluate awareness, perceptions and understanding of NSIP and its genetic technology
· Establish a vision, mission, goals and objectives
· Design a brand plan
· Develop a marketing plan

In addition to the Rebranding Initiative, Demeter Communications will also redesign the NSIP logo, develop a new website and prepare core collateral materials. The results will be unveiled during the Sheep Industry Convention January 28-31, 2015.

Ag Groups, Marketing, Sheep

Agricultural Retailers Navigating Forward

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast 456This week I will be attending my first Agricultural Retailers Association Annual Convention & Expo. I’ve got a preview of what will be taking place in New Orleans from Brian Reuwee, Director of Communications & Marketing. Brian and I sat down during the recent NAFB Trade Talk session.

Brian ReuweeOne of the things that caught my eye about this year’s program is a focus on precision agriculture. There is a session on this topic for those “ultra-precision” farmers out there and how retailers can best support them. I would also call them AgNerds! Here’s some information on the conference:

Farmers relentlessly pursue the best course of action. And, like a trusted guide, ag retailers provide advice, analysis, products and services to help them discover the most successful strategies.

The Agricultural Retailers Association Annual Conference and Expo December 2-4 at the Sheraton New Orleans – French Quarter will help you navigate the changing ag retail landscape through panel discussions, presentations, networking and exhibits.
Find your path forward. Join industry experts, peers and colleagues at the only essential event for ag retailers and suppliers: the ARA Annual Conference & Expo.

Learn more about what’s going on during this week’s convention here: Ag Retailers Convention

2014 NAFB Convention Photos

Subscribe to the ZimmCast podcast here.

The ZimmCast

sponsored by
The ZimmCast podcast is sponsored by GROWMARK
Locally owned, globally strong.
Ag Groups, ARA, Audio, Precision Agriculture, ZimmCast

Meet the New USFRA Faces: Jay Hill

John Davis

usfra-faces-jayHe is the youngest of five siblings and the only one who chose to follow in his father’s footsteps into farming, but Jay Hill of Southern New Mexico says it’s definitely not been boring.

“You know, there’s some days when I thought, I should have been a lawyer or a doctor,” he told Cindy during an interview. “But I now feel this is the most rewarding position I could ever have in my life.”

Jay’s father started the family farm with just 20 acres after moving to New Mexico, playing some college football and never making enough money to move back to his native Tennessee. But they’ve built it up to about 700 acres now, raising cattle, pinto beans, red and green chillies, lettuce, corn and alfalfa. Now as one of the new representatives in the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance’s (USFRA) Faces of Farming and Ranching program, Jay hopes to make a difference and make consumers better aware of what America’s farmers are all about as he travels the country and participates in the Food Dialogues conversations.

“I hope we’re able to help break some of the stigmatisms we’ve had and really bridge the gap between our farm and your fork.”

You can follow Jay’s farm on Facebook here.

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

Ag Groups, Audio, Beef, USFRA

I’m on the Top of the World

Melissa Sandfort

IMG950722Today, Aunt Jeanette writes:

Okay, I have to confess, I am not really the one looking down. I do not like high places. I don’t think I am afraid, but I would rather have my feet on the ground. The one exception is that I love to fly. I am entranced by the view from an airplane window. I would hop on a plane without a second thought, but the top of the elevator – I don’t think so!

I mentioned in previous stories that I work at our family-owned, small-town elevator. That is what I did the moment harvest began the end of September, and also for the past five harvests. It was an exceptionally wonderful year…the weather cooperated beautifully and the crop yields surpassed what the farmers in the area expected.

Learning how to run an elevator was never in my wildest imaginings, but it has been fun and I enjoy it. There are certain things I cannot do because I am just not strong enough. However, the customers are more than willing to help me do those things in exchange for Tootsie Roll Pops, Starburst Fruit Chews, or an occasional bottle of water!

One day, our son came to the elevator to check on me and see that everything was okay. He said he was going up to check on things in the elevator. As he went out the office door, I asked him to take a picture from the top. Now, I have been up to the headhouse before, but I have no plans to go up again. Once was quite enough.

There was a certain urgency among farmers as they know weather can change in the blink of an eye, so I did what I could to help, loved every minute of harvest, and enjoyed my view from the ground!

Until we walk again …

Uncategorized